W40K: Imperial Fists Tactical Squad 1

Games Workshop©

Finally got around to posting the photos of my Tactical Squad for my new Imperial Fists army.  These models are old school.  As I mentioned the other day, I found these in an old shoe box and decided to use them for the Imperial Fists.

Imperial Fists are a "Founding Chapter", their armour needs to be old right?

In the second picture below, you can see a close up of the old Missile Launcher and Flamer models.

Imperial Fists Tactical Squad 1

Imperial Fists Tactical Squad 1

Painting Points: 10

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Painting Points: May 2010

Wow, what a month for May!  I was able to complete 166 Painting Points for the month.  A record month for me.  I do not see myself coming close to that mark again.  I'll be off to a good start in June, but no where close to 166 points.

Here is a quick recap for May: 
I was able to finish my Tyranid army to 1750 points.

The Ultramarines then hit the painting table and I was able to finish some Tactical Squads and a few Drop Pods.

I added a few more units to my Imperial Guard army.  With a 40K League starting up soon, I wanted to give myself a few more options.

When I got bored with the above, I did manage to get a few vehicles painted for my son's Salamander army.

Last but not least, the last weekend in May saw me start a brand new Chapter for the Space Marines with an Imperial Fists army.

So what do we have in plan then for the month of June?  First would be to finish the Ultramarines.  Second continue working on the Imperial Fists.  Third, assemble and hopefully get started on my Blood Angels, and if we get to a Fourth, it may be to help my son with his Eldar.

Total Painting Points for the month: 166
Total Painting Points for the year: 472

Also, I really cannot stress enough thanks to Lone Pilgrim and Equinox for the idea of Painting Points.  I think Painting Points has really helped me get armies out on the table for 2010.

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W40K: Imperial Fists Rhinos 1 & 2

Games Workshop©

Yesterday I mentioned that I did not start on my second Sternguard unit because I was sidetracked with another project.  Yes, as the post title states, I started an Imperial Fists army.  No my Blood Angels are not going to the "back burner", just the "side burner".  I need about $250.00 worth of Blood Angel models to continue on with them, and for the Imperial Fists, I just had to spend $22.00

On Friday a friend of mine and myself were on IM and we were talking about Space Marines.  I said that I wouldn't mind doing a Imperial Fists Chapter led by Lysander (I like to theme armies around the Special Characters for the fluff of the game).  So I perused all my bitz boxes and old 40K boxes and found some models I could use.  I had assembled 4 units of Terminators for a Deathwing Variant my son was going to run for his Dark Angels.  Since we are no longer expanding the Dark Angels (just his Salamander army), I recruited them for the Imperial Fists.  I also found an old shoe box of models.  Inside this box I found 2 Second or Third edition Tactial Squads with 2 modern Rhinos.  These 2 Squads were now also recruited.  Last we found a Devastator Squad with 4 Missile Launchers and they have now also joined the ranks.  Now all we need was Lysander.  While at Empire Games that night, sure enough, Lysander was sitting on the shelf.  He was now to become the new leader of 1500 point Imperial Fists army.

So once I finished up the one unit of Sternguard this weekend, I had to start on the Imperial Fists.  I was able to basecoat most of the army and started on the Rhinos and Tactical Squads.

I'll be working on the Imperial Fists while I wrap up the Ultramarines.  In June I should be able to make some purchases for the Blood Angels and get them started.  I like have 2-3 painting projects going at a time. It keeps me interested in painting and now get bored with one army.

Here are the 2 Imperial Fists Rhinos I was able to complete.

Imperial Fists Rhino 1

Imperial Fists Rhino 1

Imperial Fists Rhino 2

Imperial Fists Rhino 2

Painting Points: 20

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W40K: Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran Squad 1

Games Workshop©

On Friday I mentioned this weekend will be modeling and gaming.  So far so good.  I was able to finish my first Sternguard Veteran Squad for the Ultramarines.  I was not able to start on the second unit yet as I got distracted with another project (post coming later today).

I first put together this Sternguard unit before Games Workshop released there metal models.  Since all my Troop Squads for this army are using the AOBR Space Marines, I thought using the regular Space Marines for he Sternguard's will work ok.  I modified the Combi-flamer's and Combi-melta's for this unit just with some of my existing bitz.  I could not see myself spending $9 for a single weapon.  This is just a "friendly game" army for me, so for my friends my weapon's will work just alright.

One more unit, 2 more Drop Pods and 2 Characters to go.........

Ultramarines Sternguard Unit 1

Painting Points: 10

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Daily Chronicle: 5/28/2010: Memorial Day Weekend

Just a few more working hours and it will be Memorial Day Weekend.  Thank You to all the Veterans that served for us.

So what does that mean for me, probably not too much except for some modeling and gaming.  The wife and I had discussed the possibility of driving down to Tombstone tomorrow for their annual "Wyatt Earp Days" but with a 3 hour drive down and 3 hour drive back and not much funds to spend down there, we'll probably be taking a pass this year.  I am finally caught up with all my utility deposits and moving costs so hopefully the month of June we'll be able to get back to living a bit more normally and purchasing some models for my Blood Angels.

What I plan on working on this weekend will be my 2 Sternguard Veteran Squads for my Ultramarines army.  I hope to get both of the squads done, but will be happy to at least finish one.

