The Steel Wardens - a DIY chapter log

[Ironwrought Huw]

Part One: Birth of an army

 

New edition, new army - not a novel concept I know, but this is the first time I've been bitten by the hype bug for quite a while. This project came about for a number of reasons, I can’t quite place which was the overwhelming significant one. 

 

I’ve been a hobby-lifelong Iron Hands player. At the moment I technically possess 3: my original 40k-era army from 3rd through 7th editions; my 30K era Shattered Survivors army; and my current Primaris 40K era force. Although I’m proud of the last two – both painted using FW’s metallic IH scheme – I came to a realisation in May / June that whilst the models individually look nice, when put on the tabletop they look a bit… uninteresting. So although I wanted to stick with Iron Hands, I wanted an army which looked appealing on a shelf and on the tabletop. 

 

Sticking with my beloved 10th Legion, I then hit another bump. I didn’t want to do any of the known IH successors. A variety of reasons, mostly due to the paint schemes and restrictive existing lore. I contemplated having a go at the Reclaimers chapter, of Ciaphas Cain fame, but decided against it – for the same reasons – there isn’t much lore, and (having gotten as far as painting a test model) I wasn’t overly keen on the grey and yellow paint scheme. Obviously I’d have to improvise! 

 

Apologist. Yes, he’s to blame! In all seriousness, his blogs, forum posts and Instagram work all inspired me to take the plunge – I’ve toyed with creating my own army, world, lore – this seemed like the prime opportunity. Combined with the fact that I've unintentionally become my gaming group's DM / GM / Loremaster and general organiser, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to take the plunge and start something completely new. 

 

 

 

(With apologies to GW...)

 

 

I toyed around with a few colour schemes at first. Although I wasn’t keen on the grey and yellow of the reclaimers test, I did quite like the grey  - I just had to alternate and experiment. I liked the blue and the orange-red, but realised that they'd be both be a nightmare to paint a full army of marines with. I very sincerely take my hat off to anyone who paints an entire army of marines orange. 

 

 

Why grey? I liked the idea that as a relatively new-born chapter (more on that later), the army wore forge-fresh armour, given a simple coat of grey to protect the metal.

 

 

So I'd settled on grey - but I felt it needed something a little more - bearing in mind why I'd started this project in the first place. Turquoise! Only, due to a total brain-fart and completely forgetting how colours work, it ended up more of  dark blue colour. Regardless, I quite liked the effect. Reminded me a lot of the marine helmet on the front cover of the 8th edition rule book. 

 

 

 

I decided that I wanted a coloured stripe along the top of the helmet, again to break up the colours. I toyed with red and a faded yellow / bone colour. Although I liked the red, I felt that it didn't really work. It may return in the future though... 

 

 

Colours decided, it was then onto the markings. I knew that they were going to be an Iron Hands successor. I also knew that, like their parent legion, the Wardens would be organised into clans, rather than Codex Astartes approved companies - more on this later. Conveniently, I have a large amount of surplus FW 30K era clan markings. Perhaps a bit lazy, but I felt it worked well enough. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This happy chap, Captain Medlock, was the first HQ choice I threw together for the force. Made from an ETB Intercessor and a host of spare bits, he started out life as my colour scheme test-model. As an Iron Hands successor, and a young one at that, I wanted the chapter to be fairly 'no frills' affair, with limited decoration. The various targetting gear on his backpack is my way of representing the captain's in-game buff ability, and more importantly, help make him look a little bit less like a common squad leader. This was also a first for me - I'd made a character model for a new army and it wasn't some kind of techmarine / Iron Father. I'll admit, even I was shocked by that... 

 

For something thrown together from spare parts and scrap, I'm happy with him - but, I can't help feel that he doesn't look enough like a captain. He may well recieve a demotion to lieutenant, should I ever get around to building a replacement. 

 

 

Anyway, I think that's enough for one post. Next time I'll expand a little on the lore, the campaign setting, and the other units that have been added to the army. 

 

Cheers! Thanks for looking. 

(Here's hoping that for once I can actually keep up my promise to update a blog / WIP thread...) 

 

 

Edited August 23, 2020 by Ironwrought Huw

[BadgersinHills]

Wonderful modelling and I like the scheme. While I think Captain Medlock looks like his role, some more decals might mark him out even more. :) Looking forward for more content! 

[Sandalphon]

Excellent start to an interesting army, will be following with interest.

[Llagos_Tyrant]

Great scheme! They look really great. Looking forward to hearing more about the lore behind them!

