Ben's Chaos Gnomes - Month 5

 

Well my fellow fanatics, another month has passed, and that means it's time to assess the harvest.

First off is a pair of hobgoblin heroes, who I couldn't light to save my life. They might work well as unit champions or accompanying heroes, although I doubt the points they'd cost would be worth it. That said, I counted them as heroes because the math makes my brain light up.

Probably the thing I'm most excited about right now is the Gamers Grass tufts I decorated their bases with. This army's base situation has been kinda plain, so I got some Alien Turquoise and Pink to liven things up. They certainly look otherworldly, and add a bit of pop I'm not sure I'd realized was missing. Being that I'm so happy with the results, I'll likely go back and add some of the tufts to the rest of the army to tie it all together.

Then since it's a rank and file month, I cranked out the penultimate unit of Warriors. Skull masks are all the rage with this band of evil gnomes, but I kinda wish they had big hats too. Even though they didn't hit the spot for me aesthetically, I still think they turned out well. I've decided that I'm going to leave the banner til later, when hopefully I'm more inspired. We've still one month to go and then the grand wrap up, so there's plenty of time to make beautiful things happen.

2 hobgoblin heroes, hand weapons

59 pts each

20 chaos gnomes warriors, full command, double handed weapons, shields, heavy armor

348 pts

+466 pts for May

2763 pts total

Ben’s Chaos Gnomes - Month 4

(Hey Kiddos, April has been an absolute gauntlet. No story time this go around, just brass tacks and pointy hobgoblins. Actually though, have y’all checked out the new Hobgoblin rule set from Mike Hutchinson? It’s great, just trust me.)

Something I learned last month; a hobgoblin bolt thrower only requires 2 crew members, so I began this month with four homeless spearmen. This inspired me to dig into my tacklebox of junk, and pull out all the hobgoblins I didn’t think I’d paint for this project.

Over the course of April, I managed to paint up 20 of the nerds; 10 more spearmen and 10 archers. I like how faux-motley they turned out with their alternating red and yellow outfits. Part of me hopes that with all the red bows and spears that this batch speaks to the red period, but if not I still think it’s fun to have so many primary colors in one place. Much of my miniatures background is in the INQ28 community, so it really is a breath of flesh air to paint with such bright and simple colors.

Anyway, these guys cost points, so why don’t I break them all down for you?

Hobgoblin Archers - 55 pts

Hobgoblin Warriors with boss, musician, and banner bearer - 119 pts

Total - 174 pts

Total Total - 2297 pts

While it’s only 7.5% of the army’s current points total, I’m glad I decided to give these guys a little life. They weren’t in the original army proposal, but they’re here now, and I think we’re better for it. They’re mean, they’re green, and they’ll stab-poke your spleen, (and be great screens for units that actually matter.)

And on that note, back to the paint table. See you in a month!

AdamH’s OWAC VI April Post – The Daemon's Stumpies

Month four, “troop” four. I’m sure you are all very interested in my business trip situation so please allow me to give you my monthly update in that particular area; only one trip this month to Korea but it was only for 36 hours (don’t ask) so I managed to get almost a full month of painting in!

This month I decided to tackle some chorfs, I have had an army of these prepped and ready to throw at an OWAC for a couple of years now but I always seem to change my mind at the last minute, so I was quite looking forward to finally painting some and seeing if I could stomach an entire army of them. Well, I rather enjoyed doing these, and although quite similar to the Chaos team I did a couple of months ago think they turned out quite striking. I think next year might just be the chorfs time to shine!

Until then however, enjoy these pics!

Something that I have noticed in this challenge is just how long figuring out the colours and techniques that go into each model takes. Normally I do a couple of test models at the start of the challenge to narrow down my scheme, the steps I will take and the methods I will use. However, because each month of this year is a different team, with different models, colours and techniques I am finding that I am only really getting into a roll by the middle of the month.

This is why my output this year is significantly less than last year for example, I am finding it a challenge to get 12 models a month done whereas last year I think I was busting out over 20 Skaven a month.

I plan to test this theory for my final month where I will (hopefully) be painting my Skaven team (you must have known that was coming) and it features every sculpt from the 2^nd edition Blood Bowl range, so over 20 models. However, since I am going to duplicating my Skaven army scheme I think I should be able to do it.

Next month however will not be the rats as once again I am going on multiple trips and I think I worked out that I only actually have about 12 available painting days, so instead of a team it will be my “Leader” month, which for Blood Bowl means for me “Big Guys”. So look out for some chunky models next month!

