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TRAIN OF FLESH

Tutorial Coming Soon!

This custom Dark Eldar Raider was something I've cobbled together with various bits, mainly from the talos pain engine and additional Raider bits. The battle damage was scored onto the actual hull to give it a more realistic, battered appearance.
I was very happy with the way the hull turned out and if you like it as well, there is a quick guide below.

Fluff:
The Train of Flesh is the elite assault vehicle of the twisted flesh covens - a disturbing symbol of their status and power, built to sew pain among the battle lines and haul their precious 'ingredients' back to their dark lairs. Often appearing only after victory has been ensured, it is not uncommon for Haemonculi to bring their personal transport into battle with them, for it's mere presence is enough to terrify the most stalwart warriors. The Train of Flesh's decks and hull constantly drip with blood; wailing moans of pain and torment resounding from the decks that warn all those nearby of the horrible fate that awaits them.The Train of Flesh made its first appearance during the War of Dark Revelations of M41. Urien Rakarth and his Prophets of Flesh called for a versatile and stomach-turning vehicle to help bring suffering to the Tau planet of Rubikon. Though expensive and time-consuming to craft, it has since become a staple among the most powerful flesh covens, weaving in and out of battle lines to snag up the unfortunate soldiers who stand in it's path.

At the rear of the ship, sits it's most foul pilot - The Conductor. Once a skilled Dark Eldar pilot, The Conductor is a bio-mechanical monstrosity forged into the heart of the vehicle itself, who's sole purpose is to bring pain to all it's occupants and gracefully get his master to his destination. Multiple tendrils claw and grasp at nearby foe, injecting them with poisonous ichor and dragging them onto it's barbed wire laced decks. It is for this reason alone that sets the Train of Flesh apart from a simple Raider. Though it forfeits the Raider's raw speed and grace, the Train of Flesh is not without it's defenses. Twin-linked liquifier guns replace the conventional Dark Lance, ensuring all those foolish enough to be caught in its path a painful and morbid death. This makes them storehouses of death incarnate and it is not unheard of for Haemonculi to modify them further with the same technology as their Cronos Parasite Engine. Despite its small transport capacity, only it's Haemonculi master his handpicked cadre of bodyguards have the honor of riding among the withering, impaled cargo - for it's Haemonculi master is far too proud of his glorious creation to let others aboard.

Rules

The Train of Flesh uses the same stat line as a Raider with the following exceptions;

Transport: The Train of Flesh has a transport capacity of 6. In addition, the only occupants allowed aboard are it's Haemonculi and his bodyguard - The Conductor sees to this personally and other Dark Eldar foolish enough to attempt boarding have been known to end up as cargo instead of passengers!

Wargear: Twin-Linked Liquifier Gun

Special Rules: Night Vision, in addition, they get the following special rules;

Symphony of Pain: To gaze upon the Train of Flesh is to gaze upon pain unimaginable and the blood-curdling cries of it's unfortunate cargo leaves even the mightiest warriors sick to their stomach. All enemy units within 12 inches must take a Leadership Test. If this test is failed, that enemy unit halves their Leadership for as long as they are within 12 inches of the Train of Flesh. In addition, all Dark Eldar units within 12 inches may reroll failed Leadership tests.

Dragged to Your Grave: Those victims foolish enough to be close to the Train of Flesh might find themselves cargo as The Conductor lashes out with barbed tentacles that rip from it's hull. At the beginning of the Assault Phase, all enemy units within 3 inches take D6, Strength 5, AP - hits. In addition, any unit assaulting the Train of Flesh suffer a Strength 5, AP - for every to hit roll of 1 they make whilst assaulting that vehicle. (Distributed as shooting).

Release the Pain: All poor souls caught within the Train of Flesh's grasp meet a horrific and unsightly end as they are tied down with rusty barbed wire and surgically dissected for the parts it's Haemonculi master desires most. Such is the torrent of pain that the Train of Flesh is capable of releasing it to nearby Dark Eldar, invigorating them with streams of psychic energy. If the Train of Flesh kills an enemy model, you may immediately allocate a Pain Token to any Dark Eldar unit within 12 inches.

