Tuesday 21 February 2017

Beware the Cthellean Cudvark

Every worldly-wise space adventurer or rogue trader is familiar with the wide variety of xenos creatures he or she may encounter: burrowing ambulls, river-dwelling crotalids, the ferro-beasts of Yimbo-bim.

The Cthelle Death World consists primarily of cool woodlands and mountains - inhabited by the easily recognisable Cthellean Cudbear - a shaggy purple beast:

The Cthellean Cudbear as depicted in Rogue Trader


However, in the arid lowlands, there exists a similar animal, occupying a similar ecosystem niche. The Cthellean Cudvark, also known as the False Cudbear, exhibits many of the same physical properties as the Cudbear: large powerful frame, long talons, shaggy purple fur. The Cudvark is however suited ideally to the arid environment, being equipped with powerful digging claws, large ears to radiate heat, and a fur-free head to enable it to investigate prey burrows without becoming clogged with sand and dust.

The Cthellean Cudvark



 
 
In so far as is possible with a giant bipedal animal with purple fur, I attempted to paint the Cudvark in a naturalistic manner, with fleshy tones on the face, lighter underbelly, and darker fur towards the limb extremities:
 
An aardvark. An actual real animal.
 
"Look out! There's a Cudvark getting too close!"
 
The Cudvark is of course no such thing. It is actually a repurposed Tweak from the 45mm 2000AD Miniatures line from Titan Distributors (sculpted and cast by Citadel).
 
 
 
To my mind though, the figure was perfect to represent a dangerous alien beastie for wilderness games (or possibly as a star attraction at the inter-galactic zoo!).


18 comments:

  1. I love how this one inspires both comedy and threat.
    Excellent.

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    1. Nothing says comedy more than the probability that something claws your face off, right? ;)

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    2. Well, that Cudvark is like bears, you know there's a 99% probability of instant death but the 1% hug probability sure looks tempting. ^^

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    3. We're all holding out for a 1% chance of a hug in some respects I think!

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  2. At first I was like "what the hell is that thing!?" But now I'm really impressed that you sourced it from a mini range that I know next to nothing about. His a cool little beasty Axiom, very clever mate :)

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    1. He still is a little bit "what the hell?!" I think. But I like that about figures. Weird, funky, odd...it all fits in :)

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  3. Very cool - and clever use of such an obscure mini! He's a lovely little sculpt :-)

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    1. Thanks! It was one of those times when I saw a model I didn't know and thought 'I know what I can do with that' ;)

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  4. Haha, so great! It's the ultimate predator! He uses his appearance to instil calm and trust so you get close enough to pat his head and then... blam! He tears you into pieces! :D
    Gorgeous work :)

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    1. You've got to watch the cute ones - its a good mantra for life!

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  5. Okay. That's both weird and kind of charming. :) (And doubtless deadly dangerous.) Your description is fantastic! (And the paint is really good too. Assuming you have a world where the producers are mostly purple it all makes good sense.)

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  6. Cthells (second) greatest hug machine!

    I have a "Tweak" that I was considering using for something else, but at this stage I might as well just copy this one :)

    Nice work.

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    1. Copy it. We can let them have a hug. We can have a hug. Hell, let's all hug :)

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  7. I have read countless SciFi stuff and yet I have never imagined such a beast like The Cthellean Cudvark exists. Looks comedic yet threatening at the same time. Weird thing to say I know. Good paint job on a unique looking piece.

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    1. The universe is a big place - plenty of room for cuddly-looking clawed creatures :)

      Glad you like him.

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  8. Tweek was such a cool character in Dredd. Well, to me as a little boy reading the comic he was. :)

    Love your Cudvark though. Fits in perfectly with your RT world for sure!

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    1. Dredd completely passed me by, in spite of being the right age at the right time in the right country! Tweak is a fun character design though :)

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