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Strike Fleet Antebellum

So I am a long time Blood Angels player from back when 3rd edition came out. I had close to 3,000 points (all from back then), and when the new models came out I had to start back up again. I chose the Angels Encarmine because, as cool as black death company look, I think white death company will look amazing. I also thought it would be cool to use a successor chapter and be a bit different than everyone else (even though since then I have seen a decent amount of Angels Encarmine).

I also decided to try using magnets to save money and increase customization. I am not magnetizing everything, just things that can be changed. For instance, in my tactical squad, I magnetized the sergeant, special weapon trooper, and heavy weapon troopers arms, and the heavies backpack. It is working out fairly good, though it takes a lot of planning, and I have improved a bunch since the first guys I magnetized.

I am going for a jumpers army. Eventually, I would like to add in bikers and devastators so I can run a couple different lists.

The following are links to pictures:
12/22/10 - WiP Assault Marines, WiP Vanguard Veterans, WiP Honour Guard, WiP Librarian and Sanguinary Priest, WiP Tactical Marines, WiP Death Company
1/9/11 - Three basically completed Assault Marines

[STRIKE]I am going for a mechanized/jump pack army, where everything will either be in a tank or have jump packs. My 1,000 pt army so far is shown below.[/STRIKE]

(please excuse my lack of camera skills)



It contains a Reclusiarch and five death company (one with a thunder hammer) mounted in a rhino with heavy bolters. The other main squad is a Sanguinary Priest and ten assault marines with jump packs (2 meltaguns and a power fist). A tactical squad (with missile launcher and plasma gun) mounted in a rhino round out the troops. The final piece is a Baal Predator with autocannons and heavy bolters.


Any questions or comments are welcome. I'll update as I get to work on things.

-A-

Looking awesome, I love the White on the DC, and the gem like look on the blood drops on the SGT's Jump Pack.

Nice job, I wanna see how this develops!

Nice job Love what you did with the marines!

I must say that DC guy is really really well done.

Looking good so far, like the white dc guy, will be watching with interest

The white on the DC is very good. Looking forward to moar!

Thanks for the comments.

I finished my Reclusiarch this evening.

The lighting isn't the best on this, so it looks overly dark. Eventually, I'll figure out how to take good pictures.

[Photo's Moved]

I will start working on either the rest of the Death Company or one of my tanks next.

Looks awesome! love the batwing/blood emblem.

Looking great! I love the white DC.

I'm not sure how I want to base them. My initial idea was in a desert style, using something like Alien Deserts found here. That was chosen after reading some of the background that people have researched for the Angels Encarmine that point to the idea that they are based on Middle Eastern Judaism. My other idea was an Ash Wastes (10th one down) style because I think the dark base might brighten the army's dark red armor. Although it also may make the army look really dark overall.

Any suggestions?

well someone certainly has quite a bit of work ahead of them. I like that you are doing the death company in white (as per the codex for successor chapters!), its definately going to be a welcomed difference to other players! Great work, keep the updates coming!

Seeming Rhino Shells next to 10 marines really makes you wonder how they fit in there.

True scale rhinos...epp!

I'd like to see more of these, Angels Encarmine are the coolest BA successor if you ask me. White DC and SG are indded awesome.

Antebellum wrote:I'm not sure how I want to base them. My initial idea was in a desert style, using something like Alien Deserts found here. That was chosen after reading some of the background that people have researched for the Angels Encarmine that point to the idea that they are based on Middle Eastern Judaism. My other idea was an Ash Wastes (10th one down) style because I think the dark base might brighten the army's dark red armor. Although it also may make the army look really dark overall.

Any suggestions?

I would go with the Ash Waste. Urban-esque bases go a long way with many BA based armies. The colors really stand out with darker bases. Although the Encarmine may be Middle Eastern-based, this does not mean they don't fight in underhives or ash wastelands in the name of the Emperor, He protects.

Looks really good man, I'll be watching your progress with anticipation.
I love your thinking behind it and the originality compared to many BA forces.
In case you weren't all ready, I'd also recommend magnetising the guns on the Razorback/Rhino so you could use it as either?

Looks really good, can't wait till more paint is applied.

MadMaverick76 wrote:I would go with the Ash Waste. Urban-esque bases go a long way with many BA based armies. The colors really stand out with darker bases. Although the Encarmine may be Middle Eastern-based, this does not mean they don't fight in underhives or ash wastelands in the name of the Emperor, He protects.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have not tested the basing yet, and I was worried that it would darken the model too much as opposed to brighten it. I will have a go with a test model as soon as I can get my hands on some sand.

