Father Mapple's Heresy Ultramarines and Kill Teams

[Father Mapple]

Greetings, brethren! I've had a WIP blog over in the Blood Angels section for a few years now, and have been working away at the successors, the Blood Suns, that I have info about in my signature. I'm about 7 death company and 12 terminators away from finishing a complete 2000pt Death Company force AND a 2000pt Archangels All Terminator force. But I got an itch for 30k, and I couldn't scratch it hard enough.... so here begins this other WIP Blog. I decided to post it here so I can do other things like my Inquisitor allies, terrain, and other projects I also work on which aren't Blood Angel successors as well. My Heresy force will be the Ultramarines, and I'm going for an all infantry and dreadnought Zone Mortalis list first, then a 2000pt list with only some rhinos, and then 3000 with heavier transports for killer units.
 
With that lengthy intro, here's to the models! I decided to do some Fulmentarus Terminators first. I am using the Betrayal at Calth box and some bits from the internet. Here they are laid out neatly:
 

 
Here they are with combi-meltas. 4 are the combi meltas from tactical Calth kits, and 1 is from the Praetor who comes in the Box. 
 

 
And here they are with reaper autocannons. I used the Chaos Teminator Autocannon bit from eBay sellers, as that was going to be much cheaper than buying 5 sets of the Cataphractii Special Weapons sets. Of course, after searching for bits for months to put this project together, 2 weeks after I start someone starts selling only the autocannons on there. Cest la vie!
 

 

 
I magnetized all the weapons in the wrist. Using such small 1.5x3mm magnets means there's not a lot of length added in the wrist. I set the arm magnet in by drilling a hole, and just glued the other magnet right onto the wrist of the hand. Painted up, the length won't be noticeable. The autocannons gets a few funny angles due to how I drilled them and the arms end, but we'll just call those "action poses."
 
I'm still fishing around for 2 more cyclone missile launchers. I got 2 metal ones and 1 plastic one from the current tactical terminator kit. 
 
Criticism and compliments welcome. Still need to put shoulders and heads on these guys, but the hard work is done for now.

Edited September 21, 2020 by Father Mapple

[LutherMax]

Satisfying to have a fully magnetised unit :)

 

If the added wrist length does become an issue, I've found a good method is to:

- drill 2mm dia holes in both the wrist and weapon hand

- glue a 2mm x 1mm magnet into the wrist

- when the glue is dry attach the corresponding magnet to the first one

- put a small amount of glue in the hand, place the hole over the magnet and twist the gun off taking the magnet with it.

 

That way you get the magnets nice and flush with each other and no gap.

 

Anyway, I like the sound of your plan for the army, will be watching with keen interest!

[Father Mapple]

Thanks for the tip, LutherMax! I bought all these magnets years ago, but bought them 3mm wide, so they won't go into the hand, but they will into terminator forearms. I used them before this for jump packs and vehicles, and the backpack gap on most Marines just needs a single twist of a 3mm but to make the magnets fit. Going to have to order 2mm if I do wrist swaps again.

[Father Mapple]

EDIT: Some pictures broke, because either Flickr or I am dumb. Since Flickr can't defend itself, I'm blaming it.

I've finished building the Fulmentarus terminators out of the Calth plastics, and now am waiting for primer to dry, basically. I actually primed them a week ago, but work has kept me from them. I did take some time to magnetize 4 combi-bolters to be magnetized so they could be used as normal cataphractii.

 

It took weeks for the heat in Texas to relent enough for me to prime them, so I worked on assembling the veterans. I used the plastic GW Ultramarine Upgrade Sprue for Ultramarine shoulder pads and some of the little details for individuals. 

 

 

 

I plan on them using the new points values in the updated LACAL (or however we acronym it) as a close combat unit. I'll give them the higher WS. All my units should be zone mortalis friendly, as the local shop to here has a huge 6x4 of ZM boards. The board still needs to be painted, but that's the style of game I want to build up to first.

 

The veterans have their close combat weapons and I gave the sergeant a power fist, another vet a power sword, a vexilla, and I actually made the heavy weapons swappable. I magnetized the top of the legs off centered so the torso wouldn't rotate by accident. You can see the pictures below.

(LOST THIS PICTURE SOMEHOW. DUMB! BUT THEY WERE REALLY INSPIRED AND GROUND BREAKING. TRUST ME.)

