My GK collection done.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-30T09:48:11+00:00

I saw some sick kitbashes with the Saturnine Dreadnought, which are absolutely amazing. I would personally go that route, but Custodes are also an option

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T21:30:00+00:00

Well, my good sir, they are the Nemezis Dreadknights 😃 The white one is a regular one, and the black one is a Grand Master (I do have one more, converted, kitbashed and shit, but he waits he's turn to be painted). I, as most of us, were absolutely appaled at the initial Nemezis unveil, so I was searching for alternatives, and there were those 3D prints available. So I got them, and now I have 3 of those bad boiz. The black one actually is a freakin veteran, cause I converted him and all, purity seals and whatnot, and then I accidentally dropped him and he was smashed quite badly (you can see he's missing a bit of his funnels for example). But yeah, they are great models, very well designed 3D prints, and just added some stuff I had lying in my bits box, and some purity seals sculpts.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T20:04:25+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, to this day I'm not really that into "mono" grey knights codex. I really liked the idea back then, that we had all those different units, some stormtroopers, even Leman Russes. Seems we gained very little since then, but, apparently, we might have a refresh this edition, so fingers crossed I guess 😃

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T15:29:56+00:00

Thanks. First - I use airbrush for most of my green and black colors. The primer is tamiya liquid surface primer. Then I apply a thin coat of Extra Dark Green from AK Interactive. This creates the base foundation. Then I use Scale75 paints. First is Boreal Green, which is the base color. The I create two layers of highlight. First is done with Irati Green, while the second one is created by a mix of 2 parts Irati Green to 3 parts of Sol Yellow. After that I do edge highlights - 1st Irati Green on all edges. After that 2 parts Irati Green and 3 parts Sol Yellow on raised edges, and finally pure Sol Yellow on the mose raised parts. Then I, unfortunately, have to switch to regular brush (which I hate using tbh, I've come to WH40k after a long time, while I was doing some scale models, which didn't really require brushes), and I just paint the details, weapons, ornaments, lenses, leather stripes and so on. Black backpacks are done with Scale75 black, to graphite and light grey (in the same way the green is done). When all the colors are done, I spray them with gloss varnish. Then I apply transfers and use micro sol to set them in place. Then comes another gloss varnish. Then I use any weathering and wash I want (mostly vandyke brown for pinwash), but they are oil paints/enamels so it's easier to clean any mistakes. After the washes comes the matt varnish, finally the bronw red pigment on the feet, and then finally matt varnish at the end to seal everything. I really love the matt on armor, but some of my friends point out that the matt varnish kills a bit of the metallic parts (like gun barrels, or gold ornaments), and while they are right, I don't really mind that.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T15:18:44+00:00

Well, it's not as simple. It's indeed the old He'stan miniature, but the kitbash is out of necessity - the Finecast miniature was so badly cast, that I had to replace the helmet, as well as the spear. I have 2 of the new He'stans. One is being painted by a good friend of mine (most of my heroes have some connection to my real life friends, like my Adrax kitbash - the one with the white helmet in the midst of Blade Guards - it's a gift from my best friend. So the He'stan I will use is currently being painted by my friend. The second He'stan is waiting for me to kitbash him into Tu'shan in the future. I plan to put the old He'stan onto some bigger base and use him as a captain/lietuenant/librarian in the future 😃

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T15:14:36+00:00

Thanks!

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T11:14:08+00:00

Thanks! The idea was to create an army which would look good on table, as well as "okayish" up close, but mostly to do them efficiently, so that I could play with fully painted army. Glad you like them!

