Plagueclaw Catapult conversion update 2

*Squeek*
I managed to get some basecoats down this week on my dual-use Plagueclaw catapult/ Warplightning kit.
- Frame.
- Base.
- Crew.

Here you go...

Only time for a few photos, but I hope the next update will see us at the stage of having done some different brown basecoats (to add some variety to the wooden frame) washes and maybe highlights too...

*Squeek*

Plagueclaw Catapult update...

*Squeek*

Just time for a quick update and some pics today...

After finishing my Gutter Runners/ Night Runners, I was torn between starting to paint up x20 Stormvermin and doing another warmachine. In the end I decided to do a warmachine. Although I like the SV models, I don't have enough of them to be really effective at the moment and I wanted a break from doing units of rats and do something that might be (relatively) quick.

So, the other day I started out with the new Warplightning Cannon/ Plague Claw Catapult box. Inside are the parts to make one or the other, but it occurred to me that it must be pretty easy to make it "dual use", as I had done with my Screaming Bell/ Plague Furnace conversion.I got some comments that I could have used a much simpler approach for that conversion, so this time I tried to make things simpler, and I think I have found a way to do it.

I'll post a full entry once everything is painted-up, but I can give you the idea here.

Firstly, you'll need to clip away the wires on the front of the Warplightning cannon. Then, attach the Plague Claw Catapult basket to the back of the WLC arm.

DO NOT GLUE THE FLOORBOARDS INTO PLACE ON THE FRAME YET.
Put the whole assembly in the frame first (there is a "tall" frame configuration and a "low" frame configuration - use the "low" one.)
Make sure you don't glue the axle in place.

File away a small curve in the floorboards of the frame, so that the whole unit can rotate freely.

Finally, attach the floorboards at the "front" of the model. If you do this and you DON'T GLUE THE CREW IN PLACE (I put them separately on bases) you should be able to rotate the whole arm so it is either pointing "Forward" (towards the spikey front of the unit) as a Warplightning cannon (with the PGC basket facing downwards) OR "Backwards", (with the PGC basket facing upwards.) as in the photos below.

Warplightning cannon mode...

Plagueclaw Catapult mode...

Although at first I didn't think it looked right, I have actually come to like it more and more. After all, I'm sure that our Warlock Engineers could find a way to strengthen the WLC so it wouldn't shake itself to bits every time the PGC fired right?!

...Clan Skryre is CUNNING yes-YES?


*Squeek*

Avast me hearties!

*Squeek*

www.games-workshop.com

Skaven? 
Galleons? 
Blood, adventure and battle on the high seas?

What's the connection you may ask...



...why, of course it is the latest release from Games Workshop - Dreadfleet.

GW Describes Dreadfleet as:
"...a boxed game for two (or more) players that includes everything you need to make war on the turbulent seas of the Warhammer world. At your command are two fleets of ships - the Dreadfleet led by the Vampire Count Noctilus, aboard his gargantuan sea-hulk the Bloody Reaver, and the Grand Alliance commanded, by the Pirate Captain Jaego Roth who recently stole the Heldenhammer - the pride of the Imperial Fleet, and one of the largest galleons to ever sail the seas.

As your ships engage in furious battle, it's down to you, the fleet captain, to make important split-second decisions. Do you bring all guns to bear on the closest enemy warship, or do you sail into position for a furious broadside? What happens when the warship catches fire, or worse, the powder kegs ignite? Exactly how much punishment can your warship take before it sinks without a trace? Are those Undead seagulls or flying piranha fish? And, when all else fails, do you have the courage to ram your foe, board their ship, and engage them in a duel to the death?"

The box seems to include a fair amount of bits 'n pieces, including a gaming mat, which looks pretty good.

www.games-workshop.com

www.games-workshop.com

I note that the game and all the stuff that goes with it are under the "Gaming" section of the GW homepage and not under specialist games. I guess that means you will be able to play it in a GW retail store (unlike some games, like Blood Bowl, which some stores *cough* Jinbocho Tokyo *cough*  won't allow you to play on their premises...)

The Dreadfleet page has all the details. If you are interested don't forget that Dreadfleet is only available "While stocks last" (hence the hourglass symbol on the images above.)

It all looks pretty cool, but I have to say that I am probably not the kind of player who would be into this... ...until I noticed one of the ships that seems to come with the set, and which can only belong to the Children of the Horned Rat:

It is some kind of sea-going blindworm? Surely only Clan Moulder would have the ability (and talent pool of the likes of Throt the Unclean or Skweel Gnawtooth) to turn one of these enormous beasts to their foul purpose. (I love the way the beast appears to be led on by the glowing Warpstone brazier attached to its forehead!)

Which brings me finally to Clan Skurvy, the pirate ratmen!
I have heard that more detail for these terrors of the high seas can be found in the book, "Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven". I don't have it, but I hope to lay my hands on it soon. Even without the book though, interested Warlords, (or should that be Admirals?) can find more info around the net. GW in fact has an article on one pirate clan, Clan Skurvy. Click below to find out more:
Chris Peach's Clan Skurvy.

