The last twelve hours approaches.

The last twelve hours of Palladiun Game's Robotech Kickstarter approaches.

I admit it, this Kickstarter project has had me watching it ever since it started. It was funded in a few hours and yesterday it crossed the 1 million mark. I have always liked the Robotech saga and the models are really great looking capturing the feel of the original series.

Here is a link to the Robotech Kickstarter

I originally pledged for the Battle Cry level which gives the base game along with some additional models and an art print also all the bonus unlocks. I eventually upgraded my pledge to the Showdown level which gives me two of everything Battle Cry offers. In the long run this allows me to play a new game and to play the game with both forces easily.

Right now my Showdown pledge gives me 180 models, which 128 models are playable as is and 52 models are playable Veritech Valkyrie variants. My math my be a bit off, but this is huge amount of models to get for a $260 pledge. This gives me a generous offering of both UEDF and Zentraedi forces.

The extra faction dice, templates, decals, unit cards, and most recently the command tokens are all gravy and there is a ton of gravy in this boat. :)

Here is what I am getting for my $260 pledge so far. Since the KS is still going and in its last crazy pledge level ending hours there is potential for more add-ons and bonus unlocks.

Image borrowed from KS to help promote the last hours of this great Kickstarter project.





The long wait till December will be tough, but this will give me plenty of time to keep my painting progress focused on my Blood Angels.

WIP Reinforcements!

Reinforcements

Blood Angels Sanguinary Guard!

A while ago I purchased a box of Sanguinary Guard for my Blood Angels. I like the unit history and the rules and through assembling the models I have come to like them more as well. The models look great and are full of detail also the abundance of head and shoulder pad variety is an added benefit. Some of the shoulder pads are rather large making the Space Marines inside look they are wearing a larger more ancient armor.

I assembled the models with the weapons they came with. According to 6th edition rules the unit has five Angelus Boltguns, five Glaive Encarmines separated to three Sower Swords, two Power Axes. The banner although expensive at 25 points can seriously boost the unit's close combat power to a point of representing another Sanguinary Guard member or two. The banner is held in the hand with an Angelus Bolgun so its kind of necessary whether I use the banner or not to add the fifth Angelus Boltgun.

I have not added any basing material as I thought to add some of the urban bricks and then have the models standing atop the bricks. The models are not really top heavy, but the models with power swords could take some damage and break if they fell in such a way so I think. Ironically the banner is not too top heavy at all. I might leave the models attached to the bases and build up the base as usual. I would rather have the focus point on the model and not so much on the base.

I have attached the jump packs as they won't interfere with painting the rest of the model at all. The wings will have to be glued on later as they will interfere with painting the rest of the model. I left the head off as they will interfere with painting the jump pack vents and I haven't deciding which heads to use. I don't care much for flesh heads when I have a choice as helmets are much cooler. I am liking the death mask variant heads a lot so I may use a mix. When I look at the box, it appears GW magnetized the head of one model as the head changes, but the model does not..

I lightly glued the left arm and not the hand of the models holding their weapons with both hands. This way I can remove the arms to easily paint the chest armor. One last detail is to snip the nips from the chest armor.

Thoughts on model pose?

These three models have been magnetized to serve different roles when needed. Both left and right model have their left arm magnetized to switch the Angelus Boltgun to an Infernus Pistol. The right model also has the right arm magnetized to swap the Power Axe for a Power Fist. The middle model's left arm is also magnetized to swap the banner for something else such as a Plasma Pistol.

The Plasma Pistol arm is missing a hand for now.

Although I will have the option to use two Infernus Pistols in a squad I am reluctant to do so. The big idea is to use the squad as a tank hunting unit with the option to deep strike. I would rather try to use them as a heavy assault squad as just a few of these should do some heavy damage to most units. The deep strike one trick pony tank hunting trick may not be the best interest for me as I have Furisoso Dreadnoughts to annoy opponents with and they do it fine on their own.

Reinforcebits

Close Combat Bits Galore!

My idea in progress is to create two Assault Squads with some rather bad ass weapon load outs and more dynamic poses. If I can pull it off and magnetize the heads then the squads can easily become a vanguard Squads for even more versatility. A lot of the weapons might just be for looks. The thought of a squad with an Assault Marine toting twin chainswords, or twin power swords, or even twin power axes is pretty sweet. However sometimes looks get pricey money wise as you tend to place cool model on board and then take cool model off the board. Sorry Space Choo Choo, my Furioso Dreadnought sends regards, however Space Choo Choo fought again to live in a different battle.

Tech Priest: So what do you need? Besides a miracle.

