Siegeworld approaching and Flyers are the thing!

Siegeworld, the big annual Apocalypse event in St. Louis, is fast approaching.  It happens June 25th at the Kennedy Rec Place.  This year the group will be trying to set the record for most tanks. 

But what Siegeworld really does better than anyone is flyers!  The number of flyers in play is truly astounding.  Here are a few photos of Apocalypse40K Forum member Hornato's Lightnings!

Dragonforge Releases Ammo Belts

Dragon Forge, one of my favorite little companies has released three different sizes of pewter ammo belts.  Check them out at their website.

Also, check out their Flight Stands, which are the best on the market.  I recently purchased 20 of them for every Valkyrie, Vendetta, Arvus, Lightning, Thunderbolt and you name it I have.  The kit includes the clear plastic tube and coupler.  You then buy the base that you want to go with it.  Jeff even built a special base for my Marauder Destroyer.

Games Workshop reveals details on Citadel FInecast

Well, more news from Games Workshop on the replacement for their metal miniatures!

From the Games Workshop web site:

Last week we made a little announcement about the new Citadel Finecast range. Of course, it's all been very secret-squirrel here at Head Office, so much so that only a few of us have actually seen the new miniatures. With that in mind, we decided to let the guys in the Studio write today's blog post, after all they are the ones that have spent the last few months living and breathing Citadel Finecast.

Andy Hall: Last week we announced something very special - so special in fact that it's nothing less than a new era in wargaming, as we launch the highest quality miniatures the world has ever seen - Citadel Finecast.

Wow, that's quite a statement isn't it? Nonetheless, it is very true. On the 28th of May we launch Citadel Finecast, miniatures of such exquisite detail that they are the closest representation of the sculptors' original that we have ever been able to make. Until you hold one in your hand and see it for yourself, it's hard to describe just how detailed they are.

So, what are Citadel Finecast miniatures and why are we making the change? Quite simply, Citadel Finecast is the next step in the evolution in tabletop miniatures wargaming. From the start, Games Workshop has always innovated and sought to increase the quality of our models - Citadel Finecast is the next step in that process. There are no other miniatures that exist of this quality and manufactured on this scale in the world, and we're proud and very excited for you all to see this for yourselves.

The Citadel Finecast miniatures are all made from a unique resin formula. For us as hobbyists, this is great news. The resin is easy to work with and quick to cut off the sprue, making assembling a miniature easier than it has ever been. Not only that, but it's incredibly light too, which means pinning wings and other heavy components will be a thing of the past. So, quick and durable, that's a good start. But of course, one of the main reasons for this change to resin was quality. One thing you'll notice immediately when you pick them up is the exceptionally sharp detail on the model, which can only be described as staggering. For dedicated painters (which we all are to some extent) this is a dream come true.

This Saturday is going to be a landmark day in Games Workshop's history. No matter which country you live in, when the doors of your local Hobby Centre open for business on Saturday morning, you'll find over 100 new clampacks and boxed sets of Citadel Finecast miniatures. This is your chance to come and have a look and make up your own mind about the bold claims I've made above. You won't be disappointed.

You should also make sure you pick up June's White Dwarf. In it I'll be discussing the new kits even further, and talking to such luminaries as 'Eavy Metal's Joe Tomaszewski about what it's like paint Citadel Finecast, as well as veteran miniatures designer Aly Morrison regarding what the future holds when sculpting for the new medium. To quote Aly: "In a way it will push us to try things we could never realise before; to add even more dynamism to the models." Being a hobbyist first and foremost, that's a very exciting thing for me to hear.

So, what next? Every day this week we'll be adding more images of upcoming Citadel Finecast models to the website leading up to the launch on Saturday. All you need to do is make sure you're at your local Games Workshop Hobby Centre this Saturday for the grand unveiling.

Even the 'Eavy Metal team, veteran painters one and all, were in awe of the new miniatures. Details such as spirit stones and feathers are now cleaner and crisper than they've ever been.

Forgeworld New Releases - Space Marine Assault Squads

Forgeworld released their two new old school Assault Marine kits and they are awesome!  I have taken to having one squad of each pattern of armor in my army.  I now have Mk 2-6 Tactical squads, and will be following that with Assault Squads as well.

MK II Space Marine Assault Squad

MkII Armour represented a significant technological step forward from the original Space Marine Thunder Armour. Created by the Adeptus Mechanicus, it was totally enclosed and life sustaining, making it suitable for use in a variety of hostile environments including deep space. The few surviving examples of this pattern are still maintained by some of the oldest Space Marine Chapters and are venerated as sacred relics.

