Legion Rising

[Subtle Discord]

*Subtle steps out from the shadow cast by college and into the light; he squints and shields his eyes as he adjusts*

 

Classes are going very well, even if they are completely grueling. Sketching, drawing (so… much… drawing… and… sketching), 3D modeling, more model making, and I’m doing everything I can to get everything I can out of it. Then there’s less enjoyable (Ugh, statistics) but it’s all getting me very eager to get going with my own thing. It’s still a few years off, but what I’m learning really is going to push what I do to a much larger scope and scale then I had ever considered. Keep lurking and you’ll have the inside track on my misadventures. This spring/summer should be fun! *Maniacal laugh*

 

For the short term, winter break is coming soon and I will be jumping on doing a large casting run in early December, and getting projects on the bench into production. Yes, the new Land Raider kit is at the top of that list. I wish I had time to get something rolling sooner, (itching to build/paint something fierce) but it just isn’t in the cards when classes are on. School is a harsh mistress, but the lessons will pay dividends.

 

Now, if there’s one thing I can find some time for, it’s a bit of writing. I spend several hours a day on a bus getting to-and-from campus, so why not write some fiction? To mark the 3 year anniversary of Legion Rising I present the first of my Chaos fiction short stories. I’m not sure how often I’ll add to this side of my ever growing alter to Chaos, but I do have plans for other stories. I hope it meets with your approval.

 

Thanks, as always, to everyone who follows my work, lurking or otherwise. I hope to do nothing but expand and improve on the foundation that you all helped me build. I would never have thought the encouragement and feedback from a WIP thread could generate so much momentum, but here I am, considering nothing but bigger-and-better for the future.

 

 

 

 

+++

Klec knelt low and to the side of the entry way, in a series of fluid motions he affixed his bayonet to his Bolter and drew a second hooked blade from its sheath. He closed his eyes and listened to the Loyalist carefully advancing down the corridor; he visualized the Marine’s motions as they moved, waiting for his moment to strike. There was caution in the Loyalist’s movements and Klec hoped to exploit this with an aggressive strike to start their exchange. Many times a good defensive strategy was not necessary if one made a decisive first strike and quickly laid their opponent low; Klec had claimed several trophies in this way. The Loyalist reached the entry way and paused, surveying the dimly lit room. Klec could practically feel the presence of the Marine through the wall, but he held his attack for a moment longer, waiting for the Loyalist to lift a foot to take their next step…

 

“Warmaster favor me.” Klec quietly spoke his modest request as he began his attack. His eyes snapped open as he pivoted and rotated on his left foot into the entry way, spinning around to add extra momentum to the first blow. The Loyalist was indeed surprised, but reacted quickly enough to deflect the blow downward; the bayonet missed its mark, skipped down the Marine’s thigh, and managing to jam itself into the gap behind the armour plate that protected the knee. Klec drove his weight forward until he could feel the blade pierce through the seam. In the next motion he shrank back, pulling the blade free in a gush of bio-pneumatic fluid and blood; without hesitation he wheeled back around for another strike with his hooked blade, counting on the shock of the first wound to give him the advantage. Exposing his back a second time was a calculated risk, but from the moment he had been aware of the approaching Marine, Klec could feel a wonderful frenetic energy building. Now, the sensation completely embraced him, goading and teasing at first, and then offering what seemed the promise something long forgotten, if he would just give in to the sensation. His reality seemed to slow, and the blade sang as it cut through the air; the sensation seemed to be connected to it, and it was all Klec could hear, all he could know, at that moment.

