Iona Starkiller

Hasslefree has awesome miniatures, great for role playing and such. However this one just screams Warhammer 40k.  The stance, detail and look, Iona Star killer definitely screams Aeldari.  I wish that Games Workshop would occasionally provide stats for outstanding figures created by other manufacturers. I know that this would violate many laws, business principles and open a Pandora’s Box of IP issues.  However it would be so cool for them to say “Hey this miniature so fits into our IP, that we acknowledge the craftsmanship and would like it to be a part of the 40K Universe.  If ever there was a miniature that would adopted, I feel that Iona would be that miniature.  

40K Kill Team 2018

I mentioned before, my hobby is pretty stagnant and I am working revitalizing my drive.  In the past it was so daunting to paint an entire 40k army, multiple vehicles, Troops and Headquarters.  I would usually burn out and stop painting. In addition I had always like the skirmish level games, primarily for the cost of entry and secondary the time it took to play a game.  I started playing 40K with the original 1987 Warhammer 40K, Rogue Trader.  So in July when Games Workshop re- re-released 40K Kill Team, I was encouraged to start again.  I think the smaller squad sizes will help me get started and transition into the larger armies.  Not mention I can assemble 14 of the 16 factions, several time over. I think I will start with my first love; the Eldar, Aeldari or the Asuryani from the Craftworld.Ulthwe’.

Night Spinner Project - update

	It has been awhile since, I have posted something. I could run down the litany of reasons that have kept me from posting; such as needing a new camera, work has been daunting, my dog ate my homework..blah, blah, blah... Regardless of the reason, here we go! Several months ago, I got the "new" fire prism kit as a father's day gift. What I really like about this kit, was that you could also build a Night Spinner. I was able to setup a magnetized system for changing out the weapons, and added some cool fins like Agis. Although I am pleased with the fins, they could be a problem in the future. The attach points are weaker than I expected, and I have already repaired on side. I am still in the process of painting, but I will post a finished picture when I am done.

Eldar Corsairs

Some eons ago during a gaming convention, I saw a new table top game that captured my imagination. So the next day I purchased the rule book "Rogue Trader", little did I know that I would be forever lost to the 40K universe. I have always like the eldar, but one picture of the Eldar Corsairs (Pirates) really stuck with me. Forgeworld's latest release has me going all Nostalgic. Time to break out the plastic card and putty. - Sherpa

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The Eldar Warp Hunter

I was recently looking at the Forgeworld website, when I noticed the Eldar Warp Hunter and Lynx Pulsar. I must admit they are really cool and almost a must have for an eldar player, but still out of reach for most players. So I was thinking of making my own (scratch built) version. Several months ago I found an article on a commissioned project by Andrew Hicks. I usually don't have much success with scratch built models, but Andrew's work inspires me.
Sherpa

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The Night Spinner Project

Just a couple of pictures of the Night Spinner / Fire Prism, before paint.

Year of the Eldar

Lately, I have been reading digitalronyn's blog The Gray Path, an exceptional blog and have decided I need to focus. Presently, I have several armies that I am working on; Space Marines (2), Tau, Eldar, Orcs, Khador, Cygnar, and various D&D figures. I guess working on isn't the correct term, more like stored in various stages of completion is more accurate. Anyway after reading "The Gray Path", I have decided, no I am resolved to finish my eldar. So with the exceptions of my other painting commitments, I will be focusing on my Eldar.

Cool Like Agis Neugebauer

Adding Fins
I started adding fins to the night spinner / fire serpent, like I don't already have enough projects. Anyway I was trying to decide which type of fin to make, the small fins like Agis or a larger fin like the epic model. I eventually decided to use a fin similar to the one on the eldar jet bike. The first picture is of Agis' fins.

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Eldar Grav Vehicles

So durning my search for adding fins to my night spinner I found quite a bit of interesting history on eldar vehicles. I started playing 40k with rogue trader, but quit for sometime. I evenutally can back at the end of 3rd edition. So I didn't know that some of these vehicles existed. When I left, the eldar still didn't have a tank and the new kit was the land raider Mk I. I thought I might share what I have found.

The Eldar Falcon
Named after the consort of the Great Hawk, the Falcon is the mainstay of the eldar army. This tank has the ability to carry a small squad of guardians (warriors) and maintain a battlefield presense. Although it has taken many names and forms in the past, its function has always been the same.

Falcons




Eldar Skimmer "Sirocco" by Mike Biasi (Pre Epicast)






Eldar Falcon by Monolith






Falcon by Armorcast





Eldar Falcon by Epicast






Eldar Falcon II by Armorcast






Eldar Falcon by Games Workshop



Eldar Falcon II by Forgeworld

Adding Fins [Night Spinner]

To me a Night Spinner isn't a Night Spinner unless it has fins. Every cool Conversion that I have seen, has fins. Even the epic model has fins. Since I want to be cool like Agis Neugebauer, I will be adding some fins.

