Fire Raptor!

Fire Raptor Under Construction

I have decided to shift my approach on the last 500 points for my Novamarines army.  Instead of pursuing an Imperial Knight, I am going to include a Relic Fire Raptor from the Ultramarines Legion 10th Company!

In addition, I am going to drop the Aggressors and Gravis Captain at 2,000 pts and bring back the Hellblasters as well as a converted Primaris Captain with Power Fist.

Front

Side

Praetor Captain

Captain Aedvarus of the 106th

This past week I did some light painting, completing the Horus Heresy era Ultramarines Praetor.  He was straightforward for the most part, with most of the decisions already made.

Veteran of Terra, Praetor of the XIII Legion, Captain of the 106th Company Aedvarus of Merica.

Captain Aedvarus goes onto to lead the defense of Argeia from World Eaters, survives the Heresy, and is the future Second Founding Captain of the 4th Company of the Novamarines Chapter

Fighting for the Fate of Konor

I really like the idea of narrative-focused games.  The summer campaign Games Workshop is running is a perfect excuse to get in games of 8th edition 40k using my core army - the 3rd Company Ultramarines - and my newest army - the 4th Company Novamarines.  This past Sunday, I defended against a Khornate host pushing through a shattered gate on the approaches to the the Quintus Gate on Astaramis.

The right flank in defense of the Quintus Gate

Ancient Mikael - Contemptor Dreadnought

Yesterday, I painted up a slightly modified Betrayal at Calth boxed set Contemptor Dreadnought.  I added three pieces from the now out of print Etched-Brass Ultramarine icons.

The model was straightforward to paint.  I think it was intricate enough to require a paint brush throughout vice the possibility of airbrushing large areas.  My airbrushing skills, confidence, and equipment are not yet ready to take on using it for carapace surrounded by details.

I made up the name Ancient Mikael while writing the post.  But the more I think about it, the more fitting it is.

More images below...

Roboute Guilliman

Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the XIII Legion, Ultarmarines

I completed Roboute Guilliman.

I was incredibly intimidated at the prospect of painting this model.  I was worried about doing justice to the incredible model and the character..

I have been playing Ultramarines for over two decades.  The story of Guilliman in the second edition Codex: Ultramarines appealed to twelve-year-old me.  I had been fascinated by the Roman Republic/Empire and story of Macragge and Guilliman paired right alongside that fascination.  The Horus Heresy material only added to my loyalty to the XIII, its Primarch, and what they represent in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

In my past few weeks of downtime, I have dedicated a few hours each day to painting some of my "back-log" of miniatures, as the past half dozen post show.   After finishing the Suzerains, which are highly detailed and have a lot of similar details to Guilliman, I planned to paint the miniature.

The main body did not present anything particularly new or challenging.  The marble effect was a new challenge for me and took multiple layers and attempts make it close to what I wanted.  I think it came out pretty well, not professional marble, but good.

More images...

Starting a Primarch

This past weekend, I began working on Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the XIII Legion Astrates, the Ultramarines.  Painting a Primarch is a bit intimidating and I wanted to finish the Suzerains (who can serve as his bodyguard) before embarking on the effort.  I am steadily working on the Primarch himself.  Painting the marble of the base will be a new technique and I will probably practice on something else first.

Basing Guilliman

Suzerains Complete

A second update in the same week!

Very High Angle View

Just showing off the completed Suzerains.  I have begun cleaning up Guilliman for assembling and painting.

Closer-Up, Lower Angle

I am steadily working down my backlog of modelling and painting projects.  Partly to make room for new projects in the coming months.

Back to Games Workshop

Suzerains in work

As I finished up models for various other systems and my local community gets excited about the new edition of Warhammer 40,000, I have returned to painting Games Workshop/Forgeworld products.

I am almost complete on the second set of 5 Suzerains for my Horus Heresy Ultramarines.  With the excitement around 40k, I may crash on assembling and painting the Primaris by July for the Fate of Konor Campaign.  In addition, I may look at finally adding long awaited 1st Company Terminators and Veterans units to my 40k Ultramarines.  I anticipate lots of blue in June & July.  I need to paint faster.

Paragons of Honour and Duty

This past weekend I complete the first five (of ten) Invictarus Suzerains for my Horus Heresy era Ultramarines.  These five are all equipped with bolt pistols, boarding shields, and Legatine power axes.  The next five will include one equipped that way, two with plasma pistols, and two with Thunderhammers.  Thanks to Jason, my brother, for kitbashing from his bits left-handed Thunderhammers.

Leading from the Front

The models are very detailed, giving plenty of opportunity to break-up the blue of the armor and depart from heavy amounts of gold.  Other Invictarus Suzerains I have looked at make the shields blue and keep most of the details gold.  I departed from that.

Washes & Layers on the Suzerains

Slow, but steady progress on the first five Suzerains.As I began to apply the washes, the models really came to life and details started to pop.  The layers assured some details were differentiated.

