I got this model from eBay quite a while ago. She’s from the Necromunda game, specifically the Escher all-female gang. She was labelled on the tab as “juve” which I assumed meant juvenile or young person.
I have very few female models in my army, so I felt compelled to add more.
Her original model has her holding some sort of autopistol. I decided I wanted to make her as useful and flexible as possible, so I wanted her armed so that she could be used as an Inquisitional Acolyte or a guards(wo)man. So that end, I decided to replace her autopistol with a flamer. I borrowed the flamer from a commissar model I haven’t finsihed yet, and Commissar’s can’t use flamer’s anyways, so this worked out nicely.
Escher Juve from Necromunda below, and a Commissar’s flamer arm I will graft onto her
I wanted to give her a paintjob similar to the rest of my guardsmen so she’d fit in. To that end, she has a black shirt (flakk jacket?), administratum grey pants, and her knee-high boots are black.
Model with flamer almost finished
Female Guardsman or Inquisition Acolyte with flamer
Female Guardsman or Inquisition Acolyte with flamer (back)
She’s also really tiny. Most guardsmen look similar in size to Space Marines, but they totally dwarf her.
Considering that guardsmen (and guardswomen) and Inquisitorial Acolytes have a ballistic skill of only 3, the auto-hit nature of template weapons is very appealing.
I’ll probably make sure to include her in my army for the upcoming tournament.
I was musing in a recent post about my massive backlog of models to paint. I was a little unfocused and unmotivated considering I had SO many models for potentially 3 different armies. Well, signing up for a tournament will certainly focus somebody really quickly!
Banner for the Lords of War 40k “Classic” Tournament
I keep abreast of recent Warhammer 40k news mostly through Facebook groups. Someone was nice enough to share this event on Facebook about an event close to home! I’m excited that I’ll be joining this Lords Of War Tournament, the 40k Classic on August 20.
I haven’t played much 7th edition Warhammer 40k at all, so I’m a little intimidated by the gaming scene in general. I like that the rules for this tournament are “classic” style, with limitations to one Codex only, no formations, no special rules, and troops scoring only. There is much less chance of funny shenanigans and loads of ridiculous stacking special rules.
I’ll be participating in the 1500 points, singles, single codex event on Saturday. It looks like I’ll have four six-turn games.
Because it’s single codex, no special characters, and only troop scoring, running an InqusitionArmy is regrettably out of the question. So, all my Inquisition painting goes on the backburner for now.
I would have liked to field mySpaceMarines, but I have a lot left to paint. Regrettably, I don’t have the latest Codex, I’m working off of 6th edition, so that would be an additional cost too. And the rules against formations and detachments make them seem less appealing.
Which leaves me with my good old Imperial GuardAstraMilitarum! And I’m quite okay with that. I have more than enough points to field 1500 points. Perhapstoomanypoints. That points limit gets hit pretty quickly. And I don’t have much experience playing so I’m not sure what are the most effective points investments. I’d love to run all tanks, but I need to conserve points for troops for scoring units. I’m tempted to try to build a lot of infantry models before the tournament to flood the field.
There are some absolutes I really want to field, like my recently finished Vendetta gunship, and all four of mydedicatedtransports. And a recently-built Wyvern. And certainly a company command squad with my Regimental advisers.
I have about two months to get my army ready. Onwards!
My Astra Militarum on display, preparing for deployment
I made a New Year’s Resolution at the beginning of 2015 not to buy any more more Warhammer models until I cleared out my backlog. I obviously didn’t follow that. But, with my cash flow now considerably constrained, and the piles and piles of unfinished models I have, I think I’ll finally stick to this resolution.
And I do have A LOT of models left to do:
I was quite happy to snag a lot of Adeptus Arbites models off of eBay. Regrettably, and embarrassingly, I’ve only painted one! I’m still musing about converting them to holding storm bolters, or even lasguns or shotguns so they can be fielded as Astra Militarum Veterans with the Grenadiers doctrine. But, I think they will look sharp all painted and together.
18 Adeptus Arbites models; 17 to be completed
And I have a Rhino hull I plan which I plan to put a Chimera roof on and make it into a Repressor for the above Arbites models. I can essentially use the Inquisition Chimera rules and have a Heavy Bolter and pintle-mounted heavy flamer!
