Thursday, February 24, 2011

General Hermit



A big thanks to David over at his blog for finally teaching me how to take photos. I think my header image looks outstanding.

Today I have my incomplete Imperial Guard Army.

My 1 Leman Russ




My 1 Painted Sentinel (1 more unpainted... but close)




I have two Vendettas that I still need to finish the base on.



Guardsmen






The model that I think is the best miniature photo I have ever taken. Looking at this guy might make you even think I am a decent painter.... Maybe...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Photo Cube Review



It will tear your soul apart...

Wait... Nevermind that is the wrong cube...

Here is the cube fully packed.


Here is the cube unpacked and expanded with the white backdrop in place.



Here are three of the four color backdrops.


Here is the light packed and unpacked.



Here is the camera stand packed and unpacked.



Pros...
Packs up really nice.
Multiple backdrops.
Simple and easy to use.

Cons...
Lights get hot.
Feels like I still need more light...

I know my camera sucks... I have said that plenty lately, but I still feel that my lighting may be off. I plan on buying a painting light and will get that to shine in the top to see if that improves my lighting. I am new to this whole thing so it may be plenty.

All in all I am pleased with my purchase and if I had to score it, I would give it a 4 out of 5.

On a different note... Check this out...

Some amazing orks

Nice looking guard

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Sept Hermit - Hindsight



I need the mutant power of hindsight. What do I mean by this? Allow me to explain...

I want to be able to look at something as if I have known it for weeks, months, or even years... Yea... That would work.

Today, I have for your "viewing pleasure" (pffft... yea right) my Sept Hermit. Several years ago I saw a golden demon winner do his Tau with a similar color scheme and I though it was very unique and looked cool. This... what you see here... is my version...

My 1 Completed Crisis Suit... Yea... He needs a plasma rifle, but I love the look of the burst cannon...



My 3 Stealth Suits




My 1 completed Devilfish... Less the drones



My 1 completed Fire Warrior Squad



You may be saying... "Hermit, what does this have to do with mutant powers, hindsight, or professor x?"

Well... I will tell you, if you are still reading this, then my randomness should see normal by now. I will then tell you that I am getting to it... Be patient...

Overall, I like the way the models look. I think they do look unique on a table. I have never played with anyone who has something different like them.

My problems are that up close, they do not do it for me anymore. I am a fast/lazy painter. I tend to get stuff done in a hurry. I can paint squads quick. I can paint vehicles quick. This is a blessing and a curse. I have problems slowing down. I think I even convince myself that a model looks good when in fact if does not.

I would like you to scroll back up and look at the Devilfish again. Go... I will wait....

Did you see that time? It is not "clean." The yellow is horrible. The orange is horrible. The "lines" are sloppy. How did I let this pass inspection? A conundrum I know.... Will I fix it? Who knows, I have tons of other things I would love to do...

That paint job takes a lot of work too... There are like four shades of blue there, then a tealish color. Two shades of orange... Then Yellow. I hate orange and yellow. I just do not get how people get them to come out clean. Mine looks like rubbish.

I love the Tau models. I love what my paint job should look like, and it does look good on the table. I just can not endure that orange and yellow....

/sigh

I know... I need a better camera... Some of those images look like blurry crap...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Sanity



Best Site Ever

I think there is a portion of this hobby that we all "know and love" that lends itself to a certain amount of insanity. I could look back at my blogs and see how fickle I am in my decisions.

I just made a purchase...

Here is my 1500 Point IG List that I am aiming for. It will be my standard gaming list until I buy and paint some options... Like that 12 Vendetta list I posted yesterday...

CCS
4 Meltas, Melta Bomb, Chimera, Heavy Stubber

PCS
4 Meltas, Melta Bomb, Chimera, Heavy Stubber

PCS
4 Meltas, Melta Bomb, Chimera, Heavy Stubber

IS
Vendetta

IS
Vendetta

IS
Vendetta

IS
Vendetta

Leman Russ
Heavy Bolter Sponsons

Leman Russ
Heavy Bolter Sponsons

Total comes to 1500 exactly. Do I really need the melta bombs? No... but I had 15 more points to spare and I like symmetry.

I will try and stick to just this project until at least this points value is fully painted and complete.

We shall see...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Plastic Wierdboy



This is nothing new... I have had it for a while...

"Hermit, why did you post it then you nub?" You may be saying...

I got my Photo Cube today and the Wierdboy is my test. The Cube seems cool, but I think I need a new camera. The images seem blurry still... If you know why I suck, please let me know...






There he is in all his plastic glory. Not the best in the world but if you play orks he can be free...

Parts I used
-Ork Boy
-Ork Slaver
-Ork Nob (The one in the boyz box)
-Random Skullz
-Base from a Chaos Lord
-Cloak from a Chaos Warrior

He is simple really and I do not think he looks half bad. I have been debating making a second one and if I do I will make a proper tutorial.

Back to the Photo Cube...

I will do a full review later...

I want to play with it a bit first, but so far I like it.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dirty Liar



I recently made a post that I plan on updating once a month... kind of...

I have to be honest with myself... There is no way I can hold myself back from buying cool models.

The main reason I got into this hobby back in 1997 (Hermit you are old....) was because I enjoyed the models. One could not tell that from the quality of my paint job back then... but it was true none the less.

I think I just need to be a little more focused in my projects and try to pace myself better.

I have heard all the cool rumors about the new Grey Knights and I am overjoyed. I always found the models to be cool. Now they are probably going to cost a ton on the table so I can collect a small (1500 or so) force and it will be a neat little project. Just the sort of thing I need.

I have Tau I want to finish, but I will probably wait until the new codex... no matter how long it takes.

