Astral Claws Company Markings

[Mini Miscellany]

Hello all,

I thought I would tap into the collective consciousness of B&C in
order to ask a couple of questions about the Astral Claws and their use
of the Codex Astartes. I am currently working on a small army and
would like to paint them accurately with the appropriate company and
squad markings. I like the idea of giving each squad an identity by
marking their company and squad numbers on the models.

Basically I have two questions:

1) What company markings do the Astral Claws use? based on the pictures I
have seen online they don't seem to use the standard shoulder trim
colours that the Codex Astartes suggests (in the same way that Ultramarines do for example). Do any of the IA books suggest any company markings?

One idea I did have was to use a modified version of the Dark Angels
markings (as they are one of the legions rumoured to be the parent
chapter). What do people think of this?

 

2) I have seen the diagram showing the structure of codex chapters many
times over the years but I am unclear on how each of the squads is
numbered. Is the numbering system consecutive across all squad types or
do each squad type use their own numbers? For example, are all of the
squads numbered 1-10 or are the tactical squads numbered 1-6 and the
assault/devastator squads numbered 1-2 each?

Any definitive answers would be very helpful as would suggestions if there is no canonical answer.

Anyway, here is a picture of my test model for the army to show you where I am up to at this point.

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery...20Progress.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery...20Progress.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery...20Progress.JPG

[Hyaenidae]

First off, lovely job. I chose a much darker tone, but the brighter steel color turned out very nice. Out of curiousity, are you running with a chapter company, or will you building a Tyrant's Legion?

 

As for your questions, I myself have only noted the following markings being standard (ish) amongst the Astral Claws of old:

 

Line battle brothers have only one blue shoulder, sergeants and above have both. Again, thi is not a standard, though. Warriors are noted with no sky-blue at all.

Gold trim along the shoulders seem common amongst those with higher rank, but not nesseccarily all the time.

For Retaliator Squads, the backpack vents are colored gold

For warriors still within the standard companies, the company number is usually on the left knee, in roman numerals.

Amongst the Tyrant's Legions, the tyrant's claw is standard. With the regular companies, the lion in profile is common until the last years of the War.

 

 

EDIT: FW IA:9 and 10 notes that what records we are reading are what they (the Inquisition) have gathered over the course of the war, and what remains of Badab. Most of the Astral Claws records, standards, and history were destroyed by either the Imperium, or the Claws themselves during the Fall of glorious Badab. Really, go with what you feel comfortable, man.

Edited April 28, 2013 by 1000heathens

[Dosjetka]

I'm guessing they'd just use numbers on the kneepads, like you've already used. I must say that your test model looks gorgeous. Any chance that you'd start up a thread for your army in the WIP/HoH sub-forum? :)

[Hyaenidae]

I'd second Ludo's request for a WIP thread; I'd love to see what else you've done.

Here's a pic of my first three members of my III Cohort, LXII Tyrant's Legion Auxilia, which is about as close as I get to a standard tactical squad. I've tried to stay as loyal to the IA:9 and 10 markings as possible, hopefully this will help as a reference point for you. Please feel free to rummage through my gallery for more pics of my sons of Badab, mon ami.:

[Dosjetka]

Based on the fact that the only Company Battle-Brother that we have has no blue shoulder pad, I think we could deduce that "basic" Astral Claws from the Chapter Companies do not have a blue shoulder pad, which is used to denote either members of the Tyrant's Legion (blue shoulder pad inset with the Tyrant's Claw symbol) or Chapter Veterans (one shoulder pad with gold trim, blue inset and the Astral Claw's chapter symbol, with the other shoulder pad left completely silver, for power armour Veterans. For Terminators, both shoulder pads are blue with the Astral Claw's chapter symbol on the right shoulder pad and with gold details here and there on the rest of the armour).

 

But then again, this is partly based on speculation, and I don't think that people will really be bothered by the fact that you chose the cool factor over adherence to incomplete fluff, so do what you think is cool and we'll all be happy to see some more Astral Claws on the board :)

[Mini Miscellany]

Thanks for the responses, these are very helpful. It's good to know that there is a lot of flexibility with the Astral Claws.

 

I will certainly be posting a wip thread once I get going with the army but for now you can see more of my work on my blog (including Dark Angels and Death Guard):

 

https://miniaturemiscellany.wordpress.com/

 

I am more of a painter/modeller than a gamer and just want to create a great looking force regardless of the rules. However, if I do play with these guys I will probably use Codex: Dark Angels simply because I already own a copy. However, a bit of online reading revealed that this will be a good choice as the Dark Angels may be the parent chapter and also because there are a number of organisational similarities between the two chapters.

P.S. Those are some great looking Astral Claws you've got there, 1000heathens