Our Necromunda: Secundus coverage continues with a look at the models in the box. Many thanks to Games Workshop for providing us an advanced copy for review.
Spyrer Orrus
Sky Serpent: The Orrus Spyrers were models that I liked when I first saw them but loved when I started building them. This isn’t your typical Imperial armour, it’s advanced and features smooth shapes yet still feels very Necromunda.
The two Spyrers were relatively easy to put together and it was an enjoyable process. You get several head options in the kit, or like me, you can use heads such as those from the Escher range to add some extra flair.
The multiple weapon options add some variety to the models but it would be hard to create new poses, however you can only use one in your Secundus gang and I’m not sure if you would be running more than two in a Spyrer gang.
Fowler: The Orrus models are pretty serious builds – about 35 pieces each. They remind me of building Titanicus Knights. The end result is fantastic, though. Having only seen the models in preview and not had a chance to see a 360, I was unprepared for the models’ backs. For all the armor in the front, the rear is almost completely unprotected. Call it typical uphive hubris.
I followed nearly the same scheme as my metallic Blood Angels here. Airbrushed Vallejo Metal Color Magnesium, drybrushed Necron Compound. Brushed on 1:1 Blood Angels Red Contrast to Contrast medium. Contrasting armor bits got Black Templar contrast – which I also used on leather bits. Darker metals got a touch of Darkoath Flesh (when you are too lazy to break out the bronze).
Finished the metals with sponged silver then dark brown, and used enamel panel liner basically all over to get some more definition.
Caryatid Prime
Fowler: My only words of warning with the weird devil baby are to be mindful of how thin the connection to the base is here. Even vigorous drybrushing could pose a problem.
Van Saar
Fowler: Some great new sculpts for Van Saar. Loads of attitude, and a few empty hands – which are always a hot commodity in the Necro community. The issue isn’t common to this kit, but Van Saar models have some incredibly fiddly pieces to work to work with. Some of the neck guard bits are the size of a red pepper flake from a shaker.
Shout out to u/dndlm on Reddit for the “Van Saardaukar” idea. The scheme works well with Van Saar models, and it is dead simple to knock out.
- Prime black, zenithal white, drybrush of Two Thin Coats White Star. I put Soulblight Grey wash on everywhere I wanted it to be white,
- Black Templar on guns and backpacks, and Vallejo Metal Color Magnesium for metallic bits.
- I washed the metal bits with strong tone, and after that dried – the model got a light drybrush of Necron compound over anything metallic or armor – this is a solid cheat to make a large area of armor look a bit more lived in.
- Evil Sunz Scarlet for the blood streaks.
- After all the other highlighting is done, I hit the whole thing with Streaking Grime and cleaned most of it up.
Malstrain Genestealers
Fowler: If you value your sanity, leave the guys off of their bases for painting. Super fun builds, they go together fast.
Sky Serpent: Mutated Genestealers, what’s not to like!? With six Malstrain Genestealers in the set you get enough parts to give them their own unique head while their arms and legs welcome reposing.
I did find it easier to glue the limbs in pairs and wait for them to dry before adding more to ensure I got the pose I desired.
Malstrain Tyramites
Sky Serpent: The Tyramites were very quick to glue together and offer a surprising amount of variety but I found their spindly appendages easy to break.
Fowler: Totally Agree here. I would also highly suggest (again) that you leave them off of their flight stands and bases for painting.
Brood Scum
Fowler: The Hive Scum kit you know and love, now with lumpy heads and sharp teeth. There are five head options, would have been nice to have more of them.
Wrapping it Up
While we’ve had a blast building and painting all of these models, we’re especially excited to see what the next regular Necromunda book brings to the table for these gangs.
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