Death Korps of Krieg, Lord Marshal Dreir.

 

TRANSCRIBED VOX-LOG

SOURCE: Krieg Line Officer, Trench Delta-Seven

STATUS: Deceased (Confirmed)

RECOVERY: Post-Action Sweep, +3 Days

DATA INTEGRITY: Partial / Acceptable

-----

I am recording this in accordance with regulation.

At 04:16 siege-time, Lord Marshal Dreir advanced past our position at the head of the Death Riders. 

He did not slow. This was efficient. 

The mount ES819 showed structural damage but remained combat-capable. 

The Sabre of Sacrifice was visible and unblemished at that time.

We maintained fire as ordered. One rider was killed by overshoot from our right flank battery. No correction was issued. Ammunition expenditure took precedence.

Enemy resistance increased at 04:18. 

Volume of fire exceeded prior engagements but lacked coordination. Two cavalry elements were lost before contact. Their absence did not alter the advance.

The collision occurred at approximately 04:22. Enemy morale collapsed immediately upon impact. Cultist personnel were neutralised by sabre strikes, trampling, and compression against urban debris. The sounds were consistent with prior close-assault actions.

Lord Dreir did not vocalise commands. He did not hesitate. The Sabre of Sacrifice functioned as intended. I observed the blade destroy several enemy fighters.

At 04:30, the avenue was cleared. Fires continued. The dead obstructed movement and were used as cover by advancing infantry.

Lord Dreir halted at the far terminus of the avenue and turned to face the approach. He remained stationary, I estimate forty to fifty seconds. This observation has no tactical relevance.

We were ordered forward to entrench at 04:44. Shovels were distributed. Where ground was insufficient, bodies were utilised. Enemy and Krieg remains were of equal utility.

I was assigned to the third digging rotation.

-----

ARCHIVAL NOTE:

The officer’s body was recovered in Trench Delta-Seven with entrenching tool in hand. Cause of death: secondary bombardment. The position was lost again two days later.

NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED

*****

Just like that we're a week into 2026, and also just like that the first mini of 2026 is finished!

Granted this mini has been part painted since about November, but with a quiet night, I decided to buckle down and get him finished.

Lord Marshal Drier is the named character for the Death Korps of Krieg, a mounted cavalry commander and the regiments equivalent of Lord Solar Leontus*.

Here is the finished mini:

For the greatcoat and armour, etc, I followed my regular DKoK scheme, with Vallejo French Mirage Blue making up the blue-grey colouring of the greatcoat.

He has a lot more colour on him then the regular Death Korps, simply because he is a senior officer, so I went with a nice rich burgundy-purple-pink to contrast well with the drab blue-grey of the main army.

Stupid and unrealistic I know, but this is 40k...

The gas mask for both horse and rider was started with the usual Khaki, but I went different on this one and washed it with Seraphim Sepia, it adds a weathered appearance to me and makes him look more like a veteran**

ES819, the mount, started as Ironrach Skin.

I then used the washes Seraphim Sepia, Ireland Flesh shade and Druchii Violet to shade the mount.

Sepia at the top, Felshshade in the center and Violet below the knees.

I worked fast getting these onto the model, and then used a damp brush to wet blend the colours into each other, the first time I have ever tried to use this technique.

His base got the usual urban theming for Frasers army, and a few broken pipes, when I get another box of skulls, I'll paint a few and go back and add one or two to his base to really fit into 40k***

I Know Drier was in my "Bonus Projects" list for the year, but he was part finished, it was late at night when I managed to sit down to paint**** and he was the first thing on the top of the workbench I picked up.

Doesn't matter, he's finished and another model for Frasers army down.

Until next time, Have nice day...

*I think, I don't play 10th edition 40k.

**I tried this on the infantry I've been working through, but with different shades of highlights and different brown's/Khaki's as basecoats for equipment, it's subtle but i think it shows the different ages of gear on the regiment, as some are newer than others for replacement troopers.

***SKULLS! SKULLS EVERYWHERE! 

****I'm back at work full time now, so whilst hobby time is available, I've got to get back into the swing of sectioning out time for myself around other things at home.

Engineer Squad, Black Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg.

