40K Whippet Tank

 o/

On patrol in the mossy wilds of the Appalachian subsector.

This is the first model painted for another, new 40K army (because...you know, I play so much of the game). I've been bouncing's back and forth between Iggie and GSC lists. On one hand I was leaning towards the Iggies as the GSC is a bit too convoluted for my tastes. That said, the faction icon resembles that of a Ymgarl genestealer so maybe the GSC would be better.

The decals came out kinda crummy for who knows what reason as I applied them the same as I always do. I'll probably go back and paint over the decal sheet haloing appearance. 

I've ordered a platoon's worth of Infantry which was recently displayed on the Devos IV's brick of scrutiny. As cool as those minis are, there only seem to be 12 individual poses which is terribly limiting. The solution to that is obvious: add tanks. 

Judging by the bizarre glyphs that presumably say something, clearly this is a local, planetary language and not the high or low Gothic of the Imperium. 

As such, the Whippet is the first one. Originally I had intended to use it as a Hellhound proxy, only to discover upon its arrival that it came with a whole slew of weapon options, and all with magnet holes included! 

A better view of the Ymgarl Genestealer-esque icons, as well as a few kill markings.

Hemming and hawing on whether or not to use it as a Leman Russ hull or Chimera hull tank proxy, I instead went for option #3: a Carnadon Proxy. The Carnadon is a none too pretty, hideously expensive 30K Imperialis Milita tank (or 40K legends) produced by the now defunct Forgeworld. 

I only seem to have taken this one pic of this side of the tank. Note the laughably useless pistol port. 

All told, the aforementioned 36 Infantry models and this tank clocked in at roughly $100. The same as 2 boxes of Cadians. Very much a bargain, even if I am terribly limited in regards to the lack of variety amongst the infantry. They however have yet to ship, so for now this tank has taken up residence in my display case. 

Faction icon and more of their strange glyphs/writing on the tank's only hatch. The rear also has a pistol port as well. 

Edit: I did paint around the decals and they do look much better now. 

Filling out the officer corps...

...not for any of the same factions mind you. 

This is kindova shotgun blast of random post covering the various army, or rather 'contingent' commanders that I've painted here of late. As you can see in the pic above, two are for Imperial loyalist factions. One is...debatable, capable of being used as either a loyalist Imperial or traitor astartes Lt. depending on whomever their allies are on that given day. Whereas the Cavalry officer in the back is definitely a traitor (loyalist IG don't enter battle half-naked).

First up: Buccaneer Captain Tharkins. 

I hate this guy's face. I painted it three times before giving up. I still think it looks kinda meh.

Clearly Tharkins doesn't see much combat, or rather maybe just PT. 

Guardsmen of the Buccaneer (pronounced: Byoocaneer) Battalions (their home world is too sparsely populated to offer up whole regiments for Imperial Guard tithing requirements) have a perpetual chip on their shoulders. Mainly as every 'off-worlder' who reads their regimental name, pronounces it as anyone logically would: BUCKaneers. 

No amount of barroom or mess hall brawls will ever change this fact either! Thus, Buccaneer Battalions rarely operate in conjunction with other Guard units, instead often serving as isolated garrison troops and other solitary unit deployments.

Second up we have: Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor Tibadaux

Not too fond of how her bald head and face came out either. She might suffer a head swap at some point...

Her [Legends] Null Rod with integral whip. I have a feeling that My Beloved Wolfy would have commandeered this mini as one of hers.

To date, Tibadaux is my only inquisitor based to match my Silver Drakes. Perpetually fighting the Nids, the Drakes would likely be better served by an ordo Xenos inquisitor, though we can surmise that she's just rooting out Genestealer Cultist activity and the like.

For the second year in a row, my principle miniature for the Inquisitorial Conclave hosted by Neverness, Tibadaux was finished almost to the same day as last year's offering! I thought I'd try something a little different with her in that once painted, I 'ard coated all of the black paint on her armor. I'm rather pleased with the result, giving her armor a glossy black, almost patent leather-esque appearance. That combined with the whip gives her a bit of a dominatrix look, don't you agree? 

