"Courage and Honour!" - Shadows over Pireaus - project log

[Astartes-ULTRA]

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/shadows%20over%20pireas%20copy%202400.jpg

 

        Shadows Over Pireaus  

 

 

---Opening Imperial Archive Ordo Xenos. Clearance level Indigo-Alpha--- Requesting Data-slate: DIAX 77253PJ3RR MF23---

 

---Access granted. Welcome back Inquisitor. Opening file designated: "Shadows over Pireaus"

 

--- M41 8898788755 Vox-corder recovered from marooned Agrippa class patrol vessel "Sanctus" intercepted by Imperator class transport vessel "Victorious" whilst passing through the Isin belt on routine transit orders-- Ordo Xenos agents notified -- Thought for the day "Faith in the Emperor is its own reward".

 

 

--- Beginning decryption--- ---Standby for data-burst---

 

 

++Commodore Haas, Helmsman Arconi reporting, We are almost clear of the Badab system. Our forward sensor sweep of the Isin belt is complete. Once we are successfully through we will attempt a warp jump to Phargos Hex. Nothing of significance detected. Just another fine day at sea, sir++

 

++That is good Helmsman except that we are in space. If that is all I will be retiring to my quarters, not to be disturbed at least until we reach the Pale Stars, this lauded mission of “great importance” is beginning to give me a browache++

 

---Command com-link disengaged--- ---Personnel com-link re-engaged---

 

++More empty space...++

 

++You're doing it again aren't you? Why can't you just get on with the job and stop pre-occupying your mind with irrelevant minutia?++

 

++That's easy for you to say, Torros. It is well known that Armsmen trade suggestive thinking for autoshells++

 

++It's just "space" Arconi++

 

++Torros, "space" by very definition is a vast, empty and darkened void. But to me navigating the stars is much more. On many occasions I've felt that it could be likened to being on a Fenrisian longboat floating on an immense and dark body of water, unable to see into it but always wondering if anything lies beneath the surface. If it notices you, if it's afraid of you, or if it's just waiting on that critical moment to reach out and pull you under. I've often wondered what could be out there, in the sea of stars and if it too was waiting for you to let your guard down so it could claim you for it’s own++

 

++Have you ever been to Fenris...?++

 

++Too cold for me, but I have been collecting edicts on the holy Primarchs, Lord Russ is terribly fascinating. Anyway I fear you're missing my point. You can always fight an enemy you can see... Its the ones that hide in the shadows that worry me++++

 

++I'm just saying you worry too much old friend, and that thinking in general could get you killed. Whether it be in front of the enemy or in front of the Commissar... Keep it to yourself for you own sake. Besides, I've patrolled this sector before and nothing bad happens in these parts. If it were up to me I'd be taking part in the Pireaus campaign instead of sitting here… purging xenos filth, sampling the locals snakebite brew, far more exciting. Also I hear that the warriors of the Ultramarines have made planetfall and are tearing those Hrud freaks to shreds, at this rate it'll be all over by the time we return++

 

++Well we can't be doing very well on our own if the Astartes are here. The Emperor truly protects us, thank Terra for the Ultramarines. But still I will feel much better once we rid ourselves of this so-called precious cargo, I don't see what so important about it. If it were that precious why are not being flanked by battleships. And why it is so secret, even the Commodore himself has been sworn to silence++

 

++That would probably be by order of the inquisition. I notice that annoying Inquisitor isn't among us, we are just ferrying his luggage around. Most of our fleet is fighting the enemy over Pireaus, we have escorts with us but time will tell, Arconi. Anyway, like I said we are in one of the dullest regions of the known galaxy. What could possibly...++

 

 

++PROXIMITY ALARM++  ++UNKNOWN VESSEL DETECTED ON SHIPS SENSORS++ ++ALERT SENIOR OFFICER IMMEDIATELY++

 

 

++This is Haas, Helmsman, report.++

 

++Arconi here, sir. Standby. The ships automated proximity sensors have activated and are picking up an unknown vessel that has just appeared in sensor range. 300meters off the starboard side++

 

++Unusual for this region of space. Threat assessment if you please?++

 

