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.

The Collectors are going to be a heavily converted CSM chapter where each model will have alot of time spent on it so that the army looks as good as I can possibly make it. I will try to game with the army but it will be prodominantly a modelling and painting project to anything that looks good will be included over what works well. the main reason for this army is because I am moving to Vietnam for a year therefore I need something that is going to take me a long time as I wont have access to new model over there. anyway the fluff.


The Collectors aren't an official Chapter of Space Marines. They don't fight under the banner of the Imperium or the Legions of Chaos. Instead they fight for one man. the man who created them...Varlack Creed. Of the origins of Varlack Creed little is known other than he was an extraordinarily gifted genetic scientist who had fallen under the suspicion of the Inquisition in the year 125 M.42, until he disappeared assumed lost on remote Hive World, Drachus. What experiments he conducted in the human Genome and the possibilities for adapatation whilst there have remained unverified; however 20 years after his disappearence news of a Horde of genetically enhanced gangs emerged. Led by a man known only as the Sequencer, these gangs had begun systematically gaining control of the hive world and enslaving it's populace in the name of 'research'.

When news of these atrocities reached the Inquisition they initially deemed the uprising the problem of the local milita as hive world tyrants were not uncommon and were kept under control by other gangs. However when the gangs began overwhelming the worlds militia's and syphoning off it's industrial energy and wealth the inquisition was forced to act. The 108th Cadian Regiment was deployed to restore order to the planet and capture dead or alive the man known as The Sequencer. Within 19 days of the Regiment making planet fall they had activated a distress becon. They reported being overwhelmed by gangs who fought with unusual speed and ferocity using lighting hit and run tactics. The confused and distorted communications being recieved spoke of squads been deliberately led into ambushes and captured alive.

When the Fleet commander recieved the distress call he relayed the transmittion to high command. A request was immediately made to the Imperial Fist Space Marines. They had recently been called upon to supress an ork uprising in a near by sector of space and were the nearest Chapter when the transmittion was arrived. The Company Commander of the Imperial Fists surveyed the reports being recieved and immediately ordered a full tactical deployment of the company.

The hive was reduced to ruins. The gangs although stronger and quicker than an average humans were no match for the elite space marines. However the man known as the Sequencer was never found. The world was quickly brought back under the control of the Emperor and the marines left the world to the Imperial administrators. One of these administrators was Prusius Hode, he conducted a post intervention study of the Imperial Fist deployment and made some alarming discoveries. The gangs had repeatedly attempted to capture Imperial fist combat squads alive despite appalling losses to themselves. This made no apparent sense. The imperial Fist's denied the gangs were ever successful however Prucius discovered in a restricted access file that on one occasion a squad had been captured and more alarmingly never retrieved.

battle analysis indicated that soon after the squad were captured the gangs methods had changed leading to devastating losses and subsequent annihilation. Prucius studied the origins of the war and the man known as the Sequencer, the more he discovered the more he became filled with a sense of horror and foreboding. The gangs had timed their push for absolute power of the world almost exactly as the Imperial Fist Space Marines had arrived in the local sector of space. More alarmingly no squad within the 108th Cadian Regiment could be found that had activated or sent the distress becon. There could only be one conclusion.The Sequencer had wanted the Space Marines to arrive and crush the rebellion. The entire uprising had been orchestrated by one man to provide the perfect bait. For the sake of capturing five Space Marines he had sacrificed 20 years and 10 million lives. This was a most diabolical intelligence.....

Unbeknown to the Imperium Varlack Creed conducted countless experiments upon the marines he had captured, utilising the Marines ability to survive and recover from trauma to prolonge his research into decades. Eventually after years of research he isolated the one thing he had been looking for, the Space Marine gene-seed and how to reproduce it. Varlack Creed offered the gene-seed to the remaining members of his gang. Most died in agony as their adult bodies rejected the gene-seed but some didn't; some survived. Using these individuals Creed discovered the means of implanting the gene-seed successfully in an adult body and preventing the bodies own immune system from causing complete internal organ failure. Now he was finally ready to achieve the pinnacal of his research and become a Space Marine. After his ascension Varlack realised being a Space Marine was more than just the body. It was the armour that inspired fear and awe. Using his old hive networks he sent out a transmittion.