'Yes Mistress...'

Turning debatably towards treason, we next have my Soul Drinker's Lieutenant Amenadiel.

I LOVE this model!

Armed with a bolt pistol and Goliath Renderizer power maul, he is NOT to be fucked with!

Lieutenant with Imperial Fists successor chapter traits? Check. 

Chaos Exalted Champion with renegade traits (whatever they currently are)? Also check.

I've been debating 'ard coating his skin to give him a glistening with sweat look. Not sure how that would look, though I guess if it sucks I can just matte varnish him again. Also wish that there was a relic that I could give him out of the Marine codex that would befit his massive close combat weapon. Undoubtedly, I'm sure Chaos has something suitable...

Lastly, we have this guy: My Renegade IG (Counts as) Death Rider Squadron Commander 

Somewhere there's a gamer who just looked at this and is now pondering the idea of turning their pet parakeet into a mount for 40k!

I'm thinking that the beak will be a worthy substitute for the hunting lance, whereas the mount's 'savage claws' will apply as normal. 

No idea if that's his piss, slop, or sandcastle building bucket. 

I got this 3D printed mini off of eBay and am quite pleased with it. Didn't like the original head though, so swapped it out for one from the genestealer cult bitz I ordered when I went shopping for Tibadaux's henchmen. This mini alone has made my renegade IG fall under the DKK regimental doctrine. Tis' okay though, they'll provide Zzzzz with the necessary insurgent excuse with which his MASSIVE collection of Guardsmen can use to lay siege to yet another warzone.

Kill Team: Chaos Cultists vs. Genestealer Cultists

Just as it should be!

o/

I finally got in another round of Kill Team with my rescheduled game with Matt. He fielded a mix of genestealer cultists and genestealers, vs. my horde of chaos cultists lead by my female Nurgle CSM aspiring champion Donna Rhea. We played the sweep and clear scenario, with specialists but no command points to keep it a bit simple as this was only my 2nd. game. 

The following is my usual photo dump/highlight reel/half-assed excuse for a battle report:

The battlefield following deployment,

the 4 objectives are the ammo crates.

My wiley opponent Matt.

The battlelines quickly merge, including the dreaded charge of a genestealer right up the middle!

Luckily the dice were not with him and I counter charged my specialist (+1 attack) HTH cultist (who summarily died) into the melee. The other cultist would however prove to be rather resilient!

I love the Ymarl genestealer heads! I love 'em even more when they're wreathed in flames and removed from the board on turn 2!

Lacking a decent target to shoot, another hapless cultist

charges into the fray!

By this point the high volume of chaos shooting has thinned the xeno-loving herd considerably, though my casualties were getting frighteningly high as well!

With her bolter, Donna Rhea dispatches a wounded stealer fruitlessly trying to hold an objective late in the game.

Yul-somebody (the Genestealer cult leader) charges my guys in order to seize the objective. However it turns out that cultists, of both types suck in general and another long melee ensues...

Holding all four objectives, Chaos turns the tide and starts mopping up the enemy.

That accursed seismic cannon gunner had been a continuous thorn in my side, having accounted for my flamer specialist and several grunts over the course of the game. In the end my heavy stubber gunner and it would finish out the game trading ineffectual long ranged shots at one another. 

With my 2nd HTH cultist dead and the other grunt shaken and useless, Donna Rhea enters the fray...

...and with a single power sword swipe eliminates the last genestealer!

At game's end, both sides were shaken, however I held all 4 objectives for 3 points a piece, plus had killed 10 enemy models (for 1 KP a piece) giving me a grand total of 22 KPs. Matt on the other hand had totaled 12 KPs, all acquired via models killed. The game was a blood bath and much fun was had on both sides. 

Going forward, Matt's looking to organize a KT campaign soon, and I'm looking forward to it, though I'm not sure which force I'll use just yet.  

*****

As we were leaving, Courtland's DKK army was advancing into the guns of Mike's Dark Angels. I have no idea who won this grueling battle but from what I'm told, this 1850* point game lasted for at least 5 hours! (((shudder)))


*edit.