The Araxxian Crusade

[Helias_Tancred]

Led by Marshal Tiberius, with Castellans Konrad and Roland serving him, this Crusade has been tasked with traveling to the Araxxis System in Imperium Nihilus to aid a shrine world under assault and infiltration by chaos cultists led by a warband of Word Bearer traitor space marines.  Information reveals the accursed arch-traitor Erebus may be present. High Marshal Helbrecht has tasked Marshal Tiberius to travel there, link up with the remaining forces of the Order of Our Martyred Lady Adeptus Sororitas defending the grand cathedral district, and destroying the traitors and heretics! If Erebus is indeed present, he is to be hunted down and slain!

 

The Strike Cruiser Durandal departs its rendezvous with the Eternal Crusader and the chapter fleet, accompanied by its escorts nova-class frigates Devout Fire, Vindication, and Lance of Terra, the gladius-class frigates Allacar, Marathon, and Pugnacious, the hunter-class destroyer Fist of Purgation, and its twin St. Anne of Durath, 3 bulk freighters, and the Ecclesiarchy light cruiser Lantern, a warship of the Dauntless class ... the first destination is the Nachmund Gauntlet! 

 

UPDATED 4/17/26: To reflect my current (second) Black Templar collection

 

The Araxxian Crusade

 

1. Marshal Tiberius, Leader of the Araxxian Crusade

 

2. Castellan Konrad, 2nd in command of the Crusade, commander of Fighting Company Konrad, and oldest Black Templar castellan

3. Castellan Roland, Chosen Guardian of the Aurillian Shroud, commander of Fighting Company Roland

 

4. Emperor’s Champion Martel

 

5. Crusade Chaplain Karnak

6. Chaplain Execrator Aldus

7. Judiciar Erias

8. Crusade Ancient Bohemund

9. Bladeguard Veteran Ancient Reinholdt

 

10. Apothecary Clovis

12. Techmarine Reynard

 

Ancient Brother Helgarn: Redemptor Dreadnought

Ancient Brother Siegfried: Ballistus Dreadnought

 

Squad Albrecht: 6 Eradicators

Squad Garion: 6 Boltstorm aggressors 

Squad Arnulf: 5 Assault intercessors with jump packs

Squad Godwin: 10 Intercessors

Squad Reinholdt: 6 Bladeguard Veterans

Squad Nidon: 6 Infiltrators

 

Primaris Crusader Squad Gerhart:  Sword Brother Gerhart, 5 Initiates, and 4 neophytes 

Primaris Crusader Squad Torismund: Sword Brother Torismund, 5 Initiates, and 4 Neophytes

Primaris Crusader Squad Matthias: Sword Brother Matthias, 5 Initiates, and 4 Neophytes

 

Sword Brethren Garvain:

1.     Sword Brother Garvain, leading

2.     Sword Brother Thurin

3.     Sword Brother Remus

4.     Sword Brother Marriat

5.     Sword Brother Ulrich

 

Sword Brethren Kargoth:

6.     Sword Brother Kargoth, leading

7.     Sword Brother Rolech

8.     Sword Brother Cuthbert

9.     Sword Brother Baldwin

10.   Sword Brother Karfus

 

Sword Brethren Arnd: (in terminator armor)

1.     Sword Brother Arnd, leading

2.     Sword Brother Tharius

3.     Sword Brother Magnor

4.     Sword Brother Pargrim

5.     Sword Brother Horst

 

Squad Tiberius:

Marshal's Banner Bearer (Ancient) Veteran Berend

Veteran Odo

Veteran Vornus

Veteran Tancred (the Marshal’s champion and squad leader)

 

Repulsor “Dorn’s Wrath”

Gladiator Lancer "Devout Fury"

Impulsor “Long Vigil”

Land Raider “Divine Hammer”

Drop pods

 

Araxxian Crusade fleet: Strike cruiser, 3 nova-class frigates, 3 gladius-class frigates, 2 hunter-class destroyers, 4 small bulk freighters, and an ecclesiarchy light cruiser.

 

  

Pics and more crusade info to follow....

 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:14 AM by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Leader of the Araxxian Crusade, Marshal Edrek. The bearer of the holy relic Tannhauser's Bones. 

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

Techmarine Reynard

 

 

[Brother Christopher]

Welcome back, brother! I remember your awesome conversions from years back. I'm excited to see a member of what I consider to be the Old Guard of this subforum return.

 

Thanks for sharing the models, they're pretty rad. I think that you've nailed the highlights on the black armour. From the other thread, I know t hat you had some doubts and I'm glad that you went with the 'warm' highlights approach, i.e. greyish greys rather than bluish greys.

 

Is the list of crusade members a target for your collection or your actual collection? Either way, I feel it's a great representation of a Black Templars crusade. I also really appreciate that you've included "Bob" as a name - it's a nice dry joke and a perfect contrast to the otherwise thematic and pompous naming patterns used in 40k. Thumbs up, as the youths say.

[Helias_Tancred]

17 hours ago, Brother Christopher said:

Welcome back, brother! I remember your awesome conversions from years back. I'm excited to see a member of what I consider to be the Old Guard of this subforum return.

