Cybork Body - Assembled

Well now an evening with the 'bits box' has been productive indeed.

Cybork Body

I thought I might struggle to find an 'iron gob' having used a lot of them already but then I remembered the Nobs from Gorka Morka, the metal ones. One of the models comes with an 'iron gob' in-situ. I really wanted a head with a neck because the model only offered a flat spot between the shoulders, old style. So it worked well.

I used one of the Big Choppa's from the current Nob sprue. It is a two handed weapon so I cut and filed the second hand so that it was just a cube. I love this weapon and get little chance to include it in the army.

I added a back pack containing a gun and the Squig will give the model a little more height as well as adding to the overall fun.

I found some metal plates which I added to the front and laid a Stikkbomb across it. Always good to have one of these to hand.

I found some very Orky tusks and stuck them to the front and finally I added a space wolf back pack to the base.

All in all I am pleased with the result and looking forward to getting some paint on him.

May he rule supreme. I need to think of a name for him. All suggestions welcome ;-)

Cybork Body - The Project

Some time back we play tested the latest Warhammer 40k rules and it was an excuse for me to get my Orks from the garage and throw them into a new fight. It was all very exciting stuff and an old friend from our tournament days paid us a visit, Sean Howells. Sean is an Ork through and through and at times as 'mad as a box of frogs' and I mean this in the best possible way.

He very kindly gifted me a piece of inspiration and it has been waiting for an introduction to the infamous Flavin 'bits box'.

I give you the Cybork Body - Howells style!

Cybork front view

Cybork side view left

Cybork rear view

I told you 'mad as a box of frogs'! It can be hard to make out but it is essentially Mad Doc Grotsnik  torso mounted onto a Necron body on an Ork Warbuggy set of treads. There are a couple of grots on the back with some home made bombs. There is no head, the powerklaw is busted, he needs a weapon in his left hand and then some liberal 'bits' from the 'box'. A fine project to be sure.

Now I also need to tie him into my own army.

I really like the powerklaw. It looks like he is giving the world the big old single digit. (F.U.) I think he needs an 'Iron Gob' and then a brute of a weapon, Big Choppa style and then what ever else I can find. I will need to work a gun in there too. I just love the idea of him.

Mr Howells I salute you and I hope to make you proud.

So to work .....

To be continued .....

Easter fun

This easter we had my sisters family over from Ireland. Three kids ranging from 6 - 12. The house  is filled with games and it was the perfect excuse to make some introductions.

First up was Warhammer 40k. I set up the table with my Orks and Dark Angels. A jaw dropping spectacle and some very excited youngsters. Nothing got broken which was nothing short of a miracle. I had expected casualties. Well you have to play with the models. Handfuls of dice great fun.

Next up was Zombicide. We played everyday before breakfast.

I had bought Ciaran the game for Christmas but he hadn't played it. Well they loved it. The nice thing here is that we are all playing on the same side so everyone helps everyone else. Things did get a little competitive when it came to head count - who had killed more zombies than anyone else. In fact there were totals for the entire holiday. Very funny.

I had spent most of November painting zombies and it was great to get so many games. It does make a difference when there is a bit of paint around.

Finally yesterday we had a long awaited Games Day and a few games of Zombicide Black Plague. This was hosted by the Dark Templar and we had Michael Awdry of 28mm Victorian Warfare fame and two new additions to our gaming crew Chris and Ryan. A fabulous fun day.

I had painted (well nearly) the survivors so we used them on the day. Above is Baldric and Nelly fighting for their lives. You know things are going be tough when the Abomination turns up on turn one. Search, search, search ..... We got him in the end!

We played three and won two. The final game was very close though and we nearly went down but  survived to fight again another day as we successfully limped to the exit.

Fantastic fun! I look forward to the next outing with much excitement.

Looking back at the last 18 months or so

It has been a good couple of years on the hobby front and this blog has benefited from both the variety and intensity of my indulgences.

In early 2012 -13 I had been playing Warhammer 40k, my Dark Angels and put a lot of time and effort into the new models and some real learning from the games we played. Very enjoyable but large scale and a lot of effort required.

A change of pace was needed and so Star Wars X-Wing was discovered. We loved it. Totally new game mechanics and each game was of short duration. A blast to learn and play.

The game acted as inspiration. We had played many games over over recent years and recognised the joy of getting away from the large scale stuff for a blast of fun to break things up. Short sharp games with lots of action and dice rolling. Heroic acts where you could risk all and maybe, just maybe it would come off. A new game was born - Dark Crucible

Myself and the Dark Templar spent several months developing the game. The idea was to have something that most people with a small collection of models could play on a coffee table. We started with an agile, lightly armoured force, the Celts against the more heavily armoured and regimented force, the Romans. We wanted each side to have 5 -10 models and so it began.

We tried a few different systems of game mechanics. This was not easy but definitely great fun.

I had the pleasure of being the Celts and coming up with ideas to bring them to life. I wanted them to be fast and lightly armoured Tribesmen.

War band by Michael at 28mm Victorian Warfare

I started doing some reading and really liked the idea of having reckless, body painted/tattooed , semi naked freaks to give character. We also discussed the influence of magic or the druids. This was very important to the Celts. The idea of The Morrigan was born, influencing all on the battlefield.

I have recently discover this model, I just need to figure out how and where to buy it ;-)

Game development was great fun. We came up with the concept and the starter rules in the first couple of months and then began to develop stage two. To be honest I think we should have bedded in stage 1.  Finished it off properly and then launched into stage 2 but ..... excitement got the better of us. It was a great break from the norm though and something for us to revisit maybe later in the year.

At this point we rediscovered a long lost friend Blood Bowl!

There followed a manic few months where first I played by Orks and then my Skaven. It was pure joy. 

I launched myself into scenery building first for the Orks and then for the Skaven. This was all new to me and it added to the joy in a big way.

We had been away from the large scale games now for a while and Gameworkshop brought out the 7th Edition for 40k. We couldn't resist and new rules were purchased, new models bought and new armies developed.

First my 1500 point army which was victorious and then my Ultimate 2500 point Walker Army which did not fare so well. But it was fun all the way with great banter and name calling!!

Christmas has been heralded with the arrival of a new venture - Zombicide.

I am already deep in the painting phase and my Zombies are gradually becoming drenched in blood. Now that just has to be a great start to the year!!

Roll on 2015 and all the fun that it brings.

Happy gaming out there in hobby land.