Raptor Scouts; “Air cover 30 mins out!”

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Raptors inbound!

As usual, and like most of us I’ve got many different chapter/marine projects going at once. Basically I get tired of painting the same color scheme over and over literally 100 times and sometimes switch it up for a little variety and to challenge my pairing skills and learn new things. Besides my Executioners, and Sharks, I’ve also got a small scale Mantis warrior side project brewing, Mortifactors in the Queue; and also Raptors. As you can tell I’m a bit stuck in the past with my old school scale and models of space marines as I exhaust all my old models and acquisitions from the past. Likewise Badab chapters figure big in my projects; having been bitten by that piece of 40K history all the way back when the big red book of Compendium came out as a kid.

Enough talk; and on to the pics. Here we have a squad of Raptor scouts holding out AGAINST ALL ODDS until their EXFIL or air cover or relief arrives. Just a start to posing and expect to see much more damage to cover and ruins/terrain; various gear; spent mags and other items strewn about. Majority of models from a purchase way too long ago to remember on eBay; and have been converting and fiddling with them as I go in making them my own. I.e added suppressors to the bolters; some head swaps and reposing; added removed arms. Sgt is all mine and will be needing a pack and some gear so dosnt look like base inq model so much. Enjoy! (AND many thanks to NightHunters for the inspiration of a squad fighting and firing from cover!!!)

Squad Sgt w/ combiplasma and power sword:

Scouts behind cover choosing targets and conserving ammo:

Likewise:

Scout in back needs cover reworked and maybe holding a melta charge in non shooting hand:

Senior scout of the scout; hence bionics and shouting orders about movement and fire and reloading:

In cover:

Side angle shot of squad:

Squad heavy weapon:

Can’t see it from this angle, but teleport homer behind this scout protected by the column:

Let me know what you think!

(And again full disclosure; I can’t take credit for the converted bolters on the majority of the marines except for the added muzzles; nor did I sculpt the NVGs or elbow and knee pads or build the heavy Bolter pose. Rest is mine and more to come.

[hushrong]

Looking mighty fine! I have to say if you can replicate the balaclava and NVG’s on some of you scouts that would be sweet! It fits really well on these minis and is something I’ve not personally seen used.

 

Also love the terrain basing. Between you and NightHunter I can’t get enough of it. It looks great and adds a lot to the mini.

 

Any future plans for the Raptors or concentrating on these scouts for the mean time?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Your Scouts are well-posed. I'm impressed with your work; can't be easy cutting through so many metal and plastic models, and then fitting the different components together to get the "look" you want.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Hushrong: next up would be finishing a couple of tactical squads in power armor and maybe a sniper scout squad as well. The tac squads will be three squads of ten and instead of using the typical tactical arrow squad design; each squad will have its own iconography based off of elite US forces emblems/insignia. Think the green berets, marine raiders, and maybe something else. I’ll post progress as I go and try to change this threads title topic to fit.

The NVGs and balaclavas would be hard to replicate as I didn’t make them originally, but may attempt for snipers especially!

 

Bjorn; thanks for the kind words. Many of these models came somewhat pre assembled; and I have tweeted them here and there. Original builder for the heavy Bolter might have used a powered rotary saw tool to make the necessary cuts. Sgt is all mine and used clippers and files on his arms.

[hushrong]

Sounds like pretty cool future plans. If you are basing them off real world SF units I'd Delta Force and if it doesn't have to be a US one I'd really recommend British SAS.

 

And I def think you should practice making some of you own versions of those masked heads. Some green stuff and those scout goggles are all you'll need besides a bit of practice.

[Hfran Morkai]

As a fan of Reasonable Marines I dig them!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks Hfran Morkai; They may not have helmets, but at least using partial cover!

Hushrong; So SAS and Delta definitely some cool ideas. Finding a balance between bits and what my freehand skills will allow for. Always been a fan of Vietnam era MACV SOG history and LRRP squads. Raptors fit that style and format pretty well. Same for special forces green beret A teams.