 

The Loyalist dropped back to his good leg and prepared his reprisal, clenching his jaw and grinding his teeth hard to steady his nerve. He would not give this foe the satisfaction of even a grunt in pain. He had used the butt of his pistol to defect the first strike, but his Chainsword was at the ready and it quickly growled to life as it rose to parry the Traitor’s second attack. The sword met the blade and they locked for a moment…

 

Klec was transfixed, the moment seemed endless and in the infinity he could see everything as fractured slivers in time. His blade met with the sword and he thought it curious that he could perceive and feel each tooth of the Loyalist’s weapon bite and grind as it searched for flesh to cleave into. He could admire it as the inanimate predator that it was; a tool that has no morals, only a function; one that it excelled at. Klec watched the individual sparks fly as the two weapons danced closely for a moment. He watched as sword skipped and bounced down his blade and with an almost gleeful jump, leapt over the guard of his weapon. The Chainsword continued its relentless hunt for flesh as Klec watched it with mesmerized fasciation; it rode up his left forearm, chips of black pigment and sparks flying from the path it left. The teeth of the blade dug into the crook of his elbow and he smiled as it bit into his flesh. He thought it peculiar that he could feel each tooth of the weapon, as they bit and gnashed at the muscle and sinew of his arm; he listened to the weapon’s song change key, the engine labouring slightly as it set to work on the bone.

 

Klec embraced the bite of the sword leaning in for a moment before dropping hard to bring his good elbow down on the wounded knee of the Marine. Recoiling, the Loyalist stumbled back and quickly shifted to find his balance. Klec dropped back, way, and into a defensive curled posture. His left arm, severed just above the elbow, hung on desperately by a strip of armor and mangled flesh; he continued to watch in ecstatic fascination as his blood sprayed in large gouts from the wound, the path of each drop fractured into an infinite number of moments. He watched as the crimson puddled, forming a smooth surface that shifted and rolled as each drop struck the growing pool. He watch, his head swimming with the sensation, as the drops changed from rich red to the deepest black. The wound gushed, continuing to weep tears of acidic black ichor for a few moments; the fluid hissed and bubbled wherever it landed, instantly burning and corroding anything it touched. Klec could feel it seeping up into his arm as if entering through the wound and spreading through his left arm and shoulder. While this dark gift was to be his, it did not seem that it would grant him immunity until he knew it well; as it spread and infused with him the searing pain was beyond comprehension. He cast his weapon aside as the experience debilitated him and began wailing with each beat of his hearts, their relentless rhythm forcing the ichor deeper into his flesh. As Klec sang his song of beautiful agony a series of boney protrusions erupted from his wound…

 

The Loyalist had slumped back with the Traitor’s strike to his leg. Where he could hobble on his wounded knee before, it was now shocked into near uselessness and the searing pain forced him to take several moments to regain his focus. He knew he had dealt his foe a telling wound, and they were shrinking away into a defensive stance. This would need to be resolved quickly, but he knew that wounded prey could prove unpredictable. He steadied himself as Klec began to wail, thinking at first how pathetic a specimen this Marine was; the wound was horrendous, but the reaction seemed extreme. He readied himself to silence this Traitor and lurched forward as he lifted his weapon. As he advanced his foe unexpectedly threw his bolter aside, their wailing and screaming became to become almost unsettling, and he paused as the Marine slumped away from him and clutched at his arm in uncontrolled agony. Had the wound to his arm obscured a lucky strike on their torso causing them to react this way? No, this was something different, and he stared for a moment in horrified fascination, as if a whisper in the back of his mind called to him, imploring him to watch and perhaps better understand.

 

Klec convulsed uncontrollably as the stump of his severed arm erupted first with long talons, then thick boney digits, and finally a full hand and forearm. The form grew and swelled at a surprising rate, with fresh bone, sinew, tendons, muscle, and skin replacing the severed limb in a matter of moments, before it increased further in size and strength. The skin of his new limb was finely scaled and virtually black, with iridescent hints of dark blue in the muscular definition; even after the limb had reformed the colour and texture spread up his arm like a stain. The agony pushed Klec to transcendence; as he felt the new limb expand outward taking form to replace his severed arm, he could also feel it plunge deeper inward as his hearts carried the burning ichor through his body. He pulled himself up from his knees, staggered, and slumped against the wall; each beat of his hearts punctuating the passing moments with the searing pain of the ichor spreading, but he was beginning to find clarity in the searing sting and composure in the face of the pain. There was an ecstasy in the agony, if one was willing to embrace it and make it their own. The sensation seemed almost conscious, silently encouraging Klec to drink deep of the pain, and learn to find strength and guidance in the experience. Klec came to see, if only the tiniest glimpse, the will of his Dark Masters as their attention briefly turned to him.

