Ratskin renegades #2

Preparations for Oldhammer Weekend 2026 continue!

At this stage I am going to participate in Friday night Necromunda roleplaying game, Saturday mini-campaign and Sunday mega-battle. Also I am covering all 3 categories in Oldhammer painting contest, so it's gonna be busy weekend for my little people. Recently bunch of Ratskin Renegades got paint slapped so driven by nostalgia for Necromunda I decided to follow the rodent-vibe and paint some more of them - hopefully to get whole gang painted soon. In fact all signs on toxic sky of Dead World say at this stage I am about half way done 🐭

This time 6 more bases were crossed off the list. The gang got proper shaman and also rat swarm. Cannot remember that unit was available in Ratskin army list but it definitely fits the gang. Giant rats models are brilliant sculpts from Highland Miniatures range, which I've gave a try before. Just like in case of skeletons - these are very fragile prints, in fact so fragile most of models which I have arrived with snapped off tails or paws. Looking at them I think I cannot make more then 2 complete swarms so rest will most probably end up as terrain features or something like that. So here here's the vermintide:

Below: brave warriors from Big Rat Clan are facing rad-zone trolls:

More spam after Oldhammer Weekend I guess...

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:

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...

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...

Armageddon finally comes

Hey again,

It took a while to assemble something and update the bloggy with, but I guess it's still better than nothing. I didn't expect whole the study project started this year would become such a time consuming black hole.
Hobby time that is.

But the Rubicon has been crossed and money spent so all I can do now it trying to benefit as much as possible on the whole thing, and get it finished the best way possible.

So as for the hobby matters:
a while back Shadow War: Armageddon was released.
I must admit I didn't give a f%ck about it initially, as much as I don't really care about "modern" EE releases. In my book GW released most of their interesting models in ~90's, and later it was just getting worse.
But my trusty old foe is less radical and he purchased copy of rulebook. It turned out new edition made oldie Necromunda rules smoother and more game-friendly (at least that's what he says), so we decided to give it a try. Besides it would be nice to take a deep breath of fresh, toxic air from ash wastes after recent months of Bolt Action gaming.

After browsing gangs available the only acceptable choice for me was Chaos (what a surprise...). Not only because evil armies are usually more cool that goodie-goodie ones, but also because I could base the war party on models which has been waiting for some action for a long time: mostly on Nurgle combat patrol, painted for the contest some time ago.
For cultists I chose 2 scavvies  models and mad cultist from old RAFM line. They fit the group really nicely and are perfect candidates for full member servants ov Khaos.

I am quite surprised until now there was no occasion to test those rotten guys in action, hope Papa Nurgle will be satisfied about their service.
And number of souls they will provide for everlasting Chaos glory (Ia! Ia! Ia!)...

So, ladies and gentlemen: Armageddon finally comes!

And we're back on the ground, in Europe invaded by evil Germans.
Some time ago I added a jeep to my small force - haven't used it yet, but the idea is to arm it with medium machine gun and give it a role of pain-in-the-ass-intantry-hunter.
On the battlefield I often see small enemy units or single characters staggering quite safely - such tinies are easy to hide and often - not worthy of attention of whole units or tanks.
That ends now hopefully.

But at this stage I am trying to get it assembled. While attaching wheels, driver and shooter was not a big problem, installing machine gun definitely is: it's quite small element standing on thin stick and I am quite sure unless I make something up there might be a problem with transporting the piece on the battlefield. Obvious thing would be using pin to connect the gun with shooter's hand, but it might be risky - even using 0,6mm drill.
I am also considering replacnig metal gun with spare placcy from M3A1 halftrack (I have no idea what happened with photobucket - pics are not displayed on blog anymore but they work if you click the miniature.)

Any ideas are more than welcome.

And the last thing - I managed to paint something!
Very small something but it still counts for annual statistic...
Last week buddy of mine opened own office, so I thought I can support him with big bottle of something tasty and self-painted lucky charm. It is said frog sitting on coins brings luck in business.
We'll see.

Thant's it for now, hopefully see ya next month!

End of another Ash wastes campaign

Hey again,

This post is also slightly delayed: 

not sure is it because I had some more work recently or because that b!tch spring coming but I barely could made myself to sit down and paint anything.

Yeah, yeah - hobby should be fun and all but last weeks I am just fallen to pieces and need to be put together. Pronto!

Broken or not - there was something going on.

First of all we finished the Necromunda campaign about started last November. 

It was only 9 games (there are only 2 players, remember?) but I was lots of fun and excitement - especially during rescue mission and the last match when we rolled hive quake on treachous conditions chart. After the last game difference between our gangs was ~400 pts so further games wouldn't be much fun.

At least for those motherlovin' shit... eee... PITslaves, hehehe...

And below you can see the badass team. During the campaign I had lots of luck during post battle sequence - just check how many sprinters are there!

