"The Origins Of The Robots Employed By The Imperium..."

"...Harken back to the earliest days of Human technology."

This stand of three 15mm miniatures by "Alternative Armies" comes from their "The Ion Age" code IAF081 Taranis Runner Drones, and consists of two Field Repair Drones and a single Transmission Jammer Drone. The sculpts are designed to be used with the company’s “Patrol Angis” rule-set, and provide additional support for the heavily armoured Taranis Tank. However, I’ve both based and painted mine so they can be used as a (proxy) unit of (close combat) Imperial Robots for a home-brew game I've somewhat loosely based within the early Warhammer 30k/40k universe.

Due to wanting this particular trio to form part of my (not) Crimson Fists force, the models were initially primed using a couple of coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and subsequently base-layered in "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I then carefully pigmented their mechanical legs and arms with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal, before absolutely drowning each model in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The figures' limbs were later dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"He is our shield and our protector!"

At this stage I was actually somewhat tempted to leave the basic colour scheme alone. However, as these particular robots were supposed to form part of "a Second Founding Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion", I thought I'd make that a bit more noticeable by applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson to the Field Repair Drones' claws. This would (hopefully) tie them in with the Crimson Fists, and also mark them out as the deadly hand-to-hand combatants I was planning to use them as.

As a final touch, I decided to patiently 'pick out' all their optic sensors using either Skulker Yellow or Ethereal Green by "Two Thin Coats". These areas were then shaded with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade or Biel-Tan Green as appropriate. I also used a smidgeon of "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Vallejo" Pale Grey to create the illusion that all three mechanical monstrosities had head-lamps.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - (Yet) Another member of the Moscow Militia being progressed

In addition to my current obsession with proxying "The Ion Age" range for my own nefarious designs, I am continuing to work on more 28mm Napoleonic Russians by “Wargames Foundry" - namely from their RN043 Moscow Militia with Muskets blister. Last year I disappointingly fell badly short of my goal to paint at least forty-eight of their Black Powder miniatures (working on the plan of painting just four a month), so am absolutely determined to get back on schedule for a similar roadmap throughout 2025.

Resultantly, on paper I should have at least sixteen new additions battlefield ready by the end of this month, and unfortunately at this present time I can only boast of three. To try and make up this ground, I now intend to focus on just coalition soldiers for the next few weeks, and probably wade through some of the Emperor's Frenchmen in May. I'm also going to focus on four-figure tiny units, so I don't get too bored with repeatedly putting my brush-tip to the same old cuffs and straps - something which quickly drains my enthusiasm for the period full-stop...