More fluff for the fluffy Inclined!!

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Message received.  Astropath Junkt 77#8  Burn out reported.
Trace attempt cancelled.

Message Begins:

To my Dear Lady Karli,

Apologies for not contacting you sooner. I've been evading some of our more puritanical brethren.  It seems our master has somehow gained their ignorant attention.
Since my last message two things have occurred which validate me risking this attempt at communication.

Two instances which I have filtered, verified and simplified for your consumption.

Instance 1.  Hive Fleet Dagon.  What was thought to have been a simple splinterfleet destined to wander into dead space has somehow changed coarse.  I suspect foul play, no doubt Genestealer cults.  Interrogator Quezlenn was sent to investigate but his arrival was far too late. Sadly the Interrogater did not survive.  While in phase 2 planetary consumption, a null ship under the command of Adeptus Mechanicus Biomagus Specialist Lyw-o was researching the splinter fleets eating patterns safely aboard his psychic dead zones vessel.  What he discovered there was bought with great cost to my personal funds though I know you will see me reimbursed.
Lyw-o, while filtering though pict scans, noticed a wasted area erupt in the Northern continent.  All life there vanished in a "green incandescent flare," as he puts it.  Turns out the man is a literary hobbyist also.  What occurred next was most interesting.

***
- by which point the area within this now dead area of the planet, still undergoing consumption, became the focal point of a fierce battle.  I took the liberty of saving the pict play back on multiple frequancies and spectrums and the distinct energy spike of gauss grade weaponry was confirmed.  Necrons, fighting to claim something from the dying world.  The conflict lasted for but 5 hours, 3 minutes and 23 seconds and the outcome was unknown until a space craft was registered leaving the area.  Like my own "Hidden Knowledge" (Chi-null-nova 23 type Null ship), their vessel (Assumed Shroud Class) seemed hidden to the Tyranids. It was bone coloured with red slashes but with the typical green energy pigmented energy that we are used too. 
Whatever they risked penetrating the Hive Fleet's jaws for, one must assume they were succesful.  I have recorded the data for future analysis. -
***

I have taken the liberty in attaching the data.  Its largely binary code, but any decent cogitator should give you something.  The higher meaning here as Agent Sierra said to me, there is a new player in town. 

Instance 2. The second account was filtered from a torrent of Adeptus Astartes after action reports sent out by spies within an Ultramarines Task Force in the nearby sector.  They encountered a small Necron force recovering an artifact (See pic below for better detail), and defended it with a surprisingly aggresive attitude.  So much that the Ultramarine commander was forced to quit the battlefield.  No doubt they will be taking the matter quite seriously, especially now that a certain unknown Ultramarine commander will be compelled to strike back out of honours sake.  Again the Necrons encountered were of bone in colour, almost in a parody of skeletons no doubt, red markings. 
The artefact has been likened to previously recorded Necron data retaining devices, large obelisks which contain almost limitless amounts of information.  Bearing the same coloration as the attacking forces one must conclude they are simply retrieving their old property. 

Recent rumours have pricked my ear regarding a third such artefact, discovered by friendly Imperial forces and currently awaiting Inquisition censorship.  I leave now to investigate this rumour.  Wish me luck.  With the Emperors favour, maybe we can find out what these xenos are up to, and stop it before its too late.

Yours,
Faro.

Making an Aegis Line for the Necrons? A guide (Pic Heavy)

As mentioned in the last post, I've been hard at work building some laser cut card barricades to represent the Aegis Line for my Necrons.  Now as I said, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard they were made of card, but seriously, for the price of $24.90 plus letter costing postage (it was sent flat pack after all :D), I figured what the hell.

Anyway, learned a few neat tips in making this lot, and I figured some people out there are wondering the same.  So this will be continuing the assembly from the instructions as given by the website.

http://www.lasercutcard.co.za/fortifications/cyborg-defense-line
Assembly instructions can be found under "Instructions."
...

Anyway!

 As we left off last time, the Cyborg Barricades were essential made. However.  As I might have again mentioned:  I am a F&"#ing clutz when it comes to my figures and scenery.  So every step had to be made to stablise the structure.  Firstly, we needed a base!

You can see where I've literally dripped superglue along the edge in drops. 
As cardboard is porous, it soaked right in.  No real need to smear it all over the place!

 Using some spare card of my own (pretty much anything thicker than cereal box card really, think hard back book card), obtained from a stationary shop, I created a standard base which just about edged the barricades.  To little and wear and tear would affect the barricades themselves.  To big and the base itself would bend and split over time.

