Pyroclast91's Forge = Salamanders Primaris and Death Guard

[Pyroclast91]

There's a strong possibility I've decided to take on more projects at one time than I should have. But I like to have options as to what I'm going to work on at any given time.

 

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I think I may have finally come up with a decent technique for making scales.

 

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I made a couple tiny press moulds of the scales on the contemptor.

 

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You only really need one as you can rotate it and very your pressure to get different sizes and shapes of scales.I also did some work on the Leviathan cc arm. I added a couple cut down inferno pistols

 

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I decided the tiny little nub of a melta in the middle of the hand just wasn't doing it for me, and I imagined it probably wouldn't be for any salamanders artificer.

 

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I got started on the bionics on one of the fists I'm doing for the expansion as well.

 

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And I started sculpting on a shield for the levi. And last but not least I found the greatest way in the whole world to paint gold.

 

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Ok maybe not the whole world but I think it looks pretty good for being done with a paint marker.upload photo

 

I'm excited to try the silver one. The best part is I got these for $4 at the grocery store by my house. Always gotta be on the lookout for things for the models lol.I didn't get much done on my knight as I don't have the books and I'm now a little stuck since battlescribe is saying the crusader can't take the avenger and the battle cannon which is how I have started to build it. :( does anybody know if this is correct? Or if battlescribe is just doing what it does. I'd love to hear your thoughts thanks for checking out my work.

Edited August 27, 2016 by Pyroclast91

[Vairocanum]

Wow everythings coming along great! For bionics chainsword/chainaxe parts can look pretty decent.

[Pyroclast91]

Thanks Vairocanum That's not a bad idea might have to give that a shot on the next one.

[Pyroclast91]

Is it just me or when you're working on a project with a lot of GS does it seem like even when you sink hours into it your getting nowhere fast? Or is it because I found attack on titan on Netflix? The jury's out on that one but anyways it's weekend update time. :D

 

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Almost makes me feel like I didn't do enough to Ra'gar. But I did want him to look like a fresh out the forge Leviathan as where this fella he's one of the first Leviathans. One who's been worked on by Vulkan himself as denoted by his sigil on the sarcophagus.

 

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So far I'm really happy with how the scales are turning out I tried using the technique I saw on Atias thread http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291212-atias-horus-heresy-thread-gal-vorbak-wip/ (Which I borrowed many an idea from actually ;) ) unfortunately her hands are far more skilled than mine and the individual scale thing didn't pan out. So I made press molds of sections of scales on the FW Salamanders Contemptor, and Vulkans cape. After a little hand blending where the sections of molded GS meet I think it's looking pretty damn decent if I do say so myself.

 

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I also managed to put a layer of white over the primer, and blocked out the metal with my fancy silver pen.

 

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Verdict is..... It's way too light a silver but it goes on amazingly smooth. However because of the consistency I'm assuming is required for the pen to function it's also a little sloppy. But both things can be easily fixed. So I'm not quite as happy as I was with the gold but it's still handy to have in the tool box. After that little experiment my vow for the fists expansion got a little helmet action.

 

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They'll get paint some time soon maybe :D so many projects and only 24 hours in each day. Thanks for checking out my work I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you may have.

[Pyroclast91]

Been busy slaving away over a hot forge all day getting all the minor odds and ends before I can get paint on these bad boys. My current workspace looks like>>>>

 

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I have a real skill for taking on more projects than I have space for. Probably why I have so many makeshift work surfaces I suppose. Anywho let's break that down

 

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Leviathan number two is coming along quite nicely I'm really happy with my drake hides and the other embellishments. You may be asking yourself wait phosphex? Salamanders don't use phosphex? And in that your correct but I'm going to magnetize it and in the event I feel like arguing that the Leviathan Dreadnought was designed by the emperor himself with the phospex, so they didn't take it off. Or argue that it's after Istvaan and the salamanders will use anything that will kill a traitor. I can throw it on and be that guy :D.

 

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I also did some work on my bases anyone who can guess the parent legion of this unfortunate terminator gets an imaginary cookie.

 

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Didn't do much on the contemptor since it's mostly ready for paint but I did find a suitable severed head for his base.

 

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I also mainly did the bases for these guys lots of basing today but a good model is lame without a good base. I also found perfect shoulder pads for these fellows. That spiky one used to be a blood angels pad little bit of 120 grit and bam WORLD EATERS.

 

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These guys saw the only real brush time with three coats of thinned down averland sunset. Overall everything is moving along I probably would have gotten more done but I spent a good four hours trying to figure out a list and secure my spot in the tale of hobbyests which I did thanks to great deal of help from The Psycho who in the end basically wrote my list for me :D But that means more projects for the forge and I'm always excited for that.maybe by the end of this since I'll have a fully painted playable list I'll see what actually playing a game is like ;) thanks for checking out my work any C&C is always appreciated.

