MBA++Blood Angels 5th Company - into the Leviathan's maw

[Leonaides]

Yeah, looks a bit odd as red. I think it draws even more attention to the strangeness of that armoured plate. I'd go all blue, and at least it won't be so in-your-face from 2ft away...

[Majkhel]

Hey brothers, got some RL issues in the last month and hobby time was non-existent, but now I'm ready to get back to business :)

To increase motivation I took a picture of my painted stuff

I thought it would be a bigger gathering ;) , but rules were clear - painted stuff only.

With that, I sat down and finished the 3rd Suppressor giving me finally a fully painted unit:

I also have some Indomitus orders placed here and there - 2 full marines' sets with additional bikes, Eradicators and Bladeguard - but those will come in roughly 10 days. I plan to continue plucking at my unfinished models to reduce backlog until then.

Cheers! :)

[Xenith]

Always nice to see a full collection on display - how far are you from the full company?

[Panzer]

Gotta ask, why did you paint one of the Suppressor's helmets half-red?

[Majkhel]

In terms of fully painted models, I have 68 marines plus the Captain (3 of them actually) and a Helix Adept (picture is missing a 5-man Assault squad and 6 dakka Inceptors, but I need to rebase them due to a number of broken flying sticks among them). 
 

As for the Suppressor with a half-red helmet - I was testing a slightly different colour scheme. Not very successful one to be honest, but I might still keep him as he is for the sake of some colour variety (I know - red :P) and call him 'Junior'. 

[Quixus]

Replace the red on the helmet with gold and call him Sarge Edited July 17, 2020 by Quixus

[Rhavien]

Very nice paint job, but I don't like the red forehead plate neither. Completely blue would look cooler I think. Overall I don't like the surpressor helmets, so I gave them some spare ones from the bitz box.

 

-edit-

Woops! Seems I was some posts behind :) But the point still stands.

Edited July 17, 2020 by Rhavien

[SnorriSnorrison]

Nice work as always! Glad to see your company coming together. :)

[Majkhel]

Thanks for comments guys!

Decided to continue fleshing-out the Intercessors:

I, MAJKHEL of the Blood Angels, embark on the 12 Months of Hobby Challenge, and for the month of JULY vow to complete 6 Intercessors to the defence of the IMPERIUM by month's end.

I have started these guys some time ago and left them unfinished because I usually field only 2x 5-man squads at the most. They will join the Bolt rifle squad with additional sergeant, who might have his wrist magnetised at one point (TH perhaps).

Obviously they're the ETB Intercessors and I have already managed to add some bits here and there.

The blue one is no longer blue

While on a bits-adding spree, I stumbled upon a most joyous finding - a right open hand with fingers splayed in exactly the right way. No idea from which set this is, but it's perfect. I simply had to attach it as soon as possible

Edited July 17, 2020 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Not much of an update in terms of completed models, but I've been experimenting with a stippling/drybrushing technique based on the Artis Opus videos on YT. After seeing those, I've found the technique intriguing as it could possibly match and speed-up my current method. I do not own any of their brushes, but tried this with another brush I already had and here are results compared to my usual blending method:

(not the best picture, but still shows enough. Contrasts are stronger IRL)

Model on the left is only basecoated with Mephiston Red, shaded with Agrax and then highlighted on the panels with 2 highlights to the level of Evil Sunz Scarlet, all with with a pretty big brush. I have to say, I'm happy with the result - it was really quick, transitions can be made really smoothly with as small/big steps as I like.
Obviously I will need to compensate for my poorer quality brush and enhance Evil Sunz Scarlet in higher areas and then do traditional edge highlighting, but this still quickens the process a lot. I will definitely experiment more with this technique.

In the meantime, the hand found it's body:

Cheers! Edited July 22, 2020 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Barring the decals (need to find my stash...) and squad markings, Intercessors are done, which brings my Company to 73 painted marines (not counting the sarge, as he is a spare in case I want to field 3x 5-man units)

My July vow is also complete

Also Indomitus has arrived, so now I'm torn what to paint again:D

Edited July 25, 2020 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Cracked open the box and... didn't know what to do :D
Marines' sprues are of the push-fit type, so I need to think carefully what I want to do and when.
Finally decided to start easy with the Assault Intercessors:

Only minor changes made initially - removed the unnecessary helmet from the belt of the Sarge (going for the helmeted version) and a hand swap here and there (on not-running poses).

