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Fantastic looking army! Kroot are a very underrated army in my opinion and certainly don’t get enough coverage by GW main.

This army is lovely. The theme you’ve gone for has hit the nail on the head as to how I’d love to see a future incarnation.

Consider me here to stay and see how these come in.

I love Kroot, and love what you have done with them, especially the conversions with the Van Saar. I wish they had made them shine more in the new Tau codex...

I love these guys so much, I'm thinking about making a Necromunda gang out of them...maybe as 'counts-as' Cawdor with their shooty CC weapons...additionally, mixing some of the gear/weapons from the new Cawdor gang kit with the kroot models would make for some cool conversions.

Super cool project, the painting on those mad conversions turned out really great.

And you are planning a kislev army? A man with an exquisite taste What game system are you making an army of them for?

Update: Vulturekin and Painting WIPs

Well, another week turned into 2 and I don’t have much progress to actually show despite how much time and work each miniature requires. Nevertheless, I have something to show, and more on deck. And I got some models sent to Offworld Studios so I should get those back soon to take finished photos.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. @Illumini Yep! I’ve got a Kislev army on deck for after this. Fully converted, just stuck at the phase of “how should I base these guys?” depending on the game I think I’ll ever play with them.


Stalker Vulturekin
As shown last time, I converted the WGE Greater Good Hunter I to the Shaper for my Vulturekin. As of yesterday, a WIP photo looked like this:



With this style established, it was time to replicate the style using stock Kroot. Kroot only have 4 pairs of legs, and only one leg of the 8 works unmodified for a model that’s flying instead of standing. Using my limited greenstuff sculpting skills, super glue, and lots of cursing, I was able to chop up some Kroot legs and give a bit of variability to the Kroot. I built the legs to roughly mirror mimic the legs of the dark elves based on the set of wings I was using. After the legs were done, it was fairly quick to attach the wings and then connect the torsos to the legs. Only on one Kroot did I extend the torso (top left in the photo) to get the pose I wanted. The last thing I attached were heads, as I wanted to choose the specific head that seemed to fit each body well.



After the models were mostly assembled, it was time to arm them (hah!) with weapons. I am loving the way the cattle prod weapons look in the army so far and decided to stick with the theme. I had a bunch of these cool pistols left from my Skitarii kits so that’s what everyone got. I’m considering swapping them for the blockier rad-pistols instead. Who likes that idea?



And there we go. Half done with my Vulturekin now!


Painting WIPs
As mentioned above, I sent most of my models off to Tim at Offworld a week or so ago and the WIP photos have been trickling in have been soooooooo cool. In my post, I mentioned I was unhappy with the overall look of the Pathfinder Kroot. I traded away the rest of that kit, but I decided to keep the one guy and use him as a special character. Painted up, he actually looks pretty good! I still don’t want a whole unit of them, but he looks a lot better than I thought before. So...progress!



For color scheme, I decided to stick with the pale, warm skin and bolt blue quills that we decided on for the Knarloc Riders. However, to add to the variety and hodgepodge look of the army, the spot patterns on the heads and shoulders are different for the Sicarians and Skitarii Kroot than for the others. They still got brownish spots, but not the darker hue on the heads and shoulders. Some also don’t have spots at all. I think it adds to the haphazard look for the army, but could be convinced otherwise.




Anyway, that’s it for today. Thanks again for all the positive comments. Hopefully I’ll have the last Skitarii Kroot done and sent to Offworld this week, and should have some lightbox photos of painted guys to share. Anyway, see you all next week (hopefully)!

Update: WIP Painted Abhumans, Xenos, and Untrustworthy Majordomo

Just a quick update as I wait to get models in-hand, I got some WIP photos from Offworld Studios of a few of the more exotic characters in my Kroot Mercs army, most of which are intended just for the display board. The overall theme of the display board will feature the Kroot army arrayed for battle, with the Master Shaper and the Imperial Governor negotiating a contract in the background.


Abhumans
First off we have Gor Halfhorn and Grendl Grendlsen, two Abhuman Mercs that the Ironbeaks use to make contacts with more...open Imperial worlds. Tim did an awesome job on these guys, and I particularly like the blood on the chainsword and the shock of purple hair on Gor. A fur covered Beastman in desert camo on a desert base would look rather flat without something to make it pop, and it really does pop.