Sergeant: Weapons, lots of weapons.

The majority of the upper row of weapons will go to two Assault Squad Sergeants who will have access to use when needed a Combat Shield, Power Sword, Power Axe, or a Power Fist. Since the arms will be magnetized I could use them army wide very easily. The Lightning Claw was for an Assault Sergeant so he could have the choice of a LC or PF, but I needed the opposite arm, lol. The chainswords will be split between the two Assault Squads and the Sanguinary Priests. Some of the Power Swords will be reserved for the Sanguinary Priests as well.

Now time to start drilling new holes for even more magnetic glory to the Omnissiah. I have Assault marines Squads to assemble. With luck they just might have their jump packs attached.

WIP Baal Predator

My intention was to finish painting this vehicle before the end of April, but some early weather issues and a slight slow period robbed me of the goal. With luck I might be able to finish it in a few days or a week, but I am not going to press progress to much. If all else fails I will get this vehicle finished in time and definitely by the end of May.

I remember when I first purchased this tank and it sat for a small amount of time. I wanted to magnetize as much of the tank options as possible. In this I was successful and actually used a total of 23 magnets of various sizes within the many components. I used some hints and tips from the internet and some are of my own design, but I feel I can do the same process again. In some ways I wouldn't mind excepting commission to do this again for someone who needs it done.
For the longest time this tank has been moving around the battlefield with no tracks, no side weapons, and no paint so the goal was to get the tank assembled, out of the box, painted on the table.


Here is what the Baal Predator looks like so far.

Please keep in mind there are areas which will are not completed and some areas which will require cleanup. I don't intend to highlight much or weather the vehicle. The whole highlight and especially the weathered look has become all to common and expected and in some cases used too much. The subject of highlighting has crossed my mind, but the use of orange looks odd to me and begins to turn the model a little like a cartoon character. I paint my vehicle factory finish in most cases and I like this approach.

Front hull

The light is shining heavily on the tracks and they look better from the side.

Left side hull

The gold on the turret blood drop and the gun shield blood drops all have a new gold color recipe. I used a series gold wash and drybrush over a silver wash. It does look good, but I have not compared it to the gold on my Land Raider Crusader. I noticed I didn't get a picture of the Heavy Bolter ammunition bins.

Right side hull

The gun shield wing needs more work.

Turret with Assault Cannon

I used a new color scheme approach to painting the ammunition, but for the most part I think it looks good. I am wondering if a bright brass is better than a dull brass color. The bright brass might look better against the overall bright red color scheme.
The white wing color has not been painting nice. I know it needs a wash and the usual Badab Black is failing to achieve perfection. I might need to get some raw black ink instead. I get the feeling once a pot of GW wash passes the mid point the wash begins to deteriorate.

The cupola has not been glued in place.

Turret with Flamestorm Cannon

Jolly Good Show!

I am interested in painting the tip of the Flamestorm Cannon and the Heavy Flamers some sort of brass color instead of metal for the scorched look of use. I have to do more research for a paint recipe if I can find one. This brass theory kind of makes the weapon weathered and this is fine for me. I don't care to make the vehicle weathered, but rather shining with glory for the emperor. I am also all to happy to apply a new weathering powder if there is one.

I keep seeing a space ship when i hold this turret configuration.

I see more spaceship.

We Break For Nobody

Front with normal side access points.

Using the Flamestorm Cannon only keeps the Baal Predator cheap, fast, and a dangerous suicide unit. I have  used this configuration once, but it was during the older 5th edition rules where being glance/stunned sucked. I have the side Heavy Flamers for use as well, but the ability to use all the flamers is debatable.

Jolly Good Show!

Side with normal side access points.

The Baal Predator is a valuable unit for my Blood Angels army and sometimes its abilities warrants another in the inventory. The main configuration I always use gives the army a good edge and fire base. Lately I have thought to purchase the Strombolter for the vehicle. Within 24 inches the vehicle would be able to increase the overall firepower from 10 shots to 12 shots. The 12 shots consist of 4 twin-linked Str 6 shots, 6 Str 5 shots, and 2 Str 4 shots. Even without the Stormbolter the Baal Predator is a murder machine on tracks. Coupled with a complement of Landspeeders with dual Heavy Bolters I guess I am running a Heavy Bolter circus list, lol.


Looking into the future as the Baal Predator is eventually completed I am most likely going to tackle assembling and painting a full assault squad or two. This like the approach to the Baal Predator is to get the models assembled and out of a box of bits of unfinished models. This goal is becoming more of a reality with my recent large purchase of close combat bits.