Salamanders Legion part 1

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I haven't really been feeling inspired to paint. That has recently changed. I just got a copy of Betrayal At Calth for a commission I'm doing and I've decided to make a Salamanders army for Horus Heresy (30K). Originally last year I had it in mind to create an Iron Warriors army for 30k, but I didn't have the money to spend on such a thing so I gave up on it. Since Betrayal at Calth came a long it became a lot cheaper to build a Legion army. I decided to go with the Salamander Legion for a couple of practical reasons and a few fluff reasons. The practical reasons are: Gunmetal is more difficult to work with through an airbrush than green and the Salamanders have better rules than the Iron Warriors. The fluff reasons are that I like how unique the Salamanders' philosophy as a Legion is, they are actually interested in protecting the citizens of the Empire and I respect self sacrifice above all else and they have plenty of that. I am going back and forth on what to get for the legion, but luckily the Betrayal at Calth has enough for almost 2000pts. The first thing in the box that I've painted is the Contemptor dreadnought. It was pretty quick and easy. The army's look is going to be that of a Legion at war, dirty and battered. It isn't necessarily going to be during or after the Dropsite Massacre, but it will look as though it could be. The Salamanders Legion is divided into seven "realms" each named for a major city on Nocturne. The army will be a part of the Skarokk "realm", which is the seventh realm, thus the VII on the dreadnoughts left shoulder. I tried to do the "heated metal" look on the Kheres Assault cannon, but failed to really pull it off. I just couldn't get the metallic effect in the colored area, but over all I am still happy how the model turned out and it looks good on the table. I'll probably be getting a few more dreadnoughts. I feel like of all the Legions the Salamanders would have one of the highest numbers of dreadnoughts.

Next up will be a Praetor and some Firedrakes that I made from the Cataphractii terminators that came in the box.

Next Frostgrave adventurer

Here is my infantryman for my necromancer's warband. I used a Rackham Drune Wraith. I also used the citadel technical paint Agrellan Earth for the first time on a base. If I can find some suitable crossbowmen models I'll swap them out for the infantrymen.

Adventures in Frostgrave

After hearing the name come up throughout the Oldhammer community I finally decided to see what Frostgrave was all about. I am not disappointed. It looks like a really fun game. After deciding to create a warband I discovered that I have very few wizard models and even fewer that aren't wearing armor. I want to try to keep the miniatures' wargear as close as possible to the description in the book. For my necromancer I will be using the Coryphaeus model from Rackham's Confrontation line. I think the candles came out good for my first time making them.

Ordo Xenos Radical Inquisitor

I converted this model to use as Helynna Valeria when there were rules for her. Later I decided to use it as a generic Ordo Xenos Inquisitor. Now I'm just painting it for fun since I don't really play 40k that much anymore. It took me a little while to figure out what color I wanted the armor to be. I really wanted to paint it gold, but I felt like a radical Inquisitor that uses xenos gear probably wouldn't have it painted/plated in gold.

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader Leather Bound Edition part 2

I've started to glue the pages together into signatures. I've got the first signature done. The process is very long. It took well over an hour to do the first 16 pages. Only a few hundred more to go.

Brotherhood of the Laughing Father part 14

I finished another member of my genestealer cult beastman unit. This is the first Bob Olley beastman I've ever painted. I loved these models before I saw them in person and now that I've gotten to see them in person I'm even more blown away. These guys are amazing! I may go back and do a little bit more work on the verdigris on the shield. I feel like it doesn't look natural enough.

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader Leather Bound Edition part 1

I've always loved antique and rare books. Since I was little I've wanted to own a bookstore. I'm also fascinated by illuminated manuscripts and bookbinding. Warhammer has always been one of the most important things in my life, sad I know. To me it is more than "just a game". It has played a very large part in my childhood development. I love the artwork, the miniatures and the stories. So I have decided to put all of these loves together in one form. I am going to start making leather bound copies of most of the rulebooks for Rogue Trader and 3rd Edition Warhammer Fantasy. The list of books I want to do is: Rogue Trader Rulebook, Warhammer 40k Compendium and Compilation, Battle Manual, Vehicle Manual, Waaagh! Orks, 'Ere We Go, Freebooterz. Warhammer Fantasy 3rd edition rulebook, Warhammer Armies, Warhammer Siege, Realm of Chaos: Slaves to Darkness, Lost and the Damned. Each one will be its own volume, except 'Ever We Go and Freebooterz, which I will probably bind together. Each one will be full leather bound.

When will this being?
It has already begun.

I've striped the cover off of the Rogue Trader rulebook and had the backs of the pages trimmed. Next I will be using strips of paper to connect pairs of pages together. I have built myself a book press and have most of the supplies I'll need to sew the pages and attach the cover. I've decided to bind the book in a traditional style, which is that I will be attaching the cover directly to the pages and spine of the book using cords and glue. I'll be posting progress pictures as I work on it. I don't currently have all the books I need, but I have enough to last me for quite a while. Depending how difficult the process is I might just sell one of these to help fund the others, we'll see after I'm done with the first one.
The final nudge of inspiration for this project came from Geoff at Fimm McCool's, who is binding Warhammer Fantasy's many editions into leather bound books. He is working on a step by step tutorial on the process, so you should check that out if you are interested.