"....guard it well." A ----- ------ patrol log.

[hd3]

"Knowledge is power..." And if you recognized which faction this was for before opening this thread, well done to you!  

 

Yes, it's the Blood Ravens! 

 

This was born out of the way I started 40k. I bought the recruit and command sets because I needed something to practice doing a metallic paint job on to learn how to do the basics before I moved onto the Alpha Legion. The problem was, afterwards I had this huge pile of adeptus astartes with nothing to do with them. I had originally intended to sell them but then I realized with a little kitbashing, I had almost the entire kill team for astartes here. So I grabbed some bolt rifle parts off eBay to convert my second squad of assault intercessors and started.

 

 

I primed in Tamiya ts-6 matt black spray for a nice satin. The real challenge was finding the right red. Most painting guides get the blood ravens scheme from dawn of war wrong, either way too purple like in the GW video or end up just copying the blood angels bright red. I needed a really dull red that isn't burgundy. My prayers finally being answered when I found pro acrylic burnt red which is the exact right shade.

 

Then black legion for ribbing and connection seals on the armour and Zandri dust in the shoulder pads and sergeant's helmet

 

Edited December 5, 2024 by hd3

[Firedrake Cordova]

Ah ... I remember when Dawn of War came out ... the opening cinematic was something else! *nostalgic sniffs*

 

Looks like you're off to a good start.  

[hd3]

Because I already started kit bashing two if the original assault intercessors, I needed replacements for a full squad. So I grabbed these two from an issue of imperium I won at auction. These guys had a raised Ultima emblem on the shoulder pads, so I had to scrape it off. It doesn't look terrible but admittedly it doesn't look good either. 

 

The outriders were the thing that finally convinced me to build these models instead of flogging them off. Some if the internal connections got bent rather badly. Reasoning I couldn't sell a damaged product on ebay, I decided to build them via Tamiya plastic cement instead. I'm pretty happy with how the repairs came out and I already have ideas about how to do the bike bases.

[Firedrake Cordova]

5 hours ago, hd3 said:

These guys had a raised Ultima emblem on the shoulder pads, so I had to scrape it off. It doesn't look terrible but admittedly it doesn't look good either

Getting a perfect finish on a curved surface isn't easy. I imagine that the raised edge to the shoulder-pad also made it a bit difficult to fully use a file or sanding block.

[hd3]

I'm starting assembly on the primaris captain. I want this guy for my kill team though and the kill team captain has a plasma pistol and power fist, while my guy has a power sword and storm shield. I really like the elaborate shoulder pauldron on the Captain's arm though. So I'm torn between cutting off the blade and trying to affix the plasma pistol to the wrist or just flat attaching the plasma pistol ark to the captain and just layering extra gold paint onto the sergeant's shoulder. Then I'd grab a primaris power fist off eBay. 

 

I'm worried because the vambrace extends slightly farther out on one side and I'd like the wrist and plasma pistol to fit nicely...or at least securely. 

 

I've also assembled the primaris lieutenant. I can't decide if he should get the helmet with the old fashioned knightly visor flipped up or a regular unhelmeted head. I don't think any of the provided heads fit the officers though. I really want the blood ravens to have hair since my alpha legion are uniformly bald. Ideally, I'd like the captain to look like the force commander from dawn of war 2.

 

I'm not sure what to do with the storm shield yet. Might kitbash it onto something.

 

For the blood ravens bases, I was thinking a snow and brown dirt base to contrast the blood red armour. Maybe the ganergrass pre made bases? Though I guess I'd have to use super glue to attach the models to those. Does anyone if there is a good technical paint for snow and ice? Or paintable snowy glacier bases. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

I think for the plasma pistol, possibly the best bet is to remove the "hand" from the model leaving the vambrace in place, and then removing the plasma pistol hand and trimming it to fit, so you've got some of the bionic hand visible? It'd be a bit more intricate in terms of the cutting and shaping, but might give a better result?

 

For snow, Valhallan Blizzard isn't cheap, but it is very good and has pretty good availability.