[Ironwrought Huw]

My thanks for the very kind responses! This was very pleasant to return to 

 

 

On 8/4/2020 at 11:14 AM, BadgersinHills said:

 

 

Wonderful modelling and I like the scheme. While I think Captain Medlock looks like his role, some more decals might mark him out even more. Looking forward for more content! 

 

Thank you! The decals are a nice idea - I have a few fancy AdMech / Skirtarii ones which might work well. I'll have to have think about this one! 

 

Part Two: Setting the Scene

 

Onto the setting and the campaign. I've decided to lead with this, as opposed to the chapter-specific lore, because there's a fair amount of overlap. I’ll be honest, I’m a little confused as to which came first – the DIY chapter or the Narrative Crusade/Campaign, but as things developed they became so entwined I can’t really remember the order the ideas came about. In essence: 

 

As stated, I wanted an Iron Hands successor, and had contemplated the Reclaimers chapter from the Ciaphas Cain series. Though they aren’t explicitly stated as an Iron Hands successor (or indeed, anybody’s successor) the fandom appears to have decided that on balance, they probably are scions of Manus. Given that the Cain series takes place predominantly in the Eastern Fringes of Imperial Space, in-and-around the Damocles Gulf, that began to cement the idea of where they would operate. 

 

At around the same point, two of my close friends and members of my gaming group decided that they really wanted to get back into 40K. In truth, they’d never really left. But with lockdown meaning they had a lot of free time on their hands, the idea of building an army for a campaign ‘one day after lockdown ends’ seemed to appeal to them. I linked them to a few online ‘Tale of 4 Warlord’ articles from various sources, and they agreed. But how does this link to the setting? 

 

Armies. ‘Reever’, as he refers to himself in our D&D group, had been a far bigger 40K fan than I ever realised. Accordingly, I was somewhat baffled to find that he planned on bringing Orks, Tau and a little Death Guard to the table. ‘Cap’, our final member, would be brining Imperial Guard and astartes. Regardless, Reever’s armies alone would perfectly justify setting things out in the East of Imperial space.

 

But where in Imperial Space? 

 

 

 

The Mylen System

 

‘Come Imperial bombs fall upon Slauwh; it ceases to be habitable for Imperials now’

Pro Imperial graffiti, Slauwh, Mylen system reclamation campaign – M.42 (With apologies to Sir John Betjeman)

 

Exerpt taken from 'The Voyager's Chaperone to the Eastern Fringes: Sombre Stock and Wearisom Worlds', Thaddeus Quail, M40.792.

 

'... The Mylen System is a small cluster of worlds towards the Eastern fringes of Imperial space. Despite its relative isolation from the heart of the Imperium, the system has remained devotedly loyal for countless millennia. The system is largely self-sufficient, with trade mostly kept in-system, save for the occasional tithes to the Imperium and Mechanicus. There is a heavy Mechanicus presence in-system, with several Mechanicus ‘research stations’ spread across the system, and the heavy manufacturing facilities on the planet Kyppen. Travellers with a sweet tooth are recommended to visit and enjoy the fine local fruits of the verdant Agri-world of...'

 

 

Exerpt taken from 'Diplomacy by any other means: The Mylen Reclaimation Campaign: The Latter Histories of Lady General Militant Huq', Garviel Vankenz, M42.365

 

'... For many years the system has been plagued by ork raiders, although they have usually been mopped up by the stalwart men and women of the System Defence Force, and PDF. However, this latest raid could not have come at a worse time, with the PDF and SDF urgently needed elsewhere.

 

The ‘Plague of unbelief’ began shortly into the second century of M42, after news of the 13^th Black Crusade and the loss of Cadia had finally reached the system. In an entirely coincidental piece of unfortunate timing, System Governor, Taliesin Keynes passed-away without a legitimate heir, although this is not for lack of effort; having left numerous illegitimate offspring in his wake. Keynes’ near two century occupancy of the throne is notable largely for his absence from it, having spent more time chasing courtesans and mistresses than attempting to actually govern the system he was responsible for.  

 

A particularly virulent pox was discovered in the lower levels of the hives of Slauwh, which, despite the best efforts of the Arbites to control it, somehow managed to spread to the system agri-world. Fearing that the collapse of civilisation was imminent, elements of the population became restless. With the system's legislature entirely occupied with attempting to lay claim to the throne, it was left to the PDF and Arbites to solve the matter. 

