Hey everyone, how's it going?
As a global moderator of this forum, and a member since 2008, it's a little sad that I've not really shown much in the way of modelling or painting here. The recent Deathwatch release has reinvigorated me and inspired me to actually get some models glued up and painted, so I thought I'd start a Project Log here. It's going to be mirrored over at The Independent Characters' forum (http://www.theindependentcharacters.com/forums/index.php) and maybe the Bolter and Chainsword forum (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/) too, with parts of it posted over on Facebook in the 1 Hour A Night Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/618212608307249/), so if you see this stuff in any of those places, it's not someone plagiarising me.
Anyway, onto the models.
So far, I've managed to purchase the following Deathwatch models:
1 Watch Captain Artemis
1 Deathwatch Venerable Dreadnought
5 Deathwatch Vanguard Veterans
5 Deathwatch Terminators
10 Deathwatch Veterans
5 Deathwatch Bikers
1 Deathwatch Corvus Blackstar
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/IC%202.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/IC%202.jpg.html)
Over at the The Independent Characters forum and in the 1 Hour A Night Facebook group, I'm participating in their Hobby Progress Challenge and 1HourANight Challenge (respectively). Mostly, that means that I have to pledge to paint a certain amount of miniatures each month and I get points and badges for doing so, with the chance to win some prizes at the end of the year.
For my first month of these two challenges I'm committing to doing 10 Deathwatch Veterans and 5 Deathwatch Bikers. That's mostly because I'm completely undecided in what I actually want to field in my army (specifically, how I want to arm my models), and Bikers only really get one choice of weapon whilst I've somewhat decided what I'm doing with my first squad of Veterans.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/IC%201.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/IC%201.jpg.html)
The Bikers, as a Fast Attack choice, will also count towards the combined challenge called the CAD in a Quarter Challenge. To finish this I'll need to have painted an Elites choice, a Fast Attack choice, a Heavy Support choice, a Fortifications choice, and a Lord of War choice by the start of December. I already have an Elites choice that I can paint up (my choice of the Terminators, the Vanguard Veterans, and/or the Venerable Dreadnought) and I have several Fortifications choices I can take, due to me buying things before I left England for Japan 7 years ago, but I'm going to have to buy and paint a Deathwatch Land Raider at some point, as the three Land Raider types are the only Heavy Support choices the Deathwatch get, as well as work out what kind of Lords of War the Deathwatch can take, then buy one and paint it up.
I'm going to have to search out some of my old Dark Angels Ravenwing bits because I want one of my Bikers to be a member of the Ravenwing, specifically he's going to be the one with a Locator Beacon (seeing as that's what the Ravenwing do for the Dark Angels, it didn't seem like much of a stretch to do that within the Deathwatch too).
At this point I'm unsure how I'm going to base the army. I'm considering basing it as urban ruins, as one of my to-do projects is an entire Cities of Death cityscape, with modular tiles and buildings, though I want to do a bit more research into how Cities of Death works in the current edition of 40k before I approach that project. Failing that, I might just do your average "wasteland" base in order to fit in with as many tabletops as possible (sand and small stones, painted brown or grey).
In terms of the background of my army, I've got a few things I need to decide. I want the option to use Watch Captain Artemis (seeing as I'm a huge fan of the Inquisitor game where he first debuted), Venerable Dreadnought Nihilus, and Kill Team Cassius as themselves as special characters, but I'm not especially fond of the idea of having my army come from Watch Fortress Talasa Prime (where Artemis and Nihilus are from). I think the best way to explain them away is to have my Watch Fortress run some kind of exchange program, to allow Kill Teams and Watch Companies to come in and fight alongside the KTs/WCs of the Fortress and share tactics and strategy.
I'm thinking of adopting Fort Excalibris, located in Segmentum Obscuris, as my Watch Fortress as nothing has been written about it as far as I'm aware. In particular, I'm tempted to take the name of the Fortress and 'create' a relic located there that gave the Fortress its name: a legendary sword of power that is wielded by the Fortress's Watch Master in place of a Guardian Spear. My Watch Master could be converted from the original limited edition Emperor's Champion model (http://solegends.com/citle2000/promotions/emperorschampion/index.htm) (of which I have one spare and able to be used for this) with both shoulder pads removed and replaced appropriately, the Black Templar symbols removed, and appropriate extra bits added (Clavis, wrist-mounted Boltgun to replace the one on the Guardian Spear, etc.).
