Returning with Holy Wrath

[Saussure]

Fists, Fists, Fists...

Over the last wee while, I've been painting too many 28mm figures. I confess, it's a shocking state of affairs and I've started to wean myself off the little yellow men by getting back into Inquisitor modelling with a piece I've had in my head for a long, long time. Without further ado...

I've wanted to do a Crusader for ages, but never got around to it. This was originally a project slated to happen before either my Drop Trooper or Mentor, but both of those projects were advanced up the schedule for no real reason other than my own personal whimsy, and I felt it was time to put this right. The base model, as some of you will have noticed, is a piece from Andrea Miniatures (which might - just might - bear some clearly unintended resemblance to Orlando Bloom). I appreciated the stillness of the pose, and always thought it could make a good base for a Crusader.

I began the 40K-ifiying by removing the weapons and replacing them with a Power Mace modelled from a 28mm Space Marine chainsword hilt and the business-end of the old metal 28mm Chaos Terminator Power Maul. The pistol in the other hand is a very old 28mm Ork bolt pistol. A friend has used this weapon in 54mm beforehand, and it always struck me as a good piece at the larger scale. Replacing the head with a chopped-down Tyrus head further improved the 40K-feel, and only required some small bits of green-stuffing to connect up some cables and replace the missing neck. I had originally considered shaving the model's head, but every second model I paint these days seems to be bald, so I left him with hair!

The model is supplied with what could be called a "scenic base" at a stretch, but it's pretty uninspiring. I stuck it down to a 40mm base and built up the surrounding space with a combination of metal sprue off-cuts, sand and materials from the 40K Basing Kit, alongside a skull from one of the Inquisitor accessory sprues. Hopefully, once painted, he'll be standing on a blasted 40K battle-scape.

At this point, I quite liked the look of the model, but he was lacking a little bit of the wierdness you associate with the 41st millennium. Fortunately, I'd anticipated this being the case, so had made preparations for a properly over-the-top backback to give a bit of religious fervour to the model. Two of the banner poles from the Throne of Judgement were pinned to the side of the reliquary from Preacher Josef, and the Iron Halo from the 28mm Space Marine Commander set was added to the top. I had originally planned to use the Iron Halo from Saint Celestine, but it turned out to be much bigger than expected, and there wasn't room. I've got it ear-marked for something else in the future. Once I'd added some straps and green-stuff buckles that looked like they could feasibly support such an assembly over his shoulders, I was pretty happy...

I hope you think there's potential? I'll be cracking on with the painting once I finish an Apothecary for my Imperial Fists... 

[Alyster Wick]

Simple and inspired.  I'm really surprised at how well the old Ork pistol works, what rules are you using for it?

[steveb]

Lovely work. The GW components mix better with the Andrea parts than you'd expect (funny how so many 28mm parts are so exagerated in size they work well at 54mm).

Have to point out that the pistol is not an Orky one though. It's definitely an old Space Marine pistol...

[Saussure]

Lovely work. The GW components mix better with the Andrea parts than you'd expect (funny how so many 28mm parts are so exagerated in size they work well at 54mm).

Have to point out that the pistol is not an Orky one though. It's definitely an old Space Marine pistol...

I hold my hands up and accept that totally. I think my confusion arose because, at one point, I think I was planning a more involved gun conversion that most certainly was based on an old Ork pistol. Never mind, eh? 

In terms of rules, I don't really think that far ahead when I'm putting something together! It might just be a bolt pistol. No-one in Carter's little group carries one.

There are others on the 'Clave more experienced than me when it comes to integrating Andrea parts with GW ones. I only have two Andrea models myself, but have obviously seen more than that. I think you can inter-weave them with a little bit of thought, though there were other proposed aspects of this conversion that I binned immediately upon seeing the size of the Crusader model, so I think you've got to be flexible... 

