Fix bayonets! 3D-printing Valour Korps... Pt. V

After kitting out the standard Korpsmen with all their extra equipment I put together some additional pieces of gear for the Sergeants and Voxtroopers.

The Sergeants are all wearing capes, so they can't carry a backpack. The Voxtroopers carry their radio on their back, also preventing them to carry a backpack. For these models I made a large satchel to be worn on their belt. 

I also designed a bag to be carried by a belt over the shoulder. These bags could contain anything from medical supplies to explosives or classified material... Every Squad has a Korpsman with such a bag.

For the moment, I haven't included any special weapons in my infantry squads, but I do want a few heavy weapons mixed in with the regular troopers. The heavy weapon of choice is going to be the missile launcher. I put the crew on regular bases. In this way, they fit on the movement tray with the rest of the Squad.

I also equipped the missile launchers with belts, just like the lasguns of the Korpsmen. For these teams I designed a tube containing a rocket, which I included in a special backpack and carrying bag. 

The choice for the missile launcher is mostly based on looks, I like the way it resembles a panzershreck; I think it fits well with the theme of the army... But it also helps that it is very flexible.

Fix bayonets! 3D-printing Valour Korps... Pt. IV

Last week I sold my Feudal Guard army to make some space for a new project and, to be honest, also to generate some hobby budget... 

This new project comes in the shape of the Valour Korps. When this fantastic range from The Makers Cult was first released, I already did some test models, which can be seen in previous posts labelled 'Valour Korps'. These early models were painted in reasonably historically correct colours, but for this new incarnation I wanted something a bit more striking...

Bright red coat and shiny black armour...

Even though the models are very detailed and pretty awesome to begin with, I decided I wanted a little more. With the Feudal Guard I missed the opportunity to add some personal flavour to the models, with the Valour Korps I wanted to change that... My little Korpsmen will be going to war lugging around a full set of custom gear.

I started out by digitally kitbashing a simple backpack, this quickly escalated to a whole range of more than 20 different backpacks (and counting), similar in style, but with small variations in their configuration...

A few of the backpacks I put together...

All backpacks have a respirator-shaped hole in them...

The first few loaded Korpsmen...

I used mostly TMC bits to bash these backpacks together. This saves me the trouble of sculpting anything other than simple geometric objects (which I still can't) and it ensures the style of the backpacks closely matches that of the models themselves. The backpacks fit snugly over the respirators on the back of the models, making it very easy indeed to add more detail...

After the backpacks I digitally equipped several bodies with even more extra gear. All bodies were equipped with a canteen and I added several large and small pouches and the odd shovel (not too many of those, as most backpacks already include one). All these extra bits ensure a lot of different configurations and interesting detail to paint. 

After that, I enhanced all the regular lasguns to include a strap or belt and bayonet. The bayonets were already part of the Infantry Builder from TMC (I only thickened and lengthened it a bit, to make it stronger), but the belts were all designed from scratch. I then merged the arms, lasguns, belts and bayonets together so I can print complete sets, which has the added benefit of saving me the hassle of having to sort out the matching pairs of arms when assembling the models...

All geared up and ready to go...

The first few squads... 

I wanted these squads to look like they are 'at ease', so no running, shooting or agressively waving their weapons around... All these Korpsmen are idling, reloading, fixing bayonets or just standing around... 

More updates coming soon, and this time I might even mean it! Next up are more custom bits of equipment, bases and some heavy weapons...

Déjà vu; here we go again...

Oh man, life goes on and typing this makes me feel a bit like deja-vu...

Over the last couple of months I have spent plenty of time on my hobby, but I haven't found/taken the time to keep his blog up to date...  

So, what have I been up to? 

Well... A lot of different things, actually... 

First up, I have purchased two new 3D-printers... After my two Elegoo MARS, the larger Elegoo SATURN is a proper upgrade; the larger print volume gives a lot more options. I also picked up a FDM-printer: A Creality CR-10S Pro V2... Having a FDM-printer with a large print surface, allows me to print bigger pieces of scenery. My printer prints at a very nice quality, mind you, it can't compare to resin, but for scenery or terrain it's perfect! It might not be faster, but the ability to print bigger makes all the difference, and that it's cheaper is a bonus, too.

I have printed a whole lot of resin 15mm buildings for my Flames of War scenery. Most of these still have to be painted, but my table now has a proper village. Even better, my friend and neighbour has been busy building and painting two whole armies and together we have been playing some games. 

Well, maybe not a proper village yet. Mind you, this is a 220X160 table...

I have completed a whole lot of pieces to decorate The Dungeon. I commisioned a set of full-plate armoured suits to put on display. I found the sculpter of Uncanny Minis on Thingiverse, joined his new Patreon and contacted him with a proposal. If you are interested in fantasy miniatures, check out his Patreon or his Thingiverse. Most of his models are absolutely free and, most important, very good! 

Two of the full plate armoured suits...

A painted example of one of his designs... 

After the set of armoured suits I asked him to design my D&D character: Gabnast, a Gnome Ranger wielding a heavy crossbow...

Meet Gabnast 'the bullfrog' Millwop... 

