Terrain: Scrap Pile 001

I decided I needed to get something done while working on the bigger pieces I have on my table at the moment or lose all momentum and stagnate for another month or three...

I chose a scrap pile as a quick project. I've wanted to throw one together for a while now; and after seeing one on the commute to work every day I was inspired.

I started with a hardboard base, half of an empty welding wire spool, and some styrofoam. From there I added cut up pieces of thin card and broken pieces of stir sticks. I started at the bottom and layered around the piece moving up. Pieces of steel in a heap will auto level after a fashion. On one side of the pile I cheated in the effect of many, many layers of sandwiched plates of scrap by scoring lines in the foam then wedging pieces of card in. Once its all painted I'm hoping the effect comes out right.

After the glue holding the card in place had set I added filler to the side of the spool. Once it had dried I added a couple more plates to that side then gave the base edge a layer sand.

This piece is a companion of sorts for the Mek's Workshop I started last summer. What self respecting Mek doesn't have a handy scrap heap?

I can say that this little piece coming together so nicely after sort of struggling with motivation on the two larger pieces is really what I needed, and I'm ready to get cracking on the bigger pieces again.

Stay tuned for more terrain updates.

Cheers,

CJ

Terrain: Mek Workshop 001

With the Abhuman Ork army well underway I decided it was time to get to work on some appropriate terrain for them to be set against. Given my theme what better place to start than a Mek's workshop? Starting with my compass and a piece of foamcore, I traced the arc of the building. I settled on a 3" radius, and gave the workshop a 6"x7" footprint. The foamcore was joined to the one ply corrugated card with gel superglue and pins.

With a bit of work tonight, the workshop is about three fourths of the way complete. The pictures above show the progress. All the patches are pieces of thin card or coffee cup insulator card from the Sev. All the rivets are straight pins. The pallets are just in place to give an indication of what I have planned, and will be left free for paint. Still to be completed is the front, especially the doors, then basing and paint.

Cheers.

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Warkopta 001

Using the Dred Mob list, I have the barest bones of an HQ unit and two troop units. The ten Spanna Boyz aren't going to get very far without some wheels though... or lift in this case.

From a pile of Deff Kopta bits comes the powerplant for this transport. I saved all the other pieces of the torn up Koptas so that they may be repurposed toward more mad creations.

It's not a speedboat. And after looking at Forgeworld's version, I decided that it needed to be a bit longer than I originally intended and then longer still. The idea is that this was the remains of either a downed Valkyrie or Arvus before the 'Mek' got tinkering. I've got a lot of work ahead of me to get this thing to look how I want it to.

Cheers!

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Deff Dread 002

The Deff Dread is done.

This guy got a coat of black followed by a coat of Brown Iron Oxide all over everything. After that the parts that were to be painted with metallic were blocked out in black once again. Then all the components of the model got a heavy drybrush of Gunmetal Metal. All the joints were given a drybrush of Chainmain on top that, then a coat of black wash. Once that dried I went back at the model with another drybrush of GMM, followed by random spots of Chainmail. Following the drybrushing I added 'rust' wash in a few spots and let it dry, then gave the model an all over wash with Agrax Earthshade and let it dry. After that I did a spot application of 'mud' wash, mostly the bottom of the feet.

The areas that were left black got painted with a layer of GMM and then highlighted with Chainmail. On the cables, ammo drum, and ammo chute I just washed the area black and then a drybrush layer of GMM. The pistons on the arms and legs got a spot application of Agrax Earthshade, 'mud' wash and black wash to simulate wear. Finally I added chipped paint to the ammo drum and parts of the Dread proper. On the ammo can this was achieved by stippling on Tausept Ochre followed by Golden Yellow and a coat of black wash. On the gunshield and other areas, I stippled on Knarloc Green followed by Camo Green and then coated with 'mud' wash.

As with the so called Big Mek and Boyz mob I left off glyphs for the time being, until I decide overall what I want.

Cheers!

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Spanna Boyz Mob 002

The first ten 'umie tribesmen are finished!

Gotta love those left handed weapon arms. The guys with the shotguns got extra grenade drum pouches since they've also got drum mags. Anyone with a pistol  got a set of pouches with the appropriate size energy cells. Everyone got some grenades. One of 'da boyz' is sporting a pulse carbine from the re-purposed Tau drone. On the models armed with close combat weapons, they have been left 'clean' so that I can add glyphs later... maybe dags or checks. The same follows for all the nice clean skin on this lot. Once I decide on some tattoo designs, they will feature throughout the army.

Speaking of army, I decided that the Dred Mob list is the way to go. Stay tuned for a proper Drax-a-gram laying out at least the core soon.

