Oathmark Eldar Guardians and …

The Oathmark Eldar have been finished - well apart from their bases. 

I am pretty with they have turned out - when they are based up I will take a picture with the Dire Avengers. 

Of course the kit bash, got me thinking about what to do with the arms and stuff from the elves - and I remembered I have some skitarii bodies and I could try making Secutarii Hoplites (the Upgrade set costs about £35). 

I think this could work - I need to find away to make the spears more sci-fi and Ad Mech ish. 

Morts

FW190 - Work in progress - nearly done.

I have been working on the FW 190 - and am a tad frustrated with the canopy assembly  - the top 2 picks show the dry canopies on the model and they don’t fit too well. 

The bottom shows my solution - stick the canopy parts together- stickin place, then (to be done) fill the gap around the front will green stuff. 

I have now filled the gaps around the canopy - and tried to paint on the canopy frame (not my best work to be honest). If you look closely some green stuff is visible inside the canopy. Some tidying up to do on the camo patches down the sides, but nearly there.

I am hoping that the blu-tac doesn’t take any paint off the underside. I believe that I have some clear plastic rod to make a display stand. Decals next. 

Basically done, with a home made stand. I am not sure I will put on all the decals as there are so many  - I think I have to add a little paint on a couple of places. 

There are some nice things about this kit, but the fit on it wasn’t great in places - the bomb cradle - the guide holes on the instructions were not present on the kit, this might have had been related to the flash on the sprues. There was gaps between the wings and fuselage, which links to the tight fit with the fuselage and engine cowling and the propeller section. Obviously the canopy was a poor fit - not helped by some poor painting of the frame. 

Need to do a label for the base and check it over but it is basically done - months before the deadline of July.

Morts

Apparently this is the 500th Post

Well I was hoping to do a big sort of celebratory type of post, but the reality of life and just trying to stay on top of things means that this will be a mixed post instead. Which is sort of disappointing, but not surprising, as I have been juggling a bit at the moment. 

First up I was out on the moor at the weekend - after much concern about the weather, a couple of really nice days (apart from the fun of finding so lost kids in the mist/fog) - it was meant to be mainly check pointing, but I managed a good few steps around the moor (full kit on the Saturday). 

TL - the view from the Dartmoor Inn. TR - looking back north while heading to Higher Wilsworthy. BL - the river around Standon Farm. BR - the mist coming in in the afternoon around Beardown. 

TL,TR, BL - Sunrise at Peat Cot. BR - a bit of sun around Deancombe .

On Friday evening - as the good lady was out (in NYC), Steedo popped over for a game of Onus. Only our second. I was initially planning to start a campaign, but on reading the rules though a 1000 point game more appropriate. Steedo chose the Spartans and I went for the Athenians …

This was a great victory for the Spartans - twice as many points killed compared the my Athenians, there was some poor dice rolling from me, but I think I was simply out played. I certainly didn’t you the combined Hoplites and attendants well (my peltasts didn’t see much action) and my right flank was ridden over. Not a good day - but the game played and was packed up in around 3hours, which included numerous rule checks.  I could try and have claimed a draw as we killed each others generals on the last turn. 

Overall a splendid weekend. 

Morts 

FW190-A8 - Progress

So I have moved forward with progressing the Focke Wulf. 

The undercarriage is up and the bomb is on. The nose cone was delayed as I thought is would be better to put the sprial decal on while it was still attached to the sprue. Just a few bits (tiny) to fit on the underside of the fuselage (and be knocked off), before I can paint the light blue underside. 

The underside basically complete - moving along quite nicely. Insert picture to show some off the flash on the sprues - quite bad. 

Started on the topside … 

 Morts

Oathmark Eldar - Work in Progress

In a good demonstration of the whimsy on the modelling and gaming hobby, I have been quite taken with the Oathmark Eldar kitbash. 

I have filled the gaps, between the bodies and the packs. But now need to smooth off the backpacks -  I am now thinking that I perhaps should have used the Starship Troopers packs as they are not as wide across the shoulders. Too late now. 

The shoulder pads done - possibly a little smoothing to be done and these will be ready for some paint. 

Morts

Paying attention … or not … Oathmark Eldar

In an earlier post I mentioned getting a sprue of Oathmark Elf light infantry, for replacement heads for the Drakon Riders - the bodies I thought could be used for ranger types. So I bought some … or more to the point I thought that I had bought some … in fact I bought some armoured Elves instead. Now these are quite nice figures, but don’t fit with the Ral Partha Elves - so what am I to do? Sending back wasn’t an option as this would push the cost up, which would rather defeat the object of getting the Oathmark Elves.

