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Heh Heh Heh,

109 grots left... phew!!!
That would drive me insane, and proberbly mad, now for one of my favourite sayings.

I don`t suffer from insanity, i ENJOY it!!!!

109 grot to paint on a wall
, 109 grots
, you take one down
, you paint it around
, 108 grots left on the wall

Llamahead: less coffee I like the 'your mother smells of elderberries' thingy though, maybe if I add txt balloons?

Commissar Agro: it always looks disheartening, but I've painted quite a few fantasy armies, which regularly include 100+ models. if I can keep on painting 10 a month, I'll have 120 after a year. At this rate I'm painting 15-20 a month, so it should be OK. It's just.. daunting

I'll probably need a stompa to face off with my knight titan for my IG, but that'll be a reward for when I've finished a decent amount of more basic stuff. I already got hold of the stompa grots, so I got the most important bit!

Grimteef: Thanks, glad you like them! as for the grots: see the comment above. I'll make it, and sanity is highly overrated anyway...

Anung Un Rama: thanks. For those interested, here's the recipe:
- dark angels green basecoat over a black undercoat
- heavy drybrush with knarloc green foundation paint
- 2/3 knarloc, 1/3 bleached bone for the first highlight
- 1/2 knarloc, 1/2 bleached bone for the second highlight
- bleached bone with a very small amount of knarloc green for the almost final highlight
- bleached bone, applied very sparingly and watered down to be a bit opaque

EagleArk: Like I said above: sanity is highly overrated

shaso'vera: that's motivating...

109 huh? eh, that's not so many... :/
I'm right there with ya

wait, let me edit it

109 grots on the shelf
109 grots
you take one down
you paint it a lot
108 grots left on the shelf

Love the mega grotz may have to go buy the necessary bitz once i get the reliable anti armor units my chaos army NEEDS

The Good Green: not much when compared to a fantasy night goblin army, I know

Shas'o vera: 104 grots on the shelf!

ChaoticMind: Thank you! How about including the megagrots as allies? A S9 hit on the charge is pretty reliable anti-armour IMO! You know you want to, just count them as oblits .

So, five more grots painted:




And one of my favourite grots so far:


And a group shot:


If I can keep on going at this rate, I shoul do OK. However, distractions are up ahead: the battlewagon has had its detailing finished, so now it's graffiti and weathering time. Daunting...

I also received my killa kans, and they look brilliant. I've assembled the first one in a regular pose to get a feel of the model, the next ones will be tad wackier I hope. pics up soon!

On a slightly different note, I've started writing some fiction to go with the rebellion, here's a bit. let me know what you think!

WARNING: wall of text approaching!

M 39.851, Segmentus Pacificus, Gnosis IV, Adeptus Xenos research facility, greenskin holding cells

“I assure you, inquisitor ‘s Yrenne , the highest precautions have been taken to make sure our subjects cannot escape. As a matter of fact, considering the 97.6% probability of an attempted uprising, maximum security precautions are always in effect in the greenskin holding area.” The voice sounded mechanical, inhuman. Adeptus Mechanicus. With the lack of humanity came a lack of the fear Inquisitor ‘s Yrenne was used to. Magos Biologis Xornos lacked humanity, in a way only the Adepts of the machine-cult could. “What about the spores they produce, Magos?” A mechadendrite extended from the Adepts waist, projecting schematics. “These pics should provide more clarity, Inquisitor. The greenskin area is separated with airlocks from the rest of the facility; it’s air is brought in from the outside, and outgoing air passes through several mechanisms to destroy any spores or, indeed, greenskins that may be attempting to travel along the air ducts. All gates are guarded by servitors, programmed to shoot anyone not broadcasting the proper signals. Hence the bio-data-specific emitter on your wrist.” “So one of these emitters gives me full access to the facility?” The magos hesitated for a second, clearly taking care to formulate the next answer properly. “You have a visitor’s emitter, inquisitor. You are safe in all green zones, as stated on the documents we presented you with, and as long as you stay near an emitter with a higher ranking, you are allowed to go wherever the higher ranked emitter goes. Should you be found … unescorted… in an unregulated area servitors or skittarii are programmed to detain you and call up the nearest senior Magos. I realize this may seem insulting to you, but we have had to upgrade our security since the latest incidents. Full descriptions can be found in the data provided.”