For Grendl, Tim went with a Space Wolves color palette, throwing back to their shared space-Vikings origins. As an aside, I really like this model and am super happy FW made it after so long with Squats in the margins of the fluff. It’s a great homage to the classic line, while still feeling like it belongs in the modern 40k aesthetic.



So yeah, Abhumans are great to have on the payroll. If an Imperial Governor is already willing to entertain Abhumans, it’s not a far jump to “acceptable” Xenos. And speaking of acceptable Xenos...


Jokaero
Much like a 3rd ed ][nquisitor, the Master Shaper of the Ironbeaks has assembled a coterie if useful Xenos and (ab)human allies. Among his Xenos compatriots is a Jokaero, who serves as an advisor/mechanic/curiosity among the Kroot.



I don’t have much idea of what I’d ever use him for on the tabletop, but he’ll have a space on the display board for sure. And from a fluff perspective, having one of the more tolerated Xenos species on your team helps get your foot in the door. And once an Imperial governor has let one acceptable Xenos in, its a short hop to letting in a less acceptable Xenos...

Sslyth
As part of his entourage, the Ironbeaks’ Master Shaper employs a Sslyth bodyguard. This is one of my favorite models to see finished. When discussing color schemes, I decided that I wanted the snakeman painted up like a gila monster. Tim did a great job of finding reference photos and matching the scheme of a fat desert lizard. I am really happy with how this guy ended up.



The reptilian features, excess of arms, and “interesting” demeanor has endeared this Sslyth to many of the more vicious kindreds of the Ironbeaks, including the Vulturekin. Although a bit dim-witted,
Sslyth are renowned as fighters and this particular one has proven valuable. Still, letting in an alien that commits the further sin of consorting with other aliens is pretty damn heretical. An Imperial Governor would have to be desperate to entreat with such a creature, or be getting some really questionable advice...


Untrustworthy Majordomo
Just behind my desperate Imperial governor will be his (likely treacherous and scheming) majordomo. It is this guy who whispers in his ear, telling him the Chaos cult can be put down, or the Drukhari raids ended, if he were to hire (just this once) some Xenos Mercenaries.



I really like the bold, rich red of the robe and the pale, almost white skin of the advisor. Makes you wonder if he’s even a normal human or if there’s something much more sinister afoot. I mean, he pals around like this:



With friends like these, I imagine it won’t be long until Imperial Governor Bluth has some things to explain to the Arbites.




Anyway, that’s it for today. I’ve got some finished models arriving soon for lightbox photos, and I’m working on my unit of Krootarii Vanguard and the Master Shaper himself. Stay tuned!

Loving the Jokaero and the abhumans. They’re lovely minis and you’ve certainly added to them with the paint brush.

Also nothing wrong with a little light treason as long as you’re the governor.

The kroot with wings look amazing. Love the riders on page 1 as well. So awesome!

Update: WIP Painted Vulturekin and Kroot Saar, Greater Knarloc Update, and Next Steps and New Ideas

With work as it is I’ve gotten very little done myself, but fortunately Offworld Studios blazed away on my Kroot and I’m super excited to be getting them back this weekend. I’ve got a few WIP photos to show before they arrive and I can take lightbox photos.

But also!!! I tracked down the original core sculptor of my Greater Knarloc! This project wouldn’t be where it is without tons of help and inspiration from other modelers and sculptors, so I like to give credit where it’s due. In that vein, I’ve got some more inspiration and ideas for going forward.


Vulturekin and Kroot Saar
First off we have WIPs of my last two (half) units in Offworld Studios painting queue. For my Vulturekin, I wanted to lean hard into the “Vulture” part, emphasizing that whatever creatures this Kindred ate to adapt wings also imparted a particularly savage and ferocious demeanor. Of all my techy-Kroot, I intend for the Vulturekin to stand out as the most feral and I think (hope) my hackjob conversions and Tim’s fantastic paint job really set that tone. Am I right or nah?



I think I previously showed off the Shaper of the Vulturekin, but here he is again. He’s slightly more techy looking but I think he still fits with the rest of the unit. In game terms, I don’t have anything to run them as (maybe Sicarian Infiltrators?) until the flying 30k robits (Ursurax?) come to 40k someday. But that’s ok, because I really just wanted to make the models. As with a lot of this army, what a models specifically counts as is less important to me.



