A Tale of Two Santas: Chaos Noctilith Crown

 Welcome back to the Vault, and a very Happy Christmas to you all. Regular readers will appreciate I haven't posted in a while; I've made some priority changes to my schedule in the last couple of months and whilst I am blogging less I am painting more. There is a veritable back log of Iron Warriors to share in upcoming posts.

I've been involved in a Christmas painting challenge. In 2020 a number of my friends participated in a "Tale of Four Santas" producing painted models as gifts for each other. This year we revisited the challenge in a slightly different manner; each participant would keep the model but the particular miniature had to be inspired by the lyrics of the "The Twelve Days of Christmas". 

For me there was an obvious choice; the Chaos Noctilith Crown aka the Stargate. The central ring would serve wonderfully as a Gold Ring. 

Warsmith's Words: More Iron Warriors Legionnaires

 Welcome back to the Vault! My collection of painted Iron Warriors continues to grow with the addition of a squad of 10 Legionnaires. These chaps are kitted out for the assault phase with chainswords and pistols, whilst the Aspiring Champion has a daemon blade. The trophy rack on the Champion can also be used as an Icon.

Warsmith's Words: Perturabo-don!

 Welcome back to the Vault! Today we have even more reinforcements for the Iron Warriors. One of my fellow club members gifted me a 3D printed Armoured Evil Space Baddie who I've paint up in Iron Warrior colours.

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warriors Havocs

 Welcome back to the Vault! I seem to be on my longest hobby streak for several years; I'm actually painting daily at the moment which is unheard of! I'm currently alternating "unit of dudes" with "cool big model or character", and next off the list is another Iron Warriors iconic unit, the Havocs.

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warriors Daemon Prince

 Welcome back to the Vault! I am on something of a hot streak with my Iron Warriors; the hobby butterfly remains firmly alighted on the IV Legion and I've completed another unit. To my mind Daemon Princes are one of the quintessential Chaos Space Marine choices and I knew I would have to have one in my collection.

Warsmith's Words: Completed Vindicator

 Welcome back to the Vault! A quick post today showing off the completed Iron Warriors Vindicator I started a couple of weeks ago. My hobby butterfly seems to be firmly focused on the IV Legion at the moment!

Octoberfest 2022 Analysis and Predictions

 Welcome back to the Vault! October is here and that means it will soon be time for Octoberfest; First Founding's annual autumnal 40K tournament. Personal circumstances mean I won't be playing this time round but I have promised to provide the usual pre-event analysis and predictions! So let's indulge in some PunditHammer!

There are 30 attendees who are bringing 20 different factions between them. For the purposes of this analysis I've decided to cover each Space Marine chapter as a different faction since each has a different supplement to provide variety to how they play (and lets face it a Dark Angel is not the same as an Ultramarine).

Warsmith's Words: Vindicator Work In Progress

 Welcome back to the Vault! I've been unwell this week and not really been feeling the hobby mojo. However, the energy and enthusiasm to pick up a paint brush has started to return and I've turned my attention to an Iron Warriors Vindicator.

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warrior Relics

 Welcome back to the Vault! Octoberfest beckons and I'm going to have to nail my list down. I think I've got the guts of the units selected and painted and I'm now fretting over the last few points and deciding if I want to invest any of my precious CP in Relics for my forces.

I thought it would be useful to do a review of the available Relics in a similar manner to the previous Warlord Traits post to help me narrow down my selections.

Warsmith's Words: More Reinforcements have arrived!

 Welcome back to the Vault! I am on something of a hobby streak at the moment, having completed two more models for the mighty Iron Warriors over this weekend. Both are likely to make the final line up for Octoberfest (although I'm still procrastinating over my list!)

First up is the terrifying Master of Possession.

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warrior Terminators

 Welcome back to the Vault! My recent painting sessions have been focused on completing the ten Iron Warrior Terminators I started a few weeks ago. A final push over this weekend has seen them all completed and based. 

I enjoyed painting them in the main (although batch painting can be a bit of a pain), and as suspected there was a lot of fun in painting up all the trophies. I've also experimented with a new paint which I'm quite pleased with as well.

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warrior Warlord Traits

 Welcome back to the Vault! My hobby time this week has been spent painting the Iron Warriors Terminators. I've almost completed the base coats and am looking forward to getting onto the washes and shading.

