Adeptus Custodes

This is not the greatest song in the world, no, this is just a tribute…

The Adeptus Custodes are the guardians of the Golden Throne (as I understand), a pre-heresy institution that has guarded the Golden Throne for millennia. This is our humble tribute to the original army; a wargamer standard version inspired by that army*.

Blue Table Painting: Gallery List

Here’s what I would consider a display quality Adeptus Custodes army that served as an inspiration for our version:
Games Workshop - Space Marines

Here’s a short summary of the Adeptus Custodes:
Adeptus Custodes

Below** is a comprehensive “for the public version” of the project Instructions, for those that might be interested in the particulars.

These were painted by Jon Gentry, with me as his assistant.

The predominant color is Vallejo Glorious Gold with highlights of Polished Gold and two layers of washes (one black and another brown) sandwiched in there. Dark red areas are Vallejo Hull Red (one of my favorites). Burgundy is a hand mix of Black and Gory Red. I’m not partial to any burgundy currently produced.



The display does not look right at all in the pictures. First off, the pics were taken under fluorescent light so they are a bit washed out. Second off, it is huge, like nearly four feet in length. It is composed of four modules for easy transportation, and these are keyed so they will fit together and stay. There is some forced perspective here: the front hall is smaller and the parts get progressively thicker and taller as the Great Door is approached. I remember reading a passage in one of the Dune books where they make this old lady come through all these passages before going to the throne room, so she would be worn down, and I thought of that while doing this piece. We made some doors and halls so it would look like it was part of a larger complex.



I did the Imperial Eagle freehand with a six-hundred degree soldering iron, I know it’s a bit larger on one side than the other. Be sure to have good ventilation when using a soldering iron to carve runes or what not into hard styro.





The writing on the doors is in dark gold, it only looks yellow in the pics. I learned calligraphy in High School and became quite adept with it when I wrote every prom invitation for the whole school in gothic lettering. I learned using a brass nib and India ink from a bottle. The script is in Latin—passages from Isaiah and Revelations that I thought fitting for the piece—fire and lights proceeding from the throne of god and all that.



The biggest risk we took with the board was the addition of the marble streaks. I think the board could have done without them, but in real life they don’t dominate the board and add some much-needed color. Jon executed them very nicely, I opine.



The assembly was done by Bill Devlin, our Lead Assembler. He did a lot of free-sculpting work on tabards and helmets. I really have to tip my hat to him—he created this army from very limited resources.

Shawn G.
BTP

*So, if your comment is “hey, it’s not as good as the original” consider yourself pre-eye-rolled.

**OK, here are the comprehensive Instructions. There were like three meetings after this was written, so it doesn’t comprise all the decisions involved.



Project Guidelines and Instructions
Project Name: Adeptus Custodes 01

Assembly Instructions
This project will be based on the Adeptus Custodes featured on the GW site:

Games Workshop - Space Marines

You absolutely must look over this entire project to get the feel for what we are trying to accomplish.

However, you do not have to do everything exactly that way. Please use materials on hand as well as kits provided to create something along those lines but not necessarily as complicated.

o There is a budget for bitz—please submit a request for the parts you feel inspired that you need before the project starts.
o Please read the Display Board instructions below, the models have to mesh with that.
o There are a number of Psycannons in the army. You can find a suitable representation for an archaic psycannon, just be sure it is consistent, ie you don’t need to use the official psycannon bit.
o Models need to have Wargear and Equipment modeled on as indicated under Army List.
o Generally, if you have a better idea than what is outlined below, let’s hear it!

Grey Knights—based off Chaos Warrior plastics, but with chaos symbols/skulls/spikes replaced or removed with something consistent with the ancient imperium. Use high elf helmets for heads. For the force glaive: we should have plenty of banner hands. Some models should have the poles switched to left or right. Other conversions as per the link above.

Purgation Squad—The Justicar will be done similar to the other Grey Knights. However, he needs to be themed as a sort of cybered-out security type (hoses, controls&hellip that controls the Incinerator Drones. The Incinerator Drones should be similar in size to a 28mm infantry model, but not necessarily in shape. They should be doweled and have suitably impressive Incinerators!

Basing Instructions
Models should have a normal sized round base with a second, flat layer of techno-plating that will match the display board.

Painting Instructions
Paint armored areas silver and gold—solid. Cloth areas can be done with brown, pale brown, or burgundy and should include hand broidery as a finishing embellishment. Then a blackscale on top of that. A re-highlight of gold and detail work should finish off the models.

Paint using sample as a guide. Also refer to the link above.

Army List
Grey Knights Hero 1
Death Cult Assassins 3
Callidus Assassin 1
Custodes Terminators 3
Grey Knights 20
Grey Knights with Psycannon 3
Grey Knights with Incinerator 2
Grey Knights Justicar 5
Dreadnought 1
Purgation Squad- Controller 1
Purgation Squad- Incinerator Drones 4

Here are the wargear options where clarification is needed:
o Grey Knights Hero in Terminator Armor (Daemonhammer and Psycannon; bionics—but not excessive, an arm or head modification?)

o Callidus Assassin (C’Tan Phase Sword and Neural Shredder)
o Grey Knights Terminators (Storm Bolter and Nemesis Force Weapon)
o Grey Knights Justicars (one with Power Fist equivalent, the others with nemesis Force Weapons)
o Dreadnought (use your own discretion)


Models to be Ordered

Dark Age
Forsaken Junkers (Death Cult Assassins)
Forsaken X’Cess (Callidus Assassin)
St. John (bitz for leader type)

GW
Chaos Warriors box x3
Close Combat Terminators Box x1
Throne of Judgment x1

BITZ

2x Grey Knight Terminator Halberd 1
(9947010700613)

2x Grey Knight Terminator Halberd 2
(9947010700614)

5x Marneus Calgar's Banner Pole
Part Code: 9947010107403
Price: $3.00

6x Grey Knight force Halberd 3
(9947010700209)

6x Grey Knight Force Halberd 2
(9947010700208 ) 

6x Grey Knight Force Halberd 1
(9947010700207)

6x Grey Knight Force Halberd 4
(9947010700210)

1x Ghazghkull's Claw
(9947010309208 )

1x Ghazghkull's Left Arm
(9947010309210)