I'm tempted to include one of my other characters in my Deathwatch army, Magnus Blackwolf from my Space Wolves army (http://secondsphere.org/index.php?topic=1670.msg31948#msg31948). I've written quite a bit about him, though mostly in aid of my then-current Space Wolves army, but since I no longer own that army, and I don't intend to collect another Space Wolf army any time soon, it's the only way I'm going to get to use the background that I've written for that character. I'd have to rewrite some of it to match him being part of the Deathwatch rather than being in a Great Company, but it wouldn't be too hard for me to do so. I'm assuming that he'd be a Watch Captain, but he might end up being my Watch Master or even just a regular Veteran.
That's about all I've got time for now. Hopefully I'll post again within a short time with more on the army, not least of which I hope will be models assembled and/or painted.
This all sounds absolutely fantastic!
I may have some Ravenwing bits floating around. May not be much, but they're just collecting dust on my bits bots. I think I also have Space Wolf and Black templar, though I'll double check if you'd like them.
Weapon options aside, how do the models look to you compared to some of their previous Space Marine model releases? Sturdy design, or just made to look cool?
Quote from: Narric on September 03, 2016, 11:04:04 PM
This all sounds absolutely fantastic!
Thank you very much :D
Quote from: Narric on September 03, 2016, 11:04:04 PMI may have some Ravenwing bits floating around. May not be much, but they're just collecting dust on my bits bots. I think I also have Space Wolf and Black templar, though I'll double check if you'd like them.
I definitely want to include some of the plastic bits from the other kits. It'd be great if you could check what spares you had.
Quote from: Narric on September 03, 2016, 11:04:04 PMWeapon options aside, how do the models look to you compared to some of their previous Space Marine model releases? Sturdy design, or just made to look cool?
The models are definitely designed digitally, and seem to fit together well. The Mark VIII armour that each of them is equipped with is quite different from almost all other Space Marine models I've seen before, both being taller and seeming taller because of the Mk. VIII high collar, and the pouches and ammunition that get glued onto the front of each torso.
They're both sturdy as well as made to look cool. About the only thing I'm disappointed in, model wise, is that GW has designed the doors on the Corvus Blackstar, which are the same size as Rhino doors, to NOT be compatible with Rhino kits. I should be able to kitbash something, but they haven't made it easy.
Oooh...
Looking forward to this one!
-BT
Quote from: Masked Thespian on September 03, 2016, 11:15:31 PM
Quote from: Narric on September 03, 2016, 11:04:04 PMI may have some Ravenwing bits floating around. May not be much, but they're just collecting dust on my bits bots. I think I also have Space Wolf and Black templar, though I'll double check if you'd like them.
I definitely want to include some of the plastic bits from the other kits. It'd be great if you could check what spares you had.
Mix of Space Wolf, Vanilla, and little bit of Dark Angels. Should I include the chaos btis for some base fodder? :P
Quote from: BigToof on September 04, 2016, 02:28:08 AM
Oooh...
Looking forward to this one!
-BT
Thank you. I hope I live up to your expectations :)
Quote from: Narric on September 04, 2016, 06:43:59 PM
Quote from: Masked Thespian on September 03, 2016, 11:15:31 PM
Quote from: Narric on September 03, 2016, 11:04:04 PMI may have some Ravenwing bits floating around. May not be much, but they're just collecting dust on my bits bots. I think I also have Space Wolf and Black templar, though I'll double check if you'd like them.
I definitely want to include some of the plastic bits from the other kits. It'd be great if you could check what spares you had.
Mix of Space Wolf, Vanilla, and little bit of Dark Angels. Should I include the chaos btis for some base fodder? :P
That'd be awesome. Drop me a PM, either here or on Facebook, and we can discuss it further.
So, here's my first update. No models, sadly, but I'm getting there.
Having returned to England after living in Japan for 6 years meant that I've had to take all of my old tools out of storage. I've spent the last few days sorting out what I had and getting myself a work area set up.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/7.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/7.jpg.html)
Here's my old GW paint station that I've owned for at least a decade now. I usually use it for modelling more than painting (mostly because I prefer modelling to painting and have, in the past, done my best to do as little of the latter as possible). I tend to keep my tools in the box on the right so I have easy access to them whilst keeping them together so they don't roll everywhere.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/6.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/6.jpg.html)
This is a box full of... stuff. It's all tidied up now, with my tools on the left side and my consumables on the right (consumables being things like basing material, green stuff, glue, etc.). It's sitting next to where my paint station is so that I've got easy access to it all.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/4.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/4.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/5.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/5.jpg.html)
Here are all of my old paints that I've been able to salvage. I'm actually quite surprised at how many of them are still usable after around 7 years without any use or motion (to agitate them inside the pots).
