Review of Secret Weapon Miniatures 6x6 Rapid Assault Vehicle

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for proxy Chimeras

My apologies for the long delay in posts, but life has once again seemed to have gotten in the way. But now, it's back to show and tell.

Over the holidays I was lucky enough to purchase two of MisterJustin's 6x6 Rapid Assault Vehicles from Secret Weapon Miniatures before they sold out.

These are two resin/metal kits that I got with the intention of proxying them for Inquisitorial Chimeras. I will tackle them point by point.

Point 1: Assembly
SUPER SIMPLE! A two part body, six wheels, and a turret. They needed very little cleanup apart from the fronts of the body where the flashing was the most prominent. You may be able to see it in the pics, but I can post more if someone wants to see more detail. I ended up pinning the wheels in case of any dropping, etc, but they snap fit near perfectly out of the box.

The metal turret bits and front weapon bits also pop in easily, though I only used the multi-laser turret option. The front mount weapon bolter/flamer just sits neatly in it's mount point and only falls out if you turn the model over and shake it. No magnets required to keep both options open on this fella.

Point 2: Extra Bits
You receive a ton of metal turret weapon options, though I just went with the laser option. They give you seven options in total for the turret.

Point 3: The Proxy
I will get some images side-by-side but they measure up with the GW chimera nicely. Even the regular infantry when lined with it do not feel off scale at all. They are also fairly sci-fi and less future Gothic, so as you can see I decorated them with bits from other vehicles, added smoke launchers and some Forgeworld brass etch. I also added the antennae with simple brass rod, as I always love that look. I feel those small changes really help them blend with the GW stuff on the tabletop.

Point 4: The Bad
The only bad point is that the metal turret weapon weighs a ton and the turret itself if fairly light weight. I will get some photos up of this soon, but I had to counter weight the turret at the back with some simple model weights under the backside of the turret. You may be able to spot this in the images below. Also, because I needed to add this weight I had to raise the turret up, which I did with some snippings of plasticard at the join between the turret and body. It was still nothing difficult to accomplish and the turret sits nicely now, rather than falling out on a fast rotation.

Point 5: The Result
Overall, these kits are awesome, and I intend on getting more of them. Kudos to MisterJustin and the Secret Weapon guys for knocking this one out of the park.



+++ END TRANSMISSION

Grey Knight Squad Painted

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for Grey Knight assistance

I have finished a squad of 5 GKs based on the first test guy I did. This squad is 2 halberds, 2 psycannons, 1 Knight of the Flame/Justicar with a D-Hammer. I really liked the red/white look and carried it through.

I changed the force weapons to blue with a lightning look, rather than going with the pink/purple. I also added battle damage to everyone as I feel it gives them a gritty mid-combat look. Once I base them and seal them I will try my 1st attempt with weathering powders to dirty up the legs.

These guys are all pretty much bog standard out of the box except the Knight/Justicar who has a fantasy head, and one of the pyscannon men with a space wolf head and a non-standard pose.


The Gang of 5:
The KoF/Justicar:
The Psycannon Boys:





The Halberd Boys:

+++ END TRANSMISSION

Not-so-Grey Knights

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for possible Grey Knight assistance

I started base coating my acolytes and other models, but I wanted a consistent color scheme to run across the entire army. I had been building some GK and Termies and I decided to paint a standard GK first to establish the look I wanted.

I decided to go with two difficult colors, red (more maroon) and white. This is one of my 1st attempts at painting pure white, and man is it' a pain in the ass. I like the end result of the colors, I just need to figure on how to get the white thinner, as it came out gloppy and textured. I tried watering it down, but it basically became a wash. I need to find that magical consistency to layer it up I guess. Shame patience is not my best virtue.

Things that are missing are the small details of the eye highlights, the name plate, battle damage, weathering and the force weapon effect. The force weapon will use that bright purple rather than the standard ice blue.



At least now that I have my colors I can start on my acolytes. Though they will be more red (maroon) and black.

