From GregB - Sons of Horus Assault Marines (70 Points)

Horus for hope! Let's jump in to the New Year, shall we...? I'll just leave...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone - sorry to be so late joining the party, but at least I managed to get a first submission completed prior to the arrival of 2024. Here we have a squad of Space Marines kitted out for assault work, with jet-powered jump packs, pistols of various sorts and the trusty chainswords we can look forward to using in the grim and dark future. These fellows are kitted out in Mark VI powered armour painted in the colours of the XVI Legion Astartes, the fine Sons of Horus, the Warmaster's own legion. These are brand new multi-part plastic kits from GW's "Age of Darkness" setting, the Horus Heresy.

Yes!! These guys!! Finally!! Remember the old "Space Marine" rules??

Squad officer on the left, while the fellow on the right is sporting a plasma pistol. They sometimes blow up and kill their user...but...like...only sometimes...still, the officer leaves those to the other fellows...

Look at those whacky jet/jump packs!! Just what one would need to go flying through the sky while wielding a chainsword, right?

I'll be counting these models as "New Acquisitions", as they are brand-spanking new, very recently released by GW. Old salts like myself have been (im)patiently awaiting these models, so very strangely missing from the initial 2022 rollout of the new plastic "Age of Darkness" range. They hit the shelves in early December, and I could not wait to get them. Even as my hobby time has mostly-vanished while we start packing up our house for a move to Toronto, I kept these aside so I could work on them, as they are at once wonderful new kits while also providing a huge hit of nostalgia. With the clock ticking on 2023, I powered through last night and this morning to get them finished.

A second plasma pistol in the squad on the left, and a regular assault trooper on the right.

GW can sure be infuriating, but when they hit a home run, it is amazing, and for me, this kit is a total home run. I love how the "beakie" marines look, they go together nicely, with a decent set of options, and are a real treat to paint. Marines with buzzing around with crazy jump packs is a core part of the original "Space Marine" game for me, so it is a real treat to have new plastic "beakie" Space Marines with the assault kit.

These are beautiful, basic sculpts...none of the stupid/excessive/cartoonish posing seen on so many of the newer "Primaris" marines in the 40k range.

Love those custom legion shoulder plates...

Naturally the first squad of 10 was assigned to the Warmaster's own legion in my collection. I have a second box set that I thought would be painted for the loyalist side...but...the assault squads can include as many as 20 marines, and the Warmaster is not the sort for half-measures, right? We'll see what happens with the next batch..

For scoring, we have 10 different 28mm figures, and one Library Location bonus, which should be good for 70 points for both the overall tally AND the Legions side duel. Also, there are two skullz for the skull duel. Not many, but I need to start somewhere, right?

That's all for now - hope everyone has a great evening, and a great 2024. Cheers! 

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It's great to have you back with us for the Challenge, Greg!

I have to admit I was unaware of the whole Age of Darkness thing (heresy, I know), but I do love these new sculpts of their venerable designs. Like you Greg, I'm generally not impressed with the often overwrought posing and excessive accoutrements of the newer models, so these are a real breath of fresh air in their relative minimalism. 

After One Beeelion 40/30K Sons of Horus under you belt you have their livery pretty much down to a science now, and these fellows definitely don't disappoint. Lovely work dude!

- Curt