Brian W Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Hi all, ----- TEASER ----- Captain Invictus http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/IMAG0070-1-1.jpg Chaplain Cassius http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMChaplain-1.jpg Veteran SGT http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMSgt-1.jpg Command Squad with heavy-flamer (one of the small suggested changes to the Codex) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Heavyflamer_front-1-1.jpg I’ve been building Space Marines since (…) well, early 2nd Edition. Since the early days, I’ve had a few incarnations of Blood Angels armies (3), a Black Templars army, a Grey Knights army (in 3rd Edition, so very different from what’s on the table today), a Salamanders army (also in early 3rd so based on old WD artwork), and finally my pride of two Ultramarines armies. The first one was sold off as I initiated an upgrade project during 5th with the growing availability of increasingly beautiful plastic sets for conversion work. Let me start off by showing some selected models from this v2 Ultramarines army. Terminator http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMTerminator-1.jpg Terminator w. assault cannon http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMTerminatorwAC-1.jpg Ultramarines http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMTacs3-1.jpg Ultramarines http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMTacs2-1.jpg Vanguard http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Vanguard1-1.jpg Assault cannon (heavy bolter) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMheavyweapon-2.jpg Sternguard or Sgt. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/25-02-10008-1.jpg Apothecary http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMapothecary1-2.jpg Army shot (I have since added a few Dreadnoughts, drop pods, Vanguard, Predator, and few other things to beef up this “basis army’) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/IMAG0111-1.jpg Now, the bulk of these models was made some time ago and has been played with at multiple club tournaments back in Copenhagen, Denmark. About a year ago, I was expatriated by my company and have moved to Singapore, which means I now get to play much less than I would like to. Therefore I have instead decided on two things while I’m “on leave from active war-gaming”: a.) Design a few additions to Codex Space Marines (or a small addendum to the Codex) b.) Make a 1500-1750 pts army based on this Codex revision Thus, this blog will be a combined army-project of developing some good looking Marines while also toying around with a few suggested rules amendments. Let me start by saying that nothing is really wrong with C: Space Marines as it is now. It’s fairly competitive and has a fair amount of variation, implying that most of the codex entries are playable (with a few exceptions). However, my gaming club back home, Emperor’s Pride (Copenhagen Chapter) which counts about 70 active members, is a very fluff-based environment and most of us pride ourselves of being modelers/painters/fluffers (ok, that came out wrong…) first and gamers second. Therefore, I have long thought about upgrading minor parts of the Marine codex with a little more flavor. So basically, the stuff that I have set up to modify is primarily: a.) Captains: these guys loose out to Chaplains and Librarians every time. It’s a shame as they should have more flavor and be able to tweak the build of the army more. b.) Command squad: these guys are just plain vanilla. They have some nice options, but I would like to make them a bit more personalized and enable a cooler looking squad of both battlefield bodyguards and advisors/counselors. c.) Tacticals: meh … Too often these boys hide in their Rhinos doing nothing but contesting objectives. It’s a bit of a shame so I thought of giving them a few more options to make them more interesting and versatile on the battlefield. d.) Dreadnoughts: I have always LOVED Dreadnoughts, but have found them to be somewhat underwhelming ever since 3rd really. They are acceptable on the battlefield, and with options such as drop pods, Ironclads, Venerable (although too expensive), etc., they become a little more interesting. However, Dreadnoughts have always been portrayed as old heroes and test-beds for Terminator weaponry so with this in mind, I have tried to give them a bit more options both on the “character-side” and the “armaments-side”. The two dudes below have been made a few days ago and will represent Dreadnoughts armed with a Flame-storm Cannon and 2 x Hurricane Bolters. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dreadnought12-1-1.jpg http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dreadnought22-1.jpg http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dreadnought32-1.jpg http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dreadnought42-1.jpg Hope you enjoy it :D /Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lachdannan Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 A beautiful looking army. Excellent blending and highlighting. I especially like the kitbashing and putting small shields on the marines. Just love that look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megapope Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 Beautiful. Love the dreadnaughts and, well, everything else really. More please! I especially agree with you about how bland and awful generic captains are in the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canis Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 I'm loving the Heavy Flamer and I am also interested in seeing your older stuff that you listed (if possible). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimdarkness Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 They look good the dread look interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batu Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 What kit are the samll shields from ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crimsonhand Posted October 7, 2011 Share Posted October 7, 2011 One of the coolest Ultramarine armies I have ever seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian W Posted October 8, 2011 Author Share Posted October 8, 2011 Thanks guys :blush: @batu: the small shields are from various sources. Originally, I used the blank shoulder shields from the normal Terminator box. Unfortunately, it only has two per box (and I don't like the ones from the Terminator Assault squad box - the iconography is too rough). However, I ordered quite a few over Ebay. The other variant on the Marines above are from the Bretonnian knights. They also have some with Fleur de Lys iconography, but again I only use the blank ones. With the arrival of the Grey Knights power armour and Terminator plastics, I'm spoilt for choice when it comes to small shields for the shoulders :) @Canis: well, my two original BA armies have been scrapped long ago, and