Scarab Lord Chaosmorph (Ilyad Games)

Last weekend I've finally managed to cross off the list special piece among stuff being seasoned in the pile of shame: Scarab Lord Chaosmorph from Ilyad Games. The company is dead for a long time and models from that line are nowdays very hard to get but these are must-have for all Rackham fans. 

I've been thinking about those companies recently and cannot believe they fell down - Rackham especially. Back days, when it was fully operational. it had top sculptors, top painters, wide range of models plus game system on top (never managed to see the rules though). But even though it collapsed and it was long before STL files and printers rammed into the miniatures market 🙄

Not sure what Ilyad Games line was supposed to be - spin off of Rackham's sculptors maybe? Cannot tell. But it had solid line of supercoll classic fantasy sculpts: knights, demons, barbarians, fantasy creatures. There was also short line of Chaosmorphs - no idea what was that: demon / mutant / fantasy race. I really liked them and even managed to get he big guy you can see below.

It's official paintwork was stunning - kinda like Rackham's stuff so I didn't even try to copy that. Instead I chose color combo based on classic genestealers: that plus rusty oil drum and voila! - we got ourselves nasty mutated crab straight from rad zone. I regret I run out of Tamiya Clear Red - some fresh blood splatted on claws would surely look eyecathing. So here it is:

And some scale shots: here NBC suit squad is about to get to reactor guarded by the Thing:

And here - the Thing is about to get some plague zombie burgers:

Gorkamorka ork nob

I was actually starting preparing some models for the upcoming historical painting contest but because cutting parts off the frames and assembling winter US infantry is pretty boring, I decided to work on little something, which has been giving me sad look from the back rank of display case for quite a long time... 🥺

There's a story behind this one - just like behind everthing...
A solid while back, when we were still into Necromunda, I was trying to get and paint basic gang for Gorkamorka. The game was dead for a long time already but those days some models were still available on second hand market. I remeber I managed to get placcy ork trukk (with wrecker ball and metal ram) and ork nob - or whatever it's name was in Gorkamorka. Joy, oh joy!!!

Really couldn't wait to strip the paint and start working to give old models new shine 🤗

Sadly back days I used different stuff to wash models and as it turned out shortly - this time I used the wrong one. Plastic trukk got bended and kinda melted, leaving only metal parts stripped properly. The vehicle got ruined so it became reservoir of conversion bits for further projects. Like Dakka-Dakka bot... 🤖

Since there was no Gorkamorka gang anymore and I still had cool model, all I could do was painting it - which I did. I've never played any sort of greenskins so it got display plinth, got some painting and sadly - got forgotten shortly after. Until now. As veteran painter and gamer I am kinda ashamed such a cool sculpt didn't get proper painting so after it's been re-discovered last week decision was made to fix that. Heil Gork and Mork!

It's Gorkamorka range so it got desert themed base and rather bright paintwork contrary to the previous version. In fact it's the second model from GM ork line I painted so far - the previous was sacrificed on COFC mini exchange. Until now I haven't found any practical use for keeping greenskin model so Mister Nob became a souvenir (like Necromunda Cawdor juve), only this time - airplane, or rather: fighta-bommer, goes to the other corner of the planet.

Hope it arrives safe and sound and recipient likes this one.

Scale shot: Dakka-Dakka bot is still the largest orky model I painted so far 😜

And here's the previous, Necronunda styled paintwork (the one and only survived picture I found on the bloggy):

PS. For obvious reason the post has been prepared earlier, but it's been released after the parcel reached the destination. Orkz like surprizezzz 😁

Necromunda Cawdor juve

I am actually working on some more winter infantry for Bolt Action, but while lining up models for painting - single Cawdor gang juve from oldie Necromunda line appeared, so couldn't resist working on that one first. That brings memories: back days we used to play long Necromunda campaigns on regular basis. During time we were hyped by the game I've managed to collect several gangs - among them Cawdor. 

I've always like those religious freaks, especially after I saw Cawdor gang as Golden Daemon contest entry in WD#218. Despite that I've never managed to paint a single model from that line - until now. No idea why really: each and every mini was unique (just like in other gangs), so painting never gets boring. 

