Squat Cyberslayer v Genestealer Patriach

It was competition time again over at the Oldhammer Community. The friendly neighbourhood Jeany-Bap-Baps challenged hobbyists to paint miniatures sculpted by the great Bob Olley, and have them judged by the Lord our Bob himself. I couldn’t resist, and so I created this mini-diorama.

Rogue Trader Cyber-Slayer versus Patriarch Diorama
“Yeah! Smash the patriarch-y!”

Bob Olley was one of the key contibutors to the nascent Warhammer 40,000 range, and he sculpted a huge portion of the Squat range that I’ve loved collecting, painting and gaming with through the years.

Rogue Trader Ironclaw Bob Olley Squat Squad
Olley-days are coming. Olley-days are coming. Olley-days are coming.

The Squat Berserker isn’t actually one of those original Rogue Trader miniatures, but a hyper-limited edition that Bob sculpted for a tiny indie manufacturer that’s since disappeared. I was hoping its extreme rarity would mean everyone who saw my painted casting would HAVE THEIR MINDS BLOWN with the novelty.

Fantastic Minaitures Futuristic Dwarf Berserker
The original concept art for the Fantastic Miniatures limited edition.

Only not. The first bloke I showed mine to simply said, “Yeah whatevs, looks like the one I did.” Screw you, Paul. Screw. You.

Not only that, but turns out his blogpost features loads of other cool indie manufacturers’ Squat miniatures that he also painted before I did mine. Sho3box is exactly the kind of person that turns up to cool parties wearing the same Decepticon logo shirt as you. And with the girl you were hoping to ask out already on his arm.

Rogue Trader Squat Cyber-Slayer and some Mantic Forge Father bits
A sample of sho3box’s trailblazing indie Space Dwarf collection.
Rogue Trader Squat Cyber-Slayer and some Mantic Forge Father bits
Curis’s woefully derivative imitation collection.

So I had to push further to ensure novelty, and modelled the Slayer standing over another Olley sculpt – an original Citadel Miniatures Genestealer Patriarch. I sawed that huge lead torso diagonally in half, and chopped apart and resculpted the limbs until I was satisfied the Patriarch was looking sufficiently collapsed, defeated, and bleeding out into the cold metal grille of the base.

Rogue Trader Squat Cyber-Slayer versus Genestealer Patriarch detail shot
The Patriarch’s tounge lolling out of his head helps sell the, “Argh! Thus I die!” vibe.

It’s also the second Genestealer model I’ve painted recently, the first being a Locus for a wet-blended purple cloth tutorial for Patreon supporters. Check it out here!

Squat Cyberslayer v Genestealer Patriach
Squats from the Furnace Valley Brotherhood coming together to battle the Genestealer menace.

Over forty people made it to the finishing line in the Oldhammer Community‘s Olley competition, and we wait with baited breath to see who Bob judges the best. (If it’s sho3box, I’ll explode.)

Curis

Curis has painted for Games Workshop, Forge World, Warlord Games, Mantic Games, Avatars of War, Wargames Foundry, Studio McVey and many others. He's won at Golden Demon and Salute. He publishes monthly painting tutorials on Patreon.

19 thoughts on “Squat Cyberslayer v Genestealer Patriach

  • October 4, 2019 at 3:33 pm
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    This is just lovely Curis. I really do regret not picking up the Fantastic Miniatures space dwarfs from ebay when they were easily available -the cyberslayer really is the pick of the bunch. The poor bleeding patriarch seems to put the cyberslayer’s psychotic expression into context. He’s pumped and on the edge – wouldn’t you be if you’d just downed the biggest, fattest alien in the nearest seven star systems?

    The highlight of the painting is that crackly electric effect on the power axe blade. It feels like the blade is crawling with random electric power!

    I’d love to see a picture of the unpainted conversion to see where and how you had to convert the patriarch.

    Reply
    • October 21, 2019 at 5:02 pm
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      Thanks axiom! It felt fantastic to finally get them painted after all these years. The sculpting is very clean and the casting quality is beautiful. I’ve just got to work out if the Exo-Armour goes into my existing orange and white scheme, or if I spin them off into a self-contained project, like a Space Hulk unit or a Khrone warband or something.

      Here’s the Genestealer unmade, before any putty went on. It’s the fingers and thumbs on the right arm, the left upperarm, and the hollow left underneath the body where I’d angled the torso up from the initial sawing angle where the putty’s been.

