For every army, there needs to be a commander. Some are junior, others are more senior. Some are pressed in to the role due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. This Praetor has a feeling of seniority combined with circumstances (Isstvan 5) that no one in the legion foresaw.
The model has been assembled from a variety of sources. The legs and torso come from the Forge World range -- Salamanders Legion Firedrake. However, I wanted the model to not be a total copy of the Firedrake, replete with shield and everything (even though that was actually very appealing for canonicity and authenticity to Isstvan 5).
Instead, the arms are a thunder hammer (actually sourced from the Dark Angels range) and a chaos space marines combi-melta gun. The reasons for the are due to personal experience with the Dark Angels (narratively, the Salamanders are friendly with most other legions -- sworn brothers to the Dark Angels, and why shouldn't some of the senior officers have served and made comrades out of other legions - there's plenty of evidence in the books for this, not least of all between Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus), and the latter due to the dire situation that the survivors of Isstvan 5 found themselves in. I think he must have looted it from a more chaotic legion myself - perhaps the Word Bearers?
The shoulder pads are both the same and from the (older) chaos space marine terminator range -- the skull with curled horns. This shoulder pad is not as chaotic in nature as it might seem. To my mind, they conjure up the marine's background on Nocturne where he might have hunted such great beasts.
The helmet meanwhile is from standard 40k terminators. I was toying with a lot of different helmets for this praetor ranging from a bald head, through to top knots, and everything in between. I felt that the standard 40k terminator was appropriate given the upper torso configuration which is very reminiscent of the 40k range. He could therefore be deployed as one of any type of terminator (potentially) using the armour as counts-as Cataphractii, and so forth.
For the painting, I followed the usual prescription of the warp lightning contrast paint, accented by lighter greens and complemented by the fire motifs.
In all, a worthy leader of the desperate force that I'm constructing for my Shattered Legions. And for once, not Meduson either. Rather, this is the praetor who re-forged his brothers and cousins to use the Covenant of Fire rite of war to survive, eliminate their enemies, and attempt to escape Isstvan 5.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Friday, May 22, 2020
Salamanders Shattered Legions Squad
Especially for those of you (plural) that asked: today is a picture of the completed Salamanders Shattered Legions squad.
Forged from the remains of multiple and diverse original Salamanders squads, the marines in this unit feature a variety of iconography (note the differing paint schemes for the helms for instance), armour marks, and equipment. Some are largely intact, some have a bolt pistol holster, but not pistol contained inside. Some have a few frag grenades, others are replete with extensive pouches.
Most sport obvious battle scarring and damage. Several appear to have conducted field repairs to their armour on the move, incorporating a mixture of armour marks, and replacing parts from traitor legions. The most clear example of this is the brother with the Alpha Legion chaos back pack, but look closely for shoulder pads from other legions, and greaves too. This is all intentional and meant to reflect the harsh survival conditions that they have undergone in the Urgall Depression on Isstvan 5.
The bases are done with a combination of various grades of sand, stones, and grit, coupled with cork, and an assortment of plastic pieces to give them a unified feeling. I've blackened parts of the 32mm bases to provide a war torn feeling which I think works well to offset their armour colours.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 10/10
Finally today is the squad sergeant of my Salamanders Legion squad. This marine is armed with a bolter, bolt pistol, power fist, and melta bombs (which can be seen on his left hand leg) and a few accessories.
I decided to try a bodyline of battle damage diagonally across his torso and thigh - I think this has worked nicely and complements the highlighting across the armour elsewhere. The pose is a bit more dynamic than most of the rest of the Salamanders that I've painted up which adds to the model. The paint scheme is fairly standard otherwise, and includes a decal on the left leg to finish it all off.
So, that's the full squad. More Shattered Legions incoming in the days and weeks ahead!
