Sunday, May 31, 2015

WIP: Daemon Contemptor of Khorne

I built this a while back and still haven't really changed it much.


A World Eaters Contemptor converted into something daemonically possessed. I'm not totally sold on the Lord of Skulls cleaver, but for now I'm leaving it as-is.





I may swap out the axe to the Space Wolves dreadnought axe in one hand (modified to look appropriately evil, of course) or cut this thing down a bit. We'll see.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

WIP: Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage: Umbragor the Hopeslayer

Umbragor the Hopeslayer is the highest ranking true daemon within the Brass Stampede. Ultimately subservient to Arctos Gorehowl, he is mostly left to his own devices on the battlefield. Often, this involves choosing the mightiest targets (such as Chapter Masters and Knight Titans) and hacking them apart.

The Shadows of the Hopeslayer are a numerous sect of cultists within the Brass Stampede. They paint their patchwork armor -- and occasionally their own skin -- a deep black to emulate their deity. They eagerly follow him around in battle, desperate to kill and die in his shadow. Tactically, this will usually allow Umbragor to focus on his chosen opponents while enemy troops are occupied with the tide of cultists.

His name is inspired by the character Bael'Zharon from the first generation MMORPG Asheron's Call. One of his monikers was the "Hopeslayer."

I love the GW Bloodthirster kit so much, I don't really plan on doing any conversion work for Umbragor. I'm assembling him in pieces so all appropriate surfaces can be painted without leaving unpainted spaces beneath.


I'm also magnetizing his wings for ease of storage/transport. It's a bit tricky, but I'm mostly satisfied.



WIP: 40k Skullcrushers of Khorne

The WFB Skullcrushers of Khorne is probably my favorite kit that GW produces. It has all the right ingredients: juggernauts, badass Khornate knights, awesome weaponry, and incredible details.

The fact that there is no 40k analogue is extremely disappointing to me. Berzerkers or Chosen on juggernauts should definitely be a thing. Prior to the release of Khorne Daemonkin, during the rumors phase, I had all my digits crossed that they would actually create this unit for the new codex.

Obviously, that didn't happen. WELL SHIT, what is one to do when our beloved collectible-miniatures-company who coincidentally makes rules for those miniatures falls short of the mark? Forge our own narrative, of course! /takes a swig of punch

I've created rules for 40k Skullcrushers, but I'm still refining them. Sooner or later I'll release those rules.

In the mean time, I've simply decided to use power armored Khorne dudes on juggernauts as bikers. Sure, their stats aren't as impressive as they would be if they actually rode the coolest beasts from the warp as their chosen mounts, but at least this way the rules already exist and they're good to go.

The majority will be armed with meltaguns (infernus pistols as meltaguns) and used in Gorepack formations from the Khorne Daemonkin codex.

Here is my first attempt, a mock-up using various parts from the Skullcrushers kit, Chaos Space Marines kit, infernus pistol from Death Company, "power axe" which is really a chain axe (GG Forge World) from the FW Cataphractii weapons kit:







Friday, May 29, 2015

Fluff: The Ascension of Arctos Gorehowl

Arctos Gorehowl is more than a Chaos Lord, but not quite a Daemon Prince. His soul and essence are tied to those of his warp dragon mount (who is as of yet unnamed), who is itself a greater daemon of sorts. As a result, he has achieved immortality in his own way. No less a slave to the Bloodfather than a prince or proper daemon, but he retains his mortal frame.

Here is the story of his triumph:

With a grunt, Arctos Gorehowl yanked the blade of Heartseeker from within the smoking mouth of the fallen bloodthirster. The daemon-spear was unblemished by the beast’s flaming breath, nearly vibrating with delight at bathing in the blood and brain matter of its greater cousin, whose corpse twitched on the blood-soaked sand of the arena.

Arctos’ equerry Viconius strode from the crowd of spectators to his master’s side. Ornate brass power armor obscured the once beautiful Astartes within. A son of Sanguinius in a former life, now another slave to the blood god.

Gorehowl silently passed Heartseeker to his equerry, and reached for the hilt of the rune-encrusted scimitar at his waist. Pulled free of its sheath, the curved blade began to growl like a dog fighting over a bone. With his free hand, the warlord raised the slain bloodthirster’s head by the icon of Khorne crowing its cranium. It took three vicious strokes of the growling blade to hack through the spine and neck muscles before loosing a bark of delight when it finally severed the massive head.

