Evil Eye Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 I'm sure everyone remembers the absolute classic painting by Adrian Smith of the Emperor facing down Horus on the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit, above the shattered body of Sangunius. However, there's one background detail that I'd never really paid much heed to, but on closer inspection has me intrigued. These curiously unidentified Marines. Has there ever been any confirmation on who these guys are? The most logical explanation would be an older depiction of the Custodes, but IIRC the "golden armour and pointy helmet" look has been around for a long, long time, pre-dating this artwork(?)- I could be wrong on that though. I'm also wondering if they represent the "Emperor's Legion" which IIRC was retconned but was briefly mentioned in a few pieces of fluff, prior to the Heresy being more extensively fleshed out. They appear to be wearing Mk, 4 power armour judging by the legs, though the pauldrons, backpacks and helmets are different. Gamiel 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noserenda Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 They are apparently Custodes, though that might be a retcon, gold armoured Custodes aren't as old as you might expect. Coming in with the CCG after them long wearing black leather and no shirt :D apologist 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terminator ultra Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 (edited) 2 hours ago, Noserenda said: They are apparently Custodes dosen't stack up to me. looks like proto-marines in semi-terminator armor. Edited April 12 by terminator ultra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AutumnEffect Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 I always assumed they were Custodes as well. They are a dead ringer for the Saggitarum, especially Shadow Keepers Saggitarum. *Not my models. N1SB and lansalt 1 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrion Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 They are custodes. You have big gold focusing the attention on the right, with small black in the background; you have big black focusing the attention on the left, with small gold in the foreground (Sanguinius). Having the custodes in gold would just turn the entire right side into a golden blob at first glance. Noserenda, sonsoftaurus, lansalt and 2 others 2 3 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noserenda Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 13 hours ago, terminator ultra said: dosen't stack up to me. looks like proto-marines in semi-terminator armor. You do you but gw/fw has outright said they are Custodes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apologist Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 @Noserenda and @Valkyrion are correct – I'm near-certain there was an interview with Adrian Smith (and possibly Neil Roberts?) where this was clarified; and for the reasons Valkyrion notes, they were rendered to contrast with the Emperor's gold armour. Possibly on WarCom, but my mem-banks fail me. Valkyrion, Trysanna, Gamiel and 1 other 4 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lansalt Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 (edited) Sadly, [END AND THE DETH SPOILERS] Spoiler Dan Abnett decided to ignore that iconic illustration for the final duel in The End and the Death vol.3. In his version of the tale there are no Custodes with guns, SoH marines, or even Sanguinius dramatically laying dead on the floor. Not even the IF terminator that supposedly gave origin to the crux terminator icon. Edited April 12 by Xenith Spoliers, damnit. Let people ruin it for themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenith Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 99% sure they're custodes also, this was a period where things were still being kind of fleshed out and the heresy aesthetic hadn't been formed yet, they might have been going for omething more grounded that giant golden coneheads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Eye Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Thanks all! That clears that up. I have to say I like them a lot more than the current Custodes look (I don't dislike those, just these are so cool). On the plus side they appear to be wearing modified Mk. 4 armour, so making additional parts to convert Mk. 4 Marines (be they the current plastics, whatever newer ones lie on the horizon or newer-scaled STLs) should be fairly simple. From what I can tell you'd mostly need new shoulders, helmets, backpacks and bolters. Razorblade 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lansalt Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 On 4/15/2024 at 2:35 PM, Evil Eye said: From what I can tell you'd mostly need new shoulders, helmets, backpacks and bolters. It's literally a resin upgrade kit for plastic Custodes, see https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/Legio-Custodes-Sagittarum-Guard-Upgrade-Set Noserenda 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Rohr Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 They aren’t anything, just armored guys in a painting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noserenda Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 20 hours ago, Marshal Rohr said: They aren’t anything, just armored guys in a painting. Not just guys anymore :D Kloros Endall, Trysanna and Robbienw 1 1 1 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ncarnadine Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 The Sagittarum Guard set was explicitly made to represent the Custodians in that picture. It's been a while, but I do distinctly remember Tony Cottrell bringing it up when they were first shown at the 2017 HH Weekender. Noserenda, Trysanna, Robbienw and 1 other 2 2 Back to top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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