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The idea for the army originally came about from when Space Hulk was rereleased, I thought instead of having the same Blood Angels as everybody, I'd try to be slightly less common and go for Blood Ravens instead.

As you do, I started off with a test mini. I've always preferred a slightly darker, more 'realistic' tone to my models, so he's been painted with more of a focus on Scab Red, then highlighting from there.


After the test mini, I had a go at one of my Space Hulk terminators, with a result of probably one of my best models to date.




Things stayed quiet for a while after this, where I focused on my Imperial Guard army, however with GW's price rise looming and a large amount of model sales going on, I decided to well...

Buy an extremely large amount of plastic, enough to build a full blown Blood Ravens army.

So far, this is my 2k List.

HQ

Blood Angels Captain - Thunder Hammer, Bolt Pistol, Jump Pack 155
Honour Guard - Jump Packs, 1 Meltagun 215
Champion, Storm Shield

Terminator Librarian - T Armour, Staff, Storm Shield 145
Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius

Elites

Librarian Dreadnaught - Wings, Blood Lance 175
Terminator Squad - 1 Heavy Flamer, 1 chainfist 210
Land Raider Redeemer - Extra Armour, MultiMelta 265

Troops

Tactical Squad - Plasma Gun, Missile Launcher, Power Fist 200
Rhino - Storm Bolter 50
Assault Squad - 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Th Hammer, Combat shield 245
Assault Squad - 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Th Hammer 240

Heavy Support

Predator - Autocannon, 2 Heavy Bolters 100

2000 points on the nose.

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The reason I'm posting this tonight, is I've been staying up late assembling my first group of models - The Honour Guard.

So far they're 50/50 glue and blutak (so I can have an easier time when it comes to painting.)

I think they're relatively successful, some are better than others. I started off with Honour Guard, since they're needing the greatest variation in bits.



First up, a normal Honour Guard, Melta Gun dude and my Sanguinary Priest.

I'm not too pleased with the look of the basic Honour Guard dude, he just doesn't seem too exciting or has much of a 'story' to tell. Melta Gun guy has gone surprisingly well and seems to be resisting the urge to fall over! The priest, I'll go into detail at another time. - I'm having to fix his arms right now.



Next ups my Forgeword Captain, with a different head - I'm not a huge fan of bared heads most of the time, especially if it means I'm going to need to convert up an quiff for him to match him in DOW2.
Storm Shield guys pretty nice, he went well, although I'd be happier if I could have pulled off a slightly different look with him - Hiding behind the shield and firing his pistol past it. - It seemed just a little too hard though.

And finally, my Company Champion. I think he'll look pretty dang cool once painted.

I'm not too sure about the single engine jump packs on them, but if I don't use them, I feel like I've pretty much wasted the Sanguinary Guard kit.

I've also been working on turning a 'Baal' predator into a way to become a normal predator using an Imperial Guard autocannon. It's sort of worked, I'll see more in the morning once the greenstuff dries. Annoyingly though, I don't see a way to use the Baals assault cannons as a razorback turret. - That would have been the ideal situation. Any suggestions on how to solve this?

Well, I've finished a painting project that I've been wanting to do, quite literally, for years. He's been quite literally one of the models that I've always wanted to paint.

The Deathwatch guy looks great! I also love your captain and company champion

I've now painted my err.... 3rd playable Blood Raven. My Captain, though I tend to find him being used as a sergeant in most games nowadays. In any case, I'm really proud of him!
Now it's a question on whether to start painting the squads, or one of the apothecaries. - Painting white armour looks a bit tough to pull off though, should I start off with shadow grey or something? I can pull off white robes, but armour looks like a completely different kettle of fish.

So, it's been a long time since I've updated this blog, but a whole load of work has gone on with my army.

I ended up having a slight ebay obsession for a few weeks and pretty much bought well... About a battle company's worth of marines... I guess I might end up changing the blogs title now as I've now ended up with half an assault company, a battle company and a half the first company in old terminators.

On the painting front, I've done a fair bit. I've got a squad done, most of a 1500 pt army basecoated, along with a Land Raider and rhino.

I guess I've got no real excuse not to go get the space marine codex now, I suppose, especially since half my gaming club seems to play the blood angels one.

Finally, a wee photo of my Company Champion along with some painted assault marines.

With the new paints out, I'm having a bit of trouble working out my colour schemes now.

With the first models I've painted I've been using.

Scab Red base, then a main coat of red gore, then edging of Blood red followed by Baal Red and Devlan Mud. - This is the model on the left.

With the new paints out, I've started going with.

