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I painted my first Primaris Space Marine! He’s Nemesis Chapter – an Ultramarines successor chapter with origins in the dark days of the Horus Heresy.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/primaris/nemesis-space-marine-primaris-intercessor-sergeant.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Sergeant Glaucon, 2nd Battle Company, 3rd Squad, Nemesis Chapter. His banner reads ΝΕΜΕΣΙΣ – “nemesis” in Greek capitals.
This Intercessor Sergeant, from Games Workshop’s Dark Imperium starter set, is largely indistinguishable from the squad he leads. Traditionally, Space Marine sergeants have a different weapon configuration (something Napoleonic like pistol and swords), bare heads and big banners to mark them out. I originally finished painting the mini, but was uneasy with how he looked alongside the rest of the squad. Only thing to distinguish him was the helmet being red.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/primaris/primaris-intercessor-space-marine-nemesis-chapter.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The eagle-eyed amongst you will also spot the checks added to his right pauldron since this photo was taken.
So I added a dirty great banner. This one is from the Space Marine Ironclad Dreadnought, which matches the swollen proportions of the 2017 Space Marine iteration. Here’s Glaucon next to some classic Space Marines with flags to show the scale creep over the last 30 years.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/primaris/space-marine-banner-men-comparison-primaris.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Left to right: 1987 Blood Angel; 2013 Ultramarine; 2017 Nemesis Marine.
Yeah yeah, I know you’re gonna say “Marines got swole cos of Guilliman’s super-seed”, but I reject your fluff-lead view of Games Workshop’s miniatures and state flatly that Primaris is the new de facto Space Marine and is directly comparable to the other two Marines above. Nurrr.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/primaris/primaris-marine-leading-ultramarines-tactical-squad-varenus-close.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Glaucon leading his little brothers from Ultramarines Squad Varenus.
The Dark Imperium box is overwhelming with the amount of Marines in it, and I’m going to trick myself into thinking it’s one of the smaller starter sets so I’m making better progress through the purchased model pile. Next off – the rest of the Intercessor squad!
More miniatures on my blog: http://www.ninjabread.co.uk
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Awesome brushwork on that Primaris marine. 8)
And a sobering comparison with the older marines... :-X
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Nice Primaries marine.
Interesting comparison, is the Womble an RTB01 plastic?
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is the Womble an RTB01 plastic?
It most certainly is... :)
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Astounding work on that marine! :o Is that just edge highlighting or do you glaze as well? Also what colours did you use for that helmet? That’s rich! 8)
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nice miniatures !
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Really, really, really great paintjob!
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You have a steady hand,my friend.
Banner is hand painted , yes? ... Excellent work .
Keep it up
Z
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Very nice paint work indeed.
I know some folks don't like the new supersized marines, but for me they are a marked improvement. Everything except the shoulder pads have been enlarged - the result now is a more balanced figure, the proportions work so much better. You can keep your 1980's big shoulder look, it's Primaris all the way for me.
I also prefer the sergeant helmet to differentiate - the banner just looks silly. It's great painting, but stuck on the back of a fighting figure looks dumb. In my opinion of course.
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Very nicely painted.
I have seen your comments on FB and responded to them there in regards to 'scale creep'. The one thing that always shocks me is how people tend to view it as a thing that only GW has done. It's not.
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" but I reject your fluff-lead view of Games Workshop’s miniatures and state flatly that Primaris is the new de facto Space Marine and is directly comparable to the other two Marines above. Nurrr."
Agreed!
To me the primaris are defacto true scale marines.
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Nice painting Curis.
I don't like the new supersized marines. I've always thought that the fluff about them being 8 ft tall super humans was rubbish and the idea of true scaling marines was laughable. I always prefered the description of the marnes from the RT rulebook.
Still, each to their own. From GW's point of view it must be a gold mine, redoing their best selling range so that everbody goes out and builds a new marine army. I'm interested to see whar direction the terminators are going to take.
With any luck, at least for the rest of us who aren't interested, this might mean GW ploughing some of this new found cash in to some of the indie games that we've been seeing of late.
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Andym – the colour for the helmet is Mephiston Red, highlighted with the old Leprous Brown then VGC Bluegrey.
Nord, I do like the size and impact of the new Marines, but they're ogre-sized and the rest of that Intercessor squad is taking me ages to highlight the panelling on. I do prefer the older generations and am firing those out much quicker at the moment. Hey ho.
I started off a LE02 Imperial Space Marine homage.
[(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/forums/le02-space-marine-redux-wip.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
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Great painting. The colours on the big man are very cool.
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Great brushwork - the Primaris is fantastically well done.
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This is one of my Golden Demon entries – Sergeant Rophocalas of the Blood Angels chapter. He was entered into the Staff Category at Golden Demon Space Marines back in 2015.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/blood-angel-exclusive-forge-world-heresy-mk3-space-marine.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Sergeant Rophocalas with Breacher Squad Aceldamus during a boarding action on the Space Hulk Dies Inproba Apollonis.
Sergeant Rophocalas is the event-exclusive Mark III Boarding Marine from Forge World. He’s had a head-swap with a Forge World Legion Preator so I had the opportunity to paint some flesh. I also built a step-style base out of Necromunda bulhead and Zone Mortalis fittings to help draw the eye up the model.
I really enjoy painting limited edition figures. I feel they’re intrinsically more valuable than their mass-produced counterparts. My enthusiasm for limited editions is more likely to last for the scores of hours that it takes to paint models to a high competition standard, so it’s a great completion strategy. And, at the end of the day you have a extra-special piece with an extra-special paintjob
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/blood-angel-exclusive-forge-world-heresy-mk3-space-marine-details-1-500px-le.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
There’s a number of techniques on this Blood Angel I don’t normally do on my gaming miniature. My standard Space Marines are largely flat block colours on their panels as I’m painting them (at least theoretically) for gaming. But on Rophocalas I wanted to push my blending and transitions. His red armour has has smooth transition from dark to mid red. Areas like the silver on his combi-bolter and the gold aquila on his shield are done is a non-metallic metal style.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/blood-angel-exclusive-forge-world-heresy-mk3-space-marine-details-2-500px-le.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
I didn’t nail the standard or style to be a Golden Demon winner, but I got closer than I’d been previously. I wince a little bit looking at parts of this entry now – but I learned a lot and stretched myself. It wasn’t the best Space Marine in the Golden Demon cabinets that day, but it was the best Space Marine I’d done up to that point.
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I agree on the extra special paint job! :o lovely indeed! :-*
Do you happen to remember the recipe for that red?
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Better than average, I think it's fair to say.
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I like him a lot, he's extra spacial, but I don't think he'd look out of place in a normal photo, next to your gaming pieces. Lovely reds.
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Thanks Andy! The red is Citadel Mephiston Red, shaded with Army Painter Chaos Red and Black. Highlight are with a a modern remix of Bronzed Flesh and Space Wolves Grey.
Time to collect a new Space Marine force! Crimson Fists – the Rogue Trader poster boys. These Fists are hand-picked from the 1987–1989 Imperial Space Marine ranges sculpted by Bob Naismith, Aly Morrison and Mark Copplestone. I have a real soft spot for this era of Mk6 design. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi to the early Warhammer 40,000 aesthetic that was lost when the Mk7 Jes Goodwin designs were introduced in 1990. There’s a joyful bulbousness to them that reflects the early days of Rogue Trader, before it settled down into the tightly-codified juggernaut that endures to this day.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-onan-iso-front.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Fist in, last out – Squad Onan.
Veteran Sergeant Onan’s casting had a damaged head, and has had a new one grafted on from a Golden Heroes Supervillain. I added the bionic eye during painting to hide the incredibly long eyeball that continued round the side of his head. The banner is tomato puree foil mounted on a brass rod pole. The bladed bionic arm with its super-awkward pose is entirely original – if anyone know what he’s actually meant to be doing please leave a comment.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-onan-iso-back.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The backpacks and other elements were sculpted with a beautifully ham-fisted assymetry.
I’ve settled on the rule of left-hands-crimson on Battle Brothers, and both-hands-crimson on Veterans. The Heavy Bolter Marine has Veteran status to justify him wearing a Power Glove. I particularly love this model as his nonsensical wargear (that’s illegal in all future editions of Warhammer 40,000) places him firmly in Rogue Trader territory.
Freehand Fist Icons
My rendition of the Crimson Fist icon is based on the banner from the Rogue Trader cover, but I’ve experimented with simplifying the thumb/forefinger area between Marines. Since their armour designs differ so much I’m not going to revisit and amend any designs once I’ve settled on the final iteration.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-onan-iso-details.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
This hobby is called: The Freehand Fists Hobby.
I couldn’t resist adding the correct weaponry icons and armour graffiti too. I’ve got to add a Medic to the force simply so I can scrawl “FIST AID” on his armour. I also fancy a Marine with “FIST BUMP”. In fact I’ve got a whole list of quickfire “FIST” and “HAND” phrases ready to deploy.
Crimson Fists Grand Plan
I’ve planned 1,000 points using the Whitescars army list from the Book of the Astronomican. This era of army list is the sweet spot for me. Space Marines have been rounded out from the single squad type presented in the Rogue Trader rulebook, but it’s before a lot of their iconic troop types have been dreamed up – no Terminators, no Scouts, no Rhinos, no Techmarines. On one hand they’re recognisable enough to a modern Warhammer 40,000 player, but on the other hand there’s a smattering of ideas like “Cobra squad” and “Reconnaissance squad” that have since disappeared from the background. I love this particular early incarnation of the Warhammer 40,000 universe where the concepts are still crystallising.
SQUAD ONAN
1 Marine Champion [9], Bionic Arm [30], Bionic Eye [30]
69 POINTS
3 Marines [3*8], 3 Bolt Guns [3*2] and 3 Frag Grenades [3*1]
33 POINTS
1 Marine [8], Heavy Bolter [15], Power Glove [15], Targeter [5], 2 Suspensors [2*2]
47 POINTS
Basic Equipment (all models): Bolt Pistol [1.5], Knife [0], Powered Armour [6] (with Communicator [0.5], Respirator [0.5], Auto-senses[0.5])
45 POINTS
TOTAL: 194 POINTS
The full force (17 Marines on foot and a Dreadnought) is partially based on the seminal Rogue Trader Battle at the Farm scenario (which was Pedro Cantor plus fifteen Tactical Marines), but I’ve spiced up the weapon choices for the sake of variety and model availability. Here’s the first squad defending make-shift farm barricades!
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/crimson-fists-rogue-trader-space-marines-versus-skabsquigs-skallywags-orks-mk4.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Bonus Ninjabread points if you can spot where Tech-priest Theodolitus is hiding.jpg
Sho3box has very generously lent me Skabsquig’s Skallywags for these Battle at the Farm photos. You can see more of them here (https://sho3box.com/2014/07/06/more-skabsquigs-skallywags) and here (https://sho3box.com/2014/06/28/skabsquigs-scallywags-mr-killgore-and-da-swabz/).
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/battle-at-the-farm-fogou-farm-rogue-trader-mk15.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Crimson Fists parading their farm candy.
This terrain I’m using as the iconic Rogue Trader farm is going to launch on Kickstarter imminently from the excellent Fogou Models (https://www.fogoumodels.co.uk/). Mr. Fogou sent me an advance casting in return for me taking photographs like this.
Coming soon – another Rogue Trader Crimson Fists squad and maybe a character!
More of my miniatures at: http://www.ninjabread.co.uk
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"Veteran Sergeant Onan" CHORTLE!
Never noticed that pose! lol
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theses fists are gorgeous !!!!!
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How do you make old models look so crisp? :-*
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Those Crimson Fists look absolutely ace! 8)
I'm especially loving your choice of shoulderpad chapter/legion badge. The yellow and red makes it pop so much more than just plain red on the dark blue. It also really brings out the Rogue Traderness of them.
