Status update

The desk is flowing over with projects at the moment.
I have started to fix some of the dwarfs I got for free, and some of the ones that came based.
I was at Games Workshop on Saturday, and apparently the magic number for dwarf units are 30 if you want them to pack some punch in combat. So this means I have to rethink my units from the last post. I have started this work, but it will take some time to complete as I need to see what I have, and how to mix boxes to build the optimum amount of dwarfs and the right kind of units.

I have started to make a Ranger unit that packs the right kind of punch. They will be 30 rangers, have a full command, and all will have crossbows in their hands, and axes strapped to their backs.
To make this unit I will need 2 and some boxes of Thunderers/Quarrelers as I need 30 dwarfs. There are 16 in each box, but 4 have capes and it won't look good with axes on the outside of their capes.
The caped dwarfs from these and some other boxes will go in to a separate unit that I will build as Thunderers.
Then I will make one unit of Quarrelers, also with 30 dwarfs. Then I'll see what to make with the rest of the dwarfs, but probably Quarrelsers in an unknown unit size.

I also plan to make 2 units of 30 dwarf Warriros, one unit of 30 Longbeards and a unit of 30 Irondrakes (or if that gets too expensive a smaller unit of Irondrakes and a big unit of Ironbreakers).

While working with my dwarfs I also try to complete the Dreadnaughts. So far I have painted quite a lot of the first Grey Knight dreadnought and also of the librarian dreadnought. The idea is to paint both dwarfs and Dreadnoughts until they are done. I will also try in between to finish the washes of my Chaos Space Marines, the Grey Knights and my Imperial Guard units. The plan is also to paint up the Imperial Guard tanks.

Looked over the dwarfs some more (warning, long post)

What a find!
I have gone through my new lot of dwarfs. Unfortionately most of the metal dwarfs are missing their shields, but I bet there's shields to be found for a cheap price at Ebay.
Many of the miniatures were beautifully painted, some not that beautifully, some partially painted and some were unpainted.

But first, I checked the Vampire counts box, and found out I have 10 skeletons, 20 zombies and 10 crypt ghouls. Also there were some sprues with spare parts.

And now dwarfs...

Starting with the miners, I got 16 old metal Miners and 8 plastic Miners including a musician and a standard bearer. Miners should be 10 or more in a unit, but I have other plastic miners, so I will make two units of them, one metal, one plastic. The plastic Miners are painted a bit like I have painted the ones I already have, so I don't think I will have to repaint them. The metal ones will need to have their helmets repainted, but apart form that I hope to keep them as is.

27 metal Hammerers will be split up in to two units I think. I might add one standard bearer that I have spare, and that will give me standard bearer for both units and a musician for one unit. When I put things in to units I might have a Lord or at least a character with slightly different armament to use as champion. These dwarfs do need some painting as some dwarfs are partially painted and one is not even basecoated. This is one argument for making two units as I then can keep one unit with Hammerers that don't need paint and then repaint/paint the ones for the second unit.

The next units are Gunmen. 20 in total, where 8 have a gun pointing forwards, while the remaining 12 have a gun pointing partly upwards I've looked at some lots on Ebay, and it appears as that these Thunderers are used mixed together. It also seems that I have a champion for this unit, but no standard bearer or musician yet.

I also have 10 plastic dwarfs armed with what looks more like long pistols, and I also have a musician, a standard bearer and a champion included in the group.

The guy I got the lot from had some skills modifying, and I have a group of dwarfs modified to look like men of the forest. If I bring some minis that looks the same (without the modifications) we're looking at 13 plastic and 1 metal Ranger. I might call them two units when it comes to fluff, and claim that they fight together to give more punch when their scouting function is no longer needed. Hopefully I don't need to do any painting on these, as they look über-cool the way they are right now. The metal fits nicely with the others as it is one of the ones modified, only way to find it is not the same as the others is to lift it and feel that it is alot heavier than the others.

I have 5 cannons in all, 2 Organ guns and 2 regular cannons in metal, and 1 plastic cannon that came from the Skull Pass box. One of the organ guns have been given plastic wheels, but one wheel is missing... Again, I'll see what Ebay can bring. Shouldn't be too hard to find something that is cheap but has two wheels (or one if it is the right kind).

