Well, I've been thinking of expanding into some of the other factions that GW does (I've been all Eldar so far), but I really don't want to get into making another complete army as I haven't finished my exodite one yet!

I also really like it when people go a little deeper into the more civilian background of 40k, and make stuff that's less about epic planet-wide battles and a little more realpolitik/realistic.

So, I had the idea of making some sort of spaceport just beyond the fringes of Imperial space. Owned and operated by a Rogue Trader, it would be a sort of 'hive of scum and villainy'/Mos Eisley-esque amalgamation of mercenaries, waifs, strays and various other minor factions all (tentatively) coexisting out of necessity.

So, I've tried to come up with some factions that I can have a go at modelling

1. Eldar Corsairs (easy kitbash of Dark Eldar, CWE and Harlequins)
2. Mining Union (GSC bodies with Skitarii Vanguard heads. I'll leave the GSC amulets in place as a hint that all might not be as it seems with this faction)
3. Tau Emissaries (Water Caste diplomat with Fire Warrior/Drone bodyguards. Would let me use some of the kickass Tau propaganda posters about on scenery)
4. Renegade Marines (not chaos, just on the run. Inspired by these: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/330/584689.page#7523617. Really, everything on this thread is a massive inspiration)
5. Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators (a Magos with some Skitarii bodyguards looking for archaeotech on the fringes of the Imperium)
6. Kroot Kindred (Kroot mercs, just cos Kroot are awesome)
7. Ork Freebootaz (Flash Gitz are pretty much tailor-made for this, with a splrinkling of lackeys and grots)
8. Imperial Pilgrims (Empire Flagellants with shotguns bringing the faith of the Emperor to this dark corner!)
9. Knight World Questing Knight-Errant and company (kitbashed Empire State Troops with Power Swords and Ad Mech Galvanic Rifles)
10. Rogue Trader (loads of options here, from crewmembers to servitors to an astropath)
11. Imperial Guard Deserters (rag-tag band of IG vets, couple of Tempestus Scions with an Ogryn)

Then I've got two ideas so far about making human societies that are outside of the Imperium:

1. A society that's last contact with the Imperium was during the Great Crusade, and still uses the STCs for Solar Auxilia equipment (mainly because Solar Auxilia models are damn cool)
2. Technobarbarians (think Chaos Mauraders with chainswords and rifles)

They're my current ideas at the moment. Any other ones?

I've got a bit of an idea for a band of Khornate mercenaries who're tolerated provided they don't murder everyone, and maybe have a go at making some Hrud models if I'm ambitious...

I'll start making some examples soon!

I like the Kroot idea and I've seen the idea done before to great affect. Kit bashing should also be relatively easy since they're probably not picky what tech they use so you could mix together some Tau and imperial pieces.

Ideas 8 and 9 would be a nice way to explore the Gothic aesthetic of 40k, you don't see enough of that outside the stories and artwork. If you could find some old models from warhammer fantasy you could definitely slap some tech on some peasants and call them 40k pilgrims.

Yeah I can probably piece together a Kroot Kindred from the bits left over from all the other conversions!

Yeah it's sort of the techno-gothic aspect that I wanted to try out with a fair few of them I've ordered some Empire bits to give it a go, and I'll see if I can pick up some heads/limbs with bionic implants and servo-skulls to gothic them up

The old witch hunters and SOB also have some good Gothic models. You can still find them on the GW website, or ebay.

 Mr Nobody wrote:
The old witch hunters and SOB also have some good Gothic models. You can still find them on the GW website, or ebay.

They do have some cool models I'll see if I can pick some up.

not sure how big your planning it but i assume you don't want to be building ships so I'm guessing the market would be a good setting.

Lizard men may be a good thing to include too

and no den of thieves would be complete without some shady character wearing robes in the shadows somewhere or at a bar that screams inquisitor without showing the symbols (not really sure how to pull it off though)

Plus why limit your self to just elder corsairs, have the corsairs haggling with dark elder over cages of animals and once again if you can manage it a badly hidden cryo-capsule with a marine in it for the pit fights

and don't forget the thing that will finish it all off SQUATS!

goundry wrote:
not sure how big your planning it but i assume you don't want to be building ships so I'm guessing the market would be a good setting.

Lizard men may be a good thing to include too

and no den of thieves would be complete without some shady character wearing robes in the shadows somewhere or at a bar that screams inquisitor without showing the symbols (not really sure how to pull it off though)

Plus why limit your self to just elder corsairs, have the corsairs haggling with dark elder over cages of animals and once again if you can manage it a badly hidden cryo-capsule with a marine in it for the pit fights. Maybe a shady-looking Solitaire as well...

and don't forget the thing that will finish it all off SQUATS!

Brilliant ideas I think a proper diorama's a bit beyond my current expertise, although I'd love to do one eventually

For now it's just little 150pt Kill-Team-esque factions

I've got a load of Saurus bodies which I need to 40k up a bit, but they would make some kickass minor xenos. I'll definitely expand into Dark Eldar as well, that's a great idea (alongside the caged animals and cryo-frozen Marine...).

Love the idea of the undercover Inquisitor. A cloaked figure with one of those wide-brimmed hats ought to be subtle enough in a 'punch you in the face with subtlety' kinda way...

Definitely going to have a couple of Squat refugees brilliant idea!

When you do the Kroot Kindred, make sure they're hiding from the gaze of the Water Caste Emissaries - the Kroot like to hide their widespread mercenary actions from the Tau Empire, after all.

You'll need a couple of Ogryn bouncers for when the rowdies get too rowdy.

And, maybe some Dark Eldar (witches) Shady Ladies.

 Unusual Suspect wrote:
When you do the Kroot Kindred, make sure they're hiding from the gaze of the Water Caste Emissaries - the Kroot like to hide their widespread mercenary actions from the Tau Empire, after all.

Good point, hadn't thought of that

What I love about the idea of this is that all the little factions have reasons to be at each others' throats (although given that they're so few in number, and mainly self-interested, they don't devolve into all-out war).

The Kroot are hiding their activities from the Tau, the Rogue Trader's got an archaeotech pistol that the Ad Mech want, the 'Mining Union' is a closet Genestealer Cult, the Imperial Pilgrims are trying to convert the unbelievers and the IG deserters/Renegade Marines are hiding from the undercover Inquisitor...

 Gobbla wrote:
You'll need a couple of Ogryn bouncers for when the rowdies get too rowdy.

And, maybe some Dark Eldar (witches) Shady Ladies.

Great idea the Rogue Trader running the place needs a security force to stop everyone murdering each other (at least openly, that'd scare off the customers).

yup the only honest ones would be the work freebooters lol

True! And you wouldn't need an excuse to have them in a firefight with someone

Thought up a little more of the backstory. The Inquisitor's actually there investigating the Mining Union/closet GS Cult, and his presence is making the Astartes and IG deserters very nervous.

I've put together a load of initial models for this, but believe it or not every single one is missing at least one bit before they're finished!

I'll post them up as soon as they're done

For some good artwork/ inspiration, look into the Rogue Trader RPG.

The port of Footfall sounds much like what you're after.

I definitely remember having an old Rogue Trader rulebook when I was younger. Lord knows where it is now, but I must see if I can dig it out...

As your theme seems to be so-and-so hiding from so-and-so, why not do a grot revolution themed warband? I can imagine a bunch of abused grots escaping from their tormentors, maybe with some Killa Kan support, and hiding in this market, planing their next move before seeing the freebootas, thinking that they've been followed and attaching them, all while screaming "long live the revolution!" while the Orks stare aroubd wondering what's happening, maybe somewhere along the lines of: "We'z just come for a drink. What's happen'n?"

Haha! That's perfect I've always liked the idea of the Grot Revolution. I'll definitely add them in

I'm more interested about how you intend to model the spaceport itself!

Anyway it's a great idea, it'd be an awesome setting for skirmish battles. Post some pictures once you start working on it

Bluebeard wrote:
I'm more interested about how you intend to model the spaceport itself!

Anyway it's a great idea, it'd be an awesome setting for skirmish battles. Post some pictures once you start working on it

Thanks man I've been thinking that too! Any ideas that don't involve me dropping £300 on Zone Mortalis terrain are welcome!

Saying that, they are pretty much perfect a good, labyrinthine zone mortalis board, littered with market stalls selling esoteric machinery and cloth shades obscuring your characters' vision down the alley.

Lots of ideas, not enough time (or moula!).

I have had a crack at the first few denizens though first off, my renegade astartes:



Also, after having made them I think I've come up with a better idea. I should scrap the two on either flank, and make them into a band of 3 Fallen. I've always liked Dark Angels so that should be fun

I must admit, going from only every really making eldar to marines is a little strange! Everything's so bulky. Marines are huge. However, they're nothing compared to the next lot...



The first two of three Freebootaz! Love these models. So full of character just waiting on a Power Klaw from somewhere to complete the Kaptain. Might have a play around with the poses slightly to make them seem a little more 'at ease'. Same with the Marines.

Then, there's my favourite so far:



Ad Mech Explorator looks the part as a low-grade swashbuckling techpriest. Love the new Ad Mech models in general so I was definitely looking for an excuse to get some I'll be adding two more Vanguard and a Sicarian to his retinue soon

I really hate you right now!

my 30k ultramarine have stopped again while i try figure out how to make an ork arm-wrestling an ogryn

Now that would be a kickass diorama! Grots on the side taking bets

For the Ork, you have to include the brilliant cigar-holding arm from the Freebootaz kit

Sadly they were out of stock when I got these bits :(

Well, the last order of bits has finally helped me piece together a good few of my spaceport denizens

First off, the Rogue Trader that runs the place (pending a name), and his retinue of MT guards. Although his rejuve treatments aren't working as well as they used to, his mind is as sharp as ever...



Next steps for these guys is an Ogryn bodyguard, and probably re-posing his head so he's not staring straight at the ground :S

Then we've got my augmented human Mercenary. Some say he's a surviving Thunder Warrior, some say he's an Alpha Legion operative, some say he's a technobarbarian worshipper of Khorne. All of these things could be true, or none of them. All you know is that for the right price he'll make anyone disappear...


I like to think that he lost his arm when his previous Plasma Pistol exploded. Didn't end well for the man he bought it from...

Next up is my two Imperial Pilgrims, on the pilgrim path to the holy ruined temple of Vandhol, where it's said the Emperor knelt to pray during the Great Crusade. Eventually there'll be a bunch of these guys (counts-as Conscripts...I hardly think they'd be military trained).


Armed with shotguns...because this is the Imperium after all

Accompanying them on their erstwhile journey is two mercenaries from a Knight World, an Archaeotech Rifleman and a Man-at-Arms. Through the close ties with the Knight Worlds and the Mechanicus, much of their equipment bears similarities.



I'll probably expand this warband to include a Questing Knight Errant (before being inducted into the Knightly Houses, sons and daughters of the nobility must undertake a quest in the deep reaches of space. Escorting this band of pilgrims on their journey is the charge of this Knight Errant).

Speaking of Ad Mech, my Explorator's warband has expanded with a few more Skitarii eventually he'll get a Sicarian Infiltrator/Ruststalker, and maybe an Arc Rifle Skitarus as well.



What Rogue Trader outpost is complete without a Squat survivor?

Meet George and Lenny (if anyone gets the reference I'll be pleased!).


Lenny the Servitor is immensely strong, but a little slow after his lobotomisation. However, he compliments George's sharp wits nicely.

Speaking of Servitors, I made this little dude but not sure who he's going to tag along with yet...


Don't you think putting those purity seals next to the plasma vent is a bad idea?

Last of the human warbands we've got my Mining Guild, operating one of their asteroid mining operations from the Rogue Trader's spaceport.


Miner: Well, you see, some of us lads have wound up being stooped over from so much time in the mines...
Commissar: Doesn't that guy at the back have three arms?
Miner: Oh that's Mutie Joe. We take in some of the mutants around here and give 'em jobs crushing rocks. Keeps 'em off the streets you know.
*Commissar makes mental note to contact the nearest Deathwatch fortress for information on Genestealers Cults...

