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.

Dreadtober 2024 - Torso work.

 

The madness of Dreadtober 2024 continues, and I started work on the main Torso of the Meka-Dread this past week.

I didn't get any photos of the original colours going on (no point really), but here is the torso alongside one of the Kills Kanz I finished in Dreadtober 2022.

I've stuck to the same overall palette of red, black and white, with a little gold thrown in for a spot metallic.

The rust is still really bright, but you can see the various components better now that there are some other colours present to break up the outline a bit.

The "Face" was stippled with white for the skull, it won't be getting checkers, however the various other white panels definitely will.

I'm also torn between doing the massive eye in a bright yellow or a green glow.

Next it was time to start weathering, Orks never clean their vehicles after all.

So a home ade wash was mixed up, ten parts Rhinox Hide, fifteen parts water, two drops of Washing Up liquid. This last is to break the surface tension of the water and force it to flow around all the details on the model.

I'm using a spare upturned cavalry base to mix in, after a friend nicked (by acciddnt I'm sure) my previous mixing tub after I showed him how to make his own wash for his terrain...

Half hour later, she was dry.

The Rhinox Hide is a little more reddish then brown when it separated out like this, which aids in the dirty/rusty effect, the texture on the skull face itself is really nice.

You can see how it settles into details like the grills at the bottom of the engine area or the tubings on the torso front. 

You can also see the difference in brightness of the rust here in this photo.

Whilst still somewhat prominent on the torso, it's definitely more subtle then before, like on the gun.

Finally I thought I'd end this update with a photo of the current state of play of the dread, you can rally see the difference the was makes when compares with the other subassemblies.

I'm hoping to get some work done on the beast this week, but that depends on both work and my health.

One of the reasons I feel like I am behind schedule is because I have been ill this last week (last Saturday I didn't even get out of bed all day), so I'm hoping it starts to clear up and I can stop having coughing fits* so I can paint normally again.

Next steps are to block in the details on the torso leaving the weathered colours beneath, and to start with the rest of the parts.

It's just this is the start of the time consuming part of painting with picking out panels and details, etc. 

Then CHECKERS!!!!!!!!!

I advise anyone reading to check out the Dreadtober blog here:- Dreadtober as there are some cracking entries being worked upon.

So, Until next time, have nice day...

*Fortunately it's not, whatever variant of COVID is doing the rounds in the UK. It just seems like a bad chest infection/dry insistent coughing.

Dreadtober 2024 - Rusty Metal.

 

The first update of Dreadtober is in.

After getting the build together...and using the most pins I've EVER used on a single model sorted, I was keen to begin painting, conscious of the fact that I've still got to go to work and that will eat into hobby time.

My usual Ork scheme is what I'll be aiming for, and this is Mekka-Dread is going to be a centerpiece for the Dreadmob I did for my first Dreadtober in 2022, so it needs to match those.

One thing I decided to try differently then my usual method is to use a coloured undercoat.

I normally work over a grey undercoat and then add a coat of watered down orange paint as the basecoat of the rust, as it will flow deeply into the recesses.

A trip to the local Range* store procured this can of Yellow-Orange. I use Maston Colour sprays for my primer now, and this is in the Maston One range, meant to give one coat coverage but I found it a little thin and needed to give two primer coats, using more paint then I would have liked.

Once the dread had dried it was looking very bright, but a great starting point for the rusty metal.

First step is to heavily drybrush the entire model with Warplock Bronze (I used the last of my very old pot of Tin Bitz** for this).

The second step is a lighter drybrush using Leadbelcher**. This gives the metal sheen I was looking for, whilst keeping the darker metal and rusty orange in the recesses.

It still looks a little orange and bright at the moment, once I've gotten some coloured panels down and areas for checkers marked out, I'm going to hit the entire model with a dark brown wash to darker it down.

But this will be in the next post.

Until next time, have nice day...

*For non-UK readers, The Range is kind of a general store which sells craft materials, furniture, interior decorating stuff, food, etc)

**Before one of GWs renaming for "licensing purposes" periods, the paint Warplock Bronze was formerly called Tin Bitz.

Likewise Leadbelcher was formerly Boltgun Metal. Mephiston Red was Blood Red, etc.

Dreadtober 2024 preparation.

 

As has become tradition over the past couple of years, during October I'm going to be taking part in Dreadtober again.

The first year I completed an Ork Dreadmob and last year I painted up two World Eaters Legion Dreadnaughts for the Heresy period.

This year I decided to head back to my beloved Greenskins and tackle a model which I ALWAYS wanted but was never able to afford from Forge World before it was discontinued.

A Meka-Dread!!!!

A huge mechanical monstrosity armed with a massive Buzzsaw and a Shunta/Zzap Kannon. As well as a multitude of smaller holding klaw arms, and piloted by the maddest of Big Mel's makes this a brilliant kit.

