Forge World Cityscape: Isstvan 3 (Istvaan 3) day 6

Today I had the urge to paint my first building. As noted previously we assembled all buildings and undercoated them with Chaos Black spray. We then spray highlighted the buildings with a dusting of skull white from a high angle. For the Red Mechanicum building we decided to use Khorne Red as the first layer of colour. We then painted the iconography / details in different metallic colours. 

Metal sections such as vents were done from warplock bronze to Leadbelcher. 

Brass areas were also done from Warplock to  Runelord brass. 

We also used gold leaf rub n buff on the side gold cog symbol. 

We then washed it with our magic mix of Abaddon black, Lahriman medium and Agrax Earthshade topped up with water. This was covered over the entire piece and dried with the help of a hair drier. Then we added fire damage with black soot weathering powder to various collapsed sections and windows. 

After this chipping effect was sponged on the corners which were likely to suffer from battle damage and wear and tear (Abaddon black mixed with Mechanicum standard Grey). 

I may add some more various weathering powders to the ruin before sealing it. 

More soon. 

Drake Seta

Battle Bunnies: Update June 2013

Hi Gamers. 

Just to let you know what we are all working on presently: 

Drake Seta: I am hopping between projects as usual and giving a helping hand here and there. Khall and I are about ready to wash the city boards, but due to evening shifts, birthdays, family (and me being in bed sick with a stomach bug) we are lagging behind a bit. 

Khall Sithis: Is getting on with his Emperor's Children at an amazing rate. We will be updating the pictures he posted on Sunday when he is next round, due to the lack of sharpness and poor lighting. 

Carth Onasi: Is getting on with his Pre-Heresy World Eaters and is near to posting some more info on them. 

Mega Nob: Is waiting for a delayed paint to arrive so he can start painting up his Pre-Heresy Iron Hands. The force is ready to be painted now. 

Tariel Gavvon: Has been extremely busy with work but is looking at starting his Sons of Horus in the next month or two. 

Then we have two other Bunnies who will be joining our Blog soon. Targel Vypus and [Classified]. 

Targel Vypus: Will be collecting Pre-Heresy Word Bearers and later Pre-Heresy Imperial fists. He has written up his starting list and will be starting in the next month or two. 

[Classified]: Is collecting a 40k Grey Knight Army currently and will be doing a Pre-Heresy Salamanders army. 

Hopefully posting will pick up after Khall and I finish our City Board and we can get to Campaigning. 

Drake Seta

The Horus Heresy Characters: Legionnaires which we want to see from Forge World.

Now obviously the Horus Heresy Campaign series from Forge World will be totally epic. The models brought out so far have been outstanding and the units have brought a new fresh breath to Space Marine players across the world. 

Ever since I first saw the Space Wolves (or as I now only refer to them as The Velka Fenryka) back in 1994; I was in love with the image of the Space Marine. Super soldiers with enough armour to build a tank; yet ballsy enough to not wear a helmet. They were my heroes. 

Then I read through the original Codex Space Wolves; and learned of Leman Russ. Primarch, Demi-God and Lord of Astartes. This character I was blown away by, and as more information was created or released about him I absorbed it all. My Brother and I would spend days and days speaking about the Primarchs and how we always thought 'they would bring them back next year'. And that's what it continued to be; It was always next year. We thought all the signs pointed to an advancement of the timeline, our Heroes would return and a new age of Gaming would be revealed. But GW never ever released them into 40k nor did it advance the storyline beyond a few Campaign books. 

Then thankfully Black Library began to characterise them in the Horus Heresy Book series and turned the dark past of 30k into a reality. I remember how awesome it was when I first read about Primarch Horus Lupercal in the novel 'Horus Rising'. The effect his presence had on his Legionnaires whilst just being in the same room was palpable. Then we were introduced to the characters which still terrorise the Galaxy in the 41st Millennium. The likes of Abbadon, Lucius and Kharn. At first I was of the opinion that GW had done a Star Wars episode 1 on us, but swiftly changed my mind. 