That's the last of the human denizens...so onto the xenos!

These Tau bodyguards will eventually be guarding a Water Caste emissary on their mission to open diplomatic relations with the Rogue Trader outpost. There's two Breachers, two Riflemen and a Pathfinder tracker. I'll probably include a drone or two, a Shas'ui, and Earth Caste technician and maybe a stealth suit. Oh, and lots of Tau propaganda posters



An Exodite tracker. He'll be getting a more animalistic companion, as well as some Corsair/Dark Eldar/Outcast buddies.



My first two finished Freebootaz (names pending again). Working on re-posing Nom Chopski with his Big Choppa from earlier in the thread. Really need to find somewhere that's got the cigar-toting arm in stock...



Last but not least...Ratfink the minor xeno! Come to him for all your mechanical repairs...especially if you've tired of the extortionate rates the Mechanicus charges.



I've got a couple more that are still WIP:

Kroot Tyranid Hunter (with a poisoned blade made from splicing together Tyranid bits...clever Kroot)


A Skadiir Hunter from The Convertorum: http://convertorum.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/the-hunter.html



And a true-scale Fallen Dark Angel


Although he believes he's still a loyal servant of the Emperor, he often heeds the whispers of his diminutive daemonic companion. Whether it's working for the good or ill of the Imperium is not currently clear.

I've got another couple of ideas for warbands too. Eldar Corsairs, Outcasts and Dark Eldar/Haemonculus slave traders are all on the cards. I also want to make a couple of human civilisations from beyond the reaches of the Imperium (technobarbarians using Marauder stuff, and some that still use/manufacture Solar Auxilia armour and weaponry). Oh, and Lizardmen...in spaaace!

I also want to work in some more Chaotic cultures too. There's no reason low-powered warbands wouldn't hide away in this den of iniquity. I've got ideas for a Khornate warband who are passing through, and I've fallen in love with the new Tzaangor models (Rogue Trader Guard: Summon one more daemon and I'll blow you out the airlock!).

Not to forget the Grot Revolutionaries

Absolutely bashing stuff as usual from you Ynead!

I quite like George and Lenny, and appreciate the Of Mice and Men reference

The Archeotech rifleman and the knight are also quite amazing!

I love this thread of weird and wonderful. Subbed

 gummyofallbears wrote:
Absolutely bashing stuff as usual from you Ynead!

I quite like George and Lenny, and appreciate the Of Mice and Men reference

The Archeotech rifleman and the knight are also quite amazing!

Thanks man! Glad you like them bonus points for getting the reference too

 AUGmaniac wrote:
I love this thread of weird and wonderful. Subbed

Glad you like them!

If anyone's got any ideas for some more denizens I'd love to hear them

Really loving the human warbands, thoroughly fleshed out and covered with bits that tell a story. A story full of grimdark and comedy; proper 40k.

Not really excited by the space marines, although the true scale one looks pretty intimidating.

 Mr Nobody wrote:
Really loving the human warbands, thoroughly fleshed out and covered with bits that tell a story. A story full of grimdark and comedy; proper 40k.

Not really excited by the space marines, although the true scale one looks pretty intimidating.

Thanks man yeah I was trying to capture a bit of the comedy that Rogue Trader did so well. Glad it comes across!

I'm also not as keen on the Marines side of things when it comes to R/T, although I feel like every converter has to make at least one Truescale Marine at some point in their career

Some really creative converting going on in here. Excellent work.

EDC

The pilgrims look great and servitor Lenny is a real nice bit of work. The mining guild figures are a nice looking bunch. Will watch this thread keenly. Working along similar space port ideas myself so really enjoying this.

Thanks guys!

I'd love to see what you come up with once you get some models together don't want to pinch any ideas before you're got them down yourself

Have a few port security figures built using the imperial guard plumed helm, but concentrating on vehicles at the mo. Looking at using Victoria miniature heads with respirators on the genestealer cult figures.

Yeah that'd look kickass if you've got any pics I'd love to see them

The GS Cults units have really helped with modelling the more civilian side of things in 40k. Really useful kits

some great kit bashes in here, really like the Kroot and the other xenos model. Keep it up!

That Steinbeck reference...I see IT!

Good man!

Also, Nathanie1 I must have missed your comment :S thanks dude! I haven't forgotten about these, just run out of money for bits at the moment :S

Latest ideas that I need to collect bits for is a Zoat and a Cythor Fiend roll on payday

Stumbled upon a little envelope of bits I'd completely forgotten I'd ordered which had the last few bits for my Knight Errant because if there's one thing I need it's another member of the Primered Legion...




The fluff is that the sons of nobles on Knight Worlds must embark on a quest out in the galaxy somewhere to be inducted fully into a Knight House (they can't all have giant death-robots can they?).

This chap's decided to guide some loyal servants of the Imperial Faith on their pilgrimage through this dangerous corner of the galaxy, assisted by his loyal retainers:

Absolutely bashing.

A very clever use of bits!

Thanks dude really pleased with how this guy turned out

I'm really enjoying making the knight-world stuff. So much potential in mixing medieval bits with mechanicus stuff

From Rogue Trader: Space Mercenaries:-



With some mild trimming (around the ears and suchlike) , the Warmachine Ogrun Assault Corps would make grand Ogryn mercs.



On the Xenos sides, it wouldn't be complete without some Tarellian Dog Soldiers

Tarellians, more commonly known in the Imperium of Man as Tarellian Dog-Soldiers because of their snouts and their preference for working as mercenaries for other alien races, are a minor reptilian species of xenos found throughout the galaxy, but are of little consequence to its affairs. They most often are encountered as mercenaries for the Tau Empire, particularly when Tau forces face the Imperium because of the Tarellians' ancient grudge against Mankind as a species.

CP miniatures does a model with two heads that might work for them? Dirt cheap too at £2.25 each.


Loxatl would also be a good choice.

Loxatl a race of sinuous, non-humanoid quadrupeds evolved from amphibian forms. They are commonly found as mercenaries in service of Blood Pact armies in the Sabbat Worlds region, but they have been seen as far the Maelstrom, Jericho Reach[1] and in the Eye of Terror.[9]

Dark Eldar Sslyth work as mercs generally.

True Dark Eldar make rather dubious bodyguards due to their treacherous nature. Instead, Archons employ the more reliable alien mercenaries that inhabit Commorragh to protect them from the inevitable coup. Though these bodyguards hail from all across the galaxy, favoured amongst them are the Sslyth, hulking serpent-bodied warrior-fiends whose race fell to the temptations of unbridled excess millennia ago. Having two sets of arms, Sslyth mercenaries sport enough guns and jag-sharp blades to easily make a mess of any assassin or would-be usurper.

There's also the mysterious Xenos Bounty Hunter, Krashrak the Stalker, who actually got a model in Inquisitor.




CP does a bunch of other decent looking ones that could stand in for various races.




http://www.cpmodelsminiatures.co.uk/28mm%20Alien%20Federation.htm

Marvellous. Now get painting!!!!

Very cool. Out of interest where did the shotguns that the flagellants have come from?

EDC

Thanks guys! Haha i do need to get painting, but there's an exodite army that still needs finishing. Not far now though!

EDC the shotguns are from the GS Cults Neophyte Hybrids. Really nice sprue for doing misc Imperial citizens

I've set myself the fairly arbitrary restriction of only using GW models for this, although i do like the look of some of those 3rd part ones that creepy elongated crane thing is really cool (and would make an excellent basis for an Air Caste Tau). That squad of 5 dudes below are really cool too

Love the idea of Tarellians. I've tried a couple of them before, but they've turned out a bit too 'lizardmen...in spaaace' for my liking. Looking at those pics, i wonder if the trick would be to dremel off the head crest. Shall give it a go!

I've wanted to do some Sslyth for ages, but not happy with the monopose Finecastness of them and can't think of a suitable head/tail for them. Any ideas?

Same story with Loxatl. Want to do one but can't think of how :S

Love that misc xenos merc from inquisitor shall see what i can come up with

 Ynneadwraith wrote:


Same story with Loxatl. Want to do one but can't think of how :S

These guys with a bit of green stuff to make the belts/tubes and posed on rocks so you can show off the guns?

Love this stuff - especially the rogue trader and the Knight faction. CP models are nice - I just picked up a couple and the quality was great.

Thanks man yeah the Knight World guys are some of my favourites

It's actually them that're providing a dilemma for painting. I can't work out whether I want to expand them into a small army after I've finished my exodites (in which case I'd base them on sandy terrain), or keep them as a small-scale warband in which case I'd have a go at a more grimdark INQ28 style scheme (on a space/urban base).

Finally got some of the bits to finish off a couple of little dudes I've been working on

First off the xenos, my Skadiir Hunter...




...and a Tarellian mercenary





Next the mutants I bought this guy's head on a whim ages ago, and instantly thought of the whole 'beastmen of 40k being desperate to prove their worth to the Emperor' angle that 40k has. Of all the Spaceport denizens, this dude spends the most time making sure his armour and weaponry is both gleaming and beautiful. Anything to raise his status higher than his abhuman nature would otherwise permit.



Does that make him ever-so-slightly Slaaneshi...as an Inquisitor I'd be suspicious

It's also a little nod to this old-school Beastman model with its gleaming breastplate:

Very cool.

Very cool. I really like Tarellian mercenary.

EDC

Thanks guys yeah the Tarellian's my favourite of the latest dudes I've got an idea for another one using a bionic leg from the Ad Mech Sicarian kit, but that's on the way in the post

I could play spot-the-bit on your blog for hours, but I'love ask instead. Are the spines on them mercs necron bits or what?

Some very cool stuff here, I love the beast man of 40k.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
I could play spot-the-bit on your blog for hours, but I'love ask instead. Are the spines on them mercs necron bits or what?

One of my favourite games too yeah they're spines left over from the Necron Lychguard kit. You get two different types of torsos, so you've got 5 spines left over even if you make the Lychguard themselves not often I buy a whole kit rather than just the bits, but this one seemed worth it

 gummyofallbears wrote:
Some very cool stuff here, I love the beast man of 40k.

Thanks man I really should get them painted at some point! Unfortunately I missed the 'Rogues' painting competition last month which would have been the ideal nudge to get started...

This entire thread is nothing short of amazing; reminds me of the reasons I got into 40k in the first place back in RT days. Awesome storyline and amazing conversions, keep it coming!

Haha thanks dude yeah I thought I'd try my hand a little of the more 'tongue-in-cheek grimdark' that 40k has, alongside having a blast making up some more custom characters than your usual squad-based 40k allows for

Glad you like them!

Great looking round of models. The beastman really has a ton of personality.

Thanks man yeah I thought the beastman's head looked haughty and refined so I thought I'd roll with that!

I suppose for mayhem you can have the genestealer cult, a chaos cult (or two, if you want) and some Tau sympathisers (blue facepaint, shaved heads and yopknots) , all fighting to overthrow the governor, but also fighting agaiunst each other. Add in some fanatics from the Ecclesiarchy also trying to overthrow the governor for being insufficiently zealous (and perhaps paranoid about being infiltrated by cultists).

Or mix and match the forces; how about an Ork freebooter Kaptin with human advisors? Eldar pirates with a Zoat bodyguard? (use appropriate Tyranid stats, but give him a shuriken cannon instead of a deathspitter or whatnot).

All looking for the downed airmen or the painting of the Fallen Celestine with the Big ****ies.

Haha brilliant! I absolutely love the idea of Tau sympathisers with blue facepaint and lasguns hastily painted orange/tan has some fun parallels with Western Manga enthusiasts and suchlike

I've actually got an idea for how to make a Zoat survivor using a Fantasy Dragon Ogre and various Tyranid weapon symbiotes (which I'm imagining are like the Zoat equivalent to bionic implants)

If you find this painting of Celestine, let me know where it is

I have an army of SM tau sympathizers, there backstory involved them being destroyed by Ibquisitors although they are "loyal", and their Rene ants are scattered across the Imperium and Tau space (mostly so I didn't have to play them anymore). You can check out my thread HERE (the first part isn't relevant, I scrapped that.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/661854.page

These are amazing! Well done! I love the story telling the you've built into each of these warbands.

