Tyrannofex Complete

From Tyranids

Real life has been right in the way of me finishing this beasty, I apologise for the wait my friends.
It has been a blast to model and paint and I will have another Tyranid monstrosity for you soon.

From Tyranids

But in the meantime I have a small Space Marine commission to be getting on with, it's some Forgeworld Marines which are going to be Sternguard and a Whirlwind Hyperios.

From Space Marines

Stay tuned for more on this as the week goes on!

Smackdown Sunday #2

This week it is once again the grudge match between Neils Night Angels and my Space Wolves but this time we had time for 1500 pts, it's been a while since we fielded a game this big!

MISSION = Space Marines - Vangard (Battle Missions Book)
OPPONENT = Neil (Night Angels - Dark Angels)
ME = Space Wolves
POINTS = 1500

This battle was an excuse for me to try a full Drop Pod force for the first time, after the last game against Dagmire I was searching for a way to deliver the Wolves straight in at the enemy's throat!
Now I don't own 6 Drop Pods so I made some paper templates of the "petals" so we could judge the landing positions, it wasn't pretty but it worked well as a test!.

Onto the game:

ARMYLISTS
NIGHT ANGELS
Belial
Terminator + Dual Lightning Claws

Interrogator Chaplain
Terminator + Stormbolter + Crozius + Rosarius

Deathwing Terminators
1x Heavy Flamer + Chainfist
1x Apothicary + Dual Lightning Claws
1x Deathwing Banner + Dual Lightning Claws
2x Dual Lightning Claws

Deathwing Terminators
1x Power Weapon + Stormbolter
1x Powerfist + Stormbolter
1x Powerfist + Assault Cannon
2x Thunder Hammer + Stormshield

Deathwing Terminators
2x Thunder Hammer + Stormshield
2x Powerfist + Stormbolter
1x Powerfist + Assault Cannon

Venerable Dreadnought
Plasma Cannon
Dreadnought Close Combat Arm + Storm Bolter

Devastators
1x Bolter
4x Heavy Bolters

Devastators

1x Bolter

4x Heavy Bolters

SPACE WOLVES

Logan Grimnar

Longfangs

1x Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

2x Multi-meltas

3x Missile Launcher

Drop Pod

Wolfguard Terminators

1x Chainfist + Stormbolter

1x Stormshield + Power Weapon

1x Cyclone + Stormbolter = Power Weapon

2x Frostblade + Stormbolter

Drop Pod

Wolfguard 

1x Powerfist + Bolt Pistol

1x Mark of The wulfen

2x Combi-meltas

6x Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

Drop Pod

Wolfguard 

1x Powerfist + Bolt Pistol

1x Mark of The wulfen

2x Combi-meltas

6x Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

Drop Pod

Grey Hunters

6x Bolter + Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

Drop Pod

Grey Hunters

6x Bolter + Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

Drop Pod

DEPLOYMENT

I was the "Space marine" in this mission so I was the attacker and could place 1 objective after the Night Angel deployment.

Neil set up the Devastators one on the right hand hill and one in the left hand crater, the dreadnought was positioned in his back field and  Belial, Interrogator and chums just off to my left, the second Deathwing squad smack in the center of the board and the final squad in a line at the foot of the hill.

The objectives were in the center and right at the back, so I placed mine off to the right away from Belial and his fellows to buy me time.

The whole of my force was in reserve in their Drop Pods.

TURN 1

SW - I had first turn and brought in Logan and the Longfangs on my left flank to distract Belial for a few turns (I hoped!) the Wolfguard Terminators dropped into the center to contest the middle objective and the first 10 man Wolfguard squad dropped in between the right hand Deathwing squad and the Devastators on the hill.
Logan bestows Relentless onto the Longfangs so they can move and fire the heavy weapons, only one of the Multi-meltas kills a Terminator (I should have brought 5 doh!) my other two squads inflict 0 casualties on the Night Angel Terminators........a very, very bad start indeed!.

NA - Belial and mates move up and charge Logan and the Fangs, both Belial and the Chaplain are in base contact with Logan who gives his war shout ( helping the Wolfguard Terminators as well) Logan manages to wound the Chaplain twice and Belial once but Logan is killed and the Longfangs are wiped out!
The two Deathwing squads charge the Wolfguard Terminators 10 Vs 5! we both lose 4 Terminators but that means I am wiped out as well! ( oh dear that was a bit poop!)
The Devastators chew the 10 man Wolfguard up leaving a few alive as well.

TURN 2
SW - I receive the second Wolfguard 10 man squad and one of the Grey hunter squads as well, the Wolfguard drop in the center to help the first squad whilst the Grey Hunters drop on the right hand objective.
Once again my shooting is pap, though the last Deathwing Terminator from the central carnage is blown apart by Stormbolter fire from the Drop Pods.( I couldn't help but laugh at this)
The reduced Wolfguard assault the Devastators on the hill wiping them out and consolidating 6" back down the hill again.

