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So, I guess everyone in P&M has to make this post at some point. Long time lurker. Extremely nervous first-time poster...


I quit 40k a long time ago. I was young and naive and I imagined that I would leave this all behind in order to become Cool. Obviously, this plan failed. I came back. I was always coming back. But, in researching my way back into the hobby, I was struck by the enormous strides in painting and modelling that absolutely everyone seemed to have made on even the most practical of gaming armies in the ten years or so that I'd been gone. This, naturally, caused me to hide away for literally all of 5th edition, desperately attempting to put together an army that if nothing else, did not leave me feeling woefully inadequate every time I got it out of its case for a game. These guys represent my best efforts at that so far. They're not perfect, and my photography leaves much to be desired, but they're what I got, and enough people have made appreciative noises about them in meatspace for me to show them off in the terrifying vastness of the internet. Hope you enjoy them.

Tactical Squad Eridanos


I imagine that most plasma cannons in 40k are actually older than the guys currently carrying them, so they all get unique liveries and ornamentation of their own.

Tactical Squad Aurigon


Yes, I'm old enough to remember when Imperial forces were sensible enough to identify all their heat-based weapons by painting them yellow.

Librarian Ophiuchus


Land Speeder Squad Pyxos


Obviously these guys got chopped around and repositioned to look a bit more like the old metal speeders.

Honoured Brother Andromedes


When faced with a kit that has about a gazillion optional bits, I am immediately faced with the urge to use all of them at once. And then add some.

Veteran Squad Scorpius


These guys were intended to showcase the various aspects of the space marines' character: the elite commando, the virtuous knight, the savage killer and the warrior-monk, with the sergeant being kind of a synthesis of all four. In the end, the unit looks a little disjointed, but I suppose that's just good incentive to give each guy four friends so I can have more cohesive squads.

Honoured Brother-Captain Leon


Why yes, dear reader, those tomb paintings were a total pain in the ass. Shall we Tanks?

LETS TANKS.



"... and if, Governor, I ever hear of your name in connection with treachery, I will take those soft hands and nail them to the doors of the Senate House.*"

[*Thyrrian Senate House. Seat of Thyrrian planetary government. Destroyed in siege of Thyrria Prime (cref. Organian heresy), 732.M40.]




If it's not immediately obvious, all of these are regular rhinos with extra side/track assemblies on each side and immolator top plates (and of course a predator turret for the razorback).

And that, so far, is the extent of my handiwork. If you're reading this, thanks for enduring such a long post!



P.S. The last time I was playing 40k on a regular basis, I was not only 10 years younger but I was also living hundreds of miles from where I'm at now: I need people to fight! So if you're anywhere within reasonable distance of Newcastle (that's the one on-Tyne, not under-Lyme or in-Australia) & you're interested, drop me a PM so we can talk. Thanks!

Don't know why your nervous, they look great. Exceprt some of the pics don't work.

That Tacticool Marine is so overkill. I love it!

Very cool looking minis. Not the smoothest of paint in some places, but very detailed. Some people might not like how loud they are though

Well, for those pictures that work for me, all i can say is great job. Those comments you've heard should be echoed here as well.

I am of the same mind that each marine should look a little different. I go so far as to have not one of my marines in the same configuration of armour. Your sets look ancient and well cared for... The Astartes are an ancient order with ancient sets of armor and weapons with histories.

I tend to stay away from pristine equipment, but you'll NEVER see my marines wearing rusty armor...lol. Paint chipping off, sure, but no rust.

BTW, I don't remember the weapons and yellow paint... how long ago was that?

I've come out of lurking to post this.

Veteran Squad Scorpius is probably one of the coolest units I've ever seen.

I've recently come out of a hobby break too. So, I know how that feels. Hopefully, I'll be pumping out something soon.

Don't be nervous when your models look that good. I wish I could paint something half as good as those. Your models look excellent. Although try and fix the broken links, I'd love to see the rest

Dude, those are incredible. Great Job!

Great job! I really love the red color you used, looks awesome. It's a great looking army, you should be very proud of it.

Great army ! beautiful paint job and nice freehand.
BRAVO !