Bill's Greenskins II: The Legend Continues

 

After OWAC IV, I still have a lot of Orcs and Goblins left over awaiting paint. In preparing for OWAC V, I really only had to buy a few more figures to round things out, which I think decided me on the path of continuing the Waaagh for another year. 

This year I'll be placing an emphasis on areas of the army list I either didn't touch on at all last year or just barely included; namely, I'll be doing cavalry and magic-users, adding more archers and war machines to my army, and potentially adding to my Hobgoblin Mercenary contingent. In some ways it's a more ambitious plan than what I went into OWAC IV with; I've got a few wizardly point-bombs to help out but I'm still looking at 17 cavalry figures, 35 infantry and some miscelleous crews and such. I've bounced a few ideas around for a second Baggage Cart but nothing really stuck and I'm not sure I'll have the time for it this year anyways. It might end up being a project for the off-season. 

 

Anyways, on to this year's army, story-wise...

Once the screaming died down, Yorzolg and his orcs emerged from the ruined keep they'd been besieged in for weeks to greet their rescuers. His piggish little close-set red eyes swept over the scene before him: Warboars the size of oxen grazed on the bodies of the slain, occasionally squabbling over a particularly juicy bit; between them wound lean, vicious-looking wolves picking at the remains and leaner, more-vicious looking goblinoids plucking greedily at bits of armor or rifling through pockets.

These weren't the fat, dopey orcs Yorzolg was familiar with and saw reflected when he looked into a polished shield; these were cruel, ugly creatures, hunched and snickering as they made their rounds. And many of them were older, creatures of gristle and scar-tissue that had seen more fights than Yorzolg had hot meals. With them came stunted, almost pygmy-like orcs, dressed in tigerskins and armed with flint-tipped arrows. They barely spoke, even among themselves, but Yorzolg could see the fire of madness in their eyes. 

"Oi. You Yorzolg?" rumbled a query from the depths of a blackened iron helm bedecked in horns and tassels. Its wearer sat astride a four-tusked Warboar as big as a rhinoceros, a bearskin cloak draped across armored shoulders. He was without a doubt the biggest orc Yorzolg had ever seen.

"Y-yeh, dat's me. Who'z askin'?" Yorzolg managed to reply, trying to force himself to sound braver than he was feeling.

"Name'z Gorechunk. Heard you wuz throwin' a Waaagh. Came ta find yez hidin' from da Humies."

The rider leaned down, bringing his face close to Yorzolg's. Rancid breath hissed between cracked and yellow tusks as the rider chuckled cruelly.

"Looks like dis 'ere's my Waaagh now. Yez can follow me, so long as yez don't slow us real fightin' Orcs down."

***

List I'm going with is as follows:

• 1 Level 25 Orc Hero, Heavy Armor and Shield, War Boar (163)
• 1 Level 20 Orc Wizard (240)
• 1 Level 15 Savage Orc Shaman (163)
• 14 Orc Big'uns, Standard and Musician (152)
• 1 Level 15 Orc Hero, Light Armor and Shield (91)
• 2 Units of 10 Savage Arrers (75 apiece; 150 total)
• 10 Snortas, Standard and Musician (324)
• 6 Gobbo Wolfboyz, Shortbows (60)
• 1 Goblin Spear Chukka, 4 Crew (37.5)

For a total of 1380.5 points. Now, if I'm extra productive or get some extra time, I'll add to my Hobgoblin Contingent as follows:

• 1 Level 15 Hobgoblin Shaman (155)
• 1 Hobgoblin Contingent Standard Bearer, Heavy Armor (83)
• 1 Hobhound Handler, Light Armor, 5 Hounds (62)

Which will add an extra 300 points. This might be chancy; the Shaman and Hobhound handler are primed and ready to go, but the Contingent Standard hasn't been converted, based and primed yet. So we'll see what happens with that towards the warmer months. 

And finally, my price of admission: A mid-90s Heartbreaker Orc Champion from the hands of Kev Adams. Instead of my usual Goblin Green basing, I went with a suggestion from my better half; noting that this orc looked like he was dressed very warmly, she asked if I was going to do a snow base. I liked the idea enough to go with it, and I think it worked out well. 

 

Bill's Greenskins: Dese Lads Ova Here & Some Cunnin' Gits (194.5 points)

 "Oi, Zartanesh! Your lot ready to move?"

"Lemme check. You, wit' th' banner - you got somefink good?"

