Andrea's Space Wolves Leader: Ragnar Blackmane - (141 points)

Leader month

 Hi guys, 

this month I really screwed around, and I only manage to paint the leader (yes, a single miniature!). But, I have done even more: not only I fooled around all the month (well, I painted some Newhammer stuff and my beloved Oldhammer Eldar, some Kill Team terrain, a wall in my house, and so on...), but I also managed to reach the 29 of April with the banners ready but Ragnar still only undercoated!

 

 

But, as already highlighted, this is a challenge. And therefore, be the challenge go on! I had less than 48 hour to accomplish the mission, I used 24 to get my leader done!

So here he is, I all his savage glory. Although the speed painting, I have to say I am pretty satisfied with the result and I hope you will like him ;-)

So, what's next: based on the original list I still have to paint the Techpriest, 5 Blood Claws and 5 Wolf Guard Terminators, which I have to complete in a couple of months. Not impossible but, looking at how I managed this OWAC so far, I really have serious concerns! I have to focus and if I ever manage to finish regular list in May then there will be random Space Wolves and terrain to do.

 

Ok, we will see again next month (or the one after the next). 

Ciao, A.

Andrea's Space Wolves Grey Hunters Pack - (316 points)

Rank & File month 3

 

Hi guys,

here's my March production! Not an easy month (life is demanding) but I also wasted a lot of time... eventually I managed to finish on the very last day of the month ;-)

So, Grey Hunters pack: finally painting infantry and I have to say I was surprised on how many details they have compared with other Space Marines! This should not be scaring for someone used to paint Eldar but, well, Space Wolves have a lot of tiny talismans such as teeth, tails, gems, pendants, small bags, pompons... I mean, they are F-A-B-U-LO-U-S-, that's sure, but COME ON! THEY LOOK A DAMN CHRISTMAS TREE!

Anyway,  here they are in their full 316 points splendor!

Family picture

 

The Sergeant and the first combat squad

The second combat squad with leader

The balance is for sure positive, I enjoyed the painting and I am quite satisfied  with the result. You may notice that decals are lacking: they will come, in the future, after I will learn how to apply them without losing my mind and, more importantly, without making a shitty work! (some practice is on the way)

Until the next time, fellow OWACers!

ciao, A

Andrea's Space Wolves - It's tank time! - (201 points)

Rank & File month 2 

Hi everybody,

this month it was an easy business... about painting! February has always been a difficult month because of family affairs, job, ski holiday, locust invasions, etc. So this time I took countermeasures and instead of running for finishing my monthly quota, a nice tank was the selected option!

Therefore, here is the Predator Annihilator in full Space Wolf style (and it seems I do not even messed up company badges!): the basic tank 120 pts + lascannon sponsons 90 pts.

 

The final result was quite satisfying, also considering that I was pessimistic about the outcome of a three-day bath-&-rubbing for decoloring! Honestly, if you look very close at the model, there are still evident signs of the process but this eventually add to the charm of a long-used and repaired war engine. Moreover,  it was also necessary the restoration of a couple of exhaust pipes (as far as I remember those were the first bits of the model to snap off, usually shortly after the painting and before the first battle!). Another great success: decals attached without even the smaller problem! In conclusion, I really had fun in doing it!

Now, hoping to have next months free enough to dedicate to Grey Hunter, the remaining Blood Claws and terminators, to not forget the boss, I will proceed in the challenge (well... there is always a Rhino in waiting, just in case... ;-))

Ciao, A

Andrea’s Space Wolves - Rank & Files #1: Swiftclaws (270 pts)

Dear all,

So, finally the challenge started and it cannot start better! Well, actually the beginning was not so smooth, but let’s see what happen since the first moment.

First, the choice for this month were the bikers: it is half of the Blood Claws squad, which can be mounted on bike. So five bikers: half of Blood Claws pack (130 pts), plus bikes (100 pts) and equipment (40 pts for all) and that means 270 pts for this month.