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/3.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/3.jpg.html)
These paints are still usable, but have lost a lot of liquid to evaporation to the point that they resemble the texture of blancmange and will probably need to be watered down somewhat before I start using them.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/2.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/2.jpg.html)
These paints are almost dried out, resembling firm jelly/Jell-O. I'm not certain I can save them, but I'll give them a go.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/1.jpg.html)
And these are the paints I'm having to say, "Goodbye," to. The Purple Ink, Scab Red, and Red Gore are all bone dry, the Goblin Green's separated and the pigment has hardened at the bottom of the pot, and the three metallics have all had their metallic elements settle to the bottom and become stuck to each other.
With all of that out of the way, I'm going to be free to start assembling my models. I've almost finished the first draft of the backstory of my Deathwatch Watch Fortress but I need to sort out some niggling details before I post it. I also need to finish planning out which Chapters my initial models are going to be from, as I'd prefer it if each model in an individual Kill Team were from a different Chapter and I'd like to reduce the number of First Founding Chapters in my army as possible whilst using the Chapter shoulder pads that come in the Deathwatch Veterans box as much as possible. There's going to be lots more research to do and a load of spreadsheets to work everything out, but I'm confident that I'll have some modelling photos within the next day or two.
Such organisation!
I'm quite the same when it comes to models :P I prefer customising to painting XP Still work hard at the paintjob, and it will make the conversion stand out even more! ;)
Have you double checked the glue still adheres? I've found opened glue thats been sitting around doesn't work quite as well. If you need replacements, I'd avoid the GW glues, as in my experience they're like weaker super glue, as they do not chemically bond the pieces together as they used to. Humbrol PolyCement has been reliable for me in recent years, though be careful with excess glue clogging the lid :-\
The first couple of tubes of superglue I tried were solid. The third one exploded over my hand and foot. I've since gone out and bought some more, in particular a pot with a brush applicator (which I prefer to a nozzle). I also bought some Liquid Polystyrene Cement a couple of weeks ago, but have found my old pot, so even if the old one doesn't work out I've got a backup.
My epoxy glue, on the other hand, is over 20 years old, as it was one of the first glues I ever bought (back when big models with heavy wings made of lead were all the rage). I haven't tried it in a very long time but I wouldn't doubt that it's all but useless now. I'm planning on possibly assembling a Forge World model in November for one of the painting challenges I'm participating in, so I'll probably have to buy a new one in a month or so.
I've mostly planned out how my first 15 models are going to be armed. Only 3 of them are able to be assembled out of the box (from all of the Deathwatch things I've bought so far, including the Vanguard Veterans, for example), with the others requiring additional parts from my collection or bits box:
Kill Team
Model | | | Left Arm | | | Both Arms | | | Right Arm | | | Outside bits |
Watch Sergeant x 1 | | | Magnetised Power Sword/Power Maul/Auspex/Boltgun | | | N/A | | | | | | Magnets, Auspex, Left Arm with Boltgun |
"Hand-to-Hand" x 1 | | | N/A | | | Heavy Thunder Hammer | | | N/A | | | N/A (buildable out of box) |
"Heavy" x 2 | | | N/A | | | Magnetised Frag Cannon/Infernus Heavy Bolter | | | N/A | | | Magnets |
"Combi-Weapon" x 2 | | | Chainsword | | | N/A | | | Combi-weapon with magnetised Plasma/Melta | | | Magnets, left arm Chainswords |
"Bolter & Chainsword" x 2 | | | Chainsword | | | N/A | | | Boltgun | | | Left arm Chainswords |
"Bolter" x 2 | | | N/A | | | Boltgun | | | N/A | | | Paired Space Marine "firing" Boltgun arms |
Bikers
Model | | | Left Arm | | | Right Arm | | | Outside bits |
"Power Weapon" x 2 | | | Magnetised Power Sword/Power Maul/Power Axe/Power Lance/Chainsword | | | Holding handlebars | | | Magnets, Power Lance, left arm Power Axe, left arm Chainswords |
"Ravenwing" x 1 | | | Holding handlebars | | | Holding handlebars | | | Ravenwing bits, teleport homer |
"Chainsword" x 1 | | | Holding handlebars | | | Chainsword | | | N/A (buildable out of box) |
"Rider" x 1 | | | Holding handlebars | | | Holding handlebars | | | N/A (buildable out of box) |
It's strange, but last night I was looking through the Kill Team sprue and there are no Chainswords on there, and all of the Chainswords on the Vanguard Veteran sprue can only be wielded in their right hands, forcing me to look to my bits box to make up the numbers. I also intend to "convert" up a pair of Deathwatch Marines holding their Bolter in both hands (as per 90% of Tactical Marines) but I'll need to grab some from other, unassembled, Marines in my collection.