The data had been extensive alright: the Adeptus had provided all the information the could on the ‘incidents’ as they called them. To the inquisitor, ‘sabotage’ seemed more appropriate. There had been reports of airvalves not functioning, disappearances of personnel and servitors. Not efficient, not like the Adeptus Mechanicus usually was. “What species are detained in this facility, magos Xornos?” The Magos blurted out information, akin to an automaton. The inquisitor wondered how much humanity really was left inside that mechanical shell. “Curently, we have 2 non-psyker Eldar, 546 Tau, fire and earth caste, 700 K’tir, 1.345 orks, 412 squig hounds, 2 squiggoths, and a number of gretchin between 7.000 and 8.000 units, depending on hatching periods and daily casualties. All numbers except for the Eldar and Squiggoths can be off by 1.7% due to a delayed information transfer on the vivisections.” The inquisitor frowned “No Tyranids?” “Our psychic containment facility is not finished yet, inquisitor, it would seem unwise to draw the attention of any tendril fleets. This is the same reason we do not keep Eldar or ork psykers on Gnosis IV. If orks with psychic powers are detected, they are properly restrained and moved to another facility. As for your next question: in case of an uprising, we have a full strength skittarii platoon equipped for anti-personnel, and a number of auxiliaries that can be pressed into service. The PDF has been equipped with all the proper material as well, and the commissariat keeps them admirably in line, considering the natural tendencies of the Gnosis IV PDF.” “And yet, none of your personnel could find the saboteurs responsible for extensive damage to the facility?” “Not all incidents can be catalogued as sabotage, Inquisitor” the Magos protested, rising high on his mechanical legs, looking like an obscene, spider-like centaur. He was cut short abruptly by ‘s Yrenne. “You’ve had 59 deaths, 32 irrepairably damaged servitors, several power leaks and shortages, several important thefts, and you still believe no sabotage is involved? My first guess would have been Tyranid vanguard organisms, but as far as we know, none have ever been near Gnosis IV.”

The inquisitor consulted the charts again, her eyes scanning over the data “falling cargo containers and masonry crushing personnel, supplies disappearing, cut cables, two ogryn servitors that have vanished, unexplained power fluctuations and shortages… Not to mention that several Tau stealth suits were stolen! Thank the Emperor the ammo had been removed! How could this happen?” Magos Xornos’ chest unit started to whirr, increasing air intake and body fluid transmissal. The inquisitor had learned early on in her dealings with the Adeptus that this indicated some kind of stress. She decided to push the Mechanicus adept. Since there was no psychic containment field active, she could enhance his emotions. Even when done subtly, it would bring his reaction time down to a normal human level, just like his emotions would go up to a human level. “This is sabotage Magos, and I wonder why this wasn’t reported earlier. These “events” as your people call them, have been happening for over a year now! If Tyranids aren’t involved, it must be chaos cultists!” The Magos startled, the gears in the chest unit going a tad faster. “I assure you, inquisitor, this facility is loyal to-" “How can you be sure? Have you checked every single worker here yourself, Magos?” “No, but…” She decided to spring the trap. “So, what do you think, Magos?”

“Jealousy” It was blurted out, and the tech adept was obviously startled by his own answer. “Continue” The psychic imperative was barely needed. “My work with the smaller greenskins is ground-breaking. We have separated a number of them from their bigger cousins, and it creates a very different social structure. They have proven useful if cowardly workers, and some share the genetic aptitude considering all things mechanical of their larger cousins. They may provide us with interesting information on greenskin technology and genetic imprinting” “What else? Just this can’t be enough!” Again, a little nudge at the mind. It was harder to affect a partly mechanical mind, and she couldn’t read the thoughts like she could with an unenhanced human being, but she could surely work his emotions. The Magos’s defenses cracked open a bit more. “The holy grail of greenskin study is similar to the inquisition’s radical path, as you are well aware. A weapon that would make greenskins turn upon each other in such a fashion that they do not get the chance form a Waaaghhh!, or that a Waaaghhh! poses no threat to non-greenskins.” The Adept paused, hesitated for the tiniest fraction of a second, then decided to continue. “Social conditioning of the smaller greenskins has met with some success. I will download you a pict fragment that should prove my point”.

