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.  

Rich Kids of Instagram in the 41st Millennium

 Seasons greetings. As we close in on 2023 I try to finish stuff to make my 2022 seem less worthless hobbywise. As a result here are some old metal models from the previous millennium. To give a bit of background on the following items, back in the mid nineties a Necromunda gang you could play were Spyrers or Spyre Hunters. Basically the wealthy noble houses sent their offspring down to kill as many worthless proles as they could, survive with only their wits and billions of credits worth of advanced weaponry and armour (which may or may not be manufactured by the T'au) and then return up to the Spyre to take their place in the family business. They were a very good gang but I never had them painted up during my time as a Necromunda player. Now I have to try to shoehorn them into a current 40K army.....

A More Wretched Hive Of Scum A Villany?

 Good (insert whatever time related salutation of the day as applicable) readers . As the year gets nearer to the finish line I'm trying to get some more items finished, I have a problem, just applying that last bit of pigment to  totally complete a model, but here are some that I deem done. So here they are;

Drukhari

First up is Beldam Qud, Haemonculis of the Coven of Twelve. Originally she (?!) was meant to be some sort of apothecary for my Inquisimunda Aeldari void pirates band but as I flit about paintwise I stopped playing that about 4 years ago and have just caught up. Not to worry she has already seen a couple of battles where she has acquitted herself adequately. She has a habit of wandering off during the battle away from her bodyguard generally causing her demise. Not a problem, a quick scape up of her remains by a faithful retainer and she'll be right as rain in a day or two. Qud is quite an innovator as her Wracks will testify, being part genestealer part tarrelian. Her current project is to create a Cronos pain engine using the trapped essense of a C'tan Deceiver. Hopefully that will be created sometime in 2022.

Black sports bras are all the rage in the Commoragh. 

Next up is a couple of space pirate boats, fantastic models that I've painted in red and purple. Toying with the idea of weathering them as I've seen some really cool effects but in all honesty now they're table ready I will probably move on to the next shiny thing. The one on the left is a Ravager crewed by Incubi helmet wearing Drukhari, are they from the temple? Are they impersonators? Are they overcompensating with the long prong on the front of the vehicle? Time will tell. The right hand vehicle is a Raider crewed by wyches.

The helmselves are currently having a smoke beyond the view of the picture, but I assure you they are professionals.

Some Really Bad Men

Next is Gorky Arris, estranged member of the Arris crime syndicate from Krablokistan. Following an argument with older brother Strangler Arris, Gorky left Paraquat to make a name for himself in the wider galaxy. For many years he was a member of a band of Void Pirates until he was involved in a desperate skirmish against a combined force of Arbites and some Astartes scouts on a kill mission. The pirates were all but wiped out but Gorky escaped by killing a scout and stealing his wargear. He is currently making his way back to Krablokistan to reconcile or kill his brother Strangler. the model itself is an old monopose space marine scout with a maxmini head and genestealer neophyte arm.

Gorky Arris

The next pair of models story bagan with 'I bought some model that were missing bit on eBay'. Essentially both Redemptionists had lost arms in previous battles with hacksaws so I replaced them with power maul hands from Mad Robot Miniatures. They will probably find employment as Inquisitorial Acolytes, general cultists, or even some nasty secret police bullies to crack the heads of the downtrodden masses.

"Move along now, or suffer the consequences!"

So here is the first (and possibly only) Sly Marbo conversion holding a Tyranid Ripper as a club. This is another dismembered eBay model that has received a Gorkamorka Ork arm and a Ripper to hold. I was going to use a machete arm but preferred this anti alien statement. He has wristband with the purple fur of possibly a Cthelian Cudbear. That just makes him way cooler as I'm sure he killed it with Catachan toothpick. As my own Astra Militarum  regiment is not Catachan, this guy's name is Marl Sybo.

 

99% finished I think, maybe a tattoo and some stubble?

Marl Sybo stares off into the distance looking heroic.

