Category: workbench

The Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie Assault Carriers have arrived

Out of all the new imminent releases for the next phase of Aeronautica Imperialis releases for Skies of Fire the one that I liked the most was the Valkyrie. So much so that I did something I rarely do, and pre-ordered the boxed set of the Aeronautica Imperialis Valkyrie Assault Carriers from Alchemists Workshop and they’ve now arrived… with a few extras.

I had not used Alchemists Workshops before, so was impressed with both their prices (good discounts), customer service and fast delivery (the parcel actually arrived yesterday).

As well as the Valkyrie Flyers I also got the new Aircraft and Aces Astra Militarum and Imperial Navy Cards and I also decided to get the Aircraft and Aces Imperial Navy Cards as well. I already have the Aircraft and Aces Ork Air Waaagh! Cards.

In the Aircraft and Aces Astra Militarum and Imperial Navy Cards you do get cards for the released Valkyrie and Lightning Fighter, but there are also cards for the Imperial Arvus Lighter, the Avenger Strike Fighters and the Vulture Gunship. We have seen pictures of all three aircraft, but t they haven’t yet been released.

Revisiting the Grot Tanks

I picked up a set of Grot Tanks on a visit to Warhammer World. Having not really looked at them for a while, having been stuck at the undercoated stage, I thought I might try and finish them.

The lunatic product of the deranged imaginations of grot riggers and scavs that have spent far too long basking in the insane genius of the Big Meks, Grots Tanks are diminutive armoured vehicles made to imitate the far larger Ork Wagons and Tanks.

The set contains four different variant chassis, tracks, exhausts and turrets as well as four fantastic Grot Tank Kommandaz and 5 different, incredibly shooty, weapon options.

See the workbench features on the Grot Tanks.

Starting with my least favourite I gave it a base coat of Karak Stone.

I did realise that I hadn’t undercoated the bottom of the tanks, as the paint didn’t stick to the resin on the bottom. So I took the others out to the garage and gave them a white undercoat on the underneath of their hulls.

I then started painting the tracks with Gorthor Brown. Continue reading “Revisiting the Grot Tanks”

Painting the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderbolt Fighters

The Thunderbolt is the mainstay weapon system of Imperial Navy fighter wings and is a rugged, well-armed and armoured heavy fighter with all-around capabilities, a good maximum speed and above-average maneuverability, powerful nose-mounted weapons and hard points located on the wings for missile or bomb load-outs. The Thunderbolt’s primary combat role is as an air superiority fighter. It seeks out and engages enemy aircraft in dogfights or hunts enemy bombers to establish air superiority.

There are two of these in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. Having constructed the two fighters, I gave them a white undercoat.

I armed both my Thunderbolts with Skystrike missiles.

I did start to think about what paint scheme I should use for my Thunderbolt fighters. I wanted a dark top, and a light underneath. I did really want a light blue underside and a dark blue topside. Continue reading “Painting the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderbolt Fighters”

Undercoating the Aeronautica Imperialis Marauder Bombers

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy. Capable of both atmospheric and void operations, it is used as an attack craft in fleet actions as well as fulfilling a tactical role, supporting ground offensives by bombing enemy troop concentrations and support positions. Such tactical bombing missions are often launched prior to, and in support of, Imperial Guard offensives.

There are two of these in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. This is the painted version on the GW website.

Having constructed the two models.

I gave the models an undercoat of white paint.

I diverged from the instructions when cosntructing the models, and added the weapon loads whilst the wings were separate. I went for a full weapon load. What I was concerned about was the stuck weapons falling off or being knocked as I added further weapon loads. In the end sticking them down went very smoothly.

See the workbench feature on the Aeronautica Imperialis Marauder Bombers.

Forge World Ork Kannon

I have been digging through my workbench models and realised I had a fair few Forge World Ork Weapons. I decided to go ahead and finish them off.

When I made the Kannon which came with the Gunwagon I gave that a dry brush of Boltgun Metal.

Ork Gunwagon with Kannon from Felix's collection
Ork Gunwagon with Kannon from Felix’s collection

I decided that I would paint the Kannon with Leadbelcher, now that Boltgun Metal is no longer available.

I did consider to give the model a white undercoat, but in the end painted the Kannon with Leadbelcher.

This new paint covered quite well and did remind me of Boltgun Metal, so a good replacement.

I then gave the model a wash of Nuln Oil Shade.

This toned down the brightness of the Leadbelcher paint and made the weapon more matte.

I was a little annoyed that the shade wash had gathered on the main barrel.

I think I can sort that out by some remedial work with some more Leadbelcher. I am intending to use other washes and drybrushed to finish the weapon off. I am trying to get an effect that I did with the Ork Bommer engine. Making it look oily and rusty.

See the workbench feature on the Ork Kannon.

