Space Wolf Allies

What? oh, C’mon.. the chance to add a few new models? of course I am thinking about allies.

I started with models I already had.

Imperial Guard

I have a fairly large guard army, and the cheapness of the stuff.. for the firepower you get.. it’s just wrong. example, two veteran units, primaris Psyker and two vendattas… sure you could bump those up to three and still be inside the forge org for allies.. but wait..In the heavy slot you could add three leman russ MBT’s.. or three Hydras… and a psyker battle squad in the elite slot.. wow.

Add some cheap enginseers to help out your vehicles and backfield shooters…

And we haven't even discussed artillery. this codex is the ultimate for power gamer mining outside of the GK it’ presents an awful lot of options.

But.

My guard are painted in desert colours.

And my wolves have snow bases.

that, right there.. I can’t do that. Maybe somewhere down the line I’ll add some vostroyans or vallhallans.. or model up some housecarls.. but nope, wont be using guard right now.

Grey Knights

No.

I have an old Inquisition army, that’s how this blog started and why it’s called what it is, a radical inquisitor… but I cant bring myself to play from the fromagerie that is the GK codex.. and I know that sounds rich coming from a guy with wolves and guard.. but there it is..

also, GK aren't battle brothers with wolves.

Maybe later.

Space Marines

Here’s a nice option, and one of the two I intend to explore.

Battle brothers, check, able to still model them as Space Wolves and therefore keep using the models in the core army.. check..

So..

Fast, Scoring, T5, shooty and survivable in assault.. awesome. also opens up the stormtalon, a much needed anti air unit for the Space Wolves.. space marine captain with relic blade, sgt with fist, MM attack bike and a Meltagun and flamer in the squad..

I still have a spare vanilla biker so I can still run the unit as swiftclaw if I swap him out for a special.

Only question is whether to use Khan.. with the cap added to the squad and the talon escorting that’s a decent blob to come in from outflank…

Blood Angels

More battle brothers.

 

Let’s first consider a cheap option I already have the models for. I mean sure, we can talk about death company in stormravens modelled as wulfen, and we might have to go there.. but for now, lets look at:

Assault squads, x2 5 man, melta or flamer, led by a libby.

can still model them as wolves, can still use them as sky claws and rune priest..

and two of my favourite words.. fast.. scoring…

sure I could run a single squad and combat squad them.. I could do that twice and get twenty of these blokes on the boards.. but this is a decent start..

Also.. I could run a Baal pred…… assault cannons are going to rule this edition, I can feel it :)

 

Heres the quick libby conversion I put together wile considering this.

Deathwing

The last viable option in my mind, and still a bit out there as Dark Angels aren't battle brothers..

 

Worthy of consideration I believe because cheap, scoring hammernators are going to be everywhere this edition, and one of the best counters.. is more cheap, scoring hammernators.. :)

This one doesn't open up much though, and while the scoring part is nice, wolf guard are still a viable option. Its a nice idea, but I like speeeed….

So the Space marine and Blood angel codices will be the ones I explore..

I haven't included templars not least because I don't know the codex well, but moreover because I feel the above offers better options than anything that codex could offer.

so let me know your thoughts, am I derranged? am I heading for trouble modelling my allies the same as my core army? should I consider GK codex options?

What units should I consider acquiring and modelling next? a Space Wolves Baal pred? more bikers? Wulfen in a stormraven?

I’m just full of questions today, huh? :)

Requiem for a Daemonhunter

So the new GK models have landed, as you can probably tell from a glance at any blog roll

or you email

or your local GW store…

Anyway, I’ve played DH since the codex first came out (with some time off in 4th I grant you) and I must say I’m not as excited as I should be. I suppose it was always the weirdoes and pseudo-heretics of the Inquisition who got me most excited as far as modelling goes anyway; and the new GK codex, while possibly allowing them to be fielded, certainly seems not to have those elements centre stage.

So will I buy them? Will I play them?

Well the terminators are the same price as CC termies, So I might well rationalise my army to be built around a few Termies in transports and leave it at that. I’m not sure my earlier conversions will hold up anymore,

There are some similarities, for sure, But I don't know if they look sufficiently like grey knights anymore.

 

Although, the AOBR > GK tutorial is consistently my most viewed page; and at nearly thirty quid for five, you could be forgiven for wanting to give it a go when this technique would get you considerably more for the same price, (Bitzbox.co.uk would let you have fifteen AOBR termies for thirty quid,) you never know, I might see the hits for that article go up yet more.

