2021; That Went Quick

 Hello! As we're still all here, and I have decided to do a review of 2021. As much for me to gauge my own progress verses previous years, I will follow the same format as 2020. So away we go;

Painting

Commissar, Inquisitor, civilians and pets.

My painting hasn't been bad, by my reckoning 166 models have made 
it off the painting table. I estimate approximately 3111 points as well. Both these numbers beat previous totals so I'm very happy about that. One of the driving factors was of course Citadel Contrast paints and also Yaktribe's finish your stuff challenge, Yaktribe being a rather excellent Necromunda and other specialist games forum and resource. 

The vast majority of the models that I finished were Drukhari . Second was probably Astra Militarum then rather a hodgepodge of Necromunda, and other narrative style gaming models. To the left are some Venoms and Wyches ready to dismember other less likeable troop types.

To the right are some more Wyches and I spent a fair bit of time on the bases with bits of other alien races to denote fun and games in the gladiatorial arenas of the Commorragh. My old metal Drazhar was finished and is now taking his place in my army as an Archon, he gained the moniker Nedzhar as his skin tight suit reminded me of the Simpsons episode where Flanders was wearing a spandex skiing suit, and it feels like he wearing "Nothing at all". Also at the end of the year ten Incubi and the real Drazhar was done all wait to chop up the unfortunate ASAP.

For the Astra Militarum some tanks were completed as were a unit of ten Roughriders 25 years from undercoat to varnish. Sly Marbo got finished too. A Commissar also made it into the ranks of the gainfully employed. As my whims flitter about the painting table it settled on a Callidus Assassin as well who will presumably provide some much needed oomph in the AM force. In the picture to the left can also be seen my Bastion.

My Genestealer Cult army received some love with a gaggle of hybrids sashaying their way into the painted cabinet area. Multiple random humans and some Tohaa were done, all able to creep into my narrative games and of course any rebellion type force that I can come up with.

Modelling

Once again not talking about my catwalk shenanigans, more my cutting up things and making them into other items that hopefully look at least as good as the previous object.

 Some of my favourite achievements were GSC hybrids. Twelve Tarrelian Genestealer hybrids, a Kelemorph and the new hybrid saboteur. Monopose Saurus with arms and head swaps were the order of the day and the came out not too bad if I say so myself. A Primaris Abberrant conversion was also well received on the internets.

Another thing I was unjustifiably proud of was Limpy's Diner, a piece of Necromunda terrain started many lunar cycles ago. Basically a chip shop in the underhive that can be some sort of Botulism themed franchise that may well become a common feature in future battle reports. 

 

Gaming

The current gaming situation is pretty haphazard but I think I managed to get about a dozen games of 40K in. Mainly with my Drukhari (probably exclusively so) and with their supposed broken nature (even after a couple of nerfs) they seems to be going pretty well. Back in October we had Shanecon; our gaming groups version of Gamesday. Great fun and was brilliant to meet up with half a dozen other members of our group in one place. I'm hoping this can become an annual thing but that is obviously up to Shane.

Social Media

My most popular Instagram post got me 58 likes, here it is my aforementioned Primaris Abberrant conversion. Some other pics were quite well received but this was top dog. Hopefully I can get to a 60 like pic in 2022.

The Future

Well so much to do! Most immediate is the upcoming GSC Codex that I should have in the next couple of weeks, if youtube and other sources are to be believed, it's both thematic and tasty. I have some industrial terrain semi constructed to go with the aforementioned cult and who knows I may even try to theme an entire table for them to mess around on. I will also continue to paint up my Drukhari and play crusade games with them. I want to beat this years painting totals and also the number of games played.  I'm also planning to convert my as yet unconstructed Hemlock into a Razorwing jetfighter complete with spikes and a tortured Crimson Hunter chained to the roof of it. I also plan to try to keep to these resolutions, and not get completely distracted when the Craftworlds codex comes out later in the year.

So whatever I do do, thanks for reading my blog and I hope you have a hobby filled 2022, so much hobby you can just about take it! Above all, be safe and make sure you know where your towel is.

The Relic of Neararva

 Diary of Culpert Whinne archivist 3rd class, Saath region, Imperial Planet Neararva, Sochis System.

Imperial Date; 0338021.M403 the planet is still suffering the depredations of a Nurgle army, all loyalist forces are scattered or dead and disease is rife in the major cities. Governor Kraven is missing presumed dead. While the accursed heretics are wantonly slaying the populace, they appear to be searching for something out on the Gorgothia Plains. It is not certain if an  Astropathic distress signal has been sent or whether aid will be forthcoming. It would seem that the people of Neararva needs a miracle or our fate is sealed...

