Night Lords 18th Battle Company (Treadhead)

[sword brethren]

i really like his head, looks very slick and almost makes him look a bit evily and shirkey at the same time.

 

zerkers are coming on great, keep it up :D

[Biohazard]

He looks awesome! Im not to sure about the head you have on him though something about the wings doesnt sit right in the face on pic. I think they need to be exaggerated a bit more

[AdeptusDavidus]

I like the Raptor Lord overall, though I'm not loving that head - I think he needs more elaborate head-wings.

 

I think the jump pack looks pretty good as-is, and I love the sub-boltgun he's got slung at his side. A bit of brass strip would make a fantastic sling and would add just that tiny smidge of extra detail. Stellar use of guitar string, too, for the cables to his talons - you could expand on that using fine wire and running one strand from each blade back into the gauntlet.

 

Since you used the modified possessed legs on him - which look amazing, by the way - are you going to paint him as though he has mutated legs? Or are you instead going to make it look like really elaborate armour?

[Dan The Deamon]

Elaborate armor. Raptors had very daemonic/ bird of prey looking armor. I say had because the 2nd and 3rd ed models were modeled this way, and in all the fluff and history I've read they weren't the same as standard jump pack troops. It's just meant to be very ornate ancient armor. Maybe it'll be a 2+ next dex.

 

Yeah i plan on adding a sling. It may be a one point from the stock of the bolter. I don't want him to look too hindered by keeping his bolter from swinging around. I may just make a strap on his belt.

 

The head i like. I enjoy using this chaos helmet on my guys because it looks the most bestial. Very similar to a bat's face, or something worse. I didn't want to go overboard on the head wings because it would begin to compete with the jetpack intakes. I figure with this guy zipping through the air or stalking some poor guardsman he doesn't need much decoration and needs to stay practical on helmet decoration. With that in mind I'm open to ideas. Are there any helmets i've made already that you guys think would look good?

[Biohazard]

How about one of these heads

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...i&img=38041

 

With maybe the wings from the top left guy here

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...i&img=38563

 

Just my 2p, imho it would fit in with the elaborate armour idea.

 

 

(reason for edit)

My browsers being a bit of a PITA the now

Edited November 6, 2009 by Biohazard

[AdeptusDavidus]

Elaborate armor. Raptors had very daemonic/ bird of prey looking armor. I say had because the 2nd and 3rd ed models were modeled this way, and in all the fluff and history I've read they weren't the same as standard jump pack troops. It's just meant to be very ornate ancient armor. Maybe it'll be a 2+ next dex.

 

That's rather what I expected, since your guys are low on mutation and so forth. Have you considered giving him a unique colour scheme as well? Maybe mock the Blood Angels with an all-gold suit, with blue-and-silver lightning?

 

Yeah i plan on adding a sling. It may be a one point from the stock of the bolter. I don't want him to look too hindered by keeping his bolter from swinging around. I may just make a strap on his belt.

 

Well, I could see a two-point sling working for this guy; I would do it with brass strip because it's easier to work than plasticard for slings, and I'd run it from the butt of the bolter across his back and behind the other side of his neckguard, then back down, across his chest, and over the side of the bolter to the lower pin on the muzzle.

 

But then, I'm just gonzo about slings on bolters, as you know. :huh:

 

The head i like. I enjoy using this chaos helmet on my guys because it looks the most bestial. Very similar to a bat's face, or something worse. I didn't want to go overboard on the head wings because it would begin to compete with the jetpack intakes. I figure with this guy zipping through the air or stalking some poor guardsman he doesn't need much decoration and needs to stay practical on helmet decoration. With that in mind I'm open to ideas. Are there any helmets i've made already that you guys think would look good?

 

Hm, you make a really good point, and I would like to reverse my previous statement. Have you considered doing wings that lay flat on the helmet, and follow its curves? It would look pretty understated in bare plastic, but once you paint them (red, to match the chapter badge, I assume), they'd pop and help his helmet match his artificer armour.

[lord gunthar]

The raptor lord is amazing exept sadly its true about him sucking and it will b at least 2 years until they make a new chaos codex...

[Terminatorinhell]

your raptor lord is slightly reminiscent of Zso Sahall.

[Dan The Deamon]

Yeah i can imagine so. I've read the book a great many times and without doubt the lightning claw wielding raptor has become synonymous with the Night Lords because of it.

 

The things that I liked enough to incorporate into this Raptor lord were;

lightning claws coming out of his hands to mirror his fingers. I'm tired of the powerfist with blades sculpted on. It seems like such a waste, why are lightning claws at initiative when they are the same size and weight as a fist? shortcut.

 

I gave him a bolter like zso. I figure if his claws can retract he can pick up a bolter and wield it better than it's smaller, weaker pistol cousin. I like how zso carried a bolter. It may have been intricate and ancient, but it was simple, blunt, and without finesse.

 

I made sure i gave him a raptor pack. The ancient raptor jump pack was a level of technology ten steps above the current jump packs in service in 40k. I felt putting a SM plastic one on there would detract the feel of an ancient, wraith inducing raptor. it would have cheapened him to put anything else on there.

 

Aside from those 3 things, and vague as they are, everything else on this model is of general Night lords equipment. He may look like zso, but so does every other lightning claw raptor of the Night lords.

 

I hit a soapbox there i decided to edit out. Having a bad night at home and almost took it out on the boards.

I'm glad my raptor reminds you of such an awesome 40k figure. thank you :)

Edited November 7, 2009 by Dan The Deamon

[Tyrannicide]

Dear lordie. That Raptor Lord looks magnificent. Definitely my favorite mini or yours to date. And trust me, that's not an easy choice. I like your Alpha Legion, but the Night Lords rule the day. Everyone knows that. :lol:

[Drudge Dreadnought]

On the subject of the painting, i think you need to take into consideration that you are painting full models with lots of accessories. Go for the painting techniques that can be done on such intricate models.

