Mantis Warriors

[Doghouse]

Vodunius: Yeah but the Badab weekend has never really been acknowledged as canon material to be fair. I looked at their pack but it wasn't really what I wanted for my marines and as there is no official mention of the campaign I'm using a bit of artisitic licence to create a unique unit. The marines with sniper rifles wasn't really very imaginative to me and can't be used in standard games.

Chances are it may well have taken place during the war itself but Mantis Warriors fought mostly in the space lanes harashing Imperial shipping and engaging the Fire Hawks.

If they ever revist the Badab Wars properly then maybe I'll revise the fluff but as it stands it's just a bit of fun to include a different type of veterans unit. ;)

 

Reyner: It's a pretty simple conversion to do, for the right arm I just used the sergeant's bolt pistol arm and added a stormbolter. I just wish Captains could take bolters like in the good old days but the current trend suggest that it'll be combi-weapons and close combat weapons so I'm just planning ahead.

[brother Hastatus]

That's probably the first old style scout based conversion I have ever liked! It looks like it fits in still, which is something most don't do - they usually look quite different when standing next to normal marines.

And the captain is still a really cool model I think. Quite simple, with few pieces involved, but incredibly effective and striking.

[Doghouse]

Thanks mate! :tu:

 

Right update time...

 

Here is the first finished Mantis Warrior. He's not great but like I say I'm aiming for a table top standard rather than fine art.

I've weathered the armour and added damage to grubby him up using simple wash techniques to allow me to get the job done quickly.

I've also decided that the best way to go with these guys is to have a mix of standard and converted models in the same squad to allow the BfM marines to blend in.

I could have probably done a much better job if I'd taken my time but I need an army so I can get some games in.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture061-2.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture064-3.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture063-2.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture062-2.jpg

[Doghouse]

Speed painting Doghouse style...

 

I'm using a technique that I developed years ago when I actually used to get armies finished. I drybrushed the basecoat over a black undercoat and then moved onto the next one and so on. By the time the last one was done the first model was dry so I went over it with a second dry brush to build the basecoat up further. I did this for two reasons, firstly it picks out all the details so I can see what I'm doing and secondly it acts like a foundation so that I can apply the proper basecoat to the model easily over the black.

Next I applied the proper base coat and then finally cleaned up the black areas with a fresh coat of black paint.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture066-2.jpg

 

Here's the guys nearest to completion and a shot of the troops in various stages.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture065-2.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture067-2.jpg

[Ekkanus]

Looking good as ever Doghouse!!!!! Interesting idea about the drybrushing though, might try that at some point when i finally stop fiddling around with Half and Quarter colour Schemes!!

[Doghouse]

Thanks mate! :tu:

 

One last quick update...

 

Here are the first two members of a Devastators squad made from the Missile Launcher marine and a the other being made from a BfM sergeant.

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/baneofangels123/Picture141.jpg

[Montuhotep]

He's not great but like I say I'm aiming for a table top standard rather than fine art.

I'll believe you, thousands wouldn't.....

[ImperialTemplari]

Your doing another good job here Doghouse, I really like your choice of chapters, that green is nice. -_-

[Doghouse]

Thanks guys! :)

 

ImperialTemplari: I've always used dark colours in the past because it seems more natural to have an army painted in darker tones. I have always fancied something lighter that I can try and make look credible and revamping my second ed Mantis Warriors army was just too tempting to pass up.

 

 

Update...

 

The second marine is now done and the rest of the squad is well underway, looks like I may actually finish an army after all. :)

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture069-2.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture068-2.jpg

[Pulse]

A finished army, are you sick Doghouse matey? :)

 

Looking good so far, loving the latest pictures the green looks a lot more vivid in these pictures for some reason and it looks damn good.

[Doghouse]

:P :)

 

Thanks mate! :)

[Pulse]

You said you were going for about 35 marines, but how many vehicles do you intend to add to them? I know you said a dred but what about a rhino, pred or a land speeder or two? :)

[Doghouse]

I've got a couple of rhinos that I can dig out along with a Landraider, Land Speeder and a couple of Predators including an RT era conversion that'd look really nice.

Untill the new starter set comes out I can get away without spending any cash on the army which is extremely handy.

Once the first two Tactical squads and command squad are out of the way expect to see vehicles start popping up along with the scout and veteran squad. :rolleyes:

I'm just keeping it simple for now so that I don't get too distracted.

