Ho-lo Dakka,
So I am beginning another army blog, this one is for my Space Marines. They are a custom chapter - The Aegis Guard.

Mostly done here, but they are still WIP, needing touch ups. I started these a while ago, went back and learned how to paint yellow, and well... just better. I'm pleased with how they are they are coming out. I like the color scheme so far, and I'm using grey knight helms for most of the characters. I'm putting these blogs up to keep myself moving on these armies.

Background:

They are a loyalist successor chapter to the imperial Fists.
They are a relatively young chapter, only a few thousand years old.
They have suffered heavy losses in the last few centuries but are currently rebuilding.The chapter has lost the most of the second and the entire fifth and sixth companies. As such the have moved all reserve companies to line, battle companies and dispersed the first company among them.

Ninth Company:
I'm building the ninth company, freshly moved to a line company in the last sixty years. They have fought heavily in the Tigran sub-sector, defending the primary planet of Valena against a Chaos incursion. The traitorous forces were defeated, but the conflict attracted the attention of an ork Waaaagh!, my own Bad Moons.

So they are now locked in combat in the main city of Valena, which is why they are in an urban setting.

Anyway, I've got more background later.


Captain Decius:


OLD captain Aegis Guard, Ninth Company:

Still WIP -



Got some battle damage to do, and finish touch ups. I also need to finish his sword, but I haven't decided the way to go yet.



Captain Decius and his Command Squad

All still WIP, but mostly done. I haven't decided how to go on the power swords, I am not a huge fan of the lightning swords. I've experimented with some glazing white over the green, which failed, but might be the way I go. Any ideas?




Company Champion - still WIP:




Apothecary - obviously still WIP:





So as far as troops go, I have two tacticals very close to completion.

First Tactical:









Tactical the second:


Here's the Sarge and four others, there are still five more off camera resting.





Terminator SGT Voldoris:








Honored Brother Illyerion STILL WIP:









And the whole lot as it is now:




Continuing:

I still have to finish these guys up for the most part.

Then I have unassembled and stripped of paint to begin again as space marines:

1 Razorback
2 Rhinos
1Predator
1 more Dread
2 Tacticals
1 Devastator squad
1 Sternguard squad
2 Scout Squads
2 Land Speeders
1 Assault Squad


Whew. Between my orks, it's quite a task, but whole lotta fun.

Thanks for looking, any advice and C&C welcome!

So, been working on my orks as well so I haven't updated this blog in a bit. But I got a vindy for xmas, painted it up with my first attempt at sponge weathering. I am pleased with how this came out:

She's the Fera Bella which loosely translates (Read Google translates) to Beast of War:

Oh man that Vindicator is awesome. The custom chapter looks really nice also! All lot of times you see custom chapters that look really dumb or to much color.....not these....they are just cool!

You have a nifty idea going here. One idea is actually getting your hands on some simple shields from WFB knights and the like and using them on your vehicles, with your heraldry painted on.

The closest thing I have to major criticism is the power weapons. I know you don't like the crackly sith-lightning esque ones, but maybe a glowy orange/red instead? I think it would fit better with the yellows you're using here.

Thanks for the comments!

I really want these guys to be special, well at least to me.

I am definitely on a shield motif, since it fits in with the the name of the chapter. And well, being Imperial Fists descendants they are of course stubborn and hold ground.


I'm looking at some bits as my funds grow, anything with shield heraldry is worth adding. I would like some larger shields for my dreads. I'm also toying with redoing my weapon choices on my command squad to give them all storm shields, but the cost in points...

To tell you the truth, the power weapons are just sitting there. I have no idea what to do with them. I am not sold on the lightning power weapons I see. Some look great and some don't. I am not sure I can pull them off to be in the "looks great " group.

I am totally in love with Enzephalon's force weapon here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/431708.page#3953201. That is incredible.

I think I need to paint up an orange blade. I went with green because 80 percent of the models' color is yellow and there is a decent contrast. But I never thought about orange.

The yellow/bone/blue combo is looking good there.

I'm a big fan of the extreme weathering and filth you've got going on here...it looks really cool. Also the paint scheme is nice, subtle and low key, but visually appealing. Like to see more of this!

You're right, that is a nifty piece of work there, very otherworldly. I doubt my stuff will ever get on par with that blade or your weathering here.

Always be willing to fiddle, especially since you're trying to make a special force for yourself.

How were you planning to load out your scouts?

@ Wulfe Luer - I have a squad of snipers, which I want to do some kind of guille suit for camo cloaks. And I have a 'holding' squad, that is heavy bolter, sgt w/bolter/power weapon and the rest have shotguns and bolters. It's more for look than actualy game play for that last squad. I'm sure they'll get killed but I want to have a squad of infiltrating, fast moving objective holders.

I did the tank weathering with the sponge method. My first real success with that, and I have several colors of pigment from Vallejo. They are a lot of fun, take a little practice. I screwed up a few pieces with them before I got this one to work. But the cool thing is they wash off.


@ Cave Dweller, thanks. I think that marines should be in the muck and constantly on crusade with little time to clean up properly.

@Swordwind. Thanks! I toyed with about twenty schemes before settling on this one. I like it. My first attempt at yellow came out horribly orange and I didn't even notice it. They also had full blue helmets. It was pretty terrible looking back. I guess I had to learn to work with colors.

Well, well. It's been a while since I posted any updates, I'll try to keep them coming. There's been more updates to my orks lately.

Okay, so I got some really cool parts and made up a nice jump chaplain. This is Chaplain Artemideris:










I really like how this model came out. I tried something new with the jump pack heat. As always C&C welcome.

I'm working on Sternguard, more Tacs, and my command squad(redux). Should have more updates soon. Thanks for looking.

I really dig the sponge weathering on the Vindicator.

Constructive criticism-wise, I think the tactical squads are too heavily washed. I understand you're going for a "weathered" look, but the wash allowed to pool on the flat yellow surfaces makes it look sloppy instead of "dirty". I think sponge-weathering them just like you did the Vindicator would be awesome.

Well, now I see that too, great!

I think I need to go back over them and highlight over the raised parts of the armor where the wash pooled. So far my sponge attempts on infantry haven't faired too well, but I have practiced it on orks a little more. I might give it a try.

I still have so much to paint, but I do want them to be the best that they can be, which is honestly why we post in blogs, so we can get feedback and other folks can see what we may not see.

Thanks Raatcharch

The one thing i really like is the use of the GK terminator heads on the sergants, really sets them apart from the rest of the army

Young Logan

Yeah I wanted something to make them stand out. I envision this chapter to be very knightly, I don't mean like WFB Bretonnians but well, I don't know honourable, true loyalists, Imperial fist descendants. I love the GK helmets myself, so had to have some. It just kind of evolved into the squad leaders and honor guard types having this armor, as a type of inner circle.

So I figure I am going to put up some WIP shots to show what I'm working on and to help keep this thing flowing. I get busy, lose track of time and it is months between blog updates. Eh.

I retooled my Captain. I got to thinking about him and the previous load out, a relic blade and plasma pistol. It didn't really work. SO now he has a relic blade (different one mind you) and a storm bolter. I LOVE storm bolters, they are everywhere in my army.



I still need to do more clean up and weathering.







I think that he is coming out better than the previous version. But I really want to clean up this model and weather it a bit more.

Here's some Sternguard WIP pics. I know I know, heavy flamer negates the special issue ammo, but the opportunity to do a heavy flamer was just too much. I might do two. I don't play competitive anything anymore, so I put what I want in my squads.

I picture these guys in the streets, clearing buildings with flame and melta shots.

Lookin' good! The yellow color is fantastic! nice work.

I like this army man!
Great conversions all round!
I LOVE the HF in the Stern Guard squad!
Although personally I don't like the combi-weapons.
Try something like this for a combi-melta...
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/408559.page
and for a combi flamer just swap the melta bit in the tutorial for a Cadian flamer part (thinner that SM flamer) and replace the other melta part with the flamer's tank.

Some of the heads on your command squad look a bit out ofnproportion but the colour is great. Nice chapter.

Thanks for the comments and critiques.