 

Further adding promethean to the already blazing fire, the T’au had started making their presence better known in-system. Local authorities initially attempted to halt the T’au advance, but their efforts were futile – the antiquated equipment of the PDF was woefully outgunned by the vile techno-sorcery of the Vior’la “mercantile expeditionary force”.  

 

Whilst it had long been suspected that more… 'entrepreneurial' members of society had been engaged in trading with the T’au for several generations, other more heretically minded groups had started to see the T’au as saviours, from a the inept and brutal local authorities, and the distant and uncaring wider Imperium. The Vior’la sept was able to walk in almost unopposed, establishing a firm foothold.

 

With the arrival of the Freeboota orks of Captain “Nice Hat” Reeva, the system authorities had to face reality, and submit a formal request for aid from the Imperium. Given the unusual chain of events, it should not be surprising that elements of the Inquisition were already keeping an eye on the system. Imperial reinforcements, including detachments of the Steel Wardens chapter, would arrive with what seemed like unusually good timing…'

 

 

 

 

Pict-capture, Astartes identified as Warden-Sergeant Irwell, Clave Prime, of the Steel Wardens Clan Company Vykairs. 

 

 

Clave Prime, Clan Company Vykairs, Mylens Reclamation campaign. Standard 'tactical incursion' equipment, 5x bolt rifle with 1x underslung auxiliary grenade launcher. Rapid deployment operation.  

 

Given that there's been a hell of a lot of text in this post I think I'll end things here, and the leave the chapter lore for the next post. Thanks again! 

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Ironwrought Huw
Amendments

[Freakshow668]

Awesome, love these.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Your models are well-painted and detailed, with competently decorated bases.

[Inquisitor lorr]

Great colour scheme - the striped helmets really make it work! Really nicely executed. Are the skull/cog transfers also 30k?

[Custom Hero]

Like the others have said, stellar color scheme and execution! Keep it up.

[Doghouse]

I like these a lot. When I first starting looking at the pictures I was thinking that red would look really nice but to be honest the grey scheme you've gone with is really nice. Well done! :tu:

[apologist]

Striking scheme, great background, or lovely concept – this is wonderful stuff, Ironwrought Huw! Looking forward to seeing more of the Wardens and their enemies.

 

Any plans to develop some NPCs? They always add a lovely richness to a campaign, suggesting narrative hooks and generally being a nuisance. Modelling-wise, they're a great chance for players to create something for one another, or to scratch an itch that helps keep their focus on their chosen force.

[HvitrValdyr]

Fantastic job all around, lore, painting, everything.

 

I couldn’t help but read this bit in David Brent’s voice: ‘Come Imperial bombs fall upon Slauwh; it ceases to be habitable for Imperials now’

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thank you, everyone! After a pretty rough couple of days your comments have all been really nice to come back to. 

 

 

On 8/5/2020 at 2:04 PM, Inquisitor lorr said:

Great colour scheme - the striped helmets really make it work! Really nicely executed. Are the skull/cog transfers also 30k?

 

Cheers! Yes, the transfers are from the FW 30K/Legion Iron Hands sheet, both are clan company icons. 

 

On 8/6/2020 at 12:43 PM, apologist said:

Striking scheme, great background, or lovely concept – this is wonderful stuff, Ironwrought Huw! Looking forward to seeing more of the Wardens and their enemies.

 

Any plans to develop some NPCs? They always add a lovely richness to a campaign, suggesting narrative hooks and generally being a nuisance. Modelling-wise, they're a great chance for players to create something for one another, or to scratch an itch that helps keep their focus on their chosen force.

 

Thank you apologist - I hope you don't mind me 'borrowing' your blog format! I've wanted to do something like this for a while now. 

Yes, there are a fair few NPCs in development at the moment - creating NPCs is a [hobby / habit / obsession] I've acquired from running a D&D campaign for several years. In particular I have ideas for a non-aligned human resistance movement, although I'm still trying to work out exactly how that'll function (or look). Essentially a band of locals who just want to be left alone by everyone - but may end up supporting a faction depending on how the campaign goes. 

 

 

On 8/7/2020 at 5:12 AM, HvitrValdyr said:

Fantastic job all around, lore, painting, everything.

I couldn’t help but read this bit in David Brent’s voice: ‘Come Imperial bombs fall upon Slauwh; it ceases to be habitable for Imperials now’

 

Thank you! I have to admit that gave me a good chuckle - it wasn't quite how I originally imagined it, but it definitely works 

 

 

 

As threatened promised, here's some of the lore I've worked out for the chapter so far. 

