Hydras! (pic heavy)

So I decided a few posts back that I needed some heavier firepower in the 109. After the Manticores were purchased I started pondering the Hydra. Great tank, cheap points but expensive models from FW. So after scouring the internets, I stumbled across a fellow who was converting Aegis defense line parts into Hydras. With my scratch-build nerves alight I grabbed the following WIP pics off his blog. Before I get too far into this, I cannot for the life of me find the blog again, I thought I bookmarked it but alas it is missing. With that said if anyone finds the blog this gentleman posted his work too please let me know so I can link the credit. This is 100% his ingenuity and deserves kudos. With that said, here are his photos:

He uses barrels from Bic pens for his AC barrels, I picked up plasticard tubing from Hobbytown USA for mine.

Step by step pages.

With this info in hand, I dug out my defense lines and went to town with saw and drill.

Dead is dead.
Parts is parts.
Dead guys is parts.

Barrel extension test.

Simple, fast, nice looking!

All three turrets done.

Tank company commander consulting the most up-to-date aerial intelligence.

I love this tank crew model, very characterful for a chap missing everything from the waste down.

So with all the turrets completed, metal rung steps included, I am waiting on my order of Chimeras to arrive. Once here I can start the process of crafting a flat panel for these turrets to sit on. I will post more on that when the time comes.

UPDATE: Special thanks to a kind reader who pointed out the original thinker behind this conversion is none other than Admiral Drax. Please stop by his blog. This was 100% his ideas. All I did was make a couple slight changes to spice mine up. Thanks Admiral Drax!

Simple Green!

So a friend of mine gave me some old 2nd ed Death Guard mini's, they were in good condition except for the paint. Fourteen years of basecoat, paint and repaint. So after perusing the internets and seeing a myriad sites expounding the greatness of the Simple Green product, I figured I'd give it a shot. Not to mention, my fiance had a bottle of it in the house which she does not use because "It doesn't smell very good, you know, like clean." In my opinion she seems to be rather nit-picky about these kinds of things (**edit** Under no circumstances is my beautiful, loving fiance at all nit-picky she just has ways she wants things. This message was not added under coercion. Yeah Right**) Moving along, I dropped the 5 figs (plastic and all) in a glass jug of Simple Green and let 'em sit over night. Got up this morning and took an old toothbrush to each one and viola! Simple, easy, awesome! All I can say after using this product is this, if the Miniature Gods made a better product for getting old paint off from models, they kept it for themselves. No pitting or jelling of the plastic, no residue, nothing. Didn't even interact with the old CA glue. Which I will go in and pick out with tweezers.

Manticores!!

So after seeing that GW was releasing a Manticore kit I scrapped my plans of scratch-building them. Instead I picked up a couple of the new models, and re-focused my efforts on planning out some Hydras. More on that project in a bit.

Front View (imposing!)

Side View

Rear View

Side View

Twins, Basil, TWINS!!

I absolutely cannot wait to drop these templates on some poor undeserving soul. But in proper Grimdark fashion, "There is no such thing as innocence, only varying degrees of guilt."

The Arvus!

This is the Arvus Lighter kit I recently purchased. The cockpit is a separate piece that I am leaving off so I can paint the pilot.


I got this little shuttle for a very good deal on eBay. Although primarily useless in 40K and even Apoc, this little guy will be shuttling the Planetary Governor off-world in an upcoming Apoc game I have planned as a house warming for my new place. I will need to break it down and reassemble it to get some of the mold lines cleaned up. I also picked up two of the new Manticore kits, nice models, I will post them up soon. And then the Hydra project...

Considerations...

So I am thinking of branching into some DKoK minis. I have been mulling it over for quite some time and I think I am going to slowly phase out my Cadians with DKoK forces. The figures are amazing and I like the idea of having a force that is not often seen at the LGS's in the area.


Also, the Arvus Lighter arrived and will need some general cleaning before I can start the painting process. Going to pick up some MIG weathering powders in order to get some weathering done on the Valk's, Ven, T-Bolt, Arvus and the Super Heavies. Pics will be up soon. The new painting room is getting organized today, taking a break now to update the blog. Keep the eyes peeled for upcoming goodies.