Terminator Thursday

Got the Termies all base color sprayed and based last night. I want to make sure they could at least get on the field for Saturday. They obviously still need a lot of work, right now they are mostly just blended bone with no details haha. Sixteen Termies formed up look pretty bad a$$

While at the Chucks the other day I played the Nephilim and the left wing popped off. And that's after I've had the tail section pop off two to three times. While working on these guys arms have come off, body and legs have separated not to mention a few other glue failures on normal guys. At first I was thinking it was just a random thing but the more and more it happened it seemed more of an issue. I went to the shop and talked to some of the guys who said they also have had the same issue and were thinking it must be a bad batch of glue. If that's the case it sucks, but hopefully will be resolved quickly. The other thought that pops in my head is they've changed the formula (I can see them trying to save some coin and go with something cheaper to make it) which would really suck. I like GWs Thick Plastic Glue, the strength and work time are both pretty good. When it's working correctly that is.

That's right.. I'm pointing at you!

Worked on a bunch of stuff last night trying to get the army ready for Saturday. I'm running a Tournament this weekend and a friend is going to use my Dark Angels. I want, What You See so it will make it easier on him as he's a new player. I started putting some paint on the Vets, Dread, Predator and Termies. Nothing really got finished but I did get a bunch started.

I got the base coat of Green on the Predator and also started spraying the Terminators. I'll blend them down some for the Tourney but I don't think there will be many details added. Just want to get the spraying done before I attach them to their bases.

Also sprayed the 2nd ML dude I needed for the army.

Not a lot of exciting stuff today. haha..

It's like Magic

I needed to build a Predator for my Dark Angel army and figured I'd put in the extra time to magnetize it. And since I'm putting in the extra time to do that I might as well take some pictures and make a how to. So here it is. If you have ever thought about magnetizing a vehicle it's a good idea and can save you some money in the long run. If you go for what you see is what you get then it will allow you to load the tank out with whatever you like instead of buying two and building both (standard) builds. That's costly and most likely you'd be running one build more then another, so the other tank would just sit. Plus who knows, maybe one day you'll play a friendly game and want HBs but the next day you'll be playing a Tourney and want LAS. Plus a weapon might get blown off during a game, now you can remove it. It can all be yours and MORE! with the magical power of magnets.... haha.. sorry was getting in the groove and felt like I was selling a new car or something..  so lets move on to the How To

Things You'll Need:
Super Glue
Files/Seam Scraper
Magnets - I get mine from K&J Magnets but many places sell them. Below are the ones I use the most.
     D201-N52  ..  1/8 x 1/32  .. is the size I use for Backpacks
     D41-N52 ..  1/4 x 1/16  ..  Vehicle Bases/Flying Bases
     D21  ..  1/8 x 1/16  ..  Deep uses (heavy metal packs or mini to bases)
Some plastic card (not very much)

** A little note I want to mention before we start. Let the glue on the magnets dry for a few hours after applying, these magnets are very strong and if you don't let it form a very strong bond they will just pop off to stay with their buddy on the other piece**

Magnetizing the Predator Sponsons:
The Sponsons are a pretty simple affair. Build up the tank to the point of attaching the side doors/sponsons.

1) Glue the top plate of the sponson to the door as normal
2) Glue the guns together (HBs and Las and the Turret guns as well) DO NOT USE THE CENTER PIN as you normally would. Leave that piece out.
3) Now for the center pins, cut below the combined circle and square piece. See the diagram below.

4) Once the pins are cut you can attach the targeter and magnet. INSERT THE PIN INTO THE SPONSON PLATE BEFORE ATTACHING, THE DIAGRAM BELOW ONLY SHOWS POSITION if you don't you'll have Shockwave's head on a stick. Which isn't too useful in this instance.

Once this section is done it should look like this

Be careful with the amount of glue or the targeter will not rotate. The guns will still pivot regardless though, they will spin at the magnet bond.
5) Now it's time for the guns. I went with a larger Magnet more for the look then for strength so you should be able to use the same sizes. Up to you. Just glue the magnet over the slot on top of the guns. Make sure you have the correct facing on the magnets. I use a sharpie to mark them before gluing.