 

“… Emperor protect...” the Loyalist unconsciously uttered the words under his breath as his faculties quickly returned; the Marine had seen more than enough, he shook off the taunting whispers in the back of his mind and raised his sword as his vox barked “Cursed abomination! Purge the heretic!” he swung with an aggressive attack aimed at decapitating the Traitor, intending to quickly finish the encounter. Klec’s new hand snapped out with an instinctive will, purposely catching the growling blade as it swung in. The teeth bit and chewed into the new flesh and the black ichor gushed forth to meet them; the acidic fluids were quickly carried into the weapon’s inner workings, and just as quickly it set to work corroding and disintegrating the weapon from the inside. The hungry growl of the sword’s motor promptly went silent as it succumbed to damage inflicted by the fluids. The Marine attempted to swing his Bolt Pistol to bare, but Klec caught his wrist with his other hand and forced his aim away from its mark; he fired two shots, and the first shell clipped Klec’s helmet, severely cracking the faceplate and knocking his head backward. Still lost in the experience of receiving his dark gift, the force of the strike caused Klec’s very psyche roll and tumble backward, as if slipping from a ledge into a bottomless abyss. If he were to fall into this perceived infinity he would take the soul of his foe with him as a final offing to his Dark Masters; but Klec brought his tumbling existence to right, snapping his head forward in a vicious head-butt. The blow broke a large portion of his damaged helmet away, exposing the left side of this face to his foe. Unable to properly brace himself with his wounded leg, the Loyalist faltered and dropped to his knees as he grappled with Klec. He steeled his will and exerted all of the force he could muster, trying to regain his footing, just as he became aware of a strange itching in his right wrist that quickly grew into an intense burning.

 

Klec loomed over his opponent, forcing the Loyalist’s center of gravity back and keeping him on his knees. The black ichor released by the wound caused by the Chainsword spilled down the weapon and worked its way into the wrist joints of the Marine’s armour; it quickly broke though and began to hungrily eating into the flesh it found underneath. He could feel the concerted efforts of the Marine become more frantic and desperate as the sensation made itself known; he smiled to himself as he came to understand that the Loyalist could not find focus in the pain, and it caused their psyche to falter. Klec tore the disintegrating sword from the Marine’s grasp and flung it away. The wound that was made by the weapon began to knit and heal with the same impetus that originally grew the limb, but Klec was oblivious. The pale skin of his face began to mottle and darken, turning black as the gift spread to consume a large swath of his head; his left eye darkened and then suddenly lit with an unsettling blue light. His gaze drilled down on the determinedly silent Marine, “Cursed?!” the voice that spilled from his shattered helmet was his, but the tone was strange, even to him. “Behold, we have been chosen for... blessing!” As he spoke Klec’s speech resonated, seeming to be a blend of his own voice with an unsettling chorus of others. “Our Dark Lords deem this heretic worthy of favor… How will your Corpse God aid you?” He did not expect a reply, but he paused a moment all the same, before plunging a single talon into the Marine’s throat; he contorted his new hand, twisting the talon vertically and drove it downward; like a daemon’s blade the talon’s edge was remarkably keen and pierced flesh, bone, and armour with frightening ease. To his credit, the Loyalist had not given Klec the satisfaction of a single utterance of pain or discomfort.

 

Klec held this macabre pose for several moments after the struggle had ceased. “Lords accept this offering of a forsaken brother. His death was good and deserves praise.” The words echoed and seemed to orbit his head. He dropped the Marine to the ground and began to move with instinct, as if in a dream. While the frenzy was fading, his reality was altered, and he was finding it rather distracting; this would take some getting used to. He retrieved his Bolter, blade, and arm; his flesh in particular would make a wonderful totem to as a token to celebrate his gift. Of the Marine he claimed his Bolt Pistol and helmet, head-and-all; the helmet would require retrofit, but it would make for a good replacement. The skull would make an excellent addition to his trophies.