 

In terms of design, I didn't want them to be a simple 'copy+paste' of the Iron Hands, but realised that for a young chapter they probably wouldn't be too divergent from the codex. I also liked the idea of combining names and terms from a (somewhat cliche) knightly order, with a bastardised Scottish clan structure. It still has a few issues which need to be ironed out, but I suspect / hope that it'll eventually just 'come together'. 

 

I've never been overly fond of the way the Primaris lore was handled, so my way of dealing with the 'The Primaris Question' (First Born v.s. Primaris) is to... ignore it. 

 

 

Part 3: Chapter Lore - The Basics

 

 

+++//Recipient_ID_Confirmed//+++

+++//Decryption_Complete///+++

TYPE:Message/Official

CLASSIFICATION: Ordo-Sensitive (All)

AUTHOR: Inquisitor Amalyn Trevelian, Ordo Xenos 

SUBJECT: Steel Wardens, Knowledge?

RECIPIENT: Inquisitor Kayetie Jarvai [Ordo Undeclared], 

 

Message:

Kayetie, 

 

I hope you can forgive me for not contacting you sooner, life keeps throwing an inordinate amount of ‘chances for professional development’ my way. Business is, as our departed trader friend would say, booming. 

 

The sector Inquisitorial Conclave has seen fit to see me deployed alongside the response to the on-going farce in the Mylens system. Once again I find myself in need of your help, although for once this (probably) won’t involve any running or shooting. The Steel Wardens chapter – I don’t suppose you know anything about them? They are to be taking part in the Imperial liberation force here, and I’d like to know what I’ll be dealing with. 

 

Anyway, you still owe me after what happened to my yacht…

 

Let me know when that amasec arrives (and what you think of it!) - I promise you it’s unlike anything you’ll find this side of Macragge.

 

Yours, 

Amalyn. 

 

 

 

+++//Recipient_ID_Confirmed//+++

+++//Decryption_Complete///+++

TYPE:Message/Official

CLASSIFICATION: Ordo-Sensitive (All)

AUTHOR: Inquisitor Kayetie Jarvai [Ordo Undeclared]

RECIPIENT: Inquisitor Amalyn Trevelian, Ordo Xenos

RE: Steel Wardens, knowledge?

 

Message:

Amalyn,

 

You know bloody well that I was assigned to investigate the chapter, as part of the audit of chapters operating in the Eastern Fringe and their suitability for Ordo operations. That’s two decades of my life I’ll never see again…

 

Attached is a copy of my report. I suspect that you will be the first person to actually look at it past the title page.

 

I can't believe you're still upset about that bloody boat. I think it looks far better now, especially the battle damage over the port lance batteries. Scars are imposing!

 

Yours,

K. 

 

 

 

CASE FILE 335:42:G:HJ271 - Adeptus Astartes Chapter - STEEL WARDENS, THE. 

Authority Code Accepted

 

Introduction:

 

As of M42, the Steel Wardens chapter are far from the first Astartes chapter to carry the name, and without wishing to be disrespectful, will probably not be the last. 

 

In comparison to investigations (‘studies’) of other chapters of the Astartes, I must admit that my interactions with the Steel Wardens chapter have been refreshing. Rather than the usual thinly veiled hostility and antagonism that I am used to receiving, I have been met by a willingness to participate. How reliable those answers are is, of course, debatable. I am not naïve. I have considered that this could be an elaborate, if slightly unusual attempt at deception – however for the time being I consider the information provided to be (largely) accurate and true.

 

The Steel Wardens – often known simply as ‘The Wardens’ – are believed to have come into existence around about M38.5-M41, making them an young chapter by the standards of many chapters currently active around the Damocles Gulf. Unusually for such a late founding chapter, they appear to have been created using the gene-stock of the Iron Hands legion. 

 

Though it would be amiss of me to suggest that there was an element of… ‘interference’ by the Magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus during the creation of this chapter, the fact remains that it is highly unusual for chapters to be created with the use of Iron Hands geneseed. Given that the chapter seems to have an exceedingly cordial relationship with both the Mechanicus and the Sons of Medusa chapter, one can only speculate. Perhaps this is merely coincidence…

 

During their relatively brief existence the chapter does not appear to have found any kind of ‘specialisation’ or ‘mark’, as seen with various other chapters. They do not seem to prefer any one kind of warfare or battleground, although they do have an aptitude for small scale operations. The chapter often refers to their actions as 'quests', a curious trait - and although I not been able to confirm this, I believe that often there may be ulterior motives (e.g. locating artefacts / knowledge /etc) in their decision to participate in operations. Standard deployments tend to be limited to a handful of squads. They have a healthy flexibility which allows them to be by Warden-Archivist [‘librarian’ – see below: ‘Codex Adherence’ and ‘Command Structure’] Hebble’s own wry admission, “a jack of all trades and a master of none”. This does the chapter a severe discredit, but a wry and droll sense of humour seems to be a common trait of the Wardens. 

