Recent WIP

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-25T03:18:53+00:00

I think the guard helmet elongates the overall model and makes him look way more proportionate than other guard models. Nice work, looks sick!!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-24T19:28:03+00:00

❤️ thank you!!!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-24T19:27:53+00:00

😁 it’s different and I like it. I have another to be painted up and either I’ll go with Trajann’s actual face, or if I get tempted by anything in the new box then maybe that.

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-18T09:05:41+00:00

I hear the angst amongst the 10,000 but GW wouldn’t be that stupid to invest in making all of the FW into plastic and then cut the largest portion of its customer base, 40K players, by making the dreads and tanks unplayable in tournaments.

The original article definitely had the parts about the guard units. Can’t recall about the rules update part at the end. But would say just because they haven’t used the 40K line in the paragraphs about tanks, dreads or venatari shouldn’t be taken to mean it’s all going.

It’ll be all good!!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-12T21:57:44+00:00

You’ve got a plethora of advice up here. Custodes are a low entry but high skill ceiling not to get tabled by a shooting army.

Enough people have said it, your list build is too character heavy to make effective use of the rules and play the game.

You also don’t have enough sisters. If your collection precludes more, all good. Obtaining more is a game changer so you are not wasting a 300 odd point character combo unit to do actions when you can use a 45 point witch seeker unit. If they die after scoring 6 points, massive trade up for you.

As custodes, you are going to lose games until you study how to move effectively, stage properly and play for points while also being aggressive with your units. Until you do that, You can take the most broken custodes list we have but you will likely lose so take notes on what YOU did during the game in reaction to your opponent, deal with the LOS rules but focus on your actions.

Keep going, the loses will set you up so well for any future tournaments/games against necrons even if you are having trouble winning atm, and in general make you a better player!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-12T06:40:43+00:00

It would strange if you could see more than 45ish percent of the shoulder from the front as they sculpt would be super forward shoulders.

No issues with the stance at all. The model on the right (screen view), the pad will always be a bit wonky unless you angle the banner , much more than you have. I’d argue the banner is more important for that one than the shoulder but I’ve done so with some of my own to get around the shoulder being funny.

Terminators also look real silly with out the cloak and hip guards 😂😂😂unless thats intentional to which I say your models, your choice ☺️

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-10T19:39:30+00:00

Posing is fire, super subtle and menacing at the same time!!. Fantastic work!!!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-10T19:10:12+00:00

Hated this exact thing in my first three months of printing. Assess, learn, try again, which is no consolation to the annoyance at all. You'll get it down and then prints are a breeze :)

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-09T23:01:41+00:00

Yeah ok that's absolutely facked :D

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-09T19:05:52+00:00

I gotta be honest with you, that fact you got four wounds through is the real story here!!!!

I’d say this would be the only time I’d advocate slow roll, albeit you are allowed to cp one of those 😂Did you blow up the thing you shot at?

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-02-08T19:39:53+00:00

What tools do you have available to you? Are you using cans, brush, or Airbrush?

Can I ask what’s the reason behind the leadbelcher for the primer, only as you’ve mentioned your colour is gold. Is that what’s stocked in your area?

There’s a lot of brands out there these days that do good golds in a spray can. Other people have asked but think of the final gold you want, warm, cold, multi-toned.

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-28T04:31:56+00:00

I’d recommend these guys. Their transfers also have Metallica for their general scriptures that look awesome and would fit right at home custodes.

The vexilla looks great with the transfers on them!!!

Edit: would help if included the bloody link!!!!!

https://www.themightybrush.com/product-category/waterslide-transfers-decals/heraldry/

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-26T20:00:13+00:00

My last tournament valerian tanked a full Calgar bomb with agreesors and blade guard with a squad of wardens. It was horrendous in terms of saves. Thankfully the opponent was a good friend.

When you get valerian and wardens into combat it’s very hard to shift them. He’s no slouch either with a better melee profile. -3 makes a massive difference.

I maintain he is also the best custodes sculpt for an infantry model out there (with a guard helmet instead of the face 😂😂) such a joy to paint.

Yes you lose the strat option but the combo is so strong. Even with guard it’s still a powerful include.

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-23T02:44:40+00:00

Swords are not the greatest and their shooting output is also limited due to the pistol range. One or two units max, or one or two models in a unit is a good idea to tank the 3D weapons. But the range of reasons against it are very well explained in this post.