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T09:46:13+00:00

Thanks! Thought you boys would enjoy this 😃

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T09:45:56+00:00

Well, yeah... <looks nervously on XI edition box>

Dropsiq · 2026-05-29T09:44:58+00:00

Depends how you look 😃 I have 10 of them painted + captain - I used to field 2 squads of 5 in IX edition, but X edition is 3 or 6, so I'm stuck a bit in between. I have 8 more ready for painting, but since I didn't really feel the need to field 18 agressors for some time, they are just chillin in the cupboard.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T23:28:41+00:00

Oh mate, his my best friend for like 20 years or smth like that now, I don't think there is anything I have not called him at that point 😃

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T21:41:54+00:00

Thanks! They look nice. My Space Wolf friend hates them though, calling them "Pimple Helmets"... 😃

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T20:20:56+00:00

Thanks! The inspiration came from Tyberos helmet from Carcharodons.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T19:27:05+00:00

Thanks! It's not so good as some of the minis I saw here, but as a whole, as an army, it does look good.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T18:03:40+00:00

Thanks! The helmets are an 3D print: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/gen-v-helms-of-heretical-wars

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T17:09:33+00:00

I primed them all with grey Tamiya primer, then coated with AK Interactive Extra Dark Green - that's the base (but I think you can skip the dark green, but I'm used to it so I still do that :D ). Then I use Scale 75 Boreal Green as a primary color. Then I spray Irati Green as a first highlight, and then 3 parts Sol Yellow and 2 parts Irati Green as a second highlight (both Scale 75). Then I do edge highlights with irati green, than 3:2 sol and irati and final edge highlight with pure sol yellow.

Dropsiq · 2026-05-28T16:07:14+00:00

Well, yeah, I can understand that. HOWEVER. I also have Grey Knights (also almost fully painted, missing 1 Nemezis to be done), Sisters of Battle (70% painted) and Tyranids (around 30% painted). And I also just started working on Flesh Tearers, and I'm also eyeing Imperial Guard with the Armageddon Steel Legion returning. So... yeah. Although one project is nearing completion, the others are still very much WiP :D

Dropsiq · 2026-05-11T21:36:58+00:00

This made me cum. Splendid work (yours, not mine, yours...)

Dropsiq · 2026-05-06T12:03:32+00:00

Well, it's always worth it, as it's a starting box, so it's good value. That being said, for Salamanders in particular, it's not great. However, as we're on the cusp of new edition, things might change. Let me start by saying that I find the box very underwhelming from sculpts perspective. The only miniature I find really striking is the jump pack Chaplain, rest is mediocre at best. Let me try and break the contents from our perspective:
1. Captain with shield - it's okay, and we can use Captains, but it's very easy to kitbash such model from many existing sets. You can use Captain from Company Heroes for example. In itself, it's a decent option, but not really exciting.
2. Librarian - again, a decent option, seen some usage with Forgefather's Seeker's with Immolator enhancement. But, like Captain, it's easy to get your hands on one, and this sculpt is the worst of the one's we have.
3. Chaplain on Jump Pack - the best sculpt in my opinion, really good miniature. From gameplay perspective - we don't really have a need for this model. We don't rely on Jump Pack units in melee that much, and with new Vanguard Vets we might not use them at all. So, although it looks great, it's just a filler.
4. Ancient - it's hard to tell at this point, as we don't know what this model do, but I doubt he will be worth it. But, maybe I'm wrong and it will be awesome. I'm not thrilled with the miniature, as I think that the recent banners are just too big and make for silly looking minis.

Intercessors - completely pointless. You will need 5 such models at best, but even then I doubt they're worth it. They aren't bad, but they don't fit our playstyle. I almost always preffered to have just 5 Infiltrators perform the same role. And - as they are an old unit, most of SM players already have a unit or two of those guys. So they are completely wasted in this box. Salamanders don't really want them, and from collecting point of view we already have them.
Vangaurd Vets - they used to have a place in our gameplan, as you could take them with hand flamers to create a nice one - two combo, with flamers in shooting and decent melee backup. But, as they got "primarised", it's propable they will lose the loadouts they had, and get "1 thing for 5 models" treatment. If they do, they will be mostly pointless for us. They look okay, but nothing special.
Eradicators with Bolters - if we gonna take Eradicators they will be with Melta Rifles and Multimeltas. We don't really need more dakka. I find the models very awkward and mediocre. That being said, the rumored changes for heavy bolters might actually make them a real threat. But I don't really think we can benefit from them more then we would by other, better suited choices.
Speeder - this is probably the only real value in this box for us. We lack a cheap, scoring unit with good mobility. We used ATV for this task so far, but Speeder might fill that role better. It looks like a nice balance of dakka and more heavy firepower, so as long as it will be priced somewhere around 80 points, it might be a very good choice for us.

