From GregB: Raven Guard Assault Optae (5 Points)

"Assault Optae" - Raven Guard Space Marine officer - multi-part plastic kit from GW with slight conversions.

I have only a small submission this week - a single figure - but it is one I have been looking forward to posting as it is connected to Curt and Sarah's pending visit! As Curt mentioned in his post last week, he and Sarah will be stopping for a short visit here in Toronto on their way back to Regina, and we will be looking to squeeze in as much gaming as possible amid good food and wine. As part of the hospitality, I have painted this figure up as a gift to Curt, so he can join the ranks of his new Horus Heresy "Kill Team" Project. 

It's just one figure. But even a single figure can still throw up a larger word count...so...buckle up...

The Basics

This is Space Marine Centurion in Mark II power armour, a slight conversion of a multi-part plastic kit from GW's latest "Age of Darkness" starter box. The figure is meant to be wearing a massive, billowing cloak (as one does) while sporting an insane vexilla on the top of a slightly fancy version of the power pack commonly seen on Space Marine power armour. I have done away with the cloak and some of those other bibs and bobs to give him the jump pack of an assault marine instead. This was done for a few reasons.

Legion numeral on the shoulder plate - and a nice view of the insane jump pack. 

The first reason is the most important: I wanted him to fit in! Curt's initial "Shattered Legions" Raven Guard force for "Kill Team" looks to be built mostly around Raven Guard assault marines - the crazy(er) ones who wear "jump packs" and to get to grips with their enemies at close range. So if this fellow is going to participate in Curt's squad, he should be wearing the appropriate gear. In their recent wave of releases GW has issued a new set of plastic kit assault marines in Mk II armour (they are awesome - just haven't got around to panting any of em' yet), and the whacky jump pack from those kits fits perfectly on this fellow's armour. 

I added a custom shoulder plate with the embossed Raven Guard legion symbol to complete effect. I also tried my best to match the dark colours and dark look Curt achieved on his guys. Critically, I was able to find a washer-type base, so hopefully he'll fit in without too much trouble. 

Another view of the crazy jump pack - and we can see the "power maul" is large enough to be wielded with both hands, should the occasion call for it.

The MkII armour has lots to recommend it to fans of the Horus Heresy setting. Lots of segments and plates, a less-efficient-yet-more menacing overall appearance. This centurion model retains all of those elements, but adds heaps the "bling" associated with Space Marine Legion officers. The effect is tremendous in my opinion. You can't see his face, but he still "looks" annoyed. It's a great miniature, and really neat that GW has taken the time issue plastic kits for the Mk II marines.

And yet...up above, I say, "the first reason". That implies more than one reason I did not build this kit as GW intended...read on...

Adventures In Modern Plastic Modeling

I mentioned above that this figure, as originally designed, is wearing a big cape (as one does), vexilla etc. He even has a friendly servo-skull (probably an old friend that he wanted to, er, "keep around").  The "intended" finished figure is indeed a fine-looking 30k specimen, sporting all of the very best, whacky 30k Space Marine silliness that Horus Heresy fans enjoy. I did manage to complete a version of this original figure. Here is how he turned out, painted in the colours of the VI Legion Astartes, the Space Wolves.

Space Wolf Centurion wearing Mk II armour, accompanied by his buddy, a floating skull because 30k. Painted last summer/fall. 

He turned out OK. But it was a hell of an adventure to get here - and required a replacement of the left shoulder plate (of course, I am the sort of dork who would have plenty of those handy, but still). You see, the original figure, as conceived by GW, looks beautiful in theory but is almost impossible to assemble as-is in practice. There is no way in which one can assemble the cape, the power pack and the shoulder plates in a fashion even remotely/distantly resembling the method laid out instructions. 

There is no physical way to get this...

...when trying to follow this....

Trying to follow those instructions lead to desperate repair attempts. The cloak needs to, at once, go under AND over the vents of the power pack. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE once the power pack itself is already fastened to the back of the model. Even proceeding cautiously ended in desperate repair attempts as it became clear I had made a major mistake by following the published instructions..such repair attempts don't always go well, as we see here... 

For f*ck sakes!! This is what happens when you need to make repairs...

