Category: Blog Page 1 of 20

Seeking Energy

By

On 10th August 2020

In Blog

Ever since Covid-19 I am really struggling with energy in the afternoons and evenings, and cups of tea aren’t really touching it in a way I would like it to.

I am not gonna lie I do of course enjoy an energy drink, my favourites being Carabao Sugar Free Green Apple, Irn Bru Energy Sugar Free and Coca-Cola Energy Zero.

But I do struggle to get these drinks, Monster seems to be the post popular drink in the Co-Op, but I am not that keen on the Ultra Zero flavour and the other flavours, well they don’t say what they are on the tin and that’s a bit off putting.

But long term even when I can get hold of the ones I like, they aren’t all that cheap and I do wonder if they are any good for me.

But I have seen a number of adverts for Sneak and Razorwire, which have always struck me as being like those protein supplements that dudes who want to get hench use, which hasn’t exactly enamoured me to their product.

But I relented and decided to give Razorwire a try, simply because if I do go for it, it seems to offer the best value. So I ordered two samples, one of Sour Apple flavour the other of Cherry, which I do enjoy.

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Really finding myself flagging in the afternoons/evenings since Covid. Whereas before lockdown the odd energy drink helped me on days where the fatigue was bad, now it feels like I am needing them almost everyday. But being diabetic I have to be careful what I buy, I was buying one flavour after being told it was sugar free, only to find out it wasn’t later on. I keep seeing adverts for this stuff @razorwireenergy on Facebook so I paid the shipping for a sample and giving it a try. Flavour is nice, subtle, not overpowering, just pleasant and I like the fact it’s sugar free. So let’s see if this restores my energy for the rest of the day, so far it’s really good. #EnergyDrink #RazorwireEnergy #Razorwire

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I didn’t bother with a shaker, no point spending money on that unless I decided to get big tubs, so I ended up making them in some used pop bottles.

And I have to admit they were both rather nice, the flavours were subtle and not too in your face and if I want them to be fizzy well I can always use the Soda Stream.

They did leave me feeling very awake in the afternoons, but not into the night preventing me from sleeping.

All in all I was really impressed by both samples and I think I will be investing in some of the tubs of them when I next get paid.

But if anyone has any alternative suggestions for a brand I can use, then I am all ears.

What Am I Modelling

I started the week by painting a T’au Breacher Team and their Devilfish transport.

I broke out the airbrush for these to get the main armour colour on, and that worker really rather well.

I am still figuring out the best way to paint T’au infantry and tried a slightly different approach this time. This time I added the use of an airbrush for the main armour colour and that did work pretty well.

It’s not working firm or me as well as I’d like so it’s back to the drawing board.

I then bumped up the Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought up to the top of the list, after taking so long on the T’au I wanted an easy and quick model painted and I can knock out a Contemptor very quickly.

This one is armed with a Plasma Cannon and a Plasma Blaster in its Power Fist.

I then placed on the painting desk the three Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams for Niki.

So how does this leave my painting plan looking

  1. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3
  2. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard-Hunters x 10 & Knight-Zephyros
  3. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  4. Blood Ravens Intercessors x 10
  5. Space Wolves Infiltrators x 10 & Ragnar Blackmane
  6. Death Korps of Krieg Infantry Squad
  7. Secret Heresy Project Unit
  8. T’au Strike Team x 10, Cadre Fireblade & Devilfish
  9. Mortarion x 2
  10. Nighthaunt Knight of Shrouds on Ethereal Steed, Spirt Torment & Gaurdian of Souls.

What I Am Reading

I finished listening to War of Secrets by Phil Kelly, which was alright, plenty of action but I was a little confused but the psychic plague thing, it didn’t really get explained in any detail other than it was happening.

I started on Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work by Guy Haley, and I am really enjoying this, love how well it fits into the Horus Heresy and links that that the Era Indomitus.

I literally just got finished that audiobook tonight and I have to say, I really loved it!

I am also reading Saturnine by Dan Abnett, but it’s taking time but that’s because of motivation issues, loving the book, and at one point I was pricing up a White Scars army!

What I Am Playing

We had a game of Just One on Friday night, we managed to score 8 points with a single pass and 2 wrong answers.

I also did a tech-test for hosting games at this months virtual UK Games Expo, which went quite well.

I am likely to be doing Marvel Crisis Protocol or X-Wing both of which are in my ball park.

What I Am Backing

Project Infinite Hole delivered its first PDFs this week via DriveThruRPG.

And a bunch of PDFs from the GURPS 2020 Challenge were delivered via BackerKit.

The extra EP that was a stretch goal as part of the Transformers 1986 project was also delivered this week, I haven’t listened to it yet but plan to do so this week.

What I Am Cooking

I made the chicken for wing night this week, although due to Tesco’s having no wings, we had drumsticks instead.

This week they were marinated in Nando’s sauce, cooked in the oven before being finished on the BBQ.

Megan made the wedges and green beans and the coleslaw was store bought.

On a Saturday I made slow cooker sloppy Joe’s to a recipe from Megan, I am gonna be honest, I wasn’t that keen they seemed rather plain compared to the sloppy Joe’s recipe I normally use.

They were nice, but I think my other recipe is better.

On Monday I made us pizza for breakfast, it was just a cheap pizza from ASDA but I added some cut up cocktail sausages, some smoked streaky bacon, mushrooms and tarragon and then topped it with some extra cheese.

What I Am Spending

Two of the three issues I ordered of Conquest from Hachette arrived, the missing issue 13 is going to be dispatched ASAP.

These are being added to my Zone Mortalis set to bulk that out a little.

I also ordered Deadly Alliance for Blackstone Fortress as I have heard this is close to going out of stock and is a single print expansion.

Bought it from a Element Games as I had Crystals to use, and interestingly enough it came via Amazon Logistics.

I also decided to add to the Star Trek Adventure collection by buying the Enterprise Player Characters from the Modulus website when they released them this week.