Managed to miss these comments somehow, but thanks guys!

Had some bits and pieces turn up today (couple of days after my customary payday splurge!). Ended up modifying my WIP Truescale Fallen Angel so much that he's barely recognisible from his previous version



Definitely like this version though! He's a big fella too. Proper Marine sized...



Also, got my bits to finish my first Tzaangor (love anything that means more xenos!).


Arbiter: Will you please stop that infernal squawking, and put that bloody great cleaver down too! And you (points at a furious trader), drop the bolt pistol please. Who do you think you are, Captain Lysander?

(Turns back to Tzaangor) Look, there are places in the Imperium where you'd be shot dead on sight, but by the grace of my employer as long as you're not summoning some ungodly gribbly tentacle monster I'm forced to let you live in relative harmony.

And you (points to trader again), you should know better than expect a fair deal from a Tzaangor. Tricksy slippery buggers to a man. Always check the currency twice before handing over the goods. Honestly, sometimes I don't know how people like you survive in this universe...

Fantastic thread, subscribed.

You might want to check out Lead Adventure and Colony 87, they both did some fantastic Grim Dark civilians in the last year.

Kestral's civilians thread is also fantastic.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/666434.page

Thanks dude! I'm glad you like them

Yeah it's threads like Kestral's that got me into the idea of exploring the civilian side of 40k more of course, this being 40k, most civilians I'd imagine are still armed to at least militia-standard for today's world, but civilian nonetheless

I'll check out those two companies, thanks

Latest bit of conversion work

Some people say he got the Dark Eldar to surgically modify his eyes so he can see in the dark. Some say he now owns a Kabal because he kept what he killed...



Also made some little grimdark plastic Tallarn/desert IG dudes my thinking is that when IG regiments finally conquer somewhere and get their right of settlement, there's no real guarantee the place they settle is going to be a half-decent place to live. After all, they have probably not long blasted it to smithereens in battle. So, I'm guessing that some will take their gear and their military experience and go become mercenaries



Lastly, got the bits to make a dude that I've been waiting to make for ages a Longshanks!


We call him...Captain Longshanks. Because, he's our captain...and...he's a Longshanks...
Alright, leave it out. Us naval armsmen didn't exactly go to the Schola Progenium or nuffin...

He's skinnier, and a fair bit taller than standard humans, although I must admit I'm not sold on the choice of head...



Also took a couple of pics of the truescale Fallen Angel to demonstrate how much bulkier a Marine is to scale.



And a family photo of all the various mostly-human dudes I've got so far jsut missing an Ogryn and a Ratling really


From left to right: Squat, Human, Longshanks, Genetically enhanced technobarbarian, Astartes

You're in the zone. Just cranking out great stuff. Riddick and the Fallen stand out in particular.

Don't forget the grot revolutionaries!

Really nice conversions. You're setting quite a pace.

Hm... I think the squat might actually work better without the topknot... otherwise he just seems a bit... tall?

Some really nice conversions though.

Thanks guys!

Yeah the pace is usually sporadic I'll get a bit of inspiration and make loads in one go, and then go ages without thinking of anything new :S

I suppose I should use that time to paint something... :S

Haven't forgotten the Grot revolutionaries thought that's jsut popped into my head is that I should give them berets like Che Guevara

I know its kinda late to suggest ideas, but why not build a squad of Wulfen that have been thrown out of the warp, some Space Doggos searching for them and an Inquisitor searching for the Puppers too, but for different reasons. Imagine his face when he finds not only Wulfen, but GSC, chaos spawn and other "heretics" all in the same place!

Kickass idea! I've been wanting to do some Iron Sleet style bloody scary looking Wulfen for a while


https://ironsleet.com/category/vlka-fenryka/

While the official models are neat, I do take umbrage over some of the posing. And also the fact that they've got shaped armour to their new mutated forms. They've been lost in the warp and/or are horribly mutated from their original Astartes forms? When did they find the time to make Wulfen-shaped armour?

 Ynneadwraith wrote:

He's skinnier, and a fair bit taller than standard humans, although I must admit I'm not sold on the choice of head...

Oh, come on! He looks like he can banish demons with that soup-strainer.

I love that fallen! It looks incredible, and infinitely better than the awful fallen models GW is putting out now (on the website they are literally just fething Dark Angel vetrans photoshopped black for feths sake)

I like the tzaangor too! Is the giant sword basic in its kit?

Those wufen are kickass too.

I can't wait for you to make an inquisitor!

 AndrewGPaul wrote:

 Ynneadwraith wrote:

He's skinnier, and a fair bit taller than standard humans, although I must admit I'm not sold on the choice of head...

Oh, come on! He looks like he can banish demons with that soup-strainer.

Haha! Maybe I'm coming round to it

I'm half imagining him as a cross between General Melchitt from Blackadder (in voice) and K-2SO from Rogue One in terms of just hitting people on the head when they step out of line.

Thanks Gummi yeah I'm really pleased with the Fallen guy. I like the idea that a 'fallen angel' has mutated daemonic bat wings. I also like the idea that his motivations are still shady, as in could be working for or against the Imperium, but he's got these big mutated wings so he'll be persecuted even more even if he is on the Imperium's side...

The Wulfen are absolutely awesome by a chap over on Iron Sleet. I'd definitely go and have a read of the fluff he's written for them if you haven't already. They're literally the best thing I have ever seen done with Space Wolves. He just does them absolutely pitch-perfect. If GW had done the codex like that, they would be the single most awesomely cool thing in 40k: https://ironsleet.com/category/vlka-fenryka/

Yeah the Tzaangor is unmodified actually (shock horror!). They're big buggers too, I didn't realise. They stand clearly taller than a normal non-Truescale Marine. I've got two more coming when bits arrive as I want one to be wielding an Inferno Bolter. Tzaangors always come in 3s (or 9s, which is 3x3...). Ooh! I should do a Tzaangor sorceror of some sort...

Couple more little dudes made

As far as villains go, I've always found the whole 'they do evil things because they're nasty people' thing to be a fantastically boring and unrealistic motivation for an antagonist. In real life you get the occasional psychopath go on a killing spree just for the fun of it, but quite honestly even the most successful serial killer pales in comparison to fairly moderate fascist dictators. Real industrial-scale evil is usually carried out by people who genuinely feel that they are doing the right thing.

So, I wanted to have a crack at bringing that to the Chaos Space Marines who I've always thought are ripe for that sort of grey-area interpretation also, as a principally Eldar-guy they just had to be Slaaneshi

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The Angels of Ascension were formerly a loyalist chapter founded from the Blood Angels. During their time fighting in the glorious name of the Emperor they embodied the beauty and splendour of Sanguinius. Resplendant in glorious hand-crafted armour they were the very embodiment of Angels upon the battlefield, and beloved by the population of the Imperium. A love which was reciprocated by the Angels themselves. However, on every planet they served, they saw nothing but toil and misery.

Dissillusion with the Imperium took decades to creep into their minds. Wherever they saw misery and opression, it was the machine of the Imperium to blame. This lasted until they were deployed to the world of Gomorr to quell a cult insurrection. Upon arrival, they saw the cult had spread nothing but joy and ecstacy to everyone it touched. At last, they had found the answer. Rather than quelling the insurrection, they pledged themselves to its cause and slaughtered the beleaguered planetary government. Reporting that the insurrection had been defeated, they returned to their duties, and resolved to bring the light of the cult to every new world they conquered.



It was decades before Inquisitor Io traced the source of the blossoming Slaaneshi cults in the sector to the Angels, finally deducing that the pattern of cults followed the chapter wherever it went. Marshalling the forces of half a dozen Imperial Guard regiments and a whole Space Marine chapter, they smote down the Angels and declared them Excommunicate Traitoris.

Since then, the surviving Angels of Ascension have changed their modus operandi. They scattered throughout the Imperium, acting not as a single warband but a myriad of individual agents. Each Angel descends upon a world, posing as a loyal Astartes, and sets about ingratiating themselves with various planetary powers. They preach the word of the cult, where the sacrifice of the noble few can ensure the absolution of the many. They corrupt the government, and convert the masses. Life is good for the faithful. The fate of those who pay the price for such a life is beyond comprehension.



Bedecked in exquisite finery, the Angels of Ascension appear to the world to be model examples of the Emperor's glorious Astartes. However, their elaborate facade hides their true nature. Beneath their statuesque masks lurks mutated predatory faces. The script of their purity seals twists and turns as it's read, subliminally implanting dark and twisted suggestions into an onlooker's mind. Truly the Angels are one of the most insidious threats this sector has faced in millennia.

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But in order to truly make a villain you need more than just a solid motivation. You need rivalry.

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The Iron Crusaders are a minor chapter founded from Iron Hands genestock. Operating as a fleet-based crusading chapter they frequently deployed chapter-wide crushing their foes with overwhelming force. However, while passing through the Salazar's Reach sector they were requisitioned By Inquisitor Io in his campaign against the Angels of Ascension. The final battle broke the Angels, but it was costly for the Crusaders as well. Reduced to a fraction of their original number, and with none of their upper command surviving, they were tasked with a new crusade. Each Crusader was provided with an Inquisitorial sanction, and sent out into the galaxy to hunt down the remaining Angels by any means necessary.




Brother Tiber was fortunate to have survived the conflict with the Angels of Ascension. He had sustained wounds severe enough to put any battle brother into a Dreadnaught, but so had nearly all of his chapter who weren't killed outright. It was only their gene-coded predisposition to accepting bionics that had saved many of them, alongside the sway of Inquisitor Io to muscle the forgeworld into undertaking the assignment. Well over half of his body was cybernetic now. He considered this a mighty boon. Provided everything was well maintained, he could outlast an unaugmented Astartes in almost any arena. This he had found valuable beyond measure when hunting down the remaining Angels.

A clank in the distance betrayed the presence of his quarry. Hastily, he compressed that particular thought process and focussed on the mission at hand. 6 cultists had entered the room, silhouetted by his augmented vision. He engaged a number of combat subroutines in his expanded consciousness to analyse the situation, housed in his tethered servo skull. An entire human brain dedicated its entire processing power to predicting potential sequences of events, and distilling them down to the most likely situations. After a minute or two suggested actions pinged into his virtual vision. He activated his whirring servo mechanisms and rose from the dark like an unholy mechanical monster. The first bolt shells impacted on two cultist's head and torso respectively, detonating spectacularly. From there, he continued his stride to behind a stack of ammo crates while the cultists scrabbled to find their assailant. Pausing slightly, he crouched low and leapt from the opposite side of his hiding place, strafing the area with bolts while a hail of autogun bullets clattered off his armour. His expanded consciousness analysed the pattern of bullet impacts on his armour to try and determine where the cultists were likely to be shooting from. Blindly hurling a grenade over his shoulder, he was rewarded by a splatter of gore as another cultist bit the dust. Pausing to run another calculation, he counted down a timer before stepping out from behind the pillar to swing his Thunder Hammer into the gut of a third cultist attempting to flank him. Seamlessly continuing his movement he broke into a charge, shoulder barging the next pile of crates over where the last cultist was hiding. Behind it he found...nothing. That wasn't as predicted.

He quickly scanned through the last few combat possibilities and checked their locations. Still nothing. The last cultist must have fled. This was concerning. His plan here had been to enter the complex initially undetected, ensuring that any sentries were silenced without raising the alarm. He would have to scrap the long-term calculations he'd spent days meditatively computing. From here he would have to rely on his wits and snap-algorithms. Alas in all probability his chance of catching the Angel responsible for this cult was ruined, but he could at least shut down its burgeoning activities on this world. Checking the adjustments on his mechanical arm, he stalked off into the next room.

