Jump to content

Astral Claws: For Glory and the Tyrant!

hushrong

By hushrong
in + WORKS IN PROGRESS +

Recommended Posts

hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
Posted

After rebooting my Chaos Army and looking at all the bits I had on hand I realized I had enough materials to make a good start on a Space Marine army. Originally I was looking at Raven Guard but the way I imagine them didn't translate well into the army I played. Then I came across Drunes' Badab War plog and knew I had to build one of the chapters involved in that conflict. So much so that I finally bought the Badab War books years later because when it first came out I was a poor college kid who would rather spend money on minis.

 

I initially wanted to do Executioners after seeing his work on some of their captains and characters but again the army I made didn't do their fluff justice. Then I was drawn back to a chapter I have shamed by starting and stopping no less than two times, the Astral Claws. In fact, the left over SM bits I had was from a purchase to build a drop pod army for them.

 

My list, is as follows:

 

HQ

-Corien Sumataris

 

Elites

-Sternguard

Sergeant with Combi Melta and Power Weapon.

5 marines, 4 combi meltas and a Multi Melta.

Drop pod with locator beacon.

*Corien starts off attached with this unit.

 

-Assault Terminators

All are equipped with TH/SS.

*Will use the Sternguard's drop pod locator beacon to enter the fray. I plan on having Corien join them after they enter the field.

 

Troops

-Tactical Squad

Sergeant with melta bombs.

5 marine, 1 flamer

Razorback with dozer blades and twin linked lascannons.

 

-Tactical Squad

Sergeant with melta bombs.

5 marine, 1 flamer

Razorback with dozer blades and twin linked lascannons.

 

I like the way the army turned out and I am happy that this army will be WYSIWYG. It's not that big of an issue or anything but it is nice not to have to proxy or explain what something on the table is. The only issue I have is with strategy. The last time I played this army (as Executioners with Thulsa Kane) my drop pod came into a corner of the table followed by the terminators. Those two squads alone pretty much took on my opponents 1000pt army while the razorbacks moved and shoot to try and catch up. So I will have to watch out for fun instances such as that.

 

And at last, what I have of the army so far:

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/522C1111-BD38-44A8-A0AF-EC7E21388043_zpsnyaitnwb.jpg

The Astral Claws of the 2nd company charge their way through the debris of my work desk. All the while waiting on the Terminator reinforcements I will be buying and building this week.

 

Then, my take on the Tyrant's Champion:

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/35717CA0-E55E-4088-AAC9-9A9ADD6CF610_zpsemda2p6y.jpg

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/2C7F0520-A0F5-4B33-A1AD-6341BB68588A_zpsaafaiefo.jpg

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/E650F3B0-9C7B-47D6-83A9-623A08D9D5DF_zpsev1q8u88.jpg

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/4A0E3D46-5A84-4349-A119-8DF94D4AB846_zpsqeoruod5.jpg

 

Well, that's all I got for now. As said I will be buying my terminators this week and the army will be complete. Then that leads me to the painting. I am debating if I should base them black and drybrush the metal on or if I should use my metallic army painter spray to cut a corner to get started.

 

For the future of this army, I do want to add a Corpse Taker for fun and I really want to build Retaliators.

Preacher No'ki Battle-Brother

Preacher No'ki

Posted
Posted

A great start brother. Can't wait to see some paint on them. I see you've used the FW pads on Corien, any plans to include more of them, or on the terminators?

That said its a nice conversion for Corien with some good movement. It looks like he's about to bash someone aside with his shield to get to someone more worthy of the tyrant's champion.

Good luck with the Retaliators as well. They're a great unit, it's just a pain to source that many combat shields. msn-wink.gif

Glad you made the right choice from the secessionists...The strongest are strongest alone!

hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you, everyone!

I'm happy with the Kitbash myself...until I jokingly thought of putting a skaven rat by his feet for an "EEEk! A MOUSE!" look.mellow.png

A great start brother. Can't wait to see some paint on them. I see you've used the FW pads on Corien, any plans to include more of them, or on the terminators?

That said its a nice conversion for Corien with some good movement. It looks like he's about to bash someone aside with his shield to get to someone more worthy of the tyrant's champion.