Kinda hoping that they add the Discovery crew at some point, would love to play as Tilly!

I bought three audiobooks on Audible with credits I got from returning books, Dredge Runners, Bloodlines and Ahriman: Exile.

I also bought Bloodlines as an ePub and the short stories released by Black Library as part of their characters week.

Wear a Mask

By

On 3rd August 2020

In Blog

WEAR A FUCKING MASK!

I cannot put enough emphasis on this point, but listen to me when I say how vital it is.

My Covid-19 story is I am told quite representative of people who have had issues with it, so I will tell it.

I came down with Covid-19 about a week into lockdown, and I had a cough for about 10 days that then seemed to get better, but then I rapidly went downhill again and could at times barely breathe.

Now I wasn’t so bad that my doctor wanted me in hospital, and I have a CPAP machine which helped me a lot, and that avoid me going into hospital for more than a few hours.

But I had developed a nasty bout of post Covid-19 pneumonia, which took two course of antibiotics to clear, and even then it left my lungs in an awful condition.

Basically when I had an X-Ray and some tests in the hospital later on they discovered that I have lost a third of my lung capacity to Covid-19.

I used to be able to go up and stairs fine as far as breathing was concerned, I had pain issues, but that was something separate. But now if I climb the stairs I need a puff of an inhaler.

I never used to need an inhaler before, but I need one now just to be able to go up an incline, it’s crazy, as soon as I start using my lungs in anything more than a level walk, I struggle for air.

I have always harboured an ambition to once my head issues are figured out, try and get myself a bit fitter and try and do a 5km run. Yeah it’s kinda weak ass as far as athletic ambitions go, but for me that would be an achievement.

Anyway that’s now probably never gonna happen, I mean I can’t walk to the Co-Op which is some 20m from my kitchen without needing to use the inhaler a couple of times.

I have gone from someone with could happily wander to the Co-Op and grab a pizza for lunch, to someone who needs to plan his whole day around that same trip.

So why am I telling you this, well simple, I was shielding, I was told to shield, to not leave the house. But Lindsay and Megan brought Covid-19 into the house because they had to go shopping for us.

And despite my shielding I thus caught it from them, and it hit me hard. There are lots of other people up and down the U.K., including a good number of people I care for and love.

If you wear a mask, and socially distance, and wash your hands, you can prevent this horrid disease spreading to vulnerable people.

This disease would kill my nana, I don’t think she would stand a chance against it, her lungs are already buggered thanks to her pack a day cigarette habit, and this would ravage her.

I am lucky in that the building where she lives is taking things seriously, but if you lot don’t take the rules seriously, there is the risk that her carers could become infected and then pass it on to her.

So I am begging you all, don’t act all macho, stop banging on about masks being muzzles, end of the day, what’s the issue, you have to wear a piece of cloth over your mouth for a little bit whilst you do your shopping, that’s literally the worst case.

Best case, you actively save lives.

What I Am Modelling

I hit the Millitarium Tempestus Command section first this week, they have been on the painting table a couple of weeks so its about time they got finished.

I got them all finished and decided to promote the Blood Ravens Redemptor Dreadnought up the list so that I could say I have achieved something for them this month.

I have built this so you can easily swap out the Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon for the Macro Plasma Incinerator with relative ease.

I then moved on to the Stormcast Eternals Castigators which represent the very last of that side of the Soul Wars box set.

Another annoying unit, you get five of them, but you field them in threes, meaning that two of them are of no use.

I then placed on my desk a Tactical Squad for the Edge of Empire Podcast army, which is Sons of Horus.

Took a bit of wheeling and dealing to get the torsos but I am glad I got them as they really add something to the squad.

I then moved on to the T’au Empire Breacher Team and Devilfish, for which I picked up my airbrush for the first time tonight and put on a layer of XV-88 to start them off., and before I went to bed I added a coat of Tau Light Ochre.

So lets look at where this leaves my painting queue.

  1. T’au Breacher Team x 10 & Devilfish
  2. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3
  3. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard-Hunters & Knight-Zephyros
  4. Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought
  5. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  6. Blood Ravens Intercessors x 10
  7. Space Wolves Infiltrators & Ragnar Blackmane
  8. Death Korps of Krieg Infantry Squad
  9. Secret Heresy Project Unit
  10. T’au Strike Team x 10, Cadre Fireblade & Devilfish

What I Am Reading

I started to listen to Indomitus by Gav Thorpe last week, and it should have been in last weeks post but I forgot!

I finished Ghostmaker and I rather enjoyed that, just took me ages to read it, but it was well worth it.

And I started on Saturnine by Dan Abnett, the next book in the Siege of Terra series and I am really enjoying that.

And last night I started on War of Secrets by Phil Kelly as an audiobook.

What I Am Playing

Have not played anything all week 🙁

What I Am Backing

Not backing anything right now, and no activity is taking place on anything I have pledged for at all.

What I Am Cooking

On Sunday night we resumed our weekly wing nights now that Megan has returned from looking after her mum.

And we started with Coca-Cola Wings to channel our inner 90s Chinese teenager!

It’s a lovely sweet, spicy and sticky sauce and absolutely one I will be repeating again.

What I Am Spending

I did spot that Jus at Battle Bunker had a copy of No Respite for Blackstone Fortress in stock, and its out of print now, so I decided to pick it up along with a set of Open War Mission Cards, and Jus sent them to me in the post.

My good friend Pete also sent me over a few things for the Zone Mortalis board, a couple more Haemotrope Reactors and half a set of Galvanic Servohaulers, which was really nice of him and I need to send him the postage costs for that.

I also bought a couple more issues of Conquest to bulk out the Zone Mortalis, first was a couple of copies of issue 13 to give myself a complete set of three Munitorium Armoured Containers, and a copy of Issue 71 to give me the second half set of Galvanic Servohaulers to complete that I got from Pete. So those should be with me in a fortnight

And I also bought the audiobook War of Secrets on Audible with a credit.

