JJ's Menagerie of Hobbyness - 05/13 Chaos Dwarves and Night/Forest Goblins

[just-josh]

Threadomancy of this nature should really be outlawed... But, alas, back my gnoblog comes again 

Nonetheless, life has been a real rollercoaster over the last three years (yes, three years) since I last updated this. A lot has happened, and my hobby has really and genuinely taken a back seat for most of the time I have been away from the Stronghold. Once again, life has thrown me a bit of a curveball, and things are really tough IRL. However, instead of putting my hobby onto the backburner as I once used to, I am going to use it as my escape from all the crap that life is currently piling on.

So, without further ado, back to the hobby! Now, we all know I am atrocious at updating these sort of things. Sometimes it is simply a case of remembering to update it, and others it is a case of having the motivation to do something worthy of an update. But, this will change, as of today.

I have got a million and one projects/ideas/pipedreams whirring around inside my head. And, as such, this blog will not only serve as a place for me to post updates on the modelling side of my hobby, but indeed a repository for any ideas I need to store externally to my mind for a bit, any army lists I fancy putting down on paper, and generally small snippets for a later date.

Later today, I will post a picture of the Stonehorn I have finally put some paint on, although I'm really not that sold on the fur colour, despite having my heart set on it working out...

Ciao for now,

JJ

[just-josh]

Okay, okay... I reneged on my word. Stop beating me with your clubs! I will have the pictures of my Stonehorn, WiP up on here by the weekend. I promise.

Now, in the mean time, I saw the sneak peaks of the new Daemons stuff coming out in August, and I am particularly happy Okay, my favourite unit in the army - the Plaguebearers - look shite. But, the rest are very cool indeed

I particularly like the new Slaanesh Chariot below:


And, the Nurglings, which not only are some of my favourite GW models ever, but exactly like the artwork, and a lot more Blanche-esque


Definitely gonna be buying as many of these models as my next pay cheque can stretch to...

For now, peace out!

JJ

[Belchfist Beastkiller]

Fantastic to see you back on here writing a gnoblog as well. You always were a constant voice of support that helped me move onwards with my hobbying antics!

I hadn't seen the pic of the new daemon stuff until I read this yesterday and I most say I like what I see. The plaguebearers are painted a little cleaner than the old style but are much better models.

Am excited to see your miniature army of Nurglings sprouting up also!

[just-josh]

Fantastic to see you back on here writing a gnoblog as well. You always were a constant voice of support that helped me move onwards with my hobbying antics!

Thanks matey It's cool for someone to actually view this. You've been a relative constant in my online hobby, and I've taken a lot of inspiration from the stuff you post, so it's cool to gain your feedback!

Sadly, I haven't made much headway in the hobby, in the past two weeks. What with working a 6 day week, still reeling from a very messy break-up, and having become a little ill due to being run down, my hobby has taken a hit. Nonetheless, that's not to say I have done absolutely nothing...

I was browsing through the mountains of unbuilt models I have, and decided to sit and put something together whilst cheering on Team GB. Unfortunately, the model I elected to build was a Coven Throne; the singlemost painful plastic kit I have ever attempted to build. Honestly, GW couldn't have made it any more convoluted if they tried... Either way, it's a beautiful model, and one that has kickstarted my new found hunger in the hobby! So, I plan on doing a bit more hobby this coming weekend, although I'm really not too sure what yet... On top of building the Coven Throne, I managed to grab myself 3 Banshees out of the kit, by utilising the unused components from the Mortis Engine; which is one of the few things I can honestly say that I love about the build-one-or-the-other kits.

On another note, I managed to grab myself an Exalted Chariot and a box of Plaguebearers on Saturday. I haven't put either together yet, but I opened the boxes to take a look. The chariot is jawdropping. Honestly, fantastic job! The Plaguebearers, are still very... Uninspiring. Back to the metals for me... The one thing I do like about them though, is the abundance of Nurglings that come on the sprues. You get at least 10, which in my mind, is at least one free base of Nurgling swarms; fantastic!

