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I've had these as a side project since 2006, but now months before the new codex, I've managed to complete 750 points of fluffy, non-competitive nids. The delay mainly came from the forgeworld ripper swarms which were some of the most boring and annoying models I've every painted - 20 to 25 models per base and 6 bases is a looooot of rippers. Funnily, I went with them as I didnt feel like painting a load of gaunts. Ahhh hindsight.

The army was painted in a very quick scheme so that I can add to it quickly in the future if needed. I used a lot of drybrushing for the skin, but the carapace is about 4-5 layers of different colours to give it a more carapace-y effect. The painting was a lot more sloppy than I usually care to do, but the whole point of this army was to force myself to spend less time on each model and go for the overall effect of a painted army instead.

Anyhow, onto the pics, and as usual, click on any to be able to zoom in further using the dakka gallery...

I LOVE THEM!!!!

But they kind of skeeve me out. Some how they remind me of a GI not wearing pants....



anyways great job!

Very nice job.

It's an interesting colour scheme... On an individual basis, I'm not so sure about the pink and brown, but the group shots look great. So given that was the stated goal, you would seem to have achieved it admirably

Very cool!

Color scheme kind of makes me think of some underwater creature from off the colder coasts for some reason - probably the green. Like an algae-covered crab or something you'd find in the waters off of Maine.

Its mating season for the ripper swarms o_o

LunaHound wrote:Its mating season for the ripper swarms o_o

Sigged .

But yeah I really like this color scheme, although I think the contrast between the dark green and the really bright skin is a bit harsh. Maybe a wash to tone down the brightness of the skin?

The color scheme is good. I'm curious as to how you got all the darker pinks in the grooves. was it a wash?

TempusCorvus wrote:The color scheme is good. I'm curious as to how you got all the darker pinks in the grooves. was it a wash?

I'll take a guess before lego replies ;p
red wash with very heavy acrylic medium mixed

They look like they are modified people, which I suppose they are...
Definately Creepy. Nice work

Very nice work, yet this is your sloppy stuff. Impressive. However, I would have done some gaunts or stealers first since it gives some troops capable of holding objectives.

Love em!
Very military style scheme

On a side note mate, you cant hold objectives since your only troop choice/s are swarms

Thanks everyone. The first pic is a better indicator of the colours - the pink is not too bright in real life, but it is made a lot brighter by camera flash. The skin is done by painting on dheneb stone, washing with either a scab red wash (earlier) or just the red citadel wash (later) and then drybrushing / painting on bleached bone.

The scheme was devised by wanting to mix red and green in some manner. The black talon colour was added to break things up on the larger nids and the blue tongues were used to give a clear focal object on the face of each creature.

As for the list, yes it sucks but it was designed in 4th edition. I dont want to rejig things until the 5th edition codex comes out, and I dont really play the game anyway so this army is basically just for decoration.

Looks great
Also he mentioned that they're a fluffy army, so I don't think that really matters so much at the moment.

Edit: Ninja'd

True enough mate
I guess its worth waiting on the new dex before building anything set in stone.

(watch as fex's still stay as 6 max per army, then a winged fex takes into fast lol)
But yea, im waiting on new nids before i start building an army.
Starting skaven to tide me over till then.

But again, love the scheme
Stands out well and thats the 1st time ive seen nids in that colour scheme

To clarify the fluff, they are supposed to be the 'final phase' of invasion described in the codex, where ripper swarms are running rampant over the planet and the big bugs come in to clean up the last few survivors. That is why I went for a dead, desert style base as well - to represent a dying world a bit better.

Seems true to its fluff then.
Maybe a malanthrope to really add more fluff (easily made through the fex kit and some GS) or FW have a semi-OK one

You've definitely hit the nail on the head with regards to being fluffy. I've just finished reading some 'Nid fluff on how they take over worlds so its good to see a force based on it.

I like the scheme a lot but i would like to see the green being a bit more detailed (highlighting). Saying that it could be the picture though.

With nids I usually prefer an OTT highlight on the carapace, I don't know why.

I would be proud if this was my force though.

Good lord those ripper swarms are just that. Nice work man, nice work indeed! And if anyone wanted to see flesh tones on nids, there ya go

Clthomps wrote: But they kind of skeeve me out. Some how they remind me of a GI not wearing pants....

That made me LOL.


I really like the color scheme. It seems a lot more natural then the studio schemes, and is nicely executed. I love the Ripper Swarms. But,then again, they are one of my favorite Nid units ever. I love horde armies though, so I'd love to see a huge amount of gaunts in that scheme.

Nice Job

Woo forge world rippers (are the best).
The colour scheme does look very good adn i like how all of your army looks the same colour. Usually with my armies i don't do a such heavy wash on one than another through no fault of my own meaning some look different ,but lickily this didn't happen much to you.

Those forgewrold ripper swarms may be a pain to paint but yours sure do look intimidating and very cool.

Great job on the nids, be interesting to see where you take them after the next dex is released.