Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Craftworld Morda-Hai

Latest army list - 2000 points
1 Farseer (HQ) @ 158 Pts
Singing Spear; Shuriken Pistol
#Ghosthelm [0]
Jetbike [30]
Runes of Warding [15]
Doom [25]
Fortune [30]

3 Warlock (HQ) @ 165 Pts
Witchblade (x3); Shuriken Pistol; Jetbike; Linked Shuriken Catapults

9 Striking Scorpions (Elites) @ 244 Pts
Scorpion Chainsword; Shuriken Pistol; Plasma Grenades; Mandiblasters

1 Wave Serpent @ [100] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults; Linked Shuriken Cannon

5 Guardian Jetbike Squadron (Troops) @ 110 Pts
Shuriken Pistol; Linked Shuriken Catapults (x5); Jetbike

9 Dire Avengers (Troops) @ 287 Pts
Avenger Shuriken Catapult

1 Exarch @ [44] Pts
2 Avenger Shuriken Catapults
Bladestorm [15]

1 Wave Serpent @ [135] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults; Linked Bright Lances

9 Dire Avengers (Troops) @ 267 Pts
Avenger Shuriken Catapult

1 Exarch @ [44] Pts
2 Avenger Shuriken Catapults
Bladestorm [15]

1 Wave Serpent @ [115] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults; Linked Scatter Lasers

1 Vyper (Fast Attack) @ 220 Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults (x1); Bright Lance (x1)
Holo-fields [35]

1 Vyper #1 @ [110] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults (x1); Bright Lance (x1)
Holo-fields [35]

1 Vyper (Fast Attack) @ 210 Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults (x1); Starcannon (x1)
Holo-fields [35]

1 Vyper #1 @ [105] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults (x1); Starcannon (x1)
Holo-fields [35]

1 Fire Prism (Heavy Support) @ 165 Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults; Prism Cannon
Holo-fields [35]
Star Engines [15]

1 Fire Prism (Heavy Support) @ 165 Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults; Prism Cannon
Holo-fields [35]
Star Engines [15]

Commission work on a limited scale.

So may of us buy the codex, create the awesome army list, sacrifice the necessary limbs to collect the great models; only to field them in plastic gray with black plastic terrain. We would like to see our armies decently painted, but we lack the skill or time to see it done. Sure we made a good start, but only half the figures are painted or based. Some of us have inherited miniatures from our friends, but the color scheme clashes with your army. So we resign ourselves to fielding our army unpainted, poorly painted or well multi-colored.

Need help?
I do commission work on a limited scale, determined by you. My goal is to get your army on the table, looking good and as soon as possible.

So what is limited scale?
I am a good painter and have won some local competitions and my goal is to get your army on the table, playable, looking good and as soon as possible. I only paint to battlefield quality for the sake of expedience and cost.

Do you only paint full armies?
Sometimes you only need a few things painted, reconditioned, stripped, magnetized, scratch built or based to complete your army, well I can help there too. Again my goal is to get your army or portions of it, on the table, playable and looking good.

Contact
Since every situation is unique I would like to quote a price based on need. So send me an email and let me (Sherpa) know what I can do to help.

About myself
One of the main reasons I got into war gaming was the cool painted miniatures. I began painting miniatures for our Dungeon and Dragons group. However the selection of miniatures was very limited, and if memory serve correctly, Ral Partha was the nicest sculpts out there.

I was at a small gaming event in Aurora, Washington when I saw a group playing Rogue Trader “40k 1st edition”. The miniatures were at that time outrageous, and the game looked like fun.
The next day I went to the local toy store and purchased my copy of Rogue Trader. I believe that’s when the infliction began, cause I am still bitten by the gaming bug.

Over the years I have collected several 40k armies and I am currently in the process of building 4 armies more.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Gallery

SM Dreadnaught, WIP ..

Dwarven Adventure

Monday, December 29, 2008

The Elusive Wave Serpent

I had put this post on another blog ealier, however it seems more appropriate here. There is more to the story and at the end of this blog.