Any man who could kill a Space Marine and deliver the head, body and armour to Creeds Ship, the Locus, would be turned into a Space Marine.

This was an offer that was unique in the history of the Mankind. A chance to become one of the greatest warriors mankind has ever produced. The most ruthless, cunning and powerful members of gangs, cults, tribes and societies all over the galaxy began scheming of ways to capture one of the Emperor's elite. However capturing a Space Marine is not easy, as Varlack himself had discovered. This ruthless selection policy much like evolution itself ensured that only the best and most deadly killers arrived to collect the rewards for their ingenuity. And so Varlacks army grew. Each new warrior was implanted with the gene-seed, the face of the dead marine was fused to the shoulder pad of their old armour to serve as a warning and a reminder. The armour was painted black and the Chapter symbol bound in chains to symbolise the future that awaits all who oppose the Collectors.

Despite the Imperiums greatest minds endevouring to track down Varlack Creed he appears to possess a singular level of intelligence. A true genius he is able to always remain one step ahead and spins numerous webs of misdirection. Fake distress becons, lightning raids on already engaged forces and inter space boarding actions have all been used by Creed to expand his ever growing army. For the first time in their history the Space Marines have something to fear.....capture by the Sequencer.
And here is the first member of the Collectors. I hope you enjoy.

Thanks alot for that link Commander Cain I've tried using the techniques and it has improved the image alot but Im still not 100% happy it represents how the models look in real life. I did try having the marines with differet coloured helmets but there were too many colours in the squad so instead each marine has the chapter symbol on their right shoulder pad that has chains painted around it. I will try to get a good picture to show this. I have some more pictures to up load later.

Thanks for the advice Perkustin I will check those out. I have mainly been using body parts from the zombie kit and painting chains on the marine transers.

Here is the photo shopped picture of the Collector.

More Angles.

Ok so I have finally managed to sort out the image quality after taking some photos on the rarest of events in England...a sunny day. You can see more clearly the chains on the shoulder pad chapter symbol that will be used to show which Chapter the marines armour used to belong to. You can also see more clearly the dead marines face on the opposite pad. As am using the space marine range of minatures it is only going to be the shoulder pads and various bodies and posed that will reveal that the army isnt an imperial army.

I have finished a combat squad of tactical marines. They have all been converted and posed to show a more assault minded squad than the standard leg spread marine pose. The sergents banner was painted free hand based on an angel found on the internet and shows him in chains. I hope you enjoy the improved madels and any suggests are welcome. Thanks.

I have been painting the armour using mythril silver to provide highlights and signs of damage. The first squad member was designed to look like he was slicing the throat of a civilian and was a tester to set the theme for the army. I wanted them to look like ruthless killers who tower above regular humans. The civilian was made using parts from the zombie kit which have been used to add body parts to all of the squad.

The second marine is in a more open pose and is shouting his bolter one handed at close range. This model still needs the transfer to be applied.

The third marine is designed to be advancing on an enemy with his combat knife drawn. This require some simple re-posing of the marine at the wrists and helps make the squad look more combat based.

The forth marine was modelled to look like he is running and the legs were cut and re-modelled to show this. He has severed heads tied to his belt to show the nature of the marines as killers and trophy collectors.

The Squad leader was modelled as if he was leaping from a rock to attack an enemy position whilst firing his pistol. He was reposed at most joints and the head is from the rhino kit. I debated not using the banner but then decided it was too good an oppotunity to try some free hand painting. Whilst Im not delighted with it im happy for a first try.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Squad shot so far.

Yeah Scarper the dead faces on the shoulder represents the face of the marine the recruit had to provide to become a space marine. The other shoulder has the chapter symbol of the dead marine still on it and represents the chapter the marine belonged to before he was killed. The symbol has chains painted around it and the marines have different chapter symbols based on which marine they killed. The chains dont come out well on the pictures. I paint them whilst the transfers are still on the sheets and they can still be moved easily. This will be more apparent when I use the same technique for the markings on the Rhino. The Assualt squad will have more marines with the Blood angels symbol.