NA - Belial and mates run around behind the central ruin to get back in the fight and the remaining Deathwing squad advance on my freshly dropped Grey Hunters over on the Right.
The Dreadnought's Plasma Cannon melts 4 from my newly arrived Wolfguard and the Deathwing charge the Grey Hunters wiping them out and consolidate 6" to trap my Wolfguard between them and the sprinting Belial.

TURN 3
SW - I don't receive the last squad Of Grey Hunters, I charge the Deathwing in the middle with the remnants of my Wolfguard killing all but 1 Assault Cannon Terminator, which means I am safe from shooting due to being locked.

NA - Belial keeps running behind the ruin drawing ever closer to the swirling melee in the middle, the Dreadnought hopes his Plasma Cannon will scatter off the Drop Pod into the Combat but it doesn't instead it blows the Stormbolter off (haha that will teach you to pull a "dick move") the lone Deathwing Terminator is ripped to bits by a frenzied Wulfen marine, one squad of Wolfguard head toward Belial to hold them off whilst the smaller squad back away to claim the right hand objective with their consolidation moves.

TURN 4
SW - The last Drop Pod and my remaining troop choice slams into the building just in front of the central objective meaning that I now hold 2 to Neils none! (it was a slim hope of victory at this point!)
The Wolfguard charge Belial and are slain ( I forgot he was Initiative 5! oops!)

NA - Faced with me controlling 2 objective Belial orders the Deathwing to head for the central objective whilst the Chaplain and himself head to the right to clear the other.
Enfilading fire from the Devastators on the right who have been without a target most of the game kill a few Grey Hunters and the Deathwing Run to contest the center objective, whilst Belial runs to contest the right hand one.

TURN 5
SW -I desperately charge the Grey Hunters into the Deathwing but they are slain, leaving Neil in control of the middle objective.

NA - Belial assaults the last remaining Space Wolves butchering them and contesting the right hand objective.

The game had to end there due to lack of time ( I didn't mind I wasn't gonna win with 5 Drop Pods either lol) with the Night Angels finally breaking a losing streak and mine becoming longer!

CONCLUSION
Neil - I wouldn't have changed much, maybe tried to hold 2 objectives rather than going for the same one Dave was gunning for, a few tactical errors were made such as putting Belial off to one side.
Other than that a great game and I sure had to think fast when surrounded with Drop Pods.


Munky - I should have picked all 5 Longfangs as Multi-meltas and dropped them in support of the other two squads on the right, hopefully clearing the middle to receive Belial's men later in the game.
Dropping them so close made it easier for Neil to remove them before they helped.
Another good point Neil raised was that my Drop Pods count as another 6 victory points in one of the missions!
I have walked away from this still a little lost as how best to deploy my marines, I may try a mixture of Pods and Rhinos next time, mixing the rapididity of Drop Pods with the mobility of Rhinos!

Smackdown Sunday #1

Well here it is the inaugural Smackdown post, I hope you enjoy the battle report and the picture I found, personally I almost wet myself laughing when I found this!


MISSION = Capture & Control
OPPONENT = Dagmire (Imperial Guard)
ME = Space Wolves
POINTS = 1250

This battle is between Dagmire's Imperial Guardsmen  and my Space Wolves(who are on a bit of a losing streak!).
I always enjoy playing Dagmire he has two fantastic painted armies namely Sisters of Battle and the aforementioned IG, I will be doing a Featured Friend post on this guy soon to show you the miniatures they are really mint.
Anyways onto the game:

SPACE WOLVES
Wolfguard Battle Leader
Terminator + Frostblade + Combi-melta

Wolfguard
Arjac Rockfist
Terminator + Powerfist + Stormbolter
Terminator + Cyclone + Power Weapon + Stormbolter
Terminator + Power Weapon + Stormbolter
Drop pod

Grey Hunters (x3 squads)
Flamer
Meltagun
Wolf Standard
7x Grey Hunters

Longfangs
Leader
3x Lascannon
2x Missile Launcher

IMPERIAL GUARD
Command squad
Commander
2x Meltaguns
2x Guardsmen
Astropath
Officer of the fleet
Chimera + 2x heavy Bolters

Sly Marbo

Veteran squad A
Gunnery Sgt Harker
2x Meltaguns
1x Grenade launcher
Shotgun Guardsmen
Demolitions

Veteran squad B
Sgt with shotgun
2x Meltaguns
1x Heavy flamer
Lasgun Guardsmen
Chimera +Multilaser + Heavy Flamer

