Siege of Terra; IX Legion, 83rd Company "Crimson Thorns"

[OakRiver]

Veteran Sergeant Laertes, Champion of the 83rd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Among the 83rd we had no finer swordsman than Laertes. Unbested in any of Company's sparring matches or contests, his calm, composed blade work even keeping the fury of Vizioso at bay. A native of Baal he embodied the grace and martial skill that the Angel instilled in our Legion. For decades he stood to the side of Captain Eco as Champion of our Company, and representing our honor at the contests we had with our Brother Companies, and even with our cousins in other Legions. While never as feted as Raldoran or more famous blade masters Laertes was capable of holding his own. His skill with a blade was recognized by The Angel himself, and Our Sire had the left shoulder armor commissioned and bestowed upon Laertes with the honor of bearing the Angel's name on his armor and into battle. I cannot tell if it was mere coincidence or not but when Vizioso entered into service in our Company Laertes had requested to take command of a squad of Legionnaires after their Sergeant, his mentor, fell in battle. Eco granted him this request, but also decreed that he would retain the title of Company Champion. During the long Siege of Terra and the dark days that followed Laertes upheld the honor of our Brothers" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The model and his backstory are both well done.

[OakRiver]

Some actual WIP - Brothers Drago and Tito of Squad Laertes

 

 

Armor and battle damage complete. Metals inked and drying ahead of detailing.

[onipunk]

This is all killer stuff, man. I'm planning a Siege of Terra Imperial Fists force with Blood Angel allies and this thread is providing some great inspiration. I love the little bits of fluff for each marine, and the small details like the marble on the bases are great wee touches. I do have one question: please, please share your recipe for skin, it looks great and simple, and since I'm terrible at painting skin it would be much appreciated!

[Brother Lunkhead]

Fantastic work, Brother! Great detail in your backstory. And your modeling skill,...... sure doesn't look like you've been out of the hobby for ten years. I look forward to future posts.

[OakRiver]

Fantastic work, Brother! Great detail in your backstory. And your modeling skill,...... sure doesn't look like you've been out of the hobby for ten years. I look forward to future posts.

If you see any of my greenstuff work you'll know I've been out of the hobby for a while   I'm pleasantly surprised that I haven't lost a lot of my painting skills given that my main hobby for the past 10 years was the Xbox.

 

 

This is all killer stuff, man. I'm planning a Siege of Terra Imperial Fists force with Blood Angel allies and this thread is providing some great inspiration. I love the little bits of fluff for each marine, and the small details like the marble on the bases are great wee touches. I do have one question: please, please share your recipe for skin, it looks great and simple, and since I'm terrible at painting skin it would be much appreciated!

Thank you. I did put together a one off Marine that I planned to paint as an Imperial Fist, possibly a Templar Brethren, who stayed behind when the 83rd came to relieve them.

The skin recipes have varied based on the mini, so I'll share with you the two I am happiest with; Andino and Drago (below)

- undercoat Abaddon Black

- basecoat Cadian Flesh

- wash with Agrax Earthshade

- layer Cadian Flesh

- 50/50 mix of Cadian Flesh and Palid Wych Flesh

- final highlight of Palid Wych flesh

- glaze around eyes prior to painting with Xerxes Purple diluted with Lamian Medium

For Drago I also added a wash of Reikland Fleshshade to bring the layers together. The other minis were experiments; Ennius started off from a Rhinox Hide base coat and was shaded up. Vizioso was a much paler tone to match his back story. The recipe above I may change on the next few to start from Bugman's Glow and use Reikland as the main shade.

 

 

Brother Drago, Laertes's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Drago was the close range specialist that accompanied Laertes. He excelled in his role as pointman, bringing his flamer to bear on the enemy and forcing them to keep their heads down while the maneuver elements of the squad closed in. While the wall held he stood brazenly taunting our foes and snapping off shots with his pistol, his temper matching the weapon waiting patiently to be unleashed. As we fell back he waited around corners to hose the Traitors with burning jets of prometium. A Traitor's round found it's mark and detonated the tank of his weapon, engulfing him in flames as our corrupted cousin drew his blade and threw himself at the burning Drago.

 

After we regrouped at The Palace I saw Drago again. His face horrendously scarred by the flames, he sat in silence having refused all assistance from our Apothecaries and using his combat blade to carve the sigil of a Traitor Legion off the bolter he now carried." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

 

 

Brother Tito - Laertes's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Brother Tito was the squad member that Laertes and the assault element of his squad trusted with their lives to provide and direct the fire support's overwatch. His skill with his missile launcher was something to behold. While Drago taunted the advancing enemy Tito methodically placed his shots to cause the maximum damage, assisted by Brother Sergio. 