Thanks for the complements guys I will try to continue the fluff as I add more squads as I have plenty more ideas.

Ok long time between updates, sorry for that but I've moved to Vietnam over the last month so not had much time to paint or Blog. I've managed to finish the tactical squad and Im really happy with how the squad looks overall and they have provided me with some basic troops to experiment with for the theme of my army and the look I want to go for. I like the colours and the scalps on the shoulder pads give the army a chaos theme without looking too over the top. I've never been a fan of the tenticles and horns on the chaos models and I want my army to at first look like a marine army and only when you look closer do yolu realise its a chaos army. Below are some picures of the other combat squad and a group shot. C&C appreciated.

I have started work converting Varlack Creed and I will post progress picks, Im using the space marine Librarian as the base model. However I cant find super glue in Nam at the minute so progress has been held up. So I started painting something else I brought with me to work on. Heres a clue....

Brother-Captain Scott - Cheers for the positive feedback.

kenshin620 - I have considered more blood and i am tempted to slash some on the marines at a later date but its one of those things where if it looks bad its hard to correct. My Assualt marines will be alot bloodier. One half of the tacticals is supposed to represent a back field unit covering the other so they are less bloody. This squad was definately an experimentation to see if the idea would work. i will be try to make the rest of the army alot more individual and dark.

Fire_for_effect - thanks i'll do my best. The dreadnought is progressing nicely.

Tellis - Thanks I will try to add some fluff everytime I finish a squad or character.

Yggdrasil - Cheers, I've checked out your blog before and see your another Chaos player. Also using the zombie kit for parts, there's so many useful parts in that kit. Thanks alot for your feedback, between you and kenshin you have both made comments that I had already been considering and having doubts about. I want to weather the armour more especially the yellow but the few marines I tried the weathering on the helmet on I wasnn't happy with the look. If anyone has any links to a tutorial for weathering yellow it would be appreciated. The silver on the black provides enough weathering I think. The helmetless idea I've been toying with, initially I was going to use the SW models and have the majority of the army helmetless but then I found the marines look more intimidating with their helmets on. Im still not sure which would look better. Maybe the Assualt marines will be helmetless. The mold lines I did try to clean up but they are a pain in the ass and a few times I forgot them. I will make a concerted effort to prep properly for the rest of the army. Cleaning up the new finecast librarian is a nightmare. I will read up on the fluff ideas you have provided, to be honest Im pretty new back to the hobby after a long break and Im not that up on the fluff so I will do some reading and edit my fluff accordingly. keep the advice coming.

Thanks for that link I will try using some browns to weather the yellow as at the moment it is too clean in comparisson to the black. the only problem I have is that Im in vietnam so unless I order direct from GW Im stuck with the models I've brought over here with me. I can always remove the heads at a later date but for now Im stuck with helmets. I'll look out for the books as at the minute alot on my info is just coming from Wiki and various websites and codexs. Made some more progress on the dreadnaught, finished one arm and green stuffed some minor conversions and the body attached to the other arm (previous marine inside the dreadnought). I need some advice about the marine on the base, Im not sure what chapter to paint him as I want something that stands out from the model but at the same time will also complement the black and yellow colour scheme as any other wounded marines will be the same chapter throughout my army. At the moment Im leaning towards a Blood Angel or Dark Angel as I've been using red as my third colour. Suggestions welcome.

Ok here is some more progress on the Dreadnaught. It not far from completion now and its just minor details that need completing. I decided to go for a blood angel marine getting stamped on for the base as the red would go with the red I've been using as a third colour. The marines other arm will be holding a bolt pistol firing up ineffectually at the dread. The power drill arm will get some blood splatter I think and both arms willl have a flamer on them. the banner will again be free hand and will be another image of an angel in chains. I appreciate that the updates aren't much but the finished dread is coming I just thought I would keep you updated.

l33tninj4 - Thanks, most English people here seem to be teaching! On a related note if there is anyone who reads this in vietnam and wants to play 40K then message me on here.