This is why you often see alternate versions of this figure posted online, as I have done here - because the cape, power pack and shoulder plates defy assembly in any reasonable fashion, or even an unreasonable one for that matter. This is what happens when the people who design things with computers are not the ones who have to build and paint them, IMO. Oh well. 

The Final Bit - A Back Story

OK. Enough about the modeling - let's get back to this specific miniature! I know Curt loves the story aspect of gaming, and so this fellow would need a back story too. While I have not named him, I have that story ready...

He see him as an "Assault Optae", a veteran of The Emperor's Great Crusade, hailing from Terra! He has served in the XIX Legion for centuries of fighting! This sort of provenance would be ideal in a warrior, one would think, but...well, in the Horus Heresy story, this would breed division within the Legions. 

The "Great Crusade" lasted centuries. The Space Marines Legions all started with Terran "recruits", but as the Crusade expanded across the galaxy, the sources of recruits expanded too, and ultimately shifted to whichever homeworld their Primarchs were discovered on. As Primarchs took over their legions, they tended to distrust those officers who had been serving with the Legion prior to their arrival - they looked to the fellow Marines raised on the new homeworld, and looked slightly askance at those of Terran lineage. 

Now, those "Terrans" were still loyal - and desperate to prove it - but these were among the issues that led to divisions building slowly within the Legions over the decades, ones the Horus and his dark allies would ultimately exploit. The "Terran core" of each legion was gradually sidelined.

Handy Raven Guard symbol embossed on the shoulder plate.

Different Legions handled this generational distrust in different ways - in some, these Terran veteran officers were merely sidelined, while in others they were sent toward certain death in battle, or they were sent off on pointless missions to the other side of the galaxy. Some were just quietly fragged and re-processed. 

Corax, Primarch of the Raven Guard, took the "I'll just let attrition handle some and sideline the others" approach. I see this fellow as a survivor of this. When word of Horus' betrayal broke, and the Raven Guard were mustered to attack the Traitor Legions on Istvaan V, this fellow was among the few thousand left behind as part of the garrison to keep an eye on the Raven Guard homeworld. Nothing personal, of course, no official reason - someone has to keep watch, after all - but he would know why, everyone would know why. 

Crazy gun? Check. Crazy "power maul"? Check. Let's get some revenge...

Betrayed at Istvaan V, the shattered survivors of the Raven Guard would have been rescued by guys like this officer. He is at the forefront now...he'll still never be fully trusted by Corax, but there really are not many officers left...not many Raven Guard left! So he is at the forefront of the vengeful battle to bleeed and harry the forces of The Warmaster as they march across the galaxy toward Terra and destiny. 

He is gutted that he was not there to face the dire fate of the Raven Guard on Istvaan V. Even though he helped rescue the survivors, it is a guilt that drives him. Maybe he will never prove himself to his Primarch - not fully - but he will work to ease his "survivor guilt" by opening the skulls of as many traitor Marines as he can manage...the fan-made version of "Kill Team" is perfect for games/scenarios with these sort of dynamics at play. I hope Curt enjoys him!

That's too many words. But it's still just one 28mm figure for five points. If you made it to here, thanks for reading! Hope to be back next week with more. 

 

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Sylvain: I Greg, is your middle name "Black Library"? Now I can't look at this miniature without feeling his inner guilt... Excellent job on that "one" figure. Extraordinaire!

 

From Curt: 30K Raven Guard for Killteam (25 Points)

Hi All!

To switch things up a bit I've decided to follow Greg's worthy footsteps and take the plunge into 40K. Well, actually 30K to be precise. While I've enjoyed reading the Horus Heresy books, I've not done much for figures for it. That being said, the updated 'Killteam' rules now allow for cooperative play AND some enthusiasts have released a fan-based 30K expansion that looks quite good. Anyhoo, I thought I could put together a Heresy era Space Marine Killteam and perhaps run some cooperative games over Discord (similar to what I've been doing for 'Hametsu').

So with no further ado, here is the start of my 30K Killteam! I've decided to do up a group reflecting A 'Shattered Legion' force  - an ad hoc conglomerate of survivors who emerged from the 'Drop Site Massacre' on Istvaan V. Essentially, they are composed of the remnants of three legions: the Raven Guard, Iron Hands and the Salamanders. 

