DreadTober 2019 - Week 3 Progress

Well into week three, I've decided to share my progress.  I would normally wait until early next week, but not sure I'll get to much painting over the weekend, and the project is nearing completion as it is.

This week, I finished up some minor work on the arms, added decals, and put the bulk of the work into the base.

This army uses a very modest earthen basing scheme.  I chose a light color to help distinguish the models on the base.  I originally bought resin deck plate bases for this army, but realized that the dark steel decking really didn't help the dark models pop at all.  The resin will get re-purposed for other projects one day, no doubt.

The smashed assault-cannon arm is from a Night Lords contemptor, perhaps recently blown or ripped apart by this dreadnought.  I laid down my best approximation of a simple Night Lords paint scheme.  Enough to tell the story without stealing the show.  From the Horus Heresy stories, the Dark Angels fought the Night Lords in many battles that kept them from returning to Terra in her defense.

Some detail on the freehand lighting bolts and crossed swords decal on the knee.  I spent some time roaming through my collection of old decals to pull a few appropriate ones for this model.  I felt the crossed swords were a nice touch for the Horus Heresy era.

Another look at the lightning bolts painted on the shattered assault-cannon arm.

I added more plasma glow to the the plasma weapons, including light spilling form the barrels and vents.  This helps the palm plasma-blaster stand out a bit within the fist, distinguishing it from the graviton guns. I also found some room for a 1st Legion numeral on the right shoulder. With all the detail on this model, there isn't much space for decals.  I have room on the legs and fists for something, but so far have chose to leave them bare. I need to be able to switch up the arms with other dreadnoughts, so they shouldn't look too oddly unique.  And the legs....just don't seem to need anything?

I settled on some checkers for the upper arm plates.  Siph gave me the great idea of putting a sword there and I had decals picked out.  However, in the end, this was a simple and effect place to include the Legion checkers, so on they went.  The swords went on the knee shield instead.

A last walk around the dread to see it at different angles. The project has come out better than expected and I'm very pleased with it.

I really like how the Legion symbol looks over the field of checkers on the arm. I chose to keep the weapons relatively plain to avoid clashing or distracting form all the main body and base details.  That chain blade may be understated, but it'll do good work on the table top, no doubt.

Here is the model so far with twin fists in full on assault mode.

And there is a parting shot with all the bits laid out. I could easily stop here and lay down the final lacquer coat.  Given the time left in the challenge however, I'll put some more thought into highlights and cleaning up various details and what not.  No need to rush this month.

How is your DreadTober project coming along?

Cheers and Happy Gaming!