DreadTober Week Three: Decals and Oilwash

Lots of works on progress today as I am plodding along with the two Reavers as well as two new projects in Middle-earth.

Pict 1660: Legio Solaria Reaver Titans (WIP)

Pict 1661: Legio Solaria Reaver Titan magnetised attachments (WIP)

The finish line is in sight! I finished up the trim over two evenings and then spend a further evening only applying the decals. The oilwash is just about dry – drying takes quite a bit longer, now that the temperatures are lower once again. Still, I should be able to varnish them over the next few days and then put in the finishing touches of highlights, battledamage and weathering.

Pict 1662: Legolas (WIP)

I was toying with the idea to go to a MESBG tournament at the start of November. But with about 800 points per army I did not quite know what I would want to play. Messing around with some options with the help of Tabletop Admiral, I landed on two ideas. The first one of them being the Battle of the Five Armies using mainly Iron Hills Dwarves but getting help from borth Beorn and Legolas. Something I had wanted to do for a while now. Especially the Beorn and Dwarves combo – I had painted my Beorn accordingly. But I was missing a Legolas painted with a fitting base and so I went looking for a fitting sculpt. This one, from the Heroes of the West box set is not quite perfect, sporting the Galadhrim bow and cloak he is gifted by Galadriel. But he will do the job! For now, the base colours are done and I hope to finish him in between everything else on my desk right now.

Pict 1663: Morannon Orcs and Mordor Troll Chieftain (WIP)

The other idea revolves around the Black Gate and another Troll Chieftain. But since the army now can no longer take normal Mordor Orcs, I'd have to paint a whole bunch of Morannon Orcs. I'd like to try nonetheless. Both because I think the Morannons should paint up quite fast and in a big group and because I had a great test game with them yesterday. We'll see how far I can get! 

DreadTober Week Two: Basecolours and Atrapos finished

Not to much progress, but some is better than none! I finished my Knight Atropos unit and put in a bit more work on the two Reavers.

Pict 1655: House Procon Vi Cerastus Knight Atrapos

Pict 1656: House Procon Vi Cerastus Knight Atrapos

Pict 1657: House Procon Vi Cerastus Knight Atrapos

First up, here are the four Cerastus Knight Atrapos that were almost finished last week. The additional colours on the Lascutter and the Singularity Cannon really help to bring some visual interest into the rather muted colour scheme of House Procon Vi. Having finished these, I really would like to add more Knights to my collection – some Acherons and Castigators first and foremost. And I'm really tempted to also get a Cerastus frame in 28mm scale as an ally for my Heresy Blood Angels...

Pict 1658: Legio Solaria Reaver Titans (WIP)

No that much difference from last week on the main bodies. Only a few more details such as the scrollwork and the cabling. I also did some work on the bases. The next thing will be the trim on the bodies. The trim on the weapons took two evenings and I had to do something else before switching to the engines themselves.

Pict 1659: Vargheists (WIP)

It has become a bit of a tradition for me to play a game or two of Cursed City around Halloween and I'd like to paint up another unit by the end of the month as well. This time around I started on a trio of Vargheists. Once these are done, I'd only be missing ten Grave Guard to have everything for the two expansions. Of course, there are a few more bits and bobs, I'd like to do. But now that a new Warhammer Quest has been announced, I might struggle to get them done before I'm embarking on a new adventure.

DreadTober 2025 begins!

It's October and of course that means it is officially DreadTober! I've been getting in the Adeptus Titanicus mood with my Atrapos Knighs and have made a good start on the two Reaver Titans I will paint over the course of the month.

Pict 1651: Legio Solaria Reaver Titans (WIP)

So, this is how far I have gotten with the two Reaver Titans for my Legio Solaria. After the basic metals of the skeleton, I started with the green armour panels since the stippling is the messiest part. The other armour colours went on pretty fast. I also did the other magnetised weapon options and I'm happy with that progress for now. Details should not take to long. The trim, however, now that's a different story.

Pict 1652: House Procon Vi Atrapos Knights (WIP)

The Atrapos Knights are alomst done. I plan to finish them over the coming week. The one furthest on the left is only missing the pigment wash on the base, while the others still need some more highlights on the metals and more detail work done to them. Still, I'm pretty happy with them! The colour scheme is a very fast one and I'm looking forward to adding more and different Knight classes to my banner.