I've built a small Imperial Fists force using slightly later miniatures, from the 'Rogue trader 1.5' era, just before 40K 2nd ed was launched. There are a lot of armour variants in that force, but I was careful to not include any Mk7 or later ones. The only exception was the 1999 or 2000 Juan Diaz LE Sigismund miniature, that was just too perfect for this force to not include. it fits in aesthetically really well too.
The only thing I did not do was include the specialist badges, but then, I used the small red booklet that came with a paint set form that era as my guide. (it had Salamanders, Space Wolves and Blood angels in it, with painted examples). It was my space marine painting bible for many years, and I'm still very fond of it. ;)
I also did not use the slogans on the armour, as my force is a Horus Heresy Era army, built exlusively with Rogue Trader miniatures (talk about limiting factors. And I also have not used the colour green in the entire force! lol ). But I must admit they do look pretty cool on yours.
I've also acquired quite a few earlier RT Wombles like yours, plus a complete RTB01 box, and have been struggling coming up with a suitable paintscheme for them. I've been thinking black Dark Angels, as that was my very first wargaming army (still painted with enamels, and sadly sold off for book- and beer money when I went to uni), but Crimson Fists do look really awesome too, especially with the markings and colours you've chosen for them.
Please give us more! :)
Oh; and Rhino's were an established part of Rogue Trader, weren't they? I can't quite recall if they were in the Rogue Trader book, but they were certainly in the Compendium and/or Compilation books...
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Wow! Just wow! Fantastic RT marines. And my all-time favourite chapter too!
The Emperor's enemies don't like to be Fisted…
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Those Crimson Fists are the dogs :) ... superb work.
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This work is so insanely beautiful that words seem superfluous. Seriously, congratulations.
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@Daeothar
Oh; and Rhino's were an established part of Rogue Trader, weren't they? I can't quite recall if they were in the Rogue Trader book, but they were certainly in the Compendium and/or Compilation books...
They actually came in WD103 I think about 9 - 10 months after RT Launched with WD93. Old WD Calendar ;)
You got 3 in one box for a tenner...
The first vehicle I think, was the Bullock Jet bike closely followed by Dreadnoughts and Robots, with the Eldar and Orks getting Dreadnoughts pretty fast too. Sentinals came in midway in RTs life.
Back then a Rhino on the table caused as much fear for an opponent as a Tiger tank in a WW2 game.
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Yeah the rhino was GW first plastic vehicle kit and I simply remember them being 3 to a box for £9.99 🤤 and it was originally known as the RH1NO I think.
proper RT is the Rhino
happy times
Glen
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Fantastic painting 8)
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Yeah the rhino was GW first plastic vehicle kit and I simply remember them being 3 to a box for £9.99 🤤 and it was originally known as the RH1NO I think.
proper RT is the Rhino
happy times
Glen
I still have that box, with contents, stashed for when I finally get to do my RT army... :D
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@Daeothar
Oh; and Rhino's were an established part of Rogue Trader, weren't they? I can't quite recall if they were in the Rogue Trader book, but they were certainly in the Compendium and/or Compilation books...
They actually came in WD103 I think about 9 - 10 months after RT Launched with WD93. Old WD Calendar ;)
You got 3 in one box for a tenner...
The first vehicle I think, was the Bullock Jet bike closely followed by Dreadnoughts and Robots, with the Eldar and Orks getting Dreadnoughts pretty fast too. Sentinals came in midway in RTs life.
Back then a Rhino on the table caused as much fear for an opponent as a Tiger tank in a WW2 game.
Land Speeders were the other metal vehicle that came out AFTER the jetbikes but before sentinels in (mk1, aka "eggs on legs"). Army also got rough riders (the ones I had all had slouch hats, too).
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I still have that box, with contents, stashed for when I finally get to do my RT army... :D
Huzzah Sir bravo! 👍
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Thanks area23! I like me a good biblical reference.
Cheers tom!
Andym – the secret to crispness is picking a dark colour to hide the blemishes of the casting and highlighting with a severely lighter colour.
Daeothar – Rhino’s were an early introduction to the universe, but not there from the start. Admiral Andy has that right. Though Dreadnoughts were introduced with photographs of models before jet bikes for Marines
Thanks everyone!
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At BOYL (Bring out Your Lead) it’s become a community tradition to create one-off figures to celebrate the three-day extravaganza of Oldhammery painting and gaming. Here are three from 2017 painted up just in time to pick up 2018’s without any leadguilt.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/boyl-2017-oldhammer-exclusive-miniatures.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Left to right: Helsreach Mayor, Grox Egg and Olivia Neutronbomb.
I really like event-exclusive miniatures as they’re tethered to a set of memories of friends, games, meals out, heavy drinking, stupid decisions and hangovers. Lemme explain why these three minis came to be.
Olivia Neutronbomb
Olivia was the 2017 event’s commemorative figure, sculpted by John Pickford. She’s a 28mm metal incarnation of the classic 1987 Rogue Trader illustration by Martin McKenna.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-olivia.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
I painted Olivia to slot into my Rogue Trader Godbreak 84th Imperial Army. Her animal-print trousers were repainted a few times as I wrestled with various animals’ colours clashing with the Godbreak’s grey-green and black. Then I realised I needn’t be constrained by real animals in the distant alien future of Warhammer 40,000! Hence the “Greyscale Giraffe” was born in my imagination. (Geeez Curis, all that creative potential and possibility and all you come up with is a desaturated giraffe.)
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/olivia-and-the-godbreak-84th-imperial-army-v5.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Olivia leading the Godbreak 84th, showing her head for strategy.
Grox
Grox are the cattle of 41st Millennium. They appeared as an illustration in the 1987 Rogue Trader rulebook, though they’ve never had a miniature incarnation.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/grox.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
That was until axiom commissioned John Pickford to sculpt this cheeky little hatching Grox. Why? Cos axiom was running a Grox-herding participation game and going several egg-stra miles to realise the world of grimdark ranching.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/boyl-grox-egg-and-mungo-beefhead-the-space-cowboy.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Mungo Beefhead lassoing a hatching Grox. Find out more about this Space Cowboy here (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/rogue-trader-lizard-space-cowboy/).
I painted the egg with green spots – obviously channelling Yoshi from Super Mario. The shell fragments are cut-up plastic carton lid glued onto the base after drybrushing. I planned on making a small nest diorama with several unhatched eggs (my sculpting ability just able to cope with unhatched eggs), but I ended up doing something more ambitious…
Mayor of Helsreach
Curtis at Ramshackle Games sculpted this miniature to celebrate his massive participation game at BOYL 2017, set in Helsreach – the iconic Rogue Trader townscape. This miniature is really characterful and fun to paint, and on finishing it I immediately went and jumped some other Ramshackle bits to the front of the painting queue. The game is running again at BOYL 2018, and I recommend stopping by to drink in all those square feet of his miniatures and terrain Curtis, Aidan and Danny have put together.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/boyl-helsreach-mayor-touring-roller-cryo-facility.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The Mayor touring the Cullentown Grox Incubation Facility. His Techpriest tour guide is regarded as the Helsreach’s leading "egghead".
The Grox incubation chamber is a cut-down cryo-stasis piece from Games Workshop’s Sector Imperialis Objectives. The transparent “glass” component needed great care to resize – the plastic is so brittle any stress on it will cause massive white cracks to shoot through the whole thing. There were a few near-misses and lots of eggs-pletives.
More of my miniatures at http://www.ninjabread.co.uk
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Great stuff 8)
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So damn beautiful! :-*
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Fantastic! Great painting as usual! :o
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fantastic additions!
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Nice models.
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Fine paint on some cool miniatures :) .
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Those are great Curis! I really love what you did with the Mayor. ;)
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Beautiful painting and presentation!
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The Crimson Fists are getting reinforcements, hand over fist. My 1980s Rogue Trader Space Marine grows with the addition of another 5-man Tactical Squad composed of vintage metal and plastic Citadel Miniatures from another era.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-huerta-iso-front.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Squad Huerta, ready to put the huert on.
To my amazement and envy, in the time taken to finish this second squad of Battle at the Farm Crimson Fists, Nico (http://nico-realmsofchaos.blogspot.com/) has painted every Crimson Fist for the scenario, plus he’s modelled an evocative scenic base, plus he’s painted all the Orks and – if that wasn’t enough – some Ork reinforcements. I feel like Falcon running round the park and being lapped repeatedly in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Freehand & Crimson Fist Icons
Again I had some fun adding freehand chapter icons and armour graffitti to the squad. “THE TRUTH HUERTS” is just punning off the Sergeant’s name. “INFINITE PLASMA” is a reference to the Battle at the Farm scenario, which Zhu points out gives the Space Marines unlimited Plasma Missiles (as they normally cost 1 point each, it technically means the Marines outclass the Orks by INFINITY POINTS).
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-huerta-details.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
I now need to paint a second Missile Launcher so I can reference Elton John’s Rocket Man.
“FOR NOW WE SEE BUT THRU A SCANNER DARKLY” on the Marine with scanner is a 1 Corinthians 13:12 / Philip K. Dick reference simply because he’s holding a scanner. “FIST OR FAMINE” is from my handy stockpile of fist-based puns. It’s a treat at the end of the painting process to choose some scrawly handwriting to give the battle-brothers an additional touch of the Rogue Trader era
Crimson Fists Grand Plan
To fit in to my planned 1,000 points (using the Whitescars army list from the Book of the Astronomican) the five Space Marines come out as:
SQUAD HUERTA
1 Marine Champion [9], Power Glove [15], Bolt Hun [2]
26 POINTS
3 Marines [3*8], 3 Bolt Guns [3*2] and 3 Frag Grenades [3*1]
33 POINTS
1 Marine [8], Missile Launcher [30], 12 Plasma Missiles [12] Targeter [5], 2 Suspensors [2*2]
59POINTS
Basic Equipment (all models): Bolt Pistol [1.5], Knife [0], Powered Armour [6] (with Communicator [0.5], Respirator [0.5], Auto-senses[0.5])
45 POINTS
TOTAL: 163 POINTS
Here are the two squads in action alongside each other, with a sneaky eleventh Citadel Miniature tucked away somewhere … can you spot it?
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marines-squad-huerta-and-onan-mk5.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Squads Huerta and Onan fighting in the ruins of Blas in the Gallego system.
Crimson Fists Painting Tutorial
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how I paint Crimson Fists, so I photographed a Marine inbetween each step of the blue power armour process.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/patreon/10-step-patreon-crimson-fist-space-marine-tutorial-numberless.jpg) (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread/)
If you want to see these steps broken down, with the techniques and theory behind them spelt out the tutorial is available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread). The skills you’ll learn are transferable to all colours of power armour.
Coming soon – more vintage Crimson Fists to creep the army closer to game legal.
More of my miniatures at: http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread/ (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread/)
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The old Space Crusade Missile Launcher goes well with the RT Beakies. I am in love. :-*
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These are just so cool. Love the colours, and thanks for the step by step.
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Cool as always. The tiny details are just the icing of the cake.
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Very nice.
Huerta, as I assume you know is an allotment or area of land given over to growing food stuffs, so quite appropriate for the battle at the farm.
However, it's pronounced with a wh as in where, hence the phonetic spelling in English would be closer to wherta. For this reason the 'the truth wherts' graffiti made me giggle.
Whatever, your crimes against Castillano can be forgiven as your pjs are lovely.
Why on earth would you choose the space crusade launcher over the real deal though?
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The fists are unbelievable good!!! Did you do the letters with a micro pen or a brush?
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Huerta, as I assume you know is an allotment or area of land given over to growing food stuffs, so quite appropriate for the battle at the farm.
That's entirely accidental! I've been scattering Mexican-flavoured names into my army as they're Crimson Fists (guy in charge Games Workshop named as "Pedro Cantor"), so I named this man after Victoriano Huerta.
Why on earth would you choose the space crusade launcher over the real deal though?.
I've cannibalised all the RTB01 missile launchers for my Squats and Ultramarines down the years, so I had none left when it came to building this squad! And I need specifically a Missile Launcher for the Battle at the Farm squad. Few more Space Crusade weapons popping up in the future to inject an exotic flavour into the wargar.