July Resolutions Update

By

On 1st August 2020

In Blog

Well it’s the end of the month so let’s see how I am doing on my resolutions.

Paint 867 Models – Completed

Well lockdown and Chainrasps helped me smash the target for the year in July, so I guess we see how many I can get painted this year in total!

Right now I have painted 875 models!

Finish Painting the Blood Ravens I Own on 1st January – 87.5% Complete

At the end of the month it was looking like I wasn’t going to get any of this done in July, so I promoted the Redemptor Dreadnought to the top of the queue and finished that so I made a bit of progress on this.

Left to do are five units which is incredible considering how many I had to do at the start of the year. So left to paint are

  • Intercessors with Bolt Rifles x 10
  • Intercessors with Stalker Bolt Rifles x 10
  • Hellbalsters with Plasma Incinerators x 10
  • Hellblasters with Heavy Plasma Incineratirs x 5
  • Inceptors with Plasma Exterminators x 3

Finish the Death Guard – 84.62% Complete

This month I painted the Chaos Spawn for the Death Guard, but I have changed the numbers as I have bought the Space Marine Heroes Series 3 from Japan.

I consider them one thing though, so they don’t affect the numbers that much.

Complete 2000 Points of Stormcast Eternals – 75.5% Complete

I started off by painting the Evocators from Soul Wars.

And I followed those up with the Castigators from the same set, which now means I have completed the Stormcast Eternals side of Soulwars.

Because of the Generals Handbook 2020 being published I had to compile a new list, which is here.

+ Leader [540pts] +

Knight-Incantor [120pts]

Knight-Venator [110pts]

Lord-Aquilor [170pts]: 0. Single-minded Fury, 0. Stormrage Blade, General

Lord-Ordinator [140pts]: Astral Hammers

+ Artillery [220pts] +

Celestar Ballista [110pts]

Celestar Ballista [110pts]

+ Battleline [300pts] +

Vanguard-Hunters [100pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [100pts], Shock Handaxe

Vanguard-Hunters [100pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [100pts], Storm Sabre

Vanguard-Hunters [100pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [100pts], Storm Sabre

+ Other [910pts] +

Aetherwings [40pts]: 3 Aetherwings [40pts]

Evocators [210pts]: 5 Evocators [210pts], 5x Tempest Blade and Stormstave

Gryph-Hounds [120pts]: 6 Gryph-Hounds [120pts]

Prosecutors [90pts]: 3 Prosecutors [90pts], Paired Celestial Hammers

Retributors [190pts]: 5 Retributors [190pts]

Sequitors [120pts]: 5 Sequitors [120pts], 2x Stormsmite Greatmace, Stormsmite Greatmace (Sequitor-Prime), Stormsmite Maul and Soulshield

Vanguard-Raptors with Hurricane Crossbows [140pts]: 3 Vanguard-Raptors with Hurricane Crossbows [140pts]

+ Malign Sorcery [30pts] +

Endless Spell: Celestian Vortex [30pts]

Lots of points went down which leaves me needing to add mire units, but this was simple as the Gryph-Hounds fitted into the slot nicely.

So left to paint for this list are:-

  • Lord Arquilor
  • Vanguard-Hunters with Storm Sabres x 5
  • Vanguard-Hunters with Shock Handaxes x 5
  • Gryph-Hounds x 6

Paint 2000 Points of T’au – 20.35% Complete

I started the month by painting a unit of Pathfinders, a Devilfish for them and Darkstrider.

I have put together a 2000 point list using the figures from the new Chaoter Approved so this is what I am aiming to paint by the end of the year.

+ HQ [14 PL, 305pts] +

Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 155pts]: Advanced targeting system [5pts], High-output burst cannon [15pts], Missile pod [15pts], Shield generator [10pts], Warlord

Darkstrider [3 PL, 60pts]

Ethereal [3 PL, 90pts]: Honour blade, Hover drone [1 PL, 5pts]
. 2x MV4 Shield Drone [30pts]: 2x Shield generator

+ Troops [15 PL, 360pts] +

Breacher Team [5 PL, 110pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone [10pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui [9pts]: Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol
. 9x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol [81pts]: 9x Photon grenades, 9x Pulse blaster, 9x Pulse pistol
. MV1 Gun Drone [10pts]

Strike Team [5 PL, 125pts]
. DS8 Tactical Support Turret w/ SMS [15pts]: Smart missile system [15pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui [9pts]: Pulse pistol, Pulse rifle
. 9x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol + Pulse Rifle [81pts]: 9x Photon grenades, 9x Pulse pistol, 9x Pulse rifle
. 2x MV1 Gun Drone [20pts]: 4x Pulse carbine

Strike Team [5 PL, 125pts]
. DS8 Tactical Support Turret w/ SMS [15pts]: Smart missile system [15pts]
. Fire Warrior Shas'ui [9pts]: Pulse pistol, Pulse rifle
. 9x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol + Pulse Rifle [81pts]: 9x Photon grenades, 9x Pulse pistol, 9x Pulse rifle
. 2x MV1 Gun Drone [20pts]: 4x Pulse carbine

+ Elites [6 PL, 105pts] +

XV25 Stealth Battlesuits [6 PL, 105pts]
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon [31pts]: Advanced targeting system [5pts], Burst cannon [8pts]
. Stealth Shas'ui w/ Burst Cannon [31pts]: Advanced targeting system [5pts], Burst cannon [8pts]
. Stealth Shas'vre [43pts]: Advanced targeting system [5pts], Fusion blaster [15pts]
. . Markerlight + Target Lock [5pts]: Target lock [5pts]

