“Robots Are Hulking Automations…”

“…With limited scope for tactical manoeuvres.”

This 6mm scale plastic model of a Conqueror Robot was produced by “Games Workshop” and could be found as part of their now long out of production (OOP) “Epic” range for the second edition of “Space Marine”. Incorporating “good armour and formidable combat ability,” the single-cast sculpt seems to have ‘officially’ been painted predominantly red - presumably to tie in with the Legio Cybernetica who built it.

But as I wanted it to form part of a force of Space Wolves, I decided to use it as a pilot piece for their colour scheme instead. As a result the tiny figure was temporarily glued to a wooden painting stick, before being primed with a double helping of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey. It was then shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, so as to better ‘highlight’ its impressive details.

"Catalyst Game Labs" WIPs - This Marauder has been primed “Vallejo” Japanese Uniform WWII

The robot’s heavy bolter and auto-cannon were initially ‘picked out’ using some “Citadel” Abaddon Black, and later treated to a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Whilst it’s eyes and power-fist were pigmented using a little “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. All of these areas were then delicately dry-brushed (or spotted) with either “Vallejo” Gunmetal or Heavy Ochre as appropriate.

Having scrambled around my collection of old “Epic” models, I actually seem to own quite a few of this particular miniature, so my plan during the upcoming Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) will be to paint up at least one for each of the loyalist Adeptus Astartes chapters I plan to field. In addition, I believe the Iron Warriors Primarch, Perturabo, used a number of Conqueror robots as his own personal Honour Guard, so I may well leave some spare if I decide to paint up some of my Chaos Space Marines as the traitorous IV Legion.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Some of these Confederate soldiers just need some shading and highlights

Sticking with diminutive-sized science fiction figures, albeit the 1:285 scale plastic models by “Catalyst Game Labs”, I’ve finally started to re-base and undercoat the first of my large “Battletech” mechs for my Weird War Two campaign. First up will be a pair of impressively-sized Marauders to bolster the Japanese Empire’s forces in the Pacific theatre. As with my previously-painted Mitsubishi class War Walker these killing-machines have been primed in “Vallejo” Japanese Uniform WWII.

Finally, the end is very much in sight for the last of this year’s Weekly Challenges, randomly chosen by the turning of a playing card. I’ve just got some inks to apply to my latest 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers by “Warlord Games”, and will then add them to a twenty-man strong stand of Alabama soldiers for "Epic Battles: American Civil War" table-top game.