The next stage is an old trick I picked up from a friend in Liverpool.   Polyfiller as we call it back in Britain, which is essentially wall filler.  This stuff is amazing, and can be relied upon to create some really simple and solid thick mud affects.  Too big to use on figures, but perfect for this.  Best to smear it on with a damp brush you don't mind losing.  Really spread it down as the movement seems to loosen up the stuff.

(NB!  Ready made wall filler, light if possible is best, from the tube!)

Wall filler, lättspackel, Swedish Product used in Norway.  Because its CHEAP! :D

Once the stuff has finally dried, and it can take some time, leave for at least an hour.  Press down on the thicker, deeper bits to ensure its solid all the way through.  Again, this stuff is also porous as in it allows moisture in.  Which is bad.  So after its dried, we want to seal it.  For this, we take some P.V.A. glue or Hobby Glue, thin it right down with water and I mean RIGHT down.  It should be really water with a faint white taint to it.  This can be liberally applied to the Filler, try not to soak the cardboard with it as too much water and this type of glue can clench the cardboard as it dries, warping it.  This is why little PVA should be used.  (Though don't panic if you get some on the cardboard, it isn't that big a deal!)

 Once this is dried, again leave it at least one hour.  We want to add on the sand.  Now, you can leave it here if you want.... no?  Excellent.  Now the sand is best applied with superglue as we want to avoid using PVA or Hobby Glue as much as possible.  OBLIGATORY WARNING:  Super glue is really really effective.  Be careful.  I knew a guy who once reached under a table to pick up a Space Marine from under his hobby desk only to find his check stuck to the desk.  Scars happened.  Not "cool" ones.  If you get superglue on yourself, let it dry.  Don't try and wash it!
Applying the superglue at this point can be liberal, use the thin stuff as it spreads out nicely, but don't worry about getting the whole thing covered in one go.  Do it safely in several.  The stuff dries so fast this shouldn't take long and should leave a nice natural bumpiness to the ground.

 

Once this was all dried I was finally ready for the prime coat!  For this I actually used the same colour I use for the figures in my Necrons army.  Skeleton Bone Spray from Army Painter.  Sadly I missed a fair few bits, which I didn't see until I was half way through (teach me for spraying at midnight...) .  Thankfully you can easily paint strait on the card.  Spray is easier though, especially on the sand.

The first coat of paint came in the form of Khorne Red in all of the iconography bits.  This took time.  You really need to add more water than usual when painting on card.  Take note!  The water soaks in and disappears before thick paint can settle.  Thin coats are better. 

Next I layered over the muddy bases and dirt with Games Workshops Dryad Bark watered down to ensure it got in all the holes on the base.

This was then liberally dry brushed both Mechanicus Grey and then Bleached Bone for a simple and effective finish.

Then!  The whole Barricade was washed in about half a pot of Agrax Brown.  Seriously this stuff should get a Nobel peace prize or something.

When this finally dried I began the laborious work of layering on the Skeleton Bone Paint from again, Army Builder.  This really needed to be thin coats, but half way through I was getting tired and decided to just dry brush the things thickly before watering my brush and neatening things up.  The wet brush thinned out the thicker dry brush work and really sped things up.
Army Builder No Shine Varnish to finish.  Because it really is freaking Mat.  Not Satin.  Mat.  I hate Gloss.

Moody Lighting or Night Fight?

Figure shown for size comparison only.  And to get the +2 cover save!!

To flock or not to flock.  Not to flock.

 So yeah, lazercutcard.co.za, good products, very well made by someone who actually seems to have a card engineering degree or something.  I had a few minor mishaps, namely the spines began bending after I may or may not have dropped them on the floor... Thankfully I held them back up and added more superglue, sorted it right out and I almost did the lot.  Looking forward to using them in battle

Has anyone tried this stuff? What was your experience?
Anyway, any questions, just let me know.








Meanwhile!  I came back today with a plethora of second hand un-assembled goodies.  Can you tell what they are yet?

Lastly, I also managed to get a carry case for the X-Wing game, which is amazing, you should all try it right now.  This and the vinyl plastic space mat kindly prototyped by an increasingly resourceful friend means more Xwing is on the way.  Still... theres a lot of empty holes there...

 Laters!
R

Bring your own Aegis!

 As mentioned in the last post, 5 MINUTES AGO!  I have actually made some headway.  OK, a lot!  Its half past midnight and only blood loss from my scalpel antics has stopped me from continuing.

So yeah!  I managed to construct 1 of the 4 sections that you get.

Heres the link: http://www.lasercutcard.co.za/fortifications/cyborg-defense-line

So I got these a while back and as mentioned before, I'm saving for a wedding... so yeah.  Painting things I have.  Its cheaper.  

