Showing posts with label Mechanicum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mechanicum. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 December 2017

Hector Cephas: Building an army in sub-assemblies

Hi all,

I'm wondering how many hobbyists build their models (big and small) in sub-assemblies to make painting their details easier. As you may have seen from my weekly update the week before last, I've been going through the process of building the plastic Skitarii kits for my Tech Thralls and Secutarii in sub-assemblies - the reason being I don't want to miss some of the detailing on the chests and also get the inside of the long coats right.


It's an interesting one as normally I'd only worry about it for characters like when I built and painted Tylos Rubio a last year as a mini hobby challenge - to be fair, that was an extreme example as it would have been more accurate to say I painted and built him as I painted everything individually before assembling - but I feel as these models are so detailed I think they deserve a bit more attention.


As I am planning on building and painting a lot of models in this fashion (100+) for this army alone, do you guys think this is the road to hobby madness or do you have some awesome hints or tips about painting hard to reach areas on a model that would otherwise still be visible on a model? I'll be interested in hearing about your experiences with painting in sub assemblies or whether you think it's overkill to do so and you have a good way around the problem!

Until next time!

Hector Cephas

Thursday, 23 November 2017

Mechanicum - first 750 points

Hi all,

Long time, no see! I've been absent from the blog for a lot longer than I anticipated due to a huge slump in my hobby keen - have been in a bit of a hobby rut but when Ahmose pitched his Lords of War idea I figured it would be a great way to resurrect my keen.

I originally was going to do my Legio Custodes as my Lords of War project but with the others picking up new projects I decided that scrap my original plans and start something new too. Without any further a-do, here's my first 750 points:


HQ:

  • Archmagos

Troops:

  • Tech Thralls - 20
  • Secutarii Hoplites - 20
  • Secutarii Peltasts - 10


Very different to what my 750 points probably would have looked like for my Legio Custodes that's for sure! I can alternatively take a second squad of 20 tech thralls in the place of the Peltasts but as we only require a single troop for the first 750 points I figured I'd add a bit of variety into the mix.

As you will see as this army evolves, it's going to be fairly focused on bringing skitarii units (more of the above + Myrmidons) to the table rather than big automatons as I thought it would look pretty cool. Also, as you guys will see, I'm planning on converting the Games Workshop skitarii rangers/vanguard into tech thralls as I think it'll look pretty cool and they will match up nicely with the rest of the army.

What do you guys think? Do you guys think I'm a heretek or just plain mad focusing on the infantry and no big bad robots?

Until next time!

Hector Cephas

Friday, 11 November 2016

New Release - Praise the Omnissiah!


Hello everyone!

As ever Friday giveth news and new resin. Today with have the awesome new Mechanicum Macrocarid Explorator. 


A heavy support option and transport this certainly provides the Taghmata with a new and exciting vehicle. The rules are great and for those with the Taghmata list you should find it on page 55. 


Hosting some impressive weapon options and a great special rule, 'Servi rig', allowing embarked models with the Battlesmith rule to use it from inside the vehicle.




Here's the official Forgeworld fluff :

Uniquely crafted to the needs of the Magos leading the expeditionary force, Macrocarid Explorators first saw use as frontline combat and mobile command vehicles in the early days of the Great Crusade. Heavily armoured and equipped with the Mechanicum’s signature technologies and weapons, they are now pressed into service on both sides of the cataclysmic battles of The Horus Heresy. 

Macrocarid Explorators can transport Magos’ or their units of deadly automata across the battlefield, cutting through any opponent foolish enough to come close with powerful weapons enhanced by augury scanners. Their heavy armour makes them as durable as the Legiones Astartes Land Raider, with the addition of extensive self-repair systems.

Rules for using the Macrocarid Explorator in Mechanicum armies in Horus Heresy games can be found in The Horus Heresy: Mechanicum – Taghmata Army List.

The Mechanicum Macrocarid Explorator includes optional weapons for the vehicle’s sponsons and hull mounting points. A pair of lascannon or two irradiation engines may be fitted to its sponson mounts, whilst a mauler bolt-cannon and a graviton imploder are available as hull mounted weapons.