[Augustus b'Raass]

He can sculpt, he can plasticard, he can paint, he can cast, he's a good communicator - and now it turns out he can write too! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is subtle discord! The man of steel - or resin.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Augustus b'Raass

[GhostMalone]

Mind blown

[Teetengee]

Well done!

Minor nitpicks, there is at least one case where you use to rather than too, also wouldn't the loyalist see Klek as unclean after the mutation above and beyond being a heretic?

[JeffTibbetts]

Really good stuff. Having read a lot of fanfic, I have to say I enjoyed the novelty of his obsession with sensation in the beginning. Very cool stuff. 

 

You truly are a renaissance man, as Augustus observed. Is there nothing you're not good at? Hobby related, anyway? 

[Subtle Discord]

Input and feedback requested; if you're still reading by the end (or want to skip to the end) I would appreciate some direction from the people I want to appeal to with my studio - you, the reader; short-term plans are in place, but I could use some help prioritizing some long term projects and could use some perspective. More on this later.

 

Thanks as always for the kind words, I'm glad it meets with your approval. I just do what comes naturally, and I've had to grow to accept that I've got a knack for certain things. There's lots of practice, trial-and-error, and mistakes along the way to becoming proficient at something, but you never know what you can do until you try.

 

After receiving my copy of Imperial Armour 13 several weeks back it quickly became apparent that I would be enticed lured forced to add to my collection. The merits of the units can always be debated, but with so many great rules for Chaos consolidated into one dark tomb, there's just so much potential with the sheer volume of choices presented that it can give a Chaos collector and player the giggles. I had no choice but to succumb to the whispers and taunts that started as soon as I opened that infernal book, and a few days ago my dispatch arrived...

 

∙ One part addition to my personal collection, one part addition to the studio for design purposes; friendly old Saint Nicholas is going to be good to me this year.

 

∙ I'm a tread-head, what can I say? I'm surprised I lasted this long before succumbing to the temptation of adding a Sicaran to my army; but daaamn, it's one huge chunk of resin.

 

I'm still not totally sold on the practicality of the openings in the armour on the front of the Sicaran (my design for Armoured Ceramite might close/cover them) but the overall look and form of the model has grown on me more-and-more since it was released. There are lots of nice lines and surfaces to work with, I'm sure I can do both an armour upgrade kit and a lighter trim kit for variety. I really wish the tracks were loose; attached as they are now, it's very hard to see a way to give them a Chaos makeover. As a consolation, it's good that they are not covered in Imperial iconography.

 

∙ One of my main worries was that the Rapier Battery would have a considerably larger footprint compared to the Obliterators they would be supplementing and/or replacing.

 

It's not going to be a problem it seems; they compare very well to an Obliterator. I wanted my model to very closely match the footprint and profile of an official FW Rapier. Most of my kits supplement a current model, so scale isn't an issue, I just fit the model, but in this case I wanted to get it very close. The Graia Pattern battery that I got is slightly narrower than the Chaos Marine model that I'll be creating, but that will be easy to add during the build. The Dark Works kit will be considerably different but properly inspired by this original.

 

∙ Last but most certainly not least, the cornerstone of my soon('ish)-to-be Air Calvary; a Chaos Fire Raptor gunship. Again, wow... that's a ton of very sexy resin! *Swoon*

 

As much as I would have liked to, there would be no way I could make a Fire Raptor from scratch the same way that Forge World has; several parts are just massive and beyond the scope of my studio. Due to the scope of the changes done by the 'Raptor kit, if I really wanted one, getting it from FW made more sense. This kit will pull its weight however, as I will be making conversion kits for the Fire Raptor (Armoured Ceramite and Chaos-themed trim) and using it to help in my Chaos Storm Eagle build.

