Adeptus Tyranicus 004

The Carnifex is one of the most brutal of all Tyranid bioforms. But it is also one of the most common sights of any Tyranid invasion. Some of Magos Cath's earliest experiments were with Carnifexes. Because of both their savagery and the ease of obtaining viable DNA samples Carnifexes are one of the most easily produced and most reliable of the larger Tyranid organisms grown by the Magos. Of the various forms of the Carnifex the "Screamer Killer" was both the first and most encountered of all varieties. The Screamer Killer has been known to Imperial records since Tyran and continues to be a common sight on all Battlefields involving the Tyranids. Magos Cath has had great success in testing the Screamer Killer's abilities in battle against many different opponents and even the legendary bravery of the Space Marines has been sorely tested by these terrifying creatures.

I am fairly happy with how this model turned out. The only problem that I have with it is that I feel it looks too glossy. I broke my airbrush today and has to add the clear coat with a brush so I feel it went on a bit too glossy. After I get a new airbrush I plan to do a coat of matte over the entire model to dull down the shine a little. Other than that I am very pleased with it. The army is coming alone quite nicely and after I finish my Hive Tyrant I will do a small group photo.

Adeptus Tyranicus 003

Magos Cath has performed extensive testing on synapse creatures as they are the lynchpin of his efforts to create an artificial Hivemind. Without the synapse relays found within these creatures control of the "lesser" Tyranids would not be possible. But these creatures present a special complication as they are especially difficult to shield from the Hivemind. They require full shielding of the synapse nodes within the creatures cortex. Magos Cath's will is channeled through the synapse beasts into the other Tyranids in a synthetic Hivemind. The most powerful relay found within the subjects Cath has studied resides in the Hive Tyrants. Of all synapse creatures the Hive Tyrant has the largest and most complicated of all studied synapse nodes, but all synapse creatures are difficult to produce and control. The growth and implantation process for creating a viable Malanthrope is costly in the extreme so they are rare within the Magos Cath's growing menagerie of living weapons.

Here is my completed Malanthrope. Just like the Hive Tyrant I found the perfect bit to use as his head. This was an easy paint. A lot of drybrushing. I was trying to decide whether I wanted to paint this model in bright colors to contrast the rest of the army and to show its toxicity, but in the end I decided to use biohazard symbols instead. It just felt right for Mechanicus.

Adeptus Tyranicus 002

The second post for my Tyranid army is just a progress picture of what I'm working on now. My Hive Tyrant, Beast 01. I am happy with how the cables turned out and how well the head came out in general. I decided to highlight up further than I normally do. I get a lot of comments about not adding enough highlights to my models. I prefer to paint them that way because to me it looks more realistic, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I think it's coming out pretty well so far. I've also been told repeatedly that my pictures are too dark so I've made an effort to not darken them down anymore.

Adeptus Tyranicus 001

Magos Biologis Egrid Cath has been studying biological life for hundreds of years. It was only by a quirk of fate that he was not stationed on Tyran when the hive fleet first made contact with the Imperial world. Magos Cath, who was originally chosen to head the Mechanicus operations on Tyran Prime, was supplanted by his rival Magos Varnak in a successful political maneuver that would prove to be most fortunate for Magos Cath. After word had spread of the new threat that faced the Imperium from beyond the cold of galactic space Magos Cath became obsessed with this new form of life that was completely beyond anything humanity had seen before. He covetously studied every specimen that he could acquire for both Imperial and less official sources. Eventually he became the leading researcher of the Tyranid menace. Magos Cath has access to all possible data on the Tyranids and has even been experimenting on live specimens.

Magos Cath has developed a method of shielding live Tyranids from the Hive Mind and has used this technology to study the effects of separation from the Hive Mind on Tyranid subjects, especially synapse creatures. He has likewise developed a means of controlling several Tyranid species. Through various implants he has created a synthetic "Hive Mind" that he can control with his own will. Several field tests have yielded promising results and Magos Cath has also begun using gene samples to grow specimens in his biolabs. These specimens are more susceptible to control and have been engineered with increased aggressive tendencies even beyond those seen in most other hive fleets with the exception of Hive Fleet Behemoth.

Cath's progress has not been without setbacks. On more than one occasion his forces have come to blows with the Ordo Xenos. Fortunately for Cath none of the Inquisitors who have discovered the truth about his Tyranid control experiments have survived to bring the might of the Inquisition to bare. There are likewise some factions within the Adeptus Mechanicus who would consider Magos Cath's experiments heretical and there would certainly be conflict if it came to light that he was working with live Tyranids within the confines of the forgeworld, but soon he intends to reveal his successes and show the greater Imperium the benefits of his vision.

I present to you my new project. A Tyranid army controlled by the Adeptus Mechanicus. I'm having a lot of trouble getting models for my Tyranid project since a lot of the larger Tyranids are currently unavailable. But luckily I have been able to get a hold of a Hive Tyrant and he will be my next conversion. For now here is the first Tyranid I've ever painted. Hope you enjoy.