All that said, I have to consider that I’m quite taken with the play style of the guard. although I always did like to be outnumbered, so a deathwing style force of GK might flip the switch.

Let’s just say it wont happen yet. I hate people thinking I’m a “next best thing” player, so it will be a while before I go back to DH. I have my guard in my sights at the moment, and a bunch of wolves to paint, and a bunch of orks to build. Aaand I always thought an all-jump pack army would be coool.. and it’s been about enough time since the BA codex released…

Did I ever mention BA were my first army?

Well blood drinkers technically, it’s how I painted my first Rogue Trader marines box.

I digress… I have guardsmen to paint!

Final thought – Who’s been watching too much Avatar then?

Finished Dread

I could do more to it, but ostensibly I'm calling this finished.

theres a little light conversion been done to brand it as a GK Dread, amd it's magnetised so it can be feilded as a marksman or an up-close unit.

I still need to do a little work to the base, but thats just static grass and that comes post-varnish.

Here he is.

Not Dead, but Dread

Hi all,


I just thought it was time for an "I'm not dead" announcement.

I'm still working on editing that video, but work has been, well, mental recently.

The only thing i've painted since those kroot is that I've been picking away at a Dread with a light conversion to GK use and magnetised arms.

I'll post him below so you know you can trust me :)

I've got the rest of my GK to paint before I should buy anything new, but ive got the ork bug again (it happens) keep me in your bloglist to see what develops there.

for now, my first GK(ish) dread...



I must stress this guy is a work in progress, (no, i dont feild models with toothpick "details"), he still needs a final highlight, details, the base detailing, toothpick removal, weathering etc etc.
hes basically basecoated and had his first weathering wash

I'll try and be a bit more "regular" and also to get that vid up soon.

The shape of things to come

A weekend of building lies behind me, and the primer is on.

Left to right, you can see - 3 TH/SS grey knights, dread arms and torso; two more GK's a drop pod a batch of IST's with melta and commander cullin... nay Brother Captain Cullin :)

nothing is glued to it's base for easier painting, and the Dread is magnetised so the weapons get seperate paint, oh yeah and theres a guy whose head still isnt on :)

I've still got a Land Raider to build, but i'm waiting on magnets so it can be either a Crusader or Redeemer., so while we wait on those, let's have some closer shots eh?

This is a set of three TH / SS guys, that at the moment I'm going to run as a Deep striking squad of its own, but later will be 1 guy per squad.

at the moment I dont feel I have enough units, so i'm working with smaller focussed guys, mainly because of the cost of things in my dex.

Sarge

the next two guys had thier sheilds carved into a semblance of the =][=

The next two are vanilla GKT's, it was very interesting working with non-AoBR termies as a base, the extra posability of the seperate torso really allows some dynamism.

that guy had a "priming accident" dont worry its glued back on now :)

A closer view of my dread torso. this got magnetised, but i'll most likely run him as a marksman, as i'm seriously lacking Long range firepower. Its just a normal dread with a bit of iconography on it, hopefully it will paint up convincingly

And of course the drop pod is his.

The melta IST's

the guys I was using with plasma and grenades just never seem to do anything worthwhile so melta all round. oh and scouts come in a box of 5, so I made a flamer guy for the hell of it.

Last up, my new commander to be

Brother-Captain Cullin of the Grey Knights.

I was going to do a bit more converting, but it's just such a beutiful sculpt all I had the heart to do was swap his Iconography. =][= symbols pervade where once there were only scorpions.

I think he'll tie in well, his armour is ornate and covered in purity seals, his crotch plate is pretty much a peice of GKT heraldry anyway, and i've added similar to the new GKT above so that should echo well and work as a unit despite the different armour.

so that lot all needs paint now. argh. just when I thought I was getting somewhere :)

still I'm pretty happy with them so far, and once this set of guys and their ride is done it'll be time to try and take some group shots.

C'mon Lads, Group Photo

I finished the Last 3 guys, making my first squad of GKT's.

Each one of these has been converted form an AoBR termie, most recognisably the sergeant.




Apologies for the pics, I've messed the exposure up a little, I forgot to check my settings and i'd been shooting out in the snow the other day. ah well. Maybe i'll take some more later in the week, if i can be bothered :)

Here's a few individual shots -

Next on the table?