[hd3]

2 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

I think for the plasma pistol, possibly the best bet is to remove the "hand" from the model leaving the vambrace in place, and then removing the plasma pistol hand and trimming it to fit, so you've got some of the bionic hand visible? It'd be a bit more intricate in terms of the cutting and shaping, but might give a better result?

 

For snow, Valhallan Blizzard isn't cheap, but it is very good and has pretty good availability.

 

Yeah, I was thinking something similar. Just leave cut the augmented arm off at the wrist and painted the augmented hand and wrist as if its part of the armour and leave the vambrace in tact. What would be the firmest way to attach it though? Sprue goo? Green stuff? Tamiya putty?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204704460861?_skw=gamergrass+winter+base&itmmeta=01JEGS9D1PSMNS3EM5432M800R&hash=item2fa956303d:g:oRwAAOSwuqdl-21o&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkSkkmgYDht8QbV3rGadN4ZtP4GSfO7a9Kwib8LFD6GfsuzJeagnYKfQvffo9iX0hBbKW3ZcE58yxUI3rn4bZVqDA%2B4c8zcZv6P8jZLP0hey%2F0sbKQ%2FlWaTBin%2FXTZKNC5yaDpaLm0dBQiGjLm7dHbU2ItCRyQJTkJFsnYd0VANWO2hrZzYSgie6YsFX%2BjEb3Wj%2BWXGq%2F6C359T3YEKsyN0Y4j2fMWOOd1kobrkyJxl%2BO79dgm9e2lVBayIdr7cnAoFlZPUw7VZwzznv5leM%2FDN2B6UF7wEsVuOaWKcRZU4SQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMiNGlmfRk

 

For the bases, I was thinking something like this. Which is more expensive but admittedly, I'm keen to get back to my main army too. Would valhallan blizzard match up with that for the larger bases? The officers and eliminator, the bikes etc.

[Firedrake Cordova]

Personally, I'd just use polystyrene cement - assuming you can get a flat join, it should be fine. Otherwise, pin it if it's not too small/fiddly?

 

I've not seen the Gamers Grass bases "in the flesh" but the snow effect does look somewhat similar to Valhallan Blizzard in the e-Bay image.

[hd3]

Adding the shadows took a really long time. The pro acrylic burnt red is the perfect shade but it is so so matte that it just sort of absorbs the nuln oil and it doesn't flow into the recess details right. So instead I just used a fine detail brush to line black templar in contrast and only used nuln oil on the armour ribbing and the tiny armour helm vox grill. Im always amazed every time by how much more definition the shading adds after the base coat. For some reason, I always expect it to be a less stark difference. 

 

I've also done the leather holsters, pouches and belts in rhinox hide, which I'm going to wash with agrax, then highlight with gorthor brown. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Looks like you're making good progress!  

Edited December 8, 2024 by Firedrake Cordova

[hd3]

Finally made some progress! I've put in more of the metallic details and tried doing a really fine highlight of ulthusan grey over the chest aquila/caputmori to make it pop out more. 

 

I'm really happy with the colours of the grenade bandolier. I stole the idea from the 9th edition manual. A guys dark angels were primed in warplock bronze and then painted green with numerous really thin layers of mortarion green. So I did the same thing with ork flesh and then edge highlighted with runelord brass. 

 

For the eye lenses, I found it surprisingly easy. Corax white and tesseract glow, then just a dab of warp lightning in the corner of the lens. I dunno why but it felt way easier than painting red with normal paints on the eye lenses on my Alpha Legion.

 

Next, I'm going edge highlighted the armour and probably repaint the black on the weapons. Once I tidy up a bit with the burnt red, I think I'll edge highlight the armour and then it's finally time for decals.

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by hd3

[Firedrake Cordova]

I think they're coming along pretty well. I like the use of the bronze on the plasma pistol.  

 

It's a shame there's a little lumpiness on the first marine's shoulder-pad.

[hd3]

30 minutes ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

I think they're coming along pretty well. I like the use of the bronze on the plasma pistol.  

