Trench Crusade

Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.

Seemed fitting for the model!

For the Anchorite Shrine, some subtle additions were made.

I didnt really like the hanging lamb and so shaved this away, and replaced this with a tabbard (again tissue soaked into PVA) and used some chain to try to help blend into the model and to form some contours.

I also added chain to the right arm shoulders to extend this on the model to add the appearance of more protection.

Chain was also wrapped around the shaft of the mace to give it more heft.

I also used some plastic tubing to extend the height of the exhausts.

To make things appear a bit more “grim” I also decided to make a skull trophy. I found some spare heads, and drilled through them and threaded some string and glued into place. this would be attached to the midriff of the model and hang next to the tabbard.

To change the visual from just a hulk of metal, I also replaced one of the leg guard with a wooden guard featuring a cross.

And the final details was to wrap some barbed wire around the catherine wheel.

Simple things, but again, makes the model unique to me

For the War Prophet, I had the model printed mirrored from the standard pose.

Ill admit, I didnt really like the sculpt of the head (probably the only part of the entire warband that for me felt a bit suspect). I had considered a head swap, with something of an older / wiser look to it but decided this would be too difficult as the sculpt is sunk into the model and the choices I had, the scale would have been off.

Instead …. back to the tissue soaked in PVA … I decided to create my own hood / veil. Again, It works and adds something different to the model.

I also decided to extend the length of the scroll again using tissue soaked in

PVA and then free handed on the impression of text.

The final addition was the adding of one of the printed images I had printed onto the wooden panel hanging on the prophets coat. A faded imagine of Jesus. Really happy with how this turned out as it has the right mix of being able to tell what it is, but also being faded and worn

Normally Im not one for converting or kit bashing …. I tend to find I lack some of the imagination …. and bits for it.

However for the warband I tried a few simple things that make the warband more unique to me (although im sure somewhere someone has done something similar).

While the model is fantastic I decided that my Communicant would be hauling a cross with him.

For this, I just simply make a cross with the coffee stir sticks, and used some jewellery chain to attach it to the model.

To get the cross to sit flat, I had to shave down part of the “shrine” that is part of the model to get a flat surface.

I was tempted to put some kind of cloth material over the top of his hood, but in the end decided against it as I couldnt really find something I liked that worked … maybe something ill come back to later.

But overall, think it worked out ok.

Then i made some bases for the pilgrims.

Again, nice and simple and painted, constructed in the same way as the terrain pieces.

The wood planking though were the coffee stirrers cut into thinner strips.

Amongst the final pieces of terrain being constructed, an order of the Trench Pilgrim arrived.

Brought from a 3rd party, the sculpts and print quality are fantastic.

Now im not much of a painter, but think they have come out alright (for me).

Ill admit, have fallen in love with Battledress brown Xpress paint which was used on the pilgrims cloaks.

Camouflage green for the trousers, (Xpress colour)

Mahogany for the wood, (Xpress colour)

Then a mix of gun metal and gold for the helmets and armour panels.

Skin was a barbarian flesh colour.

The first test miniature …

With all these pieces completed, It now gives me enough terrain to cover 3ft by 3ft, but i plan to grow it to be able to give a full 4ft by 4ft.