 

During our fighting retreat he slowed our foes by tumbling statues or weakened buildings to block the routes we traveled. The slow nature of wielding a missile launcher proved to be his undoing. As the enemy inevitably closed with him he brought down the building he was using as his firebase, burying all inside the rockrete tomb" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Edited October 26, 2017 by OakRiver

[DaBoiKyknos]

The two part face-grill (that´s probably not the proper term, but you get what I mean) on the last full mini looks cool!

The combination of black and gold is  cool for BA´s.

Edited October 25, 2017 by LordVelype

[OakRiver]

Thank you. That was a happy accident rather than planned. When I saw how good it looked with just the gold basecoat on one side I decided to leave the other black, and it paid off.

[OakRiver]

Brother Silvio, Laertes's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Brother Silvio was the oldest of Laertes's Squad. A Terran veteran he was one of the original members of the squad, and it was the only brothers he knew, never having wanted to serve our Lord as anything but a warrior of the line. His silver hair and his armor gave silent testimony to his long service in our Legion. He and Drago were often seen at the forefront of their squad's movement; while Drago advanced to bring his flamer to bear on the enemy Silvio's bolter would guard the younger Legionnaire.

 

I do not know what happened to Silvio. I have no doubt that during our fighting retreat he was in lockstep with Drago. He was not among our number when we reached The Palace, and the horrifically scarred Drago would not be drawn into discussion of our venerable Brother;s fate." - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

 

 

Brother Sergio, Laertes's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"While Tito's heavy weapon provided Laertes and the other members of the squad with overwatch, it was Sergio's keen eyes which was scanning for the next target. He and Sergio understood each other on an almost purely instinctive level, with targets communicated with no more than quick gestures of head nods. During any fighting displacement between shooting positions it was Sergio who would lead the heavy weapon specialist and ensure that he had the time to deploy his considerable firepower.

 

It was Sergio who had selected the firebase where the two made their last stand" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

 

 

 

In Memorium - Squad Laertes

 

[marine7312000]

I was going to ask if you were going to do anything else to the bases and then realized you have those sections of checkerboard pattern on them. Another awesome pair of minis.

[OakRiver]

For the bases I was going for a black and white marble tile pattern covered with rubble and debris. As with much of my photography it looks much better in person.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Great work on the squad brother I especially like the face work on brothers Silvio and Drago. The bold contrasts really makes them expressive.

[OakRiver]

Thanks. In the past I struggled with my transitions between different layers being too subtle, and not really noticeable until I was up really close. This time I wanted a much better contrast to the highlights.

[TokenTank19]

Amazing ! ... you have done such great work with pretty standard minis and made them into so much more and your fluff is spot on too

Edited November 6, 2017 by TokenTank19

[OakRiver]

Thank you so much. The minis themselves (parts & pose) are informing a lot of the fluff, I'm grateful that the GW kits have developed so much since I started the hobby because it makes it easier to have a colorful force.

[OakRiver]

Brother Lanzo, Alessio's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

"As we reorganized after the Amaranthe Campaign, and prepared for our new role in our Company Brother Lanzo was the natural choice to have the honor of bearing our squad's melta gun. He had shown a natural aptitude for closing with the enemy, and even as an Aspirant he displayed a maturity in his ability to prioritize in a target rich environment. 

 

While Arturo's heavy weapon suppressed enemy infantry and destroyed lighter vehicles Lanzo's melta gun gave our squad a much needed punch against heavier armored enemies, and after studying under Venerable Brother Raimondo carving a path through obstacles that would have otherwise pushed us into fatal funnels.

 

During the retreat he took his place beside me as one of the last Brothers to fall back each time so he could bring his weapon to bear on the Traitors. When Raimundo fell to the enemy ironforms Lanzo allowed his meltagun to vent his fury on the enemy war machines. When we searched for our lost Brothers after the Siege was lifted we found an ironform from the fallen XVth Legion. I watched as Lanzo took a charge we had retrieved from Orzo's remains and finished off the enemy he had previously crippled and left helpless inside it's broken sarcophagus" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

[OakRiver]

I think it's time this WIP plog had some WIP;

 

Brother Tobias, Apothecary Aspirant

Tobias was an interesting challenge to pose and model, but the parts just seemed to come together. The narthecium was built from a chainsword, and a power cable from a 40K Terminator. A full size bolter looked out of place on the model and was throwing off the balance. In it's place Tobias got a more specialized firearm befitting his role; an experimental Chalice Pattern bolt carbine.

 

 

Brother Bertrando, Squad Marksman

Bertrando has a Javelin Pattern experimental designated marksman rifle, a wrist mounted augur, improved helm mounted optics mated to the rifle and the Cherub pattern targeting matrix mounted on his powerpack

 

Brother Donatus

Simple conversion lobbing a grenade. He'll have a bare head.

