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He looks great! Love the pose and the crazy amount of purity seals on his leg armour!

Tank looks great as does your Marine. Even though it's only him it tells a small story. Keep it up

Aaaand done!

My Baal, is done and so is my fear of tanks. Now I'm simply aware that they can be quite time consuming.

So here are some final shots that best display the sponsons, the rest of it is all posted above so I don't see much point in clogging up the thread with repeat pictures.


I've decided to call it Deliverance as I feel that fits with the vague fluff I've developed regarding the Crimson Tears arriving as unexpected saviours and liberators of beleaguered Imperial forces. Here's a bit of an explanation behind the various decorations:
The Angel of Death on the front is an honorific earned for 50 successful combat missions, it is complemented by the winged sword and skull on the assault cannon mount which is awarded for in excess of 2,000 confirmed kills and is testament to the impeccable and invaluable service rendered by the tank and it's crew during those missions. As a mobile fire base, the firestorm Baal pattern predator (dakka Baal does not go down on official communications) is almost unparalleled and Deliverance's worth to the Crimson Tears 2nd Company is difficult to overstate, devoid as they are of land speeders and given that their tendency towards urban warfare makes precision air support difficult to effect. Each purity seal marks the decontamination and re-consecration of the machine spirit performed after engaging Chaos Daemon forces. Most of these clashes have occurred in the context of the various Black Crusades the Crimson Tears have assisted in repelling. The white winged blood drop on a crimson background mounted on the right hand side of the turret is a campaign badge awarded to vehicles that took part in the Vindicaret campaign carried out against Necrons around the Ultima Segmentum. The chapter plate towards the rear on the left-hand side were awarded for spear heading an assault against traitor guardsmen, on the now dead world of Piety, who had all but encircled the Crimson Tears' 2nd and 3rd Company's whose presence on the planet was the result of tracking members of the Chaos Space Marine warband The Reborn. For superb synchronisation with jump troops in a number of warzones Deliverance's crew were given the honour of attaching winged skulls to its armour so that all of the chapter might know of their skill.

Hope that was at least a little bit interesting for you to read.

I'm also continuing to trudge on with the tactical squad and here's the melta gunner almost done:


Having finished Inquisitor Constantjin I decided to swell the ranks of his retinue a little with a couple more warrior acolytes (still very WIP):




Charky - cheers, fella. Basing is such an important part of the model. You see so many good painters who neglect basing and it leaves everything so flat. I say that as someone who used to just paint the plain base grey (*shudder*, the bad old days). As for what's next, I did buy the new Sternguard and eventually I'll make a unit, but that kit is being used as bits rather than creating full minis. I run codex Blood Angels so there will be no \centurions for me, though even if I could use them I think I would come up with an alternative as I was not a fan of the models. What's actually next is a variety of Inquisitorial henchmen, the rest of the Tac. Squad, a Forgeworld Furioso and my breacher squad. And that's just the stuff on the work bench!

HoeJarris & Nash - thanks a lot, you guys.

Hey, look at this, it's the last couple of guys for my five man tactical squad:



Group shot:


Here's a mostly finished objective I started, too, an ad hoc Imperial Guard command post scratched out of the ruins and rubble of a besieged imperial city. It needs the skull doing and to have the lone Guardsman sentry added on, but it came together pretty quickly. I tried weathering the scanner a bit with sponge chipping, for a first effort I don't think it's come out too badly.


I'm also making some progress on another breacher. I used one of the chain axes from the Phobos pistol and axe set for this guy and it's come out looking more like a chain hatchet as, unlike the normal axes that I fit around a fist, it came already inside a fist which deprives it of some length. Still it doesn't look too out of place and I like how the pose is shaping up.

Looks great! How are you going to pose the shield for the above breacher? Looking forward to seeing your work man

Hello again, everyone, a mixed bag today as I attempt to clear the workbench. Every now and then it's nice to wipe the slate clean before covering it in half finished projects.

To that end here we have 'Hatchet Hal', the 7th Breacher (only 3 left to do)


He is followed up by the completed henchmen.

