Cleaning and painting resin bases

EDIT: For some reason I cannot get some of the picture to a reasonable size. I'll try and work around it. If you want a clearer photo, just click on it, it'll expand for you.

I got some resin bases this morning from Secret Weapon Bases, and I figured I should do a quick run through of how to clean these guys up.

First, the materials:
Your resin products:

and some warm water, soap/dish detergent, and a file.


Now the, Step One: File away.
You may find that you have some flash, file or cut it off, but don't try and snap it. Resin is very brittle, it will break. Be careful to not inhale any of the resin dust,its not very healthy.


Step Two: Wash.
You may find that the resin still has some sealing agent on it. This is when you wash it in warm, not hot (as this will make the resin soft and bendable) and soapy water. Make sure you clean it well.


Step Three:Prime.
Your resin models will need to be primed to allow paint to stick well. Make sure wha you have is a "Primer" or a bonding agent. Regular spray paint can work, but primer is better and you won't lose as much detail with it.


Now, lets apply some paint. As these particular bases are ruins, I used a lot of greys, blacks and metals.
Here are some painted ones:


Now I'll break down how I painted these.
For the rubble, I either used 1) a base of black, followed by a dry brush of dark grey (equal parts black and white "Apple Barrel" brand paints). Or 2)A base of black, followed by Snakebite Leather, then Scab Red, then a drybrush of Snakebite Leather again.
For the pavement/side walks, I used a base of black followed by a light grey layer (2 parts white, one part black.)
The roads where done with 2 parts black one part white paint.
Metals where done with a simple black basecoat, then a layer of Chainmail and a wash using Red Oak woodstain.

And here is a fully painted and based unit, complete with Transport. Specifically the Searing Arrow kabalite squad with their Raider The Death that Sails. Yes, I did replace its flying base, but the resin base is the same size, so I doubt anyone will mind.

Jokearo Weapon Smith and Castellan Crow pictures

In case any of ya'll don't read Wraith Gate, here are the models for Castellan Crow and the Jokearo weapon orangutan thing. If I do end up starting Grey Knights at some point, my army will be entirely comprised of converted Jokearos.

Assault Cannon Razorback conversion

Heres a conversion I did awhile ago, using the rhino from the Blood Angels battleforce, the assault cannon from the Land Raider Crusader that I destroyed for a trerrain piece, and a bit of elbow grease.

Here is how it came out, unpainted So far:

Now, how did I do it? Well, the first thing you will need, if you have them lying around, around:
A saw and file, I used these, specifically:

And after you get these, you'll need an assault cannon. I used the bits from the LRC, and hacked off the ammo chain thing it had on the bottom. Alon with that, I sawed down the inside edges of the two cannons to allow them to fit over item three, specifically the turret mount from the Imperial Bastion kit. Making sure they fit snuggly over the center bar, as this will serve as the anchor to keep the guns on the razorback. Apply some glue and you'll get something like this:

And that is ready to fit on the Razorback weapon mount roof option from the Rhino/Razorback kit. Congratulations! You now have an effective,WYSIWYG, and, if you have tons of buts lying around like I do, cheap, conversion for an awesome vehicle.

Dark Eldar Kabalite Trueborn conversions

Thats right folks, here is another set of conversion I have done, this time they are ten Kabalite Trueborn. I wanted to make these guys look more skilled and better equipped than their Kabalite Warrior "brothers". To get this look, and in keeping with my space pirate theme, I used a mix of Dire Avenger and Kabalite Warrior bits, and tried to make these guys look really individualized.

First up, Kabalite Drachon with a spear stolen from an Exarch, pointing at something.


Next up we have three heavy support dudes, all decked out in their "borrowed" Dire Avenger armor suits and Dark Lance weapons.


Another Drachon, with a blast pistol I think, and a nice sharp arm mounted blade thing, possibly used to WYSIWYG a Ghostplate Armor suit's shield generator.

A splinter cannon wielding trueborn, turning about to open fire on the poor fool who got into his cannon's range.


A couple of sneaky 2 hand weapon Trueborn.


Double trouble double pistols to represent a Shardcarbine.


Another guy, posed shooting a gun one handed, blade at the ready.


As some may be able to tell, I wanted to make these guys look very dynamic, so that is why they are in such odd poses, but I think the unit turned out all right.

Mantic Abyssal Dwarfs (Gorgoth's Legion of Terror) Unboxing

So this arrived in the mail:

So its time for another unboxing. Opening up the package, I found another box inside, filled with plastic and metal goodies, loosely packed in bubble wrap.
Lets see what we get:
Multiple sprues of regular Dwarf plastics (the official numbers are available at Mantic's website)
Multiple metal conversion buts (heads, torsos, weapons, shields, etc)
Printed rules on a pamphlet
Mantic Journal #3 (with printed rules and army lists for Dwarfs, Undead and Elves






Here we have some warriors I managed to build real quick, and the super secret Conclave members, the Goblin and Dwarf Centaur guy




Over all, while the whole range so far has a nice chaotic, retro feel to it, the quality of the casting (at least in my case) of the metal is pretty poor. Lots of flash and irregularities. However, for the price that you pay (I got the whole 60 odd model box for about a hundred dollars), one can't really complain.

Old Stuff Day post

Today is Old Stuff day, so here is one of my favorite old posts, a three player scenario I wrote a few months back.