Now come to painting: I was really happy to have found a rattle can of Wolf grey, as this would have helped a lot to basecoat all minis. And here are the results:

Yes, exactly: that nice rattle can do not actually sprayed Wolf Grey… it sprayed a freaking Dirty-Dark Wolf Grey! So, first attempt failed and everything ended in a refreshing bath. But you know, when the going gets tough the tough get going: is this an old school challenge? Then go for old school! I will do everything by brush using my old Space Wolf grey (which I also found made by Vallejo as Wolf Grey - ahem… this time really so!)

Then, decolor, re-prime (waiting for a sunny day…) re-start. Ok, I have to say that could have been better but finally here are the Swiftclaws! I can’t say I enjoyed really much painting bikes but eventually I am satisfied with the results. I like the way the Space Wolf grey makes them lighter than recent iconography and it seems to me it makes them more popping up in the battlefield. I can’t wait to start other marines now! 

Here is the subject of this month:

Fun fact: my good friend who provided Space Wolves for this challenge suggested I may have make a mistake. Apparently, on the shoulder pad I have put the Ragnar badge, while on the bike I have put the wolf of Logan… Well, of course that not a mistake! It is pretty clear that Logan lent some bikes to Ragnar guys in exchange of a nice container full of beers. What it seems less clear is whether it was Ragnar in need of bikes, or Logan in need of beers… anyway, I suppose that’s not so relevant.

I enjoyed this first month, even considering that rattle can incident, and I hope you all enjoy the result!

See you next month, OWACers!

Ciao, A.

Andrea's Space Wolves Intro post

Hi to all,

here is me again in the OWAC after one edition pause!

A lot of changes since OWAC3, the most remarkable one being the introduction of WH40K universe: therefore, here we are in power armour, bolter and fur!

I started my journey into the hobby with fantasy miniatures mid-90s but I later discovered the 40K universe... needless to say, being raised with bread and Star Wars, all space things with laser shots, aliens from outer space, futuristic armours and so on, I was immediately captured. 

Everything began (as for most of us, probably) with Space Marines; Dark Angels were the first, my mind taken by their power armour covered by monkish robes. Then, there were Imperial Guards, Eldars, other Space Marines, and then even more Imperial Guard, up to three or four platoons. So, the choice for this OWAC was quite easy for me: 2nd Edition Imperial Guard, with an Eldar allied contingent. Though, when everything was ready (after miniature finding, stripping baths, army list refining), the always-cursed Tzeentch put his changing touch to my well conceived plan...

You have to know that last year I changed house, moving to a bigger flat (that was one of the main reason of my OWAC pause). I, then, acquired also a nice two-floors garage were I placed my hobby lab and miniature storage. This summer we decided to restore the external walls of the building and... well, workers built the scaffold in a way that the door of my garage remained shut, likely until mid-January! Now, it is easy to guess were my Imperial Guard and Eldar miniatures are in this moment.

So, plan B. A good friend of mine is a long-term Space Wolves obsessed hoarder collector/gamer and he was impressed by the 2nd ed battle we have had with Filippo last summer. So he kindly proposed me to paint his old-school Space Wolves. And here we are now: I am happy to have the opportunity to paint them, as they are one of the armies I would have painted one day or another. I quite like their lore, the Viking shape and the fact that their units organization differ from the other Space Marines (it is also ironic that my first 40K army were Dark Angels, traditionally an enemy of Space Wolves!). On the bad side, they are incredibly rich of small details but this should not fear an OWACer, and surely not one used to paint Eldar! So I think I will enjoy the painting, and I hope to get a final good-looking force!