Now, I know henchmen don't have squad leaders per se, but the fluff I wrote for Inquisitor Constantjin indicated that he predominantly uses guardsmen in much the same way as in their home regiments and so I've modelled one using one of the Puppets War variant heads I that features a skull along with a scope and a relic to denote a marksman/sergeant. The last shot shows them with the test model for these guys. You might noice a smoother transition on the uniforms as well as keeping them darker, different cuffs, skin instead of gloves on the hands, brighter metallics on the helmet and face mask in addition to variant symbols on their weapons.

Lastly we have a slight rejuvenation of the Crimson Tears' first dreadnought Venerable Uriel. A few weeks ago he took a tumble and broke in half. I stuck him back together again and left it there. Then, the other day I was moving a few things around on my shelves and I noticed some paint chips here and there so started to fix them up. It also struck me: why the frack did I build him with a twin-linked lascannon and a dreadnought close combat weapon with heavy flamer?! Mistake duly rectified he's now a hellfire pattern dread with TLLC and missile launcher (frag and krak missiles painted as such), all the better to destroy the enemy from afar. He'd also lost the brass etch from the right hand side of the sarcophagus (annoying as it was one of my favourite bits from the sheet and you only get 2), so that's been replaced by a terminator crux.


When I finish the objective the desk will be clear and I will start my next Furioso, last 3 Breachers and my own Tycho.



rednecroncryptek - well, now you get to see and thank you very much.

Everything looks quite exceptional, but I'm really diggin' the breachers.

Not much to report this time around, just a few bits and pieces.

The objective is finished now that the comms relay has its sentry. You may notice a hint as to the misfortune that befell his predecessor...


I also whipped up the base for my incoming Furioso. It's a resin base from a now defunct ebay store (grrr, their bases were really good), with some extra rubble and stuff added on by me.



Oh, I also made a start on a certain 3rd Company Captain...


To make life really tricky for myself I decided to make my first attempt at double highlighting the black over an entire model (this will not happen again in the future! It's so fiddly and time-consuming.) and I'm pretty happy with how he's shaping up so far. His belt is still raw plastic so I can stick his various belt accessories on with plastic rather than super glue now that the legs and torso are finished (I've become really bad at sticking belt accessories on with super glue once they're completed).


Moltar - thanks, man. I love my breachers, too, got a special one planned for the next guy.

The breachers look great! And the objective marker is looking great too, I really like the badge on the guardsmans shoulder!
Also, this "Certain 3rd Company Captain" wouldn't happen to be Tycho would it?
He's looking brill already looking forward to him finished

Looking good

Nice and crisp as always, too The Henchmen look awesome!

Lucarikx

Captain Samael, 3rd Company, Crimson Tears



His origins are almost entirely unknown, doubtless they are consigned to the chapter archives, yet as the oldest serving member of the Crimson Tears none exist to impart information he would rather keep to himself. The relic status of his combi-melta, the Tigurus pattern bolt-pistol on his hip, the archeo-tech gauntlet known as ‘death’s touch’; Samael’s armaments hint as to the years that have elapsed since he first donned the black white and crimson of his chapter. Perhaps a few of the ancients in their dreadnought sarcophagi have tales to tell, but on the few occasions a brother has dared to ask they have kept their counsel, respecting Samael’s seeming wish for privacy. Much like his brother-captain in the 4th, Ezekiel, Samael sports a fearsome death-mask both as a badge of office and an affectation, its stern rictus aiding the aura of mystery Samael seems to cultivate.

Again, like his 4th Company equivalent, Samael’s has organised and trained his warriors in a particular style of warfare. Indeed, the Crimson Tears 3rd company are masters of mechanised warfare, never are they more effective than when racing their tanks into the heart of the enemy, either to deliver cargoes of marines whose chainswords yearn to tear at their enemies or salvoes of crippling close range fire. These tactics have developed in part due to decades spent pursuing and engaging the Saim-Hann elder craftworld. Honed against these swiftest and most manoeuvrable of foes, few other adversaries withstand against the massed armour of the 3rd and so their niche within the chapter was found

Samael is a restless hunter, ever eager to move on from a victory in pursuit of fresh prey. He also possesses a rage that is fearsome to behold, in a chapter prone to outbursts of fury and violence that legends can be fashioned from, his occasional lapses into frenzied wrath stand alone; as does he, when in such a state those under his command know well enough to let their captain be. Outside of these moments he is taciturn and stoic, a near perfect commander; no less than would be expected of a man who has held his position for almost four centuries.