I have Necrons I want to finish, but I will probably wait until the new codex... no matter how long it takes.

Orks... Lets just face the facts here... I will never stop buying orks. I just love those guys and the crazy things that can be done. They are also a blast to play.

IG... I think this will be my current project. Did you know that my first ever fully painted army was a Catachan Army that I force myself to complete after the Catachan plastics were released? I sold that Army on Ebay shortly after joining the army. We were more or less broke... I miss those guys....

I came across this post this week and that gives me inspiration for doing something with the bases on my Vendettas. I will work on those suckers and try to do the Cadian 127th proud as I ninja (read pay homage to his brilliant idea) on my own two of nine. Kind of sounds like borg when phrased like that...


I suppose when it comes to buying new models... resistance is futile...

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Fire from the Sky



Dear internet...

I need 7 of you to buy and send me some vendettas...

I have this insane list I want to field just for the heck of it...

1500 Point IG

CCS (50)

PCS (30)

IS (50)

IS (50)

Veteran Squad (70)

Veteran Squad (70)

Vendetta x 3 (390)

Vendetta x 3 (390)

Vendetta x 3 (390)


This only comes up to 1490 points. Will it work? Who cares? Can you imagine the looks I would get if I put 9 vendettas on the table? It would be great. I would never field it all the time, but it would be a fantastic game.

Not to mention the fact that I have 27 Lascannons...

Granted... I could only target 3 units a turn...

I needs it my precious... Larfleeze demands it...

When this is done I could add it to my 15 deffkopta list, or my 15 sentinel list that was only legal back when you could attach 3 sentinels to your CCS...

If I spend my model allowance on one a month... it would only take over half a year to complete...

Check back in August dear reader...

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Hermit vs Son Bat Rep




Hermit : 1000 Point IG
CCS, 4 Melta, Plasma Pistol
Chimera, Heavy Stubber

PCS, 4 Melta
Chimera, Heavy Stubber

IS
Ventatta

IS
Ventatta

Vet Squad, Autocannon

Vet Squad, Autocannon

Leman Russ
Heavy Bolter Sponson, Heavy Stubber


Son of Hermit:
Chaos Termie Lord, 2 LC, Khorne
5 Beserkers
Skull Champ, Power Weapon
Land Raider

Chaos Termie Lord, Combi-Melta, Nurgle
6 Plague Marines, 2 Melta
Plague Champ, Power Fist

6 Beserkers
Skull Champ, Power Weapon
Rhino

6 Beserkers
Skull Champ, Power Weapon
Rhino

Defiler

Game was Seize Ground and Spearhead. I won first round and he failed to seize initiative.



End of Round 1. Score 2 - 1
Vendatta targets Rhino and wrecks it. Vendatta 2 targets Land Raider and immobilises it and 1 Lascannon is blown off. Leman Russ Targets Plague Marines with Battle Cannon killing 3.

Beserkers move out of wreck and run. Termie Lord and Beserkers disembark from immobilised Land Raider and run. Due to LoS Defiler has few targets and fires battle cannon at Veteran Squad killing 1. Remaining Rhino drops off third squad of beserkers in my son's quarter and moves out to contest.



Round 2 End. Score 2 - 2
Leman Russ, and thePCS Chimera kill the remainder of plague Marines. One Vendatta wrecks the Defiler. Vendatta, CCS Chimera and both Veteran Squads kill 3 Beserkers in Khorne Lord's Squad.

Beserkers squads now sitting on two objectives. Khorne Lord and his squad, along with Nurgle Lord continue to run forward trying to close gap. Land Raider fires remaining Lascannon Immobilising PCS Chimera.



Round 3 End. Score 2 - 2
Leman Russ has to shift for better lane of fire. One Vendetta targets Land Raider taking its second Lascannon. PCS and Chimera target Nurgle Lord and fail get past his save. Vendetta, both Veteran Squads, CCS squad and their Chimera kill off the Khorne Lord's squad and give him two wounds (I cheated and let him have eternal warrior...)

Rhino moves in closer and pops smoke. Khorne Lord and Nurgle Lord close the gap... Nothing else to be done.



Round 4 End. Score 2 - 2 (1 Contested)
Veteran Squad moves to claim objective deep in my quarter. Vendetta targets beserkers in my son's quarter and kill two. Leman Russ targets Rhino and misses. Vendatta and Veteran Squad finish off Khorne Lord. CCS and Chimera target and kill 3 berserkers in squad in top right quarter. PCS and Chimera target Nurgle Lord taking two wounds (again... cheater... eternal warrior).

Nurgle Lord pops PCS Chimera with combi-melta all guard make their save. Rhino close gap to be in contest range next turn. Beserkers in son's quarter move into cover smartly still holding objective.

...

...

No image for Round 5. Sorry I am such a loser... Table is cleaned up now too late...

/sigh

Round 5 End. Score 4 - 1
Vendatta destroyed remaining Rhino. PCS finally took down the Nurgle Lord. CCS Chimera moved to contest objective then melted the remaining beserkers.

4 Beserkers hunkered down in the woodline on in my son's quarter and we called it...

"But Hermit... what the heck was that ork trukk doing on the field? And those unpainted PCS... And that unfinished Chimera... You suck!" You might say...

I hear you... I do suck. I need to finish. My shame is my own...

I suppose if I deduct point for my unpainted crap and my proxy chimera it was a tie...

All in all a fun game. My son and I enjoy our games. Question for the Dad's out there... Do you let your son win? I do not. I cheat for him often, but never yield. I always give him a handicap, but again... never yield. I want him to get better. I want to challenge him. What are your thoughts?