No sh!t, my rescue team was running circles around the pit slaves sentries when I had to save Deadeye, the only sharpshooter in the squad. During whole campaign I've lost only 2 or 3 gang members so below are only the best of the best.

My killers are standing like they're placed the sheet: starting with da boss on the left and ending with useless melee beast - Barracuda.

Deadeye - probably my favorite ganger, got new colors after coming back home from captivity safe and sound. It was painted when I was yet a student so it was high time for fresh colors. Besides now with some camo added it will be even more deadly than now!

There are some more scavvies painted long time ago so hopefuly these will be also rewarded with brand new colors shortly.

Another small victory is the lasy of Heresy blights finished. These models are definitely worthy recommendation - thank to all those little nasty details painting is just very pleasant process and with a little bit of effort you can turn these demons into something really eyecatching and unique.

The only "problem" was choosing colors - since these are creatures out of our world practically every colors would be ok. I wanted to paint this one black first (sth like black zombies in Diablo PC game) but all in all I used something more common.

Common among zombies that is ^^

With this rotting fella done looks like there are only 2 plague marines left + maybe beast or nurgle / chaos spawn to have whole chaos cult finished. That's a nice surprise - I didn't plan to suddenly have another gang ready for action but it would be nice start for narrative gaming.

And the last thing for this post - kinda blast from the past.
Last week I brought very old project back to daylight from the miniatures purgatory. Few years back I got some ork vehiclezzz parts and with no better idea I attached them onto the cardboard construction and voila: wheeled dreadnought.
There's no specific idea for colors but since it's already desert yellow I think I'll hit it with several layers of yellow glaze and make it Bad Moons stuff.
Just hope I won't get bored or discouraged just after painting tyres ^^

Over and out!

More Nurgle! More Scavvy!

Welcome back!

Hope you are all fine, also hope your pets survived somehow those fuuked up fireworks during new year's eve. My poor cats were freaking out during the bombardment. Again.
I wasn't freaking out though, as for me - new year started pretty fine for the hobby.

First of all I added the first Heresy blight to the painted side. Really cool sculpt - perfect replacement for original plaguebearer - the sculptor had great idea with top of heads blown off. The one here will be part of small Nurgle force, NPC characters I mantioned earlier. His fellas will be paler - pale olive and white / pink, which should fit these disguisting (in positive, nurgly way ov course) sculpts perfectly.

The other thing campaign - related: we've already managed to have Necromunda opening match! It was cool game involving 3 gangs: my Scavvies, my old opponen't Pit Slaves and new player's small Goliath patrol force. 

The fresman apparently liked the game 'cause te next day after the slaughter he ordered own gang. From what I know these are some 3D renders but better this than nothing.

As for the game itself - the scenario played was Loot and Pillage (something) from Outlanders book. All loot counters were placed in the central area guarded by the slaves, so that was place where most of action happened.

I was desperated to scavange as many loots as possible to feed all rotting mouths in the gang so scavvies were storming fast (most of my gang members have developed sprint skill, ha!). Unfortunately one of the guardians was the boss of opposing gang - total badass in melee. I saw it coming so the idea was to pacify him him with several tox bombs and them finish off with gun salvo at close distance.

Yeah, right... That bloody bastard shrug off all radioactive clouds he was hit with and charged Reznik and Smoothskin inflicting a wound on second one*. No idea how but he screwed rolls for wounding Reznik which gave me 'nuff time to get there with 3 more gangers, but the killing wasn't easy: ordinary scavvies were just unable even to scratch Mr Bruce Fuckin' Commando Lee, so one of scalies had to do the job. And did it well.

Cannot remember 5 gangers engaging a single model in melee but in case of pit slaves it was totally reasonable act.Worthy taking a photo for post card.

And the last for now: another Scavvy joined the gang!

But this one is rather special:

- it's placcy (booo!!!),

- it has no green hair,

- it's based on idea spotted on leadplague bloggy.

Some time ago I gave away almost all spare gnobblars I had therefore I was extremly happy I found slightly damaged one which was great base for the conversion. Apart from gnobblar torso I used some spare bits from WFB and WH40K + Mantic Games head.

Since it's the only placcy model among my Scavvies I gave it different hair color and during paint process it got own RPG background! It's cool enough for becoming NPC or even special character in campaign game. So without more babbling: here's Po Jun!
Yeah, laugh about "Vanquisher of Armies" - that terminator was also laughing until Scavvy-samurai cut his head off**, skinned it and put on the banner taking crux for the trophy. Time to cleanse some pit slaves off the face of Ash Wastes...

 

* Who was definitely killed in the post battle sequence

** The Underhive rumor says that terminator somehow managed to survive the fatal wound*** and one day will appear in our campaign  as another converted model

*** And that's only because his fanatical devotion to Emperor, immediate help of apothecary and techmarine and because termionators have their brains removed and stored in safe place before engaging combat.

One more OOP plague marine, full scavvy gang + bit of summary

New year is coming so it's time for the very last post in 2014.

But first something more interesting: painted stuff!

