Zoat Army For 40k: Ideas And Aspirations

I've spent quite some time working out how to expand my Genestealer Cult so that I could use more of the rules from the Tyranid codex via proxies. It's a hard line to tread because using full on Tyranids with Imperial Guard would be just plain silly and narratively wonky beyond acceptability. It just wasn't going to happen. 

For what seems like days I've been 'meditating' on the idea, looking at available models, thinking about the fluff, annoying my brother with endless 'what if...' messages, and going back to the Rouge Trader book for inspiration. It was then that I realised the answer was staring me in the face the whole time. Zoats. 

Zoats have a really interesting place in the early background of the Tyranids. Back at the beginning, Tyranids were smallish aliens who bioengineered creatures to do their bidding and fight in their hive fleet armies. The Zoats were the most intelligent of these creatures and were even used in diplomatic missions ahead of a hive fleet to see what kinds of civilisations lay ahead and to estimate the level of resistance the vanguard would meet. Some Zoats rebelled and fled to set up as independent forces in their own right. 

All this comes before the Tyranids simply became this relentless meat-barrage of the hive mind. Contempory Tyranids - aside from a couple of special characters - have lost all the interesting narrative promise that they had in the early days. It's a pity because the idea of a highly alien race creating bioengineered creatures to do their bidding and fight their battles is very appealing - much better than the 'bio-Borg' antics of current 'Nids. 

Enter the Zoats as I see them. Originally created by the Tyranids, many escaped their rule when they realised they would just be absorbed back into the hive both organically and mentally. This was not the fate they aspired to, so they fled to set up their own colonies, as far away from the Tyranid menence as they could manage. They took with them much of the bioengineering knowledge that the early Tyranids had depended on and set about creating enhanced versions of their own kind - genetically enhanced Zoats - along with slave creatures designed specifically for servitude and war. 

These Zoat colonies defend their own territories and act as mercenaries; they will take money, but prefer to take payment of more dubious kinds, sometimes slaves, other times masses of cadavers... basically anything that can be salvaged as bio-mass for the development of their slave-organisms and foot soldiers. So the Zoats are pretty bad news even if they sometimes prove to be useful allies.

I imagine that I will field the Zoats as an independent force although I also intend to use them alongside my Genestealer Cult. They will have struck up this deal with the Cult in an effort to secure some prime Tyranid genetic material with which to fine tune some particularly nasty monsters for the battlefield. The Genestealers distance from the hive mind will give the Zoats some confidence that they won't be find out. Although whether this confidence is misguided remains to be seen...

With the basic background in place, I'll explain how I'm planning on modelling the army in my next post.

Stormtalon Jetfighter And Valkyrie/Vendetta Size Comparison

I've started to get some colour onto the jetfighter with roughly the same kind of pattern/distribution as the Valkyire/Vendetta, so here's a quick update to show how it looks in comparison (all rather sketchy at the moment). I'm going to be focusing on getting both these and the other heavy armour in the Cult finished soonish for a planned narrative campaign during July-August. 

Daddy's toys in the foreground, kids' toys in the background!  

Stormtalon Jetfighter Conversion Completed

I managed to salvage enough time this week to bring a salvaged kind of look to the finished stormtalon jet fighter conversion. I wanted it to have a patched-together look, something that serendipitously happens to match my haphazard and lazy modelling skills. Luckily, my painting style can be relied upon to mask a multitude of modelling sins, so I'm confident I can make it look rather good in the coming week.

Stormtalon Jetfighter Conversion First Stages

A few weeks ago I got my hands on a stormtalon as part of some elaborate exchange deal with my brother (a regular hobby occurance). Not actually needing a stormtalon I immediately started to think how I could convert it into a proxy for one of the Forge World jet fighters and slot it rather neatly into my Genestealer Cult. Here it is in the first stages. I took about a week or so to move things around and try out different configurations until I ended up with what you can see below, which is about 70% completed. I went with a WWII kind of vibe and I'm really pleased with how it's coming together - certainly it's much cheaper than the FW offering! Updates to follow during the week as I finalise the wings, streamline the bodywork and get it up to the base coat stage. 

Genestealer Cult Valkyrie / Vendetta Gunship

Back with the Genestealer Cult today and here are a few WIP shots of my Valkyrie/Vendetta gunship. I've used the lascannons from a Land Raider conversion kit and fixed them onto the main hull so that it can act as either variant of the flyer. It was when I started working with this big kit that I realised that I needed to add a strong contrast colour into the mix. I went for the flame red ink (as discussed in earlier posts) and I'm extremely pleased with how it looks; to my eye it brings out the best in the greens and vice versa. Next up will be the WIP Baneblade. Progress is obviously slow... really slow... because I'm working on all the mech together, but - hey! - this is a real life hobby blog and I'm never going to be one of those guys who can finish a newly released kit over the weekend it hits the stores. As well as being Oldhammer affiliated I'm also Slow Hobby affiliated. If that's a thing. It should be.

I Suppose This Confirms I'm A Tread-Head!

Sometimes - and it is rare these days - eBay works out a gem. This week I was very fortunate to pick up a Baneblade kit all on the sprue and as-new for half price. Although I doubt that it will ever see much action on the table it will make an excellent centre piece for my Genestealer Cult. It stops me being tempted with an Imperial Knight just now too! Here I am 'hard at work' putting this massive tank while watching the Champions League. Some nights it's a hard life! 

