01 Solar Warden - Freeblade Knight Crusader - MI

[Master Issodon]

This is the Imperial Knight Crusader Freeblade I began building before we found out about 9th. It took a while, But I'm finally finished. I scratch built his base and made some alterations to the kit removing all of the ornamental flourishes and filling armor seams. I wanted it to look different than most Imperial Knights, but not immediately obvious.

I had planned to play him as an auxiliary to my Raptors Space Marines. So many CP now though.... Anyway, that's why the chapter symbol is on it's hatch with some honor badges. I painted him to look battered because in my mind this Freeblade doesn't have a vast amount of resources or a coterie of sacristans. He has to make do with what help he can scrounge from the Tech-marines of the Raptors V company he's been oath sworn to fight alongside. So repainting isn't a priority.

He's called Solar Warden.

Edited July 28, 2020 by Master Issodon

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Excellent job on the knight and the base - both are striking.

[Sandalphon]

Awesome work! loving the pose and colour scheme, the contrasting base is spot on. Also excellent quality paint and transfer execution - Full marks!

 

The loadout is how ive been picturing the imaginary knight warden in my head that I've never gotten around to purchasing.. you are inspiring my credit card lol

Edited July 28, 2020 by Sandalphon

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work.

[Magos Takatus]

I really like the colours you have picked out for this Knight, it makes it feel different to other knights as you said. The colour on the underside reminds me of old aircraft camouflage. The yellow really pops and the heat damage on the exhausts looks great.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Wow! What every one else is said. Super smooth Flat paint job with great color palette and just the right amount of weathering. The contrast between the superb tones of greens and pop of yellow and the detailed base; as well as the gritty grimy realistic feel to the exhaust stacks and cannon barrel and energy supply lines. All really combine to make a GREAT centerpiece model!

[Master Issodon]

Thank you all so much for the great compliments.

 

I really like the colours you have picked out for this Knight, it makes it feel different to other knights as you said. The colour on the underside reminds me of old aircraft camouflage. The yellow really pops and the heat damage on the exhausts looks great.

 The reason it reminds you of an aircraft scheme is because that's exactly what it is. I'm a WWII aviation nerd, so used the Battle of Britain era Bf109E standard camouflage scheme as inspiration. I bought a Vallejo early German WWII aircraft paint set just for this model.

 

I had a difficult time deciding on a paint scheme for this model. Originally I was going to go with a sky and navy blue thing with a red-primer superstructure, then a two-tone grey idea sort of a marine (sea life not rifleman), stingray-esque thing. The I started thinking about different camo and ways to make the knight look more militaristic and less chivalric. That evolved into what it is now with a real-world military camo and colors.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Wow; I totally see it now that you mentioned the Messerschmitt 109....

....My mind was wondering where had I seen that scheme before and why does it ‘feel’ so familiar.

Great use of a real world historic paint set for a 40k knight no less!

[Zeller]

Hah, I knew it was either a Bf109 or Ju-87 scheme with the greens and pattern. Love it. It's a good departure from the typical schemes. The weathering and all makes for a striking model.

Edited July 31, 2020 by Zeller