[our_baz]

You really are keeping yourself busy. Your scales are darn impressive, what did you use for the moulds/how did you make them?

[Pyroclast91]

Thanks Baz I'm glad you like em it was definitely a trial and error process but. I basically took four pieces of GS rolled into balls a little bigger than a standard marine helmet , take those and find some suitable scales from one of the FW models I made two off of the contemptors legs and two off of vulkan kesares matle has more than enough different scale patterns you could just use it. Then once those were cured and peeled off I mixed up gs and laid out some sausages about the dimensions of a marines arm. And start pressing your molds into them playing around to get the pattern you like. Then once it dries repeat the process rite on the edge of the first scales so you get some overlap. You can then blend these scales with the originals. Once you have the amount of scales you want, apply another sausage to the top and sculpt on a flap of "hide" this last step is pure preference you'll notice they don't do it on the fw contemptor. I hope this helps I can try my hand at making a proper tutorial later if you'd like?

[Pyroclast91]

It's been a bit longer than normal since my last update but it's been a crazy hectic week I should be back to my normal routine soon. I did make some progress however.

 

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I went on a drybrushing rampage.

 

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Then I did some final dry fitting and decided I didn't like the meltas I had attached to the claw. They were removed and I'm sculpting flames to cover where I sanded off details.

 

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Contemptor 2 still needs a name and some fluff but he's ready for paint. I think I have far too much fun making corpses but I'm really happy with this guy I wanted to make it look like he'd taken close range conversion beamer shot to the chest which burned through his armour and part of is fused rib cage. How do you think I did?

 

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I also got a little work done on my knight. I decided on the Leviathan that when Vulkan works on a warmachine he brands it with his sigil the one in the middle of his chest plate. I thought it would be fluffy and a good way to tie my force together.

 

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I also decided I'm going to magnetize the beamer arm on the contemptor so I can swap it for the assault cannon I had laying around.

 

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Then I decided I didn't have nearly enough side projects so I figured hey I'll build Nikona Sharowkin.

 

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And in between all of that I tore apart my cataphractii squad for the tale of hobbyists.

 

 

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Oooh I almost forgot I also did a little work on my fists for the expansion. There rhino got a little fancier, and the first two got some black paint

 

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So overall I suppose I have gotten a lot done just not on any single project. DAMN YOU ADD!!! What was I saying? Oh yeah Anywho hopefully I'll get on to the actual painting this week when things mellow out. Any C&C is always appreciated.

[Pyroclast91]

What with all the projects I've taken on I didn't realize how close the IF Expansion deadline was. So I got cracking on my yellow legionaires. I realized I misplaced (lost) the only dozer blade I had so I'm gonna whip something up for that tomorrow but I did manage to wrangle the wrest of the pieces I'll need for the rhino from the maelstrom that is my bits boxes.

 

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I'm pretty happy with how these guys are turning out and I think this shattered legion force I'm working on is gonna look pretty epic on the table if I ever manage to actually play a game with it.

[DuskRaider]

I'll go out on a limb and say the crushed Cataphractii is Death Guard... only fair I guess, considering my Contemptor is carrying his favorite ragdoll of the XVIIIth.

 

Excellent green stuff work, I love watching this army come together!

[Pyroclast91]

Thanks DuskRaider I'm glad you like where I'm going with the force . The shattered legion route is like a dream come true for someone as indecisive as myself. As for the corpse you're on the money sir he was at first going to be a Night Lord but I thought a DG would stand out against the base better and it's fluffy so today's virtual cookie goes to you brother.

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[Pyroclast91]

Been a busy day working on the fists and world eaters.

 

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Finally got some work done on these guys.

 

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And I also got around some metallic and the bolter casings for the fists. I'm pretty happy with them so far.

 

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This guy with the re-breather is my favorite out of the heavy bolter legionaires. For some reason he just screams I'm a badass.

 

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Overall the group is coming along quite nicely I think I'd love to hear any thoughts you may have.

[Vairocanum]

Looking good, I really like the heavy bolter guy.

[Pyroclast91]

Thanks Vairocanum I think he's gonna have to get some fluff of his own since he's turning out so well.