 

So, while these kits will add to my army collection, they are also strategic purchases that I can make use of in the studio. All of this, along with items already on the bench, plus other projects and ideas, and all of the other inspiration in IA 13, means there's a lot on my plate, and table, spilling to the floor...

 

Still with me? Wow... really? Ok, so here's where you come in.

 

I do have some semblance of a plan; I know what I want to build and have a reasonably consolidated list. What I need is an order of manufacture; I want to build it all, and have every plan to, but I can do it in any order, so here's your chance to give some direct input.

 

Short-term goals (next 4 weeks during mid-term break):

• Chaos Siege Line (ADL counts-as) - This kit is done, it just needs improved moulds made.
• Loyalist Land Raider Armour - Also finished and awaiting mould making; moulds for this kit are more complex, however.
• Morsus AA-Gun (Quad Gun counts-as) - On the bench and very near complete before it needs moulds made.

Short term, I have these and a general casting run to replenish my stock. I'm hoping to have no complications to stop any of these from getting done before classes start up again. I won't get started actually building until spring, but I will be doing concept sketches and drawings and I want to know what to focus on. In no particular order, most of my longer-term studio projects will include:

• Chaos Storm Eagle - A full kit that will build off a Storm Raven base model. Very elaborate and involved build.
• Chaos Fire Raptor -  A Chaos Trim kit and an Armoured Ceramite kit will be a good start. Modestly elaborate build.
• Chaos Sicaran - Again, I will start with a Chaos Trim kit and Armoured Ceramite kit. Modestly elaborate build.
• Chaos and Loyalist 'Dozer, Siege Ram, Destroyer Blades - Rhino and Land Raider chassis compatible. Reasonably easy build.
• Chaos Rapier Battery - Ectoplasma cannon, Hades auto-cannon, and Cyclotrathe beamer. Modestly elaborate build.
• Chaos and Loyalist Jetbikes - Counts-as bikes as an update to the current choices. Modestly elaborate build.
• Pintol Combi-Weapons - Vehicle mounted Bolters, Flamer, Plasma, and Melta; a long-standing idea that still needs to be made real. Deceptively difficult build due to the scale.
• Relic Weapon Systems - Starting with the Predator I want to create some Relic weapons for various platforms. Reasonably easy build.
• Loyalists Trim Kits - Rhino Trim Kits to start, and expand from there. Reasonably easy build.
• Dark Mechanicus Construct Kit - Sentinel-like legs and robotic/mechanical components to improve Maulerfiend builds. Still only a concept, modestly elaborate build.
• Chaos Battlefield Debris - Tanglewire, Tank Traps, and Barricades done with my Chaos Trim treatment. Reasonably easy build.
• Void Shield Generator - This will be a piece of neutral scenery, not Chaos specific, intended for various armies. This will be a massive build, but an awesome final kit.
• Chaos Kits 2.0 - Taking advantage of Servator Zing, new Rhino, Predator, and Land Raider kits are planned. Modestly elaborate build/s.
• Chaos Knight - The Imperial Knight kit begs to be defiled into a war machine of Chaos, so it shall be done. A very elaborate build.
• Chaos Renegades - IA 13 opens the door to proper allied Renegades and all the toys they bring to the aid of Chaos. Wide range of levels.

These projects will start in the spring (May 2015) and there's no way they will all get done next summer, but I need to start somewhere. Some builds will be much more in depth than others, so how quickly some things will be made will vary depending on the project.

 

So, what on this list stands out to you? What would you like to see made real first? If you could pick a few from the list, which ones? If you could add something to the list, what would it be? Input, feedback, inspiration, ideas, let me have it! It's still several months off, and I can never completely promise just how things will ultimately come together, but I will be starting my brainstorming soon; help me give it some focus and direction.

 

So much more to come...

 

Edited February 6 by Subtle Discord
+++ Image Data-link ∙ Repair +++

[RolandTHTG]

Oooooooooh.....

Sow many awesome things.

