Preparing my Hive Fleet for a November GT

[draaen]

There are a couple of large events coming up in November and I plan on attending one of them. There is the GW event in Austin where my brother lives or the Daboyz GT in Rochester NY which is where we played a lot of warhammer. So either would be a cool event to attend either the first in the GT circuit held since like forever or the Daboyz GT has a doubles tournament which that event for 2020 is what my brother and I were planning on building armies for.

I have one majour issue though which is that I do not yet have a fully painted 2000 point army for Tyranids! I don't want to shift out of painting the nids either playing or painting at the moment to my White Scars or Tau so I am going to have to get painting. This is the log I will keep where I set my goals and show results. It should be a lot of fun and tournaments are really good motivation to finish painting up a list so at the worst I have a force that will look nice.

Painting Standard: Could win local tournaments for best painted. Each model would score well under rubric scoring. So converted, advanced painting techniques nice bases etc.

Primary Objective: Have a 2000 point army ready for November
Secondary Objective: Paint up additional models to optimize the list
Tertiary Objective: Create a display board

Current Roster Status: 
Note: I will add and update the pictures of the models as we move along.
Updated 7/31/21

Fully Painted (1453 pts):
Swarmlord - This guy was a fun sculpting project for me and would look like a great swarm lord once completed. The other snakey looking hive tyrant would be downgraded to just a regular walkrant





Walkrant / Swarmlord - I did a lot of sculpting on this guy to get my kit to stretch a bit. Might not be allowed in the tournament. Needs Basing



Walkrant - More sculpting on the chest but this guy should be fine - Needs Basing



Broodlord - Has a fun Frieza tail - Needs Basing



3 x 3 Ripper Swarms - Very fun conversions. The different units being attacked are the squad marking. Some minor basing to complete



3 x Toxicrenes - The core of my army some minor water effects on basing to finish







1 x Maleceptor - Love the conversion and look of this model. I think he will be great in a team game but probably is the one model I am looking to switch out.



Painting in Progress (300):
Flyrant - Another cool snake conversion. The wings I think may take me a while to complete as I was inspired by a cool tutorial on how to make them more membranous looking.



Neurothrope - Fun side Project I started painting while other things were drying. Doubt he makes it into the list but a nice option to paint up quickly if I need to fill points




Primed and Ready for Paint (0):
I need to move up the exocrine and the Trygons into here. They are very close at the moment


Assembled but Needs Work (840):
Trygon Runner - Pretty decent build. The model needs some repair and smoothing. Basing on this guy will need some thought as he is supposed to be standing on some objects for his pose.



Trygon Burster - Almost perfect. Support sticks out too far from the bottom so I will need to extend the base down a bit. I also will need to spend a lot of time on the base to get the cool exploding from the ground effect I want



Exocrine - This guy needs to be finished for the tourney. Mostly the same as the kit but I gave him a wicked long tail that in hindsight looks off. I need to fix this and then find something I want to tweak.



Tyrannofex - This was one of my test models when I got the apocalypse kit for conversions on the monsters. It needs some work but is not horrendous.



2 x Carnifex - Not much conversion work on here. I think one is ready to go the other I wanted to be more like a zergling so I gave him some front claws that are joined a little wierd. Would need some touch up.






Unbuilt (150ish pts):
6 Ripper Swarms

3 Warriors - More looking to expand out later with these guys after the tournament

I am starting off with 1250 points ready to go meaning I am going to need to paint 750 points  maybe 900 if a model is deemed no good from mid June to November. This may not seem like a lot to paint but ever since having a kid my free time is a lot more limited lol. Worst case I could switch to my white scars as I don't want to sacrifice the quality of paint job on my models and I think I won't need to considering the scope and timing of work.

So I will post updates here of my models as I make progress and hopefully things come along well. I will post the current pictures after my game on Sunday since the models will be coming out then anyways!

[afewveiws]

Keep in mind that top much of a change in a models height could be seen as trying to model for advantage.

With that in mind those trygons are probably not going to be allowed and the snake swarmlord probably wont be either.

The little partially painted 4 clawed guy with no face is adorable and im probably going to try to make a few to use as tyrany gaurd. That said i dont think that will be allowed as a neurothrope either... but maybe if you show them a refrence to the old 2nd(?)edition models. Maybe here idk for sure but i do like the model.
-Whats he made out of?