+ Fast Attack [7 PL, 149pts] +

Pathfinder Team [7 PL, 149pts]: MV31 Pulse Accelerator Drone [10pts]
. MB3 Recon Drone [15pts]
. 5x Pathfinder [55pts]: 5x Markerlight, 5x Photon grenades, 5x Pulse carbine
. Pathfinder Shas'ui [11pts]
. Pathfinder w/ Ion Rifle [16pts]: Ion rifle [5pts]
. 2x Pathfinder w/ Rail Rifle [42pts]: 2x Photon grenades, 2x Rail rifle [20pts]

+ Heavy Support [3 PL, 60pts] +

MV71 Sniper Drones [3 PL, 60pts]
. 3x MV71 Sniper Drone [60pts]: 3x Longshot pulse rifle

+ Flyer [12 PL, 295pts] +

Barracuda AX-5-2 [12 PL, 295pts]: 2x Long-barelled burst cannon [20pts], 2x Missile pod [30pts], 4x Seeker missile [20pts], Swiftstrike burst cannon [25pts]

+ Dedicated Transport [18 PL, 324pts] +

TY7 Devilfish [6 PL, 108pts]: Burst cannon [8pts], Seeker missile [5pts]
. 2x MV1 Gun Drone [20pts]

TY7 Devilfish [6 PL, 108pts]: Burst cannon [8pts], Seeker missile [5pts]
. 2x MV1 Gun Drone [20pts]

TY7 Devilfish [6 PL, 108pts]: Burst cannon [8pts], Seeker missile [5pts]
. 2x MV1 Gun Drone [20pts]

++ Super-Heavy Auxiliary Detachment -3CP (T'au Empire) [20 PL, 401pts, -3CP] ++

+ Lord of War [20 PL, 401pts] +

KV128 Stormsurge [20 PL, 401pts]: 2x Burst cannon [16pts], Advanced targeting system [20pts], Annihilation warheads, Cluster rocket system [15pts], Pulse blastcannon, Shield generator [30pts], 2x Smart missile system [30pts], Velocity tracker [10pts]

So still lots to do, but with other resolutions coming to an end I will be prioritising this next.

Other Resolutions

  • Complete 2000 Points of Orks
  • Rebase the Orks
  • Paint Mortarion for Everchosen

Completed Resolutions

  • Rebase the Blood Ravens

So what does my painting queue look like going into August?

  1. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  2. T’au Breacher Squad x 10 & Devilfish
  3. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Team x 3
  4. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard-Hunters x 10 & Knight-Zephyros
  5. Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought
  6. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  7. Blood Ravens Intercessors x 10
  8. Space Wolves Infiltrators x 10 & Ragnar Blackmane
  9. Death Korps of Krieg Infantry Squad x 10
  10. Secret Heresy Project Unit

An Open Letter To Games Workshop

By

On 27th July 2020

In Blog

I didn’t write this, but it’s amazing, go read it, and share it wide because it needs to be seen and acted on.

An Open Letter To Games Workshop

What I Am Modelling

Decided to get the Sisters of Battle from the army launch box finished, so hit the Seraphim and got them finished.

I have had a very slow week, lots of pain which has stopped me from painting anywhere as much as I would have like to.

I did today finish up the last of the launch box stuff and painted the Sisters Repentia.

I also built both of my Space Marine sides of Indomitus, one which is going to join the Ultramarines, the other which is joining the Blood Ravens.

This does mean that my painting schedule hasn’t changed since last week at all.

  1. Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime and Command Squad x 7
  2. Stormcast Eternals Castigators x 5
  3. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  4. T’au Breacher Team x 10 & Devilfish
  5. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Team x 3
  6. Blood Ravens Redemptor Dreadnought
  7. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard-Hunters & Knight-Zephyros
  8. Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought
  9. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  10. Blood Ravens Intercessor Squad x 10

What I Am Reading

Still making my way through Ghostmaker, but the issues with pain have made it very hard to concentrate on reading.

What I Am Playing

Me and Lindsay pulled out Pandemic Hot Zone North America on Friday night, we had two games of it because our first one ended in the first go because we pulled an epidemic straight away and ended up with too many outbreaks.

The second game was a lot easier and we managed to find the cure to all three diseases in good time.

Fantastic game and can’t wait to try it with Megan when she gets back.

What I Am Backing

I am not actually backing anything right now!

What I Am Cooking

My confidence in the kitchen is still very shot!

I did cook an omelette for breakfast on Sunday fir me and Lindsay, filled with cheese and mushrooms.

And today I did manage to cook up a little bacon to have some bacon sarnies.

What I Am Spending

This week I bought myself an extra copy of Conquest 68 for the Haemotrope Reactor to add to my Zone Mortalis Scenery.

Not so much spending but I did swap a set of my Black Library Celebration Custodes Dice for a set of the original Custodes dice, which means I have a set of each now.

And again, not spending, but GMT Games ran a Tough Economy Special whereby they gave away some free games to people who have lost jobs and work due to Covid-19.

Because all of my work with Asmodee for the year has been cancelled leaving me with no other work, they said I was eligible and thus they sent me a copy of Twlight Struggle, which makes me quite happy.

Of course the big thing this week was Indomitus!

I bought one copy for myself and another to split with Graham, plus I picked up a copy of Chapter Approved 2020, a pot of Tesseract Glow, pot of Death Korps Drab, can of Death Guard Green Spray and a Combat Gauge.

So from this I have one set of the Necrons to add to my pile from Forgebane and Kill Team, plus two sets of the Space Marines, one set going to my Blood Ravens the other going to the Ultramarines.

And inspired by Phil, I bought a pot of Sigismund Yellow Clear, because I am going to actually do something with my Warhound Titan!

A Long 24 Hours

By

On 22nd July 2020

In Blog

Well I did it, I did the 24 hours of painting, and I sadly failed to get all 25 models painted but I did paint 15 of them.

Here they are when I finished.

And when I finished basing them today, this how they look.

The good news is that I smashed my target of £200 and raised a whopping £402 for the Willow Foundation, and if you want, you can donate here still!

