The Forgotten of Isstvan - Iron Hands - update, 12/4/13

[Ironwrought Huw]

As my gaming group have decided to do a Crusade-Heresy period campaign, I thought it was time reboot my Iron Hands. I'm aiming for an army around the middle of the period, so I think MKIV will be the 'most advanced' armour models I have.
With the release of Valthex, I thought it was time to finally add a MoTF with conversion beamer to my Iron Hands army. It really is a Marmite model - I can't work out if I love it or I hate it!

Anyway, here's my progress so far, my leader Forge-Wright Corban. Should add for those that haven't seen Valthex before, the axe is a conversion by me.
I've come to a bit of a problem - I'm not sure what to do with him. (I know there are a few highlights left to do). The axe looks dull, but I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm also tempted to give him a mechanendrite or small servo-arm (for decoration), but I'm not sure if that would be going over the top.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011777.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011779.jpg

Any suggestions on what to do?

Next to come (very slow progress) a few tactical or combat squads.
The overall strike force will be roughly 20 marines, a dreadnought and Corban. In the fluff of my army, I'm considering having them all die at Isstvan (Istvaan?) V, arriving back at the drop site just as the last of the loyalist survivors manage to escape the planet (with Corax and Vulkan), or perhaps die fighting in the battle for Tallarn.
I'm not entirely sure how to base the army either - what looks good with black?

Thanks for looking!

[Randomselect]

Its not marmite for me.

i love this guy. keep em coming!

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks Randomselect!

 

Did a bit of tinkering with Corban, added some 'mechanendrites' (Valthex' whips). currently held in place with blue-tac. What do you guys think, should I keep them or drop them?

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011781.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011786.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011785.jpg

 

Thanks again. Any suggestions would be taken in open arms, I'm really not sure what to do to finish him off.

[NemFX]

something big and scary behind him. like a knight titan or something.

[Ironwrought Huw]

Hahaha, if I ever get the skills to make such a thing, I shall!

 

Still no idea of how to base them. I'm starting to think desert or industrial.

 

I now have a second marine - First Sergeant *Name Missing*.

Still WIP. Made from spare parts of previous projects, MK3 helmet, MK4 power-pack I green-stuffed his chest to make it look like an older pattern of armour. Of all the marines I've ever made, over 7 years of the hobby - I think he's actually my favourite marine. And I have no idea why :lol:

 

Corban too has had more work, a servo-arm added to his harness (for games when I use him as FW's Valthex he has 2 power-weapons, otherwise it's just decorative). Starting to like him more now.

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011780-1.jpg

 

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011783.jpg

 

I forget which clan sign this is - any IH players remember?

[Dosjetka]

I forget which clan sign this is - any IH players remember?

Clan Sorrgol.

 

And I'm glad to see you and your Iron Hands :lol:

 

Ludovic

[Son of Carnelian]

These are looking good! Cannot wait to see more!

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks guys :)

 

Decided to give them a slightly urban/industrial base.

 

Right, I think I'm done with Corban, aside from his base. I think I'd best stop painting him, lest I do something I later regret... I've removed some of the brass, and added some white, just so he actually matches (colour wise) the army he'll be fighting with, and so he doesn't look like a walking plumber's shop...

What do you think of the cog-teeth patterns I've added?

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/fin.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/finside.jpg

 

Next up, is my latest recruit - Brother Plasma-cannon gunner. This is my first real attempt at painting that directional light thingy on a marine's helmet, the light source being his lenses.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/plas.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/plasside.jpg

 

I think the cannon could do with some work. You'll notice he lacks tactical markings on his leg - that's because I don't know whether he'll be part of a devestator squad, a tactical squad, or just a 'spare' marine to substitute in lists.

 

Finally, a group shot of the force.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011781-1.jpg

[Grotsmasha]

perhaps I should nudge you to this,

 

eBay listing :whistling:

 

Cheers,

Jono

[Doghouse]

After our conversation online about the techmarine I decided to wander over and check out what you were up to. Very nice work mate, Corban looks really nice especially and the addition of the axe is a really nice touch. Great job on his personal heraldry as well. :unsure:

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks Doghouse :P

Have to admit, whilst making this force I did have a look at your old IH log.

 

Happy holidays everyone. Or, happy new year.

 

A bit of work on the army - Dev squad (useless loadout I know, but pretty...) I'm not sure whether I'll make them an entire squad, or split them up and allocate them to tactical squads.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011788.jpg

 

I also found a long lost relic of my old, post-heresy Iron Hands army - my MKIIB landraider.

