The PBI

I've been largely concentrating on getting some of my infantry backlog cleared, which is why there haven't been many posts this week. I've itemised most of the infantry now, so I'll get back to the tanks for a while. Just to demonstrate I've not been idle, my running count of footsoldier IG is about 400. I've not itemised about 20ish Special Weapons chaps, and there is also a small number of unlisted Heavy Weapons, a Command Squad or two, and probably some more stuff that's hiding. The last time I recall counting my infantrymen I only had 240-ish. I'm not quite sure where the rest have appeared from! Anyway, here's the list thus far. N.B. This is not a planned gaming list, merely a listing of available models.

Infantry List
Ursarkar E. Creed and Sgt. Jarran Kell

Infantry Company:
Coy. C. Squad: Major Sholto, 3 Meltas, Medic
Red (Alpha) Platoon:
C. Squad: Lieutenant Farnsworth, 4 Grenade Launchers
1st Squad: Sergeant Fry, Autocannon, Grenade Launcher
2nd Squad: Sergeant Bender, Lascannon, Plasma Gun
3rd Squad: Sergeant Leela, Heavy Bolter, Flamer
4th Squad: Sergeant Conrad, Missile Launcher, Melta
5th Squad: Sergeant Wong, Mortar, Sniper Rifle

Blue (Beta) Platoon:
C. Squad: Lieutenant McClane, 4 Grenade Launchers
1st Squad: Sergeant Gruber, Autocannon, Grenade Launcher
2nd Squad: Sergeant Takagi, Lascannon, Plasma Gun
3rd Squad: Sergeant Powell, Heavy Bolter, Flamer
4th Squad: Sergeant Ellis, Missile Launcher, Melta
5th Squad: Sergeant Thornburg, Mortar, Sniper Rifle

Green (Gamma) Platoon:
C. Squad: Captain Morstan,
1st Squad: Sergeant Small, Autocannon, Grenade Launcher
2nd Squad: Sergeant Khan, Lascannon, Plasma Gun
3rd Squad: Sergeant Akbar, Heavy Bolter, Flamer
4th Squad: Sergeant Norwood, Mortar, Sniper Rifle

Catachan (Delta) Platoon:

Command Squad: Captain with Powerfist
1st Squad: Sgt, Melta, Missile Launcher
2nd Squad: Sgt, Melta, Missile Launcher
3rd Squad: Lasgunner as Sgt, Flamer, Heavy Bolter
1st SpecWeaps Squad: 3 Snipers
2nd SpecWeaps Squad: 3 Demo charges/flamers

Steel Legion (Epsilon) Platoon:
Command Squad: Captain with powersword, Grenade Launcher
1st Squad: Sergeant, Lascannon, Plasma Gun
2nd Squad: Sergeant, Heavy Bolter, Flamer
3rd Squad: Sergeant, Heavy Bolter, Grenade Launcher
4th Squad: Sergeant, Missile Launcher, Grenade Launcher
5th Squad: Sergeant, Grenade Launcher
Heavy Weapons Squad: 3 Missile Launchers

Heavy Weapons Company:
C. Squad: Captain, 4 Grenade Launchers
8 Missile Launcher Squads (24 Missile Launchers), 3 Mortar Squads (9 Mortars), 1 Autocannon Squad (3 Autocannon), 1 Multilaser Squad (3 Multilasers)

Ratling Squad: 10 Ratlings

Stormtrooper Detachments:
Beret Squad: 2 Plasma Guns, 3 Stormies
Old School Squad: Sgt w/Plasma Pistol, 2 Plasma Guns, 6 Stormies
Kasrkin Squad Red: Sgt w/Powersword, Flamer, Grenade Launcher, 2 Stormies
Kasrkin Squad Blue: Melta, Plasma Gun, 4 Stormies

c. 383 models

Griffons!

An unmatched pair of vehicles for your viewing pleasure today. Both are from the 6th company of my yet-to-be-named artillery regiment. 621 is the first vehicle of second battery, and 612 is the second vehicle of first battery. The Imperial Guard does have small batteries, doesn't it? Three guns, really? Anyway, I hope you like these!

The Lernaian Hydra is complete

Right, finally I can show you a vehicle that's actually complete! Mind, if I keep increasing these others each in small increments, I'll have another 12 on one day - which would be a little much! Maybe I'll try to concentrate on one or two at a time.

Some more black and the Grand Plan

First off, as the title says, some more black.



Second, a friend's asked me to post the roster for the whole army. I can't quite do that, as the roster has changed since I composed it, so there are a few odds and ends not mentioned in the following. However, this list can be taken as a fair approximation of what I intend to have whenever in the distant future I finally finish! So without further ado

Superheavy Tank Regiment:
Command (Baneblade) Company: 3 Baneblades
1st (Stormblade) Company: 3 Stormblades
2nd (Shadowsword) Company: 3 Shadowswords
3rd (Banesword) Company: 3 Baneswords
4th (Macharius) Company: 3 Macharius variants

Tank Regiment:
HQ Tank with Macharius twin-battlecannon turret (design uncertain)
1st (Vanquisher) Company: 10 Vanquishers
2nd (Light Leman Russ) Company: 10 Light Russ
3rd (Vanquisher) Company: 10 Vanquishers
4th (Demolisher) Company: 10 Demolishers
5th (Thunderer) Company: 10 Thunderers
6th (Exterminator) Company: 10 Exterminators
7th (Leman Russ) Company: 10 Russ
8th (Combined) Company: 3 Annihilators, 3 Executioners, 3 Conquerors, 1 yet to be decided
9th (Combined) Company: 3 Punishers, others to be decided.
Total: 90 Russ variants:

