Finished Deathstrike Missile Launcher Conversion: Skyrangers XXII

Last weekend I put the finishing touches to my plastic Deathstrike Missile Launcher.

The urban 'dazzle' style pattern on the launcher was completed by jagged strips of Chaos Black, like all my vehicles and aircraft.

The Deathstike Missile itself was given another coat of Skull White to make it smoother than its original spray-painted state.

I applied 5 transfers from the Imperial Guard vehicle transfer sheet to add some detail to the Deathstrike Missile, the Aquilae and some serial numbers. I didn't want to go overboard with details as I preferred the simplicity of the white missile.

Lastly I painted the Earthshaker Gun in the same colours as the Launcher. For the most part I will use the vehicle as a Basilisk but I always have the option for the Deathstrike Missile Launcher, if I feel a bit mad... :)

As always, C&C greatly welcome!

Plastic Deathstrike Missile Launcher Painting: Skyrangers XXI

A Deathstrike Missile Launcher is as much a display piece as it is a gaming piece so I decided it needed a decent paintjob immediately. Usually a plastic conversion is knocked up pretty quickly but I soon leave it to one side. However my Guard army is my only fully painted army (bar this model!) so I just had to get the Deathstrike finished! Last post was its conversion, now the painting.

The paint scheme is my usual Brundark urban camo, inspired by the 122nd Cadian infantry uniforms. The 122nd Cadian tanks were simply drybrushed but I liked the scheme so much on the infantry I decided to carry it on onto my armour and air-support.

I started with one base coat of Fenris Grey Foundation Paint on the Missile Launcher. This was followed by two coats of Shadow Grey. The splinter/dazzle camo is simply Astronomicon Grey Foundation Paint followed by two coats of Skull White. The lines are not that crisp at the moment, I will clean them up at the end. Next up is the black splinters and the finishing touches.

The Deathstrike Missile itself was spraypainted Chaos White (with the spray can, not the spray gun). It took about 4 light coats to cover the dark green plastic of the Revell kit with a smooth white coat. I'm looking forward to adding some official (and unofficial!) decorations to it!

So that's all for this evening. Hopefully I'll get a chance to finish the painting soon and get the chance to deploy the dreaded Deathstrike Missile on the battlefield. I'm not expecting anything amazing as it will no doubt be a fire magnet but that means less fire on the rest of my army!

Has anyone used a Deathstrike Missile Launcher yet? I actually saw someone using one in a local GW yesterday but I don't know if it did any good...

As always, C&C welcome!

Plastic Deathstrike Missile Launcher Conversion: Skyrangers XX

(or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb)

Quite frankly the Deathstrike Missile has no place on the small battlefield of 40k, what with it's 80 feet (!) range and all. While it makes more sense to leave it for Apocalypse games I couldn't help adding a plastic conversion for my Basilisk. You know, just in case.... :)

As you can seen this was a fairly straightforward kitbash. I never glued the gun platform section of my Basilisk to the hull, thereby allowing it to be removed and used as a Salamander command/scout vehicle. Now it also functions as the Deathstrike launcher platform.


The model I used for the missile is Revell's Nike-Hercules Missile System. As you can see the scale of the missile is quite suitable for 40k and the Guard. The original model includes booster rockets but this made the missile a tad too long for the Chimera, so I left them off. These can be used for something else later (Havoc Launcher, Missile launcher etc.).



The main launch ramp was trimmed shorter to accommodate the new length of the missile. The base of the launcher was assembled as normal, leaving off the extra platforms at the front as they disrupted the line of Deathstrike. As you can see the ramp can extend up and down in order for the missile to launch.

The platform was then pinned with paper clips to the Chimera/Basilisk hull. Small drill holes are all that are left once the platform is removed, thereby allowing it to be normally used as a Basilisk.


The missile was also pinned to the launch ramp in order to keep it in place. It can be then removed once the Deathstrike missile has launched. I used one pin at the front and two at the rear for maximum stability.

I think the Nike Hercules is a good fit for the Deathstrike Missile. The Nike Hercules was a SAM that predated the more famous Patriot missile system. Whilst the Codex describes the Deathstrike as an ICBM the size of the missile in the picture is more in line with short to medium range missiles like the Nike Hercules, Patriot or Scud.

As I mentioned above the practical applications for a ballistic missile in a game of 40k is debatable but nevertheless the fun of bringing a doomsday device onto the table now and again, especially in themed games, is worth a little bit of converting, trimming and pinning. Plastic conversions are always a favourite of mine and I look forward to checking out my local hobby shop again for more kitbashing opportunities.

Oh and of course bringing a Deathstrike Missile allows for numerous Dr. Strangelove references!

Next up is painting! Stay tuned.

As always, C&C greatly appreciated.

Skyrangers XIX: Finished Imperial Advisors

Well I'm finally back. Things have been very busy at university these days, I've started a PhD and I am up to my ears in books, articles and archives. There hasn't been too much time for the hobby but I've been following everyone else still. I did however get some games in over Christmas and lo and behold, I even got some figures painted this weekend! As you can see, it's been a while since I assembled my Imperial advisors and they've been glaring at me from the paint box since!

First up is the Master of Ordnance. The extra blast template is useful. He may not be a regular addition to my list but it's good to have the option.



Painted exactly like the regular infantry; Shadow Grey with white and black stripe camouflage.

Next is the Astropath. Helping a reserve roll is invaluable. I miss Improved Comms but using this very nicely sculpted model is not too bad.



