Return of the Fist

[Rizara]

Hey guys.  I totally failed during the ETL this summer.   Truth be told, I almost parted ways with my marines, but in the end I decided to keep most of them.  Instead I am clearing out the painted Crimson Fists and going to go back with doing Imperial fists.   I will say, I regret selling off the small batch of Imperial fists I painted back at the start of 8th edition.  Painting yellow was tedious, however, since I just got an Airbrush, I am looking at speeding the process up some considerably.  I was debating on doing my own chapter, but the yellow armor kept screaming at me, and after weeks of coming up with a color scheme and finally coming up with a test model, going back to yellow and the ease of the air brush to speed up the painstaking color will make this a bit easier.   

 

So far I have not committed to the Dorn painting event.  I will, but it wont be much.   Right now I have to get some stuff for masking and the correct colors for my airbrush to get this army started.  I also have to finish a small pumpkin art project as well as finish painting up what i need to finish for my 2k AOS blades of khorne army to take it to a tournament at the end of October (mostly two blood thirsters, and finishing off 10 warriors, 5 wrath mongers and a hero on foot that are mostly started).   After that I will get a tiny bit of relief to paint some fists till sisters gets released and they start to become my big focus.  

 

At this point my goals are to simply get the army painted.  So i am going to be looking at using the air brush to get the core yellow done with most of the highlights, then maybe take a brush to add a small edge highlight, then I am going to add some weathering through washes and sponge chipping effects.  My details will be limited to characters mostly, but I will have to add in all the black and do some highlight to these areas, leather straps, parchments and purity seals, and special helmet colors and chest eagles.   I decided to invest in some custom decals so i wont have to hand paint all the details that i will be adding to make them feel a little more unique, like chapter badges and squad markings.  I will have to add numbers but that is minor compared to painting all the symbols.  I will spend a little more time on characters as I will probably add a little heraldy to the LT's, captains, chaplains and librarians.    The goal really is to get the army well, painted.  After this i am not getting rid or chaning out the marines again.  I have spent to much time doing that in the past and its time to crack down and stick to an army.  This time, official colors with personalization.   On top of that they will look good with my house hawkshroad knights that I need to finish painting so i can get them assembled, and will compliment the Order of the Blood rose sisters i am going to be collecting.  

 

I will probably get some pics added this weekend after I get some base coats assembled to the models.  

So far, what i have assembled for the army is 6 agressors, 3 inceptors, captain, a LT, a chaplain, apothecary, phobos librarian, 3 exterminators, 2 redemptors, a repulsor, a repulsor exterminator, and an invictus tactical warsuit.    I have to finish getting the inceptor squad and surpressors attached to their base so i can get them ready.   After that I need to finish going back and fixing up a unit of hellblasters, 2 units of intercessors, and a primaris librarian as well.   I may add more depending on releases, as i do plan to pick up at least two impulsors when they are released for transport options if not more, and i thought about adding a flyer or two.  I will also need to reinvest in a new ancient, and a new second LT model at some point to round out my army more and maybe some more intercessors/hellblasters/inceptors(with plasma) as well.     

 

For now I got enough to get started.   I am looking forward to the project, as I really do like the way the Imperial fists look on the table.  I think that is why i wasn't enjoying painting my crimson fists, because although they are a great chapter, I just felt the army was to dark for my personal taste and was having a hard time staying interested in painting them.   I still have a converted primaris Kantor and I am debating on keeping him or painting and selling him.  Guess i will have to wait for the book.  I could always just change his storm bolter so something else and use him as a captain with power fist.  he definitely looks much cooler than the official model.  

[Aothaine]

Welcome back to the fold! I myself have been jumping around a lot as well. Finally decided to focus on what I love. Bolters. Imperial Fists are damned awesome with them and with the enhanced chapter tactic being shown I was sold on them. Still working out how to paint my color scheme myself so I know the pains there. But an air brush would make so many things so much easier. Have to wait until sometime in 2020 before I'll be able to get one of those though. Maybe for Christmas... 

 

Anyway... really looking forward to see your work! What color of yellow are you going for? I'm going for the sulphur look that gw is displaying on their contrast paint Iyanden Yellow. Still working out how to get that nice bright yellow. But I think I have the key now. :D I'll share once I get it down correctly.