It's amazing to me the things that I don't notice. The tactical squads were pretty blotchy in places.So I am attempting to clean them up with a highlight. I've also made a bunch of changes to different units, but I'm leaving the old pictures in the blog to show the evolution. IF I EVER FINISH anything.

@ Flying Poo - Yeah.... I really like your combi bolters far better than my own, but I am not sure if I want to rip them apart right now and start over. Wish I had seen that a week ago. I have a grip of storm bolters from tac termies that I could do something similar too.

Here's my string of bad luck/mishaps/frustrations lately with this army:

- Started my Librarian. Forgot how to paint blue. Horrible fiasco with Asurman blue on white, it looked like a ghost of a member of the Blue Man Group. Back into SuperClean for You!

-Actually tried, tried mind you and I have no clue why, actually tried to paint a chaplain black in layers up from a white primer. (I prime about everything white) Back into SuperClean for you!

- Tactical squads big spots of wash all over them. I am able to repair one by adding a highlight layer over it, which I should have done in the first place. But the other will have to be completely redone in order to fix that, It was the first squad I painted in proper yellow, my first attempt came out orange. Don't ask. But anyway, I had used a yellow ink in the paint that makes anything added to the top of it run and not hold at all. Back into SuperClean!

- Command squad was almost finished, i was putting on the last yellow layer, the one I missed on the tactical squads, and was using the new Citadel paints. I had used Averland Sunset and Yriel layer with great results, so I puton the last layer of Flashgitz yellow and even though it went on smooth and I had it watered down, as I do, it dried on everything I used on with a grainy, thick glop. No matter how thin I applied it, same results. I guess that serves me right for using new paint on almost complete models. Anyway, back into the damned SuperClean for them.

I had some good luck with my assault terminator sgt last night. I may finish him today if I have the time and post that up.

I've been able to paint up orks like a factory lately, but my blessed Aegis Guard are like the Cursed Founding. Mutation!

I really like the use of the GK Terminator heads - one of my friends does that for his Exorcists Sternguard - but I feel that the PAGK heads (the ones on the regular grey knights, not the Terminators) might be better scaled for use on regular power armour.

Everything looks pretty good though. You might want to thin the yellow a little and do a couple more layers. I know that yellow is a bitch to paint, but more layers never hurts with yellow. It looks fine right now, but another layer or two would really eliminate some of the spottiness and streakiness. I'm mostly going off of the dreadnought for this critique, and it appears that you've been getting better since then - the Captain looks much better!

The bone on the Chaplain and the white everywhere else looks good though, but your highlighting of the yellow could use a little work. I might also suggest a gryphonne sepia wash (or whatever GW calls it these days) to shade the yellow a bit if that hasn't been done already.

So I must be crazy or the pictures are making them look like it, but the GK termie heads look fine proportionally here. Maybe it is the pics, but since there's at least two people that see it, I gotta believe you guys. .

@Joshh - yeah I thin it out, but you know I don't think I've been layering enough. I got an update, did this termie assault SGT today, I think he came out great. I haven't weathered him yet. But the yellow is nice. I think I found my recipe.

So I learned some things today:

1. Yellow requires more layering and trials at layering than any color I've tried before.
2. Don't rely on washes too much
3. Washes should NEVER be a final coat
4. Thin out paint, then thin it again. Halfway through your layer, thin it more.
5. Painting is like cooking, it requires experimentation until the recipe is right and certain dishes/styles are more forgiving.
6. Yellow Orks are far easier to make look good than Yellow Space Marines.
7. Pictures come out farrrr better with scenery and multi source lighting instead of just multi source lighting
8. All of these thing s have been said before, but it takes practice I think to really understand it when other people give you advice.


So okay, here is my Assault Termie SGT:










Also, I tired do some repair work on one of my tactical squads - Ooo and I've decided to make all past and future sqts have red hemlmets.





Anyway, thanks for looking, it has been a journey this week. But I think I'm getting better and that's what I want. So I'm leaving the older stuff up so I can see how I'm progressing.

1. Yellow requires more layering and trials at layering than any color I've tried before.
2. Don't rely on washes too much
3. Washes should NEVER be a final coat
4. Thin out paint, then thin it again. Halfway through your layer, thin it more.
5. Painting is like cooking, it requires experimentation until the recipe is right and certain dishes/styles are more forgiving.
6. Yellow Orks are far easier to make look good than Yellow Space Marines.
7. Pictures come out farrrr better with scenery and multi source lighting instead of just multi source lighting
8. All of these thing s have been said before, but it takes practice I think to really understand it when other people give you advice.

Amen to all that!

I like the red helmets on the sergeants and now I've noticed that I really like your bases!

Thanks Flyin' Poo! I usually prime on flat bases, pop the models off and attach them to a finished base after painting. I like to do up like 20 or 30 at a time and keep them stored.

Okay. Well as always a huge length of time between posts. Not only busy but I've had to do some thinking.

My first finished models just didn't jibe with my latest. I think I've been getting better, but the main fact was color matching. My earlier stuff was too brown. I've been able to adjust one squad and do some highlights, but when it came down to the command squad, dreads, and termies, well... they were just not right. I started over. Again.

Well, I have three dreads and I've done magnetizing for all the arms. It just won't do to have the colors be off. Same thing with the termies. So I stripped back a bunch of models, and started over. Then I started really thinking. Seven layers to get to the yellow I liked. Seven. Per model. That is going to take me years.

SO my wife picked me up some yellow flat spray. Cut that in half. Boom!

Here's my test model, still not done as far as highlighting, but it has a prim, wash, then layer:




Not bad so far. So let's get going with the rest of the company. NOTE: I kept my original two squads of tacticals, my chaplain, and my termie assault sgt,, oh and the Fera Bella. Everything else was re-done.


Setback! Ugh. So the flat yellow spray was decent, but I ran out of Sepia wash on my test models. So I got some more. Same stuff. GW Seraphim. It utterly dried atrocious. Never seen any wash do this. I posted about this failing so I won't go into to it too deep, but I batch shaded the whole rest of the company. They came out really awful:







IDK why. Splotchy and red orange. Here's a compare. The SM on the left is from my first Seriphim Sepia pot the one on the right is from the second. Why GW?




Anyway, here's a trip for everyone else back to the drink:





I have taken this as an opportunity to really mull over the direction I want to go with this chapter. I just ordered some more parts. I'm going to try and make the captain and veterans a lot more unique. And I am totally remaking the sternguard.


Sigh. But oh well. I am having good initial luck with Army Painter Daemonic Yellow spray. Will post up my Assault Squad too. Now, some scouts:


Here's some of my scout snipers with camo cloaks still WIP:








I plan on painting these guys up in gray tones only. I wanted a ghillie suit type thing. I spent an evening putting strips of gauze wetted down in water/PVA glue to these guys. I like how they came out. I doubt they are sort of way effective on the field, but they are cool and fun to do.

As always, thanks for looking.

Sometimes I hate this hobby.

I just seem to hit roadblock after roadblock after roadblock....


So in my vain attempt to cut my painting time and excruciating effort in painting yellow SMs down, I purchased some yellow primer. Army Painter Daemonic to be exact. Now compared to the cheapo hardware flat yellow I had, this bonds well, covers nice, etc.

It bonds and covers a little too well. Half of the primed models I did came out great. Some got covered so thick, that I had to strip them. Boom back in the SuperClean again (Heartless woohoo) I swear my models spend more time in the SuperClean lately...

So as I am painting my Assault squad I realize that the legs are covered in dusty paint. You can't paint over it. So guess where they get to go.

I go to scrub the models this morning and lo and behold - ruination! WTH? I have stripped hundreds of models in SuperClean and no issues. This bottle was used before and no issues. It only seems to be when they are primed with Army Painter. Sigh:

My former captain, he's got small melt holes all over:



Termie next to the captain, the gouge is from my thumb nail. That boy is melted:




My dread weapons, thick paint stuck on, but underneath, it melts! It freezes!:



These next two, the paint won't come off. They stayed in just as long and are starting to get damaged:







Now this guy was in there with everyone too, no real issues and the paint came off:





So, has anyone seen this before with Army Painter and Superclean? if so, I still have about 15 SMs and my two dreads covered in half stripped paint, anyone know a safe way to strip Army painter? I've been looking online and I am not seeing anyone else with this issue.