Pict 1653: Blood Angels Spartan (WIP)

The Spartan had the usual oil wash, but I was not quite able to finish it in time for the planned Apocalypse game. Nevertheless, the Decals on the sides are quite striking and I was happy to try it out. A Levithan with double Storm Cannon took care of it, but I managed to decant my big blog of Despoilers with added Chaplain and Moritat to do some harm at least! Still, the Spartan might have to wait until November to get the finishing touches, because I want to focus on my DreadTober projects.

Pict 1654: Legions Imperialis Blood Angels Mastodons (WIP)

This fate might be shared by these two Mastodons for my Legions Imperialis Blood Angels. I was super happy to see these miniatures announced and I had to get one box as soon as they were available. They seem to be a good ride to get Leviathans up the board and charging. Of course I had to convert one of them with the open assault hatch (simliar to my Thunderhawk) and glued a Terminator in there ready to charge out. I'm really looking forward to finishing these and getting to use them in a game! Maybe

Defenders of Helm's Deep and Blood Angels Reinforcements

It has been quite a while since I wrote a blog entry, but as always I have not been idle. (Of course the last few nice days of summer also demanded attention!) I painted up Théoden, Gimli and a few Rohan Royal Guard for a tournament at the start of September and added to my Blood Angels. The latter got a Cataphractii Centurion, a Librarian, a Vigliator as well as five Despoilers and Assault Marines.

Pict 1637: Théoden and Gimli looking out over Rohan

Pict 1638: Rohan Royal Guard on foot

Pict 1639: Rohan Royal Guard on foot

I only needed three more Rohan Royal Guard on foot for the army list we were playing and fortuitously I had three of them sitting in a drawer. I showed them partially painted in my last post. Now they are done and I'm quite happy what I was able to do with these (by now) venerable sculpts. I also took this opportunity to update the single Guard on foot I had painted in 2019. My paintjob was similar but I'd like to think a bit better by now. The main areas I worked on were the gold and the green cloak.

Pict 1640: Gimli and Théoden, Defenders of Rohan

Pict 164: Gimli and Théoden, Defenders of Rohan

Gimli was the first miniature of this particular batch that I finished. The small hero models from MESBG are both iconic and characterful. Of course there is a lot of reference material out there and thus they paint up really fast. This Gimli was a fun sculpt – the Defenders of Rohan box with the resting poses still holds up. And of course since they depict the heroes waiting during the beginning of the siege of the Hornburg, the miniature was quite fitting for the Doubles tournament. 

Similar to the Royal Guard, I also reworked the Defenders of Rohan Théoden. I painted this sculpt originally in 2018. I am really quite pleased with the result. I find the face and the armour really improved. Originally I wanted to finish a Théoden sculpt with a shield, but did not find the time or motiavtion to do that. So there are a few stragglers from this attempt a Rohan miniatures and I hope to finish them in the next few weeks.

Pict 1642: Blood Angels Patrol

Pict 1643: Blood Angels Cataphractii Centurion

Pict 1644: Blood Angels Librarian and Vigilator

Pict 1645: Blood Angels Librarian and Vigilator

First, however, I am returning to my Heresy Blood Angels. In addition to the Librarian and the Vigilator I had already shown, I also built and painted the Cataphractii hero from the Betrayal at Calth box. During painting, I removed the Power Weapon greeble from the Librarian's Force Staff / Spear and I am now really quite happy with the conversion. The Vigilator sculpt is unaltered while the Terminator had donated up his Combi-melta to my Justaerin Conversions a while back and got a Combi Bolter as a replacement. And of course he is standing on the base topper steps from the new Lemartes kit, that a friend gifted my to use with my Blood Angels.

Pict 1646: Blood Angels Inductii Despoilers

Pict 1647: Blood Angels Assault Marines

I also finished the five each of Despoilers and Assault Marines to fill out the respective Troops choices I have to the maximum of twenty. A comparatively simple paintjob – I tried to go a bit easier on the weathering and scratches this time and I do like the result. I'm really happy to have these done and I'm already thinking about a second big Assault Squad, maybe Veterans. And Veteran Breachers. And Desintegrator Vetereans. And Terminators. And...

Pict 1648: Blood Angels Spartan Assault Tank (WIP)

Next up will be a ride for my Despoilers in the form of this Spartan. The vehicle might be reassigned to Terminators once I get around to painting some, so I'm using a bit more bling than might be necessary for a simple troops choice. I painted the interior ahead of final assembly and am now looking to add a few more decals – especially a band of gold filigree running along the top of the side armour. After that it is on to the oil wash and detail work, once that has dried.

