Sons of Horus Assault Marines

Onward for Horus, humanity's last hope! Just watch that plasma pistol...

Our last outing against the dupes of the false Emperor didn't go so well, so I have been trying to add reinforcements in order to avoid further shame to the cause of Horus and his revolt against the Imperium bold plan for the future of humanity.  First step is to get some vehicles moving - a new Land Raider is just the ticket, but that was really the only tank model I had waiting around.  More are en-route from Forge World, but until then I thought I would keep going through my pile of Horus Heresy infantry.

Embossed shoulder pads - an expensive addiction

With this in mind, here is a squad of 10 assault Marines from the XVIth Legion - the Sons of Horus.  These are Legion marines in Mark IV power armour, equipped with jump packs, chainswords and bolt pistols.  Two of the marines are carrying plasma pistols.  

Veteran sergeant on the left, plasma pistol trooper on the right

Very lean jump packs by Warhammer 30k/40k standards

The officer (with the whacky comb on his helmet - I love those silly things) is carrying an extra silly weapon - a "heavy" chainsword, useful for those times where you wish you could hit your enemy with an armoured chainsaw using a two-handed strike, I guess.  It looks hilarious, and I think it fits the setting and the certain je-ne-sais-quoi of the Sons of Horus.

Lots of rivets on a few of the models - this guy looks particularly ominous

Jump packs in the Warhammer 30k/40k setting are often enormous contraptions, but these Mark IV jump packs are relatively small and efficient looking.  No doubt whatever Adeptus Mechanicus magos who came up with such an efficient design was banished and tossed into an isolated reactor furnace for his affront to the design standards of the far future... 

Something went awry with the chest decal for the fellow on the right - I have been having a lot of problems with these decals lately!

With the jump packs these troops will be able to close rapidly against the enemy.  For example, let's imagine some enemy Legion Marines are, oh, I don't know, say, hiding behind a line of Solar Auxilia - just for the sake of argument.  These fellows should be able to power over the meat shield and tangle with the foe straight away.

Stay clear of that Sergeant...

These squads can be as large as 20 models strong - I don't know if I will go that far, but I think I will try and add another five to make a 15-man unit.  The buildup towards our Heresy mega game continues...

IX Legion Landspeeder

Cracking on with IX Legion projects for the big summer game... here we have an old OOP metal Landspeeder given the Blood Drinkers treatment.

It was enjoyable to paint a vehicle, just for a change from the infantry models. But the technique was pretty much the same. Base Khorne Red, gradually build up highlights with Evil Sunz Red mix (OK, this is different - I'm using ESR because I've run out of the old pot of Blood Red), wash with Nuln Oil, highlight back up with ESR, apply decals, sponge chip and weather to taste. Done.

I decided to go with the Multi-Melta/Heavy Bolter combo for tactical flexibility ;-)

Some IX Legion and Blood Drinkers markings in addition to the tactical number "4".

The old model is all metal, weighs a ton, and looks like it means business. Looking forward to having this zoom around the table in our next Heresy game. Still waiting on the Chapterhouse conversion kits for the Land Raider and Rhinos, but the Spartan should be up next anyway. From what I've read, that'll be a challenge.

Poll Added!

Games Workshop has introduced a long-awaited faction into its grimdark 40K lineup - the Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii. There's a basic infantry box (Vanguard/Rangers), an elite-type infantry box (Ruststalkers/Sicarian Infiltrators), a light walker (Ironstrider Ballistarius/Sydonian Dragoon) and even a walking tank (Dunestalker)!

We've added a poll (up there at top right of the page) to ask you what you think of the new Skitarii for 40K.

Do you like them, or not? Will you buy them to use for 40K games, or maybe even in another gaming system? We'd love to know!

40K Chaos Renegades Update - Ogryns, Cyclops, Mechanics

This weekend I interrupted 30K activity to finish off some 40K models. First up were the two metal Ogryns I'd converted to finish off a squad for my Renegades army.
 

 These guys actually went up fairly quickly.

I just love the sheer character in these old models. The gasmasks turned out rather well I think.

The Bone 'Ead squad leader has a bit of a different look to his mask, to accommodate his bionic eye. 