The Engineers advanced in a crouched line through the shattered avenue, their greatcoats grey with dust and soot, gas masks reflecting the burn of fires in dead windows above. Around them the city screamed. Autoguns chattered from upper stories, heavy bolters thumped somewhere to the rear, and shells fell with the dull, collapsing sound of buildings giving up their last strength. At their centre trundled the demolition drone, a squat tracked machine chewing through the rubble, its auspex antennae twitching as it tasted the poisoned ground ahead.

They halted at the suspected minefield where the street dipped into a cratered intersection. One Engineer knelt, probing with a bayonet while another fed data into the drone’s control unit, his gloved hands steady despite the tremor of nearby impacts. The drone rolled forward obediently, a telltale click echoed, then anothe. Pressure mines, linked and cunningly buried, waiting for the careless or the brave.

The assault surged past them regardless. Infantry sprinted across side streets, tanks ground rubble into powder as they fired point-blank into hab-blocks, and overhead a Valkyrie screamed low, disgorging Grenadiers into the smoke. 

Shrapnel pattered against the Engineers’ armour like rain, and one man fell without a sound, punched through by a round meant for no one in particular. No one broke formation; another stepped into his place, because the mine had to be cleared.

With a final signal, the Engineer at the controls triggered the drone. The explosion was sharp and contained, the ground buckling as the hidden charges were consumed in a controlled fury. Dust washed over the unit, and when it settled the street was torn open but safe. Without ceremony, the Engineers advanced once more into the fire, making a path so others might die further ahead.

*****

An end of year post, things have been a little quiet around here, mainly due to personal,  not hobby, related reasons.

In the gulf of time between Christmas and New Year though, I found motivation and time to hobby again, picking up this unit which has been half painted for quite some time. 

When the Death Korps of Krieg got their army second wave miniatures,  during the Guards 10th Edition Codex roll out, Fraser bought the box and sent it over for me to add to his Krieg army I'm SLOWLY working on for him...le sigh...

I built the Engineers as they were my favourite unit, primed them, basecoated them and then...life got in the way.

So here they are after a couple of hours of highlighting and basing:

All five members are finished, based to match the urban war bases of the previous troops I've finished for his army.

Here's the Sergeant and Flamer:

The Shotgun Engineers:

The Drone Controller and Demolition Drone (affectionate nicknamed the "Roomba" by us):

They have a wealth of details, as most modern GW kits do, and I went in and added even. Ore accessories to them in the form of grenades and pouches...Just because I thought they didn't look like they had enough equipment on them.

If Fraser ever thinks of adding a Chimera to this unit, I've several ideas of how to model it and equipment and storage to add to it.

Finally, I pulled the Commissar (my favourite model FW ever made for this range) and the converted Master of Ordnance to put alongside the unit to keep track of the basing too they match:

And with that, the last models I've painted in 2025 are posted.

Hopefully 2026 will be a better year, with more stability going forwards.  I am hoping to get another swathes of troopers for this army finished soon as they need highlighting and bases to be finished, so I may make that the first priority in 2026 before other projects.

Until next time, have nice day...

Dreadtober 2025, Fire in the Void - part 1.

 

Fire in the Void

The chronicled account of Brother-Sergeant Kael'en Dra'vok, Salamanders 4th Company

---

Part I – The Initial Assault

The void was a frozen tomb. The Obsidian Vigil, support cruiser of the Astral Claws chapter, drifted silently, its bulk punctuated by the flickering energy spark gleam of shattered void shields and splintered hull plating drifting in the void. Through the darkness, fiery beacons streaked across the gap—assault pods, forged in the fires of Nocturne itself, carrying the wrath of the Salamanders. Inside, the ceramite-suited forms of the Chapter’s 2nd Company braced for the violent welcome the renegades would deliver upon their arrival.

Bray’Arth Ashmantle’s Dreadnaught hull glimmered with the patina of countless campaigns. His twin-linked heavy flamers roared to life, spilling searing tongues of flame into the breach, wreckage stillsettling at the assault pods violent approach. He moved with methodical precision, feet of adamantine stepping over molten wreckage as he led the charge. Brother-Sergeant Kael'en Dra'vok followed close, bolter at the ready, every fibre of his being a furnace of righteous wrath.

