Sun Tzu Says

"that the art of war is a vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety, or to ruin"

you have to love the relentless fury of Sabaton, and the quote above seems particularly relevant... anyway less babbling, this month's quota is coming along, perhaps a little behind schedule, I may have under-estimated how long it takes to paint one of those sodding bikes... Oh well, there's only like at least another thirty to paint... *Sigh* 

Now before any photos, seen as your here, please cast a vote on the poll at the side of the blog, whether in your opinion the Sternguard should be modeled up as either White Scars Veterans or a Death Watch Kill team... If you have already voted, good on you... if you haven't get to it ;)

here is the test model now complete, complete with bare head and top-knot, something which may or may not become a feature of the army...

the next three bikes as you can see are built and painted, some touching up still needs to occur, but they are coming on nicely, the riders are in the process of being assembled, the main problem is of course that they only have on style of chest plate, which needs to be swapped out as much as possible for variation.

Xarl is also coming on nicely, the bronze banding now complete, I removed the head for ease of painting Executioner, but i'm happy with the progress thus far...

a WIP shot of Tolemion, I wont lie it's been nice to not paint white on a Marine!

Most of these week's progress has gone in to painstakingly painting Tolemion's shield, taken from the Event only Boarding Marine... The Imperial Eagle is now complete, after about three or four hours painting, slow and steady

The Duel as it currently stands... Still have to build a base for these two to slot into, my main concern is that they are very dynamic, the main problem with this was I really wasn't keen on cutting up the Finecast of Tolemion's body but alas, perseverance right?

Through the Valley of the Damned!

Evening ladies and Gents, just a small update for you today, showing that I have made a start on the White Scars Bike Squad for our tale of four gamers project this month... As I mentioned previously, I'm trying this one by painting these guys on the sprue to see if its better for White Scars, here's what I have so far...

The test model mounted on a his base, this was the first one I did separately to get a feel for what I was doing, and I have so say, he's come along quite nicely

Batch painting, slow and steady, but we're getting there...

Found an old commander sprue in my bitzbox, so I've made a start on the commander now, but all in due time right? 

If you've been reading this blog recently, you'll know this isn't the only thing that I'm painting up this month, here is my Duel Entry, slowly coming along, but hey, the end of the month is still a decent amount of time away so... Unfortunately I've hit a little bit of a roadblock, as GW have removed the Genesis Chapter pads from their webstore, and of course I haven't order the bits yet, so Tolemion is going to be a little more tricky, but here is where I'm at so...

I know, baby steps right... 

Lastly, I'm adding a poll to my blog, so if you do read this please take time to answer, very simply, I'm toying the idea of painting up the Sternguard Veteran's squad as a Deathwatch Team, seen as the rules fit perfectly with the Deathwatch Fluff, this would also provide a nice contrasting centre piece to the army and will give the opportunity to add some great character to the army, but i'm undecided, opinions on this would be greatly appreciated...

3... 2... 1... FIGHT!

Evening All, first off the White Scars are coming along nicely but wont be featured in today's blog, it's always good to vary things up a little right? and We all know my feelings about the VIII so, today's post, that's right you guessed it features:

We Have Come For You All!

First off however, a little background, my local Games Workshop, like many host a painting competition each month, it's run by the manager Craig, whose always good to have a chat with and throw some hobby ideas at. Each month has a different category, January is either a Vehicle or Monstrous creature, but i'm realistically I wont get round to entering that one now (was lazy, with this months idea) February however is duel, and what better seen is there to try and re-create than the showdown in Void Stalker where Xarl goes head to head with Tolemion a Company Champion from the Genesis chapter, still very much in a WIP stage but here is where I am at:

As always, work continues on both this and the scars...

Stay Tuned!

Valas Morovai

'All this power and pain at our fingertips. Weapons that can level cities. A warship capable of breaking entire fleet blockades. But this means nothing in the Long War. We can leave scars on steel, but so can any ragged pirate vessel with a battery of macro-cannons. We are the Eighth Legion. We wound flesh, steel and souls alike. We scar memories. We scar minds. Our actions must mean something, or we deserve to be forgotten, left to rot amongst ancient mythology.'

    - Talos Valcorian 'Soul Hunter'
         (1^st Claw, 10^th Company, VIII Legion) 

So this is it, the final post for First Claw, the final post of this week, which obviously details First Claw as a whole...

Firstly I would like to thank everybody who has looked at my posts, provided comments and criticism, it really does help to spur me on to carry on posting photos and modelling, and to improve my painting techniques...

 The question is, where do we go from here... 

I have already ordered some replacement parts for Variel, as I said, I wasn't really happy the out-come of him, so in time the Flayer will be re-appearing. Mercutian has been entered into my local GW's painting competition this month, not that I expect him to win as some of the entries were brilliant. 

Cyrion will also as some point be getting a remodelling too, but that's on hold for the moment. Lastly in regards to First Claw, I have ordered parts for my Duel entry, which doesn't need to be completed until September. However it will feature a particularly memorable battle between First Claw, and a particularly up-start champion of the Imperium. Any guesses?

Okay I'll give you a hint:

Anyway... Until next time...

Ciao!

