Spectral Swords [WIP]

[RiftSentinels]

I am coming back into the hobby after a 10 year hiatus to raise my son.  He is older now and is showing interest in Tau.  I've always wanted a Space Marine army, but I played Warhammer Fantasy a long time ago, and that was where my money went.
 
I recently stumbled upon the Primaris Space Marines, and I really enjoy their look.  I was originally leaning towards a Blood Ravens army, but then I read about the Ultima Founding and decided a hombrew Ultima Founding was what I wanted to focus on.

My primary opponents are: Chaos, Tyranids, Tau, Death Guard, and Genestealer Cults

Enough background, here we go:
 
Chapter Name: Spectral Swords
Chapter Symbol: 
Successor Of: Ultramarines

Standard Marine:

 

Sergeant: 

Veteran:

 
Anyways, on to the history.

The Spectral Swords were formed during the Ultima Founding. They served with the 8th fleet during the Indomitus Crusade. They had a specialization in urban warfare and were deployed to fight Chaos in the cities of men. In the early conflicts, they lost a lot of their Repulsor Vehicles to Chaos ambushes. Their tactics shifted as a result of the crusade. Vanguard units and Invictor Tactical Suits take up concealed positions around key objectives or advantageous terrain. Intercessors and Agressors support the Vanguard and hold the line where needed. Grav chute deployment from Reivers, Suppressors, and Inceptors cut off escape routes and target key enemy units. The chapter rarely deploys Repulsor Vehicles, and does not have a large stable of Redemptor Dreadnaughts.

When the Indomitus Crusade dispersed, the Spectral Swords were deployed to Ahiri-8, a Hive World near the edge of the Rift. They inhabited an abandoned Monastery of a Chapter that fell in battle, known as the Tempest Jackals. Upon arrival, Guard forces were currently engaged in a conflict with a local Genestealer Cult. The Spectral Swords quickly deployed and drove off the threat. They began the process of claiming the Monastery as their own, but soon a splinter fleet believed to be of Leviathan was located in a nearby system. The Spectral Swords launched an assault force to attempt to drive it off.

Edited February 5, 2021 by RiftSentinels

[Messor]

If you're looking to avoid the colors your son is using, but also don't want white, a simple compromise that will go with pretty much any color is gray. Metallic colors could also be really striking. I've never tried anything like this myself, but you might also be able to pull off using a couple of different shades of red. Looks like you're off to a solid start, though. Are there other aspects about the chapter's background you're looking to explore, or is it all still kind of under construction?

[RiftSentinels]

Im mostly looking for help with color scheme for now. It feels like every scheme possible has been taken some times. I'd like a sharp looking group of Marines. I also feel an Ultima Founding wouldnt have a storied history like the First Founding Chapters, so I kept the background quick and light and based on my primary opponents.

[Brother Lunkhead]

You could take the basic colors you like and test them on the Space Marine Painter and play with different combinations and patterns. Once you've settled on basic colors and a pattern you can play with the color hues. 

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Chapter symbol looks great. As for Chapter colors, may I suggest a dark red, like coagulating blood (see the Flesh Tearers for comparison)- alternately, a dark indigo?

 

By the way, the Tempest Jackals fell in battle, NOT to Chaos corruption, right? It will make the Inquisition and a LOT of other people very nervous, if the Rift Sentinels claim a Renegade or Chaos Chapter's fortress-monastery.

Edited September 2, 2020 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Brother Lunkhead]

Dark red and indigo

 

Oops.... forgot to mention , I like the chapter symbol too

[RiftSentinels]

Yes the Tempest Jackals fell in battle, not to Chaos. I was inspired by the Flesh Tearers a bit on the color scheme. Edited March 12, 2020 by RiftSentinels

[gripschi]

Nice Lore so far.

 

I would suggest Ultra Marine Succesor. Guillaume thightend the Defence of Ultramar. Which sufferd through the Great Rift and Plauge War.

 

Great Place to settled down. Your Favoured Enemies are also present.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

As the Chapter is of the Ultima Founding, I doubt it will be of "unknown descent"- Guilliman certainly wouldn't tolerate such ambiguity, as indicated when he said, "No!" in reply to Cawl's proposal to use geneseed from the Missing Two Legions as well as the Traitor Legions.

 

Best have the Rift Sentinels claim they are an Ultramarines descendant. You are free to have the Chapter use non-Ultramarines Chapter Tactics and Warlord Traits, and have third parties (Inquisitors, Marines from other Chapters, and other Imperial allies) note how "un-Ultramarine" the Rift Sentinels act, though.