Now I have been thinking of getting some Eldar guardians as possible canon fodder and I had some bits from the corsairs and converted guardians …

I think he works quite well - I do need to get some sci-if backpack thing and some sort of pauldrons will be needed to cover up the arm to body joint, but I think I will make a little squad of them. 

I will post work in progress as I go. 

Morts

FW190 Work in Progress - Part 1

At the weekend I did (amongst other things) started on assembling my birthday Focke Wolf FW 190 F-8 Revell model kit. This is the first model kit that I have tried making properly in 40 years … or more. 

I painted up the cockpit details a bit, but not too much and avoided using some of the decals in the box. This was probably a good call as when it went in the fuselage you can’t see much of it anyway.

The main wings and fuselage need to go together now - however I might have put to much pressure on the fuselage when sticking it together, because there is a little bit of a gap between it and the top wing. I will have to put some green stuff in there - d’oh! Although the bottom seems to fit ok when dry fitting. 

I think it’s going to be build with undercarriage up - that way I can’t snap off wheels. 

Prepping models …

I have spend the last few weeks preparing troops for undercoating, then painting. 

Over 48 Celt warriors, heroes, druids and wolfhounds. 

I have also been getting a old red dragon I was bought for my birthday (40 plus years ago from the Oxford Street Virgin Games Store) - although I have seen it as a black dragon (I think in an old Ral Partha catalogue). 

DK picked up a playmobil Viking longship - thinking that it would be good for 28mm Vikings. 

I am thinking that it might become an elf ship - I have a Revell Viking longship model which is probably a better scale match with the minis. 

Morts

Modelling conundrums …

A while ago I got the Mantic Drakon Lord - but with a GW knight to replace the lord - a better fit with the Ral Partha minis the army is made of. For my birthday I suggested that my daughters get me the Drakon regiment … they failed. But this was a good thing as a regiment came up on eBay for a good price. 

So I thought I would need another rider - as I was using 2 of the elf cavalry horses for a general and wizard (yet to be sourced), so I had 2 knights available to ride the Drakons.  

Unfortunately I hadn’t factored in the following …

The Drakon riders are integral to the body of the beasties - so what to do? 

Try and remove the rider - simply not worth the effort. 

So the plan is to remodel a bit - green stuff the cuirass, change the lances,  a mail skirt over the the legs and riders need heads to more match the rest of the army. I did look at some 3D prints and eBay for spare GW stuff, but the prices were silly. The current plan is get a sprue of Oathmark Elf light infantry and use some of the helmets from there.

I was hoping for a simple rider swap … best get back to preparing the celts for painting.

Morts

Out and about …

A couple a Saturdays ago, I was out doing ten torsy stuff - getting to drive the minibus around the lanes. The highlights of the day are below - Weston Mouth and a Raven at Ladrum Bay. The lowlights being cleaning the sick out the back of the minibus and the sitting around waiting for the young people to arrive - I don’t like check pointing.

The middle of the week should have seen me watch Mark Thomas in the big city - but an accident and the motorway managed to get the gig postponed. But it was a pleasant evening was spent chatting with Keeno et al. 

This Saturday saw myself, Keeno, Steedo and Plus-one head to the mighty St James’s Park to see the Grecians take on Northampton …

Sadly the weather was the bright side of the day, as we watch two alleged football teams kick a ball in the air. In summary the first half was not much happened, then Northampton scored a goal and the second half was not much happened, then Exeter scored a goal - the it was over and we were put out of our misery. A good day out with the lads but a poor day for football. 

Morts

Nexus Ops - Played

DK brought a copy of Nexus Ops over to the Boy Next Door (BND) for us to  try. I had managed to watch the play through link on YouTube, so I sort of had an idea of what was happening for once. 

DK had done his usual very good paint job (git) on a game which doesn’t actually need painting. The board set up is randomly placed tiles for terrain effects, then randomly placed explore tokens on top of those. The 3 base tiles for each faction (which are the same) are placed equally around the board. 

The aim of the game is to get 12 victory points, but winning battles (1 point each) and scoring secret objectives (1 to 3 points), which you pick up after fighting a battle. The game makes you fight. 