I honestly was liking the coverage. It is easy to paint over when it works, but unforgiving. One too many sprays and the coverage is too thick. But if there's no way to strip it, it is useless to me.


Any help appreciated, I'm a little skiddish.

So I think that this is noty necessarily an issue with the primer. I got a very quick response from the nice guys at Army Painter and they said that they have not heard of a reliable way to strip color primer. I haven't come across much either on line. I am adding to my checklist, to be very careful when priming.

The dust is from being too far away. The thick is from too close. I know I had to have moved around. But just FYI, if you are stripping this stuff, don't keep the models in the drink too long.

Strip using LA Amazing. 1$ at the dollar store. What a bargain. And It WILL strip the paint in about a day.
also...Dont leave it in for too long. IT will soften the plastic if you go for a long time so best thing to do in your case is take a test mini, dunk that as an experiment.
also...
You can use a cheap bubbler like they use in a fish tank or some other means to agitate the solution so that it moves around the models to facilitate the stripping. For more info consult with Stripping models the orky way. Its a thread here on dakka.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/365067.page
Good luck dude.

I feel your pain big time. I had a whole batch of minis ruined by lumpy primer (GW). I was furious. Then later i ruined a batch of my girlfriends sisters of battle minis (furious) again with gw primer. I have never had problems with army painter primer but a freind of mine has. you have to be careful with the temp that you use it at as well as the humidity. I pay close attention to these two factors.
with respect to the issues you are having with the wash. I have had Exactly the same problem. only mine was even worse. the wash puddled and dripped. Nothing i could do but deal with it. I am sorry for your loss.

Yeah I think I'm going to rename this blog the FAILblog. I managed to hit the right distance and environment with about half of the batch I did, so I think in the future I need to be real careful. If it saves four layers of painting per model, its worth it.

I think all but the captain are salvagable, and I just said to hell with it and got a bunch of new bits for something a little different.

I'll definitely try LA Amazing, thanks!

On the wash note, Agrax Earthshade I got is working like a champ. Seraphim is not. But hey, my next pot of Earthshade may fail too. I'm gonna try some others maybe. Earthshade ain't going to last long, seems like the new pots are half full. Anyway, I hope to actually have progress to post instead of failures this week.

All aboard the FAILBLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a pic from one of my recent games against my nine year old, she was playing as the Orks. Needless to say, I was overrun.







On a positive note, IF YOU ACTUALLY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS, PRODUCTS WORK AS EXPECTED!

So after talking to the guys at Army Painter, I realized that they were not kidding about the priming distance. I just finished priming the entire army. Woohoo! and it worked without any issues(mostly). I just had to make sure not get too close or too far back. Anyway, I have the whole army primed now or, well, they are in various stages, but they are all at least primed. So... Headway!

Been a bit since I posted updates. But I've been busy, nothing complete, but a bunch of WIP.

Since I primed the whole army, I have had a nice morale boost. It really makes you want to finish when you see the whole force assembled and primed. Although, right now I'm going blind from the yellow glow in my home office.


So here's a grip of WIP pics:


Third Tactical squad, a little bit of converting on the flamer and sgt. I think this is my only Tactical squad that doesn't have any AOBR or BFM marines in it.






Next my first of the scout snipers that is almost completed. I'm keeping them in a gray scale as much as possible to blend in with the urban ruins of Valena.













Next, a complete(almost) re-do of the Sternguard. Looking at them after they went into the drink and the old pics, I totally had to agree with Flyinpoo. The weapons just didn't work. I got some fresh bolter bits and Blood Angels hand flamers/meltas I had used, and made more of a uniform look. I also swapped out the heads to regular marines. I want to keep the Grey Knight/older style helmets to command staff.












I've started on the 4th tactical squad too. Tried to make them a bit less static by converting the AOBR sgt. Just a couple arm and head swaps. He came out pretty good I think.





Last but not least, the command squad.

My priming disaster took the biggest toll on the captain. Oh well, when life gives you lemons, to quote Phil Hartman, turn around and demand the oranges that you asked for originally.


Anyway, it gave me a chance to get a bunch of random cool bits and see what I could come up with to make a good, unique model for the army. I'm pretty happy with how he came out so far, still very WIP. But his armor looks like artificer should I think and the rest of the squad is nice and fluid in theme. These guys are the elite of the company and have the best equipment. I did a little casting for the right shoulder pad on each of them, using the captain's as a guide.
















So that's my big group of WIPs. Starting to come together and I am happy with what I have so far.

Completed to Date:

2 Tactical Squads and a Chaplain.

Very long time since I posted anything. I am just half painting things. I decided I was spending too much time on my command squad so chose to put them on the back burner.

Here's my Sternguard WIP, they are based and almost finished.








Also added a ninth brother, who also has a heavy flamer: BURN ORKS BURN!!!!





He's fresh from priming so not as "done" as the others.




SO I have a serious question about this blog. Granted I don't keep it going often enough to expect a following, obviously. But I have gotten a lot of good advice.

Yellow marines are difficult, but my painting is coming along.


BUT I have only kept about two squads and the chaplain from the beginning. Should I start this over and let this thread die, or update it? I almost want to keep the older stuff up so people, including myself can see the progression. But at the same time, there's a lot of stuff not up to date in the beginning.


Oh and this seems like one veryyyyyyyyy long page, like it is not paginating. (HAHA, never mind, it went to page two as I typed this)


Anyway, &C always welcome!

Thanks!

I finished my Bachelors's Degree after a looong time. I am into my career pretty far and went back, so I am no spring chicken. I say this now, because that has been a driving force in the delay of my blog updates. So I hope to get moving on this project and my Orks. I hope to really post a lot more. Anyway, did these guys today:


Finished Scout snipers! Well, need to base them. But otherwise!

They have camo cloaks and should blend into the urban ruins in which they are fighting :


















As usual thanks for looking, should have an assault squad posted in the next few days. Then maybe do a picture of the finished army so far. It is very small since I have re-done so much.

Anyway, cheers!

Scouts? I don't see no scouts! However, that's a beautiful piece of terrain there!

Beautiful terrain. Quit lying to us about those scouts, that's just dirty.

Those Camo Cloaks are pretty sweet! The scouts were so well camouflaged in the first pic I could hardly see them...

Know No Pear wrote:Scouts? I don't see no scouts! However, that's a beautiful piece of terrain there!

Stormsung wrote:Beautiful terrain. Quit lying to us about those scouts, that's just dirty.

Flying Pooo wrote:Those Camo Cloaks are pretty sweet! The scouts were so well camouflaged in the first pic I could hardly see them...

I was going to make the same joke, nice looking scouts. Just remember to shoot with them when you field them. One of the problems with good camo is that it actually works. And with everything else going on in the game, you might forget that they are there.

Nice looking army overall.

Thanks everyone, I'm pretty pleased with how they came out. Spending an evening dragging gauze strips through watered down PVA really paid off. Definitely needed the static grass.

I always like home made chapters any background story made for this chapter? too bad you got the paint of those dudes, some drybrushing could have save them i think. Lots of Yellow space marines lately, Yellow is the new red?

Yeah it's been a trial, but my newer stuff is better, so I am just taking it in stride. I had these guys orange with blue helmets at one point, so having to redo things sometimes works out.

I found a great thread on Dakka where a guy did white primer, then built up light layers of yellow washes over it after I primed my whole army yellow. Oh well.

Yeah, not sure about yellow. Maybe people are masochists. It just takes so long. I would do bone and blue if I had to do it over. I do like how they are looking, it is just a pain to finish.

These guys are descended form the Imperial Fists, and kept a little of the chapter color as an homage.

They are a relatively young chapter. I'm still hammering out the background, mostly created to help bolster defenses in certain systems. They are divided into Cohorts, which are basically detachments. Instead of companies. They perform two roles, patrol systems and provide support, and then there are three or so chaplains that lead cohorts on crusades. The crusader chaplains will take these cohorts off on decades long crusades.

My cohort is the ninth, and has been defending the planet of Valena for a few years. My external blog has a few things on it. I plan on building it out soon.

