Wednesday 6 November 2024

Faux Solar Leontus and Some Fodder

Greetings, it's been a while since my last update, but for some reason I wait until there are loads of nearly finished models then I procrastinate for weeks until I finally take the plunge and actually complete models. According to Instagram, I may have undiagnosed ADHD. Or, I'm just a bit on the lazy side.

Lord Solar Leontus Knock Off 

As I'm trying to actually finish my models rather than continually buy more, I decided  (some time ago) to knock up a Lord Solar to dish orders out to tank commanders. With the new munitorum field manual* that seems a bit redundant, but I don't call this blog Continental Drift Painting for nowt! So I dug around in my bits box and found an old Elector Count of Ostland who looks quite Attilan so I can make him my commander. Of course he is armed with a bow so some grinding and cutting later he has been given a shotgun. The runefang he holds in his other hand passes for the sort of fancy master crafted power sword that the aristocratic types are always getting handed to them, so no converting there. The horse is a standard armoured warhorse from back in the day, and to give it a more 40K look I used bits of a Chinaforge Wraithknight on the base as I really can't be arsed trying to put it together.He now represents any historical** Astra Militarum commander from any time in the 41st (or other) Millennium. 


Lord Solar Leontusish

Cadian Heavy Weapons Teams

Here's a couple of old metal heavy weapons teams. Rocket Launcher and Autocannon. In my experience weapons teams don't last pissing time in games, I wonder how much they will be used. These are the first models I've actually put on the 60mm base but I do like how you can make mini dioramas on them.

"Right lads, draw the enemies attention with your ever-so-slightly effective weapons!". 


Some Oldschool Guardsmen

Here are some early nineties metal guardsmen. I gave them some AdMech bits to denote a medic and vox unit. The rather bulbous plasma gun is from the Space Ork sprue from around the same time, I have a regimental standard to make me a second platoon command squad.

Spatz for the EMPEROR!

Below are some Cadians to form a blob with the command squad above. One of the main reasons is the command squad's special rule, the one that ignores negative modifiers to profiles (except ap) and as I regularly play against  Death guard, there is a built in gotcha in the army.

"VENGENCE FOR CADIA!".

"MORE VENGENCE FOR CADIA!"

Below is the old overweight Cadian lieutenant aided and abetted by two sergeants and a couple of expendables. Not like the ones in the Sly Stallone movies, the ones that have to put their soft bodies onto objectives a millisecond or two before enemy close combat troops gobble them up.

"Stand here men so's I don't get killed!".


Death Korp of Krieg

Next is some Death Korp of Krieg. Everyone's favourite cult of sacrifice fodder. I'm toying with the idea of using a 20 man blob but then I have to spend money. These ones are an exchange for some chaos marines I didn't want but since I got them I have a hankering for some more. As they have been strongly teased for the new book, they may well come with some ever more fun rules. Hopefully Santa will see fit to get me some more. These are absolutely great models but the only downside was they were put together before I got them some I think I'd have put a plasma gun in the unit rather than a flamer (I have loads of flamers already).

Meltagun, club, map, sniper rifle and imperial primer armed infantry.

Lasgun with bayonet, sergeant, medic, bionic arm flamer.

The whole gang.

So there you have it. My Astra Militarum have been enlarged by 29 or so models which is great for me, and not so great for the enemies of the Imperium.

Thanks for reading.


 * They gained the SQUADRON keyword so they can tell themselves to shoot better.

**Or more accurately futuristic.

Wednesday 5 June 2024

More Villans and Some Objectives

Greetings all. Following a "painful but not incapacitating" back issue, some more members of Club Painted '24 have joined up. Mainly 40K but there are defo some items that could find they're way on to an Olde Worlde battlefield as well. So enough foreplay, here's the money shots;

A Couple of Voidscarred Pirates

Some time ago I chopped up some Aeldari Guardians to masquerade as Aeldari Voidscarred pirates. They saw a couple of games but as I hadn't created two options for the squad. One is a pirate armed with a sniper rifle and the other is a psyker with a horrible executioner attack. Their current special rule is, nominate a target at the start of the battle and these guys have precision and lethal hits. Very useful to try to get shot of apothecarys and painboyz. So, many days pass, and I have them done. Voila!

Based on an Aeldari Ranger this chap has a Druchari Dark Lance (counts as a sniper rifle), Incubi/Harlequin head mash up and a necklace with some critter's tongue hanging from it. Lovely.

