Deathwing Terminator Squad 2 - TO DONE

 

Deathwing in the House!

 

Greetings and welcome back! At long last, I am posting the final pics of my second Deathwing squad project (begun in September for those keeping track...). The first squad was a five member trial. Then I was on to this full ten marine squad. I love how they came out!  Sure, the perfectionist in me is yelling about all the lost opportunity here. Honestly I spend FAR to much time browsing the projects of others on Instagram, not to mention all of your fabulous blogs. But I'm honestly happy to call this squad done so I can move on to other projects.

So that's TO DONE.  Here's the happy Deathwing family in the display case with some HQ at the rear...

At some point I need to get things out of the case for a better photo shoot...but no time now, must build and paint MOAR!! 😂 Scroll down after the break if you want to see all the gory details on these terminators.  I have to hand it to GW.  These updated sculpts are great and were a joy to paint. Somewhere down in the basement, tucked away in their foamy beds, decades of first borne terminators weep and cry themselves to sleep...  

Cheers and Happy Gaming!!

Deathwing Terminator Squad 2 WIP - Part 2

 

Greetings and welcome back.  As the title pic reveals, I resolved to complete the second Deathwing terminator squad which I had begun prior to DreadTober. These warriors got close to completion, but not close enough. So I put them back on the painting table and got stuck in.

The bases are now complete to match my Dark Angels force. This is a simple basing scheme which I have used on my Dark Angels over the decades.  It's not snazzy, nor flashy, nor even imaginative. But it provides a good neutral backdrop for my force. The idea was born from the notion that battle fields in the 41st millennium are blasted wastelands and many the victim of countless conflicts dating back to the Dark Age of Heresy.

These first two examples are the Sergeant and squad second respectively. If I broke the squad of ten into two five marine squads for a game, the second would lead the second squad of five. I figured at that point I would declare his chainfist a "power weapon" with power sword stats since sergeants can't take chain fists.

 I ended up really liking the cyclone missile launcher, so iconic for the Deathwing of old. Might have to source another one or two of those...moving on though, details are mostly done at this point but I keep findings things that got missed or need tidying up, etc.

They just aren't Dark Angels without a plasma boi, so that's why I don't have two cyclones. 💥

And we'll stop the show and tell here.  Just a sample of the interesting models from the squad to show the progress. I'll probably call them done and post final pics late next week. Maybe. For me who have collected Dark Angels for over 20 years, Deathwing terminators hold a special place and I can't call them done until they match that special vision in my minds eye.  If you've collected a faction this long, then I'm confident you understand and have your own model or unit that just stands out from the rest.

So stay tuned for the final squad reveal coming soon! I'm excited to have (nearly) fifteen terminators done. In all these years, I haven't previously completed a squad; even when they were only in five marine units and that is now over eight editions form 3rd to 10th!

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

On the Workbench [November] - Dark Angels Primaris Impulsor!

 

Greetings and welcome back.  Coming off of DreadTober 2024, I needed a painting palate cleanser...a new build was just the thing!  I've been sitting on this Impulsor for quite awhile, including the 3rd party resin upgrades. I have always had a hard time accepting the open back of the Impulsor...so this was a must have upgrade for me.

The details are great, though perhaps tough to see in the translucent resin currently. The back hatch even opens...

The front armor is glued down, but the back has been magnetized so I can still paint and run the transport in it's original form.

Having things this open will make painting the interior a breeze too! You should be able to make out two magnets at the back and two at the top where the roof meets the copula deck. This was a simple modification that helps maintain the original look while catering to my personal taste too. Win!

The top hatch can take all of the Impulsor options.

And then the full roof can be replaced with the original bits...

Pretty cool!  The only sign of the mod is the two magnets at the back, but those won't show much after painting, I shouldn't think. I could go after them with putty and sanding until they were invisible under paint, I suppose...not sure it's going to be worth the effort since I want the roof on most of the time anyway.

