Mechanicum Battle Construct done

It's been a while, but I finally painted up that Mechanicum construct I showed you a few months ago.

X1565-ZY, as I've dubbed it was actually very simple to paint. I started with a Boltgun Metal base, then mixed Nuln Oil and Seraphim Sepia washes to create the dirty metal look, then lightly applied Vallejo Weathering Powders to finish it off. The wepon was a mixed of Enchanted blue blended with Regal Blue.

Although I like it, I can't help but think it needs a little more. Maybe I should add a splash of red or green to tie it with the Mechanicum or the Sons of Horus respectively. What do you guys think?

Pre Heresy Fabius WIP

Here's something I've started knocking together. I know he's not a Son of Horus, but I want to test out a Primus Medicae in my next game and I figured that if I'm going to field a Chief Apothecary, I might as well use Fabius

I did some minor conversions to him, namely filing down his overly-chaotic shoulder pads. His right one needs replacing at some point, as the filing has left it lopsided, but he'll do for now. I'll probably end up converting some allied Emperors Children to accompany him at some point.

Vulture-Talon nearly done

The Vulture's nearly done now, bar some shading and weathering. It should be taking to the field for the first time on Wednesday evening, which means it needs a half decent base.



Here's what I've knocked together:

The painting on it isn't perfect, but it looks good enough to me for now. It can always be touched up when I got to finish the bases on the rest of the army. I need to file way the sand that's stuck to the side too. The whole thing isn't bad for a two day project though

Vultures and Spaceships

 I finally painted something!

I spent the evening making a start on the Storm Talon/Vulture I showed you yesterday and my Sons of Horus fleet too, due to the fact that both use pretty much the same palette.

None of of them are anywhere near done, but it's good to finally see some colours being applied to some models

Legion Flyers

I seem to be getting a lot built at the moment, but very little painted. Still, it's all progress at the end of the day, even if it is still very much WIP.

My latest builds have been a pair of flyers. The first being a Storm Eagle, converted from the Storm Raven kit and some plasticard:

I've always wanted a Storm Eagle or two to support the Fated 15th, but at £90 a go from Forge World and having a limited hobby fund, I found it hard to justify spending out for it, as gorgeous as the model is (especially as I want two).

So I bought myself a Storm Raven for £45 from my FLGS, looking to see what I could I do to make it more Storm Eagle-like. As it turns out, it's surprisingly simple and with a few hours work, it looks close enough to quell any size/WYSIWYG issues and look pretty good to boot. Plus, if I'm willing to put in the conversion work on a second kit at that price, I can get two Storm Eagles for the price of one. That can waitr though

My second flyer purchase was a Storm Talon:

I know the Legions can't technically have these, but I'm going to count it as Vulture with Punisher Cannons - it's certainly got enough dakka for it!

Assault Cannons were still very much experimental at the outbreak of the heresy, but I'm sure the Mechanicum wouldn't have objected to allowing the Warmasters own legion to field test the new weaponry. I figure having that many guns on one vehicle should more than justify the 20 strength five shots it can dish out, plus the small chassis can account for the Vector Dancer special rule

BFG Legion Capital Ship

I got a little distracted from my Sons of Horus with building myself a small Battlefleet Gothic fleet to go with them. It's still pre-heresy though, so I don't feel so bad.

Allow me to present the 'Wolf of Cthonia', Gloriana Class Battleship (to be used as either Emperor or Retribution), Flagship of the Sons of Horus, 15th Company

The Gloriana Class isn't represented in game, but it's mentioned in 'Betrayer' to be the class that most Legion Flagships come under. As I said, it can be used in game as an Emperor or Retribution Class, as I couldn't decide which one to field. Now I don't have to, as it's got enough battery's and launch bays for both.

I think it looks quite magnificent. A vessel worthy of the XVIth Legion! I'm rather looking forward to getting it painted too.