Some new bases, too. Guess what they're for.





HoeJarris - cheers, man. I wasn't sure about the Guardsman's insignia, so that's good to hear. No, it's Captain Samael Hope you like him, done.

Lucarikx - thanks, I hope to get a few more done at some point, then my Inquisitor might have something worthy of being called a retinue.

Wow I'm loving Samael, he looks great!
The placements of each colour is really nice too, especially the mask

So, I've done some stuff. None of it finished, but there's quite a bit, nonetheless.

Furioso -



I swapped the FW feet for some regular dread feet. I don't know what it is about the FW ones, I just really don't like them. I've also tried to make the left greave look a little bit like a mini shrine somewhat akin to the old metal venerable dreadnought and the FW chaplain dreadnought.

Angel Encarmine -



Following the lead of their brothers the Blood Drinkers, the Angels Encarmine elected to send a veteran as envoy to the Crimson Tears, showing the newer chapter the honour they feel is due all fellow Sons of Sanguinius. The shade of red for this guy was actually surprisingly easy in the end, but the process of choosing it was not! He's actually had the initial colours completely painted over. I want all of the various Sons of Sanguinius I do to have different red armour and having already earmarked what it'll look like for a couple of others quite reduced my options for this particular angel. I'm pretty pleased with the final result, as far as I'm aware it's kind of atypical, which is always good.

Tactical Sergeant -




It's intended to look as though he's guarding the shattered doorway to the ruins his squad populate, aggressive defence (this may not be clear given that he has yet to receive arms...)! The contrast on the robes is a bit starker than I would've liked, but I'm ok with it. I go so long between painting robes that I don't think I've done any of them the same way, this is yet another different recipe (partly due to owning some different paints these days).



Bad news for the Tears is that I finally prepped and primed some models for a Malifaux Guild crew as an opportunity to do something really different. This may impact on my marine production rate, but I'm going to try and not let it, I do really love my boys in black, white and crimson.

HoeJarris - Thanks muchly, my friend. I'm pretty pleased with him, too. I LOVE me some death masks. I'd use them more often, but shaving them down is quite time consuming and I think it's fitting that they are preserved for characters (unless they become wargear available to sergeants in the new codex - whenever that may be - , in which case all of mine will be getting a facelift!)

Hello all, another update is here. First things first, completions:

Angel Encarmine Ruax



Here he is alongside the other Sons of Sanguinius envoys:



Sergeant Eremiel



Eremiel is another survivor of the 5th’s decimation on Trantis. As the company gradually rebuilt he found it difficult, like most of the other Trantis survivors, to find his place among the new recruits, none of whom could fully understand the profound grief of the company’s few original members, try as they might. This sense of disconnection from his fellow Crimson Tears was exacerbated by the likes of Azazel transferring to other companies, weakening weakening his connection to the memory of his fallen brothers, and the years of inactivity that the 5th’s rebirth necessitated which provided more than ample time to dwell on such thoughts. After a decade, Eremiel decided to follow the lead of some of his brothers and transfer, reasoning that if he were to be a stranger to those he fought alongside, he would do so in a new company, away from ghosts whose passing he could only fully lament with Chaplain Moriar and the handful of Trantis veterans who remained. An exemplary combat record in theatres ranging from the ash wastes of Armageddon to the dead space near the Ghoul Stars meant that the 2nd did not hesitate to recruit him when an opening in their attrition ravaged ranks inevitably opened up. After so many years of being unable to fight and spurred by the desire to prove himself to new comrades as well as honouring the dead he left behind, he quickly proved himself a valuable member of the company’s tactical branch; so much so that his promotion to sergeant was swift indeed, particularly for a new-comer. He prefers to lead squads laden with melta weapons, keenly aware of the potential destruction enemy armour can wreak on his brethren and possessing an intense desire to mitigate losses having already lost so much himself. As with Azazel, Chaplain Moriar, now the 5th’s Reclusiarch, keeps up with his erstwhile charge, concerned about the potentially damaging effects of a trauma like Trantis. Eremiel, though, has proven himself in need of less monitoring than his brother, his squad command is exemplary and the only sign that he still mourns is a black right pauldron, but this is more a memorial than an indicator of ongoing grieving.

