The Neurode Crusade

[Brother Carpenter]

Do share your recipy foor capes and tabbards.

After watching many a youtube instruction film on how easy it is to make cool looking tabards, I managed a reasonable tabard...

[Urkh]

The fury of the first is strong in this one!

[Brother Christopher]

@ Urkh - It appears so! And - with shame - I must admit that the only brand new Terminators I got were the ones from my AoBR starter kit! The rest were bought second-hand at great or relatively great prices, without the time-tax on disassembling them counted in their price.

 

Since I got an unexpected surprise today (my PC which was due to arrive on Friday, came today), I have to rearrange my plans for this week and probably won't be able to work on these Terminators any more. That's why I decided to post what I managed to do so far.

 

Do share your recipy foor capes and tabbards.

After watching many a youtube instruction film on how easy it is to make cool looking tabards, I managed a reasonable tabard...

There isn't too much of a recipe to share, though! I use instant mould (now, I thing, it's sold as blue stuff) to make press moulds of existing capes - for this bunch, I used Captain Lysander, old UM honour guard, Captain Sicarius and one of the OOP Master of the Chapter. You will probably find great tutorials how to use instant mould online, but it's also fairly simple and self-explanatory.

 

Once I have the moulds ready, I press green stuff into them and wait for it to cure. I end up with something like this:

 

 

I'm using old green stuff and it lost some of its properties. Also, for this batch of parts, I don't care at this point and leave fingerprints on the inside.

 

 

Usually, I recommend smoothing the prints out - they look pretty nasty (you can use a wet sculpting tool of use rubber gloves).

 

The drawback of one-sided moulds is that they are flat on one side; that's why for these Terminators, being the culmination of my hobby skills, I decided to put an extra effort and do something more with the 'inside' of the tabards and capes. I used Milliput here to make the parts more sturdy and add creases.

 

 

I am planning to do the same with the 'outside' part of the capes.

 

With the parts ready, I attach them to the miniatures like so:

 

 

 

 

And the unfinished part:

 

 

 

After the capes are done, I'll attach the tabards and move on to adding weapons, helmets and accessories.

 

Let me know what you think about these guys so far!

Edited January 26, 2021 by Brother Cristopher

[Majkhel]

Pretty good solution for the capes I'd say. Efficient and not time-consuming (apart from the cure-time for the GS).
I'm wondering how pure milliput would work with this. GS has a definite advantage in that it can be made thinner and will not break, while milliput definitely works better when it's thick. But on the other hand Milliput is much easier during post-curing modifications as you can just file/sand it to a desired shape (including sculpting the folds). 

[Brother Christopher]

Interesting question. I have grown to appreciate Milliput, so I'd say that it's the better material for making this kind of casts. Even though it breaks and falls apart and I still find it quite difficult to handle when it's mixed and most plastic, from my experience it has a slight edge over green stuff in retaining the finest of details. With the way I approach making capes, however, green stuff is clearly the winner for one reason - after it cures, it remains malleable enough for me to adjust it in such a way that it fits the back of a miniature the original cape was not meant for. Then again, Milliput is great when it comes to treating it once its hard - that's why I decided to try and use a layer of it on the green stuff core and I think it'll work fine!

[Brother Carpenter]

Ok, That's a very nice trick.

You basically take parts of models and make them into moulds.

Very interesting.

I hadn't thought of that. 

 

Thanks!

[Sword Brother Adelard]

I do it a lot for Primaris vehicles. I have moulds of all of the Templar panels from the rhino and land raider upgrades and copy them with Green stuff. I then apply the copies parts to the new tanks.