I decided to try a bodyline of battle damage diagonally across his torso and thigh - I think this has worked nicely and complements the highlighting across the armour elsewhere. The pose is a bit more dynamic than most of the rest of the Salamanders that I've painted up which adds to the model. The paint scheme is fairly standard otherwise, and includes a decal on the left leg to finish it all off.
So, that's the full squad. More Shattered Legions incoming in the days and weeks ahead!
Friday, May 15, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 9/10
The penultimate marine in the squad, featuring a long arial for communications, which can double as a Nuncio Vox if needed. Half tempting to turn it in to a Vexilla by adding some banner to the top of it to be honest, but I'll leave it as is.
The battle damage here is limited to the right hand knee and shin, with a few select other areas highlighted. The decal on the right hand shoulder is an officer rank, suggesting that he once held a solid rank, but is now out for pure rage-filled revenge against the traitors.
The base is cork, and has been painted with a black undercoat, highlighted, washed, and with some black stippling applied in selected places for relief.
The battle damage here is limited to the right hand knee and shin, with a few select other areas highlighted. The decal on the right hand shoulder is an officer rank, suggesting that he once held a solid rank, but is now out for pure rage-filled revenge against the traitors.
The base is cork, and has been painted with a black undercoat, highlighted, washed, and with some black stippling applied in selected places for relief.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 8/10
Another day, another marine, this time in one of the older marks of power armour.
There's nothing too remarkable about this particular brother at first glance. Battle damage can be seen across both knees, and the upper chest. Dust is caking some of the left foot. The rights shoulder pad though is painted in silver. I think the narrative here is that this might be a replacement from the Iron Warriors that he defeated perhaps? Battlefield repairs and all.
Not many left to show you from this squad now. Numbers 9 and 10 coming soon, including the sergeant.
There's nothing too remarkable about this particular brother at first glance. Battle damage can be seen across both knees, and the upper chest. Dust is caking some of the left foot. The rights shoulder pad though is painted in silver. I think the narrative here is that this might be a replacement from the Iron Warriors that he defeated perhaps? Battlefield repairs and all.
Not many left to show you from this squad now. Numbers 9 and 10 coming soon, including the sergeant.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 7/10
This miniature was the original one that I used to figure out the painting scheme for the Salamanders Legion on using Contrast Paints. The main difference here to the earlier images that I posted is the finishing and weathering applied.
Most obviously is the rusted areas that can be seen on the metal sheet beneath the feet of this marine, but also around the feet and shoes, and some of the shin plates. Highlighting has been employed all over to bring this marine in to line with the others and make sure that he looks like he fits in with the rest of the squad nicely. I'm calling this one done at this stage, even though I could probably work a bit more on him.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 6/10
This member of the squad is visibly more variant than the rest. The back pack marks him out as having salvaged the equipment of his enemies. I tried to do this in an Alpha Legion styled colour scheme, which turned out to be a bit more subtle than I anticipated. Regardless, the colour does stand out against the Salamanders green.
Additional details on the base bring the piece together, along with weathering and battle damage on the thighs. The shoulder pad has a stylized number 6 on it, for no particular reason other than to add to the uniqueness of this desperate marine.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 5/10
I wanted to include in the Shattered Legion Salamanders squad at least a couple of marines without helmets on. This is, narratively speaking, justified through the destruction of their own helmets during the fighting of the traitors, and they either have not yet sourced a replacement, or point blank refuse to wear the helms of traitors -- even if they are willing to replace other armour parts with such.
This marine features a bit more scarring and weathering across his armour than some of the others; especially on the legs. The head was a bit of a challenge to paint as the Salamanders are noted to have very dark features coupled with red set eyes. I tried to accomplish this by using a dull grey to perform the highlights on the face with. I think its worked reasonably well and I'm happy with the overall outcome for this individual.
Friday, May 8, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 4/10
A second marine with a black helmet today. This time in a more advanced mark of armour compared to the previous one. The painting prescription follows the same standard as the rest, and, indeed, were all painted on roughly the same day using the same technique for each stage to provide some level of coherency amongst the differing power armour marks.
