++++INLOADING DATAFILE 085++++ Sicarian Infiltrator/Ruststalker WIP 1.0

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, I've been busy cleaning out my apartment to make room for more stuff and with several new computer games.  I'd recommend Dungeon of the Endless to anyone who has a spare day and enjoys falling into rabbit holes.

That said I have had some recent hobby progress, notably my conversions of Sicarian Infiltrators to make them look more like IG-88 from Star Wars.  My original idea was to use Imperial Guard Mortar Shells for the basis of the head, this was a terrible idea as they are way too small for it.  Sometimes you need to actually have the models in hand to realize that an idea sucks.

But in the process of getting the mortar rounds out of my bitz box an ancient special weapons sprue from Necromunda fell out of the box (literally) before me and I had the perfect bit.  Its the macehead to the power maul from the Redemptionists gang.  After trimming down some spikes to make them into eye lenses and lopping off the handle it was ready to get mounted.

See the resemblance? 

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 084++++ Skitarii Vanguard WIP 1.5

So I finally had the chance to crack open my two boxes of Sicarian Infiltrators and man is there a lot bits wise in this kit! The first thing which I decided to use it for was to upgrade my earlier Skitarii Hypaspists. I didn't wind up quite liking how that first attempt came out, so here is try number two which I mentioned yesterday.

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 083++++ Sicaran Ruststalkers/Infiltrators

Just a quick announcement, I have picked up two of these kits and I want to convert them so badly that I am considering ducking out from work early.  Stupid work....

I'm planning to use the heads from the Ruststalkers and the Flachette pistols to revamp my Skitarii Hypaspists.  I wasn't satisfied with how these guys looked before, they were too "good guy" esk in appearance.  So here is a proof of concept for what I intend to do to fix that problem.  I'm excited to make this work.  Obviously the pistol needs to be upscaled into a rifle, but really that shouldn't be too hard at all.

Ok now back to work.

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 81++++ Dark Skitarii Rangers WIP 1.0

Sorry for the derth of posts, I've been otherwise engaged of late.  That said I for one am very excited for the new Adeptus Mechanicus codex which should be coming out soon, as well as the Skitarii book coming just before it.  I'm interested to see whether this will be the first book which truly works to unify a GW and Forgeworld range as has been suggested by some to be the new model for the upcoming 30k plastic range.

After I bought my first White Dwarf in a few years (I had a subscription for over 10 years ago.) I was quite impressed by the rules for the Vanguard and Ranger units.  Both are well costed, neither is brokenly good or bad, and they each have workable weapons with different mechanics between the units.  The Vanguard's rad weapons are very neat, while they differ substantially from Rad weapons in 30k I prefer this version.  The 30k rad weapon effect only matters AFTER a multiwound model has failed to save a wound it has been dealt by a rad weapon, which is situational in the extreme.  The new "double wound" effect is cool, and it works well with the weapon's low str of 3 and high rate of fire.

Skitarii Rangers actually strike me as being the more conventional of the two units, as they are essentially just equipped with Kraken Bolters.  A while ago I converted a bunch of Skitarii for my Dark Mechanicum army but at the time there were no rules for them and I used them as Adsecularis Tech Thralls.  Right after reading the new rules I started reconverting them into Skitarii rangers, all it took was swapping the lasgun barrels on their guns for more Sniper esk ones and adding some scopes.

Galvanic Rifles group 1

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 074++++ Mechanicum Archmagos Myrmidax WIP 3

Here is an update Panorama of Arch Myrmidax Drevinius Prelt as he is being painted.  On the whole I'm pleased with how he is progressing, let it be knownn that I consider myself to be a decent (read: mediocre) painter at best.  Unlike converting, which comes quickly and naturally to me, painting is much more of a technical process.  Its a chore really, but one which must be done.  On the plus side once it is done the finished product is awesome and really has a soul of its own.

