Primaris Captain Project – Alain Valerien, Captain of the 9th Company – January AFK Submission

Valerien’s new model is mostly the new Primaris Black Templar Marshall, just as his previous model was the limited edition Captain that was painted as a Marshall in the Armageddon codex.  I did some arm swaps with regular Primaris arms to get rid of the massive amounts of chains.  I also clipped out the stockaded skeleton in the Iron Halo as that’s not Valerien’s style.  I added a brazier to the axe from the Salamander upgrade kit.  I also swapped the shoulder pads.  His left pad (on the right in the pic) was a huge pain; the original was a sort of straight line pad instead of curved, and I stupidly did not dry fit before priming.  I had to take a dremel and some putty to the shoulder and re-paint a decent part of the cape.  Always dry fit, kids!

–

Alain Valerien is the only recruit from Nouvelle Provence, an unassuming moon populated by an unusual group.  Strict discipline has kept their language from changing at all for forty millennia.  They are proud of their odd way of speaking, only learning Gothic to speak with outsiders.  In their tongue, they refer to it as “La Langue Douce” or “The Sweet Tongue” in Gothic.

Valerien was recruited during routine resupply long ago before the Azure Flames had changed their name; back when they were the Sons of the Salamander.  He rose though the ranks through perseverance and skill.  Unlike most Chapters, Valerien shares duties with the 10th Company in the newly created role of Master Instructor.  He prepares anyone from full battle brothers to the newest Neophytes in matters dealing with anything other than combat.  However, unlike the Master of Recruits, Valerien maintains an emotional distance from his pupils.

–

This will be the last part of the Primaris Captain Project I upload for a while.  Thanks to the staff at AFK games in Holt, I’m kicking my hobbying into high gear!  I will be participating in 11 different painting challenges over the course of 2025.  Valerien is my entry for the January challenge of a single model.

Next: February’s challenge will be a unit of Primaris Inceptors (full unit of 6).  Additionally, I will be starting the 1/2 year challenge of a roughly small force which will be an entire Legiones Astartes starter box for Legions Imperialis to add to my Sons of Horus.  Finally, the year-long project will see the revitalization of my Orks under the leadership of Gargatok Gitsmasha!  Stay tuned!

Chapter Master Liam Perseus – Primaris Captain Project

Along with all of the Captains, I stripped my original model of Liam Perseus, and made new arms.  The sword arm was a Grey Knight sword capped with a 3D printed copy of the end of Voltron’s Blazing Sword, courtesy of a buddy with a 3D printer and a lot of talent.  The other new arm is a Storm Bolter, which I find superior to the Combi-Weapon for a model meant to lead a unit full of Storm Bolters.

The paint job is similar to the old with one BIG exception: Perseus’ new sword was painted with non-metallic metal techniques.  This is to make it look otherworldly so that it is unlike anything else in the army.

Perseus has a backstory in the previous post, but an added note is that He, Atrus, and Antonius were recruited by Inquisitor Eric Boucher to be a part of the secret society of the Scutus Sinistratum: a force in the Imperium dedicated to preserve humanity by any means necessary, even if the Imperium collapses.

Next: More Captains, and then probably back to Legion Imperialis.  Plus, I finally scared up a deck of Pariah Nexus so I might return to the tabletop!

Primaris Captain Project – Zhuang Shan

Zhuang Shan was the youngest scion of the Zhuang family on the mining world of Taihang.  Despite being young, he was press ganged into a conscript legion when the forces of the Archenemy invaded.  Like so many of his brothers, the Azure Flames recruited him once they had come to the rescue of the benighted world.  Zhuang had made Corporal in the legion by surviving against impossible odds and being one of the few in his company alive at the end of the war.

Zhuang made a name for himself in the Scout company, and had the shortest recorded time from induction to ascension to full brotherhood (until Antonius broke this record).  He is still the only Azure Flame in existence to survive the final trial of the Scouts and leave the trial chamber under his own strength.  Zhuang’s reputation as incredibly tough and lucky were well earned, and he was promoted to Captain after the first devastating conflict with the forces of Victor Kalan’s Alliance.

During the Omega War, the entire Second Company of the Azure Flames was tasked with mining out and destroying the hardline connection that allowed the Omega Station’s Command Tower to communicate with the Engine Complex.  Zhuang helped hold off wave after wave of Tyranids backed up by the Cult of the Eternal Dawn while technicians in Termite Assault Drills bored through a literal kilometer of the crust of the Omega Station and severed the gigantic cable system.  Without this hardline, Gorath was unable to stop Leonidas and Voldo Canis from sending the Omega Station to collide with a nearby asteroid.

