Robin paints Genestealer Cults

So recently I’ve noticed my purestrains not cutting the mustard with how I play; they die too easily. So long story short I’ve planned out adding in 5 Aberrants. For this to happen I’ve had to reshuffle my Neophytes and thats included proxy-ing the two sy canons and one grenade launcher to be autogunners instead. With a lot of scalpel work on leftover autoguns and a bit of UV work I’ve placed 3 clean autoguns on the bases of these Neophytes. I don’t see a problem with this competively as it’s marked on the model as having either choice and I just have to let my opponent know which models which.

I also used the opportunity to repaint a part of my Nexos and UV to strengthen the antenna on top of their backpack which has decided to break during transit. I’ve also upgraded his paint scheme; I was never quite sure of it and he’s been my MVP the last few games surviving multiple rounds of melee from deepstriked enemies. My keyboard warrior is now a regal black!

Had a blast yesterday vs the nids; end score 67 to 46 in favour of the Star Children but learned loads as always.

Was very happy I was able to get 15 for physical ritual with my Patriarch and 18 for Sabotage Critical location with my Saboteur and Jackals.

After a few failed charges with my Goliath and Acolytes in the backfield I was swarmed. Those new termagants are a royal pain and totally overcame my Aberrants!

I still want to swap out my Purestrains maybe for some more Aberrants and want to change out from my cults secondaries to find some more point scoring secondaries perhaps Assassinate instead of the Crossfire points. Perhaps would have been a different end score!

Disclaimer the knight wasn’t in the battle but I just wanted to show my work to my opponent Shay and get a family photo ?

So it’s complete! My Cult of the Bladed Bog* name pending Knight is finished!

I’ve also noticed I’m only a few models off having all the line of Genestealer Cults painted for this army minis a few characters… perhaps the end of this project!

mostly I’m happy with the paint job but there’s definitely room for improvement with the lettering and glow.

Without further ado here is my finished Knight….

So as the secret project is underway the first stage of painting which included using the airbrush and a LOT of weathering.

The first step was to spray orange as a dark undercoat then yellow. The glow was achieved with Waystone Green and then highlighted with Moot Green. As a first venture into glow I felt like I achieved a 6/10 for what I had in my head. I then painted some sections of armour purple along with the colour scheme I had in my head and used tape to provide guidelines for the hazard strips I had in mind.

Weathering included:

A wash with Reikland Fleshshade to darken everything and then use of “rust” pigments. The final stage of the weathering was to use a sponge to dab on black- brown- gun metal- then silver to give the impression of tarnished/ destroyed paint.

I then painted the details including the ones I’ve added on like the wires. I also included my usual exhaust drybrush with copper- blue- purple and black to look like burn out!

Without further ado here’s the top of the knight!

PS I did write House Mortimer on the scroll on the torso but have painted it over to try again as I feel like it made the model look abit less.

So I’ve been planning this secret project for a while after finding a steal on eBay!

An Imperial Knight!

So my reasons for converting a knight are thus:

1. White Dwarf 126 references House Mortimer and a Genestealer Cult infestation. Referenced by their Iconography.
2. It matches with the lore surrounded by my cult of the bladed cog and the connection between Adeptus Mechanicus.
3. The Rule of Cool

As this Knight was bought on eBay it comes along with the baggage associated. Badly glued parts and poorly primed. My first task was to take apart bits and fulfil my concept of a Survey Neophyte from a ridgerunner in the latch.

Then my next task was to genestealer it up. With all their extra details like wires and vents it felt natural to add rivets and some wires to give a more industrial feel to it.

Then I took away the dirty imperial seal and replaced it with some of the genestealer icons from banners in by bits box. This included the shield on the Knight.

Finally I created the base using rocks, aquarium ferns, copper pipe, Ork boys, two neophytes and my favourite polyfiller. Creating a battle scene below the knight.

After priming black and highlighting corax white I noticed some gaps in the weapons… very frustrating. So I repaired  with polyfiller and with plastic glue before respraying.

I used a silver spray this time to make my job easier in the future with painting the panels.

I can’t wait to continue with this project and update you all.

