[WIP] Sons of Horus, 65th Company

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

VYKES! MY LORD. PLEASE, WOULD YOU SHARE ME SOME OF THAT TURRET DELICIOUSNESS? 

I was *just* lamenting recently as to how ablative and reactive armor would look like on predators in 30k, and if it had a place or not! 

[Vykes]

-laughs- Ah Pearson, on this one that cannon ain't getting any shorter.  My issue with the existing Executioner is its stubby plasma cannon should be scorching the roof of the drivers compartment on a good day and liquifying it the rest of the time.  I need the barrel shroud to at least clear their own vehicle (thanks Deimos for your blasted turret being sat so far back of the centre).  Stowage is definitely a strong possibility, as is some plating on the top (it only struck me recently but with this mutt of a predator tank, the non-Schurtzen cavalry version has a silhouette remarkably similar to an M2 Bradley.)

 

I could probably getcha that file, Hungry Nostraman Lizard m'dude.  Heh, been screeching at the mesh a little from one or two errors and actually fixing them on the supported STL I exported from blender.  So I can clean up the master mesh and get a copy of it up when it's done if ya like.  Otherwise you'll be dealing with the same frustrating little quirks in a validator that I have.  

 

But yeah, I'm a pretty big fan of the far-wider ablative armour predator look myself.  -sighs- gonna be having to replace a fair number of turrets in addition to the engine blocks.  I half wonder if I'm just gonna be stuck with a floor plate left from the original Predator design in the end. 

 

Well, got 2 printed, hopefully #3 will be done without issue tonight and cured tomorrow.  Then a revamped squadron soon enough.  *silently wonders if I should add in the smoke launchers or not*

Edited September 28, 2020 by Vykes

[BadgersinHills]

Really cool! :) 

[Vykes]

Eh, thankies BadgersinHills! I do what I can

Well well, guess I have a bit of a WIP before I can let everything finish curing (sun wasn't out much at all yesterday so it slowed a lot down) but I did manage to at least get a bit of work done on the executioner turret. I'm not quire sure if I want to redo the whole ammo storage unit with a plasma venting unit, or just modify it with the plasma conduit ribbing from those storage tanks that came with the terrain set. Already sliced one in half and it works pretty well without me having to go into Blender and think of something. Also mulling over smoke launchers right above the venting on the turret so it's in line with the top of the ablative armour.

[BadgersinHills]

Good stuff. The attention to detail is really nice to see. 

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

Yeah, I'm definitely interested in the file Vykes!

I got your engine one, here's what it's looking like at the mo'

[Cadmus Tyro]

Welcome back Vykes, great to see this thread in action again! Liking the 3D printing, something I will never get my head round! That army shot is fantastic, reminds me of the old WD epic army shots.....except it’s 28mm scale.

 

Looking forward to more bat reps!

 

Cadmus

[Vykes]

Ah thankies BadgerinHills, I do what I can to get all this done up in that sort of grungy 'real' style.

Eeeeeh looking like that got a serious upgrade in the Power/weight ratio department, Hungry Nostraman Lizard my dude! I still love the look of your armoured company! Glad to see more preds around.

Thanks a ton Cadmus Tyro, m'man! 3D printing, man, It's actually not too toooo terrible, and man it adds to the whole 'customization' thing. Though yeah, I know that feeling. I'm trying to get used to a graphic tablet drawing thingamajig and it's something that's insanely hard for me. And thanks, honestly that army shot was fun but man I gotta spread em out a little... and I need more heavy vehicles to really get that 'epic' look. Been a while since I saw those old WD scale shots, there's a game system that's probably right to my scale but I'd still probably go overboard on the infantry .

Hoping we'll be getting some bat-reps soon enough, got one video one from a while ago that's gonna go up at soooome point, and there's a narrative event in December for #ReturntoIstvaan that has a full 10 person group that should be a ton of fun (Covid providing, of course).

Well, I got up to a bit more work and, while not done (Stowage is just being primed) I did get a new squadron of Predators done up in the new T-72 Cavalry type... though they now remind me more of M2 Bradleys too because of their profile.

[battle captain corpus]

Lovely work as always Vykes! Top notch Heresy brother!

 

BCC

[StratoKhan]

Those are some really nice turrets, great work! I like the look of the longer barrels.

[Vykes]

Aaay thanks mates, means a lot. Always glad to be part of the heresy camp Battle Cap'n Coprus, sah! What can I say, there's so much wiggle room in the heresy department that it always draws ya back in, eh?

-laughs- Glad ya like the longer barreled version, StratoKhan! Gotta admit I'm happy with how they all turned out. The whole look just works for me and I'm glad that it all sorta panned out. Decided to remix a toxiflamer* from a contemptor into the Infernus so hoooopefully (still gotta do some dimension measuring) it'll work out too for a third version of the Predator.

*I can't recall who off the top of my head, I'll have to go into the files and find the credit, then update it here. It was a cool weapon mod that I'll be doing when my third contemptor arrives (waiting for the Land Raider MKIIB to get back in stock in the NA FW store).

