100th Drookian Fenriders – A Cavalry Company

The Company Command Squad is finished.

I shout out to the individual who managed to get me a few Empire/Freeguild horns to me in such a short time. Without them this squad could have been sitting around incomplete for a while

Next up, I am converting/scratch building a fair few tow guns to count as heavy weapon teams. Taking the following as inspiration. Please wish me luck, and any suggestions you may have on how to achieve it.

I have finally gotten around to converting 84% of my command squad

1.The Commissar

The commissar has had a cloak added (mainly to disguise the conversion work done in the body swap), and a fur connector to disguise the join. A servo skull has been added, as well as a stand alone rebreather, and hunting lance sheath to tie them into the squad

2. The Officer

Has a bonnet to further tie in with the Scottish routes of the regiment, a power sword, a lance and personal banner, and a few pieces of additional equipment

3. The Standard Bearer

The simplest conversion. A banner in place of the hunting lance, and a sword for combat. Added rank insignia on the left shoulder

4. The Navigator

Reading a map, and uses his binoculars. Hunting Lance is stored on the back of the horse. Rank insignia added.

5. Medic

I decided the medic would not carry a hunting lance, so instead is carrying a standard lasgun. In addition I thought they would be required to carry more equipment than the others so I added a bit more stowage to the mount, as well as added the medic symbol to the left shoulder

6. Horn blower (Vox) – WIP

See below for more information

You may have noticed I didnt share any individual photo of the Horn blower, that is because I have misplaced (Ed: LOST!) the horn I was intending to use on him. I thought the horn works well with cavalry and can count as a vox-caster, as well as can be used to control the dogs.

Unfortunately I have no idea where my piece originated so I am hoping someone can offer some suggestions to a replacement. I was certain the original was an WFB Empire piece but, have trawled the GW website I have had no luck in tracking it down

It has been an awfully long time since I got back to work on this project. While I haven’t really touched a miniature in about 6 months, I have been busy with other hobby related things relating to this project that I hope to show you soon once the proverbial ball gets rolling again.

So I will start with a small update. I have finally printed off some dogs to sit among my mounted command squad.

Enjoy

As of my last update, my plan was to continue the long arduous process of greenstuffing, filling gaps, filing, and mold line removal. While breaking up the monotonousness of that by working on my conversions.

Unfortunately the parts required for those conversions only arrived on Saturday afternoon (24/11/18).

Eventually I couldn’t take it any more and decided to build some infantry

This simple unit shows what can be achieved when not only do you supplement a kit with a 3rd parties parts but also when you combine multiple sources to create something truly unique

Heads – Puppetswar

You have already seen these heads on my cavalry. Puppetswar cast great quality pieces and I would happily recommend them to anyone. They are currently renewing some of their lines, and the line I invested in is going/gone. (Good thing I own 200 of those heads + my altered versions). The replacements can be found here.

Arms – Mad Robot Miniatures

I ran into some difficulty in getting these pieces that I didn’t foresee. They do not send worldwide so my parts had to be shipped via somewhere else. The quality of the casts are fantastic. How they are attached to some of the sprues could cause problems for inexperienced hobbyists. The rolled sleeve arms can be found here.

Legs – Victoria Miniatures

Victoria Miniatures could be argued to be the most well known 3rd party part supplier. I would like the quality to be slightly higher but the quality is certainly not bad. Their customer service is also very good. The Kilted Legs can be found here.

Torso – Mine

These Torsos are what I used on my Fen Riders. It started life as a Cadian Torso before webbing was sculpted on, and the Victoria Miniature Gas Mask blended into it.

Weapons – Forgeworld

I went through many options until I settled on what pattern lasgun to use. Catachan versions were too “heroic scale” for the rest of the miniature. Third party options didn’t fitthe feel so I eventually settled on the Forgeworld Death korps version, which can be found here (I will use their pattern weapons except for the grenade launcher).

With the parts that have arrived, I have quickly started converting a few members of my company command. Below arepictures of the Officer and the Commissar. The Commissar will most certainly be receiving a cape, as well as a lot more greenstuff.

I am debating as to whether the Commissar deserves a rebreather, and as I have recently been leaning in one direction, I thought I would put it out for a public opinion poll

This is where I am at the moment. Fifty Fenriders have been built, minus heads on 25 of them as I wait on a big order from Puppetswar. The Bigger bases in the middle will be used for my Tow Guns (Heavy Weapons Teams).

Next is the greenstuffing which I know will take a while as well as some more general clean up of the model.

I am also waiting on an order from Victoria Miniatures that will allow me to convert some of these to be using their rebreathers

I started toying with the idea of a fancier head dress for the mounts of my command squad (I already knew my mounted commissar conversion will). What do you think?

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the one hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the Emperor!” he said.
Into the Eye of Terror
Rode the one hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the one hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the galaxy wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble one hundred!

The third stage is what is usually everyone elses starting point, building some miniatures. Casting has finally finished and I can begin what I know will be a long slog to building a full company. I believe the conversions I have along the way will be a great way to change it up every so often to maintain enthusiasm.

Talking of enthusiasm, I just had to build my first five straight away