Crest of the helmets

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

I like that my sergeants and officers have helmets with crests,every time if a have one. I've always liked the effect they create, and I love specially ancient Greek helmets, and Roman ones too because they used crests for officers. I'm not usually very strict in how are they used, longitudinally or transversally depending of the miniature. Generally, I place the new Mk2, 3, and 6 helmets transversally, regardless of whether it's a sergeant, a centurion, or a praetor, while I place the old Mk3 and 4 helmets one way or another, especially the Mk3 ones.

I only make exceptions for fast-moving units and infiltrators, as well as Seekers. Assault and Destroyer units with jump packs either don't wear a crest or wear a small longitudinal one (I usually use Escher mohawks and Goliath crests, from Necromunda, cropped and adapted), because, I think, it's less conspicuous.

I don't use any crests on Infiltrators and Seekers simply because I find it ridiculous to put something like that on a sergeant. I don't think wearing a crest is good for infiltration...

 

I don't use them on Terminators because I don't like putting them on the plates that go over the head, and there isn't always room on the helmet.

And then there's the issue of topknots, which I usually use because I play and have a collection of SoH. I reserve them for Justaerin, Reavers, and a few other characters. I consider them something different from crests.

 

Do you usually use crests or similar? And how do you use them, paint them, etc.

 

Edited September 6 by Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf
Some corrections

[Sonder76]

The crests in HH are cool. A nice counter to the fairly plain and modern "fashions" of 2025 40k

 

I'm old school and still think every squad needs a banner made with a toothpick so yeah I'm very pro helmet flair!!

 

Also the HH banners are really cool too. Capturing that Roman standard asthetic.

 

 

[Jarl of Wulfen]

I collect SW and I use a combination of crests and SW centric helms.  Example:  I'll use the wolf helm from the 40k upgrade sprue on a grey slayer pack leader or a character since they'd likely be Fenrisian.  I'll use a crest on a heavy or tactical support to denote them as Terran born.  My guys aren't from any specific point in the HH but they are 13th Company.

[PerfectChocolateMadeleine]

i am usually quite strict with the transverse vs longitudinal difference: as is implied by the libers (at least for EC), transverse crests are for line officers (sgts, centurions) and longitudinal ones are for legion officers (praetors)! i want to keep my army all company or at least battalion-level tho, so i suppose i won't be modelling any longitudinal crests, even if they look quite cool!

 

crests just look awesome, it's a really great way to make units stand out. i think topknots are cool too!!

 

as for paint, in my mind it's not standardized (even in pre-heresy or loyalist EC, who were famously quite rigid in their structure and organization), as it's a reflection of that specific officer's personality/style/whatever. so i just do what feels fun when im painting the model! :D

[Kloros Endall]

For me it’s transverse for Lieutenants and longitudinal for Sergeants with a red stripe to infer an crest when absent.

[Xenith]

That stripe is a great idea! I have alpha legion so haven't always identified my officers in such a manner, it really depends on my feel for the specific unit. The command squad kit has a few really nice small crested helms I want to use somewhere.

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacemarines/comments/1bdt1zc/helmet_crests_from_sprue/

 

I found this. Very useful,I think.

 

 

[Blissful Brushes]

I love me a crest. I have quite a strict colour scheme for my rank markings for my Luna Wolves. I repurposed Dan Abnett's use of captain in Horus Rising to really mean Lord Commander rank as it fits more with my own narrative and that of the later books. My squads are all 6 man as well so it means I have a lot of crests floating around (when I actually finish painting...)

 

Crest colour is based on the Company's colour

 

Legionary - Plain (Grey)

Section Commander/Corporal - Black stripe (longitudinal)

Veteran - Black helmet

Sergeant - Grey helmet, transverse crest

Lieutenant - Black helmet, transverse crest

Captain/Centurion - Grey Helmet, longitudinal crest

Lieutenant Commander - Black helmet, longitudinal crest

Lord Commander - he's the boss and can do whatever he likes.

[Pacific81]

I definitely think they suit certain legions very well; Ultramarines, Emp's kids, Imp Fists, even Lunar Wolves. Those that have a strong martial/organisational element that lines up with how we know the Roman or Greek militaries functioned.

 

For my scouring-era Sons of Horus, because they are representing a time when the Legion has 'fallen', most of the Terran-born marines will be long gone, I've gone for more top knots as those tie up nicely with a more brutal gang-orientated, street-brawler type of style. Fair bit of cultural relevance with lots of bad guys in 80s action movies and video games having them!

[Kloros Endall]

6 hours ago, Pacific81 said:

I definitely think they suit certain legions very well; Ultramarines, Emp's kids, Imp Fists, even Lunar Wolves. Those that have a strong martial/organisational element that lines up with how we know the Roman or Greek militaries functioned.

 

For my scouring-era Sons of Horus, because they are representing a time when the Legion has 'fallen', most of the Terran-born marines will be long gone, I've gone for more top knots as those tie up nicely with a more brutal gang-orientated, street-brawler type of style. Fair bit of cultural relevance with lots of bad guys in 80s action movies and video games having them!

Mohawks on scouts for the win!!!!