Building the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderbolt Fighters

The Thunderbolt is the mainstay weapon system of Imperial Navy fighter wings and is a rugged, well-armed and armoured heavy fighter with all-around capabilities, a good maximum speed and above-average maneuverability, powerful nose-mounted weapons and hard points located on the wings for missile or bomb load-outs. The Thunderbolt’s primary combat role is as an air superiority fighter. It seeks out and engages enemy aircraft in dogfights or hunts enemy bombers to establish air superiority.

There are two of these in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. This is the painted version on the GW website.

Here is the sprue for the models. As you can see both Thunderbolts are on the same sprue.

These models, like other Aeronatical Imperialis models, have a fair few parts, but they are easily constructed. I like the fact that the wings are one piece, rather that sticking two pieces, the top and bottom together (as you would normally do with an Airfix style kit). It does show how far plastic kits have come in the last few decades, but also from a design perspective, realising (especially with SF models that they don’t necessarily need to reflect an actual prototype).

One of the challenging aspects of this kit is the engine cowlings and exhausts, but once you have done a dry run, they are relatively simple to put into place.

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

See the workbench feature on the Aeronautica Imperialis Thunderbolt Fighters.

Painting the the Aeronautica Imperialis Air Waaagh! Fighta Bommerz

I decided to build the Ork Fighta Bommerz from the Aeronautica Imperialis boxed set.

There are two different versions on the single sprue and though there looks like lots of parts, they are quite simple to put together. The number of parts is about the number of weapon choices you can have. There are two versions of noses, fuselage, wings and tails,  included in the model. So in theory you can mix and match if you get more kits later.

I gave the models a white undercoat, using a spray on both sides. These are really nice models, lots of detail.

The next stage was the base coat. I decided that I wanted an orange scheme for the planes so I went with Averland Sunset.

This shows I painted the models, I held one wing painted the rest of the model. The let it dry and then finished off the basecoat. I was pleased with the coverage of this base paint. Continue reading “Painting the the Aeronautica Imperialis Air Waaagh! Fighta Bommerz”

Painting for the Cruel Seas

When I first saw mention of Warlord Games new game, Cruel Seas, I was both intrigued and a little tempted.

So far I have put together the models I got free with Wargames Illustrated and have now given them a white undercoat and a basecoat of Humbrol Grey. That didn’t cover too well.

Royal Navy Vosper MTB

The Vosper 73 foot motor torpedo boat was a mid-twentieth century British motor torpedo boat designed by Vospers that served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War

The plastic sprue that came with Wargames Illustrated has two Vosper MTBs, one type I and one type II.

Continue reading “Painting for the Cruel Seas”

Constructing the Aeronautica Imperialis Marauder Bombers

The Marauder Bomber is the workhorse of the Imperial Navy. Capable of both atmospheric and void operations, it is used as an attack craft in fleet actions as well as fulfilling a tactical role, supporting ground offensives by bombing enemy troop concentrations and support positions. Such tactical bombing missions are often launched prior to, and in support of, Imperial Guard offensives.

There are two of these in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. This is the painted version on the GW website.

Aeronautica Imperialis Marauder Bomber

The models are made from two sprues, making two bombers in all.

There appeared to be a large number of parts for this large aircraft. This initially put me off slightly, so one of the reasons I didn’t make it first. However decided I better crack on and got going. The first stage is getting the main fuselage and cockpit together. These models are well designed and went together very easily.

The wings and embedded engines contain quite a few parts, though the main wing is a single part.

I added the fore and rear parts to the fuselage. I added the dorsal turret, which looks like it could quite easily shoot the plane’s tail off!

I diverged from the instructions and added the weapon loads whilst the wings were separate. I went for a full weapon load. What I was concerned about was the stuck weapons falling off or being knocked as I added further weapon loads. In the end sticking them down went very smoothly.

I am not thinking about WYSWIG with these models, as they restricts how you can use them in games, and I am not going to go out and buy lots of models to represent different variants.

Here is the almost completed model, the tail  has been added, as has the front and real turrets.

The next stage was to glue the wings to the main fuselage, so here is the completed aircraft.

I do think these planes should be larger, here is one next to a Thunderbolt Fighter. The size was of course a consequence of it being originally a Forge World resin kit of Warhammer 40K. I think there are opportunities here to release a bigger bomber and other aircraft. These could come from the Warhammer studio, but why not from Forge World?

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

See the workbench feature on the Aeronautica Imperialis Marauder Bombers.

Building the Aeronautica Imperialis Air Waaagh! Dakkajets

Having recently purchased the Wings of Vengeance boxed set I was expecting that it might take a little time for the models to be built and painted. I am a bit slow when it comes to modelling, mainly in finding the time. So finding some room and time I decided to build the Ork Fighta Bommerz from the Aeronautica Imperialis boxed set. Having made good progress with those I started on the Dakkajets.

Among the smallest and most numerous of Ork aircraft, the Dakkajet is built for speed and firepower, capable of unleashing devastating hails of buffets from its arsenal of quad big shootas.

There are three of these in the Wings of Vengeance boxed set. This is the painted version on the GW website.

In the retail box you get six of the little planes.

Here is the sprue for the models. As you can see all three are on the one sprue.

I started to put all three of them together.