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For Macragge and Mars - Ultramarines & Mechanicum


Relict

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Brothers & Sisters of B&C, 

 

It's been almost one year since I've placed my first FW order and joined your hallowed ranks. I've learned a lot about both the hobby in general and 30K specifically - for this, you have my thanks. 

 

My first foray into 30K - 3,500 points of World Eaters - is nearing completion. As I wrap up the last of it, I'd like to start planning ahead for my next project, which will span the next two years. Namely, I want to give my WE a worthy adversary to face on the tabletop. I can think of no more redoubtable foes than the august Ultramarines and stalwart Mechanicum. 

 

My WE contingent was planned as a purely offensive force that emphasized two things - speed and firepower. A short breakdown of my WE army:

 

- 1x Praetor in Cataphractii TDA

- 5x Bodyguards in Tartaros TDA

- 10x Cataphractii Terminators (w/ 1 Spartan as dedicated transport)

- 2x Apothecaries (attached to tactical squads)

- 1x Contemptor-Mortis Dreadnought (assault cannons, missile launcher)

- 20x Tactical Legionaries

- 20x Tactical Legionaries

- 15x Assault Legionaries

- 3x Scimitar Jetbikes (1 multi-melta, 2 heavy bolters)

- 1x Javelin Attack Speeder (lascannons)

- 5x Heavy Support Legionaries (autocannons)

- 1x Sicaran Tank (lascannons)

- 1x Sicaran Tank (lascannons)

- 1x Spartan Assault Tank (dedicated transport for Cataphractii Terminators)

 

I want to try a different approach for my UM/Mechanicum army. First, I want it to be a footslogging force. Second, I want both components of the army (2,500 points for the UM and 1,000 points for the Mechanicum, for a 3,500-point total) to complement each other well. Third, I want this combined force to be competitive at least against my WE army. 

 

Some models I already have - leftovers from my WE army. I have the following:

 

- 1x Praetor in Mark III PA (paragon blade & archaeotech pistol)

- 1x Champion in Mark III PA 

- 1x Master of Signal in Mark IV PA

- 1x Centurion in Mark IV PA

- 1x Standard Bearer in Mark IV PA

 

Units that I have yet to buy but definitely want in my army:

 

- Destroyer Cadre

- Contemptor Dreadnought Talon

- Deredeo Dreadnought 

- Castellax Battle-Automata 

 

Since Tempest is slated to be released in May and I have plenty of time for planning, I definitely want to include any UM Legion-specific units once they become known (I think they are rumored to be a Terminator unit and a Breacher unit of some sort). 

 

For now, I have only a rough idea of what the core of the UM portion will look like:

 

HQs: 1x Praetor, 1x Champion

Troops: 2x 15-man Tactical Squads (I'll be "demoting" the centurion, master of signal, and standard bearer models to fit the roles of sergeant, nuncio-vox operator, and vexilla carrier in one tactical squad. These three will be in Mark IV PA - the rest of the Legionaries will be in Mark III PA)

 

This is definitely the beginning of a long and arduous journey. I strive for this army to look and perform even better than my WE, so lots of time will be put into planning. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks!

Ooh, I remember when you first painted your WE's, they were wonderfully done.  I shall be looking forward to this one for sure... especially your take on the UM blue,

 

I would consider taking a good look at the Mechanicum side of things to begin with and get a feel for what you might want to include - by all means paint up the models you have as test minis though.  My main thought would be to consider the specific Chapter Tactics along with the future units strengths / weaknesses.  Without that info, your force may not be as 'unified' in working together as it could.

Ooh, I remember when you first painted your WE's, they were wonderfully done.  I shall be looking forward to this one for sure... especially your take on the UM blue,

 

I would consider taking a good look at the Mechanicum side of things to begin with and get a feel for what you might want to include - by all means paint up the models you have as test minis though.  My main thought would be to consider the specific Chapter Tactics along with the future units strengths / weaknesses.  Without that info, your force may not be as 'unified' in working together as it could.

 

Thank you, my friend. I remember all the help you'd lent me in putting together my WE army. You won't be disappointed. 

 

I'm wary about going all out at once - after all, we haven't seen the UM Legion-specific units and rules yet. This is a careful balancing act. That said, I think it's safe to paint up my existing models and maybe pick up enough models for two 15-man tactical squads - those, after all, is the bread and butter of 30K. 