Models designed by Phil Stutcinskas. The kit contains 5 complete Assault Marines in MkII ‘Crusade’ pattern power armour armed with Umbra-pattern bolt pistols and chainswords. These multi-part resin models are fully compatible with our existing MkII Armour Set.

MK V Space Marine Assault Squad

The iconic MkV ‘Heresy’ pattern of Space Marine Power Armour was first created during the dark days of the Great Betrayal. Remarkably durable and easy to produce and maintain, large quantities were supplied to the Space Marine Legions prior to, and during, the Heresy. As the galaxy spanning civil war progressed, new supplies of arms and armour for the Traitor Legions were heavily disrupted, forcing them to scavenge components from their fallen enemies. 

Models designed by Phil Stutcinskas. The kit contains 5 complete Assault Marines in MkV ‘Heresy’ pattern power armour armed with Umbra-pattern bolt pistols and chainswords. These intricately detailed, multi-part resin models are fully compatible with our existing MkV Armour Set.

Space Marine Warhawk WIP

Matt Plonski of Apoc-Eclipse,is building the Epic Space Marine Lander for me in 40K scale.  He is doing an awesome job and so I thought I would share his progress with you all.

From Matt:

I design in Microsoft Visio (a 2D drawing program) which nicely exports to Corel Draw (used in the shop for the laser) and Rhino3D (used by me to virtually assemble the model).

Here's a full render of the assembled model. The cylinders are representative of the 1" turrets found on most Space Marine vehicles. There are a lot of them. There will also be a set of Land Raider-sized sponsons on the nose.

The Forge World Thunderhawk Transporter uses friction to hold the tank it carries in place, like fingers. While that might be OK for them, I couldn't in good faith design my grapples to work like that. A Land Raider has a very distinct center hull which can be grabbed from below, so I used that to my advantage. The added bonus is that the grapples end up looking like the claws from a bird of prey.

Here is a shot of the rear hull:

The engine intakes are 50mm fans from Evil Mushroom. While this will work with up to 3" fans, I think this size is more evocative of the original model which has small intakes on fat engines.

The plan is to make another set of grapples for the Rhino-sized vehicles. The thought is to make it so you can switch them out as the mission dictates.

The datasheet will allow ~20 infantry in the front (through assault ramps), ~30 in the rear (regular doors), and transport either four Land Raiders or six Rhino-type tanks. Hopefully two Land Raiders and four Rhinos will work. One centerline-mounted Turbo Laser, one set of LR sponsons, and all of those turrets (twin-linked Lascannon, TL Heavy Bolter, TL AA Autocannon, multi-melta, TL assault cannon, etc.). No bombs or missiles planned.

For more on the Warhawk, follow the thread on the Apocalypse40K Forum.

GW News - Finecast Miniatures

From Games Workshop:

Starting from the 28th of May 120 products that were Games Workshop direct only items will be coming back on the shelves as resin or resin Hybrids. This new range “Citadel Fine Cast” range will be limited in number for the first few months, so we will be taking advance orders for them.

Here are the new recast products at the full RRP;

• 41-60 Commander Dante £10.50
• 53-60 Logan Grimnar £14.50
• 55-61 The Emperors Champion £9.50
• 48-63 Space Marine Chaplain With Jump Pack £10.50
• 44-60 Dark Angels Company Master £10.50
• 48-61 Sm Librarian In Terminator Armour £14.50
• 53-61 Njal Stormcaller £14.50
• 41-61 Astorath The Grim £12.50
• 43-60 Abaddon The Despoiler £14.50
• 43-61 Huron Blackheart £10.50
• 50-61 Ork Warboss With Attack Squig £14.50
• 50-63 Ork Big Mek £14.50
• 50-65 Ork Painboy With Grot Orderly £10.50