[Brother Christopher]

So, it's been another two weeks with little to none Warhammer-related progress. I've been splitting my time between work and - surprise - video games, which I haven't touched for a long, long time. However, I also managed to do something for my Crusade. I worked a bit on the Thunderhawk's landing gear and proceeded with organising the remainder of my Marines that I bought over the period of really bad hoarding. There isn't much to show since most of the admittedly (and surprisingly) time-consuming work is uninspiring, but there is progress - take my word for it. I stripped paint of a number of second-hand models I got, I started assembling some Neophytes, bikes and continued work on Terminators. I also reorganised my forces and set goals for the revised numbers of models with specific types of wargear. The last thing was probably the worst in that I discovered that I am a bit OCD (!) and had to have the right number of troops, preferably in fives (e.g. five marines with power swords, power axes and power fists) or twos (two with each type of combi-weapon, two sergeants with chainsword/power sword/power fist and bolter), but I also settled for threes (three Apothecaries, Ancients, three marines with melta guns, plasma guns, flamers). I'm also thinking about creating a proper list/register of models in my army. Would you be interested in seeing it? External motivation from the community would probably be a great source of motivation to actually do that.

[Urkh]

Yah, let's see what an organized neurode crusade looks like. Let's see those axons and dendrites connect, build structures, and be a cohesive unit! Don't forget fighting company amygdala. You can't function properly without them!

[Brother Kraskor]

Always good for a Marshal to inventory his assets and organise his forces!

[painting.for.my.sanity]

I would love to see a proper order of battle written up - I keep one for my Crusade (it also serves as a painting/hobby/gaming log) - I've just added it to my Crusade's thread - http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/359596-indomitus-crusade-fighting-company-grimaldus/?p=5669021

[Brother Christopher]

Thank you very much for the motivation! I started working on a complete list of my forces in an Excel file. 

 

The full list of my forces (Power Armour, Terminator Armour, Centurion Armour, Scout Armour, Bikes and Cenobytes) is available here.

 

It still is a work in progress, but I managed to tally all non-vehicle models. The part of the Neurode Crusade register which concerns Power Armoured Troops is almost completed. I used blue to designate my models which are stand-ins for Primaris units (basically Marines on larger bases, since most of my troops are and will be on the old, small, 24 mm bases), green colour shows the number of painted models, orange shows the number of models which were painted at earlier stages and require an update//retouch, red shows the number of models which are not painted. The models are either grouped in core squads (according to base wargear and role, i.e. squads of 5 bolter marines or 5 pistol and chainsword marines) or in groups of models with specific special weapons and special weapons configurations to add them to squads for gaming purposes (i.e. a pool of sergeants or specialist marines added to core squads for gaming purposes). I also listed some additional info about members of the Neurode Crusade in column C, e.g. a list of specific "valuable" models in my collection.

Edited February 21, 2021 by Brother Cristopher

[Brother Christopher]

I've got a question regarding Gravis models. As you know, with one exception, I haven't bought any Primaris Marines, partially as a protest against GW's business practices, partially as a way of limiting my purchasing urges and, thus, reducing the so-called pile of shame, instead of increasing it and partially due to other reasons. However, the new iteration of Gravis armour - Eradicators and Heavy Intercessors - may be the thing that breaks me.

 

As of now, the thing that actually prevents me from getting Primaris to join my army is their size. Or rather the fact that the bulk of my existing collection will look somewhat inadequate, compared to the new product. That's why regular Primaris Marines are luckily off the table. However, I'm toying with the idea of adding Gravis troops and claiming that they are in an exoskeleton, a lighter version of Centurion armour or what no. After all, my Crusade - in collaboration with a bit unorthodox forge world - has had some custom units before Primaris were introduced.

 

Do you think that the size difference is enough? Would a regular Space Marine's legs fit inside Gravis armour? If the feet of a regular Marine would be roughly at the ankle joint of Gravis armour (specifically the large round armour plate), I think I could claim that the Gravis' feet are mechanical, like Centurions' feet. However, images in the Internet can be deceiving, especially without a side-to-side comparison. Do you think that Gravis could do for an exoskeleton for regular Marines, or is it too small and/or other proportions won't be right?

 

Would any of fellow Templar Brethren be so kind and take a side-to-side photo comparing a regular Marine with an Eradicator?

[9x19 Parabellum]

I have similar aesthetic problems.   My advice is don't try to merge them (with the possible exceptions of a few key things like character models).  I have my original SM armies (Blood Angels and Iron Hands) and my primaris armies (Raven Guard and Black Templar).