+++ END TRANSMISSION

Winner, Winner, Boltgun Dinner

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry generalities

I just found out that I won a prize from a contest I entered at the Legion 9 Studios blog. Thanks for that! Now I will soon get something new to read from their Black Library collection!

The Legion 9 Studios blog is a great place for tips on conversions and painting to get the look you want for your army. If you don't want to do it yourself, or can't, they also offer commission work, which from the looks of it is pretty awesome.

Update wise on my army, I have assembled a crap ton of GK marines and Termies as well as a Draigo and a conversion for Anval Thawn (made from the Arvann Stern FC). I am working on a Knight of the Flame based off the Emperor's Champion FC model as well, but I am really taking my time on him.

I also began dropping some color on my acolytes as well. Photos of all this to come this weekend.

Lastly, I finished up my Land Raider Redeemer with Forgeworld Inquisition bits and covered it in antennae because I just think they look wicked. I didn't realzie until after my 1st game that I should have put the Flamestorms on the FRONT mount positions rather than the rear. Oh well, live and learn. Here you go:


+++ END TRANSMISSION

Bits Bash Ordo Malleus Inquisitor

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for inscription of Ordo Malleus

Here is a bits bash conversion for an Ordo Malleus Inquisitor in power armor. The sword arm, and back pack are that of a standard GK marine. The torso is half space wolf, half GK marine. The combi-plasma hand I think is from the finecast Librarian or maybe the Techmarine (I forget which). The legs are space wolf, as is the head, just with the Mohawk filed off.

The Iron Halo, which the real HQ can't even take (I just wanted him to stand out) is just a simple conversion of a warding staff. That idea was taken from the 512th Cadian blog. The rest of the skulls, scrolls, books, etc are a mix of GK marine bits and WHFB stuff.

At the end of the day he was a bunch of unused spare parts and he came out as a nice power armor Inquisitor. I think I may give him the gold armor treatment when I get around to painting him. I may also give him a psyber animal as well, maybe an owl or a crow.

There are two sets of photos here, one flash on, one flash off.






+++ END TRANSMISSION

Titan-Forge DCAs (contains minature nudity)

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for inscription of death cult assassins

I picked up 6 Death Cult Assassin proxies, called Demon Assassins, from Titan-Forge last month when they were running a 50% off deal, and it was worth it. The models are very nice resin and need very little clean up. The hands and swords are rather thin and fragile, but that's the standard with lithe models. The set came with 6 extra female heads without masks since I chose to use all the cool ritual mask heads.

The model scale, though 28mm has them coming in as tall as, if not taller than, regular GK marine. Though they have the stat line and abilities to back up that scale as far as I am concerned. The downside to this is that when placed with GW DCA's in the same squad they dwarf their metal sisters. I will have to take some photos to show this height difference.

Overall they are stunning models that are very clean for resin casts and are easy to assemble. I prefer them to the GW blisters.



+++ END TRANSMISSION

Inquisitor of the Ordos Xenos

+++ TO: All Citizens of Formosa
+++ FROM: Inquisitor Astoraga Cespedes
+++ SUBJECT: Data entry for query into the Ordos Xenos

I love the concept of the Ordos Xenos and I also love conversion beamers. This led me to converting up a Xenos Inquisitor with one. The plan, stick him at the back of the board in a Purgation Squad and use Astral Aim to let him snipe all around the board through any terrain within a measly 72". I know they get the 4+ cover, but it seems like all my target always have that or are out of sight. At least the jump-fire-jump Tau will actually have to roll some saves now.

Another option is to also beef up the squad with a Techmarine with a second conversion beamer, also able to see through walls like superman. 2 Shots a turn, both blasts, both BS4 and hopefully in 12" of a servo skull for the scatter reduction.

Has anyone tried this?

Here is the conversion in progress on the Xeno Inquis. He is made of the IG command frame sniper and a really old conversion beamer from the chaos marine special weapons frame. The wind swept head was found in my fantasy bits box, and it's probable Empire or Bretonnia. I still need to load him up with Xeno Inquisty bits like scrolls, skulls, eldar symbols, etc.




+++ END TRANSMISSION