March 2023 Patreon Release!

Hello there! Welcome to this month's Patreon release post - a robot, another robot, a half-robot infantry model, a normal infantry model and a tank model. Oh, and a bundle kit that comes with three small robots and a medium robot. Big robot time! 

Exciting stuff huh?

Well, before we get into the nitty-gritty, if you're new here, you'll receive your files via MyMiniFactory, either through an email invitation to redeem your files through their site, or if you already have an account, it'll get added to your library automatically - don't worry if you don't get your files right away, however, as it might take me a little while to issue them, as it's a manual process. In addition, on the store page you can see all the previous releases of models - if you've missed out on something and want to get your hands on it, fear not, for as a Patron, you can use a discount code (check the post after this one for it!) to get 15% off all your digital purchases from the Solwyte Studio store!

Alright, enough with that shameless self-promotion. Let's get onto the stuff you get this month! In addition, for the first time ever, this month comes with a number of its models presupported in the initial release!

And, where better to start than with the biggest, baddest, robot: the Kaliakos!

Now, yeah yeah, I know this isn't the first time you've seen this picture, but bear with me here, okay? This month contains both the legs and torso of the Kaliakos, with newly reorganized (read: not absolute chaos) folders, and the new re-cut torso segments. Rather than into roughly cuboid sections, the torso is not cut into divisions alongside and inbetween details, so that there are as few build seams as possible. In addition, all of the parts for the torso above either fit normally on, or have been provided in multiple parts to accommodate for, Anycubic Photon printers, so no matter the size of your printer, you can get this built! (Though it's worth noting I'd still recommend this for larger scale printers).

New reactor details have also been added to the underneath of the rear engines, where it was a rather dull placeholder space before, and the newly recut sections can be printed entirely with their inner-facing surfaces being supported, meaning there should be no ugly support scarring on outward details. Oh, and while I'm at it, there's space enough for a 30mm diameter x 5mm thick cylindrical magnet in the recess behind each arm joint.

On top of that, this time I've attempted something new - to aid in building such large sections, there are now plugs and sockets on each section, which compress and hold each section in place while your glue dries. Note that, while this mechanism has been successfully printed and tested, this morning no less, it may not work for all printers or resins, due to resin expansion and flexibility - however, even if what you're using to print this isn't too forgiving for this mechanism, clipping the ends off will still leave you with a perfectly functional guiding pin.*

In addition to the newly recut parts, this will also included as a single piece as well, and the floor will also be included as a single piece, for those of you wishing to construct this at a smaller scale, or as a future-proofing thing for when we get printers than can stick a whole torso on a plate in one piece. That's the dream.

Well, this month you can expect more progress on the Kaliakos, as I've set time aside specifically for giant robot making - excited yet? Before we get to that, however, we also have another robot in this release, albeit a little smaller!

Though perhaps not quite so elegant as other weapons of Astyri, the Hyperionite's two Demolisher Gauntlets are able to reduce any opponent to nothing - either by spinning and grinding unfortunate victims into an unrecognizable mess, or by quickly projecting then retracting the Gauntlet repeatedly like a jackhammer, leaving anything beneath its pummelling little more than pulp and ruin.

Adding to the Kastellite Sects in the Covenants of Astyri range, the Hyperionite Heavy Destroyer Construct is a much bigger, more heavily armed and armoured war machine, standing 121mm tall in this pose, dwarfing other infantry and able to go toe-to-toe with other constructs and monsters, and crush any infantrymen foolish enough to engage it. In addition, this model includes full presupports, too!**

Next up, lets do something a little different:

This is the new, adorably tiny Åselon Battle Tank for the Skjalos Guard - the first, no doubt, of many tanks to come on this particular chassis. It has three hull-mounted weapon options (rotary, siege and battle cannons), and you can put any Skjalos Guard infantryman into the hatch, or leave it closed (pictured here is one of this month's Skjalos Hazard Troopers). 

Accompanying previous months' Nyscä Artillery Tank and Kæyä Assault Transport, the Åselon functions as both a bodyguard and support unit for the Skjalos armoured companies, and as an imposing enemy in its own right, especially in squadrons. Following traditional Skjalos doctrines, upon receiving orders to attack, Åselon squadrons maintain fire until there is nothing left of the enemy - utter destruction is the Skjalos way, and this is carried across their entire empire, earning their reputation among the most feared warriors across this desolate promised land.

Let's change things up, with something entirely new to this Patreon - please give a warm welcome to the first Operative in The Promised Land - a Xhunite Prosecutor!

Though their clans are far from entirely composed of mercenaries, the Xhunite name has almost become synonymous with the notion of hired killers and assassins. Born of the Calakyn Heights, such clans are brought up deadly and hardy, and necessarily so for such a hazardous place. Stealth, swiftness and precision are traits intrinsic to the Xhunites, and naturally, warriors from their clans are highly sought after.