But put me down for

1) The Chaos Rapier

2) The dozer blades

[The_Chaplain]

Ill go ahead and say it as the greedy loyalist, but the storm eagle/fire raptor kits, armored ceramite for the sicaran, dozer blades and of course the loyalist trim kits are of interest to me-- because they are things I am either working on now, or will be in the future. I don't mind taking the time to remove arrows and points off trim kits and such; I just want to have ornate tanks and fliers that can only be described as mobile cathedrals! (My storm ravens been sitting in a box ever since I saw the storm eagle kit you were working on, it looks like a much more solid fuselage extension kit than chapterhouse studios' one). Looking forward to seeing more from you Subtle Discord! PS, have you thought about a caestus assault ram trim kit at all? Edited December 7, 2014 by The_Chaplain

[Razerz]

If you want to open the Pandoras box by asking us what we want, my greedy wishlist would be in the following order:

• Relic Weapon Systems
• Dark Mechanicus Construct Kit
• Loyalists Trim Kits
• Chaos and Loyalist 'Dozer, Siege Ram, Destroyer Blades
• The rest

Edited December 7, 2014 by Razerz

[Augustus b'Raass]

Ok here goes:

 

1. Chaos Sicaran trim and armoured ceramite.

2. Chaos dozer blades, destroyer etc.

3. Fire raptor trim kit.

4. Chaos weapon platform.

5. Pintle mounted combis. Start with melta plz.

6. Chaos Knight

 

Im super stoked about you getting back in the saddle mate!!! :tu:

Edited December 7, 2014 by Augustus b'Raass

[Teetengee]

Dark Mechanicus Construct Kit, plus the chaos related short term goals.

Rapiers.
Jetbikes.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Teetengee

[rhodry]

Here goes:

 

Chaos knight

Chaos Kits 2.0

Loyalists Trim Kits 

Chaos and Loyalist Jetbikes 

Chaos and Loyalist 'Dozer, Siege Ram, Destroyer Blades 

Chaos Rapier Battery.

[Lexington]

Loyalist Land Raider Armor, first and foremost (even though it's fated for a Chaos vehicle, in my case...).

 

Otherwise...

• Dozer and Siege Rams
• Relic Weapons Systems
• Void Shield Generator (hate the GW kit)
• Chaos Renegades
• Dark Mechanicus Bits

Really just glad to see you're still on these projects, SD. Your stuff is amazing!

[JeffTibbetts]

My greedy side wants the loyalist rhino armor, but my holy-mother-that-would-be-amazing side wants to see the chaos Knight kit.

[Subtle Discord]

Thanks everyone for the positive words and real feedback. I can always count on B&C for good input. Trust that everything on the list is planned in some way and I'm going to make as many of them real as I can manage; some will take longer than others and might need to wait until I'm done school and have more freedom to step things up another notch, or several notches. Some (not many) may get lost along the way and others added (still some ideas lurking and/or forgotten) but I want to see how far I can take this. But, with so many ideas blowing me in so many directions, it can be hard to find a course. Thanks again everyone.

 

So, last exam on Tuesday and I'm happy to say it seems like I haven't wasted any tuition yet; the few classes I may have worried about (Ugh... Statistics) didn't implode on me and my journey on the road to higher learning continues. After catching up on some lots of sleep I started to work on getting things tidied up in the studio (School has a way of taking over every surface) and it will be ready to get back to work tomorrow. But, as I was getting things sorted I unearthed a few half-built projects and I'm reminded that I have a few things still nagging me to be addressed, not to mention some new resin that's begging to be inspected. Since the Decimator is an IA 13 unit, it didn't seem a complete frivolous distraction to spend a few hours finishing the build. Looking back, it was October 2012 that I got the model, so it seems overdue that it gets finished.

 

Am I the only one who buys a Forge World model with eager anticipation, only to be so intimidated by it, that sits for months and years? I even know it's going to happen, but I like to have the plastic for its potential, even if it needs to wait, or intimidates me, to the point of procrastination. I want it there for when I finally have the conviction to attempt the build.

 

∙ Something old, something new, and something... err... broken.

