Tactical MK2 Field Tent - Update

Another piece of terrain, fully scratch-built, for 558 Ira Divina Company. MK2 tents are standard issue equipment for command squads and act as field HQ for the company. Made of highly durable and lightweight fabric and nanocarbon matterials, provides protection against unfriendly environments, radiation, biological agents and also has anti-ballistic properties against small firearms.

Rules-wise (needs refining) provides 4+ cover save and has one (1) Structure Point.

Here is the making of...

Now it also has a base made of plaster gauze, white glue and some sand.
Needs touch-ups and a nice matte varnish coat.

Read More

How to: Create kuler paint schemes

Typical questions in the hobby:

• "Will these colors look right on the model?", 
• "How to paint my army in order to look cool?", 
• "How to choose a unique color scheme?"

If you have asked yourself these questions before and found it hard to answer, then I think I can help. Actually, Adobe can. Adobe has created a nice and easy online tool that allows us to create a nice color palette with only a couple of clicks. 

So visit kuler and get hundreds (or even thousands) unique color combinations that look really cool. All you have to do now is pick a test model and give it a shot!

Added value #1: You can create a palette from an image by selecting the camera icon on the right.

Added value #2: You can select other palette algorithms (or Color Rules as Adobe names them) from the menu on the left.

Since the kuler app also gives you the RGB values for each color, here is the mapping to Citadel Color Range

Read More

Letters of war

1.173.999.M41

My own beloved wife,

I do not know how to start this letter. The circumstances are different from any under which I ever wrote before. I am not to post it but will leave it in my pocket, if anything happens to me someone will perhaps post it. We are going over the top this afternoon and only The Emperor knows who will come out of it alive.

I am in His hands and whatever happens I will look to Him in this world and the world to come. If I am called my regret is that I leave you and my bairns. I go to Him with your dear face the last vision on earth I shall see and your name upon my lips, you the best of women. You will look after by darling bairns for me and tell them how their daddy died.

Oh! How I love you all and as I sit here waiting I wonder what you are doing at home. I must not do that. It is hard enough sitting waiting. We may move at any minute. When this reaches you for me there will be no more war, only eternal peace and waiting for you.

It is a legacy of struggle for you but The Emperor will look after you and we shall meet again when there will be no more parting. I am to write no more sweetheart… Kiss the bairns for me once more. I dare not think of them my darlings.

Goodbye, you best of women and best of wives, my beloved sweetheart. May The Emperor in His mercy look over you and bless you all… May He in that same mercy preserve me today. 

Eternal love from
Pvt. 558-147523-628

Read More

News and rumors 0.131.014.M03

War on a new front!

Video from Spikey Bits with sneak preview of White Dwarf #15 New 7th Edition 40k Preview Warhammer 

Read More

0.126.014.M03 - There is no time for peace...

Read More

Serendipity terrain - Update

Sorry I didn't post any WIP shots but I had a slight issue with my camera. Here, still WIP, my new piece of terrain. Almost complete, but I would like to add more brown hues and some water effects to increase the gritty/muddy look.

Materials used:

• Balsa wood (1 mm as a base) about 6" square
• Slides of paper tube for the craters base shape
• Plaster gauze
• White glue

Progress so far:

Read More

Serendipity terrain

+++ INCOMING TRANSMISSION +++

++FROM SGT. 558-482934-023++

++TO 558 ASSAULT BRIGADE HIGH COMMAND++

++DATE 1.087.998M41++

++CODE 62AC22C59ABF12BF168B217711F5D3B0++

++CLEARANCE INDIGO++

++SUBJECT SABOTAGE REPORT++

++DURING NIGHT HOURS OF 1.087.998M41 CHAOS FORCES INFILTRATORS MANAGED TO BREACH OUR PERIMETER AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLANTED IED ON EQUIPMENT OF THE I/PLATOON. INFILTRATORS SPOTTED AND EXECUTED ON THE SPOT BY DUTY GUARDS. OUTCOME ONE (1) STORM CHIMERA [SN 287-4657-558-42] DESTROYED. TWO (2) INFILTRATORS NEUTRALIZED AND IDENTIFIED AS LOCAL CHAOS AGENTS. INCREASED PERIMETER DEFENSE ESTABLISHED. FIELD INTELLIGENCE REPORT 13.8% PROBABILITY OF ALPHA LEGION OPERATIVES IN AREA.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.

THE EMPEROR PROTECTS++

+++ END OF TRANSMISSION +++

I have done many stupid things during my (short) modeling career, most of the times because of ignorance and inexperience. This time it was my impatience that gave me troubles. To cut a long story short, while I had almost completely magnetized the hull of the Storm Chimera I put it into the oven (about 30-40C) for a couple of minutes, for the glue to dry faster. My beloved wife - completely unintentionally - raised the oven temperature to about 100 C. This couple of minutes were enough for me to have a realistically melt chimera hull. Though I was frustrated, it was an accident.

So I cleaned it up, primed it grey and airbrushed it to the colors of 559th Ira Divina Company.

Currently I have sealed it with mat varnish and applied a burnt umber (what an irony...) oil wash.

 A new piece of terrain emerges from its (nearly) ashes.

Read More