War Griffons Warlord Titan

Introducing the classic plastic 1988 Warlord Titan Ferrum Dux, part of my growing War Griffons Titan legion.

Adeptus Titanicus Epic War Griffons Warlord Titan on plinth
Intact cardboard Void Shield spinny disc and everything. Mwah. Mwah mwah mwah.

Ferrum Dux was painted for a game of vintage Adeptus Titanicus (none of that fancy new 8mm stuff) against the forces of Jean-Baptiste & Associates. He joins the Warhound Titan that Jean-Baptiste also strong-armed me into painting, proving I’m nothing more than a monkey dancing to the whims of that man.

Epic War Griffons Warlord Titan comparison shot
Epic scale Warhound Titan, Epic scale Walord Titan, and a 40K scale Intercessor Sergeant.

The Warlord kit is simple kit of only about a dozen pieces (compared to the modern version’s 144), and has to be assembled in a very fixed pose of striding forward with the left leg. This has the effect of making multiple Warlords (like there’d be in this game) look like a dance troupe. To avoid this I amputated both legs at the knee, and replaced them with a pair of right legs so the ankles and knees would be symmetrical.

Warlord Titan reposing WIP
The indomitable power stance of an 1980s heavy metaller.

The humongous number of weapon options the kit came with have been cannibalised by years of my frivolous conversions, so I had to resort to some trimmed Technolog missile pods for the carapace. For bonus hipster points, the banner pole fitting is a cut down Zoid cannon. I magnetised all these options though so I can switch them out later if the guilt becomes too much. Or I find even rarer indie kits to incorporate.

Warlord Titan magnetic weapon options
Look at my pods!

The carapace banner designs are adapted from the Wayne England illustrations on the War Griffons spread in White Dwarf, as is pretty much the entire Warlord’s colour scheme. However, this time I experimented with introducing the yellow you see a lot of modern War Griffons in. I’d previously thought it would look odd alongside the gold, but it worked a treat. And ultimately, I’m glad I’m getting all these colour experiments done before I commit paint to the 40K scale Armorcast Titans.

Adeptus Titanicus Epic War Griffons White Dward spread
War Griffons spread from White Dwarf 120, December 1989.
Adeptus Titanicus Epic War Griffons Warlord Titan carapace banner details
Carapace banner, front and back.

This mighty metal plastic warlord is now ready to come crashing down in sheets of flame on the gaming table, as it did right at the start of the long-anticipated game with Jean-Baptiste. You can read Sean’s write up of that disasterous battle here. War Griffons, huh, yeah, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing!

Here’re my Titans fighting against my old tournament Ork army. You can see I have a big thing for big Titans with big banners and lots of big rockets.

War Griffons Warlord Titan
The Bad Moon Ork Gargant Rokkit Bastid engages the War Griffons outside the walls of Gork’s Fort, Nuke Castle.

Two Titans done, more on their way. I’ve got a second Warhound and a Reaver on the desk at the moment – watch this space.

Ninjabread out!

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.

12 thoughts on “War Griffons Warlord Titan

  • June 8, 2020 at 12:17 pm
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    GORGEOUS. I saw this fellow in the flesh, and it’s an excellent piece. Those banners too, delicious. You’re a constant source of delight, so you are.

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    • June 8, 2020 at 5:09 pm
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      Thanks Dave. He saw you too. He says he liked both your brown OLDHAMMER tee-shirt from the Saturday and your charcoal grey STAR WARS tee shirt from the Sunday.

      Reply
  • June 8, 2020 at 12:24 pm
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    Oh wow, I didn’t see this finished.

    I’m not usually a fan of official studio schemes on toy soldiers, but this presses all my buttons.

    Fabulous!

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    • June 8, 2020 at 5:13 pm
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      That’s one of the quirks of Adeptus Titanicus, that the standard War Griffons scheme doesn’t feel played out. Maybe because it only gets shown on a handful of minis max, but Warhammer 40,000 armies have their colour schemes rolled out over hundreds of models so you get used to them quicker. Or because War Griffons retreated from the limelight for second and third edition Epic?

      Reply
  • June 8, 2020 at 12:39 pm
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    Had the chance to saw this bad boy irl and wasn’t and it really is excellent, the reposing is brilliant and although totally useless in a titan/titan fight, the missile launchers really look way better than the plastic originals. I don’t know if the armorcast or the coming titans excite me the most but like always I’m hot more more ninjabread.

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    • June 8, 2020 at 5:15 pm
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      Thanks JB. I figured I could spend ages reading up all the weapon stats and working out what would be optimal for an engine battle. Then I decided to just do what I felt like and spend my time painting checkers on everything instead.

      Probably why I was shot up so quickly.

      Reply
  • June 8, 2020 at 11:42 pm
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    It’s beautiful. That’s the word. The overall aspect is imposing, but the combination of the tiny details is what makes this truly great. Absolutely awesome!

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    • June 9, 2020 at 5:42 pm
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      Thanks Suber! I really like greebling up paintschemes with icons and crests and details. Brings them to life.

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  • June 11, 2020 at 5:47 pm
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    Superb! Love the repositioning. Love the grey dappled paint. Love the lightning death claw banner. Love the magnetised accessories. Can I saw say more?!

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    • June 15, 2020 at 11:54 am
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      Thanks axiom!

      Reply
  • June 12, 2020 at 4:01 pm
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    Such a coincidence. I built one of these just before Jean posted his, and I hated the model. Then I saw his, now yours… and I have to say it’s growing on me! The colours on that banner are totally groovy. Amazing work!

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    • June 15, 2020 at 4:02 pm
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      Can’t wait to see yours! Are you doing it as a straight Titan, or are you up to more cross-scale madness like spinning it as a 15mm robot?

      Reply

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