[Brother Christopher]

Thanks for the feedback, mate! Your advice is probably something that I should follow. It is best for my sanity, as well as my wallet ;)

[Brother Christopher]

I continue to toil with assembling things. I managed to make more progress with my bikes and terminators, I reorganised my scout models, assembled bodies of 2 Centurions and am in the middle of process of magnetising them (I want to have all options, maybe exuding chest weapons). I also assembled my first Primaris thing, a Redemptor Dreadnought. The built was fun and great - there has definitely been an improvement in the quality of moulds and design that I haven't had yet experienced, but I must say that the finished model somehow lowered my morale. When it wasn't yet ready, I were very excited about it and almost sure that I'll get another one or an Invictor; with it finished, I don't know - I think I'll withhold my decision till a later point in the future and continue working on whatever is left.

 

I mean, the Redemptor Dreadnought is by far my favourite Primaris kit - I liked it ever since I saw the first photos. As I said, it was fun to build and is an impressive kit, but there's something off about it. I don't know, maybe it's the rounded armour which gives it a look distinct from the classic boxiness of SM vehicles? Or how much bigger it is from regular Dreadnoughts?

 

I'm also torn between leaving the model as-is or removing the additional front armour (it's 'pot belly'). On the one hand, I'm somewhat 60:40 in favour of removing the armour to bring the model closer to Castaferrum pattern Dreadnoughts; on the other hand, I kind of want to have a model as designed, without major alterations; also, the moving part is somewhat cool. I'm sure that if I were to ever get another one, the second Dreadnought would definitely be without the extra armour.

 

The plan for the Crusade for the immediate future is to continue assembling whatever is left and requires assembling. To be honest, I can't wait to take some photos of the assembled Neurode Crusade. The fast that the Redemptor Dreadnought has tempered my excitement for new purchases is also somewhat a good thing - my goal will be that much more achievable without new additions to an already bloated force.

 

I also think that I've given up when it comes to "future-proofing" my army. I'll just have to wait and see how GW will handle rules for my collection; in the meanwhile, I think that -- despite some bitterness when it comes to rules and uncertainty -- I'm pretty happy with my collection.

 

In retrospect, I would have done some things differently. For one, I wouldn't get Centurions (I hope that they'll get some kind of a discount in the future - right now they appear to be nearly unusable) or Stormtalons - models that I'm not a fan of aesthetically, but which I got when they were the new hotness (as part of my future-proofing policy which assumed that I want to have at least one of each units in the Codex), but had not had a chance to use them that often. But well, I'm also not going to start selling things - I think that would lead me to a very dark place and I might end up selling all of my stuff, which is a no-go since I've put my heart and soul into collecting, assembling and painting my Black Templars.

[Urkh]

With the redemptor, I get what you mean about the pot belly. Removing it might help with the "round" factor as well. I feel like a lot of your issues will go away once he is painted though. He'll be black, instead of light grey, so the shape won't be as noticeable. As well, things just look better when painted (black). I think in the end, you'll end up loving him.

 

As for the rest of army, futureproofing firstborn is still an odd exercise, I think, with the two wound update. It makes me feel like they aren't going anywhere, but what happens if GWS separates primaris into their own book? That's the eventuality I'm scared of. I think on this regard, we just need to ride whatever wave we're on, and not walk too much on the road to disappointment.

 

And hey, if you don't like your storm talons, turn them into terrain by "crashing" them! Hahaha!

[Brother Christopher]

You're making a great point about black - I'll wait with definitive decisions until I at least base coat the Dread, thanks!

 

The whole future-proofing policy started way back in 7th edition, when I started adding units to the crusade not on a "looks cool basis", but with consideration of accounting for future rule changes. Right now, since 8th edition, my army has been mostly set; however, I did come up with ways of proxying some Primaris units using regular Marine models with similar gear and differentiating them by using larger base sizes. However, it is clear to me now that this is futile - introduction of Gravis troops (that I unfortunately like the looks of!) is ridiculous and has thwarted my future-proofing attempts yet again. I'll just settle with the 5 not-hellblasters, 10 10-not intercessors and 5 not-bladeguard that I had planned for.