 

In terms of temperament, the chapter shows some similarities to the Iron Hands, although have yet to develop the full range of their forebears’ idiosyncrasies. The chapter abhors weakness, both physically and mentally. However, whereas the Iron Hands seek to purge the weak – up to and including the purging allied forces – the Wardens appear to prefer rewarding strength and courage: the chapter frequently embeds its units within larger Imperial forces in an effort to bolster the fighting spirit of the unaugmented human forces. Bionic enhancement is common, although not to the same degree as with the Iron Hands, and with most augmetic replacements being subtle and disguised: more obvious and bulky replacements tend to be viewed as ‘rewards’ for particular deeds, and as such are usually sported by veterans and senior members of the chapter. Once more I can only speculate as to why this is the case, and suspect that ‘external influence’ may be responsible for this. As has been stated, the chapter is not particularly secretive, having shown willingness to participate in this study - perhaps because they wish to prove that they have nothing to hide. 

 

 

Home World:

 

Although operationally the chapter is fleet based, the Wardens technically maintain a ground-based presence. Located within the Eoforwic system, the Steel Warden’s spiritual home is located on the Imperial planet of Swarffeld.  A dreary planet with damp weather and heavy industrial atmospheric pollution, Swarffeld is colloquially know as ‘The Forge’ and ‘the steel planet’, due to both the planet’s long history metal-work and its numerous manufactories dotted across the planet. Though Swarffeld is not a Forge World, due to its multiple manufactoria it does have an unusually large Mechanicus presence, both on ground and in orbit. 

 

The planet is not heavily populated by Imperial Standards, although the population tends to be densely packed together into the planet’s 5 hives. It would be incorrect to view them on equal terms as the cities of hive-class worlds; the overall population of Swarffeld could comfortably fit into the mid-hive level of the average Hive world several times over. The planet is part of a smaller sub-system in Eoforwic nicknamed as ‘the ore belt’, due to the heavy and unusually rich metallic ore deposits found throughout the planets and their moons.

 

 

 

 

Codex Adherence 

 

At first glance, one could be forgiven for believing that the Wardens are a Codex adherent chapter. Squads broadly adhere to the format of the codex in terms of type and number; units broadly function as per the writings of the Codex; and unit and specialist / officer markings and insignia are largely the same. However, there is one undeniable difference. Structure.

 

 

 

Pict-capture, Clave Secondus, Assistant Squad Leader - Note that the Codex approved squad type and number markings are shifted to the greaves, with the right pauldron marking taken up by the 'clan company' iconography. This warrior has removed the iconography of his breastplate prior to participating in a personal 'honour quest', and will not replace the icon until the 'quest' has been completed. 

 

 

Rather than companies, the chapter is divided into 4 independent ‘clans’, with each clan responsible for its own recruitment, training, deployment and equipment. A council is responsible for overall chapter direction, and a although each clan is responsible for maintaining its own armoury, a central 'forge' is responsible for the maintenance larger assets, and is capable of producing (albeit in limited numbers) certain materiel and war machines. Perhaps unsurprisingly for an Iron Hands successor chapter with strong ties to the Mechanicus, the chapter has an unusually high proportion of techmarines, whom often have highler levels of authority than would be considered normal. Much like the Iron Hands chapter, there is no formal chapter master, and the chapter appears to lack chaplains (see later, 'Chapter Command'). 

 

Quite how a chapter of such recent founding came to depart from Codex structure is open to speculation. Given that elements of the Sons of Medusa chapter are known to have been operating in the sector at during the formation of the Steel Wardens, it is not beyond possibility that they may have ‘mentored’ the younger Wardens chapter. I would not expect an answer to be forthcoming, given how secretive the Sons of Medusa habitually are.

 

Each Clan is roughly the size of 2 standard Codex compliant battle companies, with attached veteran, recruit, command, and support/motor-pool assets. Clans seldom deploy all their assets to a single conflict, with each Clan in theory being able to deploy to multiple operations simultaneously in different war zones... [DATA ERROR_MISSING_LOAD]

 

...

 

 

I'm aware that there's an awful lot of text in this post, so I think I'll call this latest data-upload to an end.

