The Golden Skulls home-brew chapter +IG

[strategosgambler]

Hi. For the past 14 months Ive been building & painting & for more than half of that I've been anticipating probably the biggest game of 40K I'll have ever played. It's being run at my local hobby store Darksphere in two weeks and its the staff vs customers.I don't think I'll have represented the emperor on the battlefield in such numbers since i played epic space marine in the 90s.

Here are a few of my first attempts.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1216-Copy_zps67adefcc.jpg

My converted biker commander

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1349_zpsf67a697b.jpg

First tactical squad

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1379_zps0667427b.jpg

First bike squad

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1427_zpsc901a6eb.jpg

Im really starting to get a small force going here, see the terminators new tactical & ground based assault squad

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1388_zps719e9b66.jpg

[strategosgambler]

I never intended to build that big an army but after I'd painted my first few squads I has again hooked, I had to build more.

See the two stormtalons I thought I just had to have.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/1634_zpsebbf7b12.jpg

I decided on the name "goldenskulls" as I like the feel of it and was much better than my previous "Imperialis Opportunis chapter name. With silver skulls already in the fluff I wasn't sure why golden skulls wasn't already taken. I think lots of golden-skull iconograpghy will be good on the banners when I get round to using them. Also all skulls on all the marines have been done in gold, as are the chaplain heads, not sure but thought it a nice touch.

It wasn't long before the lure of FW took hold, see below some pics of a force I painted for a tournament in the summer, I just love that achilles.I made the sternguard myself too.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/2001_zpse0583f6a.jpg

 

 

[strategosgambler]

After participating in my first game of apocalypse in July last year, I was convinced I needed some more formations besides the two psykic choirs id managed to obtain for the game ( one librarius and one sanctioned psyker elite ). So I set out to build and paint 2 full battle companies including their transports in 4 1/2 months ( by christmas basically )
Here are some pictures of my efforts showing how I tried to saved time by dividing the processes & making a small production line out of it. I have/will add personal small details later at my leisure. I feel having then about 80% painted is good inspiration as to what details I want to add for individual character.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photos_zps6adb1b07.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photodddd_zpsb03e2b6d.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photor_zps1a046370.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photodd_zpse4b11ba5.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photoo_zpsdd0ec19c.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photod_zps514e44cd.jpg

 

 

 

 

[strategosgambler]

More pics of my golden skulls coming to life.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photoy_zpsdb34d6c0.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photo8_zpse2fad5b6.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photofg_zpsa24d4369.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photorr_zps9cf38d3b.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photoww_zps4b8124cd.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photoq_zps9cfb5954.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/photow_zpse67cb85a.jpg

 

 

 

[strategosgambler]

And here are the pics for my two companies, they are almost finished, a lot of minor details to add though, starting to look good though now I feel.

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx009_zps204e5853.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx011_zps3e9b0d62.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx012_zps9d83a0de.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx015_zps158e7e9a.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx016_zpsf06522fd.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx019_zpse6ada5ff.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/xxxxxx018_zps585ae7b1.jpg

 

[strategosgambler]

I've assembled enough now to field 21,000; time to play the team at darksphere.
Here are some pictures of the whole force. Myself and my friend Rich will help me, it's really going to be a massive game, no points limit at all!!

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/010_zpse1152b4c.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/011_zps0ad5b1e9.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/018_zps16fcd56e.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/018_zps16fcd56e.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/024_zps9b3bb05d.jpg

 

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

I don't think there's enough here Mike. I think you need to buy at least a pair of Warhounds to round this force out.

 

 

_{also, holy crap that's a lot of models.}

[strategosgambler]

I've taken pictures showing all the different squads but roughly what is there is listed below.
I'm going to play the two battle companies as iron hands clan Raukaan successors + the support & Rich Will take control of the imperial guard, white scars allies, inquisitorial detatchment & will also control my allies ( the imperial fists reserves ).
Not all the weapons that are on the squads are listed here but it all comes to 20,862 ( All the weapons are costed although not fully listed )

 

Iron Hands successors ( Golden skulls )
Battle Company 1: ( apocalypse formation )
Terminator captainwith twin thunder hammers, Digital weapons
1 Terminator Chaplain
1 Command Squad
3 Contemptor Mortis class dreadnoughts
6 Tactical Sqauds
2 Assault Squads, jump packs
2 Devastator squads
2 dedicated rhinos, 2 razorbacks lascannons, locater beacons

Iron Hands successors ( Golden skulls )
Battle Company 2: ( apocalypse formation )
1 standard Captain, Digital weapons
1 Jump Pack Chaplain
1 Command Squad
1 Venerable, 1 normal & 1 ironclad dreadnought
6 Tactical Sqauds
2 Assault Squads, foot ( 2 dedicated rhinos )
2 Devastator squads
2 dedicated rhinos, 2 razorbacks with heavy bolters, locater beacons

