The Squats of Inso's Reach (Astra Militarum Squats)

[Inso]

Seeing as the Tyranids tried to wipe out these stout warriors , but failed... and then Photobucket tried again, but failed:

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/306932-astra-imperial-guard-with-a-hint-of-heresy/

 

... the Dwarfs of Inso's Reach, have banded together again and will be reborn in a new topic with no Photobucket placeholders. This will effectively be a topic with completed (sculpting/converting wise) units, rather than being filled with WIP posts. 

 

The WIP aspects of this project will be posted over at:

 

http://insosworld.blogspot.co.uk/

 

As it stands, the Army is composed of two main detachments; One from Astra Militarum and one from Adeptus Astartes. The upper, elite leadership (which includes Exo Squats and Hearthguard) will be made up of 'counts as' Adeptus Astartes units and the rest of the army will made up of 'counts as' Astra Militarum units.

 

This army will not be an 8th edition WH40K, army because I won't be buying the rules or codexes for 8th edition. It will be geared towards the rules and organisation of 7th edition.

 

The Exo units of the Dwarfs of Inso's Reach are the highest level of warrior that the army has. The leader and his captain are joined by a host of Exo armoured warriors as they take to the field. These 'count as' a Chapter Master, Captain Lysander and a Terminator squad (From the Adeptus Astartes codex):

 

http://i.imgur.com/zLjmEQ5.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/vhjdN7k.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Q5MUrZW.jpg

 

The main components for these are Bodies from Mantic Forge Guard ( http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/deadzone/forge-fathers/product/forge-guard-wpu.html ), chain-blades from Anvil Industry ( http://anvilindustry.co.uk/The-Armoury/Close-Combat-Weapons/Chain-Glaives ), a head from Statuesque Miniatures ( http://www.statuesqueminiatures.co.uk/p/9064683/sma304-heroic-scale-female-heads---veterans.html ) and some GW terminator weapons.

 

Here is a scale comparison with a space marine and a squat:

 

http://i.imgur.com/r4Aa9L5.jpg

 

At the moment, I don't have any finished Hearthguard units but they will be made up of 'counts as' Scouts from the Astartes codex.

 

The core of this army is the stalwart Squat warrior. These stout warriors form into the squads, platoons, companies and regiments of the grand armies of the Squat home-worlds. Normally, they will have been selected from the mining communities and inducted into the military but there are also many soldiers who forego their traditional path in favour of a military career. Needless to say, the Squat armies are full of hardy fighters that shouldn't be taken lightly.

 

The basic building block of the army, is the company. A Company consists of a company command squad and a number of platoons, dependent on the task at hand. For heavy fighting, there are more likely to be less platoons in a company so that there is a strong leadership base. When simple garrison work is required, a company may have many platoons. 

 

The Infantry companies will be made up of old Squat plastics (from GW) with special weapons from GW Imperial troops and heavy weapons from Anvil Industry ( http://anvilindustry.co.uk/AFTERLIFE/Republic-Taurus-Gun-Tractors ). Comms packs are from Mad Robot ( https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_17&products_id=168 ). The Squats will have sculpted arms and additional features. The Sentinel Squadrons are converted from Vulkan Battlesuits ( http://shop.prodosgames.com/en/bauhaus/49-vulkan-battlesuit.html] ) with additional weapons from GW Centurion kits or Anvil Industry.

 

The core of this army will 'count as' units from the Astra Militarum Codex (in this case, company command squads, platoons and armoured sentinel squadrons).

 

This company will have three platoons of troops but at the moment, only two are finished:

 

Company Command Squad:

 

http://i.imgur.com/UtMGVYL.jpg

 

First Infantry Platoon:

 

http://i.imgur.com/znjSivl.jpg

 

Second Infantry Platoon:

 

http://i.imgur.com/QT0ALbi.jpg

 

Normally, the platoons will consist of infantry squads with support elements consisting of heavy weapon squads. In addition, further support elements may be added and this company has two Armoured Sentinel Squadrons to enable a little bit of extra tactical flexibility:

 

First Sentinel Squadron:

 

http://i.imgur.com/i0GzSxX.jpg

 

Second Sentinel Squadron:

 

http://i.imgur.com/Ds5m7dl.jpg

 

The third platoon is being assembled at the moment and will consist of assault infantry with support from Rough Riders. This will enable the two infantry platoons to form effective fire-bases while the assault squads and rough riders are able to take the fight to the enemy.

 

As with all armies, there are those among them who have survived many conflicts and have honed their skills to the next level. Those warriors are the veterans.

 

This army has two veteran squads. The first is made up of enigmatic warriors from a bygone era who have survived far too long as a result of the substantial repairs that were made to them, after they barely survived the Tyranid incursion into their original home-world. Sadly, they were horrendously wounded with amputation and acid burning being the most prevalent wounds. As their home-world died in the cataclysm of self detonated plasma reactors, these mortally wounded warriors were barrelling away from the planet in giant ARK ships, along with all the other survivors. The wounded were so close to death that the Squat medics were powerless to save them but managed to chance upon a Mechanicus world. Bargains were made and the mechanicus took the wounded away. Soon, they returned with many cybernetic replacements and enhancements that would enable them to not only survive, but become the mentors for future soldiers who may have to face the same terrors that these stout veterans did. 