Not many free space on their belts, so after a thought I added some shields and minor BA bits. Also magnetised sarge's Plasma Pistol.

So here is the final (for now) version:

Bodies and some arms (with shields usually) glued, rest and backpacks only pushed in.

With the next batch I'm definitely going to cut the heads free to allow better positioning.

Going to bring them to a relatively quick TT level first and then we'll see.

Cheers!

[Midnightmare]

Do love those models! Nice additions to them too :tu:

 

Tour Intercessors look great as do your Suppressors - I like the red you have achieved.

[Majkhel]

Thank you Midnightmare! That's high praise coming from you

On the painting front, I continue my learning with the big brush. Tried to skip the shading altogether and started from the basecoat of Doombull Brown and then gradually adding reds. However I think this still needs a shading stage later although very selectively. Shading washes are still a very nice tool and give fantastic effects.
I have one Intercessor almost at a TT level.

I really like the soft transitions I'm able to make with this method on bigger panels They are almost airbrush quality.
Will make more pictures later during the day.

EDIT: a word of advise in case anyone reads this before assembly - those big holsters (still too small to contain the pistols which are almost regular Bolters in size ) really get in the way of your brush on the running poses. Consider at least base-coating before gluing them fully.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

OK, so that's the first one done for the moment :)

I'm really happy with the results. When I get back to them, they'll get one more selective Agrax wash, edge highlights and drybrush on the base.
4 more to go :)

[Xenith]

 

EDIT: a word of advise in case anyone reads this before assembly - those big holsters (still too small to contain the pistols which are almost regular Bolters in size ) really get in the way of your brush on the running poses. Consider at least base-coating before gluing them fully.

 

Good tip! Great looking marine, the eyes really glow!

[Majkhel]

Thanks Xenith! For the eyes, I'm finding that adding yellow into the mix (especially the brightest dot in the middle) really does the job of suggesting a light source.

And yeah, I had a really tough time putting paints into the rear parts of his legs. Fortunately it's not as visible and my basecoat was dark brown, so a natural-enough shade for red. It was enough to just slap whatever red I managed in there and hope for the best. I'm guessing airbrush might have a bit easier time than brush due to overspill, but forget any type of precise highlighting.

EDIT: just noticed I din't drill the barrel 

Edited July 28, 2020 by Majkhel

[Midnightmare]

I love the dynamism of these new Assault Intercessors*! Great job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*I am totally painting mine Black with Red Saltires, I am even going magnetise their back packs for my current DC Jump Packs :devil:

[Majkhel]

Thanks for comments guys! :)

I've completed the last 2 of the 5 Assault Intercessors:

And then it hit me that I painted those 2 with appropriate yellow helmets, while the first 3 got red
So now I will be repainting the red ones with yellow and in the meantime - Eradicators.

Only minor additions of a BA icon (from the Drop Pod kit) and a blade here and there (cause why wouldn't I give a heavy weapon specialist a proper knife?)

I must say that I find the possibility to put/remove the Indomitus models on their bases at will extremely useful during painting and basing.
Cheers!

[Majkhel]

Finished Eradicators (decals currently drying).

With those 3 I have officially started collecting another Company Figured I do not have place for them in the 5th unless I kick some firstborn so Eradicators will be from the 9th - the Sunderers. Incidentally their Company markings are similar to the 5th.
Sarge got a spare Inceptor helmet.

Also reapinted Assault Intercessors' helmet yellow, so now they are properly equipped and need not feel ashamed next to their firstborn brethren.

Also this arrived:

A pretty neat rocket launcher from Spellcrow, which I plan to use as a Scorpius Multi-launcher due to it being much more ornate.
As for the little ones - at least one will land on the Contemptor to increase it's armament options in case I fancy running a Relic version.

