Ultramarines 2nd Company - Guardians of the Temple

[ShVagYeR]

℧ ULTRAMARINES 2^nd COMPANY ℧

Now this is a project that will probably take years. I am going to paint the entire 2nd Company of Ultramarines as seen in the Codex, with two exceptions: Captain and his Command Squad. Instead of Sicarius there is Titus and his unusual retinue. More info below.

Of note is the fact that, unless my plan changes, all tactical marines will be good old snap-fit models except for those where fitting a heavy weapon would be too challenging. All power-armored marines will be placed on 32mm bases, because I like the freedom and space they offer as opposed to the old 25mm ones.

Due to the usage of snap-fits I am not going to convert them into older power armor marks with the exception of pauldrons. It's simple enough to file the trim down and add studs. Other than that they will be regular MkVII dudes. All conversions and paintjobs will be done according to the 2nd Company roster in the Codex. Sergeants on the other hand will be custom models and will reflect the power armor mark from the source as closely as possible.

So, what do I have so far?

Let's start with the Warlord. If you've played Warhammer 40000: Space Marine, you probably know him. The unsung hero of Graia...

Captain Titus

http://i57.tinypic.com/11bpxyv.jpg

I've posted this image before and the Internets were not gracious about the weapon choices... Well I know he never used a Storm Shield in the game, but this one is supposed to be competitive in tabletop. Hope you like him despite of that.

A Captain is not complete without a Command Squad, so...

Brother-Sergeant Sidonus

http://i59.tinypic.com/2zg6gdc.jpg

Where Titus goes, Sidonus follows. You're probably going to say that he died in the game. Well, yes, but not in my version of the 40k world. He's a cool character and a cool conversion opportunity, so I couldn't help myself. I like kitbashing.

Brother Leandros

http://i62.tinypic.com/29mrwwg.jpg

I realize he's not everyone's favorite character, but hey, they're a team. You can't have Titus and Sidonus without Leandros. So here he is.

The other three veterans will look familiar if you've seen the Ultramarines movie. Yes, one of them is a dead guy, but who cares.

Apothecary Pythol

http://i57.tinypic.com/orpips.jpg

Okay, he died, but he was a very likeable character plus I didn't want to make a nameless Apothecary (and I do need that FNP roll for my Titus). Once I picked Pythol, the choice of other two veterans was quite simple...

Proteus and Verenor. I haven't painted them yet however (working on Verenor now).

If you need some in-universe justification, let's say that Pythol had miraculously survived the encounter with the daemon (The Emperor protects!) and it all had taken place before Titus took over command of the 2nd Company. Now we're at some point in time where Titus is in command, Sidonus is alive and kicking, Leandros has just been promoted to the Command Squad and he's still too timid to voice his concerns, while Proteus and Verenor have been around long enough to get promoted to the Command Squad as well. Events of Graia have not yet taken place. Works, right?

Now it's time for troops. So far I've finished four tactical marines of Tactical Squad Manorian (II squad). If you have a look in the Codex (page 24), the dudes below are first two of each row of that squad. Again, I copy pauldron paintjobs and pauldron styles Mk V/VI if applicable. Other stuff remains unchanged. It's a lot of painting and having a day job does not leave me with a lot of free time, so simplicity is the key. Highlighting only the top edges is another symptom of that approach.

Tactical Squad Manorian

http://i59.tinypic.com/beihye.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/nn4l90.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/11kja5u.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/2vuk6li.jpg

In order to keep track of what is done, I will post images like the ones below. It's not okay to post stuff from the Codex, but silhouettes should be fine, right?

Key: green - completed; yellow - in progress; red - not started

Captain & Command Squad

http://i58.tinypic.com/2hxc47d.jpg

Tactical Squad Manorian (II)

http://i58.tinypic.com/2dlpwfm.jpg

I'd really like some feedback from you, fellow B&C members. You know as well as I do that nothing motivates a miniature painter like praise and constructive criticism of your peers.

[BrotherJim]

Haha dude this is really cool!!!

 

Like really!!!!

 

My only complaint is that the photos look far too swish! This is the WIP forum mate, you need to snap some photos of these bad boys on your work bench with your iPhone and upload that :D

 

But seriously, I think cropping the images hurts more than helps, I've always fancied the blue fading to white background myself :) something!

 

Otherwise this is fantastic!

 

Also who cares if the characters dies? Not me, if you play games with your boys they will die every week!

 

Carry on!

[BrotherJim]

Also was totally of doing the same thing (snap fit army)

But with Imperial Fists :D

 

Oh the nostalgia :)

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you BrotherJim!

 

There's a small update. I finished Brother Verenor and Brother Proteus which makes my Command Squad complete, unfortunately I only managed to take a picture of the former one.

 

Brother Verenor

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/zv7ksi.jpg

 

 

Currently working on a Razorback for the squad. I'm kitbashing/scratchbulding a twin-linked assault cannon so it may take some time.

 

Status:

 

Captain & Command Squad

http://i62.tinypic.com/23shs9v.jpg

[Adeptus-Alaska]

Yay, Ultra-love! Love the blue.......very old school

[Gorgoff]

I like your idea and how you make it happen. Great stuff.

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you gentlemen. :) I suppose the color may look oldschool as the paint I use is Ultramarines Blue from the old GW range. :)

 

Managed to get some work done. The Command Squad is complete now:

 

Brother Proteus

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/24lj5fd.jpg

 

I also managed to finish the scratchbuilt/kitbashed assault cannon for the Razorback. I used the FW kit as reference.

 

Lots of greenstuff, leftover bits, as well as an old debit card gave their lives to make this happen. ;)

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/348ghnl.jpg

 

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/181/367/closeenough.png?1317606898

 

 

That's it for now. Hopefully next time I post, the Razorback will be fully assembled and painted. :)

 

Status:

 

Captain & Command Squad

http://i60.tinypic.com/2dahi6d.jpg

[Zigmunth]

The Assault Cannon turret looks awesome man! 

Keep it up ;)

[Epistolario Konorr Vordan]

Pretty captain titus conversion!

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/348ghnl.jpg

 

And this is a very very good work, when you're painting this "sprue" that will be like the original forgeworld sprue. Congratulation.

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you. :) I'd say the Razorback is coming along nicely.

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/119rs5d.jpg

 

In case you're wondering, yes, I'm painting it piece by piece. That's the way I roll.

 

Close-up of the door:

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/10wo5yw.jpg

 

Based on this artwork by Adrian Smith: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:Roboute_Guilliman.jpg

[Veteran Sergeant]

That's a pretty slick freehand rendition of that piece.

 

Also, I like your recreations of the game characters. And I guess the movie characters, even though I'd like to forget that happened, lol.

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you Veteran Sergeant, your truescale marines are very impressive!

Razorback "Aetius"

Attached to Captain Titus' Command Squad.

http://i58.tinypic.com/mmxi1.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/2zqxzbq.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/2n0ihkm.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/2zyd7j4.jpg

This is my first Ultramarine vehicle, as well as the first time I used magnets. You can detach the dozer blade, as well as so-prone-to-breaking-off searchlight and smoke launcher. The top hatch with Titus is removable to indicate when he's onboard and when he's not.

I had lots of fun painting this one.

As usual, I used very little glue on this metal box. Only the halves of sides are glued together, and of course the scratchbuilt assault cannon turret. Other than that all parts fit perfectly without the need to use glue.

This brings my Command Squad to completion.

Captain & Command Squad & Razorback

http://i59.tinypic.com/vzd7p1.jpg

What's next? Well that depends on you Frater, as I am open to be challenged in Augustus' Arena. Here's a list of stuff that's waiting on my shelf:

• approx. 30-40 snap-fit tactical marines
• Iron Hands command squad on bikes w/ the infamous Chapter Master :cuss
• Iron Hands bike squad

Would really like the challenge to be to complete a tactical squad of Ultramarines the beginnings of which you can see above. But I will accept any challenge as long as I determine the deadline.

