Year to date hobby progress check

 I decided to do a quick count on my painting progress for the year to see if I am keeping pace with last year. 

In 2020, the full year output was:
54 infantry (or equivalent)
3 vehicles/artillery
2 terrain pieces
6 battles played
6 battle reports generated
18 blog posts

The end of April will be one third of the way through 2021. So far my output is:

23 infantry equivalent:10 drop troop recon bikers (counts as 20), 10 stormtroopers, 3 Tarantula sentry guns
0 vehicles
2 terrain pieces
2 battles played
0 battle reports generated
24 blog posts

So far I am ahead of pace on infantry and terrain, on pace for games played, and behind pace for vehicles and battle reports. I am certainly far ahead of pace on blog posts this year, partially thanks to some contributions by Pete and Bill. 

Last year my overall average monthly output was: paint either 8 infantry, 1 vehicle or 1 terrain piece; generate 1.5 blog posts; and either 1 game or 1 battle report.

This year my overall average monthly output is: paint either 12 infantry or 1 terrain piece; generate 6 blog posts; play 0.5 games and not write any battle reports.

I have the photos for one battle report to write so I need to get started on that. And so far I have only worked on my drop troopers so after this next unit, I might switch things up to one of the Horus Heresy armies. 

Secure the Drop Zone: Heavy Bolter Tarantulas

 Before making a hot drop into an active combat zone, the Xhorik 87th will normally drop several Valkyrie loads of sentry guns, or tarantulas as the troopers call them, to secure the drop zone. The automated weapons sweep the area with a wave of high-caliber explosive shells from their heavy bolters and soak up the first enemy counter fire. Their role is to provide covering fire when the drop troopers make their final descent and are most vulnerable. 

Each sentry gun is numbered for organization. Sometimes troopers even give nicknames to favorite guns and ask for them specifically to stay attached to certain platoons. 

Pete's Speed Painting Army - Chaos Cultists

 This army was modeled and painted in around 30 days using a new speed painting method I found online. For perspective, the amount of models I finished in a month would normally take me a year to complete! 

I'll write up some back story and flavor tomorrow evening.

Enjoy!

Join us or die!

The 501st Imperial Stormtroopers: "The Fighting 501st"

Unlike the normal forces of the Imperial Guard that are raised and organized as regiments, the Imperial Stormtroopers are generally deployed as single companies attached to other regiments. The "Fighting 501st" is a renowned company that has been attached to the Xhorik 87th Drop Troops to bolster their ability to perform rapid strikes on strategic targets.

First Squad is outfitted to destroy targets of significance, such as elite units, vehicles or infrastructure. To this end, they are equipped with high-strength melta and plasma weaponry.

Armorium Finished

 I finally finished the Armorium for our three-player legendary battle Point of Desperation. The finishing touch was to add a few Mechanicus decals to give the bunker a bit more flavor. I'd say she is ready for the starring role in the big game!

Vault 17... to the power of delta?

Converting the Calth Chaplain

 I was looking at the two HQ models that came with my Betrayal at Calth box. Since Pete already painted up the Chaplain for his World Eaters, I figure I should do something different with mine so we don't have mirror images of the same model facing off against each other. Since we do not have any Librarians yet between all of our factions, and the big cloak certainly fits the bill, I thought it would be worth a try.

I dug around the bits box for something psyker-looking and found this cool staff. My initial thought was the model on the left with the staff replacing the crozius arcanum and instead of a pistol, his left hand would be open as if casting a psychic power. For hands, I have one that is pointing and one that kind of looks like he is reaching out for a handshake. They both sort of look like they could be casting a power, but I cannot find a hand with the palm outward in the classical look of someone casting telekinesis or fireball that I had in my mind. 

A Librarian is equipped with your choice of force weapon: force sword, force axe or force stave. The problem is that the force stave is S+2 but only AP4, which makes it practically useless in a game system where basically everyone has power armor or better. The force sword is AP3 and the axe is AP2 unwieldly (initiative 1). So clearly a sword or an axe is far superior to a stave in a Horus Heresy universe. So I thought about the option on the right - moving the stave to the magic-wielding hand and replacing the head of the crozius with an axe head, since the guy is already holding a long haft. Then he would be equipped with an axe so that "what you see is what you get" and the staff would just represent his use of his powers and help identify him as a Librarian instead of a dude with an axe and cloak. 

Of course I will look for a more suitable head as well, perhaps something with a hood, although I haven't found one yet. If not a hood, maybe some type of crown or spiked halo that emphasizes the head/brain as the source of the model's power. This one is just a placeholder since it is attached to the legs.

I need some feedback! What do you think?