Thanks so much for all the positive comments guys! They mean a lot to me. I've gone through and tried to fix some of those broken links some of you mentioned - I suspect I borked up the flickr-hosted ones good & proper, so everything's hosted out of dakka's gallery now. Either I've fixed everything, or just broken everything.

Uhlan wrote:BTW, I don't remember the weapons and yellow paint... how long ago was that?

That's a relic of from the dark days of 2nd edition (around 1995) - before 40k took it's ultraserious grimdark turn.

This army is full of win. I love the use of occult symbols.

Really nice army there, hope to see more from you.

Love it!
Nice shoulder pads and freehand, although the theme is whats perfect and close to uniqe. Details and symbolism really work their magic on your collection
Love that outrageous Librarian!

these are fantastic !

If this is what you make to avoid embarrassment, the impacts from the collective jaw-dropping of Dakkanauts will register on the Richter Scale, once you start aiming to impress.

These look awesome!

I do have a question about the Space Marine proportions. They seem less like heroic-scale, and their heads look like they're actually the correct size for a human. Am I crazy or did you use different bits from other lines?

Holy Flakking Satasia! They are incredible! You have achieved coolness on an entirely different realm. I HONOR YOU FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. Every single model has more respect to it than most armies do in this hobby. This is sincere. Seriously. Do more, we need you. I need you. In fact, you seem to be a fan of the Blood Ravens, maybe I will find you in an electronic realm since we're far too apart to see each other and do battle.

Wow, Your army looks amazing and sooo unique. Its really cool. You should be quite proud.

They seem less like heroic-scale, and their heads look like they're actually the correct size for a human. Am I crazy or did you use different bits from other lines?

I believe that he used terminator legs on regular tac marines to create the difference in scale. Made me wish I did that same with my whole army.

That is an intrguing force that you have obviously spent a lot of time with.

I like all the conversions and attention to detail: especially how many of the models have hidden stories on them it seems based on the art/symbology you have added.

I like how you have played up the varied iconography and used historical content.


Good stuff...

ArthurDubya wrote:I do have a question about the Space Marine proportions. They seem less like heroic-scale, and their heads look like they're actually the correct size for a human. Am I crazy or did you use different bits from other lines?

Yeah, as mercury101 said, they're built with terminator legs to give them a little extra stompiness, as well as the front halves of terminator torsos which I find gives them a slightly more barrel-chested look. It's not an original idea - I guess I just made more of them than most people do..

Thanks so much for all the love for these guys! I'll try to get new units posted up here as I get them finished.

Yeah, these are all horrible and you should feel horrible for posting them...

... not!

Seriously, you're just fishing for compliments, aren't you? OK, I'll oblige - excellent work!

Your style reminds me greatly of John Blanche, only much cleaner. The tons of free-hand are all very well done. The iconography is striking, and the miniatures appear as if they are relics from antiquity.

Bravo, I hope to see more of your work in the future.

Mind = Blown.

Phenomenal job! The uniqueness of each model is simply envy inducing. Great work!

I absolutely love the color on the shoulders. The detail there is unbelievable as well.

Those are some fantastic Blood Ravens. Well done sir!

Good God those are incredible!

Also, as a Newcastle resident I can reccomend the Newcastle GW for pick up games as they're all pretty cool in the city centre's store.

I love the double-wide rhinos (sounds expensive!!). These are great, and some really inspiring paint jobs. I paint pretty much for speed. Get a few colors on the model, paint more-or-less within the lines, and get on to the next dude - but these make me want to spend just a little more time on each guy, to make them that much more original!

These are really nice. Very impressive. When my BA arrive and get finished I am in the Newcastle/ Gateshead area and I need some new opponents


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These are really nice. Very impressive. When my BA arrive and get finished I am in the Newcastle/ Gateshead area and I need some new opponents

These are incredible. I think you need some better pics to show it off though. I love how these guys drip personality. Good job!

Unbelievable work here sir. I am thoroughly impressed. I spent several minutes looking at each one of your models as if I were at a museum. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Did you use all brushes on your free hand or did you use some pens or something? They are so amazing.