Contemptor Dreadnought for the Raven Guard

Reinforcements for XIX Legion

This is a Contemptor Dreadnought for the XIX Legion in GW's Horus Heresy/30k setting.  The model is the plastic dreadnought from the "Betrayal at Calth" box set, and he has a few decals and brass etch details added on from Forge World.

The "Betrayal at Calth" box set is a gold mine of Horus Heresy bits and figures.  I was glad to have access to a plastic Contemptor Dreadnought model, as I thought it would be much easier to assemble than the resin ones from Forge World.  In the end, it was a bit of a mixed bag - certainly a lot easier to assemble, but the arrangements of the parts is very disappointing, leaving very little option to customize and give the model much motion.  As such, he looks a bit wooden (and maybe that's OK - I mean, the "pilot" is nearly dead anyway, right)?

He just wants to shake hands...

For weapons I opted for the multi-melta, to give the Raven Guard a bit of heavy stopping power, and also because multi-melta.  The other option was the assault cannon, which I admit also looks cool, but I have something else in mind down the road to assist the Raven Guard with assault-cannon-related issues.  Besides - there are already other elements of the force to handle cannon-related files. The downside is that, because of the way the model is laid out on the frames, if you want to use another weapon (i.e. not the assault cannon or multi-melta), you have some heavy carving in front of you - not impossible, but just short-sighted by GW, in my view - why not make it fully compatible with the FW weapons?

But then, why am I surprised when GW does something in a short-sighted fashion?  Anyway, it is still a decent model, and you'll have fun assembling and painting yours no doubt!

Soo...what's on that name plate?  Ummm...well....

The one detail that I had the highest hopes for is also the one detail I completely buggered up.  Some background: I really like the brass etch accessories from Forge World.  They are perfect for a little bit of customization of models just like this, adding more character than a decal alone can, but stopping short of the all-out look of the specified customized dreadnought chassis available for the different Legions.

Multi-melta - for close inspection of enemy vehicles and facilities

So I thought to make this guy look a little extra cool, I would use some brass etch Raven Guard symbols (the shoulder and knee plates), but to really set him off, I figured "I'll give him a name plate!" After all, the cool painters give their dreadnoughts funky names.

Brass etch stuff DOES really help things pop - when you don't screw up the painting

So I stuck it right below the "helmet" of the dreadnought.  I told myself that I would paint it white, which would make it really jump out, look awesome etc...anyway, I totally, totally bungled the paint job on it - to the point I can't even make out what that name was supposed to be (something "Corax", maybe...?).  In fact, it looks all scratched out in a way that resembles the odd markings seen on the vehicles and machines who follow the Warmaster...maybe this model is trying to tell me something...

An unknown soldier, due to poor painting...but otherwise very scary

Anyway, behold "Name Undetermined" - valiant warrior of the Raven Guard. No doubt an Imperial Committee will be duly appointed to decipher his actual name...likely the markings were blurred by the insipid agents of the Warmaster...

Team photo of the XIX Legion forces so far...

So after starting with a few test models last fall, my XIX Legion detachment has grown to 46 or so infantry and one dreadnought.  A decent size for an infantry force - just need to add some vehicles for these fellows now...

Mor Deythan Strike Squad for Raven Guard 30k

Mor Deythan Strike Squad from the XIX Legion

Some more reinforcements for the XIX Legion.  This is a "Mor Deythan" strike squad, an elite unit of the Raven Guard in the 30k/Horus Heresy setting.  The figures are from Forge World.

Very nice sculpting job by Forge World - I really enjoyed these figures

These figures blend a number of concepts which seem to me, on paper at any rate, not to work together.  Heavily armoured troops, equipped with sniper rifles, who are really good at infiltrating, yet still dressed in ornate armour that marks them out, and would appear to be intended as a kind of shock force.  Those should not all go together...but somehow they do. I'm not sure which designed sculpted these figures, but my hat goes off to him or her - great job!

Fancy shoulder plates...

Fancy helmets...

Fancy everything...Corvus Corax must have contacted a brand consultant for these troops

The figures are wearing ornate Mk VI "beakie" power armour (it seems that the Raven Guard and the Alpha Legion both have a lot of "beakie" stuff, for whatever reason) with fancy cloaks and nasty sniper variants of bolt guns.  There are a lot of optics, targeters etc. which add nicely to the look of the troops.  

Kneeling figures - not generally a favourite pose, but it works for these models

Another partial view of the fancy shoulder plates

When you dress like this, I'm not sure why you bother with flash suppressors or silencers, but hey - whatever works!