Genestealer Cult Armoured Sentinel Squadron - Alternative Models From Dystopian Legions

I do like the standard Imperial Guard Sentinel models but I wanted to do something different for the Genestealer Cult: after all, we should always remember that the 40k universe is huge and composed of millions of planets and cultures - so why stick to a slim range of technologies? I also jumped at the chance to buy some more of the Dystopian Legions models, in this case a couple of the Basset Tankettes.

Here they are as WIPs. I've armed them with heavy flamers because I want them to play a flanking anti-infantry role and I reason that they won't take much fire in early phases due to their short range. These weapons also fitted the best and I think they look cool - as good a reason as any!

I think these models make good proxies because even though they obviously don't have the hight of the regular Sentinels they do have a reasonable bulk on the base. Also, I never play with anyone who would even remotely have a problem with using sensible proxies - gaming life is too short for that!

Genestealer Cult Limos - Alternative Transports From Dystopian Legions

One thing that's deep in the old fluff for Genestealer Cults is Limos. As an idea they really encapsulate the Oldhammer style of these armies. I held out for what seems like ages for good models that capture that ethos but can also practically play the part of a Chimera-stand-in. And here they are, played by the Patriot Armoured Carrier from the Dystopian Legions range, in WIP state. 

This set of models sent me wild the first time I saw them previewed around a year or so ago. I'm very pleased with the two that I've picked up - the resin detailing is fantastic and they fit together really nicely. As you might have noticed, I've made a couple of changes to bring them into the 40K universe; namely, the addition of heavy bolters on the turret and at the front. A simple change that brings them squarely into the role of Chimera proxies (they are roughly the same size, albeit slightly narrower). All this detail is a joy to paint too. I should also mention that these actually work out as marginally cheaper than the GW models. A nice little bonus.

Genestealer Cult Leman Russ Squadron

Things have been a little quiet recently but that doesn't mean that I've not been busy. Mostly, I've been beavering away on the mech for my Genestealer cult in my little attic room in Oxford. As I'm back in Cardiff for a few days, I thought I'd do a quick series of photo updates. In this first one you can see my original Leman Russ now has a friend. 

The other noticeable thing is that I've just got around to adding a contrast colour to this scheme - the brilliant Flame Red ink from Daler Rowney. I've enjoyed exploring my painting style through these and I'm looking forward to getting them finished sometime soon and getting some good shots of them to show off the punky painterliness that's becoming my signature. More tread-head goodness tomorrow. 

Further Progress With The Genestealer Cult Heavies In The Year Of Mech And Monsters

Some miniatures in an advanced work-in-progress state. As usual of course, plenty of tinkering is still likely here, as I never really finish painting anything - I just abandon and return to things on an ad hoc basis. 

Well, that's only partly true now as I aim to finish the year with two completely painted forces: my Genestealer Cult and my Realm of Chaos Slaanesh army. It is tempting to augment the Cult with more Tyranids given the ability to put together what I believe is called a 'Nidzilla' list of big nasties. 

Maybe I'll do that. 2014 is certainly turning into the year of 'mech and monsters'. I have another Leman Russ in front of me right now and a couple of other tanks that are looking rather cool as Cult Limos. Pictures and details on the weekend.

Getting Back On Track(s): Genestealer Cult Leman Russ

No limos yet - I guess those will be Chimeras - so here is some tooled up Heavy Suppot for my Genestealer Cult. This Leman Russ is the first tank I've painted in about 25 years. It's fun to apply my messy and impressionistic technique to such large and plain surfaces, where I can really play around with light and texture. Still a WIP with plenty of overlayers to do (and not to everyone's tastes I'm sure) but I think the look of a completed army in this style with be very striking. 

Climbing Model Mountain: Genestealer Cult

I have considered re-naming this series of posts something like "sea of green" because of my recent copious use of the primer that graces my undead, devotees of Nurgle and these, my Genestealer Cultists. The Cult consists of a primary detachment drawn from the Imperial Guard codex and an ally force of Tyranids. Not strictly 'legal' but where would be the fun in that?! So much painting work to do on these you wouldn't believe it, though oddly this is army that's seen the most tabletop action.

I've picked out the first photo to show my non-Cadian derived infantry units. From left to right: five 90s Ratlings, who will soon be boosted up to a full 10 'man' unit with a converted heavy weapon team - you've got to love the abhumans (current models will fill the sniper team role); then there's a Steel Legion unit, who can either be regular infantry or act as veterans; and finally a unit of Squats - all 80s metal with a tiny bit of tinkering to make them fit the current game (see a future post for details...).

We also have Zoats standing in for Ogryns (more 80s goodness) and two different sets of hybrids acting as penal squads. And I couldn't resist buying a Leman Russ tank for a little added beef - let's face it, tanks are cool. There's also a Psyker battle squad tucked in there next to six heavy weapons teams and three 'standard' infantry units.

Due to a lack of space I've resorted to keeping the Genestealers on a mini-shelf (another display cabinet is being hunted...). I'm using a Carnifex model as stand-in for a Hive Tyrant, which is a proxy for a Genestealer Patriarch. Most of the Genestealers are from Space Hulk for the obvious reason that they're better than the regular box models, although I have a few of those too.

The human (and abhuman) infantry are really flexible because not only could I play them as a straight Imperial or Planetary Defence force (they've taken on the Tau in this guise), I can also employ them as Traitor Guard to fight alongside my Nurgle gang - a role they've already fulfilled against Marines. This multiple personality trait is great in gaming terms and in the era of an ever-tightening budget.