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Miniature Games => Warmachine / Hordes => Topic started by: Matt Thomas on July 14, 2008, 11:00:36 PM

Title: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 14, 2008, 11:00:36 PM

So... I have decided on a faction for our group build. I will be putting together a Cryx list.
I have settled on Lich Lord Terminus as a warcaster. While I like the look of all the other Cryx casters I wanted something that would be a total change in play style. I started off playing with Ashlynn, and have recently been playing with Fiona the Black. Both are very high defense casters with lower armor that like to stay a ways back from the battle and direct their troops and jacks to do the heavy lifting (though both are capable of closer combat).
So I decided to go for a caster that would get right up into the battle for a change. Several Cryx casters are capable of this but it is exemplified by Terminus who's size makes it impossible for him to hide. In addition it's an awesome model that I have wanted to field for some time.

Terminus of course desperately 'wants' to be paired with the Death Jack. Not only does this make for close to the maximum weight you can put down in two models, Terminus can make the death jack hit 4 times at P&S 20 with two additional head but attacks, before any focus.

I played with the idea of creating a classic 350pt Warcaster and personal jacks list but it didn't seem to be the way to go when you consider that we will be increasing to 500pts soon and their is no official build restriction.

I also wanted to start with something else to get my painting skills a bit more honed before going after the Death Jack. Therefore I decided to try out the Seether. I don't know if I will like it on the table because of the difficulty controlling it, so this gives me a chance to try it out before getting into the higher point values.
On the down side it means I can't really fit another jack onto the list so my only jack will be nigh uncontrollable.

Bane knights will of course be making an appearance at some point in my list so I figured why not get a unit started. So in they go, along with a skarlock thrall (another obvious pick).

So the 350 List is...

Lich Lord Terminus
   - Seether Helljack
   - Skarlock Thrall
Bane Knights (9)

I don't know how well this list will work out. I am especially worried about the limited range for controlling the Seether (9 inches) but Terminus will be right up front anyway. If it becomes a problem I will switch it out when we move to 500pts.

Coming Soon... The Seether being assembled.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on July 14, 2008, 11:25:06 PM

That's a tough list. Redeemer missiles and Zealot bombs don't do squat to those knights. I miss my Widowmakers already!

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Chase on July 15, 2008, 01:20:36 AM

It's going to be fun watching you guys play with the new armies.  I havent seen Warmachine v Warmachine in a long time.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 15, 2008, 02:33:07 PM

Quote from: Chase on July 15, 2008, 01:20:36 AM

It's going to be fun watching you guys play...

It will be more fun if you join in. 350 points is just a starter box. Pick a faction and join the fun!

Your only way out is spending time on that teaching cert.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 15, 2008, 03:37:03 PM

Quote from: Ian Mulligan on July 14, 2008, 11:25:06 PM

That's a tough list. Redeemer missiles and Zealot bombs don't do squat to those knights. I miss my Widowmakers already!

Could have been worse. Death Jack would just see them as tasty souls  ;D

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on July 16, 2008, 12:03:55 AM

Oh, I have a plan now.

Firestarter spam. Bane Knights won't look so scary when they're running around on FIRE.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 16, 2008, 08:34:45 AM

Can give them tough.

Course I will fail all the rolls

Title: Tuesday's work
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 16, 2008, 08:42:46 AM

Last night I worked on my army some.

The Seether is coming along, I got many of the spikes on and joined the legs and torso and filled the resulting gap (pictures coming I swear).

I also broke out Terminus to take a look at how hard that will be... oh man massive top heavy model (worst in the game?) with hardly any area to pin many of the heavy parts, and lots of filing to do before things fit properly.

I took a look at the bane knights, they shouldn't bee too hard. Just fixing the halberds and deciding what gets glued before and what after painting.

The scarlock thrall made it onto the base and looks strait forward, except the painting.

Title: No pics yet :-(
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 19, 2008, 02:30:16 PM

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to get my modeling pictures up on my web space yet so no pictures yet.

I did work a bit on Terminus last night. I got the torso and legs pinned together which is a key connection on that model. I had to use a hardened drill bit (1/8" or so) for the pin because the connection is so small for the amount of pressure put on it.
I have no idea how I will get the wings to stay on. Brush thralls seems to think they are fine.
(http://www.brushthralls.com/model-walkthroughs/assembling-and-painting-lich-lord-terminus.html)
I still think they will need some kind of strengthening of the connection though as they are huge and completely offset weight wise form the connection. Their is very little room for a pin though because of the angles involved and the very narrow connections near the base of the wings.

