HOBBY FUND: End of Year

Well I got the idea of having my own model fund to track my expenses based on the Lone Pilgrim's Site. That way I can "save" up on my modeling and hobby purchases and to stop me from just splurging on everything.

So at the end of the year 2008 this is my Model Fund report:

End of Year Report 2008

Hobby Fund.
-- the amount from savings = 21,594.61
-- the amount from figures sold = 5,800.00
============
27,394.61


-- new warhammer products bought = 7,020.00
-- new boardgames sold = 10,340.73
-- new Airsoft Gun bought = 3,000.00
============
-20,360.73


NET AMOUNT 7,033.88 -> coming in 2009


Obviously I bought more non miniature stuff than I probably should have. The
quick gaming fix I am actually getting it by playing boardgames specially the
"Last Nigh on Earth" and the "StarCraft"

Heres to this year though. It might actually be different this time around :D

MODELLING: Assembling yet more Orks

Well I was supposed to start painting the rest of the DH Inquisitor Retinue but the painting bug just wasn't there. So I merely did some modeling work with Exacto Knife and Needle File.



I was able to assemble the Mek with Shokk Attak Gun that I got from Paul waay back in October. Pinned the gun in place and placed him in a bigger base. I finished assembling the last DeathKopta from the AOBR set ( 3 more from the second box to go !!!) and added dreadnought sized bases on some of my Killer Kans.

I then started on taking out the plastic pieces from the different space ork models I have and placed them in the different bits boxes.. For the time when I feel like assembling them already.

Started as well on assembling the Ork Trukk but only got as far as assembling the wheels..

Lets see what I can do next week.

(Note: Interestingly I just discovered that my Nokia phone has a Sepang, Greyscale and a Negative view of the camera.... hmm maybe I should really get me a micro sd card for my
phone pics)

BATTLE REPORT: Space Orks Vs Eldar

Just when I thought I had no more games to play for the year than when Freddie plays me a game at ATC with his newly aquired Eldar Army.

What he had based on my bad memory
2 Farseers
Howling Banshees
PathFinders
Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent
Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent
Guardian Unit w/ Warlock and Scatter Laser
Guardian Unit w/ Scatter Laser
Guardian Unit w/ Scatter

The game was a Seize and Control with a Dawn of War setup.

We had rolled for who gets to decide who goes first. I win the roll and elect to go second.

He deploys his eldar jetbikes and dire avengers while I elect to deploy both of my 20 ork slugga squad and the the mec with forcefield on the center of the table near one objective.

Turn 1 had him come on the board attempting to shoot at my orks but were foiled by the night fight rules on turn 1. My 2 ork mobs weathered most of the fire and the big shootas on one squad managed to wittle the guardian squad that was in front of them.

My turn saw both trukks and the battlewagon on my right flank. The shoota boys, killer kans and dreadnought came in my center to support the 2 ork mobs there while the Looted Vehicle stayed on the left flank.

The center and left flank just peppered the guardian squads with ordnance and big shoota shots. My right flank saw my trukks shaken and its big shoota ripped off but stayed steady.

Freddies miscalculation had his dire avengers finally embarking on a wave serpent but I had gotten close enough with my nobs that I was able to assault and blow up the wave serpent.

My trukk with the warboss and the burna boys finally got destroyed but they went in near the pathfinders. They get jumped by the Howling Banshees but managed to fend them off.

This is when Freddie said it was time to go.. so he conceded and the game was done :)

BATTLE REPORT: Space Orks Vs Chaos Marines

Ahh finally got to have one last game before the year ends and it was against good ol Romy and his Slaanesh with the expected Lash.

I had used the same list as the last time when I played at the bunker, mainly because I was too pressed for time to hunt down my figs for another list.











Romy had.

Daemon Prince with Lash
10 Chaos Space Marines with meltaguns w/ Rhino
10 Chaos Space Marines with meltaguns w/ Rhino
10 Chaos space Marines with plasma gun and Las Cannon
1 Vindicator

Battle Area.
- Playing field was a 4x4 with most of the buildings on my table quarter ( we had played Annihilation yet again ) and his side mainly open. This would be initially unwieldy as I tried to move my units around and charge him in the open.

I had setup first but romy was able to take the initiative and started the game (curses)

Game Play.

A good movement and turn 2 Waagh had me up for points as my Warboss leading the Mega armour Nobs charged and wiped out the 10 Man Chaos Marines with the LasCannon while my other 20 Ork strong force disembarked from their immobilized BattleWagon ( I hate glances that manage to do that ) reached another 10 Man Chaos Marine squad and wiped them out.

The next remaining turns turned into frustration as Romy went for denial and had his remaining Squad and Daemon Prince run to the farthest corner. He was able to lash in successive turns the Warboss and Mega Armor nobz (after being pummelled by the Vindicator), wiped them out and proceeded to do the same to the ork nob that destroyed the Vindicator and the Burna Boyz.

My tankbustas and other units were unable to even destroy the two rhinos that were just milling around. My luck of being able to kill tanks but not transports continue.

He was thus up in Kill Points by my last turn on game turn 7. Fortunately I finally had my 10 ork shoota boyz on a trukk already which allowed me to barrel in, disembark and shoot the last chaos marine squad and wiped them out in close combat. This turned the entire game into a draw.

