2022 - Review Time!

 

 Well it's been a bit of a quiet year really in comparison with others. I've not actually blogged since September, although I did paint the odd model since then but but hadn't got around to adding them on here. 

 So back in early January, I produced the highlight of my year, personally: the Dwarf Juggernaut from the Citadel Arcane Monstrosities range.

 Some notable alterations were made, such as a different crew and the imperial flame cannon on the main deck.

 The plan was to carry on with the large scale machine theme with a repaint of the Chaos Battering Ram from the same range but I think it was too much to take on after weeks of working on a equally sizeable project so I went for a single model instead, Hrothyogg from the classic Jes Goodwin ogre range.

 I did make a start on a French unit for The Silver Bayonet, the Napoleonic gothic horror game, using Flintloque elves. Didn't get the whole unit wrapped up as I was getting drawn into the next project but I'll return to them for sure.

 I then took on another fairly small project, a tactical squad of Rogue Trader Space Marines, incidentally the first 40k models I had painted in five years. The plan is to add other squads in the same colours over time.

 I was really keen to start on another Tilean mercenary regiment but only got as far as two of the command models before running out of steam. There's plenty of great characterful figures that will feature in the unit though when I'm good and ready.

 It was only a matter of time before I revisited my long ongoing Dixon Miniatures American Civil War project, this time with another Confederate regiment, the 5th Texas Infantry. This was followed by some dismounted Confederate cavalry. 

 The last couple of months of 2022 were a bit hit and miss with several ideas floating around but just not finding the momentum to undergo any of them. Frustrating to say the least. Although, I did repaint my Asgard Half Troll which will represent my beastlord for my beastman/broo regiment. Plus I'd been looking for a suitable armour technique to use on my chaos warriors when the time comes and my test model was a success!

So, sadly no grand effort at the close of the year. I have been working on a couple of projects over the Christmas holidays that should both see completion in January though. I'm still holding out for my diorama that I was aiming for during 2022 but then again, that was planned for 2021 as well. Third year lucky hopefully!

 

 

Dixon Miniatures American Civil War - 5th Texas Infantry

 

 It's been a long time since my last post. The plan had been to undergo a classic beastman/broo regiment but after making a start on a couple, I felt I wasn't feeling it. So for now that project will have to wait until the time is right. 

 So for now I've decided to revisit my long running Dixon Miniatures American Civil War project and have spent the last month or so on another Confederate regiment, the 5th Texas Infantry. 

 The 5th Texas was part of the Texas Brigade which I'm planning on painting every regiment that featured. I already have the 3rd Arkansas and a command base featuring Texas Brigade commander John Bell Hood sorted and intend to include the 1st and 4th Texas regiments plus original members, the 18th Georgia and Hampton's Legion.

 Created in October 1861, the 5th Texas were assigned to the Texas Brigade. As part of the brigade, the 5th performed well at the Battle of Eltham's Landing, lightly involved at the Battle of Seven Pines as well as playing an important roll in the Battle of Gaines' Mill with a charge that split the Union lines.

Regiment commander Jerome B. Robertson can be seen on the far left.

 After featuring at Antietam and Fredericksburg, the 5th were heavily engaged at Gettysburg where they suffered over 50% casualties following the assault on Little Round Top. There was another heavy engagement later on in 1863 at Chickamauga after the brigade had shifted to the Western theatre, suffering significant casualties once more. 

 They continued to feature in prominent battles such as The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg before the surrender at Appomattox with 12 officers and 149 rank and file which was the largest unit in the Texas Brigade.

Texans Always Move Them

"Attention Texas Brigade" was rung upon the morning air by Gen. Gregg, the eyes of General Lee are upon you, forward march." Scarce had we moved a step, when Gen. Lee, in front of the whole command, raised himself in his stirrups, uncovered his grey hair and with an earnest, yet anxious voice, exclaimed above the din and confusion of the hour. "Texans always move them." ....never before in my lifetime or since did I ever witness such a scene as was enacted when Lee pronounced these words with the appealing look that he gave. A yell rent the air that must have been heard for miles around and but few eyes in that old brigade of veterans and heroes of many a bloody field was undimmed by honest heartfelt tears. Leonard Gee, a courier to Gen. Gregg and riding by my side with tears coursing down his cheeks and yells issuing from his throat exclaimed "I would charge hell itself for that old man!"

Private Robert Campbell, 5th Texas Infantry 

 

So the plan is to get another regiment of the Brigade underway at some point soon but meanwhile I've started work on some dismounted Confederate cavalry as I find painting regiments like a bit of a marathon. 

 

Rogue Trader Space Marines - Tactical Squad complete.

 

 So with the last pair of rogue trader space marines finished this week, I've rounded off my five man tactical squad. 

 I've gone for Brother Leanman and my favourite heavy weapon marine miniature for the final two in what has been a very economical project as all five models were spares from when I finished painting my space marine army several years ago. 

 I've been delighted with the amount of positive response on various social media platforms regarding the colour scheme that I've opted for. I spend a lot of time working out colour schemes on all of my projects (more than the actual painting sometimes) so it means an awful lot!

 There is always the chance of adding to this chapter at some point but a tactical squad was all I'd set out to achieve for now but it's been an enjoyable little project so it's pretty likely you'll be seeing more of these guys down the line.

 As these guys are part of an Inquisition aligned chapter, the plan is to include an Inquisitor in terminator armour so I'll be working on that in the near future but also I'll be making a start on the next project which is a Chaos Renegade warband which is something I've wanted to take on for a long time but never quite found it to be the time.

