Renegadeguard's grimdark Horus Heresy project thread

[renegadeguard]

Hi all, I've decided to dip my toes into two things at once: the grimdark painting style and the Horus Heresy, mainly because modelling is my favourite part of the hobby and I no longer think 40k is for people like me with its limited wargear options and 'out-of-the-box' attitude nowadays. 

 

I'm always super critical of my own work, so painting in a different style to my usual was almost painful but I'm really happy with the outcome.

 

Here's my mid-to-late-heresy Word Bearers duellist consul for your consideration :)

 

Edited January 5 by renegadeguard

[Codex Grey]

Nice! Dig the choice of arms.

Edited January 5 by Codex Grey

[renegadeguard]

2 minutes ago, Codex Grey said:

Nice! Dig the choice of arms.

Thanks! I was agonising over whether they were heresy enough but I figured that they would have been throwing together whatever parts worked by this point 

[Lysimachus]

That snaking pattern and colours of the flame on the sword are just perfect!

[renegadeguard]

9 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

That snaking pattern and colours of the flame on the sword are just perfect!

Thanks! And with that, you've helped me decide on a name for this chapter: The Chapter of the Blue Flame!

[Pearson73]

Super cool pose and lighting style.  Love the realistic weathering coming up from the base too.

 

Ace name for the Chapter too!

[renegadeguard]

Thank you everyone for the kind replies! I've spent the last week bashing together some Mk V assault marines in the same scale as the new Mk VI and III, using whatever old firstborn and CSM parts I had available with Forgeworld torsos and modified Mk VI legs. Here's a few of my favourites:

 

[Pearson73]

They look ace, like proper classic Chaos marines, which I guess is fitting for the XVIIth!

[Xenith]

Look at that guy! So threatening!

 

 

I do't like the single tall spike though, it elongates him and reduces that murderous tank profile - I'd either go spike on the backpack, or nothing, just no pole. 

[renegadeguard]

Spent the last couple weeks painting up a whole squad of my Mk V Assault Marines. I changed the paint recipe, so I'll probably go back and repaint the champion consul at some point.

 

[renegadeguard]

On 1/27/2025 at 11:02 AM, Xenith said:

Look at that guy! So threatening!

 

 

I do't like the single tall spike though, it elongates him and reduces that murderous tank profile - I'd either go spike on the backpack, or nothing, just no pole. 

The pole is there because he's waiting for the right trophy ;)

[Pearson73]

The squad looks excellent all painted up.

[renegadeguard]

Thanks for the kind words :) I started to convert up a tactical squad, using some mk IV parts on top of some modified mk VI legs. Does this read visually as mk IV Maximus armour? I could just say it's a local variant or that legion artificers have modified it to suit their new allegiance? 

 

 

[Cactus]

They certainly look like mkIV to me. The faceplate and the squared-off kneepads are what I look for and you've got those. The thicker trim on the shoulders is clearly a post-production modification and totally suitable.

[Pearson73]

Yeah I think the knee plates go a long way to making them look like MKIV, as do the wrist and elbow armour.