Pict 1649: Legio Solaria Reaver Titans for Dreadtober (WIP)

With October fast approaching, I'm also looking ahead towards Dreadtober. My plan for this year will be to paint the two Reaver Titans for my epic scale Legio Solaria. I built them back in May, but haven't had the chance to paint them yet. The main parts should be done quite fast (except for the trim as always!). I hope all the various magnetised weapons will get done during the month as well.

Pict 1650: Luna Wolves Ghrastak (very WIP)

As is somewhat of a tradition for me, I also aim for an ambitious stretch goal. This time around it will be the last (currently) unpainted Dreadnought in my collection. Another Contemptor, that I want to build and paint up as part of my Luna Wolves. The inspiration is a picture of an individual Sons of Horus Dreadnought named Ghrastak from the first Black Book Betrayal, only at a time when the Legion still was the Luna Wolves.

Middle-earth tournament prep: Beechbone and Rohan

While I did not finish to much – pretty much only Beechbone for my Ents – but I there is some good progress with more Middle-earth miniatures as well as some Heresy Blood Angels!

Pict 1631: Beechbone

Pict 1632: Beechbone

Pict 1633: Beechbone

When Beechbone here was announced, I was happy to add him to my Fangorn collection. The sculpt has some really nice details such as the face and the nest with two little birds on his head. The leaves are still a bit to cookie-cutter for my liking, but they look better than the ones on Birchseed. I will play the three hero Ents as well as Merry and Pippin in a small tournament next weekend.

Pict 1634: Rohan Royal Guard, Gimli, Theodon, Rohan Banner (WIP)

Staying in Middle-earth, the weekend after next, there will be a Doubles tournament. My team mate Small Things Modelling and I decided to bring the Defenders of Helm's Deep, since the army would allow us to split the force thematically and have a little mini game with Legolas and Gimli counting kills. It has been quite some time since I played Rohan at an event – in fact most of my Warriors were painted for a similar Doubles event with the same team mate almost 8 years ago! Since then I'd like to think that my painting has improved somewhat and I'd like to try and go over the warriors once more.

Before that, however, there a two more Rohan Royal Guard on foot that I have to paint for the army and I'd like to take the opportunity to also do a third one as well as new paintjobs for the most important units of the army: Théoden, Gimli and the Banner bearer. These will be the priority. Any more highlights on the Warriors would be the icing on the cake!

Pict 1635: Blood Angels Assault Marines and Despoilers (WIP)

The first units I built to bring my Blood Angels into the third edition of the Horus Heresy are these five Despoilers and five more Assault Marines. The former are all equiped with the basic boltpistol and chainsword since my unit already has two heavy chainswords and two poweraxes that now share the same one-in-four slot. They are once again painted as Inductii – I'm looking forward to getting rules for them as well. For now, they will be a squad full squad of twenty normal Despoilers. The Assault Marines also bring up my squad to the full twenty. The base colours, decals and oil wash are down, so only the highlights to do on these!

Pict 1636: Blood Angels Librarian and Vigilator (WIP)

Anytime I add a small squad to my Blood Angels is another opportunity to also add to their Officer cadre. This time around I started to work on a Librarian I had converted from an Ahriman earlier in the year as well as the Forge World Vigilator. Both of them should come in handy when list building in the new edition. They are at the same stage like the troops, but I'd like to give them a bit more attention and details.

Erebor Dwarves, Moria Goblins, Laser Rapiers

After a lot of time spent with Heresy miniatures, the next few events I plan to go to will take place in Middle-earth once again. To that end, I painted up some more Erebor Dwarf warriors and a Captain to round out that part of my collection. I also started another army that should play the part of the dwarves' enemies in the form of a whole bunch of Moria Goblins including a big Dragon! I did also finish the two Laser Rapier Destroyers for my Heresy Blood Angels.

Pict 1624: Erebor Dwarves issuing from their mountain holds

Pict 1625: Erebor Dwarf Warriors and Erebor Captain

I played a game with these guys lead by Thrór and Thráin at the start of July and started to paint the twelve Erebor Warriors and the Captain pretty much immediately after. I painted them in the same colours that I used a few years back, when I played an alliance themed after the Battle of Azanulbizar using both Erebor and Iron Hills dwarves. With the red coats and the snow bases, they do look a bit like a collection of Santas. But I'm quite happy with them as a quick little project to finish up my Erebor Dwarves.