At £90 I think it's great value for money and will make a fantastic addition to any Mechanicum cohort.

Let us know what you think guys!

As ever - For the Emperor! (And the Omnissiah ;p)

- Tylar


Thursday, 15 September 2016

What's in the box? Pt2: Containment protocol - accomplished

Good evening all. 

Glad to be back in the saddle from my brief hiatus and looking to get some hobby on.

Tonight I bring you a chunk of completed hobby (for a change I can all hear you shout). The last few days have seen me square away the first portion of containers that I started a while back.

As you may remember I used salt weathering for the first time on these as a means of testing out the process on something less than vital to my crusade era forces.

When I last posted this is where they were at...


Obviously this was only part done but as I was batch painting these it took a while to get the 9 upto this stage.

Even though I had brushed (vigorously) to remove the salt I found that, as I'd used cellulose paint and not an airbrush, some of the salt was resisting my attempts at removal...

Que the H2O..



After a brief dunk all the excess salt dissolved and was easily removed with a final cursory scrub.

Next stage was detailing and transfers. Very simply I painted the stud skulls with Valejo's Old Gold, dry brushed the keyboards and vents with Leadbelcher and painted the servo skulls with the same method as on my Night Lords; 

Steel legion drab wet brush
Argax earth shade wash
Karak stone wet brush
Ushabti bone dry brush
Skull white highlight

I then applied the transfers. I divided the crates into blocks of 6 and 3 so that the identification marks would cycle in lots of 6 - handy in future to use these as objectives in games. I went for generic Mechanicum for the simple reason that these will be used in lieu of buildings on my city fight table and as free standing scenery in my Zone Mortalis games, and as I have several armies it made sense to have the containers as equipment shipped from Mars to assist in the war effort (regardless of which side you're on).





Once the transfers were on it was time to try another new technique - the pin wash. I know a lot of great painters use this process (including our very own Drake Seta) but I'd never been brave enough to try it on anything other than test pieces. So I went in two feet first and eyes closed.

The first stage was sealing the paint - for this I used Purity Seal. I've read a lot of criticism about purity seal and to be honest I've never had an issue - however on this occasion I did. Half the containers started to frost up. I had read re-spraying immediately can reduce the effects - which I did and also to spray another varnish on also removed it - which I also did (with the Army Painter anti-shine matte varnish). Even after those salvage attempts some of the containers looked a little pink in places. I had to take it on the chin and move on, hoping the next stage might rectify the problem.

Next I mixed up some thinners with Burnt Umber oil paint (I stumped up for the good stuff). I mixed until it was the consistency of emulsion paint.

Then I applied a coat, covering all the containers parts in one pass.


By the time I'd coated all 9 the first one was ready to be rubbed within an inch of its life - I chose kitchen roll for this job, rubbing loosely all over then rubbing in one pass with my thumb in the triangular sections made by the ribbing on the container sides. I also paid extra attention to where the transfers were.


I found that a little thinners on a brush and a quick swipe across the transfers helped them to pop a little more.

And so the 9 containers were done...





And in situ on a gaming board section...





And a little fun...


Now it's just a case of repeating the process for at least another 9.

Hope you enjoyed seeing something actually finished for a change - something I hope to emulate in my next post concerning the boys in midnight clad.

And remember - never trust a skinny chef.

Peace out.

KF

Thursday, 8 September 2016

Battle Report: Ambush of Steel Star Nineteen.

Hello and welcome to another Great Crusade era Battle Report. The last thing that happened on the planet of Luruta (which the Death Guard and Dark Angels are attacking) was that Nathaniel Garro was captured when his attack failed and Mortarion led the Legio Mortis Warlord Titan Bone Garland through the valley to destroy the enemies defences utterly.

So if you want to check those reports out go to the Great Crusade Tab, scroll through our Timeline until you see The fall of the Purokar League and click on it to get caught up.

Let's begin. 

