Black Star Initative on You Toob

 I know that there is some Black Star Initative thing for some online space opera game.  But this me, so you know I'm not talking about that.

This is what little men are for.  This is why my garage is full of the little guys.  I absolutely love what is being done here and commend this whole series to you.  It builds.  At the moment it goes to Episode 7.  I hope they do more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnJtGebVSOo

Cathedral & Scenery stuff for your delectation.

So looking around for things to make the Basilica project easier, I found these two:  I really, really like the archways on the Raging Heroes kits.  But the kit is printed cardboard, which would be fine on it's own, However, the rest of my scenery is hard plastic, so it just wouldn't match. 

So I'm looking at my existing bits and exploring ideas for materials from Wickes.

But both of these look great

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/loudnraging/warstages-the-gothic-cathedral



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1989721065/warlayer-zone-one?ref=recs&ref=discovery

Even more reasons to squander your cash.

Just in case you hadn't seen this yet.  Not cheap - $60 for the kit, but that's all three variants and funky new vibe for your favourite MBT.

Availble from here:  leaderratss-battle-tank

If you want to see the DKK in an RTS game.

I caught this on a DKK Facebook group post.  Like the OP commented, I can't understand a word, however, this would seem to be what Steam was made for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKkh9y11llA  This is the DKK (three LRMBT with Plasma sponsons vs late war USSR ( a stupendous amount of T34/85s and SU100s and infantry).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvmAyA91_PY  Two tac squads of Blood Ravens vs late war Wehrmacht.

Skies with out flies and ground of rubble.

The lack of infantry resources for 3422AG is a thing which came to the attention of the Lord General as a part of the usual monthly discourse (which he likes to think of as “Strategic War Progress Conferences” but are actually routine management meetings).  

The Macharian 203^rd were a part of the reinforcement chain from the DM, brought in on the Optime 3.  The Ordo Hereticus, having witnessed the first part of the campaign, instruct the IG on Devos IV to reinforce 903 Div of 72AG.  Lord General Zukhov’s intention to send another infantry regiment to 3422AG made more military sense on one level, although may just have encouraged him to order the formations east of the city into action before they had adequate resources across all arms to achieve optimal synergy for the forthcoming operations.

The People’s Libertine Army is no longer the former Planetary Defence Force and a few add ons.  It is now roving bands of militia gangs eeking out a living in the ruins of their once proud capital city.  The remnants of the PLA lack the organisation or resources to mount an offensive, although still pose a threat to the forces investing the city and a significant obstacle to final victory.

Comptrollor Bellormus has secured a Jornathi Unit, the Kula Conservator Cohort (KCC), an experienced and recently reconstituted Imperial Guard formation from a world which has fought a multi-generational war against Ork infestation.  Assisted from the outset by numerous Astartes formations, it’s only with recent strategic and tactical interventions by the Mortifactors and Sons of Medusa (along with massive IG reinforcements from Sector Command, spurred on my the Astartes involvement) that the campaign has subsided to the level of ‘pest control’.

As with everything done by his Plenipotentiates, the Lord General feigns disinterest and a desire for more, sooner and better.  He has no idea what the DM has achieved in resourcing his war; he has not asked about the KCC and so Comptroller Bellormus has not told him.   The KCC consists of ten infantry regiments broadly formed on Tallarn lines[1] and one mechanised regiment.

Re-organised with their own post war identity even stronger than before, the KCC’s constituent regiments have all been named after significant actions which mean something to any student of Jornathi Military History.  Note that there is no ‘6^th Regt’ for obvious reasons[2].  These honorifics did not exist during the Jornathi Ork Wars, as most of these honours stem from that conflict. 

1^st Suetonious Regt

2^nd Usamiljen Regt

3^rd Berhas Regt

4^th Nizajain Regt

5^th Oakenzid Regt

7^th Bolasku (the 906ers) Regt

8^th Grehazin Regt

9^th Remits Maw Regt

10^th Gruffmans Plaza Regt

11^th Vasinus Honourias (The Old Guard) Regt

12^th Rothresh Mechanised Regt

The KCC is headed by a Regent General.  3* General Muntenfur (the Plenipotentiate for war, effectively the man running the war for the Lord General) has made the Regent General a part of the Imperial General Staff, allowing the KCC to be split between the two Corps of 3422AG.  Regiment numbers 1 to 5 will go to 44 Corps and regiment numbers 7 to 11 will go to 6 Corps with the 12th Regt being established, at least for the time being, as the AG’s reserve[3].

