"Bring out your Dredd (s)"

Sorry, I couldn't resist the Monty Python quote.
And as an aside, I also couldn't resist showing off this pic of the most brilliant piece of work I have seen for 40K.
To share with you:

"Ah Ha! Noooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

I cannot deduce the originator, to acknowledge their awesomeness; but here is the thread link I found it on. http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56102&highlight=expects&page=2
If anyone does know the source please let me know and I will add a full acknowledgement (plus try to purchase them!).
These even surpass the brilliance of the comical Ork Kommandos. If I can ever find them again: One is holding up a poster of a Space Marine in front as kamouflage, others as bushes etc.

Ok, so back to the original post. After completing Da Lawnmowa, I searched high & low to find my existing Dredds & Kans, as I may very well field them for Vanquish.

A bad move as they were in seriously poor shape, in fact the storage segment looked like a Meks scrapyard (although this is also an excellent place to start).
Broken, weapons blue-tacked and in dire need of updating or finishing painting.

I have everything from Rogue Trader Mk1 Dredds (both Ork & Marine) as Kans, The Mk1 Metal Kans, a Mk2 Ork Dredd and a Mk3 (slightly larger) Ork Dredd..
With the new Plastic Dredds and Kans due out very soon, my collection looks sad. The new models are brilliant. If you haven't seen them yet .... get to see them immediately. On the sprues ... lots of options for a Mad Meks dream ... whilst made up, the Ork Deff Dredd looks "Proper Orky!" it towers over the Marine Dredds.
Methinks there may be room for a "Wafer-thin one!" to squeeze into my Army .. somewhere ... please.

The Mk2 Dredd I have is actually about the same size as the new Kans, so this may be re-assigned to make room (the Mk3 is still a reasonable size). I am also going to have a go at some Grotzookas (yes they are in the new sprues for the Kans). So ...... "Wait-Out!"

Edit:
An update for the Kommados mentioned earlier;

again, apologies for the Originators acknowledgement (whomever made these models), but the link where I found it is here http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.the-waaagh.com/images/photos/gf1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/234092.page&usg=__cHFa5SYI5pMtDg0ljF2thrFs2hI=&h=519&w=706&sz=249&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=0-GYn0IH-abx3M:&tbnh=103&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dork%2Bkommando%2Bconversions%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

Backlog Update: Orks

Working through the backlog, I finally got around to finishing the Battlewagon. Having completed the DeffDredd (Da Lawnmowa) and the Painboy Biker last week, I have taken some photos to upload.

Before

The DeffDredd:

Da Lawnmowa, my fit of fancy made from the Bitz Box and a Deffrolla from the upgrade sprue. I decided on a yellow colour scheme for a change, with a red counter pattern. The black and white checks are transfers from the Ork sheet, as I am hopeless at painting them freehand. In order to support the Deffrolla (counts as 2x DCCW) the base is extended out with a tiling piece from the old Gothic ruins set.

Picking out the panels on the Dredd with Tau Sept Ochre as the base coat, then Sunburst Yellow, all slightly thinned. A few checks and dags done with Mechrite Red and then Blood Red breaks up the piece, even if they are not masterpieces of freehand skill.

A wash of good old Devlan Mud to tone down the yellow; and it was done.

For the base, nice and simple: alternate tiles in White and Codex Grey, with a wash of Badab Black. Flocking and Talus grit, leaving some on the tiles to break them up and add texture.

The Painboy Biker Nob:

In order to show the Eldar War Walker components; Ultramarines Blue with a stippling of Ice Blue then 'Ardcoat Gloss Varnish, with the stones (?) picked out in TauSept Ochre, a dab of white highlite (like a jewel effect) and a coat of Yellow Glaze.
The Orky components kept the usual red and black, "Shimples!".

The Battlewagon:
Oh, what colour scheme to paint this?
"Red Wunz go Fasta!!!"