I am considering expanding the purpose of this blog, beyond covering just my Warhammer exploits, to perhaps mention my forays into the TCG and board game worlds... Would anyone be interested in my random ramblings on such?

For now, peace out!

JJ

[just-josh]

Ahem... Drum roll pleaseeeee...

The photos that have been a long time coming, and promised so very often, are now here... I apologise profusely in advance for both my terrible photography skills, and the background which is indeed my back garden 

First up, is two of the three Banshees I have converted from the unused Mortis Engine components...




Next up, is my Vampire Lord, converted from the spare Vamp from the Zombie Dragon components, left over from building the Vargheist



Next, my Stonehorn. The fur is a lot more ginger than IRL, but it is very much the colour I wanted. I originally was going to go for a darker, greyer colour, which matched the aesthetic I had in my head. However, I have always wanted to paint an orange-brown fur, and so I caved to whimsy...






Next, is Isabella von Carstein. She is my entry for this month's painting challenge, and I actually started her tonight. Gotta love impromptu painting sessions. Anyway, I have elected for a purple dress, as to better contrast against her (eventually) pale skin.





Lastly, I also started this Nurgle Lord tonight, just because I had a hankering for painting diseased flesh...









In these photos, his skin is a lot more ruddy than it actually is, which I think is mostly down to the lighting, but alas.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this little pic-fest, and any comments or criticisms will be great Take it easy though, I know my painting is a little rusty 

JJ

[just-josh]

Sat at work, and having a quick think about my Vampire Counts... I love the idea of Varghulf, and really quite like their rules, but genuinely loathe the GW models... They are too static, to clunky, and just odd.

So, I am contemplating using these beauties:


If I buy the full set from FW, that gives me three "counts as" Varghulfs, for under half the price that three of the official one's from GW would cost... I really quite like the concept and aesthetic of having werewolves in the VC army, and am bewildered by their exclusion anyway. I am just slightly unsure at the moment though.

Also, I am considering buying some of that Tamiya Clear Red, which everyone is banging on about, just to see what the rave is about Not too sure where from though.

Anyways, enough ramblings, just needed somewhere to jot all this down

JJ

[dirtycrabcakes]

Get 'em and use 'em as skin wolves! Their rules are awesome. Either way, the models are very, very cool.

[just-josh]

See, I wasn't too keen on the rules at the time, but I must admit I have forgotten them now... I don't suppose you could enlighten me?

JJ

[Belchfist Beastkiller]

The skin wolf rules are not fantastic in my opinion but are ok. http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/s/skinwolves.pdf Would be a great inclusion though. Sorry to hear that things are so hectic and messy IRL, perhaps solace in the hobby can be a happy place?!

All the models look fantastic. I am fascinated with the Nurgle Lord model ever since doing mine, it makes me want to have more of them and try different things it's so good.

Excited to see Isabella develop too.

I don't know anything about te other game systems you mentioned but am not averse to learning through gnoblog :p

[dirtycrabcakes]

See, I wasn't too keen on the rules at the time, but I must admit I have forgotten them now... I don't suppose you could enlighten me?

JJ

M7, WS5, I5, 2 attacks (should have been 3!), Frenzy, Regen (5+) for only 45 points a pop! These things would rip through ironguts.

[just-josh]

The skin wolf rules are not fantastic in my opinion but are ok. http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/s/skinwolves.pdf Would be a great inclusion though.

Yeah, I don't particularly like the rules either. That's just reminded me why. They aren't bad, but they aren't good. Very mediocre, and none of the upgrades seem to offer much of a bonus, for the points. What do you think of the idea of using them as Werewolf "count as" Varghulf?

Sorry to hear that things are so hectic and messy IRL, perhaps solace in the hobby can be a happy place?!

Cheers mate. Just going through one of those times, when life seems to through you a curve ball tirade, and you struggle to juggle it all properly. The hobby, and this forum, are my escape from it all at the moment!

