Hobby Spending - January 2025.

 

A new year, means a new hobby budget to track and keep track of purchases going forward.

January has been a bit of a quiet month, mainly because everyone dropped sick at work and I was one of the last men left standing, so was pulling overtime shifts up to the maximum hours we could work* so I've not had much time for hobby or spending or much really.

One bargain I found though, was this physical copy of Sundered Isles and the Oracles book:

I already have a physical copy of Ironsworn, which was the first solo RPG book by Shawn Tomkin which is a dark age/medieval setting.

Sundered Isles is the nautical/pirate type and I've only ever seen it on DrivethruRPG for £18+ each for physical copies, so £13 for both was a bargain.

Unfortunately I cannot play this yet, as it turns out this one is an expansion setting for the sci-fi solo RPG - Starforged. So I'll have to keep looking for that one.

Next week have a simple dinner tray:

I picked two of these up for £1.50 each from Poundland as a way to organise projects going forwards. One big problem I have had is that I have to drag everything out piece by piece and then pack it all away again at the end of a hobby session.

The idea with these is that I have a project kept on the tray until it is finished, its easy to pull from the cabinet to work on and store.

So, in theory, should improve productivity...

In theory...

Purchases:

Sundered Isles and Oracles: £13.

2x Dinner Tray: £3.

Total for January: £16.

Budget for January: £50.

Over/Under Yearly Budget: under budget by £34.

*On the railway we have working time directives, which are put in place to protect staff from fatigue. So we can work so many days in a row, or so many hours over shifts per week and then we have enforced rest days, where work cannot contact you at all.

Askurgan Trueblades.

 

Tempted by the goblet of blood, Tanek stood before the entrance to the Far Peak. In his previous life, they had all heard the legends of the terrible vampire haunted mountain and stayed well away accordingly, but things had changed.

During the last defence of their town, when he was alive and serving in the guard there. He had been drained of blood by the vampire leading the attack, one of its acolytes in a cruel joke gave him what he now knew to be the Blood Kiss, and he awoke later on after the battle had finished.

However he awoke with a terrible hunger. A hunger which had led him to slaughter five people nearby. Filled with shame, he had fled into the wilderness. Days, maybe weeks passed and he knew he was loosing himself and becoming a mindless beast, blood drunk and no better then the things he had culled when he was human still.

When he had purpose, control of himself, a calling to serve...

Then the new calling had begun...

Of his erstwhile creators there was no sign, but something pulled him inexorably towards the Far Peak. 

An unknown time had passed before he was at the entrance, a goblet of fresh blood  sitting on the stone altar testing him. Behind was a hooded figure of dark grey skin guarding the steps carved up the mountain. Great stone arches graced the route upwards, each carved with ancient Askurgan runes decrying the beast and exulting in control and honour.

How did he know that?

The guardian shifted his dark robes swished slightly disturbing the dust, they were tied by a coarse lilac dyed rope around it's waist, a strange splash of colour on the otherwise monochromatic figure.

"You have done well to heed the call young one" it whispered, yet Tanek heard it clearly, "Your choice stands before you, take the goblet and be cut down as a beast, or face the challenge ahead and be reborn on the peak!"

Tanek stepped around the altar, growling involuntary as he passed the blood. Immediately a blade flashed infront of him, the flat holding him in place. Eyes flicking from the metal edge, along the haft of a glaive he found himself staring at a different vampire entirely, this one wrapped in orange robes and dark-iron armour. The same lilac rope hung about her waist as she snarled at him.

"First lesson, you keep the beast in check, growl at blood again and I'll take your head"

Tanek turned and looked back to the hooded figure which had greeted him, but who had now disappeared, a slight mist hanging loosely close to the floor. As he turned back, the glaive was gone, as was the vampire.

"Scale the mountain and be reborn" a deep voice whispered in his mind.

Tanek took to the steps, the overwhelming scent of blood filled his nostrils from further up the mountain calling him, yet he had to resist the urge to charge as he now knew that would only end in death...his death.

The path to control had begun.

*****

The Askurgan Trueblades are a warband for Warcry, the skirmish game set in the Age of Sigmar universe, which has some of the most unique and brilliant models GW have ever produced for fantasy*.

When this particular faction was previewed on the reveal shows, I knew I HAD to have them to paint, but why?