Roaring in triumph, Gorehowl lifted the mangled head before the gathered throngs of Khorne, blood pouring over his scorched armor. The warriors of the Brass Stampede erupted in a roar of their own at their master’s victory, joined by the daemons of the fallen bloodthirster’s legion. A new lord had risen to lead their hosts, proven mightier than the last in the sand of a million pulverized skulls.

“Bloodfather! Your son offers a skull!”

Forked bolts of crimson lightning split the sky above the arena, thunder booming Khorne’s approval of one champion slaughtering another. The dark clouds began glowing, lightning spitting and crackling from within the voluminous gloom.

The sound of thunder was almost like laughter; a god’s amusement at the squabbles of playthings desperate for his approval. And yet, he was pleased.

A shape broke through the darkness of the clouds like a meteor, red electricity arcing in its wake. Folded wings and a long tail became visible as the shape plummeted toward the arena.

Viconius chuckled. “Another thirster to slay, is it?”

“No,” Arctos uttered while slowly lowering his victim’s severed head. “Something else. Something we’ve never seen before.” He quickly sheathed his scimitar and extended his hand toward his equerry, his gaze never leaving the descending monster. His gauntleted fingers closed around the shaft of Heartseeker.

The creature’s great wings unfurled a split second before it slammed into the ground, spraying bonesand across the arena. Four mighty limbs supported the daemon’s massive body, each ending in wicked talons. A thick, serpentine neck held its head aloft: horned, crested; with eyes that conveyed the unbridled malice of its spirit. Screeching, it stomped toward the warlord and his equerry.

Gorehowl smiled beneath his helm. “A warp dragon.”

Viconius stepped away, having no right to engage the beast alongside his master. The glory of a skull champion’s challenge is not willingly shared with his underlings. A part of him was eager for his master’s death. If the equerry had the chance to slay the dragon in Arctos Gorehowl’s blood, command of the new legion would pass to him. But first, the warlord would have to fall.

Arctos thrust his spear skyward, unfazed by the dragon’s approach. As he did, a bolt of crimson lightning struck the spear, its energy coruscating down the blade, through the shaft, and over the surface of the warlord's fire-blackened suit of power armor. A change came over Gorehowl – an understanding. Muffled laughter was audible even through the battered brass faceplate of his horned helm.

The dragon folded its wings and halted its advance a dozen paces from the lord of the Brass Stampede. Arctos took a spinning step forward, gathering momentum to toss the bloodthirster’s severed head at the dragon.

Thick jaws snapped shut around the head, crunching into the skull and mangling its brass icon. The great daemon lifted its head and neck to swallow the prize, now a lump in its throat descending toward the furnace of hellfire within. Sated, it lowered its head to lock eyes with Gorehowl.

Arctos dragged Heartseeker’s blade across the palm of his gauntlet, effortlessly slicing through the ceramite and into his flesh beneath. He clenched his fist and raised it to the side, a steady rivulet of blood streaming forth which the dragon greedily gulped down.

The warp dragon bowed its body, revealing a saddle between the shoulders of its wings. Arctos Gorehowl mounted the beast, and again the legions of Khorne gloriously roared to the triumph of their lord.

Now the equerry understood. He turned to the slaughter-brothers standing beside him. “Behold his ascension.”

Though not physically reformed as daemonic royalty, Arctos Gorehowl was forever soul-bonded to the dragon, inseparable and everliving. The galaxy was already fearful of the carnage wrought by of the Brass Stampede, but a new terror cast a winged shadow to herald the bloodshed to come.

WIP: Warp Dragon Conversion

Here are some preliminary mock-ups for Arctos Gorehowl on warp dragon:

I'm liking the combination of spare horns from the bloodthirster kit and horns snipped from a CSM helmet. Either one on their own seemed lacking, but together I think they bring balance and complement each other well. The smaller horns can also be swung outward, with their ends slightly away from the head as well, if that ends up looking good.

Keep in mind that the blu-tack doesn't keep things perfectly in position, so obviously the angles would be "perfect" and at least equal to each other when it's pinned and glued.




And now, for the wings. This is the best I can do, the angle/position isn't ideal but it's hard to take pictures and hold things in place at the same time:



The next task is to work on Arctos Gorehowl himself, but I still don't have all the bits I need for him.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Fluff: Arctos Gorehowl: Lord of the Brass Stampede


The Brass Stampede: A Khorne Daemonkin legion who tramples its enemies beneath the hooves of its vast herds of juggernauts. Its leader, once a Space Wolves legionnaire and honor guard to Russ himself, fights atop a monstrous Khornate warp dragon to which his soul is bound.