So first squad will be 10 marines strong; las cannon and plasma gun; with a marine specialized in comms, one as a target designator close air support specialist, a sharp shooter, and one as tech marine demo expert; and overall a spec ops feel to their kit and what not; suppressors, heavy on firepower; lots of gear and ammo, etc.

they’ll have a shoulder pad or tilt shield painted as:

2nd squad also 10 men strong; more of a force recon unit, multi melta, plasma or plasma/melta gun, same idea of ‘specialized’ marines in their roles; tip of the spear and handle almost anything comes their way(think Carson’s Raiders):

Lastly ‘operation phoenix’ type squad; maybe perfect the NVG method with ANVIL industries bits and lots of suppressors and blades weapons and war paint; def LRRP vibe; heavy Bolter; melta gun; maybe a IG grenade launcher as a nod to the old school M79; they’re squad symbol is more of a ‘calling card’ to their enemies; squad can be called Snake Eaters or something; socialized in infiltration and sabotage; eliminating high priority targets.

Come to think of it maybe the ‘Aces’ will be a Sternguard squad; in the pattern of a Harrowing pre heresy unit, etc.

Edited June 5, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The symbols on the tilting plates are good choices. Will you have a fox gripping a dagger in its jaws (see the FOXHOUND insignia in Metal Gear Solid), or with thunderbolts as its limbs (see the Force Operation X insignia, from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)?

[W.A.Rorie]

Nicely done

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Bjorn: snake eaters was originally a name given to Green Berets; when they served it to visiting politicians during a demonstration! Good stuff. The Viet Cong called US SEALs in Nam the ‘devils with green faces’: Although the Metal Gear solid theme is a cool idea too! Edited June 5, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Kierdale]

Excellent stuff!

I’m really looking forward to seeing them painted.

[War Angel]

I can stand behind this. Can’t wait to see paint.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

So life has been hectic and only finding the time to paint during late night sessions after the family is asleep. I’m working on Raptors mostly now and really getting a good scheme going. Plan on 3 tactical squads, chapter master, command squad and capt, and also scout sniper squad in cover of ruins. Update here on my scouts; basic colors blocked out and one wash of nuln oil later not too shabby. Next work on all leather items, green portions and clean up the firearms a little. Thinking camo paint in stripes on bare faces.

Sgt.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Any comments and or suggestions welcome. Thinking of a next level details and layers to come. Have to work on that last scouts NVGs a bit more and better those ocular lenses; right now was just dimples of GS. Also thinking of keeping with my modern elite US forces as heraldry markings making these guys have a shoulder pad in 1st Cav yellow and black, and then Freehand white raptors head on other side. Thoughts? Edited July 11, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[W.A.Rorie]

Love it!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks War009; I was hoping they were decent poses and base colors to start. No comments sometimes messes with your head! Edited July 12, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Little update on my Raptor scouts in cover project. Next layer of colors done on armor and leathers. Also worked on mimicking the US Army 1st Cav Div heraldry on their shoulder pads. Should I attempt a horse head style shape in black to be more distinctive? Do they look too much like Mantis warriors with the yellow and black and side of green!?

Any comments appreciated. More to come.

Edited July 20, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[W.A.Rorie]

go for the horse head. 

[Yosef Hausakluif]

I think I’ll try. Just some basic shape/silhouette might make all the difference.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

At the point we’re in slowing down and finishing the details on one model at a time. Still have to add some metal for closures on the pouches and buckets, final Agrax wash of leathers, optics, etc.

really happy with how the 1st Cav Div symbol came out. Now to replicate it X10!

Also, totally realize that the spent shell casings on the rubble bases way to BIG for the

Firearms they’re using. Picked up the glass beads on a whim at hobby lobby. Will use for a dread base in future as probably good dreadnought assault cannon scale. More to come.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the sniper.

[W.A.Rorie]

Keep it up man

[Johanhgg]

Nice man!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks to you all for the words of encouragement! I’ve got half the squad in a finished state except for the bases. I’ll post them tomorrow when time permits.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Progress on half the squad:

I still have work to do on the bases and done cleaning up to do on the white chapter symbol, but pretty pleased overall so far.

Behind cover:

Detail of ‘squad’ symbol; pretty happy with freehand on tribute to the 1st Cav Div. (fits with ‘elite’ US Forces theme for first born scouts and marines and a small tribute to my Father in Law who served with this outfit in Nam in ‘67):

Not crazy about how the flak vest came out, but overall really like the model and also attempt at camo face paint;

Heavy bolter;

Another scout in cover: