Knights Completed, Aircraft in Work

 More full update, since it has been a few weeks.

Last weekend, I completed the 4 additional Questoris Knights for my House Vornherr Lance banners.  With these knights completed, I can now field 3 painted Questoris banners, 1 Thermal Cannons, 1 Gatling Cannons, 1 Battlecannon and Missile Launchers.

Long Range Banner

Rapid Fire Banner

Following up from these guys I am working on some Aeronautica Imperialis.  I have assembled my Ork Mega Bommer and it is definitely a big model.  IN addition, I am going to paint up 2 Avengers in support of my Imperial Navy Valkyries.

Mega Bommer is big!

Avengers in-work

When I finish up these aircraft, I think I will also paint up a second pair of Avengers and a second pair of Arvus Lighters.  These two pairs will be painted up using traditional paints and are aimed at being used in Titanicus instead of Aeronautica!  I think I am going to eventually integrate the flight of Avengers into Titanicus, as they might fill a similar niche as some Knight Banners but in a very different way.  More to come on that front.

Forum built, some work on Knights

 Last week, I finished building my design for an Imperial Forum.

Imperial Forums are seen across the 500 Worlds of Ultramar and occasionally on other worlds brought in to compliance by the XIII Legion of the Emperor's Great Crusade.  These Forums provided opportunity for the inhabitants of the world to engage in debate about local law and engage in public trials of those continuing to push against the new order.  Often the first trials held in a finished forum were the remaining potentates of the world's Ancien Régime.

Forum, Basilica, and some Imperial Knights in between

Rain started this weekend, delaying priming of the Forum itself.  I have put my attention towards painting up the 4 Imperial Knights (see in these shots post priming).

Forum with contains for additional scaling

Closer Up of the Knights

Basilica Primed, Forum in Work

 

Primed Basilica w/ Warlord & Nemesis-Warmonger for scale

Short update this week.  Lots of Titanicus related hobby work going on this past week/weekend, cumulating in the priming of the Basilica.  I got in my order of plasticard and picked up vinyl pieces of tile for the base.

In parallel, I have started work on the adjacent forum to the Basilica.  After embarking on building a set of pyramid corner stairs, I hve decided to abandon it in favor of straight stairs up that are recessed into the overall structure (vs sticking out a lot).  I will probably share the built forum next week.

I also salvaged 3 Imperial Knights and built a fourth for my House Vornherr detachment.  These also got primed.

Knights ready to be Primed

Imperial Basilica takes Shape

Aquila lander on the roof the Basilica.
Containers around the edges.

 About six months ago, I drew up a plan for a large building for Adeptus Titanicus.  Initially, I wanted something cathedral like, but that does not fit with the idea of the Great Crusade's Imperial Truth and the 500 of Worlds of Ultramar.  I needed something that invoked both the scale and grandeur of a cathedral, but with an entirely secular purpose - enter the Basilica, in the Roman tradition.

"The Great Crusade-era (M31) Imperial Basilica serves as a hub of post-compliance activity.  It houses multiple Imperial offices to further integrate a world into the overall Imperium of Man.  It also serves as a hub for mercantile activity, providing a safe, neutral environment for off-world traders to interact with local nobility, merchants, or industrialist.  The offices of the Basilica include local language to/from Low- and High-Gothic translators, money exchangers, local and Imperial legal scholars, and other pertinent services to enable integration of the world's region into the broader context of the Imperium."

Importantly, the Basilica is not an Imperial Governor's Palace.  The Basilica and its services would evolve to be the Adeptus Administratum.  On worlds that became more regressive in the wake of the Horus Heresy, the individual Basilica would transform into cathedral fortresses, their often neighboring Forum turned to landing pads for Valkyries and Vultures.  Only in some sectors of the Imperium, like Ultramar, would they retain a semblance of their original purpose.

Under Construction

Original plans for the Basilica

Holiday Activities

 Over the holiday, I hung out at my brother's home.  I played with with the 3D printer, focusing on printing a bunch of Imperial Storage containers for Titanicus terrain projects.

Bag of Containers

Printed Half of Stack of Containers

I also received some models as gifts.