It was exhausting and at the same time amazing, I will be doing it again one day, but probably splitting it up into two shifts.

If you are insane, you can watch the videos here on Twitch at the Edge of Empire channel.

What I Am Painting

I started off by painting some Bullgryns for Niki’s Death Korps of Krieg army. These are 3D printed on his resin printer and are absolutely beautiful, a real pleasure to work with.

But now of course it reinforces my desire to get myself a 3D printer!

I then turned my attention to painting the test models for the Sister of Battle painting challenge.

I painted her to match Megan’s avatar which was fantastically drawn by

I am happy with it and the scheme is easily replicated and should be reasonable to get one in the 24 hours for all 25 models. Well I was wrong about that.

I also painted my test Penitent Engine, because this is the model I am most nervous about, but this was no where near as bad as I thought I was gonna be, I bought this specially to paint as a test.

After the 24 hour painting challenge I returned to my painting queue and I concentrated on and finished the Valkyrie for my Millitarium Tempestus.

And to add to Aeronautica Imperialis I painted a Valkyrie and Vendetta in the same scheme as the 28mm one!

So how does this leave my painting queue looking now?

  1. Millitarium Tempestus Command Squad x 7 & Tempestor Prime
  2. Stormcast Eternals Castigators x 5
  3. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  4. T’au Breacher Team x 10 & Devilfish
  5. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3
  6. Blood Ravens Redemptor Dreadnought
  7. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard Hunters x 10 & Knight-Zephyros
  8. Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought
  9. Zone Mortalis Terrain
  10. Blood Ravens Intercessors x 10

What I Am Reading

Still making my way though Ghostmaker, it’s taking time but I am enjoying it.

What I Am Playing

Sadly no games were played this week.

What I Am Backing

Project Infinite Hole has funded and I have completed the backer survey for it, I look forward to getting that later this year hopefully.

The 2020 GURPS PDF Challenge also funded and that raised enough that all 12 PDFs were unlocked.

For the first time in a while I have not got anything funding, nor do I think anything is on the horizon.

What I Am Cooking

This week me and Lindsay made some pulled pork. In case you haven’t guessed already from past posts, Kansas City pulled pork is my signature dish.

We cooked a pork shoulder for 6 hours in Newcastle Brown Ale with onions, garlic and black pepper, before pulling it and then cooking it for another two hours in my Kansas City BBQ sauce.

Lindsay made some red potato wedges to serve with it, and we accompanied it with a salad, coleslaw, bread buns and slices of Emmental cheese.

What I Am Spending

Nowt this week much other than the Lady of Sorrows audiobook from Audible.

Just a Few Days to Go

By

On 14th July 2020

In Blog

In just a few days I will be painting for 24 hours in support of the Willow Foundation.

I have set a target of £200 and am already at £160, everyone who donates will be entered into a raffle to win some stuff, a list of which you can see here, and you can donate via Just Giving.

I am going to be posting a lot more about this in the week so look out for updates.

The models are all now built and I think I have the technology sorted out, so let’s crack on!

What I am Modelling

I started the week by painting up the Autocannon Teams for Niki’s Death Korps of Krieg.

I love these models and may have to think about painting my own Death Korps of Krieg at some point.

I then painted up the Chaos Spawn for the Death Guard, mostly done with Contrast but I think they look good.

The Stormcast Eternals Evocators were being worked on between stages on these two previous things, so I then turned my attention to finish them off.

So that left me with just the Castigators left from the Stormcast side of Soul Wars.

Next on the list were my Blood Claws for the Space Wolves, 15 of them! And I also painted a Space Wolves Captain from Rogue Trader first made in 1991.

The Blood Claws were made from my bitz box and most use leftovers from my original building of the Space Wolves several years ago.

I do currently have a single Blood Claws Squad, of five Astartes, but decided I wanted a nice big squad of 15 so I can eventually put them in a Stormwolf Assault Boat and have that lot jumping out with a Wolf Priest!

The Captain was finished first ion Saturday evening, and I am rather happy with him, he will serve as a Wolf Guard Battle Leader probably.

I am trying to acquire a few of these old school captains from back then to add to the armies I do have, I have some bids on the Blood Angels and Ultramarines Captains on eBay.

The Blood Claws took a while but they eventually were finished today.

I think next year I will be going through the Space Wolves to get them rebased and the transfers and pack markings sorted out properly.

I have no put on my painting handles, the Tempestor Prime, Command Squad and Valkyrie for my Millitarium Tempestus, and the Ogryns for Niki’s Death Korps of Krieg.

I am also going to paint the Valkyrie and a Vendetta for Aeronautica Imperialis.

So what does this leave my painting queue looking like, well let’s take a look:-

  1. Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime, Command Squad & Valkyries
  2. Death Korps of Krieg Ogryns x 6
  3. Stormcast Eternals Castigators x 5
  4. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  5. T’au Breacher Squad x 10 & Devilfish
  6. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3
  7. Blood Ravens Redemptor Dreadnought
  8. Stormcast Eternals Vanguard Hunters x 10 & Knight-Zephyros
  9. Ultramarines Contemptor Dreadnought
  10. Zone Mortalis Terrain

What I Am Reading

I started on Ghostmaker by Dan Abnett, the second Gaunts Ghost novel and that’s pretty good going so far.Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime, Command Squad and Valkyries

I have been very alert this week so haven’t read as much as I would have liked to.

I finished Devastation of Baal and decided to listen to Dante, and now realise I should have done it the other way around, both books are pretty good to paint to.

What I Am Playing

I haven’t played anything this week 🙁

What I Am Backing

Alhambra Roll and Write funded and our pledge has been collected. Obviously as it’s a Queen Games Projects I am expecting it to be hugely delayed, but arrive eventually.

Project Infinite Hole is still going strong and should finish at the end of this week for some more amazing Paranoia content.

