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DreadTober 2025: The Grand Finale!!

 

Hi folks,

The DreadTober challenge is officially over for another year and it is time to see who made it through to the end. This has been an interesting year with a diverse range of projects on offer. A number of hobbyists managed to finish their projects early, whilst a bunch were still fighting hard to get their work complete by the deadline. Please note, if I have designated you as "Lost in Warp" and you manage to finish later, I would be happy to update the post, just let me know. Let's take a look at what we managed to achieve.

Name: Neverness
Project: Celestial Lions Dreadnought
Blog: https://nevernesshobby.blogspot.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/neverness92.bsky.social

Neverness has finished this venerable Castraferrum off with some neat decals and iconography. The Celestial Lions are such a cool Chapter, it is great to see them getting some love this year; bravo!!

Name: Agis

Project: First legion Saturnine Dreadnought

Blog: https://agis40k.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @agis.40k

Honour to the First!! This is a fantastic finish to a huge project, and could very well be the "poster boy" for this year's challenge. Gritty and detailed, this Saturnine Dread is a work of grim/dark art.

Name: Dave Weston

Project: Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan

Blog: 40kaddict.uk

Dave didn't quite get his bonus model finished, but his main project is fantastic. The execution of the paint scheme, the iconography and the weathering are all spot-on. Beautiful work.

Name: XarfaiEngel

Project: 2 Adeptus Titanicus Reaver Titans; stretch goal: Ghrastak (Luna Wolves Contemptor)

Blog: https://abutterflyshobbytally.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @xarfaiengel

Continuing the titan theme, Xarfai finished this pair of Reavers off. I think you will agree that the colour scheme and added details look amazing. I am a particular fan of the hazard stripes, knowing full-well how difficult they are to do.

Name: Wachtmeister
Project: 2nd Edition Dark Angels Dreadnought
Blog: https://wachtmeisterspatrol.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wachtmeisters_patrol/

This old Dark Angels version of the Castraferrum is one of my favourite models of all time. The Meister has certainly done it justice. The addition of some decals and a great mossy looking base finish it off nicely. Love the blue lenses too. 

Name: Wachtmeisterson 
Project: Ork Deff Dread

Wachtmeisterson has made a great effort to get finished in time. This Dread will look great on the battlefield and the progress made during the challenge has been significant; well done!!

Name: DAM
Project: Dark Angels Brutalis Dreadnought
Blog: http://262krieg.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @262_krieg

It was worth the wait. What a classy finish; really neat brushwork and great use of decals. I have to say this is an inspiring model, I may need to pick one of these up myself.

Name: Tom
Project: 2nd Ed Blood Axe Ork Dreadnought
Instagram: @university_dave

It is no secret that I love this project; incredible execution of a gorgeous paint scheme. The secret ingredient is surely pure Waaagh. I have had the pleasure of seeing many of Tom's models in the Cowabunga 2nd Ed. Army Painting challenges, so my expectations were high. This exceeds them.

Name: Ed

Project: Night Lords Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: https://berserkerbladeblog.blogspot.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carnage_x_scissors

Name: jabberjabber
Project: Iron Warriors Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: Warpstone Flux - https://warpstoneflux.blogspot.com/

The weathering on this Contemptor is a great touch, particularly across the hazard stripes. Lovely base too, bravo!!

Name: Thousand Eyes/Mac an tSagart
Project: A leaping hellbrute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steppingbetweengames/

Name: Sachiel

Project: Bray'Arth Ashmantle
Blog: https://sachiel-returns.blogspot.com

Sachiel didn't quite get finished; life is like that sometimes. Still, the progress is excellent. I am looking forward to updating this one when it is finished.

Name: Siph
Project: Armiger Warglaives
Blog: https://weemen.blogspot.com
Instagram: @siph_horridus

Siph's Warglaive's are neat as heck. I painted on of these not long ago, so I have a sense of how much work goes into each. To knock over two in one challenge is an impressive feat.

Name: Beanz
Project: Hive Fleet Leviathan Tyrannofex

Name: OzMonster

Project: Commander Farsight

OzMonster is rightly proud of his finished Farsight. He has had a go at some OSL and NMM, which I think is pretty gutsy for a young lad. A bright future ahead of him, I'd say.

Name: Marc

Project: Hive Fleet Numereji Tervigon
Blog: https://oldschoolg4m1ng.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @m4cr0dutch

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/m4cr0dutch.bsky.social

That leaves me, I guess. The colour shift paints I use need to go over a gloss black undercoat. The night I tried to finish it off was ridiculously humid, which caused all kinds of complications. Still, I think I managed to achieve the finish I was aiming for. To photograph it, I had to use some directional lighting. When you move it around, the colour shifts from green to a dark purple, which look pretty rad in my opinion. Perfect for a "Rainbow Serpent-themed" Hive Fleet.

