Update Warlord No241- Helios Iapetus, 15-11-16

BigJon recently had some great news to share with TOC as Helios Iapetus has now officially been declared as completed (though as ever, things can change and grow on such lovely models):

"I don't think you are truly done with a model of such size and grace but you have to be 'finished' at some point.

I now declare Helios Iapetus of Legion Tempestus fully operational and ready for a proper engine walk.

I still have some decals work, if FW puts out decals. My second head, a scenic base, additional weapons for Christmas and some weathering and clear coat."

COMPLETED PICTURES

The Princeps looks like he means business in there.

Very lovely name scroll and location.

Lovely work on the rear and the door hatch looks very sharp.

Very sharp job and the lighting and heat damage on the weapons is phenomenal.

The death dealer is certainly ready for war.

That sums it up quite well.

Congratulations to BigJon for completing his Warlord and we look forward to hearing about Helios Iapetus' exploits in the future.

Titan Owner Interview- Jonathan B., Helios Iapetus, Hyperion

Sometimes there comes along that one hobbyist that's happy to share his ideas, float around a site, and even "steal" the ideas of others while giving due credit and comes up with something absolutely amazing.  BigJon is one of those hobbyists and he's also a TOC member.  We sat down with him and picked his brain recently to give you the scoop on he and his two death dealers.

TOC: It's always a pleasure to speak with one of the TOC members since you are the driving forces of the blog.  You have two entries in the form of Hyperion and Helios Iapetus.  What drove you to start with the two biggest Titans on the block?

Jonathan B.: When you go, go big.  I've done a couple of Warhounds in the past but they have come and gone. It seemed that when your site was coming alive it was within my project window.  I also have another Reaver on your site, Anima Messor, #182, but he was eBay'ed.  He was sold to fund Hyperion.

TOC: As I understand it, Hyperion's certificate number had an ironic tie to Anima Messor's certificate number in the long run.

Jonathan B.: Just matching in the 18.  182 vs. 1833 that's a lot of Titans between there.

TOC: It's poetic in a way.  And I notice that your engines are Legio Tempestus, a very common and loved Legio.  What drew you to them?

Jonathan B.: That's a complicated question really. After selling Messor I wanted to do an established Legio; one that could fit in both the 30k and 40k "universes".  I had read of Titanicus by Dan Abnett and loved it. I also had the Forge World book covering the Sabbat World Crusade that also had Tempestus in it. Then Mechanicum by Graham McNeill came out and I was decided.  I also have the old Titan epic game and noted the camo, so to pay tribute to the old game I wanted camo in my paint.

Hyperion looks resplendent in the Tempestus colors.

TOC: Very fluff-driven; it's led you to a very strong choice.  Did the fact that the Legio split in half during the Horus Heresy impact your decisions as well?

Jonathan B.: Sure, I love the drama. Good guy, bad guy; depends on who he is shooting at really. From a gaming perspective a banner swap and a chaos missile launcher and bang, a pre-Heresy chaos Titan.

TOC: Options seem to be important to your builds, and the magnet work that you've done on your Titans reflects that.  You've also done some inventive things by using screws.  What prompted such a unique solution?

Jonathan B.: I can't take credit for the screws. There is a site called Tanks and Trolls where I got the idea. The Warlord is a large and heavy kit; it just didn't seem pins were going to cut it. The screws increase the surface area inside and provided a better join.  I pre-drilled and then routed out where the screw goes, coated it with JB and secured.  It also let me handle a part that might otherwise need to sit for 24 hours.

A different and great solution to a hard to tackle problem.

TOC: It's a good solution for a very heavy kit that you certainly don't want to get ruined or broken.  As I understand it from when Col. Hertford was interviewed you're also having a build competition with him.  What inspired that, and how does it help you look at the process of your Warlord build?

Jonathan B.: It started with the Reaver.  I was looking up as much info on Tempestus as I could and found his blog. It helped motivate me to catch up, next thing you know my catching up resulted in a gentleman's race. I wanted to match his colors so we exchanged some messages and tips.  I truly think a Titan build is a community effort. I still reference every source I can find during the entire process of building and painting.

TOC: What would you say is different about the TOC community compared to the 40k community at large?