[sergeis64]

Very nice! Reminds me of some artwork from Inquisitor book- same idea with torch poles...
Looking forward to see it painted. I was going to mention that those old orcs must have been very crafty, but Steve beat me to it... 

[Hadriel Caine]

damn thats nicer than my version. looks very natuartal and unforced! good work, looking forward to the paint job.

[Ynek]

Hmm. People seem to be getting a lot of mileage out of Preacher Joseph's head-in-a-box these days, aren't they?

Anyway, the dual banners are a really nice touch. I think they add a lot to the model and give it a lot of personality. Personally, I would probably have shaved Tyrus's head. Similar to monks worldwide, shaving one's head is often seen as a mark of worship, and this would probably seem very appropriate for a crusader who is doing the Emperor's will.

[precinctomega]

Nice job.  Almost looks like Young Tyrus, given the head and obvious fire-brand leanings.

I think he could do with a little more bulk around the neck and shoulders - perhaps some plate armour on his upper arms, or some simple shoulder pads or a neck guard?

And is that bolt pistol supposed to fit in that holster?

R.

[Simeon Blackstar]

And is that bolt pistol supposed to fit in that holster?

I may be wrong, but I think that's Covenan'ts ammo pouch, so it probably holds the reload rather than the pistol.

Great work - the model's blended into the 40k universe seamlessly.

[Myriad]

Like the mace and general feel.  Skull backpacks are suitably impressive.

[precinctomega]

It's a plastic holster from the Space Marines range, unless I'm wildly mistaken.

R.

[Simeon Blackstar]

So it is - that's weird, I would have sworn it was metal when I looked at it last night, but my eyes are a bit screwy at the moment.

Agreed on the mace by the way.  One of the first things I thought when I saw this was "Nice mace!  Wonder where he got that from?" 

[Saussure]

Yup, the holster is a Space Marine holster, with the pistol handle removed. I don't worry quite so much about whether or not the scales are perfect, though if it bothers me int he future then it could be an ammo pouch! 

I've wanted to use the Chaos Terminator mace for a long time, and was simply looking for a home. I'd originally though this gent might have a sword, but once I gave the mace a trial run I was so content that I knew I'd found the right plaec for it.

The shoulders are a possibility. My original sketch had him with bulkier shoulders, then I couldn't sort out anything I liked. I might very well have another play around before I undercoat him...

[Gestalt]

The sum of the parts make the whole look pretty cool.

[Saussure]

*Casually blows dust off thread*

Ahem. Anyone around?

I can't remember the last time I had "painter's block" like this. I built him. I pondered. I procrastinated. I thought some more. I ignored the problem. I painted something else. For the life of me, I couldn't work out which of the many colour schemes in my head I was going to go with, but I'm pretty happy with how he's turned out in the end. As you can see, I went with a purple and beige quartered scheme, with gold detailing. You can see another view here, without his cherubs.

To subtly weave the purple tones through the rest of the model, I made use of blue and purple washes in several other areas of the piece - notably in the silver and gold metallic areas. The silver received both the blue and purple, whilst the golden areas are best exemplified by the details on the reliquary, and on the head of the power mace, seen below.

I also tried to incorporate a purplish tinge through the skin, which I was trying to get a weathered, roughened look to - this isn't a man who spends his life tucked away indoors - and also in the parchment hanging from the banner poles behind him, on that splendidly impractical backpack of his.

Whilst he was meant to look hardened and weather-beaten, his cherubs were meant to look very much unhealthy...

I can't picture Imperial cherubs actually appearing angellic in the slightest, especially if they come from normal Ministorum stock, so I went for a very unhealthy, perhaps slightly necrotic, skin tone, with raw skin around their various injectors, tubes and skin-plugs. You can see a rear view here, and a slighly different angle here. I quite like the contrast when they're put next to their master.

And, for no other reason than I enjoyed modelling it and painting it, here's a picture of his wasteland base, complete with skull and rusty barbed wire.

Consider the thread open for comment once more!