A Killteam is typically made up of 8-10 figures which I think is quite manageable. This first group is made up of three Raven Guard with jump packs. One is a close combat specialist with dual power blades, another has a groovy silenced bolter and the last one has a pair of arcane Dark Age of Technology pistols (which probably leak enough passive radiation to poison a good-sized city).  I envision that the completed force will mostly be Raven Guard with maybe an Iron Hand and Salamander popped-in for variety. 

Being a contrarian at heart, I looked for non-GW models. I was very happy to find a designer on Cults (RGANDALL) who concentrates pretty much exclusively on Raven Guard. As you can see, his models are absolutely stunning. The animation and detail are top-tier, with the added bonus that he includes all of this Legion specific iconography, gee-gaws and do-dads that really make them unique. The corker is that all his files are free (probably one of the reasons why GW lawyers have not given him static...yet).

I was surfing the net to get ideas for painting and found a YouTube channel that features GrimDark paint styles. I really liked this gritty approach and thought it fit nicely with this group of isolated survivors who've been conducting hit-and-run raids, and not having been resupplied for months. So, lots of chipping, muddy washes, AK Grime and Streaking Rust. 

The 'Apollo' rocket exhausts crack me up.

I had a load of fun with these, but each one took a good chunk of time to do. I think the process will speed up right after I'm finished. :)

These three fellas from the Grim Dark Future will give me 15 points and the start of a new squirrel entry AND a couple of skulls. Woo Hoo! 

- Curt

***

Dude, this is FANTASTIC! I am so pleased to see you doing some 28mm 30k figures at last, as I knew they would look amazing - and they do! 

These prints are tremendous designs, and they totally match with your vision for some determined survivors of the drop site "incident" (this is how I see Horus-approved media referring to that event). The guy with the dual pistols will make a perfect "Moritat", while the chap with the sniper-bolter combo looks straight out of the "Mor Deythan" units. The fellow with the blade drawn...he looks reader for revenge. And more revenge. And a bit more after that...

I can't wait to see a Salamander wielding a dangerous number of flamethrowers, and an Iron Hand sitting there and pouting because his loser Primarch was beheaded LOL. God the Iron Hands suck. 

You'll have to let me know what base style and size you have used, as I am determined to assemble a counter-kill-team of Horus' followers, committed to hope and, er, "positive change" for the galaxy!

I am awarding 10 extra point just because I love this so much. 

Greg

From TeemuL: Sarah's Romantic Choice [Romance] (50 points)

Here we are at the Romantic topic of the history. What would be more romantic in the 24th century than Commander Riker alone with a nameless female Starfleet Admiral? Nothing, I guess. The admiral has a cold look on her face, apparently very familiar with Riker's reputation, but it is doubtless that with his honey words Riker will break the ice and in no time at all these two will be spending some time in the Ten Forward with exotic drinks and plans to continue in the private quarters...

I was planning to create a little cinematic story around these two and romance, but somehow I still think I'm in the Tuesday crew and have lots of time. Well, I'm in the Monday crew and I had a one day less time... So just boring photos. I was worried not to get the "officer red" right, but in the end I think I managed to do it in minimum effort. I first painted them with Mephiston Red and then washed with Reikland Fleshshade and stopped in time before trying to do any highlights or anything. The shirts are now quite glossy, but some varnish should remove most of it.

These two are HeroClix WidKids models, I brutally removed their original clix bases and planted them on 32mm mdf bases and added some sand. More Starfleety terrain (like deck of Enterprise) would have been more interesting (and difficult) so I opted to do my quite regular scifi sand base with exotic plants (Army Painter tufts first drybrushed yellow and then a small dot of blue Contrast paint in the middle), which turned out to be quite nice.

During the Christmas time I was reading an old Space Marine codex and as you know, what you read, inspires you. I remembered I had this old Space Marine Predator in a box, bought second hand as part of a Black Templar army. It was basically sprayed black and then guns and track painted silver, no tidying up. I decided to take a rather easy way and paint it different black and somehow Raven Guard inspired me. I gave it a gentle wash with warm water and managed to remove the transfers. I carefully painted the whole tank black with brush, which was quite easy, because it was basically primed black already. I wanted a quick and simple finish so decided to pick up quite a little of the details, I painted the guns, dozer blade and tires white and tracks and vents silver. White parts got a Reikland Fleshshade wash before drybrushed white again.