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I've also got a bit of a WIP guide for the Iron Crusader which I'll post up in a bit

I've also been mucking about making some Mechanicus-like techno-mercenaries. First off is my attempt to justify the 9" movement of a Dunewalking Ranger:




He's a tall dude. Here he is next to one of my earlier attempts at an adversary for the Angels (although I ended up preferring the Iron Hands bionically enhanced guy as it's more of a contrast between the angelic CSM and the cyborg 'good guy'). It also shows just how big Sigmarines are that the Angel stil lstands a head above even a Truescale Marine.



And next to a normal-sized dude (who is the first Cultist for the Angels).



The rest will have to wait until they're all finished as I'm really pleased with the idea!

Your Mechanicus (and everything else, naturally) stuff is amazingly good, and it has been stolen for inspiration purposes. What bit forms the arm on the Crusader? I recognize the Chordclaw, but not the arm bit.

That Angel and Cultist also piqued my interest, interested in seeing them painted!

Thanks man glad you like them! Steal away I know I have with your 4-legged spider dude...

The arm on the crusader is actually a Sicarian leg! Chopped at the knee joint and glued straight it's about the right size for a Truescale Astartes arm

I will eventually get them painted I promise I've got the rest of my Eldar to get done first though so it might be a while!

I'm liking the exaggerated True-scale Angel Marine. Very good conversion.

Thanks man I'm definitely pleased how he turned out.

I wanted him to look suspiciously perfect and pristine compared to the grittyness of the rest of the 40k universe

For paint I'm thinking lots of high-polished metallics. What do you reckon?

Humor me, friend, In one of the old WD when Blood Angels got their 5e update, there was a painting tutorial on how to do the Sanguinior in non-metallic metals and by the Emperor does it turn out great. I think it's Issue 363 and I should have it at home somewhere, but if you can attempt that scheme that angel will look awesome.

I've never done NMM before so I'd have to do a few practice runs! I'll see if I can get hold of the article

The other option I was thinking is to try my hand at marble like this dude:

Marble effect and NMM? I like your ambition, Ynneadwraith.

Marble looks better in green, IMHO. But go for it, any marble is better than no marble!

Wow - amazing characters there! The use of the Sigmarine as an angelic deceiver is brilliant and the model for it is perfect.. I like his little cultist too and the mechanicus is great because of his stilts. I like the xenos, but I would suggest modding the kroot gun a bit to make it more unique to the hunter species. Unless he works with/for the kroot of course! Are you going to do the starport itself?

Do it! That marble looks stunning!

Thanks guys! Marble it is

I'm with you on the Kroot gun looking a little lacklustre on the Skadiir. I'm hoping I'll stumble onto something that looks suitable as a modification perhaps make it a little longer on the barrel so it still looks like a hunting rifle.

I look forward to seeing the marble. I'm sure it'll turn out well.

I will await the results. What color are you looking at for the parts that won't be metallic or marble? Possibly a purple or red?

Hopefully so! I need to pick up some Seraphim Sepia I think as Reikland might be too strong of a colour for the delicate staining effect needed.

I was thinking purple yeah suitable regal, but also a hint towards its Slaaneshi nature

Awesome new models. Stormcast make such good marines. The Angel really came out well.

So when you say purple do mean a redder, warmer purple



Or a cooler, more majestic purple



Personally I'd go for the warmer purple if they are well on their way to damnation as red typically associated with evil and invokes a sense of aggression. If they are just wading into heresy, you know, recently corrupted and excommunicated, I'd stick with the cooler purple as it still holds them in a regal and not completely tainted light.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that but thinking about it I'm leaning towards the cooler purple. Partially because it's what I've actually got paints for, but also I like your suggestion that it implies a more recent excommunication (and as far as they're concerned, they're still 'good guys').

Define "good"

Your angel will look like he belongs in some grand hall by the time you get done with him.

 Tactical_Spam wrote:

Your angel will look like he belongs in some grand hall by the time you get done with him.

Perfect!

I love the fluff for each model, you're really bringing them to life! I'm excited to see some paint on these models. Do you have any plans to create a trading outpost for these beautiful minis to fight over?

Thanks man! It's the bringing things to life, and colouring in some small blank segments of the 40k universe that really interest me in this stuff

Paint will be coming, I promise in time unfortunately as I want to get my Eldar done first...

I'd love to make a trading post for all these guys to inhabit, and it's definitely on the long-term projects list. I'm tihnking something like a colossal derelict DAoT-era spacecraft (or perhaps a fragment of one) that's been floating above a planet for millennia, and claimed by a Rogue Trader as a trading outpost. Sort of like a bazaar housed in a crumbling gothic void ship

I've been thinking recently about just how varied the Imperium must be, but how comparatively little opportunity the official fluff has of really exploring that variation (given that they have a business to operate so can't go scurrying down little rabbit holes of 'what if'). To me, the culture of the Imperium seems to be pretty solidly medieval (or World War) European, with a few cursory nods at other cultures like the vaguely Mongolian White Scars and other such stuff. However, to my mind when mankind first reached out across the stars it would have taken all the myriad cultures of old Terra along with it. So, it would follow that when cut off from each other during the Age of Strife the various planets of mankind would start from a distinct base culture and develop from there.

This gives you a ton of scope for making distinct human cultures (and distinct military doctrines), based on technologically upgraded historical cultures. So, running with that theme I've decided to have a go at making some small-scale warbands riffing off that idea here's the first I've come up with.

Hailing from a world known as Antigona, the Antigonoi have a very distinct cultural and martial heritage that predates the formation of the Imperium. Their primary infantry forces are comprised of blocks of bionically enhanced 'Myrmidon' armed with long taser goads and protected by heavy shielding. Fighting in close order, the primary function of these units is to pin enemy squads in place.





These phalanxes are supported by a number of different auxilliary forces. The first are the Psiloi: lightly armoured mobile ranged infantry that harass the enemy and provide covering fire for the advance of the phalanxes.




The second are the Sarissaphoroi: heavy taser lance-armed cavalry that provide a hammer blow to break enemies pinned by the phalanxes. Working in concert, this form of warfare allowed the Antigonoi to carve out a large interstellar empire during the Age of Strife which remained independent until conquered by the Ultramarines during the Great Crusade. Despite their loss of ultimate independence, they still remain a powerful force in the sector.




The Sarissaphoroi are of particular interest to Imperial archeographers. It's speculated that at some point in their history, the Antigonoi had contact with the extinct and heretical culture known as the Interex. The biological modifications made to the Sarissaphoroi are thought to echo the centaur-like Interex techno-warriors described in ancient myth, which also feature heavily in artwork on archaeo-structures of the sector dating to the height of the Antigonid Empire.[/i]



What do you think?

Yoink, Sarissaphori added to inspiration folder. Love the idea of techno-centaurs. Beautiful conversions, as always. Are the muscular torsos from the Karic Alcolytes box?

Thanks man! I love the idea of techno-centaurs too ever since I read about the Interex I've wanted to do something that's sort of a cultural throwback to them. Not so much surviving Interex dudes, but a culture that encountered them 10,000+ years ago and were shaped in some way by the encounter.

Yeah the muscular torsos are the Kairic Acolytes. Like most AoS stuff they're big buggers, but they fit quite well as genetically engineered dudes

holy dang what the hellllll

That techno-centaur is like nine kinds of cool. What kits went into that guy? What is happening? is this real life

The techno chocolate centaur is amazing, but i really really like the myrmidons.

Haha thanks guys! The centaur is a mashup of Kataphrons and Wood Elf Wild Riders, with a smattering of other bits

Techno-centaurs are looking good, and I like the reference to the Interex

Not sure how I missed your comment but thanks Commissar!

Little update too my Knight Worlders have a new member. Meet Rainard the Falcon



Yes I did buy Celestine just so I could get one of those sweet organ jetpack things. No I don't have enough money for food this month. Yes I am happy with my decision

I have got a plan for many of the other bits though. I did actually make Celestine and she really is a beautiful model. Came across as a little bland in pictures, but in person and up close she's packed full of little intricate details. I'm thoroughly impressed I did however think she was still a little clean-cut to look properly Imperial though, not baroque enough. So I've tried to fix that a little...




What do you think?

Also, bonus internet points if you can guess what I'll be doing with her actual wings seeing as I don't think they look Imperial at all...

Lastly, I've been thinking of ideas for minor xenos recently. Less ideas for whole new civilisations, more like the Vorcha from Mass Effect. Lower-level xenos that get around the galaxy by hitchhiking on the vessels of warp-capable races. Given that Imperial ships are usually city-sized monstrosities with miles and miles of derelict and abandoned corridors there's plenty of scope for some xenos tagging along. Of course, this being 40k, most of them would be predatory

Here's the first



The starships of the Imperium are colossal constructions. Most are easily the size of cities, with populations to match. These vast vessels harbour many dark and deep reaches where the crew fear to tread, and are home to many twisted creatures. Abhumans such as Ghilliam and Hullghasts inhabit these untrammelled depths, but down in the deeps humanity is not alone. Many xenos species also stalk these abandoned halls.

One such species is the Aethercap, a lone predator that hunts the inhabitants of a starship using acute psychic capabilities. It's unknown how they come to hitch-hike upon starships, but they are common enough throughout the Imperium. Their intelligence is a matter of some debate. Although they have never been known to communicate with humans and never been observed with weaponry of any sort, bionic modifications are fairly common among their kind.





I was also thinking up some potential rules for one in a Rogue Trader/INQ28 style game. Something like standard Guardsman statline but with 2 wounds. ML1 psyker with access only to Life Leech. However, they can regain wounds above their original 2W limit, and if they kill a psyker they gain a Mastery Level and can cast twice in a turn. Dangerous to your average human initially, and getting more and more deadly the more the feed

Aethercap - like Ettercap. I see you there. I think the idea of them using fun psychic vampire traits, it sounds like a Good Time.

I also like Rainard. Those ridiculous late-Empire hats are good for something, it turns out! (just not Empire)

I think these need a whole army. If you want I could try to come up with something, I quite like writing (somewhat unbalanced) rules.

Thanks guys

Yeah the late empire feathered hats really come into their own with Knight World stuff work really nicely for Rogue Traders and other pompous frontiersmen too.

I kind of envisage these as lone hunters preying on hapless crewmen that stray too far from the beaten path. The sort of monsters the crew mutter rumours about and the captains dismiss as superstition

Saying that, it'd be really fun to throw some ideas around for other little gribbly xenos tag-alongs I've got a couple of ideas, but I'd love to see what other people come up with (rules included!).

As a preview, my next idea is 'Tinkerchildren'. Diminutive xenos who are infinitely curious about how things work, so they spend their time dismantling stuff to see how it works. Unfortunately, their curiosity doesn't stop at mechanical things. Often, search parties find lost crewmen days after the dismantling process has been completed...

Think a different perspective on the phrase 'curiosity killed the cat'

How many limbs will they have? :p

Actually, speaking of limbs, have you seen those weird spider-goblins in the AoS/Warhammer Quest range? I bet you could do something horrifying with those.

Ooh great idea! I hadn't thought of them before. You could create some awesome little gribblies from those with a head swap and some bionic bits and pieces

I'll pick some up

Actually, one of the guys I've been thinking of making is a sort of '40k universe's first tourist', a bit like Twoflower from Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Those little Scuttlings would make an excellent semi-biological 'Luggage' equivalent

YES!

But dont forget the worlds most pathetically incompetent psyker.

Hell yeah!

This is going to be sweet

Special Rules: Coward - Treat all models, friend and foe, as causing Fear

Celestine looks grand.

This is seriously awesome

Loving that minor xenos figure and all the fluff to give it background.

Thanks guys!

I've actually painted up the aethercap now, but he's lacking basing as I haven't got anything to do starship interior basing at all, or even know how to do it!

I'll grab a pic anyway though

Great conversions, have to agree with everyone else about that centaur very cool. Cant wait to see them painted.

Thanks dude!

I've actually got some paint on the first mini that isn't part of my Eldar not based yet though as I don't have any basing material that's not for deserts. I don't even have a dark grey paint! What do people normally do for industrial terrain/starship interiors?






I've also noticed a load of mold lines and gaps that I'd somehow missed, so I'll go back and clean those up

Ah, he's so creep. I love the bag of goodies!