Next we have the Kroot Saar. Where the Vulturekin as the most feral of my Kroot, these guys are the high tech elite scavengers of the army, akin to ork Flash Gitz. Sporting high tech armor, energy shields, and stolen Custodes halberds (with the teleported looking bits carefully removed), these Kroot form the elite bodyguard of my Master Shaper. To help fit this status, Tim went with a Custodes-style NMM on the halberds and I think it works great. The weapons don’t look to really “fit” with the rest of the army, and that’s how I wanted it.



Thanks to FW, I’ve got rules to run them as Secutarii Hoplites, but who knows how that will work. I may end up rebasing them to 32mm bases and running them as one of the fulgurite/electro priest type units.

As a quick aside, Tim at Offworld has been posting one of his crazy Mad Max style cars each day the last week or so and they’re definitely worth checking out. This one in particular is amazing! it was seeing these cars in person that really drew me in, help me solidify the style I wanted in my mind, and convinced me that I wanted Offworld for my painting work. I have no regrets!


Greater Knarloc Update
As I mentioned in my second post, the core of my Greater Knarloc, my centerpiece model, was sculpted back in the day by a dude from Spain that I think I contacted trough Kompletely Kroot (or maybe the Bell of Lost Souls forum). I have long since lost whatever emails or PMs led to me commissioning an oversized Great Knarloc and I assumed I’d never find them. However! When looking for inspiration for Knarlocs, I went down a rabbit hole that led me to EATATAU which ultimately led me back here to Darius’ July 2010 Painting & Modeling post about making the model! I was even able to email him, check in, and share the current state of Yik, the Greatest Knarloc.



I always want to give credit where credit is due, so to Darius, “thanks!” Yik is definitely the greatest now.




Next Steps and New Ideas
As for what’s left to do, as of right now it’s fairly simple. First, I need to finish my next ten Krootarii. I am assembling these guys based on my first ten, but using Vanguard rifles instead of Ranger rifles. I also need to finish my last 5 Kroot Saar and Vulturekin so that I’ve got 10 of each, which should give me some flexibility in what I run them as. After these, I’m going to assemble another 10x Krootarii Rangers. As this point, making Krootarii is pretty easy. I also still need to make a Master Shaper and a few special characters, but those will depend heavily on what army I counts-as to guide the base size as weapons and style.

In all of these, I plan to incorporate some of the designs and mods in War Head’s masterwork, god-tier level Scavenger Kabal. This army is what go me off my ass to finally finish the Ironbeaks, and I’ve already taken a number of cues from it (like using Necron arms and legs as cybernetic limbs). These models in particular have given me ideas to give some models literal Iron beaks:



I also have another 3-6 Knarloc Riders planned. My first six were inspired by Hive Fleet Moloch’s
Crisis Knarlocs, seen here:



For my next set, I’ll be using a different design style, mostly inspired by Trovarion’s masterful Games Day Germany entry (although obviously not as good) here:



Also, shoutout to airinhere’s Kroot Mercenaries for ideas on Knarloc Riders.

That’s about all I have planned but I definitely want to keep expanding beyond that. One idea is to create some bike style vehicles built as monowheels, similar to Kroot Warspheres:



In the first iteration of the Ironbeaks in 2009/2010, I made 3 monowheels based on the plastic Skagen doomwheels but I was never entirely satisfied with them:



Fast forward to now and I think I could make much better looking, more thematically fitting warwheels out of Mantic’s Veer Myn Tunnel Runners. They even look like scaled down warspheres:



I worry about what kind of plastic Mantic stuff is made from, but if I’m only making a few I should be alright (I hope). I might even replace my Krootoxen with conversions of the similar-looking Skaven Doomflayers, although “resin” sounds like Finecast, and that Sslyth was the first and last Finecast model I hope I ever have the misfortune of assembling.

And lastly, other Kroot species. I’ve got 3 Krootoxen, maybe two dozen Kroothounds, and will hopefully acquire about a dozen limited edition Spined Hounds from Zealot Miniatures. Other ideas include Krootifying vehicles, such as the Sector Mechanicus Servohaulers to run as transports should I ever need them. And of course the new Ork Speed Freaks have me salivating with ideas. As yet I don’t have a strong inspiration of what to do with any of these models, so I’m open to ideas. In fact, I’m open to ideas on anything!


So, that’s it for today. So much to do, so little time. If you have any ideas for my Kroot, or anything you’ve ever wanted to see enkrootified, let me know! Hopefully I’ll get some photos of what I already have this weekend. Stay tuned!