The sculpt, again, is great - I love the small tears in the undershirt.

Here's the completed squad!

Next up is a Cyclops demolition tank from Forgeworld. Since I had some spare Renegade torsos and bits around, I figured I'd convert an operator for the vehicle as well.

The vehicle was a snap to paint - just like a full size vehicle but in miniature ;-)

Hope you can get a peek at the screen I painted in on the remote.

Renegade Cyclops operator was painted in the standard Renegade uniform - camo pants and field-grey tunic.

Lastly, here's a couple of figures my wife got me for Christmas - some special-order Imperial Guard Astra Militarum vehicle mechanics.

I converted the models with MaxMini gasmask heads to fit into the Renegade force.

I love the 40K Fitbit the guy on the left is sporting. Or is it an iWatch???

One last shot of the Cyclops. That's it for tonight!

Last Stand on Isstvan - Horus Heresy Battle Report

Last week we rolled out my new IX Legion Blood Drinkers army for a game of "30K". Conscript Greg supplied the storyline:

“The Warmaster has raised his true flag at Istvaan and now his Legions turn against the very Imperium they strove to create.  Horus’ war fleets make a grim advance toward Terra while the Imperial authorities struggle to recover from the shock of the Warmaster’s betrayal.  Through the Warmaster’s own sinister designs the Loyalist forces are scattered at the outset of the war and must make what defence they can manage while awaiting further instruction.

In this setting elements of the IXth Legion are making a stand in a city called Rogsburg, hoping to hold back elements of the Sons of Horus and the World Eaters as they race through the local system.  Can a determined local defense of a critical supply depot spike the plans of the Warmaster and his minions?”

We played a straightforward game with 4 objectives, on a half-urban-half-rural board using my new mat from Barrage Miniatures. The Blood Drinkers deployed a Praetor and his Command squad, two large tactical squads, a veteran squad with missile launcher, six-man Terminator squad, and a Rapier. They were joined by two large Solar Auxilia units (19 men each) and an Auxilia Veletaris Storm Squad.

The traitors followers of the alternative Emperor rolled with a couple tactical squads and some specialized weaponeers - squads armed with multi-meltas, heavy bolters, volkite weaponry, and plasma guns. Ouch! They were lead by a Praetor with command squad and various hangers-on like a Centurion, Apothecary, Legion Champion, etc.  Points totalled about 1500 per side.

Here's a view from the Blood Drinkers' side of the table. The objectives were mainly scattered through the middle of the table, with both sides having to move on them.

Game on! Traitor Marines move towards a wood, looking to set up a firebase.

Traitor tactical squad moves up also.

Traitors deploy in the built-up area. You can see a few of the traitor characters standing just outside the building.

Roll Tide!! The followers of Sanguinius got the first turn, and the two tactical squads moved up, fronted by the Terminator squad. First objective taken - seen at centre right just behind the front-line trooper.

The Blood Drinkers were accused of using the Solar Auxilia as ablative human shields in the battle, a charge that the IX Legion strongly denied. Not even sure how anyone would get that impression.

I mean, I ask you...?

Veteran Marines squad deployed behind an Auxilia squad and moved together towards objective #2.

Rapier Laser Destroyer somehow made it up onto the second floor of the building. Some serious suspensor work there.

Auxilia fan out a bit and start taking fire from the traitors at top.

On the other side of the table, the Terminators have been thinned down a tad, and some Auxilia have rushed to the front. Their righteous zeal for the Emperor knows no bounds - it would be downright boorish for the Blood Drinkers to prevent the Auxilia getting between them and the traitors.

Traitor bolter fire takes its toll on the Auxilia but the survivors hang in there. I have to give some props to the Solar Auxilia in this battle, their lasgun fire took a toll on the traitors, especially as the Auxilia was tooled up with some buffs to their shooting.

Blood Drinkers Veterans sweep towards the objective after Auxilia absorb the shooting. There's a reason these guys survived long enough to be "veterans".

Surviving Terminators anchor the line with the Auxilia. The battle's nearing its end and the IX Legion is firmly in control.