But better late then never after all. Working on this dude was pure pleasure - so much I am actually considering digging out another unpainted gang, so it finally gets proper colors. And because it's kinda special piece I decided to refresh tradition of sending souvenirs - hope it arrives safe and recipient likes it ☺️

In the grim darkness of the far future there are only land mines made of PzKpfw V wheels...

Deathjack (Cryx)

One more Warmachine monstrosity just got crossed off the list. Toruk be praised for that!

When it was still in work-in-progress stage I was seriously afraid I might just put it away back into pile of shame - assembling was pain in the ass already, not mentioning the painting ahead. But all in all decision was made to give it a chance. Just like in case of Lich Lord Terminus model was painted dismantled, and assembled before washing / weathering. Still pain in the ass but I was the only way to get it done.

As for color choice I wanted something different then "classic" Cryx colors. It's rather striking models so I thought painting it bright should make it even more eyecatching. When painting was more-less finished I wanted to give a try to some OSL (head, arms, skulls) but it turned out such undertaking, having only blood red and some medium yellow, might have been not the best idea 😁 I think I might get some much more striking colors and re-do the glowy bits.

Since it's big model it was first sprayed with solid layer of standard, matt varnish and then airbrushed with Vallejo matt to make sure it's gonna be matt: not glossy, not satin, no shit like that. But after everything dried it turned out there's "frost" / "mist" on the whole piece, so everything had to be sealed once again with Revell matt. No idea what was the reason - my guess it's because of damp air (spray was used in the cellar) but have no clue really... 🙄

So here it is - ready to kill for Toruk!

And some scale shot. Sure to make it "correct" I should bring out infantry from Warmachine line, but oldie Necromunda models are slightly smaller, so the overall effect is even better. So here you can see Deathjack about to devour notorious Karloth Valois and his re-animated minions...

Moon Clan (Chaos beastmen) #2

Chaos Children at the horizon!!! 🐐🐐🐐

Yeah, so summer holiday is finally over (thank Slaanesh, Cthulhu and Satan for that...) so I could deal with some job backlogs and grab a brush for a while to expand Moon Clan crew. Like before I chose 1 gor + 2 ungors to work on and once again painting them was total fun! These models ara fuc#ing amazing!!!

There's so much character packed into those tinies and each models can almost tell own story. Not even mentioning the faces - these little bastards look just so corrupted and evil from a distance and resemble Diablo creatures so much! The one with dwarf's head is surely a child eater! 😨

As for painting I stick to middlehammer era aesthetics: vivid colors and clean, bright paintwork. Hopefully. After years spent on painting everything dark and dirty clean painting it's a breath of fresh air over painting station. Bases aren't finished yet - they'll be done after whole wargand is painted to make all models coherent.

So here they are - goatmen and fallen ones deep in perilous ash wastes enviroment:

Here - on mellow fields of Border Princes:

And here group shot - inbred clan about to chew on some plague zombies:

Time to pick another trio and thing about proper banner...

Moon Clan (Chaos beastmen) #1

After dealing with Army of Slaanesh Warriors I started digging in ye bucket ov shame to find something old to reanimate and feed display case with it later. The initial plan was to paint something from Warhammer 40.000 - back days I started gathering some bits to build combat patrol size / RPG squad of Chaos renegades. I don't play WH40K but such warband would surely provide tons of conversion possibilities and therefore - tons of fun!

While browsing my resources I found that old display base which was made years ago. It was supposed to be part of Mordheim greenskins band. I even painted 2 or 3 goblins and snotlings suicide squad, but that was just it 🙄 

During excavation works it turned out there are some beastmen models from the very best period ever and I have just enough of them to fill the display base! Chaos Gods be praised!

Most of models have never been undercoated, rest had to to be stripped to get fresh paintjob, worthy Children of Chaos!

As for this line of models I saw them for the first time in WD#218: it was that White Dwarf where Tale of 4 Gamers started, where models for fresh Chaos army were presented. I fell in love in Chaos since the very first glance into new Chaos force - sadly Beastmen and Daemons were 100% metal so it was totally beyond my reach those days 😢 

These models are not only übercool (and until now are the best Beastmen GW released ever) but also they remind me those creatures from Diablo: fallen ones and goatmen 🤗 Speaking of which - ost from Diablo 1 is just brilliant background for painting these guys... 