As alluded to, I think the kit is Out of Production now, but as is usual for Forge World it was ridiculously priced for their lack of quality control so I haven't got that kit.

Instead, I found a free to download STL of the Meka-Dread on the purple site* and downloaded and printed my own.

After a few full build plates, washing and curing the parts I was left with this:

There are some serious chunks of resin there, lots of pinning will be needed!

Making a start, I began with the engine block as that seemed the easiest. The top exhaust and the pipes on the side were separate and easy enough to glue together:

Next I decided to tackle to Shunta-Kannon, this was in seven pieces total, and as there is a fair chunk of weight hanging off the shoulder I decided to add pins throughout this piece.

There are five or six pins in this gun alone!

Not photographed yet, but I also have the legs glued together and pinned with the hip joint added, so the beast is almost ready for priming.

I'm going to use my traditional Ork Goff scheme, starting from an orange basecoat to begin the rust effect, and then work up through metallics and add the black, red and checkers on the armour panels.

As usual through the month I'll document progress to keep everyone updated as well as for Dreadtober itself who post a weekly round up of everyone who signed up to take part.

Until next time, have nice day...

*If any of you reading this doesn't know what the "purple site" is, I will explain if needed. But as I know at least one GW staff member who reads this sometimes, I don't want to get the 3D modeller in trouble.

Dreadtober 2022 completed!

 

"Dey's shooting us!" Wailed one of Boss Toofkrakkaz Shootaboyz, as another hail of lasrounds whipped past the Orks.

"Well yet betta shoot back an' stop sniveling" Toofkrakka shouted, covering the unhappy Shootaboy with a coat of fresh spittle.

The shootaz opened up missing everything in sight and chewing through the scant cover provided by the ruined wall Infront of them.

The guard had brought up heavier weapons now and the distinctive chug of Heavy Bolters and the crack of Autocannons added to the din, pitching several Orks off their feet as solid rounds impacted into tough green flesh.

The advance had stalled...

"Oi, Badruk, where'z yer zogging kontrapshunz?" Toofkrakka shouted into the talky-box the big Mek had rigged up before the battle.

Static rattled back from the speaker and Toofkrakka shouted louder for good measure before kicking the Grot carrying the thing through the air and hefting his Chain-Choppa.

He stepped up to charge at the enemy and was thrown back as his arm came away messily, taking his choppa with it. 

He crushed several Grotz as he landed and his Nobz mob closed around him for a second as Dok Nutzak came over, cuttaz already snipping on anticipation of battlefield surgery.

A rythmic metallic clanging could be heard in the distance and Toofkrakka thought it was probably 'umies lobbaz, but the metallic cries of 'WAAAGH!' told him otherwise.

He craned his neck and saw Big Mek Badruk charging forwards with his cronies in tow. His grot oiler frantically pulling at levers at the Kustom Force Field mounted on the mekboyz back making the air wobble with power.

Behind him came a slab-sided wall of rusting metal, snipping claws, buzzing saws, Shootaz and Skorchaz firing into the press of Guardsman Infront of them.

A multitude of Kanz firing off Rokkitz at anything they could target, and a mekboy dispatched by Badruk to round up any Kanz which deviated from the mob and tried to flee.

Toofkrakka watched the battle turn in the Orks favour and raged at being pinned under the Dok as he worked at attaching a bionik arm, the Nobz got caught up in the excitement and charged with the Boyz giving a good 'ard charge forward and here Toofkrakka was stuck under a stupid Dok.

He'd get into the fight sooner or later, he'd keep an eye of Badruk from now on, having that many Kanz might give him ideas about running the place...

*****

Here we are at the end of Dreadtober/Orktober for another year. Posts of the green variety haven't been as prolific as previous years due to work, family commitments and tonight All Hallows Eve, but continue the posts do.

And here is the final post for Dreadtober 2022, with my project of the Apocalypse Dreadmob completed before the deadline!

And people said I was mad for taking on such a large project...

The second Deffdread, 'Da Big Dread One!' (until it gets replaced), leader of the mob and the central spearhead of the ramshackle metal avalanche.

'Da business end', like the previous dread, it features a pair of Klaws, a Big Shoota and a Skorcha for a bit of all roundness.

It should also feature a Kustom Force Field, but I'm saving the one I have for a different chassis to make a true leading dread!

Up next we have the second three Kannstrong mob. Like all the Kanz in this formation they are armed with Rokkit Launchaz to take advantage of their better skills at shooting. 

I took pains to convert them by adding different gubbinz on top and changing the exhaust pipes, Ork Mel's aren't known for their standardized builds after all. The one closest to the camera features a Stormboy Rokkit Pack, pressed into service as a rather large Rokkit, not sure how they'll reload that?

