Tunnel Crawlers: Abhuman Imperial Guard

[sheep]

Great to see these guys back up and running.

I really like the new direction, its seems to be more coherent to me. The un hooded head does ruin a bit of the mystery, but proves that they are "human" and hrud or something else.

Look forward to more mate.

Cheers

Sheep

[drvid]

what kit does the ratman's lasgun on the right come from, it looks perfect for a Dark Heresy PC i'm building

[MagosHereticus]

brilliant, i think im going to have to pinch the idea

[Brother Alexos]

Wow, I especially like the use of Necromunda weapons on these guys. The army is really cool, I would love to see this continue.

[BeatTheBeat]

Wonderful stuff, really looking forward to seeing what more you make for this army. Keep it up!

Cheers,
BTB

[icecream boy]

Great use of bits mate, I personally don't have any problem with the exposed head. If that is a Necro. weapon, I may look into getting some, they look really nice.

[Deffgob]

this is too cool! i love your approach to a different kind of guard army!!

also, the unhooded mini not only looks good, but shows that these are not some alien species, but human-kin, which helps with the overall feel of the army, i think you did right in including it!

i cant wait to see what you do for the heavy weapons

subscribed!!

[Parak]

These are really cool. I love the idea, very unique. I remember seeing a abhuman model years ago made from a steel legion trooper, but i think your version provides a much beeter hunchback look!

Keep up the good work!

[Yorrik]

drvid & icecreamboy -> The guardsman with the exposed head is using a lasrifle from the newer Goliath gang boxed set. They give you extra weapons so you can customize your gang - my goliaths stuck with shotguns, so I ended up with a hand full of lasguns and the like.

I also have a box of the newer scavvies, which includes a bunch of kludged-looking stubguns and blunderbusses. I'll be using those for a penal legion squad to represent a group of crazier, more dangerous mutants. I've also got a scalie that I'd like to integrate into the army somehow, but I'm not sure what I'd like to do with him yet.

The second squad is slow going - I want to get some basing material for the heavy weapon team, but as yet have been unable to find anything suitable. Thanks for all your support, guys, I'll post new pics as soon as possible!

[Cerebralerebus]

That is some hiatus you had. The rebreathers look much better than the empty hoods but I do agree that the uncloaked head does take some of the mystery away. That said, it also makes the point that these are not space skaven (but they are possibly Hrud).

You could easily do some Ogryns using the rat ogre models (minus the ratty heads and strategically shaved).

Great work and I'd love to see the commissar.

[Yorrik]

And now for something completely different. While I'm working on the second squad (now assembled, int he early stages of painting) I thought I'd post some pictures of another project I'm working on. These are the PC minis of a Rogue Trader game I am currently in.

We have Lady-Captain Beatrix Cordatus, the Rogue Trader:



I hate the head, and I'm going to snap it off and replace it with something else. The wide stare is simply unacceptable. The body is fine, but I MUST do a head swap ASAP.

Mr. Sebastian Tellis, Explorator and Engineseer



Mr. Cutter, Able Voidsman and Master of the Helm

[Yorrik]

And Ms. Trene, former Adeptus Sororitas and valued bodyguard:



Overall I'm happy with the set (except for the issues I have with the captain). Only Lady Cordatus requires more work, the others are painted, sealed, and ready for the table! The project is an enjoyable one - the conversions were an exciting challenge.

[Gonfrask]

Easy but very funtional conversions, very impresesd

[hobodog]

Love your Tunnel Crawlers!
Simple but awesome conversions, they have such character!
Keep it up

[Deffgob]

looks neat!! love the RT characters!! (check my sign :P)

[Wishing]

Those tunnel crawlers are amazing, I've toyed with the idea of using the exact same kit for nearly the exact same purpose for a while so it's great to see someone actually doing it!

[Yorrik]

Alright kids, sorry for the lull in production, but I've been distracted by some other projects. Plus, my ability to get photos is dependent on getting Brother Munnin to take pics. Anyway, here are the next crop of fellows:






As you can see I put the missile launcher team on a proper weapon team base (as I'll be doing for any future teams). It's a great opportunity to do a sort of mini diorama.

[Yorrik]

The second phase of the project has involved figuring out how to get different-looking units that still have the same "small hunchbacked" look to them. I'm going to be using a unit of Veterans with the grenadier doctrine (and a trio of meltaguns), which meant that I had to go looking for more armored up ratmen. The Skaven stormvermin box was a perfect fit, as they have strips of armor that make for a perfect look:


They've got cadian helmets that I've trimmed down to give them a more "pinhead" sort of look. The topknots are from my bits box (dark eldar ponytails, mostly). The idea is that they've scavenged the best armor from the dead soldiers on the surface, but the gear still looks piecemeal because they've had to modify what they find to fit them. Gave them shotguns for the charge potential, plus to give them even more visual distance from the normal troopers. The sarge lovingly stroking his power weapon is a favorite detail.

[Yorrik]

And last but not least, the centerpiece of the army, my Lord Commissar:




The idea here is that the Commissar is the only non-mutant to survive the weaponized disease that ravaged the planet. The fiction is working out so that a Nurgle-aligned Chaos warband is responsible - maybe the Purge. Anyway, the Commissar here whipped the underclass of mutants into a force of guerrillas that are trying to take the planet back. His cap is the only bit of his uniform he has left (the coat got shot full of holes) but he's been able to scavenge some key relics from the surface (including a rosarius/refractor field, and several other icons of the ecclesiarchy). My favorite bit is the Cyber Mastiff, which I figure he came across when looting an Adeptus Arbites Courthouse. It's going to count as a powerfist.

Anyway, that's where I'm at once I'm done with these fellows I'm going to invest in some tanks. Right now I'm thinking that they'll have a pretty standard military green scheme, but with graffiti tags on them that were placed by the mutants.

[Aedes]

Great inventive army!