Funkyness :)

GENERAL: The Search for more space

Well after more than a day and a half of organizing all of my model stuff around the room and on the balcony. It still felt like that I didn't get to free up more space around the room. Oh well at least I more or less moved stuff around so that I know now where each army is supposed to be in. Well most of them anyway.

BATTLE REPORT: Space Orks Vs. Dark Angels

Finally made it to Lito's Battle Bunker with Obi and Romy and yes the place is huge.. lots of tables to be able to put in. Lito actually rented the warehouse for him to move out his warhammer stuff from his house and place it there.

Of all the people that I had to fight though it had to be Obi again (dohh) well actually it was a toss up with Obi and Romy pointing to each other as to who to fight me :P.

The game was actually fast == well it was supposed to be fast except that I had a Virtual meeting during the game for at least 45 minutes which caused severe delays during it.

I had decided to field the followinng

• Warboss (Eavy Armour slugga, choppa)
• 3 Mega Armor Nobs w/ Trukk
  
• 7 Burna Boys
• 7 Tank Bustas
  
• 20 Ork Boys w/ slugga choppa, Ork Nob with Banner and uge Choppa
• 20 Ork Boys w/ slugga choppa, Ork Nob with PK
• 10 Ork Boys w/ Shoota and Big Shoota w/ Trukk
• 10 Gretchin w/ Slaver
• BattleWagon 2 Big Shootas/ Deff Rolla

Obi Had

• Chaplain
• 10 man Assault Squad
• 5 Scouts w/ Sniper and Missile Launcher
• 2 Land Speeders with Heavy Bolters
• 2 10 man Tactical Squads with Missile Launchers

Mission was an Annihilate and we had a Pitch Battle Set up. I had the Burna Boys borrow the truck of the Shoota Boys and the Warboss and one 20 man squad was in the Battlewagon (which too Late I realized was illegal since the Boss wouldnt have fit in)

The Burnas, BattleWagon and the other 20 man Ork boys squared off against the Chaplain, Assault Squad and Tac squad and the two Speeders on one side of the table while the Nobz, Gretchin and Tank Bustas where on the other side facing off the Tac Squad and Scouts.

Good Shooting on the part of Obi had my Trukk with the Nob immobilized on Turn 1 and the BattleWagon destroyed after it took a Missile on the front (stupid open top) by Turn 2. The Nobs decided to leg it up the mountain with their running eventually made it to the other side. They Skorchaed the scouts before they charged into the the 10 man Tac squad which they eventually ground down with only one nob left.

The Gretchin provided a screen to the 20 ork boys on foot before they went right and took pot shots at the tac squad there. They were largely ignored which suited me fine. The TankBustas managed to finally destroy the Land Speeders during the course of the game.

On the left. The Burnas jumped from their borrowed trukk side to start flaming the 10 man Tac squad but because I was having a teleconference I forgot to charge them into the 10 man squad. They eventually got rapid fired to death.

The Ork Warboss leading the 20 boys from the dead BattleWagon charged into the 10 man squad and butchered it only to be slaughtered in turn by the Chaplain with Assault Squad. They were in turn wiped out by the walking 20 ork boys as well.

The Ork shoota boyz took pot shots at the tac and assault squads while the other larger mobs where getting ready to charge in.

So score one win for the Orks due to sheer numbers. I guess with my Lost and the Damned Army Gone its Orks for my Horde army fix for now :)

Gotta get more games in

Note: More pictures can be found here

GENERAL: What the Wife gave me when she came home =)

Well last week the wifey came home and gave me a bunch of stuff to simply just stock up at home and store them in my cabinets =P

• Assault On Black Reach - Starter -- yeah more stuff
  
• Ork Boys box - (just 10 boys now.. booh.. I miss the 16 per box )
• Loota/Burna Box ( 5 loota bits, 5 burna bits.. whats not to like?)
• Tank Busta box with 2 bomb squigs :D
• Round Bases set (arggh had to buy some)
• Counter set (this I actually loved to have)

Now I wonder when I will get the chance to paint them much less assemble em :D

INVENTORY: Space Orks

Updated : March 13, 2012
After some cleaning these are the inventory of my Orks as of: October 25, 2008

Grots

• (2nd ed) painted red - 24
• painted brown - 7
• grot orderlies / Oilers - 3

Orks

• (2nd ed) can be ala Blood Axe Kommandos - 7
• Stormboys - 10
• Nob - 1
• Maddok (no base) -1
• Tankbustas models - 4
• w/ Rokkits - 6
• w/ Burnas - 7
• w/ Shootas - 12
• w/ sluggas - 22
• w/ sluggas (can be ard boys) - 7
• ala Cyborks - 7
• Big shootas - 2
• in metal blister - 6
• plastic unassembled - 2
• Mega Armor - w/ shoota -1
• - w/ kombi-flamer -2
• - in blister - 2
• Ork Warboss - 1 (shoota and ccw)
• plastic unassembled -1
• Shokk Attack gun mek - 1

Nobs

• w/ slugga choppa - 2
• w/ custom shoota choppa -2
• w/ power klaw and slugga -1
• w/ klaw shoota and bosspole -1
• w/ slugga choppa bosspole -2
• plastic unassembled slugga choppa - 6

Trukks

• painted flatbeds - 5
• unassembled in box -1

KillerKans -3
2 in blister

Dread - 1
unpainted 1

Looted Vehicle -1
BattleWagon -1
DeatKoptas with rokkits - 3

Bikes - 6
Buggies - 3

MODELING: Assembling AOBR Marines

Well I know I was supposed to finish painting the inquisitor retinue that my DaemonHunter Army needed but I couldn't resist cleaning and assembling all of the Space Marine Models in the AOBR set. sigh yet more stuff to paint now

BATTLE REPORT: Crimson Fists versus IG

Finally I got my first game in Fifth Edition against Freddie and his IG. I elected to again use my Crimson Fists as a base unit and then put in fodder troops for it from WH and DH lists


Because we might get pressed for time I decided we just do a 1000 point list since I still dont know much of 5th edition but the best way was to just dive in and correct oneself as we go along.