The pict-feed was high-quality, filmed through some kind of grating; a hidden camera in the greenskin holding facility. There was an ork visible, a huge, muscular monster, with fists the size of inquisitor ‘s Yrenne’s head. He was followed on cameras as he stalked through a number of areas. He was clearly new to this part, exploring as he went along. With surprising ease, he ripped a piece of pipe out of the wall, making for an improvised club. As he came into a new area, he noticed a few gretchin. His face split open with a wide grin, baring yellow fangs. “Oi, you lot over there! I’m hungry, get me a squig or it’ll be you I’ll be having for dinna!” The camera panned out, showing several of the diminutive greenskins looking at each other. ‘s Yrenne had studied greenskins extensively before, so she knew what would happen next: the grots would scarper off, trying to fulfil their master’s wishes. If he didn’t like their efforts, he’d clobber a few and maybe eat one of them, just like he’d said. Or he’d clobber a few anyway, for good measure. Greenskin society was brutal, and grots never stood a chance against the orks. She was in for a surprise.

Te grots didn’t scarper off. On the contrary, they assembled around the ork, grots appearing as if from nowhere, many carrying bit of glass or pipe. Then, they began to shout, one at first, then more, all the squeaky little voices blending together: “Please, master, no more beatings” “We’re workin’ as fast as we can boss!” “Don’t kick the gretchin!” What should have been a pleading, miserable voice, was instead a taunt. There was a malicious glint in their eyes, and a vicious tone to their voice. These grots would not obey. The ork, like orks are wont to do, decided to use brute force. “You lot moutin’ off now, iz ya! Feel me pipe then!” As the ork swung his pipe, cables were thrown. ‘s Yrelle hadn’t even noticed them, focused as she was on the grots’ unexpected behaviour and the more visible weaponry. It took the grots less then a second to bring the hulking brute down. It took the ork a lot longer to die, however.

“this was approximately 18 months ago. It was the first time his behaviour was observed, though it had often been hypothesized this behaviour should occur.”
The next fragments were similar. The number of orks increased, and it appeared that the grots who had thrown off the shackles of repression had become a different breed of greenskin altogether. In the last pict-feed, an ork mob was lured into a dead-end, and then bombed to death with whatever the grots had found, creating a kind of mechanical cave-in. A trapped ork was tortured for hours on end, before being clobbered to death by a bunch of exhilarated grots. “Some payback…” The inquisitor mused. “Not quite, inquisitor; the grots you see here have never been oppressed by orcs. They were allowed to build up strength for 7 months. Then, we introduced a few squighounds and other creatures, forcing them to fight together against a physically stronger enemy. After that, we led a few grot slaves that had fled from the orks there. The results... Are impressive, if I do say so myself.”

So what do you guys think?

Indeed very impressive, like the last part when the grots chant their taunt really great story and would like to hear more about inquisitor yrennes work against the grot uprisings

Love it

To be honest, 6 steps are too much for my taste, especially for a unit you field in such large numbers. I'll ask again how you're doin in about 40 models.

I like the fluff. Looking forward to more.

Great fluff!
But where so they escape?

CommissarKhaine wrote:
ChaoticMind: Thank you! How about including the megagrots as allies? A S9 hit on the charge is pretty reliable anti-armour IMO! You know you want to, just count them as oblits .

Evil, but in a good way The allies idea actually works with my army, thanks for the oblits idea.

CommissarKhaine wrote:
So what do you guys think?

Nice fluff I'm now patiently awaiting the continuation of the squeaky WAAGH!!!!'s history.

LiveForFun666: Thank you!

Anung Un Rama: it's Ok, the first four steps are done in bulk; the last two steps are reduced to 4-5 models when I start the detailing. I realise it's still a lot, but the effect is worth it to me. I don't need to get this army ready for a tournament or anything, so: no time limits . Fluff updates will be erratic, but I promise I'll continue the story!

Boss'eadbreaka: getting there! I wanted to flesh out the setting a bit; this should allow for some interesting fluff/modelling options later.

ChaoticMind: Evil is always in a good way! Post up some pics when you're done, curious to see how other people would approach building them! As for the story: glad you like it! I can't guarantee any updates there, so waiting patiently may be a good idea

Keep going CommisarKaine, i am loving your work, i really cant wait for this to be finnished, its the sort of army i would love to play against becasue of the fun factor

Impressed! Grots are excellent, fluff doubly so. I feel inspired to flesh out more of Da Dark Angelz history now...

Young_logan: Keeping at it . The army will be getting a first outing somewhere near easter (just with some friends, and it'll sadly have to include unpainted models :( ) I'll let you know how it does. And if you ever drop by in Belgium, we can have a game

Arakasi: Thanks! I thin,k the grots are great models, they have lots and lots of character. If things turn out OK, we'll have the grots meet the Da dark angelz at some point

Now, some new pics. I recently got my killa kanz in the mail, and since I suffered from a bout of insomnia, decided to assemble them in the middle of the night. Hence the side plates that are backwards on two models . It' snot a horribly big deal though, and the model is very nice: lots of detailing! I didn't even feel that need I have with every other ork vehicle to cut it up and turn it in something decent. My only gripe is that you don't get enough weapons options, so I scratched two extra grotzookas. White plasticard doesn't photograph all that well, so I hope you can make them out.

