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

[Majkhel]

3/5

Nothing special, apart form the fact that this guy is the most developed one in terms of sculpting back-plate and cloth. He also got a Genestealer Cult head on the base as a wink towards my friend with whom we most often clash across the gaming table

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I really enjoy using leftovers from resin casts as rubble. Especially with fragments of numbers or text. And even more if I manage to get a piece with "GW" or "workshop" somewhere

Work on the rest of the squad to continue in the nearest future.

Cheers!

Edited September 23, 2022 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

4/5
Brother Funkyo 

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[Jolemai]

How am I ever going to get a 12M Challenge favourite again when you're painting this well? 

[Majkhel]

19 hours ago, Jolemai said:

How am I ever going to get a 12M Challenge favourite again when you're painting this well? 

Fortunately, you're not the judge  

Thank you very much! I'm happy you like them

Edited September 27, 2022 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Final Cathpractii squad member completed:

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Really happy with the way the rusted hatch on the base came out.

And the full squad:

Really glad to have them them done and with the experience I got from them in the up-scaling area. I have extra 3 claws painted, so 2 more remaining. And then 5 PFs/CFs and Sergeant's sword... but I might take a break from them for a moment

[Valkia the Bloody]

These terminators are stunning. Amazing work.

One question- how long does it take for you to paint one of them? It looks like a labor of love, but one that takes time.

[Majkhel]

1 hour ago, Valkia the Bloody said:

These terminators are stunning. Amazing work.

One question- how long does it take for you to paint one of them? It looks like a labor of love, but one that takes time.

Thank you Valkia!
I would say 3 to 5 evenings. Much depends on how much time I get from life. The Sarge took the most time as I was developing the scheme on him. With the last guy I already had the process streamlined to manageable levels. 

[Majkhel]

Not entirely sure how this happened... 

Lots of work still to do cause I went into town with magnets on the left hand and am now contemplating magnetizing right arm as well since I already repositioned it in order to align it with the direction the eyes are capable of facing. Plus no hide-abdomen-with-cloth shortcuts this time as I want to preserve and display the lovely detail on the breastplate.

I actually never realized how long his legs are until I put him next to Primaris for height comparison. They are basically in the same scale despite this sculpt being couple of years older (I think) than Primaris
 

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[Jolemai]

Looks like a Fleshborer or Devourer got him tbh. Best find the nearest Techmarine (and Sanguinary Priest too I guess).

[Majkhel]

Joined the Knives in the Dark event and building a Kill Team. I don't expect to actually play KT, but welcome the opportunity to flesh-out my forces with extra options for Sergeants, WYSIWYG troops and update some of the older paint jobs (sniper Eliminators).

I'll be doing: Sergeant/Leader, 2 ABR grunts, Gunner (the flamer dude I built for fun), SBR "sniper" (Eliminator) and (probably) Assault Intercessor. 

First on the line is the Sergeant Leader. I built him based on the Intercessor with a spare breastplate from the DC kit. Magnetized left hand to swap between PF, CS and PS. Overall pose is designed to work with arms that fit also my Assault Intercessor sergeant.

He also got the backbanner so that I have more if those in my force.

Eliminator at the back has his base extended (I originally set him on 32mm)

ABR Intercessors are also built and currently the waiting for the structural paste on their bases to dry. 

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by Majkhel

[Dosjetka]

The Sergeant looks great so far: the pose especially looks good and implies the necessary amount of superhuman menace.

[Xenith]

Those Catas are next level, awesome work Majkhel! 

[Majkhel]

Hey, thanks for the praises! I'm really happy to hear you like my latest works  

Sorry for late replies, I've been away from the hobby for couple of weeks because of RL demands plus my painting arm is aching recently a lot for no apparent reason. May be my forties are catching up to the sitting way of working

Anyway I still have the KT on my desk and hope to complete the flamer-dude soon.

Cheers!

[Majkhel]

Couple of days later I found myself completing the "pyromaniac":

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I had somehow poor lighting so there's a lot of very dark shadows after adjusting the Curves. Sorry for that.

 

I'm pretty happy with the build of that guy. Based on the ETB Assault Intercessor he holds a fusion of a regular Flamer and Bolt Rifle. Placing the promethium canister on the side was the easiest way of connecting this particular part. If I'm to be honest, it's definitely not the best in terms of ergonomics. But it's interesting enough to validate it. I might revisit the design if flamers (pyreblasters?) ever return to line squads. 

I wanted to make the marine himself helmetless as I enjoyed a thought of an angelic visage of Sanguinius' scion being a last thing a heretic sees before being turned into a toast.  The helmet is there on the base though, badly damaged and discarded. 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Another battle-brother for the KT and a WYSIWYG ABR-Intercessor of the 2nd Squad:
 

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It might be considered an overkill to paint a regular grunt like this one with this level of details, but it really feels right in my bones to do so for the sake of Astartes lore. And it's really satisfying even if it takes some time  (this one was painted in 4 evenings, which I actually consider quite fast in my book) 

 

I also did a little background for him if anyone's interested: 

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I would definitely never do that for the whole of my army, but thinking on the story behind the marine helps me in adding personality to the paintjob. In this case it was a black faceplate of his helmet which I turned around Captain Tycho's story.

 

There is a story about the flamer guy too btw.

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Edited October 31, 2022 by Majkhel

[Majkhel]

Another week, another Blood Angel

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Nothing overly special here apart from the fact that I tried edge-highlighting some of the tuft's red blades (after Juan Hidalgo). I have to agree it adds more definition to the tuft and looks better on the pictures

And a short story for the 'Knives in the Void' event:

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For that challenge I still have the Sergeant with PF to paint as well as upgrade paintjob for an Eliminator and a single Assault Intercessor

Edited June 30, 2023 by Majkhel

[Spyros]

Amazing Intercessors!

