Landraider Crusader WIP Part 2

Here is a progress update from Part 1

I wanted to show everything post Part 1 with some black washes applied to the metal parts and some cleanup paint applied to the hull along with all the new painted portions.

First up since I forgot it last time is the glorious Engine block.

Engine Block

The engine block is always the pride and joy of the interior for me. I originally was going to go for a red mechanicus symbol and decided against it. To not compete with the purity seals, I went with the previously used black/white as it stands out better as an over all seal. I might paint to more buttons perhaps, but otherwise it looks good. The black wash went well, not sure on the main engine block though as it is an easy fix.

The green pipes I am also cooking an idea on how to show a light see through black pipe look. I am thinking of apply very light black paint or wash on the sides and working to the middle slightly and then start from the middle and working to the side. I may have to test the idea. The pipes are fine as is and a mess up can ruin it.

Mechanicus Approved?

Computer Panel

The Computer panel I am glad how it has turned out so far. It is done unless I do anything else to it. The only thing I would do and I have had encouragement to do is the screens. White dot them or even apply some scorpion green to the upper portions perhaps.

One idea I have thought about is the design of the interface. A Land Raider carries a full ten marine squad or a full five terminators and in the case of a Crusader more than ten marines or more than five terminators. I consider the nine screen on the right side of the panel are separate from the two screens on the left for a reason. The two panels on the left are for command communications and the nine panels on the right are for squad members. If I was a damn good painter i won't paint miniature helmets or HUDs on each panel.

The HUD idea I think I can acomplish. Dots in the lower corner for ammo and so forth. I'm going to have to watch Aliens again. :) Lines in upper corner for health. I went looking through my stuff last night for a Blood Angels transfer sheet and could not find a single sheet. Maybe I can use yellow skull/wings for command and normal black skull/wings for troops. Question is which of the two screens to the left is the squad leader? I would say the top left is the squad leader. Even if a commander is riding within or part of the deployed squad he would have access to the left screen which is turned slightly to whomever is watching the panel. The rest of the screens are for checking on the deployed squad. The large radar type screen is for position.

Gotta love the shinny mirror!

Left Side Hull

The left side hull is almost done. It still needs to have the blue light painting on the top of the steel pipe, a small black wash on the seats, and maybe something done to the screens. I am so afraid of messing it up at least I can try a white dot or something.

If I can find them I want to add a set of special weapons to the weapons rack. Plastic melta and plasma are expensive to purchase, but I think I have a spare flamer which will look cool on it. Time to pay the Ork toll and dive into Masta Cheefs bitz bin of doom.

Right Side Hull

The right side hull is almost done. I need to paint the candle fire and the left and right arrow buttons on the panel next to the door. I figure I will have a green "open" button, an orange "close" button, and a red "stop" button. Also a simple black wash against the seats.

I have noticed in the picture you can't really see the difference from the bone spray cleaned up with the bone paint. Makes me happy.

In between painting the various pieces I am assembling the Hurricane Bolters which are a big pain and don't let me mention the metal Multi Melta which will be a nightmare.

My goal of having this assembled in in sight. I need to come to a perfection decision on red spray paint, figure out an ink recipe for my part. The weather need to stop being so stupid as wind completely halts spray paint operations.

Either way I am a happy camper for the meantime.

Halo 4 releases November 6th!

Landraider Crusader WIP Part 1

Here is an update of the interior of my Blood Angel's Land Raider Crusader I am painting.

Recently I have been in a good mood and willing to pick up my brush and paint this vehicle some more plus I feel a drive to finish it. I have joined a forums based paint per points challenge so this might be the driving force, but for the most part it is working for me. I think what helps the most is feedback and questions answered, especially for me because I can really get stuck on decisions a lot.

I found myself wanting to paint my previous Land Raider one night and I did. Don't get to excited as I was just painting a lot of black, but i painted a lot of black so this is progress. It would be nice to see both my Land Raider fully assembled and painted for once. The Crusader has only been in the box for about 10 years now, lol.