First killa kan, basic assembly to get a feel of the model:


Numbers two and three, with scratched grotzookas. I wanted one to look like it was charging and the other one as if suffering recoil from the grotzooka.









And a group shot:



On my next batch of killa kans, I'm going to: 1) set the side plates straight and 2) try and fix the ball joints for the legs, since they don't allow all that much movement; a pipe system like I used for the battlewagon should be feasible.

CommissarKhaine wrote:Young_logan: Keeping at it . The army will be getting a first outing somewhere near easter (just with some friends, and it'll sadly have to include unpainted models :( ) I'll let you know how it does. And if you ever drop by in Belgium, we can have a game

Arakasi: Thanks! I thin,k the grots are great models, they have lots and lots of character. If things turn out OK, we'll have the grots meet the Da dark angelz at some point

Look forward to it! (though I imagine it won't be soon...) Da Dark Angelz have had a few field trips now - but also sadly included unpainted and incomplete models ... Still, as time goes by, they look better and better (now if I could only get my regular opponents to stop upping the points faster than I can complete them!)

Loving the Kans. I have some in the mail myself, though initially for bits and inspiration rather than the Kans themselves (looking for buzzsaw and weapon inspiration for my Deffkoptas...). If you hadn't mentioned it I'm sure no one would have noticed the backwards side plates - or if they did, would have thought it was deliberate It does seem to be a theme regarding lack of weapons options - but personally I prefer the unique look that comes from having to scratch build the additional grotzookas - here and in other blogs - and am looking forward to myself - eventually.

I also tend to assemble my first model fairly basically to get a feel for the model Its nice to see the dynamic poses possible though!

Nice Grotzookas. Can't wait to see the whole unit painted.

yeah,
Nice KillaKans, and I agree the grotzookaz look top notch.
Might steal your Zooka conversion ideas for my own MiniWaaaagh!

Painting grots can take it's toll keep it up.
I hope to get paired against Arakasi at the dakka meet up, so my boys get to show them D'ork Angels who's boss! Haha!
And thinking about match ups It would be cool to pit our armies against each other!

Panic...

Arakasi: know the feeling ? Quite a few guys at my LFGS are fans of grey... Still, it's very satisfying to see an army grow! The kans are great, you'll enjoy them! If you intend to cannibalize them for bits, I'm sure the bodies would make nice grot sponsons; and the legd, arms and engines have lot sof uses. It's a very nice kit! I only used half the engines on two of the kans, because the regular engines stick out pretty far. I prefer the less obvious look this gives me, and it also grants me some interesting bits. The grotzookas...My main problem is, that there isn't all that much to scratchbuild. The barrel is just plasticard tubing with some detailing, and anything vaguely box/barrel like and the right size will fit on top. Add to tnat that the flamer and shoota arm are the only arms suitable to start building the zooka, and I'm afraid there won't be all that much difference between all the scratchbuils. As for the side plates: it does matter, since it also alters the angle of the legs. If mine had their legs in a normal pose, they'd have X-legs. Positioning of the legs is a weak spot of the kit btw, with reall ball joints there would've been a lot more options. Still, only a minor gripe for an otherwise great kit.

Anung Un Rama: Thanks.They've been undercoated black already,so there's hope there

Panic: Glad to have you drop by! Feel free to steal any ideas, it was your grots that pushed me over the edge in the first place to start this little voyage to insanity. If you meet Arakasi, take pics and post a batrep, it should be cool. If I ever go to the dakka meet up, we'll have a game- grots vs grots - total chaos .

What thickness plasticard do you use in most of your conversions as im thinking of getting some to aid conversions and such like

I just read the fluff. It's awesome. An Adeptus Mechanicus initiated Gretchen Revolution is an amazing idea that lends itself very well to a Big Mek grot army. Well done, and well written.

*edit* thos grot-zookas are great too.

Panic wrote:yeah,
I hope to get paired against Arakasi at the dakka meet up, so my boys get to show them D'ork Angels who's boss! Haha!
And thinking about match ups It would be cool to pit our armies against each other!

