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Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

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So here it is, painted at last – my Ambull!

This classic Rogue Trader monster was given to me by Screaming-Mad-George and Krippie when I was staying with them in The Netherlands a few Christmases back. I procrastinate a lot when it comes to getting things painted, but for this one I think I at least have the excuse I wanted to this old and rare model justice. Even deciding on how to base it took a bit of time - I wanted to allude to the fact that Ambulls are tunnelling creatures so decided that the base should represent the floor of a tunnel the creature has dug. After trying several things that didn't quite look how I wanted I settled with a piece of cork bark sliced through at a right angle which had a texture to it with the look of claw marks. I added some sand to represent rubble that had been clawed away and then sealed it the cork with watered down PVC glue for strength and to stop it soaking up the paint when I under coated it.
The colour scheme I used was based on the picture of a painted Ambull that appeared in White Dwarf 99 but made a little darker as befits my style of painting
From a black under coat I gave the Ambull a base coat of Scorched Brown which I then highlighted up though Graveyard Earth and Komando Kaki. At this point I'd like to point out I'm not exactly sure what all the details on the Ambull really represent so I'm going to just call them by what they look like. I gave the tubes that run from the creature's head and over it back a thin green glaze to pick them out and the gave the softer looking muscle type areas a coat of Yellow Wash and then Griffone Sepia to distinguish them them from the chitinous armour-like plates (which where left as they where after the final Komando Kaki highlight). I then washed the feathery-looking areas on the torso and legs with a mixture of Yellow Wash and Baal Red, followed by slightly watered down Devian Mud. I then gave the mandibles and the claws on the feet and hands an extra highlight of bleached bone to pick them out. The eyes where painted Blood Red followed by Ruby Red and the model was pretty much finished. The rock on the base was dry-brushed Adeptus Battle Grey, washed with Devian Mud and then highlighted with a mixture of Adeptus Battle Grey and Codex Grey. Oh and the base edge was cleaned up with a quick coat of MP paints Primer Black, which had also been used for the undercoat. Simple but effective paint job – I'm very happy with this one!

^For reference here's the original picture of the painted Ambull that appeared in WD99

12 Comments

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MarkRG

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

Great paint job mate, have you thought of adding this to a space hulk game. M

-- Mark RG (Game on)

Triple Helix Wargames

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Good skills Mortis - nostalgia abounds at my keyboard (don't worry, I'll mop it up in a bit) as WD99 was the oldest White Dwarf I owned.

Steve, THW

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MortiS-the-Lost

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MarkRG

Thanks Guys

MarkRG wrote

have you thought of adding this to a space hulk game. M

The Ambull isn't a likely creature to be found aboard a SpaceHulk, but it would be awesome to set a Space Hulk or Space Crusade mission in a complex of underground tunnels where an Ambull or 2 might be lurking!
Ambulls are large, tough to kill and their claws are capable tearing through rock and power armour with equal ease, this makes them more than a fair match for even a Space Marine Terminator. There is a suggested scenario in Rogue Trader where 2 opposing forces meet in an abandoned Ambull burrow, which turns out to be not quite so abandoned as first thought ...

I also have an old White Dwarf which contains a WFRP adventure that introduces an Ambull into the fantasy setting (through a dimensional rift) so you might see one turn up in Quest too!

-----------------------------------
~The ravings of a single mad Goblin is bad enough, but such a power-hungry, malice-filled creature as Mortis can never hope to be understood~

MarkRG

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Cool must bring in my dwarf to kick ass again, he has been getting lazy, lol M

-- Mark RG (Game on)

General Biakal

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

for such an old model you have really took this one to another level. you never put much up but when you do it is soooo good. those flying eye bat things you put up 18 months ago still look pro painted to me.

its nice to see our great leaders stuff- long may it continue.

now we just need Rob to "come on over for the big win..." as Robards said in full metal jacket

"WAAAAGH! VROOM VROOM!!! DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA! Dead gud innit yoof?!" - typical Mekboy sales pitch

Apocalypsedreamer

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Mine please!! Really nice paint job mate.

A.D

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uncle phil

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Sounds like a novel Space Hulk Scenario!
The Menagerie.
A bunch of Genestealers hitch a ride on a space hulk. Finding nothing apparently alive on board they have little interest in the hulk's cargo. In fact the hulk is part of a ship that was being used to transport exotic alien animals held in stasis.
When the hulk emerges from warpspace a power surge causes the system to shut down the stasis fields to come into operation, releasing animals. Many of the creatures are panicked by the unfamiliar environment they find themselves in and become aggressive. When a team of marines arrive to check out the hulk they find problems other than the genestealers.

Be a really good excuse to bring out all your necromunda and RT vintage creatures and pit them against Marined and Genestealers.

MortiS-the-Lost

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

uncle phil wrote

Sounds like a novel Space Hulk Scenario!
The Menagerie.
A bunch of Genestealers hitch a ride on a space hulk. Finding nothing apparently alive on board they have little interest in the hulk's cargo. In fact the hulk is part of a ship that was being used to transport exotic alien animals held in stasis.
When the hulk emerges from warpspace a power surge causes the system to shut down the stasis fields to come into operation, releasing animals. Many of the creatures are panicked by the unfamiliar environment they find themselves in and become aggressive. When a team of marines arrive to check out the hulk they find problems other than the genestealers.

Be a really good excuse to bring out all your necromunda and RT vintage creatures and pit them against Marined and Genestealers.

that's an interesting idea

may well be giving this scenario a try soon in my group's on going Space Crusade campaign

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~The ravings of a single mad Goblin is bad enough, but such a power-hungry, malice-filled creature as Mortis can never hope to be understood~

Billiam Babble

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Mortis, your colour choices for the Ambull is much cooler than the original.

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lukekennedy100

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Fantastic Mortis! I love the paint scheme, and contrasting between yours and the original, I definitely prefer yours. The darker colour suits him way more ;D

''The only reason they use crosses on vampires is because vampires are allergic to bullshit''- Richard Pryor

Richie the Orc

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

WOW, haven't seen that mini for ages, great paint job on it as well!

Marchomer

Re: Ambull (Rogue Trader Monster)

In reply to this post by MortiS-the-Lost

Another example of model removed from the GW range without a reason... (like zoats, slann, squats, rogue traders... for example)
By the way, superb job as always!

(I'm realizing I missed some most in here!)

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