So I've decided to get into Space Sharks...

[stormwulfen]

Or Carcharodons as their proper name is (Depending who you ask ) and although I have painted grey before, and have converted models before I realise I have no idea where to begin with this, as most things I've done in the past have had at least some kind of support from GW/FW beyond a single model! So I'm not entirely sure this is the right place for this thread, but I hope I got it right, and if not then perhaps the staff could help me out there? Preferably without beatings!

On to the point however. I will soon be buying a few models to start off this new army and want to make them look... Space Sharky, and rather than run in blind like usual I was hoping you good people here might be able to offer some advice?

Firstly, is there a suggested colour scheme? Obviously they are just kinda grey, black shoulders but does anyone have any colour recipes they could share for their armour? I mostly work with Citadel paints, and sort of have easy access to Vallejo too so any colours from those two ranges would suit me best.

Secondly! I love to convert things, mostly little changes that bring a model together, some times big changes, mostly in my chaos forces that end up rather wild and crazy. Are there any suggestions on how to add a little extra to the generic space marines to give them a more Space Sharky look? There is a woeful lack of anything from GW or Forgeworld for the Carcharodons asides from Tyberos (Who I will be collecting, he looks too badass not to buy!) Does anyone perhaps know of some third party sites that sell things that might fit? Or have any suggestions on models I can scavenge from? Or even just any ideas on what I can add to these minis to make them look suitable for this chapter. I am open to anyone's ideas and suggestions, my green stuff skills are limited however, so I doubt there is much I will be able to sculpt myself unfortunately.

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

Chaos Marauders and Chaos Marauder Horsemen have a lot of great bare heads, and little things you can use like skulls hanging from chains, or ragged cloth banners. Vampire Counts have some good bone bits and ragged banners too. Ogres have great banner poles you can use that look like shark jaws, such as the ones from the Thundertusk Cavalry or Golgfag Maneater.

 

I've seen a lot of Carcharodon players use Dark Eldar vehicle blades as shark fins for things like Contemptors or Terminators. In 30K, World Eaters have a lot of parts that can be used for shark jaws, such as the Red Butcher's armor that features large jaw designs. There's also a lot of chainaxes that don't have Chaos trim on them in 30K, such as Sons of Horus Reavers and Cataphractii Terminators. The Raven Guard Contemptor also has tattoos all over it.

[Xenith]

Saying there isn't much material on Space Sharks make me think you haven't read the Badab War Books from forge world?

 

 

Sharks have their own chapter tactics and special characters as well as paint schemes. That should be a start

[Major_Gilbear]

I would also suggest that older marks of armour (including cobbled-together interim/makeshift patterns, like MkV" Heresy" armour) would be a nice way to add some subtle variety - and handily, both GW and FW make various older marks of armour that you can mix up throughout your models. Likewise, de-Chaosified Chaos Space Marines are also a great source of MkVII-compatible older-looking armour parts (especially chest pieces).

[stormwulfen]

Chaos Marauders and Chaos Marauder Horsemen have a lot of great bare heads, and little things you can use like skulls hanging from chains, or ragged cloth banners. Vampire Counts have some good bone bits and ragged banners too. Ogres have great banner poles you can use that look like shark jaws, such as the ones from the Thundertusk Cavalry or Golgfag Maneater.

I've seen a lot of Carcharodon players use Dark Eldar vehicle blades as shark fins for things like Contemptors or Terminators. In 30K, World Eaters have a lot of parts that can be used for shark jaws, such as the Red Butcher's armor that features large jaw designs. There's also a lot of chainaxes that don't have Chaos trim on them in 30K, such as Sons of Horus Reavers and Cataphractii Terminators. The Raven Guard Contemptor also has tattoos all over it.

Advice from the Red Wake himself? Well I feel I can't go wrong if I follow that! I will take a look at these bits suggested though, thanks for the tips, having seen a few already I can already see how they will help me. I've seen all kinds of conversions other people have made as well though some were a little over the top I felt, I want to get a good balance between 40k's over the top without making it too comical.

Saying there isn't much material on Space Sharks make me think you haven't read the Badab War Books from forge world?

Sharks have their own chapter tactics and special characters as well as paint schemes. That should be a start

Sorry I worded myself badly, I meant more in the sense of no accessories, transfers etc rather than rules and lore. The lore is exactly what drew me to this particular chapter in the first place although unless I'm blind I think Forgeworld have stopped selling the badab war books unfortunately, so I only have the PDF with their chapter tactics and the other with Tyberos' rules.

I would also suggest that older marks of armour (including cobbled-together interim/makeshift patterns, like MkV" Heresy" armour) would be a nice way to add some subtle variety - and handily, both GW and FW make various older marks of armour that you can mix up throughout your models. Likewise, de-Chaosified Chaos Space Marines are also a great source of MkVII-compatible older-looking armour parts (especially chest pieces).

Luckily I have quite a few spare bits from older marks of armour left around from my 30k Iron Warriors and Word Bearers, so I should be able to make some nice patchwork armour for these guys, as well as an expansive chaos bits box from 14 years of collecting 40k Iron Warriors. Can I be awkward and ask about specific chaos kits? I mean, obviously the standard chaos space marine box has many good bits in but what about other sets? Are chaos terminator bits viable or would it be better to stick with Imperial terminators?

Thanks for all the help already guys, this has already given me lots of ideas buzzing around in my head!