• 46-61 Eldar Autarch With Power Weapon £10.50
• 46-62 The Avatar Of Khaine £22.50
• 46-63 Harlequin Death Jester £10.50
• 46-64 Harlequin Shadowseer £10.50
• 47-61 Commissar Yarrick £10.50
• 47-63 Imperial Guard Lord Commissar £9.50
• 51-61 Tyranid Zoanthrope £15.50
• 51-63 Tyranid Tyrant Guard £15.50
• 51-64 Tyranid Hive Guard £15.50
• 51-65 Tyranid Broodlord £15.50
• 57-61 Brother Captain Stern £14.50
• 57-60 Lord Kaldor Draigo £14.50
• 57-62 Castellan Crowe £10.50
• 57-63 Inquisitor Coteaz £10.50
• 45-60 Dark Eldar Archon £9.50
• 45-64 Lelith Hesperax £10.50
• 45-63 Urien Rakarth £10.50
• 45-61 Dark Eldar Succubus £9.50
• 56-60 Tau Ethereal With Honour Blade £9.50
• 83-62 Chaos Exalted Hero £9.50
• 83-63 Chaos Khorne Exalted Hero £10.50
• 86-60 Empire Captain With Hammer & Pistol £9.50
• 92-60 Wood Elf Highborn With Great Weapon £9.50
• 84-60 Dwarf Lord With Hammer & Shield £9.50
• 84-61 Dwarf Runelord With Great Weapon £9.50
• 90-60 Skaven Warlord £9.50
• 90-61 Queek Headtaker £10.50
• 90-62 Deathmaster Snikch £10.50
• 91-61 Vampire Lord £9.50
• 89-60 Grimgor Ironhide £10.50
• 89-62 Black Orc Big Boss £10.50
• 87-60 Caradryan £10.50
• 85-61 Dark Elf Assassin With Two Hand Weapons £9.50
• 81-60 Malagor The Dark Omen £12.50
• 10-61 Uruk-Hai With Crossbows £14.00
• 10-62 Uruk-Hai Berserkers £14.00
• 08-61 Gothmog (Pelennor) £20.50
• 05-60 Elrond And Gil-Galad £15.00
• 10-60 Saruman And Grima £15.00
• 02-60 Gandalf The White £20.50
• 04-60 Aragorn (The Black Gate) £20.50
• 04-62 Theoden (Helm’s Deep) £20.50
• 04-61 Boromir (Ithilien) £20.50
• 09-60 Suladan The Serpent Lord £20.50
• 08-62 The Dark Marshal (Ringwraith) £20.50
• 05-61 Dain And Balin £15.00
• 97-60 Skulltaker £14.50
• 48-40 Marneus Calgar And Honour Guard £36.00
• 48-41 Space Marine Techmarine With Servitors £25.50
• 55-40 Black Templars Sword Brethren Squad £25.50
• 48-42 Space Marine Sternguard Veteran Squad £25.50
• 48-43 Space Marine Vanguard Veteran Squad £25.50
• 53-40 Canis Wolfborn £30.00
• 43-40 Nurgle Daemon Prince £21.50
• 43-41 Chaos Space Marine Raptors £25.50
• 43-42 Death Guard Plague Marines £25.50
• 50-43 Boss Zagstruk £14.50
• 50-40 Ghazghkull Thraka £22.50
• 50-41 Ork Tankbustas £25.50
• 50-42 Ork Big Mek With Shokk Attack Gun £23.00
• 46-41 Eldar Rangers £20.50
• 46-42 Eldar Dark Reapers £23.00
• 46-44 Eldar Striking Scorpions £23.00
• 46-40 Eldar Farseer And Warlocks £20.50
• 51-42 Tyranid Lictor £15.50
• 51-40 Tyranid Hive Tyrant £36.00
• 51-41 Tyranid Pyrovore £21.50
• 45-40 Dark Eldar Incubi £23.00
• 45-41 Dark Eldar Mandrakes £20.50
• 56-40 Tau Sniper Drone Team £23.00
• 83-42 Archaon The Everchosen £30.00
• 83-43 Chaos Lord On Daemonic Mount £22.50
• 83-41 Chaos Dragon Ogre Shaggoth £36.00
• 86-41 Ludwig Schwarzhelm £22.50
• 86-40 Kurt Helborg £22.50
• 82-41 The Green Knight £22.50
• 82-40 King Louen Leoncoeur £30.00
• 92-42 Wood Elves Tree Kin £30.00
• 92-40 Orion King In The Woods £22.50
• 92-41 Wood Elves Treeman £36.00
• 84-40 Thorek Ironbrow £36.00
• 84-41 Dwarf Gyrocopter £23.00
• 84-42 Dwarf Bolt Thrower £23.00
• 90-40 Skaven Warplock Jezzails £30.00
• 91-40 Vampire Counts Varghulf £21.50
• 91-42 Count Mannfred £22.50
• 91-41 Vampire Counts Blood Knights £61.50
• 88-41 Kroq Gar £40.00
• 89-44 Goblin Spear Chukka £18.50
• 89-43 Savage Orc Great Shaman On War Boar £15.50
• 89-41 Orc Warboss On Wyvern £40.00
• 89-42 Goblin Rock Lobber £23.00
• 89-45 Gorbad Ironclaw £30.00
• 89-40 Azhag The Slaughterer £55.00
• 85-41 Dark Elves Reaper Bolt Thrower £18.50
• 08-40 The Dark Lord Sauron £25.50
• 08-42 Gulahvar The Terror Of Arnor £30.00
• 08-43 Mordor Troll Chieftain £25.50
• 02-40 The Fellowship Of The Ring £37.00
• 97-42 Flamers Of Tzeentch £15.50

Dark Eldar Razorwing spotted!