Wayseeker for the pirates. Guardian body, high elf wizard's staff and an old Druchari head.

Chaos Ork

There used to be a Ork Freebooterz book that contained many excellent ideas and cool narrative rabbit holes to wander down. With models made for said excusions. One of these was was a chaos Ork mutant. Here he is, complete with mutated claw arm. I think the fluff was, before it was retconned to be impossible, Orks could follow the four ruinous powers, grow a pair of horns, and still be eligible for inclusion in an Ork Waaargh! Sadly not any longer it seems, regardless I had one for many years and slapped some paint on him. He may, I suppose be found on the table during a chaos incursion, where his mutation (looks like an Ork with horns and a crab claw) will be properly appreciated.

Horny Crabclaw the Duffer-Upper.


Ordo Malleus with Chaotic Leanings

Another ancient model is my Inquisitor, whom, amongst other things can be my Astra Militarum Aeronautic advisor, shady human baddie and even a fully paid up member of the Ordo Astartes*. I put an old chaos space marine backpack on him because it is was more gothic looking than the boring imperial one. There is a good chance he will soon see action in our current 40K crusade when he joins my Astra Militarum force to sort out Scargill Sector.

Turk Badgallows, Ordo Astartes, heretics slain, xenos purged, discount rates for offing Space Marines.

Medi-Bot Saw-N-Chop

As part of a Astra Militarum revamp, a medical robot has been commissioned by High Command, to help boost morale and cut down on wasteful medical activities. His duties include; (but are not exclusive to) amputation, cauterization and emergency battlefield lobotomy. Comes with per grooming attachement.

Ready to dissect in the Emperor's name.


Druchari Medusa

A while back I bought some Chinaforge tat that ultimately was dissappointing, this Medusa was among that tat. Back when I wanted stuff that a lot of the time I didn't really, but got it anyway. I am led to beleive Chinaforge is on a par with Failcast in terms of quality at a quarter of the price. I only bought a few bits and in all probability, never again. This guy's chain fell off and was likely going to be left in a tin until I thought to put a bit of raider chain betwixt his wrists to give the whole horrific "too dangerous for even the Archon to leave roaming about the place" sort of vibe. I'm certain but this could also be marginally smaller than the GW one.

Gwimble Mindnobbler.

Dungeons & Lasers Objective Markers

Here are some Dungeons & Lasers items that I think can be used for both 40K jungle objective markers and mysterious scenery in Warhammer Fantasy. They're all on 40mm bases so you get an idea of the size. First up is a totem pole style thing, off the top of my head I don't know it's WFB use but I'm sure it can find use in a campaign involving a feral Imperial world with possibly alien interferance. Just slapped on some contrast paints and hey presto!

Probably an incongrueous setting but it will look much better on a properly themed board.

Next up is an otherworldly monument with some vines around it and what seems to be some sort of stable magnetic field that make the sections all float on one another. Probably going to represent something elven in WFB and a proper alien relic for the despoiling of by rabid Imperial troops in 40K.

Here we have floaty alien monument cordoned off from a gaggle of treasure hunting xenos.

Lastly is a much more exsplicable item. For all intents and purposes a slightly vandalised elven way stone. In 40K terms, for the purposes of display, it has been dragged off from it's idyllic home on a maiden world to be further abused, rediculed and spat at, by the honest Emperor fearing citizens of whichever Imperial world it has been dragged off to.

The treasure hunters wait for the coast to clear so they can; return/vandalise more/divine the secrets of the universe said waystone.

 *For those who haven't heard of them, the Ordo Astartes are a secretive branch of the Inquisition who mainly investigate Space Marine incompetence, rebellion, petulance and general uppityness. The Ordo was formed after approximately 1000 chapters of 1000 marines seemed to  fight in 50% of all battles within the Imperium, often against other Space Marine chapters. The High Lords of Terra are probably going to sort them out pretty soon.

So that's what I've gotten finished this update. Until next time hobby responsibly and try not to steal any alien artefacts form other worlds that don't belong to you.

Thanks for reading.

Sunday 5 May 2024

Fun Guys, Hookey Mandrakes and some Humans

Greetings, progress is being made. Some more models are destined for the painted cabinet of model paradise, watched by the jealous semi painted existing in the purgatory that is my work in progress table. This update is a mixed bag of stuff that will be adorning tables in a scenario near you! Without any more bullcrap here is the stuff;


Some Fungii

A while back I put some dosh into a kickstarter that I thought had some great potential for my Warhammer Fantasy revival and several months later I got some stuff done. Not quickly enough to get them into a game but very soon I hope. They're from Dungeons & Lasers and it was the Encounters campaign. Apart from adorning battlefields of the 41st Millennium they can be stuck into my WFB mysterious woods when they turn out to be fungus forests and they scupper plans.