Well I have a LRC to build for these fellows. I have an actual box of terminators, no AoBR here, which will get the same treatment. I've a Dear and Drop pod waiting for paint and last but not least a FW Commander Cullen who, with a few changes of iconography, will be my GK HQ.

I'm not changing his armour up though, as i think the sculpt is too good, just his icons and maybe his hair :)

Works in Progress

Unusual for me I know. I usually try to post either finished tutorials or finished minis but in the interest of trying to keep people interested I'm trying to post a little more regularly.

I've four guys actively on the go at the moment, that is in the crosshairs and actively receiving paint. three of my GK conversions and one model for a freind.

The GK are giving my a slight issue. I'm taking more time over them than the first two, and working hard to improve the paint, as I have the modelling too. and while I am very happy with the way they are going... they are a smidge darker than the other two.

I think I'll live with it, but I know it's going to bug me a little every time I look at them.

anyway heres the brother captain;

a squad member;

and the last guy;

they still need a whole heap of detail and highlight, but i'm pleased so far with the grey, the glds etc. I think the eyes really pop, and the darker tone does a nice job of draing you to the BC's face. still cant quite get the smoothness I want though.

this last model is very WiP, about the only thing close to done on him is the armour, but I'm taking my time as it's for a freind who went to GD :)

There we are, WiPs galore. I hope to have these guys finished by the end of the weekend (the GK at least) but work is going crazy at the moment, so don't count on it.

Tutorial - AoBR terminator to Grey Knight Conversion (Sooo pic heavy)

I've been asked for this several times, both here and on B&C so I decided to document the next one I had a crack at.


We're going to assimilate this scrap AoBR terminator into a proud Grey Knight Terminator

First off, a List of What's needed.

The Bitz

Plasticard!
Cereal box card (optional)
Plastic Rod
GS
FW =][= Brass etch symbol
One complete AoBR terminator
One Thunder hammer arm
One storm shield arm
Any space marine hand
A suitable blade (I’m using Dark angels ones due to the unique shape)
A purity seal or scroll etc for “dressing”


And the tools used :
Superglue
Scalpel
GS sculpting tools
Pin vice / Drill
Fine files/sandpaper
q-tips

Acknowledgements

There are other tutorials out there which cover pretty much every aspect of this build, some I’ve used, some have been pointed out to me since posting the models.
The two(three) that most directly relate are Ron Saikowsji’s Pre-heresey terminators over at From the warp, and related to that iktovian’s template for PH- Pads.

And USABOB’s picture tutorial on plastic GK termies, which I hadn’t actually seen until someone directed me there, I’ve done almost exactly the same as him, but with less pinning and more GS, and I think a different magazine – I use the existing one, he uses a rhino mounted one.

I can only hope if BOB every sees this tut he wont think I’ve ripped him off.

Anyway, onward -

So here are the step-by-step stages of making this fellow

1) The close shave

First thing is to prepare the AOBR termie, by shaving off all the unnecessary bits.

Head – we make a few select cuts here, shaving off some of the detail from the flat planes thus,

Then following the line of the eye here, we make a cut each side,

shaving down until we are happy with our new mr. pointyface

If you like you can drill some “breathing holes” in one or both sides at this point. I do this to about half the squad, and in different patterns / sides. I’m going to leave this guy vanilla though.

Chest – all detail removed to make a nice flat surface

The stuff in red has to go. I use a sharp blade and then finish with a file or abrasive paper

The result is this:

Legs – again, protruding details removed to make way for the plates later

Anything that "sticks out" has to go.

if you aren’t a fan of the leg plates leave these intact and use the legs as is. Personally I feel the bulk of the shoulders demands some bulking of the legs for balance.



Okay so there he is prepped and partially converted, next is to start adding bits back on.

2) The Build

The Head / collar.

For this we need a thin strip of thinish plasticard.

Now I’m terrible at measuring, I tend to go “by eye” its the same when I cook, paint, whatever, so it’s about this big, and it gets fenegled to fit with a few dry fittings and a bit of a trim, until we have this –

Which can be happily bent around a paintbrush to provide the curve

And then glued into place

The Nemesis force weapon

Here are the components for the NFW,

and the cuts required to get at the good stuff we need

The assembly

and the product.

simples :)


The storm bolter

The bolter is made from....

Broken down into -

and reassembled thus -

Positioning the arms

At this stage and before I affix them or do any GS I get the arms to fit correctly for the pose I want. The posing of AOBR figs is very limited, but since we will be adding our own shoulderpads, we can do what we like to their usual mount, the shoulder nub.