++Unknown vessel appeared without prior warning, likely originating from the belt. Initiating scan. No human lifesigns detected. Threat assessment minimal++

 

++Designation?++

 

++,Vessel identified as "Trojan". Imperial Arvus Lighter Shuttle. Records indicate this vessel is assigned to the 84th Liberation fleet under Admiral Brekker++

 

++The 84th? They went missing over a decade ago. Condition?++

 

++The shuttle appears to be have been destroyed, possibly by impacting asteroids from the Duktan Belt. The shuttle wreckage is in several pieces. Energy readings indicate that part of the shuttle containing the warp core is intact and somehow emitting energy. Recommended course of action, should we put it out of it's misery?++

 

++Brekker? I knew this man, very aloof even for an Admiral. Let it pass by. There's nothing we can do for her now++

 

++Understood. Performing evasive manoeuvres++

 

 

++PROXIMITY ALARM++ ++VESSEL HAS BREACHED MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE ++ RECOMMEND EVASIVE MANOEUVRES IMMEDIATELY++

 

 

++Helmsman, report++

 

++Commodore, the wreck appears to be matching our manoeuvres and moving closer... It’s no good, wreck has propulsion and is on a collision course... It’s going to ram us. I don't understand. Threat assessment was ”minimal”. Throne why is it doing that...++

 

++This is the Commodore. all hands, brace for impa.....<<static>>++

 

-- Explosion recorded. Bridge level--- <<KLAXONS WAINING>>

 

++BRIDGE MAIN POWER OFFLINE++ STANDBY FOR FULL SYSTEMS REBOOT++ COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTED++ ATTEMPT TO RE-ESTABLISH COMMS-LINK WITH BRIDGE UNSUCCESSFULL++ INITIATING AUTOMATED DISTRESS BEACON++

 

 

++Helmsman, Report++ - ++ Bridge this is Commodore Haas, can you hear me?++ - ++ Damage Control, what is our status?.++

 

++Commodore Haas this is Tech Adept Dio. Our internal sensors show that the bridges main systems including navigation and propulsion-guidance are offline and it is venting atmosphere. I have sealed off the entire deck to prevent further damage but we are dead in the water, Commodore++

 

++Yes I can hear the klaxons Adept. Effect repairs immediately. I want this ship moving again++

 

++Repairs are already underway, Commodore. However many of the machines spirits have been lost, it will take time to bless the ships systems and anoint them in accordance with the Machine God,++

 

++Understood, do what you can. And in the Emperors name turn off that infernal klaxon++

 

++Acknowledged, alarm protocols circumvented and I have redirected the ships internal communications to your secondary station, Commodore++

 

++Thank you Adept, perhaps now I can get to the bottom of thi...<<KLAXONS WAINING>>

 

++What the... Adept, I thought you said you disabled the proximity alarm?++

 

++I did, Commodore++

 

 

++SECURITY ALERT++ - ++XENOS LIFEFORMS DETECTED ABOARD++ - ++ ALL SECURITY PERSONEL PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR DESIGNATED ARMING STATIONS++ - ++POSSIBLE XENOS BOARDING ACTION IN PROGRESS++

 

 

++Adept, I thought that wreck had no life-signs aboard?!++

 

++No “human” life-signs, Commodore++

 

++Commodore Haas, this is Lieutenant Vesh, External scanners indicate that four more wrecks have been detected in our immediate vicinity and are closing in on our position fast. It's an ambush. sir. Also we appear to have been boarded.

 

++Boarded?! By what? Answer me damn you++

 

++Reports are coming in. Hrud! A great number of them… They must have used the "Trojan" to gain access to our ship. They’re all over the place. Emperor protect us++

 

++Hold your nerve Lieutenant! Or you will have more to worry about than those alien freaks++

 

++But sir, the Hrud never attack in this fashion. Why here, why now?++

 

++Questions are of little use now. Lieutenant. Action is required instead. Ready your men, we cannot allow them take the "Sanctus"++ - ++Adept, adjust the distress signal to execute a priority request order. Authori-code HAAS 832513312 ADEPTUS ASTARTES ULTRA++ - ++CARGO VALUE ABSOLUTE++

 