I painted some highlights with two different shades of grey, but I only used it on the front of the tank, because I was lazy and figured out that there could not be light coming from every angle at the same intensity. I'm quite happy how it worked out.

Simple free hand chapter and vehicle insignia on the front, but nothing more. In the codex there was a lenghty topic on how the Space Marine tanks are named and I wanted to name my tank, too. And I was thinking how the ships often have female names and Space Marine tanks often have quite funny or pompous names and my tired brain started to think a proper name for a Predator painted during the Challenge... There is no space to paint the name on the tank really, but the tank is nevertheless named "Sarah's Choice", but I'm not saying the tank is female!!!

Yes, before the Challenge I had a plan, so far I have finished 0 models from the plan...

The HeroClix models are quite tall, somewhere between 28 and 40, but in the past they are scored as 5 point per figure, so that is 10 points. And then 20 points for the Romantic topic and another 20 points for 28mm vehicle for total of 50 points.

 

Sylvain: Your StarTrek figurines from the Next Generation series bring back memories from the 90s. I like the bright red color very evocative of the show and also a very bad omen for extras wearing that colors in the earlier series... The tank looks the business and will inspire fear on the tabletop. 

 

If you cold provide a map of your progress in the library, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

Edit: Added a map...

Edit: Added a photo of Sarah's Choice protetecting Sarah's Hot Air Balloon Pumping Station

From GregB - Raven Guard Contraption (25 points)

Invictor War Suit for my Raven Guard Space Marines. Plastic model from GW.

Back to my 40k Raven Guard project for this week. Here we have some sort of bonkers contraption known as an "Invictor War Suit". This is a multi-part plastic kit from GW, one of the newer releases for the newer Primaris Space Marine range of figures for their Warhammer 40,000 setting. It's a big walking thing with guns. 

Guns solve problems, right?

The grim darkness of the far future is in fact overrun with big walking things with guns. Some are big. Many are bigger. Some are quite huge. But they walk, and they have guns, and thus this "newer" design takes its place in an august lineup. But it is also a little different, at least for Space Marines...

A view of the carbon-neutral power system...

That is because the pilot of the machine is, well, a Space Marine. Makes sense. But this is still different. You see, usually, Space Marine machines of this sort, called "Dreadnoughts", are 'crewed' by a near-dead Marine, who is essentially entombed in the machine, allowing them to fight for the Emperor for, like, nearly eternity. Lucky them. You don't see the 'pilot', because his remaining bits are plugged into arcane machinery, hidden under slabs of armour. 

So. Many. Guns.

But this thing...well, it just has a roll-cage, and the pilot can hop in and hop back out. Like a kind of regular machine. I mean, still a whacky, far-future, gun-festooned machine...but a pilot that can hop out, check things over, compare notes with fellow pilots...that seems borderline heretical! This design brings to mind the sort of "war-jack" type walker units seen in other sci-fi settings. It also made me think of the "APU Defense Sentinels" from the otherwise un-watchable "Matrix: Revolutions" film.

This kit was certainly a challenge to put together...GW made some heroic assumptions about what bits you might glue, and others you might not, and how the whole thing would work. I had major issues sorting out the cockpit, and a lot of trouble with the legs. Enough trouble that I am confident this will be the only such machine that will be joining my 40k Raven Guard forces...give me a normal dreadnought over this thing any day...

Some unsolicited feedback for the design of this model...

But for all the issues, more guns is more guns, and when you are defending The Emperor, it seems you can never have quite enough guns. This thing delivers - and for added fun, it can punch recalcitrant unbelievers into dust for sport. 

The cage doesn't exactly close, like it says it will in the instructions...but close enough. All aboard for fun!

Points-wise, we have 20 points for the machine, and five points for the fellow driving the thing, making for 25 points. In terms of skullz, there are very few to report on this machine - only three, in fact. Thanks for reading, hope to have more to share next week.  

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I know the assembly was a struggle, but great work on this machine Greg. 