Octoberfest is a little over a month away and whilst the rules pack hasn't been published yet I do know the basics:

• 1500 points
• Tempest of War Missions
• Nephilim Command Point rules

The last of these will be a challenge for me as I do like to spend some pre-game CP on Relics and Warlord Traits and these are curtailed under the Nephilim rules. Even the normally free first Warlord Trait and Relics cost CP (1 each), and you only start with 6 as opposed to the normal 12!

Let's have a look at the Warlord Traits available to the Iron Warriors and see if there are any worth investing our precious CP on!

Warsmith's Words: An Iron Warriors Weekend

 Welcome back to the Vault! I'm writing this post at the back end of a Bank Holiday weekend, and it's been a great opportunity to indulge in some Hobby Heresy with the Iron Warriors.

First up was a game against Tom's Guard and Inquisition mix at First Founding on Friday. Tom's a relatively new player to 9th edition and we had a great evening playing a Tempest of War mission and learning more of our respective army rules.

Saturday afternoon was spent facing off against Dave's Chaos Knights at Geek Retreat Sutton. This was our first visit to play at the store, and the staff made us very welcome setting up a table and showing interest in our game and models. 

Warsmith's Words: All the Trimmings!

 Welcome back to the Vault! The temperature has cooled enough recently that I've actually been tempted back into painting. The Iron Warrior collection is in bit of a funny state with far too many Heavy Support and Character choices painted up, and nothing for Elite and Fast Attack slots.

I've got plenty of choices in the Pile of Promise to resolve this however and I've decided to start on a unit of Terminators.

Warsmith's Words: Legionary Ramblings

 Welcome back to the Vault! The recent weather has been far too warm for painting models, but I have been spending some time assembling some models. If they are built I can play them, even if it's with committing the cardinal sin of unpainted models!

I've also had two games with the mighty Iron Warriors of the IV Legion. There's a lot to learn with a new codex, but I'm enjoying the army so far. My initial lists have centred around what's painted as opposed to what's competitive, but I'll change up the lists as I get more confident with the army.

I have four(!) units of Legionaries painted up; a lot of lists and reviews I've been reading about on the web seem to be minimising Troop choices and prioritising the cheaper Cultists, but I've got a definite lean towards the Power Armoured Spiky Boys as they are the iconic unit for the faction! (Besides if I want to run loads of chaff infantry I'll play my Guard).

Warsmith's Words: Lord Discordant

 Welcome back to the Vault! My hobby and gaming has been on a mini hiatus whilst I've been enjoying the warm weather over the last couple of weeks, but a combination of holiday and a cooler temperatures has meant an opportunity to get painting!

Sensible Varchilde has been preparing and priming some infantry units, but the "ooh paint something shiny" factor kicked in, and I've indulged in the Lord Discordant for the Iron Warriors.

 

Pestilential Painting: Planetary Empires Campaign Day

 Welcome back to the Vectorium! Last weekend the mighty Death Guard participated in a narrative campaign day at First Founding; a loose coalition of Chaos and Xenos forces sought to invade the Hive Capital of an important Imperial World. Could the Imperial Defenders repulse the attack?

Nine players participated and were divided 4 and 5 between the Defenders and Attackers. Neil provided a Planetary Empires map; the Imperial Defenders initially held all the tiles but a successful Attacker game result would "flip" a tile to the invaders. If the Attackers could flip an inner defence tile then there was a chance to take the capital itself.

The initial round saw players face off in individual matches as the attackers moved across a broad front, but the later rounds would see forces link up.

I found myself drawn up against Dave's Ad Mech in a 1500 point Tempest of War Game:

Pestilential Painting: Chaos Spawn completed

 Welcome back to the Vectorium! The summer of Chaos is truly upon us; the Chaos Space Marine Codex is finally here, and I've been poring over the book. There are some juicy looking datasheets and I've already started on the next round of model building.

Next weekend I'll be playing as part of Team Chaos at First Founding's campaign day, using my Death Guard. Much as I'm looking forward to playing the Iron Warriors I want to get some practice games in before I take them to an event.

I will be taking some new units to the event; the Plague Surgeon will finally hit the table top, and the Chaos Spawn have been completed.