Mk I Rhino conversion from Tom McBride coming!

Tom McBride is an awesome guy who does amazing conversion kits which you can see here.  His latest is a Mk I Rhino conversion kit.  As always he did an amazing job as always and should have it available to the public soon.

Alec

Ratgard Hedgehog Anti-aircraft conversion kit

Ratgard has released a beautiful Anti-aircraft conversion kit that can turn a Chimera kit to a deadly looking Hydra analog.  The kit can be built in a couple ways and it looks amazing. 

Honestly, the biggest question I have is will the barrels stay straight?  I think we are all tired of the  warping resin barrels of the Hydras we all have! 

The kit costs $ 48 plus $ 10 shipping.  So it isn't cheap, but it is beautiful!

Alec

Ratgard - the new name in aftermarket resin parts!

There has been an explosion of resin aftermarket parts over the last year or so.  Resin conversion kits seem to be the most popular.  I previously reviewed Quantum Gothic, which is an amazing little company.  Now Ratgard has hit the scene with two awesome conversion kits.  

The first is a conversion kit for the venerable Chimera.  One of the oldest kits in the game, I don't know anyone who loves the stock kit, even with the new turret and tracks of the new kit.  The lasguns looked dated and the kit just needs an update.  Well, Ratgard does an awesome job with their Sciuridae conversion kit.

Per the Ratgard website:

Behold the Sciuridae – a custom pattern of armoured transport vehicle designed by Ratgard to replace the dull, stale and dated patterns of impeiral APCs. This is the first successful product of the Ratgard-Innovation-Project(R.I.P). They are just as capable as the older patterns,but also with sleekier look and offer troops more comfort to bolster their morale and combat performances!

This resin kit comes with 8 pieces of resin parts to convert your typical imperial APC into a cutting-edge Sciuridae APC.

This set is 25$, and 10$ shipping to the worldwide,  you can contact me with suvietrat@gmail.com. 

 

Tomorrow a bit on their newest kit, a Hydra analog called the Hedgehog AA gun.

The World's Most Awesome Terrain Piece!

OK, this was so awesome I asked Jim from Galaxy in Flames to let me re-post it here!  From Jim:

Games Workshop in Ruins!

My buddy just sent me pics of the ruin that was built when we worked together at GW. It contains a corpse for everyone of the hobby centers staff members. The patrons of our shop absolutely loved the building. We hated to send it down to LA, in the end we should have kept it for ourselves.

   

 This building went down in infamy after it was built and sent down to LA for Gamesday 2004. It was deemed inappropriate and was stomped to death by the staff of the LA Battle Bunker. It got the entire staff of our store a verbal thrashing for being inappropriate and not fostering the proper creativity in the hobby. It sure did make us northern Cali guys despise the ones from down south. So goes life!

No matter the sorted history I still think it was a shame that this creative ruin was destroyed.



Alec's Postnote:

OK, the fact that GW found this offensive is ridiculous!  You are pushing a game that is about BILLIONS getting killed in gruesome ways and this was inappropriate?  And some gusy had the nerve to stop on this?   Give me a break!

Alec

Battlefoam Custom Pack Max for Thunderhawk and Caestus

Globalsmack from the Apocalypse40k forums got a custom Pack Max from Battlefoam and it hold 4 Caestus Assault Rams as well as a Thunderhawk.  

I only have 3 Caestus so will modify this a bit, and I use the DragonForge bases so will modify it for that as well.  But this is a great set up!

I am a huge fan of Battlefoam.  So check them out!

Alec

Forgeworld New Releases

Well, Forgeworld has just released two new items.

First is a set of Salamanders shoulder pads.  I think Forgeworld needs to do this for every chapter.  I don't know why we didn't see a whole slew of these with the release of the IA Badab War books.  These are beautiful.

Second is the Eldar Corsair Heavy Weapons team. 

I don't play Elves, but I have to say they are getting some serious love from Forgeworld lately!

Alec

Games Workshop recognizes The Big Game on its Facebook page!

Well, traffic skyrocketed yesterday as Games Workshop posted about The Big Game on their Facebook page.  We went form our usually 150 unique visitors a day to 1,700!  Thanks guys!

Mae sure you join the Games Workshop page on Facebook!

Alec

Unique Decal Sheets

The Fly Lords of Terra blog site has been putting out some outstanding decal and banner sheets for armies and Titans.

There are decal sheets for:


1) Pre-heresy legions

2) Eldar Craftworlds

3) Space Marine Chapters

4)  Space Marine Chapters of the Badab War

5)  Titan Legion Banners


You can download them here:


http://theflylordsofterra.blogspot.com/2009/09/fly-lords-logo-sheet-archive.html