Warhounds 2 Warmasters

An interview with the glorious Rob Murray

How long have you been painting and, if different, when did you start painting Titanicus?

I started painting Warhammer fantasy Dwarves when I was about nine (ah the glorious organ guns), this then spiralled into a collection of different fantasy armies, branched out into 40K Space Wolves then metastasized into the pretty awesome Battlefleet Gothic, which lets face it, must be making a come-back sometime soon right? (Ed note – SoonTM). After I left school I went on a painting break for over a decade before I starting playing starwars armada and painting up the squadrons that came with it… just a few harmless squadrons and a couple of paints. Then blackstone fortress came along and the paint collection started to expand somewhat. When Adeptus Titanicus was released and some of my friends started collecting I patiently explained to them that I would not be joining them as I had several active hobbies and with my first child on the way I would not have the time – how very grown up and responsible of me. Three weeks later, I got the Grandmaster Edition.

Do you prefer modelling or painting?
Both, and I wouldn’t enjoy either as much without the other think.

How do you usually come up with your projects?
Random thoughts, inspiration from things I see. Titans are so gloriously posable and the AT setting and theme so cinematic. I do try to note my ideas down before I forget them.

Are there stages you follow?
Getting an idea fleshed out is well worth it, working out what comes after the pose you can so clearly see in your head helps. What’s the basing scene, what other conversions would add to the initial thought, that kind of thing. Ideas often roll around like that in my head for a fair bit of time, gradually maturing.

What has been your favourite project?
I think its still a warlord titan I painted a few years ago, the Brass Lord, modelled as a full dakka warlord. I used chipping fluids to simulate paint damage, and my first time using AK weathering pencils too. The whole project just came together so well, in a way they often don’t. I achieved quite a few nice touches by accident that I still look back on now. Don’t tell the other titans I have a favourite.

What are you working on atm?
Surely its illegal to ask a hobbyist this! The desk clutter is real. Closest to the top of the pile is terror spiders. I want to try the different classes out in AT and they can also serve in LI, then there’s a warhound currently mounted on painting stands ready for undercoat, and a reaver whose base is complete and mostly built – I’m just finishing up modifying the leg design (on this I have become thoroughly sidetracked, but I’m pretty pleased where its heading). My desk has a small airforce for LI imperial fists awaiting detailing. I recently stripped down 4 cerastus, planning to convert them to Atrapos but with the recent news I’m rethinking that one. My scheduling is often driven by tournaments – its good to have a focus point else things would languish in the pile forever.

What have been your favourite 3 events to attend (and why)?
AT has a wonderfully diverse tournament scene with strong regional flavours. Favourites is hard – Boards in Brum has been a memorable event both times I’ve been (they do pies for lunch!), Maximal Fire events down in Poole, the Bristol adventures guild, Tabletop republic in High Wycombe, Twisted Titanicus events in Leighton buzzard, my recent trip to Embers of War 3 🙂 they have all been great fun for different reasons.

Do you have any tips for AT painters on how they can raise the quality of their work?
For me, I thinks its inspiration, then research, then attempting something and getting it wrong, until you start to get it right. If it really goes too wrong there’s always the paint dip.

What events are you attending this year?
Engine Kill in April, Combined Operations in May, hopefully Corsair gambit 3, then its school holidays and things get harder for a bit, but I hope to make it to more scheduled events in the Autumn.