The fists are unbelievable good!!! Did you do the letters with a micro pen or a brush?
Letters, tom, are just done with a brush. Trick it to paint it out on a test surface, work out what the halfway point is and paint it with that as the starting point. Winsor & Newton Series 7, size 1.
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thanks for the info
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British comics lost an icon this week with the death of Carlos Ezquerra – the creative genius behind Judge Dredd and Johnny Alpha. Carlos’s character designs and universes underpin a lot of subsequent science fiction – including Warhammer 40,000. Two years before Games Workshop gave birth to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, they were dabbling with science fiction miniatures such as this trio of Strontium Dog characters.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/judge-dredd-jd14-citadel-johnny-alpha-strontium-dog.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Left to right: Wulf Sternhammer, Johnny Alpha, Gronk.
I’ve been painting this triumverate of bounty hunters with an eye on Warlord Games’ new Strontium Dog game. Excitingly they can also be shoehorned into modern Necromunda with the recent bounty hunter rules.
The miniatures are from Citadel’s 2000AD range produced for the 1985 Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game. Though technically Johnny Alpha and Judge Dredd inhabit separate universes, they have crossed over several times for reasons of awesome.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/judgement-day.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Johnny Alpha and Judge Dredd, Judgement Day, 2000AD #799.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/judge-dredd-jd14-citadel-johnny-alpha-strontium-dog-team-up-mk3.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Rogue Trader universe borrows a lot of its overall look from Carlos Ezquerra’s artwork. The amount of time and artwork the Rogue Trader rulebook spends on the (non-Chaotic) random mutations tables is testament to Strontium Dog’s influence. There’s a lot of Strontium Dog wargear that pops up in the forty-first millennium too, such as gravchutes, stasis grenades and electro-mauls.
But wait – there’s more…
The Rogue Trader Mystery
There was a mystery for almost thirty years about the miniature that appears in a single murky black-and-white photograph on page 11 of the Rogue Trader rulebook.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-page-11.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The mystery figure, top left corner.
The figure never made it into production, appearing only in this photo. Only in 2013 did details of the figure emerge thanks to Steve Casey’s Eldritch Epistles – it was a one of several Judge Dredd figures that had been converted and cast up in-house to playtest the upcoming Rogue Trader rules before actual miniatures had been made.
It was released a couple of years later by Wargames Foundry, so people like me and Rochie can paint and play with our own copies of this odd curio.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/inquisitor-ezquerra-and-citadel-johnny-alpha-strontium-dog.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Inquisitor Ezquerra and Johnny Alpha.
I plumped for white and papal purple to spin the figure as an Imperial Inquisitor. (It was tempting to paint him in green and yellow trousers, as if it’s Johnny improvising a disguise as an Imperial Inquisitor.) He’s so wee. being from 1985 when sculptors tended to 25mm scale, that I built up his base to help him keep some sense of imposing Imperial authority over the rest of the Imperium’s servants.
More vintage Crimson Fists coming soon!
More of my miniatures at: http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/
Tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread/
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So cool, and so beautifully painted! 8)
I have those three SD minis myself, keep thinking I should paint them (bought new, still to do!) then seeing how tiny they are in comparison to modern figures and back in the box they go...
Inquisitor Ezquerra is a lovely tribute. Nice one.
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I have those three SD minis myself, keep thinking I should paint them (bought new, still to do!) then seeing how tiny they are in comparison to modern figures and back in the box they go...
I think you mean "how overblown modern day figures are"...
thanks for the history trip and excellent paintwork though! :-)
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Thanks JollyBob! They are pretty wee for 25mm figures. It's weird how the scale goes up over the course of the Citadel Judge Dredd line, and some of the later figures end up being over-sized for Warhammer 40,000.
Thanks Brandlin!
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Golden Demon! Games Workshop’s prestigious painting competition I’ve dreamed about winning since I was an eleven year old boy. Like the Oscars – there’s big statuettes. Like the Nobel Prize – the winners are selected by internationally respected judges. Like the Turner Prize – there’s a no contribution to the actual world of art. It’s the ultimate battleground for miniature painters. And these Sisters of Silence Prosecutors took home the bronze statuette at the Warhammer 40,000 Vigilus Open Day.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/golden-demon-sisters-of-silence-and-statuette.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Silence is golden (demon).
I spent three weeks of hobby time getting these miniatures from sprue to plinth, sweeping all my ongoing projects aside to focus solely on these Sisters. The pressure of an immovable deadline and the harsh scrutiny of the judges meant I pushed myself hard to make the squad’s copper Vratine armour truly shine.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/sisters-of-silence-on-pizza-box.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Prosecutors in early November, broken into sub-assemblies and looking intimidatingly unfinished.
The Prosecutors are each designed with one fixed pose – your only real choice is the way you point their head. Assembled out of the box, all have their Boltguns held across their chest. Reposing is a challenge, but with lot of cutting, putty and spare arms I opened up three of the poses to make the squad more action-packed.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/golden-demon-warhammer-40k-sisters-of-silence.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Silent. But deadly.
I was itching to introduce a bit of component variety into the squad, such as a heavy weapon, or a fancypants sword for the Sister Superior, but the Index Imperium wargear options forbade it. To get the squad to (silently) scream “LOOK AT ME” I added a massive banner from Wood Elf Eternal Guard kit. The original detail has been carved off and sanded away so I could paint on my own Adeptus Astra Telepathica designs on both sides.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/golden-demon-warhammer-40k-sisters-of-silence-banner-details.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Exigua est virtus praestare silentia rebus, at contra gravis est culpa tacenda loqui.”
I wracked my brains for a phrase to freehand onto the banner. I considered Latin versions of “Enjoy the Silence” and “Hello darkness my old friend” – but tongue-in-cheekiness didn’t suit these dour space nuns. So I found two high-minded lines in Ovid’s Ars Amatoria which translate as “Slight is the merit on keeping silence on a matter, on the other hand, serious is the guilt of talking on things whereon we should be silent.” I’ll save the Depeche Mode for some goofy Rogue Trader or Blood Bowl nonsense.
Patterns in the Ivy
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/golden-demon-warhammer-40k-sisters-of-silence-1-angles.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The ivy on the banner was originally a Captain Crooks (http://funkywenisrodeo.blogspot.com/) suggestion. I used swirly ivy creepers on the breechcloths and cloak outsides, and angular ivy leafs on cloak insides. In folklore, ivy is taken into the home to ward off evil spirits much like Sisters are taken in your Imperial force to ward off evil. Aaaaand, ivy is mildly poisonous to humans, in the same way Sisters of Silence and their Pariah gene are psychically unsettling for humans to be around. I’m so happy with the symbolism of the plant that I might spin it out to the iconography of the whole Sisterhood Vigil (equivalent to a Space Marine Chapter), if I do any more. Call them “Crimson Ivy”? Mmm, no, too burlesque. “Ivy League”? Mmm, also no.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/golden-demon-warhammer-40k-sisters-of-silence-2-angles.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The skullrific bases are from a Shadespire warband (Magore’s Fiends) with their footholes sculpted over. To ground them in the Warhammer 40,000 universe I added a helmet from a Thousand Sons Scarab Occult Terminator.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/sisters-of-silence-and-nemesis-chapter-space-marines.jpg) (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Squad Philomela supporting the Nemesis Chapter battlelines.
Patreon Painting Tutorial
Last week the Patrons of Ninjabread got access to a detailed stage-by-stage write up of the paints and techniques used to paint the copper armour.
(http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/golden-demon/sisters-of-silence-stage-by-stages.jpg) (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
If you become a supporter today (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread) and you’ll get access to this in depth masterclass tutorial, and also the back catalogue that also covers two varieties of Space Marines power armour, and human flesh. Thanks to everyone’s that signed up to date, I’m really enjoying spending the time sharing the secrets.
Now the competition is over, and the intense focus has ended, I’m enjoying picking at preslotta odds and ends on the painting desk, toying with possible future competition entries. I need to blast through some gaming level paintjobs for a bitand get back to my Space Marine armies over the Christmas break. Watch this space!
More of my minaitures at: http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Silent. I remain silent in awe :o :o :o :o
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Amazing brushwork! Love the Sisters and this terrific banner.
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Wow! Well done on your statuette, competition must have been fierce, they look gold standard to me! All the freehand work on the banner and the clothes is incredible, I can't imagine the skill and patience you must have to complete these to such a standard.
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Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Exiledadmiral – the patience comes easily as I treated myself to a big stack of classic Inspector Morse episodes while I was painting.
I love doctors. And I love Space Marines. Put them together, and you get Doctor Space Marines, dispensing healthcare and the Emperor’s justice across the battlefields of the 41st millennium.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/nemesis-chapter-primaris-apothecary-herophilus-space-marines.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Brother Herophilus on the Nemesis Chapter battlelines.
Here’s the 2017 Primaris Apothecary alongside his very own primogenitor – the very first Apothecary miniature Games Workshop produced back in 1987. Oh, how far miniature design has come in thirty years.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/apothecaries-rogue-trader-and-primaris-space-marines.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Here child, have this necklace.”
The Primaris Apothcary is absolutely loaded with so much detail he crosses the line from miniature into micro-diorama. He stands over a fallen Battle Brother, having removed the progenoid glands, and every surface is festooned with details like cannisters, helix motifs, lenses and surgical tools. However, I have become obsessed with one detail – the mysterious skull strapped to his arse.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/apothecaries-rogue-trader-and-primaris-space-marines-rear.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Dad, your bum is looking at me.”
During the long evenings of painting, I came up with my own backstory about who this skull belonged to…
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/ninjabread-04-02-19-apothecary-arse-skull.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Ultracurses. Thus I die.”
The Rogue Trader Apothecary came from Rochie of Buried Under Lead. Rochie has converted and painted up this mini already – you should check it out here (http://buriedunderlead.blogspot.com/2018/06/back-again.html). Thanks for the gift, Rochie!
If you’d like to learn how to paint white exactly like this, I took super-detailed stage-by-stage photos on the Ninjabread Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), and have written up the method, colours and theory.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/primaris-apothecary-patreon-tutorial.jpg) (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
A twelve-step tutorial teaching twelve steps to crisp white armour.
On top of this tutorial, patrons get instant access to the whole six month back catalogue with five more masterclasses covering other colours of power armour, cloth and my Golden Demon winning piece.
I’m really keen on collecting more Apothecaries now, and am taken by the idea of one with a Crimson Fists one with a bike or jump pack with “Fist Responder” armour graffiti.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-apothecary-rochfort-and-fogou-fort.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Brother Rochfort supporting the improvised Crimson Fists defences./
The sheet-metal walls you can see above are a preview casting of a Fogou Models terrain set that’s coming soon! Keep your eyes peeled!
Coming soon: even more Space Marines, old and new!
More miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Outstanding :-*
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Marvellous work :o
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Thanks for the template on how to properly paint that old RT medic. Me wants moaaar. :-*
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Thanks Oshiro! Thanks Suber! Thanks Sgt!
It was Christmas 1987, and Games Workshop celebrated the festive season by releasing two limited edition Space Marines (or “Spaced Out Marines” as the advertising called them). I’ve painted the pair for my growing Crimson Fists force.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/christmas-rogue-trader-space-marine-limited-editions-iso.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Crimson Fists, more like … Crimson Pisseds.
These castings came thanks to @DocRods – who’s been sending me an absolute surfeit of vintage beakies and 2000AD bits. Thanks Doc! A very merry Christmas to you, more of them appearing painted very soon.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/christmas-rogue-trader-space-marine-limited-editions-details.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Battle Brothers have I FEEL FISTIVE and PUNCH DRUNK graffitied onto their armour.
The cigar-smoking Space Marine has a wisp of tobacco smoke sculpted onto his cheek, which other painters have misinterpreted as a casting worm to remove, or a facial scar to paint pink.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/christmas-rogue-trader-space-marine-limited-editions-iso-back.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Everyone! Let’s … hic… get (war)hammered!”
