Wednesday 3 May 2017

The Shadow legion


It sometimes takes a good self-kicking in the rear to get some things done...
This has been precisely the case with this project. I got the genesteealer hybrids from the Overkill box about a year ago, build a band of genetically engineered warriors in September 2016 and only just managed to finish painting them after letting them aside half done for months.
The recent release of Shadow wars : Armageddon has proven to be the sparkle that could ignite my interest and after a slow come back I decided to set my standards lower to get them done rapidly.
Just for the record, here's what they looked like back then. Simple kitbashes (the likes of which we've seen countless times now) from the scion, hybrids and skitari kits along the free Slaughterpriest from White Dwarf.

I've been considering doing a group of non chaotic villains for some time and these were just the perfect occasion. I haven't set their background in stone yet but I see them as warriors created by some mad scientist to fight official forces.


The aberation is the most impressive element of the shadow legion, despite its fearsome and beastly appearance, it's actually the most cold-headed element of the force. The genetic modifications and psycho surgery have achieved their full potential on this element and have even exceeded them in some ways.
The aberation is not only a resilient killing machine but also a very intelligent one. Intelligence is one thing you can like in underlings but obedience ranks higher...
Such a power is only an asset if you can fully harness it.


The executors are probably the best compromise the experiments can reach, unlike the aberation, the mutations often are erratic but can prove useful in combat. The executors are above all the most dedicated to their mission and absolutely nothing (rumours say not even death itself) can get in their way.


The Hands are those warriors who have not evolved physically to the point of others but whose combat prowess has reached a leathal and very reliable level. They're usually the ones on which psycho surgery has been more effective than the genetic modifications.
They are assigned the most risky objectives and they often specialize in a type of combat. It's not uncommon to see some fall into acts of rage or madness.



The neomorts are warriors that have started their initiation, they've already undergone a severe training and conditioning but their prowess on the field will determine how far the operations on them will go. Remnants of humanity are already vanished in their minds.


So here we are, I'm pretty glad to have this gang done despite the struggle it's been and despite having to lower the standard pretty low to get them finished without losing all my mojo.
In the end they look evil enough without looking chaotic I believe which was the main point.

In case you want to know about the cheap red OSL, I've simply used thinned layers of the following sequence around the parts I wanted to glow. The zone is reduced with each brighter colour until you're only applying a dot of orange. It won't win prizes I reckon but it's very fast and effective at arm's left which is all I wanted really.


Now comes the exciting moment where I have to pick what I'm doing next... I still have big projects on the way but I need mojo boosters that I can complete rapidly to keep the morale high !
We'll see what can be done. ;)

48 comments:

  1. They look very menacing, but without falling back on GW's trademark evil look - jobs a good 'un.

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    1. That's pretty much what I wanted to achieve so thanks !

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  2. They look magnificent. Well done.

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    1. Not my finest by far but they work as a group so that's all I care about.
      Thank you sir.

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  3. You're underselling these I think. The visual impact is great - they're a very strong baddy faction. Perfect for all kinds of menace!

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    1. Oh, and thanks for the mini tutorial on the OSL ;)

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    2. I'm seeing the shortcuts when fresh eyes will see the global effect which works I reckon, I wouldn't want people to look at them from close but would gladly put them on the table.
      I hope the recipe is enough, I could have elaborated... ^^'

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  4. Very nice, love the choice of colors especially. I'd love to know how you painted the neophytes with vanguard head. I've loved that combo since I first saw it, and your paintscheme is just perfect.

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    1. Well, the armour is charadon granite highlighted with Ushabti added to it after an agrax wash, the brown parts are some dark brown from game colour with leathery brown for highlights (the name has beeen erased from the pots sorry). Teh blacks are done with AP's german grey and a Nuln wash followed by mechanicus grey edge highlights.
      I kept things very simple and nervous as you can see if you zoom. To make things easy to read I blacklined a lot of the models as it rapidly gives contrast.

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    2. Thanks for the info! Again, well done. They look really dark and gritty!

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  5. Dude that champ is baller, son!

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  6. Pas super fan des trois mutants. Pour le reste, le groupe marche bien, l'allure générale très inquiétante, et ces lumières rouges une vraie réussite. Bravo !

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    1. Pour être honnête moi non plus, je les avais faits avant et les ai ajouté à ce groupe après. Le groupe marche dans l'ensemble plys qu'en individuel.
      Merci !

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  7. Wow, these are insanely good. You still say you had to lower your standards? Fuck, man, that is still way above most of our own standards!! :O

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    1. I used more shortcuts than I usually do but they're good enough for a tabletop.