WIP stuff:

Parts of a breacher (I'm getting there with these guys, at the same rate as a particularly languid snail, but progress is being made nonetheless).



I haven't touched the furioso unfortunately and it looks like that might not happen for a little while. There's the small matter of the B & C's now annual Et Tenebrae Lux internal painting competition coming up and so I've spent the bulk of the last couple of weeks pulling together the parts for my pledge to aid the Blood Angels sub-forum over there. Here it is:




That's 10 Vanguard Vets (In no particular order, Sergeant with Glaive Encarmine, powerfist, power axe and storm shield, power maul and storm shield, thunder hammer, eviscerator (really big chainsword), power sword, lightning claws, infernus pistol gunslinger and power spear). I'd initially only thought to do 8 as I'm pretty slow as a painter, but decided to go for the full 10 as the BA forum could use even that small a boost, hence why 2 of them are in a separate photo. Those 10 guys are a whopping 530 points! I'm thinking I may try and finish them asap to try and squeeze in a Mephiston counts as (who has been refurbished after accidentally being crushed and broken). The Furioso may get a bit of love on the side, but he's too far advanced to enter into the competition and will be quite time consuming to finish alongside the main vow. It's annoying as I really want to get him done, but the honour of the BA comes first.

Had a go at knocking up some unique wargear for future vets/characters, too, while I was cutting and sticking things.

First update since the ETL III kicked off on B & C and this is what I've managed:





Yep, in 2 weeks I've got two vets done at 75%. Settle in, this could take a while...


While bored during my lunch hour the other day I came up with this key to various armour decorations:

winged sword – denotes having served in an honour guard. Each member of the Crimson Tears command structure chooses his own Honour Guard when he ascends to such position as requires one one.

Laurels – an honour bestowed upon those who have performed an act of exceptional valour or courage on the battlefield.

Gold Crux – for acts of notable martial skill, such as taking out great enemy warriors in single combat.

Skull – kill tally of 1000.

Aquilas – for inventive use of the jump pack (I like the idea they get bonus points from command for hammer of wrathing an ork warboss off a 4th floor balcony)



What I was working on before the official stat of the ETL was this:



Which may answer those of you pondering the future of the Sons of Sanguinius envoys.


Hopefully I'll be back soon with more Vanguard goodness.

Looking brilliant as usual, I really like the one with the laurel leaves on his helmet, can't wait to see him done!
The Knight Of Blood is looking really cool too!

Quikc stop with some finished veterans and not a great deal else, but here they are:



Shot to show off partially obscured shoulder pads



I went through about 20 different arms trying to find a pose for the axe guy that worked, turns out all I needed to do was turn the axe head around a bit and all of a sudden he looks like he's actually swinging it at someone. By happy accident the way the packs attached has accentuated their movements, which is cool.


I've also finished repairing my Mephiston counts-as after his tragic accident several months ago with the floor and a rolling chair





HoeJarris - Cheers, bud. That helmet was one of my favourites from the new space marine kits, really enjoyed painting up the laurel. The Knight is getting there, he'll likely be in the next update (hopefully with a few more veterans...)

Beautiful highlighting here, I like everything

2 nearly finished vets incoming! Hope to get them done over the course of the week. It's going to take a while to get all 10 done, but I'm really enjoying how they're coming together. It'd been so long since I did a non-troops model I'd forgotten how fun blingier (definitely a word) models can be





I'm not entirely happy with the job I did on the hammer's powerness (totally a word), don't have quite the level of transition I usually go for. Also want to give a late shout out to the recent Sternguard and Vanguard kits, endless awesome bits to chuck around and that crux wpad with the lightning bolts is tailor made for guys wielding giant hammers. In case you're curious, the replacement hammer head is from Maxmini's Mk. 2 Mechanical Hammers set. The only downside was that, being resin, it's edges weren't as uniform and smooth as a plastic bit might've been, but it's a massive step up over the usual thunder hammer design so that doesn't really matter.

With the Mk. VI guy I was trying to keep him as Mk.VI as possible, but that meant no crux pad on the left shoulder. Hopefully, I've solved that adequately with his dangly trinket.



