Conversions in 40k

One feature of the modelling component of the 40k hobby is conversions. GW and White Dwarf encourage this. The drive to an all plastic mini catalogue is clearly intended to encourage this. GW provides rules to incorporate conversions in a legitimate fame work to unleash the imagination of their hobbyists. White Dwarf (WD) features conversions a plenty as do many 40k web site. Do you convert. Below are 2 of my build projects from some time ago. The chimera with the twin hull mounted heavy bolters and and a turret mounted autocannon come from the Chapter approved vehicle rules published in WD. The Ork gobsmasha is a scratch built vehicle from plans published in WD many moons ago, but was built around the time of the Gorkamorka launch and for use in Gorkamorka. If anyone is interested in which actual WD published these rule let me know and I will dig out the issue numbers.

The picture quality I hope is better than previous blogs as I am running in a new more powerful camera.

Making 40k Army Listings

There are many cool or "killer" listings published on the web. Caveat emptor. I like "fluffy" armies. But whatever you like the easiest way to make a listing that I know of is - Army Builder - a PC application from www.wolflair.com. Here is a screen shot of a build in progress of my Abhuman IG army.

The painting table

Slow progress again this week. A combination of severe toothache and root canal treatment has kept me back this week. Some work ghas been done but very little as can be seen. 2 heavy weapons for the sisters have been acquired and their painting commenced as well.

Poject Pipeline

Work on my current projects  or the second Battle Sisters Squad and the Exorcist has been slow. A combination of the erosion of inspiration and the deamnds of work and life and a bad bit of toothache. Not working on the projects releases time to think about other projects in the pipeline such as the Steel Legion Mortars and these below.

I have a forgeworld Mars Pattern Mk II Tank Hunter Destroyer conversion that could be better. I am sure that the resin components could be paint stripped fairly easily. A new Leman Russ might be needed. An appropriate weapon for the tank ace Knight Commander Pask surely even if not mentioned in the codex. A more sinisterly lethal shape and high powered weapon for instant kills. The forgeworld rule from The Citadel Journal issue 34 gives the Turbo Laser Destroyer weapon a range 72 inches, strength 10 AP 1, ordnance 1 characteristic. Combine this with Pask's ballistic skill and crack shot special rule for a true tank and monster killing machine.

Then there are the Bob Olley minis. Rare but I plan to have a squad with shotguns as veterans eventually.

And finally a partly collected squad of Arbites.

Grey Knights Codex

The new Grey Knights Codex has arrived via advance order today. Cool codex 96 pages. 7 types of nemesis force weapons. Terminators as troop choices. Orbital Relay Strikes, Heavy Support includes the obvious Landraider, Landraider crusader and a Landraider Redeemer with flamestorm cannons. Choice of Inquisitors and assassins. Seems Daemon hosts are OK with Grey Knights now and more and more and more.

Exorcist and Sisters Progress

The tank and the Sisters survive. No not a 40k mission but a domestic with a vacuum cleaner! Here is the small amount of progress lately. Hopefully some more soon. Will the new Grey Knights Codex have scope for some Sisters as well?

Sisters of Battle Squad #2

There is only a little progress this week. Life gets in the way of painting. Also this blog is different from the many tutorial type blogs for 40k. This is just the real progress of a lone blogger, so there are good days and weeks and bad days and weeks. The Sisters have had a little more work and here they are:

I had hoped to finish the squad by the end of the month but this is looking less likely at the moment. Likewise the Exorcist is marking time also.

Sisters of Battle and Steel Legion Mortars

Only a small bit of progress on the hobby front. Work, family, changing the car and a PC game called UFO Afterlight has restricted the time for 40K this week. But there has been some progress with 2 projects. The second squad of sisters, acquired via ebay. These minis go for unreal sums on ebay but are still cheap there compared with the GW prices which are so mega far above unreal.

Second project is some mortars for the steel legion. GW does not do specific minis for these but combining the loader from the missile launcher team with the controller from the lascannon team plus a mortar does the business reasonably convincingly, at least I think so. Mortars are not every one's choice and lets face it there are other weapons more capable of inflicting more serious damage but I like mortars for the indirect template "bolter" fire. It drives opponents mad often and makes them forget their game plan under fire.