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Hey guys,
A few Tech-aspirants for my Skitarii army. Here's the thinking behind 'em:

I quite like the idea of a marine or two tagging along with the army, and it gives me a cool modelling opportunity. But how to fit them in? Techmarines make a logical choice, since they're sent to Forgeworlds to train under the Adeptus Mechanicus, and then accepted into the lowest order of the Cult Mechanicus (a bit like Enginseers, in fact). However, techmarines go back to their chapter as soon as they graduate/qualify...

According to the 40k Compendium that a friend kindly lent me, Techmarines take thirty years to train in the mysteries of the Machine God, but (as far as I know) there's never been any description of what they do during that time. I can't imagine the aspirant Techmarines just studying: they are marines, after all, and I reckon any Chapter Master would be a bit narked off if their soldiers came back out of practice.

With that in mind, does it seem acceptable that the aspirants would follow Explorator teams and Skitarii regiments to learn 'on-the-job', as it were?

They never learn the deep mysteries of the Machine God: they simply receive wetware implants and hypnotherapy to indoctrinate them. This can't take too long, and practical skills like repairing damaged tanks and weaponry (i.e. what the Techmarine will most likely be called upon to do) can't be taught by wetware etc, but only learnt through experience. Thirty years battlefield experience would give them a great grasp of what they'll need to do, and also keep their martial skills up.

Brother Ludo of the Iron Souls




Brother Abrax of the Iron Hands, all painted up and mounted on a spiffy Foundations of War base:


The squad so far, with brother Marr of the Lamenters carrying a heavy bolter with suspensors.


These guys have all been embiggened:


Comments more than welcome.

The guy on the left in the last picture gives me some serious "Big Daddy" vibes. Great job!

Your thinking behind those guys it quite okay and the models are cool, too. i like the necron skull and the heavy bolter guy.

Thanks guys. The greenstuff needs some cleaning up (particularly around the abdomen and torso), but I'm pleased overall.

A bit of fluff; for those that like it:
Brother Ludo:

Brother Ludo hails from the Iron Souls, a Chapter of Astartes who maintain strong links with the Mechanicus. It is considered a great honour to be chosen for Techaspirancy among the Iron Souls, and brethren are often granted artificer-enhanced armour from the chapter's Forges in order to stand them in good stead for their holy training.

Ludo is wearing heavily modified Mark VI armour, with a Mark V 'Codex' helmet that has received various enhancements, including a decorative reinforced mandible plate that covers his breath grill and necessitates an internal vocaliser link. It also incorporates a extraspeculum – a common range-finding upgrade that requires a bionic eye to integrate properly.

It is clear that his torso and abdomen have taken a heavy pounding in battle; and this will need some remedial work before he repaints his Chapter colours. (i.e. I need to clean up the basic greenstuff work here before he's painted!)

Note the [CLASSIFIED] attached magnetically to his waist-loop. The Iron Souls regard the [CLASSIFIED] as an abomination to the Machine God, and zealously pursue any rumours of their appearance; notably joining the Hubris campaign after unconfirmed [CLASSIFIED] reports of [CLASSIFIED] and sending an honour company to [CLASSIFIED] Mars after the [CLASSIFIED – INQUISITORIAL CLEARANCE REQUIRED][CLASSIFIED] date [CLASSIFIED]

The [CLASSIFIED]operate a complex distortion field on constant phase loop that seems to emit a teleportation field when the [CLASSIFIED] is damaged, generally resulting in the complete dissolution of the [CLASSIFIED]. The trophy Ludo wears therefore has a stasis clamp locked to the forehead, which prevents dissolution. This complex and precious tech-artefact requires substantial power loading; and will strain his backpack's fusion reactor. It does, however, provide a nigh-invulnerable shield to his otherwise vulnerable hipjoint; demonstrating that the Iron Souls favour practicality as well as laudable zeal.

I really like the concept, and those oversized marines look really cool. can you mkae a shot next to a guardsman? just for fun. and an ork and eldar while your at it.

I like the strapped head on the Iron Hands model, gives it a very tech-y look, strangely enough. It looks like the GS cog teeth on the torso of the other could use just a little clean up, though.

dude, those are sweet, they're like real sized marines, awesome!!