Colonel Watts walks out of the jungle. He’s seen some shit.

Avast, me hearties!

Sure is a pretty sunset over yonder…

This was a quick paint job the other night. For the most part I did not do my usual drybrushing, edging, and other detail work, instead relying heavily on washes to provide depth. This is in keeping with the approach I’m trying to follow with my Imperial Guard, adopting the mantra of Gettin’ It Done.

Unfortunately I switched to a new can of Krylon Matte Finish and it doesn’t seem to be taking the shine off nearly as well as the last couple dull coat sprays I’ve used.  Secret Weapon’s Black Wash in particular seems to leave a healthy shine that this is not knocking off. Still a solid looking space dolly though.

The model is a Dark Vengeance Cultist Champion I found in a bits bin at NOVA and couldn’t resist at $1.50. He’s had a head swap with a Tempestus Scions Sergeant, an operation made just slightly trickier by the Cultist being a 2-piece snap-fit and already assembled, necessitating that the head be chiseled out rather than just cut off.  A few Chaos icons have also been greenstuffed away and a Space Marine Scout rope coil thrown on. Colin’s bits box provided the GW resin skull base while he wasn’t looking. All in all I’m ok with the paint job, but stoked about the model itself.

The dude abides.

Nobody f’cks with the Jesus!

The PAGE crew maniacally churning through the bits bins at NOVA.

On the table this guy will sally forth as either Colonel Straken or a Company Commander. As discussed, they’re two of my favorite pictures in the Astra Militarum codex and I’m excited to have a model very much in line with them. The name is a reference to Peter Watts, author of some truly excellent sci-fi books, who has a short story up on Tor.com called The Colonel, introducing a primary character in his latest novel. In Forestway mythology, Watts and his company were shot down in their transports early in the fighting for the planet and presumed dead. Eventually though him and a small, ragtag band of hardened survivors from his company reappeared just in time to join the evacuation, having trekked halfway across the planet fighting both invaders and the local fauna.

Colonel Straken. He lost his arm to a landshark. No, seriously. That’s its skull on his side.

A Company Commander.