[RiftSentinels]

Ultramarines it is.

[RiftSentinels]

A couple more color schemes. I like the grey/red one. Sgts would have a full red helmet.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hB889_heD82.hu5BY____@__hsSwZ@.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@____@@@@@@@@@@h3jnLh3jnL@@@@__@@@____.i8Wpv&

 

Also, a bit of Bretonia(this was the Indigo attempt)...

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hB889_hu5BY.h5vwH@@@@@@@hsSwZ@_@@__@@@@@@@@@@@....@@@@@@@@@@h3jnLh3jnL@@@@@@@@@@@@@_iakk7&

Edited March 12, 2020 by RiftSentinels

[Brother Lunkhead]

I think the first pattern for livery looks best. The indigo is a little too bright and clashes with the dark red (I like the dark red). 

 

What hex code did you use for the red? ….. also hex code for the winged skull (that's a good color choice too)?

Edited March 12, 2020 by Brother Lunkhead

[RiftSentinels]

Eagle: #666666

Shoulders/Head/Backpack: #2e2e2e

Red: #800101

[RiftSentinels]

Okay, I put together the following now:

 

Regular Marine:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hB889_heD82.hu5BY____@__hsSwZ_.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@____@@@@@@@@@@.h3jnL@@@@__@@_____.i8Wpv&

 

Sergeant:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hB889_heD82.hu5BY____@@@hsSwZ@.@@..@@@@@@@@@@@____@@@@@@@@@@.h3jnL@@@@@@@@@____.i8Wpv&

 

Captain/LT

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?b62c=@hB889_heD82.iaiZd____@..hsSwZ.hu5BY@@hu5BYhu5BY@@@@@@@@@@@____@@@@@@@@@@hu5BYh3jnL@@@@..@@.____hu5BYi8Wpv&

 

Time to go sacrifice another Tactical Marine for the Primaris paint scheme.

[Brother Lunkhead]

I was playing with the colors of the first image a little and came up with this as an alternative with a little more color, but complementing the red...… just a thought

 

http://bolterandchainsword.com/sm.php?bpe=01233c&bpj=333131&bp=01233c&bpc=01233c&hdt=01233c&hdm=01233c&hdl=01233c&ey=1aff00&er=800101&pip=333131&nk=800101&ch=800101&eg=666666&sk=666666&abs=800101&bt=800101&cod=800101&ull=800101&lk=800101&lll=800101&lft=800101&url=800101&rk=800101&lrl=800101&rft=800101&slt=01233c&sli=01233c&srt=01233c&sri=01233c&ula=800101&lel=800101&lla=800101&lw=800101&lh=800101&ura=800101&rel=800101&rla=800101&rw=800101&rh=800101&gr=333131&rb=333131&nkl=800101&chestl=800101&abdl=800101&hdtl=01233c&hdml=01233c&hdll=01233c&btl=800101&codl=800101&erl=800101&bpl=01233c&bpjl=333131&bpel=01233c&bpcl=01233c&abdc=333131&bg=FFFFFF&grid=TRUE

 

Yours of course, is very good

[RiftSentinels]

I do like the Blue and Red, reminds me of the Blue and Red quartered Bretonnia Knights on an old Army Book. Maybe I will make a paint run of both schemes to see how they look on an actual miniature.

[Brother Lunkhead]

That's actually what I was thinking of. I'd be interested in seeing both test models.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The dark red and dark gray scheme looks great. The dark red and dark blue scheme looks promising- maybe the Rift Sentinels should use it for Honor Guards, Veterans, and other elites.

[Deadass]

If you're up for the challenge, why not try a halved or quartered scheme? While it is more difficult, I feel like the two colours could work well together!

[RiftSentinels]

I was looking at the quartered scheme too. Ill try it and see how it goes. I'm not a super strong painter, and I have been relying on contrast a lot lately.

[RiftSentinels]

I did some basecoat plus shade tonight, but some how I struggle with Marines. I included some Dwarves I painted recently as reference. I know there are some mistakes like inside of the shoulders, which will e taken care of.

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by RiftSentinels

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The dark gray helmet and pauldrons look good with dark red armor. The dark blue helmet and pauldrons, not so much; maybe you should use a brighter blue, as a contrast to the dark red armor?

[Brother Lunkhead]

The gray definitely looks more balanced with the red

[RiftSentinels]

Im considering moving away from the Red/Grey to either Ultramarines Blue with a Black Shoulder patch or maybe a direct Salamanders scheme(Green/Black) with a different chapter symbol.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Do what you think is best Brother.