Elegeir Calcus powered forward as fast as his Cataphractii plate would allow. Just getting into the position they currently had had been a relentless grind in itself. His orders from the Primarch Mortarion himself had been unequivocal "get your force to Jiikun Major now" with a set of grid coordinates. He and the small force of Death Guard which were assigned to him immediately forced their way through the city. He himself had taken down a Ralidactra Knight and a dozen automatons to get here. The rearguard of his force still fought the reinforcements that the Purokar League had summoned to plug the hole that his force had torn through. 
'You are in position,' came the deep rasp of Primarch Mortarion over the Vox. 
'My lord. What are your orders?' Captain Calcus responded as he began blink clicking waypoint markers on his helm display for his units to get into position. 
'The Steel Star that is about to pass through here has a very important cargo, it can not be allowed to pass,' Mortarion answered. 
'Do we destroy the transports as they pass?' Elegeir asked as the first of the vehicles rumbled into view. 
'No. I will open them myself,' there was a wheeze which sounded like the last breath of a dying man which accompanied the Primarch's voice, 'begin the attack.'

Mission objective:
Legions - Don't let the Triaros off of the opposite table edge. 
Purokar League - Get the Triaros off of the far table edge. 

Warlord Traits: 
Solar Auxilia: Shattering Bombardment
Mechanicum: Dread Rights
Dark Angels: Conqueror of Cities
Death Guard: Paladin of Glory

Deployment:





Turn 1: Purokar League. 
Thallax shoot at the Despoiler squad felling one Legionaire, whilst the Ursurax shoot their chest mounted Volkites into the Terminators luckily killing two.

The Krios shoots its lightning cannon and kills three of the XIV Legion flamer support squad.

The Leman Russ fires at the Death Guard Sicaran but fails to damage, but the Medusa kills 2 Legionaires.



 

The Vorax and Dracosan round the corner and unleash their entire arsenal on Mortarion and his Deathshroud killing one of his chosen.

 
At the same time the Steel Guard turn their Lasrifles onto the Breacher squad laying low a son of Barbarus.



Turn 1: Imperium
The Death Guard advance and Mortarion slinks looks to the shadows. The Breacher squad shoot and kill 3 Steel Guard.
 
The Death Guard bolters chatter but the advancing Thallax are secure in their armour plates.

The Plasma Repeaters held in the disciplined grip of the Dark Angels manage to kill one Thallax, whilst the fire from the Despoiler squad bring another down to one wound. 
The Meltagun squad kill an Ursurax whilst the Terminators cause no damage. 
The Vindicator opens up on the Krios causing a glancing hit and stunning the crew. The Death Guard Master of signal brings down the fury from above causing the Medusa to lose one hull point and the Krios a to lose another Hull point.

The Dark Angels Plasma cannons destroy the Dracosan and kill a single Vorax. The explosion kills a five of the Steel Guard with Volkites within the transport, as well as taking a further 2 wounds off of a Vorax. Mortarion reappears closer to the Automatans with death in his eye.

Mortarion wades through the Rotor cannon shells to reach the Vorax and tears them to shreds.

Elegier leads his retinue into the Ursurax and unleashes his wrath. The Ursurax are torn down by Lightning claws and Elegier's Chainfist.

Turn 2: Purokar League
Mortarion approaches the Steel Guard elite with a smile. The Thanatar fires in the same moment missing the Lord of death completely, the plasma mortar melts two of the five Kuskar. 

The Leman Russ Incinerator fires and kills a single Legionaire

The Leman Russ fires upon the Death Guard Legion killing eight sons of Barbarus. 

The Basilisk fire misses it's target.

The Vindicator loses a hull point to the fire from the Leman Russ Vanquisher. 

The Steel Guard pepper the Death Shroud as they advance upon them, one is wounded. 

Mortarion shreds the last three Steel Guard elite. 

Elegier stands strong as the Charonite Ogryn charge his unit. Their armour protects them from most of the blows as Elegeir guts the first mutant. Sensing defeat, the remaining two turn to run, but the deadman switch kills one of the brutes, forcing the other to turn back into his foes. 
 