The package, which turned up with a little hand written thank you  (Can't stress how the little things get me through the day).   The whole pack managed to fit in a rather unassumbing letter and I admit, being wary about the stability of using card here was me thinking "It fits in a letter..."

Anyway as you can see, you get four repeats of 2 differing umm, card sprue?  Not sure what to call them.  Lets say sprue, we're used to that.  

Everything I need.  Now to get off the table.

The card as described by the websites name, is lazer cut and literally pops out of the "sprue without much effort.  That effort being a poke and cut of a preferably sharp scalpel.  Remember, if its not sharp, it crushed the card.  That is bad. 

The instructions were provided in the pack as a little slip with a URL on it, linking to the online instructions page on their website.  Not got the internet?  How did you order them in the first place? O_O

Take a look see!   Instructions.
As you can tell from the first few seconds, the guy knows his stuff.  Easy instructions make what could be difficult techniques, like using super glue on the edges while holding pieces together, easy to learn.  The design of these things is minimalist, no waste, and makes good use of layering up the card to create stable and tough pieces of scenery that are surprisingly detailed.

Each edge is made up of 3 card pieces layered up.

Each piece is designed simply and contains all the guidelines, grooves and doohickes that make it easy to slap together in a hurry.  See how the superglue is applied from the outside edges?  With card being porus as in spongy, it literally soaks up the superglue into the join.  Damn effective, so be sure the join is perfect before application.  Also, try not to get super glue vapors in your eye.  It hurts.

Figure shown because every time I tried to pick him up he bit me.

Now I've constructed 1 sections worth.  3 More to go.  I'm learning how to speed up construction after the initial slow once over.  Made 1 mistake, that's what I got for not looking at the instructions properly.  For the price you actually get loads.  I can't stress how much I am surprised and delighted with this set.

When I manage to find time tomorrow, I'm gonna get the other 3 sets done and sort the basing issue out.  They're tough things, but I am a titanic clutz when it comes to dropping things.  Plus it means I get to layer them up with wall filler and make them appear as if they are rising from the ground.  Necron stuff does that you know. :D

Planning on using the spray too, as the happy accidental concrete texture it produces on the card is really easy to work with.  Plus, those spots where I used a little too much superglue don't like some paints going directly on them. 

Anyway, that's me for now.  Sleeps to have.  Got a 1000pt force to take to a Apoc game at the local GW here in Oslo.  No idea what I'm using.  Probably something bone coloured.

Natta!

R

PAINT ALL THE THINGS! (And apparently my table is wooden...)

Following on from the recent dedicated "Necron Week" I've found myself clearing the desk. Real life is calling! However I still have a whole weekend yet, and with Apocalypse Weekend starting tomorrow, I'll be off trying my guys out.  I'll let you know how it goes....

In the mean time, what have I been doing?

remember those Cyborg Tokens I got from Lasercutcard.co.nz?  I finally finished them in good time for use in those pesky multiple objective scenarios that crop up from time to time.

 Also, lingering on the paint table have been these two chaps.  They've been on my painting list for quite some time and its only been the new plans of getting married next year that's gotten them done.  That's right!  When you have no money but time, you paint everything you have.  So, if you find yourself with too many figures, throw away all your money!

The Ordenance dude I did not waste time on.  Simple camo and armour palette I used on my recent British inspired Imperial Guard (borrowed scheme from the late war pallet, and paints from Flames of War Ahem).  Keep it simple!  Remember, metal rusts, everything usually finds itself painted in real life.  

 The Primaris Psyker meanwhile demanded more attention.  So much so that I pulled out the purple (I started in 3rd edition 40k, purple means psykers!) and broke away from my usual rules of fixed palette painting.  Loved this guys eyebrows.  Thanks to my remaining mix of washes I managed to get this guy done quick to.  Damn its nice to have simple three layer techniques to work with.

Lastly came the long awaiting arrival of the Doom Scythe bits.  Thanks to the way the Night Scythe/Doom Scythe/Bagal of doomyness is constructed, you can assemble but not glue the under armament.  This makes it easy to swap around the bits and choose what you want to use it as today!  I haven't tried the Doom Scythe yet, though I aim to.   Any advice?

Next up on my table, after clearing away the paints (Apparently the painting table is wood... who knew??!), is going to be the next bit of scenery.  More from Lazercutcard.co.nz, their Cyborg Barricades makes a fantastic alternative Aegis Line for the Necrons.  I'm a bit more familiar with the necessary techniques of working with card now and I have my scalpel.  So....

Ow.  Hmm.  Tea first.  Then cutty cut!