Then Forge World has begun to create a series of models for this amazing timeline; and we just had to be a part of it. I myself will be collecting 3 Legions: Death Guard, Night Lords and the Velka Fenryka. All of which have really diverse Primarchs and characters, which leads me onto the true subject of this post. I believe Forge World will release the Primarch (3 iterations of many of them) and 3-4 Characters (either of their own creation or from the works of the Black Library) for each Legion. 

Below is a list of the characters I believe should be released. 

1: Dark Angels: Luther & Cypher, Corswain & Astelan. 

2: Expunged

3: Emperor's Children: Saul Tarvitz & Lucius, Marius Vairosean & Eidolon. 

4: Iron Warriors: Forrix & Kroeger, Barban Falk & Toramino. 

5: White Scars: need more characterisation in the series sadly. 

6: Velka Fenryka: Ogvai Helmschrot & Ohthere Wyrdmake, Gunnar Gunnhilt & Bjorn. 

7: Imperial Fists: Alexis Polux & Sigismund, (then possibly Efried & Camba Diaz). 

8: Night Lords: Sevatar & Sheng, (then possibly Tovak Tor & Alastor Rushel). 

9: Blood Angels: Raldoron & Azkaellon, Nassir Amit & Meros. 

10: Iron Hands: Gabriel Santar & Sabik Wayland, Ulrach Branthan & Cadmus Tyro. 

11: Expunged

12: World Eaters: Shabran Dar & Khârn, Kargos "Bloodspitter" & Delvarus. 

13: Ultramarines: Marius Gage & Remus Ventanus, Tylos Rubio & Nathaniel Garro (Death Guard). 

14: Death Guard: Durak Rask & Crysos Mortug, Holgoarg & Calas Thphon. 

15: Thousand Sons: Ahzek Ahriman & Phosis T'kar, Amon & Hathor Maat. 

16: Sons of Horus: Garviel Loken & Ezkyle Abaddon, "Little Horus" Aximand & Tarik Torgaddon.

17: Word Bearers: Kor Phaeron & Erebus, Argel Tal & Hol Beloth. 

18: Salamanders: Numeon & Heka'tan (more to come). 

19: Raven Guard: Branne & Agapito, Nykona Sharrowkyn & Solaro. 

20: Alpha Legion: Alpharius & Alpharius, Alpharius & Alpharius. (Or Sheed Ranko and Ingo Pech.)

Also think: Macer Varren & Iacton "the Half Heard" Qruze will fit in somewhere. 

I will keep my theories updated. 

Drake Seta. 

Pre-Heresy Iron Hands: Iron Rising

Hi all, sorry I haven't posted in so long I've been busy getting over the worst of my resin crack addiction.

The time has finally come to publish the foundations of my Iron Hands list, I've been thinking hard on it for the last month and apart from not having any Morlocks released yet I'm pretty happy with how it's looking.

I have started the 40 Troops. You can see where I am up to currently in the Photos below. I will post more pictures as I follow the Forge World painting guide that was used for their display miniatures on the Isstvan 5 Board. 

My Base list:

Erinius Slithar (Legion Centurion - Forge Lord): Thunderhammer; Plasma Pistol; Combi-meltagun; Digital lasers; Augury scanner; Conversion beamer. 190

19 Legionaire: +1 Legionaire Sergeant (power weapon; Artificier armour; frag grenades; krak grenades); Nuncio-Vox; Legion Vexilla. 290
9 Assault Legionaire: +1 Legionaire Assault Sergeant (Hand Flamer; Thunder Hammer; Artificier Armour; frag grenades; krak grenades); 2× Plasma Pistol (1in5). 320
9 Breacher Legionaire: +1 Legionaire Sergeant (Thunder Hammer; Artificier armour; frag grenades; krak grenades; Melta Bombs (sgt only)). 260

1060 pts.

This is only a start to the awesomeness that will be the Iron Hands, i'll also be giving them a full Mechanicum detachment to back them up as I have to take on the full might of 9 legions pretty much single handed. Khall Sithis there will be a reckoning!!!

Mega Nob

Pre-Heresy Emperors Children update

Hello Bunnies!