 

Thanks for sharing the models, they're pretty rad. I think that you've nailed the highlights on the black armour. From the other thread, I know t hat you had some doubts and I'm glad that you went with the 'warm' highlights approach, i.e. greyish greys rather than bluish greys.

 

Is the list of crusade members a target for your collection or your actual collection? Either way, I feel it's a great representation of a Black Templars crusade. I also really appreciate that you've included "Bob" as a name - it's a nice dry joke and a perfect contrast to the otherwise thematic and pompous naming patterns used in 40k. Thumbs up, as the youths say.

 

Thanks!

 

It took me a while to decide how I wanted to paint my templars black armor. If I was better at very consistent edging I'd probably go with the Thunderhawk/Fenrisian method, but sadly I'm not there yet and the gray methods are more forgiving imo. 

 

The list of names for members and vehicles of my crusade represent my Black Templar collection; built, primed/based, and ready for gameplay. I'm now starting painting the collection (along with some Blood Angel terminators I'm painting for a friend). 

 

"Bob" gets the job done! lol. I came up with a lot of Black Templar sounding names and ones from the 9th edition codex that when I got to the pod I'm like "no one names a drop pod!"

 

My Crusade name, Araxxian Crusade, is heavily influenced by the planet Arrakis. lol. I'm a Dune fan. Also Marshal Edrek is an anagram of my name, Derek ;)

 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Eilio Tiberius

[Helias_Tancred]

My final goal is to have name plates for all of my characters, unit leaders, and sword brethren.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Eilio Tiberius

[Helias_Tancred]

High Marshal Helbrecht.

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

Emperor's Champion Martel of the Araxxian Crusade. 

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

Castellan Roland, chosen guardian of the Aurelian Shroud, of the Araxxian Crusade.

 

 

Edited March 2, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

High Reclusiarch Grimaldus. He sometimes checks in on the Araxxian Crusade! lol.

 

 

[Brother Christopher]

Thank you for continuously sharing your models. Your paint scheme is very neat. I also like what you're doing with the bases, giving every model a proper tactical rock to stand on. The ork (?) skulls are a nice tough, too.

[Helias_Tancred]

8 hours ago, Brother Christopher said:

Thank you for continuously sharing your models. Your paint scheme is very neat. I also like what you're doing with the bases, giving every model a proper tactical rock to stand on. The ork (?) skulls are a nice tough, too.

 

I decided the base scheme when I first started my Black Templar collection. All of the infantry have full cork bases on top of their standard GW base. The characters all have a partial cork base along with several skulls to separate them from the rank and file, and denote them as characters. 

 

I also came upon a plasma coil recipe I like; a pure white base with Aethermatic Blue contrast over it. Heavy or light to your liking. It's very easy to apply.  In theory if you prefer a more pure blue for the plasma coils, or any other color for that matter, you can experiment with other contrast paints or AP's speed painter 2.0 line for example, and figure out your preference?

 

I went back and re-did all the plasma coils on my characters with plasma weapons so far. They all have the same appearance as Grimaldus's pistol has.

 

I'm taking two grad courses at the moment, and I need to finish an overdue Blood Angel terminator project for a friend, so some time is going to pass before I paint another Black Templar. Next time I may do a full infantry unit (sword brethren?), or a vehicle (my Gladiator Lancer?)

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Sergeant Garion, Hellblasters.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

2 feet+ away it looks a lot sharper lol.

[Helias_Tancred]

Okay, I've got my standard black & white shoulder pad regular Black Templar down, in the form of this hellblaster. I'm pretty happy with it. It will get repeated across my intercessors, jump pack intercessors, gravis-armored eradicators, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Just to add, if I had to do over again I'd use far less Black Templar shoulder pads. Its easier to do the inside of the shoulder pad all white, and then use a water decal. With proper use of Micro Sol and matte varnish out of the pot, you can make the decals look basically "painted on" smooth! ....

[Helias_Tancred]

Castellan Konrad, 2nd in command of the Araxxian Crusade

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

I heavily thinned down some Cadian Fleshtone and smoothed out the face and top of the head some ....

Edited July 26, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Your models are an inspiration. Almost makes me want to drop the project I'm working on and get back to painting black!

[Helias_Tancred]

Brother Lucern, Apothecary Biologis of the Araxxian Crusade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Update, I'm re-doing his left shoulder pad to black with a white trim. Also considering a new water decal slide or two that are BT themed with apothecary symbols. I'll post new pics when I'm done.

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

Updated Brother Lucern. I like it better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Brother Clovis, Apothecary of the Araxxian Crusade.

 

 

[Pearson73]

That's some very clean work on the apothecaries. Nice job!

[Helias_Tancred]

Thanks ... for both of my apothecaries I wanted to try different ways to do their PITA white armor. For the Biologis I did a straight layer paint starting with Adminiastratum Grey, then Ulthuan Grey, then Army Painter Fanatic Matte White. For the regular apothecary I dry brushed that same sequence on his armor before I started. Looking back I will always dry brush white armor on apothecaries.