The Path of Thorns - a 30K hobby log

[Morngrym]

 

                                                      - The Path of Thorns - 

 

 

                                                               

 

 

Hello everyone,

Although I've been around for quite awhile I feel that this thread needs a bit of an introduction.

At one point in time it was my intention to craft a sweeping narrative, with new models being completed and added to the mix on a regular basis, all part of a cohesive theme.  This was inspired by some of the older threads I loved like A Lesser Son of Greater Fathers and Among the Red Stones of Pallas.  These are a couple of the many creative people here at B&C who have impressed me over the years because they have combined narrative and painting so well.

 

However, I eventually came to the realization that I would not be able to accomplish a task of that scope, so I've simply decided to use this space for posting whatever Heresy-era creations that I am working on at the moment, regardless of the legion or theme involved.  A few of these will include small pieces of narritive, but I don't envision there being any type of large, ongoing story at this point. 

Onward, into the breach!    

-Morngrym

 

 

 

                                              

Edited April 11, 2021 by Morngrym

[Morngrym]

I've always had an affinity for the Wolves.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but the images and general feeling of this Legion seem to speak to me in a real-world sense.  There is a thread of something here that runs through our history, woven through the ages and darkest nights.

 

It is that slight movement 

just beyond the light of the campfire.

that strange sound in the night.

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Snow and wind and winter's grip 

when the very elements seem to conspire against us.

Cold stone and steel.

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A harsh, tough life.

moved by the weather and seasons.

Ours in some distant memory.

Echoes of our shared history.

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This is where the Wolves thrive.

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These are my next couple models currently in progress.  One will be a grey hunter, with MK III armor, shield and axe.  This one will take me some time to paint to the point where I am satisfied.  The second is wearing MK IV armor and could also be a grey hunter, but I'm picturing him more as a sergeant for a tactical squad at this point.  I guess I will see how it goes.

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[Morngrym]

 

 

This one is complete.  I'm starting a process with the this model and next few after this where I'm exploring some color and style variations.  I'm still working out the details of how I want this overall force of Space Wolves to look, so I believe this will be time well spent.  Once I am able to see the actual results of a few things it should help me to decide on a final mix of colors/bits that will then be used from that point forward.  I want those models to have a unified appearance and theme.

 

With this one I used the Forgeworld resin pad on the left shoulder - there are some things I like about that look, but I may be leaning towards using normal MK III pads and transfers as my standard.  I'm not sure yet on that.

[Morngrym]

Next Marine is finished - also including a couple photos of these two together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Valdr Fell-fist]

Can’t believe I’ve missed this for the past month.

 

The Wolves look fantastic, brother. Brutal, and yet restrained at the same time.

 

Don’t worry about glacial progress, all I’ve painted this year is a handful of Inceptors.

 

Any specific plans moving forwards?

[Doghouse]

Very nice, I like those a lot. The little weathering touchs work well.

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

Excellent work so far!! Really like the color scheme of the armor!

[DaBoiKyknos]

How do you do all those tiny, tiny spikes on the shoulder pads?

[Morngrym]

Can’t believe I’ve missed this for the past month.

 

The Wolves look fantastic, brother. Brutal, and yet restrained at the same time.

 

Don’t worry about glacial progress, all I’ve painted this year is a handful of Inceptors.

 

Any specific plans moving forwards?

 

Thanks for the comments Valdr! 

As far as plans go, I'm going to move towards finishing this five-man tactical squad, so I have 3 more to go in that regard.  However, as usual, it won't be a direct journey.    I have my first Grey Hunter on the hobby desk and he will probably be the next one finished, then back to this squad.  We will see though!

[Morngrym]

Very nice, I like those a lot. The little weathering touchs work well.

 

Thanks, I'm trying to give them a rugged look without going overboard.

 

 

Excellent work so far!! Really like the color scheme of the armor!

 

Appreciated brother!

 

 

How do you do all those tiny, tiny spikes on the shoulder pads?

 

These are custom pads from a seller called "Master Crafted Miniatures", so the spikes are just part of the cast.

They have a few different styles, but I thought this pattern suited the wolves best.  

[Morngrym]

 

 

I’m finishing up a couple sets of shoulder pads here for future marines.  The Forgeworld transfer sheet really has some incredible designs.  In general, transfers take some patience, but I like the result.  I have some more in progress on the hobby desk and will share once those are finished.

[Dwango]

Hey Morngrym I'm liking your wolves, really nice and weathered. I'm glad your making use of the FW transfers too! I'm really impressed with the details FW have provided on them throughout the range.

 

Looking forward to seeing more!

