Showcase Me!: Imperial Knight Krast Aligned Household (Dardan)

"It is the year 0079 of the Universal Century. 

A half-century has passed since Earth

 began moving its burgeoning population

 into gigantic orbiting space colonies.

A new home for mankind,

where people are born and raised. And die.

Nine months ago, the cluster of colonies furthest from Earth,

called side 3, proclaimed itself

the Principality of Zeon and launched a war

of indipendence against the Earth Federetaion. [...]"

MSG 0079

    Hello friends! It's been a long time since we last got in touch, and I thank everyone for being here again despite the long period of lack of blog content. I moved to a new place and job, as you know, keeps too busy (thank goodness)!

    Probably some of you have noticed that my Instagram page hasn't been as inactive as the blog, since I have - even if in a less ongoing effort - continued to paint and especially play (job keeps busy, but playing saves our sanity). I posted some photos on the profile but no showcase... I really didn't have the time to work with the the camera to get better results.

    Today I finally cut out a moment to make some better shots and write a post. It's the showcase of my Imperial Knight Household, the Dardan (a minor House aligned to Chrysis' Krast), which I worked on in June.

    

Showcase Me!: Dark Eldar/Drukhari Scourges

"What could be finer 

than the soughing kiss of blade on flesh?

Come to me and I will love you

with such strokes as will make you swoon.

We will dance and caress with edges so fine

the very stars themselves are sundered 

by their divine movements."

- Qa'leh, Mistress of Blades, to Duke Vileth, in Ursyllas's Dispossesions

   So complicated, yet so fine. So complex and yet beautiful as the simplest thing is. Dark Eldar are, in my opinion, one of the greatest creations in the whole GW history and I always take my time to paint them: if you don't, you will end up in a mess. They are the only army I haven't painted at once, in recent years... simply because I can't. Few units, maybe one or two HQ at a time, nothing more.

    I hope, with this attitude, to do justice their incredible range and background. Today I'm sharing with you a small unit of Scourges with them, my winged killers!

Showcase Me!: Flesh-eater Courts

Stars, hide your fires!

Let not light see my black

and deep desires.

- Macbeth

    Hello friends! Today I'm here to share with you a full army in showcase: Flesh-eater Courts! They are the first project I fully did with an airbrush, and I'm quite pleased with how they have turned out. I was inspired by one of my favourite miniatures painting studios of all time, Thirdeyenuke, and I tried to reproduce, in my limited experience, their sharp style adding something from my own. The painting scheme plays on a vivid dark/light contrast, acting as a metaphor of their tormented souls too. 

    I have to say that I started painting them in a more orthodox way when, completely out of the blue, I changed my mind and decided to put my airbrush skill to the test, making everything that way.

   I can't conceal that I did the whole thing in a very short time because of the desire to deploy it on the field as soon as possible, and that I paid less attention than usual (especially when I reached 80 ghouls done) in the painting process but the result, in its entirety, was very satisfying.
    Have a look at my Flesh-eater Courts ghouls tutorial to have an idea of how they were made.
    Now... straight on to the whole showcased army!

King Loceruve on Ambarwalme

How I did it: Flesh-eater Courts Ghouls

Feel the pain from jackals' wrath

Dance in flames for the final quest

Hear the Ghost of Violence

Fear the God of Detriment

-the Stormrider

   The very first Battletome I bought at the beginning of my journey through the Mortal Realms was the Flesh-eater Courts one. I was pleasantly impressed by the layout and I would definitely want to  know more; on top of that, the price is very affordable. I have never been such a fan of undead in Warhammer, indeed I have never had a Death army, but in that case it was different... I simply discovered in the Battletome (one of the best AoS issues so far in my honest opinion, and I have/have read quite everything) that FEC were a bunch of mad cannibals who believed they were noble warriors or knights of all sorts. That was an epiphany... my mind began to gallop wildly the path of background and I promised to me that one day I would have painted a whole army of these deluded fools.