I like the 3x toxicrene idea and i think it will need a swarmlord. So with that in mond a couple good sized hormagaunts to sling down field to tie up heavy guns might be a reasonable addition. Possibly some stealers instead ...

[hivefleetkerrigan]

They look awesome!

As a note on if they're allowed or not, email the TO images of your models and any potential measurement differences. Get a ruling prior to showing up and have it either printed or in a digital form. Generally, people like kitbashing or alternative poses and there's no issue as long as you give the advantage to your opponent.

[draaen]

So I have made some headway. The 4 armed swarmlord and flyrant are coming along. Both are at about the same place where I have painted the skin, base scales, main green claws and the silver NMM. Now I have to do the gold NMM trim touchups for the models and the membranous wings. Looking to adapt something from this recipe I found in a video for the wings. I'm really looking forward to it.



Both of these models are auto includes for me in any list I run and I don't see a tournament list I would not bring them. I also started tidying up the trygons and exocrine so they will be ready for priming. Not much to see on the trygons as it's smoothing out junctions but the exocrines ludicrously long tail is now more appropriately sized.


Also the Austin Texas GT was sold out by the time I got my brother to look at it. So we are full steam for the Daboyz GT. I emailed them last year before I realized how long Covid restrictions would last and the judge I got seemed to like my conversions so long as they were on the right base size. So I am hoping they will be permissive this year.

Keep in mind that top much of a change in a models height could be seen as trying to model for advantage.



With that in mind those trygons are probably not going to be allowed and the snake swarmlord probably wont be either.



The little partially painted 4 clawed guy with no face is adorable and im probably going to try to make a few to use as tyrany gaurd. That said i dont think that will be allowed as a neurothrope either... but maybe if you show them a refrence to the old 2nd(?)edition models. Maybe here idk for sure but i do like the model.

-Whats he made out of?



I like the 3x toxicrene idea and i think it will need a swarmlord. So with that in mond a couple good sized hormagaunts to sling down field to tie up heavy guns might be a reasonable addition. Possibly some stealers instead ...

Yeah my intent was always to make cool models but I definitely could get hit with the modeling for advantage argument. Part of me hopes that when they see the whole army they would realize the intent and not penalize me too harshly. How tall does a regular trygon stand? The one bursting from the ground I had to add a bit of depth to the base as the supporting wire didn't bend as I had initially envisioned and I did sculpt a bit of extra length at the base so I think I could be really close.

The snake guy I sure hope I get out of the list. He was really a testing model for sculpting and painting so while a fun project that I think came out pretty well I am not so sure about bringing him to a tournament unless I have no alternatives.

So the 4 armed guy is actually pretty big and I am intending to run him as a swarm lord. The 4 armed guy has a Maleceptor head, Carnifex legs, a sculpted torso with some extra front carnifex armour plates to make the back and the 4 arms are the spare right arm you get in the toxicrene box. Considering I had 4 of that kit I made a few alterations to 2 of the right arms so I had 4 arms. The guy is pretty chonky compared to a hive tyrant so I am really hoping people aren't too stingy and say he needs swords or something. Seems pretty clear to me. I mean he does have all those head spikes!

In general I find I use some ripper swarms for deep strike or to pop onto home objectives and the rest are monsters or support characters. I try to fling up trygons or toxicrenes T1 and T2. The general plan is they take out a lot and get killed. Then the remaining targets are tough hive tyrants and T8 supporting fire. I think to take a bunch of warriors or gaunts I would need to really rethink a lot of the list. Otherwise it just gives an efficient space for anti-infantry fire to go. I have tinkered with the idea of min sized warrior squads with venom cannons for the synapse re-roll and changing some rippers out for lictors to up my secondary game. But I don't think I have the ability to model and paint that by November!

As a note on if they're allowed or not, email the TO images of your models and any potential measurement differences. Get a ruling prior to showing up and have it either printed or in a digital form. Generally, people like kitbashing or alternative poses and there's no issue as long as you give the advantage to your opponent.

I had not thought about printing out the permission. But I definitely will now!