Sons of Horus group pic

Following on from yesterdays post, i thought I'd post up a snapshot of all the Herery-era models that I've got so far. Here they are, minus my Justerian and their Dreadclaw, which are packed away ready for moving house in a few weeks time:

As you can see, they're in varying states of completion, with very few actually 'done', apart from one Veteran squad (in the centre at the back). Before I do anything else, I want to finish these guys off, as well as lock down their squad designations so I can paint the markings on them. This will probably come once I'm in my new place mid April, but I'm hoping to get at least some done before that.

That's all really for today, but I'll post more up soon

Sons of Horus army lists

Progress on my Sons of Horus have been very slow, due to uni commitments, but what I have been doing is refining my army lists that I'm working towards.

So far I have two that I like:

2000pt Sons of Horus Tactical Speartip

Captain Markus Morkaddon – Praetor with Paragon Blade, Iron Halo, Bolter

Tactical Squad Ankyr – 20 x Astartes, Vexilla, extra ccw, Sergeant Darrus Kyrbarr has Power Fist 

Tactical Squad Morrantyr -  20 x Astartes, Vexilla, Sergeant Pussus Pyrann has Power Fist

Forrakyn Despoiler Squad – 7 x Seekers, Combi-Plasmas, Sergeant Jarrus Morr has Power Fist

Rapier Weapon Battery – Laser Destroyer Array

Apothecary Detachment -  Elikk Gyrrus and Gahrus Marddon, both with Augury Scanners

Psy-Adept Varrus Kobolon – Lv1 Divination Librarian with Force Maul and Artificer Armour

Morradon Heavy Support Squad – 7 x Astartes with Missile Launchers, Sergeant Arik Morradon has Augury Scanner

‘Drukkar’ Predator Tank – Executioner Cannon

‘Mysserfar’ Predator Tank – Magna-Melta Cannon

Terminator Squad Messerat -  5 x Cataphractii, 2 x Combi-Plasmas, 1 Pair of Lightning Claws, Grenade Harness, 1 x Chainfist, 1x Powerfist, 1 Plasma Blaster

Aphaldon ‘The Executioner’ – Moritat with twin Plasma Pistols, Artificer Armour, Jump Pack and Refractor Field

2500pt Sons of Horus ‘Destructor’ Speartip

Captain Markus Morkaddon – Praetor with Paragon Blade, Iron Halo, Bolter, Pride of the Legion

Psy-Adept Varrus Kobolon – Lv1 Divination Librarian with Force Maul and Artificer Armour

Aphaldon ‘The Executioner’ – Moritat with twin Plasma Pistols, Artificer Armour

Vorrban Veteran Tactical Squad – 8 x Veterans, 1 x Plasma Gun,  2 x Power Axes, 1 x Power Sword, Legion Vexilla, Nuncio-Vox, Sergeant Jannus Vannor has a Single Lightning Claw and a Bolter. The unit has the Sniper USR

In a Dreadclaw Transport

Korkann Veteran Tactical Squad – 9 x Veterans, 1 with Meltagun, 2 with Power Swords, 1 x Power Axe, Legion Vexilla, Nuncio-Vox, Sergeant Korin Zarhaddon has Thunder Hammer. The Unit has the Sniper USR

In a Dreadclaw Transport

Byrkarr Veteran Tactical Squad  –  10 x Veterans, Legion Vexilla, Nuncio-Vox, 2 x Plasma Guns. Unit has the Sniper USR .

In a Dreadclaw Transport

 

Apothecary Detachment -  Elikk Gyrrus, Gahrus Marddon and Marius Septon, all with Augury Scanners

Forrakyn Despoiler Squad – 7 x Seekers, Combi-Plasmas, Sergeant Jarrus Morr has Power Fist

In a Dreadclaw Transport

Contemptor Dreadnought Garrost – Armed with Multi-Melta, Power Fist with built in Graviton Gun and a carapace-mounted Havoc Launcher

In a Dreadclaw Transport

Horus Himself will be added to make this 3000 points


There's a few other odds and ends I'm working on, but for now I'm using these list as a guide on what to build and paint, otherwise I'll get caught up in the hype of new releases and buy a load of stuff which I'll never use.