++Order sent, awaiting response++

 

---Communicae transmitted from Strike cruiser "Sword of Macragge" Ultramarines chapter intercepted by "Victorious"--- --- Decrypting...---

 

---Incoming message---

 

++Commodore Haas, this is Captain Titus of the Ultramarines. We have intercepted your distress beacon and have been monitoring all ensuing communications. Our strike cruiser "The Sword of Macragge" is en-route to assist you. Our estimated time of arrival is four hours. Hold out as long as you can, we are coming. Titus out++

 

++Using imperial space wrecks as boarding craft? These Hrud are devious creatures indeed, Captain. A tactic not unlike the fabled Trojan horse from ancient Terran texts++

 

++Indeed they are, Sidonus. Their guile and trickery may be effective on a regular man, but never on a Space Marine, and it shall not protect them from the righteous fury of the Ultramarines! Their cargo value cannot be understated, the entire Pireaus campaign depends on it reaching safety, it cannot fall into enemy hands. Ready the strike force, Brother Sergeant. We have a ship to save and a war to win!++

 

---Transmission ended---

 

 

Brothers,

 

For some time now I have lurked these boards and firstly let me just say I have seen some incredible work and outstanding creativity from all of you.  I’ve been into this hobby for about 18 years and over those years I’ve seen the quality of models rise (and in some cases fall) to new levels, with each new effort succeeding the former and all the time you guys are still pushing the envelope and challenging GW to do more and I salute you but now it’s my turn to try to wow you all with a project I am working on.

 

A quick word of warning first, a lot of my ideas fringe on the ostintaceous side, unconventional rules and all so I only ask for you to trust where I’m going with some of my ideas but of course c&c is welcome. I’ll try to explain my thought processes in detail as things go on so you can get a feel for where the inspiration came from and these where ideas are headed, one thing’s for sure this project has been very time-consuming but I wanted to take it slow and get take photos between stages and post a project log on the B&C.

 

Like most modellers I can be a little indecisive and have usually found it difficult to commit to one army/theme but regardless of what I’ve built and painted my first and only love has been the Adeptus Astartes. Many years ago after the birth of my first daughter I began collecting a company-sized force piece by piece, one boxed set at a time but because I couldn’t decide on a chapter I kept them unpainted until I had assembled my last model and then paint the lot. However this is when I discovered “true-scale” (Thanks Doghouse, Apologist, and the rest) and then it dawned on me.

 

I've always felt that Space Marine models were a bit out of scale with say Imperial Guard, especially when you refer to some of the awesome artwork, and then one at a time more issues started to gnaw at me: If these guys always fight in the roughest battles then why are they always so clean? Why do they seem like they are just standing, don’t they break through walls, jump overstuff and meleearound aiming their bolters, are they even shooting at anything or taking fire themselves? Where are their injuries and battle-wear, if they are being attacked then has no one ever landed a shot in them? Okay Ill admit that a lot of our hobby lends itself to the imagination and ill admit they are posed very heroically but for me Space Marines generally are quite statuesque so I decided to dismantle the lot then convert, true scale and kitbash the entire collection and throw in some special effects to really capture the essence of a Space Marine Force at work. Ill also be including some auxiliaries/crew alongside them. This is not meant to slight the work done by GW sculptors but a challenge for me to try and bring them to life.

 

As you can see from the above narrative my Ultramarines will be based on a battlefield that so far I have not seen done before (I could be wrong here) one place a Space Marine can excel at: In “space”. The main action taking place on the outside of the hull. Among low gravity environment I will be hoping to also show firepower, ricochets, osl, environmental impact damage, weathering, terrain damage, and much more.

 

I aim for this project to be my tribute to our awesome hobby, a thank you to all of you for inspiring me and by doing it I feel I can something to give back to the hobby and honour it's outstanding community.

 

Okay so with the project, here are some photos (I hope they upload okay) of the chopped and spaced. all will get greenstuffed.

 

 

Marine from Tactical squad 1 with cut to pieces and spaced with plasticard. I will likely be sculpting the arms from scratch.