I really question GW's recent design decisions over these past few years. So many of their new models do nothing but erode the iconic designs (and background) of their established IP. I look at this model and wonder 'Why?' when the Space Marines have something very similar (but infinitely more characterful) in the wonderfully evocative quasi-corpse-piloted Dreadnought. The same goes with the constantly upscaled Knight designs which now begin to rival scout Titans, and the ancillary (and often ridiculous) Titan designs that don't really add anything new to the game, but instead horn-in on existing Engine classes. It all just seems a bit egregious and stoopid. But what am I saying, this is GW we're talking about here - it all makes perfect sense when you're just wanting to make a buck, IP be damned. Please, move along. :)

All this grousing aside this contraption looks suitably shooty, grindy and very stompy (even if it doesn't have airbags, cruise and nav). Well done dude!

 

- Curt

From GregB - 40k Raven Guard Outriders (45 points)

Space Marine Outriders move out for the gaming table.

More Raven Guard? Sure - more Raven Guard! Here we have a unit of Outriders - Space Marines riding cool motorbikes. Motorbikes with guns! And great big exhaust pipes! And they still have chainswords, because of course they would still have chainswords! And still have heavy pistols too! Because war everywhere! Right?

There are twin bolt rifles mounted on the bike, but of course it is more fun to hit people with your chainsword, right?

These are multipart plastic models from GW's "Indomitus" box set, the introductory 40k set for the 9th edition that issued a couple years ago. Or maybe a year ago? Who can tell. Whatever. Anyway, these were slightly tricky to assemble. In theory, these are push-fit kits, which should not require glue. But of course we all know "push-fit" stuff is mostly a fantasy, and it in fact the push-fit aspects made the kits harder to assemble, not easier.

These big, chunky bikes are fitting rides for the large Primaris-sized marines.

But whatever the trouble with the assembly, I love the look of these models. In fact, I have really enjoyed  all of the Marines from the "Indomitus" box. These bikers continue the theme and feel of just-the-right-amount over-the-top look for the new "Primaris" marines. Look at these bikes! The huge tyres! The massive exhaust! Not just one gun, but two - PLUS the weapons the Marine himself still carries!

Officer with a "beakie" helmet, as always...although his original helmet is clipped to his belt - there was no way to remove it. So he is all about safety!

As always, there was one Marine without a helmet, and as always, I hate that, so I swapped it out for a helmet. Of course, he still has his OTHER helmet pinned to his belt. So the guy has two helmets - one on his head, and a spare. Safety first, right?

For scoring, I am hoping we can score them as "mounted" Primaris-scale figures, at 14 15 points each? If so, this would be 42 points...but as ever I defer to the wisdom of my minion - the points shall be whatever they shall be! Cheers everyone. 

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All I can say from seeing Greg's posts this past month is that you get a LOT of fun out of this Indomitus box set. Great work dude! I love these bikes and I continue to be impressed with your choice of armour colour for your Raven Guard - it's such a refreshing change from basic black you usually see. Now, you just need a Death Guard marine helmet mounted on the front fender of one of these hogs to set it off nicely...

- Curt

Fromg GregB - 40k Raven Guard Specialists (35 Points)

Reinforcements for my 40k Raven Guard.

My fourth entry to this edition of the Painting Challenge sees a project continue - more figures for my Raven Guard forces in GW's Warhammer 40,000 setting. All of these figures are multi-part plastic kits from GW. This submission contains what might be described as "Specialist Marines" - a group of particularly tough fighters known as "Bladeguard Veterans", as well as an "Apothecary" and a "Librarian".

Bladeguard Veterans

Bladeguard Veteran Space Marines, painted in Raven Guard colours.

These are hard-hitting, veteran Space Marines, equipped with fancy swords, scary pistols and big shields - all rocking a requisite number of skullz, of course. You would expect these chaps to be found in the thick of the fighting, alongside the crazy Bladeguard Ancient, whacking and blasting the enemies of the Emperor back into their component atoms.

Rear view, showing some of the flash and flare on the models - and the one fellow with his shield stowed on his power pack.

As always, I stick a "beakie" style helmet on the commander.

I quite enjoy the OTT look of these types of Space Marines - they are more like a kind of "Space Knight", a sort of look which previously had been found among specific named Chapters (such as the extremely cool Grey Knights, the somewhat interesting Black Templars or the extremely pointless Dark Angels). The newer range of Space Marine figures is bringing this sort of "Space Knight" look to any Chapter you like. The design of the helmets even bears a striking resemblance to the look of the helmets on the Grey Knight Terminator models.