Speaking of D&D... Almost a year ago I joined a group of players for a new (and my first) D&D campaign. After our lockdown ended, we switched from online to physical game sessions. So far, I have printed and painted all the character for the players and I have been printing miniatures for our DM, too. 

I have also started printing scatter terrain for D&D. So far I have printed ánd painted (yes, I'm surprised, too) a set of trees, a complete cavern/mine set and a whole lot of ruins... We have been using my terrain during our sessions, which serves as a great motivation to actually paint all these pieces.

The cavern/mine set, all VaeVictis Miniatures...

Most of these ruins will form the basis of a new set of terrain for 40K. This set of terrain should help me to get back into playing 40K.

And because an update without some fresh pictures is just lame, here are a few from last weekend, if only as proof I actually printed and painted something...

These ruins are from Devious Games and are easy to print (they require minimal supports) and fun to paint... I think they are equally usable as scatter terrain for D&D or other Fantasy games as well as terrain for 40K.

I have designed a full set of detailed round bases, which I uploaded to Thingiverse. Originally I designed these for a project of my own, but for now, that project is on hold... Judging by the number of downloads, I think other hobbyists enjoy them, too. You can check them out HERE.

I sold my orange Feudal Guard army, clearing some space for a new Valour Korps force from The Makers Cult. Even though the VK models are pretty awesome to begin with, I found some room for improvement... 

I have kitbashed and designed a set of extra gear for the standard Korpsmen, resulting in kitted-out models which are a joy to paint! I digitally added bayonets and belts to all the lasguns, so I can print them as complete sets.

This army will get it's own series of posts. Well, that's the plan, anyway... 

So far, I have settled on a colour scheme, as can be seen below, and I have printed several squads of Korpsmen to get my army started.

A painted test model...

A squad of Korpsmen, equipped with extra gear...

Painted test model of a Sentinel...

This is the part where I normally say that more updates are coming soon, but looking back, I shouldn't be making any such promises...

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. II

After painting the two test models I am pretty happy with the colours I have selected for my Valour Korps. 

For these models I took inspiration from a historic colour scheme, namely that of 1939/1940 German Infantry. Using Feldgrau for the uniform and grey for the trousers. I further used various browns for pouches, gasmasks and belts and dark grey for the helmets, armour and boots... 

These models, just like the Feudal Guard, are designed by The Makers Cult and are available through their Patreon and their CGtrader website.

Same as with the Feudal Guard, these models are intended for use with Kill Team, but as time goes on I might expand them into a full Astra Militarum army... 

I'm designing and printing custom bases for these models too. It's the same basic shape as the bases my Feudal Guard use, but without the stone paving and with differently styled names. I chose to leave the top empty so I can add some mud (I think that suits the style of the models better than stones)...

For now, the Valour Korps range is quite limited as it has only been started last month. It currently features two character models and a regimental Command Squad. Over the coming months the range is set to expand and include many more units... If the Feudal Guard is anything to go by, the range will be very extensive indeed... 

For now I have based and primed the Marshal, the Sergeant, two Veterans and the Comms Specialist. I have also printed the Banner Bearer, but have no direct use for the model (yet)...

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. III

As part of the august release on Patreon TMC provided me with another set of Valour Korps models...

One of the models released this month is this Lieutenant. 

He is armed in the same way as the Sergeant that spearheaded this range...

An idea that has been on my mind for several weeks was to replace the power sword from their first Valour Korps model (back when it was still called Blitz Korps) and replace it with a shovel... 

In 40K, the Death Korps of Krieg is somewhat known for their love of digging trenches, hence the shovel. And while the Sergeant is similarly armed with a sword, he lacks the scabbard... Besides, swords are a gentlemans weapon, hardly suited for a lowly Sergeant...

After a quick search on Thingiverse I found what I needed, a suitable hand to replace the one holding the sword and an awesome power shovel. Both were made by the same designer, Mafei.

I then used Tinkercad to (quite crudely) cut off both the hand and the sword and replace them with the new hand and the shovel. A quick and easy digital conversion, but one that I am very pleased with. 

The new arm printed without any difficulty, resulting in a very characterful model... 

Even though TMC just started the range, it's growing rather quickly. So far only the Regimental and Company Command Squads have been released, but next month will see the completion of the first squad builder... With those models I can make most models I need for a full Kill Team. 

My Kill Team so far... 

Thus far I have printed several models from both Command Squads and all three character models. I had printed both standard bearers too, but unfortunately those models warped during curing and will have to be printed again... Not a big deal, as I won't be using them for my Kill Team anyway.

All models are put on a named base, a neat little design I made just for my Kill Teams... 

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. I

As part of their Patreon, The Makers Cult have begon releasing a new line of miniatures: The Valour Korps... Obviously inspired by the Death Korps of Krieg, these designes are too good not to print... As a bonus, these come fully pre-supported, making it very easy to get them printed fast and easy...

Below are the first two test models, a Marshall and a Sergeant... As usual, the sharpness of the design and the quality of the printed models made painting them a real joy...

For these models I took inspiration from a historic colour scheme, namely that of 1939/1940 German Infantry. Using Feldgrau for the uniform and grey for the trousers. I further used various browns for pouches, gasmasks and belts and dark grey for the helmets, armour and boots...

The bases will be very different for the final models... More to come!