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Wednesday 18 May 2016

Psyker gang from the underhive


Here's a little more meat to feed you people in this post ! This one's taken me a bit more time than I would have loved but things are what they are you know.
I'm still as huge fan of the whole confrontation setting and I'm really glad to have one of he iconic gangs done ! (they all are in my eyes anyway).
I'd also like to thank Cédric a lot for getting me those treasures, massive thumbs up to you mec !

As you can see the models are the original Marauder psyker gangers along one of the Imperial psykers from 40k 2nd ed (look at his typical flat YMCA pose).
Let's have a look at them each and see how they fit in the confrontation grid :







This sculpt above is mental, I mean, he has a collar twice the size of his already oversized mutant head... And the collar is decorated with gems or lights whose wires you can spot in the rear (can't help but think of a Chirstmas decoration). This guy got a rather sober paintsheme compared to what he was like 20 years ago really. In the end, I just couldn't refrain myself from adding green hair and gems of different colours just a a little reminder (and show he's the boss).

Funny thing is that the design keeps many features from the older marauder references like the huge collar (common thing amongst wizards) but also the eye symbol, the weird armour plates and the jewels all around.

I realise that the yellow gloves make think of something entirely different but I just can't get the image off my head now :


Yeah I know...

The next guy seems a bit older and his head is full of little crevices and weird textures to suggest age (or a very dry skin). He also has a nobler look and probably has a high rank in the gang. I suppose the smaller the weapon, the more powerful a psyker is so with only a laspistol, he must be pretty good. I've kept the same  basic colours for the whole gang so without any surprise this guy looks like his boss. I really like the blue fur and yellow cape combo though and the way it contrasts with the darker parts of his gear pleases me. You get a duality from the dark weapon and the arm holding it and the flamboyant look on the other side probably used to cast spells. I'd say he's the henchman of the band.


 The next one is rather cool, probably my favourite sculpt or at least my favourite pose of all 4 really. It is a bit strange though with some peculiar armour pieces on one side and fur on the other. Like for the previous pysker, I've decided to treat this duality with the colours as well to have both the martial dark look on one side and the fancy and psychedelic one on the other. I was quite surprised to realise this lad only has 4 fingers on his left hand (and far larger than the ones on his left hand really. If you combine this trait and the fact he's still alive with the bad-assery of his pose, I suppose you can tell he's a hardened ganger.


Next guy has a bigger gun, no laspistols now but a lasgun. No fancy fur either and less jewels and bling than some. He does look like he knows his business though so I bet he's a proper ganger. Not much to tell painting wise about this guy, same recipe again and you can still note the lack of symetry on this one. 3 of the marauder models were badly miscast but this one was by far the worst with a big problem in the mould alignement. I fixed what I could beforehand but missed some problems I tried to hide later on while painting him. To be honest, the angles hide pretty much all the ygly things but turn him a fourth of a turn and you'll see some ugly things.
That's just the way it is with old models so no big issue really. His skull seems almost normal (for a marauder model at least) but he looks tough all the same, I'd guess he's a hardened ganger.


Last of all is the kid, well his face doesn't exactly look like he's one but he does look like he's a more recent recrew. He might have a great potential though if the size of his head can tell anything but his weapons and the way he holds them scream raw recruit to me so that's what he shall be from now on.
His oversized traits bear the mark of the marauder studio and while the proportions are totally bonkers, they prove to be very pleasant to paint.


So here we have the whole group ordered in the right order :

Leader, Henchman, 2 hardened gangers and a raw recruit.

We can gather a few informations on the psyker gangs in the underhive by reading the 131th issue of White Dwarf :


You can notice one of the sculpts is pretty much exactly the one depicted in the sketches from John Blanche. The description though doesn't really fit with how I painted my psykers (the sculpts actually don't quite fit with the description I find). They're meant to be secretive but the sculpt bear fur and gems, plenty of things that don't really fit...

There are models that fit a bit more to the secret society depicted in the brief text :


Lucky me, I own them all and if you read carefully, there's a mention of a secret coven called "the immortals", looks like I'm not done with psykers yet ...
Oh and there's also a mention of old friends of mine... look carefully... YES, the venators !

That's 2 full marauder gangs meeting, helped by creations from Goodwin and Naismith, what more to ask (yeah I know, more time to paint the rest).


If you have loved the psyker gang, why not take a look at how my pal Colin painted his on his blog RIGHT HERE.

I have plenty of stuff in progress right now but I can ensure you you'll get some pretty iconic stuff from the old days (sometimes with a rather new approach I confess) so stay tuned ;)

38 comments:

  1. Funny how the guy you've picked as your recruit is the guy I picked as my leader. Great set of figures mate. Excellent work. All we need to do now is play the game! Thanks for the link as well.

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    1. I might have been overthinking things but I sort of need for things to make sense !
      A proper game would indeed be a crowning achievement but I'm sure we'll get to that point somehow.
      Thanks ;)

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  2. We say it every time mec but you really have reached a new level with these guys. The gems shine with their own inner light and the osl elements just glow - magnificent :D

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    1. The gems use the same old trick I always use and which I found on some place on the net, before this tutorial I always made them look silly and now I enjoy painting gems !
      The OSL is just my usual cheap trick so nothing fancy either. I did struggle with the colour arrangement and had to block all of them before hand just to know where I was going.
      I thought about you everytime I picked the leader ;)

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  3. Great work on these lads. The effects are real nice, the glowing eyes, gems and shades really pop on those large-craniumed baldies. They might be lacking follicles,but they sure know how to put together an outfit. Tremendous.