After the Omega War, Zhuang met his greatest failures.  Tyranid forces invaded Tashka, a system near to the Azure Flames homeworld of Iperin.  Though Zhuang fought nearly to death, the Tyranids had an inescapable foothold on the promethium-rich world.  Disgusted, Zhuang was forced to commit Exterminatus to set the oceans aflame and deny the Tyranid fleet such nourishment.  Zhuang’s failure was not in vain, as he was able to blunt other Tyranid incursions into the Azure Flames’ territory.

However, recruitment for the 2nd Company was insufficient after this, forcing Zhuang to arrive too late to save the newly founded Acacia Marines from the forces of a Chaos Ark of Omen.  Three Acacia Marines survived, and Zhuang escorted them to the nearest Watch Fortress of the Deathwatch.

Zhuang agreed with Chapter Master Perseus about converting the entire Azure Flames Chapter to Primaris, and was the first to volunteer outside the 4th Company.  After his upgrade, he worked tirelessly to forge Duan Chui, his Thunder Hammer that glows as if constantly forging iron, and Long Xi, his overpowered flame pistol.

Full of Determination, Zhuang left for Nocturne, where he placed last in the Salamander Hunt.  His was the largest that year, but Duan Chui pulverized the prized skin of the Salamander badly.

Zhuang participated in the re-cleansing of Altea when the 4th Company was besieged by Orks.  He often leads near the front, seemingly an unstoppable force of nature,

The new Zhuang uses Lieutenant’s legs and Primaris Jup Pack Captain’s torso.  The hammer is a modified Grey Knight hammer with a brazier from the Salamander upgrade pack.  His head is a Forge world substitute and his pistol is an old Astartes flamer with a tank from the Invictor Warsuit flame cannon.  The Mantle is a good old Dark Elf bit.

The old Zhuang was from the Masters of the Chapter box, modified to have a Storm Bolter instead of a Power Sword.

Next: more captains!

Primaris Captain Project – Nwabudike Abiola, Captain of the 5th Company

Continuing with the Primaris Captain project, I set about a task: re-create the old Space Marine Captain model from scratch.  In the past, three of the ten captains for the Azure Flames were based on this model (it was pewter and there wasn’t a lot of other options…).

So, I combined a Primaris Lieutenant body, the cape from the Primaris Jump Pack Captain, a Dark Angels Scabbard, a Forge World head, an old Iron Halo, and some random Primaris arms to re-create the old Captain pose.  Behold!

Abiola’s old model is on the left, the new one on the right.  The ropes on the chest and the flame on the scabbard were sculpted with Green Stuff.

Here’s a better pic of the front.  The face came out really well.  Nwabudike’s first name was chosen from Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, a game I often steal inspiration from.

The cape was custom detailed with flames, similar to other captains.  The shoulder pad has a custom sculpted flame.  Abiola’s name is on the shoulder.

If you zoom in on the bolter, it says “Mortis.”

So, pretty successful!  This kitbashed mini is a pretty true homage to the old pewter captain!  There’s not much more that I could have done.

Wait, someone’s handing me something.  Who are you and how did you get in my house?

Oh.  Oh no.

It seems that several months after I kitbashed this mini, Games Workshop released the new Company Heroes box set, complete with this stunning fellow:

HAHA had I just waited several months I could have just used this mini and not had to work hard to kitbash, but I’m glad I did.  Abiola’s new model is unique; no one else has a Captain like this.

Next: more Captains!

Primaris Captain Project – Chayton Dakota, Captain of the 6th Company

Just before heading off on my honeymoon, I’ve finished another of the Rubicon-enhanced Captains of the Azure Flames!

Dakota’s original model is on the left.  The classic Space Marine Captain with Power Sword, I modded him to have a Bolt Pistol in 5th ed to be a bare-bones super cheap HQ choice for low points value games. (goodbye 3rd Edition Space Marine Leader with Storm Bolter for 35 points… *sniff*)

During the writing of Big Game VI, Dakota got some characterization.  He became the dour, practical pessimist.  No one expects Dakota to be jovial or enthusiastic.  But the entire chapter knows that he never puts forward criticisms unfounded.  He always supports the other Captains, even when they choose to neglect his caution.  And, on those rare occasions he calls for decisive action, his opinions are given all the more weight.

Dakota’s new Primaris model is the Captain with power fist and plasma pistol, with the same pose as a much earlier classic mini.  I got this mini from the last Swap Meet of the Highland Gaming Club in the Highland Michigan Library, before the club dissolved and eventually made its way to Ypsilanti under the Golden Rhino Games banner.

