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.

Catching up on Heresy, Middle-earth and Cursed City

Hoo boy! That was a rather long hiatus, thanks to the real life taking a lot of my free time for about two months. I still managed to find some time to build and paint, but not to document my progress. I originally planned to just do one big catch up post. But it got so long, that I decided to split it. So, this post will be about what I got done for my Horus Heresy Blood Angels and a just a bit of Middle-earth and Cursed City.

Pict 1569: Blood Angels Teleport homer and Tactical with new Augury Scanner

After a bit of a hiatus I had to do a quick little painting project to shake the cobwebs off. I was recently gifted the current set of Blood Angels Indomitus Terminators and quickly painted up the teleport homer to use as my marker when playing the Day of Revelations rite of war. And while I was at it, I stole the big Augury scanner from my Tactical squad and replaced the original bit that was from the vehicle sprue with the handheld one from the newer close combat weapons set. Painting the new hand up was fast and now the scanner has a somewhat more sensible size.
The next Heresy tournament I plan to go to will be in middle of June with a narrative event following at the end of the same month – more chances to make a dent in my pile of grey plastic and resin...

Pict 1570: Blood Angels Dreadnought Drop Pod

Pict 1571: Blood Angels Dreadnought Drop Pod

The first thing I finished, however, was this Dreadnought Drop Pod that had been lying about for quite some time. I had wanted to finish it for the last tournament and now I finally got to it. This old ForgeWorld version of the kit was a bit of a pain to put together and the struts still are not quite straight. Nevertheless, once the red armour was done and detailed, it really came together.

Pict 1572: Blood Angels Tactical Marines (WIP)

Pict 1573: Blood Angels Iliastus Support Squad and Commander (WIP)

And so I went ahead and started painting some more Blood Angels for the upcoming events. These are ten more Tacticals to finally expand my Squad to the full twenty. Using a Veteran as a second Sergeant, I could even fudge it and play them as two smaller squads. Then there are five more Heavy Support Marines, all outfitted with Proteus Pattern Rotor Guns that I plan to play as Iliastus Assault Cannons. And of course, there is the printed Praetor that I won last time. I was debating whether he should become a Raven Guard or a Blood Angel and finally decided on the latter on on a gut feeling.

Pict 1574: Blood Angels Dawnbreakers (WIP)

Pict 1575: Blood Angels Laser Destroyer Rapiers (WIP)

So we'll see if I bit off more than I can chew, but I built these Dawnbreakers and Laser Destroyer Rapiers to paint up for the next tournament. This one will be the first one to allow Primarchs, so I might have a look at Sanguinius to see if he is still up to snuff. One of the Dawnbreakes is converted to carry a set of Equinox Power Blades instead of the Falling-Star Power Spear. And of course I opted against the flying stands. One of the Rapiers I got secondhand, and it was missing the crew and I wanted to build one of them with the controller mounted on the back of the Battery. So I had to kitbash three additional crewmembers from Forge World resin, the older Mk III plastics and parts from my bits box. I'm particularly pleased with the backpacks, styled after the Mk III Heavy Support backpacks the Forge World models use.

Pict 1576: Blood Angels Chaplain and Angels Tears (WIP)

The narrative event will be set during the last part of the Siege of Terra and my first thought was to play Dominion Zephon and the High Host. That would be a fun opportunity to get to some more Destroyers. I still have a squad of Assault Destroyers and a Moritat primed and ready for paint. But I also built these neat Angels Tears...

And of course, as is the rule, whilst building I also put together another Consul. This time a Chaplain with Power Lance and Jumppack. He's based on the plastic version of Ortan Cassius, with the Lance made from a Fantasy High Elf bit – here, I'm very proud of the small blood drops on the blade, that I lifted from Sanguinary Guard pouches.

Pict 1577: Blood Angels Tarantulas and Exepeditionary Navigator (WIP)

I also built and primed up these miniatures, that might be part of the collecion, but will probably not see the battlefield. The Tarantuals are some very cool old ForgeWorld miniatures. However, to field them I would need a third one to make a legal squad. They will look good as set dressing nontheless. The Navigator is a limited edition from the very early years of Heresy. He also has rules, so I hope to get to use him in a narrative game in the future.

Pict 1578: Dire Wolves

After so much red armour, I had to do something different. So I pulled these Dire Wolves out to complete them for my Cursed City set. They painted up rather quickly and I'm really happy with them, even if they are a bit simpler than they could be. If I had invested a bit more time, I had individually highlighted the strands of fur to make them stand out more rather than simply drybrushing them. But as soon as the base is done, they do look great!
I even got to play a few sessions of the game and I would really like to start a second play through with all the expansions painted. Something I have planned for a few years. Now, I'm only missing a set of three Vargheists and ten Grave Guard. That should be doable shouldn't it?