Librarian Hernandez
Tactical Squad A ( 10 man Flamer, ML )
Tactical Squad B ( split in 2 Combat Squads , Plasma , ML )
Storm Trooper A ( 9 man . 2x plasma)
Storm Trooper B ( 8 man , 2x melta)
Zealots ( 20 man with demagogue and fanatic with eviserator, 2 flamer)
Vindicator Whirlwind


The scheduled game at ATC was moved to Freddie's home because we did not have permits to play during that time (we forgot to make a request) so oh well. At least there were German Sausages :D

We had a 4x4 table with 4 take and control objectives and a Table Quarter deployment.

Freddie has his 7th IG unit with a large number of infantry with Rough Riders and a Basilisk


The point of dire things to come happened when I tried to teleport with my Librarian and unit of Stormtroopers and manage to cause a wound to myself.. Well oops. Shooting from my Vindicator was short and the Whirlwind shooting I got suprised by the fact that without LOS you dont substract the BS from the shot and roll 2d6 - wow thats Fantasy scatter all right. Was able to cause a couple of good shots from the Vindicator and Whirlwind but they eventually get vaped by the Basilisk.


I did manage to hose down the Rough Riders that were coming up on one flank unfortunately the same Tact squad couldnt even cause a wound on the conscripts that had jumped my flagellants that had already been hit repeatedly with las gun fire.

The 5 man tac squad that I had holding up the rear were suprised to see a large IG vet squad outflanking them from behind and got vaped with melta and plasma

That same Veteran Squad reduced the already depleted 10 Man Tac Squad to 2 Marines and forced it to flee at the last turn.

The 10 man squad was too static. It was already with LOS of the Basilisk but I refused to move it and kept shooting at the Guard units in front of it. I should have at least taken a pot shot at the Basilisk. Or at least get out of LOS and shoot at the rear Vet squad.

I had my Librarian attempt a risky teleport at the basilisk with the storm troopers but I was too close and got lost in the warp. I then ended up back on the same objective I had planned to go to in the first place. They finally reach one of the objective markers and shoo off an IG squad but it was all too little too late as Freddie had 2 objectives with 2 contested.

Pictures of the objective markers at the end of the game:

GENERAL: Got Hit by the Bug 5+K down the tube

Yep I knew that I would be buying more stuff than I actually planned on buying when I went to Neutral Grounds. Ended up buying not just the New Assault on Black Reach ( with two more heading my way courtesy of my wifey :D ) but I also both the a White dwarf (with the free terminators and nob) which I haven't done in a long time (at least its the UK version)

As well as the Space Marine Codex.. and yes it is sweet :D

Finally the Crimson Fists get some loving :P

Of course my model fund just nearly gotten wiped out with all of the purchases :p
Gotta find me another racket then :D

The Wh40kGT 2008 Report

The GT for 2008 used the (most unappareciated) 4th Edition rulebook./. The feeling with the organizer was to just get this thing out of the way already so that we can proceed with 5th ed. So sure thing we did =P

****

It was an interesting first round of game play as I faced off against Romy with his Slaanesh themed Chaos army. He could have just laid back and sniped me from afar but decided to make a sport out of it and went in with his Chaos Terminator and Daemon Prince. The game got delayed quite a bit as Ronald (Mcheesy KraftMan) decided to heckle our entire game since he missed us so much :P


The game was good ol Patrol and once again the deployment killed me. NEVER NEVER choose an L deployment when your a horde army.. always go for the long table edge.... sigh..

I had already brought new dice but I still manage to miss my one shots with my lascannon. I was able to bring down Romy's daemon prince and his Chaos Terminators to interestingly manage to get a Draw.. so not bad on that :) while he downed my Tornado and immobilized



The next up was Ambush and I got wound up to be the one being ambushed against Joel's Nurgle Marines no less. I knew most of my foot slogging army wouldnt make it so I just sat my SM Marines at the back of the line and started plinking away at the enemy.. while the rest of my horde attempted to get stuck in with them.

My Vindicator got killed by the Obliterators and the resulting explosion took a lot of my clumped up figures as I was still trying to split them up from their initial congo line deployment. My entire mob of 20 Zealots got wiped out as I charge Nurgle Marines out in the open.

I was rusty, and my tactics showed it as I sent everything piece meal in this game.

I was thinking(deluding??) to myself that I was going to still get a draw out of this one but the rain and the tables being out in the open just doomed that plan. There goes my plan to get into the semis...

