DreadTober 2026: Week 1

 

Hi folks,

DreadTober 2026 has officially begun!! A full week of the challenge has yet to pass, but we are already seeing some progress on various hobby sites. Most people have made a start on there project, even if that just meant finding the pieces. For me, finding a Dreadnought body was easy enough. Unfortunately, I was a couple of arms and a base short, so had to do some deep bitz-box diving in the garage. 

It is time to introduce our challengers for 2026. These entries are being posted on a number of different platforms, which is great for inclusivity but a little bit tricky to collate. If I happen to miss your post, or make some kind of mistake, please leave a comment.

As always, if you see something you like, consider following a project and leaving the challenger some comments. DreadTober is all about building community and making real connections. And stompy robots.

Here we go...

Name: Wachtmeister
Project: 2nd Edition Chaos Dreadnought
Blog: https://wachtmeisterspatrol.com/
Instagram: @Wachtmeisters_patrol

I am going to be saying this a lot this year, but: old school is the best school.

Name: Adrian Bell
Project: 2nd Edition Imperial box dreadnaught (marines errant)
Crown of Command discord: https://discord.gg/3xjN9BvZ

Marines Errant!! I haven't seen those for a looong time.

Name: Dr. The Viking
Project: Rogue Trader Dreadnought
Blog: http://cowabungajournal.com/
Instagram: @oldhammer_c0wabunga

Just look at that sculpt! We have had a couple of these painted over the years, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this one.

Name: Tom
Project: Epicast Ork Stompa
Instagram: @university_dave

I just *KNOW* this is going to be incredible. No pressure. 

Name: DAM
Project: Legio Custodes Galatus Dreadnought
Blog: http://262krieg.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @262_krieg

Another glorious Custodes Dread. We will need to get a group shot with your collection at the end DAM.

Name: Dawe
Project: Parkouring Dreadnought
Instagram: @painted.to.play

Dawe's parkouring Dreadnoughts are a sight to behold. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one posed up and painted.

Name: Julien
Project: 2nd ed. Boxnaught
Instagram: @Delayed_painting

Twin-linked Lascannon and Missile Launcher, a classy combination.

Name: Grant C
Project: 2nd Edition Chaos Dreadnaught of Nurgle
Instagram: OldMagicMusings 

Another classic Chaos Dreadnought sculpt!

Name: Grot-Cast Dave
Project: Lamenters Chapter Boxnought
Crown of Command discord: https://discord.gg/3xjN9BvZ

Sadly, this Raven Guard Dreadnought died of angst so hard that he is going to turn into a Lamenter.

Name: Ted & Erik
Projects: Metal Space Wolves Bjorn the Fell-handed & Horus Heresy era Thousand Sons Contemptor Dreadnought
Blog: http://oddgitshut.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @oddgits.hut
Crown of Command Discord

Another classic sculpt. Bjorn the Fell-handed is rightly feared amongst 2nd Ed. players and has been a feature on this blog previously. Interesting that Erik is working on a Thousand Sons Dread; do I sense family rivalry?

Name: jabberjabber
Project: Saturnine Dreadnought
Blog: https://warpstoneflux.blogspot.com/

I am pretty sure this is how jabberjabber started things last year!! Just goes to show that every journey begins with a single step.

Name: Agis
Project: First Legion Deredeo Dreadnought
Blog: https://agis40k.blogspot.com/

Agis has a reputation for amazing DreadTober projects. We will have to settle for a week of suspense and see what gets posted next time.

Name: Sachiel.
Project: Dark Angels Venerable Castra-Ferrum Dreadnaught.
Blog: https://sachiel-returns.blogspot.com/?m=0

An amazing Dark Angels sculpt. I love the concept Sachiel has for this project; make sure you check out the blog for the full story.

Name: Dave Weston
Projects: 2 Adeptus Titanicus Warounds [plus weapon options] and 2 Adeptus Titanicus Porphyrion Knights
Blog: 40kaddict.uk
Insta: @40kaddict.uk

Dave is dishing up another smorgasbord of stompy robots. He said something on his blog about needing some community spirit to help him through the challenge this year, so make sure you drop by and give him a poke now and then. 

Name: Henry
Project: 2nd edition Legion of the Damned dreadnought
Insta: Dangle_Tactics

This model has gone for a swim in paint-stripper. So many projects start right here covered in goop and waiting to be brought back to life. As a fellow Legion of the Damned painter, I am very interested to see how this one turns out; good luck!!

Name: Neverness
Project: Ultramarines Balistus Dreadnought
Blog: https://nevernesshobby.blogspot.com
Bluesky:‪@neverness92.bsky.social‬

The Ballistus Dreadnought hits like a truck. I never leave home without one. 

Name: Chris
Project: Imperial Guard Sentinel Squad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dutcholdhammer
Crown of Command Discord

It's lovely to see some old school Sentinels. These things are a terror in 2nd Ed. 40K, sprinting around and ripping into things with their Str 8 D10 damage -3 save assault cannons. And jams. So many jams...

Name: XarfaiEngel
Project: Eldar Dreadnought
Blog: https://abutterflyshobbytally.blogspot.com/
Instagram: @XarfaiEngel

XarfaiEngel is working on some classic Eldar, which will no doubt greatly benefit from the support of a Dreadnought.

Name: Vectis
Project: Blood Angels Librarian
Instagram @vectishammer

I love the concept of these Librarian Dreads, though I have never painted one myself. I have used that force weapons arm on a number of projects, however; great sculpt!

Name: Siph
Project: Necron (Imperial) Knight counts-as
Blog: https://weemen.blogspot.com/

Colour me intrigued...

Name: Zamnil
Project: Horus Heresy era Blood Angels Contemptor
Crown of Command Discord

Now this is an interesting one. Inspired by the Visions of Heresy artworks, this Contemptor is going to take a lot of hobby skill to even get to the painting stage. Good luck!!

Name: TJM
Project: Rogue Trader Contemptor and Space Marine Boxnaught
Crown of Command Discord

That yellow is looking spectacular already.

Name: OzMonster

Project: Tau Riptide

Oz usually paints models in one sitting, so it will be interesting to see how this model tests his patience. It has a lot of detail...

Name: M4cr0Dutch

Project: Blood Angels Castraferrum Dreadnought

Blog: https://oldschoolg4m1ng.blogspot.com/

Instagram: @m4cr0dutch

Bluesky: @m4cr0dutch.bsky.social

I should have checked earlier, but my old school Dreadnought was missing arms. I have had to dig pretty deep into my stockpile of bitz to find what I need to finish off the construction. As a result, it won't have the usual multimelta loadout. Perhaps one of those Str 8 D10 damage -3 save assault cannons will suffice...

That's it for the first round-up. As you can see we have a ton of entries this year, with a gloriously high proportion of old school models (my favourite!). Whatever it is that you are working on, I wish you all the best for the following week.