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This is essentially the start of my Chaos Warband, the Disciples of the Four - I originally intended to start a small corrupted IG army with supporting Iron Warriors CSM's based on The Shriven out of Dan Abnett's "First and Only" Gaunt's Ghost novels, but it has since been leaning towards an outright renegade Warband with a decent amount of conversion. (I essentially got near finishing one corrupted IG figure, Green Stuff, spikes, and all, when I got the sinking feeling that it would take me forever to get a decent-sized force finished - that, coupled with the "official" demise of Lost and the Damned rules.)

Anyhow, here's some of the stuff I've got thus far:
The Disciples of the Four are essentially a Warband initially started by a small, tight-knit splinter group breaking from the Word Bearers Legion who felt themselves to be more zealous, being devoted to both the physical and spiritual following of the 4 Chaos Gods and not simply "religious" worship as compared to the Word Bearers Legion as a whole, whose interests they believed were more in forced conscription of populations, monument building, and fixed devotion to a more formalized and structured following of the Fell Powers. My theme with this Warband is that they've given themselves over to the Chaos Gods both body and soul and that higher-standing members are riddled with mutation and "gifts" from all 4 Fell Powers as they believe physical demonstration of the power and strength of their Gods is just as important as spiritual dedication. As a whole, the Warband is much more likely to accept a wide range of followers inducted into their ranks (even Chaos Marines adopted/incorporated from other Legions, and former Loyalist Chapter members gone rogue).

What this basically gives me is the opportunity to paint a wide range of Chaos and Loyalist army colors for the sake of avoiding mindless tedium, the possibility for either wholescale conversion or just simple building of CSM's to "crank 'em out," and ideally a somewhat unified-looking force at the end with inclusion of default colors in specific locations and the Warband's own icon.


Here's the current icon (although I'm undecided regarding "spikes" versus "gear cogs"):



Here's the settled-on Warband scheme:

It's a little paler than the usual Word Bearers colors, with fleshy tones introduced into the painting that I can take up further into outright bodily mutations if I want. I've also decided on more of a dirty, weathered silverish trim color as opposed to a bright 'n' shiny silver trim like the Word Bearers.


Here's my first finished figure:



I've essentially got a smallish army list of 500 points composed of some Berzerkers, an undivided Lord, and some Havocs as support. I've started work on the Berzerkers (and the Lord's been a WIP, still needing details added to bring him more in line with the Warband's insignia) and have 2 1/2 finished.

Berzerker #1


Berzerker #2


Berzerker #3


The planned additions I've got a mind to do are a custom backpack, the addition of added riveted plates and wiring/cables into his head/skull, a selection of tanks full of "happy drugs" like Onslaught, Frenzon, etc, to be pumped directly into his system and a Khornate "mutation" of his hand fused with his chainsword.

I'd really appreciate feedback at this point, especially with the unfinished Berzerker #3!

I kind of feel the need to add in that people will probably end up confusing these guys for Red Corsairs, if I'm not mistaken.

They look really good though. Very clean painting, and the conversions on the 'Aspiring Berserker' are friggin awesome.

Well, I've mostly completed the chainsword "hand," have the plates and wiring and such on his skull as a WIP, and haven't even started on the backpack...



What I'd really appreciate at this point is feedback on the overall appearance. I plan on tying some skulls to the chain at his waist, but other than that, he's not exactly screaming "Khorne-loving ex-Loyalist Berzerker" to me... I also can't for the life of me think what sorts of mutations/gifts a follower of Khorne would have - Nurgle's changes are generally pretty straightforwards, Slaanesh has the whole "pale skin, leather, and Cenobite" thing going on, Tzeentch is magical alteration and the like... the only thing I can find so far as Khorne is grafted weapons, bone spikes, studs and skulls (lots of skulls!) What do you folks think would make this guy more Khornate-looking?

Well, it wouldn't apply to this particular model, but I've had some ideas about modeling Khorne Berserkers for a while now.

I suggest buying a box or two of the Chaos Marauders Warband from the WHFB range, and using pieces of them throughout your army. I've just always thought that the Marauders screamed Khorne in a way that nothing else can.

For instance: if you cut both arms off, and cut the torso off at the waist, you could use them in lieu of Chest pieces. It would be a fairly simple conversion, pretty easy to simply glue on the SM arms and legs. You could also use the bare arms you cut off the model in place of power armored ones on other models. And then you would be able to model cuts and scars all over the bare chests and arms of the models. Also, on the models that include a bare arm or two, you could have a Chainsword or something like that replacing the openly bleeding stump of a hand.

From there, I'd say lots of chains (It would be cool to see some hanging straight downwards from the waist, complete with skulls on the ends of them), and perhaps some fur loincloths, if you're looking to take some inspiration from real Berserkers (Though this might be treading pretty close to Space Wolves).

I can understand if you would have a problem with having only partially armored CSM, but you can't deny that it would look awesome.

I like where this is going!

I'll start by saying the fluff, colour scheme and warband icon are class. I noticed in your first painted model that it doesn't have the black greave the diagram had. I reckon if your freehand skills are up to scratch, perhaps add in some cogs on the legs as well (a good representation of the patheon of worship is better than dedicating oneself to just one god blah blah )

As for the modelling side of things, I think there are a number of things that could be improved a bit (meant in the nicest way possible of course ). Personally, I would of modelled the first Berzerker actually jumping off the ruins on the base instead of "leaping" over them if you catch my drift.