That's a wrap for 2025!! As always, a huge thanks to all of you for making this challenge happen. It really is a pleasure to put these posts together every week to celebrate your efforts. Shout-out to Dave Weston from Confessions of a 40K Addict for his design expertise in creating the blog banner and our digital badge reward:

Feel free to post it on your blogs in recognition of your efforts this year, in celebration of 10 years of DreadTober. 

Hopefully, if the stars align, we can meet up again next year for another month of Dreadnought madness. Until then, stay safe and keep painting!!

Kind regards,

Marc

October DreadLine Approaches!

 

Helbrute by Anton Solovianchyk

Hi folks,

The challenge deadline is swiftly approaching. I am getting my lightbox ready to take some final photographs with my new camera; hopefully it is less potato in nature than my usual device. Over the weekend I will put all of the final photos together and I hope to get the last post out on Monday. That gives you a couple of bonus days to finish if you are cutting things close...

In the meantime, I recently put out a call for challengers to answer some questions about their favourite Dreadnought. Dave Weston from Confessions of a 40K Addict, who is responsible for our blog banner and other DreadTober-themed designs, has provided some insights into one of his awesome projects. 

1) In what year did you first join the DreadTober challenge?

2017 was the first year I’d managed to clear my hobby schedule in such a way as I could plan to join in. I think I’d been aware of it at least for 2016, maybe even 2015 when it began. But in 2016 I was focused on my Armies on Parade board, which didn’t allow me to participate. It’s crazy now to look back and see so many 2025 participants who were taking part in 2016 - Siph, DAM, thousandeyes, even yourself. Obviously we credit Greg and Todd for starting it way back in 2015.

Indeed; we stand on the shoulders of giants - Marc

2) What is your favourite Dreadnought?

I’ll be controversial by nominating a ‘dread-sized’ model, rather than an actual Dreadnought. My favourite is the ‘human-dread’ the plastic Imperial Guard Sentinel from the 1990’s. 

3) What is it about this model that resonates with you?

Well it was a complete surprise to me how much I liked it that I only discovered painting two of them for my first DreadTober in 2017. The kit was incredibly simple yet still created a posable robot, with options for loadouts and if it was a scout or armored sentinel. Throw in they were relatively cheap on ebay and I just loved how you can scratch that ‘giant freaking robot’ itch for a bargain, if you were so inclined. 

4) What can you remember about the modelling/painting process?

That’s easy enough as I enjoyed painting them so much I got another two and they were part of my pledge last year. Although, I didn’t quite get them done alongside my main pledge of a Norn Emissary. But it was still a fun experience. They were painted for my Genestealer Cult, whose vehicles are all ‘construction vehicle’ yellow. They’re rusted and oily, with flaking paintwork. Absolutely perfect for hiding how badly these ebay rescues had been put together. They also were all supposed to come with Flamers as I wanted the auto hits to mitigate the low Ballistic Skill of their Genestealer hybrid drivers.

Lots of rust and weathering effects gave me plenty of practice. I can’t tell if it’s realistic or a cartoon recreation of weathered vehicles but it was a lot of fun to do. One of the Sentinels is actually armoured though. I was short a 4th Flamer, its chainsaw and its armour. It came with a multi-laser so I decided to armour it up using plasticard and cardboard. Again, the battered nature hides a multiple of hobby sins. The chainsaw was actually a 1st Edition Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan Chain Fist! 

5) Tell us about the base of the model.

I’d got some resin urban/mechanicum bases full of cogs and broken mechanical bits. I used them on all my GSC models, so it was great to have some in the same size for Sentinels. Adding rust and weathering to the bases helped link the battered walkers to their environment. I’d also got a spare Dreadnought base that helped round out the group.

6) Does this model have a background story?

Armed with Flamers and Sentinel Chainswords I envisaged them going about their business clearing forests with a scorched Earth policy. The GSC Hybrids are called Turqs, they’re vat grown worker clones, made using Genestealer DNA. It’s based around the clones from Space Above and Beyond. I liked the idea that they were turquoise skinned to connect them to my Tyranid army but also create a bit of variety and unique alienness about them. 

Ahhh, I used to love that show! Hawkes (a "tank") was my favourite character - Marc

7) Have you used this model in a game? How did it go? How would you use it, if you got the chance?

Back in the day when I went to 40k Tournaments regularly I went to a random double’s tournament where each round you were matched up with a stranger, so you got to pair with a mix of people and just enjoy playing weird random games with random allies and opponents. I used my 2 original Sentinels in Double Trouble 3. My reports say they died in at least two games with 3 out of 4 explosions! Not sure what happened in the 3rd game. I think I suffered from the double edged sword that is the ‘scout’ move. Sure, it’s great to be able to put your models right up in your opponent’s face. But they’re weak and exposed so inevitably unlikely to survive. I think by game three I just had them baby-sitting an objective. They did nothing, maybe survived, but we didn’t win the game.