Since I don't know how I'm going to be fully arming all of my models, the ones that can take significantly different weapons are going to have their left arm magnetised at the shoulder. It does mean that I'll have to use extra amounts of the Deathwatch shoulder pad one glued to each spare arm), but it means that I don't have to worry about matching the "Chapter" shoulder pad on the right arm.
Those are retro paints! :P Ahh how i love the old names so much better than the new system
Good luck with the project, will follow this one :D
I have a few of the really old paints somewhere, I wonder how they're holding up...
Quote from: Thantos on September 14, 2016, 11:44:24 AM
Those are retro paints! :P Ahh how i love the old names so much better than the new system
Good luck with the project, will follow this one :D
Thanks ;D
The old names really were better, in some ways. Amongst other things, I remember that Smelly Primer really was smelly.
Quote from: Mabbz on September 14, 2016, 04:28:13 PM
I have a few of the really old paints somewhere, I wonder how they're holding up...
Go take a look. I was surprised at how many of mine were still usable, albeit some of them needing watering down.
Today I don't bring much in the way of models, but I offer a glimpse of things to come (in a way).
I spent a couple of hours today searching through my old things. As mentioned before, I needed to find some bits that the Deathwatch boxes didn't have (including, for some bizarre reason, left arms holding Chainswords) so I went looking for my bits boxes and old Space Marine sprues. And other than a single item, I found exactly what I was looking for (and more).
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/1_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/1_1.jpg.html)
This is a pile of random Space Marine sprues, ranging from Tactical Marines circa 2004, through Dark Angels upgrade sprues, and Command Squad sprues. Everything there has at least one bit on it that I'd like to use in my army, and that I intend to use.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/2_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/2_1.jpg.html)
I also found this lot, including a plastic box of Space Marine bits that I took to Japan, never used, and brought back to England with me.
Amongst other things, I intent to field an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor alongside this army at some point in the future. Now, other than special characters, I've never fielded an Inquisitor model as an Inquisitor before, preferring to convert them up from other moels. My Daemonhunter Inquisitors, for example, are converted up from an Archaon on foot Games Day model (http://solegends.com/citle2000/GamesDay/2004archaon/index.htm) and the Sisters of Battle special character Saint Celestine (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Sisters-of-Battle-Celestine-the-Living-Saint). And I'd like to continue that tradition with any Ordo Xenos Inquisitors I take. Currently I have a couple of ideas, but nothing solid, so until then I'll keep these two in mind: Solomon Lok (https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Inquisitor-Solomon-Lok-and-Retinue) from The Anphelion Project and Gregor Eisenhorn from... well... the Eisenhorn Triology, both of whom are Ordo Xenos Inquisitors.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/3_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/3_1.jpg.html)
Eisenhorn is part of a limited edition diorama, limited to only 500 pieces. I managed to get this one back when they were still available and kept it for a long time (intending to incorporate it into my Daemonhunters army at the time).
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/4_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/4_1.jpg.html)
And here's the man himself (in the top left corner) with Pontius Glaw in the top right.
I'm not the biggest fan of the 28mm version of Eisenhorn (http://solegends.com/citle2000/blacklibrary/bleisenhorn/index.htm), but as a huge fan of him in the fiction I'm willing to overlook that.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/5_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/5_1.jpg.html)
In the big brown box at the bottom of the picture above is an Aquila Lander (like the crashed one you got in the Battle for Macragge starter set from 4th Edition, but fully intact) from Forge World. I'd purchased this years ago with the intention of using it for my Daemonhunter Inquisitor to ride in (WAY before Flyers were part of the core rules and were Forge World only) but never got around to assembling it. So, I'm potentially co-opting it for my Ordo Xenos Inquisitor.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/6_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/6_1.jpg.html)
Here's the first of my bits boxes. Almost all of the compartments have something in them, mostly being bits but occasionally being an old project I sheved for one reason or another. What's that on top of it though?
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/7_1.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/7_1.jpg.html)
Ooh... A Battlefleet Gothic Imperial Cruiser on its sprue. I wonder what that's doing there...
