Crimson Tears Sternguard

[sockwithaticket]

Hi everyone. I've spent my time between job searching the last few weeks constructing and painting a Sternguard unit and I thought I'd share where I'm up to so far for a bit of comment and criticism (hopefully not too much of the latter).

 

In the long run this will be a ten man unit with two heavy weapons (bolters or flamers) and a number of the other models being given roles for character. For example one of the guys soon to be pictured is the ammo guy for the squad. I imagine Sternguard as basically being left to their own devices, kind of like special forces, so they're going to be well kitted out with ammo packs, grenades etc. as well as well as items like shovels and water canteens..

 

So, without further ado (now with pics on Grotsmasha's advice):

 

Sarge!

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0796.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0794.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0795.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0797.jpg

 

Fairly Standard Guy

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0801.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0798.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0799.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0800.jpg

 

Grenadier (he will acquire many more grenades on his pack)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0806.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0807.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0804.jpg

 

Surveillance/Comms Guy (have an IG vox pack to utilise in making his)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0808.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0812.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0809.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0811.jpg

 

Ammo Guy (running to the rescue!)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0746.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0747.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0748.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0750.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0813.jpg

 

I'm trying to make sure everyone (bar Sarge as he's mainly there to stab things) has enhanced optics or at the very least an antenna on their helmet with all of them being dfferent. I'm pretty much set but if anyone is willing to sell or trade or can tell me where to get two helmeted (dislike unhelmeted marines, even if they're part cyborg) Iron Hands heads that would be appreciated.

[Sgt. Tiberus Satio]

Pretty niffty, I like the grenadier. I laughed at the big drum on the sarge, not because I think it is bad, just because my instant thought was his battle cry being:"If I miss with one, I have many more to shoot you with!"

 

Keep it up, I like it! :)

[red_starrise]

Looking good. I like the color scheme. Does it differ from the color scheme of your standard marines? If so, how? I'm just curious cuz I like to see how veterans differ from the rank & file.

[Grotsmasha]

Hey dude, they be some really sweet minis you got there, and I'm glad I took the time to click the links, something I usually dont bother with. If you take the time and edit in the , which will put the pics here in your post, tags I think you'll find more people leaving comments.

 

Cheers, and looking forward to more,

Jono

[sockwithaticket]

Sgt. Tiberius - ha, yeah, well he is the only one without at least an antenna on his helmet, got to compensate somehow! In all seriousness I didn't realise how big that drum would be when I ordered it but I just ran with it. There's another bolter with that drum style on it kicking around but I think I'll let Sarge be unique and leave it to one side.

 

red_starrise - The scheme is more or less the same throughout the army. The main thing that distinguishes my units is the squad markings on the right hand shoulder pad, the equipment and the armour style. For example all the Sternguard have laurels, blood drop/crimson tear and a templar cross on their pad in some combination. They all have legs with greaves rather than pads and use the mk. 8 chest plate. They've got the drum magazine bolters and a lot more extra gear than a Tac. marine as well as far more dynamic poses. More importantly they're far better painted (at least until I go back and touch up the standard marines)!

 

In contrast bolter tac. marines have the eagle chest plate and tactical markings on the pad, chainsaw tac. marines (started the army in 4th ed. with chapter traits) have winged skull chest plates and a dagger alongside the tactical arrow on the pad. I'm not big on fluff as I paint to relax and don't game, but I have the idea that the Crimson Tears are a young chapter and their Veterans aren't far removed from the average marine. Here's a few pad examples (most of these models need a going over so they won't make it onto B & C for a while)

Assault Marine

Vanguard Vet/Chaplain Honourguard

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0818.jpg

 

Bolter Tactical Marine

Chainsaw Tactical Marine

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0820.jpg

 

Grotsmasha - thanks for the tip and your deviation from standard viewing behaviour! I trust the post is now more to your liking ;)

 

 

Thanks, all of you, for the positive comment;, compared to some of the stuff on here I know mine's pretty basic but I've always thought it looks reasonable so it's cool to hear it from others.

[sockwithaticket]

So the Rugby World Cup started today and I was so excited that I got up way before kick off, in fact my alarm wasn't due to go for a good couple of hours. It was too early to do job searching so I decided to whack on some Howlin' Wolf and hurry the Sternguard along a bit. Now that the RWC has started my progress is probably going to slow to a crawl as I'm also learning some new stuff on bass.

 

In the meantime:

 

Grenadier now has a pack even if it is lacking sufficient 'nades (I'm super proud of the Grey Knight skull 'nade, I wish had more of them).

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0830.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0834.jpg

 

My first 'heavy bolter' has been done (aquila on the spare ammo still needs doing)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0829.jpg

 

And work has started on the first heavy flamer (normal flamer included for size comparison)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0836.jpg

I know the cut line is highly visible, but I suck with green stuff so I'm going to cover it with one of the double purity seals later (purity seals are my favourite tool for covering up model difficulties, you can stick them anywhere and they look like they should be there).

[tiny sam]

I think your heavy flamer need a little more of heaviness

 

maybe another gaz tank?