Rhino hull with Chimera Roof I plan to model as a Repressor
I have a rather miscellaneous pile of Inquisition models to finish:
Female Inquisitor
Four (4) Death Cult Assassins
Crusader
Munitorum Priest
Sisters of Battle Hospotalier (who I’ll probably convert to another Death Cult Assassin)
Escher Juve (from Necromunda)
Escher with two guns (who I’ll probably make into an Astra Militarum Sergeant)
Assorted Inquisition Models
I’m actually quite looking foward to finishing the Death Cult Assassins. They’ll be a nice Close-Combat counterpart to my rather “shooty” Astra Militarum army. And the Crusader (along with my previous two Crusaders) should be able to tank some wounds for them.
And the female Inquisitor model is really badass. The Hellgun is not that impressive (Heavy 1, S6, AP3), but I could replace it with a plasma pistol, or storm bolter, or something really exotic like a conversion beamer!
I also have 19 Chaos Cultists that would have been part of a Dark Vengeance Box Set. There were 20 but one became a techpriest. I’m not sure if I’ll make them as Astra Militarum conscripts or just a mass of Inquisition acolyte bodies.
19 Chaos Cultists, mostly still on sprue
As for Astra Militarum Models: I have A LOT
Enough legs to make 51 guardsmen models!
Includes 6 heavy weapon bases and parts for a variety of special and heavy weapons
The “to do” pile. Rather large and regrettably daunting
Commissar Yarrick model new in blister with book about Yarrick
I also have a new in blister Commissar Yarrick model! That character deserves a good, careful paint job.
Much of my Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) army is mechanized, and that’s the way I like it. But keeping with the theme and fluff, having such a vehicle-heavy army, they would need quite a crew to maintain it. In come the Techpriest Engiseers! I mused openly about my lone techpriest in this post, but I thought it was time he had some support.
I considered buying the new Techpriest model, but I wasn’t too excited about it. I wanted something unique.
So, I got this model from eBay of a Dwarf Runesmith. It’s for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, but the eyepiece makes him look rather steampunk already.
eBay image of Dwarf Runesmith I purchased
Dwarves in general are an interesting topic in Warhammer 40k. The Eldar are obvious proxies for fantasy elves (and by extension Dark Elves –> Dark Eldar). In earlier editions of Warhammer 40k there were references to Squats, the future equivalent of fantasy dwarves. But they weren’t well-received and aren’t supported in current literature. But, they technically do exist in the universe, and it would make sense that a Squat could go to Mars and become a vested tech-priest!
The image below shows a mechanized White Dwarf which I used as my inspiration.
Converting this model was part of the fun. I took a few servo-arms off of a Master of The Forge techmarine model I had, and another servo-arm off of a servitor I converted to hold a plasma cannon. I used all of those bits and a Vox-Caster backpack (and A LOT of super glue) to create a servo arm.
Next, I stole a power-axe from a techpriest to replace the dwarf’s axe.
Finally, there was a wrench hanging out of a backpack of a Chaos cultists in the Dark Vengeance set. So I carefully modelled that so it looks like he’s holding the wrench in a zealous mechanic kind of way.
Partially converted Dwarf Techpriest
In the end, with the white beard and red robes, he actually wound up looking a lot like Santa Claus.
Nearly final product Squat Techpriest Engiseer!
Squat Techpriest Engiseer
Dwarf Techpriest Engiseer (back)
But, he isn’t alone. I converted a Chaos Cultist from the Dark Vengeance set to another techpriest.
The process was very similar: I used a vox-caster for the backpack, the searchlight is off of a vehicle kit, and the servo-arm is a combination of a lot of bits.
Chaos Cultists converted to Techpriest Engiseer
Chaos Cultists converted to Techpriest Engiseer (side)
Chaos Cultists converted to Techpriest Engiseer (other side)
He actually bears a striking resemblance to the Games Workshop Techpriest.
Chaos Cultists converted to techpriest (left), and stock Techpriest from Games Workshop (right)
And, to round out their team, I finally finished the servitors.