   Two years later that moment arrived, eventually, and I took the chance to improve my skill, painting around three thousands points of them mostly (90% or so) with an airbrush. 

   Let's see how!

Showcase Me!: Dark Eldar/Drukhari Succubus

"Friends and allies you call them?

Black-hearted traitors one and all, I say!

My reputation and my honor take precedence

 over their carping concerns.

I will pursue my vendettas as I will

For I am Vileth and I will not be constrained in my vengeance!"

- Duke Vileth to the fool Mecuto, in Ursyllas's Dispossessions

   Everything started with Dark Eldar... they were my first army and my first love. I started Warhammer back in '96 with Dwarves and High Elves but I was too young to understand what it could mean, at least for me. It was like throwing a little rock and wait in the following ten years to hear the avalanche incoming; and that avalanche started with Dark Eldar, a sort of revolution, a zero-point where my hobby became truly my Hobby.

    The new Drukhari codex is outstanding and, as I do any time a new Dark Eldar release pops out, I grabbed the occasion following inspiration and gaming to revamp and paint some of the hundreds of models I have from their range. 

    Today I have finally found some time to take a few good shots of my Succubus; her name is Vea Ulris and in my custom background she's the ruling lady of a major Cult called "of the Annihilation". Together with Illian Erya (Archon of my kabal, "the Masked Truth") and Valdamar Zatarblen (my Haemonculus from the Dark Creed coven) form what is called in Commorragh "The Trumvirate".

How I did it: Shadespire Orks (Ironskull's Boyz)

"Orcses is nevah defeated in battle.

If we win we win, if we die we die so it don't count.

If we runs for it don't die neither, 

'cos we can come back for annuver go, see!"

- Ancient ork adage

    Hi my friends, ciao! As you have just read Orks nevah lose, only push forward (when they mustn't run away for pushing harder next time). This is not something I'm very fond of, as I play races like Dark Eldar, Stormcast, Harlequins, Marines  - and generally, whatever the system, I like to play using tricks, strategies, well-honed lists and so on.... quite stressing, isn't it? Sometimes, anyway, I have my relaxed time, my dice-throwing in (almost) brainless joy, and everytime that coincides with the sheer use of greenskins. Perhaps casting furious curses with goblins, charging in the fray with my Ironjawz, trying to overtake a scrimmage using my troll as a quarterback or... pushing forward in Underworlds just to see a great brawl unfold before my eyes! 

   Ok today is that relaxed time as in the forthcoming tutorial, we'll speak briefly of the bunch of rascals and raiders that indeed the Ironskull's Boys are!

How I did it: Blood Bowl Dwarf Team

- The only place success comes before work 

is in the dictionary.

Vince Lombardi

   Good morning fellow hobbyists,

   Today we will have a chat about Blood Bowl, "the greatest game in the world!" as Bob Bifford utterly claims. We are not talking about the video game of course (though it basically is, exactly we can say, the same ruleset) but the board game, which is, really, the greatest boardgame in the world in my opinion. I couldn't imagine, a few months ago, how vast and rooted this game was in our society. There are world, continental and national (where not regional) championships ruled by the NAF, an international, extremely precise, game system (or tradition), beyond the strict GW's ruling. The fact is that this game has survived, and has thrived, alone just with the help of the (global, and this is the exciting part) community. Wow. I would be part of this family, since I found the game outstanding and really challenging, so I started playing with one of the most ancient and important italian and european Blood Bowl Associations, the Predatori Firenze; learning new tactics and trying new teams, the last of which is one of the hardest to play, dwarves, my Skaldmàl Egillsons.

   Nevertheless this is a tutorial, so let's head straight on to the painting process!

How I did it: Shadespire Stormcasts' Bases

"For more than a thousand years 

the shadow-cloaked riuns of Shadespire lay dormant,

a malevolent scar in the centre of the vast Desert of Bones."

   Hi there, and good morning!

