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Hello fine people of the DakkaDakka forums!

I’m flyingpancake, a miniature painter since the start of the end of the world (Covid). Since that time I’ve painted two armies and sold one of them.
The first was a Valhallan army that was my entry into the hobby, and the second was a Traitor Guard army that I still own.
Every once in a while my insatiable appetite for inspired armies brought me to this website, but I never really engaged, until now.

Recently my dad and I went on a trip to Bastogne to visit various museums. Me, being a massive WW2 buff, got inspired for my next army project.
Two armies doing a fanatical and desperate clash up to their earballs in mud and snow is really about as 40k as you can get. The first two pictures are basically the moodboard (1, 2) for this project. (I haven’t figured out how to properly add pictures in between text lmao.)

The 4th Bastonian “Sluggers” Armoured Regiment

The aesthetic of this army, as the name implies, is drawn from both the American and German sides of the Battle of the Bulge in WW2.
This is both to allow me to draw from multiple sources of inspiration, and also to avoid being “that guy” who rolls up to a Warhammer game with a suspect army.

This army will make extensive use of 3D-printed units and parts. Sadly, I do not own a resin printer, but a friend of mine does.

Force Organization & Modelling Plans

The 60 normal lasmen will be built out of Tiny Legends Blitztroopers (3) with a gas-maskless head (4) (to differentiate them from Steel Legion) and goggles down (I hate painting eyes).
To blend in some US aesthetics, I will be using the new Cadian arms with lasrifles that look a lot like space-M1 Garands (5).

The color scheme of most of my infantry will be inspired by US WW2 uniform colors. To this end, I bought the Army Painter WW2 US historical paint set.
Sergeants and subtenants will have the typical brown coat and green helmet, and will be wielding the las-M3 Grease Gun to help them stand out.
The rank and file will vary between olive green, brown, and white—just like in real life. Where appropriate, weapons will of course have wooden stocks.
Special weapons and heavy weapon teams will also be sourced from the new Cadian box.

Anyone who has ever looked at a picture from the Battle of the Bulge will recognize the sight of Shermans buried in mud and snow.
Grim Prints makes a Sherman-inspired Leman Russ proxy (7) with the same dimensions. I’m planning to magnetize (something I have never done before) all the guns and add lots of stowage—maybe even tank riders if Tiny Legends releases appropriate legs.

For the paint scheme, I will prime the model in Oak Brown and then use sponging techniques to apply the olive greens.
I also want the tank to have a white-wash effect (8). I don’t know the exact best way to create this effect, but I’m thinking of either drybrushing or sponging on a 50/50 mix of Army Painter Matt White and Brigade Grey. Let me know what you think of these methods.

To proxy the Chimeras, I will be using Grim Prints’ 251 (9) half-track. These will be magnetized and painted in the same olive green scheme as the Sherman for visual coherency.

Lastly, for what I consider the core of the army, I’ll be using some Grim Prints priest/basilisk proxies. They will have the same scheme as the Sherman and 251. I will add the crews once Tiny Legends releases shell-carrying arms for the Blitztroopers—this is only a matter of time.

Expansion Ideas

Tempestus Scions inspired by the 101st Airborne and the Fallschirmjäger.
These will use new Cadian bodies combined with Tiny Legends weapons for stormtroopers (11, 12) and OG Steel Legion gasmask helmets (13).
Giving them a tan paratrooper scheme with olive green helmets should be quite interesting.

They will get all-wheeled 251s to proxy Taurox Primes (14), armed with a battle cannon and painted in a fancy ambush-camo-inspired winter camouflage.

Last but most certainly not least is my Rogal Dorn proxy. This role will be fulfilled by (everyone say it with me) Grim Prints’ King Tiger model (15).
This will get some complicated late-war German-inspired winter camouflage, just like the Taurox Primes. I plan to magnetize these as well.

This is what I have so far, but there are many more interesting units I can kitbash.

Let me know what you think and if you have any tips or suggestions for this army. Training and manufacture will start in December.

Sounds like a really fun project. Hobby Boss and Tamiya do make a number of 1/48 scale WWII kits that can be converted.
I turned one of their Shermans into a Leman Russ proxy that came out well. Although it would take more work, but it would give more variety like some M-10 tank destroyers. Cults3d.com also have some free stl files of a WWII style jeep that could be used as a heavy weapons team proxy.
here is a link to it. Good luck with your project.
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/hevonen-light-utility-vehicle

That's sounds like a solid plan. That's a huge work to be done. Also for the Tamiya their kits pretty comfortable to convert into 40k.

Looks good, the one caution I have for you is you're depending a lot on your friend with a printer. Are there usable guns and heads you can get from another supplier if your friend falls through?

 Tommygun1918 wrote:
Sounds like a really fun project. Hobby Boss and Tamiya do make a number of 1/48 scale WWII kits that can be converted.
I turned one of their Shermans into a Leman Russ proxy that came out well. Although it would take more work, but it would give more variety like some M-10 tank destroyers. Cults3d.com also have some free stl files of a WWII style jeep that could be used as a heavy weapons team proxy.
here is a link to it. Good luck with your project.
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/hevonen-light-utility-vehicle

That jeep is really cool, i will keep that in mind.

 kabaakaba wrote:
That's sounds like a solid plan. That's a huge work to be done. Also for the Tamiya their kits pretty comfortable to convert into 40k.

Its a lot of work yes. I have 3 weeks of in my vacation and effective simple paint plan.I should be able to make some serious progress.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Looks good, the one caution I have for you is you're depending a lot on your friend with a printer. Are there usable guns and heads you can get from another supplier if your friend falls through?