Orks dat dinks d'ere beakies versus grotz datz dinks d'ere boyz - oh what a confused battlefield! Looks like I'll be arriving on the Friday and I believe Sunday is a free for all - so plenty of opportunities to put down a grot insurrection or two... required or not

CommissarKhaine wrote:Arakasi: know the feeling ? Quite a few guys at my LFGS are fans of grey... Still, it's very satisfying to see an army grow! The kans are great, you'll enjoy them! If you intend to cannibalize them for bits, I'm sure the bodies would make nice grot sponsons; and the legd, arms and engines have lot sof uses. It's a very nice kit! I only used half the engines on two of the kans, because the regular engines stick out pretty far. I prefer the less obvious look this gives me, and it also grants me some interesting bits. The grotzookas...My main problem is, that there isn't all that much to scratchbuild. The barrel is just plasticard tubing with some detailing, and anything vaguely box/barrel like and the right size will fit on top. Add to tnat that the flamer and shoota arm are the only arms suitable to start building the zooka, and I'm afraid there won't be all that much difference between all the scratchbuils. As for the side plates: it does matter, since it also alters the angle of the legs. If mine had their legs in a normal pose, they'd have X-legs. Positioning of the legs is a weak spot of the kit btw, with reall ball joints there would've been a lot more options. Still, only a minor gripe for an otherwise great kit.

Panic: If you meet Arakasi, take pics and post a batrep, it should be cool. If I ever go to the dakka meet up, we'll have a game- grots vs grots - total chaos .

I have the opposite problem - except for endtransmission (who is building up his force at the same time), everyone else I've played has had fully painted armies

There may not be *much* to scratch build on the grotzookas - but I've still yet to see two as similar as using the provided one! I'll keep in mind the side plate orientation issues - actually, this sort of information is a perfect example of why I follow too many project blogs - I imagine it will be very helpful to all of us following behind...

There will be pics and batreps Though I think da boyz would have more fun watching grot versus grot than having to take time out (and risk humiliation) to put them in their place...

well, you all put my tau to shame,my painting skills are horrible, and im a bit afraid to post picks of them on here now.

I would love to go head to head with these guys, just to see them on the table. Loving it!!

The grots..are awesome. You've created an army rich in background and awesome. I tip my hat to you.

Love the ogre idea, looks wicked. Grot army is a great project.

Have you seen the Runtbot figure Forgeworld released for their open day at the weekend? It would make a good warboss or anything else you could think of.

Keep up the good work

Young_Logan: 1mm mostly, with 0.5 mm or cardboard for detailing and 1.5 mm for very sturdy things. For the grots, I haven't used 1.5 mm yet. 1mm is easy to score and snap, and it's solid enough for most projects.

The Good Green: Glad you like the fluff (and the grotzookas). Initiated isn't quite word I'd use, but you'll see when the fluff evolves

Anung Un Rama: Brillant models! If the rules are okay, I just may have to include a few. Thanks for the heads-up!

Arakasi: Good motivation to paint then . Look at it the positive way: you've got lots of guys with experience, use that to outclass their armies . As for the grotzookas... I think the problem is they don't really provide a challenge to scratchbuild. But you're right, I haven't seen two that are the same either - as it rightfully should be in a greenskin army! I'm so looking forward to the pics of the batrep! Maybe next time I'll try and make it to the meet-up... We'll see!

shas'o vera: Post them; that way you can get constructive criticism and improve; it's the best way to up your game. The dakka community is friendly, so no need to be afraid.

Behind th Mask: If you're ever in Belgium, let me know, I'd love to face off against your exodites!

alexwars1: Thanks! Grtos really allow for fun conversions; I simply love the creative options they give you!

mikeyboyj: glad you like it! I've seen the runtbot; but I don't know anyone going, and it would mean using a stock model for a character - ain't gonna happen with this army! I like the concept though, might steal it.

Hey all, it's pretty hectic at work, and both the wife and son have been ill, so little modelling time. To add insult to inury, I dropped the battlewagon, which is suprisingly sturdy: only the little gun turret needed fixing!I managed to get the kans sprayed black, and I did some more work on the battlewagon other then repairs: here's a start on the graffiti. Still WIP, and still needs weathering, but I thought I'd show what I've been up to:







Can you tell I played vampire?




I'll be adding plenty more scribbling, and I need to detail a lot of the grafiti a bit more as well. After that, it's weathering time!

Kooking good
I assume you'll paint the "teeth" on the upside down front ram as well.