Cheers!

Edited August 15, 2020 by Majkhel

[Midnightmare]

Those Eradicators are really cool mate - I originally didn’t like the models when I first saw them but they have really grown on me. I hope so anyway as they are my next unit!!

 

Yours look awesome :tu: :tu:

[Majkhel]

Thanks mate! Although painiting them even to this TT standard reminded me why I hate Gravis armour - all those edges to highlight

Taking a small break from painting and moving to construction.
Bladeguard Ancient has been bogging me from the start - funny robes, single pauldron, ridiculous count-as-banner reliquary, the skeletal hand pendant... But then I thought about our Sanguinary Priesthood. Their role in the Chapters of the Blood is a special one combining medical knowledge with their scared duty of being a vessel of a portion of Sanguinius' own blood. The new Sanguinary Priest model actually has robes so we have a precedence

Here is the first sketch results:

That's right, I'm gonna do myself a true-scale Corbulo
Don't mind the bolt pistol, it will be removed once I decide on the final positioning of the arm. then he'll get a chalice and narthecium.

Initially I just wanted a regular Sanguinary Priest/Primaris Apothecary. But then I thought: why not go all out and make THE Sanguinary Priest? I have an old metal Corbulo for ages. You can see him above stripped of most of the paint (and there were like 3 thick layers on him). I'm still not sure if I want to paint the this old sculpt and might actually use it for the missing parts (narthecium and chalice)

I managed to found a similar enough pauldron in the BA Terminators kit (required some trimming and bending)

I should be able to paint the missing blood drop and skull on the chalice without difficulties.

Still not sure If I should make him like the original with the sword pointed up, or rather resting it point on the ground. A more relaxed pose of the Bg Ancient pushes me towards the latter.
I definitely need to find a chainsword worthy of the 'Heven's Teeth' name first. Regular CSs seem just a bit too short. Indomitu Astartes Chainswords while properly sized, lack the ornamentation that I feel is really needed here.

Oh, and he will definitely be magnetized for JP

What do you think?

Cheers!

Edited August 17, 2020 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

OK, I definitely feel I'm getting there
It's arduous but really gratifying and definitely one of the best things in the hobby for me.

A picture of the original for reference

And here is where I am at the moment:

-The head choice is good for me. It has very similar length of hair as well as a shouting expression of a veteran.
-Narthecium and chalice comes from the original. It was both the easiest and the most appropriate thing to do as I settled on making Corbulo.
-I've been thinking a lot on the little shield the BG-Ancient comes with, but decided it doesn't really work for Corbulo. Sure I could probably squeeze a freehand helix or something on it, but it would be really small. Then I found a spare winged droplet bit from the BA Terminators and inspiration hit me to make a Sanguinary Priesthood icon of it. A simple addition of a small chalice (one of those dangling from the winged shoulder pads in the DC kit I think) did the trick.

-Canister at the rear is an early addition and will work as a proper armoured storage for the collected gene-seed. Then I added some more canisters made from grenades to honour the traditional look of an Apothecary front plate. Original Corbulo's belt is pretty full. I chose to give my creation only one set of canisters and a single purity seal as the BG-Ancient also has those little hips plates to carry around.

I did however changed the belt's buckle to a one with the skull to match the original.

- Moving up, I have repositioned the right shoulder pad more to the back. I feel it looks more natural this way and definitely more like the original. The left one I kept simple due to the neghbouring Sanguinary Priesthood brooch.
- Right arm was also slightly respositioned downards to create a more natural and relaxed setting for the sword. Speaking of which, I haven't found a Chainsword that would satisfy me fully, so I will need to build one. I want it to have a full enclosed guard like the original and some kind of decoration on the blade part. One of the DC chainswords will most likely provide what I need in terms of a blade. And then I will definitely add a tassel to the hilt

Cheers!

Edited August 20, 2020 by Majkhel

[Jolemai]

Could never do that to a metal model :O but it's looking pretty cool.

[Xenith]

Look great, might have to steal that idea!