Veteran squad C
Sgt
3x Grenade launcher
Auto cannon
Vox Caster
Lasgun Guardsmen

Veteran squad D
Sgt
3x Sniper Rifles
Missile Launcher
Lasgun Guardsmen

Ratlings
3x Ratlings

Executioner
Leman Russ Executioner + Lascannon + 2x Plasma Cannon sponsons

Vendetta
Valkyrie Vendetta

DEPLOYMENT
Dagmire started with two Guardsmen squads set up in the ruins on the right, the Snipers upstairs and the grenadiers on the ground, Ratlings were in the small ruin on the left with a Chimera and Guardsmen squad behind , Company Command  Chimera and Executioner tank hidden behind the ruin and the final Chimera tucked round the right hand side. Sargeant Harker and his special weapons squad infiltrate into the small building in the center off to the right hand side. Dagmire's objective is placed by the 2 Guardsman squads in the ruin .

I deployed the Long fangs on the top of the building on the left with a Grey Hunter squad in front and to the side and the third squad were forced to deploy off to the right side and would face a slog through the back field.
The Wolfguard Termnators and Wolfguard Battle leader would arrive on turn 1 via droppod.
My objective is placed in front of the Longfangs.

TURN 1
SW - I won first turn and promtly dropped the Wolfguard right in Dagmire's back field, unfortunately the Pod scattered and as the Terminators deployed Arjac Rockfist's mighty Thunderhammer was just out of range of the nearest Chimera though the Cyclone missile launcher did wreck it, the Battle leader who had separated from the squad fired his Combi-melta into the nearby Chimera Immobilising it.
The Longfangs must have been combing their beards because they hit nothing in the shooting phase, and the 3 grey Hunter squads advanced running to cover as much ground as possible.

IG - Harker and his men advance through the building and target the central Grey Hunters the fire from them Melta-ing a few, they then charge the Spacewolves who unceremoniously wipe them out in seconds!
The Guardsmen clamber from their immobilised tank and combine their fire with Plasma Cannon and Plasmagun shots from the Executioner into the Terminators only managing to drop 2 crucially Arjac is still alive!
The two Guardsmen squads in the central ruins by Dagmires objective open fire with Snipers and Krak grenades at the Longfangs killing 2. Both Spacewolf squads hold their nerve.

TURN 2
SW - The Longfangs have to move to restore squad coherency (note to self don't deploy in a thin line a spread out squad is better), the Battle Leader charges the disembarked Guardsmen slaying 4 but they hold and the combat is drawn.
Arjac finds his range and the Teleporting Thunderhammer smashes the Executioner turret to ruin, and in the ensuing charge he smashes the sponson off and leaves the crew stunned and shaken.
All three Grey Hunter squads advance and the central squad clear bits of Guardsmen from their Chainblades and run towards the next lot on Dagmires objective.

IG - The Guardsmen receive some reinforcements in the shape of a Vendetta which screams onto my left behind the Ratlings, The Ratlings and both squads guarding the objective AND the Vendetta unleash hell at the two beleaguered Grey Hunter squads in the center whittling them down to just 2 and 3 marines left and crucially pinning one squad..
The combat with the Battle Leader sees him slay just one man and the enemy hold again keeping him bogged down.

TURN 3
SW - The Longfangs who are now in position with combed beards promtly miss every shot at the Vendetta! (good job boys!), Battle Leader slay another Guardsman to no effect, the remaining Greyhunters and Arjac and his mate charge the Guardsmen on the lower floor around the objective slaying them all with no casualties.
The third Grey Hunter squad has now arrived in the center after a 3 turn jog to get there!

IG - Sly Marbo arrives just behind Arjac!, the Command squad move down the hill behind the Wolfguard Terminators with the right hand Chimera and the Vendetta moving into the center field as well.
Marbo throws his Demo charge at Arjac and the Command squad Meltaguns fire as well killing the Power weapon Terminator, but Arjac's blessed plate saves him, and once again every weapon in the Guard arsenal is thrown (oops sorry for the bad pun!) at the Grey Hunters leaving a Flamer marine standing Arjac is assaulted by the Command squad and he leaves the Commander and two Meltagunners alive they pass their morale as well. Battle Leader kills another lone Guardsman(I'm bored I bet you are lol).

TURN 4
SW - The belated Grey Hunters make their presence known by blowing the Chimera to scrap and half the Guardsmen inside as well, they then flee the Wolves in terror.
The Battle Leader final forces the Sargent and Meltagunner to flee as well, whilst the lone Flamer marine contests Dagmires objective.
The Longfangs Score a few hits on the Guardsmen left in the upper stories but they pass a heap of cover saves.
Arjac is finally bought to heel by the Command squad who consolidate in front of the last Space marine squad (great move there Dagmire!)

