Deathwing Librarian: Cape or No Cape?

I never liked the arms on this guy. I feel like it was a great idea to use the plastic arms, but they just don't look right on this guy. And then The King's Standard Bearer saw my unprimered Librarian in my last post and made a great suggestion in the comments: Add a cape!

I hadn't considered it before and now that I look at the model, I think that a cape would really help to make him look a lot less static...this pose is just so...statuesque! What do folks think? Add a green stuff cape or stop obsessing and finish him already?

Mind you. I will probably not be able to do both for a long time...but at least the base is done!

Basing: My Private Shame!

From the Warp provides the simplest tutorial on the webs for basing. Really. It is super easy to base your models. Do it! DO! IT!

In the comments, I mentioned that basing models was so easy that often I wind up with primered models and spectacular (in my not-so-humble opinion!) bases. Ron over at FTW seemed disbelieving, so in this post, I will provide photographic evidence!

Embarrasingly, my first pic is actually a completed base with an unprimered model of a terminator chaplain destined for Deathwing:

Next up, is the Deathwing Librarian. This Librarian model is relatively old (at least compared to the young sprite of a Chaplain above). I hated the arms on this guy as they were short and stubby as old metal Termies were back then. I wanted him to be able to blend in with my new termies, so I gave him plastic arms and converted a TH into a Force Axe. I also built the base up so he'd appear to be the same height as new termies. No short librarians amongst the Unforgiven!

I tried to make the pose look like he was brandishing that axe threateningly, but it's difficult when the body is essentially a block of metal. I'm not the happiest with the SB arm placement, but I've come to terms with it. What was I saying...oh yes. Again. Here we have a completed base. Unprimed model. I have a problem. The first step is admitting it.
Oh. The humanity! Here's a primered (Grey Gesso) Deathwing Assault Termie with a completed base.

Here's the Deathwing Sgt. Missing his head. And his stormshield. Yet. He is primered and standing on a fully painted base complete with Word Bearer wreckage (my friend plays Chaos Space Marines and rocks a Word Bearer paint scheme!).

You're probably thinking, "Jeez cawshis. That's got to be it, right? I mean...how many completed bases but not painted models could you possibly have?" To which I answer...TOO MANY!

Of course, since taking these pictures, I've since basecoated the Chaplain and Deathwing models above. The Ravenwing? Not so much. I'm not confident enough in highlighting black yet...but I'm getting there! To reveal a secret: I pinned all my Deathwing/Ravenwing models to their bases so that I could easily remove them for painting purposes...so painting the bases was actually pretty easy since I do them in batches separate from the model. I wish I'd get around to doing the models though!

But yeah. There you go, Ron! Primed models sitting on completed bases! Do you believe now? I really need to get better at not doing that...is there a support group out there?

Objectives: Shrine Complete

(You can click on any of the pics to get slightly larger versions)

A quick update on one of my Crimson Fists objectives I posted earlier this month. The Shrine is complete!

I had a few goals in mind when I painted this objective:

1. Match the colors of my City Terrain.
2. Function as a generic objective though I keep calling it a "Crimson Fist Objective"
3. Limited color-palette, so that it doesn't distract from the minis during play.

All things considered, I think I accomplished my goals! I wanted to practice highlighting black (since I'll be painting up my Ravenwing soon), so this shrine was a good opportunity for me to practice my light-touch. Here's a close up of the detail:
Paint Scheme:

• Gesso Black Primer, Chaos Black basecoat
• Rocks/Ground: Adeptus Battle Grey - Fortress Grey - Skull White drybrush (last brush was very sparing!) The large boulders also got multiple Badab Black washes.
• Shrine - Used same colors as rocks ground, but did not drybrush. I wanted to try and make the shrine look like smooth rock...or obsidian. I think I got halfway there.
• Seals - Khemri Brown/Mecharite Red, Devlan Mud wash, Bone highlight. Micron Pens for detail.
• Incense Burner-Dark Angels Green-Goblin Green rope. Basecoat Dwark Flesh, Brass, Devlan Mud, Mithril Silver highlights (very light).
  