[Pyroclast91]

Getting down to the tedious detail work now well... Besides the places I keep deciding I need another super thin layer of yellow after reading the tutorials everyone in the expansion banter thread pointed me to, the whole concept of painting in layers thing kinda came together. Then I figured out what lahmian medium is for and hot damn we were off to the races. Anywho I'm actually really enjoying this little break I've taken from my usual green routine and I've decided that as a bit of a side project to keep my sanity during the tale of 20 hobbyists. I think I'm gonna do my own mini March of the Legions. At least I think that's what it was called? Anywho since I'll be painting am entirely XVIIIth legion force I'm gonna build and paint a character from each of the other legions. Any suggestions for these characters would be awesome I want to do characters that don't have official models but are already fleshed out in the horus heresy. Either traitor or loyalist so any ideas would be greatly appreciated there. On to the pics>>>>

 

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Thanks for checking out my work any C&C is always greatly appreciated

[Pyroclast91]

Finish building and converting Veteran Tactical squad and Cataphractii Terminators for TOTH

 

Unfortunately thus far this month has been incredibly hectic and stressful for my little family with the combination of sick kids and my old lady starting a new job I haven't had a ton of time or funds to put towards my models. However after this month things should stabilize and my better half will actually be making quite a bit more than she was previously. Any of you with a family know that translates into good news for my hobby shenanigans.

 

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I've managed to get a jump start on the models I already have for the tale of 20 hobbyists. Cleaning up Vulkan and getting cracking on the conversion work on the rest. I can't explain how excited I am to be on the crew for this event I wasn't anticipating being in league with so many of what in my opinion are some of the more veteran frater some of whom I've taken inspiration from for years now. It should definitely be interesting and I can't wait to see the army's everyone comes up with.

 

This brings me to my next point I secured my position in the roster by virtue of not having a life and being in the rite thread at the rite time. After that the choice to do Salamanders was an obvious one since I was staring at my brand new Vulkan model. With some help brother "The Psycho" a rough draft of my list was born but thematically I was still without a paddle. So I did what any modeller in need of inspiration does I started browsing our beloved forum.

 

Inspiration finally struck while I was looking at Frater Sorics Red Marked. I started thinking to myself ya know I bet every legion has there own version of the red marked. They've got to have something to do with the legionaires who aren't quite poster boys for the legion. So I know it's not super original but I've yet to see the idea done with the XVIIIth legion and I think it'll give me some great conversion opportunities. As well as the opportunity to explore a darker side of the salamanders. 

 

So without further ado I've thrown together a very very rough draft of my concept for the army. If you have any suggestions criticism or critique it would be greatly appreciated the names and designations for the force are not set in stone it's all still very fluid as there's some things I'm not positive on. For instance how is the XVIII broken up after Istvaan ie chapters,batallions,platoons?

 

 

The 357th was one of three forces of the salamanders legion to maintain battalion strength after the Istvaan atrocity. Over 100 veteran Astartes of the original 150 that fought on Istvaan survived the black sands. Given the survival rates across the three legions that were butchered there this is an impressive number indeed. The Ash Vipers themselves are a darker more cynical breed of the XVIIIth many of whom earned there place in the battalion through censure, others through the decimation of there former units. In the short the Ash Vipers were the Legions misfits and it was no great honour to be counted amongst there ranks. Perhaps this cynicism is what helped them survive where so many others fell. During the great crusade the Ash Vipers earned a great many Battle honors and were noted for there ruthlessness and single minded fury. The battalion was typically reserved for the most suicidal engagements the legion was called to aid in. However what would have been suicidal even for the Legions Astartes was just the usual for the Ash Vipers.

 

The Ash Vipers are led by the "Gjuetar" which is an ancient Terran word meaning headsman or hunter. Once a legionaire takes on the mantle of the Gjuetar he his stripped of all previous titles and honours. A tradition adopted from one of the Nomadic Techno Barbarian clans of pre unification terra. This and many of the Ash Vipers Customs are considered distasteful by the rest of the legion, however the Lord of Drakes tolerates them as being ever the pragmatist Vulkan understands how powerful a tool the Vipers can be.

 

Many have described the Vipers way of war as that more akin to the XIIth legion than the XVIIIth. They have always favoured brutal lightning raids striking and pouring everything they have into the enemy before fading away much like the creature from which they are named. Only to reappear and strike again where the enemies defenses are weakest. Boarding, and Zone Mortalis actions are also specialties of the Ash Viper. The battalion places a heavy emphasis on Volkite weaponry believing that it is the purest form of cleansing fire. As well as the most versatile weapon in the Legions arsenal. The Ash Vipers also have an irregularly high number of Dreadnoughts which many consider a testament to the vipers tenacity and unwillingness to die.

 

 

I would really love to hear what you think even if you think it's crap. I'm still just unsure of my direction but I hope you like it thanks for stopping by I'll try to swing the text to picture ratio back the other way soon.

[bluntblade]

Perhaps, rather than making them something the Legion holds at arm's length, have them view their way of warfare as an extension of that humane approach (the previous version works, but you could say Vulkan adapted it to the Legion's culture). By disabling and frightening the enemy, they avert more serious casualties for both sides later on. Or at least that's how they present themselves...

