Metal or Plastic or Finecast or?

Which is best?

The answer is that there isn't any best. It comes down to a subjective choice of what the individual modeller prefers. At my local (independent) store some preferred plastics while here at Artificer's Workshop metal minis are the preferred option. In a sense this post is academic as metal is on the way out as far as games workshop is concerned. And to be fair and impartial the quality of the latest plastic releases have been superb. No doubt everyone has their own preferences but here the plastic Grey Knight Terminators are recognised as superb. 

(Why does blogger insist on american spelling when american english is more and more infiltrated by britishisms these days - a bit like the french hatred for franglais, see recognised. By the way I know the answer - rhetorical question directed at blogger.)

Back to topic. The future as far as metal goes is undoubtedly finecast. Here despite reservations identified in previous blogs it is recognised (that "misspelled" word again) that this is the future. Current problems will doubtless be ironed out.

The question posed on this blog is really what do you prefer to play with on the table top. The answer here is metal minis - hence the focus on Sister of Battle and Steel Legion and Bob Olley Rogue Trader era minis. Why because they are heavier and subjectively seem more substantial when placed on the table. Plastic minis here and there are definitely plenty of them often have a coin glued inside their GW base to give more weight when deploying on the table. Does anyone else do this? Does it produce more wins on the table top - probably. Try and see.    

Greater Daemon of Khorne and SoB Head Swap

OK the head swapped maiden is done. A reasonable effort I hope. Having completed this I am now wondering if its possible, and has anyone tried to swap either a grenade launcher or a shotgun on the classic Adeptus Arbites for a meltagun. If so what tools have been used?

The legacy ForgeWorld GD of Khorne has been progressing as well. The torso, wings and hands have all reached the point where they need the full assembly of the model, I won't call this one a mini, to finish them off. Back into the box to clean prime and paint all these strange little bits that are left over. Where do they go? Back to ForgeWorld to review a picture of an assembled GD of Khorne then. The painting of this one is quite enjoyable with all the washes, and dry brushing. Is a daemon out of place in front of a dolls house, or is it just the right sort of place?

Sisters of Battle Tanks, Rhino, Immolator and Exorcist Reinforcement Progress

It has been quiet on the blogging front but that does not mean things have not been happening on the painting table. The reinforcements for the Sisters of Battle are close to completion. The Rhino is essentially finished, the Immolator is almost finished as it is awaiting the workshop to make some purity seals. The Exorcist is least close to finished. The periscope view points on the hull need a little touch up. The script on the hull and other surfaces needs finishing and the crew such as they are need to be painted. None the less the SoB are close to completion. Except that another troops choice squad would be nice, plus some Retributors, a few more Celestinians, and another Rhino and Immolator. That is for another day as next up as the Exorcist finishes will be Karamazov to be finished and painted. The "finecast" arms of his seat have been almost beaten into shape with the help of a little green stuff. And at the same time the greater Daemon of Kohrn legacy mini has made some progress and will get a bit more TLC on the painting take ones the current SoB project is completed.

Below are the pictures :

Arch Confessor Kyrinov inspires Celestinians

The Sisters tanks have been on the back burner this week. Some progress has been made on them and the second Immolator is almost finished but as a diversion Kyrinov has been completed. This is an old GW mini, still metal and not fine cast and unchanged since the second edition SoB codex. In this codex on page 7 there is a picture of Kyrinov on a pedestal inspiring some Valhallan IG to storm in to the attack. this gave the idea for the base, posing Kyrinov on one of the cases from the GW battle field accessories and leaning 2 SoB plaque icons against it to give a sisters feel to the mini. Although an older mini the sculpt is excellent. Kyrinov's state have been updated for the latest Sob Codex from WD last summer. As an addition to a Sisters force fora mere 90 points Kyrinov comes with WS 5 BS 5 initiative 4 fearless , a force weapon with an additional twist and a rosarius invulnerable save plus extras including faith extras. Plus and its a big plus he allows a Battle Conclave up to 10 minis from arcoflagellant through crusader to death Cult assassin.

Here he is in close up :

Sisters of Battle Rhinos x3

The third Sisters of battle Rhino is here. Some finishing to complete, such as the purity seals and the battle flag but otherwise it is done. On of the things that makes the Sisters of Battle Immolator/Rhino kit appealing is the opportunities it gives to make each model slightly different when finished as can be seen from the 3 rhinos here. Some magnet fun has been incorporated into the third Rhino. The cattle prod front bumper is magnetised on. It can be swapped out for the dozer blade on the first rhino. In addition an mindful of how easy it is to break ariels or poles attached to tanks during transportation the banner pole has been magnetised on as well.

Sisters of Battle - Heavy Flamer almost complete

Here is a round up of the SoBs work in process. First off with a list. Totalling 1210 points using Army Builder. Also I have just noticed that a multimelta may not yet be a legal option for a squad of Sisters. May change with the upcoming rewrite of the Codex, I hope. The arbitrators joined the list to give the priest someone to attach to. No sense in having a priest filling the SoBs with bolters with so called righteous fury. Does not matter too much with shotguns, and can hold objectives.

The plan is to fill out the points with at least one more Exorcist and a 3rd SoB troops choice. After that if possible a third Exorcist. And then more celestinians and a dominion squad perhaps. Depends on the points values after the rewrite. Below is a glimpse of them all together. Click on the image to obtain the full picture. Must learn more HTML

Immolator Finished

The Ordo Hereticus Sisters of Battle see action on countless worlds. Their tanks show the typical wear and tear of hard use and action yet they also exude the holy emperor bothering, in the words of Commissar Cain, purity of their beliefs. To try and create this weathering was applied to the lower part of the hull while hardcoat varnish was layered to the upper part of the hull and turret to give it a sheen of holiness.