So I've started up a long and ambitious task - training a Social Worker to play Warhammer 40,000. The journey will be perilous, however given I've been playing 40K since I was twelve, I believe I can do it. He's at least shown to have a better grasp of it than most people I've attempted to teach.
I allowed him to pick an army - and fortunately for us, he selected Space Marines. Which is thankful, can you imagine what would have happened if he'd turned around and said "Hey, I quite like the look and sound of these Tyranid guys. Think you can build and paint them for me?"
The downside is that he's asked for me to do them as Ultrasmurfs. I gave him a very quick briefing on the other chapters, and he's sticking with Ultrasmurfs. So sadly, no Iron Hands or Raven Guard here. At least he's given me complete run about how his army's been put together*?
I am at least trying to keep things interesting by doing the following:
- Conversions. Conversions, conversions, conversions. As you'll see in a moment, a lot of headswapping works nicely, as well as using alternative arms and posing. Also, those Chapter Upgrade kits are something useful.
- Going with a non-standard Ultramarine company. Because the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Companies have been done to death.
- I've been a bit sneaky and will be converting one unit around a loophole given.
- This Project Blog will be dedicated towards not one, but two armies. We're starting at about 750pts, and will be slowly adding to both forces overtime - like when the time comes to teach him about Special Characters, Vehicles and Lords of War. No, he will not be getting an Imperial Knight.
For now though, have some Ultrasmurfs I spent the afternoon working on. This a regular old Tactical Squad, with a Flamer and Missile Launcher. I used one of the heads from the Vanguard sprue on the Missile Launcher, while the Sergeant is largely constructed from the Ultramarines Chapter Upgrade pack. Gotta say, for the price I payed for it, it actually worked out really nicely. I'll definitely be using it a bit more as the project progresses.
The Squad, standing in a line and awaiting the chance to be primed.
How'd you like your Heretic? I like mine extra crispy.
Not everyone's a Derpy Stormtrooper. We gots us some Beakies too.
The Sergeant. Needs a name. Will not be calling him "Old Man Henderson".*Before I forget, I should mention I'm getting some help from an individual at my Friendly Local Gaming Store. This is done to avoid unfairly favouring one army over the other, and to avoid a lot of the typical cheese. Gotta introduce people right after all.