The lower left shin plate is in a brass and silver colour compared to the rest of the marine. The narrative for this one is that he salvaged the piece from a dead Emperor's Children marine. I might go over it again as I'm not quite happy with the silver -- I was hoping it would look more like scratch marks from scraping past some other metal. Not to matter, I think it still works though.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 3/10
In an older mark of power armour, this particular marine has a slightly variant paint scheme to the majority of the squad with a black helmet and a bronzed muzzle or face guard.
Armed with a bolter and bolt pistol, this marine -- narratively speaking -- belonged to a different tactical squad and has been re-forged following the drop site massacre in to a new squad. There is damage along his right arm, and upper chest, but this marine is otherwise intact and ready to fight against the traitors for days to come. The numerals on the right hand shoulder pad is the legion number (XVIII) applied from a decal set originating with the ultramarines, no less.
I think with this mark of armour, there is a lot more detail to pick out in the highlighting stage with the scorpion green. If I had a choice, I would also prefer to make this marine left handed, and pose him holding the bolt gun in the opposite sense, just for more variation. Alas, I didn't want to undertake that conversion as I figured it would take a bit too long. But maybe that's an idea for another day. If anyone has done that before and has an easy method to follow, I'd love to hear about it!
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 2/10
The second member of the Salamanders squad features a unique shoulder pad with a devastator marking on it. The narrative here is that this marine is either (a) from a Salamanders heavy support squad that was entirely killed except for him, or (b) stole the shoulder pad from another legion (probably Word Bearers given the colouring) to re-equip himself. I have deliberately left the reason ambiguous, which is only accentuated by the lack of battle damage on this shoulder.
Otherwise, this marine follows my standard formulation for my Salamanders, and features a degree of weathering and battle damage across many parts of the armour. I'm really pleased with this one and how it has turned out.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Painted Salamanders Legion Squad: 1/10
This is the first of my Salamanders Legion squad painted up for 30k Horus Heresy, and part of a shattered legions army I am in the midst of making.
I wanted to communicate here a battle worn look, rather than purely clean lines of freshly painted power armour. This is a marine who took part in the drop site massacre and miraculously survived to live to fight on. His armour is intended to reflect that moment in the fight - on the surface of Isstvan 5, being hunted by the traitor legions somewhere in the wastelands along with a small collection of his brothers and allies from the loyalist legions.
The paint scheme follows the contrast paint approach using warp lightning set out in my earlier posting. Subsequently, a liberal application of Nuln oil has been applied before highlighting commenced. I've gone as bright as scorpion green on the highlights here, before bringing it back together. I think this has paid off. Battle damage has been added through application of black and silvers on selected parts of the armour. The shoulder pads were handled distinctly thanks to the iconography and oaths of the moment. I'm tempted to add some scribed writing to the oath papers on the shoulder pad to give a better air of authenticity. I might also add a highlight dot to the helmet lenses as well as a final touch, but others this Salamander is ready to unleash the fury of the legion.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Tamiya Weathering Powders
A very long time ago, I bought a small set of Tamiya weathering master powders, pictured below. I almost forgot that I had it in my collection until recently. The main cause of this was that when I first bought it, my wife commented that I was now using eye shadow on my miniatures, and I put it away somewhere out of sight for a bit. I can see why she said that though. These weathering powders genuinely look and feel much like traditional eye shadow powders - no two ways about it. They even come packed with an eye shadow applicator.
In painting up my Salamanders legion squad, I rediscovered the Tamiya powders. Since they've been in the case and they're compact powders, they have hardly aged or deteriorated to any great degree. Hence I've been applying some orange rust, gun metal, and silver to my miniatures to create a bit more of a worn look over recent days. The powders work really well when used appropriately -- on obvious edges where rusting or metal would be seen in natural light.
Or as my wife said again today: applying eye shadow to the miniatures. Can recommend!