I really like the colour-scheme and it would be pretty cool to add a unit of these nasty-looking lads to my own Warlord Clan. Not only would they liven up my army with a different colour, but also for the fun fluff: cutlasses, eye patches and braces of pistols would be great! (No doubt there wouldn't be any parrots - far to tasty a snack to last long, and repeating "Pieces of Warpstone, Pieces of Warpstone!" would surely mark anything down for a messy death.)

Has anyone got any plans to buy Dreadfleet? Or has anyone played it? Let me know.

Cheers,

*Squeek*

The Gutter Runners Join the Ranks...

*Squeek*

Just a quick post today to follow-up on the Night Runner/ Gutter Runner painting guide I posted the other day...

...pics have now been added to my Warlord Clan Page.

So, what's next?

1. My first Plagueclaw Catapult? (At least one of my likely opponents is a High-Elf player...)
2. A second Warplightning Cannon?
3. A small unit of Storm Vermin? (x20)

In a way I want to avoid the StormVermin until I can afford to get another 20 or so. I'm not sure just having my current 20 on the field will be much use...

...what do you other Warlords think?

Cheers,

*Squeek*

How to Paint Skaven Night Runners/ Gutter Runners

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My Clan Eshin troops have arrived and are now ready to join my Clan. Below you will find a guide to painting up the most common troops of that mysterious clan of assassins, the Night Runners.

At time of writing, these come in a boxed set of 20 plastic figures. One thing to note is that under the 8th edition rules, Night Runners are not very popular on the battlefield. Many warlords seem to view them as overpriced (in points terms) and not as flexible or as lethal as Gutter Runners. For this reason and because of the high price of Gutter Runner models (which come in a small blister pack with only 3 models in) many warlords will use NR models as "counts as" GRs. (After seeking the agreement of their opponent of course!)

Why this lengthy preamble in a "How to paint" guide? Well, intending to use these models as either NRs or GRs, I have gone for a darker colour scheme than I would have done if I was only going to use them as NRs. In fact in friendly games I may even use one or two of the models as Assassins, so the less colourful the better I reckon!

EDIT: Following the launch of the latest Citadel Paint range in 2012, please note that the colours listed below are from the previous range. I hope to have time to rewrite in the future, but for the time being, you can use the conversion chart/ list I made here or use the official Citadel Conversion chart here.

Step 1: preparing the model.

- After assembling each model, file off any excess plastic ("flash").
- Carefully paint PVA glue onto the bases and around the feet of the character.
- Immediately dip into modelling sand, remove and let stand until dry.
- Remove excess sand by tapping the base of the model.

Step 2. Undercoat.

- Undercoat all models using Citadel Chaos Black spraypaint (or equivalent).

Step 3. Basecoat.

The following citadel colours were used.
- Base top: Calthan Brown (overbrush or drybrush over sand)
- Base edges: Vermin Brown.
- Fur; Vermin Brown or Calthan Brown.
- Weapons/ studs; Boltgun Metal.
- Pouches; Calthan Brown.
- Leather Caps; Calthan Brown/ Snakebite Leather mix (1:1)
- Bandages/ straps (where tiger-claws are on hands); Calthan Brown/ Bleached Bone mix (1:1)
- Skin (Face/ Hands); Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh mix (1:1)
Note: Leave cape/ armour/ trousers and boots untouched and in the Chaos Black undercoat for the time being.

Tip 1: To save time, on a unit of Skaven I usually leave 25% of the unit with black fur (the Chaos Black undercoat), and do 25% with Calthan Brown fur, and the remaining 50% with Vermin Brown fur (or another brown). This also adds a bit of variety to the colouring of the unit.
Tip 2: To save even MORE time, consider using the tip above, but just roughly drybrushing the fur instead of actually painting it. If you do this as the very FIRST basecoat, it doesn't matter if you accidentally drybrush other bits of the model brown because you will be tidying up as you go along.

Step 4: Washes.
- Fur: Devlan Mud.
- Skin: Ogryn Flesh.
- Weapons: Devlan Mud.
- Weapons: (after Devlan Mud is dry) A very watered-down Solar Macharius Orange wash, stippled on, and dabbed off with a tissue while wet. (For better effect, once the first wash is dry, stipple on another layer)

Step 5. Drybrushing.
- Fur: Depending on the fur colour you originally used, very lightly drybrush a lighter shade of that colour.
E.g. Vermin Brown? Vermin Brown/ Skull White mix (80:20).
Calthan Brown? Calthan Brown/ Skull White mix (80:20).
Etc.
- Black clothes, armour, trousers etc: Codex Grey/Chaos Black mix (80:20)
-Skin/ tail: Dwarf Flesh.
- Base: Calthan Brown/ Snakebite Leather: (50:50 mix)

Step 6: Highlights.
- Eyes: A dot of Blood Red
- Teeth: Bleached Bone (gently running your brush along the teeth is easier than trying to pick out each tooth one-by-one IMHO.)
- Edges of pouches/ Leather Straps: Snakebite Leather.
- Weapon edges: Boltgun Metal or Chainmail.

Step 7: Final Basing.
- Brush small areas of PVA glue onto the base.
- Dip into flock to simulate grass or apply electrostatic grass clumps if preferred.

Done!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for improvement of course!

Cheers,
*Squeek*