The Court of the Traizio. The Thrice Betrayed.

And here we are again with the latest smatterings of ancient evil death machines since before your time!!!

First we have two new Necron Lords.

Used as a count as Obyron, or a normal Necron Lord, this guy represents Behat-zalia the Sentinel.  Bearing the helm of Cult of the Old Gods, he is the bodyguard of the Phaeron himself.  However as the House of Traizio await his return, Behat finds service with the lower Nemeser.

 Next we have a standard Necron Lord based off the modified body of Azrak the Traveler.  Loved the armored skirt on this guy, though I couldn't bring myself to using the Tacyhon Arrow. 
Here he represents Pent-Salario, the Thinker.  Philosopher of the House, he provided wise council to the Phaeron before the end.  He alone remembers everything that happened in those last days, every broken promise, every betrayal.  He alone keeps his tongue until the day the Phaeron returns, lest more vengeful minds become impatient for revenge.


Next up is the three objective markers, finally finished!

 The third marker is infact the "Monolith" kit from "http://www.lasercutcard.co.za/cyborg-monolith". This thing was a pleasure to nail together, really easy and well designed as to be really damn sturdy.  So long as you don't go trying to glue it together with PVA, everything goes well.

Strangely, the application of the usual Bone coloured spray paint by Army Painted kicked up a happy accident:  The surfaces became concrete like in texture.  A fact I was sure to take advantage of when painting.  Polyfiller (Wall filler) was used to build up the sides around the base.  I wanted to give the impression that it was literally springing from the ground.

 It also opens up (thanks to NOT gluing the lid on :) ) so that I can hide dice in there and those Cyborg Tokens that I will be using as alternative objectives (differing points values on the back work well in Warhammer 40,000).

Figure shown for scale purposes, and because it looks cool!!

 The Monolith also came with an alternative top to contain a wonderful crystal array which can easily represent an alternative Quad Gun or Icarus Lascannon.  There's even a larger version I may be getting to represent a Necron Pylon.  Muhahaha.

And next we have the Over Lord.  Hautsi, the Broken.  Nemesor of the Phaeron of the Cult of the Old Gods.  He is the current commander of the Dynasty's shattered forces.  To him falls the responsibility of reclaiming what was once lost and to enacting the will of his absent master, the one only remembered as the King of Bones, the master of the old religion.  Bellicose and more interested in oblivion by ritual combat, only the Court has so far kept his self destructive urges in check.

And this beastie, taken shamelessly from the Tomb Kings range (with a few alterations to explain the Jump Infantry ability), is used as a Destroyer Lord with Warscythe etc.

Soilik Arma, once Nemesor alongside Hautsi, has fallen from grace.  Infected with the Destroyer Virus, he fell back upon the Old Religion for guidance.  Altering his reanimation protocols to modify his form, he has become an aspect of Death Striking.  Believing himself to be nothing more than a weapon, he relinquished his seniority to Hautsi and dedicated himself to the perfection of Oblivion in the form a God's wrath manifest.  Using repurposed Triarch propulsion packs, he makes great leaps as he engages the foe.  Preferring the company of Triarchs and their close up methods.

Finally, I'm finishing off these Cyborg tokens as mentioned above.  Once these are done?  I'm knocking together the Cyborg Barricades.

The background is really coming together after reading some up on the Ctan and the updated canon on the Necrons.  I did note the brief mention of the religions of the Necrontyr and how they evolved. Exceptions to this indicate a focus on the God of Death in many forms, and a brief foray into worshiping the Ctan themselves.  Requiring a church of sorts means that someone had to manage the flock so to speak.  In comes House Traizio. 

Responsible for the religious worship of the Necrontyr, they enjoyed a neutral position during both Secession wars.  When the Ctan came, they were the first to bow to them, regarding them as Gods made by their hands.  But when bio transference occurred, they were also amongst the first to know something horrible had occurred.  The Silent King himself worked with the Phaeron of this once great house to deceive and spy on their would be Gods to find ways and means to bring them down.

House Traizio were amongst the higher conspirators and thanks to their intimate knowledge of the Ctan and their nature, were instrumental in the weapons of war that shattered them and in at least one case, destroyed them entirely.  Then, the Silent Kind betrayed them, reducing them and scattering their once great armies. 

Why the Silent King did so, and why he had not destroyed them in favour of forcing them to sleep is unknown.  Maybe they were due for reprogramming, their armies and weapons too valuable to simply destroy.  Maybe their destiny has yet to be discovered or may they have none at all?  The ultimate unknown entity. 

What is known, is the House Traizio, thrice betrayed, servants of the Old Religion have awoken.
And their Master is missing...