Well, basically they are Vampire Zen Shaolin Warrior Monks (and given my predilection for far east warriors/warfare it was a given), therefore they were painted with element of Shaolin and Sohei elements.

I went with the starker, dark orange robes of the Shaolin temple this time, but tried to work in the armour style of Japan on the plates on their legs.

Their chest and shoulder armour is very mainland Asia themed as well compared, so took from Korea with the un-laquered metal effect (yes I did do some research).

There are two members who don't have the orange robes, these being the leader and a somewhat interesting character story wise. I chose to change the colours on these to reflect their positions and responsibilities within the warband.

The leader got a pale grey/white set of robes as white is the colour of death and mourning in Japan, it is often worn to funerals and in the past it marked someone in a position similar to the grim reaper in western mythology (imagine if Viking Berserkers wore white and you get the idea).

The Pariah wears a dark grey robe because I enjoyed the contrast to the rest of the warband, it also marked him out from the rest due to his unique position.

The main element which ties all the warband together are the lilac ropes tied around their waists. I saw this element was immediately reminded of the first season of the anime Naruto and the main villain Orochimaru, who other then his ability to turn into a snake, his main recognition piece is a large purple rope ties around his waist.

May as well run with that idea as it was memorable!

Askurgan Acolytes:

Acolytes are new recruits of the Trueblades. Many, having just received the Blood Kiss, are horrified by their new existence and seek out the order to learn how to control their eternal thirst. Reaching the secluded sanctums alone is proof of their potential, but they must further prove themselves to their new kin.

Askurgan Ascetics:

Ascetics are the elite warriors of the order. They seek transcendence through battle, searching for secrets that could not be found from contemplative study alone. These warriors fight through the carnage of battle until they are knee-deep in gore, yet through battle-mantras and the martial kata that allows them to appear as blurring specters, they repress their hunger.

Curseblood and Pariah:

Cursebloods are the result of Trueblades losing the battle against their inner beast. The result is a hideous and painful transformation with muscles growing larger and larger while facial bones elongate into a maw. The rope that symbolizes the Askurgan remains flapping around their waists as if mocking them. Yet they are truly mindless, having just enough self-awareness to avoid attacking their fellow vampires.

Pariahs are rare Cursebloods that manage to leash the beast and regain their humanoid form. To revert, they must engage in a harrowing trial observed by another vampire ready to execute them in case of failure, as the process risks the Curseblood losing any remaining sanity. Even if they survive, the physical marks never fade and must live on the margins of their society, both respected and feared; despite being able to regain control, one that slipped the leash may fall again.

Askurgan Exemplar, the Warband Leader:

Exemplars are masters who have confronted their bestial nature many times and has always emerged the victor. They can be found meditating upon platforms surrounded by lakes of blood or on mountaintops surrounded by pounding storms.  Many Askurgan vampires dream of learning weapon arts directly from such masters, but approaching one means they must first get through the copious amounts of gore that surround the exemplars without succumbing to the beast within.

With these off the painting table, it marks the first unit completed for 2025 and the first box filled on my Hobby Bingo card:

I chose to use a supernatural box, as well, they're Vampires after all!

This gives me 10 points for Hobby Bingo.

For the OPC challenge, these are 8 infantry figures over 12mm in size, so provide another 80 points to that running total, putting me up to 90 points out of my total of 6,000.

I have the Blades of Karanak and Chameleon Skink warbands for Warcry to do next, and love the others so may pick one up the next time i go through the Element Games for a gaming day.

Until next time, have nice day...

*It really is a thing that the further you get from their core games, the better the models overall.

Necromunda is the obvious example, but Warcry and Kill Team have some fantastic models which otherwise wouldn't be made.

Blackstone Fortress and the various Warhammer Quests games have had their share as well, as has Underworlds.

Death Korps of Krieg Commissar.

Impassive, unreadable due to the gas ask covering his face, Commissar Juan Boerkaunt watched the assault begin. He has heard stories of the Death Korps of course, they all had as they received their postings from segmentum command.

He had been slightly put out by being assigned to a siege regiment, rather then an assault regiment, where he felt his skills would be of more use, but he was slowly beginning to be impressed with these fanatical men of Krieg.

The son of a tank officer, born on the volcanic world of Tallax IV, Juan had been inducted into the scholam on his seventh birthday and was earmarked for Commissariat duties. 