Pict 1626: Moria Goblins (WIP)

I built a whole lot of metal Moria Goblins to get this army started. The first two test models are pretty simple with the base colours slapped on and an oil wash applied. I really like the effect so far. I don't think they need much more highlighting. I would like to give them big cave dweller eyes, but they could also work just with the oil wash leaning more towards the grim dark painting style.

Pict 1627: Magma Dragon (WIP)

The Dragon I will want to play with my Moria Goblins is this huge Magma Dragon that ForgeWorld produced for Warhammer Fantasy a while back. I just about managed to get him on the required 130mm base with some parts overhanging. I got the Dragon second hand and spent some time rebuilding it and filling in the gaps with putty. I then put on a light coat of white primer. I'm not quite sure about the colour scheme I'm going for quite yet. But the miniature itself looks like a great canvas with lots of nice texture to play around!

Pict 1628: Beechbone (WIP)

The next project in Middle-earth, however, will be the new Beechbone to add to my my Fangorn army. I might take the Ents to an upcoming tournament. That might just be the motivation to get him done in a timely manner.

Pict 1629: Blood Angels Rapier Laser Destroyers

Pict 1630: Blood Angels Rapier Laser Destroyers

Lastly, with the new edition of Heresy, of course I'm also thinking about the 31st millenium. I finished these Rapiers – while I started them in the previous edition, they do look like a good way to deal with AV 14 vehicles in 3.0. I also picked up a third set second hand to complete the unit. It still has to be stripped of its current colours and I plan to convert the two crew members a bit. However, before that I want to try and get at least one game in with the new rules!

After Action Report: Discordia at Promethium Tank

The second event I attended while on holiday in England was Discordia Part 1 organised by @fifty_painting in London. The narrative was set during the last day of the Siege of Terra when time and space begin to unravel. I brought a list that relied heavily on Destroyers led by Dominion Zephon and two more Moritats to represent the High Host of the Blood Angels. I just about managed to finish my army the night before leaving!

Pict 1614: Blood Angels Destroyers

Pict 1615: Horus Heresy Blood Angels Army for Discordia

Pict 1616: Horus Heresy Blood Angels Army for Discordia

Pict 1617: Horus Heresy Blood Angels Army for Discordia

Pict 1618: Horus Heresy Blood Angels Army for Discordia

Again, first up have to be some pictures of the army I brought along to the event. Seeing the army finished up like this is alwas such good feeling!

Pict 1619: Blood Angels Assault Destroyers and Moritat

One big squad I wanted to play are these Assault Destroyers and the Moritat with Volkite Serpentas and a Jumppack, that I had built back in August 2023. They did quite well once they were in combat, but usually they got shot to pieces before getting there. Nevertheless I love the unit and I look forward to trying them out in the upcoming edition!

Pict 1620: Angel's Tears with Grenade Launchers

The last missing piece to really make my Destroyer army into the Blood Angels High Host were these Angel's Tears. I love the sculpts and the way the steel contrasts with the gold, especially on the helmets. They really did a number on some militia squads during my games but failed to do much against anything with power armour. Still, I'm super happy to have them done and would like to get some more!

Pict 1621: Blood Angels Rapier Destroyers (WIP)

Originally I had written a list that included these Laser Destroyer Rapiers. But they did not move past the basecoating stage of the painting process. I plan to finish them next – hopefully before the next edition drops and I will inevitably be distracted by shiny new things.

Pict 1622: My Rhino's ramming attack ending an opposing Contemptor Dreadnought

I replaced the Rapiers with five Melta armed Tactical Support Marines in a Rhino. While they did a bit of work, they should go back to target practive (or I should use other dice...). They were part of one of the best moments during the whole weekend when the emty Rhino had nothing better to do and rammed into @jpeg_minis's Contemptor Dreadnought. Of course this initially resulted in no wounds, but the Contemptor decided to go for the Death or Glory reaction but failed the 50/50 roll to imobilise or destroy the Rhino and subsequently was removed as a casualty! That Rhino certainly pulled its weight that game!

Pict 1623: Primus Medicae by DivergingRealm, favourite army prize

I did not win any games over the course of the weekend, which I found quite fitting for the narrative – we were simply trying to buy Sanguinius some time against Horus and did not care for any other objective! My army was, however, voted by the other players as 'the one you would most like to take home with you'! The prize is this beautiful Primus Medicae sculpted by DivergingRealm and printed by Gator 3D Printing, who provided prize support for the event. I plan to paint the Marine on the base as a Veteran and gave him one of the Blood Angels Mk IV helmets from ForgeWorld. Again, I'm really looking forward to painting this one!