The breach was met with a storm of bolter fire and the burning walls of flamer weapons, meltas splintering bulkheads and illuminating the void-torn corridors with brief, blinding brilliance. The Astral Claws defenders recoiled, their ferocity undiminished, but the Salamanders advanced. Smoke and flame mingled with the acrid stench of plasma, painting every surface in molten gold and crimson.

Kael'en’s squad moved with practiced synchrony, breaching doors and cutting down foes before they could form cohesive ranks. Every strike was precise; every flamestoke a cleansing judgment. The corridor’s end opened into the central atrium of the Obsidian Vigil, where the roar of battle awaited.

Even as the Salamanders pressed, the whispers of fate drifted through the smoke. Bray’Arth’s visor glowed, scanning for targets of import, while Kael'en’s heart hammered in anticipation. They had taken the first step into the heart of darkness—but the shadow of the Astral Claws would not yield so easily.

*****

It's that time of the year again, when the blog/online hobby community all take to their painting tables and paint something big and armoured.

Dreadtober is back and I'm going to take part for my fourth year.

With things still being up in the air staff wise at work so to speak, and me not knowing just how much time I'm going to have to devote to the hobby, I'm only working on one Dreadnaught this year, but it's a special one.

As I download various STL files for "Project Badab" (more information coming soon), I have had t make the difficult choice of just which chapters to include in my project, as there are far too many through the entire Badab Wars campaign for me to pick EVERYONE!

One of the Loyalists which was an auto include were the Salamanders, with their storyline within and negotiating a ceasefire and surrender with the Executioners chapter being a particular highlight.
When Forge World were originally producing the Badab War big books, and obviously a slice of models to accompany them. One of the models they produced was a named Dreadnaught for the Salamanders, one Bray'Arth Ashmantle.

Perfect.

Perfect to cross something off the list for Project Badab AND take part in Dreadtober with.

So, with some searching I found an excellent STL of the Dreadnaught and seven hours later, my own model was in my hands, de-supported, washed and cured, ready to begin modelling on.

The STL comes in a LOT more pieces then the original Forge World model, which was a resin base copy of the (then current) plastic dreadnaught.
I'm hoping to have him built by the end of this week (I'm writing this on the second of October. and can then get him primed up this weekend, ready to begin work on.

Please head on over to the Dreadtober blog page as there are eleven or twelve of us taking part again this year, and any and all comments are welcome, as there will be links to everyones blogs/instagram pages with updates and WIP photos and everything.

*****

Fire and Iron

The corridor was a narrow tomb of steel and shadow, yet Bray’Arth Ashmantle moved through it like a living inferno. Every step of his adamantine feet sent shudders through the deckplates, every sweep of his massive claws tore reinforced doors and enemy armor alike. The screams of the Astral Claws reverberated off the walls, drowned beneath the roar of flamers that ignited everything in their path.

Kael’en and his squad flanked him, bolters blazing, but it was Bray’Arth who commanded the space. He was fire incarnate, a sentinel of judgment whose mechanical frame consumed enemy resistance as though it were kindling. Every strike of his claws carved death with precision, every movement clearing a path through the choke-point that had once seemed impenetrable.

A squad of Silver and Blue-armoured foes surged from a side hatch, hoping to stem the advance. Bray’Arth swung his claws in a sweeping arc, tearing the first two apart and sending the remainder sprawling into the walls. Sparks rained from twisted ceramite, metal screamed under the force of impact, and the corridor itself seemed to groan beneath the weight of his assault.

Even in the smoke and chaos, Bray’Arth’s sensors scanned, assessing every threat, calculating every strike, directing the path of destruction. The corridor became his domain, every shadow a target, every spark a warning. No Astral Claw could withstand him; no corner offered safety. He was the engine of purification, and nothing in his path would survive the judgment of flame.

---

Until next time, have nice day...

World Eaters Lord Invocatus.

 

The offerings to Khorne had been great...

Centurion Skaldast, elevated to one of Khorne's favoured champions now rode maniacally down the Imperial defence line, slicing heads and arms with his massive eviscerator chainsword as he went. His Juggernaut goring at Imperial soldiers or trampling the wounded into a bloody paste as it charged, the heating from it's furnace body cooking off munitions as it passed

Ahead, a tight knot of guardsmen were forming around an Autocannon team, being commanded by a Commissar. Rounds sparked from the iron hide of the beast and Skaldast's armour as they hunkered down into a full speed charge.