Another long gap between updates, but I have been working on these guys.

I've almost finished my Assault squad, but they are hared than average to paint. They have a lot of damage from the primer disaster, so it is not easy and they are not .....hmmm... fresh, I guess so they aren't going to look as good as I'd like.

I also completely re-finished my dreads. Spent a few nights magnetizing all the arms too. SO my load outs are:

3 Plasma Cannons
3 Assault Cannons
2 options for Ironclad Dreads
Missile launcher

I mostly use 1 Ironclad and 2 assault cannon/dreadfist w/heavy flamers anyway, but I like options and magnets are fun!









So I should keep the updates coming. I no longer have school, since I finished my BS degree and I have been modeling almost every night. BUT - I picked up a Chaos and an IG army each as a self styled graduation present,.

YAY!

Why have two unfinished armies when you can have FOUR!?!


Anyway, as always thanks for looking.

Worked on some terrain this weekend. I have had these plywood panels with foam card on top painted gray and textured as my gaming table. But it just didn't seem like a city so I added some 16" squared squares to each one, that way there "blocks" and "streets"

Ahhhh much better.

Here's the panels and the finished/almost finished pieces I've done:

Whew, as usual, long time between posts. I doubt anyone is even following this blog since I can't hardly post ny headway. Anyway, been working on a lot of things. Orks, IG, a smidge of Chaos (Talking about Chaos that way always makes them sound so girly) and of course my beloved Space Marines.

So what is terrible, is that I have more marines than I swear anything else. Well, maybe I have equal or more orks, but anyway I have been, according to this blog, collecting a nice full company. Well, cohort, which is like a company with more attachments. Thats how the Aegis Guard roll.

They do cohorts, or battle detachments, rather than a codex company. But the point is that I have a lot of half finished models in this army. I think it is because yellow looks so bad in the early stages.

Anyway, here's some bloody headway. I still need to post what is no longer in the army from the first page or so of this blog since it has been quite a journey into yellow and there have been a couple of restarts.

But anyway, here is my Sternguard squad, refurbed and almost ready.

I need a few more highlights and a grip of weathering.







Now, I hope this comes across on the images, but I have spent a great deal of time trying to get a cool "hot barrel" effect going. I saw this on From the Warp, he did a really great tutorial on it.

Here it is:
http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-paint-heat-stained-gun-barrels.html His are far better than mine, way more subtle.


Anyway, close up attempt:





Now on to the ironclad. I used an IG Exterminator barrel to lengthen the legs. I mean come on GW, really? Even after I lengthened the legs the arms still drag. WTH were htey thinking. I really like th idea of the unit and the model, but it could have been done a lot better IMHO.










Still all very WIP. But so close I just had to share to feel like I am keeping the blog alive. Sigh. Yellow.

Last, but so not least is the banner for the command company. PLEASE REMEMBER I AM NOT AN ARTIST.

I did the lettering last night with a micron pen in one go. I am horrendously stoked. It came out okay. I know it isn't perfect but there is no way I could havedone it better. SO.... happy.




It says, Numquam Cedere, which is google latin for "We never yield".


Anyway, I've been working like mad on my marines and my orks, so more to come and hopefully I'll keep it less time between posts. As always, C&C welcome.

Ahh, well. I never seem to finish anything. So I forced my self to sit and finish a few things. And by finish, well, they still have a few touches to complete. But from a table top they look done.

I'm not quite happy with the pictures, but what are you gonna do. Some of the nuances look rougher, or maybe they are and my eyes see them better. Oh well, I'm not a Godlen Demon winner I just want to have nice looking armies playing on cool tables.

Anyway, fully weathered and mostly complete Ironclad Dreadnought:












Next, the Sternguard. Weathered and done, except for one of the heavy flame marines. He's no where near being done, so not pictured.










And here is my Terminator Assault squad. I had a blast with their bases and really like these models. The lightning claws have a white/blue swirl on them that doesn't look as good on the pictures, butit stands out on the table.























Last, I took some shots of what is pretty much complete for the army so far. I think that a lot has changed from the first page of this army blog, I know my painting has, but I wanted to leave the troubles I had and the changes I made.







I do really like the look of my chapter so far. Now that there's a few squads done, it is really starting to take shape.

I like the color scheme, although I will never want to paint yellow marines again.

Anyway, C&C welcome.

thanks for looking!

No excuses just always have a lot happening. So I decided to put painting aside fro a bit and do a build. SO I put this guy together the other night.

Plasma cutter is no where near what GW does, but I do not care. Anyway, Aegis Guard 9th Cohort Master fo the forge:








He's still got some work left, but mostly done. He'll be red with Chapter colors on one shoulder pad.

Still working on some decent background for this chapter, that will be my next post.

Thanks!!

There must be something in the air: I stumble across two threads covering the sons of Dorn in as many days! I like your style Gorgrimm - I'll be keeping track of your progress regardless of timescales

Thank you.

I think that once people start painting yellow, it's catching.

Actually I don't know, I've always loved the Fists, but always had my own chapters. Kinda like my Orks, I've always loved Bad Moons, oh the amount of yellow paint I have...

This chapter looks great! very coherent, very original. Keep it up - can't wait to see more!

Nice work mate , you chose a tough colour to work with !!
To answer your question , keep the thread together and running , it shows your trials and perseverance and makes those marines at the end worthwhile !
Like the urban battle board , thinking of making my own shortly , will rob some ideas from you !

thanks everyone.

So I will keep it all together, but I'll keep it updated as to what is current and what is not.



So, I lied. I wanted to gather together my background as my next post, but I got my early birthday presents.



This sounds sick/sad, but I am not using the Sternguard as Sternguard, I love the sculpts and I think that they would make great Captain/Command Squads, so there goes my current WIPs. I think that the "bling" on the new stuff is perfect for command. I also have some Vanguard en route for the same.
I haven't posted the background yet, but chaplains have always been close to my heart, so they form an important role in this chapter, kind of like librarians in the Blood Raven. The Vanguard will form my Reclusiarch's bodyguard.

Now, the other box contains a DA vehicle. I know I know, someone is going to be angry, but I could care less. They are Space Marines and I like the model. I only play friendly games, that are rarely "official" nsince I have gone on since the days of freaking land speeders made from deodorant containers, as long as it is fitting than it works.

I'm not talking about marines in a Leman Russ or a Tau vehicle. I mean marine vehicles should be uniform across chapters.

I don't understand why GW is separating Astartes by vehicles, I mean it should be the background that separates them. I can't see IF standing next to BA and going, "Oh, you guys thought to put two close combat arms on a dreadnought. Hmmm. Too bad we can't do that. Against our background, you know."

So anyway, I think the Vengeance is bad assed and i am going to have one in my chapter.

 Gorgrimm wrote:

This sounds sick/sad, but I am not using the Sternguard as Sternguard, I love the sculpts and I think that they would make great Captain/Command Squads, so there goes my current WIPs. I think that the "bling" on the new stuff is perfect for command. I also have some Vanguard en route for the same.
I haven't posted the background yet, but chaplains have always been close to my heart, so they form an important role in this chapter, kind of like librarians in the Blood Raven. The Vanguard will form my Reclusiarch's bodyguard.

Now, the other box contains a DA vehicle. I know I know, someone is going to be angry, but I could care less. They are Space Marines and I like the model. I only play friendly games, that are rarely "official" nsince I have gone on since the days of freaking land speeders made from deodorant containers, as long as it is fitting than it works.

I'm not talking about marines in a Leman Russ or a Tau vehicle. I mean marine vehicles should be uniform across chapters.

I don't understand why GW is separating Astartes by vehicles, I mean it should be the background that separates them. I can't see IF standing next to BA and going, "Oh, you guys thought to put two close combat arms on a dreadnought. Hmmm. Too bad we can't do that. Against our background, you know."

So anyway, I think the Vengeance is bad assed and i am going to have one in my chapter.

GW do it so that armies have different things that make them special which I can understand. But if you want to use them in friendlies I see no reason why you shouldn't do it, especially as your chapter isn't strictly in the official codex etc so I wouldn't worry about it.

