In the beginning...
 

As can be seen I have been into Warhammer 40K for about as long as it is possible to have been, and for me when I think of Adeptus Astartes I first think of my RTB01 kit of 30 marines in very dark blue plastic, that later became known as MKVI Corvus pattern, as well as their Umbra pattern bolters and bolt pistols, chain blades and bayonets, and what latterly became Proteus pattern missile launchers and Phaestos pattern flamers.

Eventually Foregworld did some partial MKIV Maximus for the Red Scorpions (as well as their chapter symbol shoulder pads), to go with the 3rd edition plastic MKVII space marines, in the Imperial Armour (IA) book 4, The Anphelion Project, prior to revisiting them in the Badab War, including some resin weapon ugrade packs with those original patterns of special and heavy weapons from RTB01. As well as brass etch...I still have the scars.

Then Forgeworld did the two Badab War books (IA 9 and 10), and we started to get the first generation of resin MKII, MKIII, MKIV, MK V and MKVI armour, as well as various patterns of weapons and resin Contemptors, as well as their massive drop pods. Also lots of colour plates, showing pure and mixed marks of armour suits. My interest in kit bashing and mashing parts started at this point.

I still have all these things in bags, stacked in boxes, in the garage, along with all the IA books on a bookshelf.

Quite a few years ago a gaming mate suggested we did Horus Heresy (as in what would now be v1.0), especially as I had so many things that could be used for that. I agreed, and as he was going with Imperial Fists at the time (in the end he didn't and went with Iron Hands) that left an obvious choice for me: Iron Warriors.

That is literally the only reason, simple as that. 

Everything else since then, from reading all the books, reading the novels, to listening to the same novels as audio books, getting Iron Warrior Forgeworld resin upgrade kits for helms and shoulder pads, the multiple brass etches, the Forgworld transfer sheets, was down to that initial choice (or in a sense the lack of it).

So with v3.0 here, and having got it a day early, and having planned as much as possible for the last few months based on leaks, I have been challenged again by the same mate to actually get this done so we can play - he has painted several Horus Heresy armies completely since then and ironically is pondering Iron Warriors himself.

Start at the top they say, and thus with my Warhammer World only Iron Warriors Warmsmith in hand, as well as the stock one being converted into a Centurion, and the new plastic Centurion, with literally every Forgeworld resin vehicle and plastic hybrid, and all the new plastics for v2.0 and v3.0 out thus far, it is time to start with the High Command and Command choices of the Crusade Primary Detachment - representing some of the 88th Grand Battalion, who due to their brutality and use of borderline proscribed weaponry and tactics, with many belonging to the Lyssatra, the Brethren of Thunder, are also known by the cognomen: The Hateful Eighty-Eighth
 

Note this won't be a linear and complete chronicle, the intent is more to show what I did at certain points and why, starting with the history of the project but movinf forward into where inspiration may have come from, or ideas in the background leading to conversion choices, and the tools and techniques I will have to draw upon to make that happen.

But life is more settled now, so I am making time for hobby, so no more stalling.

Dominum imperator ac ferrum aeturnum.