Sixth Challenge Submission - More Alpha Legion for 30k

More lads from the 20th Legion

My Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge submissions are getting repetitive, but here is (surprise, surprise) more 30k.  This is a second tactical squad for the 20th Legion, known as the Alpha Legion.  There are ten fellows wearing Mark IV power armour, plastic kits from the "Betrayal at Calth" box set, and a pair of Forge World "beakie" marines wearing Mark VI Corvus Armour.

I painted a white knee plate on this crew to help tell them apart from the first bunch

The beakies are carrying special weapons, and can be swapped into the squad to create a unit of legion veteran troops as opposed to a vanilla tactical squad.

Comms trooper on the left and vexillary on the right

Some examples of the custom Alpha Legion heads from Forge World - nice dabs of character

The embossed shoulder pauldrons, transfers and a few of the helmets are upgrade packs from Forge World.  The helmets are available in packs of 10, and you can sprinkle the heads from one package across several units to add a bit of additional character to the overall force.  With the Alpha Legion, a lot of the custom heads have a beakie, or modified modified beakie look as well.  The looks-cool-factor is high with this bunch.

Mark VI armoured troops from Forge World, probably my favourite models...

Love the "shark fin" style missile launcher.!

As I said previously, while the plastic Mark IV armour kits are very nice and fun to work with, the Mark VI armour sets from Forge World are a pure joy, a hidden gem for Space Marine junkies like me.  No skullz...great proportions...beakie helmets...and they mix perfectly with any plastic or resin spares or accessories.  It is everything you get from the old RTB 01 plastic box, but with better proportions and full compatibility with all of the bits out there.  I have a small and declining stash of these models, and I expect I will sprinkle them around the different forces in my collection so each one has a dash of "beakie" look to them.
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When I contemplate how much fun the "beakie" models are, I'm surprised Forge World was ever allowed to release the Mark VI armour kits.  After all, they are connected to the heritage and original inspiration of the game, and Space Marine players and collectors love them - in my experience, both of those seem to be deal breakers with GW.  I imagine it all played out as some kind of dysfunctional corporate situation, where the Forge World guys had to sneak the designs online...


GW corporate tool: "You are not selling those old 'beakie' Space Marines are you? You KNOW we are not 'in' to that anymore..."


FW designer: "Of course not, Liege - we would never stoop to releasing anything that popular, connected to the collective positive experiences we all shared when we got into this hobby. That is fully against..."


GW corporate tool: "...against the business plan! As it is, this whole 'Horus Hesresy' thing seems dangerously popular, and we may have to give it the ol' 'specialist games treatment' at any minute, before more players start to enjoy it..." [makes throat-slashing gesture]


FW designer: "Not to worry, Liege - ensuring the best priced Horus Heresy models are only found in box games few people are actually interested in playing is doing a trick to ensure it is still harder for a gamer to get into the Horus Heresy than it otherwise might be..."


GW corporate tool: "Right then - get back to designing that new special character, Skully Bonerz McSkullz, King of Kaos Kookiness - he will be a special release, front page of a White Dwarf, etc."


Anyway, I digress...but the Mark VI Corvus Power Armour suits ARE getting harder and harder to find on Forge World's byzantine web site, and I'm sure it is only a matter of time until word reaches GW leadership that these beautiful models are available for sale, and the sculpts are withdrawn from the web store all together...

Putting the "me" in team - the Alpha Legion...

So a total of 12 models in 28mm, good for another 60 points or so. The completion of this unit provides the absolute bare bones of a force for the tabletop - two troop choices (tactical squads) and an HQ (the chaplain).  This is next to nothing under the current iteration of the 30k/40k rules, but would be plenty for a game of Rogue Trader, or even just enough to wreck things for someone as some "allies" - and with friends like the Alpha Legion, who needs enemies?

This bunch is ready for action, but will require some reinforcements before they have any impact on the table...

Up next? Well, no prize for guessing the setting, but hopefully I might change up the scale...or not...whatever it is.  Be sure to check out the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge page to see all of the great submissions from folks all over the world!

Painting Challenge Theme Entry - "Armour"

Urban re-development vehicle from the XII Legion

A feature of Curt's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is a series of theme entries.  Every two weeks or so the Challengers are encouraged to make a submission tied to a given theme, and you can score some extra bonus points (and even some hobby schwag from the sponsors).  The themes can be interpreted quite liberally (the "spider precedent" lives on in the minds of many Challenge veterans :) but that is very helpful when you are looking to make a theme entry line up with a project you are trying to focus on.

Some WIP photos...so...much...white

The nearly-finished stage...

My focus so far in the Painting Challenge has been 30k, and the first theme, "Armour" did not require any generous interpretations on my part to stick with this focus.  The 30k setting is full of tanks, so I painted up a tank.