Khaine's Favourite Little Murderers

 Happy nearly new year! As 2021 comes to a close, I've managed to squeeze in a few more models into the completed foyer. They've been virtually done for a lot of the year, just needed a few touch ups. Now, for the uninitiated, the following models are Incubi, and Incubi-general Drazhar. They are probably the choppiest unit in my Drukhari army and also some of the best models to boot. I've used them on numerous occasions and they really are mustard*. Once again, contrast paints were used and no animals were harmed in the painting of these miniatures**. 

I'm looking forward to unleashing this chap on my Aeldari opponents in 2022, as 'There can only be one***'.

These Incubi are sporting daemonic helmets from the Maimier collection.

The Ynnari Incubi heads are extensively scarred, presumably because they don't wear helmets.

So I've decided that the best way of using Incubi are in two five elf units as there really isn't any benefit to using them in units of ten. Smaller units give you better board control and if riding a Raider you can drop of one squad and scoot to another part of the table with the other. A couple of games I had when I jumped them all out I found they were basically overqualified to defeat a ten man Intercessor squad****. What they are qualified to do, is lay some serious smackdown on any unit that has the misfortune to get in engagement range of them. With Drazhar accompanying them they become even more hideous and if I can combine them with the grisly trophies on a Raider or Venom, then they become OP***** level good. In conclusion, I predict my domination of the Cavan 40K scene for a while and nothing can stop me******! Have a Happy New Year and enjoy 2022!

Thanks for reading.

* Very tasty!

** Although I suspect Khaine doesn't approve.

*** One proper Phoenix Lord.

**** There was also one redonkulous charge phase that saw 10 Wyches, 10 Incubi and an Archon charged 10 Intercessors. It did not need so much firepower. I think 5 Incubi (the ones without helmets) just smoked some cigarettes at the back.

***** OP=overpowered, the go-to phrase in our gaming group when a new codex or supplement comes out.

****** Except a) The new GSC Codex coming out and I drop the Drukhari forthwith or, b)The new Aeldari Codex coming out and I drop the Drukhari forthwith or, c)The new Astra Militarum Codex coming out and I drop the Drukhari forthwith etc......

The Ritual ; Thwarted?

The dawn mists were thick but swiftly dissappaitng, the ruins of an Imperial outpost lay before them with the delicious whiff of fear and despair in the air. Adraxys Molech  sat at the fore of the Raider, eager to taste more. His personal Incubi bodyguard and Kabalite underlings were there too, his two Succubi allies were alongside him, each in their Venom accompanied by their bodyguards. His contacts had told him of a world that had not felt the depredations of the Drukhari for many generations - it's name was Neararva, however this world came with an added complication. The foul Death Guard were preparing to enact a ritual on this benighted Imperial desert world and try to claim it as their own, this could not be allowed. So with the Death Guard forces deployed to defend their warlord, Molech's raid began.

The calm before the battle

 

A More Wretched Hive Of Scum A Villany?

 Good (insert whatever time related salutation of the day as applicable) readers . As the year gets nearer to the finish line I'm trying to get some more items finished, I have a problem, just applying that last bit of pigment to  totally complete a model, but here are some that I deem done. So here they are;

Drukhari

First up is Beldam Qud, Haemonculis of the Coven of Twelve. Originally she (?!) was meant to be some sort of apothecary for my Inquisimunda Aeldari void pirates band but as I flit about paintwise I stopped playing that about 4 years ago and have just caught up. Not to worry she has already seen a couple of battles where she has acquitted herself adequately. She has a habit of wandering off during the battle away from her bodyguard generally causing her demise. Not a problem, a quick scape up of her remains by a faithful retainer and she'll be right as rain in a day or two. Qud is quite an innovator as her Wracks will testify, being part genestealer part tarrelian. Her current project is to create a Cronos pain engine using the trapped essense of a C'tan Deceiver. Hopefully that will be created sometime in 2022.

Black sports bras are all the rage in the Commoragh. 

Next up is a couple of space pirate boats, fantastic models that I've painted in red and purple. Toying with the idea of weathering them as I've seen some really cool effects but in all honesty now they're table ready I will probably move on to the next shiny thing. The one on the left is a Ravager crewed by Incubi helmet wearing Drukhari, are they from the temple? Are they impersonators? Are they overcompensating with the long prong on the front of the vehicle? Time will tell. The right hand vehicle is a Raider crewed by wyches.

The helmselves are currently having a smoke beyond the view of the picture, but I assure you they are professionals.

