Finally got first squad done for my Denerair Highlanders. It was fun painting these guys up, and it really didn't take that long - just had to find the time to sit and paint.
I'm happy with these guys, and they were assembled rather straight up. The next squad's sergeant will have some arm swaps to get different poses. And the challenge is to find enough bayonets for everyone. The kind people of the 6th Brandenbergers have agreed to donate their bayonets (snip, snip, paint, paint), but I still need to shave off the bayonet hilts from their sheathes before I glue them onto the guys' belts.
But next up will be a Denerair-pattern Wyvern. Denarair-pattern Wyverns were not officially sanctioned war machines from any forgeworld. Rather, they were all battlefield modifications of the Griffon self-propelled heavy mortar. The Denerair Highlanders were never issued with Wyverns, but that didn't stop the hardy mountainmen from fashioning their own versions, which were rather effective on the battlefield.
The agri-world Denerair itself is of little consequence with only 5 million inhabitants, emerging in Imperial records only because of the ravages of the Gothic War, due to its location in the Bhein Morr Subsector of the Gothic Sector. The agri-world did not have a military tithe, but has for thousands of years maintained a militia made up of its onlhy warrior class - mountain tribesmen known as Highlandsmen, or more popularly, Highlanders. Over time, the militia gained formal organization, funding and equipment along the lines of the Imperial Guard.
Durng the Gothic War, the Denerair Highland Militia fought off the predations of Chaos with such ferocity and stoicism that Imperial Guard commanders in the sector found it fit to equip them with and train them in heavy war machines and artillery. In the aftermath of the war, the Militia was renamed the Denerair Imperial Guard, and today fields around 98,000 men organized in 8 infantry, 3 artillery, 3 armored, 3 support, 1 engineer, 1 signals and 1 air defence regiments, plus an additional 8 reserve regiments. While Denerair itself still has no military tithe requirement, about a third of its regiments voluntarily serve off-world in many Imperial Guard armies, and are often found in the thickest and bloodiest of battlefields. On the battlefield, the Highland Regiments march fearlessly into battle with bayonets fixed and the sounds of their holy bagpipes filling the air, driving fear into the enemies of the Imperium.
Have you changed the angle of the heads from the test model? They look a lot more natural on these models. They look good though, simple yet effective. I can understand why it'd be hard to get them all equipped with bayonets, but I'm sure there are plenty of spare one floating around out there somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yes, I did change the angle of the heads from the test model, to make it look lower or at least more straight. My plan for bayonets is quite simple. My first IG army, the 6th Schutzen, has about half a platoon's worth of bayonets. I actually intend to snip off those bayonets to add to my bayonet-less guys still on sprue. Then I need to shave off the bayonet hilts sticking out from their sheaths. A bit more work, but at least I won't feel like I'm wasting half a box of infantry everytime.
DeleteAwesome, this looks great as a cohesive force! Whats next for these guys?
ReplyDeleteCool background too dude.
Thanks very much. Next up will be the first Wyvern, or first battery of Wyverns. I'm looking forward to this one, as I'll be changing the mortar turret. I really don't like the original model - it's too much of a cop out, and just looks like a Hydra without the long barrels.
DeleteHave you considered making a mini multiple rocket launcher?
DeleteI personally would love to do that. Just get a chimera like vehicle and add a rocket launcher battery on top that fires lots of mini rockets. Which kinda works with the rules for the wyvern too.
In any case I look forward to it.
That's a great idea. Something like a congreve rocket launcher from Napoleonic days. What I have in mind right now is quite simple. I think if I just swap the weapon housings so that the barrels are on the inside of the turret instead of outside, it will look much better to me. Actually, it would also look a bit like a 4-barreled rocket launcher. Btw, a couple years ag, a really talented painter called Carl painted an amazing looking rocket launcher. Check it out: https://picasaweb.google.com/107500401032579008835/GoldenKris2010#5489977975885543762
DeleteThats really cool. Its pretty similar to what I have in mind too!
DeleteI cant wait to see what you do with those. I too thought that the Wyvern model was meh. So yours sounds like a huge improvement.
I hope so. Got the box couple days ago, but was too busy getting massacred by Edlar to start work. Hopefully post an update real soon
DeleteWell, I am astounded by the work you have done. My lads are a different beast though, lotta flash, metal breast plates, bright kilts, and the fact that when they are ready, they will act as... Air assault troops, dropping ontop of enemies from valkeries and blinding them at the same time
ReplyDeleteThat's how I envisioned your lads. I would really love to see the full effect. And yes, your guys should gain the blind special rule everytime they grav chute off Valkyries! ^_^
Deletewell, they are gonna be apart of my extremely blingy flashy guard army
DeleteBasically old water based navy lads sent off into space to fight the enemies of man using the methods and tactics they learned on their planet. The bulk of my lads are line infantry, similar in appearance to the praetorian guard but with a blue and black color scheme, supported by highland air assault troops, as well as by a group of extremely flashy hussars who act as rough riders with melta's
Also gonna up armor my scots, since they are gonna be grenadier doctrine, give em armor plates over the kilt, also in silver, but with the blue of the kilt still visible
DeleteNow that's proper. The blue of the kilt should be visible. I believe in WW1, they were visible under the khaki too. But I'll stick to painting 2 blue kilts (standard bearer, musician) :)
DeleteHA, just two in ur opinion? Nien, my lads gonna all be wearing blue under the armor. Though I am thinking of having a piper, though he ain't gonna be vox caster, as that wouldn't serve much of a purpose for an air assault squad, no where near commander. Also thinking all of em gonna get bayonets just like ur lads, though mine are gonna be somehow flashier then yours, not sure how though...
DeleteThe bagpipes don't need to count as vox - they're exactly that - bagpipes! Are you looking at big bayonets? Or perhaps stiletto ones like late-WW2 British. Those look cool. Maybe done w plastic rods
DeleteI was thinking sword bayonets, basically to make their shorter las rifles (Which I am gonna work on for em) into spears.
DeleteAnd I am totally gonna do a piper, thank you Victoria Lamb right?
Oooooooooooooooo ... very very very nice! It's not easy to paint something that has very closely related hues and still make them look good. You nailed it. Well done man! Well done! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Ya, I had that thought too. It was the same problem I had when doing my AirCav, which is why my AirCav boys don't have the more 'historical' Vietnam green belts and webbing (I painted them in light leather tan). I had not much choice but to paint the bases in a contrasting pallete - blue-grey and greys.
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