The Power of Positivity/The Half Year Review

 Welcome back to the Vault! Today's post is a made of two halves, but bear with me. By pure chance I met an author this weekend; a lovely chap called Mark Llewhellin who writes and speaks about self development/positive thinking, etc. "Fill your life with positivity"; a great mantra to try to live by, and something which quite frankly I suck at. However I am looking for the positives in my hobby time (which is supposed to be fun)!

I've enjoyed my painting projects this year (more on that later); in particular the mini-terrain project of cargo containers, especially weathering the yellow box.

Pestilential Painting: Spawn work in progress

 Welcome back to the Vectorium! This week has been very hectic with Real Life stuff, but I have managed to get a decent painting session in. My next gaming "event" is a one-day Planetary Empires campaign at the club open day in early July, and I've been allocated onto Team Chaos. 

Whilst I'm still waiting for the Chaos Codex to appear so I can get the Iron Warriors onto the table, this means I'll be running the Death Guard. An event is always a great excuse to add a new painted unit or two so I decided to get something Nurgley-done!

The big boys from the Gellarpox Kill Team are perfect to "counts as" Death Guard Spawn, so I've had a happy few hours getting the initial coats onto these horrors!

Power Armoured Paint: Land Speeder Completed

 Welcome back to the Vault! Today's post is brief as it's been a long weekend. Saying that I've found enough hobby time to complete the Land Speeder for the Light Bringers Space Marines. I wasn't happy with the boring flight stand it came with and rustled up a funky base as well!

Power Armoured Paint: What a hobby week!

 Welcome back to the Vault! I have had a wonderful week off work recharging my batteries, and spending some time indulging in various hobbies as well as catching up on some of those not-so fun household chores. 

I'd mentioned in recent posts I'd been feeling out of sorts with playing 40K, but I think I've got my mojo back! The hobby highpoint was a trip to Warhammer World with Pete and Neil (more on that later), but I've also been working on some modelling and painting projects.

First up is a new Primaris Captain for the Carcharodons Astra. He's intended to replace Captain Whiffy in lower point games and act as more as a buff character rather than a beat stick.

Power Armoured Paint: Black Reach Dreadnought

 Welcome back to the Vault once more! Hobby time has been 40K focused over the weekend having an enjoyed a Doubles game using the Carcharodons Astra. We used the Tempest of War cards, and I'm really enjoying this format.

I also came across a half finished and mostly forgotten about Dreadnought in the Pile of Promise. I love my Dreddies so I thought it would be fun to finish it up.

Warsmith's Words: Completed Iron Warriors Land Raider

 Welcome back to the Vault! I've had a couple of productive hobby sessions over the last couple of weekends slapping paint onto my Iron Warriors Land Raider. The steel seems a bit blotchy on the close up pictures but I'm happy with it at table top distance.

If you haven't read the original post; this model is a bit of a Frankenstein; the usual tracks and top plate have been replaced with 3D printed parts from Battle Bling. They give the model a great look.

Warsmith's Words: Obliterators

 Welcome back to the Vault! Apologies for the lack of posting recently; I've been suffering with a yucky cold, and haven't had the motivation to blog. I'm well on the road to recovery now, and have enjoyed some D&D with the usual suspects and been building and painting some models.

I've been watching some YouTube videos covering Oldhammer models and paint schemes which have been quite fun to watch, and I nearly pulled some old school minis to paint. However, a level of sense prevailed and I've continued with the Iron Warriors instead.

I like to include "iconic" units in my forces and nothing says "Iron Warriors" more than Obliterators and Artillery. To cover off the first are a pair of Obliterators.

 

Warsmith's Words: The Mauler Fiend

 Welcome back to the Vault! Hobby time has been somewhat limited this week with Real Life rather rudely intruding, however the gang did play D&D on Friday evening, and I've had a tidy up of the gaming cave which is rather therapeutic if nothing else.

I thought I'd share another unit for the Iron Warriors I completed some time ago. I like my armies to feature iconic units, and for Iron Warriors that's got to include Daemon Engines, Obliterators and Havoks.

Let's strike something off that list; a fearsome Mauler Fiend Daemon Engine!

Trinity Knot: Adventurer's Journals

Let's get the obvious out of the way; I'm a sucker for cool gaming related stuff. So when I found out that Trinity Knot were running a Kickstarter for 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons Adventurer Journals I was pretty intrigued.