 

I'll actually buy a 4th box of Calth Tacticals at some point so I have 3 complete units of 10 marines with bolters or close combat weapons. Then, after buying a single set of bits off Ebay, I'll have enough torsos for an interchangeable heavy weapon squad when I want to expand past ZM.

 

I won't assemble anything else for now, except maybe my Delegatus with Legatine Axe out of the Calth Chaplain. I don't want this to be like my 40k Blood Angels where I own 6000 points and only 3000 is painted after 4-5 years. I'm assembling and painting this Heresy force in no more than 10-11 models unpainted at a time to prevent that. AND I'm making myself paint a Blood Angel unit in between each Heresy project, so that I don't get burnout on either. Blue is much different than red! (what a horrible, obvious, sports-announcer thing to say).

Edited December 16, 2016 by Father Mapple

[Father Mapple]

I made some progress, but nothing worth pictures. I'm using the new Sector Imperialis 32mm bases for the Veterans, and some 40mm from Secret Weapon Miniatures, the Iron decking and Steel Plating lines. I  have now based the veterans and the fulmentarus/cataphractii.  

 

The idea is make the entire force ZM space station themed still, so I'll be painting all the base types in a drab metal/decking/rust style. That steel/rust should be a nice contrast to the blues and golds with black accents for veterans that I'm planning. I think the ultramarine symbols should be white at all times, but my theme of the unit/company/chapter is extreme boarding actions with little expectation of return, so I like to think the battle brothers painted awards or veteran symbols black instead of white to show what people were facing.

 

For the Delegatus I'm using in ZM and 1000 point or less games, I decided to use one of the old metal honor guard from the Ultramarines who comes with Marneus Calgar, which the Suzerain were obviously inspired by. I'll add a backpack icon from the Upgrade Sprue, the sideways crest for captains on the UM upgrade sprue, and then the axe will be my legatine axe. The bolters aren't needed, so I'll replace those with heresy era pistols. This lets me use actual heresy era models for Praetors, and in my mind, puts the Delegatus closer to the esteemed invictarii and suzerains, and not the principle commander of an entire strike force. 

 

Not this upcoming weekend, but the next weekend of the 23-25, I have off from work and am scheduling myself some airbrush time to lay down the blue on the 17 models. If I get time to paint until then, I'll work on the weapon options for the cataphractii.

[LutherMax]

Nice little project this, looking forward to seeing progress!

[Father Mapple]

I got time last weekend to spray paint everything my blue. It looks good. I got 10 veterans and 5 fulmentarus terminators all sprayed, plus the praetor in cataphractii armor that comes with Calth box. I magnetized his ranged weapon to be swappable with any of the fulmentarus, so I could have 6 with a combination combi-meltas and combi-bolters in case I don't want to play fulmentarus. I left his chainfist on, as I'll use it as a chainfist on a normal cataphractii terminator.

 

I've decided on a 500pt Zone Mortalis list and a 1000 point. 

 

500pts.

Centurian Delegatus - artificer armor, legatine axe, refractor field

10x Legion veterans - artificer, power fist, vexilla, nuncio vox, Weapon Masters skill, 1x hidden power weapon

5x Terminators cataphractii 

 

 

1000pts.

The above, added with Rite of War - Zone Mortalis Assault

1x Contemptor Cortus Dreadnought, 2x close combat arms (will be magnetized to allow a kheres assault cannon to be swapped for later substitution to be Telemechrus).

10 Tactical Marines, artificer armor, power fist, nuncio vox, vexilla, melta bombs

10 Tactical Marines, artificer armor, power sword, nuncio vox, vexilla, melta bombs

 

That should scale nicely. 

 

I did build the heavy weapon marine from the veterans, as seen above, to be heavy bolters or missile launchers. So I will need 3 more bolter totiing mark iv marines to compensate for the 10th person from each set of sprues turning into a heavy weapons support squad, and 2 extra heavy weapons support marines to then make a squad of 5 heavy weapons.  

[Father Mapple]

Definitely some progress since October. We finished the Rage from Salvation event in the Blood Angels sub-forum (best faction forum! Just like the legion.)

​I was able to spray some marines blue a while ago. The camera on my phone continues being rubbish.