 

I think that separating Primaris and non-Primaris into their own books would be pretty cathartic to me. At least with my mild OCD I wouldn't have to worry about comparing point efficiency of units within a single Codex :)

 

Well, I just hope that the tables will turn again and that GW will find a way of making some things - like Centurions, Land Raiders or Storm Ravens - at least usable, and not an outright liability in a list.

 

And for the Stormtalons, I'll leave them as they are or will introduce some plasticard alterations to make them look more like a Stormhawk. When I take a moment to think about it, I've been in the hobby for a long, long time - 4 editions, pewter models, single-kit Stormtalons (sold as part of the Storm Wing with a Storm Raven, back when GW were ruining the game by adding flyers), battles without easily and legally available super-heavies (when they weren't called Lords of War) and bloody Primarchs, Force Organisation Charts. Things came and gone, including a BT Codex. Ah, the nostalgia - I'm feeling it! Or maybe it's just me getting old.

[Brother Christopher]

As proof that something goes on with my Crusade, here are some photos of the stuff I'm sort of proud of. I mean, I know it's nothing - just a bunch of half-finished Centurions, arriving 5 years too late, and a sidecar of an Attack Bike, arriving oh-boy years too late; however, these things are MAGNETISED and this means I had to deal with magnets and super glue, a challenge in itself.

 

The Centurion bodies are almost done - I will be magnetising two sets of chest-mounted weapons, in case the centurion rocket things get good in the future.

 

 

I'm also in the process of magnetising the weapons; as mentioned earlier, I want to have ALL options. This is what I managed to do so far - all the arms are fitted with 3x2 mm cylindrical magnets, while for the weapons I found that 3x1 mm are enough (the first test set of assault drills use 3x2 magnets, though):

 

 

I am happy to report that the weapons align with the rails under the fists pretty nicely!

 

 

For the Attack Bike, the sidecar looks a bit silly by today's standards, but I feel honoured that I managed to buy this little guy on an action and find the relevant weapons and have a complete vintage Attack Bike kit!

 

 

 

 

 

The heavy bolter and multi-melta are magnetised and exchangeable. They fit very snugly, which is satisfying and surprising - I were a bit worried about the weight of pewter bits, but luckily the magnets I chose are strong enough (3x3 mm cylinders in the weapon stands and 3x2 mm magnet in the sidecar, due to the thickness of the floor).

[Brother Christopher]

While progressing on the miniature assembly front, I realised that something unexpected happened - I am actually running out of bits to bling my miniatures up. With that startling revelation, I decided to give it a try and do some accessories by myself. Here's a prototype of a lantern accessory:

 

 

The macro photo obviously exaggerates problems so it doesn't look that great; then, there's also that official bits are way, waaay better; however, at this stage of the hobby (and my life) I don't think that I'm willing to pay for these kinds of bits, and there aren't that many templary bits to begin with; hence, I'll have some of these things for some of my troops and just hope that once painted, they'll look pretty decent.

 

The whole thing is flooded with super glue to add strength and rigidity - after all, in the future, I will be transporting these models and I need this to stay roughly undamaged. To add some texture, i put some plasticard rods inside - they can be count-as candles (without flames, though).

 

What do you think?

 

I'm planning to do some lanterns like the one above, some smaller ones and maybe small reliquaries (which won't be that different design-wise, but I'll paint them like they're solid wood/metal, instead of like they're glowing).

[Brother Christopher]

Neglected. This is the word that has described the status of my Crusade for far too long! With my Thunderhawk project officially on hold and a newfound motivation, which turn pushed me to actually organise both my hobby time and collected forces, I have been making incremental progress with assembling different types of units. In an earlier post, I reported that I assembled a Redemptor Dreadnought. Here's proof:

 

 

The model is currently in a Primaris state - straight out of the factory, so to speak. It also is still quite limp - I have yet to decide how to position its torso and arms. Ultimately, I decided to keep the pot-belly cover as-is; however, I want it to open and close, even after painting the model.

 

 

The weapons are magnetised; I'm also considering magnetising the Dread in its waist - if that works, the model should be easier to transport.