For the cannons I have something between 10 and 15 crew depending on what some of the minis are, this gives me some room. There are some lovely metal dwarfs with a lot of character that probably is cannon crew. One is brushing the sweat of his forehead with his arm while he holds the helmet in his hand. Another one is obviously working with what appears to be a measuring device or compass and I expect that is to find the right angle for the cannons to hit the target.
I also have 2 dwarfs with weird looking sticks, and it might be that these sticks are wicks to light the cannons with...

One of my dwarfs that I need to identify is a dwarf drinking beer (or at least so it seems), and he has a helmet with feathers in it. All I know about it is that it looks like a really old model, but I will have an Inquisitor find out a bit more...

The group also contains one metal slayer, but this is is the one conversion I don't like. His axes are replaced with a chain with three swords on the end of it. Originally I think he had a chain with a disc on the end in the other hand but that is broken off. I do want to have some slayers in my army, and I have the newest one on the shelf. Hopefully I can find a way to convert him back to an ax slinging slayer. But no matter what he will be a part of the Throng.

I have 2 plastic dwarfs that looks very old. They have hammer-like weapons, and the hammers are pointed on the back and look a bit like mining hammers really. I am not sure what unit to put them in, but they might go in to a unit of regular warriors or something like that. They look really cool, they just don't fit naturally in to a specific unit.

There are 6 dwarfs that I have categorized as Ironbreakers because of their flat helmets. They are metal, and 3 have axes, 2 have hammers and 1 have a double edged axe. These will need repainting because they stand out a lot from my other Ironbreakers and they also have some chipped paint. With these Ironbreakers and the metal ones I already have (both painted and still on the shelves) I think I have enough of them. That means the two plastic boxes (yes, they come in plastic now) can be made in to Irondrakes. Still, I might make one box as Ironbreakers just to get a feel for building them...

I also have 5 dwarfs with hammers (one has an axe instead)that looks a lot like Ironbreakers except that their helmets are pointed like the regular dwarf helmets. In some pics on Ebay I see them mixed in with the Ironbreakers, so I think I will use them as that.

There are at least 2 lords that I have identified in the group. 1 metal and 1 plastic, both with double edged axes. I hope these don't need much painting as they are beautifully painted as they are. I might have to change the wings on the helmet of one of them, but hopefully that's it.

Warriors are a big part of all dwarf throngs, and in this group I got 2 types.
6 warriors are metal, and 2 of them are a little older than the rest with 3 points on their helmets instead of the regular 2. They mix good together, and will be one unit. They need to be repainted as they are painted in different colors now, and one of them is just partially painted.
I also need to repaint the 14 plastic ones for the same reasons. This unit includes a musician, a standard bearer and I also have a Champion with a sledgehammer to go with this unit.

I have 4 standard bearers that I haven't placed with any special unit yet. 2 metal and 2 plastic.
There is also 1 carrying a banner (only banner in the lot for some reason) and he is only missing his base.

The last complete figure is a metal dwarf armed with a stone hammer and carrying some sort of scepter in his other hand. If dwarfs had wizards or priests I would say he was one of those, but probably this is a Runelord or something like that. It is a very nice model, and if I don't find any chipping on my final inspection I plan to keep him exactly as is...

I also got 1 pony with a mining cart with a lid on. This is not glued or painted.

The final dwarfs are 2 plastic ones with just one arm. They are both missing their left arms for some reason, and in their right they are carrying an axe and a crossbow respectively.

If I have managed to count correctly I have 150 new dwarfs and 1 mining pony, all for free.

Beware of angry dwarfs...

Last week I found a guy on the web that was giving away his Warhammer miniatures and some old White Dwarf magazines.
The way I read the description it looked like it was about 30-40 dwarfs and a few cannons, but when I got everything home yesterday it was so much more.

First it was some very nicely painted Bretonnian knights, and there also was an unpainted metal Lady, sitting sideways on her saddle and a plastic horse that was unassembled. There were also two bases with poles from the men-at-arms or archer set.

I also found a Vampire Counts batallion box, with some skeletons, and what I immediately took for being zombies but might actually be Crypt Ghouls. Still it is a chance that what is in the box now is different from what came in the box originally so I guess I'll find out what it is as painting gets done. The reason I'm thinking zombies is that the weapons on the sprues matches the weapons that the zombies have. Might be a mix, I'll find out for sure as I assemble in the future. Whatever I can build from these sprues I am sure I can work it in to my Chaos warrior army as the mages can summon the dead. And what is more dead than ghouls, zombies and skeletons? This will be really nice sometime in the future...

