The Feudal Japanese Project - part 6. Sohei Command.

 

The morning mist still clung to the slopes of Mount Izuna when Captain Renkō of the Uesugi Sohei drew his blade and turned to face his assembled warriors. Clad in red and yellow lacquered armour, their faces half-hidden behind cloth and prayer beads, the monks stood in silent ranks, the faint chiming of metal rings from their naginata hafts whispering like wind through a temple garden. Below them, in the valley, the banners of the Hojo clan rippled in black and white — invaders, desecrators, men who had come to burn the monasteries of Echigo and seize the holy mountain passes. Renkō raised his hand to the sky. “For Bishamonten, the God of War!” he cried. The mountain answered with the roar of a hundred voices.

The monks surged forward, descending the slope like an avalanche of faith and fury, the hiss of arrows slicing through the air. Hojo archers loosed volleys in panic, their shafts striking armour and passing through saffron robes — but still the Sohei came, their formation unbroken. Renkō led from the front, his crimson and grey banner trailing behind him like a comet’s tail. His katana swept wide, the curved blade flashing through armour and flesh as he smashed into the Hojo vanguard.

The impact was like the meeting of storm and sea. Steel met steel, and the calm chants of the monks turned to war cries. The Hojo line wavered, unused to such disciplined fury. Renkō fought as though possessed, his weapon cutting through men and spearshafts alike, the iron rings on its haft chiming like temple bells. Around him, his brothers formed a tight wedge, pressing deeper into the enemy formation. Even as they fell, their mouths still moved in prayer.

But the Hojo were no mere rabble. Their captains rallied them, forming spear walls and driving horses down from the flanks. A mounted samurai thundered toward Renkō, his blade gleaming. The Sohei captain sidestepped, catching the horse’s bridle and dragging the rider from his saddle in a burst of strength. With one motion, Renkō brought his blade down, ending the man’s cry before it could form. The clash grew thick with smoke and sweat, and the monks began to chant once more — not for victory now, but for transcendence.

*****

It has been a while since I posted anything Samurai related on here, but I carved out some painting time recently and buckled down to finish these four miniatures of the Sohei Command Cadre which I started over eighteen months ago...

Well, not to repeat things from previous posts recently, but life has kind of gotten in the way recently and I've had to work projects in amongst everything else.

As this group of models were 75% finished, I decided to buckle down and finish them off for another "easy win" to keep momentum and enthusiasm high.

Originally, I was going to use the Samurai for a big Hail Caesar project, and I might still do that, but I've also been working on a campaign for Lion Rampant using these models and my own custom ruleset for larger skirmish games of about 50-70 models per side, so I decided to keep them on individual round bases to be useful for different gaming systems.

The complete command staff, all from Kyoushuneko Miniatures and 3D printed by me at home.

We'll start with the two "Gunsou" (Sergeants). Both of which I chopped up a little to change their Spears to Katana to match the Daimyo (more later). I tried to mix things a little, but ensure that they still had the Saffron Yellow robes, for which the Sohei were famous. But then I mixed the other colours around on different areas of the models to give individuality to them, and also to ensure that the historical reason for the Sashimono (the back banners) was actually real, and not just because "they're pretty" like I've heard some people say before, when referencing the period.

Taichou Renkō, the leader/warlord. This was actually the model which started the whole process of this project. I've been interested in Japanese history since my late teens, and read about the great battles of Kawanakajima many times. Uesugi Kenshin is a great historical personality, and one of my favourites as I was studying the period when I was younger.
So I decided that when this model, the Sohei Daimyo, was on special offer and reduced in price I was going to get it just to paint. One thing led to another and we ended up here, with about project on the go...

Anyway, I decided to keep the colour palette very constrained on this leader mode, representing his better equipment which he could pay more for and not have to mix and match like everyone else.
So Yellow and Reds are Warlike colours and fitted with the look I was wanting to achieve, I also took pains to try to get some of the silk patterning from real period armour onto the model, so the stripes of red and yellow, which contrast really nicely with the white headwrap and black Jinbaori (overcoat).
I love the confident stalking forward pose with the sword held low.

