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The size difference is interesting. Really, the old warriors just have better posture.

 amazingturtles wrote:
The size difference is interesting. Really, the old warriors just have better posture.

Yeah they seem to be roughly the same mass, but the new posture is a little more "dinosaur", especially with their tail. The old upright posture feels more sentient, proud or arrogant to me, which I like.

Thanks for the update! Loads of nice new stuff. Happy to hear the army has been out rampaging

Always lovely to see what you've been working on. Especially liking the biovores you made and it's so inspiring to see so many warriors.

OH man. I love it!

In the interests of continuing the Old School nature of the army, have you considered using that new upcoming Zoat as a Counts As in the list?

New stuff!

I don't know how I wound up with four Lictors, but here we are. Also Deathleaper. I like the creature design but somehow I don't like the models very much. I kinda rushed these guys and just finished them a couple days ago. They're slowly growing on me. Also mine are all metal. One or two of them seemed like a recast because the metal was a little powdery looking. That's what I get for Ebay. These are definitely prime designs to get into plastic kits. Anyways, they're cheap Elites for Brigade building and now I can check them off the big list.


Then I'm finally working on my Tyrants. Well, technically a Tyrant and Swarmlord, but they're basically the same. The Tyrant model with Venom Cannon and Bonesword/Lash Whip is one of my favorite models in the range. I friggin love it. Something about the way it fills it's space is really sculptural and satisfying. Beautiful model. I know the flying Tyrant is the go-to for competitive gaming, but I gotta go classic with this one. I have an awesome conversion my friend did for a flying Tyrant. Maybe I'll put that on the short list and do him sooner rather than later.

I'll probably get these guys done in the next few days. I'm looking forward to getting them in a group shot with a bunch of Warriors.


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 Jin wrote:
OH man. I love it!

In the interests of continuing the Old School nature of the army, have you considered using that new upcoming Zoat as a Counts As in the list?

Yeah dude! I want a Zoat so bad. I don't know what to use it for. I'll have to get one first and size it up against the other models. Seems like he'd make a good Prime, but I really like my Primes. Maybe a Pyrovore.

Hi Insectum7, just discovered your blog, and I’m loving the mix of realistic feeling swarm of insects and the glowing green sci-fi vibe you’ve seemingly mastered!

On the Zoat, he/she will most probably come with rules for use in 40k. All of the rest of the Blackstone Fortress minis have anyway. So you should be able to run them as a legit Zoat!

Lictor pack look great in your scheme, really makes me see that sculpt with fresh eyes. Talons down sneaky boi is particularly nice.

As for the walking tyrants, I'm a sucker for those minis. Stompy alien overlords ftw.

 Insectum7 wrote:
One or two of them seemed like a recast because the metal was a little powdery looking.

I've bought a lot of pewter models that had a powdery, pitted, grainy look. As far as I'm aware it's just corrosion over a long period of time. I wouldn't worry about them being recast.

And since they came out looking great, it looks like the paint filled in any surface irregularities just fine.

I'm suddenly realizing that your army is essentially the color scheme I was planning on my stuff. Glad to know the scheme works

Loving them Lictors and Tyrants, great work. I'm with you on finding something appealing about a Tyrant on foot, just so menacing looking,

Alright! Finished the Tyrants and did a quick hero shot. Not the greatest photos, but they'll have to do for the moment. I had a little trouble matching the brown of the Warriors, I never really remember how chalky the Bone needs to look before the Seraphim Sepia that goes over it. Little bit of correction brought them up to a reasonable spot. Good enough! I'm not sure what model/s I'll do next yet, I'll have to dig around.

gobert wrote:Hi Insectum7, just discovered your blog, and I’m loving the mix of realistic feeling swarm of insects and the glowing green sci-fi vibe you’ve seemingly mastered!

On the Zoat, he/she will most probably come with rules for use in 40k. All of the rest of the Blackstone Fortress minis have anyway. So you should be able to run them as a legit Zoat!

That's good to hear. I hope they can be run as Faction Tyranid.

Boss Salvage wrote:Lictor pack look great in your scheme, really makes me see that sculpt with fresh eyes. Talons down sneaky boi is particularly nice.

As for the walking tyrants, I'm a sucker for those minis. Stompy alien overlords ftw.

Thanks! I think the darker carapace color on the talons helps the Lictor model a lot. It sorta brings out the bug-ness.

catbarf wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:
One or two of them seemed like a recast because the metal was a little powdery looking.

I've bought a lot of pewter models that had a powdery, pitted, grainy look. As far as I'm aware it's just corrosion over a long period of time. I wouldn't worry about them being recast.

And since they came out looking great, it looks like the paint filled in any surface irregularities just fine.

Yeah I've had some pitted models before but these ones seemed more severe than I normally see. It's true that once painted it really didn't seem to matter anymore. Makes me want to think twice about buying old models on ebay though, and maybe choose painted models instead as the paint can protect the metal from corrosion. I'm so lazy though, and stripping models takes work

Jin wrote:I'm suddenly realizing that your army is essentially the color scheme I was planning on my stuff. Glad to know the scheme works

DO IT. I find the hardest part is getting a satisfying brown. It's easy to make it too cool or dark. It's just drybrushing though, so still speedy

Inevitable_Faith wrote:Loving them Lictors and Tyrants, great work. I'm with you on finding something appealing about a Tyrant on foot, just so menacing looking,

Right?! Such a nice model.

Now that is a fancy bunch o bugs.


Also oldschool warrior best warrior.

Beautiful Tyrants and collected force as well. Once put all together the muted tones on the majority of the models gives them a nice and menacing look.