One little box included several wood elves, and at least one pack of dryads. These are all assembled and looks to be expertly painted. I will not start to play that army, but since the minis are so lovely painted I might keep them either for diorama purposes or just for taking pictures.

Then it was the dwarfs, and oh what a sight... A solid mix of old and new. Some beautiful metal dwarfs and some just as beautiful in plastic. They came in the Battle for skull pass box, so I guess a lot of the plastic dwarfs came in that box. Among the metal dwarfs were some Miners, some Thunderers with really nice weapons, and some cannons and crew.
I just got to brows the content a bit yesterday night, but I will use the afternoon today to look more closely and see what units I have.
Some of the dwarfs were unpainted, some were primed, some partially painted and a lot of them were quite expertly painted.
I have decided that I will not repaint the dwarfs just for the heck of it. If I can create units of the ones that are painted I will use them as is, and then I will do my very best to paint all my future dwarfs up to that same standard.
If the dwarfs can't be used in a unit as they are, I will try to repaint them so that I can add them in to existing units or in new units with the dwarfs I have on my shelves.
I also got some converted dwarfs that has hoods and looks like men of the forest, so they will form a ranger company. I'll see how many dwarfs fit this bill, and if necessary I will try to convert a few more to make up one ranger unit.
But no matter what I end up with I have gotten a lot of very nice models for free, and I look forward to incorporating them in to my throng.

More dreadnougts

I decided to add more dreadnoughts to the mix.
On my desk now stands five dreads primed and awaiting painting and the adding of some small parts like like the armour on their legs and heads for the dreads where heads are visible.
I have two Venerable Dreadnoughts for my Grey Knights, one armed with a twin linked lascannon and the other with a plasma cannon. They both have a powerfist for their other arm.
The third dreadnought is really a Blood Angels Furioso Librarian dreadnought, but I have removed his blood drops, so he can be used either with the Grey Knights or as I have originally planned with the Gatekeepers. There he will stride to war alongside my Venerable Chaplain dreadnought.
He is armed with a power claw and a force weapon (spear like thing). In the Gateeepers he will be a Venerable dreadnought.

Then I have two dreadnoughts that definitely are for the Gatekeepers, and that is my two Ironclad dreads. I am not sure how their arm configuration will be yet, as I need to check the rules as to what are allowed to use in combination with each other But I have one arm with a seismic hammer ,and one with a hurricane bolter (if I have understood it correctly, that is the arm with six bolters). Then I have a chainfist and a close combat weapon.

One of them has two hunter killer missiles, and at the moment the other one have none. I might add one though, as the other side is used for the search light.
The one with two hunter killer missiles also have what I like to call "reactive armor", same as are on the front of my one finished Landraider, and a banner.

Dreadnoughts and tanks

I finished my Eradicator for my Imperial Guard Tank company. It got a lascannon in the front turret and heavy bolters in the side sponsons. After I had assembled that, the tray I keep my tanks on before I spray them was full, so I decided to call it a day.
Still, I didn't want to stop building, so I started on my next Grey Knight project. I wasn't sure if I assembled a venerable or a regular dreadnought, but now I have decided it will be a venerable one.
I decided to use the panels with all the planet names on them, and I would think that a name was added to the dreadnought for each conflict it was involved in, and because there are a lot of planets I figure it has to be a venerable one. This will give me the chance to paint a lot of golden areas, and that will make it stand out from the Dreadnoughts of the Gatekeepers. The venerable dreadnoughts I have for my Gatekeepers use gold and white as detail colors, but the Grey Knight one will just use gold.
The heads for the dreadnought was not the same shape as the grey Knights themselves, oddly enough, but I guess the manufacturer just used the regular dreadnought sprues and put it in a new box. The instructions just said Space Marine Dreadnought. Still I found a head that looked a little special, so I will use that and paint it gold and blue as I did with the heads of my Purifiers.

While I was assembling one dreadnought I figured I might assemble one more, so I found one of my two Furioso boxes, and put together a Librarian Dreadnought for my Gatekeepers. I also looked on the shelf where I keep figures that are bought assembled and projects that are started but for some reason left unfinished and found two bags with Ironclad dreadnoughts that I prepped for assembly a long time ago but never manged to actually assemble. So the plan is to paint up all four sort of like an assembly line, but I will assemble the Ironclad ones on my next sitting.