Pict 1579: Birch Ent

Pict 1580: Birch Ent

Lastly, I had planned to finish this guy for Monster March – Last March of the Ents, and all that... (I didn't even use the same pun last year?!) I had painted up a Wood Elf Dryad as a birch a while back and I liked the look, but the Ent has a lot bigger surfaces and so was a bit different. Nevertheless the detailing was really fun! And GW recently showed off the third hero Ent, which, once released, will allow me to field quite a nice army of them!

Great Fangorn Forest to high Orthanc hill, shall come against him

Six more miniatures finished to show this time around: I painted up Quickbeam the Ent for a tournament coming up in April and then put the finishing touches on a squad of Infinity minatures I had laying around from last year.

Pict 1426: Quickbeam the Ent

Pict 1427: Quickbeam

Pict 1428: Quickbeam

First up is Quickbeam, one of the newer models available for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game. I am really happy with the different tones I managed to put on him to change up the somewhat monotonous brown you often see on Ents. The 3d sculpted texture was a bit bland for my taste, but once the green flock was on he really came together.

Pict 1429: Ghulam Infantry, Kaplans, Al'Hawwa

These Infinity miniatures were another project that got left behind last year. After watching the new Dune movie I got the itch to finish them. They were only missing the faces and some highlights and the finishing touches were done over a few weekday evenings. I'm pretty happy with them and there are a few more miniatures in my collection that would fit this Kaplan / Qapu Khalqi theme. But I fear, they will be postponed until I manage to get a game in.

Pict 1430: Treebeard (WIP)

For now, there are some more Middle-earth figures to do for an upcoming tournament in April. One of them is this treebeard here. Since Quickbeam went pretty quickly, I hope to finish Treebeard soon as well. Of course he's carrying Merry and Pippin who will need some more attention, but I'm looking forward to it!

Pict 1431: Neferata on foot (Conversion)

Pict 1432: Neferata on foot (Conversion)

Lastly, whilst I had some green stuff mixed up to fill the gaps on Treebeard, I also finished this conversion of Neferata on foot. Since last I showed her, I filled the gaps between the two kits I used and resculpted parts of the skirt that were damaged during the construction. Hardest was to figure out how to connect the long and flowing sleeves to the back of her dress (the mounted version hides this with her throne). I'm pretty happy with the result and look forward to painting her!

Starting up Legions Imperialis

One last post for 2023: December really flew by and with the holidays left little time for the hobby. Nevertheless I managed to make a good start on Legions Imperialis with a small scale version of my Blood Angels. I even managed to play a first game of LI and a first game of Heresy! These inspired me to build some more minis for these systems. But I also finished some of the Vampires and assorted undeads.

Pict 1392: Legions Imperials Blood Angels

Pict 1393: Legions Imperialis Blood Angels Contemptors

These four Contemptors were the first miniatures I painted for the Legions Imperialis version of my Blood Angels. I love these miniatures! Of course, I like the Contemptor chassis. But they really did a great job to recreate them in the small scale and still give them a good range of motion and easy dynamic poses. Painting them pretty much took only an evening for all steps, so I can really see myself painting these LI miniatures quite fast.

Pict 1394: Legions Imperialis Blood Angels Legion Command

Pict 1395: Legions Imperialis Blood AngelsTactical Legionaries

Pict 1396: Legions Imperialis Blood AngelsTactical Legionaries

Pict 1397: Legions Imperialis Blood AngelsTactical Legionaries

Pict 1398: Legions Imperialis Blood AngelsTactical Legionaries

The Legions Imperialis Space Marine infantry is also really nice. I did some carving to improve the undercuts, but really you do not have to do this make them look good on the table. That work will only ever really be noticed on pictures magnifying the models beyond what you would usually see.
Anyways, I decided against painting them unassembled – the power armour leaves just enough room to get the brush in and I'm quite happy with the way they came out. The hardest part really were the eyelenses - that's the first time I acually used a maginfying glass to see what I'm doing! And even now, the blown up pictures show all that went wrong. But I don't mind, you'd never see them during play.

Pict 1399: Winged Vampire, Bastet and the Werefox

In the end I only managed to finish up the winged Vampire, the two versions of Bastet and the Werefox during December. The other Vampires and the Necormancer are still waiting for the highlights. I will really have to make an effort next year to finish all of these started and abandoned projects...