 

[Rizara]

i do like the brighter yellows, the averland sun is a good base but its a bit to dark for my taste and what I see. I see the fists as a vibrant golden yellow, since Rogal dorn was decked out in a golden suit of armor I would see them going for the vibrant golden yellow. I have seen them done in many ways but that will be what I am going for. I have some basic acryllics as my airbrush is also used for art so I picked it up so i can learn to paint with it on canvas as well (and possibly other materials and mediums as well). However I am going to go with GW air for the models so I can get an exact mixxed paint to use so i am not having to do the mixxing and trying to come up with the formula each and every time. Once I do the initial sprays I can write down the colors for adding stuff to the army at a future date. The last time i painted some fists, i used averland spray, then yriel yellow with an edge of dorn yellow. or yriel and white mix. It was tedious work, but i think adding the black was more tedious especially when I messed up as i now had to go back in and add a layer and the yellow always felt so thick in comparison to me. I have used the contrast color over the greyseer grey and it is a really nice shade of yellow, it actually feels great for a fist color, it just still lacks a little depth to me is all, but it works well if you want a fast way to paint. Here is an example of the fists i did back when 8th first dropped. I will be reincorporating some of the elements in my new models as well. Specifically adding the templars cross as a veteran logo, and recreating the campaign badge with the twin axes, but this time both black axes over the split colors, and some of the checkered patterns. However I will also be keeping all my veteran helmets black instead of white, with a black and red stripe for veteran sergeant (normal sergeant will have red), white stripe for the LT, and captain will have a white stripe surrounded by red stripes on black helm.

Edited September 11, 2019 by Rizara

[Bjorn Firewalker]

You're a skilled painter, Rizara. I hope to see your new works soon.

[Rizara]

thanks, i should be after 20 years of being in the hobby, and also have a degree in illustration.  Pencil and pen work are my strongest suits in art, but my skills have slacked recently but also due to piss poor lighting in this 116 year old house i live in.  I have learned that i get burned out to easily now days painting, motivation seems to always lack, especially if you aren't playing, and i simply have way to many distractions in life.   The airbrush is a new tool, learning it will be easy yet difficult since I currently envision doing things I don't have the skill with yet.  It should be fun.  

[Aothaine]

I'll be getting an air brush as well sometime next year when I move out of where I'm currently staying. Really looking forward to the soft and even coats that an airbrush can lay down. :D 

 

Also, I really like your approach to yellow and agree with you that the Imperial Fists would most likely take a bright yellow to try and mimic Dorn's armor. The Sulphur look is exactly what I want. My first test with the contrast Iyanden Yellow I put on too much and didn't realize that I would need to mop up most of the paint to get that nice soft yellow I want. It also only looks right on the Wraithbone primer. My test models so far went with a Zandri Dust prime then Zenithal Highlight of the Wraithbone. Since this painting method uses mostly light glazes for the yellow armor the Zenithal Highlight really works great!

 

I'll be doing a lot of patch work on the two models I have right now to pull them away from the orange color. Getting a wet pallet at the end of the month hopefully as well. But yeah, if you're interested I'll send you some of the results when I get some stuff nailed down.

[Rizara]

Updated with a wip shot of the chaplain. Mostly so i can do the vow. Got him ready for a starter shot, going to at least knock him out first, mostly since he is in a couple of parts. Will give him a name when I finish. Been basecoating most of the models i listed above as I am learning the air brush as I go.

[Boldthreat]

I love the Lt. He looks like a unique hero with all the personal heraldry.

[Rizara]

Small Update. I got the basecoat of yellow applied, plus some of the vehicles have some black done as well. Been messing around with the airbrush to get this part done. I need to finish getting some other units ready for priming/spraying, but this will take me a little while to finish these off as I got some other projects to work on first and time seems sporadic at times.

I do have some touch up work to do from the masking, but I do like the way this golden yellow turned out. I have an initial highlight on the vehicles but will do some edge highlighting when I can get around to finishing these. Lots of blocking in other colors and having to be careful to not mess up the yellow. Tedious work ahead for sure.