 

 

Rogue Trader Space Marines - two new additions to the Tactical Squad

  So I've added a pair of classic Rogue Trader marines to my planned five man tactical squad. Accompanying the sergeant is one of my favourites of the RT space marine range, Brother Slater (with scanner) and Brother Quiff.

 Slater, another Mark Copplestone model is an all round belter. The helmet has a really nice shape to it. Quiff, sculpted by Aly Morrison, has a face only his mother could love, which has also doubled up as both the faces of Inquisitor Augustus and the Traitor General from the Rogue Trooper range.

 Brother Quiff, like his sergeant, is sporting a hairstyle befitting the time period in which he was sculpted. 

 Next up with be the final pair to complete the squad, including a heavy bolter marine before tackling the main man, the inquisitor in terminator  armour. 

Rogue Trader Space Marine Sergeant - my first 40k paint job in 5 years

 

 If someone said to me after I painted my Rogue Trader warband back in 2017 that I'd not paint another 40k model for five years, I'd have probably laughed in their face. If someone had said to me years ago after painting my space marine army that I'd never paint another one again, I'd probably have agreed with them.

 So, here we are. I'm not aiming for anything to big here, just a tactical squad to accompany an Inquisitor in terminator armour. 

 I've opted to kick off with my all time favourite space marine model, Brother Napier. Sculpted by Mark Copplestone, who is my favourite of the marine sculptors, Napier captures that classic 80's RT aesthetic, especially with that hairstyle. Like the army, I've gone for a made up chapter/colour scheme. No chapter name finalised yet, I'll probably wait until the squad is finished. 

 I wanted the armour to be predominantly grey and pale blue and decided to break it up with a small amount of orange. Also, he's sporting a classic rogue trader marine backpack with banner poles which aren't too easy to find these days. 

 I've nearly wrapped up man #2 with man #3 ready to go and the Inquisitor is currently being stripped so I'll hopefully post another update next week, all going well.

Citadel C23 Ogre - Hrothyogg, mercenary captain

 

 After the intensity of the dwarf juggernaut project, I've decided to hold fire on another large scale venture so soon and thought it would be a good idea to tackle some single miniatures instead, something a little more manageable for now.

 I've decided on a bit of a Citadel classic, one that's pretty popular among the Oldhammer community, Hrothyogg the mercenary ogre captain.

 One of the second wave of Jes Goodwin C23 ogres, Hrothyogg was the first 40mm base miniature I ever bought back in 1986 when he was first released. My original one is long gone unfortunately but this cast has been sat in my random Citadel box for a few years now. 

 Annoyingly there is a bit if miscasting under the right arm but thankfully it doesn't notice too much when looking at him straight on.

 I don't have all of the Jes Goodwin ogres by a long shot but I'd say I do have all of my favourites. I may well tackle a couple of more of them this year seeing how much I enjoyed this one. 

When two legends meet - Gladius & Hrothyogg 

 So spending a couple of weeks on Hrothyogg has given me time to work out what to focus on next in the coming weeks. I think it's high time I tackled some of the classic Citadel undead models which I have had in mind for some time but up until now haven't quite got to greenlight stage. Plus after wanting to start a fantasy vignette for several months but not having a theme finalised, I may have a plan in motion for that.

Stripped and Repainted - Citadel Arcane Monstrosities TA2 Dwarf Juggernaut

 

 This was something I was aiming to complete before the end of the year but I just ran out of time in the end. 

 For a good while now I've been looking at models in my collection that I feel no longer merit being in my display cabinets due to substandard paint jobs. The juggernaut was a prime example of this predicament and had been residing in a shoe box for some time - and a model of such legendary status...well that ain't no good is it?

 It doesn't really require any introduction of course but the dwarf juggernaut was part of the Arcane Monstrosities range, which were a number of larger, multi part kits, predominantly sculpted by Tony Ackland.

 So after taking the plunge, a fair bit of courage, some careful dismantling, a lot of stripping, some crucial model selection and several weeks of dedication, here is the finished result.

 One of the key changes this time around was a smaller base; less is definitely more in this case. I felt there was way too much unnecessary space on the previous base.

 Some of the key elements from before have remained, most importantly, the imperial flame cannon. The part the original gun fixes onto had been cut off long before I bought it off someone back in about 1995 with my dole money. I always remember someone from school days owned one and a number of years later I made it my mission to track him down and attempt to get him to part with it. This was pre internet/social media days so I had trouble finding out where he lived and took a while before eventually locating him. After he initially refused my offer to buy it, he eventually, albeit reluctantly, agreed to part with it for £30. This did leave me having to live on the proverbial beans on toast for a number of days before I was able to sign on again but at least the fabled model was now mine!

 It had never come with the original crew, which wasn't a problem as my intentions were to always use imperial dwarfs as crewmen. 

From this...

...to this!

Drilling all the way through that was a right laugh.

 

 Something else that I desperately needed to resolve from before was the axles. A number of bits broke off when removing the wheels which was fine as I would be replacing all axles with brass rod - as it is recommended in the original instructions. 

 I decided on reusing the model of The Baron from the BC3 Dwarf Lords of Legend set who was on the base for the previous paint job but now stands on the deck as the juggernaut commander. One or two other models remain and there are a couple of new additions in the crossbowman and gunner with telescope.

 Every piece was painted separately before gluing and it was quite an ordeal working out which order to assemble it all, as I couldn't remember exactly from the last time. 

 So I'm definitely all up for doing this again with at least one other of my outdated display pieces and will quite likely be sooner than later.