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Hello all, starting up a new themed army that I've been wanting to do for a while. This army will involve a lot of scratchbuilding and conversions, with non-GW models. This will be an army purely for use with Apocalypse and opponent's permission, but if it turns out like I hope it should be worth it!

And Now, A Bit of Fluff:

Planet: Kremlin

Population: approximately 3 billion

Average Temperature (equatorial): 25 C

Average Temperature (Polar Regions): 0.5 C

Geographical Features: Primarily forested with hardy evergreen trees. Low (but not excessively so) average temperatures coupled with abundant moisture indicate a lengthy winter season, which is perpetuated with snowfall. Arctic regions consist of plains of vegetation akin to tundra growth, with little arboreal growth.

Populace: The populace of the planet is divided into two major factions, called "Parties". The Kommunist party is a collection of impoverished citizens, working for a delegated share of the party's resources. To most citizens, it sounds like a utopia- where if you do your share you can live peacefully. In reality, it is quite the opposite. The Kommunist party's military gets special treatment, with most high-ranking officers reaping benefits and luxuries that common citizens can scarcely dream of. It is in this way the Kommunist party ensures that military enlistment remains high. In addition to this, the Kommunist party also utilizes conscription to gain large quantities of expendable troops, causing quite a wide range of aptitude and ability of its military personnel. The Universalist party has since been diminished since General Vanivar's campaign, but live in the Universalist party was much the same. Now the Universalists are adept guerrilla fighters, staging supply raids and disruptive attacks from their bases in Kremlin's polar regions.

Brief History:
The world Kremlin has been separated from the Imperium for the last two centuries, but the recent discovery of the Jericho Reach Warp Gate has led to it's re-induction into the Imperial fold. During it's isolation, a brutal civil war had begun between various factions vying for planetary control, called "Parties" by the locals. This war was still ongoing over two hundred years later, when the Crusade fleet arrived in-system. In the path of the Archeros Salient, the Crusading fleet made contact with the Kommunists Party Leader, Lord-General Alexi "The Butcher" Vanivar. In exchange for equipment and aid (and the promise of supreme and undisputed rule of the planet), General Vanivar agreed to the Imperial terms of surrender and brokered the deal. However, while negotiations were underway to install General Vanivar as the supreme planetary governor, a rebellious uprising from the Universalist Party (the primary opponent of the Kommunist Party) attempted to enact a bloody coup. Luckily, with the additional military presence of the Crusaders, this rebellion was quickly quelled. Seeing the Universalists as a threat to Imperial interests, the ambassadors declared the Universalist Party as Renegade and Heretical, calling for their immediate eradication. General Vanivar shrewdly volunteered his party's considerable military assets for the job, in exchange for the latest in imperial equipment and technology. With the full backing of the Adeptus Administratum, Lord-General Alexi Vanivar led his army to war. The opposing Party was quickly crushed. However, General Vanivar had many political adversaries... even within his own party. In the guise as a reward for his swift action and deft handling of the Heretical rebels, he was appointed to be the foremost Commanding Officer in one of the first tithe of soldiers for a new regiment, due in large part to the political maneuverings of his adversaries. Unable to refuse, he formed a Regiment comprised of his closest advisers and allies, vowing to one day return to the planet that was taken from him and claim his right to rule.

The 49th Death Korps of Kremlin Regiment "the 49th Spetznaz":
Lord-General Vanivar's regiment is the cream of the crop, the veterans of generations of civil war. Skilled in close-fighting tactics, the Death Korps of Kremlin 49th Regiment is known as the "49th Spetznaz" due to their skilled efficiency. Trench Warfare was common during the Polar Campaign, in which the Kommunist party eradicated the bulk of the Universalist party. Armed with their new equipment and weapons, the Kommunist Party utilized heavy artillery to pound the enemy entrenchments and positions before launching devastating assaults. Also, the Kommunist party being the wealthier of the two major parties, they developed experimental weaponry and methods of warfare. Most famously, a member of the Magos Biologis that had remained on the planet during its isolation had been working on genetic manipulation. His "servitors" are abhuman monstrosities, created from the POWs of the party and lobotomized into complete compliance. They incorporate a chemical beam weapon into their head, creating the illusion of a single massive cyclopean eye. Utilizing this chemical beam technology, he also developed a type of siege weapon similar to the Krieg's Hades Breaching Drill, making use of the intense heat generated by the beam to open holes in defensive positions. Unable to procure newer equipment due to the regiment being relatively new, the 49th has to make do with older-pattern war machines such as the Macharius. Transport options are still limited, regulating the bulk of the regiment to line duty en masse.


Now, to the Good Stuff:

First up, I started scratchbuilding a Macharius tank as the first armored vehicle of the Regiment.