May - 2006

I remember the first time I saw a wave serpent. It was the old Armorcast Wave Serpent affectionately known as "The Iron", because it looked well like a steam iron. I remember thinking to myself well, just "ewww". To me personally it just wasn't that cool looking and I really didn't think I would ever need it. However, to be perfectly honest, I was winding up my gaming days and recently married. So I really wasn't too interested in anything other than my beautiful bride.

Well thirteen years later, I was back in the gaming circle again. As before, I was intrigued with Eldar army list. So after reading the 'Craftworld' codex it became pretty apparent to me, I needed a wave serpent, maybe two. So I began looking for serpents on the internet.

I discovered that a new version of the serpent was offered by 'Forgeworld'. It was very nice and very expensive (I am very cheap by the way), so it was out of my league. So I began looking for "The Iron", hoping that someone would part with one (cheap). It was during my search that I began to appreciate the old design. Unfortunately, there weren't any "Irons" to be had anywhere. So that left me with one option, to build one. I went back to the internet.

I discovered three really good examples for reference. The first one was shown in an issue of 'White Dwarf' magazine. It was nice, but looked a little off to me. The second, was an outstanding 40k version of the epic wave serpent scaled to 40k, by Carl Woodrow. The third, was an beautiful Roy Bann version painted by the talented Agis Neugebauer. Inspired, I began to design. I liked the clean looks of the Roy Bann energy prow shields, but also thought 'The Forgeworld' Serpent was more in line with the Eldar technology. And yet, Agis' wave serpent kept creeping into my design. And well, I have to admit the shear strength of design and continuity to the epic scale of Carl's serpent really appealed to me.
So after several attempts to combine all these elements, I had a plan. I would use a falcon, plastic spoons, plastic card and green stuff to create my wave serpent. I would work to create this masterpiece and it would "wow" my friends. Opponents would be in awe of its approach. I would have the perfect wave serpent.

So I began creating this wave serpent of renown. I glued, sanded, marked, scribed, puttied and primed. So after several weeks of hard work and sweat I finally took a good look at my wave serpent. It was SAD, this poor serpent would never be allowed to see the light of day. I had a reputation to think of and friends to keep. It was at best a falcon with spoons glued on it. At worst, a monstrosity of plastic, a silent testimony to my lack of design skills. I was back to square one.

I began searching the internet again. Still I had no luck finding a serpent. I began to comtemplate re-tooling my army list to exclude the serpent. However, just when I had began to give up hope, I heard the news that GW was going to market their own serpent.

Now sometime later, I own two of these beauties. I say that for two reasons. First it is within my price range for the piece. Second, it incorporates much of what I liked about the 'Forgeworld' kit. However, I still wish some things were different. The turret for instance, is not as sleek or clean as the 'Forgeworld' kit. But overall,it is a fine vessel and it will serve my 'Craftworld' well. And as far my version of the Eldar wave serpent, it is rotting in the closet very nicely.

Dec. 29, 2008

So now I have four wave serpents, and I will soon be adding another. Why so many serpents Sherpa, are you crazy?.

Well 3 of the serpents will be pulling double duty, as a cloudstrike squadron. I am using magnets I bought from Amazing Magnets to make energy wave generators optional.
Since I like the extended cab and spoiler, I left them on. Overall I think it has a great look, and its cost effective.


Just a note: I have three turrets from earlier falcon models, two were converted to wave serpents when GW offered the 'Wave Serpent Sprues', and the other was from the failed wave serpent project.
The best buy for a wave serpent if you can find it, is the one which has the five Dire Avengers in it. Lots of good sprues and every Eldar player can use the extra avengers.
-Sherpa

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Eldar Terrain

I was searching the Internet the other day for examples of Eldar terrain. After seeing the latest terrain pieces created by the Games Workshop team, I decided I needed to add a few terrain pieces to support my Eldar Army. During my search I found quite a bit of good stuff, but was surprised at the lack of diversity of the pieces. A majority of the terrain was the typical Eldar War Gate. Only a few of the sites such as Iron Hands, and Master Darksol had more.

