Sons of Horus XVI Legion

[Styles]

I have always wanted a Horus Heresy army, specifically a Sons of Horus army way before such a thing was able to be a reality. I was excited when Forgeworld started doing Heresy models  and bought Horus when he was released. But since then due to commitments with other game systems he has just been unopened in a box with no troops to lead. But with the release of Betray at Calth I thought I would finally take the plunge and start my Sons of Horus.

 

Looking around on the web I was surprised they do not seem as popular as I expected them to be, especially are arguably the main driving force of the Heresy as they are Horus Legion. Also being one of the first Legions with rules and models I expected more SoH armies. But maybe due to their rules not being as powerful as some of the other Legions, especially the later released Legions, that may be a contributing factor. But their updates in the Retribution book and planned update in the main Legion Crusader Army book should help in this factor. Putting the SoH on a better power level which befits them.

 

Something that has put me off starting my army is their colour scheme. Forgeworld had a guide which had the base colour being 4 colours mixed together, which as I am just a basic painter was not what I was wanting. Every army online also seems to be a different shade with no two the same, unlike many of the other Legions which are far more straight forward. I finally saw that Forgeworld have released some spray paints that suit the SoH, so I got some of these to just use to paint with and helped me decide to start the army.

 

I have bought two box sets of Betray at Calth as the base for my army. This thread is my first and is to try and inspire me to carry on as I am bad for starting then losing interest. My army will mainly be used for playing fun games of 30K, so I am not that worried about only having the most powerful units or how well they are painted.

 

Most armies online seem to be quite different than the SoH colour scheme used in the Horus Heresy books. I have tried to stay as close to that scheme as I could while keeping it simple. So below are my first attempt at some Tactical marines, which should end up as 20 marines once I get the unit finished, but for a break I plan to do a dreadnought before I slog through more marines. 

 

[Styles]

[Rangaman]

Nice start bud, looking very good!

[Reyner]

That green is excellent is that done with the new FW stuff?

[Petitioner's City]

I wonder if another reason people don't play them is that basically after the Heresy they are destroyed & mostly dead. Or they are confused with the Black Legion even though the SoH aren't the Black Legion, despite certain website's pretences that they are. But in either case, it's hard to create empathetic continuity with something which is either gone or perceived as something far different. Also they are the 'losers' of the Heresy as much as the Legion Wars...maybe this is why?

[Styles]

That green is excellent is that done with the new FW stuff?

 

All the painting guides online seemed far to complicated and time consuming for me. As I mentioned the Sons of Horus are not the easiest to do due to not having a straight forward base colour, which put me off till I saw that Forgeworld now had some Sons of Horus airbrush paints (even though I do not have a airbrush).

 

I just sprayed the models black, then undercoated them by hand with the Sons of Horus green airbrush paint from Forgeworld, then wash of coelia greensade, then painted again with the Sons of Horus Green and highlighted with the vallejo USMC Tank Green.

 

As the Sons of Horus green is for airbrushes it is not as thick as normal paints so I find I need to go over some parts multiple times to get a good cover which can be time consuming. But pleased with how it ends up as holding a model against the drawn examples in the Heresy rule books it is the same shade of sea green. I find many armies online seem to be a lot lighter than what it shown in the books.  

[Brother Pheidias]

First up, gorgeous green meanies.

Second, I think I've noticed a tendency to some Legions being more fashionable than others over time and space (forums). For a while, all I saw was Sons of Horus, queries about how to achieve a nice sea-green and so on. Then, Night Lords, World Eaters, Emperors Children, Iron Hands, Iron Warriors, Imperial Fists... I think there's a tendency to be inspired and feed off one anothers' efforts, which means certain legions are featured more prominently for a while. There's a lot of great SoH out there (Sheep and PrinceTyTy on Warseer, maybe here too, spring to mind...), you just have to look a bit.

Edit: Here's Sheeps' SoH from over on the Ammobunker

[norngahl]

First of all, nice models.

 

Second, I guess SoH are not unpopular, but other legions are just more popular, because they have a stronger theme.

 

SoH are the bad guys with spikes. Jay. Bad boys.

 

WE are mad and highly agressive butchers and gladiators, EC are the noble/royal, arrogant and shiny guys with a elfish touch, DG are the dirty chem guys with ww1 trench warfare feel, NL are pure 80s comic/heavy metal touch, WB are the daemon summoning satanists and unholy priests, IW are the metal mechanics with big artillery like dwarfs, AL are the spion and double agent guys with a greek touch and thousand sons are egypt sorcerers..

 

And SoH.. are just the ones with spikes. I sometimes feel that they lack identity compared to other legions. They are the classic bad guys without edges. Maybe it's this.

 

Guess it's more about identity rather than colours and the fact that they are a legion that mostly vanished in 40k.

[Calas Typhon]

Nice looking marines, I am not really a fan of the colour of USMC but I think you have done it well.