Artillery Regiment:
1st (Emperor’s Thunder Heavy Artillery) Company: 3 Bombards, 3 Manticores, 1 Chimaera Command
2nd (Emperor’s Wrath Artillery) Company: 9 Basilisks, 1 Chimaera Command
3rd (Emperor’s Wrath Artillery) Company: 9 Basilisks, 1 Chimaera Command
4th (Avenger Field Artillery) Company: 6 Heavy Mortars, 3 Thudd Guns, 9 Centaurs (to be built), 1 Chimaera Command
5th (Emperor’s Fury Artillery) Company: 3 Basilisks, 3 enclosed Medusae (to be built), 3 Enclosed Griffons (to be renovated), 1 Chimaera Command
6th (Emperor’s Fury Artillery) Company: 9 Enclosed Griffons, 1 Chimaera Command
Total: 6 Chimaera Command Vehicles, 9 Field Artillery units, 9 Centaurs, 42 Mobile Artillery Vehicles

Mechanised Infantry Regiment:
1st Reconnaissance Company: 1 Salamander Command, 7 Salamanders
2nd Reconnaissance Company: 1 Salamander Command, 6 Chimaerae
3rd Reconnaissance Company: 1 Exterminator, 6 Chimaerae
4th Reconnaissance Company: 1 Exterminator, 6 Chimaerae
Emperor’s Talons Recon Troop: 3 Multilaser Sentinels, 3 Lascannon Sentinels, 1 Autocannon Sentinel with 2 Technicals counting as AC Sentinels, Support and Command Sentinels to be bought)
Total: 2 Salamander Command Vehicles, 2 Exterminators, 7 Salamanders, 18 Chimaerae, 2 Technicals, 9+ Sentinels

Support Elements:
Hydra Battery: 3 Hydrae
Laser Destroyer Squadron: 4 Laser Destroyers
Hellhound Squadron: 3 Hellhounds
1 Deathstrike Missile Launcher
Supply Company: 8 Open-Topped Trojans, 1 Unarmed Supply Vehicle, 1 Engineer’s Transport, 1 Unarmed Engineer’s Transport
2 Exterminators, 2 uncertain Russ, 1 Thunderer

Black like a witch's hat!

No, I'm not Johnny off The Fast Show. I don't have very much to show, as today I have been mostly painting black. Tyres, tracks, exhausts, the insides of gun barrels - all black. I've varied that with a little dark brown on the base of some buildings. In the interest of putting something up, here's a series of pics of things which are blacker now than when I got up.

The Lernaian Hydra rumbles on

I present some pictures of her in her camo scheme, with terracotta AdMech markings. She's had some transfers now, but needs a varnish to seal them in. I shall get some pictures of that tomorrow, fingers crossed.

The Thunderer advances

Here's a spot of work with the Thunderer. I've boxed in the hull, extended her forwards and back, and managed to find one of the new Russ Devastator barrels - although I've yet to glue that in place. It strikes me it'd be a bit easier than making a new one!

Thunderer

A chap on Warseer, le Mediko - whose work is exquisite, and which you should definitely inspect - has a habit of cutting down the sides on his Russes and Chimaerae. I decided to do that with some spare sides I had, but wasn't sure what AFV to make with the result. I ended up deciding on a Thunderer. This wasn't a great plan, in retrospect, as I ended up having to build up the height of the chassis again! Ah, we live and learn. Since these photographs, taken last night, she has had the forward fighting compartment extended rearward by an inch, and then a gentle slope takes the hull down to the rear of the hull.

Enclosed Basilisks

While that's drying, I'm working on some Basilisks.

The Lernaian Hydra

If you prefer the Latinised form, then Lernaean. Anyway, she's almost done. I just need to pop out and saw her some visors for her driver and gunner to peer through. Here she is prior to that.

Teaser

You have two clues to work out what I am about. First is the word Lernaia, which with Google should give you a firm idea. Second is this picture.



All will be clear in a few hours, if it is not yet!

An update on progress so far. Note I have finally heeded the good advice of others and begun to use Lego pieces to ensure good clean right angles! There are some more hidden within the hull.



Still some basic work to do, but it's taking shape.

Another update. I had a word with a friend, and we identified two problems. One was the height, so I've shaved 10mm off the height of the turret. The second was the square-sided nature of the thing. I don't think there's much to be done about that. but I will be adding some boxes to break it up a bit.

Transfers have been applied

I have mainly been working on those buildings today. I should have some pictures up in the next few days. For now I present the three Basilisks in their final colour scheme and with transfers applied, prior to weathering. I promise I won't repaint the things again after this! The first numeral denotes their company, #5, the second is their squadron, #1, and the third is each vehicle's identification within the squadron.















What do you think?

A model-free post

Unless I add some internet lovely somewhere, I suppose. I just felt like pointing out a difference between a vegan and your average weightlifter.

On seeing baked beans on toast:

Vegan: Ooh, that's quite a bit of protein for one meal!
Weightlifter: Ack! All those carbs!

Normal service will be resumed later on.

Basilisk Number Three

Well, here's the final version of the Basilisk. At the urging of English Pillock, I have tried to get the front shield at an angle so that any shots fired at it head on would deflect upward and to the side. Frankly, there's not a lot of space, and what I've managed wouldn't do a great job, but I've run out of Basilisks to refurbish, so that's an end to it!

Reinvigorating another Basilisk

I felt the gunshield on the first was a little too high, so I wanted to have another go while I was in the swing of things. The MkII, as it were, also differs slightly as the Basilisk already had track guards, which made the fitting a slightly different procedure. I know I have a third Basilisk somewhere - though it is in hiding tonight - so I will probably try this again tomorrow. For now, however, here's the MkII gunshield.