A Work of Dark Art: Such masterful fleshcrafting is need to design and complete a Train of Flesh that only the Haemonculi Ancients and Urien Rakarth may take this as a dedicated transport.

Point Cost: 70

Options

The Train of Flesh can choose the following from the Raider option list, at the same point cost;

Chain Snares
Shock Prow
Nightfield
Flickerfield



Color/Technique Guide!

1.) Basecoat with Citadel's Chaos Black Spray paint - for a brighter tone, I'd suggest a grey or white basecoat

Hull
1.) Basecoat: Rakarth Flesh
2.) Seraphim: Seraphim Sepia wash - This is done twice - first time is to focus the wash into the cracks of the hull, the second time for a thin overall wash - this will tint the Rakarth Flesh, not wash it like you would a figure - you dont want it to pool!
3.) Drybrush: Pallid Wych Flesh over the entire hull - this is the most time consuming but if done properly, it will give you natural highlights where you want them - be sure to avoid drybrushing between the panels. This can be achieved by using a larger drybrush.
4.) Drybrush: Praxeti White (or White Scar if you don't have the Praxeti White drybrush paint from GW) - Key here is to only hit the edges of the hull - don't go overboard with it!

Deck
1.) Basecoat: Screaming Bell
2.) Stipple: Balthasar Gold
3.) Stipple: Golden Griffon

Battle Damage (currently still a work in progress)
1.) Prior to basecoat, the hull was marked up with an exacto blade, focusing on cutting out sharp chunks.
2.) The bullet/glancing hits were carved out by using a drill bit - no actual drill required! I poked a small dot in the hull for a guide, then using the drill bit, gave it a few twists. It was refined with the exacto knife
3.) Stipple: Skavenblight Dinge
4.) Stipple: Leadbelcher
5.) Wash: Nuln Oil
6.) Stipple: Runefang Steel

I have a small Weathering Powder kit that comes with rusty colors - red, brown, grey, and black. I will use the black weathering powder to give it a more 'charred' or 'burnt' look around the battle damage.

This technique was highlighted in White Dwarf's Painting Corner for their issue that highlighted the new Dark Angel 6th ed. Codex release. It was used on the Fortress of Redemption's inner decks.

Modelling Guide

This conversion is fairly simple, for all you need are bits from the Dark Eldar Raider kit, Talos Pain Engine, and any bits you desire for the pile of bodies!

1.) The main gun is constructed from the Twin-Linked Liquifier Gun and a spare Disintigrator Cannon. Remove the barrel of the Dis Cannon and cut the ball joint off the assembled TL Liquifier gun. Cut just the ball joint off, leaving enough room to mount it in place of the barrel on the Dis. Cannon. Trim the tubing down to your liking and using a heat gun, carefully bend it to fit flush with either the hull of the raider, or like I did, the weapon shield itself.

2.) The main hold is constructed using the left over spikes for the underside of raiders. Carefully clip the nub off the end where they would fit into the raider and arrange them how you like around the two bases of the main sail configuration. Using a plank from the raider set, trim the long main sail base that houses the pilots control panel down to match the sides. You will need to shave the base of the actually crossbar that would normally house the splinter racks, down a little and mount your deck to it using strong epoxy. Take your spare body parts and arrange them how you like, carefully gluing down each. Be sure to arrange them in a way that makes them cover up any mistakes you might have made! Finish it off with a few spiked poles with skulls on it and wrap that fether in barbed wire if you have any! Feel free to use Green Stuff to fill in any gaps and give more mass to the bodies if you don't have very many.


In Closing

I am always open to suggestions and comments! Tell me if you like it, don't like it, have any ideas. I hope this inspires you Dark Eldar players out there to try something different with your armies! I will continue to work on this model and will post pictures when I finish! I am looking to add more cool features to the actual model, including tendrils from the Parasite Engine, more trophies and barbed wire, and of course - TORRENTS OF BLOOD!