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.