What's that over there?

Well, at least that's what I'm thinking this J.E.B. Stuart miniature keeps asking me.

Why a Civil War mini? Well that's what I've been painting over the last couple of weeks, and the best thing is it's been for work! The great Confederate cavalry commander (above) and half a dozen Union cavalrymen will be making an appearance in the July issue of Wargames Illustrated (#261) as part of our "American Civil War -The road to Gettysburg" theme.

The finishing touches on the re-launch issue (#260) are being finalized in England as I type, and I have to say it has been a pleasure to work with Dan Faulconbridge on this one. I have certainly learned a lot about putting together a magazine that isn't a "house mag". There's a certain freedom that is VERY refreshing. I have also learned that I need to start pushing my personal design and layout skills a bit, skills that have atrophied over the last few years of management. Anyway, this all means I'm very happy with the way my new job is going!

Oh, and I thought I'd throw in this pic. It's my take on a Dutch Windmill for Flames of War (or any other 15mm game with the potential to be set in Holland). The brief was to build a Dutch windmill from materials that are really easy to get a hold of. While I still have a few more things to add to the model above (including paint) this have been made from a cereal box, some Coke cases, a Bic pen, and a handful of bass wood strips (perhaps the toughest thing to get a hold of thus far). As well as making it into the upcoming Firestorm: Operation Market Garden campaign box coming out later in the year, we'll be doing a "how to" in Wargames Illustrated.

The building in front of the windmill is a resin cast of one of the cool Flames of War French village buildings that'll be released later this year. Jason Buyaki (of Gale Force 9, formerly my colleague at GW, and terrain guru) created all the masters for these pieces and boy are they really beautifully detailed!

So, I finally had a chance to take a good look through the Imperial Guard Codex (thanks Harry) and it is incredibly exciting!

It is full of great possibilities. In my mind there are as many options as there were with the doctrines system and the best part is, the all seem to be worth taking at some point or against some enemies! Although I have over 20,000 points of IG, I'll be using this codex to create lists for my Blood Pact first. The vast array of infantry and character options will make it really easy to field the units described by Dan Abnett in the Gaunt's Ghosts series. My Commander model (one of the first I painted back at the start of this blog) will be easily able to represent Colonel Straken, Creed can be used to represent Sagittar Slaith, etc etc.

My favorite idea (currently) is to add some Infardi (the green-silk wearing pilgrim-cultists from Honour Guard), lead by a Priest and Pater Sin. The Infardi will be built from Empire flagellants and behave as Conscripts in the army. Pater Sin turned up again in Sabbat Martyr leading two blind child-psykers - what a great chance to support my Blood Pact with a Psyker Choir!

Then, of course, there are these models (and character options). Oh what fun I shall have corrupting them!

And that's not even getting to the tanks and support vehicles!

I've almost finished all of my entries for the Baltimore Golden Demons, pics of these to come. Wish me luck!

Cheers
Dave

And the winner is...

Congratulations to John from santacruzwarhammer.blogspot.com for capturing 31% of the votes in the Stegadon Conversion Challenge that has been running between my blog and Jeff Hall's The Adept's Forge.

John is the proud winner of huge piles of kudos and gobs of admiration from the online hobby community.

Jeff will have a few more pictures to show, as well as revealing the identities of the creators of the other entries, over the next few days.

Thank you one and all for participating. We hope you've been inspired to have a go at building your own crazed conversion!

Cheers

Dave

A Mixed Bag

So, I have finally had a chance to sit down and get some painting done, sometimes with my baby daughter sleeping by my side, very precious moments.

This first model will not only be my 40K Single entry for Baltimore Golden Demons, but is my contribution to the Team North America Charity Ork Project! Many of the members of TNA are painting an Ork Nob (clan of their choice) to put together into a Nobz Mob to be auctioned off for charity. Once we get closer to the auction you can rest assured I'll be pimping the hell out of it!

I'm working on a Goff Nob and I've got the metallics, horns, and skin finished so far. Next step are the neutrals (browns) and then onto the black and details (including the ubiquitous Goff checks).

And finally a bit more work on my Blood Pact. The shots below are of the first SteG4 armored car to roll off the Urdeshi production lines. You'll notice it is without wheels, they are still being finalized. The model is very heavily based on an armored car that GW UK veteran Owen Rees put together for his drop troop army. It fairly obviously uses parts from both a Chimera AND a Leman Russ, which makes it pound for pound the most expensive model in the army so far. Don't worry though, the tanks I build from the rest of the parts will help balance that out,

Until next week, enjoy and happy hobbying!

PS. Don't forget to vote in the Stegadon Conversion Challenge. Details in this post HERE!

And another cool Stegadon Conversion idea!

As well as the six finished Stegadon Conversions we have in the Challenge, there were a couple of people who, due to real life complications, were unable to get their entries completed. One of these, Chris Marshal, suffered from extreme food poisoning for the four days around the deadline. Chris did get us some photos of his monstrous creation, and I think he is well on the way to a very cool Kholek Suneater conversion. Nice work Chris and I hope you're feeling better now.

Don't forget, three of the six entries are posted below, as are links to The Adept's Forge where you can see the other three and vote for your favorite!

The Stegadon Conversion Challenge

Well here they are! Three of six entries in the Stegadon Conversion Challenge. Between my blog and Jeff Hall's (http://theadeptsforge.blogspot.com) we will showcase all six! The voting will take place in a poll on the Forge (easier to keep that all in one place) and the winner will be announced in about two weeks time. Scroll down to check out these fine entries, and head on over to The Adept's Forge to see the other three (also fine) entries. Then place your vote!

Entry 4: Squiggoth

This converter has taken the "bigger is better" mantra to heart and really hammered on the metal plating and spikes to create this enormous Bad Moon Squiggoth and howdah.

Entry 5: Nurgle Palanquin

This converter wanted to remain true to the form of the Stegadon, while creating maximum gaming flexibility. This monster will be used as either a Great Spined Beast or as a Palanquin of Nurgle.

Entry 6: Nurgle Dragon

Turning the Stegadon model in a whole new direction, this crazed converter turned his beast into a Dragon mount for his Lord of Nurgle. Looking at the amount of greenstuff on this conversion, Papa Nurgle would be proud!

So there you go, entries 4 through 6 of the first joint Conversion Challenge between Dave Taylor Miniatures and The Adept's Forge. Don't dilly-dally here any longer, get on over to The Forge, check out the other entries, and vote for your favorite Stegadon Conversion!

Cheers

Dave

Cavalry on Commission

Not content with exchanging converting for diaper changing, I've also exchanged sleeping for a bit of commission work. Below are three Early Imperial Roman Auxiliary Cavalry models I painted up for Tony at Wargames Factory

Tony and the WF team have started producing hard plastic historical wargaming miniatures here in the US! Designed, tooled and manufactured on these very shores. A nice change, I say, when so much manufacturing has been foolishly outsourced overseas. The WF miniatures are all designed digitally and, while the team are still going through the steep learning curve, their sets continue to improve in quality.

I hope you like these. Head to the Wargames Factory site and let Tony know if you do, perhaps it'll lead to a bit more commission work for me ; )

Cheers

(a very tired) Dave