Sorry in advance

"The Leviathan Dreadnought, formally the Leviathan Pattern Siege Dreadnought, was crafted in limited numbers in the latter days of the Great Crusade of the late 30th Millennium. Developed in secret on Terra, away from the pervasive oculars of the ancient Mechanicum, as savagely powerful siege and hunter-killer units.

Its massive frame incorporates hybridised technologies, some dating back into the dim past of Humanity. Towering over later Imperial combat walker patterns, this heavily armoured Dreadnought is savagely powerful. It was designed for siege warfare and primarily armed with close combat and heavy fire support weaponry that can rend asunder buildings, vehicles and flesh alike; though it is no less effective when armed with the powerful and esoteric short-ranged weaponry uniquely developed for it.

Those few Leviathan Dreadnoughts that survive into the 41st Millennium are ancient and terrible relics, rarely spoken of and rarely deployed, dreaded as much as they are revered by those that possess them. The tormented and ravaged minds of those interred within are driven to the edge of madness by the little-understood mechanisms unique to the Leviathan, trapped in dreams of the Heresy which haunt the machines themselves, and soon suffer a final dissolution owing to the terrible strain the Leviathan inflicts on those who would dare to master it."

After waiting a bit for some upgrade kit pieces, finished up a Leviathan Dreadnought for the IVth. I know their 40k rules aren't great (though having 3 hunter-killer missiles could be very funny if the dice like me) but I love how they look and so will shove it in lists regardless. Had a bit of fun with the music as usual. A few extra bits and pieces to IVth it up a little (helmet and chest plate), and some from the CSM vehicle decorations (chains and iron halo/trophy rack). Think it's looking not too shabby. Weapons all magnetised, both the arms and the chest rigs. So will be able to slot the ranged weapons on fairly easily should I ever decide to get some (not super interested currently, as per previously mentioned 'meh' rules, melee is cooler anyway). Pics of the chest weapon options under the cut and pic with Boy for Scale as usual.

"A Mutilator is a vile Chaos Space Marine dedicated solely to the visceral thrill of melee combat whose intense lust for battle has warped his physical form until he fuses, body and soul, with his melee weaponry. The hulking monstrosities are born when a mind obsessed with slaughter and butchery falls victim to one of the many supernatural techno-viruses that gestate within the Warp. At first their symptoms are subtle, manifesting as a compulsion to constantly clean and sharpen weapons or a refusal to be parted with their favourite blade, but soon flesh and armour begin to knit into one impossible whole as the host Chaos Space Marine's mind decays and their body swells.

Transformation into a fleshmetal abomination is not without its perks, as Mutilators find themselves eager to absorb Daemon Weapons and add their power to their own. Such finely-honed killing tools can then be manifested out of the warrior's own mutated body, ensuring they'll always have the perfect weapon on hand to kill whatever is in front of them.

Much like their similarly mutated Obliterator counterparts, Mutilators are a common sight in the ranks of the Iron Warriors Legion, who are rumoured to go so far as to intentionally infect their own recruits -- though this is not to say they aren't found in almost every warband to some extent."

The new Mutilators! VERY cool kit, minor issues sticking them together. Very much enjoy that all the weapons are swappable. Felt the need to Iron Warriors the scultps up a smidge, so I swapped out the heads (lots of cutting and greenstuffing) and scraped as many of the Eye of Horus off as I could. Quite happy with how they've ended up! I think these lads mixed with the Saturnine kits from Horus Heresy could look VERY neat as like an IW Daemon Prince, so that might be on the eventual horizon. Pic with Boy for Scale under the cut.

"Like all Death Korps regiments, the 143rd does not boast of or openly recount their many past victories. But perhaps unusually for Krieg, its soldiers have been proven capable of winning battles by methods other than attritional warfare and a deep willingness to suffer. The 143rd were the first Imperial force deployed to the Siege of Vraks, has fought in the Third war for Armageddon, during Operation Spinebreak in the Octarius War, where veterans of the 143rd were formed into kill-teams and attempted to assassinate the Ork Big Mek Kogfist Steelsnappa and in the Defence of Korsis-Magna. The 143rd was the home regiment of the famed Death Korps Lord Marshal Varnan Dreir, who went on to be promoted to the rank of Lord Marshal from the ranks of its Death Rider cavalry."

"Kravek Morne stands out as an unrepentant monster, even amongst the callous and barbarous ranks of the Iron Warriors. He has served Perturabo with fanatical devotion for almost two millenia. For one and a half of these, he has held the title of Warsmith and has brutally crushed any who challenged his position. A hulking warrior of corded muscle and infernal augmetics, he has become a living siege engine in his own right. Morne wears an adapted suit of Terminator armour he calls his 'Iron Mantle' with which he wields the monstrous thunder hammer 'Last Argument', a weapon of his own masterful craft, that can pulverise the mightiest foe or sunder adamantine-sheathed fortress gates with equal, contemptuous ease.