Kharadron Thunders and Underworlds set

When I got home, I decided to finally start building the Basilica I have designed for Titanicus terrain.

Completed Warbringer & two Slave Ogres!

 I did complete the Warbringer over the Thanksgiving break and then promptly dove into a side project of two Slave Ogres for Necromunda.  Up next, Valkyries and Vultures for Aeronautica.

I think the Warbringer brings my total Titanicus force to around 2,000 pts.  It also means I can field 2 Maniples in a fight, before adding any Knight household support.  Still looking at adding a Psi-Titan when they are back in stock as well as some more Reavers and Warhounds.

The Ogres were great to do as a side project, totally changing up the color pallete to bright orange, green, and purple flesh tones.

Again, up next is 4 Valkyries and 2 Vultures in colors similar to the Marauder Destroyers painted previously.

More Warbringer Progress

Basic update. Slow progress, adding layers to the Warbringer after washing it in Nuln and Reikland shades.  Really all that remains is to do some additional metallic layers and then sealing.

Part of it is realizing when I have completed a model such as this one.  I have added lots of detail.  Making the metallics pop more and adding some weathering on the top reactors seems about right.

Following this model, I still have not really decided what to dive into next.  I have a pair of Ogres and a bounty hunter for Necromunda, which will be good changes of pace in terms of scale.  They will also be good for heavy contrast use.

I also want to dive into big terrain projects for Titanicus after that.

Warbringer-Nemesis In-Work

 

Pretty simple update this week.  I have been steadily adding the base colors to my Warbringer-Nemesis.  Up next is washing the miniature before adding another layer of each color and then highlights.  I estimate it will be done this weekend - which will mean I should choose something to dive into for the week of Thanksgiving.

Another Wave of Aeronautica

 

The Next Wave

After finishing up the Knight Household, I am returning to the most recent wave of Aeronautica Imperialis.

I plan to paint the Lightnings in a deep purple, giving them a more royal color scheme.  I need to decide how to fit in the deep blue as well on them to tie them to the rest of my Imperial Navy Air Wing.

My current plan for the Valkyries and Vultures is to have them match my Marauder Destroyers.  The Arvus Lighters will be more utilitarian, a grey pallet with the deep blue as an accent.

Also waiting in the wings, is my Warbringer Nemesis Titan.

Iaculator Vera

A Prisoner Exchange

Summer is wrapping up in the northern hemisphere and I have been busily working these past few weeks.  I am on day 2 of a much needed vacation.  In this summer of covid, my brother's family and I hatched a silly idea for what we have called a "Prisoner-Exchange."  His wife swapped locations with my son and me.

More Cerastus Knights for House Ærthegn

For the boys, this week is much more of a hobby week along with some catching up on some pop-culture (The Mandalorian).  I am working on finishing up the commission of House Ærthegn and hopefully building out some Aeronautica Imperialis as well as a Warbringer-Nemesis titan.

In-Work Acastus with Conversion Beamers

About two months ago, my brother purchased a 3D printer.  This lets us do some straight-forward conversions or additions that would normally take much more effort or bits searches.  We also have ordered name plates for a slew of miniatures from Versatile Terrain.

For some reason this did not post last week!

Completed Knight House commission project

More of House Ærthegn

 My brother and I played a game solid game of Adeptus Titanicus the weekend after my last post.  He tried out the knights I had gotten him and immediately embraced them as one of his favorite units.  

True Messengers and Tiger Eyes clash

A consequence of this was that he commissioned me to triple the number Knights he has.  Last month, I successfully doubled his Knight force, adding a second Banner of 3 Questoris and a Banner of 2 more Cerastus.

Three Questoris

Two more Cerastus

That leaves me with projects for this month of 4 additional Cerastus (the recently released variants) and a pair of Acastus Porphyrions.

Even more Cerastus in-work

Axiom Maniple Complete

Legio Praesagius Axiom Maniple with House Vornherr in support

This past weekend, I completed my second Reaver Titan for my True Messengers Axiom Maniple.  It was great fun and I decided to freehand the Legio symbol on it!