Servitors
Servitors (back)
Now, with a few servitors, they’re one big family:
Techpriests and servitors
Techpriests and servitors with the tanks they support
I expect to use this unit quite happily in games. But, they also look really cool together just for display. The red really stands out against the grey of my army.
It’s been a long, LONG time since my last post which was WAY back in June of 2015. I guess I got busy after that and hobby took a backseat.
I had a lot of projects on the go; my biggest was to finish an Astra Militarum Valkyrie. I’m also mostly done an Inquisitor Karamzov model. But the finishing touches on each could take a LONG time, and that was a little discouraging. Although I love vehicles and big models, they take a lot of time and if I get an hour here or there I don’t feel like I got a lot done in each little sitting.
Work in progress Valkyrie
I also have A LOT of unpainted models: Dozens of Astra Militarum infantry, 10 Space Marines, 5 Space Marine Scouts, 3 Space Marine Bikes, another Dreadnought, about 20 cultists/inquisition acolytes/conscripts, 2 crusaders, a Land Raider, another rhino, 13 arbites, Commissar Yarrick, and a handful of other characters. I’ve also started 5 terminators, a techmarine, another Commissar, and death cult assassins. It’s a long list. Perhaps it’s so long that it seems insurmountable and it may simply be easier to give up.
The “to do” pile. Rather large and regrettably daunting
Towards the end of 2015 I hadn’t touched my models in a long time, and the unpainted masses were getting further and further buried. I even considered selling them all for a few extra bucks.
And then for whatever reason, this week I’ve felt a compelling to get back into Warhammer. Pimpcron published a timely post regarding Murdering the Hobby Slump like I was in.
So, with time on my hands last Friday night, I took the advice from that post, sat down and worked on a single model. And I finished it happily.
My painted version of Cyril the Bear, the Royal Mascot of the Dwarf King’s Court
This was a model I found on eBay about 8 months ago of a Cyril the Bear, the Royal Mascot of the Dwarf King’s Court. It is a Citadel miniatures model, but from 1982. I just kinda wanted a bear to add to an Inquisitor’s party. I thought it would be suitable as an equivalent to “Arco-Flagellant”
WS
BS
S
T
W
I
A
Ld
Sv
Bear as Arco-Flagellant
5
1
5
3
1
3
4
8
–
I think this profile sits suitably because it represents a strong, dangerous animal that can hit hard in close combat for 15 points.
So, I enjoyed that hour and I think I’d like to do some more. Maybe keep carving out some evening time or weekend afternoons for personal hobby time. The dangerous question is what next?
I’m even tempted to buy some more models if I see a good deal on eBay. Okay, I probably shouldn’t, the to do list is still REALLY large. But a Stormraven, anotherVindicator, Predator, or two more Leman Ruses would be really nice.
Much like my recently published post about the Ironclad Dreadnought, I saw this Rhino on eBay and decided to buy it and repaint it.
The Space Marine Rhino is the most ubiquitous of the METAL BAWKSES. The steel workhorse of dedicated transports, the iconic Rhino is a competitive stalwart of Space Marine Armies. At a measly 35 points, it’s also an incredibly cheap transport with a capacity of 10 models and a storm bolter! Two models can also fire out the top hatch giving it some additional punch and overwatch potential.
Rhino model as it arrived from eBay
This particular tank model looked pretty rough when I received it. I got a pretty good price for it so I knew I was getting what I paid for. It had a rough blue colour and some thatch which I imagine was supposed to represent some sort of camoflage. I tried scraping it off as best I could and then primed it white.
Rhino primed white
Like the dreadnought, it was really tricky getting a nice even yellow colour across the whole tank. I started with Averland Sunset then topped it with Yriel Yellow.
I had an older-style Imperial Guard pintle storm bolter which I mounted where there used to be some sort of missile launcher.
I wanted to add my own flair to the tank, I wanted to add optional hunter-killer missiles. I see that the new style is the small pods that look like infantry missile-launchers, but I like the old style that look like a huge box.
And I used some really powerful magnets to make them optional. One was mounted on each side of the hull. I had to carve out a lot of space for the magnet.
Concealing some strong magnets within the hull of the rhino.