Morne has razed scores of mighty fortresses to the ground, indiscriminately slaughtered countless foes and - at the head of the 17th Grand Company - reduced entire civilisations to scorched earth in his Daemon Primarch's name. Not for nothing has he earned the moniker 'Architect of Ruin'. He is a blunt instrument with nothing of subtlety about him, and yet within his narrow field of strategic expertise he is an undisputed genius. If the enemy's defenses have a weakness, no matter how slight or hidden, Morne will identify and exploit it. To his mind, only the fortifications built by his Daemon Primarch will stand eternal: all else is merely rubble and ruin waiting to happen."

Got this guy done as quickly as possible, the FIRST IVth named character and he's a good 'un. Read his escapades in the sourcebook and he's nothing to sneeze at. Had a little fun with the base, since he matches up against Ursula Creed and her Cadians for a while before the Imperial Fists dare to show their faces. Looking forwards to trying this guy out, it's a nice feeling to have a real named character for a change. This must be how ultramarine players feel all the time! Pic with boy for scale under the cut.

"Some of the keenest minds amongst the lords of the Grand Companies, Warsmiths are learned in arcane mechanical lore. Since the Horus Heresy, they often bear daemonically-infused bionic augmentations redolent of the twisted Obliterators."

The new-ish Horus Heresy Centurion doctored up to be a Chaos Lord (or maybe even the Crucible Exalted Champion if I can get more games in) for the IVth. Very pretty kit and very easy to kitbash with.

Magneted up his little servo arm gun with the combi-weapon options from the Chaos Chosen kit, either for Exalted Champion usage or if we ever get to pick equipment for Chaos Lords ever again. Pics under the cut.

"Used in both aerial and space battles, the Hell Talon has a sleek form resembling an elongated double-axe head. Vectored engines allow for superior maneuverability. Superior in combat to almost any Imperial airship of any class. Its armament consists of twin-linked lascannons, either an autocannon or Havoc Launchers, and incendiary bombs or fuel-air explosives. The Hell Talon can carry enough special ordnance to level a hab. It can also carry heat-seeking missiles.

A Hell Talon is sometimes daemonically possessed; in other cases they are piloted by a servitor hard-wired into the cockpit. Besides the pilot, the Hell Talon has two other servitor crew. This allows for an aircraft with maneuvering capability far beyond what a human pilot can withstand.

In combat the Hell Talon swoops low, strafing targets with lascannons and autocannons, and engulfing enemies in the superheated fires of incendiary bombs. It is believed that they are fashioned with dark arts that make them more than mere weapons. Their simple existence within the Materium seems to disrupt the natural order and spread malign influence, and the presence of large numbers of Hell Talons have been observed to create unpredictable Warp phenomena. These can take the form of vox-distortion, visual and auditory hallucinations, the darkening of skies, and climatic disturbances." The Hell Talon! It is far bigger than I initially thought it was. It's about as wide as the Baneblade and longer front to back. She's a Big Lady (all ships are ladies, I don't make the rules). Again I have always admired these things and was tipped into buying one thanks to Double Eagle and Interceptor City (go read those if you like aircraft action). Again, music calling out my fellow Wingmen. Aircraft rules continue to be bad, and bombers even more so, but it's COOL damnit. So it's getting used at my local. Though I do miss when Vector Thrust let them pivot twice per move, that was a fun nod to the Hell chassis maneuverability. Still should be a laugh to use, maybe organise some narrative stuff, bombing raids etc.

Cockpit photo, bombs photo, group shot AND Boy For Scale under the cut.

"Hell Blades are used as fast and agile interceptors, engaging enemy aircraft while the larger Hell Talon fighter-bomber devastates ground targets. Most commonly, they are used to swiftly achieve air superiority and clear the war for Chaos Space Marine ground assaults. In this role they are armed with two twin-linked autocannons. It can also carry air-to-air rockets.

The Hell Blade is thrust-vectored, allowing it to viff upwards, downwards and to the sides, easily overmatching an Imperial Thunderbolt heavy fighter in a 'vector-dance'. It is equipped with a countermeasure system that ejects eye-searing violet cinders capable of deflecting a locked-on Skystrike missile.

The Hell Blade has a sleek, slim and deadly form, and is thought to be a product of a the Daemonic Forge World of Xana II. They are a monstrous fusion of machine, flesh, and the power of the Warp. Hell Blades are sometimes daemonically possessed; in other cases they are piloted by a servitor hard-wired into the cockpit. Some pilots even seem to be unaugmented Humans pledged to the Dark Powers."