Obligitary Genestealer Hybrids Section

As most updates from me feature hybrids (and I'm not so obtuse as to consider Gorky Arris' arm to count) here are the baldies. As mentioned in a previous post, I have made a Skink/Genestealer hybrid. This particular one was created when a Purestrain genestealer got frisky on jungle world Slimex VI as the Assembly of D'Keddes were passing through the system. The host species, an amphibious Skink was were all but wiped out by Inquisitorial forces following the psychic spoor the the Assembly. Fortunately the wise decision to suck up several tonnes of impregnated Skinkspawn into a transport ship allows this brand new species to continue in some form, and hopefully spread the word of universal love and tolerance whilst executing non believers  galaxy wide. 

Glip Muscosity, original Hybrid.

As if that wasn't enough, here are some more hybrids, these are all metal models from many moons ago with some new plastic hybrid arms where applicable. All ready to do the will of the cult by handing out pamphlets and singing hymns in public plazas and by cutting faces off the infidels.

Left to right; Shooter McGuckian, Hunchy Golbus and Glip Muscocity.

Left to right; Hunchy's brother Slumpy, Angry Marv and demolitions expert Trumk Wallbane.

Bonus Model

And as if all that 40k goodness wasn't enough, here is a 28 years in the painting Skaven Doomwheel. I have used this model many times in my many WFB games but I have only just got the motivation to get it ready for the table. Not that I see any chance of it actually getting on the table for a while, at least until Warhammer Fantasy Battle with all it's square based glory is rebooted. Still, I have another two of these to make ready for that glorious day.

Quick-quick, here is some skaven word-speak to denote man death.

So that's what I done, hope it is of interest, don't forget to hobby responsibly and stay as safe as is possble within the construct of the constant media driven frenzy of the current endemic.

Thanks for Reading.

COVID 19 Painting Club

Greets. Despite the title, no I haven't contracted the virus that no one like to talk about, merely a reference to me getting stuff painted instead of rolling dice and making others miserable with my tactical nous. As I've probably mentioned before, my painting speed and gaming ideas speed don't match at all so I assemble something, undercoat it with an intention to use it in army x or gang b any by the time I have it painted myself and much of my gaming group are playing game q. This leads to my finished model posts in no way relating to what I am currently playing. With all this in mind here comes a random collection of models;

I Am Some Law!

Back when I was a mere 20something I bought five of the original Arbites models. I sold one on eBay, sold another three on eBay but due to COVIDity couldn't send them to Australia so refunded the dude who bought them and painted up one with citadel contrast paints. That's the story of them, I had decided to paint one and get rid of the rest, but now I have one complete and another three in the loft, so not even enough for a squad. I am gutted I never got hold of the shotgun and bolter armed comrades of this guy as I think it today's Blanchitsu world they have a lot more character than the newer iteration. So anyhow, back to present day. This lad has character enough to be a proper Arbites Judge on some Imperial backwater, even though his one squad of Arbites are way *beefier than he is. He can be used as some sort of Imperial Agent, that gets mentioned a hell of a lot in the Rogue Trader plot generator lists. He could also I suppose wander into my Astra Militarum army as Commissar who wasn't really paying attention at Commissar school during 'uniform class'.

Murdo MacBatter Imperial Agent

 

41st Millenium Mongols

Back in 1994ish when all the Imperial Guard regiments came out and I was an official GW employee with access to loose lead with free associated plastics, I bought 20 Attilan Roughriders. Ten were undercoated black given a lacklustre urban camo paintjob that was never completed then nothing for a long time. I gave them some more love about 3 years ago and even played a couple of games but I never liked the colours so largely ignored them. Until they got the Dettol bath and were redone in Krablokistani colours. I think it also helped that they are now worth taking in the army as at some point after the Codex they could be given regimental traits. Bingo! Something approaching close combat troops for my Guard! There is even a rumor that Ogryns could even be in my painting plans, and then I will really be on the porcines back! I finally finished these up as a direct result of the Crusade rules, I really like the idea of a fast attack unit with objective secured and a possible +1 movement. Plus I have some plans to convert an old mounted elector count into a roughrider company commander. I am also toying with the idea of making an mounted imperial preacher and commissar.