Still I had fun getting 2 games in with great armies and great opponents.. Maybe this will give me the push I need to finish my army? :)

More photos of the event can be found here:
http://lakwatserongkalbo.multiply.com/photos/album/90/Toy_Soldiers..._Pchuw_Pchuw

http://timberwolf168.multiply.com/photos/album/7/Warhammer_40k_Grand_Tournament_2008-08-23

MODELLING: Creating the Inquisitor and the Retinue

I had spent a long time in trying to get a DH inquisitor and Retinue finally completed and ready for the table top in time for the 40k Gt.. heres how I made the models.

For the Inquisitor and the retinue I started to scour for bits to use for them. I had old Chaos Marine plastics that had there heads removed before so I used them I wanted to create a Metal Storm unit.


For the inquisitor himself I had the idea to use a cadian grenade launcher and then merge it with a missile launcher so as to make a Psycannon out of it and then add some stuff on it some more.

I jury rigged a handle using some spare sprue then modified the cadian vox backpack to act as its power pack.

It was too armoured and not inquisitorial looking enough though so I added a parchment from the Skaven Box I had. I plan to at least paint freestyle the I on his shoulder pads





The Heavy Bolter servitors I once again used the Chaos Space Marine Torso and Legs. I then used Ork arms for them. I had initially set them to hold the Heavy Bolter in several poses with their arms but then took that out and then decided to just stick the HB on the torso itself. I then used zombie heads to get that lifeless look.


The Mystic model I used a Clan Pestilence body to get the hunched robe look and then just placed an empire head there. For the sages (which I had accidentally created two) I used high elf archer bodies with bits from the Clan Pestilence box and again Empire heads.



For the priest I used a High Elf bowman legs and torso with more Empire heads and then used empire arms for the gauntlet. I used a chaos ccw to act as a power weapon or eviserator.

Im hoping I have time to actually finish painting these guys up. Here goes to that plan...

Crud : 2 nights to go for the Grand Tournament...

and Ive not even finished assembling the Retinue for my Inquisitor and the game is already this Saturday. Fudge...

Well this is the army list that I will be using for the Tournament. I just want to get this out of the way so that I can start focusing on the ork models that I have for 5th edition gaming. Since the new codex SM is just around the corner I decided I might as well have fun and use whatever gimmicks I can with the old one before it all goes away (like FOTA)

The Host of Faustus SM list - with WitchHunter and DaemonHunter Allies Radical Inquisition

HQ

Librarian Codicier Hernandez 103
- w/ FOTA

Inquisitor Lord Faustus DH Ally 187
- w/ PsyCannon; Emperor's Tarot
- 2 Mystics - w/ las pistol and CCW
- 1 Sage - w/ las pistor and CCW
-3 GunServitors w/ Heavy Bolter, Targeter, Krak, Frag

Elites

Daughters of Erathas (Arco Flag) WH Ally - 140
4 ArcoFlagellants

Hands of Erathas (DaemonHosts) - 170
2 DaemonHosts

Troops

Tactial Squad Alpha SM Marines x 5 - 100
w/ bolters , 1 lascannon, 1 plasma gun

Tactical Squad Beta SM Marines x 5 - 100
w/ bolters , 1 lascannon, 1 plasma gun

Storm Trooper A x 8 DH Ally - 100
w/ 2 plasma gun

Storm Trooper B x 8 DH Ally - 100
w/ 2 meltagun

Horde of Erathas Mob 1 WH Ally 175
Priest Zecarriah w/ pwr armour, pwpn and las pistol
19 Zealots
w/ Fanatic armed with Eviserator

Hordes of Erathas Mob 2 WH Ally 167
20 Zealots
w/ Demagogue - meltabomb and las- ccw
w/ 2 Fanatic2 armed with Eviserator
w/ 2 flamers

Fast Attack

SwiftWind LandSpeeder Tornado - 80
w/ Heavy Bolter , Assault Cannon

Heavy

Devastator Squad Gamma x 8 - 200
w/ 4 Missile Launchers

Vindicator IronHide 128
w/ smoke launchers


Total Points 1750

BATTLEREPORT: WitchHunters vs UltraMarines

Finally I got a game in for the year !!!. With the August WH40k GT just around the corner I need to start getting in some serious game time. Was able to go to Galleria last Saturday just before the typhoon decided to make a 90 degree turn and head north.

I had brought a camera to take pics. Too bad I didn't take any :D

WITCHHUNTERS(WITH ALLIES) VS. ULTRA MARINES

Game: Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition - Last Game before 5th ed
Opponent: Mike(??)
Mission: Alpha Cleanse
1st turn: WitchHunters
Points: 2000

WitchHunters

• Inquisitor Lord, bolt pistol, power weapon, 2x Warriors with plasma guns, 1 x Warrior w hell gun w/ Chimera Transport
  
• Priest w/ Carapace Armor
  
• 1 Eversor Assasin
• 5 Arco-Flagellants
  
• 3x DaemonHosts
  
• 10 Stormtroopers, 2x Plasma Guns, Rhino, Smoke launchers and Extra Armour
• 10 Stormtroopers, 2x Plasma Guns, Rhino, Smoke launchers and Extra Armour
• 10 Space Marines, Vet Sgt with pistol and PowerFist, 1 Flamer
• 6 Space Marines, Las Cannon, Plasma Gun
• 6 Space Marines, Las Cannon, Plasma Gun
  