 

http://s28.postimg.org/eff1lu8z1/Full_Size_Render_17.jpg

 

http://s28.postimg.org/xvzr8d431/Full_Size_Render_18.jpg

 

http://s28.postimg.org/yiynxw0z1/Full_Size_Render_19.jpg

 

Praetor Titus Cassian, LXXXIX Company, XXI Chapter, XIII Legion "Ultramarines"

On the armor details, the gold is:

 

Basecoat with Balthasar Gold

Wash with Lahmian Medium

Layer with Gehenna Gold

Edge highlight with Runefang Steel

 

On the weapons, the gold is:

 

Basecoat with Leadbelcher

Layer with Runefang Steel

Layer with Sycorax Brass

 

I'm still experimenting with the gold to get it just right. Then there are the decals.

For some reason, my pot of Gehennas gold is a LOT redder than any others I've seen :x

 

30kh7

 

The blade on the Halberd being just Gehennas before highlights and shading. Anyways, I might try your Gold Scheme on my Templar Swords when I get them. Might just be how I applied it.

I actually like the colour now that I've had th epot for so long.

Its growing on me, for sure but, I like more yellow-gold or Brown-Gold such as Balthazar's which I usually just slap on and wash once and leave as is :P

 

I might end up with more silver than gold on my Ultramarines since I plan on doing Iron Snakes, If any.

 

Either way, Relict, you're blue is baller - though I think it looks a bit too much like your World Eaters, the little there is on them :P Maybe glaze it with some Guillimans blue if you haven't already to make it richer if you haven't already? Might also be a combination of my monitor and your picture.

Looks like you have set your self a great challenge here brother..

 

I hope it all goes well and as usual look forward to seeing your painted minis and great fluff!

 

Will be keeping an eye on this thread for updates!

 

Was planning on ultras myself but could neved find a blue I was happy with..yours looks the biz though

 

Keep it up Relict

For the blue, I used the following:

 

Prime with Chaos Black 

Basecoat with Macragge Blue

Shade with Nuln Oil

Edge highlight with Calgar Blue

Wash with Drakenhof Nightshade

 

And here's a comparison of my UM blue versus the two versions of WE blue (the blue on the WE on the left was simply Kantor Blue washed with Drakenhof Nightshade/Nuln Oil/Lahmian Medium/water in a 25/25/25/25 ratio. The blue on the WE on the right was basecoated Kantor Blue and layered with Teclis Blue. Both sets of pauldrons were finally coated with Future floor polish to ease the decals in):

 

http://s10.postimg.org/juz7a4lft/Full_Size_Render_20.jpg

 

Here's a view of the back of the Praetor to show the edge highlighting:

 

http://s10.postimg.org/t1cwjo1ah/Full_Size_Render_21.jpg

 

I just did some finishing touches on the Praetor (brushed the pistol and vents with AK Interactive Engine Oil and brushed the gold with 'Ardcoat. The reasoning being that this is a Praetor - one would expect his armor to be kept in the best possible condition with minimal wear on the blue and polished gold. 

 

http://s10.postimg.org/5kl1kwfpl/Full_Size_Render_22.jpg

 

http://s10.postimg.org/hnqd8gqrt/Full_Size_Render_23.jpg

 

As for my Gehenna Gold being more gold than red... I have a tendency to shake my paint pot really hard to mix the paint before even pulling it from the pot (to thin with water). So that might have been why. 

 

Thoughts? 

  • 4 weeks later...

Here's my new tactical sergeant and some better photos of the praetor and legion champion. 

 

http://s22.postimg.org/4k2g3yn0x/Full_Size_Render_40.jpg

 

http://s22.postimg.org/m7k925wy9/Full_Size_Render_37.jpg

 

http://s22.postimg.org/j4jiyshzl/Full_Size_Render_38.jpg

 

http://s22.postimg.org/6alh5g4k1/Full_Size_Render_39.jpg

Oh believe me, that thought has crossed my mind many times. However, I think my boys are a little too bling'd up to be Night Lords. :P

 

I haven't been MIA so much as dealing with a career change. I don't know the lore of the Ultramarines as well as I do that of the World Eaters - hence the lack of fluff. I need Tempest to come out first. 

 

Glad you guys like them. Vexilla bearer and nuncio-vox operator are coming up next. Then hopefully I can get some decals on them to make them proper Ultramarines. 

Vexilla bearer and nuncio-vox operator now complete. I've also thrown into a glamor group shot of my five Ultramarines so far. :P

 

http://s29.postimg.org/m220tye2f/Full_Size_Render_41.jpg

 

http://s29.postimg.org/jna59ixtj/Full_Size_Render_42.jpg

 

http://s29.postimg.org/52t2ep2uv/Full_Size_Render_43.jpg

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