OK here's the second Challenge entry from me, and there's a bit of a backstory...
Many years ago (2012 to be exact) I was working hard on a Rogue-Trader-style Howling Griffons Space Marine project. I used a bunch of MKI Rhinos for transports, and I'd done one up as a Predator. Unfortunately I didn't have sponsons to put on that model and although Predators needn't necessarily have sponson-mounted weapons... they just don't look quite right without them.
Sometime later I lucked into two Rhino track units and sponson-mounted heavy bolters. Although I did have some other spare Rhino bits like hatches and a rear panel, unfortunately I was missing a very important component - the hull itself. "No problem, I'll scratchbuild that out of plasticard" I thought, and so I did. And there it sat in my cupboard, unpainted and unloved.
While looking for something else the other day (does ANYONE know where my unpainted metal Daemonhost, last seen in 2013, went??) I came across the model and had an idea - "I should paint this!" (radical, I know). I have lots of Howling Griffons Rhinos and none of my other Space Marine armies are in desperate need of a MKI Predator... but it occurred to me that this model would go great in my classic Sisters of Battle army. While the Sisters of Battle army list from the edition we play (5th) never included a Predator per se, our group is pretty relaxed about this kind of thing, especially since it's generally me that sets up and hosts the games. And the current list includes a vehicle called a "Castigator" that is also built on a Rhino hull and is armed with an autocannon, sponson heavy bolters, and a pintle storm bolter/heavy bolter, which is exactly what we have here. "Close enough for Adeptus Ministorum work," as they say.
So with the decision made to paint this as a Sisters tank, I noticed that the hull I'd built years before was a bit wonky, so I tore it apart and made a new one for it that passes much better for the original. I found a few bits to stick on the hull top, fitted a storm bolter, a Sisters of Battle front hull emblem and the last of my purity seals from Chaostemple.cz and GW, and the vehicle was ready for paint! I painted it in my typical Sisters style of course: black undercoat, panel highlights in Dark Rubber, edge highlights Celestra Grey, metal parts and tracks Leadbelcher washed with Nuln Oil, and dirt weathering with Rhinox Hide/AK Dark Brown/Steel Legion Drab. I also handpainted the fleur-de-lys insignia on the rear hull. The Chaostemple purity seals are great, they're cast metal so you can mold them how you like, unlike plastic or resin ones. Decals are from the GW Adepta Sororitas and Imperial Tank sheets.
You might notice a bit of greenstuff work on the turret. This is a GW turret but there were parts missing, including the turret floor and hatch... so some scratchbuilding was done to fix that too, back in 2012 or so.
I almost forgot one of the most important additions here! That's the Wargames Exclusive gothic headlights - they are great aren't they? I have 'em on all of my Sisters vehicles.
Storm bolter mount needed a bit of carving up to fit.
Here's three Sisters with the Predator. My plan in getting this done was to use it in the New Year's Day game I host for our group, the game this year being a 40K 5th edition matchup between the Sisters and Orks - pretty much all vintage GW models in both armies. We had a great time playing the game (Orks won, 5vp to 3 - the battle report is now up on our blog) and enjoyed some delicious Red Swan pizza and beer afterwards. That's how a New Year's Day should be spent!
As for the theme, well the Sisters of Battle are part of the Adeptus Ministorum, the "religious" arm of the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, so I reckon that suits "Empire" pretty much exactly.
Points: 28mm vehicle, 20 points
Empire bonus: 50 points
Total: 70 points
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