With this new campaign, his second as a full Commissar, he had been expecting a posting to a regiment which needed a firm hand and led by example in combat.

In truth, the Krieg were so well disciplined that he found himself rather bored, having to deal with the other regiments around them in their interactions with his men. Now with the prospect of some action his mood had lightened.

He observed the quick, smooth movements of the assault platoons moving forward, the autocannons, already sighted in began their statacco drumbeat rhythm of firing, chewing great chunks out of the side of the building, itself already a ruin.

The Captain, Sain-Stagier, appeared alongside him accompanied by his command squad.

He gave a satisfied nod and turned to Boerkaunt.

"A smooth assault don't you think Commissar?"

"Yes, I am impressed with the regiment and your company, Captain, I will pass that on in my reports up the chain of command".

Sain-Stagier and the Banner Bearer who had heard the conversation straightened with pride.

"Shall we observe a little closer Commissar, I've no doubt the men will fight harder knowing their Commanders are nearby".

"It is rare to find a senior officer who chooses to advance, lead on Captain, the Emperor protects".

*****

So here is the first finished miniature of 2025.

This Death Korps of Krieg Commissar was a Christmas present I bought from a Chinacast supplier* for Fraser to join his 352nd Regiment.

The drawing the sword pose was certainly the most iconic of the Krieg Commissars, and in general of Commissars I think**, even my favourite of the Black Library Ibram Gaunt's models have been rather lackluster compared.

So I began as usual building up the urban ruined base, as is custom for this army. Lots of torn 4mm cork and plastic rodding/detonator wire to add detailing, before liberally covering with sand in the joins for crushed cement, etc.

I took the time to get a lean on the slab he is standing on correct, the original Forge World model is leaning slightly backwards, with his weight on the rear leg, as if he's going to cast forwards with a cleaving motion.

I wanted him to be stood taller and more imposing, so positioned him to be leaning forward, looming down off of the ruins.

Painting wise, daily standard, although I decided to follow the techniques of Andy at Mediocre Hobbies, in that he uses contrast paints as a base layer, hits the model with an overall wash, and then layers up and highlights, because this gives a much better indication of where the shadows are naturally.

Starting from my preferred grey undercoat I started with black Templar, Blood Angels Red, Iyanden Yellow and Basillcanum Grey contrasts.

The metals were picked out in Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour, and his mask was Vallejo Khaki.

Everything was then hit with an overall Earthshade*** wash and then I chose my layering colours.

The coat was Corvus Black and highlighted with Stormvermin Fur, where as his hat, because I wanted a different texture, was done with Abaddon Black and highlighted with Standard Grey.

His uniform was Standard Grey and highlighted with Vallejo Light Grey, Epaulettes were Averland Sunset, Done Yellow and then a shade with Seraphim Sepia.

The red cuffs and sash are Meohiston Red and Evil Suns Scarlet to really get that highlight.

Metals were just layered up with Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour respectively.

So there we have it, a Commissar for the regiment and another miniature finished off.

I'm hoping to get the time to highlight up Red Platoon for that regiment soon, but I must concentrate on my own 261st regiment and opposing Militia in order to get my games in for the Vraks campaign (more on this soon).

A sneak peak at what's coming:

Lots of Deathriders!

As I'm taking part in the Plastic Crack Podcast OPC this year, he gets me off the mark with 10 points of my 6,000 point goal.

Until next time, have nice day...

*

**The only one I think is better is this guy, which I am fortunate to have in my collection:

Although I would like to get the other two Commissars from this time period as well.

***Cardboard Fortress asked about what was our favourite wash on his Facebook page recently, and I replied Earthshade rather then the more common Nuln Oil. 

I personally prefer the warmer shadows Earthshade gives, especially on living things, vehicles and constructs...well, it depends if it's oily or dusty really.

December Motivation.

 

Happy new year everyone...

Until next time, have nice day ...

Hobby Spending - December 2024.

 

And just like that, 2024 is over.

With a last month of hobby purchases to stack up for this year, we'll get right on it:

Here are 20 small flight bases and 3 large flight bases for a mixed project of Battlefleet Gothic and some aircraft for Legions Imperialis.

80 25mm based and 4 80mm bases bought from the seller BBVelo on eBay. It was cheaper to buy them in bulk, especially as i needed the 80mm bases.

BBVelo also included this base size guide, from 25mm to 50mm in round and square types, as a freebie.