There are two varieties of plastic mk6. backpacks – identical except for the placement of the depressions where they attach to the Marine. One hole is so high up that when mounted on the metal Rogue Trader Space Marines it looks like it’s sliding down his back – but on this one Marine it’s perfect for the drunken dishevelled feel.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/christmas-rogue-trader-space-marine-limited-editions.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Crimson Fists stagger back from the Candlemas celebrations. But who-ho-ho is lurking in the woodlands?
I’ve brought a pile of metal Space Marines away with me, so hopefully it won’t be too long before I can post up some new squads, characters and vehicles. Will 2019 be the year they can reach the critical mass of a workable army?
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Memories...
Nice job on those.
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I normally have a cooling off period before I buy new Games Workshop releases, as every miniature is turbo-exciting on first reveal and owning all of them is impossible. But the new Genestealer Cult Locus is such an instant classic he was not only pre-ordered but jumped to the front of the painting queue.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/genestealer-cult/warhammer-40k-genestealer-cult-locus-angles-front.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The sentinel-like pose, with him resting nonchalantly on his weapon in a set of long hooded robes, is one of Citadel Miniatures’ time-honoured sculpting tropes. Chaos Dwarf Khazek Doomlord, Human Wizard Pedregar the Green and one Champion of Tzeentch have also appeared with it. There’s a cheeky little Genestealer tail poking out under the robes’ hem which tells you he’s more than human, and when you get round the back there’s a set of carapace ridges that make you wonder about what generation of Hybrid he is.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/genestealer-cult/warhammer-40k-genestealer-cult-locus-angles-back.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The shoulderpads I painted with a little Cult icon and a W so when you look at the miniature from above it spells out “CW” – my initials.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/genestealer-cult/genstealer-cult-locus-on-fort-fogou.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Not the actual Broodlord, but certainly the Lord of Looking Brooding.
Here he is on an advance casting of the Scrap Fort from Fogou Models, which is my ongoing major terrain project at the moment. I’ll be showing off the complete fort soon, and maybe using it as a rationale for growing the Genestealer Cult (can’t have just one Locus knocking about in such a large fort on his own).
As the Locus is 95% robes, he’s a great miniature for teaching the technique for painting cloth. The purple uses a “wet-blending” method that’s been photographed between stages from all angles and written up clearly and comprehensively, breaking down the theory, technique and colours used.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/genestealer-cult/locus-8-stage-patreon-diagrams-.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
8 simple steps to perfect purple cloth.
It’s my seventh instalment in the Patreon tutorial series (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread) that’s proved really popular. Big thanks to last month’s new patrons Craig, John, Steve, Ben, Jason, David, Toby, Jamie, Victor, Dimitrios, André, Alan, Brian, Alexander and Philipe.
The Genestealer Cult range is dripping with great models, from homages to the original Rogue Trader range (the Nexos), and new character types (like the Locus and the Kelermorph) which mean my Cult will inevitably grow. Though I might take an oldskool detour with the vintage 1980s Throned Patriarch and some Bob Olley Hybrids. Watch this space!
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Amazing paintjob on an amazing mini!
All in all - awesome!
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Yes, spectacular work on a fantastic miniature.
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Yeah, all those new Genestealer Cult characters were pretty exciting - I was tempted to pick up a few, and I don't even have any other GSC stuff!?
Fabulous job on the Locus!
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Very nice work.
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Thanks Ockman! Thanks blacksoilbill!
Cheers tim. Nice thing about buying character is they're "project complete" after just one. And when you can find them at 20% off they're lovely pocket money purchases.
Cheers Ultra!
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With Space Marine players jumping for joy that the new Primaris miniatures get jump heavy weapons, I’ve jumped at the chance to do a Rogue Trader era squad – when jump heavy weapons were also a thing.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-cobra-squad-beitia.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
I regret not thinking of “JUMP THE GUN” as the armour graffiti for the squaddie with Heavy Bolter.
Stamped out in Warhammer 40,000’s second edition, and now only just reappearing 26 years later – Space Marines with heavy weapons could also select jump packs in a number of ways in the various army lists. Squad Taurasi have done it here by being a Tactical Squad upgraded to “Cobra Squad” status in the 1988 Book of the Astronomican army list – and the highly mobile lad on the far right is toting a Heavy Bolter.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-cobra-squad-beitia-back.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Sergeant Taurasi’s graffiti reads “I SAY JUMP” and “U SAY HOW HI”, showing she’s the lady charge.
I had a lot of fun painting checks on the jump packs, to give the squad some visual interest, and distract from the assymetrically lumpen sculpting of these vintage Marine miniatures. This design of jump pack commands a high price on the collector’s market and is frequently pirated, meaning it’s taken years of patient hunting to source five genuine castings – so they’re worth lavishing the paitning time on.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-cobra-squad-beitia-side.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Sergeant Taurasi is not actually a Space Marine miniature, but “Female Warrior Jayne” from the RT601 Adventurers range, meaning this blog counts as part of the Choose Your Own Adventurers series I’ve been doing with cheet0r and axiom. Recently, cheet0r has incorporated some of the Adventurer Cyborgs into his Necron army (https://sho3box.com/2019/01/03/choose-your-own-adventurers-17-18-19-infiltrators/), and axiom has turned an Adventurer Pilot into a Buck Rogers homage (https://magpieandoldlead.blogspot.com/2018/08/cosmic-forces-beyond-all-comprehension.html) – check ‘em out!
To spin Female Warrior Jayne as a sergeant she’s received a thigh-mounted helmet with rank stripe markings, and an an Imperial Eagle command trinket (in lieu of an unaerodynamic back banner) on her jump pack.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-jump-pack-crimson-fist-squad-in-action.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Squad Taurasi reinforcing the Crimson Fists battleline. Fort and towers coming soon from Fogou Models.
Squad Taurasi pushes my Crimson Fists force pleasantly closer to the initial 1000 points goal.
SQUAD
1 Marine Champion [9], Power Sword [7]
16 POINTS
1 Marine [8], Power Axe [6], Bolt Gun [2]
16 POINTS
1 Marine [8], 2 Power Gloves [2*15]
38 POINTS
1 Marine [8], Plasma Gun [5.5], Hand Flamer [2]
38 POINTS
1 Marine [8], Heavy Bolter [15], Targeter [5], 2 Suspensors [2*2]
32 POINTS
Basic Equipment (all models): Bolt Pistol [1.5], Jump Pack [2], Knife - , Powered Armour [6] (with Communicator [0.5], Respirator [0.5], Auto-senses [0.5])
55 POINTS
TOTAL: 195 POINTS
If you’d like to learn how I paint Crimson Fists, I’ve photographed a Marine in between each step of the blue power armour process.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/patreon/10-step-patreon-crimson-fist-space-marine-tutorial-numberless.jpg) (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
These steps broken down, with the techniques and theory behind them spelt out, the tutorial is available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread). The skills you’ll learn are transferable to all colours of power armour. The back catalogue of tutorials also covers white armour and brass armour – and will continue to expand every month.
Coming soon – some vehicles and support characters to round out this vintage Rogue Trader force. I’ve been painting a Missile Armour Dreadnought on the twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/curisninjabread), and also powering through the original metal Land Speeder, and collecting the glorious classic Techmarines. Stay tuned!
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Fantastic. I might steal the checker pattern idea for my own army of Crimson Fists :D
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This is pure love. Fantastic at so many levels.
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:o
I... am at a loss for words to describe how totally magnificent this team of crimson fists are.
Wow.
WOW!
Well done, sir!
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Wow, how did I miss this thread? I really like your high contrast style, beautiful.
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Do it, Sgt. Scream! My advice is to paint the checks before you attach the backpack, and paint the first checks on the rearmost part with the last checks tucked closest to the main body of the pack.
Cheers Suber!
Loads more Fists coming soon, tim.
Thanks Dr.!
The gaming table at Ninjabread HQ has a new centerpiece in the form of an absolutely giant space castle. This humungous 18″ x 18″ fortification dominates the desert landscapes of the far future – a rock solid bastion for miniature soldiers to defend. This is Fort Hardknox.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/oldhammer/fogou-big-fort-setup-mk4.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Over three hundred square inches of post-apocalyptic fortress chonk.
This giant resin kit came courtesy of Fogou Models. I got to paint and keep an advance casting of it in return for encouraging all of you to go and back its incredibly succesful Kickstarter campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1818300257/fort-hardknox-a-28mm-post-apocalyptic-fortress).
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/oldhammer/fogou-fot-hardknow-establishing-shot-angle.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Godbreak 84th garrison Fort Hardknox against Skabsquig’s Skallywags (https://sho3box.com/2014/07/06/more-skabsquigs-skallywags/).
I’ve kept the paint scheme quite neutral so I can deploy it on the table for games of Strontium Dog, Warhammer 40,000, Judge Dredd, Doctor Who, Necromunda et cetera. It perfectly suits Mad Max, Fallout, Gorkamorka and anything with a post-apocalyptic flavour.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/oldhammer/oldhammer-sam-usa-exclusive-copplestone-terrain.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Psycho Sam claiming Fort Hardknox for the glory America.
The Psycho Sam miniature was the event exclusive from the Oldhammer USA Weekend that Grove kindly gifted me. Asslessman, Lopez and Sean have all already painted this miniature in the red white and blue of the American flag, so to out-patriot all of them I modelled mine holding an actual American flag.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/oldhammer/oldhammer-sam-usa-exclusive-copplestone-punk-front.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Republicans! Sportsmanship! Books!
There’s a gallery of yet more Psycho Sams in the Oldhammer Community (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.973780042703950&type=3).
Asslessman (http://leadplague.blogspot.com/2019/03/time-to-set-scene-fogou-fort.html), axiom (http://magpieandoldlead.blogspot.com/2019/02/theres-scrap-fort-in-badlands.html) and cheetor (https://sho3box.com/2019/03/23/fort-hardknox/) have all painted their own advance castings of Hardknox. The four of us have been comparing notes, swapping photos and bickering about whose painting approach is the best for months now. There’s talk of us combining our forts into one truly giant structure that would be big enough for the smallest of us (cheetor) to sleep inside.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/oldhammer/fort-hardknox-by-doti.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Fort Hardknox painting by Doti of Katsina Miniatures (https://www.facebook.com/katsinaminiatures).
And finally, don’t forget to check out the Fogou Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1818300257/fort-hardknox-a-28mm-post-apocalyptic-fortress), ending today!
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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It was competition time again over at the Oldhammer Community. The friendly neighbourhood Jeany-Bap-Baps challenged hobbyists to paint miniatures sculpted by the great Bob Olley, and have them judged by the Lord our Bob himself. I couldn’t resist, and so I created this mini-diorama.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/bob-olley-rogue-trader-squat-cyberslayer-v-genestealer-patriarch.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
"Yeah! Smash the patriarch-y!"
Bob Olley was one of the key contibutors to the nascent Warhammer 40,000 range, and he sculpted a huge portion of the Squat range that I’ve loved collecting, painting and gaming with through the years.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/bob-olley-ironclaw-rogue-trader-squats.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Olley-days are coming. Olley-days are coming. Olley-days are coming.
The Squat Berserker isn’t actually one of those original Rogue Trader miniatures, but a hyper-limited edition that Bob sculpted for a tiny indie manufacturer that’s since disappeared. I was hoping its extreme rarity would mean everyone who saw my painted casting would HAVE THEIR MINDS BLOWN with the novelty.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/fantastic-berserker.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The original concept art for the Fantastic Miniatures limited edition.
Only not. The first bloke I showed mine to simply said, “Yeah whatevs, looks like the one I did.” Screw you, Paul. Screw. You.
Not only that, but turns out his blogpost features loads of other cool indie manufacturers’ Squat miniatures that he also painted before I did mine. Sho3box is exactly the kind of person that turns up to cool parties wearing the same Decepticon logo shirt as you. And with the girl you were hoping to ask out already on his arm.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/cyberslayer13.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
A sample of sho3box’s trailblazing indie Space Dwarf collection.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/bob-olley-rogue-trader-squat-cyberslayer-v-genestealer-patriarch-triumverate.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Curis’s woefully derivative imitation collection.
So I had to push further to ensure novelty, and modelled the Slayer standing over another Olley sculpt – an original Citadel Miniatures Genestealer Patriarch. I sawed that huge lead torso diagonally in half, and chopped apart and resculpted the limbs until I was satisfied the Patriarch was looking sufficiently collapsed, defeated, and bleeding out into the cold metal grille of the base.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/bob-olley-rogue-trader-squat-cyberslayer-v-genestealer-patriarch-high-angle.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Patriarch’s tounge lolling out of his head helps sell the, “Argh! Thus I die!” vibe.
It’s also the second Genestealer model I’ve painted recently, the first being a Locus for a wet-blended purple cloth tutorial for Patreon supporters. Check it out here!
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/bob-olley-rogue-trader-squat-cyberslayer-v-genestealer-patriarch-action-mk3.jpg) (http://'https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Squats from the Furnace Valley Brotherhood coming together to battle the Genestealer menace.
Over forty people made it to the finishing line in the Oldhammer Community‘s Olley competition, and we wait with baited breath to see who Bob judges the best. (If it’s sho3box, I’ll explode.)
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread
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Wow,great stuff!
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All I can say is :o :o :o
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Superb 8)
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Space Marine Chapter founders love a good animal name. Mythical beasts of terror (Howling Griffons, Minotaurs, Silver Drakes…), apex predators (Space Wolves, Celestial Lions, White Panthers…), birds of prey (Hawk Lords, Necropolis Hawks, Raven Guard…), venomous reptiles (Iron Snakes, Viper Legion, Salamanders…). But I’ve just painted these Deathwatch, the Chapter named after tiny insects that burrow into your wooden furniture.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/primaris-deathwatch-aggressors-with-banner-iso.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Deathwatch Aggressors on secondment from (left-to-right): Emperor’s Reckoners, Ultramarines and Imperial Fists.
They’ve come to destroy the xeno-filth of the galaxy just like the beetles destroy your antique furniture. I suppose they’re not the only Space Marine chapter named after insects – there’s Mantis Warriors. But Mantises are cool insects that do decapitation and look like samurai. Maybe my problem with the Deathwatch name is just me, growing up binging on episodes of Antiques Roadshow and Lovejoy, and Joe Public just thinks it’s kewl as it starts with “Death” and death is kewl.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/deathwatch-primaris-aggressors-reverse-angle.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Other Space Marine Chapters named after insects: Emperor’s Caterpillers, Ladybird Legion and the Astral Lice.
The Primaris Aggressors’ poses are entirely fixed, so the closest thing you get to choice is slicing the tag off the heads so you slightly twist them, though not too much as they’ll just end up staring at the inside of their armoured hoods. Fixed poses aren’t a bad thing, if they’re dramatic, but all three are “video game character selection screen” poses. It would have been cool to them pointing their guns not at the ground, and have the Sergeant pointing dramatically. But attempting any of that requires a filthy amount of modelling work, re-engineering all the pipes and ammo feeds.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/deathwatch-primaris-aggressors-close-ups.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Detail close ups.
So, with no reposing potential, I stamped these Deathwatch as “mine” with a big freehand banner on the Sergeant. It’s taken from the Ironclad Dreadnought kit – just like my Nemesis Chapter Intercessor Sergeant. The design is a combination of the Deathwatch and Ultramarines chapter icons, bordered with black and white checks. I was super-keen to get Ultramarines icongraphy front and centre since both the Sergeant’s shoulder pads are taken up with sculpted details.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/deathwatch-primaris-aggressors-with-ultramarines-sergeant-fogou.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Sergeant Amorgaudium leading his squad aboard the Eye of Kea.
I picked out the Deathwatch skull in red with a white stripe (along with the skulls on the fist, leg and shoulder), echoing the Codex Astartes veteran sergeant helmet markings. He’s named Amorgaudium as it’s High Gothic for Lovejoy – a rascally antiques dealer who understands how terrifying Deathwatch Beetles are.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/6-steps-to-sharp-black.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The six steps to crisp black power armour.
I’ve photographed and written up a masterclass tutorial (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread) with all the steps, paint mixes and theory for the black on these Deathwatch. If you’d like access, it’s over on the Ninjabread Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), along with over a dozen other masterclasses.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/deathwatch-primaris-aggressors-and-nemesis-chapter-mk4.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Deathwatch supporting battle-brothers from the Nemesis Chapter.
The squad’s now ready to join my Nemesis Chapter army as an Auxiliary Support Detachment. What next for the army? Maybe some Troops, maybe some HQ, (Death)watch this space!
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Man, your primed minis look better than any of my finished ones. Your work here is out of scale :-*
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Nice.
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they look great, and thanks for the painting tips/guides.
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Buenos dias, Ninjabread readers. Today my Mexican-flavoured vintage Space Marine army gets some Adeptus Mechanicus reinforcements. An “Adeptus Mexicanicus”, if you will.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marine-techmarine-conversion-beamer.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
I’m gonna paint all my Techmarines with that big blue hand symbol so they can rub banners with each other while solemnly chanting “high five” in High Gothic.
This Marine is one of the vintage Mark Copplestone designs, wearing a modified suit of Mk 6 power armour – instantly recognisable from its chest cabling and beaked helmet. What makes the Copplestone Techmarines really stand out is the wealth of bonus tech details – the toolbox, the magnifying lenses, the drillbit and equipment mounted on the belt. They’re a joy to paint.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marine-techmarine-conversion-beamer-side.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“A day like today is not a day for soundbites, we can leave those at home, but I feel the hand of history upon our shoulder with respect to this, I really do.”
The gnarly witch hand sculpted onto the right shoulder is the original symbol of the Adeptus Mechanicus, before it changed to the skull cog of today.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/rogue-trader-crimson-fists-space-marine-techmarine-conversion-beamer-back.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Check out the standard Mk 6 backpack, before Techmarines started on their journey to becoming grimdark Doctor Octopuses festooned in servo-arms and mechadendrites.
Back in the olden days, Techmarines were just basic lads with a bolt pistol, who you had to field one for each vehicle or support weapon in your army. Over the years they’ve grown in stature and are now mighty HQ choices striding around the battlefield with an exotic array of wargear and special rules. So that I can field this miniature in modern games of 8th edition Warhammer 40,000 and still have it backwards compatible for Rogue Trader, I modelled his modern wargear as a separate little drone.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/tractor-beamer-wip.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Three more of the planned 36 Techmarines this army will feature.
The drone’s chassis started life as an upside-down 6mm Epic-scale Land Raider with the smoke launchers and sponsons sliced away. The weapon is the business end of the standard Rogue Trader Imperial Conversion Beamer, mounted on the much meatier body of a Eldar D-Cannon.
To descale it, I added big chunky rivets made from sliced down plastic tubing, and a big fat radio-control antenna with a pennant with the classic Beamer identification symbol.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/rogue-trader-techmarine-conversion-beamer-and-crimson-fists.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Crimson Fists Techmarine happy to see action. “Positively beaming”, you could say.
In games of Warhammer 40,000 he’s been great at zapping enemies, but has yet to unlock his full potential as the army has precisely zero vehicles for him to repair. But I plan to remedy that soon with some solid lead Dreadnoughts, Landspeeders and support weapons!
Ninjabread communication complete!
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread
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8) Mmmmm. Spicy.
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It's beautiful, all of it!
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Actually, I was just a day or two ago reading through the 40K 2nd edition wargear list, which specifies that the conversion beamer was usually mounted on a self-propelled chassis (rather than fired from shoulder), so your model would fit just right that concept.
I think I have somewhere two conversion beamers of that kind, plus a 1/35 scale Goliath that could be used to build a self-propelled chassis...
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Brilliant update Sir!
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I really liked WH40k when it was all beaky helmets and rivet studded shoulder pads. The new stuff just doesn't do it for me (or my wallet). Thanks for putting some outstanding paint on some classics. Muy bien!
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Awesome stuff, beautiful painting. :-*
I really liked WH40k when it was all beaky helmets and rivet studded shoulder pads. The new stuff just doesn't do it for me (or my wallet). Thanks for putting some outstanding paint on some classics. Muy bien!
I'm the same, not quite sure why. The beakie look was the standard for a short time, only about four years- before MK VII came out in the 'Strike Force' box.
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The paintjob is awesome as usual, but I'm particularly in love with the whole concept of the conversion beamer on the land raider :-*
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The paintjob is awesome as usual, but I'm particularly in love with the whole concept of the conversion beamer on the land raider :-*
Me too, I used a land raider for a servitor conversion. Really handy set of tracks
Love your Crimson fists, great painting.
I painrted up some plastic beakies to play battle of the farm, lets just say they aren't quite up to your standard!!
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I'm the same, not quite sure why. The beakie look was the standard for a short time, only about four years- before MK VII came out in the 'Strike Force' box.
I like just about everything from the Rogue Trader era better than current incarnations of 40K. There was a good bit of humorous character in the original stuff, it felt wilder and less po-faced. Silly, but fun.
The new stuff generally seems to be designed by people who weren't around to be in on the joke. I know there's still some humor to it... but it doesn't wear it on its sleeve the way it used to.
Like some good old British comedy that's been remade by Hollywood.
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Thanks Griefbringer. I'll have to check out that reference on the self-propelled chassis – I've got a 2E Ultramarines project that I'd like to revisit the concept with.
It’s Bob Naismith Challenge Time on the Oldhammer Community. Painters the world over are working on pieces from the grandmaster’s extensive back catalogue of gems, to be judged by the Lord Bob Almighty himself. Bob was so prolific in the 1980s (and still is today) that my shortlist of entries was 38 ideas, and one mini that bubbled to the surface was the Traitor General.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/judge-dredd/citadel-2000ad-rogue-trooper-traitor-general-front.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Citadel 2000AD Rogue Trooper Traitor General
The Traitor General is the central antagonist in 2000AD’s Rogue Trooper strip – a treacherous military commander being hunted by the eponymous Rogue Trooper.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/judge-dredd/traitor-general.png) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
“Natseon natseon yeojaui natseon hyannggue! Yes I want some new face!”
The Citadel Miniature is a great likeness of the comic art, burnt face and all. Bob’s sculpted him with a blinded swollen eye, permanent snarl from soft tissue damage to the lips, and the ultimate signaller of evil – a bald head.
I have modified the miniature – filing away the original scupted detail of the burnt scalp, which I feared would look like a hairpiece rather than damaged skin.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/judge-dredd/citadel-2000ad-rogue-trooper-traitor-general-angles.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
I added a little Souther symbol to the air tank.
The miniature came courtesy of Jason Fulford, who’s already painted a copy and has been a great help pointing me at reference material and inspiration for the colours. A lot of Citadel’s 2000AD range never appeared painted in the official publications, and the comics were in black and white so colour choices took some research. Thanks, Jason!
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/judge-dredd/citadel-2000ad-rogue-trooper-traitor-general-with-da-squad.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
All the 2000AD miniatures I’ve painted as an adult. More on Johnny Alpha and friends here.
There’s still loads of time to get your own entry into the competition, just head over to the Oldhammer Community for full details.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/judge-dredd/citadel-2000ad-rogue-trooper-traitor-general-in-the-quartz-zone-mk4.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Traitor General in the Quartz Zone.
But this one miniature isn’t my complete entry to the competition. Coming soon… more Naismithery!
More of my miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/ (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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That was an awesome miniature with a lovely paintjob!
Great work, mate!
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Fantastic painting - like everything on this thread! His facial expression really says "evil schemer"!
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This March I am proud to present an Ultramarines combat squad deliberately contrived to conjure up a very particular point in time – November 1990. It’s March for Macragge.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-squad-rhenus-front.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Tactical Squad Rhenus. Their presence remakes the past.