So here they are - first part of the project: about to deal with Redemptionists gang in juicy green ash wastes:

Da boyz:

And whole Moon Clan. And at the same time by whole Beastmen line collection:

War... War never changes...

I was actually supposed to paint something else but while digging in the Pile ov Shame recently this guy emerged to the surface so I decided to bring it to wargaming life.

As for it's story I got it few years back (cannot recall where) but the model ain't young for sure. If I remember correctly it was released yet before Fallout skirmish game. Back days I used to play Fallout on Playstation lots of time and was big fan of the game, universe etc. Still think Fallout series is one of the best games released ever. 

Anyway when the model arrived is was washed, cleaned, assembled, undercoated and then realised I have absolutely no use for it so few days later it was casted onto the Pile... 

Shame, shame, shame... 😔

And it's been just like that until the end of last year, when I started adding additional members to the neo-soviet generic warband. There are 5 infantry models at this moment, so the power armour dude is supposed to provide some heavy support. 

In theory they are the same scale but the new one is more like 28 mm then 25 mm which makes power armour even more credible - there's a neo - soviet locked inside after all! 😉

Must admit whole this creating generic warband is lots of fun. In fact I am planning to add several oldie Cybertronic chasseurs - they are MUCH more bulky compared to EM4 models but that makes them great candidates for steroid-stuffed androids. Hope you like it 🤖

About to deal with bunch of scavenging scums:

And Mr Powerman himself:

Rescue bot (Neuroshima tactics)

This time it's something really unique - cute piece from (I'm afraid long dead already) Polish game: Neuroshima Tactics. The game was based on pretty badass role playing game, which was also base of very popular board game (Neuroshima Hex).

The setting is more-less classic postapocalyptic world - take Mad Max II & III and Fallout and you get general idea. 4 factions fighting for survival on the rotting corpse of wrecked world. Among them: Moloch - faction of intelligent machines (long story very short).

So when the game was starting I got 3 models from the producer to paint. Sadly I didn't like the sculpts at all - I got some human survivors. And that was it - end of my Neuroshima Tactics adventure. Last week friend of mine mentioned about new skirmish game he was working on. After we shared some ideas he said he also ordered a model fitting postapocalyptic setting and I offered to give it a paintjob.

It turned out it was robot from Moloch faction.

Must admit contrary to human sculpts this little f#cker is just supercool. I had different idea about color scheme, but my friend chose red. So here it is: dieselpunk tracked fire hydrant. Cannot wait to assemble my gang of scavengers to dismantle this band of Kitchen Aids and bring remains to local scrap metal dealer! 👾

And the scale shot - rescue bot is now serving Copplestone's Finest gang 🤠🤠🤠🤖

Gorkamorka mutie raider

The damn snow is outside to decision was made to paint something warm. And post-nuclear apocalypse desert seems warm enough 🌞

The model below is olschool mutie raider from Gorkamorka game. 

I got this beautie maybe like 10 years ago but until now had no idea what to do with it: never played Gorkamorka and now models are hard to get, but even worse - quite overpriced. Expensive enough to make me stay away from the game anyway.

Since it's unique model in my collection I decided to give is a display base. I don't think I play any game it could be used for. The steed got pretty strong fleshtone to make nice contrast to dusty base. As for the raider at first I wanted to give it pale fleshtone but all in all it got some unhealthy suntan. After all - it's a mutant, not a deader!

The photos quality is much better (imo) especially if compared with test photos taken last month. It's still not what I'd like to see on monitor but I'm sure going in the right direction. Maybe I should use some different backgrounds...

Judge for yourself:

Rad zone troll

Recently post-apo killa kan has left my hobby desk. Since it was supposed to be start of home skirmish game the plan was to paint squad wearing hazmat suits, but paints I needed dried out so had to find some new target while waiting for the delivery...

I wanted another generic creature for gaming so decision was made to repaint oldie Moria troll. The model is pretty simple - not much more above bare flesh and crude melee weapons, so painting was quick and easy. To make it look modern wrecked M3 Stuart tank from Bolt Action range was added on the base. Me likey, although looking at the pics I think flesh should have been highlighted stronger 🤔

Encounter in the radioactive zome:

Dealing with blood-hungry Scavvy gang:

Picking the wrong battle 😁

Hope the paints arrive any day now...