Red Scorpion's First Company

[bravo-52]

This is my first attempt at an army building blog. So for those of you with more experience any advice is welcome.

 

I've always had a soft spot for the Dark Angels, they were my first 40k army. They may not be a top tier army but their fluff just completely caught mt attention (especially back when I started 14 years ago). Actually, I built an Angels of Absolution army that I still have and plan to update whenever the next Codex Dark Angels comes out (2020 maybe?). But this time I wanted a Deathwing army, only I wanted to make it my own, something slightly different from the standard DW armies out there. So I decided on this army that's been done many times over but I've never seen done like this: the Red Scorpions first company. With their predilections of employing apothecaries in most of their squads, a terminator apothecary for the 1st company command squad seems like a perfect fit. Plus there is barely 50 Tactical Dreadnought suits in the entire chapter so building an entire wing won't be so daunting. Here is the beginning of my new army and my new blog. Hopefully you'll like the "Stingwing"

[bravo-52]

First Company taking shape

 

Here is a quick update, of what I have been up to lately. The first two squads are almost ready for paint. They just need to be based with some sand and they'll be ready for priming. Unlike most lists I've seen floating around the internet, I actually like the assault cannon on my ranged terminators. Don't get me wrong I have plans to include two CML in my first 1750 pt list but I just don't like the thunder hammer cyclone missile launcher spam that I'm seeing everyone advocate.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1455.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1456.jpg

 

As some of you might have noticed, these are a mix of regular terminators and AoBR terminators. I have a total of 25 terminators in various stages of assembly on my desk with 10 of them being AoBR and the other 15 being regular or assault terminators.

 

I have also done some work on one of my 1st company dreadnoughts. I just love the look of the regular Forgeworld dreadnought. In my opinion, the FW dreadnought has so much more character than the standard plastic dreadnought without being too gaudy like certain chapter specific dreadnoughts. Weapons have been magnetized so I can exchange them at will, also the helmet has not been glued yet so I can paint it separately from the sarcophagus.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1454.jpg

 

Last but not least is my Belial count-as. Definitely going for the thunder hammer / storm shield version to make him more survivable since he lacks an iron halo or eternal warrior.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1458.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1459.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1460.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSCN1461.jpg

 

I wanted to make him stand out from the standard metal space marine terminator captain so I added the plasticard pauldron to his left shoulder pad, and sealed the banner slot at the back of his armor with brown stuff. I also shaved the skull from the bottom of the storm shield and added Red Scorpion brass etching to it, added one more power cable from the storm shield, added some height to his boots with plasticard and raised him on a bigger salient rock just so he didn't seem that small when compared to the other terminators. My real goal is to get Forgeworld's Lufgt Huron in terminator armor and use him as the base for a major conversion of my Red Scorpions First Company Captain. Let me know what you think. See you with an update in a couple of days.

[hushrong]

Very cool start on your army! now paint paint paint!!!

[Machinepriest]

Cool project!

Saw something like this on Warseer as well.

I will keep my eyes on this :D

[bravo-52]

It has been almost a week since my last update but real life again got in the way of my plastic addiction. I did manage to put together another Terminator Squad.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPsb27O6MMQ/TjoyWf8-uNI/AAAAAAAAACo/nchwURAcZvc/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20001.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVy6E5ru1sg/TjoyoqCAMZI/AAAAAAAAACs/20mj0ANz_wc/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20002.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTmU1X3IEO4/TjoytEjYkvI/AAAAAAAAACw/lpgyhVkie6A/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20004.JPG

 

This time it's my first Assault squad. Unfortunately I suffer from OCD when it comes to putting models together. I can't stand seeing a great paint job ruined by mold lines on the model. I spend way too much time cleaning every last bit of flash and mold lines, even in areas that people will never get to see. So it takes forever to get a squad ready for paint. They're just missing their FW Red Scorpions Terminator shoulder pads, which are in the process of being cleaned of all flash.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVUWbq_wwmw/TjozU_FDWJI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Z4AaoHDmbBQ/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20006.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRJgV69XRcc/TjozZMaQmaI/AAAAAAAAAC8/DVy7Pnlrc1g/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20007.JPG

 

I have also started on my Terminator apothecary conversion for the command squad. I really liked the new Grey Knights terminator apothecary arm but it just didn't feel right. My apothecary will be armed with lightning claws so if I had used the termie apothecary arm it wouldn't have had the right feel, plus it wouldn't be WYSIWYG.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hj9EjaQ-4K8/Tjozd81ZbAI/AAAAAAAAADA/_ClynlCHDoE/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20008.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QO33pPoAEFA/TjoziPy5LkI/AAAAAAAAADE/GFRXjpx9miU/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20009.JPG

 

I started the conversion with a power armor apothecary plastic arm. I cut off all the power armor parts and shaved the inside of the Narthecium/Reductor until it almost fit on the outside of the left lightning claw. I then had to shave off a little bit from the lightning claw to make it a perfect fit. Even though it still needs some green stuff work on the inside arm, to completely connect the power cable from the shoulder pad to the Narthecium/Reductor, I really like the final result.