In November 1990 Space Marine design saw a step change with the release of the RTB15 Strike Force boxed set. The new age of Warhammer 40,000 was ushered in with these brand new metal-plastic hybrid Marines.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-squad-rhenus-left.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Sergeant Rhenus’s left shoulder pad omits the red skull marking of the Sergeant, as it wasn’t established until circa 1994.
It was the transition point from mk6 power armour to mk7 power armour. It was the transition from one-piece metal castings to metal torsos with plastic arms and accessories. It was the transition from Bob Naismith, Aly Morrison and Mark Copplestone designing Space Marines to Jes Goodwin.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-squad-rhenus-right.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
A lot of people assume the bare-headed Sergeant is a conversion. But he’s actually an obscure variant of the Strike Force torso that didn’t appear in the original boxed set or any of the catalogues at time of release, though he was available in some blisters.
There are two versions of each of the Strike Force torsos – the earlier verion had rounded shoulders which made them backwards compatible with the RTB01 plastic arms, and the later version had the shoulders flattened off to fit with the 1991 redesigned arm sprue. The 1990 arm sprue from the Strike Force box was curiously discontinued – if you know why, please enlighten me in the comments.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/strike-force-tordo-redesign.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Original torso designs with the RTB01 arms on the left, and the later redesign with the 1991 redesigned arms on the right.
The 1990s would go on to see the mk7 range fully rounded out with more torso designs, special and heavy weapons, jump packs, and all new accessory sprues. But in November 1990 if you wanted any of that for your mk7 marines you had to use the old mk6 pieces – which is what I’ve done on this squad. The Sergeant’s powerfist and weeny bolt pistol, the rocket launcher, various ammo packs and binox are all pilfered from the RTB01 kit.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-squad-rhenus-back.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Okay, I admit the back banner is an anachronism, coming from the 1999 Veterans blister, topped off with an icon from a spare Marneus Calgar. But I like sculpted banners more than paper affairs.
The RTB01 rocket launcher (below left) requires a bit of fiddly modelling to get it to work on a Strike Force torso – the arm toting it is a combination of the original RTB01 arm with a Strike Force shoulder pad, and some putty for the wrist armour.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-missile-launchers.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
“Ahhhh, so that’s why I’ve been stuck with the snidey Space Crusade affair.”
The Ultramarines project means I’m painting three blue Space Marine armies concurrently. I’d be nice to have the three projects more visually distinct, but I’ve got strong emotional reasons for each scheme individually so I will just have to live with a big jumble of blue in the display cabinet. It’s like that Eiffel 65 song. Da Ba Dee. Da Ba Daa.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-comparison.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Left to right: Crimson Fist, Ultramarine, Nemesis Chapter
I’m bursting with ideas for other Ultramarines squads, and while I’m not going to collect the entire Chapter there are 99 other squads to explore with 1990s-themed collecting and modelling ideas.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/1990s-ultramarines-40k-space-marines-action-shot-mk6.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Squad Rhenus looking as cowabungily rad as my collection of POGS.
This squad makes me feel as nostalgically 1990s my other hobby – standing outside derelict Global Video stores.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/curis-outside-global-video.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
I beat on the windows and tearily demand “True Lies” on VHS.
I’m putting together a full tutorial for Ultramarines power armour which will publish soon. If you head over to the Patreon, there’s already a wealth of tutorials for how to paint Blood Angels (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), Crimson Fists (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), Nemesis Chapter (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), an Apothecary (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), Deathwatch (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), gold power armour (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread) and battered yellow armour (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread), as well as lots of skin recipes (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread) and special freehand walkthroughs.
Coming soon, more blue Space Marines. Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Great post, that brings back the memories. Awesome painting.
I recall furiously painting a squad of the new Strike Force for a game, putting them in my Land Raider, and hauling ass up the side of my friends 8'x16' table.
Lucky shot from a lascannon, bypassing the power field and a massive explosion ripping through the passenger compartment... sad day for the Grim Reapers chapter!
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Awesome painting on a greatly nostalgic squad.
I recall cutting up one of those bareheaded RTB15 marines, so his torso could become that of a Landspeeder (1st iteration; the 'flying lawnchair')crewman. I still have that conversion... :)
Lucky shot from a lascannon, bypassing the power field and a massive explosion ripping through the passenger compartment... sad day for the Grim Reapers chapter!
New model syndrome; it's a well known fact that the prouder you are of a model, the faster it gets killed. Usually in the most inglorious way possible too. Think tankshocked, plasma overheat, scatterd template (most likely friendly fire), ran off the table due to failed leadership tests, etc... ::)
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They are superb 8)
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What a lovely set of miniatures!
Great work on them, Curis!
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Awesome stuff, loving the rogue general, ways wanted to do rogue trooper style 40k army.
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What an excellent and well painted collection of space marines. I never was a marine player (IG all the way) but this is a fantastic collection of miniatures from their various releases.
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love the 2000 AD stuff.
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It was the transition point from mk6 power armour to mk7 power armour. It was the transition from one-piece metal castings to metal torsos with plastic arms and accessories. It was the transition from Bob Naismith, Aly Morrison and Mark Copplestone designing Space Marines to Jes Goodwin.
It was where it all started to go down the toilet. It was the beginning of GWs slow slide into the money making machine it became. It was when I stopped playing Rt.
Lovely technique, not fond of the style though. I don't have particularly fond memories of yhe transition period as you may have noticed lol
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Wow. I will never be as good at painting as you are! So I am going for quantity over quality during the Plague of 2020! I am painting a ton of 1st and 2nd edition Warhammer 40k minis, and 3rd-5th edition WFB figures. I recently painted a core set's worth of old 40k, using a lead RT dreadnought instead of the cardstock one. Then I painted a second iteration (yes, I painted 80 grots in two weeks!) again using a lead RT dread, but also a lead RT tactical squad that includes the very first space marine. Instead of a 4th tactical squad in a row, I made a 5 man devastator squad out of spare plastics. Still 5 marines short of two 2e starters, I am painting up 5 (modern sculpt) Death Company to make up the numbers. I already own small armies of Orks and Blood Angels (among others) so these armies are getting rather big now.
(https://i.imgur.com/nGzOhDh.jpg)
For some reason I miscounted and painted 41 grots this time. Included here are some metal gretchin, including one genuine "space goblin" model! There's a RT ork with power fist to lead each mob of orks this round, and a RT plastic ork to bring the numbers up to 20. Included is a plasma gun conversion I made sometime in high school... since I graduated in 1999 that poor guy has been waiting a long time for his paint!
(https://i.imgur.com/mzQpcQp.jpg)
Closeup of lead marines:
(https://i.imgur.com/hRRhspq.jpg)
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Nice.
Interesting background.
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Nice.
Interesting background.
Thanks! It's the only place with good enough lighting 24 hours a day to reliably take pics of minis. Here's ALL my orks. Only 10 dozen or so to go before I fill up a 24x22 board. Shown here are roughly 20 dozen.
(https://i.imgur.com/ORRdhKx.jpg)
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Thanks Dr Mathias! There’s something magical about those old Land Raiders, I’m itching to paint one myself. When they had power fields, and Techmarines had those rings that meant they were bonded to them.
Cheer Daeothar. How did your conversion work out? The mk6 crew on those original Speeders are tiny compared to the standard Marines, did the new torso work out?
Tauntaun Scout – That is a mighty glorious project there. I like how you’ve arranged it all out at once, it evokes the same magical feel as those photos of the starter set in the White Dwarf two-page adverts. And a Battlewagon too! Woof!
Introducing the classic plastic 1988 Warlord Titan Ferrum Dux, part of my growing War Griffons Titan legion.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/epic-6mm-oldhammerwar-griffons-warlord-titan-power-shot.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Intact cardboard Void Shield spinny disc and everything. Mwah. Mwah mwah mwah.
Ferrum Dux was painted for a game of vintage Adeptus Titanicus (none of that fancy new 8mm stuff) against the forces of Jean-Baptiste & Associates. He joins the Warhound Titan that Jean-Baptiste also strong-armed me into painting, proving I’m nothing more than a monkey dancing to the whims of that man.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/war-griffons-warlord-titan-scale-comparison.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Epic scale Warhound Titan, Epic scale Walord Titan, and a 40K scale Intercessor Sergeant.
The Warlord kit is simple kit of only about a dozen pieces (compared to the modern version’s 144), and has to be assembled in a very fixed pose of striding forward with the left leg. This has the effect of making multiple Warlords (like there’d be in this game) look like a dance troupe. To avoid this I amputated both legs at the knee, and replaced them with a pair of right legs so the ankles and knees would be symmetrical.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/warlord-titan-reposing.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The indomitable power stance of an 1980s heavy metaller.
The humongous number of weapon options the kit came with have been cannibalised by years of my frivolous conversions, so I had to resort to some trimmed Technolog missile pods for the carapace. For bonus hipster points, the banner pole fitting is a cut down Zoid cannon. I magnetised all these options though so I can switch them out later if the guilt becomes too much. Or I find even rarer indie kits to incorporate.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/fabulous-titan-accessories.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Look at my pods!
The carapace banner designs are adapted from the Wayne England illustrations on the War Griffons spread in White Dwarf, as is pretty much the entire Warlord’s colour scheme. However, this time I experimented with introducing the yellow you see a lot of modern War Griffons in. I’d previously thought it would look odd alongside the gold, but it worked a treat. And ultimately, I’m glad I’m getting all these colour experiments done before I commit paint to the 40K scale Armorcast Titans.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/war-gryphons-titan-spread.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
War Griffons spread from White Dwarf 120, December 1989.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/warlord-titan-war-griffons-epic-banner-details.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Carapace banner, front and back.
This mighty metal plastic warlord is now ready to come crashing down in sheets of flame on the gaming table, as it did right at the start of the long-anticipated game with Jean-Baptiste. War Griffons, huh, yeah, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing!
Here’re my Titans fighting against my old tournament Ork army. You can see I have a big thing for big Titans with big banners and lots of big rockets.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/epic/warlord-titan-war-griffons-epic-battle-scene-bad-moons-mk1.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
The Bad Moon Ork Gargant Rokkit Bastid engages the War Griffons outside the walls of Gork’s Fort, Nuke Castle.
Two Titans done, more on their way. I’ve got a second Warhound and a Reaver on the desk at the moment – watch this space.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Fantastic 8)
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Those are some beautiful titans.
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Truly beautiful work ;D Love the old school look.
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Great work on that Titan!
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Awesome work on that titan!
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Nice work on a classic mini! The base is a nice touch too! :-*
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Beautiful work, Curis!
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Thanks for all the comments, peeps!
Come friend, come and learn of the secret origin the first Inquisitor at the dawn of Warhammer 40,000. This is the tale of Inquisitor Lord Augustus Hargen and his ingredient parts.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-inquisitor-lord-hargen-triumverate-mk2.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Left to right: Sir Gigal de Appliance, Inquisitor Lord Augustus Hargen, and Traitor General.
Sculptor Bob Naismith made this O.G. Inquisitor by combining two Citadel Miniatures from earlier ranges – Warhammmer Fantasy’s CH2 Chaos Warrior Sir Gigal de Appliance and 2000AD’s JD14 Traitor General. I painted all three so they could stand side-by-side radiating mad Citadel Crossover Energy.
This magical combo of medieval fantasy tropes and British military scifi elements established the tone for Warhammer 40,000. The whole gothic techno-fantasy universe spins out from seeds like this and Inquisitor Ezquerra. Thirty-three years later Games Workshop are still designing ornately armoured Inquisitors like the upcoming Kyria Draxus.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-inquisitor-lord-augustus-hargen-mk2.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Hargen popped up multiple times in the seminal Rogue Trader rulebook, and featured in the Spacewar Citadel Combat Cards.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/inquisitor-lord-augustus-hargen-with-the-pirates-mk2.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Inquisitor Lord Augustus Hargen and his Scooby Gang solving mysteries on Helsreach.