This legion favors fast moving units. Maulerfiends, spawn (represented by riderless juggernauts), flesh hounds, and bikers (riding juggernaut "bikes") form the bulk of its ranks. To lead the forces of the legion, the warlord (who counts as a bloodthirster) is joined by a black Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage known as Umbragor the Hopeslayer, whose cultist worshippers are all too happy to kill and die in the shadow of his wings.

And now, our friend Arctos Gorehowl would like to introduce himself:

Would it shock you to learn, mongrel, that my blade was once sworn to the Great Wolf himself? Many a warrior I laid low at his feet, such was my fervor to please my lord… my father. We butchered worlds in his name, shed oceans of blood to bring glory to our legion.

Such lengths, such bonds of honor among my brothers and our father that we followed him into the Eye itself to confront the forces of damnation. And yet, across the threshold we found ourselves alone, abandoned by our father to the whims of the nether without a second thought. Were we not worthy to fight by his side? How much blood had we shed to bring him victory a thousand times over? And in the end, we were nothing to him, left to perish in the roiling nightmare domain of the gods. Nine of us, left behind as chattel.

With a howl that echoed across the fel realm, I vowed to avenge this dishonor by the one I called father. By axe and tooth and fist, vengeance would be mine. My anger served as a beacon in the warp. My cries of anguish were answered by my true father. The Bloodfather. In my mind, he whispered a bargain by which I would have my revenge. The price was simple: Blood! Skulls!

In weakness my brothers turned their blades against me, decrying my willingness to pursue the eightfold path as madness and my vow of vengeance against Russ as treachery. They accepted their fate, and so I sealed it. Eight skulls I offered as my first tribute to the blood god. It was a hard won triumph to overcome the chosen of the Great Wolf, but my rage and my axe split them apart one by one. With the father vanished, the slaughter of his sons would have to suffice.

I had pleased my god. One more act, he whispered, would cement our bond. With the blood of my slain brothers and that pouring from my own wounds, I drew the skull rune across my mangled breastplate. And so was I anointed. And so was I chosen by the Bloodfather.

How many millennia have passed since my oath of vengeance? Time is meaningless, my memories of Russ distant and ephemeral. Only blood. Only skulls. I command a legion of Khorne’s mightiest warriors. We are The Brass Stampede, and entire systems have been trampled beneath the hooves of our juggernauts.

I am Arctos Gorehowl, warlord of The Brass Stampede, and I will claim your skull.

Brass Stampede Armor Color Scheme Fiddlings

I've been experimenting with color schemes for the armored members of the Brass Stampede. I want them to have brass-type/metallic armor. Here are some of my experiments so far (using the back of the mini, as it was easier to focus on the entire plane rather than arms being blurry from the front angle):

I started by spraying the mini with Vallejo's bronze as the basecoat:



I then coated the model with GW nuln oil and drybrushed with Vallejo's brass, and tried to highlight some edges with Vallejo's old gold:





In theory, this is fine, but there is a real lack of contrast going on. Of course, when certain bits such as the armor joints, horns, eyes and so on are painted their appropriate colors the minis will look better.

Last week I was at my local GW and found a color I'd never seen before and really liked! It's called Screaming Bell. I thought this might be a great initial undercoat over which to layer the bronze/brass/old gold.

I also used this as an opportunity to test out GW's nihilakh oxide, which I believe is a perfect opportunity to make the paint scheme more colorful without looking like a rainbow. This is my first attempt, and clearly I used too much of the stuff, but here are my results:

Half is just screaming bell washed with nuln oil and then bronze drybrushed over it, and the other half is the same but with nihilakh oxide in the recesses before the drybrushing step:





I think if I use less of the nihilakh oxide and apply it before the nuln oil, the effect will be much better.

Here's a random test plague marine with bonze basecoat => drybrushed brass with screaming bell highlights sprayed on just to see how it would look:



I like it. It's more copper than brass, but perhaps for certain bits of detail and for the purposes of contrast it can add a nice warm color to the model.

Testing Some Paint Schemes

I'm attempting to come up with the paint schemes for my army, and this involves quite a bit of experimentation. I'm new to painting (discounting the shoddy work in my youth), but I've been fiddling around with the airbrush as well as the old fashioned brush lately as a serious endeavor.

Here are my attempts at painting some old metal Flesh Hounds of Khorne from Games Workshop, in preparation to paint my Barghest Fiends from puppetswar.eu.

Using Vallejo's black primer, basecoated with Vallejo's Model Air "Fire Red" paint:




Followed by a layer of Vallejo's Flat Red:


And then washed with