For starters - my response for Rob Hawkins converted skeleton archers.
This guy definitely saved the model from being forgotten forever in small box in the darkest corner of my cellar, together with some more old and mutilated hobby junk.

Although paintjob is nothing special I am pretty satisfied of the conversion - it was fun and easy. I should check are there any other old undead in the lead pile, maybe it's high time for me to get Mordheim gang? Or I could try to assemble mixed regiment of skellies and zombies - blocks of troopers always look effective, especially dead ones...

Another one is the second classic plague marine model.

I said it before - those old sculpts are just great, full cooperation with painter! 

Bunch of servants of Rotten God will sure look great on the battlefield especially supported by minor demons, spawn of beast of Nurgle. Or all of them!

As for the marine it was painted using more less the same color palette as for the previous one (earlier post) but I tried to achieve stronger contrast. Still not exactly what I wanted so there's another one (the cult leader - mr Fabius B.) to improve. Hopefully.

And the boring part - annual summary.

The chart says most of it - this year I painted 43 models - more than in the year before but on the other hand we played few less games - 17 only.
I want more - both gaming and painting but I also know real life can fuck just everything, especially such a fragile and precious matter as the miniatures hobby.
On the other hand I should be happy I can constantly play with toy soliders: I know some poor souls which cannot get even close my score.
Poor unfulfilled hobby souls - here's the candle for you:

[*]

The reasons remain the same: my family life, some more work to do, my opponent's studies and of course - he got married so now he has to negotiate leaving the nest for quick game every time with his second half. Congrats again, bitch... ;-)

This time I tried to avoid setting some big, long distance goals to achieve to avoid disappointment in the end but if turned out I finally managed to paint all models from the Scavvy family. Sure, some of them were finished few years back but they will be getting fresh paintjob eventually. Probably after acting well on the battlefield. The first candidate is definitely Deadeye - the only scavvy with autogun:
2 games back he managed to deal with 3 pit slaves using only gun's butt and teeth!!!

 

Which reminds me - we managed to find 2 gamer - candidates recently. They seem to be optimistic about whole gaming idea so there's tiny little chance to play BIG match in the coming year. That's what 72" x 72" game table was built for! Fingers crossed for that.

As for any hobby plans for the comig year - not much really.
I hope to finish some models staggering on the desk, build another photo background (the "vault entrance" is cool but I want some change), play more regulary and maybe start another gang - Ratskin Renegades or Redemptionists.

That's it for 2014, seeya next year!

Karloth Valois has came back!

"The Redemptionists searched the Abyss for weeks looking for any evidence of Karloth's remains but found nothing. But, as every Underhiver knows, nothing can be found in the Abyss which does not wish to be found..."

That's right:  the anti - pope of the Underhive has emerged from the Abyss where he was thrown by those which - burning bastards so the time of revenge is close!

He is mean, bad and ugly which will make the vengeance even more devastating!

Especially because monsieur Valois is not very happy about paintjob recieved (fastidious bitch... ><). But he's at least a bit right - I am also not sure I like the final effect. It's the second or third attempt to paint the piece but it stays as it is.

The idea was to give him nice and fancy ritual robe so every Scavvy knows who's the big boss but I've always had problems with painting decent purple. Maybe adding stronger red hue would be good idea?

Too bad - wanted to use purple theme for my Redemptionists but I think I'll stick to bone white as the main color. At least it will contrast nicely with guns and other shit those holy drugs driven maniacs bring for the crusade. I can smell flesh burning...

Anything more to write about the model?
Not much apart from the fact I am very happy another Scavvy left gloomy dimension ov ye unpainted pile. Although the final effect is far from my expectations working on this beautiful sculpt was just a pleasure. I didn't have better idea for creating bigger contrast that's why the staff was painted the way you can see. Distracts attention from flat purple.

But there's more!

Another scavvy!

This cocker was painted just before Karloth Valois and it was the last spare plague zombie I had. Since I cannot field more than 6 zombies all doubled models were used in other projects (like Zombie Dragon base or this standard bearer painted for Vikotnik). 

As for this one - after the last game during which my Scavvies were torn to pieces* by pit slaves gang and their fucking buzz blades and shears I decided I need a melee monster to respond to the slaves where it hurts the most! 

Yeah... I bet fresh scavvy wielding close combat weapons can make the difference...

The conversion was quick and easy, which is something I like the most: the bone was replaced with chainsword, backpack was added and as a bonus: crux something from terminators sprue put on the chest. I regret I didn't replace the head but I thought about this just after sword was added - there was not much space to perform operation without risk of damaging the sword.

This guy might be cool to use in the field: it could storm enemy ranks together with plague zombies flock supporting them with:

1. superior weapon skill

2. superior weapon

3. grenade!
So without further introduction... Here's monsieur Karloth Valois and his trusty berserk - servant: Barracuda**:

*one of scalies got missing after the bloodbath so there's recon & rescue missiion ahead

** that's right, every member of my gangs has the name