The banner bearer of the group comes from the Sohei command pack, and carriers an Uma Jurushi type banner, they had a lot of different types of banner in this period. The Sengoku Jidai, as well as being known as "The Age of the Country at War" is also sometimes referred to as "The Age of Flags". Kind of fitting with all the back banners and then banner types declaring a Daiymo's prowess and different clans, etc.

The Sohei himself was painted as the previous models, but the banner is where I could really try something. Some of the banner of the period are really, REALLY elaborate and intricate with lines of writing declaring a haiku or verses from Buddhist religious texts or the Art of War (the Samurai were obsessed with Sun Tzu's writing).
I decided I wanted to try free-handing the banner and hopped onto google translate.
The text I translated into Japanese Kanji reads "Heaven on Earth" which is the last line of a historical death poem*. 

Autumn wind fades…
My shadow drifts from the world,
silent as snowfall.
One breath, one last remembrance—
Heaven on Earth

A lot of fine brush control was needed for the Kanji, something I'll have to try to replicate as I move through the different units eventually. The red swirl was taken from a documented Sashimono of the Asai clan, a derivative of their main colours, but suitable for my purposes.

As for the Sashimono on these models, I wanted something simple which wouldn't detract from the main models, but also wasn't just a flat one colour flag. So I altenated stripes between the deep red and dark greys I had on my table when I got to that stage. I think they turned out well and I am purposely not adding a "Mon" (symbol) to them, so that they can be used between the main clans as a backup force, as the Sohei fought for whoever would most serve their own political goals at the time.
Oda Nobunaga broke their power and burned nearly every temple he came across during his march on Kyoto because he was tired of their interreference in his efforts to unit Japan under his banner!

I decided then to brush off the Sohei I had finished previously and take a full battalion/warband photo.

They're looking good so far, and I want to pick up the Kyoushuneko Sohei archers and cavalry at some point to add to the force. One of the cavalry models I will only print one copy of and I will modify him to be a mounted Daimyo, maybe even Uesugi Kenshin himself, unless I can find a good STL which represents him and keeps the look of the Kyoushuneko models themselves.

Next for the Samurai project, I have a unit of Cavalry I have been working on to finish and I've started on a unit of Samurai on foot as well. I may finish to cavalry and then force myself to paint an Ashigaru unit, as these were the main troops of the period. The Samurai are akin to Medieval knights of Western Europe, the Ashigaru would be the Men-At-Arms/Levy troops raised to fill out the armies.



A note about Mount Hiei:

Mount Hiei is located North East of Kyoto and has been the feature of many folk tales over the ages. It was thought to be home of the Demons of Shinto lore, although it is predominantly known for the Buddhist monks, Sohei, who originate from the temples of Enryaku-Ji.

First created in 788, the temple rapidly gained prestige and power by protecting the ancient Japanese Capital of Kyoto as it was thought in ancient geomancy that certain negative spirits originated from the North East direction. Thus the temple was thought to be a protective bulwark for the capital which led to its rise within the political power structures of the Imperial Court during the Heian period, 8th-12th centuries.

Enryaku-Ji is notable for being documented as the birthplace of the Buddhist Tendai sect, unique to Japan and nearly all later schools of Buddhism within Japan originated from the Tendai sect, founded by ex-monks of the temple. These include sects such as Honen, Nichiren and Shinran teachings.
The temple at Enryaku-Ji was said to have an image of the Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) enshrined within it, to which the monks would meditate before.
The founder of the complex, Saicho, also lit a lamp of oil before the Buddha and prayed that the lamp would never be extinguished. Now known as the Fumetsu no Hoto (Inextingsuishable Dharma Lamp), it has remained in the temple and remained lit for more then 1200 years.

Until next time, have nice day...

*Death Poem's or "Jisei" (or more popularly known in the west as Haiku's) are short, spare poems written either by one before their death, or by someone else afterwards honouring someone who deserved it. They follow a particular rhythm and number of syllables in each line creating a unique cadance when read aloud.

Dreadtober 2025, Fire in the Void - part 4.

 

Fire in the Void

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

---

Part IV – The Enemy's Face.

Through the smoke and ruin stepped a figure of dark command: Captain Malric Veyden, a cunning warlord of the Astral Claws. Unlike.his liege, Lugft Huron, he did not rely on charisma or spectacle. His strength lay in numbers, strategy, and precision. Behind him, a tide of Silver and Blue-armored warriors spilled forth, bolters spitting death, chainswords revving in mechanical glee.

