Goatboy’s 40k Thoughts: I like to Paint!
I will admit that the competitive aspects of 40k is one of the main driving points that bring me to play a game with plastic dudes and unforgiving dice rolls, but it isn’t the only thing. I really enjoy painting and converting up my armies.
So this week, I’ve decided that instead of looking at different tactics that can help win you the game, I wanted to go into another avenue of the game, making your models look kick ass.
Will start with the basics. One of the cooler ways to help your army stand out is to create bases that are just more then some sand covered in paint and a small splash of “grass”. I keep just about any plastic piece I get. Whether it is a pointless upgrade, or some other kind of random door you never see, I usually throw it into my bitz box. I am sure everyone does this, but I like to use these pieces to help spruce up my bases. Most of the time, I randomly glue it on the base, then take my mini and figure out if it can fit on it in a cool way. Once that seems to work out, I glue it on, put some sand on it and then let it dry to get ready to be primed. What was once junk, is now a cool piece that my dude destroyed.
Another way to create a neat force is to pick a color set and try to add it to every model in the army, but not in the same place. This gives you a complete look to the army and helps break the monotony. You can also do this by creating some wear and tear on your units. Add some mud, blood, broken bits to your models. This makes them stand out as they march on the field. It is small things like this can create a quick clash of the color scheme, and help make a more interesting model.
I am a real big fan of the new washes and find that layering them can create neat shades of color on top of the base color. In fact, I have started to experiment with metal bases with washes on top. It creates a multi hewed look that can be a really eye catcher on specific types of armies. You can easily create a rusted look by basing your metal in blazing orange, then drying brush a brase on top, and finishing with some highlights of boltgun metal mixed with a wash of devlan mud. The wash has brown in it, and mixed with the orange that will seep through the metal, give you a nice rust look.
If you don’t want to use the GW washes, you can create your own washes using some paint, some water and some matt medium. Make sure you get matt medium, as anything else might have some gloss to it that will make the folds and inner bits of the figure a bit too shiny. If you want them shiney, then go for it. But I know for a fact that the Emperor thinks shiney folds are signs of treason.
The painting and modeling aspects of this hobby is what keeps me coming back to create new and more interesting models as well as lists. You can ask my local store, I am always working on some new and funky list because I finished painting off the last one. I think the only army I can never say is fully “done” is my orks. There are just too many green skins to paint up. Mix that with the stompa coming out, and it looks like I will be busy until summer time haha.
Here are some pics of my work area, my own “hobby” room (fiancé has half as she is an artist too). You can see all the random projects lying around. Most of the time, I have about 2 things I am working on at any given moment. I am currently doing up some daemons for a client in town, as well as making some random chaos stuff for his army. My own work is slowly going on marines as well as fixing up the bases of my chaos army. Fun fun fun.
Hoped you enjoyed looking at my laboratory. I swear there isn’t just math running around in my head as well as rolling dice. I wouldn’t be playing this game if it wasn’t for the painting as well as modeling aspect of it. I can only get so excited by rolling a bunch of dice and hoping for that magic 6. And for those looking for some kind of tactics, I posted a funky Fabius bile list that is based off of the nurgle list I am slowly building.
“The Father and his Sons”
HQ: Counts as Fabius Bile – “The Father” : 160 pts
HQ: Daemon Prince, Wings, Mark of Nurgle, Warptime : 175 pts
Troops: Plague Marines (10), Plasma Gun (2), Rhino, Asp Champ, Power Fist, Plasma Gun : 350 pts
Troops: Chaos Marines (10), Meltagun (2), Mark of Nurgle, Enhanced Marines, Rhino, Asp Champ, Power Fist : 345 pts
Troops: Chaos Marines (10), Meltagun (2), Mark of Nurgle, Enhanced Marines, Rhino, Asp Champ, Power Fist : 345 pts
Heavy: Defiler, close combat weapons : 150 pts
Heavy: Defiler, close combat weapons : 150 pts
Heavy: Obliterators (2) : 150 pts
Elites: Terminators (5), Combi-Meltas (5) : 175 Pts
Pts: 2000 KP: 13 : Scoring: 3
I’ve been having fun with plasma gun plague marines lately, and feel they are one of the few units in the game, that plasma versus melta is a much harder debate then other units. Plus I converted mine up with some cool ones, and I don’t want to break them up heh.
If you have any questions you can email me. I also have a commission site for those interested. Look for more modeling, painting, as well as tactic articles in the coming weeks. I have my Adepticon gladiator list written, I just need to make 2 more squads of dudes to get ready as well as finish a friends army up so he can be ready. Look for a picture of the Forgeworld Bloodthirster too.
