Blog Update - A quiet month!

Hi folks
apologies for the quiet blog the past month, work and real life have prevented any hobby action apart from a game of airsoft a month ago. Hopefully there will be more coming over the coming weeks.

So please bear with me as I work through a very difficult patch on the road of life and once the blog returns to full strength it will be a glorious start. Stay with us and get prepared for a new modelling and painting competition coming to the blog soon.

Also if you would like to guest post, have a suggestion for a post or just want to air a view feel free to drop me a line or comment and we shall see if we can work it in to the plans.

Thanks,
Millest

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - March Commitment

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - Febuary Commitment

So after last months success I intended to keep up the pace this month and expand the armour and airsoft gear, this however failed. Life got busy with odds and sods and working away for two weeks. Whilst I got two amazing weekends of airsoft in, i can highly recommend the UCAP sandpit site, so unfortunately no progress this month. This means though that March can be a busy month.

Workbench commitment for March 2013
So once again this month we have the tanks! I have a total of 4 Russes to build and magnatise. These are all Alpha pattern Forgeworld russes with the appropriate turrets, although I have 5 turrets as I plan to convert one for my commissar. In addition I have plastic Turrets as extras for them all to allow for some fun and games.
So this months commitment consists of the following:

• Build 4 x Leman Russ
• Build Additional Exterminator turrets
• Build Additional Russ turrets
• paint and reassemble mich

Overall i think a manageable goal so please do keep an eye on the blog for progress over the coming weeks.
Thanks

Death From The Skies Arrives! A quick Review

Well it has arrived, my copy of Death from the Skies arrived this morning, after the postie forced it through the door (note to postie - if the package is bigger then the letter box its not meant to go through it) and already I've read it.

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First up a quick disclaimer as i havent had a 6th ed game yet or used fliers I wont comment on rules but will be happy to answer any questions or specifics you might ask

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Initial thoughts are - WTF did I pay for? this book is roughly the size of a new White Dwarf if not slightly smaller, the only thing that actually stops it being identical is the cover seems slightly thicker! personally I feel the most ripped off i have ever being by GW, the product seems small, pathetic and certainly not worth the money. OK i appreciate this is just a stop gap measure but til the codex comes out for the appropriate army this is a true money spinner from GW - if FW hadn't saved the day earlier with some amazing customer service this moan would have being much worse

Ok so on to the actual pages, they are well laid out as we have come to expect from GW with some very nice artwork too. Most of the models we see aren't new and are just from the studio armies but then again looking at fliers is fun even if you have seen them before.

Rules wise nothing new really from reading my current codex and rulebook, there some amendments of course but if you have any specific questions please ask, will be quicker and more fulfilling to answer them for you below :) I think from what i can see the aces are a nice idea and one i will be looking in to in great detail, again apologies but not knowing much about 6th ed and fliers i would rather answer your questions.

The campaign idea, like with crusade of fire, is mediocre, however it does give some good ideas (and a few tactics) and makes a change to see some white space marines as opposed to blue. Some thought has gone in to the two new missions you get and comparing them to previous games they look entertaining, i was just hoping for a few more i guess.

One thing i do like though is the burning skies "stand alone" game idea. that and the special manouvres really are the stand out rules for me in the book and something i will be looking at getting some 6th ed games under my belt for.

There are some nice showcase models and as mentioned while they are the studio models they are good. The one thing i personally think is missing from a modelling side is the conversions or scratchbuilds you see in some of the other codex model sections.

In summary, this is an OK stop gap measure, however it is definitely over priced and is far from codex standard. For the information it brings though it is very useful - good to have all the updated rules in to one place - just wish there was more to the book. Would I recommend it? to a single solo purchaser no, if however there are 3-4+ of you that game together regularly then yes, all chip in and buy one copy that way you will all have the rules and it wont cost the earth that way.
For me the book, mainly due to its small size and high cost only rates a 2 and 1/2 stars.

So once again as i havent played 6th ed if there are any specific questions or queries about the book please ask and i will do my best to answer them for you.

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An update from Forgeworld via their forgeworld facebook page, they have advised we consider this an official FAQ:

The rules don't overlap onto Imperial Armour Aeronautica. Any of our flyers that list Deep Strike among their special rules can still Deep Strike.
Stormravens cannot carry Contemptors.
Storm Eagles aren't available to Blood Angels. There's a price for refusing to reveal STC data.

an interesting update and a shame about stormravens but even more so about the storm eagles, i know a number of people fancying these but it certainly does cut the number of buyers down :(

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The back cover is just a load of pictures of the flyers for sale.

Page 5 - 20: "The Battle of Cadrim" - This looks like a slightly extended version of the section in White Dwarf when the storm talon came out. It includes the same pictures of the White Scars armies etc.