Ok the Dreadnaught is finished!Heres a picture but I'll post more tonight as I have to go to work now so I dont have time to edit them. There will also be background for how the Collectors aquired it. C and C welcome.

Kroak - Thanks alot, its a great kit to work with.

Yggdrasil - Cheers, I've tried to take a close up of the banner but I think its little blurry, I'll try and take another soon. Its supposed to continue the angels in chains motif that I started on my tactical sergeants banner. Its an angel with his head bowed and his hands thrust forward bound in chains. I just google angel drawings and look through the images until I find one suitable. Its surprisingly easy to paint as well.

Ok here are more pictures of my finished Dreadnought. Its heavily inspired by Jack Campbell's Red Scorpions Dreadnought. I loved the pose when I saw it and knew I had to recreate it for my army. The model combines the venerable and Ironclad kits and I will be using the remaining parts to build another dread in the future. The kits are both amazing for parts and made paint the model really easy. I was worried that I would have to cover or remove alot of Loyalist marine iconography buy it wasnt a problem as alot of the imperial stuff was optional. The body attached to the left arm is supposed to represent the previous Marine occupant of the dread (Yanaris). I added blood to the power drill but Im not to sure about it. Im really happy with how the blood angel came out and it almost made me wish I'd used red as my second colour its so much easier to work with than yellow!

Overall Im pleased with how its turned out. Any critique's or questions about how I did things are welcome. next for the force should be the Assault squad but the desire to start Varlack is almost overwhelming. I dont want to finish all my good stuff first though! The usual problem.

Here is the background story for how the Collectors aquired the Dreadnought. Like I said previously Im not perfect in my 40K fluff so bear with me. Any advice will be adapted into an editted story, I'm sure Yggdrasil will have some useful advice. Below that are the pictures so if your not interested in the fluff then just scroll down. Thanks.

The dark silhouettes of his marines could just be made out in the dim light of the Thunderhawk Gunship. Their combat readiness and the palpable feeling of barely restrained anticipation filled him with confidence and pride. The image took on a red hue as the landing lights kicked in and the unit instantly began last minute weapons checks. These men were hardened survivors, he didn't envy the poor souls they were desending upon. His harsh gaze travelled along the rows, until it settled upon the grizzled features of Grishnor. Their eye locked and a barely perceptable nod was exchanged before Grishnor drew his helmet down replacing his individuality with the remorsless uniformity of the space marine. Grishnor had been with him in every major engagement that he had fought. They'd been together from the begining. A barely parceptible jolt as the craft touched down and the landing doors were flung open. The marines charged through the opening and he rose to follow. The shocked and astounded look on the Head Imperial Liason's face as Kishnor's power axe descended in a bone shattering arch brought a savage grin to his face. The rest of his Marines tore into the remaining members of the welcoming commity dispatching them with point blank bolter fire and harsh steel by the more blood thirsty of his followers. Varlack surveyed the landing pad and the twenty corpses now being looted and dragged away by his men with satisfaction. Not the Marines they were expecting.......