6) That's it, the Sponsons are done!

Magnetize the Predator Turret:
1) You are going to glue the turret together without placing the weapon into it. But not yet.

2) First you'll need to cut out the brace that you'll glue the magnets to. I just cut a piece of Plasticard,
 1" x 3/8". You'll need to trim the top of the side with the screen/port/whatever it is on it.

3) Once you cut out the piece and trim the top to fit, you'll then glue the Plasticard to the inside where the gun slides in. There is a flat section on each side it will attach to. (the pic below shows the turret upside down so you can see the trimmed section)

4) When the turret is secure glue your magnets on. I glued them on the back side of the card so the magnets on the gun section would sit flush and not stick out too far. (below you are seeing the magnets on the outside but they are just magnetically attached to the ones that are on the inside. they are just ready to be glued)

5) Now you are going to trim the pegs off the side of the gun sections. File it down so it's smooth and slides into the housing easily.

6) Apply Glue to the magnets on the outside of the card. Be careful not to put too much glue on them and accidental glue the magnets to the Pcard. Let the glue dry completely, I left them for about 8 hours (overnight) for a good bond.

7) Once I can safely remove the gun section I'll apply a generous amount of glue to the back and side section of the magnets to make sure they have a very good bond. Try to keep the glue off the outside of the magnet, you want a smooth connection.
8) You're Done.. you now have a magnetized Predator.

I hope this is helpful, and this is only a how I did it. I'm sure there plenty of ways to do the same thing. Also don't blame me if you cut something and are having problems getting it to work haha .. It's a pretty easy build just don't rush it! Take your time and let the glue do it's stuff.

The Lion and the Wolf

Got a game in this weekend and got some painting done as well. Just posting up the picks of the finished Plasma guy. I'll be finishing all the bases at the same time so no grass at the moment. But another Tact down.

As for the game I took my new DA List there to test it out against a friends Space Wolves. Sadly the list he built didn't allow me to test everything the way I wanted to but that it a way can be good. It makes you see what it can do when there are extra factors. It's a heavy alpha strike list with Belial and 10 Termies with Apoth, Champion and AC as well as a Dread w/ MM and Flamer in a Pod. John didn't take any vehicles in his list and had two HQs one being Njal which were clumped up. I said screw it and went right at the heart of his army DS'n right behind Njal's squad. Pod and Dread coming down right in front of them. Fire and bolter put a hurt on his squad and then had to wait. He DS'd Wolf Guard Termies right in front of my backfield but the pod landed right in front of my heavy hitters. A LAS Pred, two Tact Squads with ML and Plas but 5 DW Termies. He fired at a Rhino but failed to pen with the AC on two hits. My return shooting was weak but still a lot of AP2 taking his squad down to 1. The fight was mainly with Belial and the SW HQ and squads. They were kitted out Wolf Guard so it was a pretty equal fight. I was also lined up badly so my attacks were going against Storm Shields. I did cause him to break twice and run but it was always on my turn so it was actually a help to him. The whole only Space Marines can regroup then act as normal is BS, I know my BAs and some of the DA I have can but still see it as an inequality in the game. They should just be fearless or auto regroup but still have to form up or something. For them being the only army that can do that, is kind of silly. Sadly Belial was killed by Jaws but his Wolf Lord was Pulped by a powerfist. Haha.. it was a pretty heavy fight going on..

The other thing I got from the game is..... The Nephilim is WAY over priced. I know a lot of people have been talking about it but in the game it stood out. Only 20 points cheaper then a Storm Raven but is no where near as strong. For those points it should have either 2 TL LAS or 2 TL HBs. It seems like it's more of a ground force killer as it has the strafing run and all but it doesn't have enough firepower to do any real damage. If it survives the next round it's going to most likely fly past the last target. To me it should either have it's points dropped to some where in the 130 to 140 range or add that weapon.