Page 23 - 29: Air War Missions.

Mission 1: Deadly Bridgehead: Space Marines with Necron[i] allies, against Orks.
Mission 2: Scramble; Space Marines V Orks
Mission 3: Aerial Assault: Necrons V orks with Space Marine allies
Mission 4: Death from the Skies: Necrons V Marines

Page 32 - 40: Burning Skies - Looks like a reprint of the Crusade of Fire rules

Page 40 - 55: Gallery pictures

Now we're coming to the important bit

Page 56: StormRaven Beastiary: It includes the FAQ updates. EG, a Dreadnaught taking s10 hits if the flyer explodes and is zooming. The important note is [i]Blood Angels and Grey Knights armies use the rules printed here though their storm ravens have additional wargear options and rules - see the army list for details. Also, new piece of artwork. An ultrasmurf storm raven.

Page 57: Storm Talon: Still 2 HP. It now has the Strafing Run rules. Type (Flyer, Hover). Escort craft rules looks to be clarified to avoid anything BS-ey. Can't escort anything using Outflank / Deepstriking. Plus other stuff. NO supersonic rules

Page 58: Valkyrie/Vendetta: Exactly the same as the IG codex, but with HP's added in - Same as rulebook. Also the Grav Chute Insertion rules have been updated with the FAQ rules

Page 59: VoidRaven/Razorwing: I'm assuming these are the same? Razorwing Armour 10, VoidRaven Armour 11. Night Vision/Supersonic rules

Page 60: DoomScythe: Looks the same as before
Page 61: NightScythe: Broadly the same as before. They clarify the embarked unit doesn't take damage when destroyed. Also they enter through normal reserves? No mention of rembarking on a night scythe... However. "If a night scythe has moved more than 24", the disembarking unit may only fire snap shots."

Page 62: Dakkajet: No Hover. However, Strafing run, supersonic. Fighta Ace upgrade has been renamed to 'flyboss' - it basically gives him Strafing Run against things you don't get strafing run against.... Aside from that, same as before.

Page 63: Burna Bomber, Blitza Bomber: Seems the same as before, with obvious changes. No hover. Supersonic, waaagh plane! Edit: Yep, points costs and upgrades are identical to White Dwarf.

Page 64: Wargear. A burna bomb is a bomb... Death Ray looks like it has rules changes... It hurts friendly models too. It can't hurt zooming flyers or flying monstrous creatures.

Page 65: Wargear. Everything looks the same.

Page 66: StormStrike Missiles: I dunno what to say, they actually seem to kick rear end... S8, AP2, concussive...

Page 68: Army List:
Storm Raven: Heavy Support: Yup, marines and templars get storm raven. Nothing for space puppies. Grey Knights and Blood Angels don't get stormstrike missiles. The rest looks broadly similar
Storm Talon: Marines/Black Templars only (typical). Fast Attack. A lot cheaper in points. The most expensive version is 10 points cheaper than before.

Page 69: Army List:
Valkyrie And Vendetta: Identical to earlier rules

Page 70:
Razorwing, Voidraven, Doom Scythe, Night Scythe:
I think these are identical to their normal rules

Page 71: The Ork Flyers: In all honesty, they seem the same as the white dwarf. I think someone with more of an ork brain will need to pick out the diffferences.

Page 72: Summary Page.

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an update and response to peoples queries are in the comments below, if you have any more queries or specifics you would like to know let me know and i will hopefully get them answered for you asap.

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UPDATE:
Once again Darog at Darog's Company has published these great photos of Death From the Skies.

SPACE MARINES

DARK ELDAR

NECRONS

ORKS

IMPERIAL GUARD

REFERENCE

PILOT SKILLS

These are like Warlord Traits and you pay for them.

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - Febuary Commitment

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - Febuary Commitment

So after last months success I intend to keep up the pace this month and expand the armour and airsoft gear.

Workbench commitment for January 2013
So once again this month we have the tanks! I have a total of 4 Russes to build and magnatise. These are all Alpha pattern Forgeworld russes with the appropriate turrets, although I have 5 turrets as I plan to convert one for my commissar. In addition I have plastic Turrets as extras for them all to allow for some fun and games.
So this months commitment consists of the following:

• Build 4 x Leman Russ
• Build Additional Exterminator turrets
• Build Additional Russ turrets
• paint and reassemble mich

Overall i think a manageable goal so please do keep an eye on the blog for progress over the coming weeks.
Thanks

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - January Update

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - January Update

First update of a new year commitment and I think Ive managed it, was a struggle with work and travel but i think I've done well.