The Grey knight Venerable dreadnought is missing the head and sarcofagus, but apart from that everything is assembled. The arms are not attached, but they're not supposed to be glued on anyway. The Librarian dreadnought is also armless, but everything else is glued together and ready for painting.

The five Grey Knight Purifiers are all done now. I added some extra details to three of them, and I am happy with the way they turned out. I will go over them to see that everything is painted up neatly before I take pictures of them and post here.

Before I called it a night, I also painted the gray on my first Demolisher. I think I have found a nice paint scheme with black and gray, but that remains to be seen when it's painted...
The idea is that the side sponsons and part of the back of the tank will be black, and the rest will be gray. Then I will take time to paint details like grills and filters in metallic colors and add some rust to the plowblades and maybe some other parts. I think I will try to see how the rust special paint works for this, as I would like to have several techniques to use for my different models.

The Easter holliday is almost over...

It's Sunday, so time for a weekly update. Since Friday (last update) I have bought and started the assembly of a Librarian in terminator armour to be the leader of my Grey Knights.
The mini is finecast and came with several options for the left arm assembly. I decided on using the same as on the box, a hand with the fingers slightly curved, as it looks like he is in the middle of casting a spell. It was a lot of cleanup on this model, but it was worth it. The casting and details are really nice. I have not attached the right arm to the body yet, as it seems smart to paint the back of the arm and the side of the neck before assembly.

I have done some production line building of tanks, and have assembled two finished Leman Russ tanks, and built the hull for the third. The two tanks that are finished are built on the Demolisher chassis and ended up as a Demolisher and an Executioner. Both these tanks got dozer blades. The third hull is a battle tank chassis, and will end up as an Eradicator.

I have four more battle tank chassis to assemble, and the plan is to make one or two as Eradicators, to make up a full unit with them. Then I would like one more Vanquisher, and the rest will be battle tanks.
Most of my tanks have heavy bolters as a support weapon in the front and also on their side sponsons. The exception is the Vanquisher with my Knight Commander, that has a lascannon in the front and meltas in the side sponsons and my lead Demolisher that also have meltas in the side sponsons.
I'll see what the remainder of the tanks will be outfitted with...

Whirlwind finally assembled, and some more updates...

At the same time as I built my Vindicator that I finally finished last week, I started on a Whirlwind. This was just partially assembled, and it's been standing on the shelves for a long time. But after seeing the finished Vindicator I was inspired to fix the Whirlwind as well. So this morning I took it down and did the final assembly on it. So it's now ready for painting.
I plan to give it a basecoat of black, and then paint it up the same way as the Vindicator. It will not be as dirty as the Vindicator though, as these vehicles usually stay in the background and send rockets on to the battlefield from a safe distance.
I chose the version with the most rockets, but reading the rulebook I can't figure out what version that is (Vengeance or Castellan missiles). Maybe I'll find it in the older books...

I have also gotten quite a long way with my Grey Knights. They ended up Kantor Blue (the darkest blue in the current Citadel paint range) with gold details, and I think they will be quite cool. I am still working on the fluff as to why they are blue as "i suck at painting metal" probably won't work.
They have all the Grey Knights insignia, so there are no doubt that they are real Grey Knights, it's just that their armour is painted differently.
They are all assembled and painted up, but I need to attach extra stuff like purity seals (I expect they have quite a few) and inquisitorial icons.

My first tree is just missing paint on the top of the leaves (underside is painted) and a wash. The base is almost ready, just need to fix the edge. Before I do that I need to figure out if I want it to be one color (probably black) or if I want the colors on the top to come down over the edge. I am leaning towards the last solution at the moment as I think that will look best when put on a table.

I have also found the other Inquisitors that I have and placed them on their bases, and cleaned them up. Except from one acolyte that is metal, they are all resin. Resin means a lot of cleanup in the beginning and that is done now. I also fixed one more metal Commissar to his base while I was on the roll.

This means I have some minis to spray, so I thought I should take the opportunity to spray some more tanks at the same time, so I think I will assemble the last Demolisher with plowblade, and then I'll see what other versions that comes out of it. I have two boxes of Demolisher bodies, and five (I think) of the regular battletank version.