40K Tyranids: Smaller beasts

I've painted a few more tyranids recently, to add to the swarm:

Neurogaunts are weaker creatures that act as synaptic signal relays for the hive mind. Wifi boosters, if you will. I've also heard them called bluetooth piranhas, and space chickens. They have smaller creatures on their backs, guiding them. The brood leader is a Nodebeast, and is a little bigger and fancier.

Neurogaunts

Neurogaunt Nodebeast

I painted more termagants.

I painted some genestealers. I don't like these sculpts- they have a lot of soft detail and don't comfortably gel with the main Tyranid aesthetic notes.

I painted more spore mines. Love my mines.

40K Lamenters: Reivers

I painted five Reivers. These are behind-the-lines terror troops with their signature skull helms, massive combat knives, and grav-chute wings on their power packs. I used 3D printed pauldrons- and I prefer my hand-painted ones. I may even try to pry them off and redo them.

Reivers

Reiver Sergeant

I also finished off a few more of the specialist Infiltrators:

Infiltrator Helix Adept (medic)

Infiltrator Commsman

Infiltrator Sergeant

Skull-o-meter™: 20

Sharkey and Worm

I got around to painting these two villains that have been in my collection for a fair while. A quick paintjob, but fitting. The GW example has a brown cloak, but as per the text:

...they overtook an old man leaning on a staff, and he was clothed in rags of grey or dirty white, and at his heels went another beggar, slouching and whining.

40K Genestealer Cult characters

I've painted a few special characters for my Genestealer Cult, the Guiding Hands.

The villain in my Five Parsecs finale, the Locus is a sort of bodyguard character. His hooded robe hides a hunch with some spinous protuberances and a tail.

Genestealer Cult locus

The Nexos is a planner and coordinator, with a very cool floating holomap. This has an easter egg- it depicts Warhammer World! I used Contrast Aethermatic Blue, and might go back and enhance the glow effects.

Genestealer Cult Nexos

Note the clawed imperial eagle

My Lamenters two-step-yellow recipe

For the last 18 months I've found myself painting Lamenters. I often get asked about my yellow technique, so I made a little tutorial.

Phobos Infiltrators

Preparation

i. Remove moldlines and assemble. I glue sand etc. to the base now. I prepare and paint the backpack and head separately. 

ii. Undercoat Vallejo Bonewhite rattlecan.

iii. Paint the base.

iv. Drybrush white. I've found this subtle slapchop works well for me.

Okay, here's the real meat.

1. Contrast Ironjawz Yellow

2. SMS Umber Wash. This is an oil-based product by an Australian model paint company. I work it into all the creases...

3. ... then I clean it up with Artists White Spirit and a makeup sponge. I get rid of the worst excesses (e.g. back of the hand, shoulder pad) but it doesn't have to be pristine. That's it! Your yellow is done. No highlighting required.

4. Paint the rest of the Lamenter. The left pauldron (chequered) is hand-painted (previous tutorial); the tactical symbol on the right is a decal.

I appreciate an Australian oil wash paint is a bit niche, but I'm sure a similar product exists elsewhere. The point is that I've found a reproducible way for me to get masses of yellow done without losing my mind with edge-highlighting. I've seen nice things done with pink pre-shading, but I'm committed to this technique now. It doesn't have to be too neat; the rest of the details hide major flaws in the yellow. These figures won't win individual prizes but they're done.

Descent: Lair of the Worm

I realised I've now painted all the figures for the Descent expansion, Lair of the worm. The photos were taken at different times, hence the different backgrounds. I've done them pretty quick and loose with Speedpaints. They're good enough for a game.

Valyndra

Valyndra

Hybrid Sentinels

Fire Imps

High Mage Quellen

Reynhart the Worthy

40K Lamenters: Ballistus Dreadnought

 + Even in death, I still serve. +

Some grievously wounded Marines are placed into elaborate life support sarcophagi, which are interred in ancient and rare Dreadnought war machines. Denied death, they are awoken at dire need every few decades to fight on. They also serve as venerable elders, holding the stories of warriors from generations past.

The Ballistus Dreadnought fills a fire support role with lascannons, a missile launcher, and twin stormbolters.

I wasn't initially sold on this model, with its unusual proportions compared to the classic, weighty, smaller boxnaughts. It quickly grew on me, however.

It towers over mere mortals.

The sarcophagus, forever hidden behind the front armour.

I quite enjoyed painting this, despite my usual struggles with painting vehicles. There's a lot of armour plating to leave blank or fill with heraldry and other markings. I used decals from a variety of sources. I tried to keep to the yellow/ black/ white/ red of my Lamenters, and restrained myself from excessive weathering.

Skull-o-meter™: 9

+

I do not want this.

I have served with loyalty and honour...

Throw... my ashes into the void.

Do... not... entomb...me...

+

Final words of the war-sage Malcharion

Aaron Dembski-Bowden Soul Hunter (2010)*

* I know, I know