 



​Then I went and did a test figure. As I was able to magnetize the missile launcher torso and the heavy bolter torso, I had done each torso slightly differently to make sure the process for the colors, detailing, and recipe were how I wanted them. I intended to post them up on here for comment, but... I got excited and kept painting. Not as disciplined as the XIII legion, for sure.

​The camera on the phone? Trash. But the flash picture actually gets closer to the blue it is in real life on this one. I went with the missile launcher blue, but the heavy bolter gold and details.

 

 

​Lastly, some in progress shots. I'm doing something different process wise than I have done for other models. Normally, I would do ALL base colors, then all washing, then all highlights, and then further details or highlights. It means the first base colors take forever painting in batches, but once past that step, the rest goes pretty quick.

After watching Mr. "Thin-yer-paints" Duncan's videos on Calth ultramarines, I was amazed he did ALL of one color's stages at a time (with just a little bit of water to thin his paints, and definitely after shaking the paints real well). I also got the Sons of Ultramar paint guide for cheap (as in, even less than the scant $20 it is in print) and the models in that book were also done that way. All base color blue, then wash the blue, then blue highlights, and THEN move on to the next color. Then the same for golds, reds, etc.. So I decided to try it for painting this batch.

Here's some in progress shots. The first shot is the best color wise, but the others show the detailing of layers better (with flash).


 

​I can't find a good camera anywhere in my house, apparently.

 

Base blue and washing is all done. I washed in the recesses, and not all over. I didn't like the all over method on the Heavy Bolter torso as I had to go back and make the flat surface areas the base color to get the right color. Then I did a glaze of guilliman blue over the base color and wash, and have 7 of 10 edge highlighted where I want them to be (group on the right). It's looking ace, to me. And I feel like I'm a lot further along than I normally is, since I don't usually break out a wash or highlight color until near the end. We'll see if this process keeps me motivated or if it's just due to how I used to do models.

 

Lastly, with the new Ultramarine MkIV Breacher squad coming out from Forge World, I'm getting some of those. Not now! Not for a while. But those are gorgeous, and I need 10 marines done that way. I'll be adjusting my lists above 1000pts to include 10 breachers FOR NO TACTICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS REASONS OTHER THAN RULE OF COOL. But sooooo cool.

​Comments and criticism welcome. I like feedback.
 

Edited December 16, 2016 by Father Mapple

[Schultzhoffen]

I think it looks pretty good. At least as good as I can paint. Maybe your highlights are a tad thick and slightly too stark? That may be personal preference, however. Would be good to see them further completed before I'd pass too much comment. Nice black lining, though.

[Grim Dog Studios]

I like that blue! Good progress so far, can't wait to see some more paint on them bud! Edited December 17, 2016 by Wulox

[Father Mapple]

I think it looks pretty good. At least as good as I can paint. Maybe your highlights are a tad thick and slightly too stark? 

I think it's the flash and such. Also, I think since the other colors aren't on there yet, they look stark as they're the only brightness. The test model is better to reference.

 

I do appreciate the feedback and encouragement!

[LutherMax]

Looking good - I like the bold highlights!

[Father Mapple]

New phone has the best camera I've ever owned. SO.... here's a progress update. I ended up doing another coat of Guillemon Blue glaze over the highlights, and it got it just right.

 

 

Still have to lay the basecoat of gold on 8 more, shade the gold, highlight it back up, then do red on eyes, crest of the sergeant, squad markings, paint Ultima symbols on the upgrade pack shoulder pads white, and decide what to do with the vexilla, and general tidying up. 10 guys at once is brutal, even if they're legionnaires.

Edited January 18, 2017 by Father Mapple

[rabid_stoat]

Can we get a better look at your paint mixing tray at some point? It looks like its seen a lot of action!

 

Lovely paint job on the marines too. 

[Father Mapple]

Ok... calling my unit of veterans done for now. They still need to be varnished with matte, but they look done and good to me.

 

Some pictures on the painting table.

 

 

 

Close ups on the painting table.

 

 

 

 

My painter chapter serf. Not sure how much she speeds things up, to be honest.

 

 

Under some bright lights in my spray booth. It is made out of cereal boxes and duct tape.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm off to participate in the Great Baalite Bake Off, and will be back to do some fulmentarus terminators. That new plastic Tartaros set has a sweet plastic autocannon I wish I knew was coming out before I converted those Chaos terminator reaper autocannons. The one I got from the Burning of Prospero box will be used to make the Praetor with chain fist from Calth another Fulmentarus.