Those Antigonoi conversions look sick, really capture that Ancient Greek/Byzantine feel while still encapsulating that 40k theme. Big fan.

Thanks guys! Yeah I'm really pleased with how creepy he's turned out definite monster from the dark reaches of a starship

Someone had a neat idea about the bionics on another forum. Perhaps it's not, as I had envisaged, that they're smarter than the Imperium give them credit for. Perhaps, there is someone out there doing it for them...

Definitely like that idea

I really must get some paint on the Antigonoi. As they're mostly exposed skin they should be dead quick to do with a heavy wash

What do people normally do for industrial terrain/starship interiors?

You could try gluing down lots of tubes and wires and then trimming off the excess.

Like this

Great idea

Another chap had the idea of getting some fly-screen for a sort of meshwork floor, so if I combine the two I should have a pretty characterful base

Details of Mars' pre-history are scant indeed, buried beneath the weight of time and technology. However, ancient Martian myth tells of a time before the ascendancy of the Tech Priesthood, where the proto-Skitarii of the first Tech Magi did battle against the fearsome gene-engineered tribes of the south-eastern mountains. During the widespread warfare of the Unification of Terra, Mars was consumed by conflict too. A confederation of the Tech Magi waged a war of genocide upon their ancient enemies, wiping them from the face of the red planet.

However, it would appear that not all these green men were eradicated by the Priesthood. I have visited the fearsome tech-tribes of this far-flung sector, whose ancient legends tell a remarkably similar story. Their ancestors were driven from their home by steel men draped in red. A few stricken refugees fled on a stolen voidship, finally making planetfall on this world far from the clawing dendrites of the Magi. They named this world after the name for their homeworld in their strange tongue: New Barsoom. - Extract from the Journal of Chrysoloras the Archaeographer, 965.M41


Gene-altered warriors of the Tha'ak techno-tribe of New Barsoom









Combining two of my favourite things Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom, and porting other IPs into the 40k universe with added lashings of grimdark I've been wanting to do some techno-Tharks for ages but just hadn't got round to it. Then, I stumbled across this picture which was just too cool to leave alone



Too cool by far not to have a 40k version as befitting the green men of Mars they're big beasties too here they are next to some Gue'vesa for another idea I'm working on



Couple of other little dudes I've been making first off is a Crow-Scout for a band of wasteland nomads I've had an idea for.






He's based on the one pane of a comic I read ages ago and always thought was really really cool. It's called Spindrift and the art style and ideas really are top-notch http://www.spindrift-comic.com/comic/00/0 Here's the dude:



Last little gribbly is this guy a creepy servitor pack mule! Probably attached to my Knight Worlders





Now, I think it's about time to get some paint on some of these guys

Well, I am delighted. Real good stuff.

Every single one of these things is great. I can't wait to see the Nova-Barsoomia painted up!

(only quibble - if the war against the gene-forged tribes was before the rise of the tech-priests, it would have been before Mars was unified with Terra under the God-Emperor, right? so should probs replace that with the Omnissiah. unless the editor of that history has replaced "Omnissiah" with "God-Emperor" in his translation, in which case kudos for bringing across a genuine problem in manuscript transmission)

Thanks guys! Paint is definitely next. Run out of bits for my next favourite ideas :S

I think you're right goblinpaladin. While my idea was that the Emperor helped the Tech Priests rid Mars of the Barsoomian tribes, it's a little unclear. Shall change it

Wow, lots of really characterful minis. Love the 40k greeks, and the techno barbarians are also great!

Oooo Me likey.

Thanks guys! The techno-greeks will probably be the first on the painting table

Pack mule is astounding!

Thanks man! I think I'll attach him to my Knight Worlders, seeing as they're sort of a travelling band. They'll need a pack mule to carry their supplies. Plus, it could be a retainer of the house who fell into...displeasure, shall we say

Little update too I got some paint on someone!


What's that little one? Oh, he's our Crow...
...No he's not one of us. Comes from over the hills to the north somewhere...
...No they usually wander around alone. Sometimes five or six get together and talk in their scratchy Crow-speak...
...I'm sure Abhiru would say they're plotting something. He's never liked them. Not sure myself. All I know is they've got damn good eyesight. Now shh, hear that convoy approaching? Get your rifle ready. You'll see why we keep him around.

Very cool. Sort of feral looking.

Your Blanchitsu is strong bud -

 MajorTom11 wrote:
Your Blanchitsu is strong bud -

So I'm not the only one who noticed.

Thanks guys! That's a hell of a compliment

Feral's exactly what I was going for so I'm glad it's hit the right notes I've got another one modelled already so I'll share that guy soon slightly less feral than this guy, but of a similar vein.

Just excellent all round. 40K at its best.

Thanks dude! I'll be getting some more paint on these guys soon enough 5 pages and all of 2 painted models is a little stark...

Less an update, but more of a question...

On another forum someone pointed out that my Crow-Scout looks more than a little Wild Western-y. I had originally planned on having him as part of a nomad scavenger warband, but now I'm thinking it might be cooler to make a sort of Western-themed warband with him.

I've already thought up ideas for a Crow-Chief and a Warhawk, but I've also got ideas for the scavengers.

Which do people think would be cooler? Might end up doing both, but I'll probably do one first...

Why not do western-themed scavengers? Kill two birds with one stone.

It depends on what you want for this particular model. It seems like he was meant to stand out initially as different from the rest of the group. He won't be the odd duck (or crow) anymore in a warband of similar individuals. My suggestion is to stick with the initial idea, and maybe expand the Crow culture with a full group later.

Hmmm, I think you're right Youwashock. The Crow-Scout is pretty understated, so if he's with a warband of similar dudes he'll look a little lacklustre. I'll continue with the original idea before expanding the Crow dudes (as I need to get bits for them anyway).

@Ember They'll both be pretty scavengery anyway however, you've just given me a really neat idea of how to blend the two

Basically, the original idea was a band of nomad scavengers who traverse the wasteland, picking off stray Ad Mech convoys and cannibalising them for parts.

The new idea was to do a sort of frontier town in the Western style, perhaps attached to a mine so I can use GS Cults bits

I can do both, and with the simple addition of a Western-style caravan wagon to the former idea I can make them sort of refugees from a former settlement elsewhere on the planet.

There's a narrative going round my head based on the Cicatrix Maledictum I want to do with these guys. Basically, we know that warp travel in the Dark Imperium is pretty much screwed, and the Chaos Gods are carving out their own playgrounds in the Materium. However, for dudes on a frontier world where the astronomican barely reaches...how would they know anything's different? So, this would be about the gradual revelation that Nurgle's followers have returned to claim this area of space it'll also tie into the exodites and ynnari and blighdar stuff too

Basically I've seen the awesome stuff Iron Sleet's doing with the Thorne Moons and thought 'man, I want to do that too' so I'm trying to forge all the various little dabblings in this and that into something approaching a cohesive narrative

I'm wondering, would it be better to start another plog with that as a cohesive narrative and keep this as a sort of modelly/WIP plog? I'm leaning towards yes, as I obviously don't have enough threads as-is....

No, keep it in this thread. Also, if you're going to mention a cool thing that inspires you, link us! Come on, buddy, we need ways to procrastinate from painting.

There's a narrative going round my head based on the Cicatrix Maledictum I want to do with these guys. Basically, we know that warp travel in the Dark Imperium is pretty much screwed, and the Chaos Gods are carving out their own playgrounds in the Materium. However, for dudes on a frontier world where the astronomican barely reaches...how would they know anything's different? So, this would be about the gradual revelation that Nurgle's followers have returned to claim this area of space it'll also tie into the exodites and ynnari and blighdar stuff too

That sounds like a perfect idea.

Although there is a slight chance that a certain group of Thousand Sons and unwillingly Tzeetch-alligned eldar might show up...

Oh man it's so goddamn cool check it out: https://ironsleet.com/2017/06/11/codex-thorn-moons/

Werent some of those featured in Blachitsu? I feel like I've seen them before...

Yeah the Thorne Guard (brilliant mashups of Sicarians and Dryads) were I think. Part of the 'Green Mechanicvm' idea

Well, those are some extremely cool things.

 goblinpaladin wrote:
Well, those are some extremely cool things.

I didn't know you were one for understatement

There's more if you scroll back through the main page...

Iron Sleet is always pushing the envelope. Next-level stuff and a major inspiration.

Finally got round to painting my Knight Errant I had been umming and arring about what paint scheme to paint him in but ultimately plumped for the same one I always do the idea behind the sector is that it's been ravaged by Nurgle so every planet is uniformly desertified. I could start a new place, but if any of the models end up together the basing will be disparate. Plus, this way he can be doing his errant travelling through the same sector



"Excuse me good sir, can you point me to the nearest...wait...don't do that...my friend here needs his skull to live. No I would not like to be sacrificed to the hungering gods. Just point me towards the nearest Prometheum vendor please."

Yes. Yes, good.

Wow, the 4 legged servitor mule thing is really cool. Thanks for sharing the Ironsleet stuff - I'd seen a few but not the blog. Great to say paint on the Knight faction dude and hope to see more.

Thanks guys!

Yeah the guys at Iron Sleet are a major inspiration

I think the little 4-legged guy will wind up being part of the Knight World retinue. Just had the idea of it being an 'Amalgam', which is basically a composite servitor made up of bits and pieces of multiple servants.

I'm thinking that if a member of a Knight House loses a duel or swears fealty to another House or Knight they 'donate' one or a number of their servants in a token gesture of good faith. These 'donations' are then composited into single servitors to display that an individual or a House has power over those who swear fealty to it. Whether it's an honoured retirement arrangement, or they're treated as trophies or pack mules, or gruesomely paraded in front of the losers depends entirely on the character of that particular House.

Thinking more about it...I kind of want to do a faction of those all by themselves...

Well I just couldn't leave that idea be so the little pack mule got painted up pretty quickly!

The Pilgrim's Guide to the Galaxy: Salazar's Scar
A most curious region of space. Salazar's Scar, as it's known to the locals, is located on the very eastern fringes of the Imperium. Discovered by the eponimous rogue trader in 651.M37, it was promptly marked down as an area of little economic interest, with a limited population and only a passing trade in eldar artifacts.

The Scar itself is a crescent-shaped reach of star systems comprising 50 or so habitable worlds. Habitable in this case is a generous definition, for each and every life-supporting world is comprehensively desertified. Only a few worlds sport hives, which mostly operate as individual polities rather than forming any sort of interstellar government. Space travel is limited, although there are a few shipping lanes that run between the more heavily populated worlds and derelict orbitals. Most inhabitants are techno-tribal in nature.



Amalgams
Amalgams are a curious tradition among the Knight Worlders who inhabit certain reaches of the Scar. In their basest description, they're composite servitors, constructed from a number of different individuals rather than a single vessel. Not too dissimilar to chimerics the galaxy over, really. However, it's their social function that's most fascinating. Members of Noble Houses, and some of the more powerful Ignobles, exact tribute from those who they have bested either in single combat, martial enterprise, or political manouevering. The lattermost is frowned upon as unchivalrous somewhat, although that in itself might be a ploy by the more manipulative Lords.

Basically, it works like so. The victor in a tussle of any sort is provided with a servant from the losing party. This servant is incorporated into, or forms the beginning of, the composite-servitor known as an amalgam. These amalgams form a living display of one's victories, and an indication of one's social standing. Particularly powerful victors, or those who win particularly decisively, may demand a particular servant be donated. Or, rather, they may make a suggestion it would be most unwise to refuse. Thus, not just the size but also the intricacy of an amalgam is impressive. There is tremendous artistry involved in creating the most impressive amalgam, the better to display your societal standing.

This practice has bled out into the other cultures in immediate contact with the Knight Worlders, so it's possible and even probable that one would encounter such creations in the populated sections of the Scar. It's important to keep alert to the presence of them, lest you be surprised by the true political standing of an individual you are liaising with.