Cap'n Facebeard - cheers, man, appreciate it.

After months of being away I return to find there's lots of goodies waiting for me to ogle All looks great

I am frickin' digging all of this! I love the creepy white face guy! that makes it just look great! and the other BA sucessors are top notch as well! simply brilliant work dude !!!


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I am frickin' digging all of this! I love the creepy white face guy! that makes it just look great! and the other BA sucessors are top notch as well! simply brilliant work dude !!!

Yeah, these are pretty cool. Remind me of a BT/BA mix, but better then both.

I've managed to get somef stuff done since I last posted: Here we go:











And now for something different:





Nash - I do it all for you! Thanks, as ever, for the kind words and welcome back. Where've you been?

Nerdfest - thank you so much, I assume creepy white face guy is Captain Samael? I love his horrible face, too. De-blinged sanguinary guard heads are awesome.

whalemusic360 - Cheers, fella. Better than BA and BT? The Chapter Master will be happy.

This is one of the best threads I've ever seen on Dakka. You have pulled off these colors incredibly well. The poses and individualism of each of your marines is quite an accomplishment.

It wasn't until I finished putting the parts together that I realised how many purity seals I'd accidentally placed in quite a small area of the Mk. 7 guy, his right arm is really blessed! His pose isn't going to be to all tastes, but I like it. I was going for a shooting sprint with the spear ready to be swung round wildly if required. This contrasts with the Mk. V marine who has already closed with the enemy and is about to make a slash I'd like to call some attention to their chapter pads as they had quite a lot of work put into them. The Mk. III pad on the power spear wielder incorporates a blood drop from a drop pod icon which was a real pain to remove and then file down, it was worth it, though, as I really like the final look (it's better than my freehand anyway). The pad on the other marine is a modified Sanguinary Guard pad, I think it looks a lot more Crimson Tears-ish now by dint of being a lot simpler (but then I would, wouldn't I?),






40kFSU - Wow, high praise indeed! I'm not sure I agree, but thank you very much. I do try to make my marines somewhat different (there area lot of the buggers out there after all), so double thanks for picking up on my efforts there.

Wow, I just went through this whole blog, and I'm impressed at what you're making here !

You went a long way from that :



To that :



Your skills have improved much, and the army is really impressive ! It's good that you managed to stay focused on that army for quite that long...

I love the use of FW bits in your models, and the way you try to tell a story with each of them...

I'll be following this for sure !

(Oh, and the "side" projects - Deathwatch, other BA successor chapters, =I=, ... - are really great too ! )

I've just done the same actually, and was just gunna say practically the exact same thing as Yggdrasil hahaha
I was going to say at the start I wasn't all sold on the miniatures, but as the blog developed I was in and teasing myself more and more with the awesome improvements in painting and use of kitbash and awesome posing and the narrative it provided.

You're painting has come such a long way from the start of your blog and it's consolidated the awesome Crimson Tears scheme you've stayed loyal to for so long, it truly looks badass Also the kitbashes take me back to my glory days of kitbashing the hell out of my ultras - well looking back they probably weren't my glory days...but where a hell of a lot of fun nonetheless

Great stuff, keep it up!

LDP

Your MkV is my new favourite just so badass

Awesome stuff sockwithaticket! Yggs, thanks for the side by side comparison too. Your work just keeps improving. I love the great dynamic poses and the contrasting scheme you've created. Keep adding the random bits of fluff too.

“We’re all going to die,” thought Sergeant Theck, “every single one of us. Just like I fething said.”

Crouched behind the smouldering ruin of a Chimera, with his fellow guardsmen mainly dead, dying or wounded in the partially collapsed administratum building to the right, it was an easy conclusion to reach, even without the unearthly shrieks and other bewildering, fearful sounds that danced malevolently through the air, filling the shattered city with a terrible sense of inevitable demise. This was not as uncomfortable a realisation as it might have been for Theck, death was a constant companion in the Guard and no one with any sense joined the ranks expecting to reach the end of their service. You might say none with any sense signed up, full stop. No, Theck had been ready to die for some time. All the same, it rankled that his life and those of his men should end this way: surrounded by strange, sinister nightmares from the warp, slowly being whittled down at the fiends’ leisure; a few isolated companies condemned by the stubbornness and stupidity of a CO whose appointment owed more to nepotism than experience or talent, who had decided that gradually being surrounded was an opportunity for heroic deeds and held off joining the retreating line until the decision was taken out of his hands.