Suzeriains in Progress

Based Suzerains and Tanksgiving

I only achieved progress last night on the Suzerains, completing the base colors before writing this post.  The past week has been busy, filled with plenty of driving and various events.

I recently added a Dreadclaw (1 of 3) to my slowly expanding list of projects to assemble and paint as well as additional Ultramarines torsos and a few Space Wolves torsos for Burning of Prospero/a Space Wolves Veteran Squad for my Ultramarines forces.

Lastly, I also picked up at a discount Potecknov’s Bears for Team Yankee.  The set is 9 T-72 tanks and 2 Hind helicopters.  My intent is to field a Polish Mechanized Infantry Battalion from the mid-1980s.  At the moment, the rules only allow for Soviet forces, but that doesn't mean that paint can't be Polish.

Slow Start on Suzerians

I have slowly begun painting my first 5 Invictus Suzerains.  I am slowly working on the base colors.  There are a lot of little details on these models, which makes each of them fairly individual.  Hopefully more to come next week.

Once more into the Breach(ers)

Corny title, I know.  I have completed another five Siege Breachers, completing my Ultramarines Breacher Squad (or at least the first 10).  This adds the Vexilla and Nuncio-Vox to the squad, which I think of as near standard for most squads of Ultramarines.

More pictures including the full squad and pre-weathering of the five through the link.

Heroes and Overwatch

Simply put, I have been distracted the past few weeks with Blizzard's Overwatch.  During that time, I worked off-and-on on two heroes of the XIII Legion, a Veteran of Terra and a Master of Signals.

Pair of Heroes

These two are HQ units for my Ultramarines.  The Master of Signals is an Ultramarine standard Support HQ.   The Veteran of Terra will fill multiple roles like being a basic Praetor or a Legion Champion depending on the size of the game and available models.

I am starting on my next 5 Boarders.

Some more images follow.

Tactical Options

I had a rather busy weekend and week, but I did get three more Ultramarines painted.  These three Astrates provide options to the completed Tactical Squad, allowing it to either be fielded as a fully equipped Veteran Tactical Squad (like a 40k Tactical Squad or a squad in Betrayal at Calth) or just swap in the Nuncio Vox in the Tactical Squad.

3 Options for Tactical/Veteran Tactical Squads

Up next: Veteran of Terra & Master of Signals

First 5 of 10 Breachers

This past Saturday, I completed the first 5 of 10 Breachers for my Ultramarines 106th Company.  These are a bit eclectic due to it having the Sergeant, 2 of 3 Bolter Astrates, 1 of 4 Power Sword Astrates, and 1 of 2 Melta Gun Astrates.  I am also waiting for a Forgeworld order to come in with a Vox and Vexalia for the other set of 5 Astrates that will complete the squad.

In Defense of Lex Konor

From the side

Overall, these models were great to paint.  Since I had completed the 10-man tactical, I had settled upon the techniques involved and overall scheme.  The  fact that they are in Mark III Power Armor and Breacher shields gave some great variety.   Their bases are also those I showed previously and I have tried to position them all such that they appear to be "holding the line" at the patterned tiles.

In progress shots after the link.

Tiling

Just a brief update this week as the past two weeks and weekends have been busy with various activities.  Almost two weeks ago now, I assembled and painted bases for the first 5 Breachers and here they are.  Hopefully get back to painting this week.

Tactical Squad Complete

On Thursday last week, I weathered the feet of the Legion Tactical Squad, completing the first 10 Astrates for my XIII Legion force.  I am very pleased with the overall result.  I am starting to write-up some background for what Chapter of the Legion they are and what they are doing during the Shadow Crusade and associated units. 

Wading through the dust 

Preparing to Weather

These are the first 10-man Astrates prior to weathering.  I have a reviewed a few guides about weathering and have the pigments.  I intend to start with the pigments and then sponging mainly the areas with transfers.  Most of the armor material is not paint but intended to be the appropriate material and while the Astrates are weathered, they will not be overly damaged.

106th Company Astrates before civilization crumbles around them

10-man Squad in Progress

I have been making steady progress on my first XIII Legion Tactical Squad.  I am regretting attempting to go after a full 10-man squad right away.  I feel like I would feel further along if I was starting my second 5-man, having finished the first 5-man.

All this being said, I have not really used any new techniques on the XIII models yet.  But I have settled on the plan to do basic weathering 1) using powders and 2) light sponging.  Next weekend, I intend to buy at least a pack of Vallejo pigments (Stone and cement, city).  I intend to weather the lower calf and feet of the Legionaires with a light dusting of a light grey pigment to represent them defending the shattered civiti of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar.   My XIII Legion are now having to forgo superficial maintenance and thus I will "chip" and "mud" where I think it is appropriate.  But that is all to come.

For now, I will finish up highlights on black and apply transfers over the next week.