Veyden’s eyes glinted with malice as he surveyed the battlefield. “The Salamanders bleed,” he whispered through vox, each word a blade of taunting ice. “Yet they will not fall until the last breath is spent.” His command brought coordination to the chaotic corridors, every reinforcements deployed with terrifying timing.

Bray’Arth raised his weapons, feeding flames through the hallway. Bolter fire and close-combat fury tore through Veyden’s forces, but the sheer weight of the enemy pushed back the Salamanders. Kael'en’s squad found themselves isolated, flanked on both sides. The narrow corridors became deathtraps, and every step forward demanded the courage of Imperial Heroes.

Malric Veyden himself struck with deadly precision, a whirlwind of sword and bolt, carving through space and flesh. His presence unnerved even the most stalwart Salamanders, forcing them to recognize the depth of the threat. It was not merely a battle; it was a crucible of attrition and will.

The Salamanders braced. Even in the face of staggering numbers, even in the shadow of a cunning warlord, they would not falter. The fire of Nocturne would find its mark.

*****

So the end of Dreadtober approaches, and I've not gotten Bray'arth Ashmantle completed.

Le sigh...

In spite of my best efforts, I've had to put the hobby down for a bit and take care of the Mrs who is having health problems.

I have managed to get Bray'arth's right arm completed fully to give an idea of where I am going with him eventually:

And the full Dreadnaught for the deadline and how far I got:

I had to ditch the printed base as it warped for some reason, so I'll scratch build starship bases when I get into Project Badab fully.

*****

The Hall of Flames

The munitions corridor was a death trap. Ammunition racks stretched for fifty meters, volatile promethium tanks lining the walls. Kael’en hesitated for a fraction of a second—but Bray’Arth did not.

He ignited both flamers, the streams merging into an inferno that devoured the length of the hall. The Astral Claws screamed as fire rolled over them, detonating shells and fuel in a chain of explosive purgation. The shockwave washed over Bray’Arth’s armor, bathing him in a glow of righteous fury.

When the smoke cleared, the corridor was gone—transformed into a twisted, glowing passage of melted steel. The few survivors stumbled through the haze, their armor sloughing from their bodies. Bray’Arth strode among them, claws striking down the fallen like an executioner in a temple of flame.

Kael’en’s voice came softly over the vox, reverent, almost prayerful.

“Ashes to ashes. Fire to fire.”

Bray’Arth’s response was a low, mechanical growl.

“Thus the forge is purified.”

He moved onward, unyielding, as the fires of his wrath continued to burn behind him.

---

Until next time, have nice day...

Dreadtober 2025, Fire in the Void - part 3.

 

Fire in the Void

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

---

Part III – A Setback

A scream echoed down the metallic corridor, a sound of terror and finality. Brother-Sergeant Kael'en Dra'vok dropped to his knees beside the motionless form of Chaplain Xav'ien impaled by a power sword from some unseen assailant. The hallway smelled of burnt ceramite and the metallic tang of blood. Silence fell, a deadly quiet over the remaining Salamanders, even as Bray’Arth’s flamers ignited in vengeance.

Xav'ien had been a beacon of morale, his voice a hammer of faith. Without him, hesitation flickered like a candle in the wind. The Astral Claws exploited the moment, pressing with reinforced squads, storming from concealed passages. The Salamanders faltered, retreating to more defensible positions.

Bray’Arth’s fists tore through enemies with unchecked wrath, but even the Dreadnaught’s might could not hold every breach. The corridors were narrow, the fire deadly, and the shadows teemed with foes emboldened by the loss of the Chaplain. Kael'en gritted his teeth, rallying what remained, but every step forward demanded blood, every corner held ambush.

For a brief, horrifying moment, the assault threatened to stall entirely. A secondary breach tore open a side corridor, and more foes poured through, their armored forms gleaming black under emergency lighting. The Salamanders’ advance faltered; the cost of Xav'ien’s death became grotesquely clear.