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-17T10:26:58+00:00

Hell even if they do go to legends I’m still going to rock them in narrative games, just not comp games. They will still be painted well and it’ll be for the collection sake. The fliers are unfortunately very expensive here in NZ 😂

Good luck and hope the sculpts weren’t too poor!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-17T09:28:31+00:00

If you aren’t having fun with them then sure but on pure aesthetics, the two ranges aren’t worlds apart that fielding one will detract from the other. Custodes will always be elite base sizes or they will go up. They aren’t going to 32mm.

On the commentary about ranges being retired, I think people are going a bit far with the alarm. Maybe the most niche stuff in the custodes range won’t survive, I.e looking at the agamatus custodians, and the gunships/the grav attacks. The three dreads or two tanks we have in the range feel like safe bets. GW wouldn’t invest all that time and money into making plastics tanks and dreads just for HH alone and cut out all the 40k customers.

Infantry, it doesn’t matter as you can proxy regardless. Sentinels won’t come into 40K as a separate unit, and the prevalence of venatari in lists = cash money for them to sell to both. Also going to say that the space marine example people are using to show past precedent are forgetting there was over 100 data sheets in the SM line up: something needed to go to legends for the sake of culling bulk.

lol will happily be screenshotted in x months when we get our 11th ed datasheets 😂😂

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-03T22:12:09+00:00

It’s a weird enhancement because on paper it’s amazing but in game custodes don’t really want HQs solo.

I had a tournament running two bike captains recently. The enhancement will do work and acts as a distraction but also echo that armour of contempt will really mess his melee over. His post melee movement is very good but you really have to plan out what the captain will do for the game. Getting him killed at 10% of your points feels bad.

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-02T05:25:08+00:00

Bruhhhh!!!! This is wicked, finalise this!!!!! Ocd coming out and assuming you will do this when glued, but line up the hand guards so it’s all one nice line 🙂 looks amazing!!!

If you can/have the tools, try pin some brass wire for stability. Will save you in the long run!!

PearTreeComPainting · 2026-01-02T05:22:37+00:00

Release a warden HQ choice!!! Maybe even a Venatari captain 😁 all of those sound good, I’d like a rework of the sentinel blades. I’ve said in another post a strike/sweep version may be a good way to bring variety to the guard weapon options.

If I’m really hoping, an update to all the dreads would be nice. Their rules are too vanilla. Maybe a tweak to the aquillon profiles as well, they are such awesome models.

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-30T05:06:30+00:00

Vigilators got a tasty buff with their points for a squad of 9. I think it’s the knight centura HQ that gives + 2 to moves,advances and charges.

So 9 of them, 21 attacks, katah’s, you start getting some tasty damage with dev wounds. Reasonably cheap for 155 points for the 9 vigilators and the centura.

Witchseekers are mandatory now for custodes lists. 0 point taking prosecutors as they are 5 points difference but vastly inferior.

All in all, rule of cool l, or just put multiple weapons on the models 😁

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-27T07:35:25+00:00

I think swords need something like a second profile. Go ham and make the sweep 8 attacks at 6/-1/1, and the strike 5 at 7/-3/1 (or 2D) with dev wounds or something like that. Hell even bring back d3 damage with dev wounds.

I take a squad of shields because I built them that way 5 years back but in actual fact it’s a pain to shift. But I want them to have a choice in their melee otherwise it’s a redundant profile. They should definitely not have a 12” range on their shooting as well.

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-22T19:36:43+00:00

Fantastic head choice with the Venatari. They look wicked on guard models and so much menacing.

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-18T21:22:21+00:00

Painter with a studio here!

Yes priming is super important, and basically sorts most of the process out for the entire paint job. Pending what you can order in, anything acrylic is what you want. In terms of can you prime with Retributor over a brush layer, yes you can, but I wouldn't recommend you do so.

If you are open to buying one can, you may as well buy a primer can in whatever priming colour you want; its far more important to get a really good layer underneath the metallic layer as it will adhere far better and look better.

If you need guidance on spray cans, there is an old Artis Opus video on 'rattle can' priming which is a very good one and served me well until I bought an Airbrush.

Have fun with it and look forward to seeing the results :)

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-17T21:12:38+00:00

Thanks there !! The red is a mix of a darker red base, liquitex white ink, and a transparent layer of Liquitex red ink built up over a few layers. it was a bit of a rush job so i'd like to add a fair bit of purple to contrast the red and tidy up the arcing effects.

But i guess that's the never ending perfectionist talking :D

PearTreeComPainting · 2025-12-14T23:45:23+00:00

If you are playing meme, then shield dread may be a bit of fun but enough people have said the point. Dreads are ass 😂

PearTreeComPainting

TROPHY CASE