And I decided to back the Steve Jackson Games’ GURPS 2020 PDF Challenge because it’s basically 12 PDFs for GURPS for just $3

What I Am Cooking

I did cook some hot dogs for lunch on Monday, I made them with caramelised onions and melted gruyere. I have some ideas on how to make them better and once Megan is back I will be trying that out.

What I Am Spending

The big headline is my purchase of Indomitus, but I have to wait two weeks until I have that in my hands!

In the meantime I did grab a box of Ambots for Necromunda from Leodis Games.

And I picked up a preloved copy of Dice Forge from Drew and Rhi at Meeple Perk!

I also bought a few ebooks, Lady of Sorrows by CL Werner, Saturnine by Dan Abnett both in prose and audio, Soulless Fury by Will McDermott and both the Generals Handbook 2020 and Spike Journal Issue 9 from Games Workshop.

It Is For Everyone

By

On 6th July 2020

In Blog

This past week and a bit has seen the much hated Arch Warhammer explode in rage as Games Workshop launch legal action to get him to drop the Warhammer from his name.

My mate Darryl summed up the series of events quite expertly here, but needless to say, I think this is a good thing.

That some people’s first exposure to the hobby would be via him is genuinely horrifying, because in all honestly, he is a far right, racist, homophobic, bigoted arsehole.

He represents the worst of our hobby and I am glad he is being pushed further and further out of the hobby, although sadly the usual suspects like The Outer Circle are backing him.

Warhammer and wargaming is for everybody, but if you get enjoyment out of excluding others, then frankly I don’t want you in my hobby community. I will not tolerate those who are intolerant.

I want a diverse fan base, because more diverse players means more players who can utterly humiliate me when we throw dice, more amazing paint jobs for me to drool over.

So if the simply idea of a more diverse player base triggers you, then bugger off and go whinge about it on Parler and let the rest of us for whom simply being a decent human being is our baseline, happily coexist.

What I Am Modelling

I started the week by abandoning the T’au and picked up the new hotness, some Zone Mortalis Floor Tiles!

Got them at 11:15am on Wednesday and finished them just after 4:30pm!!!

I then turned my attention to the Thermic Plasma Regulators I got at the same time, for which I am using a different spray, Wilkos Gunmetal spray, which in colour seems to be about halfway between Leadbelcher and Iron Warriors.

I decided to do these in a slightly cleaner style to show that they are actually working parts, which are sort of maintained.

I then went back to the T’au Pathfinders and got those finished up, the Devilfish was finished Friday and the Pathfinders, Drones and Darkstrider on Saturday.

On Sunday I tied up my desk and set to work on the remaining Warlord Battle Titan Weapons, these were a Macro Gatling Blaster, Paired Gatling Blasters and Paired Turbo Laser Destructors.

This means I now have a complete armoury for the Warlord Titan.

I then put on my desk some Death Korps of Krieg Autocannon teams for Niki. And I also put on the painting handles my Stormcast Eternals Evocators to work on them when the washes need to dry on the Krieg.

But I didn’t do any work on them on Monday because I was doing some prep work for the live stream and tidying up my desk.

What I did do was run a live stream in which I built a few of the Sisters models and tested the streaming setup, which you can see below.

So what does my painting queue look like now?

  1. Death Korps of Krieg Autocannon Teams x 3
  2. Death Guard Chaos Spawn x 2
  3. Stormcast Eternals Evocators x 5
  4. Space Wolves Blood Claws x 15 & Space Wolves Captain
  5. Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime, Command Squad and Valkyries
  6. Stormcast Eternals Castigators
  7. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  8. T’au Breacher Team x 10 & Devilfish
  9. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3
  10. Blood Ravens Redemptor Dreadnought

What I Am Reading

Not a lot but I did read Of Their Lives in the Ruins of Their Cities by Dan Abnett which I quite enjoyed.

I don’t know why I left it so long to read Gaunt’s Ghosts as I am quite enjoying them.

I am almost finished listening to Devastation of Baal by Guy Haley and should hopefully be finished with it tomorrow, it’s quite good so far.

What I Am Playing

Noting has been played this week, me and a Lindsay were gonna play Pandemic Hot Zone North America on Sunday but she watched Frozen 2 and fell asleep instead.

What I Am Backing

Fiasco arrived, which is nice, looking forward to trying this out when Megan returns.

I am still backing Project Infinite Hole for Paranoia, because it’s Paranoia!

And I have backed my 100th project in the form of Alhambra Roll and Write! I know it’s Queen Games so it will be subject to terrible communication, and huge delays, but I love Alhambra.

What I Am Cooking

Not much but I did make an omelette for breakfast on Sunday for myself and Lindsay, filled with cheese and mushrooms!

What I Am Spending

As mentioned in the painting section I bought the Zone Mortalis Floor Tiles along with some Thermic Plasma Regulators and some Typhus Corrosion from The Outpost.

I also bought a couple of cans of Grey Seer Spray from Battle Bunker which I need for my Nighthaunt, my Zone Mortalis Walls and my Age of Sigmar scenery, plus two pots of Mournfang Brown, a pot of Iron Warriors and some Iron Hands Steel Air.

I also mopped into Battle Bunker on Sunday when me and Lindsay took a drive to get out the house, I meant only to pick up a dry brush, but ended up buying a pot of Tau Light Ochre Air, XV88 Air and a mug in addition to the drybrush.

24 Hours Painting Challenge – Giveaways

By

On 4th July 2020

In Blog

So in two weeks I will be painting for 24 hours solid to raise money for The Willow Foundation.

You can donate here, and what I am going to do is run a little raffle for this with some stuff I have lying around unused, so lets see what you can potentially win!