Never really played them since and I’m not sure I probably will. But the first pair have featured in a couple of Armies on Parade fighting my Deathwatch and maybe one day I’ll have added enough to their numbers that they get their own Parade. I’ve a lot of Hybrids and a Chimera that I can’t wait to paint in the same yellow rusty style with a bulldozer blade for ‘clearance actions’.

That top Sentinel is levitating!! - Marc

I think we can all agree that these Sentinels look fantastic. It was great watching them come to life on Dave's blog, so if you get a chance, swing by and take a look at what he is up to this week. 

There will be more opportunities to share your favourite Dreadnought next year, assuming the fates align and I can get the challenge up and running in 2026. Until then, let's make sure we finish the challenge strongly in 2025; eternal glory awaits!!

DreadTober 2025: Week 4

 

Hi folks,

The penultimate week has passed and we are into the home stretch. Projects are at various stages of completion and the final week is upon us. Whether you are adding the finishing touches, or trying to save a project that is slipping away from you, the last week has a way of going too quickly! Let's take a look at this week's progress and see who is within striking distance.

Name: Neverness
Project: Celestial Lions Dreadnought
Blog: https://nevernesshobby.blogspot.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/neverness92.bsky.social

Neverness is close to finishing and just has some iconography to go. I really dig the use of some vintage pigments on this Dreadnought; Flesh Wash brings back some memories.

Name: Agis

Project: First legion Saturnine Dreadnought

Blog: https://agis40k.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @agis.40k

A fantastic finish by Agis. This project showcases the new Saturnine Dreadnought perfectly. The combination of iconography and weathering is amazing.

Name: Dave Weston

Project: Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan

Blog: 40kaddict.uk

Dave has been busy blocking in the colours on his bonus project. He's also done a really nice job on the Red Planet BASE. He's to sure if he is going to be able to get it finished; we should all head over to his blog and cheer him on!!

Name: XarfaiEngel

Project: 2 Adeptus Titanicus Reaver Titans; stretch goal: Ghrastak (Luna Wolves Contemptor)

Blog: https://abutterflyshobbytally.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @xarfaiengel

Name: Wachtmeister
Project: 2nd Edition Dark Angels Dreadnought
Blog: https://wachtmeisterspatrol.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wachtmeisters_patrol/

The little purple Dark Angel; squeeee!! This Dreadnought look like it is close to finishing.

Name: Wachtmeisterson 
Project: Ork Deff Dread

Progress is progress. even if it is only a red barrel. This project will take some doing to get finished before the deadline. Good luck kiddo!

Name: DAM
Project: Dark Angels Brutalis Dreadnought
Blog: http://262krieg.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @262_krieg

Name: Tom
Project: 2nd Ed Blood Axe Ork Dreadnought
Instagram: @university_dave

Project complete, pending final reveal.

Name: Ed

Project: Night Lords Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: https://berserkerbladeblog.blogspot.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carnage_x_scissors

Name: jabberjabber
Project: Iron Warriors Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: Warpstone Flux - https://warpstoneflux.blogspot.com/

The decals are on and the final push to complete the tiny details is underway. I have a good feeling about this project. Apart from the fact that it is a dirty traitor engine. 

Name: Thousand Eyes/Mac an tSagart
Project: A leaping hellbrute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steppingbetweengames/

Name: Sachiel

Project: Bray'Arth Ashmantle
Blog: https://sachiel-returns.blogspot.com

There is a bit of work left to do on Bray'Arth. A generous wash has been laid down, adding some nice shading. Sachiel will be blocking in the main colours again and highlighting to add more depth to each surface, and adding vibrancy to those vital flames. No Salamanders model is complete without that certain degree of burnination.

Name: Siph
Project: Armiger Warglaives
Blog: https://weemen.blogspot.com
Instagram: @siph_horridus

Project complete, pending final reveal.

Name: Beanz
Project: Hive Fleet Leviathan Tyrannofex

Name: OzMonster
Project: Commander Farsight and Sinanju Gundam

Oz put in a huge effort this week and finished his project off (a week after his bonus model 😎). The base reminds me of the fight between Ryu and Sagat in Manga Streetfighter II; if you know, you know. 

Name: Marc

Project: Hive Fleet Numereji Tervigon
Blog: https://oldschoolg4m1ng.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @m4cr0dutch

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/m4cr0dutch.bsky.social

Like Neverness, I am struggling to take a photo of my Tervigon that captures the true appearance of the metallics. Hopefully, when I get it in the lightbox, I will be able to get those reflections and colour-shifts popping. Very happy with the finish, though, and looking forward to getting it on the tabletop.

