Dreadtober is an annual painting challenge that runs every October. Pretty much every year for the last several, I hope to start on it, but never end up finishing a model. This year, despite being as busy as I have been, I decided to try and speedrun a stealth entry and see if I could get something finished in time. That way if I didn’t manage to finish anything, it wouldn’t be a(nother) “Here’s the project I’m starting but actually not going to finish” post.
So how’d I go? Did I succeed? Well, yes and no. You can see the results in the picture above, but the caveat is that while I think it’s certainly table-ready, there are a few more things I still want to do with it. Weathering, more work on the base, possibly some greenstuff or guitar-wire cables on the old-school Lascannon, and I’m also not sure if I should add some more colours to the Lascannon.
This model is, obviously, based on the original Dreadnoughts from Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader – sculpted by Bob Naismith. I’ve had this STL sitting on my PC for quite a few years now, and as I’ve now got a printer that isn’t a huge pain in the arse, it was time to break out this nostalgic bad boy and make it physical.
As a 3D printed model, you can see some of the print lines on it – I feel like they’re not as problematic on a mechanical model as they would be for something organic. I’m still pretty happy with the result, especially given that it’s an FDM print and so is much “cleaner” and more straightforward than resin printing.
After looking around online, I decided to print it at 115% as people had suggested – at that enhanced size it fits more with the current Contemptor models, which is what people tend to use these as. I guess in a 40k situation it’d be a Hellbrute, but 40k has really messed up the whole Dreadnought situation pretty badly with their model/range culls of recent times. As someone who hasn’t actually played for far too long and has no interest in competitive play, IDGAF so I’ll just use it as whatever whenever I get back to friendly games.
I may or may not add some more colour modulation as well. It is a bit tricky with a limited-palette, limited-detail model like this, but perhaps a little more brownish tint on the lower portions and some more highlights up top – though I don’t want it to look too shiny, either!
And here’s a little bit of WIP-progression from the last week or so, photographed a bit at a time. As noted here and in yesterday’s post, I haven’t really had a lot of time for blogging, and let’s be honest – none of the above photos really deserves a post of it’s own, either!
Still, this is the first 40k related thing I’ve painted in quite a long time, and the first Iron Warriors model I’ve painted in even longer. Might be time to harness some of this enthusiasm and fit some more Warhammer back into this blog!
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Looking good.
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Great work on the classic shape mate, as for the print it has that old school vibe, but has tidied up some of the weak areas of the original. liquid green stuff can help with the lines I found, and I think John uses another type of filler, but can’t remember which one.
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Oh that is just so spot on! That’s what dredds should look like! I wouldn’t do any more to it! And to follow up Dave’s comment, I use Vallejo plastic putty!
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Thank you, John – It certainly needs some more weathering, and a few other little tweaks (especially to the base) will really improve the model to the point where I’m satisfied – you may even like it even more! 🙂
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I think it turned out great! And I agree more Warhammer. I miss your Celestial Lions particularly.
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Thank you!
I’ve got some more Warhammer sutff I’ve been working on almost done, but they’re Fantasy rather than 40k as the next bits of WH I get painted will be a mix of finishing off the random things I have on my desk and in the tubs and 3d printed things (because shiny new toy). Lions not on the immediate menu, but there are a few other chapters I want to get started stuff finished for first…
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Looks great! I love the classic look of the print. That’s a fun piece.
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Thanks mate! Hoping to get the final touches done in the next week or so. I need to find my green stuff rollers and/or my guitar wire! 🙂
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Great work Az, nice impressive dreads
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Thank you, Mark! 🙂
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It looks really nice already and I think you are spot-on with the idea of weathering it in the future. That will give it more of a “chaos” feel I reckon. And if that doesn’t do it, then just add skulls 😉
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Heh, Most of my Iron Warriors (or at least a lot of them – with some very specific exceptions) will be minimising the “Chaos” aspect and going more into the Renegade Legion aspect. But more weathering across the board – for sure!
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Noice!! I’ve got a soft spot for these oldschool dreads, nice to see them upscaled a bit & still getting some love 👍
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