Good luck with the Retaliators as well. They're a great unit, it's just a pain to source that many combat shields. msn-wink.gif

Glad you made the right choice from the secessionists...The strongest are strongest alone!

I did pick up a set of AC pads for termies and power armor. I even got a set of AC doors and split them between the razorbacks. All my assault termies will have the FW ones and I am saving the PA ones for a Corpse Taker and future Retaliators. A good number have skulls and I think that will be fitting for such a unit...and an Apothecary of Death.

Speaking of Retaliators I've been messing around with a 200 point list of actual Retaliators and Vanguards for a kill team. I think I will be buying a few more kits and bits for them but that will be in the future. I need to focus on my armies before playing around with other units. smile.png

  • 2 weeks later...
hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

"Bloody your claws and howl into the void!"

-Corien Sumataris, unknown origin of war-cry

The Astral Claws 2nd Company drew first blood against the insidious Dark Eldar. Although my buddy walloped me point-wise I enjoyed the amount of carnage on the table. Something I learned to enjoy thanks to playing Chaos since 5th smile.png

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/3C993A98-5349-410A-AF55-0601AFB3F2B5_zpssytvhq4e.jpg

As you can see we had to proxy a bit of his army but we made it work. It was a fun game of 1000 points each with very little left on the table. The only bummer I had was Corien was shot in the back by a cowardly Archon who didn't have the guts to the face the Tyrant's Champion in true, honorable combat. I will have to wait for the next game and hope I can actually use him in a fight and utilize his abilities.

Aside from that I started painting again after a long while. I got my army painter rattle cans and had a start with the platemail spray. *I also tried using their white spray again and it was AWFUL! I've used that stuff on one earlier occasion and it ruined my Infinity models. I had to go online to buy Dawn Power Dissolver to remove that gunk they called white primer/base.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/D09B1958-85B9-4ECF-A220-2D82CD228375_zps1kym7eqs.jpg

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/888BEBB4-D96F-4F1C-B3AB-B3C8E6CB9227_zps6lo3vsz8.jpg

Obviously not one of the Tyrant's own but another army I will be painting up in metallics. I honestly feel like I cheated but as long as I watch how I spray and not overdo it I can get my army going quickly. Now I just have to wait for a nice, sunshiney day to do that.

Then a test mini for the Astral Claws popped up. I tried more battle damage here and there and even took some teeth out of his weapon. This guy may become my first Retaliators who I want to base around the end of the war. There is no step back and they are facing the end...all of it resulting in some beat up looking Astral Claws who have no time for proper maintenance. That will have to come later in life though.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/C3B3C2E3-D2D8-4460-A9FC-F2CC93973E3B_zpsl250sr4u.jpg

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/20EEECBA-5E22-4F50-8426-AE376A189E6C_zpsmldzjvt0.jpg

Still have to work on him. I think this week I will tidy up the blue and try to figure out a good gold. I didn't like the gold I tried on the Iron Warrior.

Anyways, that's all I have got for now folks. I wasn't able to get my terminators so maybe this week I will make time to get them and get this army based and primed. That and maybe shed more blood for the Tyrant!

hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Looking good like the missing teeth. Pesky eldar. Wish it would warm up here I have painting to do. I have AP white have not had a issue yet .

Thanks! I hope missing teeth and some damage can convey the sense that they are fighting the good fight but it's not looking good for them. It's strange but I like the idea that the chapter is doomed and I want to try and show it.

 

And yes, those damn, dirty xenos! However, I am tempted to restart my eldar corsair project idea...but that might get shot down if Horus Heresy become more readily available in the near future.

 

As for the AP White, I have bought two cans of it and both resulted in blobs of little paint being thrown on my minis. However, I have not had a problem with their red (tried it on some WM Khador), one of their purples for emperor's children, and the platemail as shown recently.

 

Fantastic start fella, really nice silver

Thanks! However, it is just Army Painter platemail which did 90% of the work followed by Nuln oil and a drybrush of Runefang steel. However, I hope it will help me finish up this army quick so I can have my first painted army EVER (for any wargame).

 

Thanks again everyone for looking!

  • 4 weeks later...
hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

"Astral Claws never say die!"