IG - A searing beam of coherent light plays across the Battle Leaders Terminator armour but he is unharmed much to the Executioners crew's chagrin, Marbo finished off the Flamer marine in hand to hand and the remaining Grey Hunter squad is once again punished buy the Vendetta and Guardsmen leaving 2 alive.

TURN 5
SW - The Longfangs and the last flamer marine and Wolfguard Sargent fire at Dagmires Guardsmen and kill 5 but their nerve holds and they are now out of charge range through some clever wound allocation.

IG - the Battle Leader is brought down with Sniper fire from the Ratlings and the last 2 marines are slain by Sniper and Krak missile fire from the Guardsmen.

The roll for turn 6 is made but alas the game ends, with the Imperial Guard holding their home objective and the Wolves left with the under achieving Longfangs!

CONCLUSION
Dagmire - Man of the match I feel should go to either the Ratlings or the Sniper Guardsmen who through Rending hits and Pinning slowed the Wolves right down allowing me more time to deal with them at range.
As for what I would have done differently I should have been more wary of the Drop pod and brought the executioner in from Reserve instead of leaving it open to assault, and the Officer of the Fleet would have assisted this.

Munky - Well I feel that the deployment type is very hard to get around when you have a footslogging army, and maybe the third squad would have been better off moving down the left near the ratlings.
MOTM will go to Arjac for getting the crucial damage in on the Executioner which was the real bane of my marines.
Other than that I am still struggling with delivering the marines to their targets (mainly close assault) in sufficient numbers?

Thanks for reading and as always your comments and insight are welcome.

New ideas! changes to the blog.

From Painting Munky Style

Hello again guys and girls,
I have been giving some thought to the content of the blog and where it should go, and to that end I would like to introduce some new ideas/features I am planning.....

Smackdown Sunday!
Now this isn't a WWE column so don't worry! it will be a regular feature on a Sunday where I will post any battle reports for the week previously, I will endeavour to write the reports in a simplified yet interesting manner.
They will include the thoughts behind my army choice and the tactics I chose as well as a conclusion for both my opponent and myself.

I hope that will be sufficient and as always any comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

Featured Friend!
This will be a fairly irregular post about my gaming buddies/opponents and their armies/modelling projects, this will allow them to add some different content to the blog making it more interesting! yippee!

I will do a little question and answers session with them to get a feel for their army, why they chose it and how they play.
Once again if their are any questions you would like asked please post them here and I will include them.

Obviously real life has an increasing habbit of ruining my best laid battle plans so don't expect content every week but I will do my best.

Tutorials
This is pretty obvious what will go here, but I will share the tips and tricks I have learnt over the course of my hobby and any future stuff that fits the bill.

The content will be rated as to how hard I perceive it to be from a new hobbyist point of view, and it will be explained in a clear and concise manner( well as best as I can manage !!)


Well that's all for today folks, I hope you like the ideas and I'l see you soon.

Tyrannofex sculpting complete...ready for paint.

From Tyranids

Finally I have this beasty finished!

It's ready for primer and then paint, I am once again using the modified Leviathan scheme seen HERE so at least you have some idea of how it will look, once it's primered I will fix any problem areas(it's easier to see when all once colour)

From Tyranids

Here is another picture for scale purposes, the base I made by copying the Trygon base and the detail on the ruined Rhino door was from the "how to paint tanks" book from GW.

I will be going into detail on some of the techniques I have learned from doing in a series of Tutorials in the near future.

Anyhoo I'l see ya soon after some frantic late night.........painting!

Tyrannofex part - 2

Hi Munky fans,
As you can see I have completed 99% of the sculpting and modelling on the T-fex, I'm just waiting on some ideas from the client as to the base and what he wants on it.

I am going to wait until the model is primered before I decide on what to do with the openings on the guns, that will allow me to see the model as a whole much easier.

This has been a tiring sculpt but I have learn't loads of new tricks whilst doing it and I reckon the next one will be much faster.
In other news I have made my fist RTV silicon mould and it will be ready to test on Sunday afternoon, fingers crossed it will work and I can start to produce my own parts like Boneswords etc!

Stay tuned and your comments are eagerly awaited!
Munky

Tyrannofex part-1

Hi everyone, I have made some progress on the Tyrannofex over the last few days as you can see.
It's still very WIP but I'm getting a feel for the shapes and detail needed on this monster.

It's been very difficult to get it all into the right pose but its getting there, though I am getting frustrated with waiting for putty to dry! I have resorted to leaving him in the airing cupboard ontop of the boiler to speed things up!

I have begun working on the Bonesabres for the Swarmlord which is next, I have ordered some casting supplies so I can hopefully cast four of the sabres, I certainly don't want to sculp/carve them one took me a few hours!

More on that in the coming weeks, I will post a tutorial on the casting process, I trained as a modelmaker at college and hopefully there is still some knowlege in the sponge I call a brain!

See ya all soon.