      Genestealer Unmade

      Reply
  • October 4, 2019 at 3:42 pm
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    I think you clearly proved those models were meant to be together from the start. The universe is whole now. I mean the orange and the purple complement each other so well.
    Oh and that shoeba6 guy looks like someone mean.

    Reply
    • October 21, 2019 at 5:04 pm
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      Thanks JB! Cos of the red axe, orange hair at the top, and the blue and purple torso at the bottom I initially tried a complete rainbow with green and yellow trousers. It did not work.

      Reply
  • October 4, 2019 at 5:24 pm
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    That’s a wonderful piece. That dwarf is a delightful nutter, and that axe! I am drawn to how well you’ve placed the patriarch under him. That’s some hot conversion work. It is a base of legend.

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    • October 21, 2019 at 5:44 pm
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      Thanks Dave! I was particularly aware while I was sawing the torso in half that you might be wincing and clutching your stomach in psychic empathy, so I’m glad you like the finished piece.

      Reply
  • October 4, 2019 at 10:40 pm
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    Dammit, that’s gorgeous. You made a killer combo. Lovely rendition!

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    • October 21, 2019 at 9:51 pm
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      Thanks Suber!

      Reply
  • October 4, 2019 at 11:57 pm
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    When I first saw your mock-up of this masterpiece I thought you were having a Curislaugh at my Crookspense. Now I know that you mean business, I have reevaluated you and your willingness to sacrifice all for the hobby, and so I have compiled a list of future projects for you:

    – Dwarf Booze Brothers carousing on the bonnet of a crashed original metal Thunderhawk gunship

    – Essex zombies feasting on Nuln Spearman

    – Unreleased Bratts 1-4 but all their heads are replaced with the gribbliest Iron Claw space pirate heads.

    Good luck and Bob-speed!

    Reply
    • October 22, 2019 at 1:32 pm
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      You know, staging a set of photos where I’ve pretended to’ve cut up a priceless old kit just to make your wince is exactly my kinda thing, Crooksy. But no, it was a real bona fide project when I showed you the WIPs.

      Hey, do you like my upcoming Orctober terrain project?

      Da Gretchin Hut

      Reply
  • October 6, 2019 at 1:10 am
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    Looks awesome Chris! Really well done mate :)

    I had no idea of this minis existence before now, even though I probably saw the one your nemesis painted up years ago. It’s a cracker of a mini, especially with the carved up Patriarch underneath him.

    Once again, great work :)

    Reply
    • October 23, 2019 at 5:07 pm
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      Cheers Papa!

      I’m glad the obscurity of the sculpt being impressive works on some people. Your reaction makes up for half a Paul.

      Reply
  • October 9, 2019 at 6:51 am
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    I love my Slayer and his buddies, but they are always going to come off badly in direct comparison with your gorgeous work. Phenomenal.

    Probably best to set up a Deceptibuddy shirt chat group, just in case. I’ll keep the stolen girlfriend spreadsheet to myself.

    Reply
    • October 23, 2019 at 5:09 pm
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      Do you have the other Fantastic Miniatures Squats? Can I beat you to the punch with those, or will it be Paul 2 Curis 0?

      Reply
  • October 10, 2019 at 5:04 pm
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    This piece is a thing of beauty. Almost makes me want to cut up my Stealer Patriarch.

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    • October 23, 2019 at 5:10 pm
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      Thanks Sean! Instead of cuting up your Patriatch I should just send you you the bit I sliced off. You could do a diorama of a Patriarch’s bum sticking out of quicksand or summint.

      Reply
  • February 11, 2022 at 10:22 am
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    Hi there,

    Dazzled by this paint work on these space dwarves. May I ask what paint colours you used when painting them?

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  • March 2, 2022 at 8:24 pm
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    Sure! It’s Bilious Brown for the orange parts, and the old Astronomicon Grey for the armour.

    Reply
    • December 7, 2022 at 8:52 am
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      Thank you!

      Love your work!

      I’ve looked everywhere for that base. Love the look of the genestealer blood in the grill. Just adds to the defeated sunk to the floor vibe!

      I’ve got an idea for a different diorama – what is the brand and model of that cool base? It is an excellent choice. Do they have bigger and smaller sizes?

      Reply

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