All the models look fantastic. I am fascinated with the Nurgle Lord model ever since doing mine, it makes me want to have more of them and try different things it's so good.

Thank you kindly; the compliment is very appreciated! The Nurgle Lord model seems to have had that effect on most people, myself included. If you are particularly interested, there is a great article in this month's White Dwarf, where it is a showcase of various people's uses of that very same model, and each is fantastic! Really shows off just how adaptable the model is

I don't know anything about te other game systems you mentioned but am not averse to learning through gnoblog :p

Neither do I, at the moment, but hopefully it can be a learning experience for reader and writer

M7, WS5, I5, 2 attacks (should have been 3!), Frenzy, Regen (5+) for only 45 points a pop! These things would rip through ironguts.

Oh, most definitely. I'm just not sold on their effectiveness, versus real life cost. In terms of numbers that would need to be fielded, based upon these rules, I would think that unit size should be at least 6...?

JJ

[dirtycrabcakes]

Yeah that could be pricey, especially for those of us here in the US, where we also have the please of paying for international shipping (and waiting forever to receive our models)

[just-josh]

Yeah that could be pricey, especially for those of us here in the US, where we also have the please of paying for international shipping (and waiting forever to receive our models)

I loathe to pay the 12% shipping we have here in the UK, let alone the extortionate 30-odd% that overseas buyers are charged. On a unit of Skinwolves, you are basically paying an extra Skinwolf purely in shipping... It's ludicrous!

JJ

[Belchfist Beastkiller]

The more I look at the models though the more I want to use them myself as 'counts-as' something...in my WoC. Trolls, Ogres, Dragon Ogres. It's hard to say what would even resemble sense.

However there must be a way. I love the VC character models too I think they're great, I'm just not a big fan of painting skeletons!

And ah yes - a curve-ball tirade...been there. Your life is literally flip turned upside down and you're stuck trying to stay upright! Hobby is the way out. Hobby is always the way put as its a beautiful constant

On shipping - its RIDICULOUS. I have spent so much money on shipping recently it's unbelievable.

[just-josh]

The more I look at the models though the more I want to use them myself as 'counts-as' something...in my WoC. Trolls, Ogres, Dragon Ogres. It's hard to say what would even resemble sense.

I would definitely suggest using them as Trolls, if you were going to include them. They are truly beautiful models, and would make great proxy Trolls in your army, especially if painted in a similar palette to your Warhounds. Fluff-wise, it would make perfect sense too; your army heralds from a part of the Wastes, where Wolves - of all shapes and sizes - are commonplace, and are goaded into battle to fulfill all sorts of roles... 

And ah yes - a curve-ball tirade...been there. Your life is literally flip turned upside down and you're stuck trying to stay upright! Hobby is the way out. Hobby is always the way put as its a beautiful constant

It has been absolutely awful, the last two months. Easily some of the worst of my life. At first, I couldn't even touch the hobby, but I learnt to embrace it as my escape, as you so rightly said it is a constant, and so very distant to my real life troubles

On shipping - its RIDICULOUS. I have spent so much money on shipping recently it's unbelievable.[/

The shipping is often what dissuades me from buying stuff from FW, and I can only imagine what it does to Overseas buyers, running at a third of your overall order value. Disgusting, in a word.

On a more gnoblog related note; another weekend passed with very little hobby actually done. However, I did manage to get my hands on a FW "2012 Event Only" Skin Wolf model. I then spent most of Sunday afternoon/evening putting it together... I must say, it really is a beautiful model, despite several flaws in the assembly design. If I wasn't sure about buying the normal set before, I most certainly am now. I will try and get a photo of the model later, once I have primered it.

Also, whilst here, I must apologise in advance, both to readers and myself, for the impending decrease in hobby activity during the month of September, as I just happened to preorder myself Borderlands 2 last night... To say I am buzzing for this release, is a MASSIVE understatement.

