Night Lords 18th Battle Company (Treadhead)

[TempusCorvus]

So yes, the hydra would be facing their enemies if the alpha legion were anyone but the alpha legion.

Alpha Legionnaires, trolls of 40k.... ;)

fixed that for you :)

 

That's how I've always viewed the Alpha Legion. Because they're so compartmentalized, there's no one unifying goal. Some are actually chaos and hate the imperium, some are working to help the imperium in a twisted, sneaky, roundabout way. With one exception. The only thing that ALL Alpha Legionaries agree on is this: Troll The Ultramarines.

[Dan The Deamon]

Glad to see some alpha love creeping up in here, or shall i say, those of you who are blowing your cover.

I present to you another one of your brethren, this time, not in the colors of the legion, but those of the Raptor cult currently residing within the ranks of the 18th company.

Dan

[their kin]

I've been following your stuff for a while, not sure if I've ever commented, but I love where you ended up with the Raptor cult. Is that a converted Vanguard Vet? The chainsword stands out especially well.

 

Keep up the good work man.

 

-Joe

[hushrong]

The termie looks great! I have to say, in regards to symbol/emblems used by the AL, anything goes. Who knows how many different chapter colors a single AL has doned in their lifetime.

 

The latest raptor looks great but I find the rooster/pointy head piece the most interesting thing about it.

[d@n]

brilliant as always

[lord gunthar]

Its been so long since i have looked at your thread, your work continues to inspire the BnC and I hope it continues to.

The newer dread is spectacular and the raptors are too.

 

How did you do the freehand symbol on the black legion helmet ( in terms of colours ) ? I would like to copy it.

[Wicced]

really nice alpha raptor brother dan, even if i'm not a big fan the crest on his helmet...

 

the stone look is still awesome :tu:

 

one thing about his paintjob though: in the last picture his right heel above the sole of his boot looks very glossy. is that intentional? cuz i don't see it anywhere else on the model.

[Dan The Deamon]

Wicced

one thing about his paintjob though: in the last picture his right heel above the sole of his boot looks very glossy. is that intentional? cuz i don't see it anywhere else on the model.

That is, unfortunately, a side affect of me using a hairdryer to speed up one of the badaab black washes that the model needed. The whole guy had a black shiny sheen on him after that and i had to go back and practically de-do the entire paint job. That's what i get for trying to hasted the process of the wash by using hot air. For those of you who'd like to learn from my mistakes, keep the hot air off, and the air power relatively low.

lord gunthar

How did you do the freehand symbol on the black legion helmet ( in terms of colours ) ? I would like to copy it.

The black legion helmet was painted with chardon granite, then badaab black wash, then some really subtle highlights. The golden/yellow look comes from, surprisingly, an old hexagonal gw paint pot of Bubonic brown. I don't know if they still carry the color, or the name, but it's kind of a tan look. Alongside the muted black legion colors the brownish yellow, or kind of a filthy yellow, looks just as bright as yellow ought to look on black. The little symbol started as just a semi circle in the yellow, followed by some sharp thin lines out to 4 points, or 8, and then barbed like a fishhook to add that nasty looking 8 pointed star that shows up so well in chaos artwork. After the yellow lines you might have to go back and tidy the sharpness up with some black, or in this case black/chardon granite mix.

their kin

Is that a converted Vanguard Vet?

It's hard work cutting a set of pewter legs in 4 places and then biggerizing them, so i opted to use the sang guard legs and just swap whichever legs i could cut off from certain molds, then mix and match them up with other sets until i found a pose i liked. Most of the raptors were made this way, which took forever, as i had to oftentimes replace feet, and thighs in order to get cool poses. The sang guard are meant to look angelic, and i didn't want that with these guys./ Floating bad-assery is what i was aiming for.

hushrong

The latest raptor looks great but I find the rooster/pointy head piece the most interesting thing about it.

The pointy rooster head was never really intended to be used with a raptor theme, it's kind of a funny coincidence that it ended up where it was. The head originally came from my old Zerk squad leaders head. Oftentimes right before i base coat a model, or months after i originally worked on him I'll switch some stuff up last minute. One switch on this model was to move him from a Night Lord and into an Alpha Legion marine. Then i could have a bigger mix of legions within the raptor cult and add some diversity. The head, unfortunately has a bladed peak on it, but the old model who wielded it ran around with a str 9 powerfist on the charge (and won me a ton of games), so i decided to honor his memory with a little spot in the raptor cult.

Thanks for all the positive comments and feedback!