Lex Potentia completed

Legio Praesagius Freehand

This led me to also updating the Warlord Titan's right shoulder with the symbol as well.

Updated Warlord right shoulder

Overall, I enjoyed painting the Maniple.  I think the next step for them will be getting name plates for each of them from Versatile Terrain.

Lex Potentia under Construction

The unprimed Lex Potentia

I have started in on painting up my second Reaver Titan for my Adeptus Titanicus True Messengers force.  For this second Reaver, I decided to make its positioning more dynamic, but having it stand on a raised item.  I took spare components from the Warhound set and modeled the destroyed body of  a Fire Masters Warhound.  I also used some Ork aircraft machine guns to model a gun emplacement, abandoned by some traitor cultist.

A Banner-of-Three and Two-Ship

Yesterday evening, before typing this up, I completed two additional Imperial Knights of House Vornherr.  I now have a Banner of Knights sporting Knight Close Combat Weapons and Thermal Cannons.

Banner of Imperial Knights

Part of the enjoyment of painting models for Adeptus Titanicus is that each one can really be an individual.  This is true for both the Titans and the Knights.

In addition, mid-last week, I also finished up my Marauder Destroyers.  This completed my Imperial Air Wing ahead of the release of the Taros models next weekend!

Marauder Destroyers and Details

The Air Wing

Ærthegn Banner and Lance Gift

My brother has a full Maniple of the Tiger Eyes Titan Legion that he had commission painted.  Back at the end of last year, I picked up the Knight Household box and even more Knights. I have my own House Vornherr to add to, I decided for my brother's birthday I would provide him with some Knights.  For his traitors, I choose House Ærthegn to partner with his Tiger Eyes.

Long Range Knight Banner

Cerastus-Lance

I had a lot of fun painting these guys up.  They were a departure from my normal colors and allowed me to focus on details.  They also let me include techniques I had learned on previous projects, like weathering.  I also utilized the Contrast paints in combination with regular paints.

I luckily got the basing information from my brother and his commissioned painter.  I am hoping they look solid alongside his Tiger Eyes and that he is interested in using them alongside his Tiger Eyes.

Warhounds on the Prowl

This past weekend, I finished up the pair of Warhounds for my True Messengers maniple.    I used a mix of transfers from the Warhound box and my Horus Heresy Ultramarines box.

I think these Warhounds have been on long campaigns with an Ultramarines fleet.  While the Battle Titans have seen brutal action on major campaigns, the Scout Titans have supplemented subjugation campaigns on smaller worlds or against lightly defended Xenos worlds.

Pair of Warhounds on the prowl

From the other side

Still plenty of Titanicus to come in terms of my hobbying.  Up text, is a pack of 5 Knights as a gift for my brother.

A Small Pack

In Progress Warhound Bodies

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been slowly painting up a pair of Warhounds for my True Messengers maniple.  They have been fun to pour detail into and I am really happy with the scale of the minis.  The decision to move up from 6 mm to 8 mm was a good one on Games Workshop's part and really makes these models shine.

I had hoped to finish these guys up this past weekend, but I did not end up dedicating the time to do the work.  I did however assemble and prime the follow-up project, another gift project.  These guys will be done up in House Ærthegn black and red to pair with a Tiger Eyes maniple.  Hopefully the basics of the scheme will allow me to do a good job on them and get them to the recipient around the appropriate date.

Another Gift Project

Titanicus Templates

Traitor Templates

Due to a printing error in the Titanicus rule book, I also got two sets of templates for the game.  Because of this, I decided to paint up the templates to match the Traitor and Loyalist dice sets.

When I started to play with the contrast paints, I recognized that they should give a bit more color in the backdrops of the templates and make them standout a bit more as if they were displays for the Titans.

It has been nice to focus on painting some relatively simple objects this weekend.  It meant that I have not dove into more complicated minis, like the Thunderbolts or Marauders for Aeronautica.  It also is nice to be focusing on some of my backlog, while expanding a little.  I am a fan of the 40k universe, but the core game is not appealing to me due to the way it plays.  Diving into fun smaller games set in the universe is nice.

Loyalist Templates