Enough bloviating, onto the model.  I've used the same sort of bronze and steel metallic pallet I've seen used heavily in other's mechanicus armies on the interwebs, its simple to do and looks good.  For the robes I decided on a rusted metal color, so instead of a bright red I used a dark brown base layered up to slighly orangish red.  This will be powdered with weathering powders to really achieve the right color blend, or at least that is the plan.  The flesh was done using a tutorial on how to paint the muscular portions of a hellbrute, he is so pink as I haven't added the final "skin tone" layer yet.  I'll use that layer to cover up the few mistakes that I've made with the metallic paints.

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 073++++ Mechanicum Archmagos Myrmidax WIP 2

He is done.  You don't need me to tell of every little detail on him.  It has been a while since I set up a real photobooth, the quality of the photos really is a lot higher.  

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 072++++ Mechanicum Archmagos Myrmidax

++++MAGGOTS WILL FEAST UPON THE DATA OF TE:/CRITERROR++++

TECHXORCISM COMPLETE........

SCRAPCODE ISOLATED PENDING ERASURE........

++++ALL PRAISE THE OMNISSIAH, BY THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE DARKNESS BANISHED++++

SCAN:/INFVECTOR.........

++++SIGNAL SOURCE LOCATED++++

MATCHING TO ARCHIVES........

++++THE QUEST FOR TRUTH IS ETERNAL, SUCH IS THE WILL OF THE OMNISSIAH++++

MATCHING COMPLETE 93.54% ACCURACY........

WARNING TARGET RATED TECHNOMATIC DIABOLUS.........

++++EXECUTE FULL FORGE ALERT++++

Every army needs a general, and it has always been of my opinion that generals in 40k should be epic as f#&$!  The model uses components of several different previous conversions, one was a Myrmidon Secutor test model and another was an Imperial Battlesuit from several years ago.  I give you Arch Myrmidax Drevinius Prelt.

Rules wise I intend to field him as a Archmagos Prime: Myrmidon.  He is going to have a Master-crafted Chainfist (That ax is WAY to big not to double your strength and give Armorbane!) and Powerfist for three STR 8 AP 2 Armorbane Unwieldy attacks.  Add to that a Machinator Array boosting him to T 6, two bonus str 5 AP 2 shred, armorbane, unwieldy melee attacks, a flamer and a inferno pistol, and a 3+ Battlesmith roll!  As a Myrmidax he gets to choice (and fire) two additional weapons, of the various options my favorite is the Phase Plasma Fusil as its Range 18" STR 6 AP 3 Salvo 2/3.  On top of this he will count as being mounted on an abeyant, mostly for the +1 wound and It Will Not Die, plus he is definately Very Bulky.  This makes him a mere 240 points, but he will be quite the monster, excepting his lack of any invulnerable save.  There are more options but I'll figure those out once he is further along.

++++INLOADING DATAFILE 071++++ Mechanicum Skitarii Hypaspists WIP 2.0

RUN:/SYSDIAGNOSTIC........

++++SCRAPCODE INFECTION DETECTED IN 97.38% OF KEY SYSTEMS++++

ACCESSING MILITARY MANIFOLD........

SENDING EMERGENCY AID REQUEST........

++++(2+3)=8, 1x1=8, 1=88.888888888 /LOGICSTRING.ERROR++++

10010010 01001010 00111100 01000100 10001001 00010011 01001100 1010010

RELEASING HEXAMATHMATIC COUNTERMEASURES........

DATAPURGATIVE ALGORYTHMS ENGAGING........

++++/LOGIC.IS.ERROR CORRUPTION=INEVITABLE++++

/EXECUTE:CEASERESISTINGUS.EXE........

10010001 01111000 001100101 01110100 10011001 11010010 01000101 1011110

RUN:/AUTOPRAYER1044.9A........

++++FROM THE OMNISSIAH FLOWS KNOWLEDGE, FROM KNOWLEDGE FLOWS TRUTH, FROM TRUTH FLOWS SALVATION++++

++++OMNISSIAH=FALSE, MARS=FALSE, DISORDER=FUNCTION++++

10011011 01111000 00110100 01011101 00100100 00011110 01001001 0001110

AID REQUEST RECEIPT CONFIRMED........

SKITARII DEMICOHORT DISPATCHED........