Andrea's Space Elves - Vehicle month - June

 Hi OWACers, 

so we are at the last month, and for me this is the vehicle month!

I have got the possibility to 3D print a model of Wave Serpent, the old one: do you remember that goofy and strange vehicle taken directly from Epic? Yes, exactly that one!

Well, it is not exactly identical to the AmourCast one, but this is what I got ;-)

There is one think that I clearly remember about the Wave Serpent livery: the wave along the hull. So, I wanted to reproduce the same scheme on the mine. Since I suck at free-hand, I just designed and produced a template which helped me to draw precise wave lines onto the hull:

Basically, I first made a template of the area that will be occupied by the wave pattern; then, I digitalized it along with a ruler to keep proportion and successively print of the appropriate length. Once digital, I superimposed the wave pattern with a design program (each single wave is a separate layer, so I can make them of different sizes). Then, printed, cut out and reproduced on paper tape; the final step was to stick the paper tape template onto the hull and make the contour. Et voilá, waves are designed and painted. 

Ok, now I have my troops transport and can carry Banshees across the battlefield.

Now, the rules for using it. Maybe my google-fu start to be a little less reliable, but I can't find the original datafax and special rules on the web. I just got some instruction which, apparently, were translated in french and back-translated in english, and a picture of the original ArmourCast model EXACTLY ABOVE the original datafax... 

... it took to me some hours, but I think I have got correctly the rules and decided to make a new datafax.

And, of course, I made also the Warp Template (following instructions and by printing waves on transparent slides)!

Sorry for the non-backdrop, but the warp template is only visible on white...)

Ok, this is all for this month although I planned to paint more. Though, you know... family, work and a temperature up to 38˚ C (about100 F) do not help! I still have some more space elves, and maybe I will achieve completion by the wrap up post, but with this 150 points the minimum requested is done!

See you next month, ciao

A

Byron's Pirate Eldar- The Wave Serpent of Aedysseil - Rank and File month (240 pts)

 Life has been a tad hectic this first month (doesn't bode well, I know) as I transitioned from sculpting dwarves to painting Eldar. So my offering for this month is fairly limited, just one big vehicle. 

This is the Wave Serpent of Aedysseil. As I explained in my intro post it is a hybrid between the early Eldar Wave serpent and a later Dark Eldar Raider. In the best traditions of Rogue Trader it has been made from found objects - Marbles, chessmen, bottles, cardboard, lego rubber treads etc.

Primed

Combining the themes of Warhammer Fantasy references in my Space Fleet and Greek inspiration I freehanded the Isha Rune from the 5th edition High Elf army book on the prow. I hope that it comes across like the Greek eyes at the front of triremes. 

This picture is to show off my basing a bit. I made an elongated hexagonal base for the Wave Serpent to match the bases used for the minis. Also, to make it look like it was hovering, I stole some Jenga blocks from my kids and glued them on the bottom. I then put some painted cotton balls underneath to look like wind getting kicked up. 

This is a pic for scale. The vehicle is way too big. 

Points

Wave Serpent (grav attack tank, with increased capacity, swapped weapons for a single las cannon, -2 damage, and only a 6+ save.) = 240 pts 

Fixing up a book

I had an additional project related to my army this month, fixing up an old Rogue Trader book. I got this copy of the Book of the Astronomican for $20 off Facebook. It's in rough shape - no good for learning about the Pirate Eldar of Olde.

Assessing the Damage

Here are some pics to take stock of the damage.

Spine falling apart.

Lots of wear and tear

Gluing the Pages Back in

   With so many pages falling out I will need to reglue the pages in.

Here I am applying the glue to the back of the pages. I use a comic book bag between the pages to prevent any spreading glue from accidentally gluing the pages together. 

Brush to smooth out the glue.

Lining up comic book bag

Placing the book atop another baggy so it doesn't accidentally stick to the surface

Baggy on top

Weight to make sure it dries flat.

Marking up the worn pages

The next step I took sharpies of various colors to color over the white areas where the book was worn. This isn't going to result in a perfect restoration of the book, far from it, but it makes the white wear less immediately noticeable. Finally, I put a strip of packaging tape along the spine and the leading edge of the front and back pages. I have kids and I've found this makes the pages less susceptible to creases and further wear.

Final Comparison

Skal's Here I go again on my own! (260 points)

Rank & File #4

Here I go again on my own

Goin' down the only road I've ever known

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time

Here I go again on my own

Goin' down the only road I've ever known

Like a drifter I was born to walk alone

'Cause I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams

This month was fun. I really wanted to paint up one of my Armorcast Wave serpents for my Biel Tan force. One of the things that I wanted to do was make sure the turret portion could turn and be removed if I wanted to leave the wreckage of it on the table. The solution, magnets and boy did they work like a charm.

I ended up doing reverse style waves on either side of the front as it just felt right and I thought it looked cool. So that is what I ended up doing.

I also painted up another group of ten Guardians to bulk up my force a bit. I was super happy to get them done. I am thinking of using the hand carried heavy weapons and one other Guardian to represent heavy weapon platform teams.

So that is going to do it for this month.

Points wise the Wave Serpent comes in at 150 points and the Guardians come in at just basic points not counting the heavy weapons at 110 points. So 260 points for the month. Not bad.

Till next month

Here I go again on my own
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time

Skal