 

It's a shame there's a little lumpiness on the first marine's shoulder-pad.

 

Actually I did too especially against the bright iron hands steel of the bionic hand. I think I might paint over it with a grey to give more contrast to the hand and avoid having one spot that's 100 percent metallic. In future though, I'll definitely be using this colour scheme for other weapons.

 

Yeah, I had to shave off the Ultima symbol on the shoulder on two models to reach a full unit of assault intercessors alas.

Edited December 29, 2024 by hd3

[Firedrake Cordova]

Ah, I forgot you had to do icon shaving - I'd assumed it was paint misbehaving  

[PHS]

Maybe the helmet on his belt should have darker lenses.. it’s like he’s taken it off and left the lights on

[hd3]

22 minutes ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Ah, I forgot you had to do icon shaving - I'd assumed it was paint misbehaving  

 

Nah, a by product of me building my kilteam from my bits box and left over models.

[hd3]

4 minutes ago, PHS said:

Maybe the helmet on his belt should have darker lenses.. it’s like he’s taken it off and left the lights on

 

That's actually a good point. I'll do that tonight.

[GhostMalone]

Dude loving the project and definitely a fan of the scheme!

 

massive nostalgia hit and hope this grows in scope 10/10

Edited December 29, 2024 by GhostMalone
Spelling error

[hd3]

2 hours ago, GhostMalone said:

Dude loving the project and definitely a fan of the scheme!

 

massive nostalgia hit and hope this grows in scope 10/10

 

Thanks mate. Well it started out as a kill team and I've already assembled enough models to build a 500 point combat patrol. 

 

My one regret is that before I started building, I didn't think to get some of the primaris weapons upgrades for other astartes sub factions. Because half the blood ravens being equipped with stolen gear would be very in brand for them. I'm still doing that to an extent with the second half of the patrol but not to the extent I would have liked.

 

I was also considering adding a ballistus dreadnought because minus the eliminators that gives me 500 points.

[hd3]

I did a little highlight with evil sunz scarlet to get a bit more light and also finally started on my outriders. 

 

I'm also really happy with how the plasma pistol came out! I also darkened the eye lenses on the sergeants' helmets. I applied micro sol and micro set for the decals though I'm worried they came out far too shiney to the point it's distracting. Im going to attempt to apply a second white numeral on top of the function decals for the squad numbers. 

[PHS]

A layer of matt varnish should help, ideally the decal should go on top of a layer of gloss varnish then a layer of matt to fix it..  done right it makes the edges less noticeable 

[hd3]

I've added a coat of gloss varnish over the squad marker decal which is currently drying in preparation to support the second numeral decal on top. 

 

I added the evil sunz edge highlights to the outriders which really made the models details pop out. Ironically in the photo, they are almost invisible. I also did iron warriors with nuln oil over the pipes, exhausts, handle bars etc. to give it a darker metallic contrast to the lead belcher on the powerpack and bolt pistol etc. Next I'm going to use my special alpha legion gorgrunta brass formula on the exhausts. After that I'm not sure, though I was debating if I should use rattling grime and maybe ak streaking grime on the exhausts to make them look dirtier and worn in.  After that, it's highlighting the guns, a few touch ups here and there and the finally onto the bases!

 

I'm planning to either buy some gamer grass winter bases for most of the intercessors and then use either valhallan blizzard or green stuff world snow powder on the outrider and character bases to make them a bit more consistent.

Edited January 2 by hd3

[Firedrake Cordova]

They look good.

 

Valhallan Blizzard is very easy to use. Not cheap, but it is effective.  

[Brother Carpenter]

Really like how the army is coming along.

I think you nailed the holsters and pouches. How did you paint them?

 

Nice work.

[hd3]

18 minutes ago, Brother Carpenter said:

Really like how the army is coming along.

I think you nailed the holsters and pouches. How did you paint them?

 

Nice work.

 

Thanks mate. They're just rhinox hide base, agrax wash then an edge highlight of gorthor brown to make them pop out and a dash of lead belcher for the clasps.