Smells Like..... Victory - IG Project Log

[ArcticWolf]

Well, I've had this idea in the bag for a long time, and finally (Thanks to some donations of miniatures for free (the majority of my army in fact)) have got round to starting it. If you're going to follow this log, be prepared to have updates in fits and starts - as this is just how my modelling progresses. Ill have a couple of weeks where I throw out a load of stuff, and then maybe a month or two where nothing gets done for one reason or another. As you've guessed, its a 'nam themed army (And yes, it will be full of movie references!), and I'm going to shoot right in with my army list:

1800 Pts - Imperial Guard Roster

HQ: Lord Commissar (1#, 100 pts)
. . 1 Lord Commissar, 100 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Refractor Field; Bolt Pistol; Camo Cloak; Carapace Armour; Power Weapon; Aura of Discipline; Independent Character; Summary Execution; Stubborn)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 155 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 155 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Meltagun x3; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 155 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 155 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Meltagun x3; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 140 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Flamer x1; Grenade Launcher x1; Sniper Rifle x1; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 140 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Flamer x1; Grenade Launcher x1; Sniper Rifle x1; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 150 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 150 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Flamer x1; Plasma gun x1; Sniper Rifle x1; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 140 pts)
. . 7 Veteran Squad, 140 pts (Unit Type: Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x7; Lasgun x4; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Flamer x2; Sniper Rifle x1; Forward Sentries)
. . . . 1 Veteran Heavy Weapon Team (Missile Launcher; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon x1; Flak Armour; Lasgun x1; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Krak Grenades)
. . . . 1 Veteran Sergeant (Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Camo Cloak; Snare Mines; Power Weapon)

Fast Attack: Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron (2#, 280 pts)
. . 1 Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron, 280 pts (Deep Strike; Grav Chute Insertion; Scouts)
. . . . 1 Valkyrie (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Multilaser; Multiple Rocket Pods x2; Heavy Bolter Sponsons x2)
. . . . 1 Valkyrie (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Multilaser; Multiple Rocket Pods x2; Heavy Bolter Sponsons x2)

Fast Attack: Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron (2#, 280 pts)
. . 1 Valkyrie Assault Carrier Squadron, 280 pts (Deep Strike; Grav Chute Insertion; Scouts)
. . . . 1 Valkyrie (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Multilaser; Multiple Rocket Pods x2; Heavy Bolter Sponsons x2)
. . . . 1 Valkyrie (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Multilaser; Multiple Rocket Pods x2; Heavy Bolter Sponsons x2)

Fast Attack: Vendetta Gunship Squadron (2#, 260 pts)
. . 1 Vendetta Gunship Squadron, 260 pts (Deep Strike; Grav Chute Insertion; Scouts)
. . . . 1 Vendetta (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Twin-linked Lascannon x3)
. . . . 1 Vendetta (Extra Armor; Searchlight; Twin-linked Lascannon x3)


And, what I've finished this evening...








C&C Appreciated

[ArcticWolf]

This evening's work for a couple of hours:





Its supposed to be a beefed up version of one of the most memorable Vietnam film characters

He'll be my Lord Commissar BTW. Waiting for some heads to arrive so I can get cracking on the first squad of veterans.

[Dudde]

Arctic wolf - Very nice looking "valkiyre" how was the size comparison of a guardsman in the huey?
What kind of heads will the veterans have? Very nice lord commisaar (he'll certainaly inspire the vets)
Keep going your doing good

[ArcticWolf]

Duded, thanks for your kind words. The guardsman you see in the last pic is actually a sentinel pilot - that should give you some idea of scale. He was the same height as the crew that came with the model, but a lot bulkier. Due in part to being 'heroic' scale but also the fact he is beefed up on steroids. The crew/passenger compartment is a little smaller than the Valk's but the overall length and width are about the same - something I'm not too fussed about as it looks cool.

I've ordered a load of West Wind's WWII US helmets with camo netting on to use, as the helmets used in the Vietnam era were near enough the same helmet with a better cover, and I don't have the skill to model the helmets on myself. Having said that, I did the hat on the commissar, which I am really quite proud with how it turned out!

[jønke]

DIIIPS on naming your commisar Kilgore.

Looking good so faar, exided to see you crack up some veterans.

[baphomael]

I approve of this. Why should night lords hog all the Apocalypse Now references to themselves?