Yet even in setback, there was resolve. Kael'en’s voice rang out with the Canticle of Nocturne, steel in every syllable, rallying and calling the warriors forward. Bray’Arth’s systems hummed with the promise of retaliation. The Salamanders would not yield. They were fire made flesh, and fire consumes all.

*****

This is the latest third installment of Dreadtober 2025.

I've been very hit and miss with this project as I've had a busy month with work and running the Mrs around to hospital appointments, so obviously hobby related guff has taken a backseat so far.

With a good week and a half of leave from work and nothing hospital related (fingers crossed) for the foreseeable future, I managed to sit down and have a good painting session this past couple of days and get some serious progress done on Bray'arth.

Firstly I managed to get all the basecoats down, inspire of having lost my pot of Runelord Brass for an entire afternoon...

A lot of the metals are Runelord Brass, mainly for trim on the edge of armour, and Leadbelcher which is for all the mechanical bits and pipes, etc.

Retributor Gold was used for the chapter symbols and the written plates which are riveted onto Bray'arth's chassis in various locations.

The Flames have been started with Averland Sunset and the black panels are Corvus Black, as I wanted a really dark black-grey as opposed to a pure black colour.

The main colour everyone is probably wondering about is the green, which is Waaagh! Flesh. I nice rich dark green, which I feel pulls towards that 30k look without having to go out and buy new paints like Vulkan Green, etc.

The next step is the messy one, in that he gets covered entirely with Agrax Earth shade.

This shades the entire model in one go, warming the metals and adding depth to the green, whilst adding a richness to the Corvus Black, which I only found out by accident when painting some Black Legion.

This is how Bray'arth Ashmantle stands at the moment. Next steps are to reblock in the base colours and then edge highlight. Finally the flames will get that classic GW yellow-orange-red transition if I can pull it off.

I've still got plenty of time to get him finished, later in the month then I originally planned, but that's life.

*****

 Shadows in the Halls

Darkness settled like a shroud in the underdecks, the kind that swallowed even auspex readings. Bray’Arth paused, motionless save for the slow exhale of his reactor core. “They hide,” he murmured through the vox, “like vermin in the forge’s ash.”

Then came the strike—shapes falling from the ceiling vents, silent and fast. Renegade assassins, their armor blackened and their blades poisoned with cowardice. They struck with desperation, blades scraping harmlessly against his armor before flame erupted in retaliation.

The corridor ignited. Shadows screamed as they burned, their forms thrashing in the sudden inferno. Kael’en’s squad moved in behind him, precise and merciless, cutting down any who escaped Bray’Arth’s reach.

One assassin tried to flee. Bray’Arth extended a claw and caught the foe mid-stride, lifting him effortlessly. “You chose darkness,” he rumbled, voice echoing like a furnace god’s verdict. “And the dark will claim you.” The renegade’s body turned to ash in his grip.

When the flames subsided, nothing moved but the slow drift of smoke. Bray’Arth advanced once more, the firelight dancing over his armor as he whispered a single word—half machine prayer, half vow.

“Purge.”

---

Until next time,  have nice day...

Dreadtober 2025, Fire in the Void - part 2.

 

Fire in the Void.

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

---

Part II – First Push

Through the atrium, the Salamanders surged like a tide of living flame. Bray’Arth’s claws shredded reinforced armor, scattering renegades like chaff before a storm. Kael'en moved beside him, the thunder of his boltgun merging with the rhythm of his heart, each burst a promise of vengeance.

The Astral Claw’ numbers were great, yet disorganization marked them. Brother-Captain Jorath Vey'len, a stalwart of the fourth company, directed flanking maneuvers against the renegades with grim efficiency. Corridors became crucibles; fire licked every wall, every ceiling vent, and every corner became a tomb for the overconfident enemy.

Yet the enemy struck with cunning. Explosive charges littered junctions, and close-range firefights erupted as loyalist warriors were forced to leap from cover to cover. Despite these trials, Bray’Arth moved like a sentinel of flame, shielding the advancing Salamanders, a living engine of destruction.

Kael'en’s squad cleared a reinforced door with a Melta charge, revealing a command nexus within the ship. Holo-screens flickered in alarm; the Astral Claws were attempting to regroup. The Salamanders pressed, each step forward bringing them closer to the heart of enemy command, each shot fired a statement that mercy was extinguished in the void.