What effectively happened after the KCC deployed was that as they integrated in to the fabric of 3422AG, aided by the fact that their titular head was in the Imperial General Staff (in fact becoming Muntenfur’s Deputy)[4] and that one of their constituent units formed the basis for the AG HQ, is that by time 3422AG began their assault on Xyphonica in earnest, their C³ largely followed Jornathi procedures, allowing for a more cohesive performance from all levels of command down to Battalion level[5]. 

---

[1] Each of approximately 22000 men under arms.  At the end of the Jornath Wars, the KCC was no where near its TO&E and received help not only in reconstituting itself, but as an exemplar IG formation, acting as a cadre for rebuilding the PDF.  Immediately after which it was demanded as part of the planetary tithe by the DM. 

[2] And quite probably this has filtered down into the PDF – it is quite possible that there are no ‘No 6s’ anywhere in the Jornathi military, at least for the time being.

[3] Eventually reinforced by the Ankran 107^th Mechanised Infantry, 5 battalions of Chimerae mounted infantry.   It would be these men, along with the mechanised Jornathi who effectively formed another division, plugging the gap torn in the Hrossy Yeomanry by the unexpected assault of the World Eaters in the plastic millinery.

[4] Indeed, the Regent General became CIGS (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) after the first round of purges and succeeded Muntenfur after the second round of purges.

[5] The lack of Orks, important role in the army at large, elevated position of the Regent General and finding themselves a part of a functional, successful (so far) campaign (as opposed to a cluster feth) all serve to bouy the morale of the KCC, despite the regiments being assigned to different Corps within 3422AG; something which the common soldier would probably not even notice anyway.  

The rules of acquisition don't count at birthdays and Christmas

Well, not so much 'don't count' as 'can be circumvented'.

So I saw this on TTF http://ttfix.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/things-from-basement-pavlovs-house.html

Which is available here http://www.thingsfromthebasement.com/store/p350/Pavlov_House.html  but is so new and shiney that it doesn't yet have a price.

So coupled with the Blackhawk down Target Building: http://gcmini.mybigcommerce.com/28mm-blackhawk-down-target-building-28mmdf085/ 

And the Stalingrad tank factory: Although my link for this no longer works, it's probably on the bay of Es somewhere.

So, that's birthdays and Christmas sorted.  I've got that kickstarter building for my dad to build - he fell of a step ladder at the age of 72 and scared the bejesus out of all of us.  Fortunately he's fine now, so I'll be press ganging him soon.  Just my need for ten Chimerae left to sort. 

The answers are out there somewhere.

You may remember this: http://devos4.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/searching-for-head-or-graphic-novel.html

Well, chasing up another lead, I came across these: https://mastercrafted.co.uk/shop/infantry-components/heads/hellmask-heads/#reviews

You can see that one review clearly says "They arrived quickly, were of very high quality and helped make my Helghast army absolutely perfect."

So that's that then.  They do exist.  However,  I have tightened up the rules of acquisition this year.  And have already blown £250 on half a project (more on this at some point in the future).  So further things (except the rest of the kit to finish the SAM Project) will have to be birthday and Christmas presents.  

More random dudes

These are Anvil Industries Unity Council Internal Security Troops.  These were on a special offer (sigh - suckered in a again !) as these were six man squads with one torso missing. The spare legs went to the 4th Llar Heavy Infantry. 

Hopefully from the fots you can discern crisp, clean castings.

My idea had been to use the figures with fallen legionnaire heads; ie more blood pact.  But these are two piece castings with integral heads so that went out of the window.  But they'll be great for Inq28 as someone's Internal Security Forces - the lack of web kit, short range, high volume of fire weapons and intimidating outfits kinda mean these bozos won't be going to plumbing school; they've made their choice.

So I'm planning on dark brown with white (or yellow, or realllllly pale green) helmets with mirrored visors.

Oh look, someone's carrying more ammo.

Not a free Imperial knight, but could be yours for £1........