24 Hours Painting Challenge Giveaways
  • Warhammer Conquest Issue 67 with Space Marine Scouts with Sniper Rifles
  • Death Guard Tallyman
  • Death Guard Easy-to-Build Poxwalkers
  • Space Marine Lieutenant with Power Sword
  • Space Marine Lieutenant with Power Sword
  • Nighthaunt Tomb Banshee
  • Nighthaunt Easy-to-Build Myrmourn Banshees
  • Nighthaunt Easy-to-Build Thorns of the Briar Queen
  • Stormcast Eternals Easy-to-Build Sequitors
  • Stormcast Eternals Easy-to-Build Castigators & Gryph-Hound
  • Art Prints x 4
  • Grey Knights Chibi
  • How to Paint Silver Templars
  • Silver Templars Sourcebook
  • Blade Oath by Andy Clark
  • Killbox & Other Stories
  • Mechanicum by Graham McNeil
  • Adeptus Titanicus Titan Battlegroup

To enter, just donate via Just Giving, and every pound you donate gets you one entry.

I will be doing regular draws throughout the stream, depending on how the fundraising goes I may set goals, but the Adeptus Titanicus Titan Battlegroup will be the grand prize and will be drawn only if we reach my fundraising goal and it will be the very last thing done on stream at 10:00 on the 19th July.

This painting challenge will see me attempt to paint up the Adepta Sororitas Sisters of Battle Army Box Set, which is 25 models.

I will be livestreaming via Edge of Empire on the podcasts Twitch and YouTube feeds, plus my own personal Facebook page too.

Next week I will be experimenting with the live stream set up as I build the models.

This will be a challenge and tomorrow I will be putting up a rough schedule to try and see if I can convince some of you to join me on the stream to keep me company!

June Resolutions Update

By

On 1st July 2020

In Blog

It’s the end of the month and we are 50% of the way through the year now so let’s see where I am in terms of my hobby resolutions.

The complete 1750 points of 40k stuff is going to be reassessed once 9th edition drops but based on what I have seen thus far, that might be getting upped to 2000 points.

And with the Generals Handbook landing next month I will also have to reassess the Stormcast Eternals list.

But this month I have a huge success and have completed the first resolution to 100%!!!

Paint 867 Models – 88%

I have now painted 773 models, so just over 100 off my target!!!

This month I painted a few more Space Wolves, a few Grey Hunters Pack Leaders, a Repulsor and an Iron Priest.

And I started my contribution to the podcasts show army, the Sons of Horus.

A big jump in the number is down to two Chainrasp Hordes that were 40 models strong each!

Finish Painting the Blood Ravens I Own on 1st January – 85% Complete

For the Blood Ravens I painted all five of my Chaplains, a 10 man Intercessor Squad, a Primaris and Firstborn Ancient, a squad of Aggressors and two Repulsors, although only one of those contributes to the resolution.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWjO9inY–/?igshid=of50zi5dpl4e

So right now I have 7 units left to do in order to fulfil this resolution.

Finish the Death Guard – 83.33% Complete

No progress made in these this month.

Complete 2000 Points of Stormcast Eternals – 67%

So last month I decided to make it a 2000 point list I have to paint, so I have formed a list consisting of stuff I have painted and stuff that’s on the painting queue, and here it is:- 

+ Leader [580pts] +

Knight-Incantor [140pts]

Knight-Venator [120pts]

Lord-Aquilor [180pts]: General

Lord-Ordinator [140pts]: Astral Hammers

+ Artillery [220pts] +

Celestar Ballista [110pts]

Celestar Ballista [110pts]

+ Battleline [330pts] +

Vanguard-Hunters [110pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [110pts], Astral Compass, Storm Sabre

Vanguard-Hunters [110pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [110pts], Astral Compass, Shock Handaxe

Vanguard-Hunters [110pts]: 5 Vanguard-Hunters [110pts], Astral Compass, Storm Sabre

+ Other [830pts] +

Aetherwings [50pts]: 3 Aetherwings [50pts]

Evocators [220pts]: 5 Evocators [220pts], 5x Tempest Blade and Stormstave

Prosecutors [90pts]: 3 Prosecutors [90pts], Paired Celestial Hammers

Retributors [200pts]: 5 Retributors [200pts]

Sequitors [130pts]: 5 Sequitors [130pts], 2x Stormsmite Greatmace, Stormsmite Greatmace (Sequitor-Prime), Stormsmite Maul and Soulshield

Vanguard-Raptors with Hurricane Crossbows [140pts]: 3 Vanguard-Raptors with Hurricane Crossbows [140pts]

+ Malign Sorcery [40pts] +

Endless Spell: Celestian Vortex [40pts]

So far from this list I have completed the Knight Incantor, Knight-Venator, Lord Ordinator, Celestar Ballistas, one unit of Vanguard Hunters, the Prosecutors, Sequitors, Aetherwings and Vanguard Raptors, which is 1340 points.

So I started off the month by painting the Knight-Heraldor, Knight-Vexillor and Retributors which completes the original Age of Sigmar strater set, took me just under 5 years but we got there in the end.

I then got the Sequitors from Soul Ward painting and have left to do from that set just the Evocators and the Castigators.

Paint 1750 Points of T’au – 5.7%

Following similar logic to the Stormcast Eternals I plan to paint up a list for the T’au, but I need to figure out what I have first before I can do that.

In the meantime I got off the starting block with two Ethereals on Hover Drones.

Rebase the Blood Ravens – Completed

I started by rebasing the remaining Tactical Squad and the Captain, managing to cut my finger doing so, but I got those done.

Then later in the same week I rebased the last unit that needs doing, an Assault Squad.

And thus I complete the first of my resolutions, all my Blood Ravens which are playable are now on the modern day sized base.

I do have some other Blood Ravens stuff that needs stripping and repainting, but I plan to tackle those next year and fixing them up will probably be a resolution for 2021, and they will be rebased at that point.

Other Resolutions

  • Complete 1750 Points of Orks
  • Rebase the Orks
  • Paint Mortarion for Everchosen

Nowt has happened with these this month, but Mortarion is on my long term plan even though there probably won’t be an Everchosen this year and will hopefully be at least started next month.