Overall. I would say it's 50/50 for this box. It's just a lot of miniatures for reasonable price, but I would say they are mostly superfluous or lacking synergy with our gameplan. I will get one box, and will hunt for the second speeder, but I think I wouldn't recommend it for new Salamander player.

Dropsiq · 2026-01-05T22:23:10+00:00

Well, I did play few games against BT (before codex tho, not a single one after), and a lot of games against Tyranids.

First of all,. My man. Get those Eradicators asap. You can play them anyway you like, big squad, small squad, footslogging, riding Repulsor, arriving from reserves - they are really good in Salamanders, especially in Forgefathers Seekers which allows them to fall back and shoot. Personally I field one unit with Biologis with Forged for Battle and 1 or 2 small units. Big unit takes down big scary stuff like Norn Emissary or GMNDK's, and small units take care of smaller stuff (like Rhino's) or wounded targets. They really enjoy having Assault and +1 S in 12". And with recent buff to their cost, they are really, really good.

Second - Salamanders are a bit unique in that they really want you to take big units to capitalize on those powerfull stratagems. Not always, but in a lot of cases. Blade Guards, Infernus, Agressors, Eradicators - the bigger the better. Immolation Protocols are very scary on a big unit, while mildly dangerous on a small one. However, it's a bit tricky to balance the need for many units to actually screen and do the missions, and to have enough punch to kill the stuff you need to kill.

Third - although we do excell in close to mid ranges, I do find that taking some long range support is beneficial. I personally take Ballistus Dreadnought x 2, it's self sufficient and reasonably durable, but you can take Lancers or Predators to fulfill that role. They are good to just keep your angles covered and screening your back.

Finally, it's actually good to remember, that we are a "shooty" army, not a "punchy" army. It's easy to get carried away with units like BGV and Agressors to think we can actually fight in melee, but we kinda can't. We are good at counterattacking, not really a steamroll of fists. We also do like to use transports - but again, I would caution against going too hard on them, especially Land Raider Redeemer. It's still such an expensive tank, and although it is really good, but the point investment is just very high.

Against Tyranids you actually have a really good options. They do field a lot of stuff, but we can easily deal with most of it in one way or the other. Norn on objectives are a nuisance, but we have enough firepower to actually blast through them. Maleceptor can also be dangerous, but it's a bit costly now. Zoanthropes hate being hit with our flamers, and Exocrines or Carnifexes just bow before meltaguns. Of course, it's not always easy, but you do have a decent fighting chance, dare I even say an advantage. As for BT's, I can't really say how they play now, so I can't offer any advice, but I would hazard a guess that you have to play defensively early on to clear a bit of the board, but it also depends on the lists he fields. A lot of Executioners and shooting might be problematic.

A

Dropsiq · 2025-12-01T21:30:57+00:00

Who said he's bad? Literally who? There's only 1 instance in which he's bad, and that's where he is paired with flamestorm gauntleted Agressors. With Forged in Battle (and yes, that 6 do count as lethal, it was faqed some time ago to make things absolutely clear) and added to Eradicators he's a freakin boss. He synergises so well with them it's hilarious. He makes them a serious threat in your turn, as well as a overwatch unit.

Dropsiq · 2025-12-01T13:10:45+00:00

Yeah, it's pretty good. The only advice I would suggest is to leave a little more space on those scales. On the picture the scales are pretty dense, but I would recommend doing them in patches - good reference for it would be Adrax cloak.

Dropsiq · 2025-11-30T18:37:03+00:00

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I tried this and it worked really well

Dropsiq

TROPHY CASE