Character records are very much something of personal taste; over the years I've used hand written notes on A4 sheets and school exercise books, photocopied character sheets from rule books, and even bought packs of character sheets for various systems. I've still got a 1st edition character record hiding somewhere in the recesses of the Vault.

In this more modern age of gaming we've got electronic character records; excel spreadsheets which track various characteristics for us, and sharable "sheets" on D&D Beyond. Whilst the majority of the D&D I play these days is online, I don't like electronic records; they are too intangible for me. 

A simple printed out sheet is fine for one shots; but for a long term campaign with a favourite character, then there is a so much to be said for a character journal. And I think the Trinity Know Journals will be perfect for those occasions.

Disclosure: I backed the Kickstarter with actual coin from the Vault. I know Al from Trinity Knot, but I purchased the Journals as a customer. 

Enough words. Picture time!

Warsmith's Words: The Warpsmith

 Welcome back to the Vault! A quick post today as the Easter Weekend has been pretty busy (although I did get in a game of Tempest of War with Neil at the club which I'll share my thoughts about in a future post).

Iron Warriors reinforcements have been working their way through the painting desk; first up is the new Warpsmith model from the Eldritch Omens box.

Warsmith's Words: The Eye Gougers

 Welcome back to the Vault! This week's hobby time has been spent completing my Iron Warriors Kill Team. These models will feature as part of a larger Iron Warriors force but today let's meet Perturabo's commando squad known as The Eye Gougers.

Warsmith's Words: The Retro Raider

 Welcome back to the Vault! My recent hobby sessions have taken a slight tangent. Hobby Brain has been saying "Finish the Iron Warriors Kill Team". Hobby Heart has said "Blow that; build the new shiny!"

Heart beat Head. My friend Jon at Battle Bling recently released a Land Raider mod kit which turns the plastic model into a retro Raider with a lot of nods back to the Proteus. One impulse purchase later, the bits were in my grubby mitts!

With its calling back to early models I figured this model ought to be an ancient Chapter Relic, and should belong to the Veterans of the Long War. I had ideas to convert the Lascannons and Heavy Bolters with Death Guard bitz (Entropy Cannons and other Nurgley guns) but I couldn't find all the cannon parts in the spares box.

And so the Iron Warriors have received reinforcements!

Tales from Titan: Downsizing

 Welcome back to the Vault! I played a 1500 point game of 40K with my Grey Knights on Friday against the new Eldar. And got utterly battered. It was an enjoyable game but I made a lot of mistakes, starting before the game with poor secondary choices, continuing in deployment and then right through the game.

There were some poor dice rolls (at one point we worked out I'd done more wounds to myself via Perils than I'd caused to my opponent's forces), but ultimately I played like a muppet. Back to Initiate training for me!

Warsmith's Words: Iron Warriors Kill Team

 Welcome back to the Vault! This week's hobby time has been spent working on a new Kill Team. A few of the First Founding regulars have been talking about playing some more Kill Team (the older edition we've all invested in and not played nearly enough of!), and I want to bring something new to the game board. 

And so I've been building and painting Iron Warriors; dour soldiers of the IV Legion!

Pestilential Painting: Finishing the Infected Rhino

 Welcome back to the Vectorium! 40K is very much the focus of my hobby time at the moment; I've played another game since last week's Doubles and I've also been painting some units over the last fortnight or so.

First off the paint bench is a Rhino Transport for the Death Guard. I started this project last year, and then promptly got distracted by other units! 

Regimental Reporting: First Founding Doubles 22 After Action Report

 Welcome back to the Officers Mess! Yesterday I attended First Founding's Doubles 40K Tournament, and had a fantastic day out! My write up will be briefer than usual; I'm recovering post COVID, and my energy levels are low at the moment. Enthusiasm and copious cups of tea saw me through the day.

I had teamed up with Scott who brought a Genestealer Cult force to run alongside my Guard. The sneaky cultists provided plenty of movement, tricks and close combat to complement the straight forward nature of my heavy guns.

First Founding Doubles 22 Analysis and Predictions

 Welcome back to the Vault! Next weekend will see 40 keen gamers attend the 2022 First Founding Doubles Tournament. Let's have a look at what factions players are bringing and teams have been formed. And then, as has become somewhat of a Vault tradition, I'll indulge in some punditry and make some predictions as to who will do well.