So we’re off on our holidays; and in true Nerd form I hunted down a hobby store…

After a frantic search on Google I found the shop Nexus in the centre of Reykjavik that was actually opened til late.

Upon entering the shop I was blown away by the size of the place, the friendliness of the staff and the universality of 40K. There were some hobbyists gaming  and one of the staff showed me round the store very proud to show me what Iceland had to offer!!

Of course I couldn’t leave empty handed and bought a Locus for my Cult!

Hopefully my Viking Swordsmaster brings me luck in my next games! If you’re ever here definitely check out Nexus!!

WHAT A MILESTONE!

I’ve finally reached 2k of my Cult painted with this beautiful 10 man squad of Aberrants!

I tried some new techniques including my flesh shades with the airbrush.

Notably I used a “stencil” with a GSC painted purple then pressed onto the shoulder pads! This wasn’t a clean technique so I went over again with a fine brush to get the details but I’m tremendously happy with the results!

I think my next move is to swap and change units that Im happy with and move some that Im still unhappy with but that’s how you learn!

Enjoy my Aberrants! I promise there’s a full army photo shoot coming with the proper camera AND wish my luck we’re away to Iceland to take some photos over the Easter Holidays and I’m definitely going to be popping into my local (Ehm) hobby store!

Another milestone; the Goliath is finally finished! Just 10 Aberrants before 2k.

This model turned out beautifully and definitely was due to the airbrush layers! It would have taken so much longer without.

There includes layers of the mud texture and pigments to add rust; I never understand when I see clean GSC vechicles etc when so many strats deal with the cult clambering from the depths below to the centre of battle!

A new game and more things learned! Myself and Shay had a game over the weekend and unfortunately I suffered another loss! However with more things learned I wanted to talk about the fun I had with my cults and what I learnt about my play style with them.

A Hive Fleet has landed on a human world and began their usual preparations to turn the planet to BioMass to feed the hive; but alas a twisted Patriarch was unwilling to sacrifice his brood for the Star Children and turned this usual event into a conflict. Rebelling against their masters. Using the sewers of this planet a titan and several larger bugs hunt down the last remnants of the Revolution to feed on. After a short conflict the weapons of man were no match for the bugs and after massive fatalities only the Primus was left. He escaped to the sewer systems below to live in fear from the hive and doubting his existence and the legends of the Star Children…  

So we decided to have a fun home rule applied to our game. The first images are of a sewer system where an objective was hidden. The idea was that two sewers were led to the sewer system in the bottom right of the board. Only infantry would be allowed to enter the sewer system (size appropriate) and to escape out the single entrance roll a D6. Odds were the sewer closest to Shay’s deployment and Evens were the sewer closest to mine. This dimension was super fun and meant that small skirmishes were able to happen during the game apart from the main game itself.

Unfortunately as I mentioned previously it was a loss; 76 points to my 24. But I learned loads.

• I still don’t feel like my purestrains do the work they’re intended to and I do wish to focus more on Aberrants within my army.
• My Magus isn’t doing the work that I’d like (but I’m going to keep researching how I can make them punch!
• After a 4 turn game only my Primus was left along with the Tyranid Titan.
• My tactic to protect characters worked and my Nexos survived in combat for multiple turns and took out several Termagants with his keyboard! Amazing
• Strategically my Goliath getting destroyed early in the game led to a massive shift in control of my board control; I need to make sure to protect it more next time!!
• The stratagem “Return to Shadows” is my new favourite for the Kelermorph and Sanctus!

Fantastic day and another fun filled battle with my Cult!

As I reach the end of my draft 2000 point list I thought I’d post a milestone with pictures of the army so far.

The reason I say draft is I’m become increasingly aware that as I play Genestealer cults I’ve noticed certain changes in my play style and things that would possibly work better! I think really that’s the name of the game with playing the Cults; knowing what works for you; units and stratagems.

Anyway without further ado; here is what’s been painted up and what’s left.

I’m incredibly heartened that it’s just 10 Aberrants and my Goliath both part painted before the 2000k is finished.