Its this nub that dictates the angle the arm sits at, so whatever we shave flat here, will affect the final pose, experiment with trimming and test fitting until you have a pose you like. Any big “underarm gaps” can be filled and hidden later


Oh, yeah,

It's at this point you should glue the Brass etch in place,

Giving us this assembled Grey Knight to be, awaiting his first Greenstuffing.

3) The Features

The greenstuff – round 1.

The first part of the GS is to prepare each piece, -

The Bolter shroud is probably the first part you should do, it’s easy and it needs to be cured before you can start attaching arms if you want to avoid fingerprints.

You're aiming for roughly this shape, - the feeling that the whole bolter is some kind of armour peice or "cuff"

Next is the body, first step is to pack the GS in there where you need it,

then smooth and shape it to your heart's desire

Once cured, clean off the Vaseline with a q-tip and we're ready to move on.

The plasticard

Here is where I cut and fit the custom pieces, I have to give props here to Ron Saikowski over at From the Warp, without his tutorial and emails I wouldn’t have got these stages down.

Anyway I draw out the following, and mount to plasticard.

I cut out the scrap insides

I then mount this onto cardstock. (the previous two models I used cereal box card, for this one I tried using all plasticard, having found some very thin sheet styrene, allowing me to make the leg plates a little thinner and the feet more visible, as people seem to have expressed a preference for)

And cut the outline

A little curving round the brush and we are ready to go

Glue in place

You can see some issues with the new thin styrene in that is has a tendancy to bend in one place rather than smoothly, not a problem though, a rub over with a sculpting tool smoothes away most of this.


Next we put in some structure for a Tabard – a simple peice of styrene for mount, thicker card this time.

Affix arms

You can pin these if you wish, but I haven’t needed too yet, there's lots of plastic to plastic surface area which means good glue adhesion with CA.

Once the arms are on we can Affix the shoulders.

Bend,

place,glue.

Greenstuff round 2 - tabard and edging

First up, repair any cracks or visible seams in the plasticard parts

After that we are going to apply GS to the tabard plastic to build up folds and create a dynamic shape.

Slap it on first.

Then refine the shape

Then smooth and improve

Don’t forget the back

Detail and done.

Last step is to glue on a few purity seals and bolt heads

The seals just get glued in place, along with a few skulls to "hold the tabard on"

Then the bolts

Theres a trick to getting little things stuck on,

use a Cocktail stick as a glue applicator, dip and drop.

then use a Needle to deposit and position the item

There we are.

One GK Termie, from an AoBR box.

Last thing is....

The base

So here’s what you need to make bases like mine

The "basic" ingredients are :

Wood filler (I think called “spackle” in the US)
Ballast/gravel (your regular basing mix)
And a base (obviously)

I tend to dress this up with “interesting” stuff.

One of my staples is bits of broken plaster, whenever I cast anything is plaster I cast up the leftovers in anything I have handy, then I break it up. This gives me a great material with a mix of rough and smooth surfaces, which makes an excellent concrete/plascrete stand in.

I also use leftover bitz – usually from vehicles. These GK so far have a cut up barell, some tread and this fellow is getting a broken searchlight.

I also keep/ mix in things like wire mesh, balsa wood and these wicked sheets of textured styrene, I’ll use some on this with a tread plate texture.

Okay so thats the “stuff”.

Tools are very simple,
A scalpel,
a pin vice/drill (to mount the guy in the end)
a palette knife for spreading the filler
that’s pretty much it.

Method.
Play around with the bits and test fit them, make any cuts/changes so they fit how you want

With fiddly things you might need to use the old “blu-tak” vice trick

Slap some wood filler on the base, and push it about till you’re happy.

Then stick your interesting bits on

You can choose to either impress some ballast now, or glue it on later. I like to apply it while the filler is still wet.

You might want to just “eye up” and check the mini will sit how you want, with experience this gets easier, but expect your first few to look like they are climbing Kilimanjaro.

That’s it. Leave it to set. ( a couple of hours usually, but read your filler tub)



And last but not least, Here is the whole thing primed and ready for paint.

(of course hes just "resing" in place as I'll paint them seperately.)

All I can say is I hope that tutorial had value for you and if it did, please let me know.

If there's anything i've taken for granted you know, or if you've any questions in general, let me know what I missed or what you'd like to know and I'll do my best to answer.