 

These veterans are the Veteran Tyranid Hunters. They are converted from GW Skitarii with self cast helmets:

 

http://i.imgur.com/bhFM0vX.jpg

 

The females of the Dwarfs of Inso's Reach choose to fight together in their own groups and use their cunning and ingenuity to get the best results. While the men waste good time and money drinking, these tough, merciless warriors hone their skill at arms and have become some of the best fighters in the army. They are made from standard Squat bodies with GW imperial special weapons, a Mantic hammer and heads from Statuesque Miniatures ( http://www.statuesqueminiatures.co.uk/p/9036653/sma303-heroic-scale-female-heads---berets.html ):

 

http://i.imgur.com/xeNd4uL.jpg

 

There are plans to add a further veteran squad of male Squats but they haven't been started yet.

 

Support is an important part of any army and the Squats of Inso's Reach are no exception. As well as the veterans and sentinels, there is a need for more specialised units.

 

The berserkers take the field as 'counts as' ministorum priests. They don't wave around a book and chant litanies like the priests do... they just go berserk and charge headlong into the enemy; inciting blood-lust in their brothers and sisters and encouraging them to fight harder (some parts are from Mantic Games Fantasy/sci-fi Dwarf sets):

 

http://i.imgur.com/Y262Mhn.jpg

 

There are times when there is also a need for psychic abilities and the Squats in this army don't have any. This is where their allies, the Beastmen, step forward to fill the gap. The Beastmen shamans have joined the Squats of Inso's Reach for fame, travel and the opportunity to hone their abilities on the field of battle. They are proud warriors who are more than willing to fight along side the long suffering Squats because they feel a shared past of mockery and ridicule and want very much to prove that they are worthy of so much more (these are heavily converted GW Tau with imperial kit):

 

http://i.imgur.com/2IjXmvk.jpg

 

Where there are machines, there will always be the need for engineers and this army is always accompanied by the engineers guild, in some form or another. The engineers are able to repair, rebuild or repurpose all sorts of machines and are accompanied by their trusty robots who aid them with heavy lifting and close support. This is a 'counts as' Engineseer with servitors and gun servitors (Parts are a mix of GW Imperial, Tau and Necron with the tracked units coming from Anvil Industry):

 

http://i.imgur.com/4WvCQo2.jpg

 

The engineseer is particularly helpful when armoured vehicles take to the field. They enable them to continue fighting when other armies would be unable to repair them. Here is a Leman Russ 'counts as' and a Chimera 'counts as' (both are converted 1/35th scale Tamiya kits):

 

http://i.imgur.com/Xu1CmvI.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/m5L2ftl.jpg

 

That is this little topic all up to date now. I have left the standard hearthguard out because full units haven't been finished yet. I expect that the next unit to arrive will be some more abhumans... namely Halflings :)

[M@verik115]

I love them, but you just reset the squat clock lol

[abadizzle]

Oh man... These are a real treat. Very cohesive for all the crazy going on. I hope you plan to paint them!

[Inso]

I love them, but you just reset the squat clock lol

 

I will be doing this for any new stuff that I plan to post that would have been part of an old topic. It is a good way of getting rid of all the Photobucket placeholders and refreshing old topics with finished stuff, rather than clogging them up with countless WIP images.

 

I would rather not be doing this... but I have been forced to address the fact that all of my images from the last 15 years of posting, are now Photobucket placeholders... I can't bear to look at them.

[Tallarn Commander]

I'm really enjoying seeing this army develop!

 

It's too bad about losing your Photobucket links. :(

[Inso]

The first unit to be painted is nearly finished...

 

... I wonder what it will be? :D

[Tallarn Commander]

Ratlings in Gilly Suits?

[Inso]

Ratlings in Gilly Suits?

Yep :) .

[duz_]

Omg Inso is going to post a painted model!!!

I can't wait!! :D

[Inso]

Some painted Halfling Snipers:

 

 

... and someone mentioned mini Wookies (Ork 56 over at Frothers) but I didn't want to be a copy-cat so I made something different from one of my Halfling Snipers :

 

 

Seeing as sales have completely dried up, it makes sense to do something else with them ... so I made a counts-as Jokaero.

 

In other news, I have actually started painting my Squat army... I know... crazy talk ! 

 

Anyway, here's a rough base-coat on my three Berserkers (count as Ministorum Priests):

 

 

Next will be a tidy up, wash and highlight... but I'll be doing that one at a time (so I can see finished progress ).

Edited September 24, 2017 by Inso

[Guardsman Bob]

Just take all of the Likes. Seriously, this is the first time I wished I could like a post more than once.

[Inso]

Thanks :D

[Inso]

A painted Jokaero today :) :

 

[Inso]

The first Squat for the army is now painted. This is a Berserker (counts as ministorum priest):

 

[Inso]

The second one of three:

 

[Guardsman Bob]

I can totally see an angry dwarf pistol whipping someone to death.

[Inso]

Can you see one hitting the enemy with an angry dog? :) :

 

[Guardsman Bob]

And so ended the phrase, “Man’s Best Friend.”

[Tallarn Commander]

They look awesome!

[Major_Gilbear]

Can you see one hitting the enemy with an angry dog?

 

Counts as a powerfist, right? ;)

[duz_]

You mean power maul? ;)

[Inso]

You mean power maul?

 

:D ... that made me laugh :)

[Inso]

Now that I have some snipers, a Jokaero and some priests, it's high time I got my arse in gear and started painting some of the basic troops... so that is what I have done :) . Here is the first (rough) base-coat on the first squad of No.2 platoon:

 

[Guardsman Bob]

Odd, I thought Dwarves who used plasma lost their beards?

 

So are these Squats ever going to make it to battle or are you just flexing some extisental god like modeling hobby powers? Like those model rail guys.

[Inso]

I'm just a mere army builder... no gaming for me :)