This mini sat, unloved, in a box, until late last year when I began the Primaris Captain project.  Legions Imperialis delayed it, but it’s done!  Here’s some highlights!

This angle shows Dakota’s face a little better.  Part of the Primaris Captain Project is to add personal names.  Chayton is a Lakota name for Falcon or Hawk.  Dakota’s eyes were painted with a brand new Psycho brush from Army Painter.  The Plasma effect is Baharroth Blue, drybrushed with Altdorf Guard Blue then Pro Acryl Black.  1 part Pro Acryl white was added to three parts Lahmian Medium and carefully washed into the white areas.

Dakota’s hair is XV-88 with a wash of Black Templar Contrast.  This is amazing for dark brown hair!

The cape is Magmadroth Flame over Grey Seer, highlighted with Jokaero Orange (because the new contrast is much more flat).  The flames at the bottom are Altdorf Guard and Baharroth Blue.

All of the Primaris Captain Project minis are converted in at least some way.  Dakota’s hair was custom sculpted from Green Stuff, as was the flame on his shoulder.

Any of the brownish metal is a flat coat of Brass Scorpion with Nuln Oil wash.

Next: I’m on vacation, but after that more Captains and possibly a few more options for Legions Imperialis!

Primaris Captain Project – Orpheon Leonidas, Captain of the 1st Company

When crafting the back story of the Azure Flames 20 years ago, I came up with the character of Leonidas as a brash and obstinate counterpoint to the main narrative pushed by Atrus.  Not everyone is ready to change their entire Chapter livery and practices on the word of one man, much less someone who claims to have received a vision from the Emperor.  Leonidas demanded to wear the old colors of the Sons of the Salamander, and was such an incredible fighter that he was promoted to the Captain of the 1st Company to try to tame him.

This failed.  Leonidas remains a headstrong and effective combatant, but is still completely out of anyone’s control.  He has, however, gained the respect of many within and without of the Chapter.

Leonidas was the son of a Planetary Governor who went against his father’s wishes and joined the Sons of the Salamander.  I gave him the first name Orpheon after the founder of his world.

Leonidas’ original model was created by a guy named Greg who ended up being a bit of a douche.  He gave the model to my buddy Matt, who didn’t use him at all because Matt played Chaos.  However, I played Salamanders and Leonidas’ original model had Chaplain Xavier’s old backpack and hammer, so Matt gave him to me.

I upgraded Leonidas with a Dreadnought sized Heavy Flamer when Vulkan He’Stan became a prevalent character back in 5th or 6th Ed.  He won me so many games I stopped using him because Vulkan He’Stan was kind of completely irresponsibly overpowered.

Now, in 10th ed, as I upgrade all of my old Captains to Primaris models, Leonidas has gone through the Rubicon Primaris and is a more modern looking stand-in for Vulkan He’Stan:

Greg’s old model for Leonidas is on the left.  I re-based him and added the heavy flamer.  Leonidas’ new model is on the right.  As you can see, he fits the scale of 10th better.

Leonidas’ body is the Primaris Captain with Jump Pack body.  The head is from the Black Templar Marshall.  The arm is a Primaris arm upgraded with a Grey Knight Halberd, topped with a Blood Angel Power Sword.  Another Primaris Arm was chopped and slotted into a Terminator Heavy Flamer (the previous edition so slightly smaller than the most modern version).  Finally, Leonidas’ cape is an old Dark Elf Sea Dragon Corsair cloaks.

Leonidas’ left shoulder pad has been upgraded with a sculpted flame (possibly against his own wishes!)

Each scale on the Sea Dragon Cloak was highlighted twice, top and bottom.

The Spear was upgraded with a Sisters of Battle flame bit sculpted on with Green Stuff, and painted with a technique to make it look like it was molten hot out of a forge.

Next: more Captains get the Primaris treatment!

Four Strands Re-Launch! Updates, New Novel, and Surprise Announcement!

Welcome back!  Fourstrandshobby has returned, with a new scheme same as the old scheme!

A while ago, WordPress updates made the old scheme for this site unworkable.  This was after years of hackers breaking into the site again and again.  It turns out that scheme was vulnerable.  I chose another one that was very… blue.  And ugly.  And as such I wasn’t incentivized to post.

But, thanks to Lexington, I have a new scheme that looks like the old scheme, but works with modern WordPress and is secure!