The Scarlock thrall is now together, it just needs a little green stuff and some paint. I ended up pinning all 3 joints and it seems to have worked out well.

I have started thinking about paint schemes. I have seen some interesting alt schemes but I think I will be sticking with fairly standard colors.

Basing is another issue. I am not sure if I want to go with standard basing on the Cryx or something a bit different. I like standard dirt, rock, and grass basing on most Warmachine models but I prefer snow on Kahdor and Sand on the privateers.
I was thinking of going for a volcanic rock type look like a Basalt or Scora (http://itc.gsw.edu/faculty/tweiland/igrx.htm) as the Isles of Cryx are formerly volcanic and the black coloring would go along well with the models. I am worried that this will not create much separation between the models and bases though. In addition I am not sure about how to achieve a clear volcanic effect that doesn't just look like black gravel.

So Terminus and the Seether have a ways to go, and I need to start the Bane Knights soon. I will be putting brass tubing on their halberds.

Title: Pictures - Finally, it's about time.
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 21, 2008, 01:17:27 PM

I finally got some pictures uploaded from my first Cryx modeling session. You can see the number of pins I am using in the Seether.

The spikes in the top armor plate didn't quite fit in their sockets, and being on top of the model will make them easily brushed. Without pins I think they would probably snap off before I even finished painting. 5 pins just for that.
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/Images/Warmachine/seether_top_armor_plate.gif)

This is the arm assembly (plus one extra spike from the leg - far right) the hooked spike 2nd from the right goes in the back of the hand. This will be one of the last things assembled as even pinned it could break off during drilling etc.
The larger double spike goes in the back of the shoulder (the 2nd bit from the left). You can see where I have drilled the shoulder out for arm magnets. I have not yet finished the matching machining for the arm itself. A pin will be used to keep the arms from rotating in the socket.
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/Images/Warmachine/seether_arm.gif)

The armor plate is pinned to the torso with a thicker pin, as are the legs and head.

I will get more recent pictures up as soon as I have a chance.

Title: More photos comming
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 26, 2008, 03:00:17 AM

I have more photos but it is way past time for bed... anyway just a teaser for tonight.

The assembled Seether armor plate.
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/seether_assembled_spikes.gif)

Moving to a 100% Crop you can see some small gaps, I have actually seen these work out for modelers so I am not sure if they will get green stuffed or not yet.

(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/seether_spikes_detail.gif)

I will try to get some pictures of the Bane Knights up soon.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on July 26, 2008, 09:58:59 AM

You are a pinning ninja.

Title: Pinning
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 26, 2008, 12:04:28 PM

Ninja or Psycho?

Title: More pictures
Post by: Matt Thomas on July 26, 2008, 03:37:04 PM

I promised more pictures so here are a few.

My Scarlock thrall just needs a little green stuff in a couple of gaps (yes I pinned all 3 joints on the model). The Scarlock should be amazing on the board. 15 points to cast up to a 3 focus spell each turn! and he can go off and follow some other group around to stay in range. Super sweetness. I do think it might have looked better if I had moved it further forward on the base.

Front

(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/scarlock_thrall_front.gif)


Back

(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/scarlock_thrall_back.gif)


and a 100% crop of where the green stuff is needed

(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/scarlock_thrall_detail.gif)

Bane Knights
As stated previously I also need a unit of Bane Knights for my 350 list. I started working on these the other day.
I am going to replace the very bendy halbreds with steel rod and brass tubing. I will post pictures of the various steps as I complete them.
The arms will need to be pinned to the torso because the shield and Halbred make for large levers to pop them out. Most of the other joints probably don't need any pinning.

Below is an image of the parts for each Bane Knight
- Torso
- Head
- Halbred Arm
- Shield Arm
- Shield
- Back Spikes
- Shoulder Armor (x2)

(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/bane_knight_parts.gif)

I love Privateer Press models. The detail is amazing. Even the back of the shield and the arms under where the shoulder pads will completely cover them are well sculpted.
My only complaint on these is how poorly the shield fits onto the spike on the shield arm. The spike is far far smaller than the hole so it flops around a lot and I wonder about the strength of the connection.