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/8.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/8.jpg.html)
Here's the second of my bits boxes. Most, but not all, of the compartments have something in them.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/9.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/9.jpg.html)
And my final bits box. This one definitely has some old projects in it, of which I'm about to show you some. They're not going to be part of my Deathwatch army, but hopefully they'll give you an idea as to what kind of things I'm capable of.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/10.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/10.jpg.html)
So this is an interesting one. Back in 2006 I'd decided to try and "get back into the hobby" (after just putzing around for a while and relying on my existing armies) by updating my Dark Angels army with the then-new 4th Edition release. I decided that I'd try and make an entirely plastic Dark Angels Techmarine out of bits from the Dark Angels Veteran sprue and Dark Angels Vehicle sprue, along with cutting up the legs of two Imperial Guard Sentinels.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/12.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/12.jpg.html)
Now, amongst other things, the 4th Edition Dark Angels Codex was... a little restrictive. If I recall it correctly, Techmarines were Elites choices that didn't count as Elites choices but only had very limited wargear and weapon options, as you can see here. They could have a Servo Arm or a Servo-Harness (with 2 Servo Arms, a Flamer, and a Plasma Cutter (twin-linked Plasma Pistol)) and could have a Bolter, a Plasma Pistol, or a Bolt Pistol, along with a Power Weapon (this is before Power Axes had different stats from Power Swords). So I magnetised this model to be able to have any of those weapons.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/13.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/13.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/14.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/14.jpg.html)
Here's how he would look with just a Servo Arm. He's wielding the unique-looking Bolt Pistol from the chap in the Battle for Macragge set, as I figured a Techmarine would have access to antique weapons like that.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/17.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/17.jpg.html)
And here he is with the full Servo-Harness on.
It's really a shame that I never finished it (I think all I needed to do was to finish off his Power Axe and do a bit of green stuffing here and there), especially as some of the magnets seem to have corroded since the last time I looked at him and will probably need replacing.
It's doubly a shame, because I found this guy in the next row down:
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/18.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/18.jpg.html)
He's the direct-sales only Techmarine (https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Space-Marine-Techmarine) who doesn't have a helmet. Admittedly, my version is a lot more unique and customised.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/19.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/19.jpg.html)
Here's another one of my projects, one that I sunk a lot of money into but lost interest before completing. It's an Arbites biker, using a Space Marine Scout Biker for the most part, but replacing the torso with a Cadian Torso and using the Cadian head with sunglasses (to give it that full Judge Dredd/Adeptus Arbites look). I bought a whole bunch of Scouts, Cadian Torsos, and Cadian heads with sunglasses, along with several boxes of the Necromunda Enforcers to make an Arbites army (either from using the rules in Codex: Witch Hunters or from using the Bell of Lost Souls Adeptus Arbites fan codex, which was relatively new at the time) but never really got past a couple of test models, including this one.
When I do get around to finishing it off, I'm going to have to do some more bits ordering as the giant Aquila shoulder pad that comes in the Veteran Vanguard box will be perfect for giving them the Judge Dredd/Arbites look.
The final thing I'm going to share tonight is a hobby oddity. I'm starting to assemble my Deathwatch, starting with the Bikers, and I came across a bit of a weird situation.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/20.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/20.jpg.html)
On the left there is the rear torso of the Space Marine Biker kit. On the right is the front torso that comes on the Deathwatch upgrade sprue. At some point between these two pieces being made (2002 and 2016 respectively) Games Workshop changed around the format of Space Marine torsos from having the front be the "male" part to the rear being the "male" part. Just a little oddity and it didn't really bother me that much. I suppose the torsos of my Deathwatch Bikers will technically be slightly more prone to breaking apart, but I'm using Liquid Poly so I doubt it'll ever be an issue.
At this point I've gotten two Bikers almost completely done, though I need to find my pin vice to drill out their Bolters. I've had a look around but I can't seem to find it (though I have found plenty of drill bits for once I do find it again), so I might have to bite the bullet and buy a new one if I can't. Pictures of models will follow when I've got something to actually photograph.
So many old projects and conversions!!!
Think you'll do whats needed to finish them off?
No guitars were harmed in the making of MT's conversions? ;)
Love that mega tech marine especially.
Eisenhorn is a neat rarity!
Reminds me how I was going to try shrinking a 54mm inquisitor mini down to 28mm (which chaos magics!) which may or may not look cool xD
So many great things in the bitz box chest of drawers!
