Erik Axegrinder: Deathwatch Marine

Presenting: Erik Axegrinder of the Deathwatch.




Die Xenos scum!

 

Erik Axegrinder didn't begin life as my typical named Warhammer 40,000 personality would. No, in fact, Erik was created on paper as a Deathwatch RPG character for the Doctor's Deathwatch game. I knew he would be a Space Wolf and I wanted to tie him in with my Space Wolf army, so I decided he should be kin to Sven Axegrinder

 

His origin is somewhat meek, one really sort of limited to what elements were randomly generated for the role-playing game; but I did decide that the reason his battle-brothers forced --I mean, bestowed the honor of joining the Deathwatch to him, was because he was found siting alone during a Great Feast with his nose in a data-slate and heard to say, when questioned, about his lack of participation that he was reading up on some "great ideas for us in this book"; the book turned out to be the Codex: Astartes. Two weeks later he found himself swearing new orders to a new Commander (Talltree, I believe, a character associated with the Doctor's legendary Rogue Trader era space marine chapter), and being requisitioned a bunch of sweet new gear.

It was during our 1st game, that Erik came to the realization that "What was I thinking?! The Codex Astartes is crap!" as the unit was getting thrashed by a Thousand Sons Dreadnought! It was brutal and epic! LOL

It was a short 2 session game that we played while I was in town for a business trip. All of us decided it would be cool to actually make a miniature of our character even though we rarely use miniatures for the Doctor's games (in fact, it might actually be never). One of the guys (Brian) got his done up really quick, and even though I had gathered together all the elements to make him and primed him almost immediately, I only dabbed at the model for about 2 years... in fact if you look through past blog posts you might see elements of Erik scattered about on my painting table.

While working on some Long Fangs and Land Raider bits (all future blogs in the making) I kept throwing color on the Erik model. This (pic to the right) is the point I was at with him last week. And yes, I prefer to paint as I assemble...Yes, this makes it slower to get them done but I am far more satisfied with the end result.

While working on the Long Fangs earlier today, I was a bit vexed with one of the models that didn't have anywhere to put his chapter icon. The solution was to put it on the back plate on a back pack. I simply grabbed a micron, and drew it on. So pleased with how that turned out, I repeated it for Erik's backpack as well.

That's right, hand drawn!

 After that, I decided it was simply time to finish Erik. And finish him today! After a series of touch-ups I decided he needs some grenades. I have a bin with a lot of extra Imperial Guard grenades that I just love. So stuck those on after I was finished with the right knee guard.

Next I put on his arm, then the knife and finally the shoulder pad. A note on the shoulder pad, this is one of the original Rogue Trader era decals, and I discovered that these are bit brittle with age. The semi-circular bit on the lower right the icon tore off while handling, but I was able to fix it with a micron. Surprised at how easy that was to do considering that when I thought of the solution I was sure I would go mad in the attempt.

Next I added the Deathwatch plate then I applied some additional ink washes to the wolf pelt which I wasn't pleased with at first as I thought the head kept blending into the over-all pelt. I'm satisfied with it now.

And ta-da! He's now assembled! I fixed the base a took a few photos and now, here he is! 

Just needs some flock for grass (and yes, the base looks great with the top image, but that thing needs some grass too!), and I might stick a decal on his right leg but that might be more trouble than it's worth at this point... I shall ponder it.

In my 40K games, Erik will be used as either a Wolf Guard Squad Leader or as stripped down Lone Wolf. Which is why I chose to use the yellow and black claw markings instead of the red and black of a typical Grey Hunter. I have no doubt that Space Wolves returning back to the chapter would be anything less than a Wolf Guard for the experience! Or perhaps to find their original pack has perished or maybe his mingling with other chapters now puts him in a weird 'outsider' status? -Lone Wolf!



Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!

 

Bring on the glory!!!!


 

 



Update:

Now with flock

 

Sven Axegrinder (Terminator Basing Part 2)

You may have heard the hollowing 'cross the vales of Fenris on the cold moonless nights that herald the return of Wolflord Sven Axegrinder!

"I don't recognize him, he has arms!" -Da Masta Cheef.

Sven has been accumulating paint for at least 10 years. In fact he's been mostly done for about 6 of the past few years, I just kept being distracted by other things. Actually that excuse applies to most of my models... however while looking over my Space Wolves after I returned last weekend from my latest work-mission, Sven really appealed to me as something I should get done. So here he is completed and in natural light!