With a bunch of challengers "In Manufactorum", it sets us up for an exciting final reveal. Who will be able to finish their Dreadnoughts in time? Eternal glory awaits...

DreadTober 2025: Week 3

 

Hi folks,

We are officially passed the half-way point and most people are busy with their paint jobs. With work getting busier I have found my hobby time getting shorter and shorter; you have to just make the most of what you've got. Consistency is key, even 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference. Let's take a look at everyone's projects!

Name: Neverness
Project: Celestial Lions Dreadnought
Blog: https://nevernesshobby.blogspot.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/neverness92.bsky.social

Neverness has added some more metallics to the weapons and is prepping the shoulder pad for the Chapter iconography.

Name: Agis

Project: First legion Saturnine Dreadnought

Blog: https://agis40k.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @agis.40k

Agis is on schedule to finish early, after adding some amazing details and weathering to this First Legion Saturnine Dreadnought. It is going to look spectacular when fully constructed. Work has started on the base, so check out the blog for more photos!

Name: Dave Weston

Project: Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan

Blog: 40kaddict.uk

Dave has smashed this one out of the ballpark and started on a second project. I think it looks amazing with all the iconography; a proud engine.

Name: XarfaiEngel

Project: 2 Adeptus Titanicus Reaver Titans; stretch goal: Ghrastak (Luna Wolves Contemptor)

Blog: https://abutterflyshobbytally.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @xarfaiengel

The armour on these Reavers is looking beautiful, what an amazing display of miniature painting skills. XarfaiEngel has some Atropos Knights on the paint table as well; check out the blog for some photos.

Name: Wachtmeister
Project: 2nd Edition Dark Angels Dreadnought
Blog: https://wachtmeisterspatrol.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wachtmeisters_patrol/

Wachtmeister has added some more details to this venerable old Castraferrum. such an iconic paint scheme, hits me right in the nostalgia.

Name: Wachtmeisterson 
Project: Ork Deff Dread

Wachtermeisterson was been chipping away at this OrkDeff Dread; the highlights and baleful yellow eye are looking neat!

Name: DAM
Project: Dark Angels Brutalis Dreadnought
Blog: http://262krieg.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @262_krieg

This project is looking super-clean so far. That red is [chef's kiss].

Name: Tom
Project: 2nd Ed Blood Axe Ork Dreadnought
Instagram: @university_dave

Tom has finished his project early, but that has not taken away from the finished product. I think you will agree that this is an absolutely amazing piece; one of my all time favourite DreadTober projects. Bravo!!

Name: Ed

Project: Night Lords Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: https://berserkerbladeblog.blogspot.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carnage_x_scissors

Name: jabberjabber
Project: Iron Warriors Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: Warpstone Flux - https://warpstoneflux.blogspot.com/

Some great metallic weathering on this Contemptor and, of course, it wouldn't be an Iron Warriors Dreadnought without hazard stripes.

Name: Thousand Eyes/Mac an tSagart
Project: A leaping hellbrute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steppingbetweengames/

This guy is looking hectic; I certainly wouldn't want it to come barreling across the table towards my army 😯

Name: Sachiel

Project: Bray'Arth Ashmantle
Blog: https://sachiel-returns.blogspot.com

Name: Siph
Project: Armiger Warglaives
Blog: https://weemen.blogspot.com
Instagram: @siph_horridus

Siph has finished the Warglaives and they look awesome. Check out the blog for some extra photos and to see them alongside their bretheren.

Name: Beanz
Project: Hive Fleet Leviathan Tyrannofex

Beanz has bought some Blu Tack to start work on undercoating his sub-assemblies. C'mon mate, you can do it!!

Name: OzMonster
Project: Commander Farsight and Sinanju Gundam

OzMonster managed to finish his Gundam in between tinkering with the cherry blossoms on Farsight's base. He had a careful think about what to do with the flat area on the base and has opted for some green grass tufts to contrast against the red armour of the suit. Hopefully, the tufts get delivered in time!

Name: Marc

Project: Hive Fleet Numereji Tervigon
Blog: https://oldschoolg4m1ng.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @m4cr0dutch

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/m4cr0dutch.bsky.social

I have been working on the birthing sac, which was quite a process. A splash of Tamiya Clear Red adds a level of grossness to the the whole thing!

Now that we are on the home-stretch, projects are starting to take shape and take on a life of there own. Good luck this week with your painting, I look forward to seeing more projects being completed. As always, if you have the time, check out some of the blogs on offer and let people know what you think about their projects.