Robin paints Genestealer Cults

Spring clean! The Day of Ascension is on us. The Bladed Bog has been a long project culminating in this massive list of Genestealer Cults.

A Tectonic Fragdrill
A heavily converted Knight Errant
A Goliath Truck
4 Ridgerunners
An armoured sentinel
Patriarch
8 Genestealer purestrains
Abominant
3 5 man squads of Aberrants
3 5 man squads of Acolytes
3 10 man squads of Neophytes
1 squad of Brood Brothers with an Oop Kasarkin Sergeant
A Kelermorph
A custom Zara Kane inspired Kelermorph
A Primus
A Comissar inspired Primus
A Magus
A Biophagus
A Nexos
A Locus
A Sanctus
A Reductus Saboteur
A squad of Atalan Jackals
A Jackal Alphus
A Clamavus
An Acolyte Iconward

Parts of this army have sat in my pile of shame for a long time but with the birth of our newborn I’ve been chipping away gradually at this including the rare Oop Tectonic Fragdrill. The drill frame was bought from a fellow cultist on Facebook and Shay one of my friends was able to print me the missing drill itself.

It received a treatment of metallic spray; sponges of different colours, OSL on parts of the drill and rust and mud effects.

Until tenth I think that’ll be it however the feeling of having no more grey makes this heavy weight slip away. Something I think all hobbyists are all too familiar with. Happy Spring Cleaning and Good Luck to everyone else working through their pile of plastic crack.

Hopefully this is the right way to enter this competition I’m operating on a massive lack of sleep as Daddy has already started a new army! Watch out for my Leagues of Votann!

As mentioned previously I’ve become obsessed with OOP cult stuff such as the throned patriarch and the Tectonic Fragdrill. Although not used I still want to add this to my cult to give a flavour of what to me the Genestealer Cults are all about; rising up from their normal lives to overthrow whoever leads the planet be it imperium or Xenos.

Without further ado; after much hunting I found a Tectonic Fragdrill from a seller on Facebook marketplace for a fraction of what it normally sells for! After some talking the seller told me that it was missing the big drill but had the small and he would throw in a second kit without any drills at all. He had used the drills in a conversion project!

Not looking I gift horse in the mouth I bought these kits and got hunting on thingiverse. I found a proxy and Shay was willing to oblige with his 1 billion k resin printer.

With the newly printed drill and whilst waiting for the rest to arrive I began prep. I sanded down the flat parts of the drill and then I used my new drill (Christmas pressie) to drill a hole in the middle of both sides and put in a kebab stick to almost plug the drill before supergluing ensuring a tight bond.

I primed the drill black. After priming I used a cheap sponge set only to apply paint to ensure that the paint looked worn and flakey! I think I’ve been extremely effective.

Today the kit arrived!

With the kit now here I can’t wait to get started on this project and look forward to showing the final project!

So yesterday me and Shay had our first battle of the new year. Things have been hectic lately and it was amazing to get some time to play the cult again.

Shay suggested playing a new game style One Page Rules. It’s a quicker game system and instead of my whole army shoots *two hours later* your whole army shoots *half and hour later* your turn. It’s turn by turn based system where one unit in your army moves// shoots or charges and vice versa. I’ll fill in my thoughts at the end.

I put together my list with the idea of a horde in mind; only four characters and a TONNE of troop units.

Here’s my list;

++ Soul-Snatcher Cults [3500pts] ++

Neophytes [10] Q4+ D5+ | 220pts | Scout
9x CCWs (A1), 8x Rifles (24″, A1), Flamethrower (12″, A6), Heavy Pick (A2, AP(1), Rending), Mining Laser (18″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3))

Neophytes [10] Q4+ D5+ | 220pts | Scout
9x CCWs (A1), 8x Rifles (24″, A1), Flamethrower (12″, A6), Heavy Pick (A2, AP(1), Rending), Mining Laser (18″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3))

Neophytes [10] Q4+ D5+ | 220pts | Scout
9x CCWs (A1), 8x Rifles (24″, A1), Flamethrower (12″, A6), Heavy Pick (A2, AP(1), Rending), Mining Laser (18″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3))

Neophytes [10] Q4+ D5+ | 220pts | Scout
9x CCWs (A1), 8x Rifles (24″, A1), Flamethrower (12″, A6), Heavy Pick (A2, AP(1), Rending), Mining Laser (18″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3))

Cult Champion [1] Q4+ D5+ | 90pts | Hero, Scout, Takedown, Tough(3)
CCW (A2), Sniper Rifle (30″, A1, AP(1), Sniper)
# Joined to:
Acolytes [5] Q4+ D5+ | 145pts | Scout, Strider
3x Mutant Claws (A2, AP(1)), Pistols (12″, A1), 2x Flamethrower Pistol (6″, A6), Heavy Cutter (A2, AP(2), Deadly(3)), Whip Limb and Sword Claw (A2, Rending, Deadly(3))

