Clawthorn: Astral Claws Kill Team

[hushrong]

Oh man! The Astral Claws are looking superb! The paint jobs are ace and the detail just lends to the fact they’re in the midst of a conflict. The bits of character fluff are just as great as well!

[brother tycho]

Agree with hushrong, it's a treat to follow your works

[apologist]

Thanks for the kind words and ideas.

 

Some seriously tasty Badab Juice being served up around here. Always been a fan of your work Brother.

Love the character you have put into these beauties. The various pauldrons reflecting how much they are on board with the whole Tyrant thing is a masterstroke. Having a squad of conflicting personalities is ace and fitting for the Badab setting.

You are right about the double loss regarding the Imperium forcing them to rebel. Should have just given him his resources. Damn Black Library really need to give us a Badab series of Novels.

As for your last post and doing casualty markers for them all all I can say is that too much is not enough!!!

 

Cheers – I've always loved taking a closer look at the individuals in armies, and Kill Team is perfect to explore little facets. I find trying to balance the iconic bits with some uniqueness is the key.

 

 

Just getting caught up now Apologist, fantastic work!

 

As for Akkad and the HB, perhaps drum fed would be the way to go.... Cadence currently has a bad habit of jamming on Akkad with his back-pack supply.

 

I mean there is a reason why Tyber is lugging around a belt or HB Kraken ammo for Akkad after all.

 

Ha ha – yeah, maybe a simpler approach is best! :D

 

 

I really like that blue stripe on that studded shoulder pad, I think both Nurgling6688 and Hyaenidae use the blue stripe on the weapons but it really works on the armour. Borrowing that idea for if/when I get my Astral Claws going again.

 

Keep it awesome, the Tyrant Approves

 

Ta very much – and hope to see some movement on the Badab front, NFR :)

+ Brother Baraqu +

The oldest member of Clawthorn by nearly two decades, Baraqu was ruthless and deadly. His hard-won experience and cold demeanour made him a deadly foe. Known to have survived to the bitter end of the Badab War, he was not counted amongst the dead at the Palace of Thorns. His body may have been lost or utterly destroyed, but it is possible that he lives on in exile with the Tyrant himself.

 

 

In addition to the tiger's head heraldry, the Tyrant's Star of Badab is used prominently. As faithful followers of Huron, most of the squad wear this in preference to the head. I thought – foolishly – it would be easier than the cat's head, but it proved quite a challenge!

 

 

As well as the Maximus helm, note the preponderance of gold on heat vents and pauldron trim – I thought this was a good way to mark him out as a veteran.

 

 

He bears the wheeling sun symbol of the Maelstrom Warders on his knee – perhaps a memory of happier times?

 

 

Another angle. Some figures work best from a particular view – the sergeant above is a good example – but the most successful have multiple 'good sides'.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Baraqu is well done.

[apologist]

+ Brother Ahmos Soter +

Surly, uncommunicative and curmudgeonly, Soter was equally feared and loathed by the humans under his command during his time in the Tyrant's Legion. A vindictive streak sealed his reputation for cruelty – but it also made him amongst the most effective heavy weapon operatives in the Chapter, doggedly pursuing his foes to the limits of endurance. Prior to his death at the hands of what proved to be an equally stubborn and hard-to-kill Son of Medusa, he had made seven confirmed Astartes kills.

I never need much of an excuse to show Mark V helms.
 

As mentioned earlier, I think he's a good example of trying to be clear-sighted enough to adjust 'completed' figures. By assessing and changing a single unsuccessful figure, I ended up with two I really like.
 

Nothing hugely exciting here, but it does shows the subtle weathering around the feet rather nicely. Spending a few minutes ensuring your figures are rooted in their world helps to create a sense of realism – even in space knights.
 

...and a shot showing the braced pose.

[Xin Ceithan]

It is always a pleasure and deeply inspiring to see you work. I love lurking around your stuff and seeing your thoughts.

Your Death Guard are amazing but I think that your work on these Astral Claws really exemplifies your outlook. They are a great choice in poses and as usual, your fluff is fun to read.

But I feel that seeing you turn the some what ... unassuming paint scheme of silver and blue into something full of character. Really really great !

 

(I am also quite jealous of your gaming group .. would love to have someone around for a Badab War Killteam Campaign. Of course, I 'd never get the minis painted up in time! Still... ;p )

[Mazer Rackham]

 

 

 

 

MR.

[No Foes Remain]

He's perfect.....

[apologist]

It is always a pleasure and deeply inspiring to see you work. I love lurking around your stuff and seeing your thoughts.

Your Death Guard are amazing but I think that your work on these Astral Claws really exemplifies your outlook. They are a great choice in poses and as usual, your fluff is fun to read.

But I feel that seeing you turn the some what ... unassuming paint scheme of silver and blue into something full of character. Really really great !

 

(I am also quite jealous of your gaming group .. would love to have someone around for a Badab War Killteam Campaign. Of course, I 'd never get the minis painted up in time! Still... ;p )

Thanks for the kind words and thoughtful comment. I'm very lucky to have such a talented – and jolly nice – group of friends!

