Terrain: Painted and Weathered

I was stuck out here during thanksgiving in order to support my companies' systems, so while my wife enjoyed Los Angeles, I got to get some terrain built and painted. I think she might be pleased to find out she avoided a lot of mess. The sheer amount of mess painting and weathering created cannot be understated. It is always kind of fun when people see our main living room with wrap around windows and mid century modern decore, to then see my office, with paint splattered floors, miniatures, air compressors,  and half finished projects everywhere. Everyone needs a bat cave right?

I learned quite a bit building these first pieces of terrain. Some of the rubble dissolved after several applications of diluted white glue, which only became clear when the first lick of paint went on. I think buildings look ok, but I liked them a lot more during earlier stages. Too much of the stone work I carefully laid out during construction got obscured by sand and rubble. I may use this to my advantage on other buildings, since it will cut down on unnecessary detailing.

So, things I like: Statues. Quick, Easy, Awesome: QEA

I really like the space marine statue. I won a painting competition a while ago at the GW Springfield store and received one of the marine statues as a trophy. I feel kind of bad repainting it, but I loved the way the first one came out and decided I really had to have two of them.  I am looking for things that look like candles, so I can put offerings all around their feet. I think it might be cool to have notes, letters, and posters pasted all around their feet. It would also make it look like some people survived the bombardment. Otherwise the city will look completely deserted.

I've got a few more buildings to build and paint, and then I can break out my battle board and see about updating the painting on it.

Once I figure out how to remove my crashed thunderhawk from its display board and make it a movable piece of terrain I should have a good looking battlefield.

Terrain

I haven't built terrain in a long time, owing to the fact that I do not game at home. After attending two tournaments, I decided it was time to finally built the table that I've always wanted to play on. These buildings are my practice pieces. One of the things that I do not like about the GW building kits is how they look like sets rather than actual ruined buildings. I've tried with these models to add enough debris and concrete chunks to make them look a bit more realistic. I am not sure if I have succeeded, but I am happy with them. Once the million gallons of glue dries I look forward to painting these guys up. I've been itching to paint the giant copper imperial eagle with weathering powders, but I am going to have to wait a bit longer.

One of the techniques I plan to use heavily later on, is casting floors with embedded wire mesh. You can see the first attempts in the larger building, where the concrete chunks are held together with what looks like wire. This attempt was a bit too think. What makes the mesh so important is that it allows the plaster to be chipped, cracked, and have holes added while holding together. It acts and looks like rebar.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Rotor Cannon Squad Sons of Horus

I think Rotor Cannons might be Tau killers, but even if they are not, they are just too cool not to have a full squad of them. The SoH are really starting to come together. I have a lot of colors I need to work in across three different forces, but you can already see the beginnings of it. I was planning on painting boarding marines, but I might do some work the requisite conversion piece needed for most painting competitions.

Sons of Horus Sergeant

The rotor cannon squad is finished. Now all they need is tracks for their rhino. But before that they need a Horus Heresy Haiku.

This is a sergeant
His helmet plume is orange
Death and loyalty

I think a boarding squad is next. Dave's squad makes me want to break out mine. I plan to paint their shields a pale white green color with dark chipping and streaks.

Demios Pattern Rhino Sons of Horus

I've had this rhino since it came out. Now that I am experiencing a fit of Horus Heresy inspiration, it has finally seen some paint. Unlike most rhinos I paint, I decided to paint everything. One of the coolest features about these kits is the interior, which I almost never see painted. At the moment the tank is fairly empty, but more details will be added. I was thinking about putting some posters, oaths of moment,  and ammo crates.  The top hatch probably needs a tactical arrow painted in pale almost white blue-grey. This way the rhino will match my veteran helmets.  A squad with rotor cannons will get this ride.

Legion Praetor in Terminator Armor

Before starting another model, I figured I should finish painting the other Praetor in the FW pack. I think a tank is up next. I am deciding on whether to paint up a rhino or a predator. I think I may go the rhino route so I can practice weathering. The more I look at the terminator squad the more rushed they appear. More work needs to go into painting and shading their weapons.

Sons of Horus Legion Praetor

My SoN force now has an HQ unit! I've decided to name him Quintus, so my games have some flavor.  At Nova and again at BFS, it was a lot of fun being able to tell my opponents they had killed Octavius, or Espandor. The terminator Praetor is next, though I am itching to do a legion tank.

Sons of Horus Cataphractii Finished Almost Possibly Maybe

I am starting to be happy with how these guys are turning out. Here they are out with a stroll in front of what was supposed to be a crashed thunderhawk.

Lessons Learned:

1. I added oil washes too early. Once I had done that I could not get any other paint to stick. Then I added transfers. It turns out oil and water do not mix so well. I got the worst silvering I've ever seen on a model before duplicated 5 times! Now the question is if I just battle damage them up and hide the poor decal work, of if I repaint and reapply.

2. Purple and Green look awesome together, but I can't figure out an army list that works.

3. Mint green is the new black.


So what is up next? I don't know. I was thinking of painting a SoH predator, or possibly finishing the two HQ choices. On the other hand, I just finished making 10 more bases, so maybe it is time to add a legion support squad. I really like the idea of a squad with rotor cannons gunning down world eaters and death guard. (I know DG were not present at Istavaan III, but there were companies scattered everywhere during the heresy)