 

I've managed to get a little painting done this week - I started work on an 'officer' (alternative captain / lieutenant) - based on the lieutenant model but with an arm/weapon swap. Still very much a WIP.

The bionic left arm came from the old multipart Space Marine Commander set, with the chainsword lopped off and replaced with a powersword. I'm happy with how he's turned out so far. 

 

 

 

Anyway, thanks again folks! Really appreciate your comments 

 

Edited October 29, 2022 by Ironwrought Huw
Minor fix

[Custom Hero]

Really liking this scheme. It’s simple bit very effective. The lore you’ve written has also peaked my curiosity for your chapter. Loving what you’ve done in your writing as well as modeling. Keep it up.

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thank you, Custom Hero! I hope I can maintain your interest in the chapter and the on-going crusade. 

 

Progress recently has been a bit limited, due to a combination of work and illness in the family (both of which saw my week of holiday cancelled). 

 

I've had a few games with the Wardens so far, all in the 10-25 power level ranges. It's been a bit hit and miss so far: I've been flattened by (traitor) guard, ended up with a bloody stalemate against an Ork horde (which I would have lost, had the game gone onto turn 6), I annihilated a T'au expeditionary force, and had a rather unfortunate moment when Warden Captain Medlock was embarrassingly killed in melee by a conscript platoon... 

 

 

The news that all marines will be getting pushed up to 2 wounds (minimum) has had an interesting effect on the project. As I mentioned briefly above, my plan was to simply ignore the Primaris V Firstborn situation. To me (and to the minds of the citizens of the Mylens system), a 'marine is a marine': my intercessor squads are all referred to as 'tactical' squads, and my hellblasters are 'devestators', and I had planned to kitbash aggressors to look a bit more like terminators (and still do plan on doing this). The only Primaris thing I can't explain away is the Repulsor kit, but again, my solution is to ignore this issue. 

 

Now though? I'm very tempted to kitbash a primaris/true-scaled tactical squad. I've got several 30K era missile launchers and special weapons left over, so may actually do this. I regret not buying the Indominitus box now, as I'm also toying with the idea of putting jumppacks on the assault intercessors to make a true-scaled assault marine squad. 

 

I acquired an ETB Redemptor dreadnought last week, and have it primed and ready for painting. As I'm still unsure how to paint the Warden's vehicles, I'll be using the Redemptor as a test model - I think I'll be adding more blue than I would do on an infantry model. 

 

 

I've also been working on heads for characters. I started these back in June, but got a little distracted. They aren't 100% finished yet, but I'm really happy with them. Once again, Mr Latham's tutorial videos have been a huge help to me. 

 

 

The second head was originally going to be used on Forge Warden Calder (more on him later), but with the announcement of the up-coming Primaris Techmarine, I've decided to save the head for future use. 

 

 

 

On with the latest finished piece: Forge Warden Calder

 

 

I am fighting an unwinnable battle. I come to this conclusion as the Repulsor, the engine-decks of which I am stood upon as I attempt a seemingly futile effort to repair it, sustains yet another barrage of heavy fire. With a loud and mechanically unhealthy sound, the turret stops moving, the traverse mechanisms terminally broken, and its main armament hangs slack in its mounting, aiming squarely at the road. The mind impulse unit in the base of my skull aches, as it floods with an almost overwhelming stream of data-reports from the stricken tank - fuel leaks, weapons malfunctions, sensor failures, auspex threat detections... 

 

I continue to try and limit the damage, my servo-arms clamping and welding ruptured armour plates vaguely back into place, whilst I use my own hands to prize shrapnel fragments the size of my forearm from the tank's starboard engines. I divert part of my attention to the heavy bolter mounted on my harness above my left shoulder. I traverse the weapon round, the pic-capt from the targetter mounted above the bolter’s muzzle overlays part of my vision, and I let off several short, controlled bursts of fire at the rebel’s anti-tank team. Their position disapears in a violently pyrotechnic display, one of my bolts appears to have hit their stockpile of missiles. My satisfaction is short-lived however, as my signum alerts me to the approach of a Malcador-sized battle tank. The Repulsor's sole surviving weapon, a pintle mounted stubber, optimistically turns to face the new threat. That the weapon's ammunition box has been torn away is beside the point. 

 

The port anti-grav plates momentarily flicker and fail before reigniting, the starboard propulsion engine surges briefly, and the tank drunkenly lurches sideways into a burnt-out front of a clothing emporium, partially demolishing it and liberally coating me in grey-brown masonry dust. The over-taxed engines howl in fury, before coughing and finally spluttering out. The tank floats to the road with all the elegance of a 67 ton brick.

 

As the cupola hatch swings open, I am momentarily baffled, as I am greeted to the sight of a hand emerging from the fighting compartment grasping a severed arm, promptly thrusting the limb into my hands. A moment later the rest of the Astartes tank commander appears, struggling to pull himself out of the Repulsor with his remaining arm. His once grey armour is now smeared in his own blood, looking like a bizarre parody of my own battle-plate. With a resonant clang, the rear hatch opens, and his driver tumbles out. 

 

Omnissiah above, he almost looks pleased with himself. “I thought you could use a hand” he quips, seemingly oblivious to my irritation that for the third time in this campaign he has been responsible for the loss of another of the vehicles entrusted to my care.

 

I briefly ponder beating him to death with his own severed limb.

 

Before I can act, my MIU flares up again. It appears that someone else is attempting to shoot holes into one of my precious vehicles. +++217 rounds of heavy bolter remain+++. I believe I had better disabuse them of the wisdom of their plan. 

 

Noting the alarming amount of smoke pouring out from the various holes torn in the Repulsor, I suggest that now would perhaps be a sensible time to vacate the area, lest we wish to receive a somewhat premature cremation... 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, I'm having difficulties photographing Calder. I've tried a variety of different background and light sources, but for whatever reason the red always looks a little washed out and faded. 

 

It's at this point I should also point out that I have a love-hate relationship with the Feirros model. As a life-long Iron Hands fanatic, I am overjoyed that we have a named character model, and that it's a techmarine style character. There's loads of nice details on him (the torso in particular, the little cogitator on his wrist). But then there are so many design elements of this model which frankly baffle me - why would you put so much effort into modelling all the details on his chest, only to pose him in a way which covers them up? Why does he have the absurd amusement arcade claw rather than a servo-arm?

 

Needless to say, I am eagerly awaiting the Primaris Techmarine model, as to me, that is what Feirros should have looked like. Which is why, with the aid of some spare Feirros parts and some magnets, I did this... 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, that's an awful lot of waffling about techmarines... 

 

 

 

I started working on the 'devestator squad' of Clave Tirtius / 3rd squad - a hellblaster squad with heavy plasma incinerators. Dear Lord, I had no idea how much of a faff it was to build the cables / pipes that go to the backpack... Safe to say, they will be remaining as a squad of 5! 

 

 

Initially I'd toyed with painting the casings on the plasma guns as bronze or brass, but decided against it. They looked a little bit too 'flashy'. 

 

 

Anyway, that's all for this post. Thanks again folks! 

 

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Ironwrought; love the all red tech marine paint scheme on the Ferrox model! (Are those tech marine bits photo shopped in?)

I didn’t think the primaris tech marine was available for sale yet; how’d you get a hold of those bits?!

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the Techmarine.

[Kulgan Trueblood]

A simple yet striking and effective colour scheme. Complimented by a rich and well thought out lore. Watching with interest.

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks for the kind words folks! 

 

Ironwrought; love the all red tech marine paint scheme on the Ferrox model! (Are those tech marine bits photo shopped in?)
I didn’t think the primaris tech marine was available for sale yet; how’d you get a hold of those bits?!

 

Thank you Yosef Hausakluif! 

No, the parts aren't from the Primaris Techmarine - I converted the parts from spare / extra Feirros parts I acquired from a bitz seller! Lots of cutting and green-stuff work. That said, I'm incredibly happy that you think they look like the real thing, thank you! 

 

As I said, I've magnetised the servo harness so that I can swap between the two:

 

 

 

 

[Marge Simpson voice] "Homer, you've ruined a perfectly good model!"

[Homer Simpson voice, grinning] "Correction Marge, two perfectly good models..."

 

Cheers again folks! 

[Doghouse]

That is really nice. Took me a second or two for the penny to drop that it wasn't the new techmarine. Well done! :tu:

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thank you again, Doghouse! I have to admit that I'm a bit unsatisfied with it - the joins on the arms are a tad rough / misshapen - but I don't think I can fix it without major rebuilding, so I'll leave it alone for now

 

 

Part Four: The Campaign Begins

 

 

Extracts taken from Holovid series 'The System At Conflict: The Reclaimation of the Mylens System'.

