So I recently finished the Cthonian Prospect Battleforce for the Votann and wanted to show off my finished miniatures.
Why I Wanted to Paint This Box
The Votann quickly became one of my favorite factions in Warhammer 40k. I really dig their design, and unfortunately I missed the Battleforce from 2023, so I was very excited to get another chance at a Christmas box. When the second wave for the Votann was announced, it was the Cthonian Earthshakers that really pulled me into the faction, while the rest of the Cthonian side was lower on my priority list. However, I enjoy painting all kinds of models, and this box included some miniatures I hadn’t painted at all yet (Kapricus, Brôkhyr Iron-Master) as well as some units I needed more of anyway (Thunderkyn, Beserks), so it was a no-brainer for me to pick this one up.
The Full Battleforce
With this box finished, I’ve now reached a total of 2,170 points painted for the Votann, and I will probably make a full army showcase soon(-ish).
I’m actually considering getting a second copy of this box, as I’m now quite interested in trying out the Cthonian Detachment. That said, we’ll see if it’s still available in a few months, as I’m a bit tired of painting Votann for now (not the fault of the box at all — it was great fun, I’ve just painted a lot of them recently).
Painting Goals & Approach
I was rushing a bit through this box, as I needed most of the units for a 2,000-point game with a friend. Luckily, my scheme is simple and fairly fast, so I managed to get everything ready in time.
I kept the scheme pretty much identical to all the Votann I’ve painted before.
Cthonian Earthshakers
As mentioned, these guys are the reason I started collecting Votann in the first place, and they were just as much fun to paint as the first time.
I always love painting artillery, and I really enjoy the idea of them in-game. Unfortunately, on the tabletop they tend to feel a bit mediocre, but visually they still push all the right buttons for me.
Paint Recipe
- White Scar Spray Coat
- “Lower” armor and pants were done first with Kroxigor Scale and then covered again with Terradon Turquoise
- Leather plates and gloves were done with Black Legion
- The weapons were painted with Black Templar
- The ammo case was done with Gutrippaz Flesh
- For the belts, the strategist’s coat, and the pistol bag I used Gore-Grunta Fur
- All metal and silver parts were painted with Vallejo Mecha Color Steel
- I covered the entire miniature in Nuln Oil and did a light drybrush with Corax White
- The white armor plates were redone with Corax White
- Any turquoise areas received highlights with Sotek Green
- For the drone heads I used Runelord Brass
Brokhyr Thunderkyn
I had already painted some Thunderkyn before, so this time I only glued the weapons on after painting, which helped avoid a lot of struggle.
Overall, I really like these models. I love the idea of exo-suits, and these miniatures execute that concept really well. It also helped that they performed great in my first game.
Paint Recipe
- White Scar Spray Coat
- “Lower” armor and pants were done first with Kroxigor Scale and then covered again with Terradon Turquoise
- Leather plates and gloves were done with Black Legion
- The weapons were painted with Black Templar
- All metal and silver parts were painted with Vallejo Mecha Color Steel
- I covered the entire miniature in Nuln Oil and did a light drybrush with Corax White
- The white armor plates were redone with Corax White
- Any turquoise areas received highlights with Sotek Green
- All cables were repainted with Mephiston Red
Brokhyr Iron-Master & Retinue
I loved the idea of having a mechanic-style character for my Votann, so I was excited to paint the Iron-Master.
The Iron-Master himself was a lot of fun to paint, and I really like his performance in my first game.
The Ironkin Assistant and the E-COGs, however, felt more like a chore to paint, as I mostly consider them glorified tokens.
Favorite Details
I’m always happy to paint the turquoise and white armor, so any Votann unit scratches that itch for me. Model-wise, the Earthshakers were once again my favorite part of this project, though Kapricus was a close second.
What’s Next for the Votann?
As mentioned, I may consider picking up this Battleforce again in the future if it’s still available. For now, though, I need a break. I’ve already started working on the Drukhari Realspace Raiders Battleforce and some characters for Marvel Crisis Protocol, so I won’t be painting more Votann in 2025. Next year, I want to round out the range by painting the remaining units I’m missing (Buri, Grimnyr, Arkanyst Evaluator) and add a second Sagitaur and a Land Fortress.
Painted models for this army
Characters
- 1x Ûthar the Destined
- 1x Brôkhyr Iron-Master
- 1x Einhyr Champion
- 2x Memnyr Strategist
Battleline
- 2x Hearthkyn Warriors (10 miniatures each)
Infantry
- 2x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (3 miniatures each)
- 3x Cthonian Beserks (5 miniatures each)
- 2x Cthonian Earthshakers (2 miniatures each)
- 1x Einhyr Hearthguard (5 miniatures each)
- 2x Ironkin Steeljacks with Ranged weapons (3 miniatures each)
- 2x Ironkin Steeljacks with Melee weapons (3 miniatures each)
Mounted
- 1x Hernkyn Pioneers (3 miniatures each)
Vehicle
- 1x Hekaton Land Frotress
Dedicated Transport
- 1x Kapricus Carrier
- 1x Sagitaur