I was able to successfully hide the magnets with a lot of liquid green stuff and then several layers of paint. You can hardly tell that they’re there. But, the magnets on the missile launcher are definitely going to stick, and swivel as necessary.
Imperial Fists Space Marine Rhino
I felt that the dozer blade was totally necessary. I expect the rhino to drive up the field flat out 18″, so passing those dangerous terrain tests is a must. As a last resort, it can also ram some tanks in the back. And, finally, it kind of maintains the “construction” look I was going for with all of my Imperial Fists.
Imperial Fists Space Marine Rhino (rear view)Imperial Fists Space Marine Rhino with two Hunter-Killer Missiles
Imperial Fists Space Marines with Rhino in back right
Can you see the “construction” theme?
I have the parts to make another Rhino. I was thinking of making it an Inquisition Rhino, but I hear that Rhinos can be taken as Fast Attack units in the next Space Marine Codex. If that’s the case, I can put a squad of Astra Militarum veterans in one and treat it as a cheaper troops unit… hmmm… decisions decisions.
Bullgryns are an interesting new addition to the Astra Militarum Codex. They are effectively abhuman Ogryns that have have traded some offensive bite for serious defensive gain.
However, I didn’t really like the look of the new Bullgryn/Ogryn models. And I’m partial to pewter models too. So, I cobbled together bits from a number of purchases to create my own custom Bullgryns. In the end, they probably cost more than buying 3 new ones in a kit, but they’re uniquely mine.
Bullgryn Slab Shields from eBayOld Ogryn models from eBay
I got 3 Ogryn models through various eBay purchases. They weren’t quite complete. I had to order bases seperately. One was missing a head, but an Ork head made a surprisingly appropriate replacement.
Various pieces of Ogryns and Bullgryn bits ready to be assembled
I also had to purchase the slabshields and grenade gauntlets separately on eBay as bits. Two of the Ogryns were missing their left hands that would have held their ripper guns, so I substituted ork hands.
The model that would be the Bone ‘ead was the most difficult to modify. His left arm was way up in the air and not appropriate for holding the shield. I had to break his pewter arm and had a hard time getting it re-attached in an appropriate position.
Astra Militarum Bullgryns
I’m quite happy with the final result. They look imposing, ugly, and very tough. They don’t look like they’re wearing carapace armour, but I can say all the chains they’re wearing help to protect them.
Bullgryns taking cover behind their slabshields
Tactically speaking, I think they will be a very interesting addition to my army. When two or more of them are in base contact with each other, they improve the cover save of all models behind them by +1. Any models behind them will already receive a 5+ cover save because they are obscured. This would even apply to tanks behind them! With the +1, all models behind them could receive a 4+ cover save. If the models behind them have camo cloaks or stealth in some other way they have a 3+ cover save!!
They’re a pretty tough unit in general too. With 3 wounds each and T5, they will be hard to disgorge, especially with the 3+ armour save they get from linking slabshields. The leadership 6 (7 with the Bone ‘ead) is a little worrying though. They’ll need something to keep them from running away. I’ll probably stick a ministorum priest with them to keep them from running away. And, in a codex sorely lacking CC options, the one-two punch of Bullgryns with a priest may help with this unit tango at close range.
At 145 points for 3 models, they certainly aren’t cheap! I’m curious to see how they’ll play on the tabletop, but they do look cool in my display case!
Better view of my Astra Millitarum Bullgryns. From left to right “Otis, Deathlok, and Enzo.”
First post in a while, but I hope there are many more to come.
eBay picture of three Adeptus Arbites models with boltguns I woneBay picture of two Adeptus Arbites models I won. One has a bolter and the other has a grenade launchereBay picture of four Adeptus Arbites models with boltguns I won
I recently won a couple of eBay auctions and I’m looking forward to receiving 9 Adeptus Arbites models soon. I’ve been eyeing these models since I played 2nd Edition of 40k. They’ve been “out of print” for a LONG time so I’m happy to pick up several because I really like how they look.
I was thinking of fielding them as Inquisition Acolytes with Carapace Armour, but I recently started thinking of fielding them as Astra Militarum veterans with the “Grenadier Doctrine” which equips them all with carapce armour. I could still attach an Inquisitor as an Independent Character to either. Here’s how they compare.
