Mechanicum - Thallax Cohort #2 w/ Multi-Melta

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping by. The latest additions to the Mechanicum Taghmata is a squad of Thallax, a Thallax Cohort. These can be in squads of three or up to nine. They are armed with Lightning Guns which are heavy 3 Shred and two modes Arc and Strike (single shot mode but additional +3 strength and Rending) and one has a tank-busting Multi-Melta.

These are the plastic boxset, very highly detailed and more fiddly than the resin counterparts but equally as detailed which is great. This one has a Multi-Melta for some deep-strike tank-busting action.

And the last two have the standard armament of Lightning Guns.

Cheers, Siph (6pts)

Imperial Knights - Acastus Knight Porphyrion

Hello All, and budding Knight Scions, a huge addition to the Imperial Knight forces, though numerous and aligned to Legio Astorum Titan Legio, they lack serious titan-killer firepower themselves, enter the affectionately named "Murder Turtle"... a somewhat overpowered Acastus Knight Porphyrion (at least in AT28mm where most of the titan action occurs). This will also be an allied Household to the Vassal Knights of Legio Astorum, but this time (mainly for re-sale opportunity) House Terryn.

Lots to do so I started on a few of the smaller bits and pieces first, cables...

I then progressed to the armour plates and legs section - once these were done, I fastened the Armour Plates to the endo-skeleton leg structure. Lots of trim! I will try to reflect what colours I use on my Knight Banner as to where I place red panels, personal heraldry etc. As this is a cheaper 3rd party print, I will not be using at Titan Owners Club Walk events as we try to support FW whenever possible and  Forge World models if they exist to support and hopefully stimulate titan development (Reaver still only has Apoc Launcher for carapace and it's long over a decade old, but Warmaster in 28mm will be gladly received if planned?!).

Getting there, legs now done.

So I will paint it up and sell to fund the purchase of an official Forge World Acastus Knight Porphyrion in due course, I have an Acastus Knight Asterius in the to-do pile. Painting as Terryn Household is quite easy for me, as they have the exact scheme of my Legio Astorum, gold and blue, just the creams on heraldic plates rather than yellows as seen on the Shoulder Plate above. In the meantime, I can game with it because House Terryn are an allied House to my Vassal Knights of Legio Astorum.

I've also purchased a couple of suitable sized oval bases to provide stability and match the Knight and Titan forces which are all based for my future resin Acastus Knights. More progress to be had and I'll report back here with photos!

Cheers, Siph.

Mechanicum - Thallax Cohort #1 w/ Photon Thruster

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping by. The latest additions to the Mechanicum Taghmata is a squad of Thallax, a Thallax Cohort. These can be in squads of three or up to nine. They are armed with Lightning Guns which are heavy 3 Shred and two modes Arc and Strike (single shot mode but additional +3 strength and Rending) and one has a Photon Thruster (AP2, Assault 2, Blind, Lance, Gets Hot) weapon. As the Thallax are Relentless the Heavy mode of weapons are not an issue.

The hulking, heavily augmented cyborg shocktroops originating within the Ordo Reductor faction of the Mechanicum, the Thallax differ from the Martian Skitarii regiments both in their purpose and the unique degree of their augmetics. The Lorica Thallax which encases their major organs, nervous system and cerebrum also replaces the skeleton and limbs entirely with armoured mechanical systems powered by an internal reactor core.

The agony of this process, along with the replacement of the usual human sensory apparatus, proves so traumatic as to require the surgical excision of the pain centres and emotions. The Thallax, however, retains a degree of independent human thought; this individuality and self-determination is greater by far than that enjoyed by tech-thralls, whose cranial-surgery implants are often crude at best, damaging as much as they control.

These are the Forge World resin variety to which i removed the Chain Bayonets, and I have a box of six plastic Thallax to get on with too. This gives me a choice of smaller troop choice Automata for the Tahgmata.

Cheers, Siph (6pts)

Mechanicum - Ursarax Tech Thralls #2

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping by. GW says "Ursarax tech-thralls are formidable, even monstrous, killing engines. Like the Thallaxii from which they were derived, these war-cyborgs are converted from suitable human candidates, their living components retaining a dim, tortured consciousness that provides them with superior tactical abilities and the instincts to kill. Jetting into close combat, the Ursaraxii tear apart steel and flesh alike, seeking the temporary relief of the automated neural anaesthesia that is administered for fulfilling their orders."

This is the second squad of these I have, the first painted in 2017 so these were painted to match, updating the former squad groin, thigh armour plates which I had missed. Plus jump pack vent exhausts and turbine glow.