[marine7312000]

I'm really liking the bolt pistol on the apothecary. Newest models look really good.

[MrBear]

Looking nice, that apothecary conversion has a really dynamic pose, and the others work fine aswell.

[sparrow2z]

Great mixture of modelling and fluff. Really enjoyed looking through this thread; can’t wait to read more.

[OakRiver]

Thank you all. The Apothecary Aspirant was one of the first models I decided to include when I started the background, and the parts came together almost organically once I saw the outstretched hand.

 

We just got out of our busy season at work so no real painting has been done except for a red basecoat on Bertrando and Donatus. I need to finish the highlighting on the armor before I weather it. I have some vacation time coming up to burn up leave before I use it, so I might be able to make progress again soon.  

[OakRiver]

Brother Bertrando - Alessio's Squad

 

 

[Archivist's Note; subject is armed with a prototype Javelin Pattern Designated Marksman Rifle. This weapon was issued prior to the Heresy for field testing, and this is the only known working sample. Note the most striking variance from the standard boltgun manual of arms with the magazines being side mounted]

 

[Archivist's Note; Subject equipped with Cherub pattern targetting matrix. This is a unique loadout given the mating of the system with an experimental weapon, and a wrist mounted augur]

 

 

 

 

 

[Archivist's Note; wrist mounted augur appears to be a predecessor to the auspexes in common use with Astartes Chapters. Being hardwired to the armor suggests that this is a very early model] 

 

"Our Company's close relationship with Magos Goibniu allowed us the use of experimental weapons. Early on these were new designs for field testing, but as the rebellion spread closer to Terra some were pressed into desperate service to give us whatever edge we could get. The Javelin Pattern rifle was one our squad had received before The Warmaster's treachery. Designed to fill the gap in our arsenal between a full sniper's rifle and a traditional bolt gun it gave our squad some much needed additional range.   

Brother Bertrando was our natural choice to bear this weapon into battle. He was our peerless marksman. His well placed shots causing maximum disruption among our foes as he carefully targeted leadership elements, communication specialists, or weapon specialists. He was unique among our Legion in that during the Kayvas Initiative he was one of the few Brothers to spend time with our erstwhile Cousins in the XXth Legion. Regrettably I had other matters to attend to during the brief time our Legions interacted in that theater, but Donatus spoke highly of Bertrando representing our interests.

Early in the Siege the specialist ammo for the Javelin was exhausted and Bertrando made use of standard bolt rounds. While still effective on our enemy the rounds were not as quiet as the weapon system could otherwise have been. As we conducted our fighting retreat the distinctive sound of his overwatch was most welcome. Then it fell silent. It pains me that to this day I know not what happened to our Brother. When we scoured the ruins to bring the honored dead back to our Legion we could find no trace of him" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

 

 

 

Brother Donatus - Alessio's Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Brother Donatus; young, brash, sharp of tongue, impetuous. He was full of fire all the time that I knew him. He was ever willful and opinionated, always with a suggestion on how things should be done. When he first was assigned to my squad I had grave reservations about him. I feared that these traits would lead to another Brother being harmed as he chose to abide by his own mind rather than my orders. I had little hesitation in sharing my concerns with Captain Eco. He listened to me without comment and when I was done reminded me that I shared a great many of those traits when I joined the 83rd, and that Donatus would fit in with my squad well. Our Lord was right. While outside combat Donatus could come across as confrontational, if not damned insubordinate, once in the field he obeyed every order and direction with no hesitation or dissent. Over time I would learn to appreciate his perspective as he, in his own way, pushed us to do better. I was able to learn much from him, and he much from me. Over time he stood as my second in the squad, leading the second combat squad when I split the squad during missions.

 

When the time came to pass on the mantle of command for my squad he was a worthy successor and I was proud to have had the opportunity to know him during my service to the Legion and the Emperor" - Veteran Sergeant Alessio

Edited December 2, 2017 by OakRiver

[sockwithaticket]

Looks like he's throwing that grenade with real venom. I like the tone of your purple gems, they really stand out against the armour.

[OakRiver]

Thank you so much, as a long time fan of your work I appreciate the feedback. I wanted to make the blood drops more distinctive against the red armor, and the purple was an easy way to do it.

[OakRiver]

No work to show yet on Tobias (just undercoated), but looking at my bits box there are quite a lot of distinctly 40K pieces. With that in mind here is a sneak peek at the next project; a small force of Blood Angels evacuating clans during the Fall of Ball campaign. It will be lead by a Sanguinary Guard on foot mainly for the pragmatic reason that I have the parts;