I entered Hargen, along with Sir Gigal and Traitor General into the Oldhammer Community’s Naismithery Competition, and to my astronomical levels of delight Bob Naismith chose the trio as the winner. Bob’s sent me a super-special one-of-a-kind prize which I’ll show soon. Thanks, Bob! Bob’s currently working on his Overrunners range which you can check out here.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Really nice painting. :-*
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Lovely :-*
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Great work, I am not surprised that you won!
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Last time I went to visit the great sho3box he treated me to a day out at Prince August – Ireland’s finest toy soldier factory. It was the greatest day ever.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/warzone/curis-and-sho3box-at-prince-august.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
sho3box (left) and me (right) being all cool at Prince August.
There at the factory of dreams I feasted upon the piles of vintage Warzone blisters with great plans to rebuild the exact same Imperial Mega Corporation Army of my nerdy teenage years – starting with a squad of Wolfbane Commandos.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/warzone/imperial-wolfbane-commandos-test.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The derpy eyes betray the anxiety of standing on a non-standard 32mm base.
Wolfbane Commandoes suffered from the classic 1990s problem of feet spilling over the 25mm base edge, so Wolfbane #1 I painted (above left) got a 32mm base. But the more I looked at it, the more I feared I’d betrayed the Spirit of the 1990s, so Wolfbane #2 got a classic 25mm base with dark green drybrushed sand, with which I was much happier, and so I did the whole squad this way.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/warzone/warzone-wolfbane-commandos-on-cassettes.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
An actual shelf in my house, or a highly contrived setting to make you feel it’s the 1990s? Answers in the comments!
The colour scheme is a pretty straight copy of the original studio colour scheme, as I wanted to relive those days when “giant yellow shoulder pads” and “commando” could be unironically synonomous.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/wolfbane-commandos-on-fogou-terrain.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Woflbane Commandos advance through the ruins of Hexau Prime.
I really enjoyed painting these old metal nuggets, and hope to build the army up with some Imperial Blood Berets next.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Beautifully done!
The derpy eyes betray the anxiety of standing on a non-standard 32mm base.
lol I can relate, I had some trepidation recently when considering basing an RT era terminator on something other than a 25mm ;)
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Beautifully done!
lol I can relate, I had some trepidation recently when considering basing an RT era terminator on something other than a 25mm ;)
Remember guys its all good, the old Rogue Trader rulebook allowed for round, square, hexagon, oval, rectangular and bases of all sizes, so "nil, desperandum or even null perspiration" lol
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nice work on the warzone minis !
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Mario, Sonic and Zool: the Holy Trinity of video game mascots in the 1990s. Two of these characters are going strong to this day. Zool – the lovechild of Cool Spot and a Ninja Turtle – explored a visually intense platformer landscape deep with thematic heft, which let the Amiga gamer grapple with complex socio-cultural questions such as “What if world, but made of Smarties?”
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/3d-sculpts/zool-amiga.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Zool in action in the diabetes-inducing first level.
If you want to express your personality through the consumption of Zool merchandise, there are only dog-eared tie-in novels from 1995 to collect. And that’s not enough for me – I dreamt of owning a plastic rendition of my hero from the Nth Dimension. SO I MADE MY OWN.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/3d-sculpts/zool-sculpt.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
This is my digital sculpt of Zool, created in Blender. As he’s some sort of weird ant, I printed him the size of a two-pence coin and painted him up with a specially made Chupa Chups base.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/3d-sculpts/zool-ninjabread-size-test.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
And then, to recreate the sugary joy of the original computer game levels, I emptied sixteen packets of Smarties into my lightbox.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/3d-sculpts/zool-on-smarties.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Now that I’ve found a way to conjure miniatures from my imagination into paintable pieces, I am completely giddy with sculpting potential. What next? Maybe a 1990s British pop culture Justice League, with Superted and Bananaman.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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lol brilliant :D
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Limited edition miniatures are entirely my jam. Limited edition Space Marines doubly so. When Citadel produced this “Imperial Space Marine” to celebrate 30 (ish*) years of power-armoured super soldiers, I giddily hoovered it up.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/le02-imperial-space-marine-30th-anniversary-ultramarine.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Speaking of hoovering, get a load of that pose. Wacca wacca wacca.
The miniature is an update of the very first LE02 Imperial Space Marine released in summer 1985. Loads of care was put into copying over the details, from the vacuum-cuffs on the calves, the ribbing on the elbow pads, the rivets on the helmet, and the noodly wiring on the weapon. Here are the two versions side by side.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/le02-imperial-space-marine-and-30th-anniversary-marine.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Something old. Something new. Something red. Something blue.
So there I am, thinking that I’m on the cutting edge of Space Marine miniatures with this lad, and actually it’s been out 5 years and has already had his Codex entry deleted. And the modern range of Space Marines are as big again.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/imperial-space-marine-and-ultramarine-lieutenant-calsius.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Imperial Space Marine alongside Primaris Lieutenant Calsius.
And if you’re interested in learning the hands down best ever recipe and method for painting Ultramarines it’s over on the Ninjabread Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread).
When the Marine The original LE02 Marine’s weapon was marvellously oddball. It’s classic mid-1980s Bob Naismith sculpting, where wiring and nozzles were de rigueur. This design of bolter was phased out by 1987 in flavour of the blockier designs that endure to this day. However, the 2016 Imperial Space Marine gloriously recreates the original noodle-nozzle weapon, reconceptualising it on the accompanying rules sheet as a “disintergration combi-gun”.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/le02-imperial-space-marine-betrayal-at-calth.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
The Mark of Calth will continue to run. Look at him run. Run Mark, run.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
*The Imperial Space Marine was released in Spring 2016, which was 31 years after the original from Summer 1985.
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Super sweet painting, I always enjoy your informative posts.
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This is the sort of post that makes me want to stop what I’m doing and go back to Space Marine :)
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Actually, this is the sort of post that makes me want to stop painting Space Marines and take up carpenting...
That painting standard is so out there and flawless, I feel like a ham fisted oaf just looking at them... :'(
Then again; I'll keep on trying and aspiring; after all, he hasn't done any Mentor Legion (yet)... :D
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Actually, this is the sort of post that makes me want to stop painting Space Marines and take up carpenting...
That painting standard is so out there and flawless, I feel like a ham fisted oaf just looking at them... :'(
Then again; I'll keep on trying and aspiring; after all, he hasn't done any Mentor Legion (yet)... :D
I can empathize with this so hard. I've been painting off and on since the early 1990s, and yet there are people who post stuff online that are all "been painting for about nine months or so, I have a lot to learn but I'm improving" and their skills are a multiple factor better than mine :-I
Just have to keep at it and remember the only competition that matters is my previous work...
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LOL I couldn't agree more, however part of it is finding a standard of painting that pleases you and then stick to it ;)
More power to your paint-brush guys :D
Glen
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Thanks Dr. Mathias!
Cheers Blackwolf. Your stuff makes me want to stop Warhammer and get into Star Wars.
Daeothar – I'm sure you're do as good a job on this mini if you painted it in your Mentors scheme. Crisp modern minis are easier to make look tight than old metal chonks. I am painting some Mentor Legion at the moment tho...
NotifyGrout – in my experience, people massively misrepresent how long they've been painting almost as much as they lie about how long something took them to paint. Anyway, comparison is poison, like NotifyGrout says.
*********
Sometimes you’re playing your favourite science fiction miniatures game, and the random wargear tables generate a result for which you don’t own the miniatures. EVEN WORSE, the miniatures don’t actually exist. They were never made. Anger sets in. You feel yourself about to explode.
You refuse to reroll the result. You refuse to represent the wargear with a cardboard chit. The only option is to spend a whole year of your life learning how to sculpt so you can design your own version. After that, vacuum cast them in high quality resin so they’re proper playable, paintable miniatures.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ontos-dtn8-unpainted-product-shot.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
I digitally designed these mine-droids as five pieces, so each droid could be assembled a bit differently, with bodies leaning at a jaunty angle, and turning heads.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bomb-bot-linework-illustration-2.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
DTN8 construction diagram.
To direct the trio of droids, I converted a Space Marine Comms Officer from Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, adding a pair of aerials to his backpack with lengths of wire and plastic rod.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/dtn8-mining-droids.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Brother-Mechanic Kailogue controlling DTN8 units Snap, Crackle and Pop.
Here they are trundling across a battlefield of the far future, bringing their payload of high explosives into the heart of an enemy formation. Their armoured shells protect from light arms fire until they detonate with the power of giant fragmentation grenades. They can be programmed to explode at pre-set co-ordinates, or piloted remotely, allowing them to respond to shifting battlefield conditions, and even sadistically chase a retreating foe.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/dtn8-remote-mine-droid-in-action.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep .. BOOM.
Right, I can finally get on with my game now. I had to cast a few sets up, so expect to see some painted in other colour schemes soon.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Is there any way to secure a trio of these fabulous miniatures, i remember them from my rt era hardback and always wondered if any minis were ever made of them.
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lovely stuff (very droll text too)
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NotifyGrout – in my experience, people massively misrepresent how long they've been painting almost as much as they lie about how long something took them to paint. Anyway, comparison is poison, like NotifyGrout says.
Thanks for that. It's nice to hear it from someone at the pro level. For some reason, the probably-not-actually-new painters always say they've been painting for nine months, as if it's some sort of in-joke.
Also, I will second the call for STLs or physical copies of those cool little bomb-droids.
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Loving the bomb-bots...they remind me of the green Daleks from Dr Who.
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Very cool :)
For those looking to get an STL: There are some decent bomb bots out there (https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/bomb-bot) for example.
I'd rather buy these if they're ever put up for sale somewhere.
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Thanks for all the comments!
Yeah Lost Egg, the collar slats and the dome lamps are incredibly Daleky. I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that – I've seen some people insist they're aerial stubs, but I know they light up.
I've recently drafted a set of barricades for 3D printing.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/barricade-initial-set.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
HOLD THE LINE!
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/bunker-action-shot-mk2.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
They're available here: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/glorious-1990s-barricade-fortifcation-terrain-set (https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/glorious-1990s-barricade-fortifcation-terrain-set)
Ninjabread out!
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Nice! For a split-second I thought they were a cardboard release from back in 2nd Ed.
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Nice! For a split-second I thought they were a cardboard release from back in 2nd Ed.
Good eye! I think I still have the cardstock barricades from an old issue of White Dwarf somewhere, and they look a lot like these.
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Nice! For a split-second I thought they were a cardboard release from back in 2nd Ed.
That would be the highest compliment I suppose, since they were clearly created with those in mind.
And they work perfectly too! In combination with those RT and 2nd ed minis, that last picture is like a left hook right in the nostalgia; just beautiful :-*
Am I correct in assuming that some of the texture work on the barricades was done with splattering paint (toothbrush)? Or was it done by dabbing with foam tear-offs?
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I'm just a twisted knot of envy right now - these are superb! lol
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Thanks for the comments!
Daeothar – the texture is two rounds of sponging light greys over a blak undercoat (Rakarth Flesh and Terminatus Stone), a quick glaze, some grey fading with a brush, then SPLATTING WITH A TOOTHBRUSH. Just everything to avoid drybrushing, basically.
*********
Back at the turn of the millennium, there was a hyper-rare Space Marine that was only available in England if you spent £500 in a Games Workshop during the Skulz programme. On a pocket money budget, it took the co-ordinated efforts of all my friends to get one. And over two decades later, here he is painted.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/limited-edition-space-marine-skulz-ultramarines-standard-bearer-front.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Well, I say £500 – he cost fifty Skulz, and you got one Skulz for each full £10 you spent, but you got eleven Skulz printed on the Skulz collector’s card so the worked out at £390.
He’s a stellar miniature that was really ahead of his time for a number of reasons. First, he came with a solid metal base (40mm no less, when nothing larger than 25mm for infantry had ever been seen) depicting a fallen Chaos standard – at a time when scenic bases were incredibly rare. Second, he clutches a standard of Ultramar – a sculpted banner at a time when banners were paper affairs you photocopied from White Dwarf or came supplied as self-adhesive labels. Third, he was sculpted by Shane Hoyle, one of my favourite sculptors – and notable as he’s one of the first Imperial Space Marines since 1990 not sculpted by Jes Goodwin.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/limited-edition-space-marine-skulz-ultramarines-standard-bearer-side.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
I like how thin he is turned sideways, like a Paper Mario character.