A parting question, do you guys like the green/red grenades on this raptor, or do the older ones i've been painting in grey work better?

Dan

Edited April 30, 2011 by Dan The Deamon

[hushrong]

That is quite a backstory to him which adds personal character! I also like the pursuit to diversify the raptor cult.

 

As for the green and red grenades, I think it looks alright as is. I would avoid having them side by side on future marines otherwise it will give off a creepy Christmas vibe. Perhaps he has some color variety with his grenades because he had to replenish his stock from fresh kills.

 

So what can we expect to see next might I ask?

Edited April 30, 2011 by hushrong

[Wicced]

That is, unfortunately, a side affect of me using a hairdryer to speed up one of the badaab black washes that the model needed. The whole guy had a black shiny sheen on him after that and i had to go back and practically de-do the entire paint job. That's what i get for trying to hasted the process of the wash by using hot air. For those of you who'd like to learn from my mistakes, keep the hot air off, and the air power relatively low.

 

damn, that's unfortunate indeed :)

 

i like the different coloured grenades, and i guess colour coding them makes sense even for space marines ;)

[Dan The Deamon]

So what can we expect to see next might I ask?

 

 

This is where i'm hitting a wall. After I finish the raptors, I have some vehicles to do, and then a character or two. I've decided that the abbadon model will probably never get used, and i should just take the helmet and axe from him and stick him in a squad as a champion.

[ephrael]

So what can we expect to see next might I ask?

 

 

This is where i'm hitting a wall. After I finish the raptors, I have some vehicles to do, and then a character or two. I've decided that the abbadon model will probably never get used, and i should just take the helmet and axe from him and stick him in a squad as a champion.

 

What about mixing it up a little and making a squad of loyalist marines or more Alpha's? I certainly love everything you do, your stuff never ceases to amaze and inspire me. That being said, I would love to see your take on a loyal kill team or Deathwatch squad. Just 5 or so guys, not a whole new army or anything. It might give you a little distraction and us a lot of inspiration. You don't know how tempted I am to box up all of my wip loyal marines and start an Alpha Legion army every time you post your latest work. I think a pre-heresey look from a different legion might even give you some new areas of conversion to add to your Night Lords.

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

My friend, I have nothing to say. This post is merely here to alert me that a thread that is awesome has been updated.

[Ahrimannine]

Hi Dan,

 

I have just read through all 41 pages of your work - absolutely top notch conversion work - you have brought such a rich character to your models - Bravo.

I must admit - I want to know how you go about making the 'dan scale' marines too - do you use plasticard or something else to make the extensions?

 

Thanks!

[Seregon]

I'm pretty sure it's been mentioned somewhere, but where did you get those small resin(?) skulls you use here and there?

[Dan The Deamon]

All the skulls i've been using are from a couple of sources;

 

The Chaos marauder horsemen comes with a handful in there already on chains and ropes. Back when they first came out a whole gang of us got ten or so boxes and cracked them for the goodies. thankfully everyone was excited about the Mohawk/punk marine heads and left the totems untouched. I used them exclusively for a while, until i ran out somewhere in the midst of the zerk squad.

 

After that i began tearing apart WHFB skeleton boxes to get the jaw-less, or messed up skulls. Then i'd drill a little dimple into the top of the head and attach a chain from the marauder box set. besides coming with skulls attached to chains it also had chains with stars, hooks and some with nothing on the end. I have plenty of those left and that's what i'm resorting to these days.

 

The terminator chaplain Zhufor came with a bunch of skulls, i just carved them off the spots i didn't like them and added them to different parts of the armor. I don't have a supply of resin skulls, i wish i did. I tried casting them a couple of months back but without the proper resources they didn't turn out great so i scrapped the idea.

 

i'm going to have to make some bits orders soon just so i can ensure that my next couple of guys have their required totems. I'm going to need another 18 of them...

 

working on a tut for my biggerizing method. Will be ready for viewing in a couple of weeks when i compile it all professional like.

[hushrong]

I look forward to the tut! All I will need then are supplies and fresh 'victims' to work upon. I would love to make a small squad with even just an ounce of character that your minis give off.

 

Your bitzbox must also be one of the Great Wonders of the Hobbyist World...

[Dan The Deamon]

The further my army finds itself in a largely completed state, the more and more i want to add special characters into the mix to flesh things out just a bit more. I originally planned on this guy being the power armor version of my abbadon conversion, since i planned on stealing his axe and helmet, but the further i moved along with carving and building him up his personality changed into something much, much different. I'm still on the fence on whether or not he would be included as a chaplain of some sorts, or play him as a sorcerer, or lord. One thing i'm comfortable planning on is keeping him on foot, and without a jump pack, and he's got a comfy spot waiting for him with my zerks.

