Help with new armies

[General Zodd]

Hi all,

 

After about 10 years of dithering on the edge, the upcoming 2nd Ed has finally made me dive into 30k! I want to create a small force of both Sons of Horus and Imperial Fists (they were always my favourites, just a coincidence they’ve majored on these two legions for the new boxed set!).

 

My main question is about 30k squad markings. I’ve painted the following so far, and put legion emblems on both shoulder pads apart from the sergeants;

 

 

 

The SoH have the odd shoulder in black or red, but otherwise that’s it.

 

Obviously, I could just have a mass of bolter armed marines and blob them up into squads each game, but for ease of differentiation, and to make it more “historically accurate” I would like to have some squad marking on there, but don’t want to immediately fall back on the 40k codex astartes patterns.

 

Any references anywhere to how either the SoH or IFs used squad markings? Thanks guys!

[Brother Kraskor]

Can't help with the markings I'm afraid but I just wanted to say you've really nailed both schemes! And neither colour is easy. 

[Marshal Mittens]

Those colors look great! The Imperial Fist chaplain dude looks amazing. Love the crest. Edited May 20, 2022 by Marshall Mittens

[General Zodd]

Thanks both! After doing a Fureans force for Titanicus, I feel like I’ve been in training to finally have a go at the Fists!

[No Foes Remain]

I'll trade you help for how you did that sweet green for the 16^th.

 

The Imperial Fists were quite regimented with their markings, less so with their colour schemes as variants existed where they had black armour plates but weren't part of the Templar Breathern.

 

Late Crusade/Heresy the Sons of Horus were very free with their markings, the influence of gang culture from Cthonia had heavily bled into the legion and in the majority most didn't use tactical markings but some companies probably still used them.

 

Imperial Fist Legion Heraldry.

 

Sons of Horus Legion Heraldry.

[LameBeard]

I thought this would be an easy question, because some legions cleave quite closely to 40k markings, and you just need to look out for new ones like destroyers.

 

But when I looked up the Forgeworld transfer sheet for Imperial Fists, I found lots of unfamiliar markings, so a bit more homework required.

 

Whenever I’m in doubt I put Legion symbol on left and Legion numeral on right. You could always have slightly different style or placement (eg smaller numeral on knee pad) for different squads.

 

Edit: and I agree with @No Foes Remain on Sons of Horus, and everyone above who is complimenting you on the painting - you have nailed the colours beautifully.

Edited May 20, 2022 by LameBeard

[General Zodd]

I'll trade you help for how you did that sweet green for the 16^th.

 

The Imperial Fists were quite regimented with their markings, less so with their colour schemes as variants existed where they had black armour plates but weren't part of the Templar Breathern.

 

Late Crusade/Heresy the Sons of Horus were very free with their markings, the influence of gang culture from Cthonia had heavily bled into the legion and in the majority most didn't use tactical markings but some companies probably still used them.

 

Imperial Fist Legion Heraldry.

 

Sons of Horus Legion Heraldry.

Thanks for the assistance and compliments, and to @Lamebeard!

 

As for the green, I’ve actually had that in my back pocket for years, ever since Duncan Rhodes talked about his own SoH army in WD. I’ve made some tweaks, but essentially credit goes to Duncan.

 

Rattle can undercoat of Mechanicum Standard Grey. Drybrush Celestra Grey, then a lighter drybrush with Ulthuan Grey at the top of panels/anywhere you think light will fall most. Finally, wash over with a 2:1 mix of Biel Tann Green and Lahmian Medium. You can re-highlight with Ulthuan Grey and/or focus wash with the green if you want to accentuate anything.

 

It’s actually pretty quick to achieve, but it’s a pain to recover if you make any mistakes, so be careful with the trim!

Edited May 20, 2022 by General Zodd

[Slips]

I might be wrong with a few of these but:

 

Used for Castellans / Legionnaires in a Castellans company; in Book 4 Conquest, the terminator sergeant is part of a garrison force and has a Tower with lightning bolts on his greave so could also be an insignia for that:

 

Fafnir Rann's company, rather obviously. The Crossed ones could be for Assault Cadres in general.

 

The Imperial Eagles are usually for Marines who were in the Emperors presence on the battlefield and/or Terran Vets. Something, something Terra and the Emperor something, something Roma.

 

For Lieutenants and/or (veteran) Sergeants.

 

Templar cross is also used for, in general, Legion Veterans. The ones with a circle in the center is for Great Crusade Vets.

 

Techmarines/Vehicle Crew

 

This is the only one I dont recognize in any way.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Slips

[General Zodd]

This is all great info, thanks guys! Really good to understand the different things that might be referenced in iconography.

 

I’m still a bit stumped on squad markings, though. 40k has one pauldron with chapter, one with squad type and squad number, company displayed by pauldron rim. 30k, I don’t care about company markings, apart from the odd paired axes (seeing as I have Mr Rann), so that’s fine. I don’t think squad type is a massive thing, but if I do have some it looks like it’ll be the back of the vambrace. So that leaves squad markings themselves. Do people tend to have different armour colour variations to distinguish a particular squad? Or numerals for each squad? And if so, where? Or do you not bother, and just have a load of marines?

 

The SoH sound like they’ll just be doing their own thing (especially late heresy), but the Fists should probably be a bit more regimented.