The stern Guard make brilliant space marines in general, they look more like some of the background art work for standard marines than the standard tactical box does some times so I wouldn't have any qualms with that as a use for them

Young Logan

Wow. So got a box of Vans for Birthday/Christmas too. So Sternies, Vans, and a Vengeance.

Between the two squad boxes I have Sooooooooooo many useful bits. I am blown away. Went a little nuts last night and got a grip of things put together or at least in the works.

So some new things, all WIP of course:

I wanted to do a small Tactical squad now that I SM can take a special weapon in an under ten man squad. So This is going to be my Razorback squad, a Storm squad, since they would storm buildings or whatever. They have a flamer and Sgt has combi flamer.





Next, yet another incarnation of poor Captain Decius. I just about finished the other one, but there is just too much paint on him since the spray disaster. I can't strip the model, so I'll use him for something else. Here is my new captain:





New Command Squad to go with the new captain. The others just had to much paint, plus not enough bling. Also redid the Apothecary and of course the Standard Bearer. These guys from the kit mixing came out more ornate:





I'm thinking of painting them mostly white, but I don't know yet. It would look good, but the captaina dn command should display chapter colors.


Shots of the Champion, he looks more unique now. And pompous.



Still need to put the combat shield on the bolt pistol.




Vanguard. Going to have a hard time taking these every game. Damn them for being elites now that I like them. Too many SM elites.




Next, I had my almost painted assault squad, but then I realized I had given a SS and TH to the sarge. That is a no joy now. So Lightning claws.



And here he is facing off against my WIP Stormboy Nob:



And more parts from the Stern guard pack, made a HB for my 4th Tactical squad:




So lotsa progress, mostly because I am not painting .

C&C welcome thanks!

Your army log is a testament to why I refuse to use Citadel paints for the rest of my painting career.

Anyways, sorry about what happened with the colour. I really like your guys. They're unique and interesting. I feel like they would benefit from a matte finish though, to take the sheen off them and bring out their colours and shading. Also, you might want to consider a pin vise for drilling out the barrels. It's a tiny, hand held drill that can do small work (and also drill stuff when you need to pin miniatures too).

Krucho1986 wrote:
Your army log is a testament to why I refuse to use Citadel paints for the rest of my painting career.

lol. Yeah I actually picked up some Citadel glazes and yellow base paint. But I am primarily Warpaints from Army Painter (Love their paints and washes, but no on the primers).

Yes I do have a pin vise and normally drill out the barrels, just haven't gotten that far on most of these guys.

My orks have been mostly easy, but these guys are a trial constantly. I think Gork/Mork don't want me to have space marines even though I've had them just as long as orks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
OOps, forgot to put not just Army Painter, but I use them, citadel, Vallejo, and P3

Great work here, sir, the colours are very vibrant and I love the weathering on them.
Your camo'd Scouts made me do a double take - I too missed them against your terrain! Nice.

Keep up the good work - perseverance really is the key and this log is great!

Thanks, I am going to periodically have to take pictures of what is complete and has stayed the same. I have changed so many early things.

Teehee. I had more fun making those scouts than anything else in this army so far. I actually spent a couple of hours wrapping them in strips of gauze to make the stealth cloaks. They came out great and not yellow at all.


So minor update, I'll list what I have in the army model-wise now. This includes completed, assembled, WIP, and those still unassembled:

HQ:
Captain w/ Command Squad
Librarian
Chaplain
Master of the Forge

Troops:
Scout sniper squad
1st Scout Combat squad
2nd Scout Combat squad
1st Tactical Squad
2nd Tactical Squad
3rd Tactical Squad
4th Tactical Squad
5th Tactical Squad
6th Tactical Squad (Razor Back Squad)

Dedicated Transports:
Landspeeder Storm 1
Landspeeder Storm 2
Rhino 1
Rhino 2

Elites:
Sternguard
Vanguard
Assault Terminators
Tactical Terminators
Dreadnought 1
Dreadnought 2
Ironclad Dreadnought

Fast Attack:
Land speeder Vengeance
Landspeeder
Landspeeder Typhon
Assault Squad

Heavy Support:
Devastator Squad 1 (Heavy Bolters)
Devastator Squad 2 (Lascannon)
Devastator Squad 3 (Plasma Cannons)
Predator Annihilator
Vindicator


So..... lotsa workto do still. I'm trying to focus on a squad a week, but well... anyway.

I still want a Land Raider Crusader, Another Vindy, maybe some more rhinos and of course some air power.

So here's a small update. I've been working on the captain and command squad, but here's just my captain WIP. He's almost done and ready for highlighting and then weathering. It is so unbelievably pleasant to be painting a fresh model.
It has been a pain to paint over the models that I can't strip.




Trying to do the blue under-highlight for the white. Looks good if you can get the white on each one of the feathers. Which is not easy.



Slowly but surely...

I think that it has occurred to me that while it feels like I have posted a ton of things on my blogs, I barely post anything (numbers wise) compared to a normal one. So.. it has become a thing for me, to post as often as possible. Especially since I am done with college. Also, I have a grip of things all over my office. I forget that no one else can see them. So in order to actually feature the breadth of this project, let's start showing the various stagesof, well.... everything.

So....


Here are some WIPs of my devs, some tects, and my assault. Also the new champion.










Toying with the idea of blue helmets for Devs, but IDK. the Sgts' red helmets really work, but my tacticals and Assault marines are the same, so just having the devs be different is strange. Still hammering the details of the chapter out. I really need to write it down for an "official" Aegis Guard codex.

Here's the 3rd tactical redone to use up some grav guns that came in my Sterny kit. I have all six tacticals fitted differetnly and I am sure they will die in a real game, but I like to mix tings up.



A bad shot of the champion, but he's not really too far along.


And these guys have been almost done for a bit. Forgot to post the progress:



Assault Squad!!!


Anyway, I'll try to keep this thing going for once.

Thanks,

Small update:

I wanted my Landspeeder Storms to be a little more extended. Here's one basecoated and another almost finished.

I'm going to convert out the squads so they can ride, but also be used on the ground.

land speeder limo, looks great!!

Hehe, thanks, GW vehicles are always so small.

So quick question for everyone.

I have no bikes. Every SM player I know raves about them. I think I've just not really liked the idea of them I don't know. So I am about to get some gift funds that I can spend,

Should I do 3 bikes + attack bike, just bikes (like 6), or just say screw it and get a Crusader Land Raider which I will eventually get? Or maybe there's the second vindy I've been wanting....

No Bikes! Yay or nay on the attack bike?

 Gorgrimm wrote:
They came out great and not yellow at all.

Let the camo begin.....

Yes...... I still have three squad s of scouts who have been infiltrating an urban area. Lots of camo coming.

So question to any SM playes or well... whoever. I'm looking at around 50USD of gift card money. I think I want to hit my SM again even though I got a grip for the holidays. (Ork Codex/relaunch will be out this year so I'll get more orkiness later)

Bikes sound good but the models are expensive. I hate to say it since I don't really like the idea of them, but centurions have great rules. I have always wanted a Land Raider.

So what would you do fromthe following:

1) Six bikes and spend extra money than planned
2) three bikes plus attack bike
3) Stormraven
4) Centurions (I just looked, grav cannons plus hurricane bolters gives each one 8 24inch shots, not the best against orks maybe, but there's missile launchers too)
5) Land Raider Redeemer/Crusader shoot/burn everyone to death
6) Screw it all and get more guard vehicles

Thanks!

So in retrospect, I think that I am going to get something for my Chaos army and maybe some little thing for the ork ladz.

In an attempt to save money, I decided to actually try and build a SM thunderfire cannon. I think it came out fine, doesn't look like the official model, but I am so used to building orky things, this was difficult to try and keep it not looking too ramshackle. I don't think it is the greatest ever built, but I think it will paint up well.







Actually I think it was simply something to keep me from painting. I really wish I could just stay focused on finishing something. Like a squad of the week.

So.... okay some things. One, trying to paint in a house of children is hard.

Here's what happens to a scratch built model after priming it outside, realizing oh darn, need to prime it again to get the parts that didbn't get covered, and the toddler tries to go outside. You hold her off with one foot, but she lurches forward and your model flies out of the priming box:



Next, here's the thing after I re-assemlbed it. Looking ominous and ready to rain death on the Emperor's foes.