Just Dave wrote:Looks really good man, I'll be watching your progress with anticipation.
I love your thinking behind it and the originality compared to many BA forces.
In case you weren't all ready, I'd also recommend magnetising the guns on the Razorback/Rhino so you could use it as either?

Looks really good, can't wait till more paint is applied.

Thanks! I certainly am magnetizing as much of my tanks as I can. Next time I do an update, I'll post some pictures of what I have done so far on the Baal.

Antebellum wrote:Thanks for the suggestion. I have not tested the basing yet, and I was worried that it would darken the model too much as opposed to brighten it. I will have a go with a test model as soon as I can get my hands on some sand.

I believe it will end up actually brightening the model due to your base being so dark. The contrast will actually brighten the marines IMHO. Although, I believe a desert base would be nice, rarely seen though. Either way, I will keep watching.

Smaller update this week.

I've been working on the Razorback for my Death Company. I've been doing a lot of magnetizing and mostly building it the past couple days. I've started a base coat of Codex Grey and and base coated some of the other stuff black. I also did the tracks, which are a major pain in the ... I attempted to work on the inside a bit, but realized that it needs to be painted when it is completely disassembled.




Someone also asked about magnetizing. Here is a picture of the back ramp. I glued a small piece of sprue to the inside top left. I put a magnet on that and on the ramp.


Here is a picture of the turret, I put a magnet on the top of the two guns so that I can pull the top armor shield thing off to change weapons.


Here is a picture of the turret pulled apart. I put a magnet on each piece of gun and then drilled out the center of the turret mount and put magnets in there as well. I can pull the guns on and off and replace them with a different weapon if I want.


Here is a picture of the back hatch/turret mount. I glued a piece of sprue to the top of the inside doors and put a magnet on it. I then put a magnet on the underside of the top hatch/turret mount. The magnets don't touch, but they are strong enough to hold it in place. This way I can turn it into a rhino easily.


These are the hatches. I haven't glued them in yet. I glued a magnet to the bottom of the small one so I can attach any accessories to it in the future. The bigger one, I may or may not attach a magnet to so I can open the hatch if I want.


Since this is Angels Encarmine, I will be painting this white, which will be quite a challenge for me to get a nice even coverage. I was also thinking of trying a freehand 'angel' mural onto the side/top of it. I've never done freehand really and something that large could easily mess up the tank.

Dude your blood angels are coming along. I love the white dudes green thunder hammer, it looks sweet, I have been playing around trying to get green weapons to work but none look like yours. Thats a hefty amount of magnetising on the razorback, cool idea with the hatch! Have you done anything recently, almost a month since your last post.

Peace and love from across the pond, Luke

Maybe we will get that match this coming May!

Hey thanks for the interest. I have done some work, but no real images worth posting.

The green was actually somewhat of a mistake. I painted and highlighted it with Snot Green and Scorpion Green (I think) and then went to wash it with Orkhide Flesh. I had borrowed the paint and thought it was a wash ... turns out its foundation paint, haha. I put a few coats of that watered way down on the green to shade it and tone down the highlights. Not exactly the look I was going for, but it works.

As for what I have been doing, a lot of assembling and base coating, so nothing fun to post. I base coated the razorback Codex Grey and put the first layer of Fortress Grey on some of the parts. I then grew bored (especially since I'm moving toward a jumpers list).

Right now I'm frantically assembling and slight converting some Honour Guard and Vanguard Vets. I have also started painting the 10 man assault squad Right now the basecoat of Mechrite Red is down along with a wash of Red and a wash of Brown. Next up is Red Gore layers followed by Red Gore 1:1 Blood Red layer, and finally Blood Red highlights.

For the Honour Guard, I am taking the Sanguinary Guard legs and then using standard imperial crest chests and regular heads. I am also going to use the Sanguinary Guard's big shoulder pad.

The Vanguard Vets are going to be a lot of weapon swaps to put a glaive encarmine, a pair of storm shields, a lightning claw, and a power fist on them. Lots of metal work :(

There is a 1k point tournament next weekend which I am building for. So hopefully after that I'll have some time to get some things painted. I also promise better photographs in the future.

Thanks for the interest,
-A-

P.S. What up Luke!