"Sure do, boss, checkit - I drew da Foot o' Gork!"

"That's real good, let's move! I see dem Hobbo boyz on da march and we can't let them beat us to da fight!"

Rank and File Month #2

First up this month is a second gang of idiots, I mean, Orcs, a mirror for last month's regiment though this time the musician decided to bring his sousaphone to war and the standard bearer had a larger banner-pole for me to work with. After some deliberation involving various rude phrases for the banner, I was reminded of the "Foot of Gork" spell that Greenskin shamans get - maybe not in 3rd edition, I'm not sure, but certainly from 4th onwards. For context, this spell causes a giant spectral green foot to drop from the sky on to an enemy unit, stomping on them unceremoniously. 

This, in turn, reminded me of the classic crushing foot animation from Monty Python's Flying Circus. Pulling up an image of that specific foot, I freehanded it on to a banner, colored it in green, put a big gooey blood splatter around it and felt like I had an appropriate banner.

 

I ended up one short on the red face-shields I'd batch-painted last month, so I found another 6th edition plastic shield in my mess and painted a big yellow face that was in the process of vomiting on to it, gluing it to the unit's Hero, Zartanesh, to distinguish him from his fellows. I think these were originally packaged with Skeleton Warriors, as they're slightly larger than the Night Goblin shields I'd put on the rest of the Orcs.

The orcs wrapped up surprisingly quickly this month, and I decided to see what else I could try and squeeze in before the end of February. I ultimately pulled six figures from Knightmare Miniatures, a mix of Hobgoblins and "Black Goblins," their goblin equivalent to Warhammer's Black Orcs. I had started a unit for a Hobgoblin mercenary contingent before the OWAC began, getting the first six figures including command painted. Unfortunately, for whatever reason Hobgoblins aren't a big seller for Knightmare so the number of available sculpts is limited; however, the Black Goblins are tall enough to pass for short Hobbos, and their armor styles are very similar, allowing me to plug some BGs into my Hobgoblin unit to get a few more ranks in before I have to start converting figures.

I know technically Hobgoblins should be on 20mm bases, but these figures have wide stances and fit better on 25mm bases.  

With these six painted, the unit currently stands at 12 strong, perfect for something like Osprey's Dragon Rampant. I ordered a few more BGs the other night to bulk the unit out to 15, but we'll see if those last three get painted during the OWAC or not.

The "Mourngul Renegades" regiment in full (so far).

 11 Orc Boyz, Standard + Musician: 110.5 points

Level 5 Hero, Light Armor + Shield: 36 points

6 Hobgoblins, Light Armor + Shield: 48 points

Point total for February is 194.5, for a total of 341 so far this OWAC.

Tom's Chaos Dwarfs: Month 5 (a whiffling 240 points)

This is a tease picture for one of the extras. Can y'guess what it is?

I think the finger should be straightened, but it's kinda comedy cool so it stays!

...

This month should see me over the 1000 point mark, which is amazing. Technically speaking I could call a mulligan for the last one and be done. But, rest assured, that ain't gonna happen!

(The last month I think will be used to paint odd models, flesh out units slightly, and maybe add a separate unit of something or other. 200 points of extras 😀 )

Last month was greenskin month, and this month sees a similar theme with the rise of the HOBGOBLIN. Who else is gonna keep those unruly , animosity riddled boyz in check.

The hobs think it's their aUtHoRiTy, but the greenskins know that they're plannin' something sneaky so it's best to stick togevva.

Kicking things off is this regiment of hobgoblin warriors. First up - the timestamp.

And onto the paint!

The back row

The standard and musician

The bosses. There's a lot of boss models, but for the points, only one champion - the guy with the horns!  :)

And the group shot:

I kept their hats as blue and white to tie them more in to the army as a whole, but to be honest I think they're so iconic and the red scales would've tied them in anyway. The eyes on these were a pain!

I did an experiment with the shields where I left the blue colour plain and flat. Usually I try and slightly graduate the colour into a darker blue (or, I guess,  lighter blue!). I wanted to see what the unit would look like without the shade. I think it's worth the extra time to put a gradient in the shield, but I'll leave these as is for now and try to do future shields with the fade.

Hat's off to dwarf lord Iain Aitken (darkblade) who was the influence behind the shield 'fade'- from way back in the OWAC2 :)

I also got the colour scheme for the shields, not from the army book but from Tom Evans. 