First I feel I must apologise! This is my first post with progress updates! That really annoying thing has been getting in the way of my hobby time...whats it called? Oh yeah!.....'life!' Lol

Well here is an update anyway! 

First up is my tactical squad! Almost finished now, just a couple of small details and that dude at the backs shoulder pads...I think I left them at the Imperial Palace (Drakes house) lol! I am quite happy with this squad, they all have the FW sculpted shoulder pads and I think it really adds to the feel! I have given the squad a nuncio vox and a legion vexilla! To add to the armies pomp, the sergeant has mk4 command upgrade helmet! The squad is made up of 50/50 mk4s and mk2s.

Next up is my assault squad! I have armed the sergeant with plasma pistol and power sword. 2 of the marines also have plasma pistols! The squad is made up of 50/50 mk4s and mk2s. Again, this squad comes complete with sculpted FW shoulder pads!

These next models are some of the nicest I have worked with and I truly hoped to have them finished today...however I suffered from something that has been reported by a few people! The undercoat will not stay on the arms no matter what I do!! I have spoken to FW about this and they have said they will send out replacements...excellent customer service as always! Here is the bodies for you to view anyway. Wh en complete they will all come with power swords and armed with 2 combi plasma guns, 1 combi flamer, a combi melta and a plasma blaster! Just waiting for the Emperors Children cataphractii pads! Will be a fun squad!

The final model I have to show you is my legion praetor Hector Phaleron! Really nice model! Going to use the mk3 Sculpted Emperors Children pad to finish him off! He is armed with paragon blade and plasma pistol, artificier armour and iron halo! My hope is that he will run alongside my cataphractii maybe...

Please remember that none of this are finished, I still need to weather and do battle damage as well as squad markings! I have gone to great lengths to try to individualise and pomp each of my guys and I am grateful of feedback or suggestions :) 

Below is my 750pt list

I have made a deal with Carth that we will start our primarches at the same time, so expect an update soon of us painting both Fulgrim and Angron!

Thanks for reading!

Khall Sithis

Corax: Soulforge - Horus Heresy Novella delivered.

Hello Bunnies. 

I am now a proud owner of Corax: Soulforge - a Horus Heresy Novella written by Gav Thorpe. Only 4000 copies made. 

It is 125 pages long and it's page edges are painted a jet black to add to the feel of the book. The cover art shows the Raven Guard assaulting some Dark Mechanicum base and squaring off against some gigantic constructs with spiked Mechadendrites. They seem to be flying not jumping as they normally do with Jump Packs. It would be great if the Raven Guard had an elite unit of Jet Pack infantry in FW Book 3, as I think it would go with their character of hit and run with the current 40k rules. 

Corax looks awesome as always. He is one of the Primarchs whom most deserve the 3 different model sculpts that Forge World will be doing in my opinion. 

1st - An Isstvan 5 Corax with Heavy Bolter, Whip and No Jump Pack

2nd - A Post Deliverence Lost Corax with single Lightning Claw, Whip and Jump Pack

3rd - A wrathful Corax with 2 Lightning Claws and Jump Pack. 

Gav Thorpe is an amazing writer so I know this will be worth the £30 queens heads I paid for it. The first book I read of his was Angels of Darkness; it turned me upside down with what to believe about the Dark Angels. Also if any of you get the chance; try and get hold of the Space Hulk Novella that came out at the same time as the last edition of the game. I love the behind the scene sequences that Gav creates, such as the preparation, maintenance and planning that the Astartes as a military body must carry out. Deliverence Lost and Ravens Flight were a very welcome insight into the Raven Guard and have catapulted their fan factor to a new high. Carth will be collecting the Ravens as his loyalist Legion for Book 3 of the Horus Heresy, and I already know he will do them justice. 

So now as I am slipping ever more behind with the Horus Heresy series (just finished Betrayer) I will say adieu. 

Drake Seta. 

Forge World Cityscape: Isstvan 3 board (Istvaan 3) Day 5

Ok then. Vegas over; Khall and I are back onto the Forge World Cityscape boards. Now we have got to a stage where we are mainly doing small details and rubble. This is because we have already completed the main concrete bases and roads in previous posts (all but the final wash and weathering powders; which we have to do later). 