Some Really Bad Men

Next is Gorky Arris, estranged member of the Arris crime syndicate from Krablokistan. Following an argument with older brother Strangler Arris, Gorky left Paraquat to make a name for himself in the wider galaxy. For many years he was a member of a band of Void Pirates until he was involved in a desperate skirmish against a combined force of Arbites and some Astartes scouts on a kill mission. The pirates were all but wiped out but Gorky escaped by killing a scout and stealing his wargear. He is currently making his way back to Krablokistan to reconcile or kill his brother Strangler. the model itself is an old monopose space marine scout with a maxmini head and genestealer neophyte arm.

Gorky Arris

The next pair of models story bagan with 'I bought some model that were missing bit on eBay'. Essentially both Redemptionists had lost arms in previous battles with hacksaws so I replaced them with power maul hands from Mad Robot Miniatures. They will probably find employment as Inquisitorial Acolytes, general cultists, or even some nasty secret police bullies to crack the heads of the downtrodden masses.

"Move along now, or suffer the consequences!"

So here is the first (and possibly only) Sly Marbo conversion holding a Tyranid Ripper as a club. This is another dismembered eBay model that has received a Gorkamorka Ork arm and a Ripper to hold. I was going to use a machete arm but preferred this anti alien statement. He has wristband with the purple fur of possibly a Cthelian Cudbear. That just makes him way cooler as I'm sure he killed it with Catachan toothpick. As my own Astra Militarum  regiment is not Catachan, this guy's name is Marl Sybo.

 

99% finished I think, maybe a tattoo and some stubble?

Marl Sybo stares off into the distance looking heroic.

Obligitary Genestealer Hybrids Section

As most updates from me feature hybrids (and I'm not so obtuse as to consider Gorky Arris' arm to count) here are the baldies. As mentioned in a previous post, I have made a Skink/Genestealer hybrid. This particular one was created when a Purestrain genestealer got frisky on jungle world Slimex VI as the Assembly of D'Keddes were passing through the system. The host species, an amphibious Skink was were all but wiped out by Inquisitorial forces following the psychic spoor the the Assembly. Fortunately the wise decision to suck up several tonnes of impregnated Skinkspawn into a transport ship allows this brand new species to continue in some form, and hopefully spread the word of universal love and tolerance whilst executing non believers  galaxy wide. 

Glip Muscosity, original Hybrid.

As if that wasn't enough, here are some more hybrids, these are all metal models from many moons ago with some new plastic hybrid arms where applicable. All ready to do the will of the cult by handing out pamphlets and singing hymns in public plazas and by cutting faces off the infidels.

Left to right; Shooter McGuckian, Hunchy Golbus and Glip Muscocity.

Left to right; Hunchy's brother Slumpy, Angry Marv and demolitions expert Trumk Wallbane.

Bonus Model

And as if all that 40k goodness wasn't enough, here is a 28 years in the painting Skaven Doomwheel. I have used this model many times in my many WFB games but I have only just got the motivation to get it ready for the table. Not that I see any chance of it actually getting on the table for a while, at least until Warhammer Fantasy Battle with all it's square based glory is rebooted. Still, I have another two of these to make ready for that glorious day.

Quick-quick, here is some skaven word-speak to denote man death.

So that's what I done, hope it is of interest, don't forget to hobby responsibly and stay as safe as is possble within the construct of the constant media driven frenzy of the current endemic.

Thanks for Reading.

Shanecon 2021

 How do. The second last weekend in October saw our gaming group had what I suppose you'd call a bijou tournament at Shane's home; hence Shanecon. It was a 2K list size game of fairly loosely organised games. With  the pandemic nonsense still ongoing there were a few no shows and such. The upshot of the undertaking was I had two games, lost one to Pat's Death Guard and won against Dylan's Astartes. I met two new gamers Dayle and Evin. Dayle brought Death Guard to the party and Evin played Warmachine but has an Imperial force. So anyhow, here are some pics of the games that you will hopefully enjoy;

The mighty Drukhari force attempts to kill some filthy Death Guard and cart loads more to Commoragh, probably not the wisest of things unless they have some incredibly potent hand sanitiser.

These dodgy looking geezers are poxwalkers but mainly asymtomatic.

Some filthy loyalist marines.

Alien Hybrids, Receptacles & Psychotic Murder Bikers

Greetings, welcome to another  episode of "What I done in 2021", one of those unsolicited things you get on the internet, like Nigerian princes and flat earthers. This update is of a xenos flavour, so here we go;

Tarrellian/Genestealer Hybrids 

The Gang