Heldrake Conversions

The last additions that I wanted to share in this set of updates are a pair that were created together: my twin heldrakes, the Cry of Oblivion and the Roar of Despair.

The original idea to create these heldrakes actually came well before I started my Dark Mechanicum project. After the release of the 6th edition chaos space marines codex, and the new daemon engines, I was speaking with a friend who mentioned his disappointment with the heldrake model.

In particular, he noted that the options for customising and posing the model were very limited, which I had also found to be the case with its options in the codex.

For some reason following this, I decided to take on the challenge of creating two clearly different heldrakes and see if I could overcome some of its limitations. These models then became the centrepiece of a slaaneshii chaos space marine army full of various winged units and jump infantry.

Later on, I then repainted their armour to add them to my growing Dark Mechanicum force, but decided to keep the lilac flesh underneath unchanged.

 

After years of repairing and strengthening the fragile wings, I have my doubts about whether they were the best idea, but I still think they are some of the most impactful conversions that I have managed.

The Cry of Oblivion has two large wyvern-like wings in the place of its arms, while the wings of the Roar of Despair form an X-shape on its back and leave space for two sets of the larger legs. I also used maulerfiend heads on both, as I felt they gave a more slender, predatory appearance.

The wings of the Cry of Oblivion had to be fixed in place due to their size and downward angle, but I was able to pin each wing of the Roar of Despair rather than gluing them (which is hidden by the top-armour). This makes it possible to safely remove them for storage and transport which has helped immensely.

Daemon-Powered Vindicator

Following the creation of the crewed defiler in my last post, I was left with the majority of the defiler's top-half spare. This was my chance to finally try an idea that I been thinking about for a while: a daemon-engine vindicator.

The model was inspired by the appearance of the Deimos pattern vindicator, with its raised, centrally-aligned demolisher cannon (hence why I was keen to use a defiler torso for this).

Although it was simple to replace the front panel of the rhino with the torso, there were a lot of gaps that needed filling in. My approach was to use pieces of sprue or other spare parts to start filling each gap, and then finish covering them with cloth scraps or mutated flesh (unfortunately not clear which) created from green stuff.

The last alteration I made was to replace the rhino's normal top hatch with a bastion escape hatch, which gives it some additional bulk to fit with the front-half. I think it would have also benefitted from some extra armour to thicken the plating on the sides, but on the whole it still achieves the overall effect I was hoping for.

A Daemon Engine with a Crew

 A key feature of this project has been the link between the daemon engines that form the core, and the presence of the infantry supporting them. However, it was only the land raiders and fortifications that offered any real interaction with the cultists which form the bulk.

While coming up with ideas for new additions to the force, it became my goal to create a unit that would more clearly integrate the cultists and the daemon engines. This was the result:

 

I envisioned this daemon engine as a hybrid between a bastion and a defiler, with the cultists operating the armaments from the defensive platform while the machine stalks the battlefield on its legs. The machine's lower half is an unmodified defiler, so my focus was on the construction of the upper platform.

 

The platform floor was created using a bastion upgrade kit, with the gun emplacement parts and a couple of spare internal doors from a land raider forming the walls. I also used a couple of small chains from a bracelet to create barriers in the gaps between them, where they were left open for the weapons.

 

 

I created the battlecannon and its mounting using spare forgefiend parts (which were left over from the helbrutes, nicknamed helsentries, featured here), and used the end of the barrel from the defiler's cannon to provide more of a resemblance.

Conveniently, the fittings for the defiler's secondary weapons are the same size as the slots for the fortification gun emplacements, so they did not require any modifications.

In addition to serving as a defiler, I made it possible to equip the machine as a forgefiend. The front legs can be moved forwards to replace the claws, and I created a couple of extra mountings to attach the forgefiend's cannons using more of the leftover parts.

 

This configuration lacks some stability compared to the defiler, due to the front legs fitting more loosely than the claws and not having the full six legs for support. However, I always value having options for different loadouts when it comes to preparing for a game, as it adds more variety to the lists I can try.

 

With the walking weapon-platform complete, I was left with a number of spare parts to make use of. Most notably among them, the top-half of the deflier (minus secondary weapons). As it happened, this was an opportunity to try a particular conversion that I had been thinking about for a while - which will be the feature of the next post.

Truescale Chaos Space Marine

As this project was focused on the constructs of the Dark Mechanicum, I intentionally kept the presence of actual chaos space marines to a minimum (with only a handful operating the machines here and there).

However, while continuing to expand the force, I took a brief interest in truescale space marines, and decided to try creating one for myself.

Like a lot of the examples I saw, I mostly constructed this model from terminator parts, and reposed it to better suit the manoeuvrability of power armour: mid-step, raising his combi-melta with a combat blade drawn.

 

The helmet, backpack and blade were the majority of the remaining parts used to create the impression of power armour, and green stuff (or two-part epoxy putty) was used to increase the height of the torso and angle the arms. 

Like the tartaros terminator early in the project, I wanted this model resemble an Iron Warrior due to their stronger relation to the Dark Mechanicum. But when it came to painting, I decided to try more of a matte-scheme to contrast with the entirely metallic vehicles and fit in with the non-metallic garb of the cultists.

