2015 Painting Challenge

In the attempt to make ourselves paint our models, the gaming group I am in came up with the idea of a painting challenge.   The rules are very simple.

• Models must be completely painted - base included
• There shall be no less than 3 colors on the models.  Black, White & Metallics do not count towards the colors.
• It is a time limited challenge, that is to say.  You are given a finite amount of time to complete a set of models defined by the points limits of the challenge.  
• At the end of the challenge, we will all treat ourselves to a nice meal at a decent restaurant 
• Those who are unable to complete the paint challenge on time will be paying for dinner

This is the first painting challenge I took part with the group.  I have learn that they have done more in the past. For my first painting challenge, we are to paint up 500 points worth of models for Zone Mortalis which we shall be using for the Badab War Campaign game.  

After several months of painting almost everyday and rushing at the last minute, we are now finally done..  We now have painted models to game with which will make our 40k games even more immersive.  (Maybe that terrain board will get painted eventually.... )

Since this is for Badab War, only Space Marines are featured to stay true to the fluff.   Except for me.. who came in with my own custom DIY Space Marine Chapter.
Here are photos of the months (or last minute rush job) of the gang.

Farseer G's Exorcist Space Marines

Farseer  G did this fairly quickly with drybrush technique.  He also painted the HUD for the space marine bikes which is a nice touch.  Unfortunately GW, has not yet came up with Exorcist transfer sheets and freehand isn't exactly for everyone.  One can probably make your own Exorcist decals but it will be costly for reasons...

Chaos Lord SJ's Astral Claw Space Marines

Chaos Lord SJ had already completed most of the models in the middle of the challenge.  The last few weeks was spent on putting additional details onto the models.  A lot of these details were painstakingly painted on freehand.  Chaos Lord SJ is also very fond of Forgeworld which provides nice resin models with cool unique rules.  Above is a Contemptor variant.

Squad Leader WH's Raptor Space Marine

Squad Leader WH only got his models in the last few weeks.  Initially was not very sold on Space Marines.  His army is exact replica of Chaos Lord SJ's as he has been playing SJ's models for the past few months when we play Zone Mortalis.  He too painstakingly painted the chapter icon and squad symbols onto the models via freehand.

Commander WK's Lamenter Space Marines

The only other secessionist aside from the SJ's Astral Claws. WK also rushed this in late in the painting challenge due to family commitments.  Nonetheless, his army looks brilliant.  The yellow is solid and bright.  The checkers and symbols were all painted by freehand.  This makes him, SJ and WH the trinity of freehand amongst us.

Commander Ryanbo's Star Phantoms

Commander Ryanbo started working on his army quite early in the painting challenge.  He rapidly amassed close to 2000 points of Space Marines... not just 500 points of them..  It took him a while to decide what he will submit for the challenge and finally settled with these Devastator Marines.  The models were washed with Sepia wash and then drybrushed.   Like yellow, white is not an easy color to work with.  The last few days was spent on applying decals which he printed on his own. 

My Imperial Swords Space Marines

I started very early on in December.  The scouts were finished first and then I was stuck with the remaining elements of the painting challenge.  I almost ran out of time and even took a day off from work just to finish them up.  Through this exercise, I realize I enjoy painting rank and file Space Marines more than characters.  Above picture does not display 500 points of models because, silly me forgot to bring lower half of my dreadnought.  Which is now pictured below.

Imperial Swords Dreadnought

Not featured above are Harlequin J and Commander L.  Both took part of the challenge, L did not manage to complete any models and ended up contributing to our dinner.  J was exempted due to being out of the country at the time.

Imperial Swords Custom Decal (Part 2)

The last and final part of my decals which I am commissioning Bedlam Creations to get it done.
For some reasons there was several delays and Bedlam took a bit of time to respond to me.   Could it be a difference in culture or that he has heavy backlogs?

After a two week wait, the previews finally came but was wrong.  I replied to Bedlam to correct the mistake.  This time round the response was swift and correction was done within the same day. 

Here is a preview of the corrected copy.

I can't wait to get my hands on them as I have a backlog of models which I have painted which just needs the decals to finish it off.  That and the due date for the painting challenge was coming closer and closer.

Imperial Swords Custom Decals (Part I)

Just received a preview soft copy of the decals that I have commissioned Bedlam Creations to do on my behalf.   The decal will be printed on a 8" x 6" decal paper. 

It looks pretty good so far.  But I can't wait till I receive the actual decal itself to see if the blurry edges have been rectified.  If yes, I will also need to have Bedlam Creations do touch-up on the Infantry Decal and re-print them.   It is going to cost me no doubt, but I rather not have the decals looking half-assed considering how much we spend on the models and time spent painting them.

Update:
I received the custom decals.  And it looks pretty good so far.  Bedlam Creations got rid of the rough edges.  Now I just need to paint up a vehicle to put them on.

Creation of a new Space Marine Chapter

Introducing the Imperial Swords, my homebrew generic Space Marine Chapter! 


I used to collect a Dark Angels army and I really love the green little guys.  Though I never found much use for Deathwing or Ravenwing.  The models themselves look great in their own right but being the OCD that I am, I prefer that every model in the army would have a uniform colour scheme.  That and the only thing truly unique about Dark Angels was the first two companies which I didn't fancy all too much.

So instead doing what everyone else is doing, pick a founding legion or a GW created chapter.  I decided to break away and create my own Space Marine Chapter!  (I suppose collecting Space Marines doesn't actually qualify me as unique... )

And thus are the IMPERIAL SWORDS born!   The original chapter icon and name was drastically different from one shown above.   It was supposed to look like a sword within an iron halo and the chapter would be called Halo Swords or Hallowed Swords.... then I realized I cannot draw perfect circles and came to a compromise.

Below is the 2nd version of the chapter icon.  When I got the decals printed, it ended up not looking right when I finally got the decal.  

I thought the reason for that was because of my design.  Too much small little bits... and trip off the spikes.  I then ended up with the below which is the 3rd version and final version of the chapter icon.

I wanted more but since my freehand is terrible.  I will just have to make do.  I think the icon looks fairly decent...  it had to right?  Right?   Oh well.... it better... I poured countless hours into it trying to make it look OKAY.