Hive fleet collossus

[Vampiric16]

I've played tyranids since 3rd ed (with the Alien queen tyrant and preliminary bombardment). I have around 3000pts, painted in the behemoth scheme. I also have a 2000pts collection consisting of older edition models ranging from the grinning rhino fexes to the space crusade warriors, all painted in Old One Eye's colour scheme.
Now gaming wise, I am sorted. However, I do love me some modelling and collecting, evidenced by my Path to Glory warband. So I've decided to add a third collection, based on the Colossus hive fleet.

That's right.

Zoats.

I aim to use only original zoat miniatures, fantasy versions included. In terms of gaming they will be based on tyranid warriors, and led by a prime.
They will count as the following:
Zoat with Powerfist and gun: Prime
Zoat with one gun and zoat with 2 guns: tyranid warriors
Fantasy zoat with mace and orb: zoanthrope
Zoat with heavy weapon: hive guard

At the moment I have a powerfist zoat, a heavy weapon zoat, 2 zoats with maces and orbs, and 3 zoats with axes. I will be converting the axe zoats to have guns.
Pics to come, any and all suggestions and comments in the meantime will be much appreciated.

[Vampiric16]

Well we've hit 100 views, time for pics
First up, the to do pile.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0905.jpg
These are fresh off eBay, and require stripping.
Here is a WIP of one of the axe zoats
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0907.jpg
I've greenstuffed breathing equipment onto him, and now just need to finalise his weapon. Zoats have interacted with most species, so there will be a mix of armaments. For gaming purposes they will all count as deathspitters.

Here is my 'zoanthrope'.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0915.jpg
Went with the 'spiritual leader' approach with the warpaint. In terms of the loadout, the orb is a forcefield generator (warp field) and the staff is a focal device for his powers (warp blast).

Prime and hive guard next, along with some fluff.

[de Selby]

Huzzah for zoats

How are you basing them? It's difficult to judge a model without a base.

[Vampiric16]

I'm waiting on some 40mm round bases to arrive, not entirely sure how to base them. Suggestions?

[Goat of Yuggoth]

Hey, how about a jungle themed base? Like vines and dead tree trunks. I've always thought of Zoats as these humongous amphibian-like creatures, that were consumpted by the Hive Mind.

And cheers for having the momentum to actually finding Zoats and doing something with them, these days all I ever see are those Ogre/Cold One mashups, which don't look very nice.

The Zoat-Goat

[Vampiric16]

@Goat of Yuggoth: I agree, they don't have that 'zoat' feel. With regards to the base, a jungle theme would make a nice change from the ones I have for my other armies.

The theme I want to go for is that Zoats have been wrongly identified as Tyranids. Instead, they were another race genuinly fleeing the tyranids. The similar body shape (6 limbs) and use of biotechnology is a result of convergent evolution. Imperial records of zoats are pieced from scattered descriptions, and reports of '6 limbed monstrosities' and 'centauroid creatures' got lumped together.
As for the supposed destruction of Hive Fleet Colossus, the zoats realised they were being wrongly identified as the very thing they were fleeing from, and used a pursuing Hive Fleet as a scapegoat, sacrificing a few ships to add credence to their 'destruction'. This also explains how the imperium thought zoats were among the ranks of the tyranids; in that final battle they were fighting both.
Aided by the Eldar, the zoats settled in Tau space, and made 'arrangements' with the fledgling Tau empire. Indeed, it was the influence of the zoats that ensured Hive Fleet Naga did not approach that area of space.
Having rebuilt much of what they lost, and bolstered by weaponry aquired through trade, zoats are now a force in the galaxy. Being warlike in nature, they now seek to erase what they see as threats from the galaxy.

Hope that doesn't rock the boat too much in terms of established background, but I think it gives the zoats a solid backstory and adds to their character.
Feedback is appreciated as always.

[Vampiric16]

Time for more pictures.
First up, my 'Hive guard'
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0922.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0921.jpg
The zoats have a surprising amount of detail for such old miniatures.

Next, my 'Prime'
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0918.jpg
Needs a few finishing touches, but otherwise I'm happy with him.

Another zoat arrived in the post today, the one with two fleshborers. He'll count as a regular warrior. I'm going to start greenstuffing the fantasy zoats and adding some weaponry. As per my fluff they will have a mix of weaponry of various origins, all 'improved' with the addition of biomechanical parts.
My idea of zoat biotech is that it's not quite as polished as that of the tyranids, and still requires mechanical supplements.

[Vampiric16]

Have made some progress on my regular warriors. All are greenstuffed and are ready to be painted and based.
Firstly, the 'John Woo' zoat.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100163.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100164.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100165.jpg
The armour was an after thought, and is just to tie him in with the squad. Other than that he is unconverted.
Regular warriors:
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100155.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100156.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100157.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100159.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100161.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100162.jpg
And a group shot:
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/P1100166.jpg
These are all converted from the axe wielding fantasy zoat. The two 'deathspitters' are fleshborers with 'spitter barrels, and the venom cannon/barbed strangler is an odd bit of weaponry I found in a bitz box. All have had breathing gear and power packs sculpted on, following the style of the 40k zoats.
In my background the zoats take pride in their formidable strength, and do not wear any armour beyond the odd chest piece and their breathing apparatus.
I have since undercoated this lot and will paint them tomorrow. In the meantime I have sculpted breathing gear on my two 'zoanthropes' and I am working on how I'm going to do my bases.
All suggestions, comments and critique are welcome, as are any leads on available zoat models

[Frozenpyro71]

Havn't see these guys in years, nice to see them again. If you thin your paint a llittle and hit them with a couple of washes these are going to look sweet.
Bring on the Zoats!