"The Siege", a Warhammer scenario for three players.
Right, in order to accommodate a three player game, and get to use some awesome terrain, I've developed this scenario:

Game Lasts 6 turns
Objectives:
There are three objectives. The Village, the Pass and The Castle. The Castle is in the Defender deployment and is worth 10 Points. It is under control if the controllers army has more units (point wise) in it than the other, or if they are the only army in The Castle.
The Village is worth 5 Points. Same method of capture as above.
The Pass: The pass is worth Zero points, but If it is under control, all Core choices of the Army that controls it can, after being destroyed, re enter play with the same equipment and numbers, minus any magic items. They are treated as entering play form Reserves.


Point Allocation:The three armies are divided into two groups, the Attackers, and the Defender. The Defender is allowed only 66% the point value of the Attackers, but all Defender units are Stubborn, and there is no limit to the repetition of units for Special and Rare selections.
The Attackers: The remaining two armies are clustered into the "Attackers". The point value of the "Attacker" army has to be divided evenly between the two Armies that make it up. For example, the Attackers Army is composed of two 1500 point Armies, commanded by two separate Generals.

Winning Conditions:
Over all: who ever has the most Territory points at the end of the Game wins, however there are other ways:
Defenders: The Defender's deployment area has to have at least one unit, not engaged in combat to gain victory, or the Attacker's army is at 33% of their point value, in which case the siege is broken. However, the Defending Army has to have more units (Point wise) alive than the Attackers to be able to have this victory condition applicable.

Attackers: follow this special rule:
STARVE THEM OUT!: If an opposing Army controls "The Village" than, for every turn after turn 3 that the Village and The Castle remain under separate hands, the Army controlling "The Castle" has to take a panic test. If passed, they lose the Smallest unit (point wise) to starvation. If failed, then the Army panics. A randomly selected unit Breaks towards the nearest table top, and the smallest unit bar the fleeing unit is starved to death. This continues till the Game ends or the Village switches hands.

The Attackers are also subject to this rule:
Alliance Broken!: If the Attackers shared point value drops to 33% of its total, the alliance is broken. The Attackers now count as two separate armies, and can attack each other, take objects held by each other, and do not benefit form any bonuses that would be shared by an Alliance i.e. buffs, re-rolls, and are treated for all intents and purposes as two separate enemy armies, to each other and the defenders.

Deployment:
The Defenders Deploy from their labeled "Deployment Zone", The Castle is located inside the Defender Deployment.
The Attackers deploy 12 inches from the long table edges, but cannot get within 6 inches of the Defender's deployment or the Pass.

Aboard Damnation's Laughter, capitol ship of the Prince of Pain

More campaign stuff. This little bit takes place in the webway, a day after the Howling Gale's failed assault on Demeter City.

Zhai Mor sat, brooding, on his throne aboard his capitial ship, Damnation's Laughter. A human supplicant served as a footstool, supporting the Prince of Pain's bladed boots on his back.

I look out over my domain, the bridge of my ship, at the worthless dregs that pass for a crew, maning thier work stations, toiling away. I sense them trying to plot against me. This failed invasion was now doubt Shalreen's doing, yes. He bribed my bodyguard, and obviusly tampered with my prized venom. I call out "Mandovil, fetch lord Shalreen, and call my court to order." The sniveling fool runs off, to deliver my message, on foot. It is not fitting for one of my station to speak with the scum beneath me, but one must make sacrifices. I had to sell a ship full of my least favorite slaves to the damned Haemunculi covens to acquire the service of Shalreen and his flesh beasts, I wish to see my investment returned.

Lord Haemunculus Shalreen Slithered unto the Damnation's bridge, bowing deeply. "Your grace" he whispered from thin, parched lips. "Shalreen, tidings to you" spoke Mor, with a grand wave of his arm "What wonderful luck that you survived our...forray, into the planet below, your compatriot was not so lucky." "It was not luck lord, he was a fool, and weak." "Indeed, like these people, for insatnce" Spat Mor, pointing to a cage, shrouded in darkness. With a gesture, the darkness dissaperared, and within the figures of the Prince of Pain's personal guard where seen, sripped of thier clothing, tied together with crude ropse of human skin. "Like these men, for instance, who failed to rpotect from the insectiod swarm, turning tail and fleeing while I had to fight my way to a human vessel,forced to ride back to this very ship in what those apes call a ship? Or perhaps, they where bribed, paid to flee> Hrm? Perhaps someone, who is no longer here, decided to take a chance and remove me? Tell me, Lord haemunculus, who would have the most to gain from that?"

I see the worm pause, thinking of an excuse, another lie, but no, I will not hear his words. "Come here, Lord Haemunculus, inspect the traitors." I say, pointing to the cage. I watch him slither over, with caution, examining it. Little does he know that when he closes on it...HE DID IT. "AHAHAHAHAHAH, Shalreen, you are trikced far to easily" I burst into laughter, pressing an activation rune on my throne, which throws up a force field, covering the Haemunculus and the cage. "Now then, tell me, did your coven seek to betray me? My fleet is, admittedly, small, we have no great resources, why me?"

Shalreen scream with all his might "We honored our deal! We honored our deal!", but it cannot be heard through the barrier. "Silence then? You choose to hide those who would do me harm?" said Mor, glaring. "Very well, look behind you." Turning his head, Shalreen's beady, bloodshot eyes widen in terror. The space he is standing on is actually an airlock, hidden by a holo-field of some kind. Mor moves his hand to another ruin, pressing and. The lock opens, hurling the screaming Haemunculus, along with the trapped Trueborn bodyguards, into the void of the webway.

"Mandovil"I shout. "Make a course for these coordinates, I have heard of a large shipment of goods. Munitions and food, being sent by ground on the planet below. Perhaps, if we are lucky, and can capture it for ourselves, the slaves shall not have to be eaten. Our food supply is running rather low.