Blood Angel Praetor Modeling Advice

[Piano_Sam]

Hello (sorry in advance for the wall of text those of you who see this are about to read),

 

I'm gathering the bits to bash together a BA praetor, but before I committed (buying individual bits is expensive), I thought I'd stop off here and get some hints.

 

I want this guy to be an old hand Terran who, raised 'Catheric,' has taken his roots and modeled himself after those angels of wrath and majesty, you know, the kind when mortals see them they go blind, or their hearts burst?

 

I saw this guy http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2014/06/showcase-lucifer-lord-of-host-master-of.html?m=1 a couple months ago, and the idea started germinating in my mind to do something similar, but not the same.

 

This being said, I want for him (kinda playing with the idea of naming him Anaphaxeton or something) to fit with the aesthetic of the heresy era marines. The way Forgeworld has modeled them makes them seem more angular in design, whereas 40k marines seem more...rounded, if that makes sense. This is more obvious in the difference between Cataphractii and Indomitus terminators, and MKIII and MKVII armor. I was thinking of taking the top half of the praetor armor and using that as the foundation from which I can base my praetor, but, for whatever reason, it just didn't seem that Blood Angel-y. So, I'm at a loss. I don't want to take a Sanguinary Guard torso and build from there as he wouldn't be that unique. I also felt that Astorath's armor seemed a little out-of-place with the aesthetic of the time. Either way, it just doesn't appeal to me (though, for the sake of my sanity, I might just have to do that).

 

The other aspect about this I'd like some guidance would be in regard to his loadout. I was playing around with the idea of giving him a Master-crafted Paragon Heavy Chainsword (which, if I'm reading the rules correctly, is legal). I just liked the idea of my Angel in mid flight with both hands wrapped around the haft of the weapon. Do y'all think that an Angel with a heavy Chainsword is fluff appropriate? Or would a power sword be more appropriate?

 

Finally, I was thinking of modeling him with a wrist mounted weapon. Yes?

 

Here are some of the bits I'm thinking about using in this conversion. The only one I'm not entirely sold on are the wings.

 

The bare head from the Emperor's Children upgrade (seems suitably arrogant and insouciant):

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/EMPERORS_CHILDREN_MK_IV_HEADS_UPGRADE_SET.html

 

Either these Scibor wings:

http://sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=2797

 

Or these:

http://sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?art=1479

 

I'm not truly sold on either, but the mechanical more so than the organic.

 

I found a truly cool iron halo on ebay usually used for Grey Knights and Sisters, but I don't know if I can post eBay links.

 

For the Chainsword, either the regular MKIV heavy Chainsword or this offering from Kromlech (the middle one):

http://www.thewarstore.com/product70275.html

 

I intend to green stuff swirling robes and unfurled banners about him, so nothing to show for that, yet.

 

I'm completely unsure on legs as neither GW nor FW really strike me with their mid flight poses.

 

Again, sorry for the long post, but can you help a Frater out?

[Piano_Sam]

I will begin giving him some fluff at some point as I get closer to starting this build. And, if at all possible, I'll post a WIP once I've begun.

[LongGone]

Doooo it!!!! If it's anywhere close to the 'Lucifer' model by Myles, it'll be amazing!

 

I don't know about the chainsword though. Either way, the pose 'looks' awesome in my head, but the chainsword is more Amit and his fleshtearers, and less Seraphic ass whooper.

[Piano_Sam]

When I first saw Li'l Loser's (I don't know him enough to call him Myles ;)) Lucifer, it really struck a chord. Everything about it was awe-inspiring. The need to do something similar really resonated within me...but I don't know how to make the image in my head a reality. I might draw it and try to match it. Heck, I might sculpt the thing, or most of it. I don't know, yet. The biggest problem I see is finding the right legs to go with my imagination.

 

I'm picturing Anaphaxeton (going with that for now. Look him up) mid-flight, but, instead of going down while looking down, I'm picturing him moving upwards and looking over his right shoulder, like he has his target in sight. With that in mind, I'm needing legs where the feet are pointing down, and most SM assault legs are at the point of touching down.

 

My reasoning behind the heavy Chainsword is, primarily, rule of cool. I love them. I was going to call it Angel's Teeth or something similar. I love the lore behind the Night Lords, but their aesthetic? Not so much. I thought Anaphaxeton could be my avenging Angel of Judgment. Something like that.

[LongGone]

The Sanguinor's legs seem to be exactly what you're looking for. I'm actually pretty sure that model was the base for Lucifer. The old school vanguard veterans have some pointy toes IIRC. And the chainsword definitely fits the rule of cool. Best of luck to you, man.

 

...And I only know he's Myles because he introduced himself at the beginning of the blog post :)

[Balthamal]

I'd agree on the weapon - a powered blade would fit in the elegant aesthetic more than a chainsword, maybe one of the palantine blades sword or a phoenix spear.

 

Also quick note, remember that he'll need to be painted red not gold, in 30k only the Sanguinary Guard were permitted to wear the gold

[Piano_Sam]

I think I can come up with a plausible reason to allow him to don the gold, so to speak.  A member of the Sanguinary Guard who, too restless to stay in a bodyguard position, was allowed to return to the ranks? Or maybe a commander who, after a particular valiant effort in defending his primarch, was allowed to wear the gold armor in recognition of his sacrifice? Or, just some dude who really likes gold and arrogantly refuses to return to the red?  I don't know.  I'll think of something.

 

I still like the heavy chainsword, though. 

 

As an aside, I was searching again for some more inspiration and found this awesome Blood Angels vs. Tyranid diorama that won last year's Cologne Slayer Sword.

 

The artist was Roman aka gar on Massive Voodoo:

 

http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.de/2013/11/step-by-step-last-light-part-4.html

 

Massively awesome, and really inspiring.  The Sanguinary Guard at the top of the pile is particularly inspiring, and has the closest pose to what I am envisioning in my head.  Not quite, but really close.

[Piano_Sam]

It looks like he actually based the model on Reaper's Guardian Angel Crusader Hero model.  Wreath in hand and everything.  Maybe the torso was from the Sanguinor?  I was thinking of using Sigvald the Magnificent as the base of this model.  Chopping off the legs and arms and head, of course, but the torso looks cool.  Check it out:

 

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Sigvald-the-Magnificent

[Terimus]

The only problem you'd be likely to have is that the Sigvald is very slender, probably too much so to use for the bulk of a space marine. I know you said earlier that you didnt want to use Sanguinary guard, but that would probably be a better option if you're going for the muscly look for the torso, and besides, they come with plenty of wrist weapons you could use as well. 

[Daemon2027]

Hmmmm why do i want to do a word bearer version of this model?

[Piano_Sam]

^^ Because it would be awesome!

[Corvus_Danseur]

Will follow this project with interest as have an ambition to do something similar at some-point. 

 

As for the chain-sword... to be honest I'm not convinced... it's a little too raw and savage for something not in the Death Company. Although maybe a slender chain/blade could work. I would be tempted to go with a power spear. Still has presence on the model but is more slender and 'angelic'. Just my two cents!