Minotaurs: 1st Combat Squad Finished!

So my first combat squad for my Minotaurs is finished. Actually took some more time to finish than I first anticipated but in the end I'm happy with the result. They are also fun to paint and very different from what I usually paint which is a nice. Anyway, here's the first of the bunch. As you can see they are from the Assault on Black Reach box, next Tac squad won't be I promise. I've also used transfer for both the shoulder pads and knee pads (not all though) and it works really nice now after a few tries. Hope you like them.

Now I'm going with my family to Denmark so I won't update the blog for a couple of days. But expect more updates next week.

Review: White Dwarf 393

As you can expect after you have seen the front cover, this issue is all about Dark Vengeance.  And I must say, even though I really like the box and all of it's content it's just to much of it in this issue and not really much else at all. So what's in this issue then?

New Releases
Yeah, you guessed it. The new 40k starter box  called Dark Vengeance with Dark Angels and Chaos Space Marines. I really like the box and how all the models look, and I will buy a box, I'm a Dark Angel player after all. There are also a box for transporting all of the miniatures in with custom cut foam as well as a Novel based on the fluff from the Dark Vengeance box. There are also some new re-released miniatures in Finecast for both 40k and Whfb as well as Lotr. The other big thing released that I really like is a new box with Special weapons for Sternguard Veterans. This includes Heavy Bolter, Heavy Flamer, Combi-Plasma, Combi-Melta, Combi-Flamer and a Pair of Lightning Claws. Really nice and makes it much easier to get your hands on these weapons, I hope they do more of this as it can be a real hassle sometimes to get the weapons combinations you want.

Painting and Modelling

Not much at all actually, there's no painting tutorials this month which is kind of strange. There are plenty of galleries and showcases though, especially for showing all the new stuff in the Dark Vengeance box. Which is nice but I like the part where they show different colour schemes more, like the Chaos models in Alpha Legion colours (which might be the colour scheme of choice for me when I get this box). There is also a modelling workshop for Space Marines which most we already seen so not that exciting. We also get a Armies on Parade showcase this time featuring a nicely painted and converted Space Wolves army. There's also a Showcase showing a big Forge world Red Scorpions army. We do get some little things for Fantasy players as well, a Daemons gallery with Golden Demon winners and a dual army showcase with Chris Peach's Vampire Counts army and Duncan Rhodes with his Bretonnian army. This I really liked as both armies looked really nice with lot of conversions and different miniatures and also really nicely painted. Shame both armies just get two pages each though as I like these kind of Articles the most, showing armies you haven't seen before.

Rules and Fluff
There are some fluff here and there regarding the Dark Vengeance box, which briefly tells us the story behind the battle between the Dark Angels and the Crimson Slaughter which is the Chaos Space Marines. Not much rules though.

Gaming
We get six mini battle reports, one for each of the six scenarios you get in the How to Play booklet found the Dark Vengeance box. I actually liked these quite much as each scenario sounds like really fun to play (for me anyway as a 40k beginner).

Conclusion
An okey issue but to much focus on the new big release and not that much other stuff that's interesting. And if something was interesting (like the whfb showcases) it didn't get much space. I know WD is considered an expensive advert for all the new GW toys, and sometimes this is the case more or less. Unfortunately this is the case this month, I want more hobby tips, see more armies and miniatures I haven't seen before etc. Hopefully WD will get better in the future and I if you are totally uninterested in Dark Vengeance or 40k take my advice and skip this issue.

Rating: 2,5 out of 5

DreadBall from Mantic Games

Mantic is at it again and is going to produce a new game, which for me looks like Bloodbowl in space. The best thing though is that they are producing new miniatures for the game and so far here's what they shown in their Newsletter. I think the miniatures looks nice and like a quite fun game so I'm quite excited to see what more they can do over at Mantic for this new futuristic sports game.

News: Warhammer Quest for iOS!

Here's what's you got when looking at the 'What's new Today' page over at GW. A game based on the old gw game Warhammer Quest for both iPhone and iPad, made by a company called Rodeo Games. And you get a quite nice trailer. Can't wait until we see more in game footage and it looks like I have to buy that iPad 3 :P

Here's the trailer:

News: Pictures of the 6 ed starter box content!!