Finally got these beasts finished, apologies for the shaky video as I did not have a stand tall enough and had to hold it in place. Glad these are done, I really do think they're super neat. While aircraft are currently hot garbage in 40k, the rule of cool beats all. Had a little fun with the music, targeting fellow Wingmen. Wanted a set of these for years and was finally tipped over the edge due to reading Double Eagle and Intercepter City, love the vector thrust system and how terrible it is to deal with for imperial fighters. Needed some fixing pre-painting (and some during painting) and the canopy took a little while but I'm happy with the result! Wasnt super sure about the honour markings on the wings but they've settled nicely I think. Looking forwards to giving them and their buddy a try in the near future, terrible rules be damned. Can finally get my Chaos Space Marine free Chaos Space Marines list. No Marines, just Lost and Damned.

Group photo and cockpit pics under the break.

"Chaos Mauler Hounds are nightmarish beasts twisted and deformed by the powers of the Warp so that glistening muscle and tissue is visible through their hair and what remains of their skin. However despite their frightening appearance they are agile and strong, capable of catching a man and ripping him to shreds within seconds. They frequently have Ogryn handlers as these lumbering brutes are often the only ones strong enough to hold the creatures back."

Some more Vraks Lost and Damned added to the roster! Formerly the Hounds of Xaphan, now Mauler Hounds. Fantastic models, horrible little critters, not-great rules. Still, will be fun to have them loping around the battlefield. Managed to get the chains magnetised to the Ogryns hand and glued into the chain rings on each of the Hounds, means they look pretty nifty all together but I can yoink them off the board individually as they inevitably die. Ended up doing some accidental SlapChop (I think that's the name?), was doing a lot of drybrushing then did a wash over each and it came out looking not so terrible right off the bat. Gave them a bit of variation cause I'm a little tired of painting skin tone and musculature. Pic with trench boy for scale under the cut.

"Whether petty tyrants who killed their way to dominance, or former officers brought low through corruption, Enforcers are now sadistic disciplinarians amongst the Militarum Traitoris. Some cement their position by exploiting savage Traitor Ogryns as living shields, crude line-breakers and added muscle to help impose their violent rule. These brutish and crude minions of Chaos serve to keep the undisciplined hordes of a renegade army under control and advancing towards the enemy."

"Technoarcheologists are seekers of divine mechanical arcana, driven to uncover that which is hidden, and to analyse its capabilities. Hardened to life on the Imperium’s dangerous frontiers, these priests employ cogitative instincts to detect approaching foes and awaken their servitor guardians to effective modes of attack. Even in the midst of battle, Technoarcheologists guide their servants through vital procedures with a machine-like focus." A pair of Voyagers, seeking out the Technologic in a method Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger than anyone else, all Around The World. Face To Face with with the worst the galaxy can throw at them, these Superheroes remind those in the Admech that there's Something About Us that remains Human After All.

Some Technoarcheologists done up as my favourite robot duo. A datasheet I dont tend to find much use for, but I'm hoping to gain an appreciation by leveraging their look and the new Servitor Battleclades.

"When first created, Mark II "Crusade" armour was the epitome of Space Marine technology – a void-sealed, radiation-shielded suit of battle plate able to withstand an unprecedented degree of punishment. Despite its age, it was still used extensively when the Horus Heresy broke out. Mark II armour is believed by many to still be the most efficient example of power armour design, although with the caveat that the overlapping hooped armour plates are difficult to repair. It can still be found in operational use - in extremely limited numbers - amongst several Space Marine Chapters and Chaos Legions."

The new-ish MkII Assault Squad from the Horus Heresy range to use as additional, less mutated raptors. Really enjoy how chunky the current MkII kit is and the chainaxes are a very nice change from the usual chainswords. The kit goes together really well, with the single exception of the heavy chainaxes, which are a bit fiddly to get glued to the arms properly in my opinion. Head swaps, some various CSM plasma pistols cut up to go on the left hand and a couple of heavy weapons for the sergeants/champions to Iron Warriors them up a little, as well as putting some chain bayonets on the bolt pistols (pic under the cut as usual). There was like zero trim to go through on these lads, I'm so very glad to report! If I ever decide to get more raptors I'll probably get this kit again since it gives you 10 lads, a bunch of pistol options and a set of heavies. Though I now have a decent enough amount to try that Nightmare Hunt detachment, so I'm not sure I'll need many more.