So how what does my painting plan look like right now, well it looks a bit like this.

I will also be doing my 24 hours of painting challenge next month, and if you want to donate you can do so here.

  1. T’au Pathfinders x 10, Darkstrider & Devilfish
  2. Death Korps of Krieg Autocannon Teams x 3
  3. Death Guard Chaos Spawn x 2
  4. Stormcast Eternals Evocators x 5
  5. Space Wolves Blood Claws x 15 & Space Wolves Captain
  6. Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime, Command Squad Members x 9 & Valkyries
  7. Stormcast Eternals Castigators x 5
  8. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  9. T’au Breacher Squad x 10 & Devilfish
  10. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3

Not Doing My Best

By

On 30th June 2020

In Blog

I have been having a bad few days mentally, stuff in the world is really getting to me.

Feels like in all aspects of life, and the things I enjoy, stuff is going wrong.

I am barely painting, hardly reading and can’t even bring myself to pick up the TV remote.

I have spent most of the past few days staring at empty space.

What Am I Painting

I started off with a pair of Blood Ravens Repulsors, one that I got when it was first released, and the other from Warhammer 40,000 Conquest.

These are seriously lovely models, if a bit on the large side.

Then I hit up a horde of 40 Chainrasps which represents the last of the Chainrasp hordes I have for my Nighthaunt, and other than the five Dreadscythe Harridans I have, brings me bang up to date with the Nighthaunt.

These took a while to do, simply because it’s been very very hard to paint in the heat we have been having!

I am waiting for the other 5 Dreadscythe Harridans so I can paint them all together at once.

Whilst doing the Chainrasps I also did a few test pieces for my Zone Mortalis board too.

Started with a few pieces of the board it self.

Then did loads of experimentation to figure out the method I want to use for the tiles.

Before finally figuring it out this morning the bottom one is the way I am going.

I have now started on the T’au Pathfinders, Darkstrider and Devilfish.

So what does my painting queue look like right now:-

  1. T’au Pathfinders x 10, Darkstrider & Devilfish
  2. Death Korps of Krieg Autocannon Teams x 3
  3. Death Guard Chaos Spawn x 2
  4. Stormcast Eternals Evocators x 5
  5. Space Wolves Blood Claws x 15 & Space Wolves Captain
  6. Millitarium Tempestus Tempestor Prime, Command Squad & Valkyries
  7. Stormcast Eternals Castigators x 3
  8. Sons of Horus Tactical Squad x 10
  9. T’au Breacher Squad x 10 & Devilfish
  10. Death Korps of Krieg Mortar Teams x 3

What I Am Reading

I finished the audio book of Knights of Macragge by Nick Kyme and it was entertaining, but there were aspects of it that were less than great.

The sheer number of featured antagonist factions felt a bit much, perhaps it would have been better as two separate books, because whilst it was a good story, I didn’t get enough of either main part of it.

I am now listening to Devastation of Baal by Guy Haley.

What I Am Playing

Have been able to play anything.

What I Am Backing

Chai: High Tea has been funded, we look forward to eventually getting that, looks like a beautiful game.

I am also backing Project Infinite Hole, I know Lindsay and Megan are terrible at Paranoia as they just don’t get the whole being antagonistic towards each other, they are far too nice, but I love the game.

And BackerKits for Lords of Vegas and Car Wars were completed.

For Lords of Vegas we decided to add on the unified rule book and the charity promo card and for Car Wars I have added on two Miniatures Sets.

Currently my kickstarter situation is as follows:-

What I Am Cooking

I made General Tao’s chicken wings in the slow cooker again, worked a bit on the recipe to refine it, replacing ginger purée with ground ginger and adding garlic cloves instead of garlic powder and I think they taste a lot better.

We needed to keep the side simple and so we just used a mushroom stir fry pack from Tesco, cooked with some egg noodles and a Chinese sauce.

I also made a very bad breakfast of bagel, turkey bacon, mushrooms and omelette this morning for myself and Lindsay.

What I Am Spending

I sold a few things this week and got a nice tax rebate, and that allowed me to invest in Necromunda Dark Uprising, a game I have been after for ages.

This is going to be the start of my plastic Zone Mortalis board, and I already have pulled together a few things from Conquest to contribute towards it already.

View this post on Instagram

For a little while I have been meaning to start a Zone Mortalis board with the new plastic stuff, and have been slowly acquiring a few bits and bobs from Conquest to give it a kickstart. And today a copy of Dark Uprising arrived so I now have a nice big box full of sprues which I will have to get started on Turing into a board. Initial plan is to first do a 2×2, then jump up to 3×3 before pushing to a 4×4. Mixing in some Sector Mechanicus scenery to give it plenty of variety and mixes of terrain types. Not sure yet on the theme, kinda split between underhive and starship interior. #ZoneMortalis #Warmongers #WarhammerCommunity #HorusHeresy #TheHorusHeresy #Warhammer30k #Warhammer30000 #Necromunda #DarkUprising #NecromundaDarkUprising

A post shared by Michael Botterill (@biggeordiegeek) on

Those being three Magnavent Walkways, a Haemotrope Reactor, some Galvanic Servohaulers, and a single Munitorium Armoured Container.

I also ordered a couple more Magnavent Walkways from Hachette which turned up Friday so now I have five of those now!

I also picked up a few pots of paint and some Necromunda dice from Games Workshop, the washes are specifically for the Zone Mortalis terrain, as is the Ryza Rust, the Leviadon Blue Contrast is for the armour of my Enforcers and I am out of Zandri Dust.

Sunday saw me grab a few bits and pieces to start painting the Zone Mortalis board, gonna try and really go to town on this one!

And I also saw that there were Zone Mortalis tiles in stock, so I ordered a set of them, to really get started on the board proper, plus a couple cans of Grey Seer, some Mournfang Brown, Apothecary White and Iron Warriors Air.

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