 

Archivist's note: Remembrancer Issaaih Jerome's documentary series was intended to be one of the greatest chronicles of the enire Mylens Liberation campaign, and indeed, quite possibly any Imperial Conflict of recent history. The series sought to portray the very experience of conflict, both civilian and military, and was revolutionary for its use of interviews from all involved - regardless of rank. The lowliest peasant to planetary governors, conscripts to even the Lady General Militant herself. The 52 part series would cover every major campaign in the conflict, and topics such as life on the homefronts, life under xenos occupation, even the gradual corruption of a hive. Sadly, due to the topics covered, and the controversial inclusion of interviews with xenos sympathisers, the series is restricted, and only available to Inquisitors with the appropriate clearance. 

 

‘… “we come in the name of the Greater Good. Compliance will be rewarded, resistance achieves nothing”. That’s what the blue bastards said. For 3 whole days, all vox transmissions were jammed with that. “We arrive in harmony.” Oh yes, that was a good one [subject laughs]. That’s when the firebombing started…’ 

- Brigadier-Militant Maxamile Haysteens (ret.), Mylens PDF.

 

“We wur an artillery regiment, you see. Nowt fancy like, just Bas’lisks and Earth Shakers. We wuz deployed to t’ palace gardens, s’posed to keep out the Orks, or T'au, or summat. I dunno, I wuz just a gunner, you see. When they started bombing the city, there weren’t enough Hydras to go around. So we used us guns. Elevated ‘em to maximum, even dug reversed fire pits for the guns so we could point ‘em high enough at the sky. Set the shells to air-burst. No one expected to shoot the T’au down. I dunno if we ever did. But you tell me that we didn’t give the people hope by doing that…”

- Lance Bombadier Yospeh Michells (ret.), Praetorian 103/276th Field Artillery, 'The Common Denominators'. 

 

“The firebombing campaign lasted two weeks, I think. After a while, the days merged into one. Our unit would rush around, fighting fire after fire. First we ran out of suppressant, had to switch to using regular water. Made things tricky, had to focus our efforts on ‘key’ buildings. After a while, I gave up trying to explain to the civies why we couldn’t put the fires out in the homes or businesses. It was tricky alright, but we were managing. Then on day 3… the water ran out. We couldn't do anything then. Masonry failed in the heat, buildings collapsing everywhere. I remember... I remember escorting a load of civvies to a shelter and the water - puddles of water left from when we'd been trying to put out the fires - was so hot, it was boiling on the pavements"

- Extinguisher Brigadesman Elvyss Criddton. 

 

 

"Though the PDF and SDF had held as long as they could, the situation against the T'au was now critical. It was imperative that Imperial reinforcements arrived, to avoid an all out defeat. Slauwh was holding out - but only just."

- Narrator 

 

 

----- 

 

I did manage to get some hobby done this weekend!

 

"When the angels of death arrived, they were unlike anything I'd ever seen. Not like the knights of legend, or the stories I was told as a lad by me grandda. These ones were far from angelic. Hulking, metal monstrosities, covered in them bionic bits. I still see them in my dreams..."

 

 

 

[intercept.vox.transcript]... Teleportation complete, Knight Order deployed. Objective in sight, resistance will be ter-[audio corrupted: bolter fire] [end.log]

 

 

 

 

[Doghouse]

Those are fantastic conversions. Are you using AT knights for the legs?

[KBA]

Awesome use of those AT parts for bionics. Great thinking, man.

[Custom Hero]

Nice conversions. The bits choices are pretty inspired!

[Ironwrought Huw]

Thanks folks! I'm certainly happy with how the legs are looking, and I'm really glad that you like them too 

 

For anyone thinking of trying the same it's pretty easy to do, as the legs are just about the same size as a Primaris leg - you might need to do a little trimming and / or gap filling, but nothing major. 

 

@Doghouse, yes - they're from the Knight kit (the regular Knight, not the one with the backwards knees). The only thing I've done  differently is use the Primaris shin plate rather than the Knight's original shin plate. I've had to cut the knee and bottom of the shin off - it's a bit rough at the moment, but I figure that battle damage is appropriate for the Knight Order (aka Veterans).

 

The non-standard bionic arms come from:

Dark Imperium Pox Walker (seriously)

Mechanicus Rust Stalker kit

Mechanicum Thallax kit.

 

I'll admit that they aren't the nicest or most coherent looking designs but there is a lore reason for them being like that. Honest. It's not just because I've amassed too many bionic parts over the years, and I learnt to kitbash from a Big Mek  

 

I'm still trying to work out exactly how I'll paint the Knight Order, and the dreadnought. A lot of it is linked to the lore surrounding the chapter's creation - and the possible 'mentoring' the Wardens had from another chapter... 

 

Cheers for looking!