"Check it out guys - there is a Starbucks over there. Anyone else up for a latte?"

Of course the large, skull-covered shields are focal points for these figures, but there is all sorts of "flare" on these guys. They are covered in fun little features on them, like little religious icons hanging from belts, and copious parchment seals affixed to all manner of their kit. It's all quite whacky, and I find it all to be very enjoyable. On the gaming table, this is a small unit, but they will accompany their commanding officer and standard bearers into battle, making for a tough core of any Space Marine gaming force.   

Librarian

"You have some overdue books, and The Emperor is not pleased..."

Who's afraid of a Librarian? You should be! Not only is this guy a Space Marine - eight feet tall, a genetically enhanced super warrior with massive power armour and a big, scary sword - he has SPOOOOKY POWERS. Yes, he can fry your brain using his powers - before removing your head with his trusty sword! You know the powers are SPOOOOKY, because even though he has the sword handy, he is simply pointing in your direction, meaning whatever he can do just by concentrating on your is WORSE than what he do with a big sword. RETURN THOSE BOOKS ON TIME SON!

Light blue = SPOOOKY POWERS. At least, that is my interpretation.

The wardrobe on this fellow is kinda funny...he is clearly clad in Space Marine power armour, but he is also wearing robes over that armour, and then a huge Matrix-parody-level trenchcoat over the robes! You should flee from this guy BASED ON FASHION ALONE.

I tried to reflect/acknowledge the SPOOOOOKY POWERS by imparting something of a light blue glow to his helmet, the blade of his sword, and to his hand...the result was mixed, but it was fun to experiment. 

Apothecary

Raven Guard Apothecary contemplates some extracted bits while standing over a fallen comrade.

Medical care among the Space Marines is something of a mixed bag. On the plus side, as a Space Marine you have 100% medical coverage, pretty useful in a job where you expected to face off in battle against terrifying threats which the regular Imperial Army cannot handle. Knowing you can count on the best health care would give you peace of mind, right? 

On the other hand, since they are subject to intense pschyo-conditioning (with emphasis on the "psycho" part), "peace of mind" is not a state most Space Marines would strive for, and in any case, and seeing your "front line health care worker" might erase any peace one might have - meet the Apothecary.

Lots of extra kit comes with this job...

The Apothecary is kitted out in all manner of specialized equipment - the practice of battlefield medicine in the grimdark future being still, well, grim. Drills, saws, injection kit - much of this stuff intended to help keep brother Marines in the battle, but there is another aspect to the job that this specific figure sculpt calls attention to - let's call it "recycling". 

The extracted bits in his palm will provide a replacement for the fallen comrade under his boot...

When a Marine succumbs to injuries in battle, the so-called "gene seed" needs to be recovered so a replacement Marine can be created. With this figure, we can see a fallen Marine on the base, and the Apothecary has recovered some manner of gooey bit. Using the various lenses, he is inspecting it closely, before getting ready to place inside a specimen jar (hanging from his hand). Looking on his chest, you can see a number of other similar jars hanging from his neck...your service to The Emperor thus never truly ends, as your "gooey bits" fight on in other Marines...

So, scoring-wise, we have five "Primaris" sized Marine models here, at 7 points a pop, it should be good for another 35 points. Still a ways to go before I reach my goal, but it is early in The Challenge, and besides, the weather looks primed to provide a nice chunk of painting time...

Northern Ontario in January. Not a problem as long as you have paint, figures and wine!

Thanks for reading - hope to have something again next week! Cheers.

_______________________________  

You continue to hit it out of the park with your Raven Guard, Greg! Love these guys. Those huge shields are so cool with all their high relief iconography. Your brushwork is brilliant with their armour and all their intricate detail. My favourite has to the the Apothecary - definitely the last guy you want to see hovering over you, but then again, I guess his whole job is meant to be the last guy looming over you...

And the Librarian... You know, really, f*ck 'Librarians', they're a bunch of naff gits.  Cripes, just look at how this guy is dressed! Instead GW should have had these guys as 'Archivists'. Now that's a profession that's inherently cool and spooky. Archivists inherently have arcane abilities which can curdle the blood. Jeez, they can literally erase you from history.  You know, just sayin'. 

Your weather looks much as ours did last week. Enjoy the minis and wine!

- Curt