++++++++++

Brother Yanaris stirred within the cryorganic web of his sarcophagus. Impulses surged through the electro-fibre implants connected to his remaining flesh and into the huge armoured shell that had become his tomb and his salvation. The piston and advanced auto balancing motors hissed into action as he guided the huge bulk of his dreadnought from the statis room where he resided in an artificially enduced state of unconciousness between battles. Checking the onboard database linked to his cranial nanochip Yanaris processed recent communications and was startled by the date. He had only been in cryo sleep for 42 days following the Companies minor deployment in Segmentum Solar Sector of the Galaxy. There shouldn't have been any enemies this soon into the return trip powerful enough to require his intervention.The fact that he had been wakened indicated his brothers had encountered an enemy they had previously been unaware of. Running diagnostic checks and instantly streaming data Yanaris prayed it wasn't Tyranids this far within imperial space. They could ill afford the resources necessary to prevent planetary infestation. Yanaris repressed the urge to remember the feeling as the huge talon had scythed down neatly severing both his legs at the thighs. His brother assault marines had charged the creature at huge personal cost as he'd lain helpless feeling his life blood pumping out and making his peace with the Emperor. Only to wake, encased in something new.
As he continued to review transmittions and traverse the huge Ship towards the drop pod bays he recieved a transmittion from Commander Ishrial.
"A Gunship was deployed to liase with the local Imperial Command on Indor XI 3 hours ago. It was believed; through our intel and previous communications that this was to be a show of force for the Imperial Command. To demonstrate their ability to request Blood Angel aid when necessary. This was to be in exchange for intel on cultists thought to be opperating within the system. A Gunship transported a small detachment of 3 tactical squads to the rendevous point to perfunctionarily complete our part of the deal. Upon deploying from the Gunship they were ambushed and slaughtered almost to the last man. Some survivors have been tracked using implants and communications relayed from the remaining Sergeants."
"The enemy force Commander? Who would dare our wrath?" intoned Yanaris through his inbuilt coms relay.
"Initial reports suggest the ambush was expertly set up and our brothers were attacked by fellow marines..."
'Impossible, there have been no reports of activity by the Traitor Legions in this sector for centuries.' reasoned Yanaris.
"I am aware of this Brother. We have fought together a long time, it was for this reason you were awakened. I want you to spearhead the drop pod relief force and determine the enemy we are faced with here. Outfit yourself with Ironclad weapons systems. Some of our brothers have been taken within a Level III grade Currency transportation Vessel and our Assault teams doubt their ability to penertrate the defences." ordered Commander Ishrial.
"I would be honored to liberate and avenge our Brothers. I am arriving at the Drop Pods now." stated Yanaris.
"Good. Three Assault Sqauds will be accompanying you in the initial deployment. With you providing the spear point. This should be more than enough to irradicate these heritics and rescue our Brothers"
"Commander, has it occured to you that this could be the work of Var..."
"Yes it has. Dead or alive. It matters not to the Emperor or Lord Dante." interupted Commander Ishrial with finality.

++++++++++

Checking the chamber of his Bolter, Jungen, 3rd member of 4th Tactical Squad in the 3rd Company of the Blood Angels, again cursed the lack of ammunition he had remaining. The liason had been an ambush. The squads had deployed from the Thunderhawk in a standard pattern for Imperial formalities. No adverse communications had been recieved prior to the meeting to suggest there was any cause for caution. His first feelings of unease had arisen when he observed his sergeant striding towards the assembled Imperial delegation and he'd noticed a slight blood stain on the cloak of one of the welcoming committee. Jungen had quickly scanned the faces and uniforms of the other members of the delegation. Ill fitting uniforms, incorrect posture, excess sweating; something wasn't right. The leader of the delegation didn't appear to know the protocol for welcoming Space Marines and the sweat was now coarsing down his face. He was whispering something over and over again like a silent beidiction. Jungen saw that the Sergeant had also detected something was amis as he had ceased his advance and was scanning the surrounding buildings. Jungen saw movement and turned to shout a warning to his squad.
'Incom....' Shouted a Brother Blood Angel.
The ground rose to meet him as he was flung forwards by the force of the blast. Jungen struggled to find a frame of reference as he fought to regain his feet amid scenes of carnage. He turned to see the Gunship a blazing wreck and Brother Marines spilling out ensheathed in flames. May the Emperor preserve them, they hadn't deployed in time.
"Four missle's came from that building. We need to advance, we're too exposed out here." came the calm and clinical voice of Seargent Khan over the comms. Bolter fire was taking a heavy toll on the Marines caught on the landing pad but already their superhuman training and psychology had kicked in. Blood Angels didn't retreat. The squads surged forward as one, lashing suppressing fire into the surrounding builds as they neared the landing pad exit. Jungen felt rounds pattering off his armour like hail and felt the black rage rising. He barred his teeth and sprinted for the open cargo bay. As they had entered the bay they were met by a devestating fullisade of close range bolter fire and then were amongst the enemy fighting up close and personal with Space Marines wearing black power armour decorated with various trophy body parts. A huge Marine armed with a power axe decapited a Blood Angel next to Jungen spraying him with arterial blood. His vision was distorted and he was grabbed forcefully by an iron grip and dragged into an adjourning corridor.
"Well that wasn't quite the welcome we were promised." stated Hargon with his usual sardonic drawl.
"We need to find a defendable position and dig in to await drop support." gasped Jungen.
"Yeah I gathered." muttered Hargon.
So here they were running out of ammunition and barely preventing these relentless marines from over running their position. There were only four of them left and it wasn't looking promising.
"And the Angels decend." observed Hargon with grim satisfaction in his voice.
Jungen looked skyward to see a drop pod screaming through the low atmospheric fog and slam into the ground amongst their foes. There was a gout of steam and smoke before the pods arms slammed open and a huge jet of ultra heated chemicals flew from the opening incinerating three enemies unlucky enough to be close. Then the Dreadnought was amongst the enemy. Despite their efforts to avoid the huge flailing arms and their crushing claws the remaining Marines caught in the open were quickly decimated and flung from the landing pad like rag dolls.
"I almost feel sorry for the bastards. They sent Brother Yanaris." grinned Jungan.