I took some better (I hope) pictures of what I have already posted and put up some pictures of my Honour Guard and my Vanguard Veterans. The honour guard use the sanguinary guard legs and will use the large shoulder pad from them as well. They will eventually be painted gold (as the fluff from Angels Encarmine says nothing about white honour guard). The veterans use the GW vanguard vets (great models and poses) with some slight conversions of adding a pair of storm shields, a lightning claw, and a power weapon. They will eventually be red with gold heads.

I am also updating the original thread with links to where pictures can be found as we go along.

Vanguard Veterans
Colors: red, gold helmets, black backpacks
Weapons: glaive encarmine, power fist, lightning claw & storm shield, storm shield



Tactical Squad
Colors: red, black backpacks
Weapons: missile launcher, special weapon






Librarian / Sanguinary Priest
Colors: blue / red
Weapons: force weapon / hand flamer, blood chalice


Honour Guard
Colors: gold
Weapons: 2 meltaguns, blood chalice



Death Company
Colors: white, black backpacks
Weapons: thunder hammer






Chaplain
Colors: black
Weapons: crozius arcanum




Assault Squad 1
Colors: red, yellow helmets, black backpacks
Weapons: 2 meltaguns, power fist





Assault Squad 2
Colors: red, yellow helmets, black backpacks
Weapons: 2 meltaguns, hand flamer



I'm going to work on having everything basecoated over the holiday break before moving on to finish the assault squad. I also bought basing materials and will start basing my finished models after the assault squad is completed.

C&C welcome. Thanks and have a great holiday!

Ooh. Nice! White Death Company looks good so far. Looking forward to the full squad.

A small update. Sorry they are coming so slowly, but it is taking me a long time to paint these guys.

The following are three assault marines which are completed except for their green eyes and squad/chapter markings on their right knee pad and right shoulder pad.

I was also going to start basing ... and then I realized we don't have any PVA glue.

Marine 1



Marine 2



Marine 3



The three new Marines with their Sergeant

Looking awesome dude, what kind of list are you running now. I still love the white death company dude, he looks awesome. The new pics are really nice and clear. I'm coming out on the 15th of May, just after the GK codex release

Keep posting pics dude, I hear you have lots of melta.

Peace

Pure jumpers for now. I think I am 1-3-2 with them at the 1000 pt tournaments we've been going to once a month.

Librarian
Honour Guard (5) w/ 2 melta
Sanguinary Priest
Assault Squad (10) w/ 2 melta & power fist
Assault Squad (5) w/ melta & power fist
Vanguard Veterans (5) w/ glaive encarmine, power fist, lightning claw, storm shield x2

Everyone has a jump pack. Next month is 1250 pts and I think I'll be running:

Librarian
Honour Guard (5) w/ 3 melta
Sanguinary Priest (2) w/ power weapon
Assault Squad (10) w/ 2 melta & power fist
Assault Squad (10) w/ 2 melta & power fist
Vanguard Veterans (5) w/ glaive encarmine, power fist, lightning claw x2, storm shield x3

It's a difficult army to play with such short-ranged firepower, but I enjoy how frightened it makes some people. I want to add death company, but they are so expensive ... like 35 points apiece with jump packs.

I'll try to get a pic or two up as I will hopefully have my librarian done this weekend as well as some work on two 'painting competition' models.

Those look fantastic! Keep it up and happy painting!

Good lists, Are you taking a SP in your HG? If not, I highly recommend it!

Yeah, the Honour Guard has their sanguiary novite which acts as a priest but isn't an IC ... which is nice.

No picture this time ... but soon (I'm being lazy).

I finished my Librarian and based it. I also based and painted the bases of my first four Assault Marines I finished, though I'm not happy with how the bases came out. I went with a dark flesh basecoat and washed it with black wash because it was looking too red. I then drybrushed it with codex grey, graveyard earth, and fortress grey. I think I may have been a little heavy handed with the drybrushing as you can't see below it very well and it looks very greyish. On the advice of a friend, I am going to try shadow grey bases and use the same drybrushing techniques, but be very careful not to overdue it. The blue in shadow grey should hopefully contrast well with the red of my marines and create a 'pop.'

Next up I'll be finishing the last six Assault Marines of my first squad.

I have also been working on two models for a painting competition at Gaming Etc in Stratford, CT (giving them a shout out): a skaven clanrat with a spear and a high elf sea guard standard bearer. The skaven is completed except for the base and is painted in a Clan Skurvy style with yellow cloth. The elf has gold armor with red accents and a white robe.

Till next time ...