Let's Get Those Synapses Firing!

Here's the next update in the saga of my (as of yet un-named) tendril of the Great Devourer.

I have actually finally managed to get some sort of leadership painted up and finished so the ravening swarms aren't wandering around aimlessly. Not an HQ yet but the awesome Tyranid Warriors themselves. So at least when I play I'll have some synapse coverage. Granted all of my models will be bunched together to take advantage of it but whatever.

Here's a few pics first off...

These guys were really interesting to do for a few reasons. Firstly I had to think in gaming terms how I would use them. This led me to thinking of multiple weapon variations and battlefield roles. So, with a can do attitude, some clippers and green stuff I set about magnetising the bodies and arms of the 3 warriors. Let me tell you, this was no easy task and it wasn't till the last one that I really got it nailed. Plus my magnets are too big.....not to worry, I found ways around it. Let me just say that liquid green stuff is my new best friend! :D

If anyone was interested I'll do a post about it. I may anyway just to actually remind myself how I did it for future broods!

The second reason was that they were a challenge. I had only tried my paint scheme out on smaller 'nids and wasn't sure how it would translate to a slightly bigger one. I think it worked all right but I quickly learned that I need a bigger dry brush. The one I have is great for 28mm models but anything bigger and you can really see the individual brush strokes. More expense it seems but it'll be worth it in the long run.

I also really enjoyed adding a few more spot colours on these guys. A little feedback would be useful though; As far as the Devourers go do you guys think I should paint the ribs on the barrel of the guns in the same green colour as the tubing or leave as is (an irritated flesh look)? I couldn't decide so went the easier route but I'm willing to take suggestions.

Almost forgot as well, This was the first time I've used cork on a models base. Bloody love it! I think it just adds that little bit of extra detail that makes bigger models look more dynamic. If anyone hasn't tried this out before, do it! You totally won't regret it.

All in all a success and a push to try an even bigger nid next. He has actually already arrived and is waiting on my workbench as we speak. This one is going to be a lot of fun. I'd say it's probably the biggest conversion job I've taken on yet. Wish me luck!

I'll leave you with a few more pics of the swarm. 31 beasties and counting...

As always, thanks for looking.

Cheers!

Phil

Rend! Maim! KILL!

Hey!

So the swarm grows. Hot on the heels of the rippers I did earlier in the week I've managed to finish up a brood of Genestealers. Before I talk about the painting of them I'll let you take a look at some group shots...

These guys were weird to paint. I had quite a few changes of emotion toward how they were going. At first it seemed that everything I did just wasn't going right; the spots didn't look right on the carapace, the red was too dark, the back plates of the carapace looked weird etc etc. However as the whole thing came to together everything just kind of clicked. I think that's how you know a paint scheme is working when it just doesn't look right until all the components come together at the end.

One of the toughest parts was deciding what to do with the entire carapace. Due to the nature of the plates on Genestealers I couldn't do the same pattern I've used on my other units so far so I settled on a combination of the skin and plate design. I painted stripes on the spine and spots on the carapace but then darkened it with a wash of Agrax Earthshade / Carroburg Crimson. I think the final effect really works, especially the really bright spinal column down their backs.

The spot colour of green returns with these guys which adds that little bit of 'alien' to my natural colour scheme.

So the swarm stands at 28 models now (more if you count individual rippers but that would be ridiculous...). 28 models in less than a month for me is very speedy, especially since I was away for two weeks of them! Here's the whole lot...

I'm also still really enjoying the models. They're so different from anything I've painted before and my favourite type of painting is fast with solid results at the end which, I hope you'll agree, I think I'm actually managing :) Here's some more 'arty' shots of the swarm in my ruins display board...

So I've been painting grunts quite a lot at the minute. I think it's about time I got some of my Synapse Creatures up and painted, don't you ?! ;)

Cheers for looking!

Phil

Devour! Harvest! FEED!

My apologies for the longer than usual break between posts. I've been away with work for the last couple of weeks and have been chomping at the bit to get on with my Tyranid swarm the whole time. Another case of real life getting in the way I'm afraid. I have however managed to add an integral part to the old devourer and that is a swarm of Rippers!

Here they are...

As you can see the colour scheme is exactly the same as the scheme I started with the hormagaunts. I want to keep the entire swarm looking very uniform and add points of interest with the bigger monsters. I have to admit, I'm still in the process of gearing myself up to tackle some of the bigger ones....intimidating much?!

I managed to get 24 of the little beasties off of eBay for a measly £7. I realise you get them free on most of the Tyranid sprues but I figure I'll use those as decoration for the bases on the bigger beasts. 

I split them up so that there are 3 rippers on each base. I chose 3 for a few reasons; Firstly I wanted as many bases as I could scramble together. In gaming terms 8 of these thing s are super cheap and could really bog a unit down for a decent length of time. Secondly the bases have 3 wounds. 3 wounds = 3 rippers in my book ;). And lastly the extra space I gained allowed me to build slightly more scenic bases...

I wanted the bases on these guys to look quite swamp like. It's actually really tough to see in the pics but the lowest regions of the base are coated in a gloss varnish that pools in the recesses which makes the rocks look like they are rising out of a swamp! I've also added little bits of tank pieces, marine helmets, shoulder pads etc to break up the brown a little.

Here are some pics of the swarm as it stands...

I've got some Genestealers arriving today (again from eBay, again stupidly cheap) so I should have those done by the end of the week with any luck. I plan on doing them a little lighter in tone, I'm not sure yet...

So what do you think of the rippers? I know they aren't an incredibly interesting little unit but in the fluff surrounding tyranids the little blighters are essential!

Cheers for looking!

Phil