Left hull interior

The left hull interior piece I feel is coming along well. I am still debating upon painting the upper portion of the seats a leather color. I know it sounds silly, but then again all the metal armor sliding around on metal seats sounds silly. The screen I will probably keep a plain green. Me and designs are not their yet to be honest. The yellow light I have been able to work a bit better as well. The metal valves I am thinking about using a light blue wash to give them kind of a blue steel glow. Finally there is the clean up and touch up and its done.

Right hull interior

The right hull piece is at the same level as the left. Only the small debatable decisions and painting the buttons towards the entrance. I also need to paint the tips of the candles. The silver mirror in between the candles is really shinny so kind of throws off the eyes a bit.

Control panel

The control panel I am pleased with and all the smaller buttons are what is left. The screens look better than my last Land Raider I painted. I used a different green first and then applied the current color. I have also applied a glaze as well. The top two small  screens to the left of the largest screen I messed up a bit including the middle, but I like how they are now as it gives a more older and perhaps broken screen feel.

Engine block

I forgot to take a picture of the engine block.

Please check back later for the engine block.

My goal is to finish all of the interior pieces and assemble the main hull together within the next few weeks at most. I feel I can achieve this goal easily.

Battletech Battle Report

My last game of Battletech was probably one of the most intense matches yet and was pure fun. I think my opponent Masta Cheef at some point found a drive (Mountain Dew or not) and stuck with it till very late.

If you are in for some Battletech and in for a story then read and enjoy the newest installment of my Battletech combat tales set in the 3025ish era.

Lego for life!

Lego Minifigures Series 8

Besides my love for Battletech and 40K I have a bigger love for collecting Legos which predates any of my days of table top games by at least a decade. Before I started 40K I have a large Lego collection and throughout the years I amassed a large collection. When I was dating my wife, my love for Legos rubbed off and we both collect them now. In fact I am using a software to help us get a near count by set pieces and I am at about 46 thousand pieces of Legos.

Saturday while out running errands near the local mall I decided to have a quick run by Toys R US which to me is still fun to go no matter what age you are. Usually I check out all the new Lego sets and look for an interesting Transformers to add to my collection. I came across a custom storage case for Lego's minifigure series 8 line. Bonus!

My daughter lost the Space alien gun. :(
Duplicate I want.

With the price at $3.99 I couldn't pass it up. The storage case has a big picture of all 16 Series 8 minifigures along with three separate sorting bins. I had a big smile when I found this and I also picked up three more minifigure packs. When I opened the packs I scored two new unique minifigures getting my total for Series 8 to eight unique minifigures and one duplicate minifigure.

Lego Heroica

My wife happened to spot a great find as well. Sometime last year Lego released their version of a light fast paced dungeon crawler game called Heroica. I immediately bought into the game upon release picking up the  large set called Castle Fortaan and one of the medium sized sets called Waldurk Forest. The cool thing about Heroica is you can use as little as one set up to all of the sets to run a game. Anyway a little after Heroica's release date a large storage case was released to hold all the contents for the first four adventures. The price point dictated me not purchasing it, but my wife found it on clearance for $14.99. Bonus 2.0!

The case includes a large foldout map and a plastic storage bins made to fit all the pieces from the first four sets. I was smiling again.

Last but not least I picked up a new Heroica set called Ilrion which I thought was part of the original four sets. To my amazement it is part of the 2012 Heroica set line which increases the total amount of Heroica sets to six. Plus since I spent $19.99 I also received a free Lego Hobbit poster. Bonus 3.0! 

My daughter thinks it will look good up in the computer room where all our game stuff is stored, but she thinks it might be moved to her room. Bonus 3.0 minus 1.0 still equals Bonus 2.0!

Sometime this week I will have a great Battletech battle report post  ready for your reading enjoyment so I'll see you next post. 

Replacing Citadel Blood Red Spray Paint

Here lies the quest to replace the beloved out of stock supplies

Citadel Blood Red spray paint
Citadel Red ink
Citadel Chestnut ink

Trying to fill the gaps still held by great products now long out of production is difficult. However I have been somewhat successful is locating a few possible replacements. I want to remedy this issue as it has now made a definite halt in painting and further assembly of new models for my Blood Angels army.

This will be a long write up with plenty of photographic evidence for discovery and acquisition. So please follow me to the beginning of Part 1 in the great journey to replace Citadel Blood Red Spray paint.