In the intervening years, I’ve been up and down, but I’ve always made time for Modeling, Painting, Gaming, and Storytelling.  I played a lot of 9th edition 40K and then 10th when it came out.

I also got into Legion Imperialis!  I have a huge Sons of Horus force that grows all the time and will soon be joined (opposed?) by a Solar Auxillia force!  Click the link below to see the brand new Image Gallery!

Legion Imperialis Image Gallery

More importantly, I’ve been writing!  Big Game V: The Battle of Iperin was a novella made of vignettes contributed by multiple people on the old BGV forums and was chiefly written by myself, Lexington, and Joe.  Big Game VI: The Omega War was a more focused narrative written by Lexington and myself.

However, the newest novella to be featured on Fourstrands is Home Fires: An Azure Flames Novel.  This finishes what I’ll refer to as the Azure Flames Omnibus at least in terms of main stories.  I also have a short story between BGV and BGVI, and I am considering another between BGVI and Home Fires to make a complete Black Library style omnibus.  Click the link below, or the one in the Features bar.

Home Fires: An Azure Flames Novel

I’ve also done several projects for the Azure Flames!  I’ll post a few pics below, but most will have their own posts soon.

But finally, and most importantly for my life, I’m getting married!  Me and my Fiancée bonded over the classic Adult Swim show: The Venture Brothers.  As such, I commissioned an expert to 3D print the Monarch and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch from their wedding.  I then painted the duo myself.

Coming up next: Legion Imperialis Thunderhawk Gunship, some Solar Auxillia, and hopefully a battle report against loyalist scum, the White Scars at AFK!

Necromunda Campaign Finale – The Crucible

In the finale of our narrative campaign, the gangs are keyed into a bounty against invading Orks! Smelling a fortune to be made for whoever kills the Warboss, the gangs ambush the Orks as they try to establish a camp!

Gangs got victory points for slaying Orks. The Fighting was rough until Petra’s Ash Waste gangers shot the Warboss in the back with a missile!

Suddenly, the Gang Leaders were swallowed with white light! They were teleported to an arena!

Last one standing wins!

The fighting was fast and fierce, and the last two opponents were both limping around with flesh wounds!

Finally, Syn Decote, leader of the Field Testers, was triumphant!

***

Syn Decote wrapped his cloak around his wounds. Only his armoured undersuit had saved him from being blown apart by the Palanite Captain’s lucky bolt rounds. He slammed a painkiller and took a deep breath.

A white column of light appeared in the center of the arena. With no other options, Syn readied his plasma pistol and stepped into the light.

He appeared before the Eldar Farseer that had helped the gangers before, when they had been ambushed by the Imperial Fists. Beside him were the other two Eldar with the slim meltaguns and the fire motif on their armour. Syn narrowed his eyes, but didn’t flinch.

“Greetings, champion of Man.” the Farseer said. “I am Yrthrian Mardawn, Farseer of the Aeldari. Long have I searched for one as you. I beg you, before you leave, hear my plea. I offer a lifetime of glory, luxury, and freedom.”

Syn figured that this alien could have slagged him at any time. He could have also set him rot in that sealed off room. Despite the drills from childhood about how aliens were scum, Syn decided to give the weirdo in the tall hat a chance.

“I’ll listen.” he spat.

The Farseer motioned to the Fire Dragons: “Leave us.” Even behind their tall helmets, Syn could sense thet were confused. They left after a moment, with Syn face to face with the Farseer. He removed his tall helmet, revealing pale skin, delicate features, and pointed ears. He spoke.

“Before I ask of your skills in combat, I must explain why I have searched for you so long. The Aeldari live on ships known as Craftworlds. My Craftworld, Saim-Hann, is ruled by the most dominant family. Many years ago, I received a vision of the future. In this vision, the galaxy was rent in two and the Great Enemy you know as Chaos tore the Human Imperium apart. The Craftworlds of the Aeldari were not spared this wrath. However, under the leadership of my family, Craftworld Saim-Hann survived, and aided the humans to hold back the night.

“My family was not in a position of leadership. Therefore, I challenged the ruling family. It was decided that in ten years’ time, we would choose a champion, and these champions would duel. The winner would bring glory to the family that chose them, and that family would rule.

“I scryed the future once again, and saw this place, this Hive. Within it, I knew I would find a champion capable of the victory I needed. I searched for years, ultimately deciding on the Human known as Bull Gorg. I spirited him away from the Human authorities that hunted him, and they presumed him dead. He accompanied me to Saim-Hann. However, something happened that no one foresaw:

“Bull Gorg and the champion of the opposing family slew each other at the exact same moment. No victor could be decided. So, both families agreed to another competition in ten more years.

