I've also added the blocks between the wheels, and I think these really give it a more solid, rugged look. Need to punch some more rivets, I've run out!

Finally I've removed the viewing port thing after deciding it was in the wrong place. I'll come up with a replacement and some armour for that section at some point.

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I've had two goes at the front end, and I'm quite taken with the bulldozer blade skid plate. I'll have to see what the rhino hatch looks like once it's detailed.

The main structural item missing at the moment are the pods between the pairs of wheels. Once they're fitted it will add some much needed strength to the track guards and body to the tank.

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Based loosely on the Chiron, utilising it’s turret and wheels, the intention was to create a Saladin style 6wheeled vehicle.

The post Project Overview appeared first on BlokeCrafted.

As I've mentioned many times, I can't paint. I try, but I just end up getting frustrated that I can get nowhere near where I want to be. So I just try to make them look presentable and call them done, and as such I'm quite happy with these guys.

The bases are resin ones I got from ebay. They came as a pack of ten, and in a bout of sheer insanity I've painted all ten, ready for the next lot. Strewth.

Don't think you can see it properly but the one bit I'm happy with is the mesh on the bases. It was just simple black, then flat aluminium drybrush, then blue ink, then light drybrush with silver. Gives a strange sort of metallic blue finish that I'll use across the whole range to be consistent.

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For some reason I'm quite attached to this squad, they feel more like a necromunda gang than just a bunch of guys in a massive army. So I've named them and given them characters.

The proctor is, rather predictably, Sarge. Mainly because I never got around to removing the stripes from his left arm. But then that just built into his character. Ex-PDF sergeant who was recruited into the Arbites on Katul (massive back story to write about why they're there and who they are and so on, so be a bit flexible please). Posed here stomping towards a miscreant, shock maul in hand ready to knock some sense into them, and his bolt pistol just in case. Very chuffed with his beret, my first effort and will be used in all squads for proctors.

Bruno is the heavy stubber bearer. Hard life, lugging something that size around and something ex gang heavy Bruno had thought he'd left behind when he signed up. Still, it's hugely effective in a built up area. Note the special modifications he's made with the drum feed. Posed here squeezing off a few rounds, leaning back to balance the awesome beast and ready to take the recoil.

Jethro is usually seen providing cover for Bruno whilst he gets into position. Simple shotgun bearer, though note he carries the spare ammo for Bruno. Posed here advancing cautiosly.

Jake is the more sombre and stoic of the ex-gangers in the squad. Prone to using his expert knowledge of the city to head off criminals, then waiting quietly in a door way to pounce. Posed here in just such a situation, shotgun ready, grim look of inevitability in his eyes.

Finally is Grayson. A local recruit, though not a ganger, Grayson is desperately devoted to his home world. Unfortunately he's also known to be easily sidetracked by the scores of residents he calls friends, and regularly has to run to catch up with his patrol. Posed here after a brief word with Mr Spaskis about that excellent burtwerg sausage he bought last week.

Next step is the armoured transport for these guys. A repressor conversion.

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BoLS dex included some shots of conversions, but I wanted to try my hand at my own. Something that was arbites, but less medieval and more modern. Modern carpace armour I guess. These guys are the result of that theory.

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However, I now have done almost all the sculpting for my first 5 man patrol squad. Three shotgunners, a proctor (in beret!) and a “heavy” with a hvystubber. Really happy with the look and feel of them. Although as always once I take photos and see them at 4 or 5 times actual size the sculpting will look dire. But I definitely think I’m improving.

I’m also working on their chimera. I know I said no chimeras but I’m working on a scratch build. I dismantled the poor aimless Chiron, and have rebuilt it into a 6wheeled vehicle based on the M38 Wolfhound. Fitted the track guards tonight but I’m not convinced by them, might have another go tomorrow.

Photos to follow as soon as the shotgunners get their left arms and I finish the proctor’s codpiece!

The post Arbites appeared first on BlokeCrafted.

I'm working on my first arbitrator, based on the SWAT image I posted the other day. Made using tank commander legs, normal cadian chest and head, then some greenstuff. I've converted a lasgun into a shotgun, and I'm going to bulk up the right shoulder pad as an homage to the original arbites.

 

The sculpting isn't perfect, but then I'm not that good :). It's in the right direction though and I'm happy enough. Oh the little dimple on the right pad is for the stock of the shotgun. Somehow I thought ahead and pressed the arm into place before it set. Surprising forethought huh? hah.
 

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Ok so the plans:

Arbites themselves. I’m having a shock team who are going to be old iKore Junkers. I’ve already painted two many years ago, so I’ll get pics up as a reference point. They need converting to remove their shotguns since in the BoLS rules shock teams don’t get shotguns. Shame. But do-able.

Two arbitrator teams. Planning a cross between scouts and cadians for these. Marc Raley did some awesome ones which won at Baltimore GD 06 that I’ll use as inspiration. Shotguns will either be scout shotguns, or some Heresy guns I’ve bought to try and modify. Will see how successful that is.

Sharpshooter team I’m undecided about at the moment, but if the arbitrators work well then I suppose more scouts with big rifles.

Pursuit team are going to be scout bikers, but I’m going to try and convert them and make them a little more unique. Obviously aiming towards a Judge Dredd theme with the whole army, so this seems a good opportunity. Not lawmasters, but definite hints of heritage.

Sentinel Squadron is going to be some converted AT43 Red Block stompy guys. Forget the name. I’m chopping them up and aiming for a similar look to the fantastic Special Ops dreadnaught over at under the couch. Not going as well as I’d hoped at the moment, was a big psychological hurdle to get around to start cutting up a prepainted mini.

I’m converting a rhino into a repressor, and I’ll do the same for a black maria (no chimeras in this army, oh no).

For the judge himself I’m undecided. I have an old Judge Dredd model which is tempting, as are the RT commissars I have. However the Titan Preceps from Forgeworld also looks quite judgey to me. I’m going to wait until the rest starts to come together and go from there.

Randomly I also have a squad of em4 miniatures Troopers who might be enlisted. The models themselves aren’t that great, though fantastically priced. But I painted one up the same time as the junkers and he looks ok. May end up being one of the Arbitrators teams or something.

I’m also going to modify my Prodromos scout vehicle for these guys, suits the urban road idiom far better than desert scout. I’m thinking modelling a heavy webber up top. I have several other ideas which are outside the BoLS rules scope, but I’ll probably just go for it anyway. It’s all good fun.

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