However, i was going to go with 5th company, but I think after seeing the new character today, I am going to end up going 3rd company, however the Captain I already have will be painted 5th company or maybe as part of a reserve company like the 9th. I am still going to end up going with black shoulder pad trim and marking and use the codex standard knee pad marking to represent the companies. I just don't care for the red shoulder pad trims on fists, think they look better with black trim.

Edited September 18, 2019 by Rizara

[Rizara]

So i finished up my chaplain. Its at least one model finish for the army. Been dealing with an AoS league and tournament coming up this saturday too. So honestly not sure when I will get more stuff painted up for this army if anything else by the end of the year. I did however order the supplement and the new primaris character. SO who knows maybe I will do him next. Right now my back log is steep with models, and AoS has been taking over. Helps i am playing those games as i haven't played a 40k game in a year and a half now. Playing games tends to motivate right.

Anyways.

I ended up giving him his Campaign badge on the back of his back pack, because he has a stylized knee pad that shows. His left knee has company markings on it, but you can't see it in the photo or really unless you tilt the model up. But its there. I will have to get more decal softner as I can't seem to find the bottle I had, so it disappeared somewhere. It is really needed for the decals that are printed more so than what comes in the box sets.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work, Rizara.

[Rizara]

Well its been 9 months since i have done any work on my imperial fists. Been busy with Aos Projects, namely painting 2k of slyvaneth and then another 1500 out of my 2k of Disciples of Tzneetch. But i am back to doing some 40k and my fists to prepare to get something painted and ready for 40k 9.0. I haven't played a game of 40k however in a year and a half so there is that. Motivation has been lacking but i have decided to force myself to paint a little each day to eventually get stuff finished.

So i finished my Apothecary. I now have a chaplain and the apothecary although the chaplain is a bit cleaner (may have to go back and weather him some). I am going to be weathering my fists this time around, and i am working on 2 redemptor dreadnoughts next. Figured I might as well go with a legal army even if not the greatest to start with. So a vanguard of 1 Command, and 3 elites. After that I got some agressors, eliminators, and tor garadon I plan to work on before I get to the bulk of the force. Also finished the two bases for my two repulsors while I was painting the bases on the lot I mentioned above. Might as well do a bunch of bases at once right. Anyways onto the pics.

Apothecary Adath, of the 3rd company of Imperial Fists.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Good job on the Apothecary.

[Rizara]

So with 9th here, and Crusade lists being a thing, I decided to start off with my Imperial fists as a crusade army to work on. I was torn between my Sisters army (which is honestly waiting on models that are on back order to get here), necrons and my fists. Necrons there are just to many in the local group starting those so decided to get some love and paint on my fists due to the sisters not being ready. Most of my local area is looking to do crusade, we got some new players in the mix and so far it seems like a good 10-12 people interested in doing crusade lists to play, learn, and get their models painted. So far there seems to be a few necrons, a dark eldar, death guard, and a few marines taking shape and maybe some others I can't recall.

So I put together a 50 power level list to start playing soon. I knew I wanted to bring Tor Garadon to the party, after all no one is better suited for leading the 3rd company to battle even if such a small strike force to start with.

My starting list is basically Tor Garadon, a Chaplain (with relic crozius), 2 x 5 man intercessors squads, a 5 man hell blaster squad, 3 Eradicators, 3 agressors, 3 blade guard, and a Redemptor dreadnought. Here is what my army looked like on Wed at lunch time.

I have since finished all the yellow up to yriel using contrast over the white, and then a bit of a heavy dry brush of yriel yellow over that contrast layer. I then decided to focus on finishing up the dread, characters, and blade guard. The dread looks battle ready but the decals will fool you. Here is the state of progress on the focused models as of last night. They still are not finished, just some little details to do like purity seals and weapon handle wrappings, Tor's cloak, and optics, and the book on the back of the chaplain and dread still needs his cannon finished and some detail love too. But I am making great progress.

The way I am painting the Blade guard, I am counting them as Company Veterans, not first company veterans, but also I see the blade guard as basically a Command squad. They fit the bill perfectly being just 3 models, just add an ancient and will likely use the blade guard LT as a company champion. Since first company tend to use white helms, I opted to give the Company Veterans Black helmets in stead. I am also doing black shoulder trim instead of company color, and adding company marking on knee pads. I Like the look it gives as a heraldry as befitting space marines which are more like futuristic knights.