 

What golds did you use?

 

First of all, nice models.

Second, I guess SoH are not unpopular, but other legions are just more popular, because they have a stronger theme.

SoH are the bad guys with spikes. Jay. Bad boys.

WE are mad and highly agressive butchers and gladiators, EC are the noble/royal, arrogant and shiny guys with a elfish touch, DG are the dirty chem guys with ww1 trench warfare feel, NL are pure 80s comic/heavy metal touch, WB are the daemon summoning satanists and unholy priests, IW are the metal mechanics with big artillery like dwarfs, AL are the spion and double agent guys with a greek touch and thousand sons are egypt sorcerers..

And SoH.. are just the ones with spikes. I sometimes feel that they lack identity compared to other legions. They are the classic bad guys without edges. Maybe it's this.

Guess it's more about identity rather than colours and the fact that they are a legion that mostly vanished in 40k.

 

Honestly, I don't see it, I and a few others I have heard speak about them on forums quite like them.

 

Rather than the spiky guys, they are more of the arrogant, aggressive, tribe/gang sink legion. Not Night Lords esc, but somewhere in the middle of World Eater and Death Guard, only with lots of spikes! I think they are very popular, in fact there is no doubt that they are quite well loved, especially considering the Primarch is Horus. I think the problem is, as far as I was aware, there were better legions to play on the tabletop (I never really played so can't really confirm this) and the scheme was a bit of a pain to get an authentic colour where other legions were easier and faster to paint, that and in the fluff, they are dropped for more single focused Legions.

 

Other Legions have specific points to focus on such as the Iron Warriors being the fortification, defense and siege masters along with the Imperial Fists, then we have the Death Guard who are the masters of heavy infantry, able to pass through any objective and put up stubborn resistance and focus on attrition. The Sons seem to fit into a flexible force which focus more on high aggression and exploiting weakness which gets eclipsed by the Blood Angels and World Eaters.

[Styles]

Nice looking marines, I am not really a fan of the colour of USMC but I think you have done it well.

 

What golds did you use?

 

First of all, nice models.

 

Second, I guess SoH are not unpopular, but other legions are just more popular, because they have a stronger theme.

 

SoH are the bad guys with spikes. Jay. Bad boys.

 

WE are mad and highly agressive butchers and gladiators, EC are the noble/royal, arrogant and shiny guys with a elfish touch, DG are the dirty chem guys with ww1 trench warfare feel, NL are pure 80s comic/heavy metal touch, WB are the daemon summoning satanists and unholy priests, IW are the metal mechanics with big artillery like dwarfs, AL are the spion and double agent guys with a greek touch and thousand sons are egypt sorcerers..

 

And SoH.. are just the ones with spikes. I sometimes feel that they lack identity compared to other legions. They are the classic bad guys without edges. Maybe it's this.

 

Guess it's more about identity rather than colours and the fact that they are a legion that mostly vanished in 40k.

 

Honestly, I don't see it, I and a few others I have heard speak about them on forums quite like them.

 

Rather than the spiky guys, they are more of the arrogant, aggressive, tribe/gang sink legion. Not Night Lords esc, but somewhere in the middle of World Eater and Death Guard, only with lots of spikes! I think they are very popular, in fact there is no doubt that they are quite well loved, especially considering the Primarch is Horus. I think the problem is, as far as I was aware, there were better legions to play on the tabletop (I never really played so can't really confirm this) and the scheme was a bit of a pain to get an authentic colour where other legions were easier and faster to paint, that and in the fluff, they are dropped for more single focused Legions.

 

Other Legions have specific points to focus on such as the Iron Warriors being the fortification, defense and siege masters along with the Imperial Fists, then we have the Death Guard who are the masters of heavy infantry, able to pass through any objective and put up stubborn resistance and focus on attrition. The Sons seem to fit into a flexible force which focus more on high aggression and exploiting weakness which gets eclipsed by the Blood Angels and World Eaters.

 

Thanks, the gold is just Runelord Brass highlighted on black, very simple and it actually looks better as a gold than using a gold paint. 

 

I agree with what you say about rules for the tabletop as the SoH were very lackluster rule wise compared to some other Legions like Imperial Fists or Iron Hands, but at least Forgeworld have tried to address this with the new books having updated rules and rite of war.

 

I like the new rite of war: The Long March rule wise and also how also fluff wise how it tries to show them having the best equipment as they are Horus Legion and the first among equals. I will be using this rite as the base for my army.

 

I always looked at the SoH being a bit like the wolf aspect of their origin, a well trained close bonded pack lead by a strong alpha who can take down any enemy and can rip your throat out. The gang aspect of their origin is also like wolves. They are an aggressive Legion who are best attacking up close in a large pack.