A lucky shot smacked into the meat of his arm, piercing the soft seal of the elbow joint. Skaldast grunted at the momentary pain and braced to take the Commissar's head.

Like a force of nature the superheated daemonic monster hit the soldiers, crushing two which were unlucky enough to be caught by iron shod hooves the size of their chest. It lashed out and kicked the Autocannon mounting into the air, the weight of the weapon slamming another guardsman into a paste.

As the Juggernaut reared and swung it's head in a vicious arc, a guardsman close to it was blow apart by his lasrifles cooking off and exploding against his chest as Skaldast launched himself from it's back, bringing his chainsword down in a two handed swing.

He missed his target as the Commissar stepped aside, and the chainsword bit angrily into the churned earth, revving loudly as it threw soil and blood about in equal measure.

With a riposte and strike, the Commissars own chainsword swung and sparked along Skaldast's shoulder plates, marking the rune of Khorne embossed in brass. He struck again hitting the side of Skaldast's helmet and momentarily causing the helmet lenses to fill with interference.

The butcher's nails were screaming in the back of Skaldast's skull, demanding he do something to this upstart mortal who has struck him twice.

Blindingly fast, he ripped the eviscerator from the ground, whirled it over his head and slammed it through the chainsword of the Commissar, causing the lesser weapons motors to explode, taking the Commissars hand with it.

With a roll of his shoulders, Skaldast redirected the momentum of the swing and separated the head from neck of his prey.

Stopping to retrieve the head, and Commissariat cap, he turned to find his Juggernaut waiting for him, impatiently pawing at the earth, digging huge clops of turf from the ground each time.

Around them was pure carnage as body parts mingled amongst a growing pool of blood, as the attack moved on again...

*****

Back with another World Eaters model and another Character.

This time a Lord Invocatus*, the character who could have easily been an Aspiring Champion mounted on a Juggernaut.

I used the same red scheme as I did in my last post about the Master of Executions, basically Flesh Tearers Red, Berzerker Bloodshade but this time I layered back up with a little Khorne Red, on the top third of the armour panel.

Likewise the bronze is same scheme being Retributor Armour and Berzerker Bloodshade.

The main difference here though is the Juggernaut, being coal black and having a furnace type look to the rest of the body.

The furnace glow had to be tackled first, and started with a basecoat of Gryph Hound Orange, this was then stippled with Trollslayer Orange, Fire Dragon Bright and then Averland Sunset.

It was then washed with Berzerker Bloodshade, before having a very light drybrush with Averland Sunset again.

The main armour panels were tackled after all this was done, starting with a layer of Corvus Black and then washed with Berzerker Bloodshade, finally being layered back on with Corvus Black, but only a third of the way down each panel.

Metals are the same Bronze as the Lord and the silver is simply Leadbelcher washed with Berzerker Bloodshade, I also took the time to pick out the various trophy skulls and the World Eaters symbol** on his shoulder.

Basing is the usual rocky/deserty scrubland, I used some extra grass tufts which i haven't before on this model, the slightly darker ones.

I normally buy from Warpainter.net 

These new ones I bought from a model railway shop in Caistor, North Lincolnshire, whilst at work*** and they are produced by the model railway manufacturer Peco.

They are darker then my usual go to tufts and a lot more rigid as I cut them in half to make better positioning around the rocky surface I built up using cork.

Whilst slightly more expensive, being 60 tufts for £6 instead of 114 tufts for £5 from Warpainter, I do recommend the Peco tufts for variety and quality.

So, Centurion Skaldast gives me another 20 points for my OPC total for the Plastic Crack podcast, I'm well down on my target, but the year is only halfway gone.

Until next time, have nice day...

*GWs naming convention gets worse and worse.

**I would have preferred generic chaos shoulder pads, but Fraser had already built everything before giving me his army, so I can't complain really (and I wasn't about to fuck around and find out, trying to get the pads off these models and ruining a lot of models in the process... I'll keep them as World Eaters, just allied alongside my Black Legion).

***Being a modeller and Wargamer I am always on the lookout for model supplies wherever I can find them.

The fact that I was driving to Boston to work the Steel Coil train and passed the model shop on the way was a bonus, I called in on my way back to our home yard at Scunthorpe and ended up in a conversation with the elderly man who owned the shop about working on the railway as a career.