I'd like to also assemble my Leman Russ Battle Tank.  Our Adeptus Arizona 40K League kicks off next weekend so I would like to be able to have some wiggle/play room when it comes time to building my lists.  The base points of the armies start at 1750 points, with the possibility of playing up to 1900 points (with added "territories").  The League is going to be a good time.  I ran a similar league in Illinois for Fantasy, but after Week 7 my son and I had to forfeit the remaining games with our move back to Arizona.  Really looking forward to playing the Imperial Guard for this.  I am getting more and more comfortable playing with them and I really like the Mechanized play style.

So it looks like it will be paint/play/eat for this weekend.

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W40K: IG Heavy Weapon Lascannons

Games Workshop©

So I noticed the other day that I am only 4 Painting Points shy of setting a monthly record for myself.  My monthly record is 135 Painting Points and I am currently at 132 Painting Points.

What better way to get 4 Painting Points than to finish the 2 remaining Imperial Guard Heavy Weapon Teams I still have sitting in my bitz box.

I already have 3 Autocannons and 4 Heavy Bolters.  It sure would be nice to add some Lascannon's to the army.  So that is what I decided to do.  I modeled the remaining 2 teams as Lascannon's.

I was able to start on them yesterday during the little downtime I had with work, and sprayed the Matte finish this morning.

Imperial Guard Lascannon Teams

Imperial Guard Lascannon Teams

Painting Points: 4

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W40K: IG Veteran Squad 4

Games Workshop©

As I mentioned the other day in one of my "Daily Chronicles", I decided that I wanted to add another Veteran Squad to my Imperial Guard army.  Currently I have 3 dedicated Veteran Squads, and I can piece mail 3 more squads from my Infantry Squads with Flamers.  I had 10 infantry still on sprue and some Plasmaguns, so I decided to make a fourth dedicated squad.  This now gives me 2 Veteran Squads with 3 Meltaguns, and 2 Veteran Squads with 3 Plasmaguns.  I can still piece mail 2 more squads with Flamers when/if I play my full Mechanized list.  I'd love to eventually have all 6 dedicated Veteran Squads.  Eventually I'll get some more models to be able to that and add some Valkyrie's to the list.

I think once the Blood Angels get completed I'll stop working on new armies and continue working on expanding the Imperial Guard.  There are so many cool models for them that I want to add to this army.

Imperial Guard Veteran Squad 4

Painting Points: 10

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W40K: Ultramarines Drop Pod 3

Games Workshop©

Drop Pod 3 is complete for the Ultramarines.  Just 2 more to go for my Sternguard Squads.

I'm going to try my 1750 point list in a play test game tonight.  Hopefully I'll enjoy playing them a little more now that I decided to run Tigurius as my HQ.

Ultramarines Drop Pod 3

Painting Points: 10

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W40K: Salamanders Whirlwind 1

Games Workshop©

I had a Space Marine Whirlwind lying on my shelf and I thought I'd add it to my son's Salamander army.  I was not going to use it in my Ultramarines or Blood Angels (and my Black Templars cannot use them), so why not, add some more arsenal for my son.  One thing about my son's Salamander army is that this is his army to grow with.  When a cool model comes out or wants to try something different, it will be for this army.

The Whirlwind I had was already assembled, so I threw on some paint last night and finished up the highlights this morning.  Matte spray just finished drying, so here's the picture.

Space Marine Whirlwind 1

Painting Points: 10

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Daily Chronicle: 5/20/2010

Time for another dose of the "Daily Chronicle".  As I stated yesterday work has really picked up this week and I have been swamped yesterday, today, tomorrow going into early next week.

I did happen to start on a Space Marine Whirlwind for my son's Salamander army.  I plan on getting that finished later this afternoon and pictures should be available later tonight.

Yesterday I finally ordered a light kit for taking pictures of my miniatures.  I have been shopping them for the last 6 months and I told myself that when I get down to Arizona I'll finally purchase one.  Most of the light kits I have found were around $60-$100 depending on the size.  Yesterday on http://www.1saleaday.com/ they were offering a 12" light kit for only $19.99 plus $4.95 shipping.  So for under $25.00 shipped I figure I'll give it a shot.  I'd like to thank Brent over at http://thereandblogagain.wordpress.com/ for pointing it out to me.  Hopefully it will arrive sometime next week and I'll do some test pictures with it.

My order from The War Store should be arriving today.  I had ordered some more "Army Painter" 'Desert Yellow' for my Imperial Guard and a couple of cans of 'Dragon Red'.  'Dragon Red' is there new color so I can do my Blood Angels.  I have been thrilled with the results of the "Army Painter" primers and I'm hoping the red will be just as good.  Along with the primers, I order some bitz to assemble some Blood Angel Assault Squads.  I already had 10 Jump Packs sitting in my bitz box, so I figured I'd order some 'running legs' and some more 'bodies'.  I'll also pick up a couple of boxes of the new Blood Angels models so I can add in some of the Blood Angel bitz.

Once the Whirlwind gets completed, not sure what I'll throw on the painting board next.  It will either be to assemble the Leman Russ, or another Drop Pod to paint.  I may lean towards the Drop Pod just to have all 3 done for the Tactical Squads.

Pictures of the Whirlwind coming later today.

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