• 20 Frateris Militia
  
• 3x Penitent Engines
• 1 Excorcist
• 8 Space Marines, 4x Missile Launchers

UltraMarines

• Tigurius
• Librarian (higher type), Land Raider Transport
• 5 Terminators, 2x Assault Cannon
• Dreadnought w/ DropPod
  
• 10 Space Marines. Vet with PowerFist plasma pistol, Lascannon, MeltaGun, Rhino w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
• 10 Space Marines. Vet with PowerFist plasma pistol, Lascannon, MeltaGun, Rhino w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
• 10 Space Marines, 4x Missile Launchers
  
• Predator w/ Lascannon sponsoons
• Vindicator

The game

The Space Marines deployed with all of their armor on the open patch of terrain on the right of his deployment. and the rhinos on either flanks to take a quarter. I had the Penitent Engines all massed in front behind the hill on the center. and the rest of my troops spread out as much as I can. The Penitent Engines then decided to just walk in amongst the boxed in armour and laid waste to all the vehicles there. One eventually managed to get Tigurius in hand to hand and snipped him in half.

My dice rolls were atrocious though.. specially my shooting. I had the first turn and managed to hit nothing despite having BS4. My Eversor died at the hands of the Librarian which then bio-meltdowned and killed my Inquisitor. The plan to delay the Dreadnought by having my Frateris Militia attack it was flubbed when I rolled a 12 for leadership and it found itself safe from the rest of my troops

With the more mechanized army he had most of my assault troops wound up milling around my table quarter. Despite that I managed to survive all of this simply because of the sheer amount of bodies I still had to throw at him.

I had 1 Quarter with 2 contested and 1 vacant.


Result: Win

Learning points

• An Eversor should only really assault foot troops and not characters that can attack them first.
• Change my dice
• Need to scratch build some penitent Engines
• I am rusty.. too many rule questions for me. Still wont matter much with 5th ed just the next month already.
  

MODEL FUND: Empire Sold.. and there there goes the Fantasy GT

Well I was able to finally sell of the Empire Army for a bargain 5k, this added significantly to my model fund for my future purchases. Of course with me trying to stop any additional purchases until I actually manage to paint everything (or at least finish painting something) the cash should sit in my bank account for a while.

In other news.. I had lost impetus to paint my fantasy army when I heard that the GT would be done on May 17 -- which happened to be our scheduled family vacation in La Luz. Ironically our vacation got cancelled due to a typhoon hitting the Batangas shores. I had planned instead to take my daughter to the Oceanarium but was suprised that my parents had taken her with them to Alfonso.

My day was actually freed up and I could have played at the Fantasy GT... If only I had woken up on time as well as at least doing some touch ups to my army.. Oh well theres always the next 40k GT....

What not to do with a Pinvise

Here's something I just found out. When the tube that contains your super glue has its nozzle clogged because of dried glue, never use your PinVise to try to unclog the hole when the glue hasn't dried yet. Heck don't do it regardless if the glue is dry or not.

I snapped the darn thing in half.. argh..

GENERAL: The Regatta is over, now back to my geeky stuff

I had participated last week in the 2008 President's Cup Regatta in Subic, my third one and finally we got to 3rd place overall.. (read more of it here ) Now I can start focusing on getting my fantasy army painted and ready for the April Fantasy Grand Tournament that is going to happen this April 18. At least I finished touching up/varnishing most of the mutants so at least there out of the way.

Time to paint the Waaagh.

PAINTING: More Mutants nuts..

Well yet more mutants have been finished touching up and varnished. The afternoon heat has given me a headache though. I still got 5 mutants too finish and varnish but I need to put them on hold for now. The Fantasy Tournament has been scheduled on April 19 and I still haven't started doing anything yet except prime the Warboss and the Standard Bearer.

With me going to Subic I wont be able to start on them until next week. Here we go.

GENERAL: Holy Week is here

Well I was able to finish touching up and varnishing 10 more mutants and in the process of touching up 10 more. I still don't have that urge to paint much which is probably the cause of my slow progress as well as the fact that real life gets in the way.. Of course that can be thought of as a cop out since I dont have work till April 1. But still I have a daughter to take care of.

Looking at some very personnal issues with her that I just learned about over the weekend that caused me to drink at home.. Its going to be a bit more complicated..

Lord give me strength.

We are going out of Metro Manila for the Holy week so probably no work will be done this week.

GENERAL AND PAINTING: Touch ups, Varnishing and ROTKXI

I was able to tear myself away from the PS2 game of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI (something that I was able to play the original waaay back in 90) and manage to touch up and then varnish some 25 mutants with 35 more to go.

I need to finish all of them within the week so that I can finally start on the Orc and Goblin army I need to play for the April GT.

here we go again

GENERAL: Nothing done last week

Was too busy to do any modelling last week since we went to Boracay for a family vacation (my brother and his family was here and my wife was still here to we were complete). Too bad the rains came with us there so the waters were rough and cold. Still we were complete so its not that bad.

I also spent the next few days preparing for my wife's departure to work back in the US for the next 8 months again. I've got the spare time now to paint I guess. It sure is going to be lonely for a while here.

I did try to assemble a wooden woodcraft kit of a biplane during the weekend. Let's just say it didnt work out as I planned it to be.

Here's to me starting to varnish my mutants for me to end the month.

MODELLING: Doing some Orc Bosses

Wasn't in a painting mood so I decided to start assembling my new Orc Warboss on Boar with the stuff that I had won two years ago for the Jonnel Cup. The assembled Boar has a noticeable gap between the two halves, will need to fill the gap if only I can find my two part epoxy to do the job.