At first, Thibaut didn't realise the creature in front of him was an amalgam at all. It appeared to all the world to be an ordinary servitor, albeit a very finely made one. However, from this close, his optical bionics noted the fine lines of stitching criss-crossing its skin. With this revelation a shiver ran down Thibaut's spine. What colossal edifice of political and martial might would be required to be able to acquire the donations of...over 330 his bionics implied...tributes of such close physical and genetic similarity as to be almost indistinguishable from a single being? His own amalgam, cobbled together from three hodge-podge tributes he was quite frankly lucky to have acquired, was quite pathetic in comparison really.

He glanced around the receiving-hall and spied at least two dozen similarly adorned servitors. Now that he knew what to look for, the stitching was easy to find. Sweet merciful Salazar what had he gotten himself into? Suddenly, going Errant didn't seem like such a good idea after all...

That's great stuff. The models really work together, too.

Thanks dude glad you like him (or it, rather)

What a horrible idea. I love both the knight errant and his servant / pet / abomination. I think you've done really well with the heraldry and tech combined, he really fits a techno savage world in my mind. Nice work!

It really is isn't it? Thought it fit quite well with grimdark Feudalism, where if your master does something stupid and gets himself beaten you get hauled of and turned into an amalgam. Not a great life to be honest!

Thanks man

I love that fluff, and excellent paintwork.

Ah, Chordclaws, most useful bit in existence, other than the Fulgurite Cog-Halo.

Thanks man! And agreed. The addition of Ad Mech and GS Cults kits has done more for conversions and kitbashes than every single Marine kit released since the first Tactical Squad. Chock full of so many useful little bits and pieces

Ahem, I could argue that the SM Vanguard vets box is a goldmine for marine kitbashers.

I'll give you that there are tons of little bits and pieces from that both for Marine kitbashers and non-Marine ones. The kickass sword-arm on my Errant Knight is from that kit

+++Access Astropathic Burst Dated 257.057.M42+++
...
---Estimated Point of Origin: Antigonos System---
---Callsign: Unknown Archaic Designation 'Diadochus'---
---Status: Intercepted---
---Flagged: Problematic---
...
+++Recall Excerpt+++
...
At last, the yoke of the Astartes has been lifted. Harried and overstretched, they have not the might to contain us. Join me and sail to the stars oncemore. Join me and reforge the empire taken from us. Join me and Antigonos shall rise again!
...
+++End Excerpt+++
...
+++Redesignate following pict-captures: Hostile, Retaliate With Prejudice+++
...





...
+++Cease Access and Distribute+++

Cool, like the antennas on thei neck. The amalgam background is very imaginative and characterful. Models are perfect! Always more excited about this blog.

Thanks man! Same with your blog

The antennas are because fluff-wise they have a sort of Skitarii-like control mechanism where a strategist (Strategos) can direct their battlefield movements in real-time. Still plan on making a Strategos for them. Just a case of hunting down the right bits

Ooh, make the Strategos riding a chariot, please. That would be awesome!

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
Ooh, make the Strategos riding a chariot, please. That would be awesome!

My plan was a sort of tracked contraption based on a Kataphron chassis

Rebel techno-greeks! the very best! (i am getting the rebel part right, right?)

Absolutely with all the sh*t going down in the Dark Imperium all of the little human empires that survived and developed during the Long Night, conquered since the Great Crusade, are finding a sudden dearth of Imperial presence.

Chaos in the Imperium (both literal and figurative) provides an opportunity for these proud little empires to reassert themselves after millennia of Imperial rule...

Oh, what do you people of the skintone? I tried to go for a Greek/Mediterranean skintone as it always bothers me slightly that the majority of Hoplites in popular culture look decidedly Anglo-Saxon...

Can't tell if I managed to hit it right.

I think it looks good, although your murky photography makes it a bit hard to tell. (please don't take that as a criticism - they look great)

Yeah I'm not quite certain why these guys turned out particularly murky. I think my phone sets the white balance/exposure based on what it's focused on, so it varied depending on the dominant colour of the model. Must get a better camera...

 Ynneadwraith wrote:
Absolutely with all the sh*t going down in the Dark Imperium all of the little human empires that survived and developed during the Long Night, conquered since the Great Crusade, are finding a sudden dearth of Imperial presence.

Chaos in the Imperium (both literal and figurative) provides an opportunity for these proud little empires to reassert themselves after millennia of Imperial rule...

Nice! this is exactly the sort of storytelling i wanted to see with the whole "fractured empire" thing.

Thanks man yeah it was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about the Dark Imperium being basically cut off from the astronomican. Long-distance communication and travel would break down, causing humanity to devolve into a host of smaller interstellar empires. Ample opportunity for petty warlords to carve out a corner of the galaxy for themselves, ignorant of the true scale of threat that faces humanity.

It certainly opens a whole bunch of narrative windows! Makes me think of the fall of Rome

That's exactly what i was thinking it feels very much like the fall of Rome, except the section of the empire still holding out is the west not east...

Don't be scared little one, that's Zeerses. He's one of our best fighters, not that there's much of him left by now. Knew him as a boy. He was a fighter then too.

Very cool thread, you have some creative ideas here and they're well executed.

Thanks dude!

Nice work on the techno-scavenger, it really fits 40k's gothic but technologically advanced theme.

Also a friend.y reminder that your chaos war band needs to be finished in 3 weeks. Good luck!

Oh crap! Hah i got distracted by my Chaos Eldar (do they count?).

Shall see what i can pull together!

Liking the new guy. His gun really reminds me of a storm trooper's blaster.

Liking your conversion lad, I cannot wait what other goodies you will make.

Cheers

Latest messing about I usually find I've got enough bits knocking around to make 80% of half a dozen ideas I have, and then I have to order bits for the rest. What that tends to mean is there's quite a while of nothing and then everything comes at once when the bits order arrives this one's been waiting for ages!

What's that boy? Haven't you seen a Charlemagne before?

Definitely going to need some fluff on that guy. Excellent work.

That is wonderfully akin to the far future cavalry in the “book of the new sun” by Gene Wolfe!

Fantastic!

(takes place in a far, far, far future Earth- shenenigans ensue)

Sweet thanks guys not sure on fluff at the moment, although as he's a little ways down on the list for painting I've got a while to figure it out

I know that Charlemagnes will be a sort of gene-engineered warhorse that Knight Worlders use. Inspired by the kickass weird gene-engineered horses that the Kriegers have with feet rather than hooves. In a galaxy so large, old and strange it seems like a missed opportunity to just have normal horses

I'll give that Gene Wolfe book a read might provide some inspiration!

Oh, that's sweet. This guy just works. Well put together and just weird enough.

Wow! Everytime I check this thread I just see something that is even more cool than the last one!

Thanks guys! 'Just weird enough' is bang on what I was hoping for

Good to see you're still knocking around the plogs gummy

It actually took me a moment to notice the paws (i'm slow tonight), and now that i've seen them they're perfect!

Haha thanks man everyone has slow days

Also, I thought I'd point out one of the inspirations for this (and make a really good book recommendation at the same time). There's a duology of sci-fi books by Peter F Hamilton called the Commonwealth Saga. Really awesome books

In the latter of the two (Judas Unchained), there's a group of humans called 'Barsoomians' (again, another inspiration) who have spent their time perfecting genetic engineering, and provide one of the factions with these 'roided up vicious warhorses the size of Rhinos called 'Charlemagnes'. Hence this guy!

They've also got some kickass giant bird/dinosaur things called King Eagles which would be sweet to make too, but that's a little aside

Mutant...xenos...who cares? Either way it's shoot on sight





Three things that are constants in the Scar. Strife...Sand...and Scalies. Blighters are everywhere

Well, those are delightfully weird. They look like a more aggressive version of the seeks guys from Chronicles of Riddick. The dudes with the lens faces that were led around with a Playstation controller.

Thanks dude

Ooh I'd forgotten about those creepy-weird Seek things. Must find a way to work those onto a 40k warband. They'd fit in perfectly

Perhaps as part of an inquisitorial retinue...

Just joined this thread and I love it! Please, more!

Thanks dude! I'll be happy to oblige

"It's the scalies man. We think they're these stupid little critters but they're up to something. I can feel it. See, I made a map. Look. Can you see it? The pattern of what they're taking. They're up to something man."



"Have you been smoking the holy oil that dodgy Tech Priest sells again Len? You know what that stuff does to your brain."





Big scaly take us places looong time ago you see. Floating all over stars. Big scaly dead now, but no problem. We smart. We build float-ship. Star Priest take us up to see other scalies. When all scalies together you will see. Won't be you hunting us then. You will see big fella. - recording recovered from the remains of a looted maintenance servitor. A hoax, in the opinion of this expert. It is known that scalies do not have the capacity to learn Gothic.

Very good lore and some awesome models!

I cannot stress enough how awesome this thread is, Good work!! I love world-building, so this is very inspiring to me! If I ever wind up doing anything like this, I will link back to you.

Thanks! Glad I could be of service

Worldbuilding is my number-one favourite thing I'd love to hear what you've come up with. Even if it's in the early stages it's great to hear what people create

Those are some excellent conversions.

This is awesome!

Thanks guys!

Love the new critters - some eclectic parts you've got in there! 40k stuff, skinks and some skaven too, right?

Those conversions are so brilliant. Those look properly 40k! The wild, interesting 40k. Especially the Myrmidon guys and the guy with the knight's helmet. But also all the other stuff really. Keep it up!

Aw, the scalies are so adorable in their fiendish plotting! i love them.

I keep getting inspired to try to make my own minor xenos type things by your and kestral's threads. I've got to just go for it.

Thanks guys! Glad you like them

Yeah Skinks bodies, Skaven heads (and one arm), GS Cults shotgun, Kroot armour plate (dead useful those bits) and a variety of Ad Mech gubbinz. Oh, and the tail from Necron Lychguard

Kestrel's thread is actually what inspired all of this I was perfectly content chipping away at Eldar...then I suddenly got very jealous of the sheer variety of Kestrel's world so I thought I'd have a go myself

You just wait on the scalies' plotting they've got something bigger up their sleeve...

"I saw it man! It was like a regular scaly but all jacked up and stuff. Like it'd taken a trip to the sawbones. Ripped that miner clean in half. I warned you about them man. I warned everyone but no-one listened."



"Look, calm down Len. I know you've been on the sauce, I can smell it. We went to look where you said but there was nothing there. Bit of blood on the sand, but that's hardly unusual in these parts."





I don't know, some lunatic babbling about how his whole town was killed by scalies.

Scalies? Them little idiot scavengers? I always knew the westerners were soft, but I never thought they'd manage to get themselves killed by scalies. Pathetic.





We find speaky box in big crashed float-ship. Speak funny but tell us looots of things. Tell us how to make spawn-tanks to make biiig scalies. Tell us how to make own float-ships. Tell us how to make Star Priests to see the way in float-ships. Told you to wait and see. Told you scalies smart, but did you listen? Oooh no.

Such a lot of cool. Great thread

This is really awesome! Can't wait to see it all when it's done!

where did you get the cane arm for your Ad-Mech explorator? needing it for my inquisitor.

Thanks guys!

Glad you like them PDH coming from a master converter such as yourself!

I'm not really sure I have an endpoint Orkplayer! I do have a couple of thoughts as to what I want to do for each warband, and where I want to go overall as well

Basically it's morphed into a bit of a worldbuilding exercise for a sector on the Eastern Fringe called 'Salazar's Scar'. There's a whole host of human cultures spread over a number of planets, and its upper reaches are where my Eldar are set. Got quite a few ideas for cultures to flesh out that area which I'll hopefully get to soon!

Supreme Overlord the cane is from the Tech Priest Dominus kit, as well as the pistol he's carrying. It's a bit of a goldmine for bits, so well worth picking up

Big fan again of the scalies. Really characterful! I like your little narrated blurbs as well - really add a lot to the setting. Your blog is one of the ones I look forward to popping up on the board. Keep it up!

Thanks man! Glad you like them

Glad you like the narrative blurbs too. They're really fun to come up with I'd encourage you to give it a try, especially for some of your gang members. Simply a spoken sentence or so tacked under an image can do wonders for implying a rich background to a character

So...