Anyways, must get back to work,

JJ

[dirtycrabcakes]

In the US, we used to be able to get stuff shipped for free to the Battle Bunkers, but they recently stopped that policy. It kind of sucked though, since it would take a month to get your stuff.

I once ordered a predator that was missing pieces. It took them over a month for them to send me the rest of it... annoying! At least the Bunker took care of the customer service side of things so I didn't have to worry about calling and harassing them.

[just-josh]

Yeah, I have always found FW's Customer Services to be a perfectly amicable bunch. Indeed, they've always managed to resolve any issues I have had, very pleasingly and quickly. The postal service that FW use, however, leaves a lot to be desired...

Everyone who has ever ordered from FW though, from Overseas, has had complaints of some form or another, and have decided only to ever purchase from them when they have attended Gamesday or such like.

JJ

[just-josh]

Okay, not a update as such, but I thought it was about time I joined in on this, so here goes:

1. Gettin Started - Play a game of warhammer using the new ogre book
2. Going Large - Play a game of warhammer of over 2000 points using the new ogre book
3. Brace for impact! - During a game, an ogre unit successfully charges and rolls 10+ on the dice
4. I'm in charge! - play a game with the new book using a tyrant in your army
5. Incoming! - during a game, lose at least 3 ogres to a single war machine shot
6. Look what we can do! - have a mournfang rider successfully parry an attack
7. Oooo, shiny! - buy one of the models new to the ogre range
8. That's huge! - build a stonehorn or thundertusk model
9. Sigh! - lose more than 3 ogres to any one casting of a spell that involved you taking an initiative test as part of it's resolution
10. I didn't mean it lads - lose a spellcaster to the "snake eyes" effect of grut's sickle
11. Boom! Hur, Hur, Hur - field a unit of 5+ leadbelchers and shoot with them at least 4 times in a single game.
12. Say hello to my little friend! - field an ironblaster in your army
13. Still loving it - play 5 games using the new book rules
14. Crush the thinlings - take a new book ogre army to a tournament
15. getting colder - field a thundertusk OR a unit of yhetees in your army
16. it's freezing! - field more than one thunder tusk AND a unit of yhettes in your army
17. Getting warmer! - field a firebelly in your army
18. Hot! Hot! - field more than one firebelly in your army
19. Unleash Hell! - field 2 scraplaunchers and 2 iron blasters in your army
20. One for the cauldron - paint an ogre model and post it on the stronghold
21. Paint a unit of ogres
22. Here Kitty! - field 1 or more lone sabretusks in your army
23. Win a game using ogres vs. beastmen.
24. Win a game using ogres vs. Dwarfs
25. Does this taste funny to you? - Win a game using ogres vs. Daemons of chaos
26. Win a game using ogres vs. High elves
27. Win a game using ogres vs. Wood elves
28. Win a game using ogres vs. Dark elves
29. franzfurters - Win a game using ogres vs. Empire
30. Tastes like chicken - Win a game using ogres vs. Lizardmen
31. Stake Out - Win a game using ogres vs. Vampire counts
32. Past their sell-by date - win a game using ogres vs. Tomb kings
33. Eat your greens - Win a game using ogres vs. orcs and goblins
34. Win a game using ogres vs. Warriors of chaos
35. Overtyrant - win a game using ogres vs. Ogres
36. Tinned food - win a game using ogres vs. Bretonnia
37. Rats! - win a game using ogres vs. Skaven
38. Convert one of the new range of ogre models
39. Oops! - destroy either a scraplauncher or an ironblaster with a misfire
40. We don't bicker! - field an army containing 4+ units of gnoblars
41. No auto-wounds for you! - have a butcher or slaughtermaster get hit with a poisoned attack
42. What that  coming over the hill? - field a unit of 4+ mornfangs
43. Now you see me - field a unit of scouting maneaters
44. Hunger! - field 3 gorgers in an army
45. Hahahaha! - kill 3+ models in a single use of the gnoblar trappers rule.
46. Fork in the eye! - kill an enemy character with a scraplauncher killing blow
47. I'm special - field any one of the ogre special characters in your army
48. The maw! - successfully use the large template version of the maw spell to kill an enemy model
