Regular readers might recall that I’ve been building a Dark Mechanicum themed warband for our grimdark narrative campaign (The Cauldron).
The warband (The Seekers of the Fractal Schematic) is a hodgepodge of models from many different manufacturers, all tied together by a loose theme and a simple & consistent paint scheme. For me, the warband fits the Inq28 / Blanchitsu creative aesthetic.
I’ve really enjoyed converting and painting up the basic cultist models that form the backbone of this warband. These figures come from a variety of sources — a few are from Necromunda, a few from other sources, but most are built from the various plastic Frostgrave infantry kits that were released a few years ago. They’re a fantastic starting point for all manner of sci-fi and fantasy soldier conversions.
The guys in the photo below, for example, started with Frostgrave torsos, plus various arms from Genestealer Cults and Adeptus Mechanicus kits, along with gas mask heads from Pig Iron Productions.

The vibe I’m going for includes flamethrowers, creepy cybernetics popping out of flesh, cult iconography, scavenged equipment, and rusted industrial wreckage for the bases. You know, typical Dark Mechanicum stuff.

Simple conversions, quick paint jobs using contrast paints and a bold purple color … that gets the job done.

I don’t mind mixing in Games Workshop models when they suit my theme. The four guys below are from Necromunda, with some heads swaps to make them fit the “tortured cyborg zealot” motif.

I’ve got plenty more bits — I accidentally dropped a bunch of money at Mindtaker’s bulk bits bin during a visit last month. Oops! So look for plenty more heretics, scavengers, cultists, and cyborgs in the future.



I like the wet rust? And the colour mix is a good coordinator.
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Cheers! The rusty bases are mostly contrast paints splashed around, with some bright orange applied with a sponge.
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Oooh, very nicely done! 🙂 The purple works well!
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Oh thank you! Wasn’t quite sure what color works for Dark Mechanicum. Purple seemed to fit!
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