Pict 1400: Blood Angels Tartaros Terminators, Moritat and Contemptor (WIP)

I also got to building some more Blood Angels in the big scale. The Contemptor is geared for anti-tank with a Lascannon and a Chainfist – same as the Moritat, who would also like to open up some cans with his two Infernopistols. The two Tartaros Terminators are the start of a big squad. I used the ForgeWorld Iliastus Assault Cannons with the Cataphractii arms and put them on the heavy weapon arms that would usually hold the Tartaros' Auto Cannons. The Tartaros Praetor only got a helmet to keep that face safe even when fighting in space!

Pict 1401: Legions Imperialis Blood Angels Thunderhawk (WIP)

Pict 1402: Legions Imperialis Blood Angels Thunderhawk Conversion (WIP)

Pict 1403: Legions Imperials Blood Angels Fire Raptors (WIP)

Lastly, since I planned an Aerial Assault formation to start Legions Imperialis, here some planes. I really love the Thunderhawk model – they are so big in comparison! And of course I would probably never get them for the 28mm collection. I also was inspired by Chaosbunker's Thunderhawk conversion and decided to recreate the open front hatch.
The Fire Raptors had their cupolas magnetised, even if it look like I will probably only use the Lascannons in LI. But I might play them in Aeronautica and then would want the options. Anyways it was quite fun little project using small steel ball bearings in the cupolas and a magnet inside the hull right between them.

Blood Angel Mortalis Destroyers and Aster Crohne

During these past two weeks I managed to finish up all the Blood Angels for my tournament list, that is the ten Destroyers and their Rhino. I also put the finishing touches on my rendition of Aster Crohne. I then converted more Blood Angels heroes and started on some more Undead miniatures.

Pict 1383: Blood Angels Mortalis Destroyers and Rhino

Pict 1384: Blood Angels Mortalis Destroyers and Aster Crohne

First up, here are the ten Mortalis Destroyers as well as Aster Crohne. I really like how they came out! The Destroyers use a bit of a darker red. Combined with the black panels, this really makes the gold and green details stand out! Aster Crohne is also very nice. I pushed the contrast on the gold this time around and I have to say it does pop more than with my ususal recipe. I might have to get myself some Destroyers to swap out the special weapons for flamers since Crohne gives them a boost...

Pict 1385: Blood Angels Rhino with Reinforced Armour

Pict 1386: Blood Angels Rhino with Reinforced Armour

I'm also very happy with the way this Rhino came out. As with Crohne, I pushed the contrast on the gold. Other than that the big panes were quite fun to weather. It has been quite a long time since I last painted a vehicle and I could see myself doing more of them. Besides the Dreadnought Drop Pod I have still on my table there are also two more for Infantry.
Anyways, this meant I managed to paint every model I neede for the tournament, only to get sick a few days out preventing me from going. Next time it is then...

Pict 1387: Blood Angels Librarian Conversion, Raldoron and Vigilator (WIP)

After finishing everything I needed for the tournament, I went back into build mode and did these three heroes for my Blood Angels. The Vigilator is pretty much stock with only a little bit of green stuff to elevate the helmet a bit. Same goes for Raldoron – here, I removed the sculted blood from the blade and of course I also gave him a helmet. I realised that the Blood Angels Preator in power armour uses a helmet that is based of an illustration of Raldoron and so I had to behead my painted Praetor... He'll be getting a new head as well. The Librarian is based on the model for Ahzek Ahriman, I still had from my Betrayal at Calth box. I used plastic Mk IV head and torso and removed a lot of the sculpted detail. I really like the clean look I've achieved and very much look forward to paiting these three!

Pict 1388: Warhammer Vampires through the Ages

Lastly I also played a short introductory session of Cursed City on Halloween which reminded me of all those beautiful miniatures I want to paint for my Undead collection. I got the project box out and selected a few miniatures to paint up next. They come from various eras – the Vampires and the Werefox are from the Night Horrors line from the late 80s/early 90s; the metal Neferata and her cat Bastet are from the 6th edition Vampires whilst the plastic Necromancer is a modern sculpt from the 8th edition. Ever since the plastic Neferata was released during the End Times, I wanted to convert her on foot. I've had the bits, including a scond hand Yvraine, for quite some time now and after fiddling with the Librian, I also started outlining this conversion – the next step will be the green stuffing and some minor details.