These guys have some Genestealer bits adorning their bases.

Some Lizardman bits and part of an old Terminator heavy flamer.

I also converted the banner from a Chaos Knight standard, a greenstuff hat makes it looks less like the property of the ruinous powers.

Hermaphrodite Beastman

Another one of those eBay chopped up models was this Beastman, one arm and no sword in the other meant he was fairly harmless. He (??) got a Witch Elf sword and a a collection of bits for his left arm. As far as seeing table time he could be part of an Inquisitor warband or part of the New Mutant Army that may or may not ever get finished.

Horny McUdder

Budget Skull Servitor

Around 1992 I put two legs from some skeleton cavalry on an old beaky marine to make a chaos marine. After some 30 odd years later I decided I couldn't be arsed so I used a lizardmen drum from the cavalry boxed set and Voila! Some sort of skull servitor. Another one for my Inquisitor army.

Black Tree Druid

As a long time fan of Black Tree Designs I have been painting their stuff up for yonks. This model is no exception. Bought when I was a full on dabbler of Warhammer Quest and other fantasy role-playing games I thought this model was a very cool mage type. Then came the great shitting on of the Warhammer Fantasy Universe and I lost interest in it. They mooching through my pile of shame I saw this dude on a square base and saw another use. Way back in the Rogue Trader rulebook there was a scenario where some guy in weird clothing claiming to be a traveler from ye olde futurre was causing a ruckus on some Imperial planet giving the downtrodden ideas above their station and what not. So Imperial forces go in to **'question' said time traveler and his associates. So some non grimdark colouring and a character in a scenario is born. Of course he can easily fit into a lot of those scenarios as a witch or possibly even an Obi Wan Kenobi type recluse are all possible. 

"I would like to talk to you about God".

The Balancing Monks Of Bah!

Next are some Shaolin monk models from a company called Iron Mammoth Miniatures. They disappeared so after a bit of investigation I found Rat Trap Productions had them, now they don't it seems so I really don't have a clue where you will find them but after 20 years I finally painted them! It's unlikely they will see much action in a Shaolin type scenario but I have a few other ideas for them. Firstly, they can be part of the entourage of the above Druid/Time Traveler, another possibility is as members of a travelling psychic circus (also an old RT scenario) as acrobats. They also have a gangling look to them and slightly overlong limbs so aliens bent on Imperial mischief is another. My favourite, is as members of The Balancing Monks of Bah! A religion based on austerity, serenity and balancing things on body parts. The central model is performing the human hatstand position which, according to legend a master of Balance can maintain with a fullen laden Chimera tank on the sole of his upturned foot almost indefinitely.

   

<Insert Kung Fu noises here>

Genestealer Hybrids

What painting update would be complete without a couple of painted GSC models? Not this one, obviously. Two are RT era metal models (one with brand spanking new arms) and a third metal  bloodbowl player converted up. The model in the centre was missing his dagger hand so he got a greenstuff hook hand to help overthrow the Imperium. They are all wearing the colours of the Assembly of D'Keddes the first two will just slot into the rank and file Neophytes. The conversion is meant to be holding a petrol bomb and some sort of remote control (presumably to detonate something) so he could be given a new title such as Senior Insurgent. Of course for the purposs of GW's intellectual property naming-stuff-weirdly-so-no-one-can-rip-them-off-malarkey, I will name him a Flawgus.

Moar Rebellion!

Drukhari Bad Guy

A while back I bought some old metal Drukhari models with the intention of building them into a Ynnari army. Here is the Drahzar, who due to a clerical error on the Commoragh is now obsolete as the master of blades. His new job is as a saucy little Archon. The model itself is very noice and I was happy to use it as Drazhar but then the new hot Drazhar came my way and this lad got relegated.