Now this is just something that caught my eye. So the cover on this thing is an old Cobra toy and the bottom is GI Joe. The top looks like a scaled up razorback weapons cover. Did Cobra have razorbacks? No that's like 1982 or 84 or whatever. Razorback covers came from GI JOE? hmmm.

ENEMIES!

So I am building a small Chaos force, got some guft card funds, and wll, I don't know iI have been looking to shake things up a little. Bought some Mantic Plague from their Deadzone line. I have to say, I am pretty impressed.

I especially got them for the Stage A model. He will be my Chaos Lord. really cool models all the way around.

Here's what comes in the box:

Had a lot going on, yeah, whatever. SO anyway, here is some WIP on the bad guy and the Thunderfire.

I actually have my third Captain Decius incarnation almost finished. I've been working on a land speeder and a tactical squad too.

Oka, Thunderfire WIP:




Saves me 50$ and looks like a piece of SM artillery to me at least.


So on to the bad guy. I have enough Chaos to do a separate blog, but I am already taking forever on this one my Ork blog, and my meagre IG blog. So I'll just post this guy here.

Mantic did a great job with this model. I am really looking forward to more of their deadzone stuff. He has been a blast to paint so far.

Counting him as a Chaos Lord in terminator armor with a pair of lightning claws, still WIP:











Thanks for looking!

Wow. Amazing army. Its armies like this that keep me interested in space marines

Thank you sir! I love yellow, I love the scheme that I chose, but man. It is a long process to finish a squad.


Oh and, judging by your avatar - "Be dead fiend from above, when darkness falls. Descend unto my sights, your fallen walls. Center of the web, all battles scored. What is our war cry? Era forever more.....WAAAAAAAGHH!"

Heehee, not the exact quote, but fits.

I love yellow schemes too but I'm too poo to do it. Lol. You using gw paints? I'm now starting an iron fists army. Silver is hard to paint. Lol.

'Angel of death... Monach to the kingdom of the dead... Infamous butcher... Angel of DEATH!!!!!'

lol, using a mix if GW, Army PAinter, Vallejo, and P3. Mostly Army Painter and GW. Now that I have a new batch of the GW washes, they don't seem to have the pigment issues I had before.

AP Soft, Dark, and Strong tones are the better brown, sepia, and black washes in my opinion. Like old Gryphonne, sepia and that ilk.

Silver would be nice to paint I think. Or just straight bone color.next time...

CHAPTER BACKGROUND - AEGIS GUARD



Origins:

The Aegis Guard are a successor chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion.

Founding/Characteristics:

The Aegis: On ancient Terra, the father of the gods carried a mighty shield, which was called an aegis.

Descended from Dorn, the Emperor’s fist, they are His shield.

They are a relatively young chapter, only about one thousand years old. The Aegis Guard were specifically created to reinforce and replace astartes losses in Segmentum Pacificus during the Macharian Heresy.

They are fleet based as are the Imperial Fists, however they often garrison worlds within their sphere of influence with a small presence.

Originally, the chapter was structured in the same way as other Codex chapters. However, During the first millennium of the chapter’s existence, it suffered a great disaster in the Gerann system. The entirety of the 2nd, 4th, and 5th companies, as well as parts of the 6th, were lost to a rampant ork horde.

To make up for loss of its primary line companies, the master of the Aegis Guard chose re-organize the chapter’s companies. All reserve companies were re-structured into line companies and the veterans of the First and scouts of the Tenth dispersed to each new company to bolster each company’s strength. These new groups were called cohorts.

The Master Cohort contains the leftovers of the First and Tenth companies that are not assigned to other cohorts, the Reclusium, Librarium, Armory, and fleet elements. This cohort is mobile as one large fleet. It is lead by the chapter master and directs overall chapter strategy. All other cohorts bear the number of the original company.

Each cohort is given ships from the fleet, dreadnoughts and vehicles from the armory as well as techmarines and chapter serfs to service the cohort’s needs. Just as a codex chapter, each cohort has librarians, chaplains, and apothecaries assigned to it.

Currently Chapter strength is as follows:

Master Cohort
2nd Cohort
3rd Cohort
6th Cohort
7th Cohort
8th Cohort
9th Cohort


The 4th and 5th have yet to be rebuilt.


Characteristics:

They are quick to battle but slow to leave once joined. They share the same stubbornness of all sons of Dorn.

Codex:

They are played using the Imperial Fists rules from the Space Marine Codex.

Chapter colors:

Marine: Yellow armor, helmet and shoulder pads are beige/bone, the helmet trim and insignia are ultramarines blue.

Sergeant: Yellow armor, red helmet, white helmet trim, and blue insignia

This chapter does still follow the Codex coloring for specialist marines.
Techmarine: red
Chaplain: black
Apothecary: white
Librarian: blue

I'm loving all the background mate. Truly awesome chapter you've created.

Thank you sir. I always enjoyed the background of 40k.

I tried to give them something different but still viable. The Macharian Heresy is incredibly interesting for fake history. And I didn't want them to be too dark.

When I see custom chapters, they seem to be either, "We're really dark and don't play well with the Inquisition" or " We are totally invincible and our captains killed six Hive Tyrants while simultaneously slaughtering a horde of khornate worshipping ork deamons! OMG they are so unbeatable!"

So I tried to make a history that shows them as a shining light in the dark, the way that marines should be, and a force that while not in service long, has been fallible and seen defeat. I picture them as really hands on, constantly moving from Imperial world to Imperial world, keeping vigil, helping other imperial leaders, etc.

Thanks for looking!

In the spirit of making myself keep this updated. Here is Command Squad progress.

New Captain, new apothecary, new Champion, etc. They are stilll WIP. But coming along:



Really want to get the standard bearer finished. I have the banner stored in a little baggy until he's done:





Apothecary almost done too, he'll be mostly white as Apoths are want to be:







And a very rough Champion:



I never thought that I would like the hair crest, but it looks good I think.


Anyway thanks for looking, C&C welcome.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh yeah, also this is something I did this weekend. Organized my models. Here's most of the collection. Still a grip of things in bins.



Oh the time I need to spend on finishing them....


(edited because I can't preview pics first like a normal person)

You need more shelves !!! :-)

Haha! Yeah. If I could cover the walls in shelves totally, I would.

Thought about making a display board, but I needed all the space to put all the armies out. Better this way, makes me realize what needs to be painted.

Working on finishing my Standard Bearer today, but in the meantime, my daughter asked me to play chess.

No time for a full game of 40k? Chess!




We did it like this:

Pawns = Tacticals/Slugga Boys
Rooks = Termies/Meganobs
Knights = Assaults/Stormboyz (I mean, elementary right they have jump packs?!)
Bishops = Devastators/Lootas
Queens = Captain/Warboss ( I never would either of them a queen to their faces, but they are the most powerful)
Kings = Librarian/Warphead (Just trying to keep a match on both sides, this seemed to fit)




I think we might try battle chess next time, where they actually get some attacks. Maybe each unit type gets an amount of attacks and then +1 for the charge. King just gets in check.

Pawn = 1
Rook = 3
Knight = 2
Bishop = 2
Queen = 4

I don't know.

It was fun and the only way for me to win against her when she plays orks.

Some nice work coming on there matey.

Ref. Shelves, I used to have mini's displayed in a bookcase i fitted extra shelves into, but it failed because it was a dust trap hell hole.
I was looking at a Dakka article on ikea shelving , looked really cool , except I'd have to trash some furniture to get it in the house !!

Cool chess set , not entirely sure I could remember what piece did what however !

Love the chess set, love the models. Very nice yellow, good to see a fellow Son of Dorn around!
But Black Templars are still the best

@BigH - yeah the dust is going to be a problem, but oh well, free weathering! I need a bigger room or a game room, maybe next house or after the kids grow up.

@BrotherOfBone - Black Templars the best huh? We'll see you at the next Feast of Blades. Unless you guys are out on another crusade. Sons of Dorn unite!