 

Finally, most of my hobby time has been spent either painting the inside of the command squad's Land Raider Crusader or working on Brother Aslan.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnHgKTRTtZ0/TjoznCikZCI/AAAAAAAAADI/IzH1swFUCyI/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20010.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsFFBnUlvZo/Tjozrk_sIOI/AAAAAAAAADM/YjFH6W3bHJc/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20011.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWJJB6Yla9w/TjozwLt_qAI/AAAAAAAAADQ/b6jOSBzcJkg/s1600/Assault%20Squad%20012.JPG

 

Brother Aslan is the Red Scorpions' Vexillarius Primus (Chapter Standard Bearer) and will also be my entry into Jack's FanDex special character competition (Over at Red's Corps Red Scorpions Blog). Let me know what you think. As always critiques are always welcome. You can also let me know what you think over at my Red Scorpions Blog "Red Scorpions First Company"

[bravo-52]

I can't believe it's been twelve days since my last update. Real life has a way to get in the way of my plastic addiction. Unfortunately there hasn't been much progress in the terminator modelling/painting side. On the other hand I have finished modeling three terrain pieces for my cities of death table: a bombed out factory, a leaking oil reserve tank, and a small ork bastion. I'll probably post pictures later in the week.

 

I have made some headway on Brother Aslan's background/fluff. As I said last update he's going to be my entry into Jack's FanDex special character competition (over at Red's Corps Red Scorpions Blog), and I want to come up with a suitable back-story to be included in the codex. I have saved it as a pdf but I can't link to it so here is a text version of it. Please take a look at it and let me know what you think. As always critiques are always welcome.

 

In 892 fortieth millennium, Inquisitor Pevensie was sent by

the Ordo Xenos to investigate rumors of deviancy in the Kaspion

IX aristocracy................ She was never heard of again.

 

Seven months after her disappearance, the Red Scorpions received an urgent request

from the Ordo Xenos. A not unsubstantial genestealer cult had

been found thriving in the upper echelons of Kaspion aristocracy;

the most senior member being Magos Jadis personal equerry and

confidant of Prince Miraz.

 

Prince Miraz, Imperial Governor of Kaspion IX, had attained his

position in the traditional Kaspion manner; through manipulation,

deceit and murder. For twenty years, since the “death” of his

brother, he had ruled with an iron fist and Kaspion IX had never

defaulted on its required Imperial tithes. And for longer than that

he had been the puppet-pawn of the cult in Kaspion IX.

A hunt was conducted to purge the planet of all genestealer

influence. The brewing conflict came to a head when elements of

the Red Scorpions Sternguard found the entrance to the xenos

Patriarch’s underground lair. The veterans guarded the entrance

while four terminator squads, led by Epistolary Werdna, went in to

purge the xenos stain. For three days the terminators battled

without pause; cleansing flame and righteous bolt brought

purification to Kaspion’s catacombs. On the third night, Werdna’s

retinue entered the Patriarch’s chamber and was greeted by two

score purestrains surrounding their leader’s dais. Werdna’s

shouted command to kill the xenos was abruptly interrupted by the

Patriarch’s psychic onslaught. His words died mid sentence as his body froze and the strain of his exertion was only noticeable

by the cold sweat beading down his face. Vet Sgt Aslan noticing his Epistolary’s affliction charged headlong into the oncoming

genestealers, straight for the Patriarch, his squad one step behind him.

