Heresy & Heroes

Mortifactors Terminator Squad

Well, the gang’s all here then. Five of the sexiest Terminators I’ve ever painted, they are ready to take to the table and mess up armour and troops in equal measure.

On the plus side of things, I think that these guys possess some of the best ‘warm bone’ that I’ve done and I think I’ve now got the technique nailed down. I’m happy with the bases – simple but fitting and effective. I also got the processes nailed down by working out what to paint and in what sequence. This cut production time down massively without messing with quality control. It’s a great kit that’s fun to paint and not nearly as fiddly as I thought it would be.

On the down side of things, I made a rookie error early on – didn’t scrub the resin hard enough or check thoroughly enough for tags and cracks before painting. I’ve been using Forge World kits for years now and should know better. It doesn’t really effect the finished product but on a personal note, I could have made everything smoother and less annoying to paint. Also, that’s a lot of edge highlighting on black which I swear is the worst shade to work with because it’s the least forgiving if you mess up. I messed up plenty so had to spend a lot of time fixing things.

Overall, I’m very happy though. They look cracking even if I do say so myself (and yes, there is a slight pun in there). At any rate, here are a couple of pictures for you to enjoy. Next project will be along as soon as I can find some time to get into it. Onwards!

Mortifactors Terminator Sergeant in Tartaros Pattern Armour

And they are done! All five Mortifactors Terminators are now completed and ready to take to the tabletop, and I’m here to show off the final two, including the sergeant who I’m particularly chuffed with. Let’s dive right in and take a proper gander.

I was kind of worried about him looking a bit too similar to the rest of the squad but a couple of things took care of those question marks. The sword (yes it is a little ‘not straight’ – it is a FW kit after all!) played a big part in this. It’s the only thing in the squad now rocking my, as someone else dubbed it, ‘trademark’ weathered bronze. He’s also got that little but of gold on his chest that just pops a tiny bit to push him into people’s eye-lines. One thing I should also say is that this is quite a good demonstration of how picking the right kit parts from a limited options set of ‘sprues’ plays a part. This guy is standing taller, stiller and has a commanding air to him that the others don’t and that really helps set him apart.

Annoyingly, of the five skull shoulder pads, this guy’s is the worst. I had my first major screw up doing these with this guy and though I’m happy with my rescue job, it could have been better. That being said, it fits into my own fluff ideas for this chapter so I can’t complain.

Mortifactors Terminator with Chainfist

I didn’t want to leave this joker out. Even though he gets second billing here, I’m really happy with how he came out. All the usual likes and dislikes, etc. But given that this whole squad has taken me about a month to complete, I don’t want to miss showing off any part of their number.

Now, obviously, with these being #4 and #5, that means that the squad is done. Sexy shots are on the way as soon as I can get them done. In the meantime these will have to do. Also, this marks the 7th unit of Mortifactors for me – half of the number required to complete my 2000pt army (well, it works out as 1999pt actually but whatever). So, to celebrate, and give myself a little treat, what I paint next may come as a surprise. Keep checking this blog for updates!

Both minis were undercoated black, and painted using Citadel Paints and a W&N Finest Sable Series 7 000 brush throughout. Onwards!

Mortifactors Terminator with Heavy Flamer

Getting toasty over here as my heavy flamer-wielding Mortifactors Terminator has just marched off the assembly line. Another week done and another Termi is done – just two more to go now!

Each time I finish one of these bad boys, I’m reminded just how good Forge World are. This is some of the most simple painting I’ve done in ages on the Mortifactors project, and yet they look so good. My photos don’t do them credit (sexy ones to follow when the squad is complete) and yet they still look great (if I do say so myself). My ‘techniques’ are pretty du jour now, and relatively simple to do, but the model beneath is such a great sculpt that I don’t have to do much to make them look great, and that’s awesome sauce. I like to think I try though. 😉

On the heavy flamer itself, it’s a gosh darn sexy bit of kit. Of course, being Forge World, there was a bit of difficulty putting it together, which you wouldn’t think was possible given that it’s only two pieces, and yet they managed to accomplish it with a wrist guard that was a bit short and needed some green stuff to get it on there. It’s painted very simply, but I’m really happy with my brass-effect on that barrel. The main colour is a blend of Auric’s Armour Gold and a touch of Leadbelcher, and then Auric’s Armour Gold to highlight. Simple as you like, but I’m pretty happy with it.

Here are a couple of other shots for you to enjoy. All undercoated black, Citadel Paints used throughout, and painted using a W&N Series 7 Finest Sable 000 brush. Onwards!

Tartaros Pattern Mortifactors Terminator

Another one done. The second of my Mortifactors Terminators has clomped and stomped its way off my work bench and is now reporting for duty. This guy comes armed with a storm bolter and a chainfist, so I look forward to him carving his way through some heavy armour in the near future. The chainfists that come with the kit are very clever and look excellent – they just slot on to the underside of the power fists and though I’m only intending to use two in this squad, I was very tempted to use all four that came with the kit.

In terms of painting, it’s very much as per usual with the Mortifactors colours. I would say that not only am I really impressed with the look of the storm bolters in terms of the sculpt, but I’m really happy with the job that I’m doing on the painting. It’s simple to the extent that it’s not worth calling it a technique, but I’m just really enjoying the look of it.

This chappy was undercoated black and was painted using Citadel Paints and a W&N Finest Sable Series 7 000 brush. Stay tuned for more Terminators to come – knocking out one a week! And here are a couple more pictures for you to enjoy. Onwards!

Mortifactors Terminator in Tartaros Pattern Armour

I’m back working on the Mortifactors and I have returned with the first of my Mortifactors terminators. Now, I couldn’t just do normal Termies, could I? Well, I could if I was a bit more sensible, but instead, I’ve gone for the Tartaros Pattern fellas from Forge World.

Now, the Tartaros kit is a typical Forge World kit and, for those who don’t know quite what that means, it means that it looks stunning, but it’s a right ∞#&$€% to put together. As well as the scrubbing with a toothbrush of tiny, fiddly pieces, and the clipping off of those great blocks of resin, it’s a right instructionless headache to get the assembly right. I had these guys sat on my desk for a month before I built up the courage to actually put them together, but looking at this first chap, I’m very glad that I did.

Now, these pictures are not the finest. I’ll take some sexier, higher def ones when I’ve got the whole squad painted, but they should give you an idea of it all at least. It was really fun to jump back into the Mortifactors again and these beautiful models made it even more fun. And whereas usually I paint each individual bit, other than the heads, all of the terminators were put together before painting which made them far less intimidating to paint. I won’t go too much into the painting stuff as you’ve probably all got a bit tired of that over the last few months (like the bone, the black bits are a pain, blah, blah) but needless to say, I’m rather happy.

On the kit, those storm bolters are about the best looking guns I’ve seen on a mini, and the fact that each of the five terminators looks like a miniature Contemptor, that just makes them look even better. Great kit.

Here are a few more shots. Keep your eyes peeled around here for the next five to appear. This guy was undercoated black, and painted using Citadel Paints and a W&N Finest Sable Series 7 000 brush. Onwards!