If you're young you might be wondering where I found this model, if you're my age you'll recognize this as this as the original Rogue Trader era Terminator Captain. Made for use with both Warhammer 40, 000 and Space Hulk (no doubt that 1989 was THE year of the Terminator Marine!). This model has more wargear on him than he can currently take in the game. I often just take the powerfist, as I'm fighting things that require the extra strength! But I have been known to just count that sheathed sword as a frostfang. If you look at the fingers on the power fist you'll see 4 jokaro digital weapons, and mounted on top of the power fist you'll see an auxiliary grenade launcher. ....I really want to play a game of Rogue Trader again after writing all of that!

What kept putting me off on finishing this model had to have been all the ridiculous amounts of details. I seriously doubt any single model before or since has this many skulls -tiny skulls all over it! Remember also, that at this point GW was still sticking with an approximate 25mm scale vs. the slightly larger 28mm ("heroic") scale it would soon adopt with the onset of Warhammer 40.000 2nd edition. Still, I think the Crux Imperialis looks awesome on this model even still.

In my earlier articles, Terminator Basing Part 1, you'll see the technique I use for revitalizing my old metal terminators to current base size. Sven here was one of the first models that I used this technique on (just now finished him! LOL) and as a result he doesn't have a lot of other objects on the base, just a mound of dirt. Really at this time, I was just trying to see if the technique would work or look goofy. I'm happy to say I think it works!

Here he is stacked up with two of the models from that article. Not much progress made on these guys yet other than a base coat on a few of them and the rocks. Note that I also paint my bases as I paint my models for a more seamless experience and, I feel that I also get a more 'natural' looking result by achieving a bit of unity with the model and his supposed environment.

The angle of that pic does give a sense that Sven is a bit small, and he is indeed, compared to the current plastic Terminator kits. For example:

I compared his powerfist to that of the dead terminator from the latest Space Hulk game, and you can definitely appreciate the slight difference!

But compared to his Lone Wolf buddy, I feel he holds up well!

And the Lone Wolf now has a flocked base. I also touched up a few spots that stuck out to me when I last photographed him (but now I see another, a red speck below his eye! *sigh*)

"So Ronery, and sadry a rone"

It's been awhile since I had anything newly finished to post, but I finally got the Lone Wolf that I started to build back in...well, that last time I had a game with Warfrog actually. So if you recall the New Years Resolution I made to try to get as many of the single minis on my painting table painted this year, you might spot this Space Wolf model standing next to a gunner with a red shoulder pad. That fellow is this Lone Wolf. Here he is below prior to being assembled and just few coats of paint away from being done.

Seguewaying slightly before I talk more about the Lone Wolf, the gunner was originally the gunner to my Leman Russ Exterminator, who found himself unemployed when his vehicle got dropped from the latest Space Wolf Codex. He had been reassigned to my Land Raider Crusader that I've been slowly working on in the 'Pods to Drop Lands to Raid' series.

Here is the gunner again mostly done and with those Old School Decals added. I applied decals to 3 shoulder pads today, one on the gunner obviously, one for the Lone Wolf, and one for a Death Watch Marine that I have yet to show you all. The hatches you see to the right are intended to the Land Raider's multi-melta...

...which in this pic is about 75% done. It is currently about 85% done. I was torn with adding another gunner to it, but in the end I think a Land Raider might look a bit silly with too many marines poking out of the hatches. So the hatches will remain shut and I will have to add handles to this gun.

OK, back to the Lone Wolf...

It wasn't until I was painting it that I realized that the "chain" of the chain sword is exposed on this models, so I went in past it and tried to create a shimmering 'icy' look to it. I let you lot tell me I pulled off the illusion. Also, I decided to make his pack markings 'wolf guard' just in case I wanted to used the model as a Wolf Guard leader for a squad instead of a Lone Wolf, 'cause why not?

Used a simple dry brush technique for the wolf tail. I'm pleased with the plate on the backpack.

I really am pleased with how the bone bits came out on this model. However looking at these pics on the computer at a size vastly larger than the model does help me scrutinize it with a more critical eye. I see that the black line on the knee join, which look passable on the actual model looks crooked as hell on the blown image.

So is Mr. Lone Wolf done? 99% yes. A few more minor touch ups, static grass on the base, and a light blast of sealer and he will be!

I'll be back on the road and once again taking the Portable Neverness kit with me (I flew on my last excursion and couldn't take anything with me) as well as the drop pod and other assorted items to work on. My dear friend Mrs. Bink has started her only Blog  redbirdmuse after much pressure from me to do so. She's been hand crafting her own colorful journals for awhile now and they look very cool. One of her characters in my Dark Heresy campaign is a Sister of Battle and we have been talking about doing a journal for this character in the style that she uses for her journals. I will be taking my sketch pad with me on the road and I hope to come back with some images she can use.  'Til next time,