The last two Kanz of the Dreadmob I said I'd paint aren't a legal mob for the formation, but I ran out of time trying to paint strip the extra Kan I bought at the start of the month.

They're family standard as things go with the mob, lots of black paint for the Goffs.

The red stripe as an army unifying feature and lots of 'Ardboy checkers!

The Dreadmob in all its rusting clanking might.

Dreadtober is a community event run each year and this is the first time I have taken part.

I've enjoyed this and have discovered a lot of blogs I normally wouldn't have read because of this, obviously we know there are a lot of talented people out there in the wider community, a lot more talented then myself, and several of them have taken part in Dreadtober.

I must mention XarfaiEngle with his gorgeous Blood Angels Contemptor and Siph with his fantastic rendition of Canis Rex, I encourage everyone to visit their blogs and see what else they are up to.

As an aside, I had a cheeky extra on the go for Dreadtober with this Thanatar Siege Automata for my friend with the Ad-Mech.

It's about half way painted and needs the colours bring back to full opacity after being washed with Earthshade, then some Hazard Striping (2nd edition style) and some checker work adding before finishing the base:

As well as this mob of Meganobz which are nearly finished, and will accompany Ghazkhull in my Waaagh!

A productive month then, especially as this marks a project off of my Hobby Season to-do list:

My first badge, woo!

Until next time, have nice day...

Dreadtober 2022 an update.

Smoke and the tang of cordite hung heavy in the dank air inside Da Bludsucka Bar, deep in the squalid depths  of Noo Rok City. When not fighting each other, Orks from all tribes gathered here to resupply, rearm and prepare for the great Waaagh, when the time came.

Boss Zugnob was busy punching a rival nob, as the heavy tread of a Beast ground out and shook the shack like structure which they were drinking inside.

Older bosses barely looked up from betting on the squig fighting pits to see what the ruckus was about, the younger yoofs taking more interest in the violence going on at the bar.

Zugnob's great fist, wrapped in a chain he had stolen when passing a nearby mekshop slammed onto the bar adding a fresh dent to the metal surface. His opponent ducking out of the way to slip a knife through a gap in Zugnobs armour plates into his side.

Thick black blood dripped from the wound and Zugnob roared and backhanded the other Ork which threw him down to the floor. The yoofs gathered cheered as Zugnob leapt upon his fallen foe, his chain wrapped fist beginning a piston motion, rising and falling to beat on the fallen Orks face.

Slick black blood flew through the air as Zugnob carried on beating his opponent to a pulp. Each fall of the fist accompanied by a boom and the bar structure shaking.

The older bosses attention shifted from the vicious squig fighting to look around as the walls shook with each punch. Even the yoofs watching the brawl started to take more interest in their surroundings rather then at the fight at hand.

Zugnob stopped punching and stood, towering over his now dead opponent.

"You owe me a drink!" He shouted at the corpse, kicking it for good measure, he stared, looking around at everyone who was looking at one of the walls, which shook with a rythmic boom.

With a last crash, the wall imploded, dust, shrapnel, beams and debris flying around, and with a screeching metallic Waaagh, a round metal shape loped forward on two piston legs. One unwieldy arm swung wildly, a pair of vicious cutters on the end of it tossing debris away as it burst into the bar.

Orks dived out of the way, as it made straight for Zugnob, bowling him over with its claw arm, and then stomping him into a bloody paste in the centre of the bar.

"WAAAGH!" came the high pitched metallic voice from the speaker unit as it carried on stomping on the bloodstains which was all that was left of Zugnob, even as the other Orks pulled the selves from the dust, they cheered and fired their shoots in the air watching the violence.

From the hole in the wall, Big Mek Badruk slapped Dok Nutzak on the shoulder and they congratulated themselves on another job well done.

Now began the process of herding the Kan back to the holding pen...

*****

With a bit of time this last weekend, I managed to get a decent session of painting and decided to focus down on a section of the Dreadmob.

I've gotten a Dread and three Kanz finished for the mob so far, but it's something at least:

I tried to follow the scheme I used on Ghazkhull with the checkers and the red stripe for a spot colour, then my usual desert style basing.

Some close up photos of the Kanz:

I took pains to try to be random with the checkers and black panels, but kept the red stripe in the same location down the various models, as the army identifier maybe?

Close up photos of the Dread:

I am considering going back and adding a little verdigris on the gun barrels and gold/brass areas.

Finally to compare the scheme, here is the dread alongside Ghazkhull Thraka:

I've got a few days off coming up, so I'm hoping to get another good painting session in. 

I know that I said the entire Dreadmob for Dreadtober, but if I can get two Kan mobs and the other Deffdread finished I'll be happy overall.

Until next time, have nice day...