I also am going to be using a combination of Pig Iron heads (Kolony Militia with Winter Headgear, such as this: http://www.thewarstore.com/product45440.html and shocktroopers like these for the troopers:


I have the troopers, am just waiting on the funds to order the Pig Iron heads. I've been selling some of my excess miniatures to do this, you can check out that thread here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/331185.page



So far, I've only got one track for the Macharius built. I'll be posting updates as I begin to create this army from the ground up.

Until next time,
--FP135

What an 'orrible lot. Won't your army be bordering on the heretical with the new tech they are developing?

Awaiting more, looking forward to seeing the scratch built tank.

Take it you are going to focus on massed infantry rather than loads of tanks? You could even have Penal legionaires as the workers forced into combat, using the PI mutant heads.

Yes... yes it will. That's the point.

Heretical or not? Only time will tell.

I already got plans for penal troops. I will be incorporating a lot of old Ral Partha sculpts for the game VOR made by FASA (most famous for creating battletech). Once I get some painted I'll post them up.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
This is as far as I got tonight on the Malcador. One track down, one more to go. I imagine the hull will be easier, but we'll see.

To clarify: I am building a Malcador, just for some reason the name Macharius keeps slipping it's way in.

For new progress, I had to take a break from the glue fumes to finish my ghillie snipers, which I will be using as a ratling squad from the standard codex.



Also working on a way to produce a Hades Breaching drill -like device. Further on the side, I am making a Basilisk completely from scratch. Will post more pics of it later.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have the basic chassis for the basilisk complete, and I'll never be using hot glue ever again! It made the model look really sloppy. I'll have to use modeling putty or greenstuff to smoothe it out. Working on the gun now.

I like those ghillie suits a lot! Keep it up!

Just ordered two sets of these today:



I've dealt with Rattlehead Games before (http://foxphoenix40k.blogspot.com/2009/07/special-shout-out.html), and was pleasantly surprised at both their low prices and good communication. Check them out if you are considering any of the non-GW miniature needs. They ship cheaper than the Warstore, and have very friendly customer service as well. Their prices are at least comparable, and sometimes better! I bought these sets at $6.60 apiece with $3.85 for shipping, as opposed to Neil's $6.99 each with $5.99 shipping. Also, the order I recently put in at Neil's took a whole week before it was even shipped. Now, I know he is getting busy with the holidays coming up and his recent black friday sale, but still... a whole week?

Anyway, both are good stores. Don't think that I'm dissing on the Warstore, but I'm just saying that for Pig Iron products I prefer to order from Rattlehead Games.

I didn't make any progress on either scratchbuild today, being a family day. I'll try to get some work done on it tonight though for an early post tomorrow.

Very interesting so far! I loved your previous IG army, I was one of the bidders who lost out on it when it hit Ebay! I am sorely upset about that. Anyway, thanks for posting the Pig Iron Models! I have been looking for Valhallan replacements, and these seem to fit the bill perfectly! Just need to find some 28mm heads that look sovietish!

Check out the Pig Iron Kolony Ferals range... They might fit the bill if you don't like the ones I posted above.

Trust me, I'm still sore about having to sell them in the first place! Thanks for the complements though.

FoxPhoenix135 wrote:Check out the Pig Iron Kolony Ferals range... They might fit the bill if you don't like the ones I posted above.

Trust me, I'm still sore about having to sell them in the first place! Thanks for the complements though.

Saw them, they are a bit too "feral" really. I have just been looking for as close to the GW Valhallans as possible, just for a lower price. Anyway, I have subscribed to this thread as I know the product is going to be amazing!

I appreciate the vote of confidence! I expect to start receiving stuff by the end of the week, so I'll start posting more by then.

I wasted most of my free time Sunday trying to build a thunderbolt fighter out of cardstock templates I found on the net, but it came out horrible so I didn't even bother to take pictures. I'll try again later using different materials, maybe after I finish my Malcador tank. I think using paper glued to card was my problem... I'll try plain cardstock next time.

I'm getting two Leman Russes in trade, so I'll need to strip them so I can paint them myself. I have about 36 shock trooper models to assemble, but I'm waiting on the winter headgear pieces before getting started on that.

I can give you a bit of a teaser on one of my ideas:


This is a "Cyclops" mutant from the Vor line of miniatures (now OOP for the most part). For the purposes of this army, however, it is a biological experiment committed by the head Magos Biologis that accompanies Lord General Vanivar. It will be used on the battlefield, where this "servitor" can use it's eyebeam as a multimelta. I have a second one of these that need painting, but this one is close to being finished.

I've been working on repainting what few models I have left from my old Alascadian army. First up, "Komrade Yuri", my model representing Guardsman Marbo.




Compare that to the model's old scheme (which was a bit drab):



I think it is a slight improvement. I'm debating whether I want to attempt to replicate a russian camouflage scheme or if I just want to keep it a kind of olive drab for the army's BDU. What do you think? Pics and/or examples would be great too!