My starting-to-sprawl 30k collection features troops from four different legions at this point, but since I started into this several years ago, the Sons of Horus have somehow been the only ones to get any vehicles :) So even though I have about 50 World Eaters, they have to make every effort on the table so far without any armoured assistance. I doubt the chaps in the XVI Legion really care about that, but I felt it was time to give the World Eaters some armoured assistance...

Love the bonkers shovel blade on the front of the tank

What better vehicle for the hard fighting bunch in the XII Legion than a Vindicator? Heavily armoured, armed and equipped to support fighting amid fortifications and built-up areas with a brutally massive and short-ranged cannon? Angron is more about axes-to-the-face than tanks, but I expect this tank would find favour with him. 

Decals from Forge World's sheet were very useful

The tank commander is popped out for a look-see...probably enjoys seeing the effects of the direct hits from that cannon fist-hand...

While Forge World does a very nice "30k version" of this tank, I opted for the standard plastic "40k version" as I quite like the look of the model - particularly the huge shovel on the front, which adds a combat engineering aspect to the vehicle. Besides, while the 30k vehicles are very, very nice, there is no prohibition on models for the 30k setting.  This vehicle was relatively straightforward to put together - I only had to shave a few of the stupid skulls off where I could, and it was ready. Toss on the decals, a lot of weathering to reflect hard use in some challenging combat conditions, and this thing is good to go!

Horus for hope!

Be sure to check out the Painting Challenge site, as new submissions appear all the time, from some incredible painters around the world, but several from Winnipeg.  Byron has some awesome stuff in particular (apparently he LOVES horses), so be sure to check it out! And be sure to visit the theme entry page, and vote your favourites!

Fifth Challenge Submission - The Alpha Legion

The Alpha Legion arrives on my painting table

My fifth submission to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge features a new Legion for my 30k collection - the 20th Legion, known as the Alpha Legion.  The Alphas have one of the more entertaining back stories among the numerous legions featured in GW's "Horus Heresy" setting.  The other Legions have elaborate histories - some noble, some bloody, nearly all grim, and all with long service in the endless wars which abetted the rise of the Emperor and the establishment of the Imperium.

Veteran Sergeant on the left, Chaplain on the right

Back view of the officers

The history of the Alphas, on the other hand, is not well known, and this was on purpose.  They started off as a black ops, special forces-type organization, used by the Emperor and his senior officials for specialized activities of the sort that archivists were not meant to record. Eventually the demands of the "great crusade" were such that this force was elevated to the status of a Legion itself, and they became the 20th - and final - of the Space Marine Legions. One of many decisions the Emperor would likely come to regret...

Vexillary on the left, and a communications trooper on the right

Rear detail on the communication and vexillary models

The last Legion established, but taking the name "Alpha", is a contradiction action that fits well with how the Alpha Legion rolls.  Where the other Legions strive in the shadow of their elaborate histories to pursue greater causes and honour their ponderous histories, the Alphas just seem to be trolling the galaxy.  The Alpha Legion is all about wheels-within-wheels, schemes, plotting, subversion, spying...like a Space Marine Legion-sized version of the CIA, complete with its own military industrial complex to sustain its machinations. They can do all of the standard, scary, appear-in-orbit-and-destroy-your-world Space Marine stuff.  But before they would bother, they will probably have wrecked on the pension funds, crashed the property markets, illegally seized the leases for resource extraction and rigged the elections.  If all that wasn't enough fun, then fine - orbital assault.

The Alphas built a galaxy-spanning network of informers, agents and contacts, even infiltrating the other Space Marine legions.  They spun endless webs of information and misinformation, mixing freely and spreading them widely. As such, they were disliked and distrusted by their brother Legions.

In particular, they had problems with the Iron Warriors (or just seemed to provoke the worst in them).  I know Dallas is toying with doing an Iron Warriors force, so I hope this bunch might spur his project along at some point...

Some Alphas in Mark IV armour

The embossed shoulder plates are from Forge World...an expensive addiction, but I love how they look

The outbreak of the Horus Heresy was almost a happy coincidence for the Alphas - I suspect they were planning to just run around a blow sh!t up, whatever the Emperor and then Horus ordered.  Although they sided with Horus in the Heresy, the Warmaster had difficulty controlling them.  The Alphas would interpret orders as liberally as they liked, and had so many schemes going they were just as likely to fight the rebels as the loyalists.  Their main operational motto is "no witnesses".  With a bunch like this, there are a lot of possibilities for fun scenarios!