 

So, as a brief hobby therapy diversion I took some time to get most of my long overdue Decimator finished (still need to finish the Butcher Cannon/s and Conversion Beamer) and get a rough assembly of the Sicaran done. The Sicaran is so straightforward (in theory) to build it really wasn't much work to get it this far; it will be enough to start some early work on later designs and to sit looking cool beside my other tanks.

 

The odd-looking device to the right was (keyword) a very useful tool that I used while doing the hose details on the Decimator, but I managed to break it just as I finished using it. I wanted to write about it and do a bit of demonstration, but the breaking of the tool kind of put a crimp in that plan. To explain, it is used to pick up a tiny amount of super glue with capillary action and place it very carefully where you want it; very good for getting glue just where you want it and/or in hard-to-reach places. It can be purchased, but I made mine, so I'll be sure to show it again when I've made a replacement.

 

∙ Oh Forge World, why do you force me to love to hate you? Or is it hate to love you?

 

Forge World gets so much right. Everything is subjective, so personal taste aside, FW makes some great kits. The product they produce sets the bar that I strive to meet and exceed in my builds and prototypes for The Dark Works. Having seen the Sicaran I knew I would like it in person cosmetically; I think it's great looking and I can't wait to start making designs for it. I've already got ideas brewing.

 

It's the fit that drives me crazy! As mentioned before, it's a very simple build to get it this far: four pieces to create a center hull 'box', two massive slabs for the treads and the hull surrounding them, and the main turret. It's so straightforward forward I don't understand why it has a small flaw in how the parts come together that creates a gap in the rear of the assembly. Warping and mould lines are one thing; not wonderful, but usually fixable. But this is just a strange fit in what appear to be straight parts, and it's annoying in a premium product. Beyond this gripe, the kit is nice, and it's going to be a pleasure to turn it into a rolling war-alter of Chaos.

 

∙ The Decimator kit is virtually made to be magnetized. Not that I need much excuse to find a use for some neodymium magnets.

 

At first, I planned to add magnets only for weapon swapping, but I got so caught up in trying to find a pose that I liked I decided to add some extra magnets to the shoulder of Decimator; in this case, the magnets show how great they can be at making hinges. I was sure to use tall magnets so I could make a hole-in-post to add to the stability of the join.

 

∙ Now the Decimator can change between, an evil stalking pose, a standard shooting pose, and a "You want some of this?!" shooting pose. Excellent!

 

The Decimator in contrast to the Sicaran assembled very well with no real surprises. In fact, it offered so much freedom in the joints, it was hard to choose a pose from top to bottom. I ended up drilling a pin through each joint to create a puppet-like structure to work with while I experimented with the pose; these added extra strength when I finally did glue it into place. The kit is so great with its level of detail that I didn't find a need to go over-the-top in embellishing it; just a few spikes and some extra hoses.

 

∙ I'll just add one or two turned into many more. Too bad it all gets so obscured by the armour plates that are added over top.

 

It all started with the damage to the cast; a few pipes had broken away at some point and I wanted to replace them to clean things up. A perfect job for the stockpile of hoses and pipes I've been building up ever since I picked up my GSI Tentacle Makers. Once I got those done I liked the look so much I couldn't help but fill out a few more to add to the effect and a bunch to fill out the 'neck' of the construct. It's one of those things that you can keep going and going with, and overdo it if you're not careful. I think I added enough to embellish, but not clutter it too much.

 

∙ A little more work on the base and this little monster will be ready for primer. Still need some Butcher Cannons and a Conversion Beamer, but they deserve special treatment.

 

I didn't go too over-the-top in the pose, even though the kit offers so much freedom in the legs. The kit is so all-round bad-ass it can be very successful with just a bit of twist in the hips and a lean of the torso. I did take my time posing the legs so that the balance of the model works, but it's not dramatic, more plodding and deliberate. The magnets offer enough freedom to change the pose up nicely depending on the load out. As mentioned, I still need some Butcher Cannons and a Conversion Beamer, but I want to take some time to do some extra conversion work on them. The Beamer needs to be appropriately 'Death Ray', and the Butcher Cannon provided as-is from Forge World is really lacking in 'Butcher'. the main body of the weapon is ok, but I think it needs a more intimidating-looking barrel. I won't be able to start painting this until spring, but I'll get the primer on it so it can have a good long sit to cure out. This is going to be fun, if a bit intimidating, to paint. Good thing it comes apart so much so it will be easy to get at the tricky spots.