49. the maw the merrier! - have the large template version of maw spell roll a misfire and kill one or more of your ogres.
50. Oh no you don't - use the greedy fist item to consume the magical properties of a weapon
51. I Heart you - use the hellheart to cause miscasts in 2+ enemy wizards in one use.
52. hole is where the heart is - cause an enemy wizard to dimensional cascade and go down a hole using the hellheart.
53. Its mine, MINE! - use the gnoblar Thiefstone to steal an item from an enemy character.
54. Just the lads - field an army containing ONLY ogres, no animals, gnoblars, etc.  Bonus if you also win.
55. You can't touch this - pass a 4+ ward vs flaming with a firebelly.
56. Start a gnoblog for your ogre army
57. Update pics into your ogre gnoblog on at least 4 seperate occasions.
58. Use the thunder mace in a game to kill 10+ models with thunder crush attacks (does not have to be all in one attack)
59. Why do I bother? - lose 3 games in a row with your ogre army
60. Overpowered! - win 3 games in a row with your ogre army.
61. That's no place for a hatchet - roll a 2 on the scraplauncher misfire chart
62. Jugger! - roll a 10+ when successfully charging with a stone horn
63. Re-roll this! - subject 3+ high elf units to numbing chill in the same combat phase
64. Oh shi-! - Have a slaughermaster or butcher die from rolling a 1 on Bloodgruel.
65. Seigebroken - Hit a building with Seigebreaker.
66. OH GOD MY FACE! - Kill an enemy character with  the chaintrap from the Thundertusk.
67. Dancing On Sunshine -. Have a character pass his Initative test from being hit by Purple Sun
68. Sunburned - Kill an Ogre with a Purple Sun that YOU cast.
69. Why Can't I Hold All These Items? - Roll 120pts for Golgfag magic item allowance.
70. Buffy The Ogre Caster - Have all of your Slaughtermasters spells be augments.
71. It's Rude To Bragg - Have Bragg kill a Large Target in a challenge.
72. WHAT THE FU-BOOOM! - Destroy an enemy model with an Ironblaster misfire.
73. Soups on! -  Have Skrag kill enough models to unlock all of his special rules in one game
74. Crusher - play 10 games with the new ogre book
75. Bruiser - play 20 games with the new ogre book
76. Tyrant - play 50 games with the new ogre book
77. Maneater - play with the new ogre book in 5 different venues
78. ker-splat! - kill an enemy unit with just your impact hits alone.
79. Box clever - construct, buy or convert a new carry case for your ogre army
80. Altered beast power up! - boost every unit in your army with a single augment from the lore of the great maw
81. ...and you play Ogres!? - Have more war machine weapons in your army than your opponent.
82.  Small, but many -have a gnoblar horde break an enemy unit.
83. We're all there - have a unit of at least 12 ogres get into the enemy deployment zone with no casualties taken.
84. My horde is bigger then yours - have an ogre horde break an enemy horde.
85. So much power lost - have an ogre unit roll 10 or more and still fail a charge.
86. Rambo or Conan? - have a lone ogre lose a combat but pass his break test.
87. You call that a club?.... THIS is a club - cause 6 S10's with Siegebreaker on a unit occupying a building.
88. Ogre zoo - Paint at least one of the Stonehorn, Thundertusk, Mournfang and Sabretusk models.
89. She's a Maaaaaneater! - paint the female Maneater model.
90. They're not bloody Eagles you know! - Run a Hunter in a unit of 5 or more Sabretusks.
91. But they're soooo cute! - Fill your whole core with Gnoblars.
92. Bird brained - kill an enemy model with a hunter's blood vulture.
93. Timber! - lose an ogre when a giant (yours or your opponent's) falls on one of your units.
94. Thinling roast! - kill 5 enemy models with a single firebelly breath weapon blast
95. Cats paw - Kill a skaven weapon team with a sabretusk
96. Halitosis - use 3 breath weapon attacks in a single game.
97. Billy no-mates - field an army with only 1 character in it.  He cannot deploy in a unit or join one.  Bonus if he survives the game.
98. Steady now! - Use freehand to paint a banner for an ogre unit
99. Da lads! - post a pic of your entire army on the stronghold in your ogre gnoblog.
100. Feast master - place 1st, or best in race, at a tournament.
101. Brrrr! - field more than one thundertusk in your army OR more than one unit of yhettes in your army