"Warsmith is the name given to the Commanders of the Iron Warriors, and these dour fighters are highly renowned in a Legion already famed for siege-craft and engineering skill. Their knowledge of the workings of war engines and automata is second only to the Magi of the Mechanicum.

A Warsmith was -- as perhaps the title implies -- required to fashion and mould a battlefield to their will, not simply to excel at fighting or indeed leading those who fought. They were expected to have a complete mastery of logistics, siegecraft, ordnance and the cerebral comprehension of war; from planning campaigns of planetary conquest to the rapid calculation of tactical fire zones in a shattered urban ruin.

Unlike those of the lower ranks who fought at their command, a Warsmith was an individual in whose hands a battle rested, and the success or failure of the forces under their command was theirs to carry, to the good or ill of their own fate -- Perturabo being renowned as unforgiving of failure.

This system made the Warsmiths a grim, self-possessed, often paranoid and highly independent class of savant-warlords within the IVth Legion. It winnowed the weak and the ill-fortuned from their number and left those who remained as the most adept, ruthless and intelligent the Iron Warriors Legion had to offer."

"Chaos Space Marine Raptors are the dedicated assault infantry of the Traitor Legions. Raptors consider themselves to be elite shock troops similar to the warriors who comprise the Loyalist Space Marine Assault Squads, although they are far more egotistical and self-centred. Altered Vox-casters protrude from helmet and battle-plate, amplifying the raw hatred of their war cries and better enabling their wearers to terrify their enemies into submission before the final strike.

As Raptors are used to strike at the weakest point in an enemy line, this tactical usage has been expanded into an outright philosophy dedicated to the concept of preying on the weak, making them vicious hunters. Though they were once rare and highly valued Imperial troops, the Raptors have fallen to their own pride and lust for violence. They now roam the galaxy as merciless hunters, relishing the fear they cause as they plummet screaming out of the skies.

Warp Talons are Raptors whose long exposure to the Immaterium has corrupted his physical form, enabling him to move through the veil of reality and slice between dimensions. Having fallen to the powers of Chaos lower than even their Raptor allies, Warp Talons have lost the ability to speak, reason, or create. Thus, a pack of Warp Talons is not employed but rather set loose on enemy forces. Warp Talons are capable of striking at their enemies as if appearing from nowhere before slinking back into their nightmarish home dimension."

Another set of Raptors and Warp Talons for the IVth, to round out squads and let me maybe try out that Nightmare Hunt detachment at somepoint in the near future. Had a bit of fun with the music, since DoW was my first exposure to the unit not in a box on a shelf. I am so very glad to be done with these lads, I never wish to return to the raptor armour trim mines ever again. So my next set of raptors will be the Heresy kit, because they're bulky, cool and dont have lightning bolt trim patterns over every flat surface.

Again took some steps to both differentiate the Raptors vs Warp Talons for ease of reading on the table AND because I do really miss those 4th Edition raptor models. Such a great aesthetic that really sold the menace more than the modern kit imo. Really leaned into the avian predator look. Raptors have, of course, been magnetised for all options bar the new ones (heavy weapons, mutations, the KillTeam upgrades basically) and I will probably raid my bits boxes to just shove together two heavy weapon jump troops to sub in should the notion take me. Pics of options under the cut!

"A servitor is the catch-all term applied to a wide class of mindless, cybernetic drones created from a fusion of Human flesh and robotic technology that are used to carry out simple, manual tasks across the Imperium of Man. Servitors were created due to the strict prohibitions against the development or use of machine intelligences according to the tenets of the Cult Mechanicus, whose tech-priests deeply fear the creation of Silica Animus. They believe such artificial general intelligences to be the embodiments of blasphemy against the Omnissiah.

While many of these programmable cybernetic slaves are genetically-engineered, vat-grown, sub-Human clones or replicae created by the Adeptus Mechanicus from Human genomes who have their bionic implants installed after "birth", others were once truly Human. Battleclades are teams of combat servitors led by a Tech-Priest Underseer, assembled to aid them in dangerous but crucial missions. Their augmentations are specialised and of the highest quality, and their weapons systems and auxiliary systems prepare them to take on anything the enemy can throw at them. They will stop at nothing to complete the mission – it’s what they were made for." Two of the Servitor Killteams (missing Technoarcheologists, who will appear later), primarily for use in 40k as KillTeam really doesnt grab me as a game system. These took a WHILE, so many bits and greebles and trims, but finally got em done and think they look not too terrible. One set done up as close to the preset instructions, to be used if I'm ever forced into Killteam and one set remixed a bit so that they looked a smidge different. Quite liking how the various extra arms look on the gun servitors, and with the small changes to the second Underseer. Both sets have 4 of the servitors magnetised to allow all loadouts, pics under the cut as usual.