Building A Dread Mob From Scratch

[Holier Than Thou]

Hey guys,

I started 40k in 2006 with Grey Knights (Daemonhunters at the time) and they have been my favourite army for years. I have since added a Khorne Daemons army, a new Primaris army (which I keep putting off painting) and an Ork army which I mostly scratch built. Photos of this are in the Orks Showcase thread. Well, to cut a long story short, I don't think Grey Knights are my favourite army any more. I just love me some Orks.

I am not much of a painter, it has always been my least favourite part of the hobby but I enjoyed making/painting my Ork army more than anything else I've made/painted. And this got me to thinking, is just over 2000 points of Orks enough? I find myself thinking no, not even close.

So I have decided to make ANOTHER 2000 point army, this time with a heavy focus on Walkers. Just as in my other army, I'll be using official GW models only for the actual Orks, all vehicles (and there's a lot) will be put together with whatever I can get my hands on. I will again be trying to keep costs to a minimum and am hoping to beat my record from last time,

[tentagil]

Looks like a good start on the bitz to build them. And I love the idea of that force. Not sure how effective it would be, but would be a blast to play a force like that. I would probably add some Kanz though. I like Kanz as mobile artillery while my Dreads get up front for the chopping.

Edited May 14, 2021 by tentagil

[Azaiel]

Looks like a fun project, good luck!

[Holier Than Thou]

Thanks guys. Tentagil, yeah it's not going to be a super-competitive list but will hopefully be fun to play and play against.

Full List Details

Warboss on Bike with Ard As Nails, Da Biggest Boss and Da Killa Klaw

Boss Nob on Bike with Big Choppa

5 x Biker Nobs

Boss Nob on Bike with Big Choppa

5 x Biker Nobs

3 Deff Dreads all with 4 Skorchas and Orkymatic Pistons

3 Deff Dreads with 2x Dread Klaws & 2 x Dread Saws with Dirty Gubbinz

3 Deff Dreads with 2 x Skorchas & 2 Dread Klaws

Mega Dread with 2 x Rippa Klaws

Meka Dread with 2 x Killkannons

Meka Dread with 2 x Killkannons

Some progress shots of the Dreads. Have added some beat-up armour and "faces" and drilled holes for the limbs, I'll add the rivets tomorrow night probably, they always make a difference. I'm still trying to work out what to use as the power plant on the back, got some plastic straws I'll be using as exhausts but don't know what to house them in yet.

Here's 3 of them so far.

[Holier Than Thou]

Some progress. Found something to use as the power pack, a little box from the kids' raisin snacks, with a few bits added. Will add some wiring and cables too, probably after priming. Rivets added too. Will get them all to this stage then add the legs and arms.

[Xenith]

Been thinking about converting some Kans also, keen to see how these progress! 

[Commisar Marbh]

Old PC power supplies have good wire and if you are lucky braided cable to use as well.  Will be good to connect torso to limbs or backpack/engine to limbs or torso.  

[Holier Than Thou]

Got the legs on most. These two are from the unit with Orkymatic Pistons, they definitely didn't skip Leg Day. Haha

I've left the lids open until I've finished glueing legs and arms in place, but they will all be closed once they are finished except one which will have this fella peeking out.

Gonna try and get the legs finished on the last 3 Deff Dreads tonight and start working on making their weapons.

[Holier Than Thou]

Some progress made after being away with the family last week. Dread Saws added to the close combat focused Dreads.

[Holier Than Thou]

Slight update, I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked (was hoping the Dreads would all be finished by now) due to watching my beloved Scotland in the Euros and general family stuff.

I have managed to get the close combat Dreads fully built now.

After spraying, will probably add chain round the outer section of the Saws and round the blue bits on the arms, which will be how they spin.

I've also started making the Skorchas, need to wait for the green stuff to cure then I'll drill some haphazard holes through the muzzles, befitting of Orky construction. Then the hose will be added to the nozzles and connected to the little holes at the bottom of the felt tip lids after spraying.

You can see the rest of the Dreads out of focus in the background. Once the Skorchas are done, that's the Dreads all finished bar painting.

Changed my list slightly too. Dropped a Nob Biker from each squad and changed one Dread from Klaws and Skorchas to Klaws and Rokkit Launchas so I could fit a Weirdboy in with Visions in the Smoke, help the Meka Dreads out a bit with rerolls.

Edited June 28, 2021 by Holier Than Thou

[Holier Than Thou]

Got all the Dreads primed with black then Leadbelcher. Dirtied up the legs before glueing them to the bases.

Also managed to start putting a little bit of colour down, still lots to do but I think the red really starts to bring them to life.

[Xenith]

Great work, these look awesome - any pics next to the GW model? They look a bit taller/more gangly. 

[Holier Than Thou]

Great work, these look awesome - any pics next to the GW model? They look a bit taller/more gangly. 

 

Thank you.

 

I don't have the official model but one of my mates has a few so I will see if I can borrow one for a comparison photo. I think they are the same/very similar in height to the official model (apart from the three with Orkymatic Pistons, they are definitely taller).

[Holier Than Thou]

Progress Update Incoming. Picture Heavy.

I have pretty much finished the 9 Deff Dreads, I'm going to try and do a green glow round the eyes of each (or whatever passes for eyes on these) then need to do a brown wash and varnish but will probably wait until I have at least the rest of the Walkers finished then do it all in one go. I also still need to paint the pilot for the open-topped Dread but that shouldn't take too long.

I have also made really good progress on the Mega/Meka Dreads. My starting point for these was a chewing gum bottle and more Bionicle parts. I borrowed my mate's Gorkanaut to get an idea of scale for them.

And today I have finished building them, ready for spraying if the rain stays away for the rest of the day.

The Mega Dread

And the two Meka Dreads

So once these have been sprayed and painted, it'll be the hardest part of the project in my mind. Building 11 Motorbikes for the Nobs and Warboss. I think I'll try and go with a Chopper style for them all but try and make the Boss's bike a bit more special.