Painting Menoth Troops and 'Jacks

I have a number of Warmachine projects on the table right now. Here are a selection of them, showing the painting progression I go through.

A unit of Menoth Bastions. These are the new plastic multi-piece models. My only complaint is that the polearms were warped. I put them in hot water to straighten them out...but once they cooled they warped again. Bummer... Anyway, here is basic assembly before any painting. I use plastic model cement for the plastic models, while the heavier metal models are glued with 5-minute epoxy and/or gap-filling CA. I don't pin my models...epoxy will hold anything together.

Primer coat goes on next and the pieces are glued to their bases. This is a unit of Daughters of the Flame.

Warcaster Kreoss, again, just primed at this stage.

And a primed Warjack...the Vanquisher.

After priming, each unit gets a black wash. This is so that dark recesses I miss with paint layers will at least be black. For the majority of the model, however, I'm painting over white and I find that the colors wind up being a bit more vibrant than if I'd painted over a completely black base coat. Here is the Avatar of Menoth.

Here, a Reckoner warjack has had its base colors blocked out. Areas that will become bronze and gold have received a base coat of dark yellow. After this stage, the model gets a wash of brown-black ink to reinforce the details. Then highlight colors are then built up in successive layers.

The result...finished pieces. Here are two Dervish light 'jacks that have had their bases completed as well.

'Til next time.

Warmachine Warjacks

I've been playing a lot of Warmachine (now in its 2nd edition) over the last few months, and so I'm finally getting around to expanding my force pool. These are three Protectorate of Menoth Warjacks finished this week.

First, we have the Blessing of Vengeance light 'jack.

The Fire of Salvation heavy 'jack.

...and the Guardian heavy arc node 'jack.

All are painted with a combination of Privateer Press and Citadel acrylics and inks. I'm going to start up a couple of more Menoth projects this weekend...so hopefully I'll have some new photos up in a week or so.

'Til next time.

MayDay 2010

MayDay is our local Edmonton annual wargames convention. Originally organized by EWG guru, Bob Barnetson about 5 years ago, this year's game day was put together by Craig Blackmore. There were several well-attended games running throughout the day.

I ran two games. The first was the Carentan scenario I've been working on for the last couple of months. Here, American player Terry (left) and German players Jonathan and son Matthew pose for a shot over the game table.

The Americans made it to the German main line of resistance quite handily, however, at that point things started to go very poorly for the Screaming Eagles. Against pinned Germans in the rubble across the street, the Americans launched three assaults into close combat. Remarkably, they were unable to win a single engagement. The American strength was pretty much sapped at that point and the Terry was unable to get into the town. A convincing German win.

I also ran a game of Warbirds in Miniature, a WWII air game in 1/144 scale. Six players participated. This was an American B-17 bomber raid on Berlin. As referee, I ran the bomber stream, while three German players flew FW-190s and three American players engaged with P-51s.

In this shot, you can see the tiny fighters darting over the bomber formation.

The well-organized German team bypassed the American fighters, flew over top of the bombers and dove in on the rear of the formation.

The results were spectacular. While the Focke-Wulfs took devastating defensive fire from the bombers, the American formation was ravaged. Seven of fifteen bombers that hit the table were shot down before reaching their target.

Thanks to Criag for running a fun convention day here in Edmonton!

Next up...a fair bit of WarMachine. 'Til next time.

Carentan Playtest

Dave and Elliot were over yesterday to playtest the Carentan MayDay convention scenario. They were real sports suffering through a raw, unbalanced scenario. However, with their feedback, I think the game will be pretty tight come MayDay.

A platoon of paratroopers advance through a hedgerow and begin their assault on Carentan from the south.

The headquarters section leads a right hook around the German main line of resistance.

The Fallschirmjagers get an MG into a 3rd floor position and start hosing down the advancing Americans.

The German HQ section winds up being pinned down by American sniper fire and advancing riflemen for most of the game.

The German reinforcements prove to be too much...stalling the American advance from well defended rubble and building positions.

Thanks to the guys for being good sports and helping critique the scenario set up. Now it's time to move onto my other MayDay game...an American daylight bombing raid over Berlin using the Warbirds in Miniature air combat ruleset.

'Til next time.

More Fallschirmjagers

Well, I've got just over 30 German figures ready for the Carentan game. I painted a few of these about a year ago...thankfully, they work for the scenario.

Here's a group of riflemen, most of them in Water Tan '43.

An LMG section.

A command group with an MG34.

Advanced elements of 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division were involved in the Carentan battles of early June, '44. To represent them, I've included a small group in SS camo smocks and automatic weapons.

An MG42 team.

Panzerknackers.

Dave and Elliot are over at the house this weekend to do a dry run of the MayDay convention scenario. We'll see how it goes!

'Til next time.

Carentan Terrain

OK, time to think about the terrain set up for the MayDay convention Carentan scenario. For the subject at hand, I have a nice set of Grand Manner Carentan buildings in 28mm. Also, a few years back, I spent a summer making trees and hedges...which will get a workout in this game.

For the dry run this weekend, I've done a terrain layout in my dining room. Happily, my wife cleared away all the quilting stuff laid out on the table there!

The block of ruins.

The orchard.

The cafe, warehouse and doctor's office.

The manner house.

Movement ranges in Disposable Heroes (the rules I'm running the game with) are fairly short...3" to 9". As such, I've made the terrain as dense as I can on the 6'x4' playing surface. I'll use these photos to rebuild the layout at the convention.

Photos of Fallschirmjagers up next.

Final Paratroopers for Carentan

The MayDay convention is coming fast, and I'll be playtesting my Carentan scenario next weekend. So...everything has to be pretty much finished up this week. Will the American's be victorious this time around? Who knows!

One of the American objectives will be to secure this wounded company commander, who will be set up on the board prior to play.

American bazooka team.

The platoon command section.

Thankfully, I made progress on the final German squad this weekend as well. They just need their weapons painted and their bases completed...and we'll be good to go. I'll post some photos of the final Fallschirmjagers this week.

'Til next time.