I wondered back in 1999 if he was Ancient Helveticus – the Ultramarines special character. But Helveticus’ defining feature is the Banner of Macragge, and this sculpted banner didn’t match the design from White Dwarf 195. Plus his wargear didn’t match the 2nd edition Warhammer 40,000 Ultramarines Codex (or the 3rd edition Chapter Approved incarnation). And critically, as you can just about see in the photo above, his left shoulder has a skull marking inside an Ultramarines’ inverted omega sculpted on – meaning his rank is more likely Sergeant than Chapter Ancient.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/limited-edition-space-marine-skulz-ultramarines-standard-bearer-rear.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Another nice touch from the sculptor is the detailing on the pole.
On the subject of shoulder marking – his right pad features a sculpted-on Tactical Squad arrow. This is a source of irritation to me, as I’ve copied the white trims of the original ‘Eavy Metal paintjob. If you’re strict about the Codex Astartes – and Ultramarines are strict – the only two Companies identified with white shoulder pad trims are First and Tenth, and neither has any Tactical Squads. I will conceptualise my version not as a Chapter Ancient (or Company Ancient for that matter), but as a Third Company Sergeant with non-standard trim markings denoting Veteran status (and will back this up by pointing to the Crux Terminatus on his left calf as further proof of Veteran-ness), holding a sacred Ultramarines standard (but not a Company or Chapter banner).
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/ultramarines-skulz-standard-bearer-action-shot-mk3.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Veteran Sergeant of the Third Company defending the Imperium’s bunkers and concrete barricades against an Ork Waaaagh!.
HIs release through the tertiary channel of exclusive Skulz retail incentives makes him one of the rarest Ultramarines miniatures, except for perhaps the 2004 Black Library Uriel Ventris diorama. So here he is alongside my other limited editions, marching for Macragge.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/space-marines/skulz-ultramarines-standard-bearer-and-limited-editions.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Left to right: 30th Anniversary Imperial Space Marine, Primaris Lieutenant Calsius, and the Skulz Standard Bearer.
Ninjabread out!
More miniatures at:https://www.ninjabread.co.uk (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk)
Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread (https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread)
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Lovely painting.
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Lovely painting and great backstory!
That primaris bloke is huge!
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I know, swiftnick! Primaris take about three times the time to paint as a Rogue Trader mk6 affair. They're like Ogres when you're used to the old stuff.
But speaking of old miniatures...
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-stubborn-space-dwarf-warrior-roknauts-tease-1990s-white-dwarf.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
I have poured every ounce of my heart and soul into sculpting a range of 1990s style Space Dwarf miniatures. I have made the graphics as inhumanely retro as possible.
Sign up for the launch here! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
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They look ace (and, as expected, sublime PJs)
Sure you won't need it but Best of Luck with the KS
For those like me that don't/won't do Kickstarters (absolutely nothing personal, I just don't do any of them) will they be available, either in resin or as STLs, somewhere afterwards?
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Those minis are all kinds of nostalgic nice, but that add really takes me back 25 years. 8)
Gave me a good chuckle and brings the message across perfectly; well done :D
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Thanks Dags! To be honest, I'm well nervous but also excited. I started sculpting these in April 2021 and there's so many behind-the-scenes things to think ahead of and plan before they can be offered to the public.
If the Kickstarter proves there's a demand for the figures, then I'll put additional castings on sale on an online shop front.
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These are great :) . I reckon I'll be getting some from the KS :) .
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Wow great character and definitely some squat squats 👍
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Those minis are all kinds of nostalgic nice, but that add really takes me back 25 years. 8)
Gave me a good chuckle and brings the message across perfectly; well done :D
This. The paint work is some of the cleanest I've ever seen- pretty much the opposite of mine :o
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Blasts from the past and so much that is new with amazing paint jobs. Well done!
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I know, swiftnick! Primaris take about three times the time to paint as a Rogue Trader mk6 affair. They're like Ogres when you're used to the old stuff.
But speaking of old miniatures...
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-stubborn-space-dwarf-warrior-roknauts-tease-1990s-white-dwarf.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
I have poured every ounce of my heart and soul into sculpting a range of 1990s style Space Dwarf miniatures. I have made the graphics as inhumanely retro as possible.
Sign up for the launch here! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Way more interested in these than the new GW Voquats. Hoping they size up as well with originals as the pictures suggest they will.
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oooh nice
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Here's the project details. And @eilif – there's a scale comparison photo with loads of other manufacturers' Space Dwarf and Dwarf I had painted in my cabinet.
“In evil’s millennium, the squad-fate fell to Schiltron Toothcutter. The Rökthane’s commands combined metal and mettle so that worlds were won by iron arms and iron wills.”
– Hreddi Falsetooth, the Nethyrtruth Edda
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknauts-logo-mk7.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
I’ve taken to Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures) to produce a small range of resin cast 28mm scale Space Dwarf miniatures for collectors, modellers, painters, roleplayers and tabletop wargamers. This Kickstarter will enable the figures to be professionally moulded for production, and vacuum-cast in high quality resin.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknauts-on-barricades-mk4.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
“HOLD THE LINE! BWAA BWAA BWAA BWAA!”
I’ve got a deep passion for the science fiction concept of squat and indomitable warriors heading out into the stars with an arsenal of hi-tech weapons. I wanted to distill the essence of techno-fantasy metal mysticism into miniature form, and do it with an iconically 1990s twist.
Rökthane Schiltron Toothcutter
Schiltron Toothcutter, Rökthane of the Naudor Thronesworn, is a leader who has earned the respect of his troopers a dozen times over. His far-sighted view of the battlefield gives his squad a significant tactical advantage – and many battles have been won by the relentless advance or unbreakable defence he inspires. Famously Schiltron and his warriors defended the Nethyr Edge for 13 cycles, saving countless lives.
Schiltron is armed with a customised binar-blaster, enscribed on the casing with his runic S initial, and clad in diamond-flak armour.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-schiltron-focus-1024.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-rokthane-schiltron-360.gif) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Röknaut Trooper with Wyrmboltr Rifle
Each Röknaut Trooper is a hero in their own right, respected throughout the galaxies as bloody-minded and unyielding in the face of any enemy. Not only are Röknauts experts in combat, but void travel, toxic environs survival and hardware maintenance. Their extreme technical aptitude lets them operate where other forces have been destroyed by mechanical realities – and their adamantine-hard will lets them fight even longer still.
Armed with the iconic Wyrmboltr Rifle, and clad in diamond-flak, the Trooper is a bold icon of the Röknaut Thronesworn’s might.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-trooper-with-wyrmboltr-focus-shot.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-trooper-360.gif) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Röknaut Trooper with Helstrom Autocannon
Those Röknauts with distinguished marksmanship are assigned heavy weaponry from the Röknaut armouries to support their squads. Capable of hefting a weapon on their squat shoulders that a human would need a tripod and a loader to operate as efficiently, these warriors are a redoubt on the battlefield, and many legendary figures from Röknaut folklore are famous for their excessive weaponry.
The Röknaut is armed with the deadly dual-barrelled Helstrom Autocannon, capable of obliterating opposing hordes with sustained fire, or rending a hole in the side of a battletank with a tightly focussed salvo.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-trooper-with-helstrom-autocannon-focus-shot.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-heavy-weapon-trooper-360.gif) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Classic 28mm Scale
Designed to fit in with the miniatures of your youth, the Röknauts are sculpted as a love letter to the 1990s, when miniatures were characterful chunks of awesome. The miniatures are scaled to fit with classic 28mm humans – the Trooper with Wymboltr Rifle measuring 18mm from boot sole to eyeball.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-three-row-scale-comparison.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Left to right: (top row) Macrocosm, Mantic, Ontos, Heresy, Olley’s Armies, (middle row) Citadel, Iron Claw, Ontos, Citadel, Forge World, (bottom row) Nico, Citadel, Ontos, Citadel, Darkling Miniatures
What you will Get
Pledging to this project will get you a complete squad of five Röknauts vacuum-cast in high quality resin. Supplied unpainted and unassembled.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-moulded-1200.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/squat-space-dwarf-roknaut-action-shot-6-4-22-mk4.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
The Iron Brotherhood in the ruins of Thrallfort-22
I love painting miniatures – it’s the primary way I engage with the whole collecting/painting/gaming hobby. When the first Röknaut prototype arrived, I completely flipped out, whacked on some Savage Garden and entered a fugue state, only to emerge some hours later with the Rökthane fully painted. I’m extremely biased when I say these miniatures are a joy to paint, so to triangulate if they’re fun-with-brushes I sent a set of advance castings to Oldhammer blogging supremo Jean-Baptiste. He absolutely ripped through painting a whole squad of them in a magnificent weathered industrial yellow scheme.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/squats/jean-baptistes-roknauts-1024.jpg) (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
You can visit the project here. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curis/roknaut-space-dwarf-28mm-sci-fi-wargames-and-rpg-miniatures)
Rök on!
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They look great Curis, is it just going to be the one squad or do you plan more for the future?
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The forum needs a \m/ emoticon now! 8)
\m/ Rök On! \m/
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Could never be just one squad, Lost Egg. Röknaut reinforcements are coming any week now.
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Back when I was a kid, you could broadly divide robots into two types – the Transformers toys you wanted, and the offbrand Transformers-type toys that were available to buy here in the United Kingdom. I loved both.
While we were awash in the stories of the Transformers UK comic, Transformers Ladybird books, Transformers VHS cassette – the toys themselves were difficult to buy. The UK toy aisles were, however, awash with other companies’ robo-offerings – Grandstand’s Convertors, Bandai’s Robo Machine, Tek Toys’ Robo-Kats, MC Toys’ Moto-Bots, Tomy’s Super Alternators and many more. They seldom had any accompanying in-universe fiction, and sometimes not even a name! My imagination went into overdrive trying to shoehorn these pretenders into the official Hasbro Transformers universe, creating my own contrived space operas that justifed a steam train fighting an aircraft carrier.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/mega-moto-bot.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
"Mega Moto-Bot, my old friend! Optimus Prime needs you to urgently patrol this area which you may notice includes the Glasgow Transport Museum. Again."
Now my play patterns have evolved beyond simply ragging toy vehicles around the floor shouting their names and making explosion sounds and into sophisticated adult wargaming, I thought I’d resurrect some of the netherspace of non-canonical robot warriors and sculpt a gawky 1980s robot chonk. Presenting Autoborg, Robot Warrior of the Far Future.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-style-autoborg-warrior-robot.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Autoborgs strive their struggle to battle the wicked armies of the Deceivibots!
Okay, I may have missed the point by not engineering him to transform – or sculpting an accompanying vehicle mode. But I feel his Popeye style forearms and spindly strut thighs really evoke the spirit of a transforming robot toy. I was tempted to paint him in big slabs of bright primary colours to get across the toyetic vibe, but instead chose a striking camouflage scheme which is instantly undermined by big slabs of purple that really contrast against the sandy yellow colour of the base. Generation 2 Megatron eat your heart out.
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/rogue-trader-style-autoborg-warrior-robot-action-shot.jpg) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Statistically speaking, he’s camouflaged against 60% of enemies.
If you’d like to fight science fiction wargames with your own Autoborg, he’s up on my Cults3D (https://cults3d.com/en/users/Curis/creations).
(https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/rogue-trader/autoborg-robot-warrior-ninjabread.gif) (https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/)
Ninjabread out!
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Ooh, that is exceptionally cool!! :-* 8)
The colourscheme is superb; adding contrast to camo is just the eighties vibe this model needs. No: is entitled to!
This does remind me I still have the entire G1 Transformers cast on both sides in metal to paint up... ::)
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Nice, looking forward to more Röknauts.