Monday 25 November 2013

Heresy Era Death Guard: Flamer Support Squad Completed

A small splash of Legion action today in the form of a Support Squad armed with Flamers.
 
These guys will be rocking around in a Rhino armed with a Heavy Flamer, with the sole task of clearing objectives and shifting dug in units. I had a quick game with them after I just built them, and they toasted a Dark Eldar Raider and a Haemonculus in one sitting - not to shabby. Upgraded with Chem munitions for free (as they're Death Guard) and they get the Shred USR (and also Gets Hot!) but I try not to think about that one!

 

I actually converted the Sargent to carry a Deathshourd Power Scythe - the army list allows anyone who can take a Power Fist to be armed with a power Scythe instead at the same cost. The conversion came out great I thought...


Until I discovered that you could only take the Power Scythe if you had the legionnaires Astartes (Death Guard) special rule....which generic support squads don't! DOH! So I had to convert him back again! Which was much more of a pain than the initial conversion.

 
Now that these guys have been completed, I've gone into Terrain mode again - but this time it APOC Terrain! More on that soon.

The GunGrave

Tuesday 19 November 2013

DIY Hyperios Missile Platforms Painted

The Missile Platforms are now ready for play testing now they are painted! Just a quick paintjob for these guys, with a scheme in keeping with the rest of the Death Guard army. 
 

I decided to keep the missile themselves white as opposed to the off white/brown od the rest of the platform. I'm not sure if i'm happy with that choice, but i'll run with it and see how I feel.



A scale shot with a Legionary:


During that painting session I also managed to get eh Fire Raptor Base painted.


That's all for now. Coming up, more Death Guard Legionnaires and Support Squads.

The GunGrave

Friday 15 November 2013

Heresy Era Death Guard: Fire Raptor


Its been a quite 2 weeks on the blog, but the Forge has been running day and night to build and paint this bad-ass - the Legion Fire Raptor!

This was bought for me on Games Day by my girlfriend for my birthday (what a Gal!) Its a great kit, full of detail and easy to put together. Plus you get a tonne of plastic spare parts which will come in very handy in the future.

I've taken this guy out for a spin at club the other night, and its an absolute BEAST! It accounted for around 3 quarters of my victory points that game! Gonna have to get me a second!

(Apologies for the picture quality - this guy is so big it barely fits inside my light box)


Rear Door:


Hellstrike Missiles:


Engine detailing:


The Avenger Bolt Cannon:


Engine exhausts:


The Reaper Autocannon Pods:


These were magnetised so they could be removed more easily for transport and storage:


Here's a scale shot with a Contemptor and Legionary:


I'm still working on the scenic base - this is where i'm at so far:


I also snapped a few WIP pics while building and painting:





With a Legion Support Squad and another 10 Legionnaires waiting to be painted, i'll be pumping out plenty of Death Guard over the next week!

The GunGrave

Friday 1 November 2013

DIY Hyperios Missile Platform - Build Tutorial

 
 
Since the release of the new HH: Massacre book I've had my eye on the Forgeworld Hyperios Weapons Platforms for some extra anti-air for my Heresy Death Guard. That being said, I don't want to fork out for 'optional' units for my list when the list is made up entirely of Forgeworld units!
 
In an effort to save some pennies and redirect funds towards more vital units, I decided to make my own Hyperios! There are a lot of DIY Hyperios on the internet, most of which consist of the Valkyrie Multiple Rocket Pods mounted on some kind of base. If you want a quick and easy conversion, then that is your best bet. I however, wanted something a bit different!
 
 Now, if your an avid IG player you'll probably have most of these parts. If not, you might have to trawl through eBay for bits, or find a suitable substitute.
 
So, start with an Icarus Patttern Lascannon from the Bastion/Aegis Defence Line. You'll need the base and the turret supports. There is obviously a gap between the supports so you'll have to fill it with something. I used a piece of plastic plumbing hose. This forms the bulk of the platform.

 

Next up is the missile housings. You'll need to grab your Valkyrie spare parts now, and identify the parts below. These are the weapons housings for the side of the cockpit.


Then grab the sensory panels that are optional for the weapons housings.


Assemble the parts. Normally these would be fixed to the side of a cockpit, so one side is left open. Seal up the sides with plasticard and fill the gaps with Milliput.



You now have the main platform and the missile housings.


Next grab these two bits from the Valkyrie sprue. These are usually used to mount the sponson heavy bolters on the Valkyrie. They'll be used to join the missile housings to the main platform.


To make life easier, you'll need to drill a few holes! Firstly, make some holes in the sides of the missile housing. Be sure to measure and make sure the holes are in the same place on each of the housings.


Do the same on the weapons platform. This is a little more difficult as there is some detailing that you'll have to shave away (but as you can see this doesn't always lead to complete accuracy!)


The small cylinders you grabbed earlier can now be glued into the holes on the platform. The missile housings can now be easily mounted. But first you'll need to finish preparing them by adding the mounts for the missiles.


Now, I only had 4 of these pieces, but if you can find yourself 6 then great! They are from the Bastion kit, and are used to mount the Heavy bolter turrets.


I used these bits, which are from the Valkyrie kit. These will need a slight modification.


Cut the piece in half, discarding the t-bar piece.


You should be left with these for the missile mountings.


Take the first missile housing and glue on the large bit first. Make this as central as possible.


You can now use this as a guide for the smaller pieces, to ensure your mountings are symmetrical (or as close as they can be!) I drew on some lines with a ruler to help me with this.


Next glue on the smaller pieces, ensuring the parallel ridges are facing forwards. The missiles will be sitting on these.


Repeat the process for  the other missile housing.


You can now attach the missile housings to the weapons platform. You could be clever here and use magnets to keep some movement in the piece, but I just glued them straight on. Don't forget to position them at an upward angle, or your missiles will hit nothing but grass!


Next its the missiles! You could use anything here really, but I chose to use the Hellstrike Missiles from the Valkyrie set, as I had loads of them!


You'll need 6.


Now glue them to the missile mountings, ensuring the missiles are straight.


Repeat for the other housing.


Now you just need the targeting gear. Grab an Icarus Lascannon/Quad Cannon sprue if you have one.


You looking for this bit.


Cut off the parts on the underside so the piece will sit flush on the missile launcher.


Now glue to the central part of the platform at the same angle as the missile housings. The idea is that the central section rotates up and down, which of course includes the missile housings and targeting systems.


Now your done!! Repeat as many times as you like, or as your bits box allows!


Ideally id like to mount the platform on these bases.


I've got 2, but my Long Barrelled Quad Autocannons are using them at the moment, and are guarding my Defence Laser: Heratics Bane! A buddy of mine has 2 I can have, which i'll pick up soon. If you don't have them, I think they look just as good without.


There you have it! If you have a go building these let me know how you got on. I'll be painting up these bad boys soon, probably in Death Guard colours. I may add some Mechanicum icons as well just for flavour!

The GunGrave