5/101... Not much achieved so far, but it's a start

JJ

[Gundehar]

Just Josh, from what kits did you make that Vampire Lord on the mount from? I'm thinking of wanting to make one like that of the Red Duke for my Bretonnians, and use him as a Bretonnian Lord, great stuff by the way.

[just-josh]

Just Josh, from what kits did you make that Vampire Lord on the mount from? I'm thinking of wanting to make one like that of the Red Duke for my Bretonnians, and use him as a Bretonnian Lord, great stuff by the way.

Gundehar, the Vampire Lord is straight from the Zombie Dragon/Terrorgheist kit, with a little alteration, in order to make him fit snuggly on the back of a Chaos Knight mount It really is a great sculpt, and would perfectly represent the Red Duke. It comes with a sword alternative, that is by far the best sword GW have ever produced for a fantasy model, and could make an even better representation for the Red Duke. And, thanks

JJ

[just-josh]

Okay, firstly, I must apologise for the lack of any substantial update recently. However, admittedly, I have been insanely busy. I travelled all the way up North, to attend the "College of Artisans", but loathed the first half hour, grabbed my freebies, and made the long slog back home.

Not bad for a freebie, eh?


Then, decided to act upon a longstanding whim of mine, and take up an instrument. However, I must confess, I didn't go down the conventional guitar/piano/drum route... Oh no! That's too simple for JJ. What did I go for?



Not content with all of the consumerism above, I then decided to upgrade in the tablet technology department. I am a real sucker for every new tab that comes out, but the new offerings from Google... Just too good to pass up.



They might be going for global domination, but that suits me fine.

For now, ciao,

JJ

[just-josh]

Sorry about the time away. Yes, yes, I realise I sound like a broken record. But, I missed this place, and thought I would venture back.

However, I did bring some (sub-par) photos with me, to kinda make up for it I will post them in a number of posts, because the photos are rather large, thanks to Photobucket, and am currently unable to rescale them at work

This is my kitbash Valkia from the Warriors of Chaos range. Unlike most of my Special Character conversion, which are started before GW release an official version, this one didn't. When I saw their attempt at Valkia, whilst I wasn't totally horrified, I felt that I could do as good (if not better) for a damn sight less money...



I don't think she looks too shabby, although I am ashamed to say, she hasn't been painted yet 

JJ

[just-josh]

I have also embarked on a new wargaming miniature adventure, and for the first time venturing away from GW games.

I have, for a fairly long time, been interested in Secrets of the Third Reich, and finally decided to buy into it. I picked up this guy, and for those of you who don't know it is an US APE Sergeant, who I have built as stock, but will paint in British colours, and will be added to my MI-13 Psy-Ops warband.

I must doth my hat to West Wind Games, and say that the SoTR models are beautifully detailed, well cast and great value for money.

3 days later, I went back to the LGS and picked up a squad of MI-13 Paras, and a squad of British Wasp Light Mechs, which again are truly wonderful models, and some of the nicest metal casts I have ever worked with.

I have undercoated this guy, and put him on a custom base, which I have since cast up in resin (more on this later!)...



JJ

[just-josh]

And, next, my conversion for Lord Morskittar of Clan Skryre



JJ

[just-josh]

Lastly, whilst strictly not relevant to the hobby, my pride and joy;



Yes, that is a Samsung 8 Series  It is a beautiful thing, and really is out of this world. Provides a lovely ambience to my hobby time

JJ