 

Or something...it has been awhile.

 

Well a few weeks ago I finished building my assault terminators. It wasn't bad except the shoulder pads not gluing down at first despite double checking fitting and thoroughly cleaning them beforehand.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/8EB7BED4-48E4-4C94-8F0B-372BA11D04D7_zpspnefazqk.jpg

 

All that is left is to put some stuff on the bases of my Astral Claws and get to painting.

 

That's going to be another day though as wet weather is hammering down a bit here in Austin. So, aside from building stuff for another game I had some marines go to the armory.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/66B0BBBD-5169-420A-8224-11D8AE8C223E_zps4l4tzgyb.jpg

My Retaliators Strike Squad Perceval, 200 points of kill team goodness.

 

Aside from just making a kill team I am hoping to recreate this old strike leader. I built that fella a few years back but sold him (bare metal) and a bunch of stuff off to Dave who painted up a great force of Astral Claws.

 

Well, off to daydream about painting because I need to get serious about painting. Toodles!

  • 3 months later...
hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks folks! Finally happy to be working on the retaliators! I am hoping to get into kill team again so these boys are going to come in handy.

Them...and my CSM raptors whistlingW.gif

The Spikes on the Shield thumbsup.gif thumbsup.gif thumbsup.gif thumbsup.gif !!!!!

Thanks! After what happened with his hand and a jerry-rigged power sword that turns off for no reason he needed something spiky to bash against enemies.

hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Looking good so far. You should have started your Claws a few years ago when I still lived in Austin. Could have had some Badab themed games going on.

That would have been sweet! As I finish building up this squad I am going to have to go back through your plogs for some painting lessons.

 

 

Progress...?

Dude, that spiked shield is wicked. Always nice to see another Austinite!

 

Thanks! I think I have seen a few other Austinites on this site as well. I've only played one game in the last two months but my group should be back at it if you are ever around South Lamar.

 

Now onto to Secessionist news I have made two more Retaliators.

 

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/04B0993F-844D-4896-8792-FAFA42520BF6_zpsxva6fscf.jpg

 

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/F7F7B588-2B9C-4BE8-B5CD-E5E8FC5A92FA_zpsnjy540zm.jpg

 

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/A6253490-D0DF-416B-B67C-D2DCBCA06F65_zpsmodc8tkp.jpg

 

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/203214E5-905A-4F74-805A-F5E3D8367240_zps4cw0uqjf.jpg

 

That's seven down and three to go for the squad. I am also gathering up bits for my corpse-taker. Right now I am trying to settle on some nice standing legs to use. Ones that do no have a pre-teabagging pose to them. I also do not want him having a "charging forward" look like the rest of the boys. He's standing in the back avoiding battle. Slowly he stalks behind their advance. Every body he crosses, whether friend or foe, is to be examined and picked over. He is taking his time and reaping the reward of slaughter.

  • 3 weeks later...
hushrong Venerable Brother

hushrong

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Really great poses so far! Mentally blocking the fact they are Astral Claws for the moment tongue.png (Raptors ftw)

But great to see another Badab Army in the forums and I'm excited to see some more progress!

Thanks bud! And just give in to the Tyrant and his Astral Claws, they were fighting for the freedom of Astartes everywhere...against other astartes among other things.

And now, a bit of progress:

Another retaliator and a corpse taker.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/A57B77CD-96BF-4E57-A9BD-A69A848CC5FD_zpsluuxscjx.jpg

I am very happy with this guy, my Corpse Taker. I stated in the Back to Badab thread that I always wanted to make one for myself. It took me a few years but I finally did it. Hopefully he will be more menacing when painted up.

http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/theironwithin/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/FDFA17BD-CEC8-4592-A23F-DBEC9D686365_zpsyhkrt58h.jpg

As stated, again in the B2B thread, I want to remove and repose the light and scanner on his back pack to face the direction he is looking. I will also be adding two servitors for this fella as well, for kicks and giggles.

Any-who, that is it for now. I have two more guys to build to finish my kill team and I will be adding materials to the bases and hopefully painting soon (soon as in a month...or two...or sooner?). Thanks for stopping by!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept