Calth: An Apologist and Doghouse True Scale Project Log

[apologist]

No idea what-so-ever as to what colour to do my Auxial, they are quite nice though and scale very well alongside the marines. There are some nice little details like the gears and chains operating the bellows on the back pack for example, they have a very steampunk feel to them.

 

Seeing him there next to your marines really shows off the scale of the Word Bearers! Does the new guy have the head from the recent Master of Relics (the plasma gun and über-scanner)? He looks great.

 

Oh, which reminds me, I've got a couple of the first lot of Space Marine Master heads left over from a previous conversion. Would you like them? If you PM me your address I can post 'em over.

 

 

 

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Work progresses on the Ultramarines of 190th Company...

 

190th Company

The 190th Company, having suffered terrible losses against the Eldar during the Fillriath Campaign, was still rebuilding during the Calth muster, hence its positioning near the industrialised northern tundra during the Atrocity. Cut off from communication, the Company was falling back in good order to pre-established command and control points when the area was assaulted by a brigade-strength group of Imperial Army units, supported by heavy armour. Understrength to begin with, and far from heavy support, the newly-inducted warriors of the 190th responded with alacrity in fending off numerous assaults with minimal casualties; their perturbed officers opting to fall back without engagement where possible.

 

While well-intentioned, this proved fatal to the bulk of the force mustered around Quinpoli, a large conurbation home to many hundreds of thousands of civilians. Knowing their Word Bearer allies to be barracked around the city, much of the 190th arrived in dribs and drabs, presenting themselves before well-stocked bastions and STC fortifications. Isolated and incommunicado, the squads and platoons were killed in short order by the crimson-armoured Word Bearers.

 

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Captain Mercian, a sub-commander of the force, had been barracked to the north with orders to oversee the intake from the recent Trenchant Ridge muster. Over the course of the next five days, just over three hundred recruits would return from isolation on the Tundra to join Mercian's seventy veterans.

 

The company would remain tragically unaware of the Word Bearers treachery for days, even as they fought off what seemed like a lunatic brigade of Imperial Army troopers in a series of running battles.

 

 

 

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Brother Oberon

Pictured mid-reload, Oberon graduated within the ninety-fifth percentile and was amongst the final intake for the newly-raised 190th company. A glittering career beckoned, and he was earmarked for advanced officer training by his Optio. Peerless in fieldcraft, quick-witted and well-liked, Oberon survived the initial assault of the Calth Atrocity. He died three hours later after attempting to fall back towards emerging 'friendly' Word Bearer forces during the Battle of Chains. 

 

Oberon's newly-issued armour was bereft of insignia beyond company markings. His sidearm, combat blade and freshly-minted mark VI (Notts-pattern) power pack – presumably issued as a mark of favour – are clear to see here.

 

 

 

 

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Brother Kadamas

A squad leader from an earlier intake,  Kadamas bears a haloed skull on his kneepad and a chequered flourish on his boltgun. Boastful and obstinate, what Kadamas lacked in personality he made up for in savagery. Isolated and alone during the Atrocity, he exterminated a reinforced platoon of renegade Army forces during his fall back to Trenchant Ridge.

 

 

 

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Brother Addershot

Determined and driven, Addershot overcame a birth defect that left him with a withered arm and won a place in the Academies. Told by his recruiting sergeant that he would 'accept no cripples', Addershot used a pocket knife to amputate his arm above bicep.

 

When he awoke in the apothecarion, Addershot was pleased to see that the attending surgeon had prepared his arm for augmetic interface, a standard emergency procedure in the industrial north of technomantically-advanced Calth. On his return to the Petitioning chamber, the Sergeant laughed, and presented him to the class as a symbol of the drive it takes to join the Ultramarines.

 

Addershot survived the Calth atrocity, dying four days later to a sniper's bullet.

[deathspectersgt7]

Inspiration pure Inspiration.

[Combat_Vet]

I have to agree with deathspecter. Every time I swing by this thread I see things I want to add to my penance army. Beautiful work.

[Daemon2027]

Brilliant stuff guys. You are really driving me forward with my own truescale project, and not just the urge to sit and model but also write background to fit.

[Argent aquila]

man, the armor you've made on these ultras really is cool, adds even more character to an already individualistic and cool army!

ran out of likes though, so know that i love this

[apologist]

You're all... so... kind! [/Elephant Man]

 

Cheers all – the support we're getting for this project is really humbling :)

 

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The painting war continues
As I was working on the sergeant for the second big tactical squad, I looked again at the squad as a whole. I hadn't yet created a vox-caster marine, and wasn't happy with the vexilla bearer:

I realised I'd been avoiding painting him, and so I took a closer look and realised that it's because I don't like the pose. In addition, he doesn't match the other vexilla bearer, who has a crest on his helm. Popping the vexilla off, I created a new marine to hold it. I also updated another marine to be the vox-caster:

 

 

 

I'm much more pleased with these guys now. What about the poor ex-vexilla bearer who lost his arm? Well, he got updated too:

 

The pose required him to have his arm out, so I created a sweeping gesture. This hand was in turn pinched from this standard bearer:

 

While I liked the model, he was slightly contentious. I wasn't happy with the hand here as it didn't match the source material, a statue of Augustus Caesar:
http://www.military-history.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/statue-augustus.jpg

 

He has now had the offending hand replaced with one from a plastic Dark Angels librarian, which much more closely resembles the statue. No pic, as my camera batteries died, but since he's nearly finished anyway, I'll hopefully get a finished pic up in the week.