 

The genestealers rabidly shielded their patriarch from Aslan’s retribution. Twice they drove the Red Scorpions back from the

foot of the dais. At last Aslan reached the top of the dais and prepared to slay the patriarch, enthralled as he was in the mighty

psychic battle, and unable to defend himself. As he reached back with his power fist, a dying purestrain flailed with a final strike

that sheared Aslan’s arm above the elbow. His Larraman’s organ quickly commenced to clot his wound, but without his power

fist, Aslanwas left with no choice but to empty the last of his stormbolter’s clip into the Patriarch. The mass reactive bolts caused

the Patriarch to scream in agony but they did little more than gouge the monstrous creature’s outer layer of muscle. The

distraction was enough for Werdna to release himself from the psychic onslaught. With but a moment to take-in his surroundings

Aslan let his bolter drop unto the gore slicked dais and picked up brother Rilian’s thunder hammer. Rilian had fallen defending

Aslan from three approaching purestrains, their sheared talons still protruding from his chest. Aslan swung with all the might his

abused body had left, this time there was nothing to stop him from fulfilling his duty. Time slowed to almost a standstill as the

thunderhammer connected with the Patriarchs brow and caved in his head. The psychic backlash of the Patriarch’s demise hurled

Aslan across the chamber. With the Patriarch dead the ensuing cull of the brood was swift and grisly. The cleansing of Kaspion

IX was complete; seven terminators lay dead paying with their lives the steep butcher’s bill that was made the more agonizing

when Vexilarius Olvin’s motionless form was discovered still grasping the sacred standard.

 

In tribute to his actions, that not only ended the Patriarch’s life but also saved his brother scorpions’ lives, including Epistolary

Werdna, Aslan was honored with the title/rank of Vexilarius Primus. He would take over for Ancient Olvin and from that day

forth carry the most honored and sacred of the chapter standards.

[Brother Melice]

Red Scorpions Deathwing count as???

 

YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

any way, i like how you are taking a very clean ant structured way to building your army, get everything build, and then paint...

 

something I never managed to do...

 

Looking forwards to the progress man.

[Khargan]

any way, i like how you are taking a very clean ant structured way to building your army, get everything build, and then paint...

 

something I never managed to do...

 

Me - Joins club

 

 

 

 

 

but on another note, all looking very very cool, looking forward to seeing you paint these!

[bravo-52]

Finally a painted model!

 

After spending most of my hobby time putting the final touches on my entry for Red Corps special character competition I had some free time this weekend to put some paint on my first test model and continue painting the interior of the Land Raider Crusader. The test model took me a little longer than I wanted, but I was deciding which colors to use as I was painting him. I'm hoping the next 25 will not take as much.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEPeNts04es/Tlsh-apxP9I/AAAAAAAAADU/TNg6Ck0y5Mk/s1600/DSCN1491.JPG

 

The base now only needs a couple of weeds or dying grass sprouting from the edges of the rock and I think I can call him complete. One of the things I don't like about him is the Red Scorpions chapter symbol. I just can't get the detail to look quite right. Has anybody else had a similar problem? What did you do to ensure your painting gave justice to the great detail on the FW shoulder pads?

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IoVWK6ugH9U/Tlsi343pVKI/AAAAAAAAADY/Ise_TzeF0Lg/s1600/DSCN1492.JPG

 

Having said that, I had no problem getting the details on the left shoulder "Crux Terminatus". I really liked how this turned out. Well now that I have finished my test model, hopefully I'll be able to start cranking them out a little bit faster. As always please let me know what you think,your critiques are highly welcomed.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I346I6YnCO4/Tlsi8avTdEI/AAAAAAAAADc/rWvlx05qMZE/s1600/DSCN1496.JPG

[alejandrinus]

I dont see it well in the pic but i think some watereddown wash of black in the whole scorpion symbol and then clean the white area if you make a mistake would be a great solution. But i suggest in the next minis paint the red first whith 2 thin coat, then the wash then paint the white area, begginig with grey and blending to white. hope thats help, and BTW nice army :yes:

[bravo-52]

Hello one more time from the land of the seriously sporadic posters! For those of you that know me, you'll understand that military life is seldom predictable and sometimes you have to put life on hold for a bit......... And although I've been back for a while I haven't had the time to update this thread, so again I apologize. Of course I haven't been idle all this time I've finished putting together 25 terminators for the First company (pictures to come) and have started painting the second and third squad of terminators. I've also painted the inside of their Land Raider Crusader and finished the conversion for the Dreadnought right arm TL Autocannons. Having said that, most of my limited hobby time has been spent in modelling and conversions. Here is a sampling of two conversions I made inspired by some great "Forgeworld" kits.

 

The first one is my version of a Pre-Heresy Predator Destructor Mk-III. After seeing Forgeworld's awesome pre-heresy kits for both the "Predator" and the "Rhino", I decided to take a stab at converting my own pre-heresy predator. I didn't like very much the original Mk-I Predator (although FW's version looks really good) so I decided to convert my own Mk-III Predator Destructor inspired on both the original metal Destructor kit and the new FW resin Mk-I kit. Let me know what you think?

