Firstborn Templars

[Brother Christopher]

On 1/16/2026 at 4:01 PM, Firedrake Cordova said:

They came out great. The highlighting on the red is really nice, as is the OSL around the palm-mounted screen.

 

Thank you!

 

On 1/16/2026 at 4:01 PM, Firedrake Cordova said:

The holo-display is an interesting one - all of the displays in 40K seem to get painted green by GW so logically it should be green too, yet my brain is telling me it should be blue, because ... I don't actually know why.   (just to be clear: it looks fine as green, and is a neat effect)

 

Yes, you're right. I set out with the goal of doing it properly, i.e. blue. But then I went through some of GW's models, as well as the aesthetic in Space Marine 2 and figured that green is the way to go. The source of my problem clearly is the tint: I probably should've went with something more... Nurglish (pardon the heresy). I greatly underestimated how the usual way I tackle greens will work on transparent plastic, I suppose. Regardless, I'm leaving it as is.

 

On 1/16/2026 at 5:31 PM, bloodhound23 said:

Beautiful work! Highlighting looks great on the red especially. 

 

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

 

***

 

So, I think I'm mostly done. I just need to check whether I've missed something and finish the bases and they're done.

 

Here are close-ups of some of the (minor) work I did, mostly connected with me trying to do a glowing effect:

 

Here's some light in the teleporter packs:

 

I struggled to take quick photos, without a proper setup, to catch the green tint/glow on the armour from the holo display. I hope that it's somewhat visible: note the right side of the chest eagle and breast plate, bottom edge of the shoulder pad and bits on the helmet. I'll need to redo the photos. But I'm surprised how much I like the effect in person.

 

 

 

 

And last but not least, a power and energy effect on the power fist of the floor-hating dude:

 

 

I was so childishly happy with how it turned out that I painted on some lighting effects on the lightning claws guy, too.

 

For the bases, I decided to paint the sculpted Space Hulk bases dark grey. I haven't made up my mid about the rest of the bases, though. It will either be sand and grass or perhaps I'll cut some plasticard panels to match the existing ones.

 

Overall, I subjectively feel that these are out there among my best models. Some of the results get lost in the photos; some is damaged by me not stripping the models properly before setting out to paint them. But yeah, they were and absolute blast to paint. And I feel I've learnt a lot painting these. That's why I'm also super glad about all the positive feedback so far! As always, you guys are great!

[Firedrake Cordova]

You should be really happy with how they turned out

 

I take it you just have the Terminators and not the Genestealers or the rest of the game from what you said?  

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Those are fantastic - I particular like the lightning (and lighting) effect on the fist pulling up the floor plate.

[Brother Christopher]

On 1/21/2026 at 11:11 AM, Firedrake Cordova said:

I take it you just have the Terminators and not the Genestealers or the rest of the game from what you said?  

 

Yeah, I only had the Marines part and later sold some of the models, too. Back in the day the game was prohibitively expensive for me.

 

On 1/22/2026 at 11:05 PM, Dr_Ruminahui said:

Those are fantastic - I particular like the lightning (and lighting) effect on the fist pulling up the floor plate.

 

I'm super glad you do! Thanks for leaving a comment.

 

***

 

I've finally finished the models, including bases and photos:

 

 

 

And more photos of the individual models and close-ups on some of the detail:

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tallarn Commander]

Really nice termies. I need to try a hologram display someday.

Edited January 30 by Tallarn Commander

[Brother Christopher]

Thanks a bunch!

 

In retrospect, I think I should've found a piece of green or blue plastic instead of trying to paint transparent plastic. That's something to consider!

[Firedrake Cordova]

On 1/30/2026 at 5:53 PM, Brother Christopher said:

Yeah, I only had the Marines part and later sold some of the models, too. Back in the day the game was prohibitively expensive for me.

That's a shame ... it would've been good to see what you'd do with the Genestealers. The Marines turned out great.  

[Brother Christopher]

For the longest of times, I've been quite unimaginative and focused solely on my Templars. Painting xenos was unthinkable. I'm just now tentatively exploring the possibility of doing other stuff. And yeah, while I remember that those Genestealers were cool, I think overall it's better that I've waited this long. GW's new, bigger and more detailed redesigns definitely seem to be 'better' for one-off, smaller projects.

 

I have to say that based on the rumours, for the first time in forever, I'm excited for the new edition starter box - if it really is Marines v. Orks, I'll definitely try to get one since I've always found Orks a fun faction.

[Firedrake Cordova]

I have a soft-spot for the models from the game because of the dynamism of the poses, but you're not wrong in your assessment of the newer models  

[Terminatorinhell]

God I love terminators. These are great ones, I have some space hulk ones thst I wanna try to fit into my army. I like the holo screen effect 

[W.A.Rorie]

So Awesome @Brother Christopher

[The Pounder]

Top work here @Brother Christopher! Every man has his own story.
 

The dude with the 3d auspex is particularly pleasing on the eye!

[bloodhound23]

Sick!
 

Great work on all the power effects.

 

Power fist guy is certainly a standout, as others have mentioned.