--- On Edit ---
Edited to try to prevent side scrolling.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on August 06, 2008, 09:27:38 AM

246/350 painted. You need to pick up the pace.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on August 08, 2008, 09:46:37 PM

This is driving me nuts! At least finish putting these dudes together so we can test out our 350 lists while we paint! GAWD.

What fun are firebombs when I can't kill your warcaster with them?

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on August 09, 2008, 02:12:04 PM

They will not be fully assembled until after some of the painting.

I know, I am an ass, your panties are in a twist, blah, blah, blah...
Don't you have a wedding to be planning or something?

--

on a more serious note, I won't have a chance to get much done until the last week of this month at the earliest.

Title: Latest molding session
Post by: Matt Thomas on August 25, 2008, 10:24:29 AM

I got to work on my Cryx again on Sunday. Unfortunately I am working today so I don't get to continue  :(

I got the pinning done for Terminus'. Heck of a time but it should make the joints MUCH stronger and I don't want those wings coming off.

The Seether is just about ready for basing and painting. I just have to decide on the arm positions.

I worked some on the Bane Knights. I FUCKING HATE BANE KNGITS!!!!!
Actually they rock but they are a PITA to put together. They are coming along though. Unfortunately I ran the drill battery out so that put an early end to the nights work.

On the basing front I am doing one more test before deciding what basing compound to use. The choice is between some small scale model train gavel and Vallejo lava compound. The Vallejo is a bit harder to use but the finer texture is a plus IMO. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to come out as even. I want to see what they look like on small size bases before deciding.

No further pictures for now but I will have more once I get to doing the rods for the halberds.

Title: Lessons learned
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 13, 2008, 10:27:11 AM

So lessons learned about my 350 list so far.

1. Bane Knights are fucking terrible to put together, but look sweet as they near completion (pictures coming I swear).

2. Terminus is a PITA to put together too.

3. Bane Knights HATE invulnerable models.

4. Ban Knights need help getting to their target. Speed 5 is a bit slower than they 'want' to move, and Terminus can give them tough but only if they are close by, and he can't give them stealth.

5. Terminus wants a bonejack to run around as an arcnode. This might change my plans for 500pts because I was planning on just taking deathjack.

6. Terminus is tough but once his focus comes down bad shit happens.

7. Tattered wings are the best thing ever.

8. The Seethers extra focus point rocks!

9. The Seether hits like a freight train (MAT 7 Fucking rocks), but does not have reach so throwing is a serious possibility against annoying 'knock back' jacks (fuckers).

Title: Bane Knight Pics!
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 13, 2008, 05:55:32 PM

Finally some pictures of the Bane Knights.

Baggies of Bane Knights awaiting assembly:
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/bane_knights_in_baggies.jpg)

The contents of each bag:
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/parts_in_each_baggie.jpg)

Each model had to have both shoulders and the neck pinned. This means drilling out the torso in three places and then drilling each of the arms and the head. After dry fitting I glued the pins into the arms and heads first before gluing them to the torso. The right arm of each model had to have the halberd built before I glued them on.

You  can see the size of the pin in this photo:
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/bane_knight_pinning_scale.jpg)

Probably the most interesting part of the Bane Knights is how the halberds were assembled.
The original very bendy halberds were cut into three peices, the right arm (seen above) the main blade, and the smaller tail blade.
These were then drilled out with a fine drill bit (#72) so a steel wire could be used to hold the halberd strait. Small brass tubing was cut out to go over the steel wire to get the handle back up to it's original size. The arm had to be through drilled.
These pictures use one of the #72 drill bit to show how the assembly will work.

Arm and upper handle:
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/halbred_rod_demo_1.jpg)

Upper blade attached:
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/halbred_rod_demo_2.jpg)

Ready for gluing
(http://www.studiozerophotography.com/images/warmachine/bane_knight_ready_to_glue.jpg)

That's all for now. Time for some paint to get put on. Then the shoulder pads and shields can be installed and it will be play time.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on September 13, 2008, 09:59:30 PM

They look awesome! You're going to have to walk me through the halberd stuff for my Iron Fang Pikemen.

Title: Rod for Iron Fang Pikeman
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 15, 2008, 11:22:15 AM

Sure. I have plenty of tubeing and rod left.

