I’ve finally relented and just ordered myself a new set of arms for my Contemptor – a Kheres Assault Cannon and Close Combat Claw. As I mentioned in a previous post, I wasn’t very impressed with the range of movement that was available from the Heavy Bolter arm and after spotting one of the heavy assault cannon arms on eBay the other day was more convinced that this arm would allow me to add some more dynamic movement into the miniature. Also, upon reading various bits of fluff, the ammunition used in an assault cannon is not the same as used in a bolter and is, in fact, a cased round – which means an excuse to cover the base in spent cases 🙂 In fact I might even be a bit clever and actually make the rounds from tube rather than solid rod and block up one end with putty to represent a real hollow case. These would likely need to be painted separately and glued onto the base on top of any snow effect, with PVA glue and then a bit of zenithal (i.e. top) highlighting applied.
I do think the Power Fist Arm I’ve got is brilliant, however upon reading the Space Wolf fluff regarding this pattern of Dreadnought, the idea of a clawed fist covered in blood/ichor seems much more “in keeping” with the background. It also means that I’ve “spares” should I mess up adding any pelts and trinkets or if I don’t mess up, I’ve bits that can be resold on eBay (for pretty much the same price I paid). The other benefit is that I can actually put the arms on the way round I wanted (gun on the right) which gives me more scope to play.
With a little bit of luck these bits should arrive towards the middle/end of next week, which will work out quite nicely in the grand scheme of things. What I’m hoping is that by the end of next weekend (24th) I should have the whole piece constructed (with perhaps the exception of the fur on the cloak) and ready for it’s coat of primer/undercoat.
Within the modelling community it’s quite well know that you can use a specific Tamiya paint, you can simulate blood effects. Basically with the addition of a tiny drop of black or brown paint, the transparent red colour will congeal like blood does, so you end up with darker and lighter patches with a variable gloss effect. To this end I’ve also just ordered some Tamiya Clear Red (X-27) and Clear Blue (X-23). with the intention of mixing them to make purple ichor – which is something I’ve not seen done very well before. I’m hoping that it will add a different colour to the whole piece which in principal is going to be neutral colours with some yellow and red.
Fluff (from the Warhammer40k Wiki):
The Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought has an uneasy reputation as a result of the dark and strange history of this walker within the ancient Space Wolves Legion which was woven into the sagas and legends of the present day Space Wolves Chapter. The Contemptor was never as numerous within the Space Wolves as it was in some of the other Space Marine Legions of the Great Crusade era as they favoured the Mars Pattern Mark IVs and Mark Vs due to their robust natures and ease of repair. The Space Wolves’ Contemptor Dreadnoughts developed a reputation within the Legion for engaging in excess on the battlefield and unwarranted savagery that stained the character of those interred within the Dreadnought’s armoured carapace. This infamy became a form of self-fulfilling prophecy in some cases as the superstitious Iron Priests of the Chapter began to inter only elite fallen Astartes who already possessed sagas relating deeds darker than most of their peers in pursuit of the foe. As a result, the few Contemptor Pattern chassis that survived the Fall of Prospero and the heavy losses the Chapter sustained during the Wars of Apostasy of the 36th Millennium still serve, but are always looked upon as troublesome and ill-omened allies at best by the Astartes of the Great Companies. They are valued for their great prowess in combat and always afforded the respect that all Dreadnoughts are due, but are never fully trusted as is normally the due of such living ancients amongst the Get of Russ.
Space Wolves Contemptor Pattern Dreadnoughts are essentially identical to the standard variant of this Dreadnought pattern save for the addition of Smoke Launchers and some morale-building wargear that is unique to the Astartes of the Space Wolves, such as Wolftail Talismans and Wolftooth Necklaces that are derived from the massive, semi-sentient Fenrisian Wolves. Additionally, unlike in other Chapters, the few Contemptor Pattern Dreadnoughts left to the Space Wolves are infamous war engines whose stories are filled with ill-omens, blood and death. As such, these Dreadnoughts are defined by three special sagas that shape the personalities of the warriors within these Ceramite behemoths, including:
- The Saga of the Black Cull: A thousand times a thousand dead can be heaped at the feet of this Contemptor Dreadnought, who has shown unwarranted excess upon the battlefield in his pursuit of blood. These Dreadnoughts will actively seek out enemy infantry to slay, no matter the tactical cost to their fellows.
- The Saga of the Forsaken One: This Contemptor Dreadnought’s deeds before his internment within his Ceramite shell were dark and marred by unwarranted savagery. Though his Battle-Brothers remain respectful, they do not wish the shadow of his deeds to blacken their own names. As such, this Contemptor Dreadnought will fight alone and will not be supported by any of his fellow Astartes should he enter close combat.
- The Saga of the Iron God: The warrior within this Contemptor Dreadnought has grown prideful as a result of his enhanced abilities in combat and seeks out other Dreadnoughts or walkers in combat to display his superiority, no matter the tactical cost to his fellows.