Inquisitional Acolytes
Astra Militarum Veterans
Unit Type
Elites
Troops
WS
3
3
BS
3
4
Leadership
8
7 (8 with sergeant)
Points for 10 models
80 points
75 points
The biggest difference is how they play in the rules: As Inquisitional Acolytes, they are elites rather than troops, so they lose the “objective secured” special rule. And Inquisition Acolytes can’t take Orders. But, the Inquisition has access to nicer toys like Boltguns for all, and Storm Shields.
Their transports are a little different too. An advantage to the Inquisition Chimera is that it’s 10 points cheaper, and can have 5 units fire its fire point instead of the AM which only has two. The AM has the lasgun arrays, but they aren’t very special.
Inquisition Chimera
Astra Militarum Chimera
Base Cost
55
65
Searchight
1
0 (included)
Dozer Blade
5
5
The Inquisition Chimera could also have Psybolt ammo for 5 points more, which could make it very dangerous with two heavy bolters firing three S6 AP4 shots each!
I suppose I have to choose first though. Inquisition doesn’t have access to grenade launchers for some reason, so I’ll have to modify that model. And If they have bolters they have to be Inquisition. An Inquisition Acolyte with carapace armour and a boltgun is 9 points. A Tactical Squad Space Marine is 14! Perhaps if I run them as Inquisition I’ll probably give most of them storm bolters. Only 11 points each then!
Or, as Astra Militarum veterans, I’d have to remove their bolters and give them lasguns or shotguns.
I bought this Ogryn model for Nork Deddog as part of another wave of eBay purchases. I’m not very fond of the new, plastic model for Nork Deddog, so finding a version of the old, medal model made me pretty happy.
Original Nork Deddog model, primed white
I tried to follow a similar colour scheme to the rest of my infantry models. But I did make it a point to give him big medal shoulder pads. And I have him a beret. A soft fabric hat seemed ironically appropriate for a brutal giant assigned as a bodyguard!
Tactics:
He makes a very interesting character to add to a command squad. At 85 points he’s more expensive than a Chimera! So, obviously in a mechanized list, he’s not useful points. But, as Imperator Guides states, he can be very valuable in the right deployment.
In my previous games, my command squad was decimated in close combat, and my commander murdered in close combat challenges. This powerful, very tough, close combat-oriented character can now absorb challenges that would normally decimate my commander. And his Heroic Sacrifice special rule is rather ridiculous: If slain in close combat, he gets to make all his attacks (again if he already hasn’t) before he expires!
He also makes a very efficient meat-shield. He has look-out so he can take a wound for another character, including the regimental advisers. Having Feel No Pain almost replaces the need for a medic. And 3 wounds with T5 and 4+ armour save is nothing to sneeze about!
Nork Deddog with a Company Command Squad
He also looks interesting as part of the Command Squad. Like other Ogryns, he’s head and shoulders bigger than all humans. So, he looks like the most intimidating character in the group, even though he’s “merely” a bodyguard.
I look forward to using him in combat and taking down enemies with his “thunderous headbutt”
Anyways, I saw this particular post on Tumblr and decided it was a good resolution for myself and this site: Not to buy any new Warhammer Models until I finish painting all the ones I currently have. (Well, I may buy a bit here and there if I need it to finish the job). There are a lot of models left to paint…
Leman Russ that I will make into a Punisher Tank Commander
eBay picture of Leman Russ kit that will become my Tank Commander in a PunishereBay pic of Tank Commander in blister
Leman Russ that I will make into an Exterminator
eBay picture of Leman Russ that I will make into an exterminator
3 Ogryns as Bullgrnys with Slabshields
eBay picture of Ogryns I will convert into BullgrynseBay picture of Bullgryn Slabshields I will give to the Ogryns
5 Old 90’s Style Stormtroopers (first mentioned in this post)
Old 90’s stormtroopers
4 Servitors
Servitor with servo arm
Servitor with servo-arm
Servitor with Heavy Bolter
Servitor with Heavy Bolter
Squad of Space Marine Scouts (5 models inc Sergeant and Heavy Bolter)
