Urlag Gets a Basecoat!

Urlag’s basecoat is down!

I began a basic base coat on my Urläg conversion this evening. NEed to figure out what sort of details I want to add (runes, etc?) I wasn’t sure if the leather strappy things should be a dark green, or brighter red (pictured); I’m pleased with the current color.

I really like my chaos marine skin to be almost white, completely devoid of sunlight, ghastly, holed up in some roaming space vessel. Hope it’s not too stark a contrast.  I need to think of a color for my power weapons (though Urläg doesn’t have any), as I want it to compliment the colors – perhaps a bright blue, green?

In addition to the basic paint scheme layout on Urläg – I built  the Skyshield Landing Pad. I even did some handy LED work, left one of the hatches open for ladder functionality, and did the best I could to keep the moving parts moving (which is usually challenging for warped plastic models).  The hinges are tight, but they work well enough.

Below you can see the images of the build, especially how the 9v battery fits perfectly into the pylons (my biggest concern). I need to hot glue the wires into a more secure place, they’re currently just taped underneath as a temporary fix – and then I’ll need to cover them.

Drilling out the beacon lights on the Skyshield was relatively easy.

The first light drilled and installed. Slight protrusion like the original plastic version.

The underside of the Skyshield has the wiring components, switch, and battery. I think I’ll add disected drinking straws to form conduit to house the wiring. Thoughts?

The overall finished product. Now I just need to detail-paint the structure!

I’m very pleased with the result, and look forward to adding a few atmospheric lights to the rest of my terrain (especially the cities of death buildings).  I was really inspired by Jon Law over at his Flickr, his use of lighting in games and photography really captures the look and feel of how I imagine this grim future looks like.

Guess I need to sneak some miniature fog machines into some of these buildings.
For anyone that’s ever been daunted by the use of LED lights in models, it’s pretty easy these days, with pre-wired kits and simple switches.  You just connect red to red, and black to black and you’re good to go!  Link to the lights I use are found here.

A Trip to the Big City

A small store but with excellent staff. I can’t remember the guys name!

I went to run some errands today in New Orleans, and decided to stop by the new-ish local Games Workshop Store. Well, sort of.  Some co-workers, friends, and colleagues all gave me handfuls of cash to pool together to make a sort of “warhammer-run” while I was in the city today.  Needless to say I was worried about being robbed due to the large amounts of cash I had on-hand because I was some sort of temporary miniature soldier transporter.

These guys are separate from my build partner here, but I play with them more frequently, as I literally see them every day at work.  One guy plays Orcs & Goblins, Ogres, Skaven, Orks.  The other guy plays Dark Elves, and Tyranids.  Their games are usually apocalypse themed without them knowing what apocalypse is (they haven’t followed the hobby for a long time, and rely on me for pretty much all rules disputes) in the sense that we put everything on the table and play a few turns before 8 hours pass.  I’m trying to show them the miracle that is low-point games.

That’s another blog post for another day.

I bought two Citadel Woods (bringing the total up to 4), a Skyshield Landing Pad, a set of Arcane Ruins, an ork Fighta Bomma, and a Chaos Heldrake!  I think we’re fully set on terrain now – as I’ve already got one of those big Cities of Death terrain boxes that came out some time ago, my existing trees, and all the new swag.  Now I need to go get a spray gun, or at least a huge drybrush to begin the tedious work.  Being an art instructor with two enormous studios at work makes some of the process easy (during off periods, naturally), and having degrees in art certainly has its benefits.

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In regards to this specific army build, I need criticism and input on the Heldrake.  I know the fluff isn’t posted yet, but my Chaos Marines are (to be brief) Space Wolf renegades.  Very brutal, norse-inspired, choppy, Khorne loving.  I need to convert the Heldrake.  A dragon or wyrm or something isn’t too far off the mark for my theme.  Definitely want to hear what you have to say, if anything.

Heavy Metal

The Chaos Land Raider is nearly complete.  I began building it some time ago, and have just finished putting a majority of the components together.  I painted the interior fully before assembly in an off-white cream color found on most modern armored vehicles, but did Khorne a service in splattering gore all over the inside – I’m still debating hanging chains and hooks from the inside like some infernal meat locker.

Headlamps, interior green light, and blood splatter.

“Daemonforge” light in the background, flickering LED.

 All doors and hatches are functional and moveable.

The LEDs are fantastic.  The power-plant assembly on the exterior is magnetized to hide the battery components and toggle, with wiring being fed down the track assembly to power the twin pairs of headlights.  An interior green light was installed to give an ominous glow when the ramp and side hatches are opened, all of which are functional (and magnetized).  The LED I am most excited for is one that will likely go unnoticed by most.  I’ve hollowed out the spaces between the interior power-plant assembly (space between the conduits and piping) to reveal the negative space within.  I put a ‘flame’ LED behind it, to represent the daemonic machine-spirit that’s possessed the vehicle.

Here’s a video of the effect (below), which came out kind of dark – doesn’t do it justice, oh well!  I know I’ll paint the vehicle a traditional Khornate red, but want to incorporate some bold wolf design on the front hull.  Likely just a stylized head, I’ll have to play with it.  I really enjoy painting vehicles – it’s much more fun than painting complete squads of marines.  But hey, I’ve got some of those left to do, can’t complain!