Building a better Master of Executions - part 2.

 

"Brace, Brace, Brace for impact" the monotone warning from the servitor sounded within the Deathclaw troop compartment.

Kail stood at ease in his restraints, he hefted his executioner axe and felt the weight of the ancient weapon, passed through the hands of his predecessors.

With a bone jarring impact the assault pod slammed into the enemy cruiser and fired it's metal charges breaching the outer hull.

Every Berzerker within stumbled upon impact causing curses as the nails bit deep at the affront.

They heard the percussive thump of Heavy Bolter fire as the point defences opened up as the servitor droned on.

"Impact successful, creating vacuum proof seal, defences firing, defences firing, defences firing, ten seconds until vacuum seal established"

Kail almost tore his restraint from the wall as he moved, other Berzerkers were with him, but none got in his way, not after the butchery he meted out on his last challenger, who's freshly polished skull now adorned Kail's backpack.

"Five seconds"

The nails dug into the meat of his head, desperate for him to unleash any sort of violence. Other members of the warband we're cursing at the delay, almost coming to blows.

"Four seconds"

Kail backhanded on Berzerker who was trying to punch the warrior next to him.

"Three seconds"

"Control yourself" Kail boxed, shaking his head he added, "pathetic wretch".

Through force of willpower he fought the nails, their base urge to spill blood tore at him, he held it back down, holding it until the enemy were within sight.

"Two seconds"

He gripped the haft of his axe so tight, the bindings creaked, threatening to tear within his grip. The motor for the chain teeth revved, sounding like a predatory animal growling low, waiting.

"One second"

The jostling of bodies stopped as all the Berserkers went still as one, waiting for that delicious moment when...

"Vacuum seal formed, opening Assault Doors"

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!"

Kail screamed as he led the charge, forcing the doors open even as the motors whined and moved the thick blast proof steel.

"SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"

A tide of bloodthirsty Astartes surged into the decks of the enemy ship and the slaughter began...

*****

It's been a while since I posted anything, but real life tends to get in the way sometimes.

Anyway, the drought is over and the river flows once again.

So, a while ago I converted up a Khornate Master of Executions and then...did nothing with him...

Well, Kail (as I pulled up on a name generator) has been painted and finished for about six or seven weeks now, I just haven't had time to post him up. Until now...

I went for red and brass, and the off-white armour to make him stand out amongst the rank and file Berzerkers to come.

I also wanted a darker red then official GW paint scheme as the newer World Eaters just look like spiky Blood Angels.

I am starting with a Flesh Tearers Red basecoat, along with Retributor Armour and then washing them with Berzerker Bloodshade to give a really deep feel to the colours.

Whilst I didn't highlight the gold, leaving it that grungy bronze colour, I added a sporadic highlight of Evil Sunz Scarlet here and there to him to add that extra level of detail a character model deserves.

The off-white is actually Wraithbone, washed with Bloodshade and then layered back up with Pallid Wych Flesh, finally with Ulthuan Grey on the very highest, light catching areas of his armour.

His greatcoat is Snakebite Leather washed with Earthshade and highlighted with Baneblade Brown to finish off.

Basing in my usual desert/scrubland style with a black rim on the edge of the base.

This model was a joy to kitbash/convert with the spare parts I had at the time. He's got a real, striding to meet the enemy character pose about him and works really well at the head of a World Eaters warband.

He adds 10 points to my hobby total for the year and I've kept track of that during my absence.

As Fraser GAVE* me his World Eaters army the just other week back, I've started work on a few more of the models, but think I'll leave Angron** until last, or very nearly...

Until next time, have nice day.

.

*"I have too many unpainted armies, and I don't play the World Eaters anyway, now that I have my Battle Sister force, do you want them?"

Seriously that was how he opened that conversation.

**Yes he gave me the fucking Daemon Primarch as well....

Death Korps of Krieg Commissar.

Impassive, unreadable due to the gas ask covering his face, Commissar Juan Boerkaunt watched the assault begin. He has heard stories of the Death Korps of course, they all had as they received their postings from segmentum command.