The first push ended with the corridors of the Obsidian Vigil littered with bodies, yet the Salamanders held their formation. For a moment, victory seemed near. But the void is patient, and patience harbors its own horrors.

*****

So, the first proper post of Dreadtober 2025 will be a short one, but decent progress has been made.

Bray'arth Ashmantle is now assembled, but in four sub-assemblies for painting.

I managed to get a slight striding forward pose with the legs without too much work which I am happy about, on e I've angled his body for final assembly he'll be purposely moving forward.

The base, I have a mixture of industrial type bases for Project Badab as everything is going to be based upon spaceship boarding (I'm writing my own campaign system to follow, more on this soon). Some of the bases are as thick as this one, other are a base topper thing type, so I made the decision to just put everything ontop of a base and go from there making a unified basing scheme.

Next was priming.

Bray'arth I primed Death Guard Green this is because I am heading towards the darker Horus Heresy colour scheme e rather then the really bright primary green of 40k.

The next step will be getting a layer of Waaagh! Flesh down as this is the best green I have available for the scheme, without going out and buying new paint. Abaddon Black, Runelord Brass, Retributor Armour and Leadbelcher will finish off the main colours, the flame motif's will get their colours later after the wash stage.

The base was primed white in readiness for a light off-white style basing scheme, think like the corridors in the habitation unit in the first Alien film, but weathered and lived in.

That's the image I have in mind, and everything will contrast nicely against it, and the planned scenery I have in mind for Project Badab.

*****

The Melta Breach

The bulkhead ahead was a barrier of black iron and defiance. For a moment, silence reigned—then Bray’Arth stepped forward. “Stand clear,” he intoned, his voice low, ancient, and absolute, clear through the vox-grille.

He raised his claws and unleashed twin streams of searing flame. Metal softened, screaming as it warped, before the Dreadnaught’s shoulder drove forward. The door burst inward with a detonation of sparks and superheated air.

Through the breach, the Astral Claws rallied, their defiance commendable but meaningless. Bray’Arth surged into them like a living siege engine, one claw crushing a defender against the wall, the other tearing a bolter from another’s grip before reducing its bearer to cinders. The corridor filled with smoke and heat, but to him it was home—an echo of the forges of Nocturne

Sergeant Kael’en’s voice filtered through the vox, steady and reverent:

“The way is open. The fire leads.”

Bray’Arth did not answer. His sensors were already sweeping ahead, tracking movement deeper within the vessel. The machine-spirit within him burned with purpose. The flame had found its fuel.

---

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...

The Command Bunker.

 

I recently finished the Command Bunker project for the trench system and thought I'd do a quick post about the bunker itself. 

I got it from Ebay, from the seller "The Forge" as shown with their logo above.

I've always looked for printed terrain on eBay, as somethings I just want someone else to have the headache of trying to print.

This was one of those offhand finds you.arent really searching for but is a good offer to have a punt on.

It's FDM printed, which I'm not overly keen on due to the layer lines,  but in this instance they worked in my favour adding texture to the concrete.

The kit comes in five pieces as shown with Kreiger Karl for scale:

Main Bunker, Roof, two Butresses and the Ladder, (The ladder is just behind Karl):

Dry fitted together:

And Karl on the roof:

All in all, it's decent for the price at less then £10 (as of writing).

The one thing I didn't find out until it got here is that it really is more of a true 28mm scale piece then up to 32mm scale, as such I can't add any 40k models (even the regular sized humans) inside and put the roof back on...ah well, can't have everything.

Just a quick post about the bunker, I recommend you.look up the seller on eBay and purchase from them if you're after anything like this. As they do a fee different bunker/pillbox type buildings and a fee modern scatter pieces.

Until next time, have nice day...

Death Korps Death Riders, Second Squad.

 

The rolling thunder of an ongoing artillery barrage echoed in the distance as the squad of Deathriders picked their way through the craters and detritus of the previous assaults over this part of the wastelands.

The call for all squads to regroup had come in twenty minutes ago and the riders were urging their bio-modified cybernetic steeds forward as fast as the conditions would allow.

They were being pulled from recon duties to a fast moving counter attack force, but it would take time to gather all their strength.