[Marqol]

Paint wise I'm not sure if a standard scheme came out after the paints got new names. I remember when I looked into a Carcharodon force a few years back most the recipes I found were using Charodon Granite etc for the greys. In theory you could go to the replacement paints and end with Stormvermin fur or I have seen some people talk about using Administratum grey as the last layer, going through from Mechanicus Standard as the base. Conversion wise this is the perfect army for it, one of the first sightings of them is they appear, smash up some traitors and take their gear. With hints that they are pre heresy predation fleets too in theory all the heresy armour is there for the taking. Also if you haven't already, look up maori tattoos, they as mentioned already feature heavily and I will say adding small designs will really help sell the paint scheme. 

Disclaimer: Not a Carcharodon expert in the slightest. 
 

[Major_Gilbear]

 

Can I be awkward and ask about specific chaos kits? I mean, obviously the standard chaos space marine box has many good bits in but what about other sets? Are chaos terminator bits viable or would it be better to stick with Imperial terminators?

 

I was mostly thinking of the basic Chaos Space marine kit, and parts from the (now very old and rather dated-looking) Khorne Berserkers kits. Things like running legs, ammo bandoliers over chest pieces, chain axes, etc.

 

Other kits to consider bits-buying from might be the new DeathWatch Veterans (the chest-mounted ammo pouches), the Blood Angels Death Company (running legs, choppy weapons, jump packs - but you will need to scrape off the blood drops and putty over the engraved crosses), and the Dark Angels Deathwing Command (lots of studded Terminator parts, some nice flails, maces, lightning claws, and other choppy weapons).

 

As for which version of Terminators... I'd say the 40k-style Indomitus because it "feels" more 40k, but actually I think all styles work well for them. Just to note, Tyberos is in Indomitus pattern. I don't feel there's much on the Chaos plastic Termie kit that would be super-useful for Carcharodons, bu there is a cool cloak and some chains etc on the Chaos Terminator Lord plastic kit that would work.

[stormwulfen]

Paint wise I'm not sure if a standard scheme came out after the paints got new names. I remember when I looked into a Carcharodon force a few years back most the recipes I found were using Charodon Granite etc for the greys. In theory you could go to the replacement paints and end with Stormvermin fur or I have seen some people talk about using Administratum grey as the last layer, going through from Mechanicus Standard as the base. Conversion wise this is the perfect army for it, one of the first sightings of them is they appear, smash up some traitors and take their gear. With hints that they are pre heresy predation fleets too in theory all the heresy armour is there for the taking. Also if you haven't already, look up maori tattoos, they as mentioned already feature heavily and I will say adding small designs will really help sell the paint scheme.

I'll try out those colours on some test minis and see how they turn out, thanks!

On the note of Maori style tattoos, I actually have some NZ blood in me on my mother's side, and was always taught a lot about New Zealand, and Maori culture and history and had a thought of using tattoo designs similar to those in the first place, some of the artwork I've seen, as well as other people's mini's seem to support this too... So now I just have to learn to paint tattoos! xD

I was mostly thinking of the basic Chaos Space marine kit, and parts from the (now very old and rather dated-looking) Khorne Berserkers kits. Things like running legs, ammo bandoliers over chest pieces, chain axes, etc.

Other kits to consider bits-buying from might be the new DeathWatch Veterans (the chest-mounted ammo pouches), the Blood Angels Death Company (running legs, choppy weapons, jump packs - but you will need to scrape off the blood drops and putty over the engraved crosses), and the Dark Angels Deathwing Command (lots of studded Terminator parts, some nice flails, maces, lightning claws, and other choppy weapons).

As for which version of Terminators... I'd say the 40k-style Indomitus because it "feels" more 40k, but actually I think all styles work well for them. Just to note, Tyberos is in Indomitus pattern. I don't feel there's much on the Chaos plastic Termie kit that would be super-useful for Carcharodons, bu there is a cool cloak and some chains etc on the Chaos Terminator Lord plastic kit that would work.

I actually recently picked up a deathwatch veterans box for my Imperial Agents codex, so I should have a few spares from there. I do see some tasty looking melee weapons in those other kits too, definitely things I will be looking into!

You guys are all very helpful, thank you so much! I'm always open for more ideas too. I foresee this being a fun army to put together.

[Major_Gilbear]

Well, one last comment from me: get yourself some Halford's grey spray automotive primer.

 

It's very forgiving to use, gives you a beautiful finish to paint on, and it's a really handy grey colour that will (hopefully) not be too far from whatever grey you choose in the end. To give you some idea, it's about the same colour as the grey of modern GW plastic.

 

My top tips when using it are:

 

1) Put your models somewhere warm, dry, and dust-free for at least 24hrs after you have primed so that it can fully cure. Once fully-cured, it will give you a tough surface.

 

2) Spray a light coat, but don't worry too much about covering every part. if you need to give it a selective second pass after it's dried (see 1 above) above, that's fine - better be safe than blobby.

 

As the spray has a lot of solvent, you'll find that the primer "shrinks" rather well onto the model too; so as long as you did a light pass, let it fully cure before you panic that maybe it went on a bit thick. :)

[stormwulfen]

I will definitely give that a look, thanks! I certainly have a lot to work with now.

[Chaplain Raeven]

Be sure to check out Malcharion's Space Sharks, there is some inspirational stuff in there. He might be a great source for a paint recipe. Good luck with your Sharks!