From left to right; The Blue Grotstool, Devil's Member and Twirly Flatcap.

Blind Beggar Hybrid Priest

Here's a model that took ages to complete as there was too much robe and not enough demarkation to make it fun to paint. Also I had started painting it pre contrast paints and couldn't be arsed to respray and start over. In the end some fishy motifs on the robes (hopefully) give off a fishman priest vibe. Doesn't really matter as it is unlikely he'll see much tabletime as anything other than a foul alien to purge.

It's all about fish and humans co-existing, right?

Crooked Dice Civilians

Crooked Dice have some bloody brilliant models mainly civilians and these are from the Colony 87 range. The Rolling Messiah and Unit L-Ron are below from the street trader range. Very nice models, dripping with character. The guy in the go cart can gain employment as a preacher with the Astra Militarum as a preacher if my crusade adversaries will allow it, the other can be a quantity surveyor for the AM if they ever get a proper resource management specialist game. Failing that, the mobility cart human can be used as a model representation of Revs Cantalope; tank commander in the Scargill Planetary Defence Force who lost his legs doing his duty defending Scargill from the thrice accursed Tau of Pur'La sept. Bastards. The other guy could be the quartermaster of the PDF of that highly busy planet.


Single White Guardsman

Here's one half of a Catachan Weapons team double act. I'm sure I have painted up the loader so this guy can make my units more symmetrical. Once again the base was adorned with some throttled alien fauna that trooper Gunn killed while waiting for the orders to move out.
Trooper Gunn and his dead mascot.


Demo Charge Cultist

According to the internets Acolyte Cultists with demo charges are the way to go if you want to win. As I nearly always buckle to social media pressure I made a hybrid armed with said equipment. It's am old Tyranid Attack hybrid from the early nineties with a modern demo charge arm. Mainly because it's far easier to recognise the dynamite in it's claw than continually explain to my opponent what it is. Contrast paints once again make this model froody.

Zanex Bomberknucle

The rear view of Zanex shows his two petrol cans to aid in the general fireyness of the rebellion.


Fake Mandrakes

Lastly on the list are some stl files for some faux Drukhari mandrakes. A few months ago a regular adversary of mine Aaron got hold of a 3d printer. I found him a free file for Mandrakes as they weren't available on the GW website and an unspecified time later I  had enough for two units. These are also very important in the tournament meta. I don't play tournament games but I do like the idea of them so expect to see them on some battlefields in the future.

I think I'll give these a cool sounding name like unit A.

These will get the even cooler name of unit B.

So that's the update for this week. Eighteen models to enhance my hobby life and provide a tiny bit of serotonin if someone actually comments on them (except for those arsehole bots that put a link in the comments). I bid you farewell and have a good hobby.

Thanks for reading.

Saturday 27 April 2024

Glorious Rebellion!

During what came to be known by the Hinterlands Insurgency; Imperial planet Stuke, of the Scargill sub sector became plagued by civil unrest and disorder. The entire Scargill system was beset by attacks by several invading forces that sought to destroy the forces of humanity in the area. Drukhari, Necrons, Orks, Death Guard and World Eaters all tried to plunder the wealth of the system. The planet Stuke had a far more covert threat in the guise of The People's Popular Front of D'Keddes, a genestealer cult. The planetary governor Pluto Darrke was aware of the infestation but also fully aware that Thatcher Magz planetary governor of Scargill and sworn enemy would like nothing more than to annex Stuke and execute her rival. With this in mind Darrke came up with the cunning plan of employing a mercenary force to end the genestealer threat without sending his main force to chase rebels in the wild steppes of Stukes vast expanses. As luck would have it one of Darrke's spies managed to contact a Kroot force whose skilled forest craft could root out and eradicate the genestealers. Landing a Kroot War Sphere in the wilds was easily acheived with some judicial rerouting of defence forces. Once they landed the Kroot went out hunting, with the scent of genstealer hybrid taint in their hounds nostrils the Kroot war party came upon a small settlement run by the Slaughterers Guild called Mount Offal. With whoops and yells the Kroot attacked!

