Monday 6 July 2015

"Robocop" and "K9" - Cybernetic Reinforcements for my Adeptus Arbites

After painting terrain almost exclusively in June, and not really wanting to face up to the task of batch-painting 40 rioters for the game I'm running at BOYL in a few weeks time, I decided to take a break.

As luck would have it, I needed to paint up a pair of figures for the July Yaktribe competition. As I won the previous competition by entering Anamuria and her companions, I got to choose the theme for the current competition: Rise of the Machines. As I'd selected the theme, I figured it was only right that I entered. The rules are very simple: make and / or model an Artificial Construct of any type!

Introducing N.A.T.E. (Necromundan Artificial Tactical Enforcer) and C.U.R.R (Canine Utility Retrieval Robot). Cyber-mastiffs are used by the Adeptus Arbites and Enforcers throughout the Imperium. Some are fully artificial constructs, others are cyborgs, more akin to servitors. C.U.R.R. is the latter - a feral canine enhanced with cybernetic implants and simple tracking/retrieval programming.

C.U.R.R. and N.A.T.E. - Adeptus Arbites Cybernetic Division.



N.A.T.E. is somewhat more unusual - artificial intelligence is shunned and feared by the Imperium. Even the Adeptus Mechanicus rarely develop autonomous robotic constructs. N.A.T.E. was developed for the Necromundan Enforcers by Cybermyme, a shadowy tech guild, rumoured to be bankrolled by Lord Helmawr himself. N.A.T.E. is the perfect robot cop - able to respond to situational changes, immune to human error, clad in thick armour plates, and, or course, armed with the Arbitor's tool of the trade - the enforcer pattern boltgun. 

The Cybernetic Division successfully corners a dangerous mutie!

C.U.R.R. is converted from an old Citadel AD&D Blink Dog. I chopped out part of the head and replaced it with a little part from a plastic Eldar kit. His leg is made from a plastic Necron arm plus some little random plastic bits from my bits box.

N.A.T.E. is a largely unmodified Citadel Paranoia robot, with the simple addition of a RTB01 plastic Space Marine bolter.

An Arbite patrol, reinforced by the Cybernetic Division.

The paint jobs were really quick and basic - I painted both figures in about an hour and a half. C.U.R.R. actually looks OK, although I think N.A.T.E. could probably benefit from some more highlighting, but I can always revisit them at some future point!

10 comments:

  1. perfect additions, full of character !

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  2. Robot space cops score highly my groove-o-meter, so even if these were rubbish then I would like them.
    But they are not rubbish, not even a bit.

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    1. I was pretty sure they would be up your street cheetor. Glad you like them :)

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  3. I've been planning a couple of cyber-hound conversions, seeing your awesome, neat conversion of N.A.T.E has rekindled that idea. I've got a couple of old citadel hounds in a sitting position that have both got damaged heads for some reason - time to rebuild them, we have the technology! :D

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    1. Everybody could use a nice cyber-pet or two. Do you mean the Dark Elf hounds? They sound perfect :)

      Oh...and C.U.R.R. is the cyber-hound :P

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  4. Nice conversion, you don't often see many cyber hounds around the traps do you.

    Cool :)

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    1. Cheers! I wonder if a cyber-dog greyhound type race game is feasible? I must think about it :D

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  5. Nice work! Feels like N.A.T.E needs something though, a painted number, or hazard stripes or something along those lines on the fists.

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  6. I really like these two, I love the early miniatures. The conversion on the mastiff is a good trick, I may have to pick up some Necron bits!

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