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  8. Yasss... Love how they are "badguys" but not Chaos or some other too-easily recognisable faction'd team!

    Really nice work on the builds. You might think they are simple, both in bits and painting, but the way you've executed the look leaves a very cool end result.

    Are you going to be playing any SW:A any time soon?

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    1. Thanks, the "bad guys" look was what I was aiming for so I'm pleased it works !
      I'll play a couple of games this summer at warhammer world and might have a game at my flgs as well.

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  9. Love these, and as others have said, they exude menace without relying on spikes and skulls and the like to sell it.

    Neophytes to Vanguard is something I am eventually doing myself, so glad to see more affirmation that it works out (although I rather doubt mine will look as well as these do!)

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    1. That's exactly the idea, evil without spikes and skulls !
      Looking forward to seeing your take on this build !

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  10. I can totally see them as henchmen for a renegaded inquisitor, muscle for a Mega-corps, well kitted out heavies for a crime syndicate, none-aligned pirates, Mercs or folks from bandit country just on the edge of Imperial space.

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    1. That's pretty much what I had in mind, I'm really glad to see people buy the idea as well !
      Thanks !

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  11. Villains? You mean there are also good guys in the WH40K universe? :-p

    These are super. They don't remind one of the genestealer cultists they're based on. And they could work for some many games, even outside 40K.

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    1. They're definitely multi-purpose which is kind of the appeal.
      Thanks !

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  12. These miniature look ACE - very impressive.

    Thank you for sharing.

    Tony

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  13. That red glow coupled with the muted tones is a very effective look. Well done sir!

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    1. Cheers, before the red ligts, they looked kind of dull but it did bring them the little "je ne sais quoi" they needed.

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  14. These OSL may not win prizes but they do look great and are very effective. Nice ones !
    I like the fact that the band is not just another reunion of chaotic beings, the 40K universe is full of other threats and your Legion perfectly embodies one of those. Very well done. Your conversion of the slaughterpriest is both simple and brilliant. :)

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    1. Cheers, I definitely want to explore other simpler paths than just repeating stuff that's be said or done before. It might get further from the core but I like it that way.

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  15. I know what you mean by flagging mojo. I'm in a bit of a slump atm too. I'm seriously starting to think about using speed techniques all the time now, just so I can get minis on the table. I'm thinking about using drybrushing and ink washes as a staple from now on. The effects can be quite good I reckon and it beats not getting anything painted at all.

    Your band of merry men look great, especially with the OSL. It really does make a big difference & it's a piece of piss to do too....even better huh :)

    See you in the soup mate.

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    1. I can only agree with all that mate. ^^
      I think characters do benefit from the extra care, I usually use them as palette cleansers to boost my mojo since they can be done rapidly (just one model at a time) and are generally more rewarding because of the care.

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  16. What an amazing and sinister force you have created there...well played sir.

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  17. These guys look awesome, I love the sickly skin tones and the dark, ruddy armour. Great job.

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  18. Dude, these look great! The simple colour scheme works perfectly with the red - it is a super-effective combo mate, and I really think you are talking these down unnecessarily :-/

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    1. I very much agree. The simple grey just pops to life with those glowing red lights. Brilliant, effective and memorable!

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    2. See, the armour parts are actually 2 colours, one greenish, the other dark grey, they look different but are too close to work next to one another, that's why something wasn't working until I added details and those red eyes.
      Thanks guys !

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  19. Great job - especially the aberration... funny thing, I JUST discovered that model sprue on my painting table. It must have come with an issue of White Dwarf. Anyway, I am totally stealing that conversion...

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    1. For some reason I always feel compelled to using those freebies I wouldn't care about otherwise. It almost always ends up with me adding bit to make it fit in a grimdark 40k setting. ^^
      Thanks !

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  20. Replies
    1. They're quite simple but they seem to have worked well !
      Cheers !

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  21. Love how the eyes and lenses glow ... simple they may be but well executed to say the least! :)

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  22. I love the way these turned out: very worthy of being in Blanchitzu! Have you had a chance to play with 'em yet?

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    1. They might be a little too clean for Blacnhitsu but cheers, I should have the opportunity to play them this week end !

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  23. Late to the party. These look great. What list are you running them as?

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    1. I've played them as Skitari and it felt just right with the good armour and Ballistic skill, not sure I'm playing them veru effectively but they feel like they ought to which is all I care about. ^^
      Cheers !

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