The Knights of the Iron Hills - We walk for the ancestors

[Graymane]

Hello all,

So, it's been a little while since i last posted anything. Have to admit I got a little demotivated for a while. My ongoing projects have ground to a halt, work was exhausting and to top it off, sadly my Grandfather passed away just before Christmas.

However, it is a new year and time for new beginnings. I have started a new job which I am thoroughly enjoying and courtesy of my better half, I have acquired, amongst some other bits an pieces an imperial knight valiant. I had been toying for some time with the idea of a dwarf themed knightly house to fight along side my Bear primaris space marines. I have always loved dwarves, I loved the squats until their untimely demise and wanted to find a way of continuing their legacy. Also the tradition of honouring their ancestors struck a chord in view of recent events.

So i have started building. I got a little carried away before I remembered to post so here is everything to date...

Firstly, I wanted to have a more interesting base and pose than the standard one. so I knocked this out with come cork board and a hellbrute that my other half found on ebay. (as per usual excuse the pic quality)

I also love the work that i have seen here by KrautScientist and various others making detailed cockpits and engines etc. so i thought i'd also give it a go.

However rather than the usual sit in place with a neural link type cockpit, i thought id try something more akin to the power-loader from aliens or the drift pilots from pacific rim...

One of the other models I had gifted to me was Brokk Grungsson of the Kharadron Overlords

Which I thought might with a few edits make a half decent pilot rig. He also has an interesting pose which I am trying to mirror in the knight itself.

So, I have re-positioned the legs on the knight to change the leading leg, the angle of the feet and have also changed one toe to better suit it's footing...

(Also, in the background you will see Sam, feline empress of all she sees and destroyer of worlds. Many a model has fallen beneath her paws and the lashing tail of fury )

I also split the internals with some plasticard, gave Brokk a headswap and trimmed things down a bit, at which point he actually fits quite nicely...

I have then built the pilot interface and power plant out of Brokk's endrin parts, a couple of old bases and some other bits.

I still need to fill a couple of other bits, and build the leg pistons, but here it is so far.

So, there you have it to date. I hope you like him so far and will post more updates as i have them.

Any comments, feedback etc welcome as per usual.

Cheers,

GM

[Doghouse]

Nice!

 

I've seen a lot of pilot conversions for Knights but this is definitely one of the more unique approaches and it works really well. Are you going to be positioning the Knight's arms to match the pilot?

[Pearson73]

Great base and theme.

[Graymane]

Hello,

Cheers for the comments guys.

@ Doghouse, hopefully yes. That is why I reposed the legs and hopefully I can get the arms to match too. We shall see :)

@Pearson73, thank you and I hope i can do it justice.

So, here is a small update. I have now detailed the interior,adding dials, levers, hoses and the leg pistons....

Quite please with how it's come out! :)

Cheers,

GM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

You have good ideas that are well-executed so far.

 

I wonder if Grungsson's balloon (or whatever is that thing he's suspended from) can be reused, maybe for the Knight warsuit's equivalent of a AH-64D helicopter's Longbow fire-control radar? Special Rules may include adding +1 to Grungsson's To Hit rolls for ranged attacks, allowing Grungsson to reroll To Hit rolls of 1 for all targets within a certain range, allowing him to designate targets for allies and let them use Grungsson's 2+ Ballistic Skill for their own To Hit rolls, subtracting -1 to enemies' Cover Saves, etc.

[Lord Raven 19]

Interesting, very Interesting

[FlamingDeth]

That is just a fantastic concept and it doesn't look like you're cutting any corners on construction. I never find I have the patience for the internals in my models but I'm always impressed when I see it done. Are there any plans to mod the exterior of the knights to make it more "squatty?"

[Graymane]

Hello all,

Time for a minor update.

I have built and positioned the limbs in a way which I hope reflects the position of the pilot in the cockpit...

I have also swapped out the propellant tanks on the harpoon, simply as I rather like the novelty skull and crossbones design...

I need to get some magnets to attach the front of the cockpit, but while i wait on them i will start converting the armour plates and trying to figure out how to convert the helmet/mask to truly resemble a dwarvish/squat ancestor.

Hope you like it so far. Any comments/feedback most welcome as per usual.

Cheers,

GM

[Elzender]

Oooh, man, this is just awesome, and I personally find it a very fitting way to introduce squats back into 40k, I can really see them developing their own knight technology. The pilot is coming along fantastically, it almost seems designed to fit that way.

As for the knight's mask, Scibor has some dwarven bits including a basing kit with dwarven broken statues, maybe one of the faces might be useful as a base for the mask/head. Looking forward to more progress!

[Valorandomus]

Looking really good so far, cant wait to see what progress you make on this next :)

[Graymane]

Hello folks,

So, a bit of an update, pic heavy as usual.

I have 'Dwarfed up' various bits with runes of master crafting, runes of trueflight and the runes and images of the ancestors.

First, the Conflagration Cannon (aka the Dragon's breath)...

(fuel by Bugmans! )

and the Thundercoil Harpoon...

I have also magnetised and fitted the front of the chassis...

And have swapped out the exhausts for something slightly more ornate and 'dwarfed up' the plasma generators...

I have also started to dwarf up the main carapace (not sure about the hatch and flank runes at the moment - any thoughts welcome! )

And here is a bit of a dry fit so far. I have started greenstuffing the mask but have a lot more to do...

I'm thinking of putting some horns on the mask/helmet, but am not sure if it will look a little too chaos-ish. Your thoughts?

Anyways, that's it so far. Hope you like it!

Any feedback most welcome as usual!

Cheers,

GM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the customized fittings! Will you make the decorations bronze, silver, or gold?

[brettfp]

Well this is just amazing. I've always loved techy dwarves, I think you pulled it off perfectly and is still suitably 40k-ish :)

[Graymane]

Hello folks,

Bit more of an update for you on the knight project.

I have now added the dwarf shields to the entirety of the armour...

I have also added a mechadendrite/cable beard to the robotic head...

and what self respecting dwarf warrior goes into battle without a suitably dwarvish battlehelm? A little plasticard, greenstuff and crativity later....

and a couple of shots of it in place...

And there you have it. I hope you like it so far.

Any comments and feedback welcome as per usual!

Cheers,

GM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

An iron beard. How appropriate.

[Graymane]

quite so! :)

[ranulf the revenant]

Such a fun idea. I really think it works especially well with the harpoon knight, because it's esoteric weaponry is already quite steampunkish in my opinion

[Graymane]

So a slight update.

The base for the knight is mostly built. Just needs a top dusting of snow, and some more blood and oil...

The legs are also taking shape....

I am also experimenting with the armour. Going for a weathered copper/brass look (I hope)...

Thats it for now. More at the weekend! Let me know what you think! :)

Cheers,

GM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

AWESOME work on the Knight's base.

[Majkhel]

This is fantastic! Can't wait to see more :)

[the emperor is scottish]

this is truly stunning. 

[Graymane]

Hello folks,

Bit more of an update. I have been experimenting with the top turret. WIP shot so far...

I have also been working on the leg armour...

and here is the face mask (still needs more weathering)...

Head without mask...

And a test fit of some parts, just for fun... :)

Hope you like it so far. Any comments or feedback most welcome! :)

Cheers,

GM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Beautiful painting and detailing on the Knight's components. I hope to see him completed soon.

[Doghouse]

Fantastic stuff, top turret really suits the model.

[Captain Mike]

The weathered brass is excellent.