Theck risked sneaking a look up the street though the viewfinder. Between ash swirls were revealed barely conceivable forms that contorted as they crouched over the fallen guardsmen who marked the previous day’s perimeter. Involuntarily, he shuddered. Their flesh appeared to writhe and shimmer even as they were still and the effect was nauseating, their very presence seemed an affront to physics and nature. He’d seen a lot in his short time in the ranks but even the Tyranids hadn’t been this downright awful. Something else caught his eye slightly behind the warp-creatures, a glimmer of deep red power armour. The ash cleared a little more with a sudden gust and the full hulking form of a corrupted astartes was revealed, adorned with blasphemous symbols and what seemed to be odd-coloured parchment nailed into its chestplate. To its left, an abhuman hefting a bizarre looking contraption covered in speakers, evidently what was filling the otherwise deserted streets with the oppressive, sanity-eroding noises that had already driven many to deliver themselves to the Emperor’s mercy. Another swirl of ash and they were gone. Theck settled back against the rear ramp of the Chimera husk and pinched the bridge of his nose. It made sense that something would be here to drive and control the daemons, they had been unusually reserved in their assault; Feints and probing attacks, followed by periods of withdrawal were not typically associated with daemons, but ones guided by super-human allies would certainly do those things.

Whistles signalling a new attack on the line wrested him from his thoughts. Within moments he was on his feet sprinting towards the nearest ruin where the remanants of his squad were wearily rousing themselves to man the broken windows and hastily constructed barricades. Some mumbled prayers while others tried to talk as if they were simply at the barracks, others still said nothing at all. Bayonets were obsessively, unnecessarily honed. Trembling fingers sought personal relics or clenched into fists in an attempt to deny the rising fear of facing another wave of repellent beasts. Eventually all fell silent, gripping their weapons ever tighter, straining their eyes trying to peer through the dust and ash that swirled continuously, simultaneously hoping for and dreading a glimpse of the monsters that would surely slay them. Minutes, or perhaps hours, elapsed on their section of the line, only the distant report of autocannons and heavy bolters gave any indication that they needed to be ready. The only other sounds in this stillness were the dirges and screams that had become disturbingly familiar.

Then, with a suddenness that stunned every man, foul forms of teeth and sinew thundered from the obfuscating swirl snarling and roaring with feral eyes ablaze. The chatter of a nearby heavy bolter shattered the men's horrified transfixion. They began to pour las-fire at whatever they could see, though it seemed only grenade launchers and the plasma gun were making any difference to the onrushing horde's numbers. So fixated were they by the throng hurtling towards them that the guardsmen did not detect a new sound in the medley that assaulted their ears, a dull roar that grew louder as the fiends closed the gap with their prey. Theck had begun to notice it, but his brain somewhat overrode it with the immediate concerns of survival. The daemons were close enough now that he could see every last flicker accross their flesh as they fought to maintain their place in real space. Close enough, too, for thrown grenades to be effective. He was reaching for one when the new roaring reached a crescendo and the ground erupted in a cascade of rubble and dust. He saw warp-beasts flying through the air and the mad, rushing advance faltered, switching focus to this new event. As the dust began to settle Theck caught glimpses of white, crimson and a crackling blue, a blur of motion before which the daemons fell away contorting and writhing, missing what passed for limbs or with deep and extensive wounds to their horrendous exteriors. Adjusting to the scene unfolding before him, Theck was increasingly able to make out the forms of the new arrivals: astartes! He had fought alongside space marines before, against a Tyranid splinter fleet that found its way to a vital agri-world, but he had not seen this. The Sons of Gulliman had lined up alongside the guardsmen, setting themselves in a static, unassailable gun line before which the swarm was broken in a hail of bolter shells and flame. In stark contrast the newcomers engaged the warp-spawn in a hyper-kinetic dance of death, moving with a lethal grace their frames belied. He witnessed those bearing swords thrust and parry with all the finesse of fencers he had once seen in a planetary governor’s estate gardens, each cut and slash, expertly delivered, seemed to fell a creature. At the same time the others, armed with axe, maul, halberd, power fist and monstrous chainsword, cleared their immediate area with every swing. Theck then noticed two more astartes at the fringe of the melee, one, sporting a pair of claws that crackled with the same blue-white energy of his brothers’ weapons, engaged in a solo display of deadly virtuosity, acrobatically contorting to bring his claws to yet more foes as they assailed him from all angles. The other one, armed simply with a brace of unfamiliar pistols, fired frenetically, fiends fell away with every shot, wide gaping holes showing where the astarte’s attacks connected.