While there were a few casting issues, overall the models were a lot of fun to paint and I'm pleased to get this unit finished.  Perhaps the only downside is that, due to the size of some of the figures, I had to use the stupid new 32mm bases for these figures - something I'm generally resisting for my Marines.  I thought it would be OK in this instance as they are a special unit/special case.

Lots of dramatic swirl in the capes

Scoping out targets for the Emperor...

These models can represent either one or two elites choices for a Raven Guard force, depending on the size of the game and the circumstances of the scenario etc.  I am looking forward to getting these fellows out for some 30k gaming on the Fawcett Avenue tables this summer!

Raven Guard Heavy Support - Autocannons Galore

Some heavy hitting support for Corax's fellows...

Ten guys with autocannons? Ten guys with autocannons.  Gotta love the Horus Heresy!

Work has been pretty nuts lately, diverting me from much hobby time for painting (much less gaming).  But I whittled a gun out of a bar of soap, bluffed the guards, and managed to get a few things finished.  Here is a Raven Guard heavy support squad armed wall-to-wall with autocannons.  The Marines are wearing Mk III armour.

Embossed shoulder plates add the perfect touch as always

I had finished a few of these guys for a Rogue Trader game we played not that long ago (although it seems like ages ago), but managed to round out the whole group of ten models just recently.

Sergeant with crazy comb and crazy gun

The original autocannon models called for the ammo can to be mounted off the back of the Marine armour, with a kind of belt feed mechanism working around to connect under the front of the weapon.  While possible in theory, the reality of the models and of Forge World's "quality" (great sculptors, wonderful designers, but clearly they don't give much of a sh*t about consistent casting) was such that there was not enough heat guns, boiling water and fast timing in the world to get even a single model assembled that way, much less ten of them.  So I just cut them up and mounted the ammo cans right below the autocannon.

I like the little targeting device they include for officers...

I like how it turned out - makes the gun even more impractical looking, which in turn (to my mind at least) makes it look like something the Imperium would have approved. "Sure, nobody can really use this in a practical way, but these are Space Marines we are talking about - commence production immediately."

Practical weapons of the 30th millenium...

Continue to love the MkIII armour - the best models out there!

The tactical usefulness of this unit will be, well, "interesting". They will blow away things like Rhinos and bikes - fun!  But mostly I just like the crazy appearance.  It underscores the dark, armed excess of the heresy setting and the Space Marine Legions.  Why send one guy with an autocannon, after all, when you could send ten? I mean, do you love the Emperor or not?

Ready to make a stand on Istvaan...

Stay tuned for more reinforcements for the Raven Guard..

Necromunda "Not-Delaque" Slicks from East Riding Miniatures

As readers know, Conscript Dave has organized a Necromunda campaign that's now in full swing. While I already had a ton of painted Cawdor/Redemptionist gangers, a campaign always provides a nice impetus for a new painting project.

As far as Necromunda factions, I always thought that the Delaques were super cool, what with their trenchcoats, shaved heads and John Lennon glasses. However, when I looked into getting the GW models, I got a bit of a shock... prices have increased quite a bit on that OOP stuff. So I looked around for some alternative models, and found these: the "Slicks" from East Riding Miniatures in the UK. 

ERM actually sell a pack of all 7 variants of Slick for the low price of 7 English pounds. A veritable bargain compared to Delaques from GW that might exceed that amount for a single figure!

The Slicks are cool, but I did do a bit of conversion work to make them my own. For the gangers above, I added extended barrels and flash suppressors to their autoguns.

The juves in the gang are equipped with pistols, of course. The ones provided by ERM are rather weedy and lacking in detail, so I swapped in some more impressive shootin' irons for them as well.

Juves are identified in this gang by the large probational "J" on the backs of their coats. Once they're promoted to full ganger status they'll be entitled to wear the plain black PVC version.

For the "heavy" with flamer, some more extensive conversion was required. Both of his arms were cut off (!) and arms from the GW Astra Militarum heavy flamer model were grafted on. I think it turned out rather well.

This is the base model for the flamer conversion above, which I also use for juves. Again, weapon swaps are done with GW weapons. The fellow on the right is a new recruit to the gang; he joined to seek revenge for the death of his brother (a full-fledged ganger) who was killed by Spyrers in the first campaign game. He carries his late brother's autogun even though he's not able to use it!

I kept the painting very simple for the gang, both because I needed to get them into action in short order and because I'm lazy ;-)



Flesh was painted a bit lighter than my normal mix, with a slight reddish undertone cast achieved with a wash of diluted Chestnut Ink. The PVC trenchcoats have Leadbelcher hardware washed with Nuln Oil, and highlighted with Leadbelcher and Mithril Silver. Weapons are done with Leadbelcher/Nuln Oil as well. Finally the coat and eyepiece lenses are given a generous brushing of GW 'Ardcoat (gloss varnish).

