Apharo´s Chaos Votann Army project.

[BrotherApharo]

Hello everyone and welcome to Apharo's Dark Forge. This is my Chaos Votann Force project.

 

The idea started as a small force to use in boarding actions, but given that GW has somewhat neglected that format, and given that I was enjoying the conversion process a lot, I decided to expand the force by including other types of miniatures, not just infantry.

 

The idea behind this post is to show my progress, force myself to write in English (it's not my native language) and exchange ideas, receive feedback, etc.

 

So, without further ado, let's get to the point.

I want to start with the last unit I built, a Thunderkyn squad. 

 

It is the unit that is currently in progress in the Dark Forges, pending the cleaning of some mould lines, after which they will be ready to paint. Alongside the unit is an Arkanyst.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see that I have used a lot of bits from the Goliath gang (Necromunda) to carry out the conversions. 

 

When I started the project, I wanted a more purely chaotic approach, with units that were specific to each Chaos deity (including Hashut, of course), but as I worked on the project, my approach changed.

 

The idea of a corrupted Votann, Vashtor's involvement in the corruption of the League, and his ties with the Mechanicum (true one), etc., made me opt for a more industrial, mechanical style.

 

I will continue posting miniatures that are already finished and those that are in the queue to enter the fires of the Dark Forges.

 

For the Dark Core

BrotherApharo.

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:08 PM by BrotherApharo
Change of location of the photos

[Dr. Clock]

Welcome, fellow kyn. Probably. 

 

Seriously tho - greta job. Very curious on the colours you'll choose, especially given the relative paucity of information about heraldry for the Soul Forge / Vastorr.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[W.A.Rorie]

Very Nice!

[BrotherApharo]

58 minutes ago, Dr. Clock said:

Welcome, fellow kyn. Probably. 

 

Seriously tho - greta job. Very curious on the colours you'll choose, especially given the relative paucity of information about heraldry for the Soul Forge / Vastorr.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

 

Thats true, there are not many depictions (artwork etc) or info about Vashtorr forces. 

 

The part of the hobby I enjoy most is assembling and customizing miniatures. Painting is something I still need to improve on.
That said, the style I usually go for is grimdark, and what better way to depict something mechanical and industrial than with metallic shades of gray, bronze, and gold, along with dirty browns?

 

Since you asked, here are some examples of miniatures I’ve already painted.

 

 

The first mini I did. A duergar? kindoff Kahl to lead the squads of warriors through the narrow corridors of boarding actions maps.

 

“Balrog” and part of a Termie squad are still unfinished.

 

Thx for your welcome.

BrotherApharo.

 

 

 

 

[kabaakaba]

THIS is sic. Amazing conversions. I doubted GW could make it better. And I like paintjob on khal. Dark and muted with bursting colors.

[Lord_Ikka]

Very nice. Love the theme, well done!

[BrotherApharo]

First of all, thx all for you kind words. 

 

I think that this project is the best experience I had in the warhammer hobby, I´m really enjoying the procces of converting/kitbashing the miniatures. There aren’t many examples of conversions, and I haven’t seen anyone go all out with an entire converted army; that means I have to put in the effort, think through every conversion, decide which parts to use and what direction to take it in – and that’s what’s making me enjoy the process so much. (Obviously, some of my conversions have been influenced by fellow hobbyists such as my Kahl [took inspiration by the great work of never_hollow IG] .)

 

Back to plastic. Today has been a very productive day for the Dark Forge.

 

I started working in a Kapricus Carrier. It´s almost done, all I need now is for the front horns to finish setting (glue is taking ages to dry)  so I can make the barbed wire.

 

 

 

 

Added some Hashut iconography.

 

Then I continued working on a squad of Steeljacks. I had 3 done already, today I added 3 more (Volkite variant) and 3 melee ones (this are still WIP)

I’m not convinced by GW’s steeljacks original model, which is why I decided to take a different approach; and given that the Dark Forge is in communion with the forces of the True Mechanicum, and the use of abominable intelligences are not prohibited as it is in the narrow-minded Imperium, I decided to use miniatures that better reflect this.

 

 

 

 

These are the first 3 I did. Using a lot of putrid blightkings bits for the shoulders I really enjoyed how they turned.

 

 

 

 

 

I was running out of bits today, but I think the result is similar to the earlier ones and that they all fit together coherently.

 

There’s still loads of plastic left to assemble – I’ve got a half-finished Hekaton, several squads of Warriors, a Grimnyr… So I’ll keep you updated.
Cheers,
BrotherApharo

 

[kabaakaba]

It's looks like the best heresy I seen so far. What you use for your steeljacks? I mean body. And thrilled for your hekaton.

[BrotherApharo]

5 minutes ago, kabaakaba said:

It's looks like the best heresy I seen so far. What you use for your steeljacks? I mean body. And thrilled for your hekaton.

 

Those are the "new" Horus Heresy range Mechanicum Myrmidon Destructor bodies. My first attempt was using the Men of Iron miniature from Blackstone Fortress UR-025, but I wasn’t very happy with it.

 

 

On the other hand, if you’d like to satisfy your curiosity a little, here’s a sneak peek at the hekaton.

 

There’s still a lot of work to be done on this mini. The idea is to fit a cannon at the rear, although I’m still undecided between the new one from the Helsmiths of Hashut and Khorne’s Skullcannon. 