• Skull - Khermi Brown, multiple builds of Bleached Bone/Mud washes. I wanted to practice doing great looking skulls too. This is similar to my Deathwing colors, but I didn't go all the way to the highest highlight.

Sovietspace requested more pics of my Dark Angels, so here's another teaser below. I've decided to go to my Dark Angels once my Crimson Fists get to 2k. Now I just have to decide if I should field them as Dark Angel Codex marines or Space Marine codex Dark Angels. :)
Thanks for looking!

On the Bench: Drop Pods

Special Request Edition: GWPertinent asked to see my DIY Drop Pods. I aim to please!

Months (okay, like 2 years) ago, Santa Cruz Warhammer posted a link to a template for making your own Drop Pod. They then made a Dark Angel one and posted the step by step. The drop pod was so awesome, I thought that not only did I need that drop pod in my life...I needed 3 of them. GW didn't offer a plastic drop pod kit at the time (I think it was released the summer of '08?), so I downloaded the templates, printed enough to make 3 pods and got crackin'. For materials, I used foamcore and cereal box cardboard. I *really* cheaped out on these pods cause I was saving money for more Dark Angels!

I used the pin method to transfer the templates to the foamcore, played connect the dots and then spent a ludicrous amount of time cutting and fitting all the pieces. Unfortunately, I don't have a shot of all the cereal box cardboard, but trust me when I say that I eat a LOT of cereal and used a lot of cardboard. Cereal box cardboard is great for detailing buildings and drop pods. Not as good as plastic card, but much cheaper.

Two nearly-completed pods. They need rivets and engines. If you compare to the Santa Cruz one, you can tell I skimped on some details...I just couldn't bring myself to cut MORE cardboard after having cut enough for 3 pods. Bit off more than I could chew I guess. Ten points to whoever can identify the cereal box I used! I'm in the states, so this may not be fair to those readers across the pond.
Here is the obligatory Rhino comparison shot. It's hella-big and blocks some serious LOS! They aren't anywhere near perfect and some lines are a little off...but for less than 12 bucks for 3, I really can't complain!

After the release of the Space Marine Codex, I thought I'd give these pods to the Crimson Fists. Dark Angels pay 15 more points a pod and don't even benefit from the Drop Pod assault rule. The one issue: The Dark Angels insignia. I considered ripping them off, but decided against it. Maybe the Crimson Fists won them in a bet from the Dark Angels or something.

I've actually added scratchbuilt engines and started painting them in Crimson Fist colors. I'll try and get a post up soon!

My workbench overflow-eth.

It seems like a standard habit when blogging about the hobby is to update folks with "what's on the bench" so we can all share the pain of having too many minis in progress. I know I have far too many minis in various states of progress.

To begin with, I've been working on my Crimson Fist Land Raider Crusader which will bring my final army list up to 2000 points. Eventually, I'll want to add units of Sternguard, Vanguard, Pedro Kantor and a Vindicator, but I'm in no rush to add to the Crimson Fists since I've just started playing with them (and I'm 2-1 so far). I've also got 3 DIY Drop Pods on the bench awaiting highlights.

I've also been slowly working on my objectives. The shrine is finished and I'm painting the ammunition dump and fuel drums at the same time (since they are so simple). Expect an update before March is up on those 3.

My two HQ units, nowhere near done...but prepped for battle anyway.

I can't decide if I want to go back to working on my Tau...lots of units there could be painted: Both my HQ Shas'Os need painting, 20 Kroot, 3 Pirahnas and 2 Sniper Squads are all based and ready for their colors as well.

Deathwing Assault Squad, bases done..models ready for bones colors.

Or maybe I want to return to my beloved Dark Angels...lots of units on the workbench there as well: 10 Deathwing Termies in various states, a basecoated tactical squad, 2 rhino chassis (with magnetized options for predator, whirlwind) with options basecoated. And 6 Ravenwing bikes still all WIP!

For 2009, I think I'm making a hobby resolution: Clear the workbench before buying any Imperial Guard. As much as I've always wanted to field the Guard (and I think I can finally paint them), I think I need to really take a chunk out of all the unassembled, unpainted, unloved minis I have collecting dust in my closet. Who knows...maybe I'll ebay some just to get to the Imperial Guard faster!