Cheers,

CJ

Paint Table Saturday

Here is a brief update of what's been on the workbench this week.

I got a lot of work done on the Deff Dread and the first ten Boyz. The Deff Dread need finishing work on the ammo chutes and then greenstuff. The Boyz are well into paint at the time this gets published, and the bases all but done. Then there are parts in the wings for ten more Boyz, not to forget the other figures that came in the mail this week.

Paint in progress shot of the Boyz.

Cheers,

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Spanna Boyz Mob 001

The Lykans and Da'Namians arrived as my last post indicated. I got right to work on getting legs and torsos paired, then heads, arms, and weapons.

I made up the figures in two batches of five. They got pinned neck, waist, and shoulders to give them hardiness. One ended up with a Tau pulse carbine.

Then I set to creating a 'Mek' to lead the unit. I had a bit of inspiration and decided that one of my 'Meks' would have a mostly complete set of Imperial kit. I got to work with some pars and immediately changed legs. Then I added a bit of greenstuff in the form of a pelt. The Lykan totem rounds him out as a 'boss pole.'

Here is the completed lot. Ten down, ten to go. Then more. Always more boyz. Oh and grenaded and pouches.

WAAAAAAGGGHH!!

FOR DA EMPRAH!!

Cheers,

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Reinforcements Arrive

Got some reinforcements for the heretical tribesmen... and a couple of the actors who helped implement the augmentations to the 'Mek.'

First up are 20 minis fresh from Mad Robot Miniatures. I got a squad of the Lykan Sawtooths and then a mixed unit of Da'Namians and Imperials. The mix will give me a good variety across the unit of 'Spanna Boyz.'

I got this lot of models in trade. Let me tell you, every one of these has been carefully converted into a representative of the Adeptus Mechanicus. I cannot overstate how well this fits my purposes. The unit out front are cultists with Necromunda rifles and press-moulded greenstuff masks and chest plates. The wraiths sport an assortment of weaponry. I haven't decided what exactly I'm doing with them, list wise; they may just become a creepy retinue for Inq28. The servitor-ogryns are going to either stay as is and get used for Inq28 or they'll be further converted and used as 'counts-as' Grot Tanks. Finally the FW Titan tech priest and the savant  with the chirurgeon arms are going to make great characters for Inq28, as well.

On those cultists, though... There are 16 of them, and then a servitor with heavy flamer and a converted engineer. I'll need two more models and then I'll have another mob of 'Spanna Boyz.' The distnction between tribesmen and the Machine Cultists is more than evident and will do well to keep em separate on the field and between battles (of course I have to go play...).

Finally, a progress update on the 'Deff Dread.' It seems to have sprouted a servitor, how odd.

Cheers,

CJ

Abhuman Technoheresy: Deff Dread 001

Progress on the Abhuman Technoheresy is moving forward, albeit slowly. While I am waiting on a package from Mad Robot Miniatures to arrive, I decided to build a Deff Dread for the army.

HOBBY DISCLAIMER: If you have or are taking on a new army, I recommend you get the guts down first, HQ and two Troops choices. I am not following the pattern here since I don't have the models for troops in hand. Yet. Doing all the cool shit for your army can leave you with a small pile of completed projects and a sea of grey foot-sloggers.

Like many kitbashed vehicles in the 40k universe, I started with an old Sentinel. Actually, three of these eBay rejects gave bits to make this build a possibility, I also ended up using a few leftover pieces from when I put together my Armoured Sentinel. Have I mentioned how much I love models that are superglued together? They come apart nicely once the glue is given time to become brittle. These Sentinels were no exception. Once the first sacrifice was prepared, work began.

First thing I worked out was the Deff Dread were the close combat arms, of course using Sentinel legs. A 'fist' was made using a couple of 'big toes' and the center bit of the Sentinel foot. These bits are mounted on a gear recovered from the Tonka used in the Imperial Excavator project. The other arm sports the Sentinel close combat saw as a tool of destruction.

The cockpit has been enclosed with the Armageddon pattern armour bits. The power plant has been expanded to include another hip section. These hips are now shoulders for the close combat arms. Fuel bottles and a battery pack were also included to indicate the increases output of the power plant, as well as hide gaps. The giant glyph on the front is to help reinforce the fact that these mad tribesmen adhere to the Imperial Cult (sort of).

A pair of autocannons are pressed into service as the Deff Dread's dakka. The oil drum is going to be used as a helical feed ammo drum. The ammo hopper on the weapon and drum will be where the ammo chutes connect.

Here are all the pieces assembled and in some cases held in the pose I want with wire. This build is still very much work in progress. Still to be done are power cables (lots and lots of power cables), the ammo chutes, lots of greens stuff work, and of course, paint.

Until then, cheers!

CJ