He had been slightly put out by being assigned to a siege regiment, rather then an assault regiment, where he felt his skills would be of more use, but he was slowly beginning to be impressed with these fanatical men of Krieg.

The son of a tank officer, born on the volcanic world of Tallax IV, Juan had been inducted into the scholam on his seventh birthday and was earmarked for Commissariat duties. 

With this new campaign, his second as a full Commissar, he had been expecting a posting to a regiment which needed a firm hand and led by example in combat.

In truth, the Krieg were so well disciplined that he found himself rather bored, having to deal with the other regiments around them in their interactions with his men. Now with the prospect of some action his mood had lightened.

He observed the quick, smooth movements of the assault platoons moving forward, the autocannons, already sighted in began their statacco drumbeat rhythm of firing, chewing great chunks out of the side of the building, itself already a ruin.

The Captain, Sain-Stagier, appeared alongside him accompanied by his command squad.

He gave a satisfied nod and turned to Boerkaunt.

"A smooth assault don't you think Commissar?"

"Yes, I am impressed with the regiment and your company, Captain, I will pass that on in my reports up the chain of command".

Sain-Stagier and the Banner Bearer who had heard the conversation straightened with pride.

"Shall we observe a little closer Commissar, I've no doubt the men will fight harder knowing their Commanders are nearby".

"It is rare to find a senior officer who chooses to advance, lead on Captain, the Emperor protects".

*****

So here is the first finished miniature of 2025.

This Death Korps of Krieg Commissar was a Christmas present I bought from a Chinacast supplier* for Fraser to join his 352nd Regiment.

The drawing the sword pose was certainly the most iconic of the Krieg Commissars, and in general of Commissars I think**, even my favourite of the Black Library Ibram Gaunt's models have been rather lackluster compared.

So I began as usual building up the urban ruined base, as is custom for this army. Lots of torn 4mm cork and plastic rodding/detonator wire to add detailing, before liberally covering with sand in the joins for crushed cement, etc.

I took the time to get a lean on the slab he is standing on correct, the original Forge World model is leaning slightly backwards, with his weight on the rear leg, as if he's going to cast forwards with a cleaving motion.

I wanted him to be stood taller and more imposing, so positioned him to be leaning forward, looming down off of the ruins.

Painting wise, daily standard, although I decided to follow the techniques of Andy at Mediocre Hobbies, in that he uses contrast paints as a base layer, hits the model with an overall wash, and then layers up and highlights, because this gives a much better indication of where the shadows are naturally.

Starting from my preferred grey undercoat I started with black Templar, Blood Angels Red, Iyanden Yellow and Basillcanum Grey contrasts.

The metals were picked out in Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour, and his mask was Vallejo Khaki.

Everything was then hit with an overall Earthshade*** wash and then I chose my layering colours.

The coat was Corvus Black and highlighted with Stormvermin Fur, where as his hat, because I wanted a different texture, was done with Abaddon Black and highlighted with Standard Grey.

His uniform was Standard Grey and highlighted with Vallejo Light Grey, Epaulettes were Averland Sunset, Done Yellow and then a shade with Seraphim Sepia.

The red cuffs and sash are Meohiston Red and Evil Suns Scarlet to really get that highlight.

Metals were just layered up with Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour respectively.

So there we have it, a Commissar for the regiment and another miniature finished off.

I'm hoping to get the time to highlight up Red Platoon for that regiment soon, but I must concentrate on my own 261st regiment and opposing Militia in order to get my games in for the Vraks campaign (more on this soon).

A sneak peak at what's coming:

Lots of Deathriders!

As I'm taking part in the Plastic Crack Podcast OPC this year, he gets me off the mark with 10 points of my 6,000 point goal.

Until next time, have nice day...

*

**The only one I think is better is this guy, which I am fortunate to have in my collection:

Although I would like to get the other two Commissars from this time period as well.

***Cardboard Fortress asked about what was our favourite wash on his Facebook page recently, and I replied Earthshade rather then the more common Nuln Oil. 

I personally prefer the warmer shadows Earthshade gives, especially on living things, vehicles and constructs...well, it depends if it's oily or dusty really.

Yellow Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg.

 

"ON MY WHISTLE, ADVANCE!" came the shout down the line. Great coated infantrymen clutched their lasrifles, waiting with anticipation to begin the charge towards the objective.