Relegated to a spectator, Theck allowed his focus to wander. His gaze took in the icons and symbols adorning the crimson, black and white figures. Even by space marine standards they were heavily decorated. From conversations with Sons of Gulliman marines he had ascertained that such embellishments were honorifics commemorating great achievements by each battle brother. He wondered whether their actions here would add to these astartes’ war plates. This thought came as they were despatching the last of the blasphemous creatures. The beasts’ otherworldly sounds had completely ceased, the background din alone generated any noise. Amidst their scattered carcasses stood the astartes, still on guard, still looking for more enemies to decimate. Nothing but the ash and dust stirred. Suddenly, with barely a glance towards the men they had saved, they ignited their jump packs and ascended back into the heavens from whence they had come.





Squad complete!


Sergeant Simiel



Simiel has spent centuries with a jump pack strapped to his back. Beginning his service as an assault marine in one of the chapter’s many campaigns around the Eye Of Terror, his ascension through the ranks of the 2nd Company to become Vanguard sergeant was a swift one halted only briefly by a stint as Company Champion for a few decades. His skill with a blade is fearsome to behold and few who are privileged enough to witness the prowess with which he fights are capable of adequately relaying it. Whether it be the lithe, lighting quick Aspect Warriors of the Eldar or hulking Champions of the Ruinous powers, Simiel has fought against and bested most of the deadliest foes the Imperium can offer. This has resulted in a more than exemplary combat record and it has seen him ear marked for promotion by successive commanders, not least when the 5th required rebuilding. Each time, though, he has declined such advances, viewing himself as being of most use to his company, chapter and the Imperium at large free to roam the battlefield, bringing destruction to the enemies that cross his path. Captaincy or some other such command position would shackle him to the devising of overall strategy and direction of others during battle, restricting the possibilities of his sword meeting the enemy.

Away from the front Simiel drills his charges relentlessly, often encouraging and participating in duels in order to keep his squad’s skills at their optimal levels. He also takes an active role in overseeing the development of the company’s assault marines so as to keep tabs on who might be displaying the requisite skills to take up a place in the Vanguard. It is interesting to note here that in addition to each company maintaining its own veteran units, the Crimson Tears will promote talented marines to these units regardless of their experience levels.


Power Maul



Lightning Claws





The full 2nd Combat Squad




Yggdrasil- thank you very much (though I cringe a bit at the photo of my early work you included!). My little extra projects are probably how I've spent so long with the one main army, plus there's still a million and one things I want to do with this force that keep me motivated. Hopefully I'll be able to keep making them as unique as possible, as you identify, I like to tell stories with them where possible and an extensive bits box is helpful in that regard (got to love FW and their SM obsession).

lipsdapips - thank you, too. Very kind words about my progression. As I alluded to above, given where I am now my earlier models make me wince a bit, but then we all have to start somewhere and though I toy with the idea of going over them again I always leave them as they are a sort of monument to my starting point on this hobby journey (plus my un-painted pile is waaaay too big to go and refurbish 30 odd marines!) Glad you enjoy the kitbashes, I certainly do; it's one of my favourite things to do, trying to make my models look different to the next guy's Space Marines.

Nash - cheers, mate. Mk. V armour is very underrated in my opinion, all the studs really help lend an air of brutality that you just don't get from the others (except maybe Mk. III), but you don't see much of it around.

IceAngel - thanks a lot. I do try to keep getting better so it's nice when people keep telling me that I'm doing so.If you're keen on my fluff snippets, hopefully you enjoyed this update.