To get the units to fight the battles, you have to mine (the values in the yellow triangles). 

A rush in the first few rounds to pick up mines, purchase units and fight a few battles. I took an early lead as the player who started last get more money to buy stuff - BND seemed to think that going first didn’t make up for getting 6 less money. 

I also managed to get a 3 point secret objective, by sacrificing one of my dragon things to kill an opponents dragon …

My final 13 points and the win - after an initial early lead, the others were catching me up by taking my mines (revenue), while I had been spending on expensive dragons … and each battle they won gained them more points … narrowing my lead. But I was able to hold on. 

Certainty I would play again - thanks for bringing it out for a lay DK and thanks to BND for the pork pie. 

Morts

Celt Armoured Cavalry

I have painted up the Celt Armoured Cavalry - 3 Renegade (Essex horses) and 3 Victrix. 

Still some experimenting with various speed and contrast paints. 

Generally quite happy - probably not as quick as I would like - hand painting the shields is a bit of a pain - geometric and knotty aren’t that easy to get right. 

The tartan/stripey experiment isn’t quite there yet. I need to remember what brown speed paint I am using for wood colour. 

I have assembled the rest of the Celt infantry to be stuck on sticks for undercoating. I suppose I should assemble the rest of the army too …

Morts 

Snake-eyes Half-Century Twilight Imperium

This weekend was Snake-eyes’ 50th Birthday celebration - so the collective (sans Cylon) who apparently had better things to do with the day) gathered and played Twilight Imperium (twice within a month). We were trying for an early start (therefore an early finish - Snake-eyes was saying late afternoon … but we knew that wasn’t going to happen, but it did appear briefly that it might). 

At 10am (after sausage baps) we were ready to go - the races were:

Steedo - The Clan of Saar (Black).
Snake-eyes - The Nekro Virus (Red).

Tiger-King - The Nomad (Pink).
Morts - The L1Z1X Mindnet (Blue).

DK - The Titans of Ul (Purple).

Tiger-King had asked to keep the Nomad, as he wanted to get his head around them, the rest of us rolled off - but in the end I kept from the last game L1Z1X, as it gave more space around the table. This left our two most successful players (DK and Steedo) with apparently the two most successful races in the game.

The starting places …

Steedo made an early attempt on Mecatol Rex and a very quick lead - I was struggling with gaining command tokens, mainly because DK kept taking the strategy card.

Below the scores at 14:00 - DK and Snake-eyes trying to keep up with Steedo on 7 points. 

DK had made a run on Mecatol Rex and forced out Steedo - and was complaining that no one else was stopping Steedo … but I think DK wasn’t quite getting the fact that Tiger-King and myself were so far behind, our interventions wouldn’t improve our game position … if you lose it doesn’t really matter who wins - although letting Steedo win two games in succession wouldn’t be great.

My move on Mecatol, using the hero ability …

Mecatol is mine … any I have some points in the bag … in fact moved into 3rd just a point behind the leaders … we had some fun with agendas, by voting for the leader to get points … but with joint leaders, they got nothing  - Ha ha. However, during an agenda phase a law was passed which led to a key part on someone’s victory - this was down to Tiger-King, deciding that rather than hamstring DK’s faction ability with structures, he would stop myself, Steedo and Snake-eyes getting a little boost off riders we had played …

In the final turn, the game had moved to preventing DK winning as the first two 2 point public objectives revealed were about having a certain number of structures in play … which was DK’s faction ability and he could score … I launched an assault on DK’s home system … but unfortunately DK’s structure’s did for me … although I did manage to rebuild some. Then Tiger-King made a speculative attack on Steed, who had been quiet for the last few hours … much to Steedo’s annoyance … “I’m not the threat” … however this attack was perfectly justified as Steedo had lined up a possible winning plan … this sort of deviousness is Steedo’s MO, so a good call.

But it was not to be … my efforts came to nought and DK was able to claim the win.

The final scores:

1st DK - 10 points

2nd Steedo - 8 points

3rd Morts - 7 points 

4th Snake-eyes - 6 points 

5th Tiger-King - 5 points 

A deserved win, although a bit lucky win the 2 point objectives to DK - Steedo, so close. A much improved game and attention from Tiger-King. I could have taken DK’s home world, I might have been able to snatch a victory … and hopefully a good day for Snake-eyes the birthday boy!