Edited October 4, 2020 by Vykes

[RyuNura]

Really amazing work. I've been slightly inspired yet I can't seem to fully decide on a single Legion so I shall probably be doing Shattered Legions and doing bits of lore for each part of the force before they came together.

[Vykes]

Eh I'm glad I could be of any inspiration or help to ya, RyoNura! Honestly, I get that. Most of my local group has some degree of Shattered Legion force that ends up slowly growing along what lines they find most interesting. Ain't nothing wrong with that, either! Honestly it all depends on what theme ya end up enjoying playing, and painting.

As for the company, yeeeash sorry it's been a little bit: ended up with some fun personal stuff that's made this a little more quiet and backgroundy. But I have been getting some stuff done. But, I have ended up finishing that infernus!

But I also ended up doing up another Predator Cavalry squadron. Honestly, I think I need 1 more to 'finish' up that section if I'm gonna go with a full on armoured company contingent in the battalion, even if I'm not sure what constitutes a 30K tank company (compared to now). Always happy to hear people's thoughts of course.

And as a last little note, I was toying around on Twitter and ended up talking to a few mates there. I ended up talking with Artists Empire who was doing a free paint over day, and I was honoured that they selected one of the pictures I had up at the time. So, y'know, check 'em out and over here again, thanks again eh!

[Markus_]

Always nice to read new stuff on this thread, it's a fantastic army.
Love the dabbling into 3d printing as well, it's a whole world of possibilities for a tech savvy hobbyist.

[Vykes]

Eh, thanks a ton Markus my dude. Agreed on it, 3D modelling really does add a nice bit of variety into the hobby, supplementing what's already around. I mean, sure you could just 'add' stuff but there's one crazy little thing that was partially driving me crazy: there's no left handed marines.

I still needed something for 'standard Seekers' with their wonky bolters and somehow different look. So I went with a 'dismounted dragoon' feel, the visions snout mk IV, and I had to add some crew to a rapier that didn't have bolters. I think it worked out for what I needed. Beyond that, went for a 'different' sort of Seeker sergeant, if only because toying with some too-serious sorts is allowed when I've had to build this many Sons of Horus thus far. Decided I'd also try my hand at attempting another skintone... still need some practice but it's coming along.

Still a bunch of assault marines and the last of the destroyers that just need to be put on their bases, but it's something.

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

Spectacular. Love the base and the grime on the boots. It flows into one another, complimenting. Excellent. I'm not a fan of the snouty Mark 4, but I think what you've done and as to why, was the right move. Definitely gives it a specialist feel.

[Vykes]

Eh thanks a ton Hungry Nostraman Lizard my dude! I always figured I needed to kinda meld the model with the base, and the grime and chips seem to do it pretty well. Even though sometimes it can be a touch overpowering, too. The snouty mk IV was a sort of fun homage but I also figured that the snout is kind of that 'transitional' piece between mk IV and the mk VI beakie armour with some more audio visual communication packed in. It also makes them look different and 'heresy' enough... as to why I didn't use mk VI when I have all the plastic parts and what not readily available.

I... don't actually know. It would have made far more sense and I'm sure I had some justification at the time. -ponders blankly-

AS for today, finished up pinning the rest of the stuff I was working on. I now have 35 assault marines in the contingent, and I don't know why that is. On one hand, I swore I only had 30, but sure enough, 35... 5 shot from 2 full units and that's incredibly annoying to me.

And I did finish up my Destroyer squad, Epoch's End. FW stopped selling the upgrade kits for torsos so I had to go and finish them up with what I could make and mix with some assault squads and the like. But still, I rather like them. Think I'm gonna add a crest to the sergeant though.

[Brother Pheidias]

Where's that head from?

Edited November 3, 2020 by Brother Pheidias

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

I feel you on that. Sometimes we just do things and it works out. I get what you're saying about the transitional variant. Makes total sense, I like it. Those figs look amazing. I'd love to get a game against them someday. 

I too finished a Sons of Horus unit today (Surprise!), i'll go post it in the 30k hobby thread, mate. Would love to hear your thoughts on the paintjob.

[Vykes]

Man, Brother Pheidas my dude, I really can't recall. I know it's a sisters of battle head mixed with a marine 'base' neck piece but I'm having a hard time finding the exact credit. I'll make sure to look it up, reverse search and post it up (but it was a Sisters of battle Alt head out there in the Noosphere). Think I'm gonna churn out a few more of various types and sprinkle them in here and there. Always fun for me and, hey, can't have too many troopers.

Always, eh hungry Nostraman Lizard? One of the local 30K crew ended up saying about the 'Snouty' helms, "It's pretty in character with the Sons of Horus, it fits the Cthonians sniffing out and hunting down all the Raven Guard beakiest on the black sands." I've grown to really like that notion for Seekers in particular. -laughs- and yeah, that would rock and I'd be up to it if that could ever get swung, eh?