Just saw these over at Warseer, small pictures but from what I can see all the models look awesome! Will be buying that limited edition.

EDIT: Have now found more and better pictures from Faeit212, showing all the new stuff, and damn that is a nice Starter Set.

Empire Update: War Altar of Morr finished!

At last this model is finished, I've worked long and hard to get this model done. So it feels extra nice now when it's finished, and I can start to concentrate on other projects again.

I'm quite happy with how it turned out, may add some more roses to chariot and statue in the future but as of now this will have to do.

When I've taken the pictures and loaded into my computer I discovered one thing I had forgotten though, the Horn of Sigismund making the chariot cause Terror for 10 pts extra. Of course there is a horn in the kit and I had base coated it but I've then forgotten to get it done and attach it to War Altar. So this I will do asap and then move on to other stuff, like paint more of my Demigryphs, some Archers and convert and paint up more of my Inner Circle Knights.

That's all for now, tell me what you think. Does it look like a War Altar dedicated to Morr? And does the Morr High Priest (or Arch Lector) fit in with the rest of the model? As always all comments are very  welcome.

Rumours: Dark Vengeance... the new Wh40k Starter contents

Info taken from: Beasts of War:

More bikes for my GotC army it seems ^^

So the word has been out for some time that the new Warhammer 40K starter box, replacing Assault on Black Reach, will (or is that should) contain Dark Angels and Chaos Marines… but is that really true… and if it is, what will you get?

Well, you might feel better to know there are still some insiders in the Stalinist like regime that is GW who want the fans to be excited and those plucky rebels have braved the wrath of the mighty Empire to bring you some solid information on the contents of the new box… information that bodes very well for those interested, not only in starting 40K, but those with existing collections too!
So here we go… and remember… many Bothan spies lost their lives bringing you this information!

Chaos Cultists are in!
That’s right all you Chaos players… I refused point blank to believe that GW would ever release Chaos Cultist, but they have. The Dark Vengeance boxed set (did I not mention the name previously?) will have 2 units of 10 Chaos Cultist models, one armed with auto-guns (with a shotgun & CC weapon for the leader and a Heavy Stubber support trooper) and one with auto-pistol & CC weapon (with 2 CC weapons for the leader and a Flamer support model).

The Chaos Cultist look like everything you’ve ever wanted for Chaos. They’re bound in rags, with metal half-masks and weapons that suit the cobbled-together, improvised look that you expect from the dregs of Chaos.

But that’s not all for those naughty Chaos worshippers; they’re getting a unit of 6 Chosen…elite Chaos Space Marines, armed with a variety of Power Weapons (a Maul on the Sergeant, a Power Fist, a Chain Axe and a set of Lightning Claws by the look of things). The remaining Chosen are armed with Boltguns, but this bodes well for the potential that these exemplars of Chaos might get some more customisable options in the upcoming new Chaos Marines codex.

To lead your forces, you have the obligatory Chaos Lord, armed with a Power Sword & Plasma Pistol. His pose is a bit static, but that is only in comparison to the much more animated Chosen.
Lastly… what would Chaos be without something big and menacing to bring to the table? Well… how about a brand new model… the Hellbrute!

The massive Hellbrute model comes equipped with a Multi-Melta & Power Fist. Suggesting that this isn’t a Dreadnought replacement, but is in fact a huge suit of specialist armour crewed by a Chaos Marine (or more likely a Champion). Actually, the model resembles a huge suit of Terminator Armour with lots of cool Chaos gribbly bits… I’m hoping for a Monstrous Creature that acts like the Dreadknight… what about all you Chaos fans? What would you like it to be?

But what about the Dark Angels?
They haven’t been left wanting and with a new codex (no doubt in their future) there is quite a bit to have a look at.

Firstly, they wouldn’t be Space Marines without the obligatory 10 man Tactical Squad. However, the Dark Angel Tactical-Squad has a twist… it’s got Plasma!