“This time, however, I did not search at random. I contacted Rangers who ply the webways to manipulate events. I gave aid to House Ty and fueled their ambitions for dominance. I worked with the Human Inquisitor Von Styr, pitting him against his enemies. I gave false leads to the Astartes, who came in search of their fallen brethren, only to find you. Finally, I used all the resources at my disposal to re-direct an Ork WAAAAGH, but to weaken it so that it could not destroy this place.

“All this, I have done, to turn this Hive into a crucible. To burn away the impurities and find perfection. I believe you are the champion I need to save my world.

“For your services, I will extricate you from this hellish place. I will shower you with riches, and allow you to live on my Craftworld, or on any other planet in the galaxy, barring those belonging to the Exodites. I will even pledge my Craftworld to defend your Imperium from the coming darkness.

“For this, I require you fight for me. It will not be easy. But I believe you are destined to prevail.

“What say you, Champion of man?”

Syn was in awe. This guy had so much power, and all he wanted was a fight?

Syn could fight a guy. He did it all the time.

“You got a deal.” he said, holstering his pistol and extending his hand. The Eldar looked at the hand as if it were a rat three days dead, but then seemed to steel himself and shook Syn’s hand.

“Then, you shall come with us. It is a weeklong trek in the Ash Wastes to the Webway Portal.”

“Whatever.” Syn said.

It was the last word he would speak aloud on Necromunda. He was alright with that.

Big Necromunda Update

It’s been a while since I’ve updated due to the hectic life of a Necromunda Arbitrator. Here’s a huge dump of awesome stuff!

First, I finished Wendy and Sandy, my Champion and Specialist, with Needle Rifles.

Wendy and Sandy are, as previous characters, based on characters from Maniac Mansion:

Next, the second of the major narrative events happened for my Necromunda Campaign: Diamonds in the Sump! The leaders of the player gangs and their trusted seconds were ambushed by an Inquisitor who was an enemy of the Inquisitor that hired them for the first event! Luckily, Kal Jerico himself was there to provide an opening. The leader of the Field Testers, Syn Ducote (Van Saar) fragged the Inquisitor and made his escape! The rest of the gangs ran down a huge hallway from the Inquisitor’s private Enforcer Squad!

Finally, a shipment came in from Forge World, and I have a pair of brand new Phyrr Cats to add to battles for Razor and the Scumettes!

Next: more Necromunda including the next narrative event which will prove to be a shocker!

Necromunda Downtime Multiplayer Game and Squad Batarian, IVth squad, VIIth Company of the Imperial Fists

This weekend was a blast! Five players (not including myself) participated in a narrative six way multiplayer battle! An Inquisitor bullied the gangs into attacking an underground prison compound. Here was the board setup:

Each player got one of the 5 tiles on the top of this picture, and their goal was to kill a specific model and open the doors in the cells at the bottom. Things began cordially, and then Dan’s Cawdor smoked one of Josh’s Goliath’s with a Krak Grenade arrow and it went downhill from there. Petra’s ash waste bug monster rampages through the halls, killing at will. Zach’s Palanite Enforcers went up the right side, smashing as they went.

All through this, odd things happened. The “Traitors” that the gangs were supposedly fighting had oddly accurate weaponry, and Matt’s gang leader, an unsanctioned psyker, found himself trying to undo warpcraft from somewhere! Further, the target was eliminated by his own plasma pistol exploding and Dan’s Cherub found something interesting on the body…

Finally, after two gangs bottled and most fighters were down, the cells were opened, to find the prisoners executed! Oh well, three players got special inquisitorial sanctions for not bottling.

After this, I managed to finish the special antagonists I’ve been working on: Squad Batarian, IVth Squad, VIIth Company of the Imperial Fists, stationed in the Necromunda Fortress Monastery.

In truth they’ve been done for a while, but I was waiting on decals. No regular Space Marine sets have black tactical arrows! I had to special order two sheets of Imperial Fist ones.

As you can see above, I did two decals, one over the other. I also added some nifty battle damage and tried to get poses to be as dynamic as I could without repeating.

Marines were sprayed Wraithbone, coated Iyanden Yellow Contrast, and then brought up with yellow and highlighted light yellow. Reds are Blood Angels Contrast. Metals are Boltgun washed with Nuln Oil. I did the bases with black spray, Boltgun, and rust pigment, stippled in places with orange. Cursive names were freehand.

Soon: more gangers and more Necromunda goodness!