Back Like A Vertebrae

Over the last few months I have been on the brink of quitting the hobby totally, even got to the point of speaking to a guy about a massive job lot.  

All of this because of some raging manchild....for anyone interested I was in the local GW about 5 months ago playing my friend Ben in a game of 40k when an argument broke out on the table next to us between a pair of guys about some 40k rules, argument went on and resulted in a socially inept manchild raging and smashing up about £200-£300 worth of his own Skitartii and Marines and storming out.  

Now I game purely for relaxation after work and enjoying time with my friends......now that shit is NOT relaxing at all infact stressful as I have to be mindful of that c**t so I stopped everything hobby related other than a painting obligation I had.  Literally something in my head just switched off! 

Then Forgeworld released the Knight Atrapos...................

between the Atrapos release and some of my friends talking "off the ledge" as it were, I find myself refreshed/invigorated/motivated and ready to get my hobby on!

Since I have returned I have painted Manus Ferrus for a mate, although due to a problem with my camera not being compatible with Windows 10 I was unable to get photos of it before I gave ti to him, but to be fair I am not that concerned as it was tabletop standard for someone else so doesn't really fit in with my own projects.  I have also started work on the first of 6 knights, 5 of which I have had for absolutely ages, these I have been looking forward to for a while and I find it odd I have not tackled these previously........

Oh and the Superheavies I finished something like 5 months ago have finally received photographs :D  I was photographing all the superheavies for someone on a white background so I got a few of the Highwayman and Steel Nymph so I have posted those also

So what most people are actually bothered about, pictures.......

Group shot!!

Hellhammer - "Morningstar"

Next up, the repainted Shadowsword - "Iron Saint"

Next the repainted and renamed Stormblade - "Ironbound" (such a better name than that pigswill Light of the Emperor)

Then we have some retakes of the Baneblade - "Steel Nymph"

and finally the Stormsword - "Highwayman"

and done........

Be good 

Damien

Strippers Putting Clothes Back On?? WIP them out for the world to see!!

So i have progressed well with the repaint on the Shadowsword, Stormblade and first paint on the Hellhammer.  Think I was right in every way to strip the 2 tanks and redo them, not only are they more consistent in colour now but they also already look 10 times better in their new guises.  Hellhammer is slightly more along the way to completion than the other two but I just wanted to get stuck in on the re-paints to make myself sure I had not made a whopping mistake.  I would like to think that I did not but the true test of that will only become evident when they are finished. 

Stand and Deliver pt2

Finished the Highwayman on Saturday morning, although I may still add some weathering to the area near the track but I am not sold on that as I am happy with it at the moment

Stand and Deliver

All the super heavies have their camo painted as well as the triangle company markings.  I am however going to tackle each one independently starting with the Highwayman.  

The tank name and company number has been painted and all the chipping has been done.  After about 5 coats of varnish I have now started to apply the oil in a wash/buff repeat method.  

All the ladies love a large-bore cannon.....

So far so good, forgot how much I love painting tanks 

TANKS!!!!!!!!!! NEED MORE BLOODY TANKS!!!!!!!!

Had a clear out of my "Cupboard of Awesome" (I should trademark that shit) and I decided to get some of my Guard "buy it cheap to build later" purchases built and painted.....

We have three new Super Heavies, Baneblade, Stormsword (actually brought this recently because I love the Arkurian Pattern tanks from FW and it is the only one I have not got) and a Hellhammer, 3 Leman Russ Ryza Pattern Executioners, (not pictured) and 3 Devil Dogs (yet to be built).  In short I brought the Hammer of Cadia Box Set, getting the Baneblade for £15 or something outrageous, the 2nd Baneblade was a trade in of some still sealed daemon shite from a project that collapsed due to the event being cancelled.  Decided that I needed to fuel my plasma love so purchased 3 Ryza executioner turrets from FW.  Happy tank joy is a go!  

Hmmmmm might need a larger display cabinet...........

Names for the 3 new super heavies have already been selected.

Baneblade will be "Steel Nymph" although that may seem slightly odd that is so i can proxy it as Arethusa the named Baneblade in Imperial Armour 1 2nd Ed.  Arethusa obviously being a nymph in greek mythology.

Hellhammer will be "Morningstar" as both the tank and the medieval weapon are large blunt metal instruments for smashing a foe into submission, or you can take the Milton/Bible take on it Morning Star being a name for Lucifer, "hell"hammer etc I dont think I need to explain that any more :D

Stormsword will be "Highwayman" and I even came up with a little fluffy back story as to the name and the tank's history (yes I am a sad nerd, but in the words of the mighty Pvt Michael J Caboose "I like me!").  When first built the Highwayman was an unnamed shadowsword in the 8th Company and during the Ork assault on Helreach by the orks it was ordered into the city to assist in the defense.  It saw the majority of it's time on Hel's Highway punishing ork armour with it's titan killer main gun, the fearsome Volcano Cannon. However as the assault ground on the shadowsword took a direct hit to the main gun thanks to a blast from an madcap contraption weilded by a mekboy.  With no Volcano Cannon the commander saw no reason to remain in the main street and loose such a relic of the Imperium and withdrew into a side street only to be ambushed by a sulking tankbusta who managed to damage the tracks and render the tank immobile; receiving a heavy bolter round to the face for his trouble.  Although severely damaged and working at far reduced combat effectiveness the crew carried on the good fight.  The crew were able thin the ork horde as it advanced; relatively unnoticed using the still functioning sponson heavy bolters and lascannons, due in no small part to the orks being utterly focused on getting to the Temple of the Emperor Ascendant where Grimaldus and the remaining Black Templars were making their final stand; the mentality of the ork, find the better fight.....why bother with a the crew of a wrecked tank when there are space marines to kill.  Once the Ork assault had been broken and the retaking of the Hive had begun the crippled tank was found by the imperial forces, still sat in the shadows, still ready to fight to the death.  The main gun was beyond repair however it was deemed that the tank would still be a powerful asset in the retaking of the hive in another form, it was taken away to be retrofitted with a hellhammer seige cannon and a new Stormsword was created and given the honorary title of "Highwayman" for it's heroics on the Hel's Highway.

I have also come up with some slogans for the sides of the executioners 

"Are we havin' fun yet?" 

"Helsreach Express"

"Now we're cookin!"