So, that finally decided, a Mechrite and Scab Red mix straight onto the lowest individual plates leaving the edges and random wear and tear exposed to the base metal basecoat. Picking out yellow parts as a contrast and an occasional raised plate in Ultramarine Blue or Dark Angels Green. The 'Ardcase and Big Gun Turret bitz were also completed (not gluing the top down, so I can swap-out the weapons).

A wash of thinned Badab Black (for a change), then I got to play with a couple of new additions I picked up from a town centre (Brum) model & railway store, Ian Allen Books ..... some weathering powders.

They had a collection of Faded Olive Drab (Allied), White Ash & Faded Japanese Military Yellow(ish); and Dark and Light Mud (which I purchased).

Not having used them before, I first stippled the Dark on then the Light Mud on the higher areas and raised areas: Without a great success. So, revisiting with a dampened brush; stippled again. This came out well.

I then added some transfers ('Ardcoat Gloss beneath them, to reduce the edging contrast that you get from the transfers against acrylics.

Note: Don't finish with a spray of Purity Seal Varnish ........ all the weathering details then vanished as it blended them in. I then redid the weathering over the varnish and it stayed. I like the effect, and a new technique experienced.

However, I do think that I'll read up (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/pdf/weathering-powders.pdf) on using powders properly.

There you go, another clump of backlog done; as promised.

They may show up in Bristol, but I'm not sure now... I enjoyed using the Sisters a lot, at the weekend. A few tweaks and I may yet take them along.

Edit: I have just read the Forgeworld guide on Weathering powders. With the Forgeworld stuff (I used Mig powders) it is to use dry then seal with varnish ....?????. I no not, what happend. Time to experiment.

"Please form an orderly queue, a gamer will be with you shortly"

Backlogs!
We all have them (unless you are superhuman or organised).

As a small break from the Stompa, I thought that I would dig out the mob of Stormboyz & Zagstruk that has been sitting in my "To Do Box".

Now, I haven't fielded Stormboyz since 3rd Edition 40K, and I had got rid of the originals a long time ago. Then came the last Codex;  Zagstruk and  a larger mob size.

So I started picked odds 'n ends of e-bay as cheaply as possibly (hence the mixture and conditions). I picked up Zagstruk a few months ago but still not done anything with them.

Well; No longer! Ahhh Haah!

Unfortunately I also came across a couple more "To Do" items for the Orks (note: I am not mentioning the other races at the moment).

In order to kickstart myself, I'm going to post up here to remind me and hopefully embarass myself to get them done (I have the time at the moment).

For "Cashier Number One":  The Stormboyz & Zagstruk

"Cashier Number Two": The Nobz Biker Mob Painboy

An Eldar Warwalker build konversion that is still at the basecoated and drybrushed stage (If I stall..... then this is where it usually happens).

Doh! I forgot ... no photo yet, but there is also Wazdakka Gutzmek (the Mk VI version), to finish off. I have just upgraded him with the Warboss from AoBR and a little work on "the bike of the Aporkalypse".

"Cashier Number Three": Da Lawnmowa

This has been stalled for about 3 months now; I had the Battlewagon upgrade sprue, but no battlewagon at the time (Hey .... it was shiny!). A rummage around the bitz box and I found almost enough bits for a Deffdredd, providing that I "count as" the Deffrolla as 2x DCCW.

The idea of the clanking monstrosity pushing the rolla like a lawn mower was too much to resist. Although I did have to do some playing around with fitting it. The brackets were extended with Styrene Rods that allow it to be removed (careful sizing and a little "play" in the roller arms), as well as vertical rotation.

Heh heh .... Bam, bam!

Cashier Number Four: Battlewagon

A straightforward one this, it just needs painting (red of course!).

Cashier Number Five: A Meganobz Mob

I managed to pick 3 up for only £10 ........ the others were included in other bundles I got; so with one other that I already had, here is my bodyguard for Ghazkhul Mag Uruk Thraka in an Apocalypse game.

Well that is just a small blather of what is on my mind at the moment, and it seems to be all Green.

Time to get on with the first in the queue; "Deff from Above!!"