I am in the lucky position that i have 2 friends with resin printers so there is a back up if needed.

Here is some pictures of my traitor guard so that you guys know im not blowing hot air.
I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, the Scions of Khorne.

Part 2, since I got over the picture limit.
Also, please mind that since these pictures were taken I have rebased all the infantry with black rims and tufts

Love the Avenger, I have 2 Dakka Jets doing the exact same thing!

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Love the Avenger, I have 2 Dakka Jets doing the exact same thing!

You can't just say that and not show them

Mmm... Heresy... God-Emperor never forgive you for that and so I.

Nice army, Banesword is came from my nightmares. Also this screens on chimera. Are they 3d printed?

 kabaakaba wrote:
Mmm... Heresy... God-Emperor never forgive you for that and so I.

Nice army, Banesword is came from my nightmares. Also this screens on chimera. Are they 3d printed?

Thank you, is there a traitor guard regiment in your nightmares?
Yea the screens are 3d printed, It really gives the chimera some extra presence.

Of course they are alongside all other horrors of 41th millennia, I'd played guards exclusively for 15 years
Yeap looks really heavier. Remind pz.4

That Chaos force is very nicely done. Solid painting and modelling throughout! I o lol ike that you used a Dorn cannon on your Leman Russ, it scales really well. Did you have to remove Ork stuff from the Dakkajet to make that excellent Avenger?

Tiny legends does great stuff- good luck with your Guard!

 Ragsta wrote:

That Chaos force is very nicely done. Solid painting and modelling throughout! I o lol ike that you used a Dorn cannon on your Leman Russ, it scales really well. Did you have to remove Ork stuff from the Dakkajet to make that excellent Avenger?

Tiny legends does great stuff- good luck with your Guard!

Thank you, yea, the old russ kit is really showing its age with it's really huge caliber guns.
The dakka jet conversion is deceptively easy. Only thing that really needs to be removed is the teeth on the nose, everything else is optional depending on how heavy you want to go for a scrapjet look.

flyingpancake wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Love the Avenger, I have 2 Dakka Jets doing the exact same thing!

You can't just say that and not show them

Presenting the Warthog and the Rattler





Love the Dakka Jet kit.

Some nice looking traitor guard there, can't wait to see the rest of the progress!

So here is my first update.
I upgraded my hobby desk (kitchen table). No more sitting hunched over in my own shadows and disorganized hobby tools.
Since I don't have the models yet, I decided that today I was gonna start basing them.
Previously I did it with a big tub of Vallejo texture paste. This time I have opted for the Army Painter way by applying basing glue and basing material to the base.
I found it to be easier and less messy so far.
The current plan is to prime them black with the models glued on to them. At the end, I will use the PVC glue and snow material to give it some sludgy snow.
Has anyone else used this method? Tips and suggestions are always welcome.

First motions on the Bastonians.

Build some models and primed them. The Cadian arms fit perfectly.

Welcome back everyone, it took me longer then anticipated because life got in the way, but I have finished the GI part of the Bastonian Slugger.
I made 4 squads plus all the extra special weapon options. The original plan was 60, but I have tweaked it down to 40 because I want to make 20 Airborne/Fallschirmjager inspired Tempestus Scion troops
I'm really happy with how they turned out.
Let me know if you have any particular questions and tell me what you think
Without further ado, I present you, the Bostonian Sluggers.

Those look absolutely brilliant! Tiny Legends make some cool stuff- it's nice to see them out in the wild like this. Are all the lasguns the same Cadian design? That must have been interesting to source

 Ragsta wrote:

Those look absolutely brilliant! Tiny Legends make some cool stuff- it's nice to see them out in the wild like this. Are all the lasguns the same Cadian design? That must have been interesting to source

Thank you very much. Tiny legends makes some really quality sculpts, it seems like soon there will be more Steel Legion releases.
Yes all the lasguns are the plastic ones from the current kit. They are basically laser M1 Garands so no need to reinvent the wheel.
Sourcing them was relatively easy. I bought 2 boxes of Cadian Shocktroopers for these guns and other bits, some are given to me by a friend and I placed an order on one of those UK based bit seller.

Oh hell yeah ! This is gonna be awesome i'm subbed !

Hello again kind people, I have finished my Chimera/Taurox proxies so I'm here to share some pictures.

They are printed by a friend and designed by Grimprints. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they fit together and how sturdy they are (i might have dropped on while priming and there was no damage). On top of that they are also really easy to magnetize.

I will go quickly over how I painted them but don't be afraid to ask questions if you want a more detailed explanation.
1. Rattle can prime Army Painter Oak brown. This is a fantastic base color cause any missed or chipped paint will look like primer, rust or mud.
2. Sponge on Army Painter Dark Drab all over the model but not totally covering to get the afore mentioned primer effect.
3. Paint the tracks, guns and details Army Painter Matt Black and Steel respectively.
4. The wooden logs were kept Army Painter Oak brown and the details and rope were painted with Army Painter Paratrooper Tan.
5. Wash everything with Army Painter Brown Tone.
6. Drybrush the whole model with Army Painter Medium Drab.
7. Use an old small drybrush to stipple Army Painter Brigade Grey on the middle of the panels to create an improvised whitewash effect. Be careful to not load up the brush too heavy, or it will look too strong. Wipe it on a piece of kitchen towel to be sure.
8. Rattle can Army Painter Matt varnish.

I'm am very pleased with how these ended up, let me know what you think of these positive or negative.
I will leave you with a preview for my next unit. The Airborne/Fallschirm Jaeger inspired Tempestus Scion squad.

Nice they look great, some cool ideas for the vehicle proxies.