Brother Xarl

'I know all of these warriors. They are First Claw, and I know they'll die as they lived: trying to run away.' 
        - Xarl
           (1^st Claw, 10^th Company, VIII Legion)

This week is a special week for Heretical Thoughts, and here is why, each day, shall have a new post each devoted to an individual member of First Claw, so make sure you check back each day to see the finish model ;-)

So first up is Xarl, what can I say about this guy, except for that he is like all of First Claw, an utter bad-ass. He was a real pleasure to build and paint and now that he is finished he might as well be shown off in all his glory (I say finished, is anyone ever, truly finished)...

Comments and criticism is always welcome, anyway, make sure you check back tomorrow for the next instalment of our favourite murderous bastards...

The Lords of the Night

So here is, as promised, the second update of this week, featuring as you should be well aware, everyone's favourite genetically-enhanced murderers, Aaron Dembski-Bowden's First Claw... 

When First Claw come for you... run...

As I am sure you can see, only the basics of painting has begun on First Claw, this is for several reasons:

1. I hate Green Stuff - I really need to learn how to scuplt much more proficiently
2. I was scared - This for me is a massive project, and I wont lie, I'm really worried that wont be able to do them justice.

Anywaaaay, as shown, only the basics of the armour has been painted so far, I have started work on the detailing on the armour but not gotten much further in regards to painting. I have however, scuplted the dead skin mask on Variel's shoulder and the Flesh Cloak attached to Uzas's back. In addition there has been the addition of odd bits and pieces to make First Claw as WYSIWYG as possible, oh and I added a new muzzle to Mercutian's Heavy Bolter, cause... well why not? Anyhow, less chat, more close ups:

Talos Valcorian, The Prophet, The Soul Hunter

As you can see there is much still to do on Talos, as he is merely blue at the moment, the paint scheme for the armour is pretty simple, a Kantor Blue basecoat with a very healthy dose of Drakenhof Nightshade... I am currently researching NMM metallics for Aurum, whether I have the balls to do it however... (his sword ended up costing me nearly £5.00)

Heavy Bolter for when you absolutely, postively, have to kill every mother fucker in the room...

What is cooler than an Axe... An Axe combined with a Chainsaw!

Yet another murdering bastard...

Still probably my favourite character in the whole of First Claw

As you can see there is still much work to be done on each member of First Claw, many hours yet to come until I am satisfied with them... In all likelyhood I will end up pulling Uzas's cloak off and sculpting a new one because I am still not happy with it, Green Stuff can be such a pain in the arse to work with... Those keen eyed amonst you, will have noticed that there is no individual photo of Variel, I did take one, but seem to have lost it, which is a bit of a pain in the arse, but oh well... 

Getting Ready for 10th Company's annual Photo Shoot

Until next week

Ciao!

Two-Handed Chainswords and Chainaxes

First Things First! This post WILL contain spoilers for Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver AND Void Stalker, ergo if you have not read those books, feel free to just look at the pretty pictures...

So since I last posted, (a whole two weeks ago) I have been fervently ordering bits and pieces for First Claw (and well, Night Lords in general) and I am pleased to say work is well under way on the 'assault element' of these sons of Nostromo. Now as anyone who has read the Novels, which I highly recommend, will know, this means the characters Uzas and Xarl.

Xarl is, it has to be said, probably my favourite character, I love the sarcasm that drips from him when he his taunting his foes and well just speaking in general, ADB really has a talent for writing his characters, I cannot wait to see a pre-heresy Night Lords novel...

Brother Xarl

Xarl is regarded by First Claw as being their best fighter in Close-Combat and the whole of 10th Company, and wields a nasty two-handed chainsword, which in game is going to either be used as a Power Sword or a Power Fist (more likely the second, but for the competition, I'm thinking the first seen as I can give him armourbane).

Extra 'Rippy' Chainsword

I don't know about you, but I would not want to be on the receiving end of that thing! Xarl also is renowned for taking lots of trophies, as the photo below shows:

Uncle Bill is that you?

While Xarl is a proficient swordsman, the same cannot be same for Uzas, a frothing madman, he is in fact the direct opposite of Xarl. So much so that he has been condemned to death for his crimes by Talos.

Blood for the Blood God!

Formerly the Sergeant of Fourth Claw, Uzas his a devoted follower of Khorne much to the disgust of the rest of First Claw, however, they put up with his blood-crazed rants and unreliability because... well who knows? In the novels I cannot help but end up feeling sorry for Uzas, especially by the end of Void Stalker, but he provided much humour through the first two novels... 

Skulls for the Skull Throne!

 What can be seen here, apart from my shoddy photography... is a pre-heresy style bolter, one of my favourite bits of the Night Lords Novels is the scene where Talos reminisces about how Uzas was rewarded by Malcharion the War-Sage (The Original Captain of 10th Company) for his excellent command skills and discipline, with a ceremonial bolter, a great contrast to the marine who stands today.

Milk for the Khorne Flakes? Wait what?!

This last photo is to show that Uzas is still a WIP, he still needs his second shoulder pad, on which shall be the beginnings of a cloak made of flayed skin, a part of the project that I am dreading... but will give my best shot...

lastly...

Obligatory Group Photo