More commandments - RT era Command Figures

Following on from the command squad posted last week this week I took delivery of several command figures to act as leaders and centres to my force.

again possibly not all RT but all certainly pre-2nd edition from what i can tell

 there might only be three of them but they will certainly pack a punch when it comes to finally getting a colour on them!

always liked chaplains and this one is the best of the bunch when it comes to the older models and has extra detail that others lacked.

Picked the Lt up as i think he fits with the RTB plastics well and i like the pose. The extra detail inc the specialised markings make it a perfect mini for a commander

my librarian again is picked as the best of the bunch and when and if i get an assault squad i think the jump pack will work really well.

Now i have finally picked a scheme for them, and yes i know some of you will think boring, but i really fancy the Crimson Fists scheme, they are the oldest chapter in the magazines (but obviously not in the fluff) and the poster boys of RT and i like them. There will be some extra stuff in there as well so don't just think it will all be red and blue there will be something to keep things interesting.

Sneak peek new Dark Angels pictures

So it's official. New Dark Angels are coming your way from GW in January 2013! There's a new land speeder type, a new flyer, a new model for Belial, some new Deathwing and Ravenwing too! How awesome does this lot look? - Photos courtesy of http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/495606.page

 

Firedrake - Book Review

Firedrake by Nick Kyme
When Chaplain Elysius of the Salamanders is taken captive by Dark Eldar, he faces a fight for survival at the hands of these cruel aliens. The Firedrakes of 1st Company attempt a daring rescue mission, but much more is at stake than the Chaplain’s life. He holds the key to secrets buried beneath Mount Deathfire, secrets that could reveal the damnation – or salvation – of their home world. The Salamanders must penetrate the Port of Anguish and defeat the xenos threat there if they are to unveil the mysteries within the Tome of Fire. Meanwhile, Dak’ir battles to survive the brutal Librarian training, and in his visions liesan even darker future…

CAUTION CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


The latest novel by Nick Kyme, Firedrake, is Book 2 in the Tome Of Fire Trilogy. The Tome Of Fire Trilogy focuses on the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter as the secrets of the chapter could reveal the damnation, or salvation, of their home world, Nocturne. It also examines the fall of their heroes and how marines can be turned. The novels main characters and protagonists are the same as the previous book in the trilogy, and will no doubt be the same as the next novel. It’s nice to see that in this novel some of the more peripheral characters, such as Chaplain Elysius and Librarian Pyriel have more significant roles. New portions of the background and makeup of the chapter are revealed in the form of characters such as Forgefather Vulkan He'stan and his quest for the nine – no we’re not talking BSG style here!


The novel is extremely well written and the novel helps continue some excellent character development that really brings the Salamanders Chapter and their aggressors, both internal and xenos, to life. The plot of the novel, with its two intertwining stories, is also fantastic with some storylines from the first novel in The Tome Of Fire Trilogy concluding, others continue to be developed and new storylines are introduced. The problem is the intertwining story lines are often confusing and take some getting in too, their just seems too much meandering to make sense some times.

Overall, this is a solid but slightly slow novel that progresses the Tome Of Fire Trilogy well and helps develop the chapter, the Dark Eldar and looks at other aspects of other chapters and facets of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I found that it was a good read to get more information but overall not as good as the first novel in the series, I guess it succumbs to the second book curse, but I can imagine the third book will end this well and pick up the pace.

Overall a good read but just down to its mixed up nature I am afraid it’s only a 3 star rating from me. Sorry Nick.

Available from:

http://www.blacklibrary.com/
Firedrake by Nick Kyme
Paperback • ISBN 9781849700047

Grey Knights Heroes - Conversion Corner

Its finally here folks, the second update from the weekend. My apologies on the lateness but really life and work caught up with posting and things haven't been completed on time.

This second post concentrates on two simple but good looking conversions of Grey Knights, both conversions are based on the same character from the Grey Knights novel by Ben counter. As a novel the book is the best insight in to the Grey Knights and gives some tantalising hints as to the character a build of the Grey Knights Chapter. To me the most entertaining and interesting hints were those relating to a retired/too old to fight Apothecary and quite Cooley to a Chaplain. both were interesting in the extreme and the idea of a force of Grey Knights led by a Chaplain was too cool for words and I decided that for now was the way forward and an apothecary may follow later.

Chaplain Durendin in Terminator Armour

"The Chaplain wore his enormous suit of Terminator Armour as he always did when he was seeing to the chapter's spiritual health. One arm was painted a glossy black to signify his office as chaplain and the rest was the traditional gunmetal grey. Durendin wore the same pair of ornate lightning claws that had been passed down since the chapter's earliest days."

Page 38, Grey Knights by Ben counter

As you can see an extremely simple conversion that looks quite impressive. The Older metal lightning claws were chosen over the newer plastic claws as I felt they were slightly more ornate and convey the age of the relics the Chaplain is supposed to be armed with.

Chaplain Durendin Power Armour

"Genhain walked behind chaplain Durendin In full black power armour, the face a skull of gun metal grey, Durendin had waled these tunnels many times before."

Page 222, Grey Knights by Ben counter

Simple work again and the use of a similar helmet and the older style lightning claws work well to tie the model to its Terminator armed version.

That's all for now folks, comments and feedback much appreciated and update 3 will becoming soon.