Quote from: Narric on September 15, 2016, 05:16:51 AM
So many old projects and conversions!!!
Think you'll do whats needed to finish them off?
Hopefully. The Arbites project is one that I really want to do, to the point that I discussed the possibility of including them allied to my Sisters of Battle (that are also another project that has barely gotten off the ground) earlier in the year (http://secondsphere.org/index.php?topic=2093.msg38003#msg38003).
My main concern with the Arbites is the lack of a decent Codex to run them as. The Inquisition codex doesn't really do them terribly well (though it does let me field them), with very overcosted Troops (9 points for an Arbite with Bolter or 14 for one with
Hot-Shot Lasgun Arbite Shotgun) and I doubt that the Astra Militarum codex (which I've yet to pick up since I'm not planning on playing with my Imperial Guard any time soon) will give me the option to field something like them. Whilst I don't play to win at all costs, playing a distinctly underpowered army and losing most of my games doesn't sound like the most fun.
With rumours of Genestealer Cults coming soon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kySbYlsxvPs) I'm probably going to be a lot more invigorated to complete the Arbites. I guess you'll just have to watch this space.
Quote from: Thantos on September 15, 2016, 07:13:29 AM
No guitars were harmed in the making of MT's conversions? ;)
Love that mega tech marine especially.
Eisenhorn is a neat rarity!
Reminds me how I was going to try shrinking a 54mm inquisitor mini down to 28mm (which chaos magics!) which may or may not look cool xD
So many great things in the bitz box chest of drawers!
Nope, no guitars harmed whatsoever. I went into a music store and bought a set of replacement strings a long time ago in anticipation of conversions like that one. They're not as useful as you'd think, as they're a lot less flexible when you're working with small lengths, which can mostly be seen in the three coils hanging down from the Servo-Arm backpack (which aren't really hanging in a natural pose). Recently, I bought one of those green stuff tube/tentacle makers so hopefully any future endeavours like that will look a bit better.
No modelling updates of late. I can't find my pin vice and my local store is out of them for the moment, so my progress has ground to a halt; I need to drill out bolters and pin some arms before I can continue further.
I have, however, completed the first version of my army's background. It can be found here (http://secondsphere.org/index.php?topic=2300.0).
I've been puttering on, though I took the weekend off to go to a number of Magic prereleases at my local gaming store. Had a jolly good time there, too.
So far, out of my 15 initial models, I've managed to assembled 8 of them: 4 Bikers and 4 Veterans. I'm a little disappointed at that number, as I'd hoped to have all 15 done by now so I could get started on painting them, but I'm okay with them as they are. My local store is still out of pin vices, so I've not been able to drill any Bolter barrels out yet, nor drill holes for magnets.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%201.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%201.jpg.html)
Here are my four Bikers. Let's take a look at them up close.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-2.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-2.jpg.html)
This guy's just a regular Biker.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-3.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-3.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-4.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-4.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-5.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-5.jpg.html)
This guy's a member of the Dark Angels Ravenwing. I used as many Dark Angels bits on him to make him stand out, even customising the shoulder pad with a small Ravenwing emblem (since the existing Ravenwing shoulder pads have the emblem facing the other direction). That pad's since had a little green stuff used so there aren't any gaps underneath the emblem.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%202.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%202.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%203.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%203.jpg.html)
This guy's a White Scar and is modelled as if he's in the process of riding through the enemy ranks and is swinging his Chainsword through them. I'm going to see about modelling an arc of blood trailing from the front edge of the Chainsword and using Blood for the Blood God technical paint to make it look pretty gory.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%204.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%204.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%205.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%205.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%206.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%206.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%207.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%207.jpg.html)
This guy... he's something of a mystery. He's a Black Shield, a Space Marine whose Chapter we don't know and whose Chapter Badge has been removed from his armour and the shoulder pad painted black. He rides an ancient type of Space Marine bike, one rarely seen in the 41st Millennium (it's a 1st Edition bike, in the old Lead compound, that I bought alongside 7 others and 2 Attack Bikes back in 2nd Edition, well before the plastic Biker kit was released) and wears an older mark of Power Armour. He currently doesn't have a left arm because I'm going to put a magnet in his shoulder socket and magnetise various close combat weapon arms (a Power Sword, a Power Axe, a Power Maul, and I'm going to try and convert up a Power Lance) for both him to use as well as for the final member of the Biker squad to use.
