Welcome back to the second instalment of our Adeptus Custodes commission showcase! If you missed Part 1, you can catch up on the infantry units and overall project details here.
Today, we’re focusing on the formidable Dreadnoughts and elite Terminator squads that serve as the armoured core of the Golden legion.
The Dreadnoughts: Monuments of War
Legio Custodes Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnoughts (x4)
These four war machines were among my favourite pieces in the entire commission. Each Contemptor-Achillus stands as a perfect canvas for NMM work, with their broad armour plates and elegant proportions that scream “Custodes” rather than standard Space Marine design.
The challenge with multiple Dreadnoughts was maintaining consistency while giving each one its own character. I achieved this through:
- Unified NMM placement: The light source remained consistent across all four, creating cohesion when they’re displayed together
- Subtle weathering variations: Each received slightly different soot patterns and dirt accumulation, suggesting they’ve seen different battlefields
- Individual posing advantages: The Contemptor-Achillus kit’s articulation allowed each to have a distinct stance, preventing the “copy-paste” look
The Dreadspear and Lastrum Storm Bolter on these models provided excellent opportunities for metallic contrast against the NMM gold, with the weapons receiving true metallic silver to make them pop.
Legio Custodes Telemon Heavy Dreadnought
If the Contemptor-Achillus models were impressive, the Telemon was absolutely monumental. This beast is significantly larger and more ornate, covered in Imperial iconography, Marble Armour and flowing details that demanded careful attention.
This single model took nearly two weeks to complete. The sheer surface area meant hours upon hours of layering to achieve smooth NMM transitions. The Telemon’s larger armour plates allowed for more dramatic light-to-shadow gradients, really showcasing what NMM can achieve when you have the space to work with.
Special details on the Telemon:
- Marble shoulder pads to demonstrate the ornate build of this machine
- Extra attention to the tilting plates and trim, using edge highlighting to make every panel shine clearly despite the monochromatic gold scheme
The Elite Terminators: Golden Juggernauts
Allarus Custodians Terminators (x8)
The Allarus Terminators represent the Custodes’ most heavily armoured infantry, and painting eight of them in NMM was an exercise in patience and consistency. Each Terminator features:
- Massive Guardian Spears or Castellan Axes rendered in NMM gold with metallic blade edges
- Balistus Grenade Launchers that received weathered metallic finishes
- Ornate chest eagles and cape details that required fine brush control
The trick with painting multiple identical models at this quality level is batch processing the basecoats and early stages, then treating each as an individual piece for the NMM refinement. This prevented fatigue while ensuring each Terminator received the attention it deserved.
Legio Custodes Aquilon Terminators (x12)
Lastrum Storm Bolters
Infernus Firepikes
Twelve. Aquilon. Terminators. This was perhaps the most demanding section of the entire commission, simply due to the volume and working with resin. The Aquilon pattern is already detailed and baroque, and multiplying that by twelve meant weeks of careful work.
What makes the Aquilons special:
- Lastrum Storm Bolters and Infernus Firepikes: The variety of weapon options meant I couldn’t fall into too much of a rhythm, each loadout required slightly different approaches
- Unique posing: Forgeworld resin allowed for some conversion work and varied stances, preventing the squad from looking too uniform
- Terminator bulk: The sheer mass of these models meant large areas for NMM work, but also opportunities for really dramatic lighting effects
By the time I finished the twelfth Aquilon, I’d developed a deep ‘appreciation’ for their design and an even deeper appreciation for the colour blue, red, or literally anything that wasn’t gold!
Technical Insights: Painting This Many Heavy Units
Working on this section of the army taught me several valuable lessons:
1. Consistency is king: When painting multiples, establish your NMM formula early and stick to it. I created reference photos of the first completed model in each category to match subsequent pieces.
2. Break it into sessions: Rather than trying to complete a Dreadnought in one marathon session, I worked in focused 3-4 hour blocks, tackling specific sections (legs one day, torso the next, weapons after that).
3. Metallics provide relief: The true metallic elements on weapons and details weren’t just aesthetic choices—they gave my eyes a break from the intensity of NMM and created visual interest.
4. Weathering tells stories: The subtle soot, scratches, and dirt on these elite units suggest they’re actively used war machines, not parade ground showpieces.
The Basing Continuity
Like the infantry from Part 1, all these heavy units received the same dirt and grass basing treatment. However, the larger models allowed for more elaborate base compositions:
- The Telemon’s base features scattered rubble and larger rock formations to justify its imposing presence
- Terminator bases remained relatively simple to keep focus on the models themselves
Looking Ahead
With the infantry and heavy units covered, Part 3 will showcase the vehicles and the crowning achievement of this commission: the Forgeworld Valdor on his custom display base. We’ll explore the unique challenges of painting large Grav-vehicles in NMM and the extensive OSL work that brought Valdor’s centrepiece to life.
What’s your favourite Custodes unit? Have you attempted NMM on larger models? Share your experiences in the comments!