The paint-job is pretty shoddy, as I had to paint it in time for a game. This is it as I found it - I have yet to re-paint it.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011792.jpg

 

On to the next up - I've started work on a 5 strong MKII squad. Nightmare to paint for me, all those raised edges...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011789.jpg

 

I've got a second model for Corban (representing him in a different time period of his career, or loadout) planned - this time with plasma pistol and servo-harness. The harness will (hopefully) be a complete scratch build from plasti-card. Stood next to him is part of my Captain - who as you can see, is little more than a pair of legs...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011791.jpg

 

And finally - 10 of the 15 MKIII marines I have to build.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011794.jpg

 

Cheers for passing by guys!

Happy new year all!

[Ironwrought Huw]

A bit more work done - on my second Forge Wright. He's using the rules for the Sons of Medusa MoTF from IA10.

Not sure on the hammer though - should I exchange it for a chain axe?

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011778-1.jpg

 

Second up is my captain, being built from spare parts.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011779-1.jpg

 

Cheers for visiting.

[Razblood]

Looking good so far :lol:

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks mate :D

 

Well, more work. Aside from his base, and touching up a few parts, my second MoTF - currently nameless - is pretty much finished. I decided with this one, that I wanted him to be more symmetrical - which is why he lacks the red shoulder-pad, but has more red elsewhere.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011780-2.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011782-1.jpg

 

More work on my (also un-named) Iron Captain.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011784.jpg

 

And finally - as much as I'd love to make nothing but techmarines, my army does actually need squads. So, here's my current progress with the first combat squad.

(The red-helmet marine is indeed a techmarine aprentice - melta gun armed)

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011778-2.jpg

 

Thanks for visiting!

More progress soon.

[Ironwrought Huw]

And we're back!

Hey guys. Bit of an update on the army.

 

MoTF 2 (Now called Ullen), is finished. Added a second servo-arm to balance the model out (though he looked a bit dull/odd with nothing going on his right side)

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011814.jpg

 

The first combat squad (Crusade pattern armour) is done, appart from the basing.

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011819.jpg

 

The second combat squad (mixed armour) is coming along (not at all created from spare parts...)

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011817.jpg

 

Here's a sneak peak of what's coming along next...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011816.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l545/Huberticus66/P1011811.jpg

 

What do you think?

Criticism and suggestions welcome ^_^

Cheers!

[Ironwrought Huw]

I'll guess either my previous update was 100% fine, or so boring no-one looked...

 

I've re-done the fluff. Basically, these chaps are the very few IH survivors of the Isstvan drop site. The books mention that the IH had some members escape, alongside the RG and Salamanders. They perceive themselves as failures, and are now crusading around attacking heretics (particularly the Emperor's Children) as a way to make up for their failure. Due to their losses, many of them have more modern patterns of weapon (absolutely nothing to do with me forgetting to order FW's bolters... :ph34r:)

 

Anyway, slow and steady work.

This is the Clan Command squad, still underway. I added the red just to make them a little more interesting.

As (I personally think) the Iron Hands are above personal heraldry, I wanted something to differ them from the rank and file.

I'm really not happy with the standard bearer though, to me he looks really dull - but I have no idea how to fix it.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011790.jpg

I know they're not really a super-kill death unit, but I built them how I wanted them to look, rather than game potential - which is why almost everyone has a plasma type weapon.

This is Apothecary Rauk and Apprenta Tomaz (Ullen's protege). Tomaz is a veteran with plasma pistol & power fist, nothing special, I just wanted to make the model. In games where Ullen isn't used (and Corban is, or I use the captain), Tomaz actually will represent a basic techmarine Ullen.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011791.jpg

 

Comparison of the 2. I wanted to make Tomaz look like he could be Ullen during an early period of his career (pre-augmetics, before he started building his own equipment), so I tried to keep the colours the same.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011794.jpg

 

This is the suicide element of the squad, combi-plasma and full plasma, and Iron Captain Moyvern with plasma pistol. Knowing my luck, these three gallant warriors will decide they don't want to live anymore the first time they have to shoot. Also, if anyone can give me suggestions for improving the standard bearer, please do, he looks so dull.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011792.jpg

 

This is Fire Team 3, the first half of my second tactical squad. Unfortunately, due to slight misscasts, part of the missile launcher is missing (the little thing from the back)

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011793.jpg

 

This is Tactical Squad 2 as it is at the moment, Fire Team 4 (inc. squad leader) has yet to be constructed.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011797.jpg

 

How is it? Criticism/suggestions are more then welcome. I know the highlights are rougher than usual, but this is a WIP report afterall, they've got quite a bit to go before they're done - I just want to know what people think so far.

 

Also finally, a question.