It was a fun game and the Lion took the win with 3Obj to 0. A good test game for me and John, I'm running a Tourney this weekend at Chucks Comics and he wanted to get some play time in. I wanted to test my list and see how some of the units would preform. So it was a win for both of us.

Upcoming: I'm building up a Predator and taking shots as I Magnetize all the guns. I know there are some out there but I figured I'd make one as well. Hopefully it's helpful.

The Search continues..

I got the rest of the Deathwing built, they will fill the rest of the slots I need for the list I built up. There are multiple looks of the list but they all have roughly the same compilation of terminators in it.

16 Terminators including Belial are pretty much kitted out as below.. there may be some mods here and there as the other parts of the lists may require them to fill a varied role.

Belial
DW Command w/ Champ, Apoth and a Chainfist
5x DW w/ AC
5x DW w/ AC

I so wanted to put a Powersword on this guy but I don't need another one at the moment haha He was the last of the robed guys I needed to build up. But the Sword looked really good ..

I also added this guys right arm at level.. the Sword will be sprayed so that will go on afterwards.

I had two sets of the legs from the Vet Kit so I could make up the other two Termies I'd need. A standard guy and the Apoth. 

The Apoth and well pretty much all of them need the little detail bits added. But I mainly wanted to get them together and then I'll go back and see which ones I think need some extra awesome added.

Having the extra legs was pretty sweet, adding two more Termies into the mix with the other Command chest pieces. So if you are building up some remember that each DA Vet box has a set of Termie legs not to mention some arms and other bits.

With all the DW built I started to work on their bases. They are also going to have the deep forest look to them with reddish brown/black mud and dark green undergrowth and grass. They will also have some flagstones scattered about. All the details of Caliban make me think of towering forests and Castles .. so figured that will work for them. Right now they might look crazy as they are just the bits of added flagstone.

I then started to pin the feet but got tired so only got the one done haha

When you think about it, jamming paper clips into a brothers feet would hurt. Alot. haha not to mention a paper clip to us is like a piece of rebar to them, sry guys but it's for you own good! I swear!

Yeah,. I'm ominous...

Wanted to get some of the Command Kit Termies built up so started putting them together last night. They aren't going to be armed with the Knight weapons but why would you not use the robed bodies (other then they are a bit static after the first set haha but I'm sure with some snipping that could be taken care of). They just look too awesome not to use. I got 3 1/2 guys built up. I wanted the Halberd guy built as I will be running him in my Deathwing list. He really does look menacing, the hoods really add to the over all image of the guys.

and needed another Assault Cannon Termie so built him up..

He kind of has the come at me bro stance haha.. The sword icons on the barrel of the AC is pretty cool looking, a lot of nice small details in the Command kit.

For the more standard guy I went with one of the stormbolters from the Vet set, figured it'd mix it up a bit and still keeps all the details in it.

I'm thinking I'll be using this guy as Belial as I don't really like the new model for him. I'll be adding some more details on him and I need to adjust the arm to fit with the robes. I want to use the vertical power sword. I'll also be using the cloak and few other extra bits to kit him up to look like he is the leader of the DW.

The Apoth will be next and the rest of the guys will probably just be standard PF and SB.

No cuts, no butts, no coconuts

Knocked out the Tactical Sarg last night. Wanted to take a break from the group painting so worked on this guy. I spent a little more time on the Sarg but still finished him up pretty quickly. There are a few areas I'd touch up like the tabard but as they guys are more quickly done I think this will be it for him. He's ready to melt some face. Definitely a cool looking mini, and one of the highest quality from the DV set.

I had to order me a new brush yesterday, I've been using a Raphael Kolinsky 2/0 brush I ordered from Secret Weapon Minis for the past year. And it's held up like a champ but after a year of solid use the bristles are definitely showing wear. So I ordered two new brushed from Secret Weapon, it did me well and don't see myself switching up. I also have a few DeVinci brushes but the bristles are no where near as strong. I tried to use them the other night and wasn't too happy with their performance compared. They aren't bad but not as good as the Raphael, for me at least. The Raphael bristles are stiff enough to keep their shape with very little deformation while holding a large amount paint.