Flyrant:









Swarmlord:




Exocrine:

[draaen]

So a little bit more progress. The kid was a little under the weather last week so I didn't have as much time to get to painting. However I finished the swarmlord last night. Just final varnish then some static grass left. Really nice to have this guy completed. I am really happy at the relative speed with which I finished the project. It definitely feels like a lot less then say my toxicrenes. I guess it is a lot less model as well. I have been trying to do a really light drybrush on the model for some weathering. Helps cover over some wear marks on him. Kind of interested in adding some more weathering to him. Would be very interested in some recommendations for muddy swamp weathering.

I have started working on the bases too of the Trygons and Exocrine. I will need to get these done so I can prime and zenithal them before I finish the flyrant.

Close enough to finished Swarmlord





Weathering Close Up:

[hivefleetkerrigan]

The vents on the leg look really smooth. How do you get them to come out so well? It's always a crapshoot for me between smooth vents or just a bit too much paint.

[draaen]

Jul 21, 2021 17:23:36 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

The vents on the leg look really smooth. How do you get them to come out so well? It's always a crapshoot for me between smooth vents or just a bit too much paint.

    So I painted the very top of the vents the darkest green (Haevy Dark Green, Scorpion Green mix) I was working with. Then I did a light drybrush on the side so. So light that I had to work the brush many times over it to get enough colour on there. I then added a little bit more of my lighter colour (Scorpion green) and did the same process just whereas I went like 1/2 way down on the first colour I would go down 1/4 for the second drybrush. To kind of bring it all together I finish it off with an exceptionally light layer of fluorescent green. Fluorescent paints have more body so you can control how much is applied at the top or bottom a bit easier. Kind of lets you smooth out the area pretty well.


    At least that is why I think it worked for me. I did a lot of dry brushing in my fantasy days. Chaos warriors wear a lot of furs. 

[draaen]

So a very important and critical step has been completed in that I am now registered along with my brother for the Daboyz GT tournament in November. So the GT is definitely going to happen. I have emailed the TO with pictures of my models in order to try and get some feedback as to what would be allowed and what would not be allowed. Last year they were fairly permissive so hopefully that trend continues. Permissive or restrictive at least I will know where to put my efforts. Worst case I have to put them into either my Tau or White Scars force and abandon the nids for this tournament as adding models and getting them finished along with everything else is nto realistic for me.

So I have made more progress. I finished the gold trim on the flyrant and added the base features and painted a good amount of the base. The membranous wings will need to be painted as well as touch ups and small details and the power sword on the primaris. So I am feeling confident this guy will be done with not too much more effort.



I don't intend to use my neurothrope so that means I need to get going on getting my exocrine and Trygons primed.

Bursting Trygon 
    Love the look of this dude. I got the bursting explosion roughed out and the marine who is getting flung away. Technical Paint adding the mud texture should add quite a bit to this. Just the technical paint left and then he is ready for priming.



Running Trygon
    Smoothed out my sculpting re-sculpted the throat. Added pool and large tree to base. Needs miscellaneous items on base and texture paint prior to priming. Also needs lower jaw repair




Exocrine
    Added pool and a large tree stump to the base. Added texture paint to base. Added lined up pinning holes for remounting. Exocrine is ready for priming




So of the three the exocrine will get painted first. He arguably is the most critical piece for me and is the most likely to never be challenged at a tournament. Plus to get at his underbelly he cannot be mounted on the base. Therefore finishing him first will leave me with an army I can practice with sooner.

I think by the end of August I need to have the models I need to paint determined, The flyrant finished and the Exocrine underway for painting to be have comfortable timing for the tournament.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Love that bursting trygon. That's a superb pose and is very dynamic!

[mattblowers]

Jul 1, 2021 0:36:02 GMT afewveiws said:

Keep in mind that top much of a change in a models height could be seen as trying to model for advantage.

With that in mind those trygons are probably not going to be allowed and the snake swarmlord probably wont be either.

I ran 6 Mawlocs back in 7th. 2 were significantly changed in pose. I got zero push back on both. The one on the side is still technically legal, because there is nothing in the rules that states what the model orientation must be. The one bursting from the ground is significantly shorter, but again, I had zero issues. Now in my favor, I always had the other models to swap out for LOS and measurements if there was an issue.

Most people appreciate the hobby uniqueness. This list isn't gunning for top dog anyway so I don't think there will be any issue. But as always, ask the TO.

On the side:




Bursting out of the ground:

[draaen]

Quick update I sent out pictures of the models with the marine for scale and got a "Looks good keep it up!". So every model I finish should be good to go for the tournament. That should make the rest of this process a lot easier and in the end my list more effective as well.