Workbench update
So this months commitment consisted of the following:

• Build chimera - completed
• Build Manticore - completed
• Build 3 x hellhound - completed
• paint and reassemble fast ops helmet - completed
• paint and reassemble mich  - partially completed

As you can see a pretty successful month with pretty much everything I set out to complete getting done, the tanks went together perfectly and the magnetisation was easy, as you can see below:

All the chimeras in the lower picture have not only their multilaser turrets but forgeworld autocannon turrets and out of shot a flamer turret each as well - for any eventuality. All the tanks have magnets in the front to allow for changing out the hull mounts should I need to. There is some small detailing i want to finish (when the bits arrive) such as track guards but all are ready for spraying once the Russes are complete.

The helmet after a brief sand down and buff didn't need painting and the finished article looks great, more on this in a future post, the only downside was that the Mich2000 didn't get completed. It got an initial coat of paint but then the weather turned and I couldn't spray, hopefully this weekend that might be rectified.
So overall quite pleased but really need to get it stepped up a gear for 2013.
Thanks

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - December Update and January Commitment - 08.01.13

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - December Update and Janurary Commitment

First update of the new year and first up, hope you all had a good Christmas or other holiday and that the new year was a pleasant start to 2013 for you all. So folks this months update and commitment will be a nice short one so enjoy and feel free to share your own hobby commitments. So time for the first realistic goal (I hope) of 2013.

Workbench update
So December was an odd month again hobbywise, got done mostly everything I wanted but the weather precluded spraying my helmets and being in the new house I didn't think stinking the place out with krylon was a good idea, so here is the brief round up:

• Tome of Fire - read
• The  Siege of Castellax - read
• Build 2 x chimera completed
• remove trades from 2 x rifle - turns out i had official G36 real steel trades on my Kv but only airsoft H&K style trades (very close to real thing) on my Cv
• assemble and complete fast ops helmet - the helmet was stripped and all parts test fitted but couldn't spray due to the weather.
• strip and start updating mich - the helmet was stripped and all parts test fitted but the rails didnt fit, now for sale and ordering msa rails, also couldn't spray due to the weather.
• sell no longer used airsoft kit - all done (apart from 2 warrior pouches in MC)

As you can see a pretty successful month with pretty much everything I set out to complete getting done, overall quite pleased but really need to get it stepped up a gear for 2013.

Workbench commitment for January 2013
So once again this month we have the tanks! I have a third chimera to build, once completed I shall be looking to complete my manticore and start on some hellhounds. Once built I will see about getting some pics on the blog.
Again more reading but I wont be adding this to the official commitments list as i will be doing way too much reading as normal so would fill the list.
Finally I intend (weather and shed space dependant) getting the two helmets prepped and painted prior to going to the sandpit on the 20th of the month.
Whilst I appreciate this doesn't seem like a huge goal for the month I unfortunately will be on jury service to two weeks of the month (maybe even longer but hopefully not) and if the jury service ends on time I will be away training people for at least a week, followed by a trip to nottingham at the start of feb (though only for work worse luck), with that in mind I think my plans are manageable and goes a good way to getting things moving.

So this months commitment consists of the following:

• Build chimera
• Build Manticore
• Build 3 x hellhound (potentially)
• paint and reassemble fast ops helmet
• paint and reassemble mich

Overall i think a manageable goal so please do keep an eye on the blog for progress over the coming weeks.
Thanks

Millest’s Monthly Workbench - 28.11.12

Millest’s Monthly Workbench

 

So folks after debating it on a few of the news groups, forums and facebook pages, as well as with some advice from some of you guys on the blog I have decided to drop the workbench commitments from fortnightly to monthly. It has been suggested by others using this format to get things done that fortnightly doesnt give time to get things dont and your more likely to become overwhelmed (and i agree) so I have decided to set more realistic targets for myself of monthly goals. So time for the first realistic goal (I hope).

Workbench update
Once again the previous two weeks for me were very busy with not only Dan's (the blogs resident ultramarine player) wedding but with general work. Happily all the reading slated for completion, Flesh of Cretacia, Old soliders never die and the Black Library Weekender Volumes 1 and 2, was finished as expected. In addition I have made a start on Tome of Fire  this week and am looking forward to completing it.
Unfortunately however the physical hobby side of things didnt pan out the way I wanted with only the additional turrets getting built. The main bodies of the tanks are still on sprues so this will roll over to this commitment.

Workbench commitment for December 2012
So once again this fortnight we have the chimera, once their completed I shall see about getting some pics on the blog.
Again more reading in the form of Tome of Fire and The Seige of Castellax on the horizon, not only that but i have just ordered the new campaign book and hopefully that should be here soon.