The nice Volkite Incinerator built in the chest was picked out with a fiery orange glow

These all have Lightning Claws and pair up nicely with the first three armed with Power Fists and a Claw. Six in a squad will be a lot more survivable now and form a nice fast attack choice.

Cheers, Siph (6pts)

WeeMen at the Beachhead 2025 Titan Walk in Bournemouth

Hello all,

Titan Owners Club were invited to Beachhead 2025 for the 4th year running and gladly put on a demonstration game where we conduct a Titan Walk and interact with the public answering any questions they have about Titan ownership and making and painting and playing.

A selection of the Princeps playing this weekend

Titan line-up

Legio Astorum

Legio Astraman

A Psi Titan and Legio Crucius

Legio Astorum

Aeldari Titans

Another Psi Titan

Legio Ignatum

Legio Vulcanum

Legio Mortis

Legio Solaria

Legio Vulturum

Day 1 - Battle Photos

Day 2 - Battle photos

This Knight Lancer felled a Reaver Titan!

The Knight Cerastus Lancers form a vanguard to protect the God Engines

Another fabulous weekend of good gaming, great company and meals out. Lord H and myself both had an excellent weekend. I got another 7 titan kills for my Legio tally, a fair harvest.

Cheers, Siph

Terrain and Scenery - Large Gothic Building to hide Titans #3

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping by. I had fun making the previous building and we had Titan Owners Club UK Walk on the near horizon so a few months ago I got to work making another big building as we would have four battle mats and one was a cityscape. This was made from 3 Pegasus Hobbies Large Gothic Building sets. The roof was made with foamcard and a few rhino APC spares.

Here it is painted and on the cityscape board for the Titan Walk. It did a great job shielding my own Warlord No.10 "Ex-Noctia" from incoming fire.

It was a blast and great to have a number of buildings and styles of buildings. On completion of the Walk I was handed enough Pegasus Hobbies building tiles to make 4 more ruined buildings - so next walk in February I guess will have a few more buildings bought along... better get buying magnets (all these four sides are magnetised for flat packing for ease of transport between events and stowage at home!)

Cheers, Siph (5pts terrain)

Terrain and Scenery - Large Gothic Building to hide Titans #2

Hello All, thanks for dropping by. I have a few of the Pegasus Hobbies Gothic Buildings but I regulary attend Titan Owners Club Titan Walks where we battle our 28mm scale Forge World Titans, so that means making some scenery that can hide Titans to make it more akin to Adeptus Titanicus with cover rather than a shooting galley where Warlord Belicosa dominate everything - cheeky Knights and Warhounds are great variation and worry the best Warlord Princeps.

Its first outing was at London Grand Tournament in Lea Valley Athletics Centre in north London, sans roof - that was added later.

The London Grand Tournament Titan Owners Club UK Walk in September. The building was put to good use, blocking line-of-sight on more than one occasion helping the Warhound's survive fire from the massed Warlords.

It was used again at the UK Titan Owners Club main Walk at Huxlow Academy in Buckinghamshire in late October. Here it was on a dedicated city board with plentiful buildings, such a feast for the eyes. There was over 150 God Engines plus plenty of Knights too!

The main colours were basecoated black, zenithal sprayed Zandri Dust and washed with Dark Shade from Army Painter - this was the oil based dip and took 2 days to dry.

Posters and announcements were added. Doors sealed with Purity Seals after the church was bombed out and abandoned.

I love the addition of the posters, gives a sense of scale and lived in. The basecoats were drybrushed Ushabti Bone up 3/4 of the structure leaving the tops burnt.

Once again, mapped out on paper what tiles I would require and what was the largest building I could make with the box of parts fellow TOC Admin Col. Hertford had gave me and the above was the result.

This one could be a little more ornate, flying buttresses and spiked finials and even some gargoyles. The original building I did was plain Administratum type block solely for LOS blocking.

I made a quick floor from foam board so the battle map cannot be seen. I made a roof a few weeks after LGT, partially collapsed and burnt out, even a little roof for the porch too - after a specific request from Drake_Seta at Battle Bunnies and Titan Owners Club.

For size comparison - here is a Warhound, easily hidden

And easily blocks LOS for a Reaver

It can hide a Warbringer Nemesis Titan end on. 

A Warlord Titan is taller and wider but will block most of the Engine conferring the cover modifier to shooting.

And is fairly flat-pack-able so can be transported between events with the other large Pegasus Building and the Huge Crane!

Cheers, Siph (5pts)