2x Acolytes [5] Q4+ D5+ | 145pts | Scout, Strider
3x Mutant Claws (A2, AP(1)), Pistols (12″, A1), 2x Flamethrower Pistol (6″, A6), Heavy Cutter (A2, AP(2), Deadly(3)), Whip Limb and Sword Claw (A2, Rending, Deadly(3))

Cult Champion [1] Q4+ D5+ | 75pts | Hero, Scout, Takedown, Tough(3)
CCW (A2), Duelist Pistols (12″, A2, Sniper)
# Joined to:
Mutant Brutes [5] Q3+ D4+ | 160pts | Regeneration, Scout
4x Heavy Picks (A2, AP(1), Rending), Pick Hammer (A1, AP(2), Deadly(3))

Cult Leader [1] Q4+ D5+ | 70pts | Hero, Scout, Tough(3), 1x Prime(Agitator)
Array of CCWs (A3, AP(1), Poison)
# Joined to:
Mutant Brutes [5] Q3+ D4+ | 160pts | Regeneration, Scout
4x Heavy Picks (A2, AP(1), Rending), Pick Hammer (A1, AP(2), Deadly(3))

Brute Champion [1] Q3+ D4+ | 95pts | Hero, Regeneration, Scout, Tough(3)
Sledgehammer (A2, Blast(3), AP(2))
# Joined to:
Mutant Brutes [5] Q3+ D4+ | 160pts | Regeneration, Scout
4x Heavy Picks (A2, AP(1), Rending), Pick Hammer (A1, AP(2), Deadly(3))

Attack Vehicle [2] Q4+ D2+ | 480pts | Fast, Impact(6), Scout, Tough(6)
2x Heavy Mining Laser (24″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3)), 2x Twin Heavy Machinegun (30″, A6, AP(1))

Attack Vehicle [2] Q4+ D2+ | 480pts | Fast, Impact(6), Scout, Tough(6)
2x Heavy Mining Laser (24″, A1, AP(3), Deadly(3)), 2x Twin Heavy Machinegun (30″, A6, AP(1))

Grinder Truck [1] Q4+ D2+ | 245pts | Fast, Impact(9), Strider, Tough(6), Transport(6)
Heavy Machinegun (30″, A3, AP(1)), Heavy Quake Cannon (24″, A6, Rending)

Light Walker [1] Q4+ D2+ | 170pts | Fear, Tough(6)
Stomp (A2, AP(1)), Twin Heavy Flamethrower (12″, A12, AP(1))

Shay used his custodes with a 17 model list!

I won the dice roll and so he went first. We agreed to play the game Relic hunt with three Relics played in the centre of the board with 12 inches spaced between them. Basically your squad uses an action during your turn to pick up the relic and can carry it with them until they’re downed and another squad can pick it up. The winner of the game at the end is the player with the majority of relics in their control at the end of turn four. 

Turn 1

My Ridgerunners did a tonne of damage to Shay’s Dreadnought with their mining lasers leaving 8 wounds left. WHAT?! When Shay shot back the one of the Ridgerunners took 3 wounds but was still going. A squad of my Brutes were wiped along with my favourite model Kelermorph. I had placed the Kelermorph with these brutes in a combined unit and when they were wiped so was he. A Quake cannons on the Goliath did little to no damage 1 on Dreadnought. 

My walker used its flamers and only put 1 wound on jet bikes. A lot of death from my brutes but my vehicles held on! A weird feeling. A Neophyte 10 man squad got the centre objective. 

Turn 2

Alaris Terminators (I think) deep striked into my back field. OH NO. Both ridgerunners pinned after a melee with the Dreadnought. My Acolyte squad destroyed by hq squad and sadly my Sanctus too but not before using a special ability and taking out a jet bike of Shays. Again like the Kelermorph my squad and Sanctus was wiped due to the several poor rolls and morale checks. Acolyte squad destroyed Dreadnought in melee and vice versa wiped the squad when the Dreadnought attacked back. But that’s a loss I could take! There’s an absolutely broken part of the acolyte squads with the heavy cutter that does deadly three wounds nearly every time with decent rolls.

Lot of death happened in this round however Biaphus Cain (my primus converted Commissar)  did well in combat. By this stage Shay owned two relics and I owned one! 

Turn 3

Small melees happening now with less and less models on the board. My Ridgerunners unpinned but alas too far gone. Shay had lost a Dreadnought, the jet bikes, terminators but unfortunately was still holding on well. 

Turn 4

Shay kept hold of relics and terminators destroyed my back line. A well fought and close game but the Custodes came out on top! Two relics to Shay with a scattering of models left each. Good game!