the thid one sold off. It was actually featured in a WD a few years ago. I have a few pictures of it still - see below. The Black Templars have also been sold off, and the Grey Knights were scavenged for bits for the first Ultramarines army (which was also sold off). But I have posted a few pictures of random stuff here below. Librarian from the old WD army (mind you, this was waaay before the arrival of the spiffy plastic Sanguinary Guards :)) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Figurer2016.jpg BA Sergeant or Honour Guard from the old WD army http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Figurer2011.jpg (WIP Ultramarines Sternguard Sgt. with wrist-mounted guns and crest on the helmet) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/IMAG0054-1-1.jpg (WIP BA Chaplain .. just had to make one out of all the nice new bits. Don't really know what to do with him :)) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/BAchaplain1-1-1-1.jpg (WIP BA Sanguinary Priest (plastic Corbulo?) .. just had to make one out of all the nice new bits. Again - don't really know what to do with him :)) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/SanguinaryPriest.jpg (BA Sgt / Honour Guard .. also just had to make one) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/IMAG0271-1.jpg (WIP Son of Orar .. experimented with painting deep red and got very satisfied with this version. So kind of wanted to do something with it, but let's see - don't think it'll ever get further :)) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/SonsofOrar2.jpg *Non-Power Armor images removed -- Kurgan (Not really sure what to use this dude for. Currently considering him a Captain candidate for my new Ultramarines (C:SM addendum) project) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/BACaptain.jpg .. and then probably using this dude as Command Squad member (i.e. Lexicanium Librarian - a Codex addendum thing I'm working on) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Lexicanium.jpg /BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidKits Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 wow now that is something i never though i get to see ... the plasma blaster! *points to the first pic* the storm bolter version of a plasma gun man i still have the 2nd edition codex with that armoury card in it -_- man that thing was sick! *claps* very nice very nice indeed i do look forward to seeing more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teh Pro Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Nice, They look Stunning nice and clean Which i like :tu: . I also like the conversions Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puhnupetteri Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 Best painted Ultramarines i ever seen! Im literally jellous :tu: Care to share recipe how to paint so clean white and all your painting methods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy-xc Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I dont like Ultra's much, but these are very nice! Excellent poses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian W Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 @Puhnupetteri: thanks ;) well, I'm not going to lie, the white is a bitch to paint, and there will be hits and misses when I do it. Generally, I start from a codex grey undercoat (over the entire model) and work the white up through fortress grey and space wolves grey, until I finish with clean white. Most of the area will be space wolves grey and only the final highlight really as pure white. I then usually finish with a lining in the deepest crevasses with a darker blue-grey mix (very much thinned down paint). It is 100% essential to use fairly thinned down paint in all the steps as you will be adding 10+ layers to get it right. The poor covering qualities of the white means you need many layers, and if anyone of them is too thick, you ruin the paintjob. The helmet is a visual focal point for the Marine models and will attract most attention when you quickly glance at a model, so it's important not to mess it up. @dizzy-xc: funny thing is, when I originally made the first Ultramarine model for the first army, I didn't really like them either :) Had just made some rather "over-the-top" BA, so I wanted to do something that fit within the conventional wisdom of Space Marines (the Ultramarines models eventually became over the top as well though in terms of bling). I really don't like Ultramarines without the white element included in the colour scheme. Think it makes a WORLD of difference with the white helmet and trims and the red bolter. Red, white, blue is a visually good combination. Anyway, I also do think poses are extremely important, and I spend a long time building the models and tweaking their poses until I'm satisfied. Doesn't matter how beautiful your paintjob is if you made a bad pose - models going to look like crap just as well :) /BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusader of Dorn Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Supreme work man, i like the assault cannon, reminds me of space crusade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother_Fatiswon Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 all wonderful and fantastic.. but.. i have to say that I'm not a fan of your use of the Dark angel wings on your PA models: IMHO they seem out of place. they seem a par bit to blood/dark angel-ish for what i would consider to be found on vet's of the 13th legion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminatorinhell Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 That giant plasma gun is awesome....consider it borrowed :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batu Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 The red on the Sons of Orar Marine is fantastic, can you share how you did it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Validar Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 now I have had the privilege of seeing Brian's Blue Justice on Bases in real life - I even had the pleasure of being severely outplayed and destroyed by them. As always - love your work, Brian, we agree so very much that a Marine isn't just a rank'n'file AOBR dude. Keep it up! /Nygaard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian W Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 @Nicolai: I thought there would be some EP's lurking on these sites as well :) @Crusader: thanks - that was actually the original inspiration for that model :) I have made a full Devastator squad of these boys, but not all have been painted yet. @Fatiswon: well, a matter of taste I guess :) I agree that the winged iconography is probably most easily digestible on Blood/Dark Angels, but seeing as the Imperial Aquila is a fairly typical symbol for all Marines, I don't consider it an exclusive angel reference. Also, Calgar has one on his Terminator armour as well, and his bodyguards have helmets with winged