Stabbing For Khaine!

Eyes Left!

Now Look the other way

Scaly Betty

Just when I haven't played Necromunda in years and Scavvys no longer seem to exist I paint up this lady (or gentleman). As most of my models origin stories begin with "I bought this on eBay with part x missing", this model is no different. Picked up cheap without his harpoon or backpack, some greenstuff and a raid to the bits box made this a passable mutant heavy.

Nothing says far future like a spring loader harpoon gun.

Jurassic Park Wannabee

Another Black Tree model, this time a bipedal lizard with a lazy paintjob. not much else to say about it other than it could be making an appearance in a jungle scenario. I have some more that I put on Lizardman swarm bases that I may or may not regret when the new Warhammer comes out.

RRaaarrgh!

Family Picture

So that's my lot for today, I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane or whatever. Presumably within the next ten years I might get to game with them!

Thanks for Reading.

* Presumably they were recruited from Catachan.

** More like kill.

In The Grim Darkness of the 41st Millennium, There Are Petshops

 Greetings all, it's February already and no new content! Well gaming is still a pipedream but you'd think I could get some stuff painted at least, well yes and here it is: 

Imperial Military Personnel

First up is Commissar for my Astra Militarum force, as I generally use Catachans, who dislike the whole 'shoot you if you run away' vibe, there is not a huge benefit to them as Catachan commanders improve the grunts leadership anyway. This particular model was one of those ebay buys where an arm was missing, a plastic guardsman arm, Orlock boltpistol hand and greenstuff epaulettes made him virtually indistinguishable from his mates down the Commissar pub. Bar one thing, I decided not to give his bolt pistol hand a ludicrous cuff like the one holding the axe. This may result in ostracism and possible *swirlies in said pub's latrines but I stand by my sculpting decision.

Welcome to the 41st millennium Commissar Graper

More COVID 19 Reinforcements

Greetings. In a blatant attempt to get more traffic to this blog I have put COVID 19 in the title. But I do have some content that may or may not be worth looking at! Some more Astra Militarum/ Imperial Guard or whatever you want to refer to them as. Once again I have used contrast paints. They are more recruits for the Krablokistan 47th regiment, despite a recent bout of peace as far as they are concerned, I hope to get them back on the battlefield as 9th edition is imminent. As I seem to be flying through (relatively speaking) my painting backlog it is possible all my models will get finished in this lifetime and I won't have to put a stipulation in my will for my grandchildren to do the job for me. So anyway on with the little coloured in men;

Ice Warriors Of Valhalla

First up are a Valhallan special weapons squad. I say Valhallan, but as they're part of the glorious 47th Krablokistan regiment they are dressed for cold weather Now I'm not really sure about the new fangled 9th edition 40K  that is soon going to be causing rage quitting and brand new ways to be OP, but when I decided to paint up this unit I had a very definite plan in mind. These guys were meant to skulk around and when the opportunity arose leap out and use the  order that lets them shoot into combat using the aforementioned Valhallan specific order.. With three flamers it should thin out whomever is larruping  good Emperor fearing guardsmen fighting for humanity.

"Quick Igor, Vlad and Tamsin! Burn the enemies of the Imperium!"

Catachan Jungle Fighters

So next up are some Catachan Jungle Fighters. Not really Catachans, just some troopers dressed in traditional Krablokistan combat apparel. Here we have 4 lasgun operators and Joey Meltagun. I tried to give the guardsman second from the left a horribly scarred face by cutting it up then replacing bits with green stuff. The experiment  was in my opinion pretty successful so I'm happy enough. Not sure that he was when the Dremel came out though. 

Next up are some more heavily converted troopers. Three are from heavy weapons teams but as I like to have the option of using them as part of a squad. These four have had xenos creatures put on their bases. I like the idea that Catachan troops wander through hostile terrain all the while wringing the necks, stamping on the spines and generally efficiently killing any xenos wildlife that comes near them.

