Arbites Chimera Complete

The Arbites Chimera has finally been completed and, with that, the entire Inquisition sideboard is now finished! Aside from the Titan, this is actually the largest model I've done so far. Take a look at the finished vehicle. What do you think?

Now that the Inquisition sideboard is done, I'll be finishing up a few tests on the Knights Bellicose. I'm about halfway through a color test with them right now. After that, I need to finalize my bases. I'm thinking of using fine sandpaper for pavement or perhaps plasticard for diamond-plate steel or something for sidewalks. I want some intricate urban bases. After that test is finished, the Knights Bellicose can finally be started. I'm pretty excited about that!

While I'm working on my KB tests, I'll also be working on my next real project: terrain. Remember the terrain table with three sets of boards? I'm planning on making a temperate / jungle board for the first one with lots of hills and trees. I'll post pictures of the plans once they're all drawn up. Keep checking back to see how the progress goes!

Until next time, have fun painting!

Arbites Chimera Nears Completion

We're almost there! Next time you check in, the Arbites Chimera should be completed! The hull is finished, as is the turret and all the weapons. All that's left is to finish the track sections. You'll notice that the right side is completely finished except for the wide piece that sticks out past everything else. This, as well as its counterpart on the other side, will be the last parts painted. That way, I can still hold onto the model without rubbing any of the paint off. You can see in some of the detail shots that I've already accidentally removed some of the primer in those areas, so you can see how important it is to keep from touching something until its sealed.

Once the Chimera is completed, work can finally begin on the Knights Bellicose! I'm considering doing one final base test before I start the models, though. I want to perfect my urban bases and I'm considering using some fine-grit sandpaper to replicate asphalt. I could use sprues or wooden pieces to make curbs and I could add manhole covers and all kinds of things to add character. It'll be an interesting test and once its done I can start the Knights!

Additionally, I'm considering starting my first terrain board. I'm going to do a forest board. Stay tuned for more updates on how my first terrain board goes.

Until next time, check out how the work on the Chimera is going so far!

"Serve" on once side. "Protect" on the other.

Arbites Progress, the Knights Begin

This past week, I've made a decent amount of progress on the Arbites Chimera. Check out where I'm at right now. The vehicle is getting close to completion!

All that's left is the sides, tracks, and back.

Here you can see how the police lights came out, as well as
the Arbites lettering on the side.

There aren't rivets sculpted onto these sides I made. They're
just painted dots. I think they look just like the other ones!

Today, I stopped by Games Workshop and bought a Command Squad and a pair of Tactical Squad boxes. After the AQRF Chimera is completed (and the two test models), the Knights Bellicose will officially begin!

AQRF Chimera Progress, KB Test Models

Now that my work has started to level off, I've had the ability to devote more attention back to 40k. First off, I've been able to make quite a bit of progress on my AQRF Chimera. After spending lots of time wondering what weapons I was going to give it (since everything was the same points cost), I just decided to give it all the options! I magnetized all the weapon options so that I can switch between them as I need to (thanks, Mom!). So far, I've completed the magnetization process and all the work on the turret. take a look and let me know what you think!

The completed turret. I love how the crewmember turned out!

All the weapon options

Multi-laser turret with nothing on the hull.

Heavy bolter turret with another heavy bolter on the hull.

The back of the turret. I think it came out pretty well!

I've also been working on my Knights Bellicose test models. Right now, I'm only finishing up one last color option. I'm switching the weapons to red instead of brown so they stand out a bit more on the battlefield. Since the sergeants' helmets are going to be red anyway (to fit in with the codex rules), I think it will look pretty good. Here's my current progress:

The torso and legs are done. I have two models prepared in this manner. One will be a regular tactical marine and the other will wear a sergeant's helmet. After these two models are done, I'll be able to see just how the army is going to turn out and can finally start on the army itself. I'm pretty hopeful!

Keep checking back to see how these two projects turn out!

Coteaz Complete, AQRF Chimera

After all the time spent on one single model, I'm pleased to present to you Lord Inquisitor Torquemada Coteaz! You can see him, as well as the rest of the Inquisition sideboard, on the Other Models page.

With Coteaz complete, it's time to work on the final part of my Inquisition sideboard: the AQRF Chimera. This is, obviously, going to be the transport that takes my Arbites into battle. Since they're modeled to be a kind of a SWAT team (AQRF stands for Arbites Quick Reactioin Force), I want the Chimera to look like a police vehicle. As such, I've made sure to recognize that it's primarily used on the road, in the city. I gave it a searchlight and specifically did not add on smoke launchers or a dozer blade.

I've made a few modifications to it as well. I've removed the lasgun ports from the back and replaced them with flat plasticard. Legally, they can still shoot out of the top hatch and I needed the flat parts to write AQRF on. Also, I added two police-style light bars onto the vehicle to complete the feel. The light bar itself is made from a section of sprue and they're propped up with little plasticard tubes.

I also built every possible weapon for it. I've ordered some tiny magnets so that I can switch between weapons depending on what game I'm playing

Lastly, I've made some conversions to the guy standing out of the hatch. He's been modelled to look like the rest of the AQRF. I gave him a regular IG helmet and shaved down his shoulder pads to give him the tactical vest feel like everyone else. I added the shoulder pocket so he fits in with the rest of the squad. I even shaved down the little nub on his back so I can write AQRF on him like everyone else has. I'm hoping that putting him in the hatch will really help make the vehicle look like it belongs to the squad.

Take a look at my progress! What do you think so far?

All the pieces of the AQRF Chimera.

You can see where I covered up the lasgun ports. I'm planning
on writing AQRF on those sections, and again just above the
front police light bar.

Close-up of the rear police light bar.

The little white rectangle on the right will be drilled out to house
a magnet. That way, I can swap out the hull-mounted weapons.

I've made a few conversions to make the crewman look like
the rest of the AQRF.

I'd love to hear what you think about the work so far!

As I work on this project, I'm also painting two Knights Bellicose test models. The point of these models is to test the weapons colors. I was never really pleased with brown guns over brown armor. I'm hoping that red weapons will stand out a bit more. After they're completed, I should be satisfied enough to start oficially working on the chapter! Keep checking back to see how it all turns out!

Coteaz Cloak and Face

Today is just a short update on my painting progress. On the bright side, however, we are nearing completion of several major projects in the house which will finally allow me to devote more time to painting in the near future.

As for the progress itself, Coteaz has seen some good progress. I managed to finish the freehanded design on his cloak and paint up his face. I'm really happy with how his skin turned out. There may be a tutorial about this in the future.

What do you think?

The demon hammer is painted the same way as
my Grey Knights Justicar.

Symbol of the Inquisition

Inquisitor Coteaz Progress

With all the renovations on the house, it's hard to find time to paint. I have, however, managed to make some progress on my newest model. I want to finish up my Inquisition sideboard and with the Arbites and Grey Knights done, it's time to move onto my final infantry model, Inquisitor Coteaz.

I've never really liked having a large amount of metallic paint on a single model. That's why the Grey Knights are grey, not silver. Along the same lines, I didn't want to paint Coteaz with metallic paints. Since I still want to have him in the traditional gold armor, I've used him as my first attempt at the non-metallic metal idea. Though this is just a work in progress, the armor is all done.

What do you think so far?

You'll notice that I still used metallic paints to do things like the chains. Using metallics as accents will help the model fit in with the Grey Knights, Ultramarines, and any other force I decide to put him with. If you guys like how the armor turned out, I'll post up a tutorial.

After Coteaz, I'll be working on a Chimera for the Arbites. Then, the Inquisitorial sideboard will be complete!