Lead Painter's League 11 - Round 7 - Dark Eldar Arena of Blood

Apologies for taking so long to post my LPL 11 Round 7 entry. I was waiting until I had all the figures for the Arena of Blood game painted up (there were still three to complete after the initial photo). Sadly, this entry got absolutely slaughtered in the competition. I had a feeling I would lose anyway but not that badly ;)

 

Arena of Blood is a mini-game found in White Dwarf #229 (1999) which introduced simple rules for Dark Eldar gladiator fights. I was a big fan of the Dark Eldar in 3rd edition and had quite a large army at the time. I have had a desire to build a 3D version ever since. I finally started it around January 2017! I will put the WIP and arena build pictures in another post, as it could get lengthy.

The original game was played on a fold out map (included in the magazine) that had all the stats and specific rules for the characters. GW even included stand up card markers for the Wyches! Players place 'murder stakes' around the arena and then chaos ensues.

I decided to go with the newer Dark Eldar sculpts because they're so much better looking than the 3rd edition versions.

  

 Splinter Pistol and Knife.

Hydra Gauntlets (Hydra Knives in the old days)

  

  The Hellion is a  simple kitbash using a 3rd edition head that I believe is from the old Raider kit.

The Beastmaster is a more involved conversion, because the Beastmaster in Arena of Blood is on foot instead of riding a skyboard. The legs are from a plastic Wych, the torso and upper right arm are from a Warlord Games Zulu, the head is from a metal beastmaster, and the right hand was originally from a Heroclix figure. After I had him painted I realized that in Arena of Blood he has a splinter pistol, so I swapped out the hand. The skin wrap, backpack thing, and tubing are ProCreate (sort of like Greenstuff).

The Khymera is metal and I was not sure how basing him on the clear acrylic would work. I ended up leaving a post on the foot that is inserted into a hole I drilled into the base. Luckily it doesn't stand out.

I need to come up with stats for this guy (armed with dual razorflails) as this weapon combo didn't exist in 1999.

I wanted a shorter sword than the regular DE power sword for the Razorsnare/Falchion Wych- which no longer exists in 40K. I think the sword is from the Frostgrave Cultists set. Tough looking gal, no?

That completes a full set of Wyches for the game. I have more built because I want a male and female for each type, and from different Wych Cults. These ones are in the scheme of the 'Seventh Woe'.

Shadow War: Armageddon - Adepta Sororitas Additions

I've been continuing to play Shadow War: Armageddon about once a week. After match three one of my sisters (the storm bolter, who is a heavy hitter) was captured by some filthy orks. I was worried that I might not have the melee strength the take down the ork sentries, so I decided to spend a promethium cache to get a Celestian for a game. This meant a conversion was in order. I wanted to update my Superior as well- she acquired the Gunfighter advance which meant she can dual wield pistols! I also decided to convert a simulacrum carrier, rather than use a stock Imagifier.

After doing the conversion work it meant I had to paint the three figures in a day to be ready for the match :)

 The Imagifier is an old banner bearer figure from the 90s. I cut off her banner pole and added a conversion bit from Trolls Under the Bridge. I really love the idea of a reliquary box- it has a supply hose snaking up to the box which I imagine to power a stasis chamber to protect the sacred object within. As I was getting ready to paint it I noticed that there was a socket in the top (not sure how I missed it) so I added a fleur-de-lis finial, also from Trolls.

 This conversion was a little more difficult because I started with a Seraphim Superior. After repositioning the legs and doing some greenstuff work to pull off the leg rotation, I swapped out the melee weapon she was pointing with for a marine plasma pistol. I also made a sheathed sword (bound in the finest deviant hide) because I had upgraded to a power sword. Looks like I missed painting the gem on the hilt... I was in a hurry :)

 Sister Superior Angelica was the star of the raid, taking down two ork sentries in melee without raising the alarm. The Celestian climbed up to the precarious perch where the captive was held and cut her free. I was able to sneak around the other two sentries. After the match Angelica picked up the Crack Shot skill.

The Celestian is a conversion as well. I already had a helmeted sister missing the front of her flamer I picked up second hand, so she would be a good start for switching to a melta gun. Cutting up these chunky old metal miniatures sucks! After a bit of work with a jeweler's saw and a Dremel I was able to fit a melta gun in place and tie it all together with greenstuff. The halo is another bit from Trolls Under the Bridge, and the small fleur on the helmet is a small component I had 3D printed that I cast in resin. The plan is to replicate this look for a full squad of celestians some day.
 

The kill team is up to eight now, and is kitted out with bolt pistols and frag grenades with a sprinkling of red-dot sights and other goodies. After next game I should be able to add another sister.

Cleanse and Purify!!!


EDIT: I received a question on a Facebook group asking "Which Order is this?"

I'm not actually sure- there is an army painted with this scheme in the Witch Hunters Codex but I don't believe it labels them. I thought they were a new version of the 'Sacred Rose' order (usually with a black robe), but I've never been sure.

I did find these images, from the Forces of the Inquisition Collector's Guide:

The left one appears to be from the studio army and is labeled "Silver Shroud".

The right is a showcase army with the scheme, and a Sacred Rose symbol on the back Exorcist.

Links to conversion bits:

 Trolls Under the Bridge Webstore

Trolls Under the Bridge eBay Store

Shadow War: Armageddon Sororitas Kill Team

I was one of the lucky people that managed to snag a box of Shadow War: Armageddon from the GW site upon release. The box is full of nice terrain and the rules are basically a streamlined Necromunda, so it was a no-brainer for me to try to acquire.

The first kill team I organized is a Sororitas squad. I had most of the figures painted already, but I wanted to use the plasma pistol Superior so I had to paint her up to match. Because I really don't record a recipe when I paint it can be tough to match things I painted a few years ago. This time it went pretty smooth and I used a decal for the text on the chainsword to speed things up.

Praesidio Angelica was initially composed of a Superior with a chainsword and plasma pistol, two gunners (one with a flamer and one with a storm bolter and laser sight), two battle sisters, and a novitiate. I added another sister after the first fight, which I won handily. I was glad to have the ladies on the table!

Overall I'd say it's a fun game and plan to get some more battles in.

Lead Painter's League 11 - Round 6

This entry is one I've been wanting to do for a while, after reading "The Bloody White Baron". The cover has a neat Mongolian demon skull border that I wanted to paint on a flag, as the Baron's actual flag was allegedly pretty boring looking.

I wasn't expecting it to get beat in the LPL but my opponent had a damn fine entry. This is the last time I'm doing a double sided hand-painted flag for an LPL round ;)

Lead Painter's League 11 - Round 5

My round 5 entry for this year's LPL. The flag is hand painted (and double sided). Sailors by Hinterland Miniatures.

Lead Painter's League 11 - Round 4 - Arrival

Quite a while back I encountered a picture of some 28mm Clue miniatures sculpted by Mark Copplestone for the 'Cluedo: Super Sleuth' game (very nicely painted by 'Orctrader'). I managed to shortly thereafter acquire a boxed game on eBay. True to form, it took a couple years to get to them and painted them in time for an LPL entry.

I had already started the 3D Clue board, which is now mostly done except for interior furniture.

 

Lead Painter's League 11 - Round 3 - Seeking Sanctuary

Round 3 of the LPL is now over, which means I am allowed to post it here.

The priests are converted Perry Miniatures clergy from the Crusades range. They've been modified with greenstuff to look more like 'Missionaries of Africa', also known as 'White Fathers'.

The warrior women are from Wargames Foundry's 'Darkest Africa' range, and the princess is from Northstar. Good to see Copplestone back on an Africa project :)