Morts

Almost Giant Killing …

Due to a bit of luck I managed to snag a last minute ticket to watch the mighty Grecians (18th in league one - which is the 3rd tier of English football) play Forest (4th in the premier league). And what a cracking evening I had.

The game kicked of and to be honest I thought that City might be in for a long night (which it turned out to be), as Argyle had beaten Liverpool on Sunday, so Forest might want to avoid another Devon banana skin. Anyway after about 6 minutes City scored - the home fan went wild … I did think was to too early…

And sure enough Forest pulled it level after about 10 minutes, the n they went ahead at 37 minutes… the giant killing dream was fading…

But wait the tale isn’t over yet … 6 minutes into the second half the Grecians were level! Game on. It was frantic stuff, Exe trying to catch Forest on the break and nearly managing it just before the final whistle for full time. But also having to defend and block deep against faster, fitter and more skilled players. 

At the death of full time Exe had a debutant sent off for a straight red (a poor tackle by all accounts) and a clash with the Exe keeper laid out a Forest striker for 10 minutes. But Exe held on for extra time.

Extra time was tough as the 10 man Exeter team held off Forest from scoring for another 30 minutes.

We were onto penalties - my first (and probably only) penalty shootout at a ground. The Exe captain stepped up and scored the first penalty … unfortunately the next 2 Exe players missed theirs and Forest didn’t miss any. 

Forest go through 4-2 on penalties.

But the Grecians can hold their heads high, as they took a team 54 places higher than them all the way - a brilliant evening!

Morts 

A hat-rick out on the Moor.

Not much doing on the painting or gaming sides things - I have made some progress on the Celt cavalry, but not much as I have also been applying for jobs. My contract ends fairly soon, and there has been much talk of an extension, but not sign of it becoming a reality. 

However I have managed 3 weekends on the bounce out on the moor. Below shows the walk 3 weeks ago,  from Wilsworthy to Row. TL - High Wilhayes from Wilsworthy. BL - flitter up to Hare Tor. TR - Yes and High Wilhayes from Kitty. BR - Yes and High Wilhayes from Dinger.

A fortnight ago it was my birthday and Thing 1 (whose birthday is a couple days before mine), got me a night in a hotel on the moor (this was partly to get me and the good lady out of the house, so she could have friends over). Obviously I plan a couple of little walks. The Saturday saw a circular walk from Manaton, over Hayne Down to Jay’s Grave, to Easdon Down back to Manaton via Luckdon and Manaton Rocks. 

Below, TL - the rocks up to HayneDown. BL/TR - more rocks on the top of Hayne Down. BR - Bowerman’s Nose, the named rocks on Hayne Down. 

Below, TL - Jay’s or Kitty Jay’s grave (sorry here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay's_Grave). TR - the trig point at Whooping Rock on Easdon Down. The views from here were great even on a cloudy day. BL - the view of HayTor and Hound. BR - Easdon Tor (I think). A really nice walk - although the good lady wasn’t to pleased with the climb over Manaton rocks at the end. 

After a cracking breakfast at, we made for Mardon Down. The top to pictures attempt to show Giant’s Grave. The remains of a burrow, unfortunately in the 18th or 19th century its stones were taken to be used a road foundations. BL - the Headless Cross - but I have no idea if it ever had a head. BR - the view over to an overcast Haytor and Hound Tor. 

Yesterday saw a trip to Haytor vale (but I didn’t take a picture of Haytor, up close). Top show Bonehill Rocks in the fog. Bottom is part of Hound Tor - still in the fog. 

Left show the rocks as you leave Hound Tor medieval village heading down to Becca Brook. TR the rather pretty footbridge over the brook. BR - some rather nice mossy stones at the bottom of Black Hill.

So three quality weekends and 4 walks out on the moor. The last one was interesting as it was very foggy and navigating was a challenge. 

I also a got the following for my birthday, which was nice. Thing 2, got me the Celts and the rules, my brother the FW190 (always thought it was a cool plane). Steedo very kindly got me Perudo (I will have to make sure I get the rules right - I don’t want a DK moment). The good lady got me a Garmin watch so I can measure my walks, activities and sleep - eek.  

 

I plan to build the FW190 before my brother comes over in July - nice to have a target to miss. 

Of to look at jobs now.  Oh joy - not!

Morts

Stuff which I have missed …

Before Christmas we had a little go at Heroquest - without DK, but because we needed to keep the campaign ticking along a spare Elf was drafted in from an expansion.