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00247.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00248.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00250.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00251.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00253.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00254.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00255.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00256.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00257.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00258.jpg

 

 

I also love the Landspeeder Tempest model. I really liked the enclosed cockpit configuration, so I decided to convert one of my old Landspeeders into a Tempest but with weapons that were allowable in the current DA codex.

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00259.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00260.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00261.jpg

 

As always any and all constructive criticism is welcomed. Again sorry for the lack of updates, but with me back on track on finishing this army, and the rumors that DA are getting a new codex soon, the Red Scorpions first company will rise again!

[Grotsmasha]

Dude !!! that predator is ;) ing cool !!! Aweome job.

 

Cheers,

Jono

[bravo-52]

When I originally built my Landspeeder Tempest conversion I had planned to include two of them on my army list. While I was working with the plasticard conversion parts I measured and cut two sets in case I ever decided to build the second one. I've recently acquired a second landspeeder and have now begun the process of converting it into my second Tempest conversion. Unfortunately I only cut two sets of conversion plasticard parts so I won't be able to reproduce identical versions of these for my army. There's still lots more work to do on this one; plasticard, green stuff, Forgeworld "Red Scorpions" brass symbols, and adding some GW bits I cut and converted for the multi-melta. Let me know what you think.

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/Temp-WIP-1.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/Temp-WIP-2.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/Temp-WIP-3.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/Temp-WIP-4.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/Temp-WIP-5.jpg

[Col. Dracus]

Keep up the good work man. Everything looks to be coming together really nice. I can't wait to see what it will look like when you get it painted up!

[Zhoolda]

Love the landspeeders!

[Kierdale]

Very nice!

Good work on converting the speeders!

[SincaiN]

Awesome work .. the mods to the vehicles look great! Looking forward to seeing them all painted up!

[bravo-52]

Quick update from the airport. I’m currently at Dallas/Fort Worth waiting for my next connection, and yes I know, work related traveling on a holiday is not much of a holiday. I won’t be able to post any WIP picture updates for the next 10 days while I’m on this business trip so I’ll add a quick one now that I have some free time. Last weekend I pulled an all nighter and finished the second landspeeder conversion to make sure they were ready for a local tournie last Sunday. I’m actually quite content on how these two came out. I added some base coating to the new landspeeder and touched-up the first one to make them look identical.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00285.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00284.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00283.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00282.jpg

 

 

Besides that, there has been not much progress on the rest of the army. It has been a pretty busy week at work and home which pretty much puts a hold on hobby related activities. I managed to paint a base coat on the predator, which now is ready for highlights, shadowing and weathering.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00281.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00280.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00279.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00278.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x21/Siul_Namor/DSC00277.jpg

 

 

Fortunately I was able to squeeze a couple of Terminator squads and some paint into my luggage so I’ll use my spare time to hopefully get them done. If everything goes to plan I should have two more painted squads for the next update.

[bravo-52]

I'm back from the business trip I took last week and I have to say I'm really excited! I took some models with me to paint during my free time, and even though I wasn't able to finish them (some details need to be finished) I did get a big jump on finishing my troops selection. I have three almost fully detailed squads. Two more and I'll have all the troops I'm planning to need for games up to 2000 points.

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00286.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00287.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00288.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00289.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00290.jpg

 

 

 

Still to finish are the highlights on the ranged weapons casings, metal features on the weapons, the black circle around the red scorpion icon, and painting the bases. Also the Sgts need their faces painted. I'll probably take my time on those since painting flesh has never been my forté.

 

 

 

Now to my great surprise when I got home; right there on the front door waiting for me were my custom ordered dice. These dice are not cheap when compared to just buying a generic box of dice but they are worth it in my opinion and tie the army theme together. They are a very dark grey (just like my termie's armor) and include the "Red Scorpions" symbol on the 6 side. Although the pips are not quite the same color hue as the symbol, I have to say I'm very pleased with how these came out.

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00291.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00293.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l542/Sting_Wing/DSC00295.jpg

 

As always all constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated.

[blackbabyjesus]

No criticism, these guys are looking superb, one question though; where did you get the dice!?

[bravo-52]

No criticism, these guys are looking superb, one question though; where did you get the dice!?

 

I made the order from the Chessex custom dice department. I will mention that they do not sell "Red Scorpions" dice. They take a symbol you send them, and then convert it into a design that can be put on a dice. I used the MS Paint program to make the red scorpion design as close as possible to the chapter's icon, and then sent it to them. They did an outstanding job making the dice.

[blackbabyjesus]

good to know... I'll be getting myself some custom dice I reckon!