Greetings fraters et sorores!

 

Well, we've established what I said in the first post, namely that I won't be able to post very often. I just didn't realize it would be four months... 

 

So, let's pray to the Emperor that that's not a precedent for things to come. 

 

Fortunately, this tardiness does not correspond with a massive backlog of project updates. I've been pretty busy with school, so not a huge amount of hobby-time, and I've been spending most of that time painting some minis for my dad.*

 

*Anyone heard of Tidal Blades? Tons of fun.

 

Finished Stuff

 

So a couple exciting additions to the force. Got my Brutalis Dreadnought, Brother Umaroth, all done, complete with lava base. I don't have pics of him on his base yet, but here are a few without. Umaroth is named for a character from the Inheritance Cycle, one of my fav fantasy book series. 

 

 

Also finished the Land Raider Redeemer. As yet, no name for this baddie, but man, I love this model!

 

 

With those skulls, I wanted to give a sort of feeling like they're trophies mounted on the vehicles. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out, definitely a lot of fun to paint. They might clash a bit with the generally darker color though. Maybe some... warpaint or something? Just to break up the blocks of white. Thoughts?

 

WIP

Anyhoo, my somewhat customized Tu'Shan is not yet painted. I wasn't too happy with the flames on his hammer, so I've actually removed those since last post. Now he's just waiting for these lads to catch up. 

 

Just waiting for it to warm up a bit before I prime them. Then they, Tu'Shan, & the new Vulkan He'Stan will all get painted. Actually did break and spray the bases with a space heater sitting nearby. Just to get a headstart, y'know. It's just cork after all... 

 

Fiddling around with the squad poses was a lot of fun. Generally I go for a balance of realistic/dramatic. Sarge's hammer arm, though - I couldn't resist. I started this in 8th ed, so I just barely managed to catch the tail end of oldmarines and their fun old poses. This just felt appropriate.

 

 

K, now for something I've been wanting to try out - the Unit Focus section. This is where, every time I put up a blog post, I'll show off one of the Salamanders units I've already completed, in-universe style. At the moment, the poor chaps are a little low on lore, a shortfalling I intend to fix, by the Throne! So for the foreseeable future, there'll be a little bit at the end of each blog post with some pics and lore. First up, Sergeant Piret Amann and his Hellblasters!

 

Unit Focus: Amann's Hellblasters, 2nd Company, 8th Squad

 

From the writings of Meric Van Damm, Historitor Adept

Extract from file entitled "Notes on the Devna reinforcement"

007M42

Sgt Amann, alas, was unavailable, as I was informed in no uncertain terms by the chapter serf stationed in that section of the Astartes decks. A setback, but one I refuse to be ashamed of. Ship's scuttlebutt tells he's most aloof - one of the most difficult Astartes in the fleet to gain an audience with. Kyra tells me he's quite unapproachable. 

Though no interview was possible prior to planetfall, I was able to make it down once the drop zone was secured, a journey made no less uncomfortable by the stares of the guard troopers sharing the hold with me than by the shaking of our lander during atmospheric entry. 

Upon landing I set up in an empty room across from the chambers the Guard chose for their temporary HQ, and sent Lebka to collect picts. The skull quickly found the Salamanders force, not difficult as the trail of destruction left by the Astartes made the direction of their advance crystal clear. 

Through our commune, I watched as Lebka reached the Astartes lines. Spotting a squad apparently dug in for the moment, I directed the skull downwards to begin capturing images. The squad in question turned out to be none other than Amann's Hellblasters, who were firing upon a target I could not see. The intense brightness of their firing overwhelmed Lebka's sensors, but it was able to capture a few picts which I daresay will be of use. 

Attached [file ref 1230009M42]

[File ends]

 

From the notes of Hina Et'Ska, Imperial Propagandist

996M41

Sergeant Piret Amann was once of a noble house. His relatives still oversee extensive property in one of Nocturne's sanctuary cities, though by now Amann has seen at least four generations of his family come and go. Due to disparities in the flow of time, Amann's journeys in the warp have slowed his ageing, though even in his own mind he's an old marine. Special permission had to be obtained from the Chaplaincy and Librarius for Amann to undergo the Rubicon Primaris. Now the fire in his eyes burns anew as he leads 8th squad to unleash hell upon their foes. 

 

Extracts from the record of Brother Piret Amann

[784M41]Brother Amann took command of his depleted Devastator squad when both sergeant and second were slain in an Aeldari orbital strike. Amann led the squad to complete all mission objectives and destroy the Titan-construct ravaging the walls of Achilles hive. His position as sergeant was made official upon the campaign's conclusion.

[882M41} After five years lost in the warp, Amann and his squad passed screening for corruption and all were returned to active status on Chapter records. 

[001M42]Sergeant Amann underwent the surgeries to become a Primaris Space Marine, emerging with new purpose. Most of his squad followed. 

[002M42]Sergeant Amann led his squad to reinforce the flank on Kaguk IV, directing his brothers to slaughter nearly twice their number and destroy a total of three transports and daemon engines in thrall to the Death Guard. 

 

 

Aaand that's it. 

 

Cheers!