Khorne Red, then a main coat of red gore, then edging of Squig orange followed by Carroburg Crimson. - This is the model in the middle.

The model on the right is just an example of things going horrible wrong when you use the goo at the bottom of a devlan mud pot to wash a model....






I'm not entirely sure of the new colours really. Well, Khorne Red is great as a base coat and looks identical to Scab Red.
I'm not massively sure of the squig orange highlights, they look fine on my raider but I'm not too sure otherwise.
The carroburg crimson seems to have massively darkened my models down though, I'm not particularly happy about that at all to be honest. Is it worthwhile looking into say, the red glaze? Or maybe just watering the crimson down?

It seems to have basically turned my Blood Ravens into fleshtearers or something...

I had a small Apocalypse game a couple of weeks ago, my Blood Ravens supported by an Orbital Strike Element against an Imperial Guard army supported by a Baneblade.



It was a solid victory for the Blood Ravens, who followed the instructions of the "venerated" Commander Boreale to the letter. And, this time the Devastating Defensive Deep Strikes using Drop Pods worked!

As for the baneblade? It eventually blew up after a half dozen melta guns got into range of it. Fortunately, it didn't take out the half of my army that was standing around it with it.

All in all, a solid victory for the Blood Ravens!


In other news, I've officially finished painting a 10 man squad of Assault Marines. I do however, need to do a bit more work on their bases before they're fully done. I've also been working on my Librarian in Power Armour and basecoating some tacticals... - So, a lot of painting going on!

And, finally, I've made up a couple of lists using Codex Space Marines, just to prove I could... I haven't had any feedback on them yet though.

Since I haven't posted anything here in AGES, I figured I'd give a wee whistlestop tour of the interesting bits of my current Blood Ravens painting scheme. It'll also make up for the tendancy of the photographs I take to look a bit well, pants.

In general, I prefer a darker tone to my Blood Ravens - a bit closer to the Fleshtearers colour scheme than the Blood Angels, especially since I tend to use Blood Angels bits in my army.

Armour: Khorne Red (Base)> Carroburg Crimson (wash) > Gory Red (Vallejo, slightly thinned) > Squig Orange (highlight) > Lugganath Orange (corner highlights) > Bloodletter Glaze (over the highlights)

In attempting to follow GW's guide for painting Khorne Berserkers, I had a go at using their Wazdakka Red, however I found that was far, far too bright a colour for my Blood Ravens. However, I have used it on a model as a slightly less precise highlight before the squig orange.

Wiring and eye lenses: These I tend to do the old fashioned way.
Dark Angels / Caliban Green > lines of 'Snot Green' > A very thing line of Scorpion Green > Coelia Greenshade > Waywatchers Glaze > A very small amount of glaze varnish. Makes it look just that little glow-ey

Purity Seals: Since the armour is red, I decided to go for Green purity seals as a contrast. Going for a duller look to these, I tend to try.
Orkhide Shade > Knarloc Green > Gretchin Green
I haven't quite decided whether a wash is suitable afterwards or not. - Thoughts please!

One of the biggest issues I've found in painting these, since I'm not a natural painter, is when I have the nightmare scenarios of something like.

The shoulderpad, on which is placed a Crux Terminatus, or some other skull symbol, which also has a fluttering purity seal attached. - This as had the potential to drive me a bit batty, since it could be argued they could all potentially be the same colour! The compromise I've decided to go for is.

The main bone shoulderpad:
Zandri Dust > Kommando Khaki > Bleached Bone / Screaming Skull > Seraphim Sepia Wash
On the old paints, I used to use Khemri Brown instead of Zandri Dust but quite frankly, this is the one new paint colour that has worked in my favour. Zandri Dust is far closer to the colour I'm wanting!

Crux Terminatus / Other boney bits on top of a bone background.
Zandri Dust > Kommando Khaki > Ushbati Bone > Agrax Earthshade.
Unlike what that terrible colour guide said, Ushbati Bone looks nothing like Bleached Bone. - Which works a lot more in my favour. This, combined with the Earthshade creates a darker symbol, which allows it to contrast properly with the bone shoulderpad and deep red armour or black trim.

Purity seal paper:
I go for another slight difference here.
Zandri Dust > Kommando Khaki > Rotten Flesh > Reikland Fleshshade.
This tends to make a good offwhite colour that has a nice wee difference to the model.

I'm getting my painting list sorted out for the Praedis Zeta Campaign. It doesn't seem... that bad... Ish

1) 9 Assault Marines
2) 2 Sanguinary Priests
3) Terminator Librarian
4) 2 Predators
5) Land Speeder or an attack bike
6) Err... A Shadowsword Superheavy Tank...