What I’ve learned is that;

• Horde troops really works for me I can place loads around the board and be really sticky
• the heavy cutter is extremely good but acolytes drop like flies
• next time to put my ridgerunners far away from combat (I do this every time woops)
• do not place characters in the same unit as troops. When they drop and fail a morale test it also effects the character
• read the rules fully. Some of my brute squads should have used their 5+ inv from the start.

All in all a great game and as always until the next ascension day the cult will be waiting!!

So Christmas has been hectic and I’ve spent some of it planning out projects.

1. Complete my start collecting box
2. Find and secure an OOP Tectonic Flagdrill (I’ve become obsessed with OOP cult items including the throned Patriarch)
3. Win a game

All of this will obviously hit a back boiler as me and my partner wait for our newest cultist to join the family however, inbetween naps and feeding I reckon I could work through a model or two.

During the holidays I worked through and completed one of the Ridgerunners from Start Collecting box. It still needs to receive airbrush OSL but I’ll do it with all the models when spraying!

I also ran out of the mud medium I normally use as OnTableTop were out just before Christmas. With a small brainwave I replaced it with Mod Podge and it worked outstandingly. Looking the exact same and at a fraction of the price!

Whilst scrolling through social media and eBay I became obsessed with Oop models on eBay. Yes I know abit out there… After much trawling I found a great guy on Facebook doing a clear out of his collection including a Tectonic Flagdrill (yes I know not playable) missing the big drill only. After some hunting on thingiverse I found a proxy drill and since Shay has an amazing resin printer….hold your breath for this amazing project. I love it when a plan comes together.

Enjoy the pictures of the progress so far!

I’ve been working diligently on a new conversion project after listening to the Ciaphus Cain books on audible (my new secret pleasure).

I’ve an imperial commissar now converted to be a replacement Primus. Biaphus Cain! I think he ties in well with the new Kelermorph too!

I’ve also felt inspired to finally take a photo of the entire cult together using a black background! Don’t judge the editing too much to blend the background.

Next project is to start attacking a start collecting box that I found for a steal!! BRING ON THE FOUR ARMED EMPEROR!

I’ve been working diligently on a new conversion project after listening to the Ciaphus Cain books on audible (my new secret pleasure).

I’ve an imperial commissar now converted to be a replacement Primus. Biaphus Cain! I think he ties in well with the new Kelermorph too!

I’ve also felt inspired to finally take a photo of the entire cult together using a black background! Don’t judge the editing too much to blend the background.

Next project is to start attacking a start collecting box that I found for a steal!! BRING ON THE FOUR ARMED EMPEROR!

After seeing some amazing conversion projects on the GSC Facebook group I wanted to add some new blood into my cult.

I continue to add to the cult and have listened to Day of Ascension by Adrian Tchaikovsky and currently working through For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell. I’ve been listening while modelling and at DIY projects at home.

So any way, back to the conversion. I decided to create a custom Kelermorph based off one of the most revered players I know of in the group. Zara Kane! Check out their YouTube they are the oracle when it comes to GSC tactics. Anyway Zara Kane came up with a beautiful conversion using orlock parts from Necromunda.

I firstly used parts suggested and ordered them through bits box

1 x Necromunda Corpse Grinder Cult Body A (NMD:274) = £2.49
1 x Necromunda Orlock Gang Auto Pistol A (NMD:089) = £0.75
1 x Necromunda Orlock Gang Auto Pistol B (NMD:090) = £0.75
1 x Necromunda Orlock Gang Auto Pistol C (NMD:091) = £0.75
1 x Genestealer Cults Acolyte Hybrids Skull (GSC:055) = £0.50
1 x Primaris Space Marines Gravis Captain Cloak (PM-GVC:08) = £4.99

This was my order from bitzbox.co.uk

…And it works out slightly cheaper than the official kelermorph character.

The conversion included green stuffing the cape onto the body and green stuffing the arms onto the body using a kebab stick and craft knife to shape. I also added in an Acolyte head and a mining light from an acolyte body.

Then my usual bladed bog basing. Brown pigment, leaves and uv resin. Anyway without further ado here’s the pictures!

Im extremely happy with the results and I’m really tempted to add more unique characters to my cult!

Did you all miss this project?

So things have been crazy as of late; moving house along with other things and I haven’t had much hobby time! I wanted something to sink my teeth into.

Cue learning how to apply OSL to my cult.

Cue repainting my entire army with OSL and a darker base to make the Bladed Bog pop!

The OSL was achieved with Waystone Green; far off, Moot green; slightly closer, Wazdakka yellow; even closer. On all lamps and light sources on the cult. I’m still fixing up the glow on the vehicles but all the infantry and characters are done!  I thought the green glow would help solidify the jungle theme of the cult with green tones and also tbh contrast nicely with the other colours of the cult. I then neatened up all light sources with Wazdakka Yellow and Pure White.

As always I think it’s always important to continue painting even sometimes finished models because you end up with awesome results!