So firstly I decided to take on the "Generic" burnt out vehicles. Khall and I are not fans of fighting on a battlefield which always has a third party destroyed vehicle on it. So I could either go with the pure rusted destroyed rhino look such as on the Citadel Battlescape. But in my opinion a vehicle in that condition has been rusting for a long long time. I want to achieve a Just burnt out vehicle look. One in which the paint has totally been removed from heat damage. 

So using these pictures as inspiration I set out to achieve this look. 

Lots of whites, greys and sepias. 

So to start I painted a lightly watered down Skavenblight dinge onto the vehicle, so it has a streaky look to the burnt effect. 

I then did a layering drybrush of 50:50 of Administratum grey and Baneblade brown. This I did in patches and streaks across the wreck. 

Another layering drybrush of Administratum was done on top of the previous areas. 

Then streaks of watered down Balor Brown were added (these can be rough as subsequent stages will reel it back). 

Then I liberally sponged 66:33 Skull white with a Lahriman medium onto the wreck. This is the stage I have to leave it at now. I did want to do the smoke and flame blackening but that will have to be done with Forge World's Black soot weathering powder after the board has been washed.

I will also be blending the white in with the Balor a lot more as well as adding some more Seraphim Sepia. This will be concluded in the future. 

The same techniques were used on the Laser destroyer Wreck. 

The other big bit we have worked on is the Utility access area for our Cityscapes pipe work and ducting. The big brass housing on the left was sponged with Sotek Green in the low areas and around the bolts. It was then sponged up with Runelord Brass. Nice and easy and great look. 

The main pipes running through the main valve were painted with Warplock Bronze before having a light sponging of Runelord Brass to make it look weathered.

Otherwise we did a lot (and I mean a lot) of crates, Boltguns, Barrels and utility pouches all over the board. This was very time consuming. 

So here we are with our first six boards:

We Still have a lot of details to do, and like with all things: you start noticing things you don't like and want to improve. We will be back on it again tomorrow night and hopefully bring it all but up to the Gloss spray stage. 

Drake Seta. 

The Horus Heresy Weekender: Wolf Hunt - Giveaway.

The Horus Heresy Weekender didn't just have the book Imperial truth. It also had a one time opportunity to pick up a Horus Heresy Audio book called: Wolf Hunt. By the looks of things there were less than 300 made. 

The Battle Bunnies will be giving one away to a reader. 

All you need to do to be in with a shot at being given this item is:

1) Live in the UK

2) Email us at thebattlebunnies(AT)gmail.com - And suggest an epic name for our Bunny Mascot. Only serious names and names not from other Intelectual Properties will be entered (so no Han Solo or Donnie Darko names please). 

We will go through all of the suggested names on the 10/06/2013 and choose the best suggested name decided by a vote in our gaming group. When agreed we will re-contact the suggestee and ask for a postage address for where to send the audio CD to. Resident must be living in UK. 

This is not a competition but a Giveaway and we reserve the right to change the conditions at any time. 

Good luck. 

Drake Seta. 

The Horus Heresy Weekender: Preview of Book 2 Massacre

The Battle Bunnies were in the front row for the Preview of the forthcoming Horus Heresy Book 2 Massacre

Each set of books in the Horus Heresy will be bunched into Trilogies. The first 3 books will be the Isstvan trilogy. Followed by Book 4 Prospero. Book 5 Calth. Book 6 Signus. 

The Fire Brands Titan Legio will face off against Mortis in book 2. 

Book 3 will follow quite swiftly after. 

There will be Gorgon Terminators for Iron Hands and a Cybernetically enhanced Breacher Squad. 

There are plans to do a Storm Bird variant or two. 

There are plans to do other Titans. Not the Imperator but possibly a few lesser known ones. 

There will be new Legion specific squads. 

Salamanders will have Pyroclaste and Fire Drakes I think. 

The Night Lords will have early Raptors and a squad which use terror more than normal. 

Other Legions from Book 1 will also have new units and Special Characters too.