If only upper command had authorised extra reinforcements for their sector.

The enemy assault had been ongoing for nearly thirty minutes now, judging by the dark ugly smudges of smoke rising in the distance. 

The riders would make the best time they could, the faith and duty of the Kriegsman was without question.

But would the line still be holding when they got there?

The ridemaster upped the pace and his mount looked into a gallop.

Hold the line, he willed, hold the line...

*****

The second squad of Deathriders are complete for my Squadron, which are part of the 261st Siege Regiment.

This is another five man squad with a Flamer included, just to add some spice.

Note Second Squad have yellow stripes, whereas the previously finished First Squad use White as their colour stripes.

Again happy with these, especially now that I've got the trench battleground basing look down. 

True my bases do look very dry and dusty compared to the common tropes of WW1 Trench Warfare, but I like them and they match the terrain I've been working on.

Above is the full squadron so far with both First and Second Squads shown.

Below also accompanying the squads is the mounted Commissar I painted to start this project.

Up next for the squadron is Third Squad, who will use Blue as their marking colour.

Lastly, as a reward I will finish off the Mounted Command Squad who will use a combination of Red and White as their colours.

I have all the miniatures I need printed out for this project, so fingers crossed I can find the much needed time soon.

Until next time, have nice day...

Death Korps Riders 1st Squad.

 

"Recon the top of the next ridge and then swing South-West to complete our patrol" the Sergeant said and kicked his mount into action as the other members of his squad raised their lances in salute and followed.

The Death Riders rode their mounts through the rocky terrain up the ridge, the beasts clawed hooves finding purchase in even the worst conditions and loose scree.

In a loose line the five riders crested the ridge and came to a halt, looking over at the vista before them.

The Van Meersland wastes stretched in every direction they could see, and more importantly the defence lines of the Vraksian renegades were laid out in great detail as they observed.

Great diagonal zig-zag trenchlines spread in either direction, communication trenches and gun pits moving away from the front, but the skyward pointing barrels of the artillery pieces were clearly visible, silhouetted against the sky.

The Sergeant pulled a picter from his backpack and began taking picts for high command and army intelligence to look at.once he was finished, his men looked to him to set the pace as they began the long March South-West and back towards friendly territory.

*****

The next models of the 261st Siege Regiment have been completed and these are a mounted section and accompanying Commissar.

These models are 3D prints of STLs from the creator RedMakers on MyMiniFactory. I was taken by the more dynamic poses of the models as opposed to the more static poses of the Forge World models which used to be available.

These men follow the previously described paint scheme of the Grenadier's, as this is the uniform of my chosen regiment, and I must say I am more then happy with how they have turned out.

The Sergeant and a Lancer:

I wanted these to reflect a little differently then the standard line troops, so the white stripe down their shoulders was added as a flash detail, the red pennant was just a "what colour can I pick up without looking" choice.

Another Lancer and the Flamethrower:

In the normal rules for the Death Riders, they are not allowed to have a special weapon (Meltagun/Plasmagun/Flamer) but after seeing the STLs I decided to play loose and fast with them in order of Rule of Cool!

These are the first unit for a squadron of Death Riders, I have three five man squads printed and a five man command squad, I just need a fourth squad to complete the squadron in the future.

The Mounted Commissar:

This was the model which started this section of the army, as RedMakers were offering him as a free STL, very heroic posed model that he is.

The red scabbard on the sword was to tie in with the riders, the rest of him was painted as the other Commissars from the previous post.

His mount, like all the other Death Riders, is simply Reikland Fleshshade straight over a light grey undercoat.

I use a cheap grey primer I picked up from The Range, but Citadel Grey Seer would work just as well as a base for this.

The bases were finished in the way previously described, with sand, sawdust and AK diorama paste mixed together and then some modelling barbed wire added.

I am only claiming a Rank and File box on my Hobby Bingo card for this post, as I have better character models I want to paint, so I am keeping the boxes available for them in the future.

With that in mind, it fills one box for 10 points and setting myself up for a line with the Elites box later on,:

For the OPC, there are six riders and six mounts, and at ten points each, gives my score a boost by 120 points!

This leaves me with 330 out of 6,000 points completed.