Got some work done on the basilisk today. I am not super happy with it, but it is a good place-holder until I save up enough money to buy a couple.



It is built completely from scratch, except for the handles, tracks, and the flamer bits.


Next, I need to finish the Malcador. I've been putting it off though, seeing little point in finishing it when I don't even have the basics complete.

Instead, I think I'll dive into painting some more of the figures I already have. I've been working on a couple of the officer models, I'll post them when I am finished recoloring them.

I have an old Basilisk if you are interested. I don't intend to use it, or any of the sentinels I have either if any of that takes your fancy, let me know.

Thanks for the offer, Madmax, but I'm still trying to cobble together the basics (chimeras mostly) before I can start buying the additional vehicles. Money is pretty tight these days, as anybody who isn't still living off an allowance knows well!

I did decide to shelve the Malcador project for now, until I get more done on the basics of this army. I finished painting up the old command squad officer model (you know, the one that they recently had to bring back as a single model because everybody through a fit when they stopped selling him with the command squad), the model I am using as a Priest, and I've started repainting my only vendetta, the "Three-year Gambit". Its too late to bother with pictures tonight, but I'll do my best to get some up tomorrow.

Well because you have given me quite inspiration. If I don't sell the Basilisk within the next week, I will ship it to you at the cost of shipping only. So just let me know if that is something you can swing.

Anyway, I look forward to more updates.

I will definitely keep that in mind! I appreciate that offer, I'll try to keep at least enough money free to cover that if that situation occurs. I'm gonna get back to painting the vendetta, but I'll be sure to get those updates up tomorrow.

These are looking good. You will probably have better luck using plasticard rather than cardboard for the tanks though. It's more rigid and easier to glue together with your normal model glues.

You can see some plasticard work in my blog at the moment as an example

Actually, the only model I have attempted in cardboard was a failed attempt at a thunderbolt; the Malcador and the Basilisk both are made of spare DVD cases... Poor man's plasticard. The model glue I have doesn't bond it well... So I tried mostly hot glue with the bassi, which held well but looks sloppy. With the Malc, I am being more patient and using superglue and epoxy, which take more time to set but produce tighter joints that look much cleaner.

Painting-wise, here's a couple of models from my old army that I recolored:

A medic


Officer:


I've been plugging away at my vendetta, but painting it by hand is extremely time consuming. 4+ hours and I'm still recoloring the base colors. Should be done with it tomorrow, depending on how much time highlighting takes.

That medic is creepy, in a good way! Me likes

Thanks, walrus! I did try to make his face heavily shadowed. I've been thinking of adding some blood spatters to him.

For new stuff, I've been repainting my vendetta in more soviet-esque colors. I'm finally done with the base colors, and am taking a break before finishing with hightlighting and maybe even a bit of freehanding, time permitting!

Creative ideas.

The vendetta is as done as I care to make it at this point. Highlighting complete, even a tad of freehand! Proof is in the pictures, so here you go:

At last! They arrived! Now to... Wait a minute. Why is all my superglue dried up in the tube??? Argh!!!!



Just my luck. More updates later, after I go get some more superglue.

Looking good! I too ordered those winter heads for my own guardsmen, nice to see how good they look

Finally got more superglue. Started applying the new heads and they look awesome.



That's as far as I got tonight. I'll have to finish up tomorrow. Once I'm done with the heads, I can get to the fun part: painting!

Looking good so far. I like the vendetta conversion, but did you think about slicing off the lascannon muzzles and repositioning them to be more vertical. Having them horizontal makes it look a bit hasty. The nose ones look really good though. Have you scorched up the paint on the nose from the muzzle flare?

Very nice start to a force which is gonna look superb..

Really like the mix of pig iron and shock trooper bitz they work great and look like DKK.

nice bit of fluff at the start, ive subscribed to follow this project through.

jim..

P.S if you fancy having a look at my custom SM Chapter the links in my sig bar...

lookin' good! About thse DKoK stand-in heads- are there any that don't have the valhallan hats, just with the gas masks?

Yes, check Pig Iron for some more heads.

@Phoenix
Are you going to keep the weapons the same? I am looking to possibly use the great-coats, but I want them to resemble WW2 Russians.

@flinty: Huh, that never even crossed my mind, but it sounds like a great idea! I'll have to tackle that when I get some spare time.

@jimmy72nd: I'll definitely take a look!

@Madmaverick: I am keeping the original weapons, because A) I don't have quite enough Cadian arms left over to swap them, B) I like how these assault rifles look, and C) I thought cutting and gluing 40k weapons would just look tacky. I have plans to convert melta weaponry out of only the pieces included in the box, with a little bit of greenstuff. I need to buy more, so I'll have to leave those troopers on standby until I do.