Jonathan B.: A Forge World Titan is more than a gaming piece or model toy. I've been scale modeling since I was a child with my grandfather. These Titans are a true test in skill and patience. It's an investment in time, effort, sometimes blood, and money.  I think everyone pulls for each other knowing what is involved.

TOC: The blood part was shown off in your Warlord's original post.  You've definitely got a sense of dedication about your big resin babies.  What drew you in to Titan ownership?  It's a big step for any player/hobbyist in the hobby.

Jonathan B.: When I first got into this hobby my entrance was Adeptus Titanicus. Titans, and big giant robots in general as a kid, was my thing.  My first Titans were Armorcast Reavers and Phantoms; I've owned a few in my time and am currently working on one of each for a guy I know.

When FW put out the first Reaver I knew I wanted one. When the Warlord was introduced I felt like a kid again with that Adeptus Titanicus box with theses foam buildings. I don't play as much, but the building and painting will always be my hobby. My grandfather did model trains into his 80's; I'm sure I'll be the same with large FW kits, with a focus on the Titans.

Both Titan and owner stand tall and proud.  Helios has made a lot of progress since we last saw it.

TOC: Which Titans are next on the list for you, if any?

Jonathan B.: Well, I've done three Warhounds and have sold them all. Time for a fourth.  After that I hope to have a lot of Titans in a much smaller scale when FW releases the new Horus Heresy Titanicus.

I do commission work on the side; a client is thinking of adding his own Warlord and asked me the cost of assembly and painting and I told him it was going to cost him a second Warlord, so it's not out of the question.

TOC: Any Skitarii or Secutarii like you see in the stories?

Jonathan B.: I have a mound of it, just waiting on the FW bits to be released (they had not at the time of the interview- TOC). My Reaver is on display at my local GW and I was asked to paint up a supporting force. They look good in the blue/gray camo so I will paint to match.

TOC: What are you most excited about for the future of Titans?

Jonathan B.: I hope the smaller scale game will bring people into the larger kits so we can see more fantastic builds. I would like to see more weapon and head options.  Of course I dream of plastic Titans but alas.  I also can't wait for GW and FW to fill in the blanks. More source info and fluff; more background.

TOC: Last question, and always the fun one.  Any shout-outs, challenges, or words of encouragement for the TOC at large?

Jonathan B.: Thanks to you and the entire TOC community. Special shout to Col. Hertford. Thanks to Dave Taylor's build, 30mm madness, Tanks and Trolls, and Battle Bunnies, very core sites that helped me along.  A word of encouragement. I had my first Titan for several years before I finally sat down and did it. Don't let the kit intimate you, take your time; enjoy it.

Walk After-Action Report - Helios Iapetus, WLT241

++INCOMING INLOAD FROM LEGIO TEMPESTUS++

++BEGIN DATA INLOAD++

++DATA ROUTED FROM COLLEGIA TITANIC PRINCEPS' LOGS++

++RECORDS PROCEED++

Magos,

My combat data and memories from the recent engagement are in the upload, sent via Helios Iapetus' Manifold connection.

++BEGIN COMBAT LOG++

Princeps Castor reporting.  Combat operations are a go and I am beginning the log.  Moderatii report full operation of the Warlord Titan ready for engagement.  It is with regret that I report the situation to be so dire that the Titan has been deployed without the majority of its armor plating, but such is the need for the Titan that the Mechanicus has deemed it a necessary risk.  Helios Iapetus growls, its spirit ready for the action.  I must reign it in, for our role is only that of a world burner, clearing the way for allied forces to engage the enemy.

The Titan Guard scurry below the venerable Warlord's feet, ready to keep the enemy at bay and the Titan from being boarded.  Omnissiah knows it will be needed with the missing armor plating, but I know they will do their job admirably.  I take full stock of the battlefield, an alliance of xenos, including Tau and Tyranids, and what are supposed to be loyal Adeptus Astartes arrayed against me.  Surely trickery must be at play, or some xenos corruption of those Astartes, but there is no question in my mind that this is what would be classified in Imperial nomenclature as an Apocalypse level battle.