Now I think a warp gate is a great piece of scenery and there are some really good examples of out there, such as the one from Dysartes . So much that I am making a warp gate myself to act as a objective marker. Also I agree that the warp gate is the cornerstone of the Eldar Civilization, but I was hoping to see more unique or different pieces.

With that said, I guess its time for me to quit whining and to try my hand at creating some Eldar Terrain. I plan on using some of the illustrations in the codex as examples. I also suspect that some of the stuff done for the Warhammer Fantasy High and Dark Elves will influence my work.

Since the idea of using urea-formaldehyde resin, the stuff used by the Games Workshop Studio Team does not appeal to me, I will try to stay with more easily obtainable materials, such as foam core, mat and illustration board.

Well its off to the sketch some ideas.

Dec. 29 2008
Ok so its harder that I expected to make an eldar warp gate. My first attempt was made of mat board, styrofoam and a trashed CD (for the base). I find that a used CD makes a pretty good flat surface and it is usually free, thank you promotional groups. Anyway the base looked good, the gate was lacking. I will be trying to make another one later this week.

As I mentioned before I will be trying to make a more substantial piece of terrain, like an outpost. I see it as tower like structure, with mix influence of dark elf, high elf and the illustration in the Eldar Codex (page 12).

Honestly I haven't had time to make some sketches, but I will have some soon.

Thank you Mrs. Claus

Mrs. Claus was very nice to me this year; I was gifted with a couple of gift certificates to the local game store. As always now I am faced with the big question, what do I spend them on? I am currently working on 3 armies, that’s right 3. The upside thing about working on 3 armies is, you don't get bored painting the same repetitious color. The downside none of them are finished.
I don’t seem to have enough time to paint one, and here I am trying to paint 3. It would also help if I could focus. I am beginning to think I am ADHD, but that subject would be a whole different blog.

Anyway I now have a little extra cash to pick up some new figures or a vehicle, but I really am at a loss on which to get. Presently I am in the process of building up my Crimson Fists Army, but there are still a few things I need to complete my Eldar and Tau. So after making a list and checking it twice (sorry had to do it), I have narrowed it down to following selections:

The Space Marine Land Raider / Crusader / Redeemer
- The number one bad boy of the space marines, it’s like the soccer mom’s hummer. Its big, its expensive and looks damn intimidating rolling down the street. My crimson fists are a little lean on heavy support and transport, and this machine would do the job for both. For nostalgia’s sake, I was thinking of scratch building a couple of MK I’s for my fists, but I don’t they would ever look as good as the Mk II.

A Space Marine Devastator Squad
- That’s right the boys with the big toys. These guys would also be a great addition to my fists, but there are only 5 in the box. And honestly, I would most likely break them up to complete some partial tactical squads. So I think I might just order a couple of space marines with heavy bolters/ plasma Cannons/ Lascannons for that purpose.

Eldar Farseer and Council
- A little psychic guidance could be good for my eldar, they have been working with an substitute farseer (an adequately painted warlock) for quite some time.

Tau Sniper Drone Team
- Not only does this set look good, but it could also be a good tactical choice. Although with 2 hammerheads/ Ion Cannon and 2 XV88s, I have plenty of heavy weapon support at present.

Tau Piranha
- I loved this model when it was first released by forgeworld, but it was really out of my price range. I could get 2 of them, which would cover the fast attack options nicely.

Regardless of my choice, I intend to show their progress on this blog, but now I have to go. I need to get ready for my Dungeons and Dragons (4th ed.) game this week. It’s has been a lot of fun. The new rules are pretty good, and plays like a miniature strategy game. Currently we are using counters, which gets confusing sometimes. Hmmm miniature strategy game, reaper has some good miniatures. They would look good on the table, no counters … oh crude, I think I need a new list.