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When I started this hobby (cough cough addiction) 25 years or so ago I was younger, enthusiastic and chased everything. Now I'm older and a few months back I started to really .. trim down on my erratic collection of gaming stuff I'll not likely ever use. Even if I don't play 40k much, I enjoy collecting, assembling, painting etc much like creating D&D characters. It's a fun mental excercise, keeps me engaged and provides a bit of escapist hobby.

I've refocused my collection onto only two areas. Instead of a mix of different squads and collection sizes I'm only focusing on SM and CSM as that is where I have both some mass and interest.

On the SM side that's my take on the underrepresented Desert Lions. This is a chapter that basically has only a small mention in the Rogue Trader Compendium as working with the Legio Cybernetica in the pacification efforts in the Istvaan system. In my mind this is a successor chapter to either the Salamanders or Iron Hands what with a comfort of working close to AdMech and continued focus on Istvaan (maybe looking for relics). I like the idea of a chapter that may assist those who indeed have the most dangerous job in the empire .. archaeologists.

Practically thinking..
* Most of my legacy rhinos I'm purposing to CSM and have been "swapping" other minis and games on eBay and other markets for some additional newer style rhinos / razorbacks
* When I was younger, I couldn't afford tanks. Now I'm older so screw that, mechanized infantry here I come!
* Most squads I'm building at 6 men (razorback size)
* For paint I'm going with a worn and weathered gray or gunmetal with callouts in gold and blue. More veteran units would be darker tone
* I have a bunch of beakies and RT era metal plus more current plastic. Some will need to be repainted and stripping may be difficult...
* I'm relearning painting techniques I've not used in a long long time
* I'm using a chapter plan to sort of organize my thinking, though some things like Razorbacks and Predators will be somewhat adaptable

Chapter Plan

1st Company "Honor" - Terminators, Veterans, etc. - inclues Honor Guard

2nd Company "Tooth & Claw" - Traditional; bolters and meltas

3rd Company "Roar" - Flamers - this will be what I use if I run these guys as Salamanders

4th Company "Griffins" (winged lions) - Jump-enabled troops; most squads will be organized in groups of 5 models so I can combine to 10 more easily on the table

5th Company "Fury" - Missile and las-cannon troops

I also have bikes and land speeders / storms / scouts, unsure how I want to organize those beyond 6th and 10th.

In addition, I'm building out a few other specific "things" like a Reclusium w/ Razorback, a Techmarine w/ Rhino, etc. other ICs

Current sample pictures here are "assigned" to what I'm calling the 3rd Company.

Looking good! An interestingly different colour scheme, nicely applied. I also like your motivation and fluff behind this project.

Thanks. The pictures seem to come across grainy, is that just me?

My techmarine rhino (the only old style one I'm using for SM) is also coming along. I need to grab a new picture of that too.

For command squads, do people often do a techmarine, apothecary, chaplain, etc, or mostly vets since 2 of those are ICs now?

Second Company

These guys are older that I've refreshed, and they are the stylistic basis the rest of the chapter is based on. Most of these are my old plastic beakies that I've done a refresh and touch up on, but you will notice a difference in some of the paint tones, as I can't quite reproduce and duplicate with the current paints I have (not to mention limited skills).


The theme for the second company tends to focus on bolters and bolter fire and a few other weapons. If I decide to run an army using Bolter Drill, this is the set of guys I'm going to snag.

Squad Plan

1 - Company Command

2 - Sternguard - old school beakies that I've put some new sternguard bolters / purity seals on

3 - Assault or Vanguard - old metal MK4 armor w/ bolt pistol / chain sword - UNPAINTED YET

4 - Tac squad - old school beakies w/ heavy bolter

5 - Tac squad - old school beakies w/ bayonet

6 - Tac squad - old school beakies w/ chain CA

7 - Tac squad - old school metal beakies w/ multimelta heavy

8 - Tac squad - TBD

9 - Dev squad - heavy bolter x4 - UNPAINTED YET

10 - Dev squad - TBD - meltas or multimelta

Here's the start of the 3rd company

Squad Plan

1 - Command Squad
2 - Sternguard (2x Heavy Flamer)
3 - Sternguard (combi)
4 - Tac w/ flamer
5 - Tac w/ flamer
6 - Tac w/ melta
7 - Tac w/ melta
8 - Dev w/ multimelta
9 - Assault w/ 2 flamer
10 - Assault w/ 2 flamer

You should really paint those bases green.

Heh, or take pictures on a different surface .. roger