Knelt in the dust and rubble, Sergeant Thieres gave a last prayer to the Emperor as he check his laspack for charge before slamming it home in his pistol. He looked around at his men readying themselves and gave a last brief.

"Our entry is the hole blasted in the wall opposite us. We have an open street to cross first, so as fast as possible, no stopping or bunching up".

The scream of overhead artillery was replaced with the booming retort of explosions and then a shrill whistle announced the start of the charge. Each Lieutenant blowing their whistle in turn to get the men moving.

Hurling himself out of cover, Thieres ran forwards, his bellowed cry of terror and rage lending him the strength to charge the enemy strong point.

 A guardsman Infront of him doubled over suddenly and dropped onto the ground lifeless, half a dozen others in the charging group fell, crumpled in the debris. With no time to mourn or check, Thieres urged his men onwards and made for the objective building.

More were cut down before they reached the building, Thieres slammed his back into the wall, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

He released a stick-grenade from his belt, priming it and threw it through the breach where it detonated with teeth loosening force. Smoke and screams coming from within.

Before the enemy could recover, he charged through, snapping shots left and right from the hip, the bright las-shots glowing in the smoke.

Two bloodied rebels stood before him, the Sergeant cut them down with a series of swift shots before his lasgun was wrenched away.

Throwing a haymaker, the rebel backed off giving Theires time to draw his pistol and Chainsword, before diving back into the fight. The rebel swung the butt of his rifle at Theires' head, swaying aside he kicked the man in the groin and slashed his Chainsword down, cleaving from shoulder to waist and killing the man.

More troopers poured through the breach, and Theires knew they had to keep moving, a single grenade amidst their number now could stop their assault in its tracks. He roared with the release of fury and adrenaline, and continued the slaughter...

*****

So finally I made headway on the Krieg force for Fraser again*, the last time was the Company Command Squad, this time it's a bit more substantial.

Yellow Platoon, H Company, 352nd Death Korps of Krieg Regiment:

A 5 man Platoon Command Squad and two 10 man Infantry squads, this is the minimum size platoon, and I have another 20 men to add to this platoon before it's done.

This organisation is the classic style from 5th edition and backwards, but it can be organised for 10th edition, making the force suitable for most editions of 40k that Fraser wants to play with them.

I picked these up again, because the Plastic Crack Podcast run an Open Painting Competition each month, and Novembers was "A Company/Battalion/Command for your game" and the closest I could get was a Platoon.

There is no prize for this OPC in the group, just the satisfaction of getting something done.

So here is the Lieutenant and the Command Squad. All their left shoulder plates and the flag trim are yellow to denote which platoon they belong to:

One of the squads, I themed this platoon around advancing so they got most of the running legs from the boxes I opened up:

The second platoon, the urban based are really showing their contrast here:

An overhead photo of the entire platoon, showing more of the bases off:

And a final group photo of the finished models. Like the Command Squad, I tried to vary a few of the greatcoats in shade, but it hasn't come out very well on the photo:

Originally I intended to do the minimum sized Company of Two Platoons worth of troops, with an Autocannons squad thrown in for extra.

But real-life got in the way and I simply ran out of time to get Red platoon  or the Heavy Weapons finished.

Here is a photo of the two platoons and one Autocannon team in progress, just after the Agrax Earthshade stage:

They'll be finished soon, so i can chalk them off of the "to-do" list.

Now onto the reveals of the new KRIEG stuff which is coming out in January next year. But this point everyone will have seen these photos, so I'm just offering my personal opinions on them.

The Command Squad is a mixed bag for me.

The top two models, the Standard and the "Grenadier" are misses personally. They just seem to lack that spark to make me WANT them. Whilst not as Lacklustre as the Sanguinary Guard or Inquisitor Coteaz reveals, I feel that these two and something further down are the weakest:

Sticking with the command squad, the officer is alright, I'm not a fan of the excessive detail going on on his chest plate. The medic however...now we're getting somewhere, he has the perfect look of creepy healer which you'd expect from a medic in a gas mask. I also like how his greatcoat isn't button up at the knees, but hangs straight down:

The Commissar is brilliant, much better then the Cadian Commissar, but the vox operator and servo skull make great models. I always feel like 40k needs more gothic weirdness like servo-skulls and such, something which seems to be lacking more and more with Games Workshops "corporatization":

The Krieg Field Artillery is a must buy**, it has that perfect mix of historical flavour and 40k Gothic Sci-Fi fuckery which is what made classic 40k it's own beast:

And then we get to the Engineers... definitely the weakest offering of the reveals.