I have to say this new Elf was much more amenable to the wishes of the group and helped the team succeed in 2 quests without wandering off and causing confusion … 

Recently I have been playing with speed paints again and preparing Celts.

Regenade and Victrix noble cavalry and Renegade and Warlord skirmishers ready for paint. 

The skirmishers finished - generally happy with these, but the crusader flesh looks a bit grey - especially on the Frostgrave Wizards (these 2 may get the faces redone). I did try painting some checks and stripes  on some of the clothes before applying the speed paints - I think I need to make sure there is enough contrast between these base coats to make it work.

I get some pretty good results from speed paints sometimes and some disappointing ones on others - I will continue to practice. I have put together some Warlord Games celts - with a few spare heads from the Victrix cavalry… some look a little bobble headed. I’m sure that with a bit of paint they will look ok. 

Morts 

Twilight Imperium 2025

This weekend saw the collective’s annual trip to Cornwall for an epic Twilight Imperium game. We started in the usual fashion of getting a hearty full English breakfast at a farm shop to ensure we had the strength to endure the game. 
We rolled off for picking races;

Steedo - The Naaz-Rokha Alliance (Green).
Snake-eyes - The Yin Brotherhood (Purple).
DK - The Nekro Virus (Red).

Tiger-King - The Nomad (Blue).
Sylon - The Yssaril Tribes (Black). 
Morts - The L1Z1X Mindnet (Pink).

The board as set up by Snake-eyes - allegedly via some website to make as fair as possibl

The board with fleets in starting positions, apart from DK’s, because he was doing something … not sure what (looking at a butterfly or something), but delaying the start to the game. 

As Snake-eyes picked last he was the starting speaker - and things bimbled along as we tried to carve out are own little part of the galaxy. After about an hour or so Tiger-King, announced that he had just got his faction abilities and could we start again, as he had made a few mistakes - obviously the answer was no. After this he sort of checked out the game on and off … I don’t think he actually attacked anyone throughout the whole game. 

About 5 pm (so 5 hours into the game) - Snake-eyes had made a run at Mecatol Rex and was in quite a strong position. Sylon had decided to challenge him … the scores on the doors were DK and Sylon in the lead … with Steedo, Snake-eyes and myself on the chasing pack. 

About 8:00pm - Sylon and Snake-eyes were still duelling over Mecatol Rex, but Snake-eyes faction ability was making it difficult to get his troops off the planet. 

2230 - in the final turn, Sylon and DK had gone into the final round on 7 points, with myself, Steedo and Snake-eyes on 6 points. DK had announced that he could win in this turn, so Snake-eyes committed himself to thwarting this, with mass attacks … reducing DK’s influence to 1 below the threshold for a 2 point score, and all of us stopping DK picking up 1 trade good - although Tiger-King did wake up at this point gave Snake-eyes flash backs of last years controversial win (just ending the game by using support for the throne card - which had been removed from the game this year). 

Sylon made a run for Mecatol again, but was forced back by Snake-eyes flagship … which has a really nasty reaction to being destroyed!

I was watching Steedo, because he is a cunning player, he had got Snake-eyes to thwart DK and Sylon - I was planning to take his home world - using my faction hero’s ability - move your flagship and any dreadnoughts to any system without an enemy ship in it - Steedo’s was available … but he won’t be able to 4 score this turn ….

Unfortunately, I waited and passed, there would be another turn … then Steedo had a secret objective which scored in turn. He now had the points to score the final 3 points needed for the win in the Status phase … game over man! If I had taken his home world he wouldn’t have been able to score the public objective … another second place! 

The final board!

The score track.

Steedo -  10 points, The Naaz-Rokha Alliance (Green).

Sylon - 8 points, The Yssaril Tribes (Black). 
Morts - 8 points, The L1Z1X Mindnet (Pink).

DK - 8 points, The Nekro Virus (Red).

Snake-eyes - 6 points, The Yin Brotherhood (Purple).

Tiger-King - 2 points, The Nomad (Blue).

Overall, a good game, very close and generally played in good spirits (although DK had a couple of cross moments with Snake-eyes over some rule interpretations … but played the Virus really well). But a game which takes this much effort and time does require all players to stay in the game, as you have to account for their actions and ships. 

Welcome to Steedo on another win! 

I will continue to be the bridesmaid in this game - I think 3 consecutive seconds …

Morts