Who else is really excited about Necromunda from a pure kitbashing perspective?

Just the ready availability of 10 human female bodies in plastic is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned



I've been wanting to expand on my wasteland tribe a little and make it feel actually like a tribe rather than a warband, so basically a living breathing community of people. For that, you need to demonstrate that there's more than just dudes involved

So, yeah, excited!

They're awesome, yes. I'm just concerned about where the one in the way back got her HH era plasma pistol...
I'm definitely taking that half of the box.

Absolutely

Huh, I hadn't spotted the Heresy pistol black market arms dealer?

I must admit I'm not a massive fan of the design actually. I much prefer the 40k one...

I'm also really excited about Necromunda for that reason too - I looked once at the Goliath Gangers and thought 'Diggas'!

Ooh great idea! They'd be perfect for that make sure you post them up when you do

 Ynneadwraith wrote:
So...

Who else is really excited about Necromunda from a pure kitbashing perspective?

Just the ready availability of 10 human female bodies in plastic is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned



I've been wanting to expand on my wasteland tribe a little and make it feel actually like a tribe rather than a warband, so basically a living breathing community of people. For that, you need to demonstrate that there's more than just dudes involved

So, yeah, excited!

What are those from? They look great!

The upcoming Necromunda release and agreed! They're going to net a lot of my moula very shortly

Very cool, i find these kinda blogs really inspirational, especially as you're super prolific! I really like the crow-guy, the little dog thing and the skink thing with the globadier(?) head who's toting a break-action.

I know this sounds quite selective but i am ULTRA picky about poses and model composition. Also note this is mostly a taste thing rather than a critical thing, An example would be that i won't even go near a model with any form of 'gun arm' (Or sword arm etc) and don't get me started on variations on 'Punch Daggers', yuck yuck yuck!

I was worried we weren't going to see any paint but you delivered on that also. Please paint the Evil Angel marine next, i am curious how he'll look painted.

I am also curious to see groupings of say 10 mini 'Killteams', i can't help but think it will be fun to pair up some of the smaller groups into bigger warbands.

A random tip i would give is that those Age of Sigmar hoplite-esque heads have potential beyond pairing them with the bodies they came with.

IIRC you were planning a terrain element (i know, i know, read the darn thread! ) any progress? That 'Navigator household' guy you linked does some awesome spaceport-esque terrain (again iirc), might be worth a look.

Great stuff. I'd love to see more scalies, especially a priest. Neat fluff too.

Oh man, I hadn't seen the Charlemagne before now. What are the bits on that - especially that amazing chest piece? I recognise some parts...

The Charlemagne was actually so much easier than I was anticipating It's a bone-stock Empire Demigryph body with a claw from a Thunderwolf and the head from a Chaos Knight (which fitted really nicely straight off the bat). Even the wild chest armour is stock Demigryph

Yeah the Scalies are really fun to do I've got a couple more Skink bodies knocking around to turn into regular Scalies, and I've got an idea in my head for the Star Priest of mashing up a regular Lizardmen Star Priest, some Ad Mech bits and some multi-armed Horror bits (as most of the Scalies are mildly mutated). Should be really fun

Glad you like them Perkustin! I'm a bit picky with posing as well spend quite a while farting about shaving off bits and pieces of arms and legs to get them looking natural. For my Eldar I even sometimes act out the pose that I want them in to see where my limbs sit naturally doesn't work so well with Scalies though...

I don't mind gun and sword-arms so much, even though they'd be deeply impractical (have you ever tried doing buttons or zips up with one hand?), but I kind of like them in 40k as everything seems a bit backward and not exactly intuitive.

You know I haven't actually thought of a paint scheme for the Fallen Angel. I was thinking of doing his armour black as it would be Heresy-era Dark Angels stuff, but I hadn't thought of the whole look of him. Perhaps entirely black as midnight (including the wings) and use him as a bit of an exercise for getting decent depth in blacks

The plan is eventually to turn most of these into at least 6-man warbands, some larger and some smaller, but as you can probably tell I tend to have about a dozen different things going on at once (including my Eldar) so it takes a while to get the full warband!

Similar story with terrain really. Would love to get something made, but perfectly happy rambling on getting the warbands fleshed out until I get around to it. Got some killer ideas for exodite terrain that I want to try out though...

I don't know if you follow the Leadplague blog, but he did these gnarly ordo biologis acolytes/servitors that I figure you'd appreciate a squiz at: http://leadplague.blogspot.com.au/2017/10/ordo-biologis-acolytes.html

Haha you're only the second person I've ever met to use the word 'squiz' brilliant word

As chance would have it the leadplague guy has a plog over on the INQ28 boards on Ammobunker so I've just spotted them on there. Brilliant gribbly little servitors, and they fall into a sort of civilian/NPC category that I really like with 40k conversions

One of the ideas I had for NPCs here was something like a servitor-merchant with a bunch of different servitors for sale. Might have to steal some ideas!

He does a lot of #oldhammer stuff, but also with lots of new and non-GW components. I know you're not into non-GW components, but you should definitely trawl through his archives and steal his ideas. The low-key palettes are definitely a thing you're into.

And nah, yeah, mate, no wukkas, I sometimes put on the Orz-tralyan a bit, especially Online, yeah?

Managed to miss your comment! Sorry :S or should I say 'sozza?'

Yeah I don't really have anything against non-GW products, it's just tricky to find them in plastic which I'm most comfortable converting with. Definitely plan on picking up some of the kickass alternative heads out there.

I do have an update though been a while, but the upcoming Iron Sleet invitational is too tempting to pass by. Enter The Ravens stage left:

'pon the ruin'd moon of Hyllas, spake the legionary Pallas,
"Cast thou hence from in the shadows, lest I smite thee duly, or-
speak thy name if Thorne or craven.", 'pon which from its darkened haven
Stepped a grim and tattered raven wand'ring from the Nightly shore
"Tell me what thy wretched name is 'mongst this pale and icy hoar”
Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

What an incredible competition! oh man!

Yeah it's really exciting so much hobby goodness comes out of that site. Very inspirational stuff.

They've done an invitational before that was an actual invitational with only a few they requested contributing. Opening it up to anyone to enter is really exciting

Hopefully my poetry elevates my modelling somewhat

Caw-some.

You're off to a great start. This event should be something to see.

Haha nice one

Yeah I'm really excited to see what people come up with

Do you know if the Iron Sleet thing is GW bits only?

 kestral wrote:
Do you know if the Iron Sleet thing is GW bits only?

I was wondering the same, and after looking over the site and the comments on it, i found this

It is not mandatory but highly encouraged to use GW models as basis. The whole endeavour is after all (also) a celebration of the 40K universe GW has fostered over the years

Good luck in the competition!

First time checking out this blog brother, and hot damn, your work is fantastic! Love your conversions!

Thanks guys! I've nearly finished crows 2 and 3 just waiting on bits. Nearly done the rest of the poem too. Poetry is bloody tricky :S

To be honest the thing I'm most concerned about is the painting. It'll be a whole new style for me, not only with a completely different colour palette (greys and blues and greens), but also entirely cold colours when everything I've ever done before has been warm (being desert-themed).

You should definitely have a go Kestral it might be strongly encouraged to use GW bits, but I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something strongly suited from them

Glad you like them Azalle it's a little more sparsely updated than my eldar plog, but it's not for want of ideas must get some paint on my Barsoomians somepoint soon...

"We spy thine ships by moonfall's aft, thy manifold and blackened craft
Loiter round the Rout like stormclouds, scavengers like crows of yore.
Chatter caw and bicker hasten. Ears and eyes and spies and graven-
ones the Wolves do brand 'Valravn', we have spied thine ilk before.
By what hubris think thine arms might stand afore the might of Thorne?
Speak no more of 'nevermore'."

Any chance of a few more pics of those two? Can't quite get a good 'feel' for them.

How'd ya make the heads, those kroot spines? I have zero familiarity with any of the newer GW kits but is it one of the cultists and maybe a mechanicus head of some kind?

Also any OOC thoughts on these guys? Why they're armed with low tech hand weapons, why they're fighting, the regiment o they belong to, what you plan to do to make up the 5 model quota etc.

Only one I've got at the moment is this:


Shall get some better ones once they're painted

Basically one of the main guys in the Thorn Moons Crusade has probably the most awesome Space Wolf army I've seen, which has been a real inspiration for me. Here's one of his kickass models:



My take on the human aspect is a fleet of 'crows' that loiter around the Space Wolves fleet, scavenging from battlefields the Wolves have swept through. (That's the gribbly little guy peering under the wreckage for widgets and doodads).

However, like Odin's Ravens they act as spies of sorts so the Wolves tolerate them. They've got a scavenger's curiosity, and the cawing chatter between their ships alerts them to points of interest and enemy defences and the like...

So yeah! That's the plan


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and the head of the main guy is the front half of a Sicarian head and the spines from Kroot yeah

The raven's head did tilt and twist and quizzically it viewed him hence
Yet Pallas stayed his mighty blade, confusion gripping soul and more
"Wherefore art thou masters brave then? Tombstones 'pon which names engraven."
Yet unflinching stood it's brazen gaze that burnt through armoured core
"Hydra's heads shall reign supreme from dust to dust and Throne to Thorne."
Quoth the raven 'Nevermore."



Definitely been having fun making little scavengers

That last one may be a level-up in single-model narrative. Just sublime, really. These guys are turning out great. I can almost hear the first two chattering and whispering like Jawas to each other.

I really love the last one inspecting a power armour suit glove. Nice work, 'Wraith.

These are great! I might make some of my own...

Super characterful! Last gent with the glove (?hand!) is my favourite. Nice work!

Awesome! This thread has helped inspire me into making my own unique Blanchitsu-esq Warband!

Thanks a ton guys! Glad they're hitting the right notes

@Youwashock; 'Chattering away like jawas' is the perfect way of describing them. Exactly the same little gribbly curious scavenger types.

Similar sort of muddiness as to what species they are too. I wanted them to look like there's a possibility that they might be xenos, or at least humans who are far enough down the route of speciation as to be functionally the same. the sort of thing a puritan Ordo Xenos Inquisitor might raise his eyebrow at (and another reason to fuel the cold war with the Space Wolves).

@Goblinpaladin and Scarper; Yeah he's fast becoming one of my favourites!

@Ember; Please do! They're brilliant fun little dudes it's also quite fun to have a go at some themed non-combat poses (these guys are sifting through the wreckage of a former battlefield, picking out knicknacks and geegaws).

@Orkplayer; I'm flattered! Glad I could be a step in getting someone into the 'little characterful warband' game. Once I started I never looked back Make sure you post up what you come up with

As for my little gribbly crows...there's rather more of them now than I'd intended...



They're just too fun to make still have 2 or 3 ideas I want to try out so I'll probably end up with 10 or so. That does give me the opportunity to cherry-pick the 5 best ones for the Invitational. If I can work out how to embed polls maybe you guys can help me pick which ones you like best

Uh-oh. They are multiplying fast. That robust fellow with the fancier pistol looks like he could be in charge for the moment.

That's the thing with crows, look away once and then there's two more

Yeah big fella's definitely the warrior in this little group. I've got a different idea for who's in charge though, involving a Tech Magos and a Necromancer

Other ideas are I want to try are some sort of crow-dog or other xenos hound gribbly thing

Oh, and finished my poem works better when it's all strung together:

"pon the ruin'd moon of Hyllas, spake the legionary Pallas,
"Cast thou hence from in the shadows, lest I smite thee duly, or-
speak thy name if Thorne or craven.", 'pon which from its darkened haven
Stepped a grim and tattered raven wand'ring from the Nightly shore
"Tell me what thy wretched name is 'mongst this pale and icy hoar”
Quoth the raven "Nevermore."