All the stuff from them are 3D printed and this was included in the box, it seems like a useful tool which I'm going to use to work out bases for things, especially prone models, of which I have a few now.

Searching the 3D printing sites, I found this awesome looking Commissar, and the bonus was that he was free!

So a quick download and I then threw him into Chitubox to have a look and I was impressed.

So much so, that I went back and decided to drop some cash on the Death Riders STL, again throwing these into Chitubox, I was impressed, so printed out a unit of 10 to go with the Commissar.

Lastly, as it's the winter sale on MyMiniFactory, I decided to spend a bit of cash on some terrain STLs to print off some scatter for both Fantasy and Sci-Fi.

I've only grabbed a couple of photos of the Sci-Fi bits as there were 15 different sets of terrain I downloaded for £36 after the discount was added, so definitely worth it.

These will be used to make an ammo dump for a scenario objective, as well as I'll print some out to add to other pieces of terrain and use as scatter.

The fantasy set included things like wheat bags, barrels, fence and barricades, light posts, etc.

So plenty to work with for each game.

Onto the final numbers for the year!

Purchases:

Small Flight Bases: £13.

Large Flight Bases: £3.25.

80 25mm Bases: £16.80.

4 80mm Bases: £7.60.

RedMakers Death Riders STL: £10.30.

RedMakers Mounted Commissar STL: £0.00.

Terrain STLs: £36.

Total for December: £.76.95.

Budget for December: £50.

Over/Under Yearly Budget: under budget by £85.40.

Still well under budget for the year,.and now that I've more or less switched to just using 3D printed models for my armies (aside from the stuff I already own) I'll be spending more on STLs in the future it seems.

Next year, 2025, I plan on working a project at a time through to completion.for myself, whilst still chipping away at the big projects I'm painting for Fraser, so I expect a lot of my future purchases to be hobby equipment related.

Until next time, have nice day...

Yellow Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg.

 

"ON MY WHISTLE, ADVANCE!" came the shout down the line. Great coated infantrymen clutched their lasrifles, waiting with anticipation to begin the charge towards the objective.

Knelt in the dust and rubble, Sergeant Thieres gave a last prayer to the Emperor as he check his laspack for charge before slamming it home in his pistol. He looked around at his men readying themselves and gave a last brief.

"Our entry is the hole blasted in the wall opposite us. We have an open street to cross first, so as fast as possible, no stopping or bunching up".

The scream of overhead artillery was replaced with the booming retort of explosions and then a shrill whistle announced the start of the charge. Each Lieutenant blowing their whistle in turn to get the men moving.

Hurling himself out of cover, Thieres ran forwards, his bellowed cry of terror and rage lending him the strength to charge the enemy strong point.

 A guardsman Infront of him doubled over suddenly and dropped onto the ground lifeless, half a dozen others in the charging group fell, crumpled in the debris. With no time to mourn or check, Thieres urged his men onwards and made for the objective building.

More were cut down before they reached the building, Thieres slammed his back into the wall, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

He released a stick-grenade from his belt, priming it and threw it through the breach where it detonated with teeth loosening force. Smoke and screams coming from within.

Before the enemy could recover, he charged through, snapping shots left and right from the hip, the bright las-shots glowing in the smoke.

Two bloodied rebels stood before him, the Sergeant cut them down with a series of swift shots before his lasgun was wrenched away.

Throwing a haymaker, the rebel backed off giving Theires time to draw his pistol and Chainsword, before diving back into the fight. The rebel swung the butt of his rifle at Theires' head, swaying aside he kicked the man in the groin and slashed his Chainsword down, cleaving from shoulder to waist and killing the man.

More troopers poured through the breach, and Theires knew they had to keep moving, a single grenade amidst their number now could stop their assault in its tracks. He roared with the release of fury and adrenaline, and continued the slaughter...

*****

So finally I made headway on the Krieg force for Fraser again*, the last time was the Company Command Squad, this time it's a bit more substantial.

Yellow Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg Regiment:

A 5 man Platoon Command Squad and two 10 man Infantry squads, this is the minimum size platoon, and I have another 20 men to add to this platoon before it's done.

This organisation is the classic style from 5th edition and backwards, but it can be organised for 10th edition, making the force suitable for most editions of 40k that Fraser wants to play with them.