From left to right trooper 1 has stamped a Kildassian Fluffbeast to death, trooper 2 has beheaded a Tarrelian dog soldier, trooper 3 has gutted a Knurf IV Firenewt and trooper 4 has cracked open a Tunneltusk.

Next along the production line is four more troopers. Only one of these has taken any sort of trophy from the local fauna. That being the trooper on the right who has removed the tail (and in doing so, probably killed) a Senitient Flamefox. Sadly that resulted in him getting part of his face burnt off.

Some models don't get butchered up as much as others. Luck of the draw really. 

The whole gang.

Below are some close ups of the slaughtered xenos that my brave lads showed the error of their alien ways.

Tarrelian Dog Soldier **.

Knurf IV Firenewt ***.

The Tunneltusk****.

Killdassian Fluffbeast *****.

 

Regimental Personalities

Following on from last updates combat instructor for the regiment, I have finished some more models that have jobs in the Krablokistan 47th. Those gamers of a certain vintage may well recognise some of these beauties. In order of importance is 2nd from right an old Sensei who will be making his battlefield debut as a company commander. Either side of him are two regimental dismemberers, it's an old Krablokistan tradition that during wartime one deserter is ritually dismembered on the parade ground. Such is the horrible spectacle that Krablokistani troops are renowned for their bravery, -or more likely terrified of their own officers. Lastly on the far left is a converted Orlock Juve who can act as the commander's batman and valet. All I need to do now is finish painting up my company standard and I have a nice fluffy veteran command squad.

The hoods are ceremonial. Either that or they're hideously disfigured from all the bone chips flying about.

Next is some more fun models. First is a Necromunda bounty hunter who might make some sort of platoon commander character who is looking to make some extra *bunse apprehending intergalactic criminals who happen to be on the battlefield. Next to him is another Necrmundan, this time a Beastmaster Wyrd, I got him off ebay with his staff hand missing so I gave him a plastic Orlock lasgun for him to hold. He can either be a really scruffy guardsman or a veteran who has gone native. Lastly is an old chaos thug who can be part of a unit of Crusaders to protect the warlord on the battlefield.

At this rate I will probably be giving all my models roles in the army #jobsfortheboys.

Lastly are two models that's been on the painting table for yonks but never getting much more than undercoat. First on the left is a Warhammer Quest Necromancer who can join a rather eclectic Wyrdvane Psyker unit that seems to be more like a halloween fancy dress party. The other model is a Necromundan Ratskin Shaman who will also be part of said Wyrdvane unit. He is quite the unpleasant chap as he has a couple of severed hands on his belt and a large stick for belting enemies of the Imperium. Also various skulls an animal skins show he's not particularly eco-friendly.

The skull in the hand of the Necromancer is very probably some sort of high powered laspistol, whereas the guy on the left obviously hasn't seen the Imperial directive that states Wyrdvane Psykers do not get issued lasguns as it promotes mental lazyness.

Here's the lot! All arrayed in a nice jungley scene. 

So that's all the models I've finished since the last time. Coming up fairly soon are some genestealer Brood Brothers and a Scaly to name but two. I've decided to assemble my Valkerie for my Astra Militarum to swan about in so that could feature in an update soon too!

*Krablokistan slang for extra cash.
** Tarrelian Dog Soldiers are a bit arsey because of the Imperiums attempt to wipe them out. A bit of an overreaction really, typical xenos.
*** Knurf IV Firenewts look innocent enough but they secrete a poison that infects the unwary with curiosity, earning them an Astra Militarum kill on sight order.
**** Tunneltusks are a family of subterranean species that lurk underground until they strike causing a nasty foot injury similar to that of standing on a nail in light footwear.
***** The Kildassian Fluffbeast isn't on any Astra Militarum kill lists but an unofficial order is to neutralise them before they try anything "funny". 

Anyway, thanks for reading.