Ok, then, here is the list from the 2nd edition codex:

Characters                                  points
Ragnar Blackmane ..................141
Iron priest ...................................45
    
Squads   
Grey Hunter Pack ....................316
    
Blood Claws Pack .....................260
--->5-men pack on foot   

(2 power fist, 1 chainsword, 

1 power sword, 1 power axe, 

1 hand flamer, 1 plasma pistol) .. + 47

--->5-men pack on bike .............+ 100
(1 power fist, 1 chainsword, 

1 power sword, 1 hand flamer, 

1 sgt with meltagun) ....................+ 40
    

Wolf Guard Terminator (x5) ..250
(1 assault cannon, 

1 Cyclon missile launcher, 

1 chainfist, 1 power sword, 

2 power fist, 4 storm bolter) ......+ 154
    
Supports

Predator Annihilator ..............120
(lascannon lateral sponsons) ......+ 90
    
total .............................................1563

Miniatures are all 2nd edition (a lot of metal), with a few heresies here and there like 3rd edition weapons or similar. Here are the guys, bare metal:

Sir Ragnar, in all his savage fashion

 

 

 The Iron Priest, this is a recovery of the 2nd ed one with the hammer head from 3rd edition. But we are waiting (perhaps) for a nice, entire miniature!

 

 

The Grey Hunters pack 

The Blood Claws pack, on foot pack (still have to assemble, a last minute catch!)

 

The Blood Claws pack, on bike pack 

 

 

Wolf Guard terminators

 

Finally, the Predator Annihilator

There is even more, which I probably show you later and include as stretch goals (like the Dreadnought, a couple of Rhinos, scouts, and a few more characters), but it will be already a challenge (in fact...) if I manage to paint everything without going crazy!

To finish this intro post, the tribute to our benevolent Overlord, more or less as requested (I mean, this is my best guess of baby blue!):

 

 I am really excited to start this challenge and I am sure that will be a great ride together you all, fellow OWACers! Good luck everyone, I can't wait to see your armies!

ciao, Andrea

Andrea’s High Elf army wrap-up

Hi guys,

so it’s time to wrap up the last months and try to summarize this third OWAC.

First of all, I want to thank you all, excellent people and Benevolent Overlord, for your support, jokes, suggestions and the great painting. These six months have been long and difficult, and having such a great company motivated me to achieve a successful end. Broken shoulder, then quarantine that do not helped at all (although forced to stay at home, it was like working twice - you know three kids...) and, last but not least, I need to confess that at the beginning I was really uncertain about the army selection. High elves were on my lead pile for a long time (uhm... they actually have always been into the lead pile!) and there was a reason for this: I was never convinced about them! But, hey OWAC is a challenge and, therefore, the challenge was accepted.

One think I have been always sure: the color choice. OWACers companions well know I like the classic color palette and pattern of Warhammer Fantasy in the 90s. So, I wanted my High Elves to spring out directly from thirty year old White Dwarf. So a little revisited classic color scheme was the most obvious choice. And you know what? There were a couple of comments from you that mentioned exactly the reminding of White Dwarf pages , and I can’t be more proud of my work!

Ok, stop writing and start showing. Here’s my OWAC3 army:

The command:

Teclis, need a personal shot:

And the other mage:

Now, rank-&-file:

Archers

Spearmen

Sword Masters

Shadow warriors

War machines:

And, finally, monsters!

Uhm... yet, another monster!

Summary of the challenge (4th edition army book):

General ............... 163 pts

Mage (Teclis) ...... 59 pts

Mage .................... 59 pts

Archers ................. 180 pts

Sword Masters ..... 260 pts

Spearmen ............. 156 pts

Shadow warriors .. 55 pts

Shadow warriors .. 55 pts

2x Bolt throwers .. 100 pts

2x Great Eagles .... 150 pts

Total ...................... 1237 pts

Well, my friends, so here is concluded my third challenge. I wish to see you all next year, with new, old school armies and stories!

Ciao, Andrea

Andrea's High Elf Spearmen and Great Eagles (306 points)

Hy guys,
so this is the last montly report of the OWAC3! And, to appropriately conclude these messy six months, I unsettled what it was scheduled to do and changed completely the subjects to paints.

As per introductory post, I should have painted 8 High Elf warriors... well, it's not that I don't like them but I make a huge discovery! Digging deep into the recesses of my dark cabinet, where the sun cannot shine, I found a once-believed lost bag of elves and eagles! And, since an old style High Elf army without spearmen unit is like a sky without stars, I decided for a change: no more warrior unit, welcome 12 elves-worth spearmen unit with two Great Eagles!