   Finally, after years of painting, an Airbrush made landfall on my shores. Ok, this is not entirely exact: two Airbrushes have landed on my desk... the first one, a beautiful single action Badger, survived just long enough to make around forty models and then it was sacrificed on the Altar of Learning. I've nearly destroyed it in the process of really understanding how an Airbrush works; but no problem, a lot of spare parts are coming (although they are taking too long to arrive), so I hope I'll be able to save it from the edge of oblivion. 

   The second one is an awful, but double action, Fengda, paid around 20 euros (!!!), that made my whole Flesh Eaters Courts army thanks to the sacrifice of his predecessor. And, double action is awesome. Now I'm planning to buy an Iwata and use these three pens to improve my airbrushing skills.

    Another example of models made with my double action Fengda is my Shadespire Stormcast lot, in particular their bases. Stormcasts armour and weapons have been made in the classic Guardians of the Ages way, but bases reflect the gloom of the Mirrored City.

More Input: Starting Shadespire (Stormcast Deck)!

   Hi guys and gals, what are you doing in your hobby time these months?
  I have finally decided to start Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire. Of course all of my fellows have already begun the game back in October when it was initially pulled out but I, at that time, was keen on 40k listing and training for an upcoming tournament. After that, you know, that AoS campaign, that Blood Bowl League and (boring) real life took all my time. 

   Anyway it was just my love for both BB and AoS that finally pushed me to dedicate some time to the new game. Well... I have bought two times (first time split) the core set and now I already have orcs and Sepulchral Guard is coming. I think the game is solid, fast-paced and miniatures are beautiful; not even mentioning its wonderful display, lay-out and suggestive setting.

More Input: Building an Iron Hands Demi-company

-Blessed is the mind too small for doubt.

-Isador Akios

   Hi there my friends and welcome to this brief recap about my Clan Company Sorrgol project. It is supposed to be an ending post about my first demi-company based on them, although I have planned to paint and build more and create a full company; that will occur in time, since I'm already working on a new AoS project.

   I generally conclude a project with a huge background post, full of custom (and real) lore, but since I can't do anything like that for Clan Company Sorrgol (they already have a beautiful storyline written by some of the most talented BL's writers, so don't need mine), I decided to end the project, and the stream of posts about it, with a quick modeling/painting recap. 

   Here we go!

Iron Captain Adam Sideros

Leaving the Chamber: Trophy for Wracks at Grog '17!

   Hello friends, this post is about my recent partecipation in the XXXI edition of the Grog Painting Trophy, which took place in the last November (Lucca Comics main miniature and modeling competition, actually one of the greatest and oldest of Italy).

    Fist of all, happy new year to all of you, thank you for your support on our website and on instagram, we wish you a great modeling 2018 ahead!

How I did it: Primaris Redemptor Dreadnought

- I have seen worlds burn and crushed nations underfoot, torn down the idols of false gods and slaughtered kings like cattle. Presume not to order me, tiny man, for I am war, and you are no more than chaff before the scythe... -

Venerable Targas

   Ok! This is not meant to be a whole long, boring, tutorial on every single move I did on my Iron hands Redemptor Dreadnought, but instead a smart look on some of its details, such as its base, positioning etc. If you want to start anew the model following some good (and fast) adivices to create black foundations and weathering I suggest you to have a look here, before reading this post.

   

Showcase Me!: Iron Hands Clan Company Sorrgol (demi-company)

- We must learn to pace ourselves. Tactical restraint. To hit and run, and not to be greedy and trust in overwhelming power as of old. We must learn the tactics and techniques of those thrown in with us and respect them. We must take our iron and alloy it with the mettle of the others who were shattered alongside us. We must mix our broken strenght with other broken strenghts to forge a new, unbroken edge. -

Shadrak Meduson

   Here we are, finally! I have got my first demi-company full painted and currently planning the second half! I bought, over the years, a lot of space marines stuff and each time I have been in Nottingham I've always taken the occasion to buy some special Iron Hands products. So I found an astartes patrimony in my hands and, a few months ago, I finally decided to give it a shape.

    Hope you like it!