 

So, what's the lesson? Keep checking your miniatures. If something feels off, be ruthless. Even minor changes can substantially improve a miniature, and it's never too late to do it.

[Daemon2027]

The changes you have made really tighten up the models. I'm the same,I like to get a pose down to the smallest detail.

Have you or Doghouse put any thought into true scaling TDA?

[apologist]

Cheers. As for Terminator armour, I had a go a few years back for my Novamarines:

 

I'm in two minds whether to fold the Novamarines into the Ultramarines (by repainting them). 

[KrautScientist]

Whoa, that is a big guy ;)

 

Would you really have to repaint them, though? Seeing how there are all kinds of post-heresy chapter colours appearing during the heresy era (*cough* Black Templars *cough*). Just a thought...

[apologist]

I wouldn't mind the Captain staying quartered as there's a Rogue Trader painting guide that shows an Ultramarine Captain in just the same quartered blue and white. I think there's a caption explaining that he's extended the standard Captain heraldry (white and blue quarters, with yellow stars) over his whole armour – something for which the Ultramarines were noted! Bit of a contrast with now, huh? :)

 

However, I really want the 190th to look coherent and have a very tight palette, so they would need to be repainted, really.

[Daemon2027]

And how was the big guy made? At least the legs, they are what is stumping me at the moment.

[apologist]

Ah, sorry; should have added that info! The upper legs and groin are from the Grey Knight Terminator set, filled in as usual for my marines. The lower legs are from Obliterators. The front of the torso is from the Grey Knight Terminators, and the back from standard Terminators. The arms are just plain Terminator arms (one of the benefits of trimming the cabling and detail from the Terminator arms for the power-armoured marines is that they look slimmer than the standard ones – perfect to show the bulkier Terminators). The head is a standard one, with a section of the muzzle trimmed out to give a more snub-nosed British bulldog look. Finally, the shoulder pads are simply the same ones I used on my power armoured marines, but with the area between the plasticard rims filled in with greenstuff.

 

The idea was to have the marine inside the same size as a power armour marine – hence the same length limbs and placement of joints; with the size difference coming through thickening the armour (such as on the soles of the boots).

[Daemon2027]

That's what I had thought with true scale terminators. The marine the same size, but the armour makes for more bulk and slight hight increase. I think with Terminators you want it to look like a walking tank, which you have achieved. The other option was to use Horus to make a massive TDA wearing guy, which I may do for my Word Bearers. Thanks for the info :)

[malika666]

Hmm, if I'm not mistaken Doghouse made his Terminators from the plastic Centurion kit. But yeah, getting your hands on multiple Horus models might also be an option!

[Augustus b'Raass]

I almost pooped my pants when i found this thread. I've been a fan of doghouse's truescale thread for years and hey-ho here is one filled with more epicness. The quality, not the scale, btw.

 

Just spent all my remaining likes. That Guilliman... That gal vorbak... Those standard bearers... MoAR!

[apologist]

Cheers – all aboard the last transport to Calth! :)

 

I snatched a few minutes last night to continue with the base colours of some marines.

 

Generally, Charadon Granite is applied first for the cabling and undersuit; then Mordian Blue for the armour. Abaddon Black then goes on for areas that will be metal. All of these stages are fairly quickly applied; I don't worry too much about occasional splotches of one colour in the wrong place on the surface, though I do correct it if it gets into a recess. This is because they will all become fairly dark tones, and a bit of interaction here and there doesn't hurt the finished effect.

 

I then use Boltgun Metal to touch in the metal areas. Because this is a very different tone to the others, I'm more careful. The contrast between the dark and light areas really jump out, so it pays to be more careful.

 

The next stage helps to bind the dark tones together and give some initial form. This is a very quick stage which is also very rewarding! I use various washes – Asurmen Blue on the armour, Badab Black on the silver and cabling, and Leviathan Purple in the recesses. I aim to ensure these merge slightly – particularly in the recesses, as this sets up the muddling of hues that creates some of the muting effect.

 

The washes aren't swamped on – they're painted on and I then use a finger to swipe away the excess from raised areas of the armour. For the metal, I use a quickly rinsed and dried brush to draw the wash around and prevent it pooling on the surface.

[apologist]

Sergeant Symander of the Heroditians

Not all sergeants are grizzled Veterans. At the formation of the 190th, Lycios Symander was drawn up from the ranks, having shown leadership skills and capabilities above those of his classmates. He was placed in command of the newly-formed second squad of the line, dubbed the Heroditians in honour of a minor Senate member on Macragge.