So I mean, tons of great work dude You're definitely closing in on the high, high bar set by War Head's crew (which was a pleasure to check out again, cheers for the reminder!)

Your plans are exciting, probably looking forward to monowheels the most. Big fan of the Mantic tunnel runners, keep meaning to get my claws into them as well, equally dubious of the quality but I've heard next to nothing about them, apart from this (IMO excellent) review of the kit; https://blog.untilsomebodylosesaneye.net/2017/10/a-run-run-run-run-runaway.html

- Salvage

That’s actually a rather helpful link Boss Salvage! I have not seen pictures of the model disassembled so that gives me a better idea of what I’d need to do to mod it. I think I’ll snag at least one to convert and even if I don’t love it I can treat it as a special character (like with the Pathfinder Kroot).

Thanks!

Update: Kroot Guntractor

It’s been a while since my last paste, and I don’t have much to show for except that I got married. Nevertheless, it’s time for an update! Today I’ve got the first “vehicle” for my Kroot Mercenaries—something like a mix of a stagecoach and a tank. I also got in a box of three of the Tunnel Runners, but that’s an update for another day.


Kroot Guntractor
As I noted previously, I have a strong Dinoriders theme going on, but I also want to make some vehicles. I puzzled over how to scavenge/convert vehicles without muddling the theme too much, and after a while I settled on the idea of a scavenged vehicle pulled along by Krootoxen. This lets me keep the beasts-of-burden elements going, while also getting to krootify a vehicle. I don’t much like the current Krootox models, but I do want to showcase as much Kroot biodiversity as I can, so this is also a good spot to use Krootoxen without worrying too much about actually having to field them. Anyway, behold!



The model is a fairly simple kitbash requiring an Onager Dunecrawler, two Krootoxen (for the only time ever: Finecast preferred), and the Sector Mechanicus Servohauler Tractor. The Krootox rider legs were removed as well as I was able to and repurposed as the legs for riders hanging out on the outside.

The idea here is that these Kroot Mercs recovered a destroyed Onager Dunecrawler but were unable to salvage the legs. However, a scavenged Servohauler Tractor was procured and, when combined with two Krootoxen, has just enough power to push the whole thing around. The Kroot on the front has a long prod to...motivate the Krootox when they don’t want to move, the Kroot in the cupola is the gunner commander (there’s other Kroot inside the turret), and the Kroot on the right is literally riding shotgun. As you can see, I tried for a slight western feel to some of them. I’m likely going to replace the front Kroot’s stubcarbine with something slightly more revolvery (like a Phosphor Serpenta pistol). Thoughts?

The 7:15 to Acastarus Prime


I also had to feed my magnet addiction, with the guns, riders, turret, and Krootoxen all magnetized for ease of painting and transport. Since the Onager Dunecrawler can sport multiple main guns, I have also made at least one larger “big cannon” I can use to represent the non-AA weapon arrays.



I will likely also add a few Kroothounds to the base just for character. I really love counts-as Dunecrawler, since the huge base gives you a ton of space to do visual storytelling, as with my other counts-as Onager:




So, that’s it for today. I plan to take some lightbox photos for all my painted Kroot Mercs I’ve gotten back from Offworld Studios. I may be able to post those tonight, but more likely tomorrow. I also have some infantry I need to finish and get shipped out. Always more to do. Stay tuned!

Update: Painted Models

Thanks to Tim at Offworld Studios, I’ve got a lot of finished models to show off today. A few things may get adjusted (mostly a glowy bit here, a spot wash there), but I’m super pleased with how everything came out. Also shout out to Ynneadwraith’s fantastic “Crows” for inspiration on the little fluff blurbs and a few models/gubbins. Pardon the photos, I’m still just working with my iPhone, but I’ll probably be looking for a second-hand DSLR soon.

