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Hey there Warseers, been a while.

I would usually start a thread with some long explanation of my intentions and a few WIP conversion photos in hopes of getting your interest, but this time I'm trying a different approach.





Alright then...now that I got that out of the way...I'm starting a Tyranid army. The goal is to get over my OCDestructive converting tendancies and focus on painting. Just painting. Maybe some converting here and there but none of the patience defying insanity I usually attempt. I'm working with the bugs that came in the Deathstorm kit and I also bought the Wrath of the Hive Mind kit.

I've created this handy-dandy color coded progress tracker. Things in white are unassembled. Things in red are works in progress. Finally, things in green are finished.

-Hive Tyrant
-Lictor
-5 Tyranid Warriors
-5 Genestealers
-Broodlord
-20 Gaunts
-Carnifex
-Tyrannofex

I am attempting to be as disciplined as possible here, not taking on a zillion hugely investing things at once. Also, I am no master painter. My goal is a table worthy army, not Golden Demon. But pointers will be taken and appreciated.

Progress will be slow. But there will be color. So yay for that!

Good start.

Eww... slimy! Keep 'em coming. I'm really giddy about the recent wave of Tyranid Plogs, so I'll be keeping an eye on your progress.

Ewww, looks sticky.... I like it, good stuff so far!

Thanks for the encouragement everyone
The sticky/slimy look is thanks to a copious amount of 'Ard Coat.

Decided to break the army up into 500 point blocks for game purposes and as a way to track "landmarks". The first 500 will look like this.

HQ
Hive Tyrant
Twin-linked brainleech devourers (2)
Wings

Troops
Genestealer brood (5)
Adrenal glands
Broodlord
Adrenal glands

Troops
Tyranid Warrior brood (3)
Deathspitter (3)

The five Genestealers are assembled and ready to be painted.



I'll post photos once they are complete. After that it's on to the Tyrant.

Sweet Genestealers, man. I hope they come out as nicely as the Broodlord did.

Nice sticky organic look you have going . What colors are you using for these guys?

Looking good! Did you just use lots of gloss varnish to create the slimy look? EDIT: Nevermind! Just saw one of your other replies where you said it was ard coat.

I think this army is going to look really cool once you get a full on horde happening.

Thanks again for all the kind words

Theophony, here is a breakdown of the paint scheme:

-Black primer
-Layer of Khorne Red (entire model)
-Two thinned layers of Kislev Flesh (skin)
-Two thinned layers of Flesh Wash (entire model)
-Drybrushed layer of Kislev Flesh followed by two drybrushed layers of Ceramite White (skin)
-Drybrushed layer of Khorne Red followed by drybrushed layer of Mechrite Red (carapace)
-Two thinned layers of 'Ard Coat (entire model)

It's a pretty simple paint scheme but it works well. Should help keep me sane when I start factory line painting 'gants in the next 500 point segment.

Resistance was futile...at least I got the Genestealers base coated.

Nice flyrant.

Thanks, Warboss_Waaazag

Right, so I deviated from the initial plan a little and assembled the Warriors as well before finishing the Genestealers.





Everything for the first 500 point block is more or less ready so from here it is just a matter of green stuffing a few gaps and texturing base plates for the recently assembled minis. I've been cooking up a little fluff for this particular tendril of the mighty Kraken as well.

Now...it's time to get serious about painting.

Hello and (insert relevant timezone greeting). The Genestealers have their base colors and ink wash.



From here it is just a few layers of drybrushing, detailing the teeth and tongues, and finishing their swamp themed base plates. Really excited to finish these up so I can get on with the Warriors, that said productivity will be slowed by my weekend work schedule.

So, here I am dry brushing my Genestealers. All of the sudden I notice something shiny in my bitz box. My mind goes all fuzzy. My sense of time and space becomes distorted. I have vague recollections of rifling through sprues and hacking away at plastic...

As suddenly as it began the fog settles...and I become presently aware that my brood now includes a new species of Lictor......





I guess worse things could have happened.

Awesome way to modernize the Lictor, Xysis. I picked up a Genestealer box a few days ago, and I was appalled to find that it only included two of those gribbly heads. You made good use of it. Are you going to paint him up with some special camouflage, or just go the classic Kraken route?

Thanks, youidiotkid. I thought about adding one of the Cthulu heada to my Genestealers but decided to save it for the inevitable Lictor conversion I intended on saving for later (which clearly didn't happen).

My plan is to paint him in the colors of Kraken, but with a mottled appearance to try and give the impression of chromatophores.

I decided to work on the Lictor a little more while I paint my Genestealers. I'm really pleased with how the conversion turned out, despite it going against the initial plan of the project. Oh well...

"I have received a number of unsettling reports regarding several Tyranid vanguard organisms lurking in the swamplands surrounding New Cartha. Our patrols are being actively harassed by what I can only assume is an unusually aggressive specimen of the Lictor genus. Physiologically speaking these Lictors posses every ability typical to their kind. That said, this particular breed is far more robust and acts with less instinct for self preservation. Rather than preying on targets of opportunity, these Lictors strike from the shadows with murderous intent, lashing out in a berserk, animalistic fury that ends only with its death, or that of its victims. Such a ferocious attacker can only be thwarted at a great loss of life on behalf of our soldiers. I can only assume the purpose of these creatures is to cause as much fear and as many casualties as possible in an attempt to keep our PDFs holed up behind the walls of our city until the swarm makes planet fall."

-Excerpt from the report of Colonel Teller to the office of Governor Solm seven days before the arrival of Hive Fleet Kraken

Looking good. I would ordinarily recommend adding some gore to such a brutal killer, but I think that it would just get lost in the reds already present on the model. Keep it up! I know that you can finish those Genestealers, man.

Thank you for the continued encouragement, youidiotkid. I hope this like this little update

It took a lot of caffeine and a rather sanity taxing night of painting, but I am happy to say that the Genestealers are officially painted (scenic base plates aside).



Now...there are some rough spots here and there but the minis are simply intended to be table ready. I didn't see any reason to go crazy nitpicking details which is a big change from my usual style. All in all, I'm pleased with the results. Just a bit of flocking to do and then it is on to the Warriors.


Addendum: Genestealers are DONE!

I sat down to paint my Warrior brood tonight. Made some really good progress! *cough*