Bikers can't take Black Shields in the Codex, so he's there for background and flavour, and the model won't benefit from the Black Shield's usual rules or improved stat line. This is subtly shown by the fact that he's wearing a helmet (albeit under a hood) as I intend to only give my models with the Character rule (Watch Masters, Watch Captains, Chaplains, Librarians, Watch Sergeants, and actual (in rules terms) Black Shields) bare heads.
As an aside, in a previous post I mentioned that I'd managed to find everything that I wanted, other than a single item; the 1st Edition bike was the one item I didn't manage to find, but I did find it on a later search, as I'd been planning this conversion for a little while.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%208.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%208.jpg.html)
He carries a mysterious sword across his back. I haven't yet decided whether, in his background, he's never drawn it or whether he has (the former sounding a little too much like Cypher for my liking). In actuality, the sword is there because I messed up melting his cloak with heat and it's bent in the wrong place, so the sword is there to make it look like the cloak is straining against the sword's weight in the wind. I intend to paint a little golden chain up the cloak to behind the backpack, so it looks like it's secured.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%209.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%209.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2010.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2010.jpg.html)
I constructed the legs for this Biker from the crouching legs in the Command Squad box. The groin and right leg are pretty much used as they came, but the left leg needed repositioning, a new foot constructing, and a little green stuffing (such as the ribbing at the thigh and filling in gaps where the foot meets the greave).
I kind of like the position of his legs as it's very different to those of the plastic Biker kits. The pose makes it look almost like he's riding a Harley Davidson.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2011.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2011.jpg.html)
Here are my Veterans.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-6.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-6.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-7.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/16-09-15-7.jpg.html)
The Heavy Thunder Hammer Veteran is made up entirely from the regular Deathwatch Veterans kit, with the exception of the legs which are from the Vanguard Veteran sprue. I think it's a really cool pose and I definitely wouldn't like to see him charging right at me on the battlefield.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2012.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2012.jpg.html)
Just a regular Deathwatch Veteran, with Bolter and Chainsword.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2013.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2013.jpg.html)
Likewise, though this one's a little more active in his pose. In both cases I've taken a Power Sword arm and chopped it off at the wrist, attaching a Chainsword and hand from the Assault Marine sprue so that I keep the nice little "elbow shield" that Deathwatch left arms come with.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2014.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/26-09-16%2014.jpg.html)
This guy was tricky to do. He's got a pair of matched arms from the Tactical Marine sprue but I chopped the right arm off after the elbow guard and replaced it with a forearm from the Deathwatch sprue (including the bio-monitor and nice-looking Bolter). I had to add some green stuff (which you can't see here) as it was a little shorter than I'd have liked. I also had to remove the cable in the process but will be replacing it with a green stuff one once my pin vice comes in. I also want to add one of the Deathwatch "elbow shields" to the left arm, as well as obviously drill out the Bolter.
That's all I've got for the moment. Hopefully I'll have this lot done by the weekend (including all the drilling I need to do) so will probably update with more pictures then.
Some excellent conversions! I especially like the "Black Shield" Biker :D
Do your Vets only need four members or have you not finished the Sergeant character yet?
Very nice. My personal favourite would probably be the thunder hammer vet, but they are all very well done.
Quote from: Narric on September 27, 2016, 05:28:12 AM
Some excellent conversions! I especially like the "Black Shield" Biker :D
Do your Vets only need four members or have you not finished the Sergeant character yet?
Thank you :)
The Veterans do need 5 minimum, though I've got 10 in total on the work bench (in the little plastic trays you can see in the background of the first photo). I've yet to finish one more with a Boltgun, two with Combi-Bolter and Chainsword, two with Frag Cannon/Infernus Heavy Bolter (magnetised), and the Watch Sergeant with a Storm Shield and a magnetised left arm like the Biker Black Shield.
Quote from: Mabbz on September 27, 2016, 07:08:06 AM
Very nice. My personal favourite would probably be the thunder hammer vet, but they are all very well done.
I was extremely happy with how the Thunder Hammer Vet came out. At this point he's probably my favourite too ;D
Things really got away from me last month. I didn't manage to get any models painted, but I accepted that and continued. I didn't continue very fast as I've taken the first half of this month off (partially due to attending a Magic the Gathering Grand Prix last weekend (http://secondsphere.org/index.php?topic=1758.msg39253#msg39253), which took up a significant amount of time, but I've been catching up for my absence).