Without further ado, my first finished infantry for the Ironbeak Kroot Mercenaries


Ironbeak Rustclads
That these filthy Xenos consort with heretics is obvious at even a cursory glance. It is not blasphemous enough that they corruptly wield the armaments and armor of loyal Skitarii, no! They also surely employ hereteks and servants of the Dark Mechanicus, 10^1000 binharic curses be upon them, for the manufacture and upkeep of such weapons and machines is surely beyond their primitive capacities. It must be so! The alternative is far too terrible to even contemplate.
- Explorator Magos Rollos Phaedra, Ferroghast IV Forge World


Steel-Scarred Veterans
Contract page 34, paragraph 5, fourth line item? Ah, yes, that’s a surcharge for the...Steel-Scarred, I believe you’d translate. Veterans. You see, among the Ironbeaks the crippled and old are not ritually consumed like their more...traditional brethren. Their kindred has never been particularly numerous, so they preserve the most experienced fighters and leaders using mechanical augmentation. What kinds? I assure you I don’t know, but the fusion of machine and creature creates a beast far more fearsome than before. It’s said they don’t devour slain foes like their fellow Kroot, but they can strip a Chimera down to the bones in a few minutes.
-Rogue Trader Cadmus D’arcipluroda, negotiations with the Governor Regent during the Amathrax Uprising


Ravager Vulture Kindred
We was all pretty used to those traitors shouting blasphemies all day, but the screams that woke us up that night were something else. When advanced on their camp the next morning, only things we saw still alive were those Xenos mercenaries the Lords Royal hired. Not the well-kitted ones, some others I never saw—seemed larger, more feral, with great leathery wings.

Command says those mercs swooped down on the rebels in the dark. By the time we got there, they was mostly just eating the less-corrupted bits and pilfering weapons. That blood god got his blood, I’d wager, but not in the way he probably reckoned he would.
-Sergeant Galen Bardenne, 24th Battalion, Kyber’s World PDF after the Scourging of St. Brigid’s Plain


Shaper Steelsong’s Reaper Kindred
We always knew the T’au were false even before the Fourth Sphere Expansion. We Kroot prepared. When their Ethereal caste was not looking, we traded with the gue’la and the elder ones. When their Fire caste rested we fought the green horde and the metal men. Where their Earth and Air castes could not go, we sold our deadly trade.

The Fourth Sphere showed the true soul of the T’au. Their Water caste sings sweet siren songs of the Greater Good to many races, but we Kroot know better. When they come for us, we will be ready.
-Shaper Ra’ashk Steelsong, Reaper Kindred


Ga’hlk T’akiin and Kargesh
Gentlemen, these are our targets. Based on the little data we’ve gathered from Air and Water caste observers, Ga’hlk T’akiin and Kargesh are specialized operators within the Ironbeak Kroot Mercenary Kindred. Intel reports that Ga’hlk trained alongside the T’au Pathfinders, while Kargesh cut his beak as a Tracker among the Kroot on Pech. According to official reports, both unexpectedly went rogue and joined up with the Ironbeaks sometime during the Fourth Sphere Expansion. They betrayed the T’au Va. Our mission is to hunt them down, capture them, and bring them back to the Empire for trial. You each have your orders. Dismissed.
-Gue’vesa’el Gregory Samuels, Mission Briefing for Joint Task Force Just Pursuit, Bagharama Secundus. All contact with JTF Just Pursuit was lost approximately 19 Rotaa after deployment.



Master Shaper’s Retinue
You keep quite a menagerie of your own, Master Shaper. I find Sslyth singularly loyal, given the right...stimuli. And the Jokaero is a nice touch. While I don’t share your permissiveness for the presence of mon-keigh, I find myself fascinated by these two—so hideously mutated! No offense intended, or course.

As usual, your second payment will be made after fulfillment your delivery. And if you tire of the presence of any of your pets, I would pay handsomely for each. I do so love getting to know new subjects.
Archon Aestra Khromys, Kabal of the Obsidian Rose


Desperate Imperial Governor and Untrustworthy Advisor
I swear to you! I am loyal to the Emperor! I only...[sobbing]...I only hired them to destroy the rebels. I intended to betray them at the first opportunity! I had no idea the aliens would leave so quickly. My major domo will corroborate my story!

[inaudble]

No! That’s not true! He never warned me of that! He told me that the Imperium would sanction their use! He’s lying! You must believe me, please! Please!!! [screams]
-Testimony of Ex-Governor Bosporus prior to execution for Heresy, Sedition, Consorting with Xenos, and Failure to Maintain the Emperor’s Peace


So, that’s it for today. The end of this week is a holiday here in the States so I may get a chance to build some more models. I might even finally buckle down and finish the last 5 Kroot Saar. Stay tuned!

Oh wow

those are some fantastic conversions. in particular never even though to use those ad mech cloaks on them.