Finishing up a few projects and starting new ones

These past two weeks I managed to finish up a few more small projects for a variety of game systems: painting a squad of Blood Angels Seekers, refurbishing some Hormagaunts and finally highlighting my remaining Sepulchral Guard models and a Wight King for my collection of undead models.

Pict 1348: Blood Angels Seekers

Pict 1349: Blood Angels Seekers

The first few miniatures I finished this week were these Seekers for my Heresy Blood Angels. Usually I like my units to be in a consistend armour mark, but I can imagine the Seekers using the cobbled together MK V whilst scouting ahead of the main army. I might build some more of them to fill out the squad with more of the special ammunition Bolter or Combi-weapons. But for now, they are done and there a q lot more Marines built and ready for a lick of paint.

Pict 1350: Tyranid Hormagaunts

Pict 1351: Tyranid Hormagaunts

Last weekend I played my first game of tenth edition 40k. It was great fun, to take the Tyranids out of their box again. I think my last game of 40k was right at the start of 8th edition, so it must have been sometime six years ago. My opponent hadn't played even longer. So it took us some time to figure out what we were doing, but in the end it was quite fun and did feel appropriately 40k.

Anyways, my bugs sustained some dings and scratches during their slumber. So I set out to refurbish them somewhat and started with these Hormagaunts. Whilst I was ironing out the dings and scratches I also updated the markings on the carapace to bring them up to speed a bit. If I find myself playing more 40k I will have to get eight more models to fill out the squad. And of course, they still suffer from the falling disease of all Hormagaunts so I might have to get myself some fitting washers to put under the base.

Pict 1352: Wight King and Sepulchral Guard

Pict 1353: Wight King and Sepulchral Guard

I also finished up this selection of skeletons. These poor miniatures sat in my box of current projects for over a year. And of course they were only missing the highlights! In the mean time the Wight King recieved some rules to use him in games of Cursed City, so after finishing the Vampires a few weeks back got him and the remaining four skeletons from the Sepulchral Guard higher up the queue. Still, nineteen more miniatures to paint to finish that second Cursed City expansion!

Pict 1354: Aeronautica Imperialis Xiphons

Lastly I started to prepare for Legiones Imperialis in the hopes that this new edition will be released soon. I managed to buy these Aeronautica Xiphons second-hand for a good price. They were already built quite nicely – only a few mold lines that had to be removed. The basecolours went on rather quickly after priming them. The 8mm scale is new to me, but I could get used to it! Next up will be an oil wash and some highlights to finish them up.

Mordor Orcs, Cursed City Vampires and a third Venomthrope

During the past two weeks, I painted quite a few Mordor Orcs including a Captain and two Warg Riders. I also finished the two Vampires from the first Cursed City expasion: Lady Annika and Carmilla DuSang. And while I did not paint any more Tyranids, I also converted a third metal Venomthrope to make them a legal unit in 10th edition.

Pict 1332: Mordor Orc Reinforcements

Pict 1333: Mordor Orc Captain, Orc Warriors, Warg Riders

Pict 1334: Mordor Orc Captain, Orc Warriors, Warg Riders

With some Middle-earth games going on, I got back to painting Mordor Orcs. The foot troops are all beautiful metal models that were originally released in 2001 and were availiable recently as a Made-to-order. Having painted them now, I have grown to love them even more. They are so characterfull. Especially the faces and helmets.
Same with the Warg Riders - the metal versions are vastly superior to the plastics and with a bit of converting, you so get some more poses that the three that were released. Here the one with the bow is the unaltered one, the shield bearer my conversion. I had converted these models and started to paint them in November 2021... really a good feeling to get them done now!

Pict 1335: Lady Annika and Carmilla DuSang

Pict 1336: Carmilla DuSang and Lady Annika

Pict 1337: Carmilla DuSang and Lady Annika

As a quick little project inbetween I painted the two Vampires I was still missing for the first Cursed City expansion. Two really great miniatures with completly different characters. I'm happy with the way they turned out. But I have to say, painting the faces was tricky behind the mask and the armour spikes respectively.
While I'd like to get these two on the table before long, I think I will paint up the models for the other expansion first. I'd like to start a new playthrough once I have all the minis together.

Pict 1338: Venomthrope (WIP)

I also got myself a second hand metal Venomthrope to make a legal unit. After dissasembling and removing the old paint, I went about converting a more dynamic pose. Cutting off the head and reattaching it on a slant unlocked the turning body and the tentacles simply fell into place. Now I want to get more even of them and make more cool poses... But first, I'll have to paint the bunch – we'll see, where the butterfly takes me next!