As a newly-invested commander of a new squad, Symander's armour remains relatively unembellished. However, he does bear a standard crested helm along with a decorated belt buckle –white on gold to symbolise Macragge – and, more notably, artificer-enhanced greaves. Their origin is uncertain, though the handiwork bears several hallmarks of Arius, a Techmarine attached to the 15th. Older Chapters sometimes acted as 'sponsors' for newly-formed Chapters, supplying a core veteran cadre to inspire the new troops, along with equipment, material and honours aimed at driving the new Chapter forward successfully.

 

Armed as standard for a Sergeant, Symander has a Tigrus-patten bolt pistol and Marta Nova-pattern chainsword.

 

Symander's equipment is – as could be expected – perfectly laid out according to the Marian Reforms; a series of directives sent down from Marius Gage to aid combat effectiveness amongst the Legion. While not compulsory, the Reforms were the distillation of the Great Crusade's lessons, and Chapters that adopted them often saw a spike in effectiveness.

 

[Doghouse]

Very nice stuff mate, you've done a great job on the snow base too.

[Tyrannicide]

Your work continues to serve as one of my main inspirations, Apologist. I'm a firm believer in every model telling a story and not many do that better than you.

[Doghouse]

Forgot to ask mate, what are you using for the snow base?

 

It'll help me match mine to yours.

[Daemon2027]

Doghouse, have you put any thought into cultists supporting your Word Bearers, they seemed to be a big part of the Word Bearers battle plans. I am just asking ad it may be an interesting project to model the people of the imperium as opposed to the usual ragged robed cultists we see in 40k.

Apologist great update as usual.

[apologist]

Doghouse:

 

 

Forgot to ask mate, what are you using for the snow base?

Whoops, meant to mention that. I was trying out some new ideas, and had a go with bicarbonate of soda mixed with water and PVA – there's some more info on my blog here. 

 

Those Crimson Fists are looking awesome, by the way! :)

 

Tyrannicide:

 

 

Your work continues to serve as one of my main inspirations, Apologist. I'm a firm believer in every model telling a story and not many do that better than you.

Thanks! The colour text is one of the most enjoyable parts of the project for me, so it's great to hear that you like it :)

 

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Brother Domnon
The Marian Reforms, instituted towards the ends of the Great Crusade, saw a great deal of simplification and – within pragmatically broad parameters – adoption of a uniform approach. These reforms would later be refined and codified in the famed Codex Astartes, forming the skeleton of Imperial Space Marines' infantry deployment into the 41st Millennium.

 

An important part of the background behind the Reforms was the developments made during the Great Crusade. Where the early Legions had relied upon dedicated comms-officers and signalmen, increased manufacturing power and refinement now allowed each suit of power armour produced to be fitted (retro-fitted in the case of Crusade Armour, but standard thereon) with comm-beads in both the helmet and throat of the armour, allowing inter- and intrasquad communication.

 

However, the adoption of these early STC patterns was not universal, nor was it practical for far-flung or underequipped front line forces to replace these vital pieces of equipment. They were thus regarded as optional, and dedicated squad vox-men – called 'bucinators' by the XIII Legion after the hand-set's resemblance to an animal horn – were deployed within each squad of the line.

 

Fitted with a bulky auxiliary backpack that could broadcast on multiple holobands or via a number of auxiliary methods (often dependent on the type of atmosphere the Ultramarines  were fighting in), vox-men like Brother Domnon were expected to maintain communication while fighting every bit as hard as their comrades.

 

The bucinators of the Ultramarines were often drawn by lots from within the squad – but some officers preferred to take a more direct approach and issue the task as either an honour, or even as a punishment!

 

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[ephrael]

Beautiful and inspiring work as usual Apologist. I love the little details that make each of your Legionaires subtly unique. The way that you use a mix of stock GW and FW bits along with your own hand sculpted parts is organic and sublime. You've really managed to create an army of individual marines that still look coherent on the tabletop.

[ephrael]

I know that I'm double posting but something's been on my mind since I read the fluff for this latest legionare. You explained his equipment load out really well and there was a little more embellishment. You didn't explain his armor markings, especially those beautiful checks running down his torso. I'm a huge fan of the "color text" that you write to accompany each marine. This one left me wondering about the display of personal heraldry or honor marking. Do you plan to add that little bit to his story or will I have to wonder forever?

[BlodVargarna]

 

 

I'm much more pleased with these guys now. What about the poor ex-vexilla bearer who lost his arm? Well, he got updated too:

 

The pose required him to have his arm out, so I created a sweeping gesture. This hand was in turn pinched from this standard bearer:

 

 

The work here is so inspiring and humbling.  Such great work you guys. I am definitely inspired to try a true scale conversion, maybe for a Wolf Lord or something. What is the source for the helmet on this guy?  It looks so cool and I think it will fit in with an idea I have had for a wolf guard character I want to make.

Thanks!