I don't think I've ever predicted the winner, but I've come close a few times!

Let's start by looking at the individual forces:

Regimental Reporting: Parade Ready for Doubles 22

 Welcome back to the Officer's Mess! First Founding's Doubles 40K tournament is almost here, and as today is the deadline for list submissions I've mustered the models to ensure there are no breaks to repair, etc. and take a few pictures.

I'm partnered with Scott and we've gone with a fairly thematic pairing of Genestealer Cult and Imperial Guard. Colonel Staysback seems to have a bit of a strange glassy look in his eyes these days...

Munitorum Armoured Containers

 Welcome back to the Vault! Sometimes the hobby butterfly settles on an unexpected project and this week it's alighted upon a small terrain project. I have a subscription to the Imperium magazine and there have been several issues with Munitorum Armoured Containers.

These terrain pieces are a staple of many a 40K table and can be arranged in plenty of different configurations. I thought it would be fun to paint mine up and use them as an opportunity to try out some weathering techniques.

Regimental Reporting: Mustering for Doubles

 Welcome back to the Officers Mess! I've blinked and January is almost over; by the time I've blinked again it will be First Founding's Doubles Tournament at the end of February. I've partnered with Scott for the event and we are going with something of a themed pairing. Scott is bringing his Gene Stealer Cult whilst I will be wheeling out the Imperial Guard.

I've written a draft list and it needs some bits and pieces painted for it; primarily some Scions and some new weapon options for my Leman Russ Battle Tanks. I'd like to try out some Demolisher Cannons, and I decided to paint the Punisher Gatling Cannons at the same time. 

The Demolisher variant turret has this funky bayonet fitting so it's incredibly simple to secure a new option onto the model.

Tales from Titan: Looking forward

 Welcome back to the Vault! I'm riding the wave of motivation post the Casual Serious RTT. I've got some ideas for new lists/tweaks to try out, but the imminent release of Chapter Approved with a series of points changes and modifications to army building rules may put a crimp in some of those.

Something more certain however is the need to base my Interceptors! I've got a few other models also in need of basing so I've tackled them all as a batch.

Tales from Titan: The Casual Serious RTT

 Welcome back to the Vault! I'm taking the opportunity to write this post whilst recovering from an epic weekend of Warhammer 40,000. Saturday afternoon was spent finishing the Interceptor squad and printing lists, etc. in advance of Sunday's event; the Casual Serious Rogue Trader Tournament (RTT) in Horsell, Surrey. 

I was very lucky to be invited to attend this tournament; this was the inaugural Casual Serious event and the organisers were using the day as a "beta test" for future tournaments. There were 9 players (Lyle and Dean the organisers alternating as the "odd man"), some of whom I knew from First Founding, and others were new faces! It's always great to meet and play different opponents.

Tales from Titan: Interceptors Work In Progress

 Welcome back to the Vault! I'm focused on preparing for next week's inaugural "Casual Serious" RTT; this is my first non-First Founding 40K event in a *long* time (albeit a number of the First Founding members will be present) and I'm looking forward to visiting another venue and meeting some new players.

I've been painting up a new unit of 10 Interceptors:

Tales from Titan: Strike Marines

Happy New Year from the Vault! I hope you've all had a good break and the opportunity to indulge in some hobby and gaming time. I've played some board games with the family and also given my Grey Knights a run out using the new Codex.

There's a lot going on in this book, and it will take some games to get familiar with the new rules. My first list used a lot of MSU power armour units, including 3 Purifier Squads. I felt this was too many and so I decided to change one of the Purifier squads to a Strike Squad to provide some more Objective Secured into the list.

All my Purifier Squads are armed with double Psycannons which unfortunately isn't a legal load out for a 5 man Strike unit. And so I've needed to paint up a model or two for this new configuration. One of the Purifier Squads is actually made from old-school Metal Strike Marines, and conveniently I happened to have two unpainted sitting in the Pile of Promise/Mound of Opportunity*.

*These phrases being 2022's rebranding of the Pile of Shame! These are all future hobby projects to be enjoyed.

 And these two Champions of Titan are now complete!