The New Night Spinner (Fire Prism) Kit

The New Night Spinner kit has been released by Games Workshop, and its pretty awesome. I have always liked the Night Spinner, ever since I saw Agis Neugebauer's modification of the Forgeworld Kit [towards bottom]. I liked the addition of the fins to match the epic scale miniature, a very nice touch. Sadly at $35 (kit only) plus S&H from England, I could never justify the purchase of a Forgeworld Kit. However with this new release, my army will be getting a new Night Spinner.

As I mentioned before the new Night Spinner is pretty awesome. There are some things about the Forgeworld Kit I liked better, such as the rear vents and the heaftier spinners. Overall the new GW Kit is great and I have heard it makes a decent Fire Prism too.

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Hey Hey Back in Ulthwe' (Black) or not...

After seeing the "Way of the Saim Hann" by Fritz and Reading about Pete Foley in the "Tale of Four Gamers" by Games Workshop. I have decided to complete my Eldar Army.
My Eldar Army has been an epic saga, one which spans decades, yes decades. I began collecting Eldar when there was only 5 models available, during the Rogue Trader Days. Later when the Harlequins were released I was the first in line at my local game store. I had planned to model my own Craftworld: Morda Hai, using a Blazing orange and Green Color scheme.
However after collecting several models and partially painting several squads. I then for some reason decided to leave gaming, and gave all my stuff to a friend. Who sometime later put much of it on ebay or traded it. I missed the whole 40k 2nd Edition time period.
Anyway 15 years later, I was back with a vengence and still back. I began collecting Eldar like crazy, and immediately fell in love with the Ulthwe'. The idea of fielding an entire army of black really appealed to me, just prime with flat black and well ... you are done. It must have appealed to everyone else, cause that was all I saw on the tables. Yes there was the occassional Biel-Tan, Alaitoc and Iyanden, oddly no Saim-Hann (must have been the cost), but most cases it was Ulthwe'
So I decided to play a Ulthwe' variation, mine would be negative version, bleached bone and black. Then halfway through, I decided that bleached bone was boring and moved to Bilous Green and Scorched Brown, that lasted until I was half way through my army. To shorten this blog a bit, lets just say I am getting really good a stripping paint from plastic.
Well now I am back to my original Craftworld: Morda Hai and it's color scheme. I may change the name, but the Blazing Orange is here to stay. I don't think the enviroment can take any more of my stripping process.

Sherpa

Always room for Jell-O (Eldar)

A friend once told me that no matter how full he was; he always had enough room for Jell-O. My friends, that is the way I feel about Eldar vehicles. It seems that no matter how much I collect, I would like to get another kit. I like the vehicles, the vYper, the Falcon derivatives, and especially the Flyers by Forgeworld. To me, Elder vehicles look graceful, deadly and swift and it all started when I got my first vYper for my birthday.

At the time I only had some Swooping Hawks as my sole fast attack unit, realizing I needed something with a little more kick I began reviewing my options. Jet bikes are nice, but I never really understood them, to me they looked like Eldar on flying snowmobiles. The vYper on the other hand was bad ---. It was fast, had holofields and could put out some serious firepower when needed. I spent a lot of time on my vYper, and it looked great. There was to be a battle with the Tyranids, and this vYper was going to dominate the board. Estatic I went wage war with the Tyranids.

I had won the first round and immediate let the vyper lose on my enemy’s flank. It streaked across the battlefield to reach its first target. It looked great on its clear flying stand. I swiveled the bright lance around to the target. This was going to be glorious. Would I blast the target to smithereens or strip away at it, one wound at a time? I rolled the dice and missed! Not disheartened I waited for the next turn; surely this incredible vehicle would make up for its poor performance then.

It died on the first volley by the Tyranids.

Well regardless of the my vYper’s performance, I was bitten. To this day I still have to resist the urge to buy more Eldar Vehicles. I have good days, and some bad with this addiction. Today I have 6 Vypers, 2 Wave Serpents, 2 Fire Prisms, and 2 Falcon/ Serpent combos. One would think that I have enough Eldar Vehicles, but well there is always for room for more. Jell-O anyone

By the way check out the blog ”The Way of the Saim Hann” by Fritz. There are some great pics and battle reports, but most importantly Autarch Fritz shares his knowledge on Tactica.
*Kneeling in Reverence*
Thank you Autach Fritz, may your blade slay many Mon Keigh.

Sherpa

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]