 

Perhaps recon squads would fit them better than tons of Dreadnoughts, as I always thought those were well-represented to begin with and sharpshooters may fit the strike and fade ethos better.

 

Edit: I missed the Red Marked reference, so my initial contribution might be totally irrelevant.

Edited September 15, 2016 by bluntblade

[Pyroclast91]

Perhaps, rather than making them something the Legion holds at arm's length, have them view their way of warfare as an extension of that humane approach (the previous version works, but you could say Vulkan adapted it to the Legion's culture). By disabling and frightening the enemy, they avert more serious casualties for both sides later on. Or at least that's how they present themselves...

Perhaps recon squads would fit them better than tons of Dreadnoughts, as I always thought those were well-represented to begin with and sharpshooters may fit the strike and fade ethos better.

Edit: I missed the Red Marked reference, so my initial contribution might be totally irrelevant.

That's actually brilliant I hadn't thought too look at it that way perhaps like you said instead of being something the legion keeps at arms length perhaps though they would never admit such a thing Vulkan picked up an idea or two from his brother Curze. maybe after fighting along side the night lords Vulkan seeing the merit in the terror squads scaring a populace into surrender decided to create something similar.

[bluntblade]

Maybe not terror as such. Like, intimidating enemy troops but not going for civilians. Their existence could be a mark of Vulkan's respect for Corax and his methods having been appalled by Curze; perhaps they are a unit which was being developed at the time of Isstvan, but was largely abandoned with the losses suffered by the Legion.

[Pyroclast91]

you have a point there the more I thought about the night lords thing the more it didn't sit rite especially with all the torturing Curze did to Vulkan. I can't see him going that route the Corax things good though. Since both are alive post Istvaan I could always say Corax even helped Vulkan come up with Vipers. It would totally make sense I the aftermath of this massive betrayal and I the face of a new enemy. These two generals would likely meet to come up with a way to face the threat especially since they have the bond of both being betrayed on Istvaan. So to counter that threat a "counter traitor" task force? The soul purpose of which being to damage the traitors operations by any and all means necessary. No tactic, strategy, or weapon that might once have been seen as inhumane will be overlooked. The force consists entirely of Istvaan survivors and is outfitted with the best wargear the legion artificers can provide. Though many of the legionaires have crafted there gear themselves. I'm still probably gonna run Dreadnought heavy 1. because there would be lots of near mortally wounded legionaires from Istvaan. 2. I freaking love dreadnoughts. However I do like the idea of using units like seekers

[bluntblade]

I don't know how feasible it is for many of them to be recovered, though. Was also under the impression that this unit existed before the Heresy, rather than forming post-Isstvan, so I might've had the wrong image of them Edited September 16, 2016 by bluntblade

[Pyroclast91]

That's what I was thinking originally too like I said it's all still very fluid and in what I'd call the brain storming process. Right now the main issue I'm having is narrowing down which ideas I want to use and how to make a believable fluffy list out of all of it. I do really appreciate your brain storming with me though brother your input is greatly appreciated

[bluntblade]

No worries, I like the idea. Not many people seem to use Salamanders as anything other than slow and steady, so I'm keen to see how this ends up

[Pyroclast91]

That's kinda what I was thinking too I'm glad it's not just me. The salamanders have been my favorite legion for as long as I can remember in both 30k and 40k. So after about a decade of reading and absorbing everything I can find on them. So it seemed the natural progression of things to figure out a way to make a force that differed from those I've seen before. So basically the only things that I decided I really wanted from this force was 1. post Istvaan 2. all veteran akin to the Firedrakes of 40k everyone knows how to fight in tda but some choose not too for mobility and stealth 3. I want to explore a darker side of the legion that for so long has been "the only real good guys in 40k" not quite to the extent of being chaosish by any means but more to show that sometimes even the most upright "Good guys" sometimes resort to fighting fire with fire I'm war against evil. 4. I want to explore maybe some of the more tribal and nomadic part of the XVIII that maybe they've inherited from there home world this idea struck me and made me think of the Carcharadons which are one of my other favorite chapters. I guess maybe I should have specified that before for clarity. After a good night's sleep I think I've come up with semi decent version still all fluid but here's mkIII

 

The ash vipers have been around since Vulkans return to the legion acting much like the " Red Marked" or the Iron Hands' "immortals" after the atrocity at Istvaan they were one of the few forces I the legion to stay above %50 strength And when the Re structuring of the legion happened Vulkan with the Council of his most trusted brother Corax came up with a new way of using these veterans who'd already proved there aptitude for killing traitors. And so the Ash Vipers became the elite anti traitor unit .

 

obviously I would expand on that a lot but what do you think of that direction?

[bluntblade]

I like that