Also tried to assemble the Black Orc BSB on Boar but my choice of parts means I need to do some filing away some more. Now where's my Blue Tac?

GENERAL: More loot from stuff and a bit of painting done

After I had posted that my main warhammer 40k army for this year would be Orks I surprised myself by going for yet another of my friend's bargain army deals.

It was ugly to behold with bad conversions (okay a guy holding a las cannon sponsoon is part of a Lascannon team) to a very bad paint scheme (pink with green and bad bad painting) that made me nauseous and wanting to hurl.

It was a bargain as it was cheap with lots of models. I was able to get a platoon of cadians, two squads of catachans and two Basilisks for dirt cheap. Thats 60 models and 2 vehicles all for the price of 2 squad boxes. Not bad not bad at all.

Still I am now stuck paying for something I actually did not need and making me go in debt because of some models just when money is becoming tight. I may just sell them in the end but I wont know for sure till it fancies me

Of course the first thing I am going to do with this is to throw them all in brake fluid and start removing the uh "converted weapons" that the guy made to make them "count as".

=========

Managed to actually start painting again with the wife having the urge to want to paint. She started painting my converted Ogryns while I started doing touch ups to the remaining Lost and the Damned foot troops that I haven't finished painting. As I expected the paints have started drying up to a significant degree. Hopefully I would be able to at least get to use some of the stuff before it all goes to waist.

Managed to also pin and assemble the Belakor model that I got for trade for some plastic Terminators. This would serve as the Daemon Prince (which I have named Malphas) for my work in progress Chaos Space Marines army. Of course I should be working on the mutants and do retouching and varnishing. Gotta renew my focus.

One more note.. Found the inventory of Space Ork units while cleaning the room. This does not include the other models that have not yet been assembled. Will post this list soon.

WHFB: 1999 point Orc 2008 GT army

Finally after much headache in computing and recomputing my army list I have come up with the final version (or so I hope) of the army list that I would be using for the 2008 Fantasy GT to be done in April.

The thing about this kind of army is the relative cheapness of the units as compared to say High Elves. I can take out an option here and an option there and I can save enough points to get another unit of boyz or several more support units which made the choices so hard to finalize.

Bruzza's Horde (1999 points)

Characters - 578 points ( 29% of armylist )

• Bruzza da Big - Orc WarBoss - Light Armour, Boar, Ulag's Akrit Axe, Enchanted Shield, Warboss um's Best Boss At - 217 points
• UrkFang Dwarfeater - Black Orc Bigboss - Heavy Armour, Boar, Battle Standard Bearer, Mork's Spirit Totem - 180 points
• RotGit - Goblin Bigboss - Light Armour, Shield, Wolf, Wollopa's One Hit Wonder, Guzzla's Battle Brew - 81 points
• Shimwit - Level 1 Night Goblin Shaman - Dispel Scrolls (x2) - 100 points

Core: - 996 points ( 50% of armylist )

• 25 Orc Boyz - Full Command, choppa, shield - 180 points
• 25 Orc Boyz - Full Command, choppa, shield - 180 points
• 25 Orc Boyz - Full Command, extra choppa - 205 points
• 20 Night Goblins - Musician, bows, Fanatic (x1) - 89 points
• 20 Night Goblins - Musician, bows, Fanatic (x1) - 89 points
• 5 Wolf Riders - Musician, spears - 71 points
• 5 Wolf Riders - Musician, spears - 71 points
• 5 Spider Riders - Musician, spears, shields - 71 points
• 2 Snotlings - 40 points

Special: 220 points ( 11% of armylist )

• Wolf Chariot - 60 points
• Wolf Chariot - 60 points
• Spear Chukka - 35 points
• Spear Chukka - 35 points
• Night Goblin Squig Herd - 30 points

Rare: 205 points

• Magog - Giant - 205 points (10% of armylist)

This list is shy of 2000 points total. Ive got some tried and tested units as well as a few new ones that I wanted to try out. Normally having to use new units can be tricky, specially if its a tournament setting. However I just want to give them a go this year and with me not expecting anything I just plan to have a great time.

Most of these models are already done but definitely need some retouching and varnishing while others are still on their sprues. This is fine by me since the new units that I had selected only have a few models in them so that it wouldnt give me a headeache in just finishing them. All of the characters need to be assembled and created. The Orc Boyz regiments need some retouching and painting of a few extra models. The Night goblins have bows simply because I have painted them that way and I loathe to have to modify them to have hand weapons and shields. Still if I have the time ...

I plan to do the assembly of any new models first then go ahead and do retouches and then actual painting. After everything has been painted will i apply matt varnish on all of the models.

GENERAL: Where's the beef? - State of the Spawning Ground address

I have always been plagued with going one way and then going another path depending on my whims. Moreso with the models that I collect, assemble, paint and game. Well this shall serve as a way to set in writing what I plan to do for the year 2008 in terms of my modelling. This of course may change over time so I plan to do another address to be able to track my progress in terms of what I had accomplished by June.

What this blog serves.

Like it says on top this blog shall serve as my way of monitoring my painting progress as well as my forays into the miniature world. This would include my game time as well as some fluff writing for the armies and campaigns that I did. And hey maybe people will get a kick at what I'm going to do.

