Man, that's a whole lot of sweet oldskool stuff. It's a trip down memory lane!
Man, that's a whole lot of sweet oldskool stuff. It's a trip down memory lane!
Thanks Meph!
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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...-statuette.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...-pizza-box.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...of-silence.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...er-details.jpg[/url]
“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
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...e-1-angles.jpg[/url]
The ivy on the banner was originally a [url=http://funkywenisrodeo.blogspot.com/]Captain Crooks[/url] 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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...e-2-angles.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...ce-marines.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/g...-by-stages.jpg[/url]
If you [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread] become a supporter today[/url] 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: [url=http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]http://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread] https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
Thanks Salvage! You're pretty spot on there – the kit is a bit like the Tzaangor from Silver Tower that have a limited potential you have to really work through. But GW followed them up with a much more versatile kit – pray they do the same for Sisters.
Thanks youwashock. Cheers Tyranid Horde!
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ce-marines.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ce-marines.jpg[/url]
“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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...rines-rear.jpg[/url]
“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…
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...arse-skull.jpg[/url]
“Ultracurses. Thus I die.”
The Rogue Trader Apothecary came from Rochie of Buried Under Lead. Rochie has converted and painted up this mini already – [url=http://buriedunderlead.blogspot.com/2018/06/back-again.html]you should check it out here[/url]. 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 [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]Ninjabread Patreon[/url], and have written up the method, colours and theory.
[url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...n-tutorial.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...fogou-fort.jpg[/url]
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!
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]More miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
[url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...itions-iso.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ns-details.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...s-iso-back.jpg[/url]
“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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...d-editions.jpg[/url]
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?
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]More miniatures at: https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
[url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]Painting tutorials at: https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...gles-front.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ngles-back.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...fort-fogou.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-diagrams-.jpg[/url]
8 simple steps to perfect purple cloth.
It’s my seventh instalment in the [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]Patreon tutorial series[/url] 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!
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...uad-beitia.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...eitia-back.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...eitia-side.jpg[/url]
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 [url=https://sho3box.com/2019/01/03/choose-your-own-adventurers-17-18-19-infiltrators/]Adventurer Cyborgs into his Necron army[/url], and axiom has turned an [url=https://magpieandoldlead.blogspot.com/2018/08/cosmic-forces-beyond-all-comprehension.html]Adventurer Pilot into a Buck Rogers homage[/url] – 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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-in-action.jpg[/url]
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 [0], 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.
[url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...numberless.jpg[/url]
These steps broken down, with the techniques and theory behind them spelt out, [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]the tutorial is available on Patreon[/url]. 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 [url=https://www.twitch.tv/curisninjabread]twitch[/url], and also powering through the original metal Land Speeder, and collecting the glorious classic Techmarines. Stay tuned!
More of my miniatures at: [url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-setup-mk4.jpg[/url]
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 [url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1818300257/fort-hardknox-a-28mm-post-apocalyptic-fortress]incredibly succesful Kickstarter campaign[/url].
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...shot-angle.jpg[/url]
The Godbreak 84th garrison Fort Hardknox against [url=https://sho3box.com/2014/07/06/more-skabsquigs-skallywags/]Skabsquig’s Skallywags[/url].
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ne-terrain.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...punk-front.jpg[/url]
Republicans! Sportsmanship! Books!
There’s a gallery of yet more Psycho Sams in the [url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.973780042703950&type=3]Oldhammer Community[/url].
[url=http://leadplague.blogspot.com/2019/03/time-to-set-scene-fogou-fort.html]Asslessman[/url], [url=http://magpieandoldlead.blogspot.com/2019/02/theres-scrap-fort-in-badlands.html]axiom[/url] and [url=https://sho3box.com/2019/03/23/fort-hardknox/]cheetor[/url] 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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ox-by-doti.jpg[/url]
Fort Hardknox painting by Doti of [url=https://www.facebook.com/katsinaminiatures]Katsina Miniatures[/url].
And finally, don’t forget to check out the [url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1818300257/fort-hardknox-a-28mm-post-apocalyptic-fortress]Fogou Kickstarter[/url], ending today!
More of my miniatures at: [url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url=https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
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.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-patriarch.jpg[/url]
"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.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...der-squats.jpg[/url]
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.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-berserker.jpg[/url]
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.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...erslayer13.jpg[/url]
A sample of sho3box’s trailblazing indie Space Dwarf collection.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...riumverate.jpg[/url]
Rogue Trader Squat Cyber-Slayer and some Mantic Forge Father bitsCuris’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.
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...high-angle.jpg[/url]
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!
[url='https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...action-mk3.jpg[/url]
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: [url]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
Thanks Krastellian!
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...banner-iso.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...erse-angle.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...-close-ups.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...eant-fogou.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...harp-black.jpg[/url]
The six steps to crisp black power armour.
I’ve photographed and written up a [url= [url]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread][/url] masterclass tutorial[/url] with all the steps, paint mixes and theory for the black on these Deathwatch. If you’d like access, it’s over on the [url= [url]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]Ninjabread[/url] Patreon page[/url], along with over a dozen other masterclasses.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...hapter-mk4.jpg[/url]
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: [url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url= https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]
Buenos dias, Ninjabread readers. Today my Mexican-flavoured vintage Space Marine army gets some Adeptus Mechanicus reinforcements. An “Adeptus Mexicanicus”, if you will.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...ion-beamer.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...eamer-side.jpg[/url]
“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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...eamer-back.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...beamer-wip.jpg[/url]
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.
[url=https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/images/...mson-fists.jpg[/url]
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: [url]https://www.ninjabread.co.uk/[/url]
Painting tutorials at: [url]https://www.patreon.com/ninjabread[/url]