I did take a look over at the particular unit and maaaaaaaaan, Superb. I've got some more I'll say there, but y'nailed it mate, you nailed it. You controlled your settings crazy good too, so my compliments on that front too! Soulforge got another patron too, great, now I might have to work up something like the 42nd/251st

Well, because I have a scheduled IP net update tomorrow and I'll likely be gone for a few days... my usual cleaner than normal work desk is as such: I needed a command predator, some bases, extra armour, and a Warmonger. I'm just a little angry I didn't pop the hatch with that turret and go for the manned look... may have to do another one. All set and then some for Istvaan coming up, now I gotta think on how to evolve the army a bit more.

Anyone got a take on what a smaller second line armoured company would consist of? (# of predators, Sicarans, other assets, Rhino APC's, troopers, etc? I really can't find a good outline). Nostraman Lizardman my dude, you do have a pretty rockin' premier company

Edited November 4, 2020 by Vykes

[Brother Pheidias]

Thanks Vykes, I just thought it might've been... Statuesque, I think they're called. But a seamless conversion

[Noserenda]

Oooh nice work on the seekers, great to see another cavalry fan out there too! I was building my Predator companies as 1 HQ tank, 3x3 Predator squadrons and an ARV per company with a Damocles(?) command rhino to support the battalion command tank.

[Pearson73]

That flamer design looks cracking, as does the new squadron, nothing better than an armoured force on display! Likewise the Artist Empire edit is a really nice piece, such images would be a really nice accompaniment to your more narrative linked posts. The Rapier team and Seekers came out well too, though I'm not a huge fan of the snouty look, it does feel like it's jumped right out of the pages of the older art and lore books.

[Marshal Vespasian]

Love them bases, where are those from?

 

As always great stuff on your end

[Vykes]

Eyas mates, wow, net 'upgrade' took a lot longer than expected and then got interrupted by a snowstorm. Lovely, but quintessentially Canada.

Eh thanks Brother Pheidias my dude, that's a pretty awesome thing to hear as I've always been a big fan of the statuesque heads. I had to do a bit of work to blend a regular 'human' head and the astartes head suit socket and seal, but I think it worked. Man, those statuesque heads always show up on my wish list and I keep putting them off due to shipping, lockdown, etc :P But I do need to snag some of them and more Anvil heads pretty quick. Figure I'll add a few around the company.

Definitely right on the money there Noserenda! Them seekers were fun to do up, and always had a bit of a connection to dragoons. I think they're looking suitably different and stand out juuuust enough. -laughs- I do love my cavalry tanks, speedy quick, and cheap little things palling around and being a nuisance rather than sitting on a hill in the back. I do think that organization makes sense, and expanded even a bit, an heavy squadron of Vindicator Tank Destroyers in support and section of 2 Sicarans to round out the 'roles' seems appropriate enough. I do think the Damocles is the right call, too. Though I wish we had a Promethius equivalent, with its quad heavy bolters and auspex relay. I'm still agonizing over a capstone unit, something like a section of 2 Fellblades feels possible but too heavy for something as minimal as a company, while a Shadowsword or Macharius might fill the role of something dredged up from a 2nd rate battalion's reserve motor pool.

Glad you're likin' it Pearson my dude. Honestly I'm a fan of the flamer too. I was a bit concerned when I flipped back and realized, "Wait, I don't have the melta cannon!" So now I gotta do that up some time, too. But it is fun adding a few new pieces of armour to the equation and getting it all on parade. Man, I'd meant for that picture to come out with some narrative stuff from over the weekend as we were planning on a 3,250 pt series of games just to get some bigger toys on the table, but lockdowns and advisories cut it off. So it'll absolutely and definitely be getting a write up soon enough, once it earns it I was hesitant at first with the snouty look but the more I look at it, the more it's been growing on me because it is just so different. Very much 'old art book' even if said art books were occasionally hideous in parts

Eyas Marshal Vespasian, those bases are a file from Ennepedude that I printed off. The actual bases are a little too geometric for me, so I just added a touch of martian ironcrust and ironearth, then primed them. They work pretty great, give that extra little height and dynamic. And thankies thankies.

Well, I did spend most of my time doing some painting, but it was typically warcry, D&D prep, or Christmas gifts, but there was a few things. I've been working up some parts to convert typical off the shelf Raiders into something like a mkII Proteus hybrid given that FW still doesn't have the things in stock, but my local store does have a couple Raiders for curbside pick up. So working on that and some parts for the 3rd squadron. But beyon that, I had to at least do something vaguely interesting. I realized I do have 1 Warmonger, but wanted a second. So, with a few spare bits, I made our dear new assault lieutenant up. (He's in the background of the last picture). Its got printed parts, plastic parts, FW resin parts, metal parts, green stuff, and naturally blood. Using him as Yade Durso under Aximand for the Istvaan events next month. I am thinking of adding the pleated leather cingulum but I'm not quite sure yet.