SO, had a sick wife yesterday, which isn't cool, but meant that no one asked me to do anything and stop painting to mow the lawn until way late in the day.

Got some very decent progress on the command squad. I was finally able to attach the standard to brother Achilleus, the standard bearer. Yay!

Almost done with Captain Decius' third or fourth incarnation too. I just had to make another captain since getting all the cool parts in Sternguard and Vanguard kits. Plus, the last one with the sword and storm bolter had a lot of leftover paint from the priming catastrophe, and I couldn't remove it, so he had thick paint.










Need to finish the backpacks and do some touch ups and these two are done.

Here's a progress shot of the rest of the command squad.




C&C always welcome. I think I might hold off for a few days and paint some orks, need to paint something sloppy for a change.

So work has had me very busy. Lots a projects and late nights. So I just have not been painting hardly at all. But i did work a bit on my chapter time-line. I got inspiration from the rulebook time line and the Badab War books. I really like the idea of this chapter forming in the wake of the Macharian Heresy, so there is it.

Here is the time-line of major events so far, got a bit to add between 131.M41 and 541.M41, but it is a start:


051.M41 Founding - Aegis Guard Chapter created from Imperial Fist gene stock. Assigned to Segmentum Pacificus to replace heavy Imperial losses due to Macharian Heresy. Assigned to Tigran sub-sector to help bring stability to the area. Quickly formed alliances/relationships with Imperial commanders and established stability in several contested regions.

099.M41 Establishment - As a fleet based chapter founds many chapter holds on Imperial worlds. Fleet tightly patrols chartered regions, establishing an area of influence which thrives under Aegis Guard protection. Relationships strengthened with many PDF, Imperial Guard, and imperial planetary governors.

121.M41 - Yellow Helix Incident - After cultist uprising is put down, Inquisitor Guran Asti orders Aegis Guard 2nd Company to execute all Imperial citizens and PDF forces on the small mining planet of Yellow Helix. Captain Ursar Graesis refuses. Standoff ensues between inquisitorial forces and 2nd company. Chaplain Torias of the Aegis Guard Reclusium intervenes and diffuses the situation. Ursar Graesis agrees to serve a term in the Death Watch, however the Aegis Guard is now under Inquisitorial review.

124.M41 - Aung - Cultist uprising on the planet Aung put down by the 3rd company with 7th in support. Manufacturing briefly interrupted during the quelling.

124.M41 - Leestran Asteroids - 1st company in support of chapter fleet group, Taskforce Alpha. Running battles and boarding actions with Eldar pirate fleet in asteroid fields. Imperial shipping lanes finally secured after three years of fighting.

125.M41 Orva Rex – 3rd and 9th companies join Imperial Guard regiments fighting in the Orva system. They successfully drive off a traitor force lead by elements of the Black Legion securing the bastion of Orva Rex.


131.M41 - 2nd and 6th companies respond to distress beacon from the Imperial world of Fiona. This mostly agricultural planet has been overrun by ork raiders. The taskforce arrives to find the planet scoured by unknown force. Only ash, ruins, and bodies remain. Ork bodies are found amidst human remains. Fiona is quarantined.

541.M41 Disaster at Gerann - Chapter Master Darius Ixus broadens the chapter’s range of control to incorporate 18 new systems. System of Gerann being overrun by massive ork horde. Ixus sends the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th to deal with the ork assault. An ork fleet hiding in a nearby asteroid field ambushes and destroys most of the imperial forces in orbit. The fleet is scattered and ground taskforce is cut off. A green tide surrounds the imperial forces as they fight a desperate last stand. They hold for over two weeks despite brutal losses. A reinforcement fleet punches through ork lines to evacuate the ground forces. Only a handful of marines of the sixth company and remnants of several imperial guard regiments are evacuated. The chapter is now below half strength.

541.M41 The Reforming – Chapter Master Darius Ixus steps down and departs on a personal crusade into the Maelstrom as penance for the loss. Captain of the First Company, Haidaeus Veras assumes the office of Chapter Master. He realizes the only for the chapter to function as a fighting force is to form taskforces or cohorts instead of companies. He re-organizes the chapter so that veterans, battle brothers, and neophytes (scouts), are formed into balanced groups. The former reserve companies, 7th, 8th, 9th, and the remnants of the 6th; form the core of these new cohorts. The brothers of 1st veteran and 10th scout companies are dispersed into these as well. A massive recruitment campaign begins.

Well, this isn't so much of an update of models, but an update of pictures. I got a new camera and my wife suggested using the laundry room. It looks a lot better, so here's some older models with new photo life.


I think that they look a lot better.

Well, here's the latest incarnation of my librarian (WIP):




Here's my current librarian, chaplain, master of the forge, and captain:




The1st tactical Squad, 9th Cohort, Aegis Guard:




And my vindicator, the Fera Bella (War Beast), I'm really happy to see a nice photo of that model. I spent forever on it. My first real attempt with weathering powders.:






Thanks for looking, C&C always welcome.

Well... Another huge gap, but I do have some progress. Crazy work summer/fall and I have had no energy to paint. Just did a bunch over the last few weeks.

I'd really like to keep up on these guys and develop out the chapter more.


First up, 2nd Devastator squad under Brother Sgt Drusus. They are my favorite, in game, since they have a hail of bullets. They are in various stages and looks like the pic is a little dark, but no matter since they are still WIP.




So, I am taking my time with my command squad but I am almost done with Captain Decius and Brother Magnitius, the Standard Bearer. They are coming out good and I have been doing the best I can with little brushes, but I'm no award winning painter, just looking for good tabletop here or well, the best I personally can do.




















Champion Gratus is about halfway done:








Here's my predator, Invictus. I think that he's about halfway done, about time for first washes.




And lastly, my number two dread, Fulvio. I am really close to calling him done.








Anyway, C&C always welcome, always looking to get better.

Thanks for looking!

Just wow. That first vindicator, and your banners and your yellow is just so good.

This is amazing though!

Its a unique scheme to be sure. Well done though, I'm looking forward to more.

@Stormwall - Thanks! The yellow is a pain, but I really enjoy the look. I am proud of the banner bearer. I am not a great painter and it took a lot of time and effort and came out great. He's almost done.

The vindy was a blast to paint. I wish I had five more of them.

Having fun building the thuinderfire from old toys, it seemed to fit to me. I had an old thuddgun, but it was just far too small.

@whalemusic360, thanks, it sounds strange, but it was a tough scheme to land on. I am happy with it and it feels very loyalist space marine to me. I can't wait to have the bloody company half finished at least.

thanks for looking!

So been working quite a bit on the marine army. Since the issue with the army painter Primer, I've been wary abut stripping anything, however, seeing that some people have had luck with LA Totally Awesome cleaner from the dollar store AND I just couldn't stomach living with some of the globs of paint that were covering detail on some models, I dove in.

It actually worked pretty well. Still have a lot of the AP primer that won't come off and there looks like the paint removal starts to eat the plastic. I think it must be how it bonds to the plastic, just doesn't want to come off.

Anyway, I tossed a bunch of models into the drink and started over. *ALSO - the other reason that I made that decision, was that I picked up a little Badger 250-2 airbrush/spraygun. I have not mastered it yet, but I only wanted it for basecoating to help speed up the yellow layers process. And it works wonderfully!.


land Speeders stripped and ready for rebuild:





My poor assault squad was almost done, but there were just too many parts of them that lost detail.




Devs, three squads, same thing, some of the primer was actually covering the leg piping and it just looked terrible. The Lascannon squad is still mostly covered, but it isn't thick anymore:




Tactical termies, these guys are in for something special. I can't really justify spending the money to get five centurions, nor do I want to. I am not a fan of the models either or how they were just pidgeon-holed in to the storyline for all marines either. So since there are assault termies and tactical termies, I am going to make devastator termies to count as centurions:

Right now, they are back to nothing:





Did some more work on the 6th tactical, but the pic is terrible:




Base coat airbrush test. Yay!




And lastly, just another batch of bases:




thanks!

You really are hard on yourself during that first page.

Really good chapter, hope you update again soon.

Also, I am resubbing. Dunno why it isn't to begin with.