Mark VI "Corvus" power armoured figures from Forge World - the Alphas are often portrayed employing these classic "beakie" armour suits, much more so it seems than the other Legions

As an aside, if you are a Space Marine dork like me, you will fine no models to be more fun to build than these Mark VI suits from Forge World - the price is eye watering, but these are faithful to the original RTB01 plastics - you will love them

The other reason I wanted to collect this force had to do with their colour scheme. They are often seen in a blue, or blue green, with a metallic sheen, the colour of a sports car.  The downside to this cool look is that it almost always seems to involve an airbrush, a general deal-breaker for me. I tried for a couple months before the Challenge started to find a way to come up with that cool metallic blue without an airbrush, but just couldn't make it work.  So I came up with a different blue-green approach - it's not a cool, metallic-looking finish, but I'm still pretty pleased with how it is turning out and there is no airbrush involved.

Chaplain for the Alpha Legion...given their approach to the universe, I expect this guy would be into irony more than anything else

This model will do as a command figure for the Alphas until I can get some more command troops

Can you feel the "faith"?

These models were a ton of fun to paint.  They are a mix of plastics from the "Betrayal at Calth" box set, with some upgraded bits from Forge World, and some resin Mark VI power armour marines from Forge World.  The Chaplain is the "Kurtha Sedd" plastic figure from the "Betrayal at Calth" box set, painted to be an officer/command figure for the Alpha Legion.

This submission has 11 28mm infantry models, but two of the models were test paints from before the Challenge so they don't count, so this netter another 45 points.  Almost at 200 points now, and still planning to bend the brushes with more 30k stuff...

Team Yankee British Chieftain Troop

Team Yankee has (obviously) been a thing around here and with the completion of my Bundeswehr force, I'd been considering building an "allied" army to chip in here and there. The British look favourite for a smaller force so I put a Chieftain troop on my Christmas list and Santa delivered. How lucky am I???

The Chieftains were pretty easy to assemble but were a bit more complex than the Leopard 2s I'd built previously. There are some stowage options provided as well as a variety of crew for those, like me, go for that sort of thing. The kit comes with both regular and "Stillbrew" (composite reinforced armour) turrets. I went with the Stillbrew variant as it offers one point better front armour, albeit at the expense of performance in difficult terrain. Must be the front-heaviness of the extra armour package.

I basecoated the tanks with GW Catachan Green highlighted heavily with Vallejo German Uniform. The camo pattern was applied with a mix of Abaddon Black with a hint of Mechanicus Standard Grey. After a wash with Nuln Oil the whole vehicle was drybrushed with Ushabti Bone and some light dusty weathering applied with the same colour.

There might be a little more detail work to do around the cupola I had the photo booth set up I wanted to take the pics.

I didn't apply any decals other than the Union flag on the offside front fender and the number plate. I wanted these guys to look pretty fresh into the front lines.

The mech infantry platoon I got from Conscript Greg for Christmas is primed and the "Iron Maiden" book and Lynx helos are on the way... just need some FV432s and I'm waiting for them to be offered by my favourite UK ebay seller. With those done my small British force will be in good shape.

Also, if you get a chance, read this:

It's a very cool book about... Chieftains mainly, but also some recce dudes and an M1 Abrams crew, set in the first days of World War III. You can buy the print-on-demand trade paperback here. Very evocative stuff and pretty chilling. Let's be glad it never happened, and hope it never does :-)

Fourth Challenge Submission - Whirlwind Scorpius for the Sons of Horus

Whilwind artillery support vehicle for the 16th Legion

More 30k stuff in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. This is a Whirlwind Scorpius, a multiple rocket launcher support vehicle for the troops of the 16th Legion, the Warmasters' own Sons of Horus. While I am trying to expand my collection into some other Legions, I still have a bias toward the 16th Legion, and somehow the Sons of Horus seem to have first claim on new model purchases...it's what Horus would do, after all, right?

This model has been sitting around since just after our great big 30k mega game in October of 2015 - nice to finally get it done!

Rocket launcher ready to dish out abuse on loyalist fools

I generally dislike long range artillery vehicles being represented on the table for a skirmish game, particularly in 28mm, but the Whirlwind is one of those iconic 30k/40k vehicles for fans like me that are fun to have in the collection.  Games Workshop has made many versions of this model over the history of the game, but they all generally do the same thing - drop explosive rockets on the heads of opponents!  Let any who oppose the Hope and Change of the Warmaster flee in terror...

Some "good luck" script on the hatch - from the very useful "Betrayal at Calth" decal sheet

Another "good luck" symbol on the opposite hatch - these decals are meant for the Word Bearers, but I love the look of, and implied slight hint of corruption, these geometric symbols confer

This particular model is from Forge World, a mixed resin and plastic model kit.  I really like the look and design, as the Forge World guys have designed a sharp looking launcher while combining many throw-back features which are shout-outs to the original plastic model.   That nostalgia stuff gets me every time!