As for modelling Khornate details; skulls, chains and spikes are the way to go. The recent Khornate Terminator Lord and Berzerker kits released by FW might give you some ideas to try. The only other thing I could suggest at this point is tusks, because they're mostly associated with the animalistic and savage.

I hope that helps, and I'm looking forward to more!

To me, Khornate mutations are all about making you killier. So tusks and horns woul work. Another idea might be some kind of tail, or perhaps scales.
Anyway, like what you're doing here, keep it up!

Those models are ace!
What do you use for the rod elevating them over it>

Tinweasel wrote:
Here's the current icon (although I'm undecided regarding "spikes" versus "gear cogs"):

When I look at the picture, the first thing I thought of was "That mechanism would never work!"

karmaiko wrote:Those models are ace!
What do you use for the rod elevating them over it

In most cases, I use music wire - I think 1/32" diameter. The stuff I've currently got is so tough it's notched my cutters and it'll probably last unbent even if the plastic around it gets crushed.

I've never heard of music wire, but I will definitely look into picking some up. I'm assuming most music stores will sell it, I've got a bunch of assault marines to get elevated

Going back through my subscription list, apparently I haven't even updated one of my own threads - Whoops!

Here's the finished "inducted" Berzerker:


This is what I'm using as my Disciples of the Four warband insignia:


I've gotten a few variations printed out as waterslide decals and I just need to apply them as I go along now.

Damnit! it deletes the post with any content!

but anyway ill just say this is nice work and try not to feth up dakka anymore.

I like the CSM jumping through the air vary awesome

The backpack is sweet. It looks very aristocratic, which doesn't immediatly scream "khorne" but when done right works very well imho.

"I do say sir, prepare to die. Blood for the Blood god, you know?"

Lint wrote:The backpack is sweet. It looks very aristocratic, which doesn't immediatly scream "khorne" but when done right works very well imho.

"I do say sir, prepare to die. Blood for the Blood god, you know?"

On the difference between choice of godly devotions,The bezerker scoured the battlefield until he identified the Ultramarine captain, yelling "Ohhh Reginald...I disagree!" as he unleashed his Khornate fury!

Awesome stuff Tinweasel! I'm a big fan of the #1 bezerker, I've love to see a picture of him leaping into some unsuspecting IG conscripts, yelling all kinds of profanities and he tears them apart. I also really like your insignia design, in particular the first incarnation. It's intersting in the fact that it does not look overtly Chaos (so many of the symbols just have a big skull jutting out of the middle), so I really like that. You're painting is also stellar too, so keep up the good work!

The color scheme looks good and the models are already shaping up. Always good to see a new take on some of the Renegades.

It's been a while with some other projects in the meantime - and a very long period where allergies and a lack of motivation (among other things) made it impossible to paint (or do much of anything, really) - but the Berzerkers I posted earlier are now finished and painted.

Here's the most recent two:



And a few other things assembled, or with more progress:

(This is my temporary Power Fist Skull Champion stand-in, in what I like to call his "Want some candy, little Guard?" pose.



(Been working on this one in fits and starts for ages, but made more progress on it recently-ish.)

Very sexy. I just noticed the Ultramarine shoulder guard, nice touch.

Here's pictures of my finished GW Chaos Lord w/ Mark of Slaanesh and "Blissgiver" Daemon Weapon:


For starters, I'm glad I was able to repair damage from a first attempt at using waterslide decals on a figure - his hood, specifically. It turned out a little wonky texture-wise from all the stripped paint, but I painted up the rough patches to look like more warts and scarring along the lines of the rest of the figure.

I painted the Daemon Weapon with a slight purple tinge, with the metal going up to a white metallic color - same as the round decorative insignia pieces on his torso. I figgered since it's supposed to be a "Blissgiver," some exotic coloration was called for (outside of the grip, which I tried to paint up as being made from tanned human leather).

With the hood I had a hard time settling on a color scheme - I was originally going to paint it white/pale, but that was just too heavy with negative connotations in my mind (think Southeastern US white supremacist group-esque) and so I ended going with pale pink. That later changed with washes and such to more of an appropriate (in my mind) fleshy color, so I'm going with fluff that the hood is made also out of tanned human leather.

I painted the grip of his scourge and the holster of the bolter to look like tanned human leather as well, since the orangey-reddish base balances out the other colors in theory. I'm curious to hear how folks think they turned out.

Overall, I'd say I put the most difference in contrast in this figure compared to anything else I've yet painted - a lot of areas go from near-white (or even pure white) for highlights to near-black colors for shading. Again, I'm curious as to how folks think that turned out. He's going to be the (current) centerpiece of my tabletop CSM army-in-progress, so I figgered I'd give him some extra attention over the rank 'n' file - probably make him one big shooting magnet, but c'est la vie!

Feedback - the more detailed the better - would be appreciated!

The painting on the slaaneshi lord is superb, but on first glance it looks a bit too fantasy to be 40k. I'de suggest adding one CSM shoulder pad to his raised arm and maybe a trophy rack from an aspiring champion. And very well done on the other units too.

Love your work mate, in particular the fallen Ultramarine, keep it up!

Your transvestite Chaos Lord not only answers that old chestnut "can there be Femarines?" but also cracks me up something awful.

I am a bit concerned that his "purse" does not match his heels, however.