 

Ok, enough distractions (for now) time to get back to getting things into production mode. lots of casting to do over the weekend and the coming days followed by some serious mould making to open the door for more casting. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't work, but it's a different kind of work when it's tapping into a passion. The whispers from the warp taunt me to create and produce for my fellow Warmasters, so I am compelled to obey.

 

Thanks as always for reading. Questions, comments, input, critiques, feedback, criticisms, and general banter are always welcome. Much more to come...

 

Edited February 6 by Subtle Discord
+++ Image Data-link ∙ Repair +++

[The_Chaplain]

 

 

Am I the only one who buys a Forge World model with eager anticipation, only to be so intimidated by it, that sits for months and years?

Not in the least, I have that problem as well.

 

Good to hear you'll be back in the forge soon, and just want to wish you the best of luck on the rest of your finals!  

[Augustus b'Raass]

Another nice update man! I'm VERY much looking forward to your Sicaran options. 

 

Am I the only one who buys a Forge World model with eager anticipation, only to be so intimidated by it, that sits for months and years?

No you're most certainly not. My warhoudn sat on a shelf for more than a year until the ETL finally gave me the cojones to tackle it. I used to stack up massively on bits and now have sooooooooo many bits I don't even think I'll ever run out - but the ETL did make me tackle most of my extant complete kits. I have since vowed never to have more than five kits or simultanious projects on a shelf. ;)

 

The Decimator kit is virtually made to be magnetized. Not that I need much excuse to find a use for some neodymium magnets.

It's funny, I made the exact same joints on mine. Not that that is a suprise, 'cause the kit is begging for it.

 

Keep it up!

[Flogger]

AMAZING!

 

I really want some of those sicaran Chaos trims as well as see hour version of a Chaos Knight! :)

[Grizzly_bear]

Looking great brother

[Augustus b'Raass]

SD, I hope you don;t mind me posting a pic of my own model in your thread, but I just wanted to thank you for the excellent work you're doing.

 

This is my first Rhino using your excellent trim kit and your track kit. I still have the Proditor pattern predator armour, which I'll be splitting up between two tanks most likely. I really enjoy your products and think you're doing an excellent and inspiring job over here. So thanks again and here's the rhino.

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Showcase%20Night%20Lords/WP_20141213_002_zpse0b8b3f8.jpg

 

More pics here.

[disease]

Hi,

 

I know many people have provided input already - but i think my request would be very quick and easy....

 

... any plans for a loyalist (heresy)  havoc launcher?  I really love the chaos version, but it seems sacriledge to chop off all the stars to be 30k compatible.

 

As an FYI, in heresy era gaming, nearly all tanks and legions can take the havoc launcher

 

EDIT - two could double up as a wicked whirlwind / whirlwind Scorpius / exorcist substitute!

Edited December 14, 2014 by disease

[Thrillhouse]

Oh wow, that night lord rhino really shows of the trims very well!

[Chaeron]

Great posing on that Decimator - has nothing on my dancing one obviously, but it's still great ;)

[Subtle Discord]

Much more in depth update/s coming shortly, but in the mean time...

 

http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j332/SubtleDiscord/2015%20WIP%20Photos/Build_Process_06.jpg

Bah, bah, Black Sheep have you any wool? Yes sir. Yes sir. Three bags full! (Loricatus Hvy. Mk. II moulds are almost complete)

[The_Chaplain]

Oh you tease! Quick question for you subtle-- do the armor kits fit over sponsons that are glued or would you need to pry them off and reglue them? Not that I care about pryin sponsons off, just want to know ahead of time.