Charity Fundraiser - Questions, Answers and Preparations!
As you may well have heard, we’re organizing a charity fundraiser here at Unrelenting HQ. We’re looking to paint an entire Horus Heresy Age of Darkness box across a single weekend, all to raise money for Doorways Derby. You can find more information here and donations can be made here. However, we felt this would be a good opportunity to get a little bit into the “why” and the “how” this will all be accomplished - to try and paint to completion 54 models within two days!
There are two of us taking part in organising and completing this fundraiser - my twin brother will be accompanying me in this. Together we’ll be motivating and challenging eachother up to and throughout the weekend to ensure we get great results and in good time whilst working together to share and spread the word to help get those donations for Doorways Derby.
Which legion are you painting and why?
Kenny: I’ve gone for Death Guard. I’ve always been drawn to the XIV legion due to their putrid and grotesque appearance and style within Warhammer 40,000 and so drawing over to the same legion within the Horus Heresy felt like a natural move. I’ve always had a soft spot for Typhus (or Calas Typhon within the Heresy) as one of the original heretics. This is also a chance for me to paint a much ligher and brighter colour scheme than I’m used to with my Word Bearers. Plus, I absolutely adore the prospect of a genetically modified super soldier wielding a giant scythe!
Chris: I already have sizeable armies in the form of World Eaters and Space Wolves, both very choppy runny “Come here, I just wanna have a chat with you…” legions. So steering in to the other lane, and after diving back in to the Seige of Terra series of novels, I’ve gone for Imperial Fists. There’s a lot of love I have for a nice static gunline, and we all love the sound of imitated bolter fire during our games. Plus, later down the line I can add some Wardens or Templar Brethren to quell my Combat Phase desires.
How are you preparing?
Kenny: We’ve both agreed that this is a painting challenge, not a building challenge. Thus, we’ll be ensuring that all models are built prior to the weekend itself - including any kitbashing or conversion work! This would simply eat up too much time from the weekend itself. Whilst it’s not overly serious and is in the name of fun and supporting a great charity, we both want to accomplish a fair bit over the weekend, so let’s set ourselves up to succeed, rather than fail!
We’ve also agreed that priming models/sub-assemblies beforehand would be ideal and this will work out great for both of us as this will do a lot of the legwork for me. I’m intending on absolutely minimal airbrush usage and letting the primed colours get me a good chunk of the way there so that I can focus on details.
Chris: I’ve written an army list catered around using all the models included in the Age of Darkness box. I wanted a nice spread of different units to take advantage of some great painting opportunities to show a personalized and thematic army. As with all my army projects, I completed a tester, noted what worked and what didn’t and gathered as much reference material as I can dedicate time to. I’ve decided for a mid/bright tone yellow, to allow the dark tones to punch in the form of the metallics, black details and weathering. My light tones will be done around the transfers, chipped yellow highlights and eye lenses. This all framed by my current favored basing in the form of a neutral dusty grey/brown rubble should make for a great eye catching army.
Any conversions or interesting model opportunities you’re seeking to make?
Kenny: I’ve had a few ideas bouncing around, but nothing too groundbreaking as I find the breadth of choice throughout the Horus Heresy game system quite overwhelming at times! I’ve landed on a few simple things. Each “character” from the box will wield a Power Scythe where possible, and each will have a bare head with a rebreather. Not conversions per se, but it feels very thematic for Death Guard. I’ll be taking the power sword Praetor from the box with the intention of fielding him as a Siege Breaker and giving him a Power Scythe, which should be an easy change along with a head swap. However, I’m swaping the other Praetor for the Death Guard Cataphractii Praetor, whom I’m also looking to give a Power Scythe. The only reason I’ve done this is because I already painted one of the other Praetors as Death Guard previously, so don’t fancy a second!
I’m also looking to split the Catacphractii Terminators into two squads. One being a 5-man squad, the other acting as a Command Squad for the Praetor. I just need to source the relevant bits (standard/banner, some distinct shoulder pads, etc) and I think they’ll look superb on the table led by the Praetor in matching Cataphractii!
Chris: Praise be to Fafnir Rann, the base for all great character conversions for Horus Heresy characters! I’ll be running a Praetor in my army as it’s warlord, using the ‘Sword Praetor’ from the box. I’ve already converted him ready to go, swapping the sword for a Solarite Power Fist, and kitting him out with a Vigil Storm Shield, mag locked to his back. This on top of a nice old school MKII grill helm with a plume should make him the figure head my Fists deserve, rocking about with some Cataphractii in a Spartan ready to ‘cast fist’. Alongside him, I want a Castellan, to keep to the defensive, bolter addled narrative of the army. Like Kenny, I swapped out the ‘Power Axe Praetor’ because, after trying to convert a spare, I simply couldn’t manipulate it to a manner I was happy with… Enter the Fafster! He’ll be kitted out with an Illastus Assault Cannon, ready to kick back with the Heavy Support Squad and sow the fields with mass reactive rounds of death!
What are you painting tactics? What are you going to do in order to ensure you can get as much of this done as possible across the weekend?
Kenny: As mentioned previously, I’m planning on having my primer do most of the work for me. Wraithbone will give all models that great, bone-like colour whilst any pauldrons will be set aside to be sprayed green - this alone will save time! I’ve already practised painting up a tester squad of ten MkVI Marines and I’m pleased with the results and time taken. With selective washes to bring out detail, I’ll also rely on using sponge weathering to enhance the depth. Sponging on some dark brown to look like dirt or damage on protruding edges will give that better sense of definition whilst also abiding by the grimy Death Guard aesthetic. Between this and contrast paints, I’m confident I’ll make great progress through the entire weekend.
Chris: Over the past few years with the introduction of speed paints and contrast, there’s a lot of interesting and super easy ways to paint a nice smooth yellow. I’ll be tackling this with how I do most projects, working from a black to white zenithal prime. From there, I’ll be airbrushing yellow contrast on my dudes, and that’s most the base colours done (You don’t need an airbrush to do this, but it’s gonna be a great time saver)! From there, I can use a black contrast to fill in my black base colours, some browns for the leather details and pouches and then It’s transfers, weathering, shading, metallics and final details. The infantry squads will be divided by applying the same colours to different areas to help differentiate on the tabletop, and the helmets will be kept separate on strips to help me paint them up as their appropriate designations. I’ll do some fancy airbrushing for stripes on shields and vehicles, so my plan is to paint as many of the infantry I can on Saturday, and then everything else on Sunday. I’ll also have all my bases textured before priming so I can sort those out as soon as the models are finished.
Don’t forget that you’re welcome to join us in painting on the weekend itself! You could choose to join us on the path to madness in painting an entire Age of Darkness box, or whatever else you might like. Whether it be a single Space Marine or a mighty god-beast of destruction, we encourage all to take part in what will be an exciting weekend in the name of a great cause.