Title: On the Re line thinkig about WARMACHINE
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 15, 2008, 11:38:44 AM

It turns out I have been playing short one Bane Knight. That should only make a minor diffrence though.
I have been thinking a bit about my 500 point list. I was going to just take Deathjack but I am realizing that Terminus needs to be able to project his power further.
For the cost of 3 Bane Knights I could squeeze a Deathripper onto the list but I would not have room for the deathjack so I am looking at other alteranatives. Pistol wraiths (even one) is an option as they can act indipendantly without much support. I feel like an arcnode is a good idea but making room for it is difficult as I think Terminus wants another heavy jack. Soul hunters also come to mind as they are fast and don't need much support.

Anyway the priority ispainting for now.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 17, 2008, 08:50:02 AM

Yesterday's progress:

Bane Knights Primed
Terminus Based
Terminus' Wing Spikes Attached
Terminus' Wings Attached
Seether Based

Only destroyed 16 shields and 32 shoulder pads in the process  :(

Using poster putty to keep the primer off the connection points worked perfectly though. I will have pics later/eventually.

Title: GAHHHhhhh!!!!
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 20, 2008, 09:09:44 AM

I think I severely screwed up all the shields for my Bane Knights.
After much deliberation I decided to try the green highlighted color scheme seen on the Laviathan here:
http://www.privateerpress.com/WARMACHINE/gallery/thumbs/lrg-43-34026_leviathan_box_set.jpg

So then I thought hey... why not match the Bane Knight armor to the jack armor...
It turns out I am not too good at thinking.
So far it looks like shit (IMO) compared to the stock metallics. Fortunately I started on the shields not the assembled models. Unfortunately... I now need new shields because I put on a nice clean three layer base coat and any thick metallic paint would probably loose all detail completely.

So I have new shields on the way from Privateer Press and I will finish these up in the mean time to see how they look finished but I don't hold out much hope.

It definitely calls the green color scheme into question as  I do NOT want to make this mistake with Terminus or a 'jack.

GAHHHHhhhh... running out of time.

Title: Color Scheme
Post by: Matt Thomas on September 23, 2008, 11:24:44 AM

Looks like the green color scheme will work fine. Unfortunately it is extremely time intensive to paint. Lots of layered highlights and such.

It is clear at this point that I will not make the deadline. I am trying to catch up though, and I will likely chose my 500 point list around a minimum number of easy to paint models.

Easy to paint possibilities include:
Slayer + Bonejack
Slayer + Pistol Wraith
Deathjack

Wednesday is play day, other than that it looks like painting every knight till I get these guys done. Unfortunately, Sunday is out because I am running a game.

I will post more pics as soon as possible.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on October 01, 2008, 09:11:03 PM

FAIL.

Title: Re: FAIL
Post by: Matt Thomas on October 04, 2008, 07:45:52 PM

Fuck.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on October 05, 2008, 11:16:34 PM

I got about two hours of work done tonight. Nothing major just working on bane knight shields. Fucking metalics got all over the place. Looks like it is going to be very tough with my shaky hands to get them to look nice.

I did get to try out the Privateer Press wet pallet. Fucking kickass. I didn't have to replace my paint at all and the full two hours was all one color.
Very very nice IMO.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on October 05, 2008, 11:22:27 PM

You curse a lot these days. You should have done pirates.

My advice is metallics first. That stops most of the problems.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on October 05, 2008, 11:29:04 PM

LOL

I would have done matalics first but I didn't think I could get around them with the other paint. Definitely a mistake on my part but I think I will have to live with it in this case.

The issue is raised metalic trim. If I do it first I brush up against it. If I do it last... I can never get it to look right and inevitably brush over painted areas.

In this case it is compounded by being on edges that get handled during painting so some of it had to be last.

I think better brush control over time will help.

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on October 06, 2008, 10:17:22 AM

I always clean up my metallics by covering stray strokes with black. That lets my other colors avoid metallic problems.

With the stray stroke thing, it's important to remember that inks will subdue a lot of it.t

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Ian Mulligan on November 21, 2008, 06:08:27 PM

Any recent progress?

Title: Re: The Dragonfather's servents - Building Cryx
Post by: Matt Thomas on November 22, 2008, 12:18:26 PM

No major recent progress. Still plugging away at the Bane Knights. I should be able to work on them on Monday but that won't be enough time to finish them.
The green is proving a lot harder to put on than I thought it would be. I didn't realize how much harder it would be to paint them with the arms attached. When I did a test model it was just the torso. I guess next time I might try painting before assembling (and never doing Bane Knights again should help as well).

I did get the (1 piece) pistol wraith glued to his base ;) so I can use that at 500 now.