I'm thinking of getting a contemptor pattern dreadnought, but I'm not sure about the weaponry. I need it for anti-tank support, but I'm not sure on the weapons. Has anyone used the Heavy Conversion Beamer - is it any good, or should I just stick to las/plas and the missile launchers? Anyone have any good combat loadouts?

 

Cheers!

[Zhoolda]

I must have missed this thread befor:(

Just whant to say your work is looking amazing!

Love the fluff about the survivors from the drop site.

Your painting is very classic witch I like and the freehand stuff is looking great!

Makes me whant to try.... ;)

[AGPO]

Lovely conversions, the MotC power fist on the captain looks great. As far as the banner goes, I'd say add another colour or two. The black and white just blend into the rest of the army. A red background with a NMM white hand would look great.

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks very much Zhoolda!

If you want, I can put up a quick demonstration of how I paint the icons.

 

Cheers AGPO :tu:

I wasn't sure if the fist idea worked, but I'm glad to know you like it.

 

Also, thank you for the suggestion on the banner. I've tried it out -

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011786.jpg

 

And here's the command group as a whole.

As I'm using Ullen as a count as Vaylund Cal, I needed to add him to a 40mm base. I've hollowed it out, put a false bottom on the 40mm base and magentised it so I can use him on a normal or 40mm base.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011787-1.jpg

 

Does anyone have any suggestions for a contemptor pattern dreadnought's weapon options? I'm curious about the heavy conversion beamer.

 

Cheers again guys. Once again Criticism/suggestions are more then welcome.

[Doghouse]

Very nice stuff mate, they're coming together nicely now.

 

I especially like the guy with the bionic leg with the powerfist. :tu:

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks Doghouse, to be completely honest the captain/sarge was thrown together from spare parts and a very vague idea I had :D

 

Also, I wrote this a while back when I first started the army idea off. For those who want to know a little more about my army, this, I hope anyway, will give you an idea of what I'm trying to achieve. Please forgive the hammed up nature of it, I'm not really a fiction writer...

 

 

Archaeological survey, log.

Subject L-32X-i, vox recorder and data-feed.

Found with object L32X, identified as remains of extensively modified astartes class MK-III ‘Iron’ power armour. Object found in space hulk 'Benevolent Tidings', believed to be the remains of former Emperor's Children battle-barge The Agony and the Ecstasy. {Destroyed by the Bellerophon, Temeraire and Ajax, M40.805 }

Playback initiated

 

+++

We few, the brothers who refuse to surrender. The Forgotten of Isstvan. Though the Legion may have forgotten us, our names long forgotten by brothers and humanity, never written in the roll of honour, our actions will be remembered. Our bodies may well have turned to ash, blown to the wind - but the rocks, the stars and the very universe itself will remember. Individually we are nothing – but together, and from our actions we will be known. We take the fight to them. We shall never cease in our fight, unyielding ‘till the day our last brother falls.

+++

[Lachdannan]

A really nice looking force. Big fan of the integration of cog symbols and the reads and whites are nice spot colours for these guys. Looking forward to your next update. How big are you planning on making your force?

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thank you Brother Syth.

I wasn't sure if the red on the command unit was too much or not, so it's good to know it doesn't look out of place.

 

At the moment the force stands at 20 battle brothers, 5 devastator brothers, the 5 veterans of the command squad, my captain, Corban (Valthex count as) and Ullen (Vaylund Cal count as).

 

My next project will be a contemptor pattern dreadnought, but I'm not sure what weapons to equip it with. I need it for tank-killing, but at the same time would like to retain the fist for clobbering things. Any suggestions?

After that, my landraider MKII-B is still undergoing restoration, I haven't touched it since January, but it looks a lot better than it did last time I posted it.

I'd like to add another full tactical squad at some point, and perhaps even a Deimos pattern predator, but it'll be a while before I can add the predator.

 

Cheers again :D

[AGPO]

The red really makes the banner pop more, looks great!

[Ironwrought Huw]

Evening folks.

Thanks AGPO, I'm really happy with the banner now - thanks so much for the suggestion!

 

To quote that great Australian artist-musician-comedian Rolf Harris, 'Can ya tell what it is yet'?

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011813.jpg

 

 

Also - new package from FW arrived today - has anyone else had a model in a blister pack like this?

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz286/huberticus/P1011805.jpg

The resin isn't FineCast resin, FW stuff has a very slight violet hue to it, whereas FineCast is a sort of yellowish-cream colour.

 

Also - can anyone link me to a good recipe for painting purple-pink, like Heresy era Emperors Children? (There's a subtle hint why I'm after this in the photos...)

 

Cheers folks!