As someone just getting back into 40K, and going hard with my Tyranids (seriously), it's inspiring to see someone working on Old Skool Warriors.

I had... I have no idea how many original plastic Warriors (and a bunch of the metal ones from 2nd Ed), and I think it'd be fun to rebase them on newer bases (they're all on square bases, which is what they used to come with!) and get them up to scratch.

Your Primes are just incredible as well. Inspired design.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
As someone just getting back into 40K, and going hard with my Tyranids (seriously), it's inspiring to see someone working on Old Skool Warriors.

I had... I have no idea how many original plastic Warriors (and a bunch of the metal ones from 2nd Ed), and I think it'd be fun to rebase them on newer bases (they're all on square bases, which is what they used to come with!) and get them up to scratch.

Your Primes are just incredible as well. Inspired design.

Yo dawg, that is a biiiiig pile of Nids.

Bonus points for the five Tyrannocytes. I really like that model. Are you going to make the pod or Nid building with those kits?

Extra bonus points for the Stargate DVDs in the background

I can't take credit for the Prime conversion, I stole it from a friend. But thanks!, I love em.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Yo dawg, that is a biiiiig pile of Nids.

Slowly getting smaller. Since taking that pic I've built 6 Warriors, 3 Primes, 1 Neurothrope, 2 Venomthropes, a Toxicrene and a Maleceptor.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Bonus points for the five Tyrannocytes. I really like that model. Are you going to make the pod or Nid building with those kits?

Well... it's 6 now... I bought another one.

3 will be pods, three will be the fortification thingy (plus the 3 big spore mines).

 Insectum7 wrote:
Extra bonus points for the Stargate DVDs in the background

All 10 seasons are up there.

 Insectum7 wrote:
I can't take credit for the Prime conversion, I stole it from a friend. But thanks!, I love em.

Every now and again you see someone's conversion on an existing concept and it makes you sad that GW didn't make them like that. Your Primes are that kind of mini. Make the "official" Primes look so quaint.

I really like those orange, glowing spots these guys have. Gives them a bit of exotic, animalistic flavour without going full on cheetah

Nice paint scheme (and oh god oh god so many lictors!).

Exciting updates. . . sorta. Did some "Tyranid due-diligence" and knocked out some Rippers and Spore Mines. 24 Spore Mines and the competitive 9 Rippers for cheapo troops. But also, I think they look neat.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:
Bonus points for the five Tyrannocytes. I really like that model. Are you going to make the pod or Nid building with those kits?

Well... it's 6 now... I bought another one.

3 will be pods, three will be the fortification thingy (plus the 3 big spore mines).

Nice, good spread. I haven't brought myself to really invest in that kit because I'm not sure how often I'd use them and they're big models. But they are really cool.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:
I can't take credit for the Prime conversion, I stole it from a friend. But thanks!, I love em.

Every now and again you see someone's conversion on an existing concept and it makes you sad that GW didn't make them like that. Your Primes are that kind of mini. Make the "official" Primes look so quaint.

D'aw shucks.

Sherrypie wrote:I really like those orange, glowing spots these guys have. Gives them a bit of exotic, animalistic flavour without going full on cheetah

Thanks! Instead of mammals I found inspiration in poisonous frogs/amphibians and deep sea fish. That gave me a good direction to go in and I'm happy with how it's turning out.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Nice paint scheme (and oh god oh god so many lictors!).

Thanks! Yeah I dunno what happened with the Lictor thing. I think I bought one or two, and then bought two more because I forgot that I bought the first two. Oh well!

I think they look neat too! Some day i will understand the part of my mind that thinks rippers and spore mines look almost a bit cute, but today is not that day

Rippers and spores looking great, and nice to see you continue to integrate different 'generations' of tyranids into each other.

Very nice to see this blog revived! Was one of those thread that inspired me when I got back in 40k and make me want work on my old models too!

Since then I've also amassed a decent amount of old models, or repainted those I had, tho no-where near the amount of warriors you have

Also to keep the old school look for the Prime that would tag along my warriors I got a metal Rogue Trader model that I made taller (and used alternate arms as it was incomplete), but yours a definitely bad ass and would make proper kickass Tyrant Guards too!

What a glorious glorious gribbly project. I love your work, man, especially the awesome use of so many old school goodies!

Back for more Nids!

I've been avoiding it for too long, and finally worked up the gumption to paint the Termagants. I have 120 of them. 60 with Devourers and 60 with Fleshborers. I put basecoats on 30 of them, and it went a little faster than I thought it would. So I decided to do them all in one go so I didn't decide to quit halfway through the lot. They're at maybe 70% atm I suppose.

You are batch painting 120 gaunts at once?

Madness.

Although personally I think the major roadblock on the little biters is cleaning the mold lines. Painting seems almost an afterthought to finish them. Although I cheat, so YMMV.

^Yeah the mold lines are obnoxious, and as I paint I can see a bunch that I missed too. . . I'm conflicted. I could go back and do some repairs and touch up. We'll see.

Now’s the time to do it. If not you will always notice what you missed. A little time now will save you the stabs of self loathing every time you pick up gaunt #112 and see again how you missed his lower left claw.

Happy to see more bugs from you! But holy hell, that's a lot of gaunts O_O

Good luck with the swarm and a half

"In Space, No One Can Hear You" squeal with glee at the sight of this horde.

Insectum7 - the color scheme, your commitment to the original Warriors and other old metals, the STUPID amount of 'gaunts... just the best!

I really appreciate this army, thanks for the hard work!