Space Marine Project 30K to 40K

[dees]

The new year brings a new project that will likely never be finished.  I’m making the Luna Wolves (until I change my mind) from the Horus Heresy as the chapter and the first figures are a Leviathan Siege Dread as a Redemptor and Terminators as Aggressor.  

[dees]

Here are the Relic Aggressors and Techmarine ready for priming. 

Edited January 16 by Firedrake Cordova

[Doghouse]

Looking good so far but I especially like the Techmarine, that is a great conversion.

[dees]

Thanks Doghouse.  Having bits from an old Ad Mech army really helped! 

[tychobi]

I think you have a bit more work to do to not be confusing to other players.  Legend models as proxy are a bit disrespectful to your foe.

[dees]

Tychobi thanks for the in site, I typically go over my list with my opponent before the game and try to have an extra written list.   That usually takes care of that.   What would you suggest for the models to help?  I’m always open to ideas. 

[tychobi]

Proper weapons on the dread would go a long way. Grav bombard is not a legal option for a redemptor and you are missing weapons that define a redemptor dread. When models that have rules for the army you are playing as models they are not you ask a lot from your opponent, more even than just using bottle caps and tin cans as proxy. Two steps, forget the rules you  know and remember what the heck they are. On a clock this process can lead to significant time loss and mistakes.

 

Changing the silhouettes can help. Certainly not using terminators as terminators along side terminators not as terminators in the same list would be positive.  A theme that fits some sort of shared lore can make the cognitive load less onerous. 

 

A kitbash is successful if it is immediately recognized as to what it represents in the context of the army it is in. 

[dees]

Thanks for the feedback!  I’m glad the weapons on the dread aren’t glued in so they’re interchangeable.   

[dees]

Having found old sniper rifle and missile launcher bits I started working on Recon/Scouts.  I’m also trying my hand at tissue method camo-cloaks. Here’s the progress thus far. 

[dees]

To make the cloaks look more attached I tried sculpting hoods.  I think some turned out better than others, but it was good practice.

[dees]

Here is a better look at the cloaks thanks to Agrax Earthshade. 

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

I think they work quite well.  It does look quite "blowy" where they are!

[dees]

Thanks.  Space Marines on a windy hell scape seems right as rain to me. 

[dees]

Here’s some basic armor color so far.  I thinks it’s a good start but will need a lot of weathering, chipping and grime to fit in the grim dark theme in my mind. 

[dees]

I think the sponge use for grim dark is how the rest of the dreads and tanks are going to get done. I really like the texture. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

That base-coat does look like a good starting point for the dreadnought - the sponge-painting definitely seems to work for them 

[dees]

I’ve been working but got a little work in.  I like the red in contrast to the ivory. 

Edited January 28 by Firedrake Cordova

[Firedrake Cordova]

Very nice  You can definitely see the Trovarion influence ...

[dees]

Thanks, I may stalk him online from time to time. 

[dees]

Thank you to Tychobi for getting the wheel turning in my head about using weapons more like the the normal dreads have.   Having played multiple imperial factions I was picking through my bits and came up with these to represent the Gatling Cannon and Macro Plasma Mega Super Cannon or whatever it’s really called. What do think friends? 

 

[MoriyaSchism]

I don't own a Leviathan so I'm not sure about the exact scale, but I feel like the Leman Russ plasma cannon is a bit big. If you have a spare Deimos Predator plasma cannon and tactical support plasma cannon, I'd try building a weapon out of those. The assault cannon is good but I'd probably add some stuff to it so it makes a bit more believable like an ammo magazine and an ejection port.

[dees]

Slowly but weathering and red are coming along. 

[dees]

Here is my attempt at glowing hot plasma coils, or whatever they’re called.  It’s contrast yellow over magenta and white. Here is a step by step. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

The plasma glow looks great.  

 

I like how the weathering primarily affects the vertical surfaces of the front, as though he's been walking through a sandstorm (or similar)

[TheArtilleryman]

I have no problem with the Leviathan being used as a Redemptor, but do agree about the weapon changes. Will you be able to swap out the weapons if you want to use it as a Leviathan again?
 

I’m considering doing something similar and making a HH army that can double up for 40K. My plan was to do things like using a plasma gun squad as hellblasters and combining meltagun and multimelta squads to use as eradicators. Definitely wouldn’t be as ambitious as this though!

 

The dread looks great, keep the pics coming!