Sorry about the workspace, Its a temporary set up as my hobby room is in an old piano room of the house which apparently the vents don't work in there so the AC isn't working in that room and its a sauna during the summer months. So i created a portable paint station so i could get back into the swing of things during the hotter months in a much colder room.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Your models are well-painted.

[Rizara]

So I finished these guys back on Saturday. Just been busy haven't gotten to upload them yet.

And a few closer images for the details. Enlarged the first one to show Tor's Fist I decided to give him a red fist simply to break up all the yellow. Went red since its 3rd company colors.

So i realized a slight error when I was making my crusade list, I didn't notice the power level change to hell blasters from the FAQ, so i had to change up my starting 50 power level for crusade. So i dropped the agressors and hell blasters, picked up a third unit of intercessors, 3 supressors, and the Apothecary (which i already had painted). As i expand my next purchase will then be a Repulsor Exterminator so i can bring in a tank and have another heavy support. I think as I add to the army and it grows I will work towards filling in a battalion, and try to focus more on models for the 3rd Company as opposed to bringing in stuff for another company like elminators that I see more as 10th company scouts really.

Also I managed to get a small game in yesterday, my first for the crusade against some eldar. First game of 40k in over 2 years and first game of 9th edition. I ended up winning, but only cause my power fists were really slaying things. For such a small game I spent most of it in melee surprisingly. We played a full 5 turns, and only thing my enemy had left was a lone ranger that was hiding. He brought 5 rangers, 5 wraithguard with axes, a spirit seer and a wave serpent at 25 Power level, while I had Tor, a dreadnought, 5 intercessors and 3 eradicators.

So next will be the 3 units of interecessors. I managed to get the first two units with bolt rifles the yellow highlight, and last night i assembled the third unit of Auto Bolt Rifle Intercessors. The goal will be getting the core of the troops done before i start moving on to other units now. But its a busy week so not sure how much progress I will get done before next week. Still got lots to learn and memorize for the army, but really enjoying how these guys are looking on the table.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Fine work on the models. Congratulations on your victory.

[Rizara]

Ok so got a double post because my internet and computer seem to be lagging when I tried to post this. Edited March 24, 2021 by Rizara

[Rizara]

So it has been a while guys.   I haven't really painted or finished painting anything for the fists since well, August.   I did manage to finish painting some other things, ranging from finishing my 2k AoS Tzneetch mortals army, started on some other projects for other games but pretty much nothing for 40k.   That being said, I am currently working on knocking off the dust on some fists and getting them ready for a new Crusade.   My local store is looking to host an event starting in April.   Its basically 4 weeks of trying to get in one  or more games in a week.   Its just encouraging people to play, but it gets people in at the store.  The limits are 50 power level starting crusade, with no max size but battles of 100 power level (50 per side).   This means my battles will not go over 50 power level but I will gain some options to play around with over the 4 weeks.   We get to schedule the size (but likely stay at 50 power level every game) and day of the game with your own opponent or play at home if you want.   Then we take some pics of the game, and encourage you to do a write up of the battle.   Nothing special, but its a chance to work on painting more of my fists.   They might give out some sort of prize but nothing mentioned of that so likely not.  Who cares its a chance to get games in right.  

 

So my crusade list will focus on some new units but also using most of what I already have painted which isn't much considering.   Here is what I plan to field for my starting crusade list.  

 

Primaris Lt. w/ shield, power sword, and neo Volkite sword (using the burning blade relic) [will likely be warlord for the event]

Primaris Chaplain, (using the relic crozius most likely)  *painted*

Redemptor Dreadnought w/ Macro Plasma Cannon, Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Onslaught Gatling Cannon *painted*

Bladeguard (x3) *painted*

Intercessors (x5), Auto Boltrifles, Grenade Launcher

Heavy Intercessors (x5) Executor Bolt Rifles, Executor Heavy Bolter

Inceptors (x3), Assault Bolters

Eradicators (x3), Meltarifles

 

I feel its a well rounded patrol to start with, and planned expansions will be taking a second heavy intercessors unit with assault variants of rifles, suppressors, a second dreadnought, and some hell blasters.  I also have 2 units of intercessors with bolt rifles that are already painted I could add as well as Tor Garadon, however it's only four weeks for the event, so just going to focus on getting the new stuff painted if I can.   The second dreadnought is about 60% done painting wise, so that will help too.   Might try to see if I can't push some games with people into may as well.  Who knows what I will paint after the event.  I got to use these events for extra motivation as it helps to slowly but surely clear out the pile of shame.  