This month also sees some Airsoft action taking place. Not only will i be removing the airsoft trades from my toys, so expect some new pictures of my rifles for the airsoft armoury, but I also intend to Start work on my new helmet and bringing my old mich up to date with a new paint scheme and the latest accessories. I wont post pictures of them here but i will be posting some pre and post pictures over the week, This work is unfortunately dependant on parts coming from overseas for the Mich (and to a lesser degree on the fast helmet) but all being well we should have some progress soon. This does also mean i need to sort out my remaining kit and the parts from  my helmets etc i wont use and sell them (so if anyone needs anything let me know and i can let you have a list) to help cover the costs of other parts i need.

So this months commitment consists of the following:

• Tome of Fire
• Ther Siege of Castellax
• Build 2 x chimera
• remove trades from 2 x rifle
• assemble and complete fast ops helmet
• strip and start updating mich
• sell no longer used airsoft kit

Overall i think a manageble goal and one that should work well now we are on a monthly system. It also gives me a simpler way to check what i need to do. Next work bench update will be at the end of December but keep an eye on the blog for progress over the coming weeks.
Thanks

Wednesdays Workbench - 14.11.12

Hi Folks,
welcome to the second Wednesdays Workbench, so without further ado lets see what was achieved and whats planned for the coming two weeks:

Millest’s Workbench

The previous two weeks for me were very busy with various weddings however amazingly I managed to achieve all the reading I had promised I would. Completing both "Armored" and "Brotherhood of the Storm" in the first week, "Pariah" just flew from the pages and was completed over two days. In addition Both "The Stomark Massacre" and "With Baited Breath" were listened too, effectively taking me up to 5 "books" in little over a week. I think over the course of the week my hobby commitment fitted in perfectly.
OK so the other "possible" commitment to build tanks didn't get done but in its place I did complete my army painting tracker, a massive spreadsheet that lists all the units i have/want and what stage of progress they are in. This had to be redone after the original was lost, its given me chance to reevaluate what I have and want as well as update it with the newer units, like my cyclops tanks. All in all i personally think ago start for the first work bench, so on to my commitments for this next fortnight.

Workbench commitment
Again this fortnight more reading on the horizon, a task complicated by the wedding of the blogs very own Dan, I have a large number of books, or should I say novellas, to read as below

 

 

 

As you can see a nice little haul, and one I am thankful to eBay for as I couldn't make it to the weekender. Looking forward to cracking on, particularly with the Ciaphas Cain book.

In addition this time I am making the commitment to build and detail both my remaining Chimeras along with spare turrets for them and my existing Chimera, a total of 6 extra turrets. I will also be organising/tidying my hobby cupboard so getting motivated might be easier as at the moment its just a daunting wall of GW boxes! Again though anyone with any Chimera Track guards please let me know as I'm still looking.
Thanks

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Well that’s it for the first Wednesdays Workbench, check back on 28/11/12 for a round up on what was achieved, hopefully with pics, and plans for the next two weeks.

Wednesdays Workbench - 31.10.12

Welcome to the newest article on the blog. This article is a two weekly update of the things I and my compatriots (if I can convince them to sign up) plan on achieving hobby wise over the coming two weeks. This isn’t a commitment and something that we will be held accountable too it’s more a way of documenting our plans and acting as motivation towards. The Workbench covers everything from painting and modelling to reading and building lists, if its hobby related and something noteworthy it makes it to the work bench.

So now on to my inaugural Wednesdays Workbench Roundup:

Millest’s Workbench

The next two weeks for me are very busy with various weddings, work and other duties but I intend to crack on with many projects. First up I intend to crack on with “Brotherhood of the Storm” this arrived yesterday and as you can see looks awesome:

 

I did worry on opening that there might be no text inside after seeing this:

 

But suffice to say 4 chapters in the book is interesting as hell and is making me like the White Scars, a chapter/legion I haven’t really ever paid much attention too. More to follow on completion.

This week also saw the arrival of Pariah and a break from 40k for me in the form of Armored (there’s a U in there but for some reason these jokers haven’t included it) a compilation of Power Armour stories not set in the 40k universe, I intend to crack on with these but can’t guarantee finishing them.

In terms of physical hobbying I plan on getting two chimeras started this next week, I may also get some of my other chimera based tanks assembled, however still looking for track guards so any help would be appreciated.

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Well that’s it for the first Wednesdays Workbench, check back on 14/11/12 for a round up on what was achieved, hopefully with pics, and plans for the next two weeks.

An Olympian update

Hi folks
Just a quick update to let you know there hasn't been much action of late as I have been spending a lot of time at work and here:

In addition for the next few weeks I will be spending an awful lot of time either travelling to or at these venues:

I hope to have plenty of pictures and some of famous people too!
Rest assure though that despite this I am still bumbling along on projects and the Black Crusade Charity models will be completed once they arrive.

So hope you all enjoy the Olympics, whichever country you are following, and see you all after!
Millest