Wednesday 21 February 2024

Ascension Day Reinforcements

Greetings humans, after a long interlude, I have wares to show! What seems like an eternity of not actually finishing anything, I have managed to get some shit done. So without boring anyone with the whys and wherefores of the hiatus here are some old models with a few newer bits added to them.

GSC Cultist and Mr Boneshirt

Before genestealer neophytes got sexy they were generally sculpted by Bob Olley way back in the dawn of time (1990s) back when they were £2.99 for 5, I didn't actually buy them then, I played the long game and bought them on eBay when they were considerably more expensive. The model on the right is one of those cultist, whereas the guy on the left is an old Confrontation ganger from that era too. The Cultist has some Attalan Jackal arms and the guy with shades has an ole conversion beamer from Rogue Trader times that will proxy as a seismic cannon. What I think is particularly worth noting is the guy on the left has a shirt with many bones set upon it, like some Grimdark Lady Gaga!

Boney  Badromancy & Wrecker Maghee

Delaque Gangers and/or Cultists

Quite some time ago, an article in white dwarf had some scenario ideas for Necromunda models, one of these ideas was painting up Delaques as scientists with lab coats. I loved this idea and went with it,and a mere 20 years later finally finished up 20 Delaques for said scenario, Now I have been painting these on and off for quite a while but now I think they're *done. What had given me the final push was 40k 10th edition where I could fit 4 heavy weapons into a Neophyte hybrid squad. I made a couple more conversion beamer/seismic cannon hybrids to give myself a unit of baldies for my GSC army that could be a) members of the guild of dental assistants, b) a squad of militant painters and decorators or c) sperm bank employees on a field trip to give out free samples of Genestealer DNA. These and many more backgrounds can make my games more narrative.

Two basic grunts, one with a shotgun/hybrid firearm depending on what he's up to and a lasgun operator with a chainsword with hazard markings due to Adeptus Administratum health & safety legislation.

Two more grunts to catch bullets for their betters.

Two Juves (l to r) Three Fingered Jarlaff & Cobb Bluearm. One is the unit's icon bearer while the other is struggling to hide his Neophyteness.

The two heavies, Shy Malcolmtent & Burk Clawmeister. Both are metal Delaque heavies with hybrid claw arms at the back to hold their massive weapons (ooer).

Here is the Boffin/Dentist/STD Clinicians gang in their entirety


Tech Ganger and Ratskin

Another two Confrontation models. A Tech Ganger spruced up with Neophyte leader arms and a Rarskin with original weedy arms and a not so recent metal sniper rifle, The Tech ganger can moonlight as some sort of wannabee AdMech or lead some Neophytes into battle. He also has what I assume is some kind of hand flamer on his hip, or is it a sperm gun? The ratskin is just a generic native scout of whatever post apocalyptic world he gets to wander about on.
Now even some bolt pistols need hazard stripes, it's an nanny Imperium gone mad! Meet lawful Jezzup and Two Grox Humping.


Colony 87 Civilians

An ongoing project of mine is occasionally painting up non military types for my amusement. Here are two Colony 87 models from Crooked Dice. A veritable treasure trove of unusual models. The model on the left is I think some kind of psychic who is also playing the circle game with you (please punch yourself in the arm). On the right is the pilgrim a model I had intended to paint many years ago but the end of his staff came off and it was quite a pain to re-pin. 

Garze the Gesticulator & Nondescript Holy Joe.


Suspicious Looking Law Enforcement Commander

One of the best things about the hybrid neophyte boxed set is the multitude of extra heads you get. This allows for many of your loyal citizenry to get heads swapped to become more unsavoury characters with not so pure human genes. This is an old metal Arbites model that can be the law in a small settlement or due to his weird appearance and skin tone the champion of a 'turned' police unit on Ascension Day. The dismembered beaky marine on his base tends to give off an anti-imperial vibe but hopefully not quickly enough to give the game away when the rebel scum are pouring out of the sewers.

Beadiaii Khandle-Wormspag; nemesis of the unlawful (unless you know the secret handshake).

 

The whole group arrayed slightly artistically on the table ready for assignment to various parts of the cabinet of accomplishment.

So there you have it! Fifteen various bad guys that will no doubt be a thorn in the side of the Imperium, or if I ever get traction in my gaming group some fun Rogue Trader games.


Thanks for reading.

*Without the four special weapon troopers, I will have to state for fluff reasons that the Delaque have disguised their flamers/webbers/grenade launchers to look exactly like ordinary hybrid firearms.  