[ArcticWolf]

My Seperate heads from West Wind arrived today - I feel i made a mistake ordering the heads with netting, but other than that they look good. I have emailed themn to see if I can ship them back and swap them for heads without the netting.

[ArcticWolf]

Just a quick crappy camera phone photo to show some of the WIP veterans; only a few of them will be plastics, most of them will be the old metal catachans. I'm concerned the head looks out of scale with the massive arms of the catachan models. The sitting down guy will be sat in the side of Huey #1 with his leg down on the skid in true nam style

[SDKFZ]

Cool looking themed IG army you have here, ArcticWolf !
Like the Hog. What scale is it, 1/48 ?
Do you plan on adding surfboards to the sides of it ?

/ SDKFZ

[ArcticWolf]

Thanks SDKFZ! Yes they are 1:48 scale, and not on this one, but maybe on one of the other 4

[ArcticWolf]

Some images of my first 10 veterans. I think the heads look OK scale-wise now they have been painted up, and hopefully its quite difficult for you to tell which are the plastics and which are the older metals. Other than headswaps I've just done basic stuff like add packs of cards and cigarrettes to the helmets, and played on a few 'nam stereotypes. They are still waiting to be based properly, I will be buying some scenic bases from someone at our local games club tomorrow evening, and when they have been based, they will be weathered while painting the bases to save time.

I've also finished another member of the crew for the Huey, but I'll get some images of him when I get some final images of these Veterans when they are based (There will be some group shots of this veteran squad and their Huey

Up next I'll probably do another 10 veterans, and then do their Huey after seen as how I've already spent quite a large amount on myself this month, and I already have the parts for the models sitting beside me. When starting this project I really didn't see the appeal in the Catachan models, but by working with the old metal models more and more, I'm beginning to admire them! (The old ones aren't as 'bulky' as the new plastics and have slightly more believable builds). Anyway, C&C appreciated as always!








This might be my last post in quite a while - I have my exams coming up soon, and plan to be going on holiday with the other half following them.

Thanks for reading

[ArcticWolf]

Got stuff based and also managed to get some group shots. Let me know what you think!







Does anyone else think that even when a minature is finished, it looks rubbish until its based? Or is that just me?

[ArcticWolf]

Just a quick post, knocked up 10 more veterans this evening. Theres some GS work that needs doing, but other than that its another squad ready for painting. You'll see that there are two veteran sergeants in this squad - It's because I forgot to do one in the other one! (oops )

C&C Appreciated, until next time

[Nero Vipus]

They look awesome, very good. I like how they look as though they've just landed in La Drang but instead of facing the Vietcong they're up against numberless orks or something! They cards strapped to their helmets is a great touch well done, keep up the good work!

[Funky01chef]

Got stuff based and also managed to get some group shots. Let me know what you think!
Does anyone else think that even when a minature is finished, it looks rubbish until its based? Or is that just me?

Totally agree with you, and basing a half finished model makes it look 99% done a lot of the time too

Really liking the look you've got with these heads, very nice unique force

[ArcticWolf]

They look awesome, very good. I like how they look as though they've just landed in La Drang but instead of facing the Vietcong they're up against numberless orks or something! They cards strapped to their helmets is a great touch well done, keep up the good work!

Really liking the look you've got with these heads, very nice unique force

Thanks to both of you for the kind words.

I've just done the GS work on the next lot of veterans, including some more packs of cigarrettes. Unfortunately I'll have to wait for it to dry properly before going ahead with painting which is a shame because I really wanted to get started on them today - inspired by SDKFZ's thread which I have no idea how I hadn't come across before!

[SDKFZ]

@ Arcticwolf: New recruits looking good ! Who makes those heads ?
Happy to be a source of inspiration

/ SDKFZ

[ArcticWolf]

They are West Wind WW2 US Helmets - Very similar to the 'nam ones, the military historian would tell you that the strapping was greatly improved following WW2 but you really cant tell that much at all. I've jumped ahead and spray undercoated the new 10 man squad, and will probably move onto painting either this afternoon or tomorrow!

[ArcticWolf]

Well, 2 Days and a rather large quantity of House episodes later, update time! This will probably be the last update for a while - I want to do a Huey next for them so I keep doing them squad by squad, but I'm saving for a holiday ATM. Also its exams soon, so I'll be revising Anyways, here we go:










C&C Appreciated

[SDKFZ]

Pics are a bit dark(is it just on my computer ?), but i think they look great. You should have a scout chimera/M113

Keep posting, please.

/ SDKFZ