40K Lamenters: Lieutenant and Apothecary Biologis

I've been enjoying painting my Lamenters recently, and have a pair of characters.

First is the 'Lone Operative Lieutenant' with a combi-flamer. This chap was one of the unique figures released for the 2023 10th 'Leviathan' edition of 40K. I did a light kitbash, changing the base, head, and adding a pointing hand to replace the second knife he was waving around (I wanted to add a pistol but didn't have a left handed one available). He's wearing the lighter Phobos armour. He is supposed to be a behind-the-lines lone operative, surviving with a scavenged Tyranid carapace strapped to his arm and a souvenir claw on his belt.

Lone operative lieutenant

Combi-flamer

Improvised armour. I think I could improve on the gore.

Second is a Apothecary Biologis. He's not a healer- he uses his anatomical and scientific know-how to inflict more efficient injuries on the enemy. Some call him a 'harmacist', or a PhD rather than an MD. He wears the heavy Gravis armour to wade into combat and collect samples. I was going to do a silver chest emblem, but the pale grey looked great so I left it. I tried to get a sloshy liquid effect in his sample canister.

Apothecary Biologis

Of course, the Lamenters don't have apothecaries. Being descended from Blood Angels with their Sanguinary Priests, the Lamenters have Calix Priests. I'm not entirely sure how the Biologis fits into this organisation, but I will find a way.

Skull-o-meter™: 11

40K Lamenters: Intercessors

I finished off those assault marines from last time, as well as another five basic marines. They were so quick to paint compared to their Sternguard Veteran brethren from last month.

Assault Intercessors with heavy bolt pistols and chainswords.

Assault Intercessor Sergeant with plasma pistol.
 I used a transfer on his tilting plate- it looks a little flat.

His helmet is on his belt, and his bionic arm suggests an earlier plasma mishap.

Intercessors with bolt rifles.

Underslung grenade launcher.

Bolt rifle.

Auto bolt rifle.

Bolt rifle.

Auto bolt rifle.

I miss the days of the tactical squad with a heavy weapon and a special weapon. And the backbanner.

Skull-o-meter™: 21

How I paint Lamenter icons

 The Lamenters have a famously challenging chapter badge. Here's why I find it challenging:

• straight, parallel lines
• right angles
• symmetry
• perfect circle
• perfect squares
• painted on a curved surface

Each of these is its own challenge, and your brain will subconsciously identify irregularities and imperfections quite easily.

From @brushandboltgun

There are alternatives to freehand painting- transfers and 3D prints exist, but are not usable for every model. So here's how I approach mine. I use a #1 brush for every part of this process.

Key points:

• Perfection is the enemy of good enough
• Thin paints, careful strokes
• The en masse effect of several models will override any individual flaws.

I do this somewhere in the middle of the painting process- after the yellow but before the final details. I start with two thin coats of white.

I then use a pencil to plan the checks. I've tried a few different approaches- this is my current preferred approach. I've demonstrated this with a diagram, the actual pictures follow.

Here's how it actually looks at this stage:

Now you've pencilled in the pattern, carefully fill it with black. I use Army Painter SpeedPaint 2.0 Grim Black. Work hard at getting right angles and parallel lines.

Here's an actual model:

You'll tidy this up later. Now it's time for the heart. This is challenging due to the symmetry and the need to replicate a familar symbol dozens of times. I use Army Painter SpeedPaint 2.0 Slaughter Red, then Vallejo Vermilion.

Here are actual process pictures of the heart stage.

After this, I tidy up with white and black to get rid of irregularities and pencil lines. Done! I usually do about five of these at a time. The group effect at arm's length is quite satisfying and buries a lot of little flaws.

Practice makes perfect!

Next time: can I get these finished?

40K Lamenters: Sternguard Veterans

These are veteran First Company Lamenters, marked by their white helms and kneepads, loincloths, and a decent amount of individual personalised equipment. Sternguard have access to combiweapons.

Sternguard Veterans

The sergeant has a black stripe on his helmet to denote his rank. The tilting plate/ ecranche has a decal from Impatient Tabletop.

Sternguard Veteran Sergeant with combi-melta.

Sternguard Veteran with combi-plasma.

Sternguard Veteran with bolt rifle.

Sternguard Veteran with heavy bolter.

Sternguard Veteran with bolt rifle.

I'm getting much better at freehanding the chequers and chapter icon!

40K Combat Patrol: Lamenters vs Tyranids

The Lamenters Combat Patrol try to investigate organic nodes at the rusting comms facility, as the Tyranid swarm tries to eat them!

The action will swirl around the central building.

Tyranid Combat Patrol

Space Marine Combat Patrol

Infernus Marines approach a pulsating node.

A brood of Leapers and a Psychophage scuttle towards them.

The Leapers are incinerated before they can attack.

Terminators pound Termagants into a sticky mess...

... and follow up into the Tyranid Prime.

The winged Prime flies away and guides more Termagants to the Infernus squad.

The Psychophage turns its attention to the hulking warriors.

Endless swarms of Termagants hurl themselves at the Infernus squad.

The Psychophage tears into the Terminators and eventually eats them all.

The Prime launches itself at the Captain, but he heroically kills it with his powersword.

Prolonged melee will eventually see numbers prevail.

The Captain plants a meltabomb in a node and fights off hordes of lesser beasts,
but the Lamenters are unsuccessful overall.

I had a game of 40K Combat Patrol, pitting the endless swarm of the Tyranids against the valiant and unlucky Lamenters. I don't mind the limited format, as we're still forgetting a myriad of rules left, right and centre. The Infernus Marines put up a longer fight than I expected, as the Termagants don't hit hard in close combat. I didn't want the Marines to get to fire their Pyreblasters, so gumming them up with waves of 'nids was a viable tactic. The Psychophage is 'tankier' than it looks, making a literal meal of the Terminators. The Tyranids were able to bring back many Termagants using their 'Teeming broods' ability, almost faster than the marines could kill them. The sole surviving Lamenter was the Captain.

I made some objectives in 24h using old scenery bitz on 40mm bases. I've got more to build, and I'll see if I can number them 1-6. A nice fun project to get done from my pile of potential.

40mm 40K objectives