Preparing for the Imperial Knights New Codex: A Showcase of Our Custom Painted Titans
You feel that tremor under your boots?
That’s the unmistakable footfall of Imperial Knights gearing up for war!
With all the buzz around the Imperial Knights new codex, everyone’s thinking about the new possibilities on the horizon of the biggest war machines on the Warhammer 40k battlefield. We definitely share that excitement here at the studio.
Imperial Knights are some of the most impressive models in the Warhammer 40,000 range, and they’re a popular choice for commissions for a good reason. They’re huge, centerpiece models that demand a lot of time, skill, and attention to detail. That’s where we often come in.
We’ve had the privilege of painting many Imperial Knights, so, we thought it’d be a perfect time to show you some of the custom-painted models that have rolled out of our workshop, especially highlighting the unique freehands that make them special.
Let’s take a look!
Imperial Knights: More Than Just Giant Robots
When you think of Imperial Knights, you’re thinking about a unique slice of Warhammer 40k. Each Knight is a piece of history, a fusion of ancient tech and a warrior Noble, representing millennia of tradition. They’re the kind of models that not only dominate the battlefield but also inspire some seriously cool stories and, as you’ll see, some equally cool custom paint jobs from our studio.
The Emperor’s Vigil: Our Imperial Knight Warden
The Imperial Knight Warden is a solid choice for any Knightly House – a versatile and tough war machine. One of our clients wanted to create something that really showed its loyalty. The main feature? A hand-painted portrait of the Emperor of Mankind on its shoulder armor. A pretty direct way to send a message to any heretics or xenos, don’t you think?
Our artist, Kinga, took on this detailed work. She mentioned before:
“First, I needed a reference. I chose a specific image of the Emperor in a side profile, exactly how I imagined him on the Titan’s shoulder plate.” Painting a freehand like this isn’t easy. “It’s a bit like working with layers in a graphic editor,” Kinga explained.
“In my head, I have to break the image down into what goes underneath first, then gradually refine the details… There’s no room for mistakes, and to achieve the perfect result, you have to give more than 100%.”
The rest of this Imperial Knight Warden also got some cool freehand patterns, making it a truly unique painted model.
Swift Death, Unique Style: Cerastus Knight Castigator
The Cerastus Knight are quicker on their feet than your average Knight, and the Castigator here is a beast at mowing down infantry with its big bolt cannon and that absolutely massive tempest warblade. Pure anti-horde goodness.
Now, for one Cerastus Knight Castigator we painted, things took a… distinctive turn. We’re talking a full-on “Anime Girl” freehand design right on its shin armor. Yeah, you read that right.
Is it heresy? Maybe just a little bit. But when the execution is this slick and the artwork is this killer, even the most stoic Tech-Priest might just nod in grudging approval.
The Dueling Diva: Cerastus Knight Lancer Pushes the Border
If the Castigator was dipping its toes into “questionable iconography,” then this Cerastus Knight Lancer decided to dive right in!
This Knight is another speedster, built for glorious one-on-one duels with its crackling shock lance and ion shield. And guess what? This one also got the “Anime Girl” freehand treatment, but here, it’s proudly displayed on its upper carapace.
So, we’ve got another case of borderline heresy here, folks! But again, when the freehand is this sharp and the overall Knight looks this awesome, who’s really going to complain?
The Chainbreaker’s Tale: Imperial Knight Preceptor Canis Rex
Some Imperial Knights are legendary, and Sir Hekhtur, the pilot of the Knight Preceptor known as Canis Rex, is definitely up there.
His story of being captured by the Iron Warriors, only for his Knight suit, Canis Rex, to reactivate on its own and break him out, is pure 40k. That’s how he earned the name “The Chainbreaker.”
Painting this Freeblade was a great project. Instead of using standard transfers for its markings, we hand-painted custom designs. This let us really tell the unique story of Canis Rex on the model itself.
Command Your Own Custom Imperial Knight
The Warhammer 40,000 galaxy is full of epic stories, and Imperial Knights are often a big part of them. With everyone talking about the Imperial Knights new codex and the new options it will bring, these giant war machines offer tons of ways to get creative. Having an army that’s not just powerful but also tells your story is a big part of the hobby.
So, if seeing these custom-painted Imperial Knights with their unique freehand art has given you some ideas, we’re here to help make them happen. Whether you want a Knight from an established house with your own personal symbols, a renegade Freeblade with cool battle damage, or even a detailed character portrait on its armor, our artists are ready.
Drop us a message, and let’s get started on your own titan!
And if you have second thoughts, and need to see how we handle other commissions, check out our Instagram.
