The Rad Dogs

+++data stream extract; communication between Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii command and Archmagos Calorith Syx+++

~The Skitarii Unit Radiphracts 32-Theta-Atrius- has been displaying non-normative behaviour for some time. Advise.

~Context 'non-normative'. Respond.

~32-Theta-Atrius has survived 236% beyond normal expectations; 33 deployments as of m41.998.301. Perfomance in the field is above nominal outside of statistical variation. Levels of Holy Radiance are now at 302% of Radiphract-norm. Advise.

~Expand: behaviour in deployment/organisational effectiveness. Respond

~Effective value 4.2. Behaviour non-normative. Damaged units have been recovered under fire. Advise.

~Quarantine from other Skitarii units. 32-Theta-Atrius to be placed on detached duty. Deployed to Explorator Mission 13.23.1.1 under command of MA Skol. Action.

~Compliance. 

+++extract ends+++

I've been using bits of the Skitarii kits for the last year for a variety of Inq28 gubbins so it actually felt a bit odd to build them as originally intended.

However, I think these look like an agreeably messed up bunch of radiation soaked cyborg killing machines. The basic colour scheme was picked up from the Magos Explorator  and liberal application of weathering pigments finished the grime.

The Seeker of Lost Things

...opposed the mission to Sycroax. Regardless of this, Magos Archeopterist Skol's arguments won the day; the possibility of recovering lost teachnology - perhaps even an STC - from the lost foundry of Sycorax was regarded as outweighing any possible risks. 

Unfortunately, it was to become obvious that Skol had severely miscalculated the risk/reward ratio; in his unquenchable thirst for lost knowledge, he dug too greedily and too deep...

[from A Report on the Sycorax Incident, Author Unknown, M41.998.267]

Here is the leader of my little band. He's built completely stock - no conversion. As I looked at the parts on the sprue I more or less fell in love with the model as it.

As a result I spent a bit of time on him, with some blending work on the cloak and a variety of filters and tones on the metal.

I'm very happy with how he looks; now we just need to work on his retinue.

Lux Tenebris

Sirrah Galtos Acre, Esquire of House Tartarus, gloried in the feel of his nerves coming alive. As data from the sensors of his mount fired around him, he plunged into the comforting warmth of its embrace. Around him the ozone smell of electrics sparking and the thudding of the promethium engine were as familiar as the sights and smells of his home, far away. Lux Tenebris, Knight Armiger of the distaff House Tartarus, rose to its full height; the chainsword roared into life as with a snap-hiss of energy, the Melta came up to temrepature. With a slamming of pistons and the thud of foot upon earth, Galtos Acre went to war.

Later.

They were dead. All dead. Shattered bones and implants laid around, wrecked vehicles belching smoke. Lux Tenebris limped on, one leg almost seized from the blast of a some hellish weapon. Inside, Galtos Acre's breath rasped through the jagged tear in his throat. His hands, blood slick, had trouble grasping the controls; his vision - down to one eye now, just like the giant faltering around him - showed multiple enemy contacts, closing fast. 

If this was to be the end, he - and his heirloom that would become his tomb - would sell their lives dearly. 

So this is the start of the new project; an actual, honest to goodness Warhammer 40,000 army. It will be small - I'm not made of money, after all - and is basically so I can join in with the club at work as and when they need an extra player. I picked up the Forgebane box intending to build the Necrons but fell back in love with the Adeptus Mechanicus.

My force will be the guard of Magos Archeopterist Skol, seeking forgotten technology in the Lost Foundries of Sycorax. I decided that one of the first things they would try to get back in working order would be the Knights; so here is a wrecked Knight Armiger, brought back to operational parameters.

This is very unlike my usual style of painting. As you can see, there is no chipping to the paint and no rust; the only weathering is environmental. I deliberately set out to create a 'clean' paint job unlike my usual work, for two reasons; first, I wanted to work on my brush control simply as I had been aware that all my work recently on nurgley, grotty stuff had got me into some sloppy habits and secondly I wanted to create something that felt as thought it had been lovingly restored. My inspiration here was those classic cars you see which look better than new. This also led to to the colour palette  - there's something very 1950s about green and beige.

The whole thing was painted with brushes; normally I'd use an airbrush on a piece this large but again, I wanted to work on getting thin, even colours over a large area with a brush simply for the sake of technical practice.

The dusting on the base was done with weathering powder with varying degrees of binder for different consistencies.

Next up is the leader of my little force and a colour scheme test for the Skitarii.

The Downhive Reds

Deep in the underhive, there are whispers. The whispers speak of a gang owning fealty to House Escher. A gang that flit from shadow to shadow, every moving, never ceasing. A gang whose exposure to the chemicals and toxins that are their stock in trade has changed them. Changed them so they are barely human any more. Lithe, pale and stealthy, most believe the Downhive Reds took their name from the dyed scarlet of their hair. But the whispers say otherwise. The whispers hiss that the Reds get their name from the fact that they are so changed that they no longer subsist on Soylens Viridians like the rest of Necromunda but instead on some something darker, darker and hotter. All that remains of those who cross them are scarlet traces...

