We've had Chaos for the last few updates, but there's still one more Ironjawz unit to get battle-ready.
Even in Age of Sigmar, I can't kick the pig habit.
They may look like boar boyz, but these guys are big. By far the biggest thing in my Ironjawz army, until my willpower finally cracks and I get a Maw-Crusha.
The things they're riding aren't strictly pigs - more a pig-bear-bull-Lucasfilm construct - but they look pretty convincing as something an Ironjaw might ride. It would be nice to field a load of regular boar boyz alongside them as an all-cavalry Waaagh!, but their smaller cousins seem to have slipped through the allegiance categories (at least for the moment).
These guys were not part of my battalion box (so I've still got three more to do), but the original Start Collecting! set I began last September. They were painted and undercoated, and damn-near finished at the same time as my Ardboyz, it's just taken this long to pick away at the last 20% of the model (mostly straps and trophies - they are festooned with them).
I'm not sure why I couldn't muster up the enthusiasm - I suspect that the lack of colour was starting to get to me. I still like the rusty theme with black and white checks (the army looks great all put together), but you can't underestimate the morale boost of adding a bit of bright paint once you've slogged through the earth tones.
But I'd stuck with the dull metal scheme until now, so it would have seemed odd to add any primary colours in there. The plumes would have been an obvious choice, but I just couldn't bring myself to paint them something bright like red.
So if you haven't guessed it by now, this was the recipe:
I didn't want the mounts to outshine the riders either, not even with piggy-pink faces, so I went for a 'polar bear' look of yellow-white fur and dark brown faces.
The model was easy enough to put together and I really like how these newer kits succeed in hiding their joins (although I suspect it's easier when the model is a mess of iron plates and straps) and I'll be glad to have a crack at another three, to see how I fare when I can give them my full attention.
In game terms, I get the impression they're something of a letdown. I've only played one game with them, but it seems they lack both the hitting power and the durability to justify the model (which looks like a hairy juggernaut). This may get redressed in the General's Handbook 2 with a lower points cost, but I'd prefer the same points with some more crunch.
At present, they are the fastest troop unit in the Ironjawz army, which can be very slow, so they do have a role to fill as flankers.
But with five games to play this weekend, I guess we'll find out...
Ironjawz done.
 |
| Gore-Gruntas! |
Even in Age of Sigmar, I can't kick the pig habit.
They may look like boar boyz, but these guys are big. By far the biggest thing in my Ironjawz army, until my willpower finally cracks and I get a Maw-Crusha.
The things they're riding aren't strictly pigs - more a pig-bear-bull-Lucasfilm construct - but they look pretty convincing as something an Ironjaw might ride. It would be nice to field a load of regular boar boyz alongside them as an all-cavalry Waaagh!, but their smaller cousins seem to have slipped through the allegiance categories (at least for the moment).
 |
| Sadly, the rider's legs are moulded to the beast, otherwise I'd be tempted to have these pulling chariots. |
These guys were not part of my battalion box (so I've still got three more to do), but the original Start Collecting! set I began last September. They were painted and undercoated, and damn-near finished at the same time as my Ardboyz, it's just taken this long to pick away at the last 20% of the model (mostly straps and trophies - they are festooned with them).
I'm not sure why I couldn't muster up the enthusiasm - I suspect that the lack of colour was starting to get to me. I still like the rusty theme with black and white checks (the army looks great all put together), but you can't underestimate the morale boost of adding a bit of bright paint once you've slogged through the earth tones.
But I'd stuck with the dull metal scheme until now, so it would have seemed odd to add any primary colours in there. The plumes would have been an obvious choice, but I just couldn't bring myself to paint them something bright like red.
So if you haven't guessed it by now, this was the recipe:
- Armour: Black Primer, Ironbreaker drybrush, Typhus Corrosion Wash, Reza Rust drybrush
- Skin: Elysian Green base, Drakenhof Nightshade wash, Nurgling Green drybrush
- Tusks: Ushabdi Bone base, Seraphim Sepia wash
- Eyes: Pallid Wych Flesh
- Weapon heads: Ironbreaker drybrush x 2, Tinny Tin accents, Nuln Oil wash
- Weapon hafts: Tallern Sand base, Agrax Earthshade wash
- Weapon straps: Balor Brown base, Agrax Earthshade wash
- Plumes: Celestra Grey base, Ulthuan Grey layer, Seraphim Sepia wash
- Belts and Straps: XV-89 base, Agrax Earthshade wash
- Checks: Pallid Wych Flesh & Chaos Black, thinned Agrax Earthshade wash
- Base: Skrag Brown, Blackfire Earth, Flayed One Flesh drybrush
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| The gore-grunta's shoulder plate is the biggest chequerboard I'll have to paint. Unless I do get a Maw-Crusha. Gork save me. |
I didn't want the mounts to outshine the riders either, not even with piggy-pink faces, so I went for a 'polar bear' look of yellow-white fur and dark brown faces.
- Fur: Flayed One Flesh base, Nuln Oil wash, Ushabti Bone drybrush, Seraphim Sepia wash, White Scar drybrush
- Face and hooves: Dryad Bark base, Zandri Dust drybrush
- Teeth: Ushabdi Bone base, Seraphim Sepia wash
- Tusks: Zandri Dust base, Agrax Earthshade wash
- Eyes: Averland Sunset, Cassandora yellow wash
 |
| I wish they all had this option for metal pig-masks - only one per kit, sadly. |
The model was easy enough to put together and I really like how these newer kits succeed in hiding their joins (although I suspect it's easier when the model is a mess of iron plates and straps) and I'll be glad to have a crack at another three, to see how I fare when I can give them my full attention.
In game terms, I get the impression they're something of a letdown. I've only played one game with them, but it seems they lack both the hitting power and the durability to justify the model (which looks like a hairy juggernaut). This may get redressed in the General's Handbook 2 with a lower points cost, but I'd prefer the same points with some more crunch.
At present, they are the fastest troop unit in the Ironjawz army, which can be very slow, so they do have a role to fill as flankers.
 |
| One edition too late, greenskins finally get monstrous cavalry. |
But with five games to play this weekend, I guess we'll find out...
Ironjawz done.
I think they're harder hitting than you realise - they just got a bad do last term when they ran into that demon blade head-on. On the charge, and against less elite troops, it's going to be a case of (forced pun) check-orks play pop.
ReplyDeleteThose checks are splendidly neat and regular, by the way. I can never get mine all the same size, do you have a recommended method?
Thanks - I don't think I have any secret for checks, other than a little brush and a lot of patience. When I'm putting down the lines and I wobble, as I invariably do, I use that bit as the 'fill-in' check, so I can hide my mistakes.
DeleteI'll admit they were mishandled in the last battle, but I still think they're less than optimal. Compare them with a roughly equivalent unit like Mournfang,(in fluff, if not points), and they're not even close.
you should get an award for the checks ... looney, but brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was trying to fit the checks in between the backplate that had me really questioning my sanity.
Delete