[Morngrym]

Hey Morngrym I'm liking your wolves, really nice and weathered. I'm glad your making use of the FW transfers too! I'm really impressed with the details FW have provided on them throughout the range.

 

Looking forward to seeing more!

 

Thank-you!  More on the way very soon.  

[Marcus Arias]

Great stuff! Really like the colour scheme, the pale grey is very foreboding!

 

I would really like to see your HQ's coming through! 

[Morngrym]

 

Deep within the lower chambers of The Fang, the forge fires burn hot.  It is here that the blacksmiths and artisans create ornate armor and weapons for the warriors of the Vlka Fenryka.  These particular shoulder pads will adorn future wolves as I get them finished.

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[Tristan2583]

Hey Morngrym, your Wolves look exactly like I'd always pictured The Rout. Been trying to build a space wolves army for over a decade, gone through several poor attempts because I can't find a colour scheme I like. Doesn't help that I'm colour blind. But your colours seem perfect. Any chance you could share the recipe for the grey? Thanks, and keep up the good work.

[Morngrym]

Hey Morngrym, your Wolves look exactly like I'd always pictured The Rout. Been trying to build a space wolves army for over a decade, gone through several poor attempts because I can't find a colour scheme I like. Doesn't help that I'm colour blind. But your colours seem perfect. Any chance you could share the recipe for the grey? Thanks, and keep up the good work.

 

Hey Tristan, sure I'm happy to share.

This is a fairly easy process.  I like to keep things simple so I can have consistancy with the colors over long periods of time as it is fairly common for me to work on other projects in between. (which will also be posted here occasionally).

 

So, this part is for the body only.

The shoulder pads and heads are done separately (i.e. not on the model) and applied at the end.

 

Steps:

- Prime in Chaos Black

- Prime in grey (any mid-tone grey primer will do for this step).

   

- Wash entire model in Nuln oil (full, not duluted).

 

- Drybrush Dawnstone once - twice may be needed as this is a heavy drybrush.

- Line work in recessed areas with Vallejo grey-black 70.862.  Citadel Eshin Grey also works for this step.

- Dawnstone for highlights on raised areas.

 

That's it for the main body.

 

Other colors for the accessories are as follows:

Brown packs and parts = Mournfang Brown with Agrax wash. Edges in Steel Legion Drab.

Gold = Retributor Gold – with multiple Nuln black washes.

Silver = Ledbelcher.  Highlights in Stormhost Silver.  Washed in Nuln oil.

 

And that does it!  Good luck with your work.

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Edited April 5, 2020 by Morngrym

[Morngrym]

 

 

We are the wolf that stalks

The stars in the sky

And swallows the star-fire

We hide amongst the night

When light is gone

The Light is within us

We run the ruin of Fire

In the darkness

Foes burn in our passing

 

- Battle Litany of the Space Wolves

[Morngrym]

The grey hynter seen earlier in this thread is finally finished!

 

 

 

 

 

[Morngrym]

Death Guard

 

This is most likely a one-off figure.  I don't plan on doing more DG at the moment, but I will continue to add some other traitors to the mix with the wolves and other loyalists that I typically work on.  I have a couple pictures in good light on the way here shortly, but here is one that is a bit on the dramatic side of things.  

 

 

Edited November 25, 2020 by Morngrym

[Morngrym]

And a couple better views:

 

 

 

 

[Morngrym]

Varek Stormblade

"The Raven's Shadow"

 

 

 

 

 Unlike most of the wolves, Varek is a dark and brooding indIvidual who often seems lost in his thoughts. His presence is sometimes seen as a bad omen on the battlefield. However, his skill in combat is without question and the darkness he carries is translated into pure fury when the enemy is engaged.

 

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It is rare for a model to turn-out just the way I envisioned it at the start, but that was the case with this one.  You may recognize the body from a WIP image posted earlier in this thread some months ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Morngrym

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on Stormblade. Is he based on anyone, e.g., Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) from The Boys?

[Morngrym]

Excellent work on Stormblade. Is he based on anyone, e.g., Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) from The Boys?

 

Hey Bjorn - he isn't based on anyone in particular.  I've only watched a couple episodes of The Boys so far, but now that you mention it he does look a bit like the Billy Butcher character!  Maybe it is a good comparison in a way.   

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Butcher specializes in killing "superheroes" (sarcastic quotation marks included because those in The Boys have ZERO heroic traits). Say Stormblade delivered a True Death to a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch, but was allegedly cursed by the dying Daemon Prince to draw foul denizens of the Warp to him, and now the Space Wolf roams the galaxy in search of Daemons to exorcize and Chaos sorcerers to kill?