I thoroughly enjoyed putting the Escher models together ahead of the school club's Necromunda campaign. I feel in love with the aesthetic of them; the massive boots and hair look exactly like the Carlos Equezerra line work I remember from 2000AD when I was a lad. So that was naturally where I turned for inspiration.

I considered going down the Judge Anderson route but if they ever get around to releasing Arbites I want to go full Dredd on them, so I cast my net slightly wider and caught... well, Durham Red. When I knew her she was a supporting character in Strontium Dog. Apparently she ended up getting her own strip (and a stripperific costume to boot). In any case, I had the palette I wanted.

Given the amount of times I've done blue tinted skin you'd think I wouldn't have this much trouble with it, but there you go. Anyway, these dangerous lasses are done.

Next is the start of a fairly major project that I am certain I will live to regret.

Vinefall

This was my contribution to the Dark Age of Sigmar (AoS28) Facebook group's joint city project. It'll give me something else to pootle about with alongside Caliban Fell. 

Vinereach

A district on the far eastern edge of the city, Vinereach was originally Tarak's Reach. In the Undermine Incursion three centuries ago, however, it was overrun by those beneath. The forces of the city fell back, surrendering Tarak's Reach to the invaders.

When Harmid Fellhand led the fight back, it was discovered that Bleeds from the Realm of Life had followed the invaders and vast, tangled growths now choked the entire area. The defenders of the City drove the invaders back and life slowly returned to the new area.

Houses and tenements had been ripped from the ground and borne aloft on the vast trunks of the Ghyranian growths; people soon slung cables and rope bridges from one to the next. The massive vines became trunk roads, artieries of trade and commerce from one level to the next, and slung cradle cars - some wound by hand, some pulled by beasts - became a common sight in the skies.

The very tips of the canopy provided an easy berth for the ships of the Kharadron Overlords, and so Vinereach rapidly became the natural import hub for the eastern half of the city; vast leaf parachutes thick liana cranes became part of the thriving Canopy Docks, transferring trade goods to the lower levels and thence to the rest of the city.

At the base, in the neighborhood known as Leafall, the lack of sunlight and everpresent rot of falling sap and leaf litter provided opportunities for scavengers and parasites of all species. Crime and degradation rapidly became the order of the day. The Hive - a criminal organisation patterned after the insects that plague Leafall - became the most successful of all the gangs and rapidly started to rule the shadowed floor where ancient ruins lie choked in tendrils and mulch.

Visitors to vine reach comment almost immediately on the thick, humid air and the green, hazy light. The ever present sway of the vast trunks and the creaking of their strain holding aloft the various homes, business and temples of the district provides a constant background noise, counterpointed by the buzz and flutter of insects. Visitors are warned to be wary of two things; sapwine, brewed from the liquid gained by cutting younger vines is a potent brew and rather addictive; slicers - those who cut the vines and brew it in secret - are not all beholden to the Hive but it is still wise not to become too dependent on them. The second thing to be wary of is that some of the other plant life seeded at various levels are not as passive as the vines themselves; rumours and folklore persist of unwary travellers who stop too long to breathe in a heady scent or admire a beautiful blossom and simply... vanish.

I quite fancy building a bunch of Hive-affiliated gangsters from the Leafall area. Could be a fun conversion project. And I like the idea of some of Knight Militia, maybe based around the Gawain and the Green Knight idea or picking up on the Green Man or wood woad folklore of England. Maybe the Wild Hunt?

More Medieval Mayhem

As you may remember by two sons - now nearly 6 and 4 - are nuts about knights. The other day th eeldest dragged the box of Fireforge Teutonic Knights out of the drawer and asked me to build him and his brother another. As per usual, I let them choose the colour scheme then I had to figure out at way to make them work. 

The green and beige check on this chap helped me figure out the colour scheme for an upcoming project. Keep an eye out for it. Hint: it's another kind of Knight...

And so here are all of them together.

Again, these Fireforge knights are brilliant kits, full of dynamism and movement. The one charging with the lance has inspired me to dig out that old White Dwarf article with the jousting game and come up with my own version. 

Into The Fallen Realms

A while ago, I got hold of the Battle Companies supplement for Middle Earth. By raiding the massive stash of old LOTR miniatures I had lying around, I was able to pull togther three interesting Companies to play around with. I've been playing around with them on and off over the last couple of months between other projects and now they're finally finished.

Uthreg's Rievers. 

A force of Angmar orcs, owing loyalty to the Witch King of that dread realm, Uthreg leads his motley band into the lands of Men seeking sport, loot - and meat.

Eodred's Raiders

A young nobleman of Rohan, Eodred the Wild was disowned by his father and exiled by the King. Now, with his remaining retainers, he seeks glory enough to win back his name. 

Abbas the Drake's Rock Serpents

From the burning lands of the East, they answered the call of the Dark Lord. Abbas the Drake promised them fortune and glory in the rich, fertile lands of the soft west and they mean to collect their due. 

And finally a couple of action shots.