How I did it: Space Marines Razorback (Iron Hands)

- I believe in three tenets of battle: firepower, firepower and more firepower. Should the Omnissiah have wished otherwise, he would not have provided me with such a mighty tool as the Razorback.

- Iron Father Kardan Stronos, leader "de facto" of the Iron Hands Chapter

   Hello my friends! My latest trip was through the cold and merciless Medusa's plains as I finally decided to take over my first Space Marines project and give it a definitive shape. I've always been battled between two (or three, yeah better say three) loyalist Astartes Chapters: Imperial Fists, Iron Hands and Raven Guard.

    Talking about the first, IF, I liked their color scheme, as I love yellow (you can see traces of yellow in almost every army I painted); and, you know, it's quite important digging on when you paint. On the other hand I almost hated their BG; although the defending of Terra is quite evocative, they are definitely too zealous for me.

   Raven Guard and Iron Hands instead offered me both a great background to build an army, even if I didn't like their schemes so much. Black is a beast, and you can make striking black models, but at the very high cost of time. It is also true that if you want to go fast and have some experience, things will simplify. My final choice fell on Iron Hands for I liked much more their way of making war (and play); tanks, dreadnoughts and tactical marines. 

   I know now for sure that my choice was the best and even if it took 2 years to see something born, it was worth the wait. 

Background Backdoor: Epoch Hounds

- "Only the faithful", Tegrus murmured, and swooped into the path of the beam, hammers crossed. The energies tore at him as they splashed across his armour, causing the god-forged sigmarite to bubble and melt. The light from his wings grew brighter and brighter as he plunged through the beam. His hammer blackened and began to crumble in his hands, but he did not stop, or veer away. It was too late for that now. It was too late for anything except taking his foe down into death with him.

"Only the faithful."

Tegrus, moments before his last death,

 "War in the Hidden Vale" - Realmgate Wars

   I paint models only after deciding who they are, where they come from, which battles they have won and how, and which ones they've lost and why. Sometimes I create traditions, history, words with particular meanings and more... I know that many of us do the same, making wonderful backgrounds for our battles and campaigns on the tabletop. Well, this is our corner!

   This time we'll see the story around one of the most secretive and heroic stormcast chambers of the Guardians of the Ages, Vanguard's Epoch Hounds. In particular we'll get to know about them following the wanderings of their undomitable leader, Lord Aquilor Aefirin, seeing how his sad story is tied to that of his brothers Aefar.

     

Lord Aquilor Aefirin, Bane of the Immortals, riding Flere, his Gryph-charger

How I did it: Blood Bowl Troll

   - I don't do High Fives.

Branch

   A goblin team needs a Troll. Fact. Goblins are weak, and break easily, so a big boy on the line of scrimmage helps a lot, making almost possible to finish a game without 9-8 KOs or so. Not winning a game, for sure, but maybe holding enough to score a TD (that is, believe me, one of the most satisfying things a man can experience, since goblins are not for competitive play) (currently I scored just one in my whole career with them, and I'm feeling so accomplished!).

   Not for competitive play, absolutely; but for fun. A lot of fun; and a Troll makes its own part in the process... you can try to score a one-turn TD throwing the goblin holding the ball, directly over other team's players, straight to their end zone. Of course, you have to be lucky, the Troll can always simply eat the goblin, spitting out the ball... ah, it's so hard to hang fire when you've got a tasty greenling so close to the mouth, who could say otherwise?

   As you know, if you have read something around from this blog, I am a real fan of greenskins so, when GW made the Blood Bowl Troll model I fell in love; and this time I've decided to use lighter tones for the skins, something I felt would be better fitting on a river-drooling beast with a dead instead of the brain (it's not related, isn't it?).

   Let's see how!

Showcase Me!: Blood Bowl Human and Goblin Teams

   Hi folks! 

   Today, and during these weeks, I'm very busy with my main job (I'm running a restaurant on the hills of Tuscany so, you know, in July, with a lot of sun, it means a lot of customers) so I'm posting just a brief showcase for my Blood Bowl teams; just to let the world know I'm not dead and my BB project goes on! Soon we'll have a goblin tutorial and a troll tutorial but for now, behold!