[Styles]

"The Apothecary Charon surveyed the wreck of the smoldering mastodon, the battle had been over for hours but his sea green armour was still blackened from the fierce fighting trying to recover his Sons of Horus brothers gene seed. He wondered what hellish weaponry the enemy had used that had been able to fell a mighty mastodon. He turned to leave this place of death when the corner of his eye picked up a slight image of movement among the twisted wreckage. A brother still lived! He rushed to the burnt out vehicle and gazed on a body if it could still be called that, legs and an arm were missing, but still it clung onto life with a burnt arm that reached out towards him and then fell limp.... He would live again"

 

 

 

 

Finally I have done my Betrayal at Calth Contemptor Dreadnought. I found the model quite static, would have rather its legs had been in a walking gait or something that gave it more movment. First time I have tried magnetizing a model as wanted the option of the mult-melta or assault cannon.

 

Have glued and undercoated some more tactical marines for my original tactical unit as I want it 20 strong, so I have the option of a big unit if I want. So better get on with them before I do something more interesting such as terminators.

[Jerichus]

Nice work!

 

I like the choice of a lighter green on the SoH; it really contrasts nicely with the black.

 

Can't wait to see where you take the force!

[The Pounder]

These are coming along nicely, a very good job.

Again that green is lovely!

[Styles]

Every Sons of Horus army I have seen online seems to have a different shade of green. I tried to get the colour of green I used to correspond with the shade used for the drawings in the Horus Heresy books as closely as I could. Cool seeing all the different shades people have gone for, I find it a difficult colour to paint, so it seems to take me ages to do.

[depthcharge12]

Every Sons of Horus army I have seen online seems to have a different shade of green. I tried to get the colour of green I used to correspond with the shade used for the drawings in the Horus Heresy books as closely as I could. Cools seeing all the different shades people have gone for, I find it a difficult colour to paint, so it seems to take me ages to do.

I almost named mine "50 shades of green" :P

 

Great start OP!

[Styles]

It has taken me ages as I have got distracted by other projects, but finally finished my 20 Sons of Horus Tactical Marines.

 

 

 

 

 

I was not sure what to put on the marines right shoulders, did think of some free hand gang type symbol, but saw the Forge World have new Sons of Horus decals. So have ordered a sheet and plan to put the legions number XVI on all of them and that will be the final touch.

 

I have now glued and undercoated the terminators from the Betrayal at Calth box set. I have also magnetized all the arms, so I can easily change the weapon load outs without having to buy more models. So will try to make a start on them as soon as I can.

[Lord Blackwood]

looking fantastic  D:   that sea green is legit 

[Sandlemad]

Very nice, your use of black elements on the pads and dread chassis is great.

[apologist]

Looking good; and it's great to see more of the Warmaster's own. They're such a central part of the mythos, I'm always pleased when someone does a nice neat job of them as you have. :)

What's next?

[Styles]

Looking good; and it's great to see more of the Warmaster's own. They're such a central part of the mythos, I'm always pleased when someone does a nice neat job of them as you have.

What's next?

I plan to do the Betrayal at Calth Terminators, then 10 of the old metal chaos raptors to use as Reavers with jump packs (as its a huge saving on buying them), then maybe some command models or a rhino. I do have quite a few models now I have bought from Forge World and ebay (including Horus), so i have plenty more to do after that. Will post as i get through them, just hope I get them done faster than it took me for my full tactical squad.

[Styles]

I like to do complete one model first for any unit I am doing so I can use it as a guide for the colour scheme of the rest of the unit when I do them in a batch. I have finished my first Terminator, was far more fun than the Tactical Marines. I have raised up the shoulder pads on my terminators as I think it makes them look more bulky and intimidating and also helps make it easier for the magnetized arms. I am still to paint his base.

 

 

 

[Brother Pheidias]

Great SoH's, and the Terminator looks beastly, even with such a minor modification.

[Major_Gilbear]

Lovely work!

 

And, for what it's worth, I agree with your general thoughts - fewer and more varied SoH out there than I expected too. I too think that complicated colour and moderate special units/rules are two big reasons for this.

 

Anyway, we'll see what happens with them. Looking forward to seeing more of your work! :)

[Styles]

Lovely work!

And, for what it's worth, I agree with your general thoughts - fewer and more varied SoH out there than I expected too. I too think that complicated colour and moderate special units/rules are two big reasons for this.

Anyway, we'll see what happens with them. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

Yes it is a shame that the Sons of Horus have fallen out of favor for the reasons you say and i do have to admit sometimes when I am painting them I wish I had gone for a Legion with an easier colour scheme as it is not quick or easy to do. But I like that it is an unusual colour and it does look good. The addition of the Death Dealer rule has helped the Sons a bit, but they are still not as good as a lot of legions, but I dont mind that as I play just for fun.

Still to do my terminators, hopefully this week. Also got the new Forge World decals sheet so plan to use that on my existing Tactical Marines shoulder pads. Thanks for the encouragement.