 

Behind the Chaos Ogre gunner/servant/slave is a barrel with a few pipes and cables connected to it. The plan is to fill it with bits of body parts and pour in resin tinted green to make it look as though the cannon draws its energy from there. If there’s any space left, add a warrior or a chaos servant.

 

For the Dark Core

BrotherApharo

 

[BrotherApharo]

Hello, disciples of the Dark Father, I’m back with some progress.

 

I’d been thinking for a while about how to approach converting a Grimnyr. 

 

I had two ideas for how to go about the conversion. One was purely chaotic, involving using of Tzeentch ‘The Changeling’ miniature – probably the upper half, the headless hood, the multiple arms and the staff.
In this case, I hadn’t yet decided how to go about making the two CORVs.

 

The other idea was to try and create a ‘Chaos Dwarf mage’, which is ultimately the one I went for. 

In this case, I had a clear idea of how to create the two CORVs. What could be better than two servants of the True Mechanicum? 
For that, I’d decided to use miniatures from the Nighthaunt range (have seen a lot of dark mech conversion using that range)

 

So here’s my take on a Chorf Grimnyr.

 

Drazkur, Voice of the Malice. 

"I witnessed the Arkifane repair the Core. I embraced the Primordial Truth of Chaos and broke the chains of the Ancestors' lies."

 

I’m undecided about the breastplate; I don’t know whether to add some chaotic symbol or leave it polished with no traces of the original.

I also need to think about what to do with that gap in the base; I’d thought about perhaps making a puddle? The rest of the base will be covered in mud.

 

 

I’m not a superhero fanboy, but I can’t stop thinking about Thanos every time I see that gauntlet.

 

 

His faithful demonic assistant, who accompanies him, carrying his runic sword.

 

 

First of the CORVs

 

 

Second CORV. It was a real struggle to get them onto those tiny bases.

 

 

And here’s the whole group.

 

I hope you like it, and that perhaps some of my fellow Kin members will switch to the true side of the Forge.

Cheers

BrotherApharo.

 

 

[BrotherApharo]

Hi, I’m back with some news. 

The forum hasn't been working properly for me, so I haven't been able to keep it updated. I’ve bought a few kits that were missing from my collection and I’ve finished assembling a few others that I already had. 

 

As the last time I updated this post was with a character, let’s carry on in the same vein.

Here is my Strategist conversion. It’s a simple piece; I would have liked to add a few more mecadendrites or spiky bits to make it look more chaotic, or to have used Captain Sargotta’s throne (from the Masters of the Maelstrom box), but for now it’s going to stay as it is.

 

 

 

 

He has borrowed the book from the restricted section of the Hogwarts library.

 

Let’s hope the website’s performance improves soon so that I can continue to keep you updated.

Best regards,
BrotherApharo.

 

 

 

 

[BrotherApharo]

We’re back at it in the Dark Forge. 

 

Today’s update is part of the work I did last weekend, together with the Strategist, but given the forum’s performance and the number of photos, I decided to wait before posting it. 

 

This time, it’s Brôkhyr Iron-master’s turn. Heretek, Warpsmith, Soul-Artisan – he’s known by many names.

I had a clear idea for the Brôkhyr conversion: I wanted to use at least the helmet and, if possible, the ruff from the Cybernetica-Datasmith. To this I added the idea of using one of the weapons from the Kapricus kit after assembling it. I’m still undecided as to whether or not to add a hammer for the left hand like the original model (in fact, replicating the pose was deliberate).

 

[WIP]

 

Adapting the torso from one mini to the other was a bit of a faff, but I think the end result was well worth it.

 

On the other hand, I wasn’t quite sure about the idea for the retinue.  Obviously, there was the option of using the Nighthaunt range, as I’d already done with the Grimnyr CORVs.

 

But what would the Chaos (Space) Dwarves be without their slaves?

 

The first member of the retinue is a humble servant of the True Mechanicum, provided by a Heretek ally of the Dark Forge. As you can see, he’s part of the lower ranks, with hardly any enhancements, no rank – a nobody.

 

 

The second member of the entourage is the Ironkin assistant. I had half a Datasmith body to use, a spare Nighthaunt head, and, combined with a Vothann torso, this resulted in what you’ll see below. The choice of helmet and overall look was influenced somewhat by playing Helldivers following the latest 40k Warbond update. I think of him as a genetically modified and lobotomised human slave.

 

The third is a Corv that’s been slightly modified to meet the Chaotic specifications. 

and the last one is the pack animal that carries the parts and tools needed to carry out repairs and fieldwork

 

And here’s the obligatory group photo.

 

 

To be honest, I’m really pleased with them; I think they’ve got loads of character and really fit in with the lore I’m trying to develop – working closely with the Mechanicum forces, the use of slaves (inspired by the Chaos Dwarves from Warhammer Fantasy/AoS), the Soul Forge, and the worship of the various Chaos gods.

 

We’ll carry on working on the Dark Forge; I’ve still got several kits to assemble and, above all, plenty to paint. The 11th edition has me excited; I’ve even been looking into options for transporting miniatures to games – let’s hope it doesn’t just turn out to be a passing fad.
Best regards,
BrotherApharo