At the beginning of the battle, the Titan Guard were able to dispatch four of the loathsome Tau battlesuits who dropped in from orbit a little to close for comfort.  Such firepower could harm a weakened Titan and so my previous comments of my Titan Guard were indeed prophetic. The Titan Guard irradiated the little blue bastards, keeping Helios safe and free. I was able to turn the attention of the Warlord to a group of supposed Space Wolves standing on a hill. The Moderatii assisted me in gaining targeting solutions on Helios' weapons and I squeezed my fingers in approximation of pulling a trigger, reaching out and burning 30 down to ash as well as a Rhino. The Tau peppered the frame of the mighty Warlord, its spirit growling at me in anger at the injustice heaped upon it and I knew that the buildings they were hiding in would have to be destroyed and their pitiful xenos lives snuff out with the buildings.

The Tau continued to bring in reinforcements, the heaviest of their number; Riptides, more battlesuits, and a Stormsurge.  To bring one of their newest and among their heaviest of assets screamed of a desperation against my might.  I was a god on the battlefield, and they dared to fire at me.  I could feel the Titan pushing into my mind and I realized that I began to fall into the trap of thinking I was the mighty Titan in its full state and not as the Princeps.  I had to reign it back in. In time, I did, and all of the threats in front of me and the Warlord needed to be removed.  Helios saw to it in glorious fashion, turning them to naught but dust upon the wind.   To sweeten the count, more of the seemingly traitorous Space Wolves and a Land Raider were melted to slag.

In their final act of desperation the Tau brought out their newest and deadliest creation, a Supremency Suit as it was codified, dared to remove two of the Titan's void shields.  Barking orders to the Moderatii I ensured that targeting solutions would remove the Supremency Suit from its sad xenos existence.  I must admit I took pleasure in eliminating something designed to kill Helios Iapetus as the foul Tau beast became nothing more than a crumbling heap under the might of my brain and Helios' guns.   I then removed a walled fortification which saw the death of some Tyranids, my first engagement against them of the battle, and was able to turn a Mawloc into mush with point-blank defense weapons. It was when the battle began to fade as our forces crushed the enemy that all of the void shields that has previously collapsed were finally able to be restored.  Six had failed during the battle, and now all were back in working order.  Given the Titan's less than ideal state due to the missing armor, we stood silent sentinel while the rest of our allies chased down the foe, ending them for good.

++END COMBAT LOG++

++BEGIN PICT CAPTURES++

The head unit before being fitted and ready for battle.

The original Tau strike team met with disaster trying to attack the Titan so closely.

Exposed, but still formidable.

None stand before the might of the Warlord and live.

++RECORDS END++

Congratulations on a successful Walk - TOC

Update Warlord No.241 - Helios Iapetus, 8-8-16

BigJon sent some pictures our way regarding some very special projects he's set into motion on his lovely Warlord Titan:



"Another quick update.

Using magnets on the heads so the insides can be show off."

UPDATE PICTURES

Making sure none of that lovely detail goes to waste.

Warlord No241- Helios Iapetus, Legio Tempestus

Certificate Number: 241
Titan name: Helios Iapetus (The Piercing Sun)
Pattern: Mars Pattern Warlord Titan
Head Unit: Mars-Beta
Primary Armament: Belicosa Volcano Cannon (x2), Carapace Warlord Laser Blaster. (Sunfury Plasma Annihilator upgrade pending x2)
Princeps: Princeps Castor
Titan Legio: Legio Tempestus
Demi Legio: Ethelotis
Battle Maniple Composition:  Reaver Titan #1833, Hyperion
Owner: Jonathan B.
Location: Tennessee, USA
Comments:  Follow my progress at: http://twotitans.blogspot.com

Photos: 

COMPLETED PICTURES

The Princeps looks like he means business in there.

Very lovely name scroll and location.

Lovely work on the rear and the door hatch looks very sharp.

Very sharp job and the lighting and heat damage on the weapons is phenomenal.

The death dealer is certainly ready for war.

That sums it up quite well.

WORK IN PROGRESS PHOTOS

Getting a good and stable leg pose going.

The Spartan designed head unit has taken shape.



Working through injury and laying down the ground work for magnets.





A new trick, using screws instead of pins for structural stability.  (Great idea!- Shadow)

More of the superstructure has come together.

Weapons are being test fitted and magnets have been made use of quite well.

UPDATE PICTURES

Making sure none of that lovely detail goes to waste.

Beautiful engine so far, keep it up! - TOC