The presence of the cultists is also part of why I chose to create a truescale chaos space marine for the army. Since there are no other chaos space marines on-foot, he stands out from the rest of the infantry and appears more imposing while among the rabble.

I typically use the model as a lord, since it better suits his bulk and solitary status among the force, but leave him minimally upgraded to remain more comparable to a chosen or aspiring champion, rather than the leader of a warband.

The 7 Year (and a bit) Late Update

As you may have noticed, there was a slight gap since my last update. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I did not have a clear plan when I created this blog other than to share new models as I made them - so as soon as I ran out of new creations, the updates stopped.

However, between back then and now, my Dark Mechanicum force did continue to grow, and therefore I have some more updates to share. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to lead into more regular longer-term updates, but I am working on three to four more posts to follow with some remaining daemon engines to share.

But since my previous update focused on an Iron Warrior, it seems fitting to start with something similar...

Iron Warriors Terminator

Although it is technically not a model representing the Dark Mechanicum, it is the first model that I intended to use with a Dark Mechanicus force.

I was planning to have a small group of Iron Warriors providing some more normal units to use in games with the Legio Maledictus.

As I was still considering what to do for a Dark Mechanicus force, I had a lot of ideas to try on this model, including the style of basing, and the larger amounts of weathering.

Once I had started making some models to represent Dark Mechanicus machines, I decided not to continue with my plans for the group of Iron Warriors. Also, the style of basing was too complex to do similar designs on smaller bases, and would be very difficult to make on larger bases, so that idea was not carried into the actual force.

Although I do not use the model now, I might still end up creating an Iron Warriors force, but it may end up being separate to the models I have made for the Legio Maledictus.

The Next 300 Points - Part 3

This week will be the final part of 'The Next 300 Points', and I have saved my favourite model until last.

This is Daedalos the Mechanartisan, who is my alternate warlord for the Legio Maledictus.

The model is mainly made from a Seeker Chariot Daemonette, and the claws/blades and Jump Pack are from Warp Talons/Raptors.

I removed the middle section from the Jump Pack to make it smaller and more suitable for the size of the body, and the warpfire from the exhaust is made from pieces of paperclip and lots of layers of liquid green stuff.

As I mentioned at the end of last week, this model is intended to be used with my second Daemon Prince. and I normally represent it with a Combat Familiar for the Daemon Prince, and by making the Daemon Prince a Psyker.

Next week, I will probably focus on the very first model I intended for my Dark Mechanicus force, which I made before any of the models I have shown so far.

The Next 300 Points - Part 2

As mentioned in last week's post, this week I am focusing on my second Daemon Prince for the Legio Maledictus.

I use it as a Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with The Murder Sword, with the purpose of eliminating an expensive warlord or monstrous creature, or just tearing apart weaker squads.

The majority of the model is made from a Sentinel, but there are also parts from Raptors, Chaos Space Marines, a Dreadknight, and even some bits of sprue to make the 'tail'. I also used some watch cogs/gears on the 'tail' and legs to add some more detail to the model.

You may have noticed in the earlier images that there is a gap in the basing material. The purpose of the gap is to 'combine' the Daemon Prince with another model, so that if I want to Daemon Prince to be the warlord, I can add a model suitable for a warlord, such as my Dark Magos, as I do not consider the Daemon Prince to be a capable warlord.

The smaller model on the base is represented by being a combat familiar, as well as being the warlord, and in some cases might also be a psyker.

Next week, I will be introducing a very unusual unit, which I created for use with this Daemon Prince.

The Next 300 Points - Part 1

In order to reduce the gaps between each post, I have decided to try post once per week, with each focusing on a single unit instead.
The Defilers have been taking a bit longer than expected, so for now I have some smaller units to introduce.

For the first part of the next 300 points, I present the Forgespawn:

As suggested by the name, they represent Chaos Spawn for my Dark Mechanicus force. Each one is made from the spare lasher tendrils from a Maulerfiend, and some green-stuff 'cloth', which makes the bases their most expensive part as I had to buy them separately.

This post has ended up being rather short, but next week I will hopefully spend a bit longer introducing the second Daemon Prince for the Legio Maledictus.

The First 1500 Points

As implied by the title of the blog, this blog is about the Dark Mechanicus force that I am creating, which I have named the 'Legio Maledictus'.
As a starting point for this blog, I thought it would be sensible to show the units that I have finished making, along with the names that I have given some units, and what I use them as.

Bastion with Icarus Lascannon

Aegis Defence Line and Guard Thralls (Cultists)

Experimental Walker Omega (Daemon Prince)

Helsentry 11-Lambda 

(Helbrute with Twin-linked Heavy Bolter and Thunder Hammer) 

Helsentry 13-Nu 

(Helbrute with Plasma Cannon and Power Fist)

Pseudo-Forge Tank (Land Raider)

Land Raider

'Fiend' Class Walker 2-Phi 

(Maulerfiend with Magma Cutters)

Dark Magos Rho-Theta-144 (Warpsmith)

I am planning on making two Defilers next, and I am currently looking at ways of making a suitable Plague Marine squad, and possibly a Noise Marine squad too.

I would be interested in any advice or thoughts on the force so far, and also on my plans for expanding it.