Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Alright, well I have been back in the hobby for about a month now (after a 5 year hiatus). When I came back I said noooooo power armor. So I started with an Elysian/Cadian combined army (found here http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/260340.page if you are interested) and the fluff has expanded from there to add Raven Guard to it. Essentially it is a very specialized strike force (iSOAR - Imperial Strike Operatives Airborne Regiment) that focuses on urban combat (in this case taking a city as quickly and with as little collateral damage as you can, then being able to hold until an occupying force can, well, occupy) and terrorism (including counter-terrorism) led by an Imperial Tactician. All of my armies are heavily kit bashed (so if you want to help out please check out my trade thread found here http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/264275.page), some to the point where I can only buy by the bits and I tend to have to buy what I can when I can. So after wanting to add to RG my iSOAR, I saw where a power armor only forum is doing an annual painting contest (and I have never participated in anything like that) so I decided to jump on it. I went to my local 40k supplier (little over an hour away ) last night and picked up these:



Now I have ideas for around 6-8 small (5ish man) squads: iSOAR RG, Raptors, my own chapter Storm Ravens (more on them in a bit), Iron Hands and Crimson Fists (last resort). Yeah I know that is 3 RG armies, I hear enough about it already (there will be another one at the end ). Seeing as how I like a particular feel to my squads I use multiples of the same part and that is making a very slow process to get my guys together. First I will show you a protoype for my iSOAR RG. They will have mk6 assault legs instead and a jump pack. They will have a power maul (thunder hammer) and tactical shield (storm shield) in the other hand (pic to follow) to represent the riot squad feel.





The only other thing I could make right now was a Storm Ravens guy. Their deal is they are a more primitive version of the RG. Visually that is a mix of RG and SWs. I am a huge fan of Nordic religion and I am having the theme for the army be thunder and lightning (Thor and Odin). I am trying to decide if I want to call them "Odiin's Ravens" (planning on their planet being called Odiin) instead of Storm Ravens. Well without further ado this is my first Storm Raven (just playing with the scheme I still need to clean alot of stuff up and finish highlighting).















I went with pose for a couple a different reasons: 1) I liked to think he is calling down lightning or something cool like that 2) You catch it at the right angle and it has a very "bird opening its wings" look 3) It is very reminiscent of my old RG Captain from early 3rd edition (which had a pair of lightning claws, which I am convinced GW stole off me for Shrike ) I was going for a lightning or lighting up look for the eyes and the runes (first try at anything like that so let me know what you think). I will be trying to convert any wolf skulls to look like bird skulls any time it will come up.

I have something very special planned for the Raptors, but I will not divulge anymore on that until I get the bits and get some pics up. The Iron Hands will be a very basic kit bashing using ther IH parts and all mk8 torsos. The Crimson Fists will lay and wait t be assembled out of anything that is left over from the rest of the guys.

Also here is the test figure of the other RG army I am working (that I mentioned up there).



It is being started with this and planning on doing a super retro theme (to me means, 2 tone bases with no flock, and very simple color schemes but still crisp and all original parts).



Well I hope this has not been to narrative for the start of a WIP thread (did not have enough to show so I had to make up with words, but still wanted to show what I had) and I am very excited about getting this off the ground and running. I want any questions, comments, ideas and opinions. Anything to help me learn or give me fresh ideas. I really hope you enjoyed!

Looks good as a start. Highlights to the black will do wonders for it overall. Also, it looks like he's all "Throw your hands in the air. Wave 'em like you just don't care". That's what I got out of that pose. I prefer Storm Ravens to Odiin's Ravens personally.

SoG

Damn it, he might be raising the roof! Well you pretty much ruined that for me.

Looks good, but I'm not overly fond of the pose on the guy with lightning claws. He looks like he's either just seen an old friend and is going in for a hug, or he's doing a Willem Dafoe in Platoon impression.

Here is a test scheme for my Crimson Fist. I loved it at first but the more and more I look at it, it looks pink and purple. What do you guys think?

While I agree that the Storm Raven's pose isn't a realistic, good for battle pose, I like it. Besides, rule of cool practically runs this setting.

My only suggestion it to paint the beak of the skull itself a different colour than bone. For example, here is an image of a crow skull.


The keratanous sheathe is part of the skull, and a distinctly different colour to the bone. And next to impossible to remove without completely crushing the skull itself (and you'll still have some bone in the tip).

Here is another Storm Raven, a Deathwatch Space Wolf and Irons Hands Sgt.

Here is another Storm Raven and judging by the reaction I had on the last one, this pose will probably be equally as silly to people. I just do not want all my lightning claw guys to be point with both open hands. Oh well, whatcha think?





Here is a prototype for a SW DW Vanguard Vet. Obviously still needs some painting. Most local replies have been, "wow he is wolfy!"





And this is my WIP Sgt for my Iron Hands (which I have made a particular devotion towards). He needs shoulder pads and a dev backpack to be complete. Once I get my orders in, I am going to start up an Iron Hands WIP. I think he is beautiful.



C&C?