I picked these up again, because the Plastic Crack Podcast run an Open Painting Competition each month, and Novembers was "A Company/Battalion/Command for your game" and the closest I could get was a Platoon.

There is no prize for this OPC in the group, just the satisfaction of getting something done.

So here is the Lieutenant and the Command Squad. All their left shoulder plates and the flag trim are yellow to denote which platoon they belong to:

One of the squads, I themed this platoon around advancing so they got most of the running legs from the boxes I opened up:

The second platoon, the urban based are really showing their contrast here:

An overhead photo of the entire platoon, showing more of the bases off:

And a final group photo of the finished models. Like the Command Squad, I tried to vary a few of the greatcoats in shade, but it hasn't come out very well on the photo:

Originally I intended to do the minimum sized Company of Two Platoons worth of troops, with an Autocannons squad thrown in for extra.

But real-life got in the way and I simply ran out of time to get Red platoon  or the Heavy Weapons finished.

Here is a photo of the two platoons and one Autocannon team in progress, just after the Agrax Earthshade stage:

They'll be finished soon, so i can chalk them off of the "to-do" list.

Now onto the reveals of the new KRIEG stuff which is coming out in January next year. But this point everyone will have seen these photos, so I'm just offering my personal opinions on them.

The Command Squad is a mixed bag for me.

The top two models, the Standard and the "Grenadier" are misses personally. They just seem to lack that spark to make me WANT them. Whilst not as Lacklustre as the Sanguinary Guard or Inquisitor Coteaz reveals, I feel that these two and something further down are the weakest:

Sticking with the command squad, the officer is alright, I'm not a fan of the excessive detail going on on his chest plate. The medic however...now we're getting somewhere, he has the perfect look of creepy healer which you'd expect from a medic in a gas mask. I also like how his greatcoat isn't button up at the knees, but hangs straight down:

The Commissar is brilliant, much better then the Cadian Commissar, but the vox operator and servo skull make great models. I always feel like 40k needs more gothic weirdness like servo-skulls and such, something which seems to be lacking more and more with Games Workshops "corporatization":

The Krieg Field Artillery is a must buy**, it has that perfect mix of historical flavour and 40k Gothic Sci-Fi fuckery which is what made classic 40k it's own beast:

And then we get to the Engineers... definitely the weakest offering of the reveals.

I'm not sure what they were thinking mixing the Grenadier's and Engineers together into one model, but it's just odd. The engineers always had the smaller jacket as they majority fought in tunnels or at the "sap" end of the tranches being pushed forward, the smaller jackets giving them greater movement.

And the Goliath, what the fuck were they thinking turning it from a remote controlled tank into a damn Roomba?

Those are just my thoughts on the reveals, the Deathriders I won't cover because things are already in motion with Deathriders and Fraser has 16 of the Forge World models which I've started to build, I have suggest that he just gets the mounted officer to add to them, but we'll see.

So for a while yet, the Krieg will have their time to shine, more so with a project I've signed up for, but more on that in future posts.

Until next time, have nice day...

*I'd make a terrible Commission Painter, given I've had these models for over a year now from him and haven't gotten anywhere sorted with the army...

**Or it would be if I was bothered about actually fielding only GW models.

A day after the reveal, the internet was greeted with at least three different STL files to 3D print of the new stuff...take from that what you will!

Hobby Spending - November 2024.

 

A basic supplies month for spending for November, with just a couple of washes bought to replenish stocks.

The main numbers:

Hobby money spent:

1 pot of Agrax Earthshade: £4.25.

1 pot of Seraphim Sepia: £4.25.

Total for November ber: £8.50.

Budget for September: £50.

Over/Under Yearly Budget: under budget by £85.40.

I've labelled some of this month as "Hobby Money" because I did buy other products when I went to Element Games, however these were presents from people.

At the end of September I celebrated my fortieth trip around the sun, and the accompanying fanfare that birthday includes.

I was trying to get hold of the Forces of Fantasy and Ravening Hordes books for The Old World from my family, but everywhere I tried seemed to be out of stock.

Element Games had both of them in the other day, so I was sensible and picked them both up, meaning I can now put together a proper army to play games with Cardboard Fortress, as TOW is definitely his game at the moment.

Both books were £27.50 each, making the pair of them £55 in total, not too bad.

Where did I leave my Chaos Warriors?

So, until next time, have nice day...