The Watchers on the Wall

As mentioned previously, one of the downsides of this army is the production of cool ideas typically far outstrips the rate at which I paint models. This results in an ever growing “WiP Pile.

So I’ve currently set myself a goal of grinding my way throw that pile, to move more guys to complete. It’s still slow, as I’m bouncing back and forth between several models as my interest is piqued.

Its  all good as long as I’m not adding to the pile.

This is a yet unnamed “heavy thunder hammer/demolisher” marine from the Sons of the Phoenix chapter (thus the focus on fire). Shoulder guard, flail, and backpack topper are 3d printed. Mostly wanted to make this model to try my hand at painting the “heated metal” affect on the flail head. It took waaaaay more blending than I thought, but I think the overall effect came out ok.

And, as always with Deathwatch, I don’t need to repeat this on any more marines if I don’t want to (my whole army isnt flame-centric), but there are plenty of fire-themed chapters if I want to try again.

With the addition of the Talonstrike kill team in the new DW index, I decided to revisit an old mini that I was never really happy with from a paint job perspective. Veteran Brother Nikita of the Ravenguard was upgraded with a 3d-printed jump pack, his primary weapon was swapped out, and several areas were touched up, like his face.

Before and after below.

When an there’s something strange

In the neighborhood,

[and it’s an Xenos psycher]

Who you gonna call?

Sven Wyrdbane – when the Alien Witch absolutely has to die.

What’s the best part of building a Deathwatch army?

– that you can turn each and every Marine into a special, unique snowflake, converted to exemplify their chapter. What’s better is having a cool idea doesn’t mean building a whole army around that idea, just 1-2 Marines.

Whats bad about collecting Deathwatch?

– Painting all… that… black

Whats the Ugly part of collecting Deathwatch?

– That the new, cool ideas far, far outpace my capacity for painting.

This Marine is my take on a Marksman specialist for the new Deathwatch Kill Team. Rather than just picking off targets with a scoped rifle (he’s got one of those too), he’s dual wielding converted “Peacemaker” pattern  revolver bolt pistols. He originates from the Ashen Claws, a group of former Raven Guard space marines who have ruled their own empire outside the Imperium since before the Heresy. No one knows what drove him back to the Imperium and the Deathwatch, but unlike most Blackshields, he doesn’t hide his chapter or origins.

Marksman Brother Aarthan Hjal, call-sign. “Outlaw”.

Current WiP is this 3d designed “hoverboard for my Watchmaster. Being a grizzled veteran of the Deathwatch, he isn’t going to just walk into battle.

It’s been ages since I updated this project log. However, my watch has never ended, and neither has my love of crazy conversions for Deathwatch Marines!

This WIP mini is from an earlier generation WH40K starter box, where Primaris Marines were fighting Necrons. The downside of this being a push-fit starter box model is conversions are a bear, because it doesn’t come in the usual assembly pieces. Shaving off molded shoulder pads to attach a DW should pad is… an experience.

In this case, rather than creating my own chaplain, I decided to do a Primaris version of Ultramarines Chaplain Cassius, who is famous for his time in the Deathwatch (leading the applicable named “Kill Team Cassius”), and the creation of the old “Ultramarine Tyrannic War Veterans” units after the battle for Ultramarr.

This model was a good candidate, as Cassius is described as having extensive cranial bionics, which this model already has. Real conversions include:

1) shaving off left shoulder pad and adding Deathwatch pad

2) replacing Crozius topper with a winged skull more similar to old Cassius miniatures

3) replacing bolt pistol with a bolter-flamer (traditional Cassius weapon)

4) adding UM icon to his backpack (not shown)

Painting-wise, I tried something new and used the blue-ish “Grey Knight Steel” paint on the left arm, as many DW models show this arm with a bluer tone. However, not sure I like it over the darker, grittier leadbelcher and Iron hands steel. Deathwatch are less valiant knights, and more over-equipped exterminators/pest control.

Thoughts? Questions?

Trial paint scheme for the terrain. I like how it came out, and wasn’t too much work with a lot of airbrush and edge highlighting work.

Now to experiment with repeating it dozens of times over.

Here’s the first print of my Necron boarding Actions STL. Overall I like how the pillar came out. Might need to come up with a second pillar design if I am going to do a full board.