I do agree that the Astral Claws' updated scheme is a bit bland – though oddly, that was part of the attraction. As with my Praetors of Calth Ultramarines,  approaching an (at the time) unloved force that so many thought boring, and making it engaging and interesting – while at the same time respecting the existing structure – provides a real challenge. I'm a big believer that any aspect of 40k holds potential – so while that may be hidden, there's lots under the surface. :)

 

 

 

Thanks, man – love you too! :D

 

He's perfect.....

Oh, stop! :)

 

+++

 

Talking of the PCRC, the High Lords have sanctioned the Tyrant; and even now Space Marine forces are hastening to battle stations. The belligerents so far are:

 

Omricon – Salamanders (Squad Phoenix).

Stuntwedge – Sons of Medusa and Mantis Warriors.

TrojanNinja – Loyalist dream team! A mixed Kill Team including a Space Shark, Exorcist, and Fire Hawk.

Bob Hunk – Lamenters.

Apologist – Astral Claws.

 

I'm looking forward to sharing the others' kill teams with you in a future post – from what I've seen so far, they're a real treat :)

 

In the meantime, you'll have to put up with more of my stuff – and here's another marine. Most likely another Astral Claw (to give some variety and choice when it comes to picking a team), he may end up as another Chapter. Who knows?

 

 

The base figure is the slightly awkwardly-posed sergeant from Dark Imperium. A few cuts here and there, in combination with some parts from the multi-part Intercessor kit, and I think we've ended up with something a bit more natural.

 

I've left the long bolt rifle on here, as I felt the strap added to the sense of motion. It also offers an option of representing a stalker bolter or some similar specialised equipment

 

A bit of spare greenstuff has been used to make a few semi-abstract blocks on the ground. When I have some left over, I often use it to help add interest to a base.

 

But why did I have some spare? Well, I've been trying my hand at simple moulds. The injured Astartes below is the result. Some of the detail is quite soft, but he's perfectly acceptable as an injured figure, I think – more battlefield debris than focal point.

 

[Grim Dog Studios]

Fantastic stuff in here, I am always impressed your miniatures. Even with only subtle changes you have made the Primaris marines work brilliantly as regular astartes.

[hushrong]

I'm drooling at the thought of seeing some Badab War kill team batreps (when the time comes). And as for the new marine, who looks fantastic by the way, if he needs to be from another chapter may I recommend Executioners?

[Gorgoff]

DAMN you nailed it once again Apologist.

Awesome team so far.

[No Foes Remain]

Apologist I have two options, shower you with deserved praise and enjoy your models or pick up my paint brush and start up my Astral Claws again (which is even more tempting as one of my mates is now collecting Minotaurs which has put a dampner on our friendship). So I'm being lazy and choosing the easier of the two.

[Calgar 2.0]

Excellent work as always Apologist

[apologist]

Fantastic stuff in here, I am always impressed your miniatures. Even with only subtle changes you have made the Primaris marines work brilliantly as regular astartes.

Ta – and I think that really highlights the fact that Primaris, after all, aren't that different from the marines we know and love. They're really more of a modern interpretation of the same source than a development.

 

I'm drooling at the thought of seeing some Badab War kill team batreps (when the time comes). And as for the new marine, who looks fantastic by the way, if he needs to be from another chapter may I recommend Executioners?

*Hand twitches on axe*

Don't tempt me... :)

 

He's accompanied by a new squadmate/enemy here.

 

DAMN you nailed it once again Apologist.

Awesome team so far.

Thanks Gorgoff :)

 

Apologist I have two options, shower you with deserved praise and enjoy your models or pick up my paint brush and start up my Astral Claws again (which is even more tempting as one of my mates is now collecting Minotaurs which has put a dampner on our friendship). So I'm being lazy and choosing the easier of the two.

Ha ha – sounds like you need to get some more Astral Claws going to combat those gold-armoured thugs.

 

Excellent work as always Apologist

Ta very much.

 

+++

Minor work, as I've been concentrating on The Alien Wars recently, but I have now got the deadies ready for a splash of paint:

 

(Apologies for the dreadful picture!)

 

[hushrong]

You say "squadmate/enemy" I see Executioners moving in for the kill.

 

And seeing these bodies I think it would be really cool to see a Corpsetaker pop up sooner or later.

[Armond]

Beautiful work!  Soooooo, anymore room for some additional assistance from another faction from the Badab War?  Thinking....  Star Phantoms?

[Reyner]

So awesome man wish I had just a bit of your talent or even attention span to get something finished

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

Really nice work, the casualties are a really cool idea!

[Brother Dallo]

Now, I’m not saying I bought some Astral Claws shoulderpads on eBay today, with the intention of modelling up some Truescale Badab Kill Team models, but I’m not saying I didn’t. :p

 

Some really cool looking stuff here. I’m eager to see where this project goes.

 

Keep up the good work.

 

Dallo