Paint wise I used a couple of coats of Dark Angels Green for the cloak and then picked out details in Blood Red, Burnished Gold and Boltgun Metal. Skin was Tallarn Flesh followed by Elf Flesh. No shading as I want him to appear pallid, he's not one for the fresh air usually.

Lastly is the Officer of the Fleet. As I've said before he's not as sharp as the official model but the Skyrangers will take what they can get. Interfering with your opponent's reserve roll is very useful if the scenario involves it. Like the Astropath if the mission doesn't involve Reserves then you may want to spend your points elsewhere..



The uniform was basecoated Astronomican Grey, then multiple layers of Skull White. Can anyone recommend a good way of getting whiter than white on a figure? Details picked out Burnished Gold, Chaos Black, Blood Red and Boltgun Metal.

As always C&C greatly appreciated.

I've been busy experimenting with the new Skaven book and hopefully I'll begin to post on my WFB armies soon too. Also I have more historical stuff in the pipeline, watch this space.

Hopefully I will be back soon with pictures of my next Imperial Guard project, something rather special. I made a purchase yesterday and I now have to get kitbashing. You have been warned! Mwah hahahah!

Skyrangers XVIII: Valkyrie Urban Camo Painting Finished

My Skyrangers finally have fully painted air-support! After parts 1 and 2 where I basecoated in Fenris Grey and Shadow Grey and started the splinter camoflaugue I now painted Skull White over the Astronomican Grey splinters. Even with the foundation paints it took at least two coats of white to get an even coverage.

The crew were painted along the same lines as the Skyrangers, Shadow Grey helmets with white and black stripe camoflague.

Top down shot.

Some hitting power. I chose the rocket pods as much for their aestetic appeal as their usefulness (better than a one shot non blast ordnance missile).

You can't really see but the side gun is the Multi-Laser. The Aquila is Burnished Gold and highlight of Shining Gold.

The splinter camoflague is designed to disrupt the outline of Valkyrie and make it a harder target as it flies between buildings. The Skyrangers specialise in urban drops you see.

The splinters are plain Chaos Black painted over the Skull White. Less is defintely more when painting this style. It's always easier to add a few more than stand back and realise you've gone overboard.

This ramp will be used by either my Command Squad or my shotgun demolition vets.

Interior shot. The gunners are painted the exact same as the infantry.

A steady hand is needed to keep the lines crisp. This works for the urban splinter camoflague. More rounded stripes/blobs are more suited to jungle or temperate camoflague patterns.

The final piece is the base. Sand was glued to base and then undercoated with Chaos Black spray. This helps seal the sand onto the base. I made sure to leave a cross section for gluing the flying stand onto. After that I painted the base Scorched Brown and drybrushed Vermin Brown to tie them in with the earth bases of the rest of the army.


Well that's the biggest piece I've painted in quite a while but it was great fun!

All C&C greatly appreciated.

Can't wait to give her a spin on the battleflield!

And not playing Wagner while doing so would be just criminal...

Skyrangers XVII: Valkyrie Urban Camo Painting

Work continues on the Valkyrie. Just a small post tonight on how I've started the camouflage.

The urban coloured splinter camo ties the Valkyrie in with my tank and half-track.

I first of all painted the splinters in Astronomicon Grey.

Next up will be a few coats of Skull White over the Grey.

Paiting white over grey is a bit of a pain in the derriere but c'est la vie!

Skyrangers XVI: Plastic Officer of the Fleet and Master of Ordnance

Whilst in the midst of painting the camouflage on my Valkyrie I got distracted (as is wont to happen).

I was looking at my gaming table which currently has most of my Guard army on it and I noticed my rather lame stand-in models for regimental advisors. Therefore I decided to convert some (it made a nice change from painting too).

First up is the Officer of the Fleet. This was a pretty straightforward job; simply assemble the tank crewman from the vehicle accessory sprue. I gave him the fieldglasses from the heavy weapon sprue.

Now I know what ye are thinking. That guy is in baggy clothes and looks nothing like the admittedly very sharply dressed official model, complete with crisp tunic and lots of medals. My reasoning is that while a General might warrant the assistance of someone of the rank of captain etc my humble army would probably warrant a lower-level officer (eg a lieutenant). It ties him in better with the overall army too in my opinion. That said, I will still paint his uniform a nice crisp white to make him stand out.

Next up is the Master of Ordnance. A simple enough conversion too; a regular guardsman's body with vox helmet. This, combined with a backpack with extra antennae (florist wire), gives the sense of communicating with the heavy, off-table, artillery. The left arm is from a Sentinel pilot, which i think doubles nicley as a range-finder device/do-whacky.

Lastly is the Astropath which is not plastic of course, as I just used an old model of mine from the Inquisitorial Henchmen blister.

Since photos were taken I have undercoated the Officer of the Fleet and he awaits painting, along with the other two. I may add a bodygurad or two if I can rustle up the models...

As always, C&C greatly appreciated!

Skyrangers XV: Shotgun Vets Finished.

I finally got round to putting the final touches to my Demolition Hardened Veterans (with shotguns!)

I started by painting the black stripes on the trousers and sleeves of the models.

I then gave a drybrush of Boltgun Metal on the weapons and other metal details.

The skin was given another coat of Elf Flesh followed by a wash of Brown Ink. They may look a little tanned but these guys are demolition veterans. They've spent a lot of time around explosions...

And here's Guardsman Cortez! Still no-one getting the ref? ;)

Here's the cook (with some fresh kroot for the camp-fire!)

The bases were painted with Scorched Brown and drybrushed Vermin Brown.

And finally Sarge!

Next up is a small Tactica on using these bad boys.