Enjoy the pics of the Cult of the Bladed (Swamp?)

Small update in regards to work in progress. I finished my Abominant and am reaching the finishing the end of my Acoylte Hybrids! Just my Aberrants and Goliath to finish before my secret project. Enjoy the pics!

I tried melting the Kastellan Robot side with a lighter and ended up melting the Abominant familiar’s arm so I ended up chopping it off and using a Neophyte hand with dagger! I’m actually really happy with the conversion what a happy accident!

The Acolytes Hybrids just have the usual UV and leaf treatment left before I call them finished. I loved doing a different colour scheme to contrast with my previous acolyte hybrids. I tied in similar themes with the weapons to make the models fit within the scheme of my army! I also Reikland Fleshshaded the other Acolytes and now they look like a set.

Went to my local hobby store and asked my paint guru (John) how to make my airbrushed flesh on Aberrants and Abominant have some shades. I didn’t want to Agrax or Nuln oil and wanted something different after the work with the airbrush on the flesh. Reikland Fleshshade was just the ticket before I add fine details to these beautiful bois. This was achieved with Wazdakka Red all over , Kislev Flesh highlight, Corax White even lighter highlight and then Reikland Fleshshade with cotton buds to clear up the excess while still wet!

So little update in hobby news; another Battle Report!

This weekend myself and Shay had my first 2000 point game of 40k…. it was a long one!!

Shay brought his Custodes and despite a score of 22 to 51 with the Custodes winning I definitely loved the game and learned a lot more during the game.
Turn 1

I went first! I focused upon one of my Sabotage areas with my Neophytes with the other near Shay’s deployment zone. A lot of focus on me holding primary objectives. One held by the Goliath, one by the bikers and one my the Acolytes with the Magus in the back. During this turn I set a crossfire marker on a squad and took out several models( ALOT MORE THAN I EXPECTED). A really positive turn and definitely felt like I was on the right track.

Turn 2

Again hot on Shay’s heels despite losing a few characters I was still going well; but then disaster…

I fudged a charge with Purestrains then left my Patriarch and Sanctus out on a limb….

The rest of the game led, perhaps from my perspective, to a loss in focus on the game and instead of cutting losses and continuing to play the game to objectives on trying to take out specific models. woops! I still don’t think I’m using Jackals effectively and by turn two they were swarmed by Vertus Praetors.

These Vertus Praetors took out my Acolytes, Magus and Goliath by the end and I definitely spent a lot of time focusing on trying to take them out!

By turn 4 all I had left was my Neophytes and Primus and I conceded defeat.
His deepstriked Allarus Custodians and Telemon proved too much for me and those jacked up Abberants and Abominant.

Reflectively:

• I should’ve emptied my new Goliath of the Acolyte Crew onto the second objective
• I fell back with the Goliath (rules blunder) not knowing I couldn’t charge it back at a single annoying Custodes!
• Possibly I should’ve reinforced a very left out on a limb Sanctus top left of board perhaps with the purestrains and patriarch that went underground and appeared on the other side of the board.
• All in all one or two fumbles but really happy with how I played despite some dice not being on my side!!
• I liked how the Goliath performed along with the new Abberants and Abominant
• I also liked my strategy of keeping characters with troops; it allowed them to cushion the characters and allowed me to hold onto objectives for longer than I thought.
• Despite losing this game I definitely had a point where Custodes were on the ropes (turn one) and despite having the fear of not wiping anything the Genestealers held their own!
• I just need to remember the mission and SUPPORT THOSE CHARACTERS!

So tonight I broke out the airbrush and after watching several videos I dipped a foot into the widely talked about technique of airbrushing.

What I needed to start;

• an airbrush
• a compressor I went with the FD-186 on Amazon
• cleaning fluid
• thinning fluid
• some dropper bottles with ball bearings
• a fengda three meter airbrush hose

I wanted to practice some basic skills first like mixing paint and applying colour.