The half baked fluff that i've sculpted into him, is that he's the judge of whether or not the penitent marines have earned their right to re-join their battle brothers, in their older squads, or if their actions have fallen short of the company's standards, and must be put down. He is essentially my company's executioner, and following that, a bad, bad marine to find yourself having to fight.

backpack and shoulder guard are awaiting bits, and i promise they'll be worth the wait.

Dan

[Rik84]

that guy is just pure win

 

love the helm, whats the face from?

 

cant wait to see him painted

 

rik

[Lord Antares]

love the helm, whats the face from?

 

I believe that's a FW Renegade Enforcer mask.

[Wicced]

fantastic conversion brother dan!

 

though i think a night lords company wouldn't need a chaplain or executioner, because i think the own claw members would judge and punish a wayward brother :tu:

 

nonetheless it's fantastic model and i can't wait to see it painted

[Firepower]

Ohhhh....mean looking. I must know the source of that ghoulish skull you've made into his face.

 

But, personally, I think his pose is a bit....flat-footed? Sure, I mean not every single marine has to be leaning side to side or running, but he seems almost awkward in how stock still he's standing, especially juxtaposed to the almost casual positioning of his arms and sword. The waist up says "Hey, Bob, good to see you. I might kill you today," while the leg's say "Sir, Yessir!" A very slight twist of one leg (and especially the foot) outward to imply a more natural distribution of weight on his hips might look better.

 

At any rate, it's fun to see the new GK bits being so thoroughly and expertly defiled with treasonous brown stuff after such a short wait :tu:

Edited May 5, 2011 by Firepower

[Dan The Deamon]

fantastic conversion brother dan!

 

though i think a night lords company wouldn't need a chaplain or executioner, because i think the own claw members would judge and punish a wayward brother ^_^

 

Not in my war band. We've ensured a loose structure of discipline. Two important rules, maybe the only two, who knows;

 

#1 : Don't kill your legion brothers, as we cannot afford to loose combat readiness under any circumstances.

#2 : Do not destroy, desecrate, or render the company's war gear unserviceable, due to excessive customization. our resources are finite, and arbitrarily decommissioning serviceable equipment is derogatory.

 

As much as I love 10th company, first claw, and the lovely mess they are unfortunate enough to find themselves in, I do not believe they represent the 8th legion in its entirety.

 

One thing I enjoy about the Night Lord series, is that it one underlying theme present in everything about the books, is that the tenth company are seeing the worst of their days. This is certainly parallel to a great many other warbands, and a wonderful way of portraying just how difficult it is to be a renegade astartes, but I don't think the authors intention is to portray the belief that, to be a company of Night Lords, you must be in a state of disaster.

 

The way i imagine my night lords, during the same time line as the 10th company's struggles, is contrary to the idea of fractured war-band. From the 18th's point of view(which is really just saying my point of view) they view their legion brothers with remorse and sorrow, for seeing brothers, sharing the blood of their primarch, as a shadow of their former glory, struggling to maintain a grasp of survival, much less fight the long war, is a sorry sight to witness.

 

They would most certainly help, although that is to say, if they were even aware.

 

You think I like dropping bat wings all over my models? I know they are ridiculous concept on the top of a helm, but it's my way of showing legion pride damnit!

 

soapbox?

Dan

[Dan The Deamon]

he seems almost awkward in how stock still he's standing, especially juxtaposed to the almost casual positioning of his arms and sword. The waist up says "Hey, Bob, good to see you. I might kill you today,"

 

Awesome, i'm glad you saw that, as it was kind of my main goal, to create a marine so arrogant and imposing that the prospect of walking to his next kill was beneath him. That was also a theme I tried to convey through the modeling of my penitent squad. That they were so brutal and arrogant, that the fact of hurrying to their next kill, was just inconveneit. I then made sure that they had the menace and anger to show that when they did make it there, they were going to make you pay for having to walk.

 

So with that in mind, this guy was created to lead them, and my mind immediately decided the baddest of the bad, he was just going to stand amongst his squad, and call his enemies to him casually standing bored until they showed up, while his squad wadded through fire before him. So i'm glad you brought the legs up, I was intending a casual stance, however if it looks more strict then i'll have to tweak it. Thanks!

 

Dan

Edited May 5, 2011 by Dan The Deamon

[MagicMan]

From the waist up, hes pure awesome.

 

Legs look kinda awkward, though.