Among these individuals are Prosecutors, specialised assassins typically equipped with a Prosecutor Warblade or a Calakyn Recurve - shrouded in darkness they strike, either with a single, measured and almost silent stroke of their blade, or from up to half a kilometre away with their bows. Those who find their victims never know from whence their attacker came, nor where even to look to avenge them.

This is the first of two Prosecutors planned - unsurprisingly, this one is equipped with a Prosecutor Warblade, and its successor will have a bow. This model includes full presupports, too!**

Some commanders direct their forces from the rear, considering tactics the highest form of leadership - to win a battle through strategy and wit.

Duna Khayalos is not one of those commanders.

Leading from the front with an entourage of Haratarii and legions of Myadea, Duna has forever favoured war from a close and personal position, bringing death to the enemy at the tips of his own blades. Indeed, though of course House Khayalos has its share of ranged weapons, it has become almost a secondary thought to bring them to bear, instead - and notably unlike other Covenants under Kolym Hysta's rule - focusing on melee, and particularly bladed, combat.

A number among you may be worried looking at this model, thinking to yourself 'dear me, that's a whole lot of model suspended by a whole lot of thin chains' - fear not, for they are actually quite thick chains, as the whole model is pretty large, and it has been test printed to make sure it's all good - as long as you're delicate in removing the model from its supports (which are included), it's surprisingly strong when it's constructed!

Now then, is that all? I'm sure there was something else... oh, yes! That's it, a giant bundle of models!

This month features the first of a number of future kit bundles for each faction in The Promised Land, here focusing on the Covenants of Astyri. Including the Ochystan Iconoclast, Ochystan Kyporii Seekers, Hastaxii Praetorians and a Komygan Eidola, this makes for a nice mix of models that are perfect for anyone to grab as a set instead of separately - and you guys get all these as part of this month's files!

Seen at the head of each legion of Kyporii, the Iconoclasts of Ochystarii are the directors of the iron will of Kolym Hysta. By their orders are hundreds enslaved and inducted into the ranks of the Kyporii, little left but mindless worn-out wrecks, and by their words cities are reduced to rubble, and so have they earned the title, 'the architects of annihilation'. With the option of either a Myadea spear or Haratarii Demiglaive, the Ochystan Iconoclast is the perfect leader for a shambling horde of Ochystan Kyporii, riding the mechanically animated corpse of an Astyrian equine.

The Hysta Directive to save humanity was not created with anything less than the best intentions, to build a brighter future, but with the aeons of learning about itself, and about the world in which it resided, the Kolym Hysta developed its understanding of 'saving them'. Over the years, even the definition of the name which it gave to those unfortunate enough to be saved, Kyporii, meaning 'the delivered', came to be understood more commonly as 'the damned'. The Ochystan Kyporii Seekers is a full infantry set that can be armed with either Phase Carbines and Shotrifles. As always, these are entirely compatible with standard Ochystan Kyporii so you can mix and match options as you wish! It also includes both a separate Phase Carbine and Shotrifle so you can add them to other models as secondary equipment or as vehicle details.

There are the Hastaxii Praetorian Covenant, armed with huge shields and power fists or colossal double-ended mauls, and toting stabilisation pins like those present on the Amalia-Cyraxa Secutor Construct, exemplified by the Hastaxii Prime standing atop his faithful 'Hero Rock'. These come as a unit with five unique poses, and their primary arms are entirely interchangeable with the Hastaxii War Covenant.

Standing at roughly 10cm tall, the Komygan Eidola tower over infantry and even tanks, stalking through battlefields and picking a host of targets to obliterate all at once, with their four arms and huge array of sensors scattered across its front. Coming in with an impressive array of 10 arm-mounted cannon options and 5 leg poses for both its left and right, each of your Eidola can be built completely uniquely with huge pose flexibility.

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If you actually managed to read this far (thank you!), I'll be posting up the discount codes in the next couple of days, along with plans for March's modelling! In addition, though of course not all of this stuff is presupported, those will follow closer towards the end of this month - February's presupports are almost ready, and I'll upload them and make a post to make you aware as soon as they are - in the meantime, February's Skjalos Hazard Corps presupports are already available too!

You've got a whole bunch of new stuff to print, and I can't wait to see them - if you want to show off your finished prints and models, feel free to post them up in #my-solwyte in my Discord! Finally, If you haven't received an email invitation in a few minutes please send me a message via Patreon or Discord and I'll manually issue you one when I'm back awake!

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support, everyone!

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*In addition, as resin is a little softer before it is fully cured, you may find assembling large chunks of it before they're fully cured makes it a little easier. With that in mind, I've made sure that every piece of this model has space for resin venting holes which are both hidden from view once the carapace flooring is attached, and also not positioned in such a way that would prevent venting (ie. two pieces with holes right next two each other, or holes that would leak down a joining seam). Either way, once it's fully cured, you'll still need glue to assemble it after its cured, but this may help with assembling such large pieces - and remember gloves and a mask when building resin models!

**Note that, while these presupported files have been tested and successfully printed, and amended and reprinted where issues arose, results will vary between printers, resins and print settings - as such, presupports are provided as-is, and as an addition to the main product, which are the files.