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    1. Hair is gross I think, or maybe it's just the drugs they take... They've proven to be a fun bunch to work on, I'm eager to work on teh Perry's psykers now.
      Cheers man !

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  4. Nice to see some Confrontation stuff out on the circuit JB. Seems like there's been a lack of then out there at the moment (or perhaps it's just me). They look spectacular, particularly as a unit. Very rewarding to amass such rarities too, I imagine. Lovely stuff mate!

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    1. There's always a cruel lack of confrontation stuff on display the way I see it. I'm here to fix it have no fear ;)
      I can tell you that I was very pleased to get my hand son those thanks to Cédric that's why I tried to paint them as soon as I could. Always a pleasure to work on Goodwin and marauder stuff !

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  5. I totally second the captain : the gems on the leader's collar look ace ! They do add great depth to the character.
    A very nice Bald Boys Band over all ! ;)

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    1. Funny thing sis I first condidered doing them plain grey or something to keep things sober and then went full colours to echo the past paintjobs and because the Captain would love it ;)
      Glad I did it now !
      Thanks mec !

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  6. Wow your output is amazing JB, keep it coming, on one of my sanctioned psykers I used 3rd edition Dark Eldar arms and it looks really good
    J

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    1. Wouldn't have thought about them but that's a Nice option !
      Thanks a lot Jason !

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  7. Yeah, the gem effects are pretty cool JB. Once you know how to do them they're easy (like anything), but they really do make a difference on a mini don't they.

    That Psyker with the sunnies is my favorite too :)

    Good stuff as always man!

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    1. Funny how something you struggle with can become something you're enjoying !
      The guys with the shades had bad-ass tattooed all over him for sure.
      thanks mate !

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  8. I love the psatel colour you use in all your minis, and the 2nd edition psyker, your boss, is a great figure and fit very well with the rest of the gang!
    Bien joué!

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    1. I had to tone it down for those or it would have looked like a carnival (there was actually a carnical gang in confrontation that later got repurposed for Mordheim). Some of my models do get brighter colours sometimes but it's all in the balance I think.
      Thank you so much mec !

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  9. It's such a thrill to see TWO painted Marauder gangs in the same place...I wonder if that's ever happened before? I really need to finish my last nomad and meet up with you and Whiskey Priest so we can lay down the full Marauder set ;)

    Your psykers really are spectacularly beautiful - they appear colourful and eye-catching, but with a delicate muted colour scheme. The guy with the shades is my favourite sculpt too BTW!

    Bravo!

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    1. (wipes a tear from his eye) Thanks ^^'
      Now you mention it we could very weel have a game with 4 marauder gangs ! (we're only one painted model away after all) that's another good point for a confrontation game/campaign next time we meet !
      I'm glad the muted palette makes them fit somehow with the venators.

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  10. Excellent! I love these models and your painting is excellent. I painted my psyker with yellow gloves too, but on the basis that gentlemen have always worn yellow chamois gloves.

    W

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    1. Yes, exactly , same here, I totally had chamois leather in mind ! DO you have a link to your psyker ?

      Thanks !

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    2. Here you go: https://classic40k.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/some-quick-photos/

      Cheers ;)

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    3. Also, great minds and all that ;)

      Warburton

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    4. Great ! Chamois gloves FTW !

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  11. Absolutely gorgeous JB....I would be honored to battle with them on the table top. Everything is top notch, but that skull and the sunglasses really catch my eye. ;)

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    1. Funny, there's really nothing complicated with the shades or gems really, it's all about having the good colour sequence I suppose.
      We'll get to playing together some day, I only missed Blue by an arse hair last time so things will happen. ;)

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  12. Very cool - I really do like the old Marauder gangers... I've done the techs, but I really must get round to doing my psykers... this is just the motivation I need dude, you have really done them justice and made them look amazing!

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    1. I'm eager to see what you do with them really, your painting suits the marauder sculpts I find, this was proven once more with the techno barbarians.

      Thanks man !

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  13. To me, the larger 4-fingered hand seems more a mutation than a battle wound?

    Fantastic stuff as usual JB. As ever I am super jealous of your lovely collection of minis that we all grew up with.

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    1. It's definitely a mutation more than a wound, it's bigger and doesn't seem to lack any finger really. Just weird. ^^
      Thanks a lot, I have to say I've been greatly helped for the collection and I owe many of my best pieces to the generosity of people around.

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  14. Woooo, most impressive! Those wackos really rock, man!!

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    1. Cheers amigo, those kind of models are always fun because you can just leave sense on the side and do what you like !

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  15. Lovely! Great work, and I am looking forward to the Sanctioned Psykers too.

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    1. Cheers, those are gonna be a bit different, so much smaler in scale and with smaller details. I need a plan !

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  16. You should give them bionic eyes.

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    1. That might be OTT with their Bionic nipples...

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    2. Bionic everything. Bionic noses.

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