Firstly I mixed a 1:1 ration in the dropper bottle of paint and airbrush thinner. I shook it loads to make sure it was as blended as I could make it. After practising spraying a few times I sprayed my Goliath orange first, then highlighted yellow then went back to the orange and then did a deeper shade of orange closer to the bottom. This messing around was definitely something  to do with getting use to moving the pressure up and down and being happy with the flow of paint. Funnily enough the instruction manual for the compressor is absolutely pants. You’ve gotta lift up the knob (to change air pressure) to actually turn it!! The compressor was loudish until the tank was full then quiet as anything.

The dropper bottles were a godsend but pots are terrible to pour from and tbh I think continuing airbrushing will require some bottles to make life easier.

The skin on my troops is what I’m happiest with; it started with a shade of red, then highlighted flesh tone and finally super light highlight of corax white!

I also tried abit of blending in the Abominant base’s Kastellan Robot on the base! Which I’m extremely happy with.

I’d say as a first time airbrushing the merits definitely outweigh the negatives. However get ready for a tonne of cleaning. I think my transitions will get quicker as I become more confident with the airbrush!!

Without further ado; the last points towards my 2000 goal with their first airbrush base colours…

So this weekend was my 30th and I got this insane looking airbrush as a gift from my partner’s mother and brother!

I am buzzing about the possibilities that this will lead to in my painting project! I’ve decided to have a break as I wait for my new compressor tank (advice given by Shay) to arrive as well as some ordered models to make a start on the last 500 points of my 2000 point army goal.

I’m very excited for a conversion project coming up too!

Wish me luck! And hopefully I’ll have some airbrush updates soon.

Built and based the Goliath Rock Grinder last night as well as doing a few touch ups on the previous very pink Acolyte Hybrids.

The hybrids were fixed by applying a light dry brush of my new flesh tone (last post) to soften the very harsh pink already used! Sometimes it’s worth it to remind yourself you can always go back to painting even after varnishing.

I also based the Goliath! I know it looks dwarfed by the Goliath… however it keeps in theme with the rest of the army.

Just a little update this week;

As I finalise what I’m getting to go up to 2000 points with my cults I finished off one of my 5 man acolyte squads. As you can see from the photo they’re very pink, and I think I will have a look at my skin recipe again.

Today I was down at my local game store and got Kislev Flesh which hopefully with a bit of blending with White scar will get a more muted skin tone which is what I’m after; which means revarnishing after painting again. I’m very happy with the red armour however!

I also picked up a Goliath kit which I’m very excited about; this should lead to the previous games faux pas being rectified; my acolytes died straight off as they were abit weak against tanks.

I’ve also an Abominant arriving in the post from eBay! Which I can’t wait to convert with some fun pieces ? Bladed Cog inspired.

Finally I’ve to acquire some Aberrants 2 5 man squads.

So in my head

Still to paint:

Retouch the first 5 acolytes

Paint the other five man squad

To build:

Abominant

Goliath Rockgrinder

To order:

2 boxes of Aberrants!

THEN IM UP TO THE 2k

I’ll put up the full army when they’re completed; I don’t know yet if there’s anything I want to change up so in the comments tell me what you think!

Today I had my second game with the Genestealer Cults this time vs. Shay’s Sisters of Battle.

I had made some preparations including flash cards with information about the Bladed Cog cult and stratagems that I wanted to use during the game / one’s that I thought would come in handy!

We had our objectives scattered on the board as my secondaries I chose Shadow operations, broodswarm and purge the enemy. Shay chose No mercy no respite, assassinate and then the ranks.

Underground; Saboteur, Neophytes, one Squad of Acolyte Hybrids, Sanctus and Jackals.

As a plan I wanted to focus taking out smaller units as I wanted to force Shay to make choices.

Turn 1

I pushed forward to the left with the Patriarch, purestrains, ridge runners and Acolyte Hybrids,  whilst the Nexos and Primus stayed back. The Jackal alphus and Kelermorph pushed to the right flank (and probably stupidly towards the rival army).
I was out of range to use my physic and the Nexos pinned his crossfire marker on a squad of sisters. The Kelermorph rose to the challenge and six shots landed on this squad. There were only two left.
The sisters survived and Acolytes were in trouble. The jackal alphus was quickly dispatched with multi melta and storm bolter. The Kelermorph survived an onslaught with 2 wounds left. The Immolator fired all it could including a hunter killer and the ridgerunners survived, the Acolytes mentioned previously were wiped by flamers from the Immolator, and a ridgerunner was destroyed by the Exorcist tank.