 

nice color in general! Good job!

[sockwithaticket]

Yeah, I take your point. The problem is I'm going for a fairly slimline, functional look and that, alongside the difficulty of finding a spot for the extra gas tank that would look plausible, is what's kept me to that look. I've got another one in the works making use of the Cadian HQ heavy flamer, though it took only has one gas tank. My way around it though would be accessories; I have four of the Grey Knight pouches with melta bombs that look incredibly like flamer gas tanks, I figure I'll just load up those on whoever gets the flamer(s).

 

Speaking of accessories, I noticed the other day just how many small bits I've acquired to go on HQ s, Vets. and Sergeants. Combined with knocking over and spilling almost all of my Skull White I decided to focus on these rather than actual marines for a bit. I've been incredibly busy though so I've only managed to do the following:

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0843.jpg

The flaming skull (which I'm rather proud of as it was my first time attempting to paint fire) is for an upcoming Chaplain, not the Sternguard. However the tabard, the ammo box and the extra grenades put on Grenadier's pack most certainly are.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0844.jpg

Various ammo packs, including the ones with flamer tanks some grenades and a Vet. bolter clip.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0847.jpg

All my Vets. and HQ s are going to have a boltpistol whether it's in their hands or not so I have a ton of these holsters to paint up. I've already done about ten or so, these were the recent additions + a turned off auspex and some spare scopes.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0849.jpg

Don't know if the dry brushed Tin Bitz has shown up well here or not, anway i give you: Vet. combat knives, spent slugs for the heavy bolter, marine trench tool and a stand for whoever gets designated the squad's marksman.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0852.jpg

Packs for the remnants of the Squad and a Commander combi-melta I found under a pile of old course books, potentially changes up the load out of a squad somewhere down the line.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0850.jpg

Started work on these bits, just more stuff that'll be heaped on the Sternguard to make them look like self reliant special forces types.

[sockwithaticket]

Well, I kind of forgot that I was cataloging my progress on here! Even though it's been about a month since my last post haven't made as much progress with the Sternguard as I had hoped. I was distracted by, among other things, my librarian (finished), a chaplain (still WIP), a vanguard member/sergeants with lightning claws (still WIP) a tactical squad (mostly done, but still WIP), the painting of numerous ammo pouches/combat knives/assorted bits, etc. I might start a general WIP thread for the Crimson Tears because I'm working on so much more than just the Sternguard (unemployment gives you a lot of down time).

 

Anyway, during this time I decided to build two squads of Sternguard rather than one! Sarge's squad will have static poses and have the two heavy bolters whilst A.N.Other's squad will be running and posess my two, er, 'heavy' flamers. Many of the models about to be shown here are above but they've all had touch ups to their white so it's more uniform distinct (looking back some of the painting, particularly on shoulders. was flattered by my poor camera/picture taking skills) and equipment upgrades, so there should be something to interest you in them.

 

Sarge and Heavy Bolter Guy

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0884.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0885.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0888.jpg

Close up of Heavy Bolter Guy and his Iron Hands head because it took me a while.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0887.jpg

 

You might notice that Sarge's talisman has shifted to accommodate an auspex and there are some grenades added onto his ammo sash.

 

Comms Intel Guy + Contemptuous (he's ever so slightly looking down and this leads me to believe he's showing his contempt for whosoever he's mowing down with bolter rounds).

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0882.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0883.jpg

 

I've just noticed that I haven't given Comms/Intel Guy a combat knife. I guess he'll have to bash any enemies that get close with his spare auspex (Sarge can always give C/IG his, it's not like he knows how to use it).

 

Grenadier (with added grenades!) and Fairly Standard Guy (with extra pouches!)

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0879.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0880.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0881.jpg

 

Finecast Sternguard Guy. I might not use him as he doesn't have any optical augmentation like all my other Sternguard members and his left shoulder pad has a dirty great skull on it with no room for my markings of templar cross, laurel and crimson tear. I got him dirt cheap off ebay so it doesn't matter if he's relegated from active combat.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0896.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0895.jpg

 

Runners:

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0898.jpg

This is the unhelmeted Iron Hands head. I kind of need it to ensure I have twenty different heads in the squads, but I really hate both the look of unhelmeted marines and painting flesh tones, thus his skin will probably stay completely black.

 

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0900.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0903.jpg

Experimenting with bolter design.

 

Heavy Flamer Guy #1

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0905.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0907.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0908.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0909.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0911.jpg

Note the extra gas tanks in his kit. In my mind, one gets exhausted each time he fires the HF. So, basically, he has three shots (if he needs more than that the battle's probably not going as planned). That camo cloak on the bottom of his stowage crate (with more gas tanks inside?) took me forever;

I'm super pleased with how it came out, though!

 

Ammo Guy

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0914.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0916.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0917.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g345/sockwithaticket/RIMG0918.jpg

 

 

I hope they're starting to look like the kit laden, special forces types I want them to and that the painting is of a reasonable standard for you all to enjoy.