So that's what I've been up too. Next I will put this tank aside and finish the squad of terminators I was working on in September prior to DreadTober. They already look great so it shouldn't take too long I hope. Then I'm not sure where I'll go...this tank?  Tiny Horus Heresy models?  I really can't say. Something fun for sure though.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

DreadTober - To Done!

 

Greets and welcome back!  I'm pleased to share my completed DreadTober project today.  The Invictor Tactical Warsuit assigned to the 4th Company Blades of Vengeance is DONE.  Please allow me to celebrate with a big seal o' DONE before I continue...

OK, now on to how the final week went.  With the base built last week, I set to work painting it.

After a black primer coat, I decided to try out GW Agrellan Earth technical paint instead of my typical Vallejo Black Lava to cover the cork texture on the flat areas. As seen here, it gave a nice parched, cracked earth look.

I used an airbrush to then add a brown base coat. Then after some shading and dry brushing the bases ended up like this.

I have a method, but typically go freehand here with "a little bit of this, and a little bit of that.".  Here I have chosen some GW Athonian Camoshade on the gravelly bits to hint at a bit of moss or other greenery trying to make a come back amidst the arid devastation. 

Then it was a simple matter of drilling a couple holes in the feet for brass wire pins, then drilling complimentary holes in the base to glue the Warsuit down permanently.  As I've mentioned in other articles, I have forgone superglue for a 2-Part 5-Minute Epoxy. Sure, it takes more time to set, and can be a bit more fussy to work with.  But it's flexible and provides a very strong bond.  This beats the brittleness of superglue.  When I inevitably drop this model, the base won't simply pop off.  Even with pins, I have seen superglue bonds easily separate under minor force.  Also, superglue doesn't store well...I can use the same tubes of 2-part epoxy for years (I buy big tubes 😁).

Anyway, enough of that. Once the model was permanently attached to the base, I painted the two daemon skulls on the base and went back to the Warsuit to complete a few details. That involved finishing the purity seals and oaths of moment; painting the Opus Machina on the power plant, detailing a few hoses and painting in the lenses and such on either side of the cockpit. Probably some clean up and a few other minor details were completed in the bargain.

I'll leave off with family photo of the three Primaris Dreadnought/Warsuit chassis I have painted up so far.  Perhaps next year I'll add the Brutalis Dreadnought and complete the set. That Dread would look very good in Deathwing heraldry, no?

I have very much enjoyed participating in DreadTober this year.  We have so many great projects every year.  Follow the link to see more! If you are interested, scroll down after the break so see the final pics of my project this year.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

DreadTober - week 4 progress!

 

Greetings and welcome back for week four of DreadTober.  I added a few more details, like purity seals, to the dread this week.  But the main task was building the base.  Nothing too fancy, mind, but something with more lift and interest than a simple plastic circle with some gravel on it...

Here, I have used my typical approach of gluing down cork pieces in (hopefully) interesting patterns. Then I used wood glue with my model railroad ballast mix to add some bits of rock here and there. In this picture, the glue is still drying. Later I go back and add Vallejo Black Lava to the rest of the exposed cork surface to hide the remaining 'corkiness'. A couple GW deamon skulls were added for good measure. I may use that as a theme for my larger Blades of Vengeance chapter models to distinguish them a bit form the Dark Angels chapter. Probably for some of the characters too?

Here's a close up of the driver in his seat.  I owe him some armor highlights and other fiddly bits to add interest. I'm happy the moving bits still move after painting, though, and the magnets are working great for attaching the driver.

Here he is all locked in for a fight.  Progress could have moved a long a bit more this week. However I'm still in great shape for finishing by the end of the month. Everything that is going to be glued has been, with the exception of the base.  I'm going to paint that prior to fixing the model to it permanently.

So that's me so far. A couple three day weekends away and a minor cold this week have slowed the pace, but not wrecked the goal.  I'll be there at the finish with y'all!

Cheers and Happy Gaming!