I've finished modelling my first 15 models and will be undercoating them today with the intention of starting to paint them from tomorrow.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%201.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%201.jpg.html)
You've seen most of these before in this thread, but I do have some new things. I've used some of my old GW basing kit that I purchased many years ago. I intend to use the technical paints for my bases (specifically Blackfire Earth) but I've used the slate pieces and resin pieces from the basing kit for a little extra detail and have glued the gravel to the bases already to hide the plasticard I've used to boost the models higher on the base so they don't appear to "sink" into the basing material.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%203.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%203.jpg.html)
These are the magnetised arms and weapons. My two Combi-weapon-armed Veterans can have either Plasma Guns or Meltaguns, my two Bikers can have any two Power Weapons out of a Power Sword, a Power Maul, and a Power Axe, my "heavy" weapon Veterans can each have either a Frag Cannon or an Infernus Heavy Bolter, and my Watch Sergeant can have any of the aforementioned Power Weapons or a Power Fist or a Boltgun.
I've deliberately chosen to model my Bikers and Watch Sergeant with the magnet in the left shoulder so that I can swap weapons easily enough (plus I have plenty of Deathwatch "Chapter" shoulder pads so I can spare them for the extra arms). I intend to model a left-handed Power Lance, Auspex, and Xenophase Blade at some point, but this is all I've gotten done so far.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%204.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%204.jpg.html)
Here are my five Bikers all together. They're mostly as you've seen before but the "Black Shield" has had a lot of green stuff work done, mostly filling gaps but also sculpting two Purity Seals on the right shoulder pad since the plastic ones broke off when I tried to bend them backwards so they looked like they were flapping in the wind.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%205.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%205.jpg.html)
Here are the two "weapon" Bikers, each holding a weapon they can be armed with.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%206.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%206.jpg.html)
Here are the ten Veterans, all together for the first time. It took me a while because I had to wait for my local store to finally get a pin vice in so that I could drill the holes to magnetise the Watch Sergeant, the Combi-Weapons, and the "heavy weapon" Veterans.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%207.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%207.jpg.html)
This guy was originally going to have a Boltgun and Chainsword, but I was starting to run out of time last month so I decided to drop the Chainsword and just have him reloading, using the "Stalker Bolter" left arm and removing the clip from the Bolter.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%208.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%208.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%209.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%209.jpg.html)
I trimmed a piece of plasticard into a square "C" shape before gluing it to where I trimmed the clip off of the Bolter.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2010.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2010.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2011.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2011.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2012.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2012.jpg.html)
Here are the two Combi-weapon-armed Veterans and, as can be seen, they can each have Combi-Meltas or Combi-Plasmas.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2013.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2013.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2014.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2014.jpg.html)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2015.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2015.jpg.html)
And here are the two "heavy weapon" Veterans, who can each have a Frag Cannon or an Infernus Heavy Bolter.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/Masked_Thespian/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2016.jpg) (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/Masked_Thespian/media/Wargaming/TIC%20HPC%202016/15-10-16%2016.jpg.html)
Finally, here's my Watch Sergeant with all of his possible, current, weapon options. The Boltgun is the current, default option as I don't expect to arm my Watch Sergeants with much equipment outside of specialised squads, but having the option is nice.
So, from here I'm going to try and paint these models over the course of the next two weeks. I reckon that I should be able to do that.
I've not really done anything over the last two months. Missing my target deadlines really demoralised me and I've not had the heart to pick up my paintbrushes since the end of October. I'll try and get more done, and especially to try and finish off the 15 models I've already gotten half-painted.
I have, however, written a little extra for the background. I've added the following three paragraphs to my Index Astartes article (http://secondsphere.org/index.php?topic=2300.0), fleshing out the three named characters a little more, including incorporating information from October's White Dwarf battle report into Arcturus's background.
He (Arcturus) succeeded his predecessor, Watch Master Feron, when the latter was slaughtered by a dozen Genestealers on the planet of Cagalian IX in retaliation for slaying their Patriarch in single combat, his death buying time to allow the troops under his command to be extracted safely. Upon receiving word of these events, Arcturis immediately led his Watch Company of Deathwatch Marines to cleanse the planet of alien filth before receiving his new title and responsibilities.
In battle Magnus often wears an ancient suit of MkIII "Iron Armour". Originally designed for the brutal close-ranged firefights found in boarding actions, it is all but proof against attacks that could otherwise penetrate the vulnerable spots of inferior types of armour.
Ambrosius is constantly surrounded by a cloud of exotically-scented smoke, which he claims aids his concentration when manifesting his psychic powers. In actuality, he is surrounded by the leavings of the fat, stubby lho-sticks that he chain-smokes constantly.