As you can see, I'll have a mighty force done by the time it's done. Bear in mind though that these are only my Sons of Horus. I plan to have at least a small Pre-Heresy force of each of the traitor legions eventually, even if it's only a character and a squad to use as allies (probably as each gets their own special rules) to work along the Warmasters legion. The other major PH force that I'm going to have are my Thousand Sons, but I'm still working on my army list for those, So I won't post those yet.

I feel dirty even Theory-hammering this

I've found an evil, evil combination whilst testing some combinations for Horus Heresy lists, so cheesy that it even puts 5th edition Grey Knights in the shade. Yes, various forums have been talking about it for a while, yet I underestimated just how cheesy this combo can be. Until now.

Before I go on, I'd just like to point that this not worked out using mathematics (which i suck at), but rather through a test-firing conducted simply by chucking dice around.

So here we go:

One of the HQ choices available to Legion layers is the Moritat. He comes with a special rule that lets him fire another shot with his pistols for every successful hit he inflicts. With him being Ballistic Skill 5, coupled with the ability to take two Plasma Pistols, this gets nasty.

Here's what I rolled, using Assault Terminators with TH/SS (the first notoriously tough unit that i could think of) as a test target.

19 Hits (hitting on twos)
15 Wounds (wounding on twos)
6 Dead Assault Terminators (using their 3+ Inv. Save)

That's from one guy with a pair of pistols!

Now, if you take a Divination Librarian alongside him, it becomes truely insane. Cast Prescience on the Moritat and the real filthy cheese begins.

Lets run my numbers again:

147 Hits (2+ with re-rolls)
67 Wounds (2+ to wound)
37 Dead Assault Terminators (Using 3+ Inv. Save)

As you can see, that's pretty insane. It's more Terminators than you get in most Deathwing Armies!

Also, bear in mind this is just 210 Points (minimum, for the two characters combined) of the army, leaving a lot of points to spend on other cheese.

 Yes, they tried to balance it out in a few ways by not allowing him to join any unit apart from the overpriced Destroyer Squads and stating that the Moritat can't shoot or assault the in that turn or the turn after it uses the Chain Fire rule. To be honest though, if you give him a Jump Pack and make careful use of cover you can hide him quite effectively so it's hardly a drawback.
As for the restrictions on joining units, I'd gladly pay the points premium (roughly Vanguard Veteran prices without the same level of hitting power), as the sheer power of the Moritat makes up for it, whilst also allowing him to backed by ablative wounds. Destroyers can be also armed with Rad Grenades and Missile Launchers with the 'Rad' effect, lowering their targets toughness to leave them easier picking for the rest of your force.


And people wonder why Forgeworld lists/ units aren't allowed in tournaments!

Note: I'd just like to point out that I'd never field the Moritat/ Divination combo unless i knew my opponent was a real WAAC bastard who needed taking down a peg or two, but it's always interesting to think about nonetheless

Khorneguy & Emiko - joint page on Twitter

I told you in my last post that my girlfriend wants to paint models with me (yay!) and take a generally more active part in my hobby. Right now, she's mainly interested in the painting side of things and sharing her work with the world. Naturally, I'm over the moon about this, as I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that it's very rare that a man can share his hobby with his significant other, but the question was 'who would this be done?'

After talking about ideas for turning the Wandering Mind into a joint effort, she said it wouldn't feel right taking up joint leadership of the blog that I started and have run for the last 5 years.

Because of this we've decided to start a Twitter page to cover our painting and modelling partnership. Not that there won't be the occasional post on here covering our joint work, but, like i said, she feels that the Wandering Mind should be for my stuff. It may be the case that in time she'll start her own hobby blog, but for now, she's happy to work from Twitter, as it means less time and effort maintaining it whilst she has university work to get done.

So on that note, allow me to introduce the 'Wandering Duo', run in joint partnership by Khorneguy and Emiko:

The Wandering Duo

So if you have Twitter, pop in and say hi, follow and comment. Just don't forget that the Wandering Mind will be running as usual. I'll be dropping a link into the sidebar, so you can access it easily here too.

Looking forward to seeing you in the Twitter-verse. For now though, happy gaming!