[Pulse]

Looking forward to the Vet squad, from the picture you showed earlier im sure they will look damn good.

 

I didn't know you had so many vehicles "laying around", as you said at least you don't have to spend any cash for the time being, lol. :rolleyes:

[Doghouse]

Here's a shot of the Predator I was working on for another project that I'll be adding to the army to show what I mean.

 

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/baneofangels123/Picture146.jpg

[Doghouse]

Yeah I got rid of most of my stuff but fortunately left a box in the attic with lots of wip stuff in it without realising.

It's lucky as I can't really afford any new stuff for a while.

[Pulse]

Haha, i remember that pred - i wondered where that went to. It looks excellent!

 

For the scouts, are you going to go "all out" camo, or keep them mantis green still, with camo bits?

[Doghouse]

I've got two routes I can take with them, either camo fatigues in the style of the Tranquility Campaign seen above or a darker green. The armoured parts will be in chapter colours regardless although I'm trying to make the sergeant more like a marine so that he stands out like they used to before they just became regular scout models.

There used to be a clear distinction that was really nice but nowadays they are just a regular model like the rest of the squad.

[Pulse]

There used to be a clear distinction that was really nice but nowadays they are just a regular model like the rest of the squad.

Yeh its not something i like really, distinction between ranks i think is a must even in a scout unit, gives more character to the models and units.

 

I've got two routes I can take with them, either camo fatigues in the style of the Tranquility Campaign seen above or a darker green. The armoured parts will be in chapter colours regardless

I like the sound of the darker green, but for the whole armour sections - i feel the normal green your going for is a little to bright for the role of a scout unit, unless you intend to give them all cloaks so they can hide their armour?

[Bannus]

Ironic - I use a very similar painting style for my Sallies - it works great when dealing with really weak pigments and gets some pretty decent results.

 

How are your Scouts coming along? - I'm really curious to see how the old-schoolers turn out. :rolleyes:

[Doghouse]

Pulse: I totally agree.

Other than the test model I've made I'm not sure what I'll do with them just. I've started a sergeant and will revist them once the main elements of the army are done. :)

 

bannus: Yeah, combined with the snap-fix guys it's especially effective as I don't get side tracked with major convertion work.

I'll be posting pictures of the sergeant shortly but for the time being they're just test minis to see what works. :)

[Chaplain Desmodus]

Hey Doghouse,

 

Just wanted to say that I really like your Mantis Warriors. Always cool when someone brings out an old and seldom (never) seen chapter, even cooler when the results are as great as yours. :P

[Doghouse]

Hello mate!!!

 

Long time no see, great to hear from you and thanks for taking the time to post in my thread.

I seriously appreciate the compliment mate. :D

 

 

Squad markings and other stuff

 

I've been playing around with a few ideas and thanks to the suggestion ofVasteye have decided to include a dedicated sniper team using the devastator rules as a proxy. I've got a rather nifty conversion idea lined up that'll allow me to include a marine sniper team as well as provide me with a unique unit option.

 

With the new combat team rules that are coming into play it's dawned on me that I'll need to make markings to help distinguish the two elements of the tactical squads once broken down into teams. Traditionally the first squad is lead by the sergeant whilst the second is led by a veteran marine, to distinguish between the two I'm going to add a squad marking to either the greave or other knee pad. As it stands I'm using the right knee pad for unit number, so in the case of the two guys I've finished they are members of the third squad.

[Doghouse]

Update

 

This is an old raider that I've dug out and am reworking for the army. I thought I could get away with just repainting it but as I've been applying the basecoat I've noticed a number of flaws and shoddy work that needs repatching.

I'll be going over the hull cleaning up the damaged areas, straightening others and generally revamping the model befoer continuing the paint work.

It was originally intended to get away from the newer sci-fi look that the marines got when they re-did the range, the sponsons are from an old WW I tank kit.

I'm pretty sure that I can salvage the model with some GS work.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture071-2.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/Doghouse12/Picture072-2.jpg

[Commissar Molotov]

The Land Raider conversion is pretty cool, actually. It's very in-keeping with the Astartes, too. The Sponsons call to mind those of the 'Pre-Heresy Land Raider' produced by Forge World. What with the Land Raider being inspired by the MkI tank from World War One, it's really very cool.

 

Do you have any other angles showing the sponsons?