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3698.jpg

 

Aside from the body parts here are most of the components for Tactical Squad 1. Note the use of vehicle heavy weapons and bolter variants

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3701.jpg

 

Here are my bolter variants. I wanted to give even the basic Ultramarine some individuality

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3705%20-%20Copy.jpg

 

Again aside from the main body parts, here are the components for Tactical Squad 2.

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3706%20-%20Copy.jpg

 

Here's a close up shot of the weaponry

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3709.jpg

 

Here are a couple of pre-greenstuff Armsmen/PDF. I used Fire warriors as a bas because of size and poses

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3711.jpg

 

Here are a couple more humans pre-greenstuff

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3713.jpg

 

Here is a close up shot of the custom weaponry for my human element. converted autoguns and sniper rifles

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3715.jpg

 

What do you guys think so far? Like I said it may seem a bit strange and arduous but well worth it in the end.

 

 

EDIT: Please excuse the white boxing I copy pasted from an earlier writeup and Moderators if the pics are too large I applogise, I will re-size if neccessary

[Acez]

Hey looking good.  I'm excited to see how your going to do the arms.  I recently did some "true scale" marines in a similar manner to yours and the arms didn't seem to be a problem the way they were, but I bet the would like a little small.  Maybe another space in the bicep would be suffice?  

 

I like your humans.  Tau bodies are a good idea as they looks pretty decently armoured compared to regular guardsmen.  just don't forget the hooved foot!   

[HighGothic]

I like the pdf, those autoguns look great. Are there going to be more humans cos those are really well done.

[Astartes-ULTRA]

Acez,

The arms as they are aren't really a problem but along with spacing the body components out I do intend to cover them in some modelling putty to bulk-up the armour. You see when I tried this last time the armour looked awesome but the arms looked a little T-Rex-ish so this time I intend to perhaps sculpt them or modify the existing ones, I'll try both and see which way looks best.

Thanks, yeah Tau bodies are really nicely posed with their legs and shooting arms in particular. And their weapons are slim enough to make Boltguns look menacingly big, especially the bigger ones I have planned. There'll all going to get major green stuff treatment, once I'm done you wont even think they were fire warrior parts. I'll try to find a pic of the look I'm going for but don't worry I did notice the hooves and they will be booted over.

HighGothic,

Thanks man, I'm glad you like them. a bit different from the usual Imperial Guard bits. I wanted autoguns mainly because A: Despite being a common slug weapon they're not a very sight common on the battlefield. B: It an easier weapon to create weapon effects from and C: I used to be big into Necromunda and I loved my auto-weapons (very 20th century).

Yes there are I have only just begun taking pictures of what I've been doing all this time but in reality I am very far ahead. So far for the pdf/armsmen attachment I have 1 x 10 man squad, 1 x 5 man sniper squad, 3 x heavy weapon teams, a commissar/psyker/whatever I eventually decide for him and a Sentinel. Photos of these will be posted once I've eventually taken them so watch this space

[HighGothic]

Awesome! I will keep an eye out. I thought they looked suspiciously Necromundan

[Astartes-ULTRA]

Okay, I stuck on a choice of looks for the Armsmen. I love these as they are very old school 40k

 

Should I go for option A: 

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/bjkhbljbh.jpg

 

Or Option B:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/images0P30BRK5.jpg

 

Both are very similar the main difference being the headgear. It looks to me like option B is more geared toward EVA, whereas A looks a bit more pilot-ish...

 

What do you guys think? A, B  or neither?

[Astartes-ULTRA]

Just finished the first puttying stage. This is how I am bulking out my armour by adding a layer of milliput, smoothing it and carving it to match the shape of the original piece. the detail and other stuff will be done using greenstuff. See what you think>

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3734.jpg

 

The torso:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3761.jpg

 

Left leg:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3758.jpg

 

Right leg:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3755.jpg

 

Head:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3766.jpg

 

Groin:

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3750.jpg

 

Sidearm: I'm going for a sort of magnetic holster/cradle

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3752.jpg

 

Here are the components for the Assault squad all spaced up ready for bulking out

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3769.jpg

 

Here is a close up photo of the weaponry. Note the unique bolt pistol/plasma pistol and plasmagun

 

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/dienekes81/IMG_3770.jpg