[firestorm40k]

Raptor Lord's looking awesome Dan :( and just when you think this army couldn't possibly get any better! :nuke:

[Xavier Targhost]

Humm well id like to see one of the converted metal heads you have on previus models with the bigger and more siniste wings and smothe face plate.. if you know the one i meen ?

Also id say he looks awsome like all the painbringers you have made so far :wub: and Id like to think he has magnetic lock on his bolter so its simple and no fuss moving around when he goes for his bloody hunts ? :devil:

For the jet-pack id might add some impaled skulls on some of the areas for the gruesome look and in that way there isent anything flopping around or in the way?

 

But somthing more wisious head anyway.. though it looks nice.. but a bitt to mundane... :)

 

Love your work and its defenently the most inspiering models i have ever seen... The way chaos should look!!

 

Cheers and salute on a master work mate!

Edited November 7, 2009 by Xavier Targhost

[Dan The Deamon]

Thanks for all of the kind replies on the Raptor Lord. I'm still working on him trying to choose a good head and finish up some small details and his base. You guys gave me a lot of good ideas on where i can take him from here. Don't worry, he will continue to get love for a little bit.

I decided to make another Alpha Legion marine to make them at least game legal. As of right now the only way i can play them is with Chosen. All in all that's not so bad, especially for AL. I think i will put a couple more bodies in there and maybe a plasma gun. I already started building the squad around the autocannon so i figure some more St7 shots can't hurt. anyways here the Icon for the squad, built around an RTO.

And the whole squad.

Finally my 6th Zerk counts as. These guys are started to flesh themselves out a little bit more. I should have the last two done soon. Then i have to give them all backpacks and drive home the marauder theme.

His silver finger of death it waiting on some Miliput. He uses it to make fun of honsou in the mean time.

[sword brethren]

thats looks awesome! where did you get that chain blade beast??

 

the icon looks great well done

[Dan The Deamon]

I made it out of a chaos chainsword and a SM assault chainsword. It's a pain in the butt because you have to go in there and glue the teeth in separate. the end result is good but i don't know if i will make too many more.

[Drudge Dreadnought]

In game terms i preferred the Alpha Legion guys as counts as noise marines. Chosen just aren't very good, and TL bolters wastes their special weapon potential.

[Dan The Deamon]

Yeah drudge you're 100% correct. They were fun to play as NM and i've never tried them in any other role. I'm building the Army to play with, and as a showcase. For the Alphas to be a showcase squad they have to be codex legit, and chosen is my best option to keep people from being confused with counts as.

 

Maybe i'll try and find a place for a couple Noise Marines in my list. I do miss them pretty badly.

[Dan The Deamon]

New Zerk Counts as

I like this guy more than the rest, i finally got that Marauder theme presented well. The problem is that the Marauder theme doesn't really mix well with that of the Night lords.

As of right now they look like space marauder/viking/warriors

They don't really share any similarities fluff or model wise with the rest of my force. I like the chaplain and his whole deal, but that doesn't explain a marauder theme.

I'm left with a couple of options;

figure out some good fluff to turn a Night Lord into a Nordic space warrior,

or pop all of the shoulder pads off and make them a DIY legion/chapter ally.

What do you guys think?

Edited November 12, 2009 by Dan The Deamon

[gaurdian31]

They could be recently converted Space Wolves maybe?

[Lord_Caldera]

I think they should stay Night Lords. They're certainly terrifying models, and some of the NLs, I might say most, would prefer close combat so they can see the fear on their victims' faces firsthand. The Chaos Warrior bits do make them look somewhat Nordic but I think the brutality is what makes them stand out in the overall warband as NLs who just like to butcher folks a bit more than normal.

[Dan The Deamon]

That does make sense, but i don't know if i like the idea of weak, watered down space puppies being the bad ass troops in my army.

[Dan The Deamon]

I think they should stay Night Lords. They're certainly terrifying models, and some of the NLs, I might say most, would prefer close combat so they can see the fear on their victims' faces firsthand. The Chaos Warrior bits do make them look somewhat Nordic but I think the brutality is what makes them stand out in the overall warband as NLs who just like to butcher folks a bit more than normal.

 

 

That does make sense. I'm trying to ask myself, why would their armor and weapons look different?

 

Are they not even allowed standard issue equipment in their penitent squad?

Do they hate everything so much they actually defiled the machine spirit of their armor?

 

Have they been on an endless campaign trying to repent for their chaotic worshiping? Therefor not having access to armorers or an arsenal, leaving them with outdated weapons and shoddy armor repair!?

 

I think that may be it. The chaplain is pissed at them for being weak and succumbing to chaos gods, therefor he drives them from battle to battle non-stop to reach a level of 'enlightenment' that only hatred can bring. Kind of like a crusade of repentance, except non-stop.

 

That way i keep the chaplain, keep the Night Lords, and it explains the condition of their wargear.

 

Thanks for the brainstorm jolt Lord Caldera!

Edited November 13, 2009 by Dan The Deamon

[Drudge Dreadnought]

Their armor and weapons look different because they are too busy being berserk to maintain them? They are going for the look to frighten people?

[Dan The Deamon]

Their armor and weapons look different because they are too busy being berserk to maintain them?

 

Essentially yes, however I prefer merciless slaughter, instead of berserk.

 

The point of the squad is to turn warp tainted lunatics into pure, hateful, bitter Night Lords.

 

(Yes i understand i am using them as Zerks, i am making ambiguous models in the event that a Legion codex comes out. Where they will be free of taint)