Its great to see a homebrew chapter. All of the models so far look great. Good job on the yellow so far, its hard to paint so I have heard.

Thanks for the comments, it is good to get feedback, but I always forget how long it goes between posts. I want to makea resolution to poost more frequently. Oh and to finish more this year!

@Stormwall - It really was a rough learning period. I had a bunch of "do overs" since I started this blog due to failed attempts, bad paint, etc.My poor captain has been through so many forms....but yeah, when I first started playing no one really painted well. We'd slap on some paint, no shading or even attempts to highlight, but mostly because no one really had any idea how to paint and the Internet wasn't around or no one was really on.

I kind of dropped away from gaming for a bit after 3rd and when I joined here I was blown away by the average painter's quality. So I spent a long time learning how to get to a tabletop quality. Been fun and I enjoy it more than playing now a days it seems.

@deadmeat85 - thanks, I've always gone home brew. One of the best things that GW ever did was allow you the freedom to make your own chapters. Yellow is kind of hard, but after you get it down it is just time consuming, which is why I am jazzed up about base coating with an air brush. Time. Saved.

Thanks,

Gorgrimm

I've made some progress on my "counts as" Centurions - Devastator Terminators. I just don't like Centurions. I know, I know, old hat. So if GW can shoe horn in some bizarre model, I'm going to shoehorn into my chapter, something that would make a little more sense to me.

Since we have Tactical Termies and Assault Termies; the natural progression to me would be to kit out Tactical Dreadnought armor with heavy weapons to make some Devastator Terminators, which is just what the Aegis Guard techmarines decided to do.

So still very early stages, I am toyingwith giving them a height boost somehow, but I still want them to be terminators, so maybe I won't.

*****THESE WON'T BE AT ANY TOURNAMENTS, SO I DON'T CARE IF THEY AREN'T THE SAME SIZE AS CENTURIONS****


I picked up some sort of Tau bit that I liked to go with some assault cannons, then the other part I cut to make the grav amps. The SGT gets a special one to account for his other kit. I have vehicle missile launchers that I will use for them too.














So they are coming along, I just can't pass on the amount of firepower that they can pump out.

Just had to pop in and say that I love what you've done here. I've always loved custom chapters, and yours is one of the better ones. (sorry for the necro). Has anything new happened with your chapter?

Jeez sorry for the late response.

Thanks for the kind words! I am still doing stuff with this.

So, here's the deal, got a new job (whole lot less stress and better benefits) about a year ago and I have been busy adjusting to that and also had a lot going on that put me plum out of 40k for a bit. I actually just started painting again last month.

So here's a half-hearted update, a shiny new Imperial Knight. He's a Free Blade that is affiliated with the chapter, not much back story so far. At his feet are a couple of Tac squads. I've sent a lot of models into the Awesome Orange lately too.

I grabbed P3 paint's Cygnus Yellow and have been amazed by it. I can skip about five layers of previous yellow building with it, so I am hopefully going to get a lot more of the chapter finished this year.



Anyway thanks for digging up the necro thread, it was just hibernating

Glad to see you posting again! Sweet knight, and I can't wait to see more of your Marines.

I like your take on Dev Cents.

EDC

Nice to see another yellow marine army! We actually started at similar times, but I've never noticed your blog before.

I like the bone and blue finish. My only slight reservation is that your white looks too pristine on some models.

I love your Vindicator. At some stage I need to use weathering powders too.

My god, I just realised what a teacher I am. I just deliberately sandwiched the one potential criticism between two compliments.

Thanks everyone.

No worries Fifty, I wonder if the white that you mention is on the half finished models.

I should hopefully have some more updates soon.

Well, what a hiatus. Had to break from the hobby for a while, but started back at it a few weeks ago. SO here's some updates, mostly WIP stuff. I'm almost done with some things.

Also, check it out. I've tried a million ways to paint yellow and I recently figured out a very easy way:

1) White basecoat
2) P3 Cygnus Yellow
3) wash light brown
4) layer P3 Cygnus yellow




So update time:

Here is the Thunderfire progess and techmarine/MotF:














And here is my Vanguard WIP, they'll have jump packs:









Broke out my old bits and some parts and put together a second sternguard squad. There's a nice mix of gear to give them some character. I found a couple of my old rogue trader era heads.







Got more work done on the Dev Termies, I mean Centurians. The Sarge's head is off while I paint it.








Also another round of the first assault team. I might add an eviscerator or two.








And lastly, for the scouts, a new scout team WIP, here's some of them and Veteran Sgt. Crixus.











So there's some updates, I really didn't believe how long I left it since an update. Yeesh, just changing jobs, plus some other things in RL took a toll on the hobby.

Maybe be a long time since you updated, but it's an epic update!

Everything looks great, loving the techmarine and thunder fire cannon.

EDC

Superb update - while there was a hiatus, it's all good. Myself and others are still following your plog.

Great update! Some lovely new.models as well

Thanks everyone, it's good to be back. I'm hoping to keep going and keep updates rolling.

Sounds like a good hobby resolution for the new year, hope to see plenty of updates in 2017

EDC

Great to see you are live and kicking, yellow is very nice, and some nice models put together. Welcome home.

Hey thanks guys,

Thanks Cam, yeah I'm so bad with time, I really lose track.

Been trying to get the painting going, so here's something new. I have almost no marines sans helmets, but the sculpts are really nice so I'm trying them out for my 2nd Assault Squad.







I have gotten further in painting them, but haven't had a chance to get good pics. My first assault squad had too mush paint on them in places. I'd tried to fix it, but just said screw it and they are back in the drink. Now that my yellow painting time is down to 1/5th the time it used to be, I really am not balking on starting anything over.


On a side note. There's just something ridiculously awesome to me about the eviscerator. I really like them. I know they are giant chainswords, but there's just something that makes me smile when I see my marine with it. Probably not so good in game, but don't know yet.

Anyway, hoping to keep up the updates.

Thanks for looking!

Alrighty,

I am really trying to keep the updates steady. I'd like to finish the army before I get so old I can't paint anymore. I think I might try to force "a thing a week" and try to get one unit done per week. Hey, it's doable.

So, now that I have found the great P3 paint yellow shortcut, I really have no qualms about starting over on a unit that doesn't work. My first assault squad just didn't work. The closer I came to being done with them, the more I realized I couldn't finish them. There was just too much paint on them covering up details. Not to mention horrific mold lines on some (always find them when I'm base coating, d'oh!).

They are from the group that I was painting when I still used the whole, Averland Sunset (or equivalent) to half Averland Sunset and Yriel Yellow (or whatever), build up to five layers. And it sucked to do. Now, white prime, P3 Cygnus yellow, then wash, then highlight to done.

So anyone, they went back into the Drink (Totally Awesome or what's it called form the dollar store and some water). The paint strips well after a few days.


These are really impromptu pictures, need better lighting.

I took the liberty of using some of the new bits from the Assault Squad box as well as some stuff I had lying around to redo some of the poses.

SO, here's the first Assault squad build (I might convert or get one or two eviscerators, love them):






Mysterious? sergeant. Lol, very bad lighting.







Some more of the boys







Heresy! Using a Chaos Berzerker chainsword!




And then more work on Assault Squad Number 2, again, sorry, baaaad lighting.














Well, I'll get the lighting fixed for the faces soon, next batch of pics will be better and hopefully I should have a new update.

Thanks!

Nice progress on Assault Squads, you're right the eviscerator is just an awesome weapon, why wouldn't you want a giant chainsword!

EDC

They look a little to much like imperial fists to me. maybe a secondary color to differentiate?

I've been re-tooling the first assault squad since they got re-made. I'm attempting some scratch built eviscerators for them. So they'll be kitted out with 2 eviscerators, 2 flamers, and a sergeant with a powerfist. I know that in game terms, they are overly expensive and will die fast, but I like the thought of the damage they might do in real life (I mean not in real life but in the 40k universe)

So here's a build I'm working on. I'm thinking that these are special weapons that are unique and made just for the assault troopers to carry so they will be individual. I need to get some liquid greenstuff on the cracks and the seam. I might put some card along the center instead and see if I can get it to bulk out and not just look like to chainswords back to back.






That's all for now.