Organizing the blog.

Aside from Kenton Kilgore's site and a few others that I regularly visit, I am also a fan of the lone pilgrim's blog. I plan on using that same format for this year to tidy things up on this blog and keep em as organized. I was intending to put on a separate battle reports page but since I'm not doing any reviews or plan on any large number of posts this will be on the backburner.

Frequency of posts.

Time issues will prevent me from posting on a daily basis so I will make posts on my progress weekly - I target it being done on a Monday - that way I can review what I have done so far and plan for the next week. If ever I get to post more than a week then that shall be considered a bonus.

What to focus on (painting wise):

The meeting that was held last December in RHGC headquarters highlights the planned activities for the year. Too bad I had just left before they started the meeting since everyone that was there was given a Cities of Death building terrain (!!!)

The schedule as posted is:

• January 2008 - Terrain-making session and Lito's birthday
• February 2008 - Warhammer 40,000 Megabattle (Apocalypse rules)
• April 2008 - Warhammer Fantasy Grand Tournament (Kim Navarro)
• August 2008 - Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament (Arvin Tan)WARMACHINE/HORDES tournaments and leagues will still be regularly held, organized by Press Ganger Raymund, Mang, Arvin, and Kim (all of which will be announced on later dates)

Because I am more of a gamer than a painter (in fact getting into games is one of the best motivators for me to finish painting my models) I need to take the schedule into consideration on what models to paint. Nothing like a coming tournament to get me motivated and start painting again.I shall also follow Kenton's credo in painting which is to make it "good enough" and that suits me just fine.

The February schedule is a bit to near for me though. I may just happen to bring as much models as I can for that event and just play with what I have there. That means that I need to focus on the first major event on April which is the Fantasy GT and then the 40k GT for August.

I also want to put some character in my armies so I need to work hard and start adding in some unit names and fluff for them.

Warhammer 40k

My Lost and the Damned army is no more (well until there would be a third chaos codex after Daemonica) unless I plan to use them as conscripts or in Apocalypse only gaming. However I still have not got around to finish varnishing the models for me to display them. I plan on retouching the models and varnishing the models this February before I shelf them in my newly modified display case. If I still have some extra models left that I haven't touched then that is what I would be painting.

This means that for the Mega Battle that would be done this February I plan on using my Chaos models. This depends of course if the event pushes through but I am concerned if I can meet the deadline.

With the Orks getting a new codex (finally!) it looks like that its time for me to retouch the old boss's figs, and add some more models to it and get it on the gaming table. I had acquired quite a few fantasy orc models which I plan to use for shoota boyz in the codex. However I just dont know where to start again on what to paint.

For February I plan to inventory (or look for) the orks and then come up with an army list that would suite my tastes. I plan to create a list for a blood axe infantry army and a speed freak list (with the number of trukks I should be able to pull this off easily). I shall consolidate and create a 1000 point and a 1,500 point list for both types of armies.

There where two reasons why I went LATD before. One was because no one played such an army (it was unique) and the other was because then I could use different kinds of models. With that army's demise it appears that my army of choice for now would be a Radical Inquisitor army using WitchHunter and Daemon Hunter units. This would actually let me field my Space Marines or my units from my old LATD and that suits me just fine.

That is until I get my Orks up and running again. Im still undecided on wether to use the Inquisition or Orks for the GT in August. Well lets see what happens.. Again it all depends on the army list that I can manage to use and what would suit me.

Speaking of Space Marines, I do plan to retouch and then varnish whatever models are already done so that I can put em on the display case. My using Inquisition troops would allow me to field them as well anyway.

This appears to hold true for the Imperial Guard. I shall relegate them to Inducted units in the Inquisition and that would give me the chance to paint the units that I would actually need.

Additionally I want to incorporate the old Hobby Cafe website games that we had with the Corriba Sector (another home brewed sector whose original site has sadly become lost in the warp) and the campaigns that I had done in recent years (Battle for Oakwood and the Eldar Storm games.) I want to tie them all in and post the stuff here and then create a new campaign by June.

Warhammer Fantasy

My Orc and Goblin Army has remained as is with no retouches (but more damaged due to transporting the miniatures) since 6th edition (meaning half painted and assemblred models) with my painting focusing on 40k this may be once again heading for the backburner.. However it looks like the schedule for Fantasy would be earlier than 40k so if I want to compete in this one I better fix and retouch everything.

I need to make a final list of what I will bring for the Fantasy GT and then from there I can focus on what do I need to fix/retouch on. My emphasis here is to use what models I have, no scratch building or converting or buying new stuff, just fix and paint.

I have always fancied on doing a second army for Fantasy. After my deal with EJ I have enough models to finally make me a decent Dwarf Army. I plan to make an army list based on the existing models that I have and then slowly work on them AFTER the Fantasy GT.

BFG

I want to get some gaming time with my Chaos and Ork fleets from time to time. I at least have one dedicated opponent I should easily get some game time for them this year.


HORDES

I still have the Everblight starter all assembled and just waiting to be painted. With the local gaming scene more interested in playing Privateer games I may have to actually start painting these. Being a mass horde army type player I admit it is refreshing to see that I can fit the entire force in just one small tool box.

Will start painting the Shredders by March in between me fixing my Fantasy Army.



