Adeptus Titanicus – Legio Astraman Ad Arma Pt. XIII

We're now in the post-Battle for Uulda part of this series and it is time to complete the Legio Astraman project. We're having for the main titan legio four (+maybe two further) models left;

• Warmaster Titan
• Warbringer Titan
• 2 Dire Wolves Heavy Scout Titans
• and maybe 2 further Warhounds Scout Titans to cover the new weapon options for both AT/LI, and magnetise them this time around

As I'd like to cover the bases first, and I already built the Warmaster with a slightly raised leg, so he could stomp on something.

The idea was to recreate something that I did with one of the Warlord Titans (this one will be used with Legio Magna, so the similar pose doesn't bother me within Legio Astraman), and have him stand upon a lower terrain piece or upon a (super) heavy vehicle.

Therefore I printed up a mixed plate of items I could scatter on those (along with some Blood Bowl bits and pieces). One of which was a Falchion and a larger drop pod, as options. I used files from Lstar, as they are usually hollowed, split and pre-supported, so much less hassle. Along with some pieces that I would use with the possessed titans, as I still had some space left on the printing plate.

Version 1 would be the Warmaster stomping upon a Dreadnought Drop Pod. Obviously the angle is a bit steep, I would crush or deform the hull with a hairdrier, have the doors open up and a Dreadnought laying on its back. Reducing the height of the drop pod and partially pressing it into the base, would lower the angle. Not bad, but maybe not epic enough for the Warmaster.

The alternative Version 2 would be him stomping on a super heavy tank, a Falchion. I was initially thinking about a Baneblade, having the turret crushed and the barrel looking from beneath the foot, but the Astartes tank would tie in stronger into the heavy warfare compared to the drop pod and keep the Horus Heresy theme of Astartes being involved. Still, I would cut away a bit from the bottom of the Falchion to reduce the height, have the main gun looking down, a bit like the stomp broke it off or bent it, and the side turrets maybe damaged. Optional would be the addition of astartes casualties.

The bases of the other three won't give me that much space for decoration. The warbringer will have a bit of pavement and maybe a low row of ruins, with one of the Dire Wolves using some scraps from the Civitas Imperialis ruins sets, maybe the cargo containers.

While the paint scheme on the Warbringer while rely on the pictures from the Loyalists Legio book, I had to think about how to paint the Warmaster and Direwolves. The Warmaster would pick up the chevrons as well, maybe do a more elaborate decoration on his belly plate, as it is five segments and would give me the option for alternating colours and later on decals. As for the Direwolves, these should look similar to the Warhounds, but mix it a bit up. I am still thinking about replacing the feet on them, and doing something like Poom did with his Direwolves, replacing the chicken feet with the Warhound feet, or use Artisan of Vaul of two toe version.

I picked up Photoshop again as well for the "final" highlights and detailing of the kits, I want burned barrels, banners and other things to make them really pop.

Therefore I went shopping at Radaddel for some Warpaint effects by Army Painter. Some glow effects for the plasma weapons and the Verdigris, that I want to add to the name plates of the titans, as they are not finished.

And my order of decals arrived. Very quick shipping from Japan by Skumb4g Customs, they have a vast variety of titan legios covered, saving me a lot of time and hassle to prepare the print sheets. I got myself the ones for Legio Astraman and Legio Magna as well, with another sheet for the Legio Tritonis Florian is currently working on.

So this is the current update on the work in progress of the maniple. The order will be to get the four (or six) miniatures on the same level as the current maniple and then add all of the weathering, decals etc. in one turn to make sure to create a coherent finish. The titans are something, that I likely will take with me on the painting weekend in November.