++++++++++

Varlack's dust smeared brow furrowed as he observed the casualties being wrought upon his men by the newly arrived dreadnaught through the vaults reinforced windows. His mind worked furiously to consider all possible scenario's and escape strategies. He considered and dismissed numerous options in a matter of heart beats before finally his face broke into a broad grin.
"I knew you wouldn't take long Creed." observed Kishnor returning his grin.
Varlack strode over pushing his sweat soaked grey hair from his eyes. "I need you to open the Vault doors and engage the Drop pod forces until the Dreadnought is commited. No retreat, no mercy."
"I'll lead the counter attack personally." replied Krishnor without hessitation hefting his huge power axe into the air and bellowing orders to his squad.
"Nothing rash, we have what we came for," warned Varlack glancing over at the pile of slaughtered Blood Angles and their stockpile of looted Power Armour. "This is only to provide time for our tactical withdrawal."
"I thought you said no retreat."
"We're the Collectors, we always retreat, only it's called tactical withdrawal." said Varlack with a knowing gleam in his eye. "Now go. But remember I need you so dont engage the Dreadnaught directly."
Varlack watched Kishnor assemble his squad infront of the huge adamantine vault door before giving the signal to acivate the release. Grishnor bellowed a war cry that could be heard even through his helmet and charged into the unsuspecting Assualt troopers. Varlack's raptor gaze tracked Grishnor's progress as he hacked and slashed his way through the onrushing marines seeking to reach their yellow helmeted sergeant. The two combatants clashed together, trading huge blows that rocked each other without managing to penatrate the otheres guard. They circled each other warily, begrudging respect causing each to gauge their opponent carefully. Grishnor surged forward with unexpected speed given his huge bulk but the Blood Angel Seargent raised his power sword to block the sweep of Grishnors Axe and aimed a lightning fast riposte that shattered through the right eye socket of Grishnor's helmet and continued on to score a ragged line across the side. Grishnor circled away clearly dazed by the blow. Varlack felt a pang of concern for his champion and took an instinctive step towards the doors. Grishnor threw away his pistol and gripping his Power Axe two handed he bulled into the Blood Angel knocking aside his desperate thrust with his sword and brought his Axe down with devestating force into the gap between the Sergeants shoulder pad and neck armour. The axe almost passed clean through the Blood Angel's torso leaving smoldering armour and exposed flesh. Leaving it embeded Grishnor leaned back and raising his fists to the air and unleashed a savage victory roar. Varlack was reminded of how he had discovered Grishnor in the first place; fighting in the underground pit matches back on Drachus where Grishnor had become infamous for his blood thirsty victorys. Varlack felt a wave of relief wash over him and began to turn. Suddenly a wave of blinding light followed by a gust of super heated air washed over him pushing Varlack to his knees. He looked up but was blinded by the after effects of the blast. When his vision finally cleared there was no sign of Grishnor or any of the other combatants that had been contesting the vault doorway. A groan to his left inexorably drew Varlacks attention. Grishnor lay just within the vault doors, it was a wonder his was still alive looking at the damage wrought to his armour. His legs had been blown off at the knee caps and his right arm was a bloody stump, his armour was cracked and blasted across almost its entire surface. Varlack staggered over and pulled the helmet from Grishnor's head revealing the crimson gash where Grishnor's right eye used to be.
"Activated a melta bomb......always were crazy the Blood Angels." gargled Grishnor as he attempted to life his head before allowing it to drop back to the floor.
"Stay there. Your not finished yet. Although you should be." whispered Varlack rising to his feet and shouting orders to the Collectors nearest to him.