iconography, so I think its pretty well established for UM's too. But I get your point. @batu: the red on the Son of Orar has been a very long process to arrive at. Several Marines died in the making of it :) I start by undercoating all my models with a fairly large brush and some thinned down Adeptus Battle Grey (think I mistakenly wrote Codex Grey in a post above). After that, he got 2 thinned down coats of Mechrites and 1 thinned down coat of Mechrites/Blood Red (50/50). Then he got a few (4-5) very much thinned down Red/Black (75/25) washes - this is a time consuming process as they need to dry completely before applying the next. Afterwards, I touch up the armour with Mechrites/Blood Red (20/80 ish) 1 or 2 times to remove any "patchy-ness". Finally, he gets 2-3 touch ups with thinned down Blood Red. Two important things: 2) everytime I thin down the reds, I use 50/50 water/magenta ink (this cannot be compromised with if you want the deep red colour, and 2) any touch ups are made with a brush which is wiped fairly "clean" on tissue before applying it. The red paint, even when thinned down, is pretty "heavy" as it includes the magenta ink, and so will be fine even when wiped (it will run uncontrolably if not wiped). Touch ups imply administering the reds in light strokes so as to only paint the outer edges of the armour and not the darkened crevasses. The inspiration for making a Son of Orar came from my attempt to start a fourth BA army. I made a few models using this red technique, but I was a bit let down by the overall appearance of a squad of uni-colour Marines. They look great up close, but blend into a big red mist from afar. So, I decided to combine the red with my UM experiences of the white helmet/trim = enter the Sons of Orar. Not sure I think they look better than Ultra though, so for my Codex Space Marines Addendum, I will be using more Ultramarines. /BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian W Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 So, this weekend I got a bit further with my Codex Space Marines Addendum army project. I usually 'bling" my Marines up rather much, but will be taking it a step further with this army. This here fellow will be a "standard Marine" (or well, a Sternguard-ish Marine as they will all be considered veterans), so the bling-level will be fairly high -_- http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Sternguard1.jpg Now, this little charmer is (obviously) a heavybolter gunner. One of the new additions I wanna add to my Codex Space Marines Addendum is to reintroduce gyro-stabilizors for heavybolters. You rarely see heavybolters, ever, which is kind of a shame. It's suppose to be a bread and butter weapon for Marines, so I would like to use it a bit more. The gyro stabilizor rule I'm considering will be to allow heavybolters to be treated as either H3 range 36 or A3 range 18. This should give an incentive to use them again. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dev1.jpg I miss the old 2nd Edition heavy-boots on the Devastators, so I took the lower part of a pair of Terminator legs and modelled into a normal power armour crotch and upper legs. Think it looks sufficiently "heavy" combined with the tall collar on the breast plate and the massive helmet. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/Dev2.jpg This dude I intend to be part of the Command Squad, either as a Champion or perhaps just a regular squad member with a power weapon. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt63/Brianworning/UMHonourGuard1.jpg /BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natanael Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 The last guy looks awesome (well, the other two do as well). I like that you have such a heavy "bling-level" on your guys, it really makes them all look like the heroes they are. - Nat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy-xc Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Think it makes a WORLD of difference with the white helmet and trims and the red bolter. Red, white, blue is a visually good combination. Anyway, I also do think poses are extremely important, and I spend a long time building the models and tweaking their poses until I'm satisfied. Doesn't matter how beautiful your paintjob is if you made a bad pose - models going to look like crap just as well :) /BW I feel the same way. I didn't start getting into serious model poses until I had already done several armies. Thinking of doing some purple power on em and redoing them all, lol. It's a crazy thought. Someone call the white jacket guys! But now it's the most important part of my modeling... Seems I'm getting fewer and fewer models out now that I am taking so long to pose them, but it's worth it. I also think your version of the Ultras is the best color scheme I've seen. Yeah, that extra bit of white sets them apart. Very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crynn Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 There are some nice conversions here and then there are some less well thought out one. Giant wings sticking of models shoulderpads look awkward and may inhibit movement also there are ultramarines with blood angel symbols and blood drops all over them. The painting however is in all cases very good, you defiantely have an excellent hand mate. Regards, Crynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian W Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 Thanks :P Well, that's a matter of taste I guess :P I rather like the "over the top" look of the bling, including the wings. Again, as argued above, wings have always been an integrated part of any SM iconography and not only associated with DA/BA - just look at Calgar and his Honour Guard. Inhibiting movements - sure, but I don't think we should be too worried about exact realism when it comes to these things - very few things in the 40K universe stands the "realism test", including many models ;) With regards to the few BA symbols (or rather the blood drops), I'm not particularly worried. Those that can/could be removed without risking to ruin the model have been/will be, and the others will be painted as gem stones. If you have a look at Jess Goodwin's 2nd edition metal Space Marines, they almost all of them had this sort of oval-like gem stones all over the armour. Again, a matter of taste off-course, but I respect your opinion. /BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother_Fatiswon Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 are those FW ultra marine TDA shoulder pads? i've been thinking about getting some of those: but it would violate my NO metal NO resin policy (I'm poor boy with a pricey hobby) and i think crynn hit it better than i did regarding the use of the "wings" I've seen some lovely UM models using BA sang guard wings as Storm shields But like you said.. all a matter of taste. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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