Here, for inventory, a couple of picture of unpainted models:

Moreover, the presence of a banner bearer calls for a new banner! Therefore, here we are:

 

Now, after all due premises, let me introduce first the spearmen unit. As usual, I revisited the classical color palette. I had to confess I had a problem with priming the models, and this unfortunately affected a bit the painting. I relized it only at the end but, overall, I am satisfied enough about the result! I also discovered I hate painting those shields... OMG how much I hate painting those shields!

First rank:

Second rank:

 Then, Great Eagles! I always liked these models and I enjoyed a lot painting them. Back in the days, when I used to play the Wood Elf army I had a lot of eagles and I am also sure I had one or two heroes riding them (...you never now what the cabinet can hide and what can re-emerge during the next OWAC!).

Finally, all June entries together:

Recap of the month: 12 Spearmen with banner bearer 156 pts + 2 Great Eagles 150 pts (75 pts/each), for a total of 306 pts.

Ok, next step the wrap up post, where also the future project could (or could not) be revealed! ;-)

Ciao, A.

Andrea's Teclis & retinue (219 points)

Hi guys, 

this month has been quite busy but I managed to reach the end!

I am particularly happy because this month includes, among the others, the mighty Teclis (here in disguise as a 1st level mage). It is among the first miniatures I owned and it remained painted with enamel until the last summer (not very simple decoloring...). I opted for the classic colour scheme, which also fits to the other mage of this army (March post). Needless to say, it was a pure joy to paint it: a very fine sculpt with a lot of details and incredibly characterful. I hope you all enjoy the result, as I do!

The retinue of Teclis is made by two nice Shadow Warriors units. Back in the days, when I played the 4th/5th edition, Shadow Warriors were basically ignored by all High Elves players of my gaming club. I never understood why, because I find them very cool (four of them were bought together with Teclis, more than 20 years ago). Now, I own ten of them and divided in two units: after all, they are scouts and scouts work better in small units.

So, here's the first unit (mysteriously known as "the white shields")

And here's the second unit (enigmatically called "the blue shields")

Last but no the least in the Teclis' retinue, a deadly Repeater Bolt Thrower (the second of this army). I selected a different colors for helm feathers, the sash and accessories, to distinguish from the other one (just in case I manage to play a game...).

 Well, this month points: Teclis (as 1st level mage) 59 pts + 10 Shadow Warriors (two units x5 elves each) 110 pts + a Repeater Bolt Thrower 50 pts. Total = 219 points!

 So, the last month is approaching and I prepared a few changes to the original army list, with some replacements and a couple of additions. Stay tuned!

Ciao, Andrea

Andrea's Sword Masters (260 pts)

Hi OWACers,

Here we go with April post!

This time is for Sword Masters, the central unit of the army: they are my favorite High Elf unit, worth to build an army around it! All miniatures of this unit are from the 6th edition, they already show many modern traits, with respect to the previous version, but I think they still retain an oldhammer flavor. I enjoyed really much painting them, as expected! ;-)

As for archers unit, I have prepared a proper banner: this time I have modified a classic banner from High Elf army book, changing the phoenix with the Saphery tower. I hope you like it!

So, here is the Sword Masters unit, all clad in their mithril and burnihsed gold heavy armor:  I used the same scheme color of the army General, to makes them as fiery and shiny as their lord.

The front rank, with command.

The second rank.

This month,  I added 208 (Sword Masters with command) + 52 (the unit champion)* points more to the list. This is also my half-challenge post, so the grand total so far is 712 points. And, here is the family picture at this point of the OWAC:

 

Well, I really looking forward to paint the rest of the army, which include Teclis: I am super-excited!

So, see you next month,

ciao, A.

* uhm... yes, in the introductory post of OWAC3 I forgot to include into the list the unit champion! ;-)