 

I recently invested in those two heavy intercessors because they really scream Imperial fist to me.  Gotta say I am not disappointed with the models, they are wonderful sculpts and looks like my army is heavily invested in the Gravis Armor.   I will update with some pics.   Most everything else in the list that isn't painted is at least completed on a few stages.  They are based with the Iyanden contrast, and the wetbrush of Yriel Yellow, and all have decals applied, and the bases have a basecoat of Shadow gray applied.  At this point is it taking the yellow and giving it the final edge highlight, the stippling of bestial brown weathing effect, then building up all the other colors for red/black/and melta areas, then adding the details like campaign badges and final markings and doing purity seals.  So time to start pushing them as much as I can before the event starts on April 5th.    Sadly I will be out on vacation next week so no painting (but maybe I will work out some sketching and can do something fist related, besides just enjoying the mountain scenery and family time.   

 

I will be updating it with some pics of the battles just to share since i know many of us have been having a hard time getting games in with the pandemic restrictions.   I will also try to update with some painted pics soon.    Also....the store has named the planet the crusade fights will be over.    My Fists will be Taking back Kelyra, and cleansing it from the foul xenos threats and taints of Chaos or heretical forces that stand in our way as we reclaim this world for Dorn, and for the Emperor!!!!!

[Rizara]

So here is what I need to finish for my first 50 power level for the crusade I am about to start. I managed to push these guys to this point this week. The inceptors In the back have been at that stage since August, but will probably get worked up some over the coming few weeks. I will be gone on vacation for the next five days, so won’t get to work on any of those. The front four guys are almost finished, just some highlights, gold, and details to apply and bases to finish. The two squads in the middle have the yellow and red dome, just need to be focused further. I was doing some batch painting but decided to focus on four models the last few days to get them as close to finished. Just time for away from me having to prepare for this trip. Anyways hope you guys enjoy, it’s going to be great to get fully painted models on the table when I do get to play some 40k, even if they aren’t all finished those first few games.

Also using a somewhat portable paint station to paint at these days since my hobby room is an old piano room in this old house and the floor is getting worse, so can’t really paint in their like I want to, it’s on the projects list, so maybe we can get the floor replaced. One of the joys of living in a house built in 1902, there is always something needing fixing.

Edited March 28, 2021 by Rizara

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Good job on the models. Are the bases meant to represent an urban environment, i.e., they're fighting room-to-room in a hive? An industrial one, i.e., they're fighting on a forge world?

[Rizara]

Sorry for the late reply been out of town lol week. The bases are urban ruin bases from dragon forge. I ran out of the 40 mm ones for the gravis suits so I did what I could on a few of the new heavy intercessors to make them closer to urban ruins. I wasn’t going for any sort of specific enviroment it’s just a ruined city or urban area. I figured they would be look better with the grey bases having the brighter yellow armor. They do siege towns, cities, and alien worlds so it works. That being said I am now feeling the bases lack something so thinking of adding grass tuffs to the bases, just gotta decide on what color to go with. Debating between a dead dried grass such as a grey or brown color (grey would look like dust covered grass from falling debris and collapsing buildings) or going with the blue alien tuffs to add color and an otherworldly feel to the army. Next time I am at my local store which will be next week for a game I will compare some of the tuff packs and see what looks good.

[Rizara]

Got some photo updates. Came home yesterday and went crazy on the painting. Finished the lieutenant, the eradicates, heavy intercessors, and the auto bolt rifle intercessors. Just got to finish my inceptors for my crusade force, then it’s onto other units. Probably work on the hell blasters and two extra intercessors to finish up those previous two squads. Might even do the suppressors, and will finish off the second dreadnought for sure.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Fine work on the Primaris Marines.