To Recap:

• Painting to focus on what games and events will be done. Critical to have the Army lists made up first before I begin painting any of the units.
• Armies that will be used for the tournaments would be the first priority. Anything else would be a way to take a break from such painting
• Feb - retouch LaTD mutants then varnish and stow for now.
• Feb - create viable army lists for Orks with the units that I have.
• March - Orcs and Goblins for the GT army this April.
• March - Paint Shredders
• April - Do a Dwarf army after the GT.
• June - army to be focused for 40k would be Inquisition with allied Space Marines. List for the GT to be created and focused on by June.
• June - Do a 40k campaign.

Thats all that I can think of for the first half of the year. Lets see what happens :)

GENERAL: Some shelving...

The cabinet I had used to put my figures in (well some of em anyway) was a bookcase that I had added some extra shelves before.. in the form of some illustration board and boxes of old mechwarrior booster packs for support.

I decided that I actually needed to put something more permanent in my shelving (and at the same time the models needed cleaning anyway). So I brought me some L rungs and screws and started fixing the cabinet


I first removed all the models that where stored in the shelves and laid them out in the balcony, being able to get to view models that I haven't seen in a while. I just realized only now how many more stuff I hadnt finished painting.



I then went to the cabinet and started measuring me the positions to put the L rungs , first a ruler and then with the same boxes that held the original shelves together. I then started to screw them on. With the glass panels in the way my hand and wrists had to work at odd angles but I managed to screw them in after some laborious work.

Finally I had rungs for three shelves... but I hadn't thought of what actual shelfing material to use for the cabinet...


Fortunately my aunt runs a furniture company so I went there and started scrounging up some excess wood that I would use for the actual shelves.. My carpentry and measuring skills need work with me not being able to cut a straight line but regardless I was able to cut the size that I needed then filed/sand papered the rough cuts that I did. They looked a little "raw" so I blasted them with black spray.

I then did a bit of jiggling to get the shelves in place. I then cleaned the models I took out from the cabinet before I placed them back. This took me all afternoon, a bit of a slow production but at least thats all done.. So now when do I actually get to start painting? :P

PAINTING: Stripping paint - High elves

I checked and I have the following high elf models:

• old bowmen (5th ed models) - 9
• multi-part bowmen - 36
• spearmen (high elf bodies with bretonnian heads (!!!) ) - 29
• Mage on foot - 1
• Mage mounted - 1
• Phoenix Guard - 3
• bolt thrower ( 6th ed metal ) - 1
• Silver Helms - 3

Man do these models paint jobs suck hard. I had begun the process of stripping paint of the high elves.. and have managed to remove the paint from all of the new plastic bowmen.


Was astonished though that the price of my handy dandy brake fluid just shot up. It used to be like 44 bucks for a 400 ml can now its 59 for a 150 ml one.. sheesh smaller and more expensive..
Hmmm maybe its time for me to try out that Simple Green in True Value.

However Im losing momentum in wanting to strip all the models since Jeff just told me that he will give me some plastic IG cadian models that he also got from EJ (too bad this deal came in after I got the fantasy stuff, I would have gladly paid for this instead)... ah well no more choice but to see if I can unload the models aside from the orcs and dwarves.I am still trying to convince Ricky to buy the lot from me so that I can get some cash back.

Heres to that.

GENERAL: The return of the old workbench..

Well back in July of 2007 I had changed my table for something that would aid in painting... Sadly that was not the case.. with my models, paint and tools all over my room (since I had no central place to put anything) it would take me 30 minutes just to look for the stuff that I needed and by that time Id lose interest.. and as a result I never painted another model... then the last quarter of the year happened and I got married and well... still no painting.

Well before the new year started it was time to shake things up a bit at home. I replaced the computer table downstairs with the one that my sister had bought but never used... and had that table moved back upstairs in its old place.. I was also able to finally unstuck the window behind it and now it shall be permanently closed to prevent more dust from getting in the room.

Lets see what happens this time :)

GENERAL: Bad painting = where is the love?

My instinct to look for a bargain has once again caused me to purchase stuff that I might not actually ever use (another bought of buyers remorse) I had just purchased several plastic bags of models and after rifling through them have realized that I have the following.

- a lot of empire
- many high elf
- many dwarves
- many orcs
- a few marines
- some odds and ends

It was sold by a friend of mine at greenhills and he never bothered to look what was in it. It was all in bags and I was thinking of getting a bargain so I grabbed them as well without looking.

Now dont get me wrong, the models that I got ARE a bargain. Its just the condition of the models that I got (to be more specific the paint job) that has me rubbed the wrong way. I would have rather had the models without paint than seen their condition... (if anyone has seen 6 years old paint you will know what I mean)

Sorting through all of the so called painted stuff was actually tiring and debilitating... the kind that feels that your strenght is being sapped away. Damn you can feel there was no love for how the models were painted (you'll get what I mean when you hear me say it :P )

I'm going to start throwing the models in VATS of brake fluid as soon as I can.

Still there are some good stuff in there... I plan to keep the dwarves (though this may change) and the orcs will make a fine addition to my current army project of expanding the 40k Orks that I have. As for the high elves I got ricky interested about it already... if I can manage to sell that and get back a third of the cost that I spent for the lot that would be all good..

That leaves the empire figs.. hmm.. I guess im going to need to do inventory of all of these figs eventually.. Im just going to need a lot of fresh air and water to keep from getting nauseous...