"We spy thine ships by moonfall's aft, thy manifold and blackened craft
Loiter round the Rout like stormclouds, scavengers like crows of yore.
Chatter caw and bicker hasten. Ears and eyes and spies and graven-
ones the Wolves do brand 'Valravn', we have spied thine ilk before.
By what hubris think thine arms might stand afore the might of Thorne?
Speak no more of 'nevermore'."

The raven's head did tilt and twist and quizzically it viewed him hence
Yet Pallas stayed his mighty blade, confusion gripping soul and more
"Wherefore art thou masters brave then? Tombstones 'pon which names engraven."
Yet unflinching stood it's brazen gaze that burnt through armoured core
"Hydra's heads shall reign supreme from dust to dust and Throne to Thorne."
Quoth the raven 'Nevermore."

Within Pallas rose an ire as a raging inner fire
Impudence of wretch's tongue like insults flung hast brought it fore.
Sadly rage obscured unshaven brutes within said Nightly haven
Hydra's blood ran through the cave in ruddy pools along the floor.
Thence the skull of Pallas stands resplendent 'bove the raven's door.
Thorne supreme reigns nevermore."

Now I need a model for the bust of Pallas

Ravens to the Wolves was a brilliant idea - and that poem is very nice as well. I think if they are spies though they need more optics.... : ) For peering into the gloom. You should also do one with it's head cocked to one side in the class raven. Will they be black, grey, motley? SW blue grey? Keep up the good work!

Thanks man glad you like them (and the poem!).

As far as I see them, they're a bit low-rent to be dedicated spies. More curious amateur scavengers whose overheard excitable chatter provides the Wolves with a sort of basic outline of their environment and potential points of interest. Any optics or divining tools like Auspexes would be rare and valuable items, either hoarded by greedy individuals or in the possession of a religious/shaman class. Actually, that's a neat idea for my latest model*!

For colour scheme I was thinking a motley and ragtag collection of (very) dark greys, dark blues and dark greens building to an overall black-looking palette. The idea is similar to how Ravens look black, but if you look closer they're actually a mix of green, blue and purple.

Contrast that with pallid white skin and red optics and I should be done not something I've tried before though, so I'll have to do a couple of test-runs before committing paint to them :S

*Speaking of latest models:





Gribbly tech-shaman I like the idea that it's one of these shaman-class of tech-diviners. A Tech Priest -type with an Omnispex would have considerable power in a backwards scavenger society for their seemingly mystical ability to locate valuable bits of technology buried deep under rubble or otherwise hidden from view.

Oh, and it's a shame I didn't get any pics of him before he was primed. They don't seem to look right to me all in white. Not really a good indication of what they'll look like...

I'm gonna try that out. Tech priest legs, necromancer torso, skitarii head, right?

That looks insane!

Love the shaman! Great blog overall.

Shaman is the best one so far. Give it a black wash and it will look great for BW photos. Trying to duplicate the sheen of raven feathers is a great idea!

Yes, yes, yes. That's the money. Great model. Really starts to play in the bird-like aspects of the fluff. Mysterious and immediately identifiable as the tribal shaman/medicine man. The whole group has a nice cohesive feel without being uniform at all. Nicely done.

Thanks a ton guys! Glad you like him

You've got the partsmix exactly there Ember. The Necromancer torso isn't the greatest fit on the Magos 'legs' but the trick I found was to use the bits where the legs overhang as takeoff points for extra mechanical arms oh, and the neck is a Sicarian leg

Started painting now as well. Found the solution to the whole 'dozen shades of black' thing. I'm mixing up 3 blobs of Abaddon Black with an arbitrary number of blobs of each blue and green I have so each shade is different

First test paint



I can tell these guys are going to be a pain to photograph...

Looking good. The paintjob gives them a real Mad Max vibe. Nice tattoo, too.

Thanks man you're right about the Mad Max thing. Something about black ragged clothing and pallid white skin they'd fit rather nicely on a Mars-style red earth base

Actually, speaking of basing I thought of trying a bit of snow effect on patches of the base. The story is that as a sort of herald of the metaphorical winter that's falling upon the Thorne Moons the weather itself has changed, heralding winter and the coming of the Wolves

Crow number two done

Gorgeously grim, well done !

Amazing stuff.

I don’t know if it would help, and I never tried it myself, but back in the day a friend of mine had a pot of pearlizer. A paint additive that gave an opal-esque multihued sheen to things. Mixed with black it might give you that raven sheen.

Keep up the good work.

Wow those really do look like some ideas Blanche would have thought up. Love the dark tones mixed with the bright flesh, I think some snow on the base would be good.

These are excellent one thing to say when I think of crows I think of their yellow bills. Might work as a spot colour on their tubes or a glossier black for contrast?

Thanks guys! I'm glad you like them

I suppose they're more jet-black Ravens than Crows, but the latter is a word that fits their temperament better. Ravens imply at least a little regality, or at least being big birds...whereas crows imply bickering curiosity

Yellow's a good suggestion though, and for a scheme that wasn't deliberately low-contrast and murky would work really well

Shall see if I can pick up some of that pearliser. I've seen it done in car paints, and mixed with gloss and applied to their feather/barb things would help to differentiate from tye rest of the blackness

Third one done though (barring additional basing effects)

Glad you've finally started painting your bases. They really do a lot for the minis.

I don't think i've ever seen a crow with a yellow bill! is that maybe a thing like american robins and european robins being so different?

Anyways, i am loving the progress! Those robot legs really add to the whole birdlike and haunting feeling.

Really like that one. He looks nice and aggressive.

These guys would make a great wastelander Necromunda gang.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
Glad you've finally started painting your bases. They really do a lot for the minis.

Don't say that! I'll have to go over and paint all the bases on my desert ones now

Thanks man

 amazingturtles wrote:
I don't think i've ever seen a crow with a yellow bill! is that maybe a thing like american robins and european robins being so different?

Anyways, i am loving the progress! Those robot legs really add to the whole birdlike and haunting feeling.

Hum. I know Alpine Chuffs have yellow bills, so I wonder if it is a regional species thing.

Yeah the Sicarian kit is a true goldmine of awesome bits. I was thinking that the digitigrade-style legs from those have tons of usage for giving groups an animalistic feel. Making these guys has kind of given me the idea of how a similar approach could make an awesome 40k Beastman force too. Too many ideas, too little time...

 youwashock wrote:
Really like that one. He looks nice and aggressive.

These guys would make a great wastelander Necromunda gang.

They really would wouldn't they

Yeah I wanted most of them to look pretty low rent. Scavenger-types rather than dedicated warriors. However, there's always one in a group who's a fighter...

So i just found this thread whilst I'm home sick from work.

Good god, talent in the extreme, and your conversions are pieces of art. The angel and the centaur in particular strike me the most. Not even that but also the concept of this thread itself is amazing, i love the idea of this Mos Eisley esque 40k place.

Would love to see more, and would love to see where it goes! Perhaps you could integrate Necromunda rules for some gang fights or scalies operations?

Again, wonderful work mate!

Haha thanks man! Really glad you like them

I keep meaning to add to the idea. It's the age-old adage of too many ideas, not enough time, but I'll keep plugging away and get there eventually!

Gothic-40k Mos Eisley is almost exactly what I was going after

While none of them are particularly built towards any ruleset (it's quite liberating just ot make stuff that looks cool and not worry what it's supposed to be) I'm sure if the new Necromunda rules are broad enough I'll be able to use them as something

 Ynneadwraith wrote:


While none of them are particularly built towards any ruleset (it's quite liberating just ot make stuff that looks cool and not worry what it's supposed to be) I'm sure if the new Necromunda rules are broad enough I'll be able to use them as something

If you want, I'd love to write up some rules for a skirmish game using your models.

Those kroot conversions look extra awesome all painted up

Ynnead, love your conversion / kitbashed work brother. Your paint job really brings them to life. They look fantastic! Cheers man.

Thanks a ton guys! Really glad you like all my mucking about

Ember I had a crack at that myself a little while back trying to make a sort of open-world ruleset for Shadow War where you could basically write your own models from scratch and point them up. Got it to the point where it balances out math-hammer wise, but I don't really have any sort of gaming group to trial it out real-world (and there are already some pretty established fan updates like Inquisimunda and suchlike).

Here's my attempt https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/726439.page

If you'd like another go at it you might have something a little less unwieldy!

Update though! I suppose that's the Invitational done if I'm going to stop at 5 unlikely though...















I changed the tech-shaman's skull-hand for an omnispex to follow its fluff of being a member of a class/caste that hordes all of the advanced sensor equipment and uses it to appear as if they magically know where useful scavenging is, ensuring a powerful position within their scavenger society.

However, I don't think I like it. Seems to throw off the balance of the model somewhat, or close it up, or come across as too active a pose, or something I don't like about it anyway...

What do people think?

Those are definitely some of your best models.

I think I'm going to try and make your rule set a little more straight forward. Wish me luck!

I love that Shaman, but get what you're saying about the hand. Maybe have him holding it downwards, like he's hiding it from view?

Sweet let me know what you come up with Ember

Your absolutely right Craggy I think I'm going to try and integrate is slightly into the robes on his arm like the skull on the stock Necromancer model. What better way to stop it being nicked by pesky jealous crows than to have it integrated into your wrist

I love this idea!

A-yup, once more: Amazing, inspired conversions.

Looking back at your work, you've done a great job with a dark palate which can often times be redundant or bland. Well done. It's unifyingly dark, but not... boring.

Thanks a ton guys! Glad you like them the dark, limited palette (but not boring) was something I was really trying to pull off with these guys. Glad it's worked!

I've had a go at fixing my crow-priest as well and I'm much happier while he's less visually interesting than with the exposed scanner, it's fixed the balance of the model perfectly.

Clockwork thoughts chattered through the crow-priest's brain. This truly was a bizarre place they found themselves in. The crow-priests understood well the processes to connect biology to bionics, but this...this was something approaching...synthesis.





He was having difficulty differentiating where the biology ended and the technology began, one blending seamlessly into the other. It was all very...curious.





Crows are up to six-strong now



Some sort of juvenile I believe. Shorter of stature and more feeble of spirit than even it's skittish brethren.

Glad to see all the Crows together!

Never ceases to amaze me

I think it is a change for the better. They really do look good, these guys.

Great improvement on the crow priest - the pose fits wonderfully, and he is an imposing figure. Love your skin tones - some nice unhealthy pallor and a good purple in there.
A big fan of these figures in general, unique and some of your best, I think. Ace work!

Very nice! I'd really love a more open set of Shadow War rules - what little gaming I've done this fall has been in that system and I've quite liked it, but doing all my figures as dubious "counts as" models has not been so great. I'll definitely check it out.

I really think you need some contrast on the bases - to my eye it looks almost identical the crow's clothing. That is good for camo, but not so great for showing off the figures. Some snow would work I think.


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A few subtle dark greens and blues with gloss varnish along the edges of the cloth could work. I might try that myself.

Haha thanks guys really glad you like them.

Yeah I think it's the skintones that make them. Sort of lift the darker scheme with spots of brighter colour. Lucked out on that one

Yeah Shadow War's come the closest to getting me gaming of anything recently (aside from maybe Inquisimunda), but it's the restrictions that really get me. For instance, there's no way to legally play as an eldar force led by a Warlock.

It's a kickass system, but it forces you to create a warband tailored to the ruleset, rather than being a ruleset that enables you to play with the warband you've created. That's the distinction I wanted to rectify

Absolutely they need a couple of patches of snow on the base. Similar to how the skintone lightens the model's scheme, a smattering of snow should do the same for the base. Going to experiment with some PVA and baking soda to see what I can come up with

In lieu of any actual hobby stuff (still need to add a little snow effect to the bases) I've been mucking about with the Prisma app in lunch breaks if people haven't heard of it before it's basically a dead clever filter app that applies full-blown art styles to your photos in a way that feels suspiciously like cheating...

Some of the styles work really nicely on little plastic dudes

Sort of a CEL-shading style:









A different, warmer CEL-shadey design





A line-sketch style that sometimes seems to invent shadows from nowhere...







And a kickass mosaic-style one





So yeah, sod all talent or effort from me but they certainly look cool!