Thursday 31 August 2023

Freaky Druchari 40K Objective Markers

 Hallo there, as the title implies I have made some Druchari themed objective markers for my 40K games. As 10th edition does not allow models to actually stand on top of these markers I have made some fairly gruesome 3d ones. So without further waffle here they are;


Family photo, the whole gang.

This is a stretch goal from a Dungeons & Lasers kickstarter. Nothing says evil space elves like a barely crucified skeleton with a crow watching on impassively.

A wide selection of stuff here, Mantic games lamp post with another Dungeons & Lasers item with what is intended as a firstborn space marine head transplanted onto some sort of massive xenos tapeworm 'to teach him a lesson'.

Next is the same recipe only with a beaky marine helmet hooked up to the lamppost to power it. What isn't visible is another marine buried up to his neck with ants biting him regularly and thus his anger and pain is the main power source.

My favourite is this one. A burly human (probably Astartes) has been thoroughly dismembered and stuck on a metal pole. Various viscera is exposed as an aesthetic  choice by the Haemonculus and as a tangy aroma for any Drukhari to soak up.

This one is a model I inherited from Dylan, original owner of some of my Dark Eldar. The skeleton signpost has been given some Astra Militarum accessories to fit into the 41st Millennium and all I had to do was put it on a 40mm base.

A while back I got a pile of skulls from a guy on wordpress by simply asking for them and they got painted up. Several years later they got a 40mm base and now they can visit many planets for the sentient races of the galaxy to fight over.

So that's the lot. Six objective markers that can represent places of interest of the battlefields of the far future. Depending on the scenario they could be relics inserted into dying humans and/or skeletons, secret plans inserted into dying humans and/or skeletons, elixirs, instagram hotspots or any number of plot devices that have been inserted into dying humans and/or skeletons. In any case you may be seeing a lot more of these and even some objective markers themed around some of my other armies too. Until then hobby responsibly  and always read the label.


Thanks for reading.

Saturday 22 July 2023

Beldam Qud's Toxic Helpers

Greetings. Recently I finished some faux Wracks for my Drukhari army. They were started when Wracks were harder than hens teeth to get from FLGS. By the time I finished them though, I could've bought dozens. Also I wasn't in the mood to shell out €70ish to have a ten elf unit. So for those interested I will go through what bits of plastic were used to create them. 


Fluff

Beldam Qud is the name of my rather ugly Haemonculus. She has fought in quite a few battles but has a tendency to wander away from her bodyguard Talos and got killed for a while. Now she has the ability in 10th to actually join a unit she might be a bit more resilient. Qud has taken an interest in a small Tarrelian colony after sending allies to the colony she requested fresh Tarrelian limbs for her experiments. She has entered into an alliance of sorts with Adraxys Molech the Archon I have been using to terrorise mortals in realspace raids.

The Help

Some time ago I inherited some High Elf archer legs that I planned to to use for various projects, then came my desire to use Wracks and a rummage around in my bits box I found the torsos of Wood Elf wild riders and sisters of the thorn. A few bits from the Talos kits made some creepy arms. So here's the sadistic cutter uppers.


On the left is wrack #1 with spiked tail, Tarrelian forearm, skeleton horse leg and distended stomach with a skin skirt, on the right is the Acothyst.

Left is wrack #2 with vestigal wings, ancient tyranid warrior arm, tarrelian leg and stolen aeldari powerfist arm, wrack #3 however is a lot less 'enhanced' with swollen foot and some minor aesthetic surgery.

Wrack #4 has by and large been left unmolested except for a multitude of eyeballs emerging from the mask and a liquifier gun, wrack #5 has a tarrelian forearm and a large syringe used for extracting and transplanting generally unsolicited liquids from it's unwilling victims.

Tarrleian leg for wrack #6 and some cronos bits, while wrack #7 is sporting an extra leg, a rather flat face mask and a liquifier gun.


Wrack #8 has been gifted an extra arm and for reasons only known to Beldam Qud all flesh has been removed up to the forearm. Another enhancement is a series of transferance tubes that extend from the chest cavity to extract flavoursome genetic matter (this one is sucking out an Asartes brain). Wrack #9 is sporting a skin sporran and some efficient murder equipment.

So here's the group shot of my wrack unit, ready for action.



So that's my hobby update and now with the data cards for the wracks I am able to add another three ranged weapons per 5 man squad. So it looks like I will have to return to my bits box to create some more monsters to frolic about on the grim battlefields of the 41st millennium.  So until then happy hobbying and try not to bring about any Armageddon type scenarios in real life.

Thanks for reading.