His current progress on his Chaos Dwarf Big Hats are posted up on his instagram: LINK  

So that's

14 Hobgoblins (including champion, standard and musician) for 97points

Next up is a thrower of bolts. Enter - the Bolt Thrower

I'm very pleased at how this came out. It wasn't the easiest thing to build but to be fair, once I finally put some colour on it, it came together very quickly.

42 points for 1 Hobgoblin Bolt Thrower

Finally, a unit of been looking forward to painting - Hobgoblin Wolf Riders!

I looked forward to them, mostly for the plastic wolf. I've memories of trying to paint them - the wolves - for my orc and goblin collection as an early teenager, and dismally failing. Undoubtedly I painted straight out the pot, slapped it on, and had no patience to let things dry before drybrushing... Unfortunately, all my GW stuff from way back then didn't make it through a house move, but I'd like to think someone else had many happy years with all those models through a charity shop buy!

Soooo, there's a couple of wolf riders I didn't get round to. (They might be completed in the last month, as it would be a shame not to paint the remaining ones!). Here's their timestamp:

And here to kick things off is the standard bearer:

And some boyz...

The champion (so far - he might get relegated next month...)

And the group shots!

(Nuts how the lighting affects the photos!)

I ummed and ahhed over tying the shield in with the banner a bit more by painting some red flames underneath the axe transfer (again taken from a 40k Ork decal sheet). Maybe next month if I paint the remaining wolf riders...

101 points for 5 Hobgoblin Wolf Riders (inc champion and standard)

That pretty much finishes this month.

Except.

For.

This.

Jabberwock!*

Here's another picture under some different lighting conditions..

* stand in cockatrice :)

Here also is his big brother, painted in a frenzy after finishing this guy 👆. 

His base is a square one.

I guess I'd incorrectly based the littler dude on a cavalry base.... Anyhow. Done. Dusted. On to the pictures!

And in full, glorious, Technicolor...

Jazz hands! 

I loved painting these two. They both took a day each - as in a single day, all painted in a frenzy. There've been some amazing colour schemes in the OWAC and undoubtedly it's had some influence on my own painting. I don't think I would have chosen a multicoloured scheme for these jabbers if it were not for them :)

The one unit in particular that has had a lasting impression is Joe's awesome unit of Chaos Beastmen.

Check them out here: LINK

I love everything about them!

(As an aside one of the jabberwocks is still in production and is about £8 from Ral Pathar Europe - the tall guy with the jazz hands: LINK)

Where you find orcs and goblins, inevitably you find a troll or two. With the influence of chaos, here's a nice chaos-tainted troll :) 

(mostly I remember him by an appearance in a white dwarf where there was a tomb. I think it was dwarfs, a wood elf, some undead and this troll was in a tomb which housed something belonging to the dwarfs...or something)

It's very tempting to paint the fur cloth as a tiger skin, but I chickened out...

I think I'll get rid of that scuff of paint on the front of the base. Probably add more grass.

All the monsters together! I'm super chuffed with them, and although they took a long,  furloughed day each to paint, there was probably still too many hours spent on them so burnout is probably looking over my shoulder right about now... 

Hopefully I can have a bit of a rest and crack right back on it!

I also painted up this goblin, so that I can reconfigure the unit to be 4 ranks of 4. 

aaanyway...Next month should hopefully see some rounding out of units and maybe some soopa sneaky extras :)

As a curio, here's that picture again from my OWAC introduction post, showing what my army plan was.

Things changed, other units I had no idea I'd paint were added, things I dreaded I enjoyed, and things I thought I'd love, I've hated. But such is the nature of chaos...

And what it looks like right now - all these have been painted, plus those surprise extra units (not pictured)!

Naturally, I save the completed army shots for the final month.

WHICH IS NEXT MONTH!! 

Holy moley, it's gone quick. 

There are a crazy amount of fantastic looking OWAC armies this year which I'm really looking forward to seeing completed!

Anyway - until then here's the standard breakdown

May:
97...14 Hobgoblin Warriors inc. standard and champion
101...5 Hobgoblin Wolf Riders inc standard and champion
42...1 Hobgoblin Bolt Thrower

Extras
2 x Jabberwock (stand in Cockatrice)

1 x Troll

1 x Goblin

A total this month of 240points!


April: link
Goblins
Orcs
Earthshaker Cannon

March: link
Warriors
Lamassu
Bull Centaurs

February: link
Bull Centaurs
Bull Taurus

January: link
General
Death Rocket

Intro: link

Stay safe everyone, and keep on keeping on!