The ordinary Space Marine grunts come sporting a Boltgun, but the squad also has a Plasma Gunner and a Heavy Plasma Cannon model giving support… and just to round out the theme… a Plasma Pistol/Chainsword Sergeant.
Looks like that squad will be getting hot!

The Tactical Squad also has a mixture of poses, this time around. Some of the Bolter-totting Marines are holding their ubiquitous weapon at jaunty angles to make the squad look a bit more animated… and it works too… good job GW!

The Marine side wouldn’t be Space Marines without a smattering of Terminators… so you get a squad of 5 of them. It’s a pretty standard squad, with Stormbolter/Power Fist, with a Power Sword Sergeant. However, you do get an Assault Cannon and Chainfist option… and true to previous form… the models now come in a variety of more dynamic poses with the squad sergeant even sporting Wings but thankfully no nipple armour!

The last squad in the box is a unit of 3 Space Marine (or Ravenwing) Bikers, with Sergeant and one Biker sporting Bolt Pistol/Chainsword and the third Biker packing a Plasma Gun. The models look similar to previous Ravenwing Bikers (with that big wing banner on the back) and are probably the least inspiring out of the box.

But let’s not end on a low… let’s talk about the Dark Angel Triple Whammy… 3 Heroes!
The box will contain a Dark Angels Company Master (Balthasar)… resplendent with his erect Power Sword!

A Dark Angels Librarian… with a slightly less impressive looking Force Sword… and a limited edition Interrogator Chaplain, who’s Power Armour (including smoking exhaust details) and embellished robe might be the most ostentatious model in the box!

That’s all the models in the box… but what about the Rulebook?

I know many of you have been planning to buy the box (price TBC) in order to get your hands on the smaller rulebook. So rest easy… there will be one in the box.

There will also be templates and a new How to Play Dark Vengeance booklet, that allows you to jump right into the action.

Wh40k: Building my Minotaurs army pt. 1

As Iv'e written before I needed to order some things to start up my Minotaurs army. All my Forgeworld stuff arrived last week and looks great and later my Wayland games order came, but unfortunately not the shields from Scibor. So have to wait with building my Assault Terminators. But anyhow, here's all the stuff I got and the first marine of my Honour Guard.

So here's my try at doing a more unique looking Honour Guard for my Minotaurs. As you can see the main body is from the Blood Angels Sanguinary Guard which I felt looked quite ancient Greek, which of course is the main inspiration for the Minotaurs. The Power Axe and helmet is from the same kit with just some Blood Angels blood drops and what not trimmed off. And just an ordinary backpack (may change this, though then I may need to make a new purchase from Forgeworld). And for last, the Shoulder Pads are of course from Forgeworld and you can see more of these below.

 

 

Shoulder Pads for both Power Armour and Terminator Armour, ten in each package but as you can see you can just make five Terminators out of  this kit so I bought two sets so I can build ten Terminators. I also bought two sets of the PA shoulder pads so I can build twenty marines with these. Must say the detail is stunning as always with FW stuff, and these shoulder pads adds so much character to my models and makes them a lot easier to paint as well (if you not want to use transfers for all of your Marines)

I also bought this kit with a Captain and Standard Bearer in the old MkIV Maximus Armour, lovely kit and the miniatures looks really nice. May do some kit bashing with these though.

Of course I also needed to buy Asterion Moloc and Ivanus Enkomi, the chapter master and the Voice of the chapter. And these two miniatures are one of the reasons I wanted to start a Minotaurs army. I think both of them is some of the best sculpts Iv'e seen in 40k, and when it is going to be a delight to paint them up in the future.

I also bought two of these sets for my Rhinos, really nice details and will look awesome on my vehicles.

Another must in my eyes when starting up this army is this big transfer sheet from FW, will be very helpful when painting vehicles and shoulder etc. These sheets are A4 so a lot of markings and will probably be enough for most armies.

Some of the stuff I got from Wayland Games, I will need more stuff in the future but I will try to focus on the stuff I already bought and finish them before I buy more stuff for the army, even if I really want to build a Stormtalon.

Well that's all for pt. 1, in the next one I will show you some finished models.