Too many chiefs and not enough braves on the traitor side, I'm afraid ;-)

The mighty IX Legion had a weight of numbers and the excellent Solar Auxilia to back them up, and while the game went back and forth, the result was a clear win for the followers of the Emperor. I really like 30K as a gaming experience - the models are great, and the fact that there's a limited number of unit types involved means that the "special rules overload" of 40K isn't as likely to rear its head. Heresy escalation is now in full effect - we need vehicles!!

Sons of Horus Land Raider

Veteran marines from the 16th Legion on maneuvers with their new ride

It has taken over a year, but my Horus Heresy forces finally have a proper vehicle! This is a Land Raider Proteus from Forge World, painted to accompany the Sons of Horus into action against the dupes of the False Emperor. 

I took this photo to make sure I was able to mount the tracks properly for both sides

WIP progress - I was thrilled to have the tracks mounted on until I started priming...

So far, with the exception of El Booze, and Ferrum Mori, my 30k painting efforts have been concentrated on infantry - various foot slogging Marines as well as some Solar Auxilia.  But as you will see in a battle report that I expect Dallas to post here shortly, infantry alone can't always get the job done.  It's time to round out my Heresy forces with some vehicles, and the Knights and Titans are a little too unbalanced to set up for our Thursday games.

Ring mount for the sponson - one section gave way during the prep...f**k resin

The Land Raider Proteus is a wonderful model design from Forge World, a shout out to the original Land Raider plastic models from the Rogue Trader era.  When I think of the Horus Heresy games that I played with the "Space Marine" and later "Epic" games, Land Raiders were always prominent so I really wanted one to accompany the Sons of Horus and their friends on the table.

WIP - the green is down

Painting the lascannons separately is highly recommended

 A vehicle model from Forge World is always a fraught experience.  The designs are (for the most part) lovely, but the quality of the casting can be hit and miss.  Further complicating matters is the utter lack of instructions.  I have heard many horror stories in particular related to the Land-Raider-based vehicles, as the design of the model is open to rage-induction depending on how reliably the resin was cast.

Lucky for me this kit was relatively well cast. I had a problem with one of the lascannon mounting rings - it was laughably thin and a chunk came right off during assembly prep. The other challenge was the side doors - they barely fit, and it was more than a matter of a mis-cast - they were flat-out too big, and I had to do some carving to get them to sit in the recess of the side of the vehicle.

Ready to roll!

Figuring out how to mount the tracks was also a bit of a puzzle, but I was able to sort it out.  I was lucky, the tracks were straight and well-cast, and the track channels were cast properly and so the tracks fit! 

Twin lascannon sponson, ready to dish out abuse to the foolish adherents of the False Emperor

Chuffed about getting the thing put together, it wasn't until I started painting that I realized I had messed up - I should have left the tracks off for painting.  Getting the black primer into the recesses of the tracks was a huge pain in the a@@.  If I do another one of these, the tracks will wait and get a separate paint job on the side.

At least I was smart enough to leave the lascannon mounts and cow catcher aside to paint separately.

I'm sure the Sons of Horus use "green" bio fuels...

The painting results on this overall were...OK...I used the same greens and edge highlighting I have been doing on the Sons of Horus marines and while I looks alright, it's not as smooth as I would wish it to be.  I will probably have to break down and try and airbrush at some point if that is something I'm really interested in achieving...

Heavy bolter mounted on the command cupola

The decals are from the Forge World Sons of Horus decal sheet - the big "eye of Horus" symbols turned out great, but the roman numeral legion markings silvered up like crazy!  There is always something that comes up when painting a Forge World vehicle...you can still see the damn silvered reflection in some of the photos when you look at the "XVI" near the front.

Anyway, I sorted the decals as best I could, and did some hard core weathering - lots of sponge chipping, weather powder, and even some oil paint! However, I noticed that the Testors Dullcote tends to wipe out the effects of weathering powder, so I may have to go back and add a bit more. But overall it still turned out OK, well enough to roll out on to the table and get shot up in the first turn. 

Wheels are better than heels!

Of course a single vehicle still leaves my enlightened supporters of Horus short when it comes to transport - I hope to add some more conventional Rhinos, and maybe one or two more terrifying vehicle bits from the Legion armory.  But it's great to have this vehicle done and it will hopefully inspire more progress on some others.  Horus for hope!