 

 

Magnetising the front weapons was very easy and satisfying; they fit perfectly, partly thanks to the way the parts are modelled.

 

 

 

With the wrist-mounted weapons, things weren't as easy. I messed up a bit with drilling the hole for the magnet and had to adjust the cables on the heavy flamer to fit into their 'socket' in the Redemptor Fist; however, eventually, I managed to get the weapons quite right.

 

 

 

After deciding on the position of the arms, I will bling the Dreadnought up using the remaining bits I have from my Black Templar Upgrade Sprues; I just hope that the flat templar-cross-and-templar-sword ornament will fit nicely and look cool on the model!

 

And here's a bonus I that I wanted to share with you, the Emperor of Manking himself. Well, kind of. Introducing, the Celestial Knight in all it's (bagged) resin glory.

 

 

The quality of the cast is pretty amazing to me - I haven't had much experience with new models over the last 3-4 years and I must say, I've been blown away by the quality and crispness of details.

 

 

Can't wait to get him assembled and start painting. It's just a pity that I feel that I'm not skilled enough to do the model justice; however, commissioning it is out of the question - I want to have fun painting him, regardless of the final result.

 

I plan to do some more work on my heavy infantry. I also want to try and build a squad of 3 outriders using my scratch building skills and a bunch of regular bikers; I'm curious how this will pan out. Following 9x19 Parabellum's advice, I will not be mixing infantry due to their size difference and its impact on aesthetics of the entire army.

Edited March 19, 2021 by Brother Cristopher

[Brother Christopher]

Over the weekend, some progress has been made. It was painfully slow - yet again, it turns out that the choices, and ensuing purchases, I made years ago, with a more limited (often student) budget weren't that great. Sure, 15 Terminators at the price of a set 5 new models sounds like a great deal, but... Yeah, but.

 

But even should you inspect the photos of the second-hand models in detail, even should you disregard the outright botched models and go for those that are looking okay, then there's still the risk that they were welded with chaos-tainted, unidentified glue which appears to have 50% of properties of a plastic glue and 50% of properties of super glue. In consequence, you, the buyer, 4-5 years after purchasing models with resources from your student budget will waste the better part of your allocated hobby time to making the models usable.

 

Don't get me wrong - I like to work with used models; I feel good about lending them a new lease of life, I also like the challenge and the satisfaction from precise manual work. But there are limits to my patience and - Emperor be my witness - these limits were tested this past weekend.

 

With all that said, I managed to roughly assemble 8 Terminators. All the new TDA models that I'm working on right now will remain headless - I want to give it a go and avoid using black primer on the to-be white helmets.

 

 

 

As you can see, some models use Dark Angel bits; I removed most of the DA iconography of the tabards. However, I decided to keep at least three models with DA maces and shields in as-is condition; according to my crusade's fluff, they are the Reclusiarch's retinue and as such will use non-standard wargear/relics. Also, I quite like the bits. I've never been a purist, but especially now - ever since the introduction and push towards Primaris - I tend to make my choices on whether I like how something looks rather than whether it is good in game or appropriate. I reckon that power maces are perfectly fine for a priest's bodyguards, whereas the shields - with the cloaked figures - may depict warrior monks which are also present in the more generic Imperial iconography.

 

All that said, if I may be candid, I'd really hoped to have all my multipart Terminators done by now. Right now, I'm just looking forward to having this behind me and moving on to other infantry types and - eventually - painting.

[Urkh]

Hey man, any progress is progress. The enemies of the emperor won't start dying until we start killing them, amirite?

[Brother Kraskor]

Urkh is right, surely the Emperor smiles on your dedication. When your Terminators do march to war it will be all the sweeter for it!

 

However that's not to say you're not right to feel frustrated. Is there a 'reward' model you could purchase/work on at a specific milestone on the Terminators?

[Majkhel]

Good progress! Can't imagine what they looked like BEFORE you did your magic (BLAM! HERESY!) purifications. 
Definitely keep the maces! They're really cool and will make excellent stand-ins for Thunder Hammers or Power Swords if necessary.

Lucky purchase btw, considering how DA and Deathwing in particular are on the rise atm ;)