For the Emperor!

[The_Chaplain]

Oh good gracious, you're going to tackle smash :cuss ? What an ambitious undertaking. I love the assault cannon turret on your razorback-- well done brother. Keep up the good work.

[Doghouse]

Very nice stuff, great twist on the army too. :tu:

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you Brothers!

 

I have to say the challenge is highly motivating. I managed to finish three more tactical marines and start working on last three. They are primed, based, and washed.

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/25swuvr.jpg

 

 

And now it's time for finished models (with some excessive lighting, sorry about that).

 

 

Tactical Squad Manorian

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/ounmuw.jpg

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/21l2yl0.jpg

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/2usfjhe.jpg

 

 

 

Tactical Squad Manorian (II)

http://i60.tinypic.com/28jh2bo.jpg

[MagicMan]

Looking good! Always glad to see more good looking Ultra's.

 

Like the way you're tracking the development of the Company, too. :)

[ShVagYeR]

Thanks MagicMan! It helps me keep track of this among my side projects. ;)

 

Got my hands on some Dark Vengeance snap-fits recently. I have to say the poses are much more interesting than the old ones.

 

 

Tactical Squad Manorian

 

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/2lvohzq.jpg

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/245ex37.jpg

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/fm5mqe.jpg

 

Aaaand the challenge is complete. Yay!

 

Would really love the next challenge to be the Iron Hands Chapter Master on Bike, if I can offer a hint. ;) ;)

 

 

Tactical Squad Manorian (II)

http://i61.tinypic.com/aoq176.jpg

[Flint13]

Very nice work.

 

Your blues are just crazy crisp and clean.

[TDF]

I'm loving the crisp blue and gold, and the attention to detail fluffwise.

 

Any particular reason why you only want to use snapfits?

[ShVagYeR]

Sorry TDF, I somehow missed your post. There are a few reasons why I went for snapfits. They have few parts, assemble easily, and are just about the only models I can paint fully assembled without feeling uncomfortable about it (mainly due to the fact they hold their bolters very close to their chests). Also the very first Space Marine models I painted back in 2012 were snapfits, so this might be a touch of nostalgia for me. :)

 

The lack of updates is caused by being busy with a Thousand Sons squad now plus some side projects (truescale is involved). Once that is done I'm definitely going to revisit this army and do a squad or two.

[ShVagYeR]

Time to dust off my blue paints and make some Ultramarines!

 

Brothers, may I present Tactical Squad Vandar in the early stages of painting:

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V12sEe9c6mc/VYr69FawCNI/AAAAAAAAKhg/McJVIFnQ5js/s1600/umnaramce1.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdgRkRK6Pcc/VYr688sKlZI/AAAAAAAAKhc/iZEyp_0GncY/s1600/umnaramce2.jpg

 

The new codex really motivated me to assemble and paint a demi-company. Hopefully I don't run out of motivation!

[That Guy Matt]

Very cool. Titus > Sicarius any day and your paint work is excellent.

[ShVagYeR]

Thank you Asamodai!

It's been a slow holiday season painting-wise, but I'm getting back to business now. Four down, six to go.

Tactical Squad Vandar

After doing the first one I switched to a quicker paint scheme, hence the different shade of blue. I use Ultramarines Blue -> Drakenhof Nightshade -> Hoeth Blue -> Guilliman Blue now, which is much less tiresome than the old way and the results are almost as good. I'll stick to the new way now.

Tactical Squad Vandar (V)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BMRNMIybYM/VfRpIBvZhBI/AAAAAAAAKqo/MExULF5NNqU/s1600/tac5squad_20150912.png

[ShVagYeR]

Right, I've been focusing on my Thousand Sons for a while now, but thanks to this topic I kitbashed and painted a Chaplain for my Ultramarines.

Chaplain Bracius

[That Guy Matt]

Glad this is back. Really like your style. Wish I could do edge highlights as precisely as you.