   I present you Talisa's Revenants, and Rotten Wood's Manglers!

How I did it: Blood Bowl Human Team

"Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships"

-Bear Bryant

   I've always loved american football and always watched at Blood Bowl with curiosity and interest. I thought that it was a funny game, something to play while having a break from fantasy or 40k, although all GW's universes are someway filled with "dark humor". 

   As a matter of fact I didn't know absolutely anything about that; for Blood Bowl has a tactical depth I've rarely seen before and this surprise pushed me hard to get in this fantastic game. However I decided to take Blood Bowl as a funny break from AoS and 40k in any case. I bought the starter set and shared it with a friend of mine, picking humans on my own, but just after painting them I switched to goblins. I love goblins (I've got a huge army of them in AoS) and I wanted to play BB really for fun and personal (modeling and gaming) amusement.

   I painted humans, my Talisa's Revenants, according to my Stormcast Eternals color scheme. I know it's a different setting but I already moved (both in my mind and in reality, changing bases and background) all my fantasy armies to Age of Sigmar and so I decided to set in it my Blood Bowl teams as well.

How i did it: Stormcast Eternals Lord Aquilor

- Pain may be my flesh

Death may be my fate

but Victory is my Name

- Tylos Stormbound's Honour Scrolls during the Crucible of Blood's war

Reamlgate Wars - Stormcast

   

   After their second Battletome's release, Stormcast have become a very solid army. almost unbeatable for the majority of AoS factions. I managed to bring havoc on any challenger in my local gaming club: Nurgle, Dwarves, Khorne, Ironjawz, Slaves to Darkness, Death, Skavens, Seraphon, Beastclaw Raiders, Flesh Eaters ecc... Only against Tzeentch I lost a bunch of matches. Exploiting their new command trait Staunch Defender, which adds 1 to any save rolls to any unit within 6" from your general (if not charging) and combining it with Lord Castellant skill on a 15-20 men unit of Liberators will make your 300/400 points Battlelines unkillable; with shields their saves shall be at 2+ with rerolling 1's.

    So be it, but many players begun to grumble about that, and with reasons; so unless I'm playing against Tzeentch or an equal I started to use Vanguard Chamber in the majority of my matches, avoiding Staunch Defender (that's quite un-thematic for an army that rely on speed and ambushes) and using Aefirin, my Lord Aquilor, as general.

   That helps you to change quite a lot your playing style, too; the classic Warrior Chamber set-up was becoming boring, really powerful but boring. This is one of the things I love more in Stormcast: they are unyielding warriors but they have a very yielding way to wage war, able to adapt to each situation on the tabletop very easily.

    Ok... but this is not a tactical corner, although I always love to chat about that, so straight on to the painting tutorial for him, Lord Aquilor, a striking model and a real beast on the battlefield!

Showcase Me!: Stormcast Eternals Vanguard Palladors

- From the Darknest night shall rise the Raven, shall take flight in the shadows, shall reveal the nature of its kind.

Prepare yourself for its coming, for the faithful shall be elevated to take flight with the Raven, the rest be forgotten to walk upon the ground, clipped wings and shame.

- Prophecy of the Raven God, World of Warcraft

   Ok... they are not Anzu's copies but you have to admit they're quite similar. To be honest, the very first time I got to see their pictures I suffered a throwback to the days I was playing WoW. So I took some inspiration from those times and made my Palladors blue-ish, which perfectly fits to my Stormcast main scheme and, in the result, are very similar to my first attempt on the first Gryph-hound I painted.

   I am not sure about their Temple's name and history but I have already a full storyline for their chamber, Auxiliary Vanguard "Epoch Hounds". You can always check this page if you are interested in some background hints about my whole stotmhost, Guardians of the Ages, and here for a dedicated Vanguard Chamber's background.

   Let's waste no more time and get straight to the paintjob!