 

[Father Mapple]

Ok, I just finished magnetizing the last 5 weapons I needed last night for my Fulmentarus Terminators. The Autocannon from the Tartaros set was used, some more legion combi-meltas, and a combi-bolter for a total of 6. 

 

Also, I am about ready to primer my Consul Delegatus who I will be using in my Zone Mortalis forces. He is an artificer wearing, Legantine Axe toting, bolter slinging (due to specialist weapon), refractor shield carrynig veteran of the 13th Legion. So he will be appropriately modeled!

 

 

 

 

I used the honor guard model that accompanies Marneus Calgar, as I used Calgar for a Blood Angel conversion in my other WIP thread linked in my signature. So, while I love the Invictus Suzerain models, I don't want to buy 2 sets when I only ever plan on fielding 1 unit. There's not enough sergeants and independent characters yet that I want to share out the parts amongst others, especially with those new boarding shields coming out for the 13th. 

 

So, I modeled this one and used some Mk III bits and Ultramarine Upgrade Sprues. I looked all over for a left handed bolt pistol of the same style of the other Mk III marines, but couldn't source a single bit like that. So I left the bolter on. 

 

This means I have my veterans, terminators, and Delegatus assembled to play games now! 

[LutherMax]

Don't think I've seen that model before – very cool and the new bits look great!

[Bob Hunk]

Excellent choice of model for the Delegatus, looking forward to seeing him painted. :) 

[Father Mapple]

Thanks, guys. I think it's fun to bring in some older sculpts to the side of the hobby that is supposed to be about older history. lol. 

[Father Mapple]

This is a plea for mercy, to make sure I can revive this old Hobby PLOG. Please forgive the Thread-omancy.

As a hobby update, now almost done with those 5 terminators! Just painting some flesh and leftover weapons. I've had to dust them off a couple times this year prior to painting again.

[Father Mapple]

I finished painting the cataphracti terminators and Captain from Calth with all options that could be used by the Fulmentarus and will be posting pictures soon.

 

I also received my boarding Shields and praetorian shoulda to make a 10 Marine unit out of Mk III Marines. Those will be assembled next after a blood angels character gets done in my other thread in the BA forum.

 

Now I'm purchase complete for my 1000 Zone Mortalis force, and just need to keep steady progress.

 

The genestealer kill team I finished recently, using the Space Hulk miniatures, had the dead Marines in ultra colors. So I'm basing the Ultras and genestealers, and future kill teams all in the same sector imperialis bases, it the secret weapon miniature flight deck ones.

 

Thanks for reading and I've got the bug again.

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

Excellent painting and conversions!

[Father Mapple]

Ok, first of all, here are the genestealers I mentioned with dead Ultramarine Terminators on their bases. They came from Space Hulk. They're beautiful models, and good ones for Contrast paints. These are all contrast paint except the base metallic colors and the Ultramarine parts. Very interestingly, the Talassar blue on their tongues and mandible bits was applied OVER the Nazdreg yellow contrast paint and it made that green color in the recesses. Amazing stuff. Also, the green is Creed Camo, the skulls done with snakebite leather and some good ol' Agrax Earthshade, and the metal parts are my Apple Barrel/Folk Art craft paints, gunmetal and antique copper all doused in Nuln oil. 

 

The BroodLord got a VERY unplanned black acrylic wash on one side because my painting chapter serf pictures above was base coating some of her miniatures black and though she would help me turn my nearly finished Broodlord back to black... I saved it by dousing it with a wet brush, holding it upseide down, and wiping the excess off while it was mostly still drying. But he's a shade darker than everyone else... because he's older?

 

 

 

 

 

So, in Zone Mortalis or kill team, I have an OpFor to play my painted veterans I posted about above. 

 

 

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

I really like the color scheme its more of a unique color chosen. Looks good!

[Majkhel]

I think that the Broodlord's darker hue looks great :D But that's me liking everything "grimdark".

What would you say for washing their tongues with some purple/red wash towards the mouth? I think that red tint would help tie the warm yellow of their carapaces with cold blue of the tongues. Just a thought. Good luck with your projects!