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AdeptusAstartes?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socsponmobile&utm_content=AdeptusAstartes&utm_campaign=post-sponsorship-donation-mobile

Valkyrie Nose Art

I don't know if you can read Spanish or not, but here's a blog out there called 40K Tenerife.  I've no idea what those guys are sayin' but the posts are mostly eye candy and some crackin' ideas and compilations.

Anyway, they've put up this:

Free hand nose art

Now, I think that there are probably enough 1/48 and 1/35 transfer sheets about to get away with doing what these people are doing freehand.  But that's just me, not having confidence in my freehand.  I'll always take my hat off to someone who gives it a go.

What ?  You still here ? Go take a look.

WIP air frames without nose art, c 2014.  Hummm. 

DEI GRECI: ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (107)

I don't know if you've seen this.  All of Claus' work is inspiring and his facility with plasticard is, IMHO, unmatched.  Well, some of you may remember Tinner's scratch build armour on Warseer, but that's years ago.  Really years ago.







Do have a look at this.  If you get time and havn't seen them, his scratch built AFVs are fab.



DEI GRECI: ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (107): Hi all, thank you for the positive feedback :) @ Malevengion   and Tuskar Schwarzhorn - thank you :) Yes, I think it is time...

Just for fun

Really, seeing these guys in Episode VIII would be great.

Dancing Stormtroopers

First Blood of 2016 !

And its' the jailbirds from the TGG kickstarter.  A big tick on the list (see previous post)

These girls, former inmates of one of the planets foremost correctional institutions, are now members of the Devos IV PDF's 13th Mechanised Infantry Regiment. 

Probably the most interesting looking bit of it, too. 

Many thanks to Mr Lee who has produced these from the bowels of his Painting Emporium. 

Ohh, I like this.

40K rules hilarity

And this

pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies

And this

Why hand to hand combat is terrifying.

Is this Hugo Weaving ?

Found here.

 

Not that I care.  I gotta have this guy !

Actual real mocked up footage.

Just in case you hadn't seen this on the book of faeces:

 https://vimeo.com/107454954

The un-usual world of COSPLAY.

So, I know a couple of LARPers (no names).  LARPing (google it if you don't actually know what LARP is) does by definition include a bit of acting and sleuthing and problem solving etc etc.  Where as COSPLAY seems to just be dressing up.



Picture from here

COSPLAY is popular in Japan, we know.  And it always seemed to me to just involve dressing up as an anime character.  But things evolve.

Idly browsing the interweb I came across these:

Pre enacting the guard

Young lady in various costumes

I used to not care for such things.  But upon reflection, these sorts of things are, perhaps, as much part of the 40k hobby as building an army of little resin, plastic, metal and failcast men.  It certainly takes dedication and effort to craft yourself a proper costume and then a dash of chutzpah to actually wear it somewhere. All good stuff, IMHO.

The browsing showed me a remarkable quantity and standard of artwork out there is quite breath taking.  Which had be thinking about the origin of it all; If you google 'John Blanche' there are a number of blogs and 'sites devoted to show casing the Grimfather's work.

And whoops there goes another two or three hours.  Oh well.

Anyway.  Here are some more people all dressed up: this time from Salute.

Chimera Track Guards

These are the Track Guards from "Warchimera"  available to purchase from here. 

This is them on the Ratguard Hydrae I showed a couple of weeks ago.  These picts are from before they were tidied up and stuck down.

But do show what you're getting if you buy some.  They're from Poland (guess) and inexpensive compared to having to fork out for another tank accessory sprue everytime time you want track guards on a chimera chassis.

Another win for someone with a casting kit, another loss for you know who.

If for some reason I have some kind of brain failure and increase my vehicle fleet to the point where it doesn't even fit in the garage anymore - these are the track guards I'd buy again.

btw - the tracks were tidied and stuck down and then they got undercoated straight after this.

IG grenade launcher.

Actually it's the USMC, not the Iggies.  A lot of people out there will be familiar with what is popularly referred to as the Grenade Machine Gun (GMG).

The Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher is a fine squad support weapon, but being tripod or vehicle mounted, is obviously not really that suitable for one man to tote.

But this is:

Golden Throne by GMM Studios.

Get a load of this.Get a load of this



This picture is just a teaser.  It's worth a look, follow the link.  Interesting narrative as well.