Turn 2: Imperium
The Dark Angel Tactical support squad equipped with Meltaguns fire at the Leman Russ Vanquisher command tank, reducing it to one hit point. 
At the same time the Tactical Support squad with the Plasma Repeaters, fire on the flanking Thallax in support of their brethren, killing two of the Automatons. 

The Dark Angel primary tactical squad concentrate their fire on the rear of the buckled Medusa wrecking it as the high explosive shred the crew inside. 
The Vindicator fires it's cannon at the Krios obliterating it, whilst the Contemptor tries to wreck the Leman Russ Incinerator. 

The Breachers and Deathshroud fire at the Steel Guard felling many. 

The Death Guard Tactical squad fires at the Thallax wounding two and are reinforced by the Sicaran which destroys the Leman Russ in a hail of Autocannon and lascanon shots. 

Mortarion seemingly slips back into existence by the Thanatar. The walker reacts too slow and it is torn asunder by the Death Lord's massive power Scythe. He then confronts the Triaros holding his Battle Captain. 





Keen to destroy the tank before any more first Legion fall, the Contemptor advances and strafes the side of the Leman Russ Incinerator bringing the tank down to one hull point. 
 
Elegier and his squad split the last Ogryn into bloody chunks and look for a new foe. 
 
The Steel Guard kill a single Deathshroud as they bring their vicious scythes down upon them. Unable to bare the Legion wrath, they flee into the ruins. 
 
Turn 3: Purokar League
The Triaros speeds past Mortarion as the Steel Guard Flamers and the Dominus try to bathe the spectre in fire. The Death Lord strides out from the inferno unscathed. 
 

The Thallax fire at the Death Guard Tactical squad killing one whilst the Leman Russ Vanquisher fires its cannon at the Death Guard Vindicator, failing to cause any damage. 
The Leman Russ Incinerator tries to destroy the Dark Angel Contemptor but fails. 
 
Turn 3: Imperium
The Deathshroud and Dark Angel Contemptor converge on the crossing as the Triaros approaches. 


 
The Dark Angel Heavy support squad destroy the Incinerator in a hail of Krak missiles. 

Elegier roars his fury as he tips tears his way into the hold of the Leman Russ Vanquisher, gutting the Steel Guard as the shake in terror. 




The First Legion Contemptor barges into the side of the Triaros and tears off it's track in one giant fist.
 
 

The Triaros, or Shock Barge to the Purokar League, rang with a huge impact and the whole left side lifted off the ground momentarily. Sparks showered from a split conduit inside the vehicle's hold, cascading over the battered white and green of the prisoners within. A loud sound of spinning metal and a series of k-tunk, k-tunk, k-tunk, eluded to the issue the transport was facing. 
'Tracks are shed,' came the voice of a Legionaire which Nathaniel recognised as Diafor. 
Garro nodded in agreement as he turned his attention to the two Thallax which were regaining their footing. 
There was a quick series of strikes at the back of the compartment before the whole rear opened up like a fungus pod. The Thallax barely had enough time to react before they were sliced in to pieces. 
They fell into two heaps, segments still smoking and red. 
Into the hold strode the Death Lord Mortarion at a stoop. Two precise blasts from Lantern straight through the internal wall into the cab, put down the driver and slave servitor within. 
He turned his gaze onto the Death Guard, their hands manacled to the roof of the hold. His frosty gaze took in every Legionaire in turn as he walked the hold. When his gaze fell upon Garro it seemed to be full of disappointment. 
The Lord of the Legion walked casually to the centre of the hold and raised his scythe. He casually circled his Manreaper in a circle at roof level as though he was showing a child how to use a scythe for the first time in the agri-fields, the ping-jingle, ping-jingle of their chains being released sounded ominous when framed against the silence of their Primarch. 
At last they were all standing in silence. Mortarion looked once more to them all. 
'There is a war to be won,' he began, 'no more dilly dallying.'
With that the Death Lord left the hold. 



Well that is another Battle Report down.

Imperial victory. Now to take down the planet!