Bleeding Eyes Raptor Cult Kill Team - Painted Specialists!

[Noctem Cultor]

Hail All!

 

Noctem here and im back with another shot at some Bleeding Eyes Cult Raptors! (Based on A D-B's Soul Hunter Series).

 

So as by now you should have all noticed how rubbish I am at finishing a project (I work with models its too easy to get distracted) be it life or other interests. So I decided id start this project as a Kill Team and see where it leads (most likely to a TH Raptor Talon Formation...)

 

So last time I gave this a shot I tried to do a lot of converting and I just couldn't follow though after the first model.

Also I didn't research the fluff enough and dabbed at my own take on the Cult.

 

Well this time I dived into the fluff breaking out my Digital Novels and the CTRL+F function to get all references to Lucoryphus and his Bleeding Eye Raptors.

Now as they were not the star of the Novels like First Claw I realized that some details were not fleshed out enough for me to make a direct call such as Cults overall colour scheme only Lucoryphus was mentioned as being the same colour as the Night Lords ship Hull (Midnight Blue)

 "The hull flashed beneath him in a streaking blur the same colour as his armour" - Voidstalker

 

but is this because he was a Night Lord? Did he repaint because he was working for a Night Lords? Or is this the Cults colour scheme for all of them? Hopefully A D-B will enlighten me in the Lets Talk Raptor Cults thread if not expect Midnight Blue.

What is confirmed though:

"His armour bore little evidence of allegiance to his Legion or bloodline. Each of his warriors displayed their bond the same way: each bore the red tears of their leader reflected on their own faceplates."

- Bloody Reaver

So no Night Lords winged Skulls etc and no Fear markings (im guessing Lightining is included in that) instead just the the twin Tear trails. It mentions in another quote one is Crimson and one is Quicksilver.

 

Other than that they are clearly based off the look of 4th Edition Raptors so I went and ordered some and this is how my project began.

 

I was delayed in posting up my progress so I will post in the order I worked on them as currently waiting for the basecoat to dry.

 

-Noctem

 

[Noctem Cultor]

Updating and cleaning the models

 

So once my 4th ed Raptors turned up I had 5 unpainted and 5 in Iron Warriors scheme (one a conversion) so my first step was to clean up the glue jobs and swap some of the weapon load outs to add variety and so my Specialists are easier to spot.

 

First I added a few new Raptor kit Chainswords as they look great and are something the Raptors are likely to scavange from time to time. (I also swapped the plasma pistol for a newer Bolt Pistol)

As I only need one special weapon member in my kill team I added a newer Flamer and weapon swapped the other Raptor to generic loadout.

 

Then came the fun bit, as my cult is based off the Bleeding Eyes Cell led by Lucoryphus it only makes sense he represents my champion and gets something a little special to stand out right?

So I picked up some Forgeworld Raven Guard Dark Fury Talons as they look awesome and seemed like they would fit.

I was right, Bless the Chaos Gods I was right.

 

After being impressed by the simple conversion I decided to do side by side with the supplied Raptor Champion.

Less bulky and more of a lean Hunter feel to Luc but not less impressive.

 

Deciding it a waste not to use the Champion ive put him aside for the time being but will convert him so I can pin any weapon loadout for a champion if I change my mind. For example an Axe of Khorne (KDK Raptor list).

 

So after that it was onto cleaning the foot claws so the Raptors can go on Flight stands and look more mobile. 

Sharpening the claws on a few and after realising it was fidly hard work I left some bits on the foot claws that will be painted as chunks of flesh caught between the claws.

 

-Noctem

 

 

[Noctem Cultor]

And then came the drilling.... sore fingers and a lot of swearing later they can all now sit on flight stands (if only I had enough to hand oh well Mondays task).

 

Leader Lucoryphus and the Kill Team Weapon, Combat & Dirty Fighter Specialists.

Generic loadout Raptors.

Everyone together thanks to some quick make shift bases.

 

So all in all just some minor tweaks so I can get the best out of the awesome models.

Now once they are dry from spraying ill start building up that colour scheme.

 

-Noctem

 

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

I do love the Old Skool Raptor's, I think those models are perfect for the Bleeding Eyes. 

 

I'm pretty sure they are the remnants of an Assault Company in the Novels, so they are definitely Night Lords, but I think they have removed most of the legion iconography, as you've quoted.

 

I love the use of the RG talons, I might have to steal this idea! 

[Noctem Cultor]

I do love the Old Skool Raptor's, I think those models are perfect for the Bleeding Eyes.

 

I'm pretty sure they are the remnants of an Assault Company in the Novels, so they are definitely Night Lords, but I think they have removed most of the legion iconography, as you've quoted.

 

I love the use of the RG talons, I might have to steal this idea!

 

I rebooked through the quotes and found one that states that a least Lucs cell are made up from the VIII Legion so I'm going to go with a blue theme minus the Night Lords markings because Raptor first, cult second and Legion last.

 

Steal away looks great love to see more with those talons.

-Noctem

[Noctem Cultor]

Hey some picture updates!

First my colour scheme mock up (your see the blue a lot darker that the picture at the end of this post).

This was just so I didn't have to paint one up and the possibly strip and repaint it. General theme is fine so we can the paint process.

First sprayed black and then 2 layers of dark grey for the inks basecoat to give some depth.

I tried this method before on some Prodos Xenomorph Aliens and really liked the not quite black but almost blue.

Once dry the blue has a very nice dark look to it.

Ive started adding other colours (I decided to stick to Brass for the trim as we know it works right ), the idea is that unlike the lovely miniatures that pop with colour I want a dark striking from the shadows Kill Team. The Eyes are going to be glowing red and with just hints of the flash of silver on the claws etc I should end up with something you would have to double take in the dark or walk past it completely *shivers*.

So yeah these guys are going to be "the things that go bump in the night".

On a kind of related issue I built some scenery for Kill Team for my club and forgot to take pictures before I put it in the display cabnet at work so here are some quick shot of the containers and objectives (currently Raktra's Deathwatch are using it as cover)

I will take some pictures when my Raptors are using them to ghost the prey.

Hunt Well!

-Noctem

[Noctem Cultor]

Lighting is rubbish but here is Kill Team Leader Captain Lucoryphus.

First with a flash on the camera so you can make it out then the last to show show how dark the blue it in natural (cloudy) Light.

The chunks of flesh add a bit of colour as does the splashes of blood on the Talons. All in all I am happy with the look nothing too flashy but fits the character well. I might add some wear and tear on the armour later once they are all painted to the same standard. Still not sure about the twin tears I did Stormhost Silver and Blood for the Blood God under the eyes but there is not a lot of room on the helmet.

 

-Noctem

 

[Vect]

Those models are far superior to the new ones produced. Great selection! 

[Noctem Cultor]

Phew

Ive got a small update for you all, due to Overtime a trip up North and a lot of focus on building life size Zombie props for a Halloween party its been hard going on progress.

But I have been trying to build up detail equally on all of the Kill Team as well as getting the Specialists up to scratch for games.

So first up here are some updates on the Specialists in Order Dirty Fighter (Murderous Blows), Weapon (Suppressing Fire) and Guerilla Specialist (Hit & Run)

With Captain Lucoryphus

And here are some shots of them on the flight stands to give them different poses to create less of a duplicate feel.

Hope you guys like them.

-Noctem

**EDIT**

Also I redid the twin blood streaks on the eyes, so they can be seen I made them run down the eye to mouth grill.