FP71

[Vampiric16]

@Frozenpyro71: I'm picking up some leviathan purple soon, which really does wonders to red.
I'll have a group shot of the force as it stands a bit later, now it's a case of scouring the earth for more zoats.
Also I would like some imput and suggestions on what to add to the force. I'm planning on having two more 'Warrior' squads of 4 (eBay and whatnot permitting), a second prime and hive guard, and have plans for a pyrovore (zoat with looted/modified heavy flamer). I also thought of zoats with mortars for biovores. But I was curious as to what could fill the roles other tyranid choices, like carnifexes and fast attack units?
Any suggestions, and zoats for sale, will be most welcome.

[axiom]

Congratulations on an excellent start to your army! Your conversions look great and I'm very much looking forward to seeing progress.

I did a Zoat army a few years back and it was the most rewarding process, particularly the fun in showing it off at Warhammer World for some campaigns!



There's a showcase of the army in Firebase Issue 02 from p55(http://www.warseer.com/firebase/down...e_Issue_02.pdf with some pics of my Hive Tyrant (an old Dragon Ogre) and Carnifex (Stegadon plus orc wyvern) and swarms (warmaster lizardmen). There's also more pics at my photobucket account

I haven't updated the army for the current Tyranid list unfortunately. If you need any help with anything or I can share ideas / experiences from my army, let me know

[Vampiric16]

@axiom: Wow, the zoat master himself on my blog! An honour sir! In fact, it was pictures of your force that influenced me to create a functional force. I'm actually going to steal your Inquisitor scale idea you mentioned in firebase, since I have the parts laying around. Will get quite a reaction from my gaming group I hope!
I agree with your notion that zoats were neither here nor there in the background, which is why I've endeavered to write my own fluff for them. In fact your opinion on my background would be most appreciated.
And while you're here, how does an all warrior based army perform? My tyranids have always been a mixed force, no min-maxing, so I havent had any experience of that.

[axiom]

@axiom: Wow, the zoat master himself on my blog! An honour sir! In fact, it was pictures of your force that influenced me to create a functional force. I'm actually going to steal your Inquisitor scale idea you mentioned in firebase, since I have the parts laying around. Will get quite a reaction from my gaming group I hope!
I agree with your notion that zoats were neither here nor there in the background, which is why I've endeavered to write my own fluff for them. In fact your opinion on my background would be most appreciated.
And while you're here, how does an all warrior based army perform? My tyranids have always been a mixed force, no min-maxing, so I havent had any experience of that.

I'm glad I was some inspiration - it's very flattering

My army experiences are several years out of date unfortunately, as I've not dusted off the case with these guys for the current codex (in fact, I don't think they've been used in 5th ed)! I suppose the principle will be the same - the army was generally more shooty than people expect from nids, with plenty of mid-strength blast weaponry (correct me if the current codex has changed all this though!). The average statline of the warriors was great and superior to most opponents, meaning they could pretty much hold their own in most circumstances. The army did suffer though by having very few decent AP weapons, barely any anti-tank, and it died a horrible death against massed AP4 weaponry (whirlwinds, heavy bolters etc).

The main bonus from running this army is the coolness factor. I generally didn't care about winning/losing because people were so delighted to see the army on the table

[Vampiric16]

Time for some group shots
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0923.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0924.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0925.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0926.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0927.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0928.jpg
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/y...6/100_0929.jpg

A friend has just gotten me into Inquisitor, and having seen the new Tomb King Necrosphinx, have decided to make an Inquisitor scale Zoat. I'll be posting updates on that project in this log alongside the main project.

[Hadriel Caine]

A friend has just gotten me into Inquisitor, and having seen the new Tomb King Necrosphinx, have decided to make an Inquisitor scale Zoat.

I think I love you. Are you registered at www.the-conclave.co.uk ?

[Vampiric16]

I think I love you.

Call me

I'm not registered on the conclave yet, but I may well do now I'm looking into inquisitor.

[Hadriel Caine]

I can highly recommend it. Same user name over there. My retrospective is in my signature if your interested!

[axiom]

I can highly recommend it. Same user name over there. My retrospective is in my signature if your interested!

Ditto the recommendation on The Conclave - I actually posted my Zoatifex after I saw this topic to get ideas on an Zoat in inquisitor

Tomb Sphynx eh? That looks like an interesting Zoat proxy!

[Vampiric16]

I'm going to have a test run using an old stegadon and some other parts I have around first, just to check scale and actually have a model to use in the meantime.

[Vampiric16]

Zoats saw their first battle today! They took part in a combat patrol game as a precurser to the main battle. My opponent is writing up the battle report, so I will post a link to it once he has it up on Warseer.