Community Request

Sending out this request to all the Praetorian players out there.  I need 3 more ratling snipers (old style) to complete my squad.  If anyone has any they are willing to trade or sell, let me know.  I would prefer the ones without the ball caps.  I will also take any links or points of contacts that may know where I could get them on the cheap.  Thanks for your help.  Happy wargaming!

Also, I am always looking for wheels for my heavy weapons chassis.  I have a bunch of autocannons t o assemble and need wheels.  I can't seem to find a good source for just the wheels online.  Please help.  Thanks again.

Photos of New Squads and Officer of the Fleet

Here are the photos as promised.  After looking at these pictures I realize that I really need to learn to paint eyes.  From a few feet away on the tabletop these guys look awesome, but in the pictures they look like mannequins.  Any advice on a quick way to do eyes would be great. Enjoy.

 

2 Squads and Officer of Fleet Complete

Just a quick status update for those of you who are keeping up with my progress.  I am on track with 2 squads done in 2 weeks.  I also completed my Officer of the Fleet.  I am very pleased with the way he turned out.  I will post photos on Wednesday when I can actually upload photos from my camera.  I originally had planned to not paint for about 2 weeks during Christmas/New Year holiday but I may try to squeeze 1 squad in over the two weeks.  That will put me a little ahead of the curve in case real life throws me a curveball.

Progress Photo as promised

Here is the photo of the 2 squads I am starting as part of my renewed painting endeavor.

Sorry for the quality.  It was taken with my phone.

On Track?

Well I have begun my painting in earnest.  I tackled two squads this week plus my Officer of the Fleet.  At this point I would say I am about 50% done the models.  I have done all the black, red, blue, and yellow.  If I stay on pace I will have 2 squads done in two weeks which is my target.  After these are done I think I am just going to try to paint one squad at a time.  I think seeing completed squads every week will help motivate me to push through this.  As time goes on I may even get quicker and then can add more models.  I didn't have my camera with me but I will take a picture tomorrow and post it up.  Also, come Christmas I should be getting some conversion kits from Col. Gravis' Curious Constructs and I will start them right away.  And finally, I am still looking for as many of these wheels as anyone can come across:

 

Painting Progress

Well I sat down this evening and created a spreadsheet to track my painting progress.  I am hoping that this will aid in my endeavor to paint 200 guardsmen by May.  It is not an impossible task, but one that will take diligence.  The result is this:

As can see, not much progress so far.  My plan is to complete 1st and 2nd companies and do the heavy weapons and ratlings.  That will be a good start.  This chart is not all inclusive either.  I have 2 more commissars, miscelaneous random praetorians (about 15) and lots more heavy weapon teams.  I need to find a cheap way to get wheels for my chassis before I add them to my list.  There is also an entire armored portion of the army that is not even touched here.  I will probably make a second spreadsheet just for that. 

Stay tuned for updates as I start painting.  Thanks for reading the blog and wish me luck.

Blogging Again

Long time no see everyone.  I love how real life has a way of delaying everything Praetorian.  The good news is I am getting ready to travel with work for several months.  As a Geographical Bachelor, I will not have to deal with any of the responsibilities of home.  As such, I intend to complete a squad a week until I return in May.  If I stay on schedule, I will have at least 20 squads painted upon my return.  I will try to post weekly to keep you all up to date.  Spread the word to your friends.  The more followers I get, the more motivated I will be to get this complete.

As part of the ongoing project I am purchasing some conversion kits from the esteemed Col. Gravis.  I can't wait to put them to use.  I hope he continues his conversions because I have neither the time nor talent to convert these things myself.

Finally, here is a picture of my paint scheme using Kataan's IG Designer


















It was fun playing around with different pallets.  I recommend giving it a try.

Wrecked Vehicle Markers

Well, I decided to take a break from painting up infantry.  I needed to keep my creative juices flowing, however.  After several games with this army, it is inevitable that with the quantity of tanks, there will be some wrecks.  I decided to make some smoke/flame markers instead of just flipping the tank and possibly scratching my paint.  The results of that endeavor can be seen below.

I think they turned out pretty good.  I will also utilize some of the poly-fill to use as smoke from smoke launchers.

Quick tutorial-  Get an old pillow and rip out the stuffing.  Spray-paint black (Heavy at top to a light misting at bottom).  Load a tank brush up with red and stipple along the underside.  Then do the same with orange. Finally do the same with yellow.

I hope you all enjoy.

Bits Needed!!

I am putting out an all hands request for the below bits.

I need as many as these as I can get for my heavy weapons conversions.  As it stands I can only make 2 Heavy Weapons Squads.  If you have, or know anyone who has and wants to part ways with these let me know.  We can talk trade, purchase, or charity.  Thanks everyone.

2000 Points Painted and Ready for WAR!!!

Well I finally got my 2000 point army painted.  Here is the list:

 170  CCS- 4xPlasmagun, Plasma Pistol & Power Weapon                           

              -Chimera w/ Multilaser & Heavy Flamer   
 465  Vet Squad (x3)- 3xMeltagun, Chimera w/ Multilaser & Heavy Flamer    
 510  Vet Squad (x3)- 3xPlasmagun, Chimera w/ Multilaser & Heavy Flamer  
   65  Guardsman Marbo-                                                                           
 320  2x Manticore-                                                                                 
 185  Leman Russ- Lascannon, Heavy Bolters                                             
 150  3x Scout Sentinels- Lascannons                                                        
 125  Devil Dog- Smoke Launchers
2000 points                                                          

This is what the army looks like assembled:

Here are some additional photos of individual units:

 

                        HQ-

 

                        Guardsman Marbo (Made from Frateris Militia)-

 

 

                        Sentinels-


That is it for now.  I will probably post some more pictures once I get them taken.  My goals from here are to paint up 2 Autocannon Squads, another squad of Sentinels, and a 2 squad infantry platoon.

1st Three Squads Painted

Well I finally got off my lazy butt and started painting.  I was prompted by an upcoming league that is requiring minimum of 3 colors to play.  So without further ado here is a sampling of my models.

 
 Sorry that some of them are blurry.  I don't have the best camera.  Anyway, there are 3 identical squads of "Veterans" armed with 3 meltaguns.  They will be embarked on Chimeras.  These will not be my final Veterans once my whole army is complete.  I am just trying to get an army painted quickly so I am going for 6 Veteran Squads.  The next 3 will be armed with plasmaguns using the fantastic tutorial located here:  Gravis Plasma Conversion

For anyone interested, Here is my color pallet;
Blood Red- Tunic and Stripe on Pants
Mordian Blue- Pants
Iyanden Dark Sun- Eppaulettes and Trimming
Chaos Black- Boots
Skull White- Helmet and Belt
Elf Flesh- Flesh
Mithril Silver- All Metal
Calthan Brown- Weapons

Once all the base coats were put on, I brushed on polyurethane stain over the entire model then sprayed with dull coat.  Let me know what you think of the results.  I know that "dipping" is sometimes considered a no-no in the community, but I am pleased with the results.  The only thing I think I need to do is add detail to the mouths and eyes.  I hope you enjoy.

Ideas for Veterans

I need the help of the community.  I am trying to find an efficient way to make veterans.  I was thinking of painting normal praetorian models in a different scheme.  My considerations are 91st Highlanders or Mounted Infantry.

Ignore the fact that the infantry is on horseback, I am just curious about the color scheme.

The rest of my army is going to be painted similar to Col.Gravis.  There is a picture of my test model in an earlier post.  Do you all think would work, or should I look at trying to do some kind of conversion?  I have enough of the regular models to make this a simple and inexpensive option.  Please give me your input.  I look forward to it.