Iron Hands successors ( Golden skulls ) support contingent
Masters of the chapter with jump packs-( apocalypse formation, Ironhands successors, 6 ) 1 chapter master, jump pack,The Axe of Medusa, the betrayers bane combi melta, The gorgons chain, grav pistol, Digital weapons  artificer armour, 1 captain with lightning claw & bolt pistol, Digital weapons  artificer armour, & jump pack, 1 captain with artificer armour, Digital weapons  & twin power fists & jump pack, 1 captain with artificer armour, Digital weapons , relic blade & jump pack, 1 captain with artificer armour, Digital weapons , twin thunder hammers & jump pack,
1 Librarius ( 5 Librarians in Terminator armour & storm shields ) ( apocalypse formation )
1 Democles Command Rhino
4 Land raiders, ( Land Raider attack squad )-( apocalypse formation )Achilles, Proteus, Crusader, standard
3 Vindicators Seige sheilds ( Linebreaker squad )-( apocalypse formation )
1 Typhon Heavy Seige Tank armoured ceramite, lascannons
1 Predator, twin linked lascannons with lascannon sponsons
Spartan Assault tank, quad lascannons, armoured ceramite
1 10 man standard terminator squad
2 Thunderfire Cannons
2 Tech Marines with 2 servitors each
1 Master of the forge, servo harness, 2 servitors & ironstone
1 techmarine with servo arm & two servitors
Shadow Captain shrike -allied, no restrictions
Tigerius Cheif librarian, no restrictions

Imperial Fists Successors Allied Reserve Contingent
Darnath Lysander & 3 Terminator assault squads ( Titanhammer squad )-( apocalypse formation )
2, 10 man sternguard squads with combi weapons in two drop pods with deathwind launchers
Storm eagle, twin multi melta, twin linked lascannon with 6 centurion devs inside with grav cannons & amps, missile launchers & omni scope + Terminator
Stormraven, assault cannon, multi melta, with 10 man Vanguard veteran squad power swords jump packs
Librarian with the tempered helm, force sword bolt pist, level two psyker

Inquisitorial Detatchment
Terminator inquisitor divination & psi cannon & deamon hammer
Standard biomancy Inquisitor servo skulls, power armour

Imperial guard Force
1 Lord Commisar
2 platoons consisting 2 infantry, 2 heavy weapons mixed, 1 sniper & 1 command squad each
6 Lemun Russ Tanks, mixed cannons
3 basilisks
10 man sanction psyker elite & Primartis Psyker - ( apocalypse formation )
1 Shadowsword - ( apocalypse super-heavy )
1 Stormlord - ( apocalypse super-heavy )

White scars successors Allies
1 Biker Captain, artificer armour,The burning blade, the sheild eternal, the armour indomitus, Digital weapons
1 Command squad on bikes
4, 5 man bike squads, mixed special weapons
3 attack bike squadron
3 Hyperios anti aircraft platforms
2 Stormtalons
1 Whirlwind Hyperios
1 Land speeder, heavy flamer
1 Hunter anti-aircraft tank

 

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/025_zps047e16f8.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/016_zps5116beb7.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/008_zps7b578976.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/022_zps6e5f4d41.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/027_zps35b78bd5.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb148_zps919cf455.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb152_zps80dc1c0f.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb153_zps14d78e10.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb154_zpsf70a5b83.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb156_zps96f1be18.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb157_zpse5447cbb.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb168_zpsf7ea1150.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb171_zpsaceae034.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb172_zps80a66182.jpg

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab63/michaelpeterfarrell/bbb177_zps0b06e047.jpg

 

I'm going to keep developing this chapter over the next year or two, see if I can get the 1st company fnished & maybe another battle company, possibly bikes. As well as finishing everything else I've got here. But then it's never finished in my mind.
Would be happy to hear anyone's opinions regarding my creation and also any hints and tips anyone could provide in making the Golden skulls even more awesome.

 

 

[disease]

Thanks for sharing!

 

Rich

[disease]

That's better, no we can really appreciate this awesome chapter now it's all in one place.

 

What a mighty collection you have, I can't believe you managed all that in just over a year!

 

Seriously good stuff here

[strategosgambler]

Thanks, its 13 months now really! a warhound could be an idea, I could put it dead centre of the full battleline, would look quite imposing.It would be months before I could get it finished though, but then that's why its so enjoyable.

:-)

[disease]

I just noticed the storm eagle hanging out in the back. That's a serious forge world collection!

[BrotherCaptainArkhan]

I was going to say something tongue-in-cheeky about 'only one Warhound?' but a collection this size merits a proper reply ;)

 

Easily the most impressive thing about this force is the fact that you managed to do the bulk of this collection inside of a year. I cannot comprehend painting this many Marines in twelve (12!) months. I really can't. I start to get weary after painting two miniatures on the trot and the idea of painting almost every single miniature in a collection this big, let alone this fast, makes me go a bit funny in the head.

 

I think it'd be interesting to read a bit more about the fluff you envisioned for the Chapter, and maybe see the characters/dramatis personae of the Chapter? You're pretty much well on your way to making a full Chapter here (no I'm not on a windup) so I reckon you need to actually model Chapter Command at some point. I have a measly plan to model the ten Captains of my Sons of Tyr + support staff and masters of the Apothecarion, Armoury and Reclusiam, but you could actually go the whole hog here and do the command elements for each Company. You could give each one a unique identity with regards to what role they're going to fill on the tabletop - I know you said you like to switch between Chapter traits so modelling a few Captains and their bodyguards to represent which Chapter trait the force in question is using could be cool.

Keen to see you get some more flyers painted, too. How was the Fireraptor to assemble?

 

Oh and you need to paint the commander on the massively converted bike, if only because it looks awesome ;)