Armies on Parade: The Starborn Mining Clan - a Genestealer cult counts as tyranid army

[ThePenitentOne]

This is an amazing and inspirational thread- hats off!

[Blissful Brushes]

This has got to be one of the best armies I’ve seen tbh. Even trying to find flaws in it is pretty damn hard.

 

beautiful

[Sherrypie]

Great work, themed armies full of flavour and character are just the best. I like the Trygon in particular.

[binary]

Some more updates. 
 

built the counts as Hive Crone from another Arvus. Quite a bit of work to replace the crew compartment with a tank (made from a 150ml coke can), made a chin turret for the heavy flamers, 2 underwing hunter-killer missiles and added a T-tail and wing extensions with plasticard. 
 

the thought process was that the Dragonfly class Arvus was a fire fighting vehicle before being appropriated by the Clan and having the fire suppression system modified to represent the Hive Crone’s torrent weapon and Tentaclids. 

[binary]

Ive also been having some thoughts about a counts as Swarmlord. Some big 4 armed Primus piloted mech leading the clan into battle. 
 

then I saw the Thanatar kit…..

 

and well……

Planning to recast the Thanatar’s head dome in clear resin so it fits like an aircraft canopy. 

Edited July 30 by Firedrake Cordova

[Firedrake Cordova]

Both are interesting ideas, and look great

 

I don't want to be "that guy", but is the right-hand landing skid on the Arvus slightly skew?

[Terminatorinhell]

Ah  even though I hate GS I have to admit this is probably one of the coolest versions of the I have ever seen. Absolutely great reimagining of the units 

[MetalFingers]

 This is such a cool and fun take for an army, everything looks amazing. Very inspiring!

[binary]

The Toxotide pattern Arvus is a fire fighting variant of the classic Arvus Lighter. The crew compartment is replaced with a tank for the fire suppression system, and a chin turret with 2 dispersion nozzles added. There are also wing extensions that improve the manoeuvrability of the aircraft allowing it to tackle fires both outside and inside the main structure of the Hive. 

This unit (Designated Dragon C-17) was supplied to the Departmento Munitorium of Talmtes Secundus in late 977m38 and was reported downed in action along with 3 other units during the uprising of St. Rochete. 

It came into the hands of the Starborn Mining Clan shortly after and was refitted for a more “aggresssive” role. The dispersion nozzles were replaced with flame units and the armament was upgraded with a pair of hunter-killer missiles liberated from the Talmtes Secundus PDF garrison. 

 

That’s the counts-as Hive Crone finished, and with it the Clan’s airforce. (Though I may still add some gargoyles).

 

 

On 7/30/2025 at 7:50 AM, Firedrake Cordova said:

Both are interesting ideas, and look great

 

I don't want to be "that guy", but is the right-hand landing skid on the Arvus slightly skew?

 

yes the right hand skid was slightly skew. I think I must’ve gone slightly bling to it after staring at the kit for so long building it!

needless to say it’s much straighter now.

 

next onto some experiments with clear resin for the Swarmlord