Another view of the launch turret

The Sons of Horus will look forward to an opportunity to use this new toy to wipe the galaxy clean of fools who cling to belief in the so-called "Emperor".  This one vehicle got me another 15 points towards my goal of 1,000.  More 30k stuff to follow in the Challenge!

New Year's Day Lunch and Game

L-R: Conscripts Indo, Dallas, Kevin, Dave V., Frederick, Mike F., Keegan. Greg had to duck out early :-(

This year we continued the tradition of a New Year's Day lunch and game hosted at my place. We had an excellent turnout of Conscripts and a fun game.

My wife Pam had prepared an amazing lunch as usual: pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, BBQ roasted carrots, dainties and pie. Best of all, Leanne and Robyn (wife and daughter of Mike) and Jen (wife of Dave) were able to make it for lunch as well. The tummies of all were filled with delicious food.

The table, with Mike F., Greg and Dave in contemplation

After lunch we repaired to the basement of Conscript HQ for a game of Otherworld Fantasy Skirmish. I'd prepared seven factions for the game was turned out to be perfect as there were seven other Conscripts in attendance.

As usual, we used the superb Games Workshop dungeon tiles and markers laser-cut by Conscript Byron. In the photo above we see Greg's murder-wizard roasting Mike F.'s vampires with a Pillar of Fire spell. Outstanding!

 

The treasure room at the centre of the dungeon held a nice surprise - an Eye Tyrant (Beholder!) that popped up to menace Dave V.'s pig-faced Orc warband. Although it was duly dispatched, I am told that its appearance did cause some consternation, which was what I was going for.

Players scored victory points for killing other players' minions (1 VP each) and characters (2VP) as well as for collecting treasure items.We counted up VPs at the end of the game and the winner (despite having to leave early) was GREG B. with 10VPs. Indo came a close second with 8VPs, while Mike, Dave and Keegan tied on 4VPs. Frederick scored 3 and Kevin scored... zero. Must've been the warband I reckon ;-)

Anyway, thanks as always to Pam for the wonderful food and to the guys for coming out to ring in the New Year!

Third Challenge Submission - Epic 30k Sons of Horus and Knights

More Epic 30k fun!

My third submission stays with the 30k theme and setting, but switches scales.  These are for Epic, GW's excellent 6mm rules, a game so good the tools that run GW killed and then wondered why it died.  

When I post about Epic, I wonder often at GW's alleged plan to "bring back" Epic. The timeline for this alleged reappearance continues to stretch out in a management fashion that would make Dilbert blush.  GW may bring back the game, or some version of it, but I'll believe it when I see it.  It seems most to be vapour right now...

Terminator officer brings his banner to battle, like any respectable officer would!

Anyway, the point is not to rant, but to share! So on with the submission. There are a few different bits here.  The bulk of it, painted green, are from the 16th Legion, the Warmasters' own Sons of Horus.  This force got started in the last Painting Challenge, and it continues to grow.

Love the oversized autocannons on the Terminator - there is also a deredeo dreadnought behind them

Horus for hope!

The infantry represent a Terminator detachment.  While the Terminators are next to useless in the large scale 30k/40k game, the Epic rules model these scary troops very well.  The Terminator detachment can arrive anywhere on the table and deliver a devastating blow, consistent with the fluff of their back story. I have not really used Terminators in Epic games before, so I look forward to trying them out.

Deredeo class dreadnoughts - lots of cannons and missiles, fire support galore

Command APC in the front, and a trio of "Leviathan" dreadnoughts behind it - the Knights loom in the background

There are two dreadnoughts of different varieties - the two smaller ones are "Deredeo" class, basically heavy weapon support platforms.  The trio of larger ones are "Leviathans", large dreadnought-class armour intended for even-heavier up close and personal support.

Sicaran tank, boasting a pair of deadly autocannons in the turret - I love this vehicle

There are three armoured vehicles - two Sicaran battle tanks and one command variant of a Rhino APC.  As Byron has said before, the Sicaran tank is one of the nicest designs, looking very cool and aggressive.  The Rhino with the little radar dish will be a useful ride for the commanders in the Sons of Horus forces on the table.

A detachment of four Knights - deadly walkers, heavy fighting machines

There are four walkers in the submission as well - these are Knights. In this group there are two "Knights Errant", sporting thermal cannons and two "Paladins", carrying battle cannons.

The machine on the right is an "Errant", equipped with a thermal cannons

The fellow on the left is a "Paladin", armed with a battle cannon

This submission netted me another 25 points.  The 30k pursuit will continue with further submissions as the New Year goes on!