Until next time, have nice day...

Death Korps Grenadiers 1st Squad.

 

Morning rose on Vraks, the sunlight hazy through the dust kicked up by the artillery duels continuing day after day.

In the dull morning light, the Grenadiers of the 261st Siege Regiment finished their prayers and gathered their gear.

Weapons were slung over shoulders, ammunition packs counted and stocked up, along with any grenades needed. Metal rattled against metal as the armour plates they wore were checked for damage and securely fitted.

They moved along the trench towards their jumping off point from the orders circulated from higher command.

Other platoons of the regiment gave them salutes or nods as they passed, for these were the Grenadiers, the ones who had already made their peace with the Emperor and we're essentially 'Dead Men Walking'.

Ladders were finally pulled into place and each man took his assigned position. Ready to climb out of the security of their trench and charge across No-Mans Land, to glorious death, in service of the God-Emperor of mankind.

*****

With some time for hobby, I made a good start on my Krieg force. The models are 3D printed and whilst not direct scans of the out of production Forge World grenadiers, are close enough for my liking that I am comfortable printing a force of them all together.

I decided to start with a Grenadiers squad including a Heavy Flamer team (always loved the FW model, so when I found the STL it was a must have), and a couple of Commissar models I found at the same time.

My choice of regiment is the 261st Siege Regiment, because I preferred their old colour scheme in the Imperial Armour books:

I really liked these with the more British looking Khaki overcoats, as opposed to the more French Blue scheme I've been painting for Fraser.

I also liked the contrast of the dark grey body armour over the lighter khaki greatcoats.

So the full Grenadiers Squad look like this:

I took extra time on the bases, covering them with a mixture of AK Desert sand paste and sand with some sawdust thrown in as well, then as it was drying I added more sand on top and some coiled model barbed wire to add details.

Eventually I want to get some AK wet effect, and add some puddles into some of the dips on the bases for puddles and mud.

The squad sergeant and special weapons:

For a bit of a spot colour, I painted the power cables of the weapons in yellow and washed them with Earthshade to make it a dirty, weathered look, but still bright enough to draw the eye to details.

The Grenadiers with their Hellguns:

These will be the meat of the army, as they are the mainstay of the units.

To get the weathered effect on the armour, I started with a Basillcanum Grey base layer and washed with Earthshade. I then layered up the grey with Mechanicus Standard Grey leaving the darker patches as either dirt or camo as you choose to look at it.

Next I pulled a couple of Commissar STLs and printed those, here are the results:

The Commissar with the chest plate and the bolt pistol held out will join the higher command squad for the company, whilst the second man with the sword and the "Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer" held behind his back will join the platoon command squad keeping the men moving forward. 

As a size comparison, I wanted my 3D printed models to be scaled to match the proper GW models (in this case a FW one).

I wanted to scale them to match, as that way I can add my forces to Fraser's for a future big game if we choose to do one at Element Games.

Turning to the points for Hobby Bingo and the OPC this year.

Hobby Bingo, these models give me a "Rank and File" box and a "Leaders and Heroes" which adds 20 points to the total and ticks off another two boxes on the bingo card.

As for the OPC, at 10 points each, these models give me 120 points off of my 6,000 point total.

There are a lot more Death Korps coming, along with the renegade Vraksian forces as well. The first couple of battles for the campaign will have to be played out using counters as I haven't got the time at the moment to commit to finishing two full armies, but as things get finished expect to see more from Vraks.

Until next time, have nice day...

Dreadtober 2024 - Dreadline missed.

 

So, Dreadtober has been failed this year.

This is as far as I managed to get with the Meka-Dread painting, real life just caught up with everything.

All the parts have most of their basecoat's down, I just need to add some brass detailing to the bolt heads on the legs and then I can wash everything with the brown weathering shade and then work colours up from there.

I'll get it finished soonish, but I'm just waiting for some good chunks of hobby time as work has ramped up with contracts, so my time is starved at the minute as I'm getting home and spending a couple of hours with the family in the evenings rather then just hobbying immediately when I get home.

I managed to work up the craters, as they were a quick project to finish which kept me in hobby, but anything bigger which requires more time was just not going to work for me.

Real life, always getting in the way...

Until next time, have nice day.