I'm not sure what they were thinking mixing the Grenadier's and Engineers together into one model, but it's just odd. The engineers always had the smaller jacket as they majority fought in tunnels or at the "sap" end of the tranches being pushed forward, the smaller jackets giving them greater movement.

And the Goliath, what the fuck were they thinking turning it from a remote controlled tank into a damn Roomba?

Those are just my thoughts on the reveals, the Deathriders I won't cover because things are already in motion with Deathriders and Fraser has 16 of the Forge World models which I've started to build, I have suggest that he just gets the mounted officer to add to them, but we'll see.

So for a while yet, the Krieg will have their time to shine, more so with a project I've signed up for, but more on that in future posts.

Until next time, have nice day...

*I'd make a terrible Commission Painter, given I've had these models for over a year now from him and haven't gotten anywhere sorted with the army...

**Or it would be if I was bothered about actually fielding only GW models.

A day after the reveal, the internet was greeted with at least three different STL files to 3D print of the new stuff...take from that what you will!

The Solar Watch - Part 5.

 

They had burned for Mercury as soon as the last members of the watch had docked. Their sleek starship contrasting with the slab sided bulk haulers and security forces of the Imperial Navy, slid through the darkness, engines burning bright blue.

"What did Yor'Tar Dawne say exactly?" Custodian Caesarian Allux asked, striding into the huge briefing chamber, surrounded by his squad mates. Their armoured boots ringing on the polished floor.

"Greetings Allux, as gruff as usual I see" Vexilla Sanish said.

"I have no time for pleasantries when threats are in Sol!" Allux snapped, several other Custodians nodded or watches impassively at the arrival.

"Noted" Sanish replied, moving to the projector table and activating it with a sprinkling of unguents before pressing a series of buttons.

The machine flared into life, the long range auspex scans of their ship giving them a topological map of the Mercury Command Hive, a glowing eagle icon represented Yor'Tar Dawnes' current position.

"From what we were told, the heretic Herath, who translocated away from the assault of squad Maecanius. He has reappeared in the Mercury Command Hive and a hidden cult had risen up. Yor'Tar Dawne is currently combating..." Sanish trailed off staring at the pict flickering in the air.

A collective gasp rose as the Custodes watched.

"What is that?" Tristraen Gallimadean asked, pointing to a spot on the pict.

The top of the Command Hive appeared to be glowing on the 3 dimensional hologram, growing brighter with each passing second.

"Scanning for details" the servitor attached to the auspex said, "cannot comply, insufficient data".

The entire top of the hive flashed bright white for a second before disappearing and being replaced with an angry red stain on the pict.

"Holy Terra" Allux gasped.

Ominously, Sword-Champion Yor'Tar Dawnes' icon had disappeared from the pict.

"Burn the engines harder, get us into teleportation range as quickly as possible" Vexilla Sanish roared, "And get us in contact with Yor'Tar Dawne!".

*****

Another four Custodian guard have been finished for the Solar Watch force.

Not much to say about these as they follow the same paint and basing schemes as laid out in previous posts.

With these four done, it brings the total count to:

To do:

• Shield-Captain 
• 4 Custodian Guard
• 3 Allarus Terminators 
• 6 Venatari

Done:

• 2 Sword-Champions
• Vexilla
• 10 Custodian Guard 
• 3 Allarus Terminators 

So with sixteen models or the thirty now completed, I am very happy to say I'm past the halfway point of this army.

Up next is mostly the bigger specialist unit of the jump-pack equipped Venatari, who are brilliant models. Let's hope GW or FW don't bin them off like most of FWs other catalogue of models*.

Here's a couple of fully finished photo's of everything so far:

Until next time, have nice day...

*Recently nearly all FWs Imperial Guard kits have gone out of production, along with a lot of the Imperial Guard characters on the regular GW web store. My beloved Catachan's as well...but the reveal isn't too far away for what is being released next year.