The gang leader, Slick Plashkin (each gang member has some not-so-clever punning name - Slick Derringer, Slick Astley, etc.). He carries a boltgun that he's used to good effect in the first two games.

These guys have been quite fun to play with so far and my only regret is that I didn't buy more - I might need to hire more gangers. Oh well, ERM's still in business and the postage charge wasn't outrageous. They also have some other cool stuff that can bulk out an order...


So many thanks to Dave for providing the impetus for this fun project. It turns out that the boys are doing OK on the tabletop as well so that's always a bonus!

Iron Within, Iron Without - 30K Iron Warriors Test Models

Well, it's safe to say that around these parts, between the Betrayal at Calth boxed set frenzy and general Forgeworld crack addictions, the Horus Heresy is raging on. So it is therefore perfectly sensible for me, despite having armies of 40K Black Templars, Rogue Trader Howling Griffons, and Heresy-era Blood Drinkers/Angels, (plus Deathwing and Plague Marines too) to start another Space Marine army.

Step forward the Iron Warriors! The fourth Space Marine Legion to be raised in the First Founding; cold, calculating weaponsmiths; siege and heavy weapon specialists; and legendary all-around hard nuts, the Iron Warriors have a lot going for them as a Traitor Legion choice for Heresy-era gaming.  Not to mention that, as long as you like hazard stripes, the paint scheme is absurdly simple, fast-painting and awesome looking!

So I've taken the plunge into "the narrative of hope and change" as Conscript Greg would say, and have started collecting and painting a IV Legion force for our Heresy games. First up were some test models - a MKIII Space Marine from Forgeworld (seen here) and a MKIV armour from the Calth boxset (farther below).

I am a huge fan of the MKIII armour. It has a brutalist aesthetic that to me, just captures the Horus Heresy so well. The model was primed black and painted GW Leadbelcher, with gold bits picked out in Balthasar Gold. Hazard striping was done with Averland Sunset highlighted with Yriel Yellow. The whole model was washed with Nuln Oil, and the gold bits washed again with Agrax Earthshade, then highlighted with Leadbelcher and Balthasar. Some chipping with black over the yellow and light powders finished it off.

Although I have to admit that the MKIV suit isn't my favourite-ever Space Marine armour, the models from the Calth box are awesome nonetheless. This one assembled very quickly and accurately and looks great.

I painted him using the same technique as the MKIII.

His right shoulder pad is also left blank for application of some IV Legion insignia later.

I have two Calth boxes and five MKIII suits for a command squad, so that should pretty much do me for Marines. I reckon 30-40 Tactical Squad Marines and 10 Iron Havocs with lascannons, and perhaps a 10-man Tac Support squad or even Assault Squad made with Forgeworld accessory goodies. Ten Cataphractii Terminators of course, done up as Siege Tyrants with added missile racks, likely from some third party vendor. There's two Contemptor Dreadnoughts in those boxes too, along with an Iron Warriors body on the way. I have some Praetors about that could go Iron, as well as a MKII Command set with banner and leader-type coming. Vehicle support will be sparse but powerful to start with anyway, as I've ordered up a Legion Medusa (hopefully a better kit than the Armageddon pattern vehicle) and the irresistible Typhon heavy siege tank for some serious line-breaking.

"Iron within, iron without!" :-)

Fantasy from Otherworld and Ral Partha

 

In preparation for my game at PrairieCon in June, I've been working on some fantasy figures. One of the murder hoboes intrepid dungeon adventurers in the game will be this wonderful fighter from Otherworld Miniatures.
 

I love that the Otherworld dungeon-crawlers are fully kitted out with gear. It gives them a kind of versimilitude that's often lacking in fantasy figures.

 

How about these guys for a throwback? Dated 1984 on the bases, these amazing Ral Partha Chaos Warriors hold their own over 30 years later, and that's how long these castings have been sitting in my box waiting to be painted. Better late than never, and they'll give the dungeoneers something to think about.

This model is one of my favourite fantasy figures of all time.

Completely bad-ass!!

His sidekick is pretty cool too. I love the full helm look.

This fighter of unknown manufacture was plucked from the obscurity of the bits box. He seems to be kind of an analog to the Otherworld fighter above - same style of helmet anyway. He'll be the fighter in the "other party" of adventurers in my game.
  

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"


This is another of my favourite RP sculpts from back in the day - the Jabberwock. Still holds up well nowadays and it'll give the dungeon adventurers something to consider.

So that's the start of the fantasy painting binge. Still have about seven more adventurers to paint but I can generally knock off one a night if I'm on it. I'll just have to make sure not to get distracted by the next Horus Heresy project...