Shoulder pad without Great Company insignia - why?

[Sp1ke40000]

Hi everybody!

I know that the marking of the Great Company is on the left shoulder pad and it depends on the favour of the Wolf Lord. But

I saw some SW miniatures without any badges on the left shoulder pad (and I suppose they are not some kind of WIP miniatures).

There're any background reasons? ^_^

What should I read to know about it? Codex? Any White Dwarf article?

 

Thanks in advance!!

 

P.S. For example (miniatures):

http://pages.zoom.co.uk/bogey/Graphics/Pai...eWolfSqaud.jpeg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/i...3bb7b4de2c6.jpg

[Asterixlee]

The classic example of Great company marking on the left, squad delineation on the right is merely a suggestion based upon the lore. You should find a look that you like the best, I expect thats what the people who painted the minis in those pictures did.

 

So as far as I know, there are no "background reasons" for changing the markings other than personal taste.

[Dark Bjoern]

Welcome at the Fang, Whelp. I´m Dark Bjoern, one of the Rune Priests of the Fang, trusted advisor to Wolf Lord Krom Dragongaze Great Company. Bring us some ale, take seat and listen.

The squad at the first pic is absolute complete in their markings. On the left shoulder pad you can see the marking of Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane, the blackmaned wolfhead on yellow background. On the right shoulder pad you can see the two color ribbon marking. The choosen colors shows you what kind of pack you´re facing.

red and black = Grey Hunters

red and yellow = Blood Claws

white and black = Long Fangs

yellow and black = Wolf Guard

white and red = Wolf Scouts (Those scout markings had become very, very rare. Most SW don´t use them any longer.)

The ribbon pattern is the most traditional form. Here are some examples:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x120/DarkBjoern/Space%20Wolves/GreyHunter2.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x120/DarkBjoern/Space%20Wolves/BloodClaw1.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x120/DarkBjoern/Space%20Wolves/WolfGuardTerminator8.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x120/DarkBjoern/Space%20Wolves/Bild017.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x120/DarkBjoern/Space%20Wolves/Pre-HeresyLandRaiderrightside.jpg

 

If a pack has an attached transport like a Rhino, Razorback or Land Raider, those vehicles shows the same pattern.

But it had become not uncommen to replace the traditional ribbons with alternative pack markings. Your second link shows such alternatives. Yellow background with black claws, wolf skulls and other SW symbols shows that that are Wolf Guards of Ragnar´s Great Company.

[Sp1ke40000]

So as far as I know, there are no "background reasons" for changing the markings other than personal taste.

It is a thousand pities ;)

 

The squad at the first pic is absolute complete in their markings

Not at all. Just take a look:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2774/spacewolfsqaud.th.jpg

 

The ribbon pattern doesn't kindle my interest. I know about "the two color ribbon marking" for GH/BC/LF/WG/WS. But thank you anyway!

I know nothing about another thing. Sometimes I see some space wolves miniatures without the symbol of the Great Company:

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3974/74478246.th.jpg

Sometimes there's only "yellow (Black, Gray, etc.) background". And there's no badge on the left shoulder pad. Is it OK (and why?) or not? :D

That's the question!

 

Welcome at the Fang

Aaaaaaahhhh-ooooooooooo-OOOOOO-oooohhhhh!

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/967/wolf5.gif

[Dark Bjoern]

Cause all other had Ragnar´s symbol on their pads i would say there´re four options:

1) the painter had forgotten it

2) he had run out of decals

3) the pack is still WIP

4) ha was too lazy to finish the pack

 

I think the same reasons count also for other painters. Not everyone got the skill to paint those symbols freehand. Most of the pics i had posted are WIPs. Meanwhile every SW in my army (15000 points) wears proudly the symbol of Wolf Lord Krom Dragongaze, but it was a pain in the arse to do so many freehands.

[Grey Mage]

I use runes on one hand... but I dont have the ability to freehand the firewolf, and my transfer abilities are very very limited. Im happy I can do it on a flat surface vehicle. One day when I get the ability Ill put them on, but until then Im saving the transfers for the future.

[Vash113]

P.S. For example (miniatures):

http://pages.zoom.co.uk/bogey/Graphics/Pai...eWolfSqaud.jpeg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/i...3bb7b4de2c6.jpg

 

Those all appear to have Great Company Markings all those I can see anyway except maybe one that has some residual black over the yellow like it was painted over and still WIP.

 

All of the finished Space Wolf models I've ever seen have the Great Company marking somewhere, mostly on the left pad unless wearing studded pads and then it's on the right and pack markings are elsewhere. There's no fluff justification for not wearing the Great Company Markings and any models you see I'd assume they're either waiting for proper transfers (one does run out sometimes) or still WIP. Some people leave them off while they test their marking freehand on paper or test models before aplying it to the rest of the army and some people have to order their transfers or make their own and post up pics of the almost finished models before those are applied.