GSC 1 SOB 3

Alittle boo-boo here with Physic not doing much, and not being able to take out this tank. I also placed the Jackal Alphus too close to the front line along with not realising that characters couldn’t sabotage (secondary objective).

Turn 2

Using the stratagem Hyper Metabolism I recovered the Kelermorph, the Immolator was exposed by the Nexos and after shooting only had five wounds left. The underground acolyte squad appeared near the satellite and with flamers was exposed by being sandwiched between different troops. The Neophytes were came up from underground and landed on the far right next to the secondary objective where the jackal alphus died. I spilt fire of the Neophytes to the exposed Immolator with the heavies, flamers in the Arco Flagellants and everything else into a Sisters of Battle Squad. The Sanctus shot and killed the last two Arco Flagellants who were crossfire. The Neophytes tried to mass firearm stratagem the sisters and put in a dent. The Acolytes near the Immolator tried to charge the Immolator and after four CP with various stratagems by Shay the five man squad went down! During Shay’s turn the Immolator shot into the purest rain genestealer squad, with one left, the Retributors dispatched more of the ridgerunners. A deep striped squad of Seraphims charged the last  Ridgerunner (retributors placed in Immolator) alongside an Inquisitor got ready to attack the Magus and Patriarch. The inquisitor summoned a demon host and locked the Patriarch in battle. The Kelermorph finally fell to multiple shots but with his heroic stratagem was able to put down the two man squad of sisters left. (My MVP). Celestine and her retinue spilt up with her sidemen putting down the Sanctus and Celestine along with Celestine Sacresants dispatching the neophytes. Ephrael Stern and Kyganil deepstriked behind the Nexos and dispatched him easily and proceeded to attack the Primus.

I learned more so not to leave characters by themselves and I need to use the Reductus Saboteur more effectively. My jackals also dropped like flies from the Excorcist- I need to get better at smash and grab.

GSC 3 SOB 27

Turn 3

With almost everything dead on my side; I had the Saboteur, a ridgerunner, Magus, Primus, Patriarch and a pure strain left this turn was mostly for fun. In my command phase again used the Hyper Metabolism but this time with the Patriarch. He got perils of the warp with two sixes trying to attack the demon host. As little side notes the Saboteur punched and killed a Seraphim out of the air, finally the Immolator was dispatched and Shay made it explode, damaging all the troops around the skirmish. Damaging the final ridgerunner and I used a stratagem to rig the ridgerunner to blow. LOTS OF EXPLOSIONS. The demon host survived but everything else in the skirmish was pretty much dead. I called the game after Ephrael Stern and Kyganil killed the Primus and the Saboteur was the only unit left on my field.

I’ve learned loads from this game;

• make sure to understand secondaries fully not place characters
• jackals are for smash and grab
• learn how to use Reductus Sabtoeur
• try to look after characters
• Spend time on understanding physic

I’m really happy with my understanding of stratagems as opposed to last game and do think that my placement and use of crossfire was SO much more effective than my first game with the cults. Bring on the next!!!

So this week has consisted of;

• preparing new models
• making sure my list is 1500
• trying to wrap my head around rules
• painting my pure strain genestealers

All in preparation for Saturdays game against the Sisters of the imperium Adeptus Sororitas.

I love how these Purestrain Genestealers turned out. In line with the albino underground vibe of my patriarch with dotting on the ribs using black, wraithbone, white scar, mournfang, and nurgling green.

A chilled out Sunday today including some work on an eBay find: 8 Genestealers.

They arrived on Saturday and I started today with adding pollyfiller and bits to my new Genestealers; including cork, aquarium plants and other armies and then supergluing them to kebab sticks ready for the next stage! Priming! I glue the models to kebab sticks so I can spray primer from loads of angles!

My secret project also arrived on Saturday; very excited!