I've got my army lists sorted now for Vidar's Fate and am working on a Predator.

1000 Points - For a doubles game.

Librarian: Force Staff, Power Armour, Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius - PAINTED!
Terminator Assault: 2 Thunder Hammers, 2 Lightning Claws, 1 TH Sergeant - PAINTED
Land Raider Redeemer: Twin Assault Cannon, 2 Flamestorms - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 1 melta gun, 1 flamer, power fist - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 1 melta gun, power sword - PAINTED

1250 Points

Librarian: Terminator Armour, Force Axe, Storm Shield, Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius - 30% PAINTED
Sanguinary Priest: Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, CCW
Terminator Assault: 3 Hammers, 1 Lightning Claw, 1 LC Sarge - PAINTED
Land Raider Redeemer: Twin Assault Cannon, 2 Flamestorms - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 1 melta gun, Power Fist - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 1 melta gun, Power Sword - PAINTED
Predator: Autocannon, 2 Lascannons - 50% PAINTED


1500 Points

Librarian: Terminator Armour, Force Axe, Storm Shield, Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius - 30% PAINTED
Sanguinary Priest: Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, CCW
Terminator Assault: 3 Hammers, 1 Lightning Claw, 1 LC Sarge - PAINTED
Land Raider Redeemer: Twin Assault Cannon, 2 Flamestorms - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Thunder Hammer - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Power Fist - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 Flamers, Power Sword
Predator: Autocannon, 2 Lascannons - 50% PAINTED

2000 Points

Librarian: Terminator Armour, Force Axe, Storm Shield, Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius - 30% PAINTED
Sanguinary Priest: Jump Pack, Power Axe - PAINTED
Sanguinary Priest: Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, CCW
Terminator Assault: 3 Hammers, 1 Lightning Claw, 1 LC Sarge - PAINTED
Land Raider Redeemer: Twin Assault Cannon, 2 Flamestorms, Multi Melta - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Thunder Hammer - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 meltas, Power Fist - PAINTED
Assault Squad: 5 extra men, 2 Flamers, Power Sword
Predator: Autocannon, 2 Lascannons - 50% PAINTED
Tactical Squad: 5 extra men, Lascannon, Plasma Gun, Power Fist - PAINTED
Rhino: Storm Bolter - PAINTED
Predator: Autocannon, 2 Lascannons - 50% PAINTED
Predator: Autocannon, 2 Lascannons


And for the 2500pt Apocalypse doubles. Take Above, add in an Attack Bike and a Shadowsword... I've got some spraypaint and masking tape for the tank. I'm thinking blue base to go with my imperial guard army, with crimson striped camo along it. Although, that does seem a bit like a waste of spraypaint....

I still really do not like painting tanks in general though, so hopefully that spray might open a door.

I was also told at the weekend that I need to thin my paints a lot more. That came as quite a surprise, I always figured I was ok about that... Another bit that was news to me was that the GW shades... aren't supposed to be shiny. Apparently you really need to shake them before painting. The ironic thing is, as far as armour is concerned... I quite liked the shiny factor, it made the matt of my later layers seem cool. Oh well, I'll see how this change works out.

Campaign Army Painting Update

Completed: 30 Assault Marines, 10 Tactical Marines, 2 Librarians, 2 Apothecaries, 6 Terminators, 2 Predators, Land Raider Redeemer, Rhino
Basecoated: 1 Lascannon Marine, 1 Apothecary, The Shadowsword(!)
Unpainted: 1 Attack Bike, 1 tank crewman.

T- 3 weeks.

I'm surprised how few actual photographs I've got of my Blood Ravens.

I might need to make an attempt at a proper 'photoshoot' later on. However, here's an quick army photo of my nearly completed force.

So, my Blood Ravens army - Blood Angels style is now completed. Over 2000 points worth fully painted and ready for action.




There's another part to the Praedis Zeta campaign I'm going to. You get to use a 'genestealer hybrid' squad, which I've managed to cobble together using my Imperial Guard army. No conversions or anything fancy but the models are suitable.

I had originally planned to use an old Magus-type model that I was going to repaint, unfortunately my attempts at paint stripping him did not work 100%

The second part is having an Apocalypse game to end the campaign, so I'm painting up my Shadowsword. It's still in progress, however I'm not too sure it's going to end up that great...



Next step for painting, after I do some mantic things is doing a Blood Ravens army 'Codex Space Marines' style, particularly painting up a Storm Talon, Storm Eagle and converting a Dark Talon into a second Storm Talon.

I thought I'd put up a couple of pictures of my 40k army that was taken during the Praedis Zeta campaign.