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Awesome!! Looking forward to the finished product. I might also steal some aspects of your bursting mawloc if that's ok with you.

[draaen]

Aug 3, 2021 16:25:45 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

Awesome!! Looking forward to the finished product. I might also steal some aspects of your bursting mawloc if that's ok with you.

Be my guest. 

[irondreddknight]

Really enjoy your work, some nice conversions and that gold trim is dope! 🔥🔥

[draaen]

So a little bit more of an update. The Trygons and Exocrine are ready for priming. I also magnetized my heavy venom cannons and crushing claws which I plan on using as monstrous rending claws so that they can be primed as well. Ideally I have a friend who may print me out 3 pairs of monstrous rending claws. If not though I will have everything ready anyways. Tyranonfex is now going to start getting worked on to bring him up to being ready for priming.









The Flying Hive Tyrant is being declared finished enough for the tournament but realistically I want to return to this guy. Everyone argues against me when I say I am not talented at painting I have a large learning curve for new techniques. I just have a talent for sticking to it or returning and trying again after a bit of a break on a technique. I tried doing this membraney wing look as shown in this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoKDaQpCggM&t=269s. However results were less then impressive. So I did a nice purple to dark green gradient and will revisit maybe before the tournament if the rest of the painting goes well and try out the effect. As for now though he is pretty well done minus the primaris dudes sword. Still have to figure out a colour for that power sword.






This is the painting rubric. I have had this in mind for when I was making the army. It is difficult to be objective on your own work but I will take a look and see how I feel I may fare. I can always pivot. Also I would appreciate any criticisms on if I am being too harsh or lenient on myself. This is based on the models which i have finished and assuming the remainder finish to that standard.



Overall Impression: Well realistically if I am not in the fully painted to a competitive standard I will be rather surprised. I would really take a hard look and try to get feedback on how I missed the mark. 11-15.

Advanced techniques: This one is harder. I feel like I did the zenithal and I can see some of it. But maybe tyranids that go super white on the dark bottom and darker on the top where it should have been brighter was a bad idea to shot off zenithal lol. I do have nice transitions in the skin tones and the NMM so I could see a high shaded using layeriing or a low seamless blending depending on the judge. So like a 15-22.

Fine Details: I kind of really hope the NMM trim and weapons and the modeling and nice gems move me to a Major. Stellar freehand is probably a bit generous on my end though. I think I could be in the majour category probably 15 points

Bases: Here I think I max out. I have plenty of textures. I have my monsters interacting with it. The rippers are diorama like. There is an argument that like something like the swarmlord could drag the basing score down rather then the rippers pull it up. I can't help but think though I am an 8-10 even if someone is ungenerous

Display Base: I have none yet! So this is a goose egg which is horrible. Realistically this goal should take precedence over a tyrannofex paint job if I have spare time after painting my next batch. I think the points for me will get harder at the top end as it should so to get a 5 should hopefully be a bit of a punt. 

Judge's Discretion: Who knows. I hope to get some I would not be surprised with none. I don't have a majour crazy theme like my Team Canada Army that I expect would max out the discretion points. Again a good amount probably comes down to that display board and the story I can tell with it.

So 54-69 out of 100. Which doesn't seem particularly satisfying of a score. However I have picked up some Vallejo environment slimy grime and I will learn to use it to add some swamp goo to like the base of my monsters tails and feet and stuff. Hopefully that helps out and I am being too harsh a critic on myself. That said though this project is about personal growth. So at some point I will do a showcase of my Tau and my Team Canada Marines. 54-69 may seem poor but that may be a really high score if my previous high self assessment water mark was like a 40-50.


I did need a little bit of a nid break. I painted this guy up for a newer player who plays at our club. He runs a custom white scars chapter and did not have a jump librarian. So I took a model I got in a pile from my brother I would never use and painted it up. Basing in the classic goblin green and the OG official GW basing material from back in the 90s. As I base all the models I paint as gifts. It was fun just to paint something simple. Took me an evening. Comically my wife took one look at it and was like your white could be a lot more crisp. But the dirty white was intentional as the guy who is getting this model is rather new and his white mthod always comes out a bit muddy. So I wanted to make it nicer but not so nice it would be out of place with his models.