[Majkhel]

17 hours ago, Spyros said:

Amazing Intercessors!

Thanks, brother!  I'm happy you like them!

 

Have to say I've been pretty exhausted lately, but I have high hopes for the nearest weekend (which is an extended one in my country). 
I did upgrade a paint job on one of my Assault Intercessors lately to check how I feel about it. Will post pictures in couple of days.

[Brother Christopher]

While I have nothing constructive to add, apart from that you're doing an absolutely amazing job with your miniatures, I just wanted drop a comment staying that I now up-to-date with your progress. Your dedication, attention to detail and overall skills are commendable!

 

Keep up the Emperor's work.

[Raziel-TX]

Loving your minis and paintbrush skills! Well done. 

[Majkhel]

Thanks! It means a lot to hear you approve of my works 

[Majkhel]

Long time no see, but I'm still around and will continue working on my Blood Angels in 2023 

@Brother Christopher, @Raziel-TX - thank you very much! While I'm happy to be painting in general, it's greatly rewarding to share and in a way - paint for you guys!

 

Here is the final mini of 2022 - an Eliminator Sergeant:

 

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It's actually a repaint of my older work way from June 2019 (that was for ETL VII). One thing was to change the camouflage pattern on the cloak to match my current idea of it Another was to enlarge the base to 40mm as for some trange reason I glued the original Shadowspear Eliminators on 30mm bases. A flat 40mm disc underneath the base plus some milliput filling. It's OK and lets leave it at that

It wouldn;t be a proper summary post without a group shot of my 2022 completions so here it is:

23 models added to the Blood Angels' force ( 1276pts according to current values), 3 models repainted.

 

While I'm happy with the model, I cannot deny that I pursued the 'optional' goals from my 2022 plan more
Reinforcements from the 1st (VanVets, Relic Terminators), 8th (ATVs), 9th (Eradicators) and 10th (Eliminators) Companies form the majority of my models. My 5th got 2 extra tanks and some spare Intercessors. 

 

So for 2023 my plan will be to try and complete as much of the 2022 plan as possible:

1. Complete 5th Core:
- a 5-man unit of something for a total of 101 marines   (here I'm waiting for this year's reveals. Hoping for some specialist Devastators or Assault equivalent) 

2. Complete 5th Company Command:

- an Ancient at the minimum   (I found out that I actually dread this one - so many expectations...) 
- bonus points for: another Captain, 2nd Lieutenant, another Apothecary, Company Champion, 2+ Company Veterans

3. Successively update back banners for Sergeants and squad designation for troops.
- ...    (that's actually started for 2nd Squad)

4. Continue expanding 5th Company vehicle park (any of the below):

- Repulsor (ETL)

- Repulsor Executioner (ETL)

- 1 Impulsor

- Drop pod (repaint)
- 1-2 Stormravens (1 to finish)
- 1-2 Contemptor dreadnoughts (repaint)

- Castraferrum Dreadnought

- Leviathan Dreadnought
- ....

5*. Optional:
Other various characters (any of the below):
- Mephiston
- 1-2 Primaris Captains
- BG Ancient

Other various units:
- 1-4 Bladeguard (ETL)
- 3-6 Outriders (ETL)
- 3-5 Eradicators (ETL)

- 5 Eliminators (repaint)
- Sanguinary Guard
- more DC Intercessors
- update paintjob on firstborn DC
- Veteran Intercessors
- 5 Relic Terminators (ETL)

- ....

 

[Xenith]

Love that work, and that's some good stuff and a nice amount of models you've managed to get done in the year! 

 

Got any ideas for the back banners, and fancy a comparison shot of the 1st and last Blood Angel mini of 2022? I think your style changed a bit right?

[Majkhel]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:37 PM, Xenith said:

Love that work, and that's some good stuff and a nice amount of models you've managed to get done in the year! 

 

Got any ideas for the back banners, and fancy a comparison shot of the 1st and last Blood Angel mini of 2022? I think your style changed a bit right?

Thanks!

An interesting idea to compare how things developed over the year! I don't think I can actually fairly compare my first and model of the year fairly: first was a tank, last was a re-paint of a mostly black infantry.

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But if I were to compare first and last fully painted infantry models.... there's not that much of a difference I'd say

I think I developed more rapidly in 2021. 2022 seems to be more of a 'consolidation' year for me. I feel I'm now fully settled and comfortable with my paint scheme and recipes for red and black. Same goes for battle damage. Changes are more cosmetic in nature:
- I like to put some things and bits on the bases more often now apart from the texture paints and tufts (which I also edge highlight a bit btw)

- I do discreet OSL effects more often

- I think my heraldry (knee pads) got a litle more convincing too despite it becoming a challenge to develop something at least partly unique every time.

 

 

If I were to say what I'm most happy about it would be my Infintrators' camo scheme and lightning claws' design I developed for VanVets and Cataphractii

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Now about the banners. For squad banners I'm going to continue with the basic idea of an enlarged squad designation emblem (with approrpiate codex colors) with some limited additional markings denoting past glories. It's simple and eI think effective.

I still am groping with ideas for big Company/Chapter banners. I want them to be richly ornamentated and immediately striking as relics of incredible history and glory.... I probably want too much... 

Thanks for nudging me to delve a little deeper into the past year's hobbying! It was inspirational  

 

 

Current work - I have a 5th Company 2nd squad sergeant on my desk. Last member of the KIll Team I vowed for the Knives in the Void event.

 

Cheers!

[Majkhel]

Sharing completion of the BA Kill Team

Highlight being the Sergeant who will lead 2nd Squad from now on. 

Oh, and my BA force has lost ~1,5k points with the latest changes. So now i have ~10,7k pts of Blood Angels (5th Company lost ~700pts)