++++++++++

Yanaris could feel the battle turning. They had taken casualties but the Collectors had been forced back all the way to the Vault doors. The bolter fire directed at him barely registered as it pattered of his thick steel hull whilst he surveyed the scene. He had thought this might be the work of the twisted genius Varlack Creed, the so called Sequencer and the sight of his yellow and black armoured 'space marine' abominations only confirmed it. Yanaris's tracking systems scanned the doorway and zeroed in on a figure stood in the vault doorway. The figure was encased in Terminator Armour and stood unmoving in the blowing wind rushing into the vault. His long grey hair whipped across his face obscuring his feature's monentarily, offering Yanaris tantalising glimps of his face. Is this him? Yanaris felt a tremor of unease. As if just to look at the man brought a primal fear buried deep within one's own DNA to the surface. The fear of the predator. The moment passedalmost instantly as Yanaris reasserted his iron self control honed through years in the heat of battle.
"I need not fear this man when the Emperor walks with me." intoned Yanaris as he brought the Dreadnoughts huge frame around to face the figure and willed the legs into motion building up speed for the charge. The flamers attached to each giant fist were triggered with a thought causing gouts of superheated chemicals to race towards the standing figure. He should have been incinerated. Yanaris's world appeared to slow to a series of instants as the flames seemed to roil around the motionless figure causing his features to be lit by the red and yellow flames as they rushed past. They gave his gaze an almost demon cast and the motion of the flickering lights appeared to twist and alter his visage even as Yanaris looked. He continued his charge, intending to pulverise the figure under the four ton weight of his machine.
Suddenly inexplicably his forward momentum was halted as he was smashed from above by a collosal force that sent him pitching to his knees as the ceramite of his artifical body attempted to take the strain. What had struck him? In all his years fighting nothing had delivered such a blow. Yanaris attempted to straighten but the pistons in his legs were unable to provide enough force to lift whatever pinned him. He raised his Power fist to the obstruction and cleanched the mechanism, expecting to feel the material crumple like paper only to find nothing happended.
'Its Adamantin. You wont be able to crush it.' Spoke a voice from infront of him, in a matter of fact tone.
Yanaris twisted his head within the Sarcophagus in order to try to see the figure but all he could see were the ceramite plasteel encased feet of the figure. Yanaris heard the decompression valve being activated at the rear of his armour and the pneumatic pipes and pistons being severed at his joints. He realised that he was trapped helpless under the immense weight of the vault doors. He had been lured into a deadly enticement. He could hear the crack and rattle of bolter fire increase dramatically through the gap in the door and with a sinking heart realised his Brothers were being slaughtered by a carefully held reserve force of Collectors. His Sarcophagus was brutally torn open for the first time in nine centuries. Yanaris blinked in an attempt to clear the tears from his eyes as they tried to adjust to natural light for the first time in so long. Through blurred vision Yanaris watched helplessly as the figure approached and casually raised a foot before bringing it down on his head. Then there was darkness.

++++++++++

Yanaris awoke confused and disorientated. He attempted to raise his head but his nervous system had beome so dependant upon the electro fibre inplants that he was unable to move his own flesh. A strangely cold hand grasped his jaw and slowly raised his head and Yanaris looked into the cold pityless eyes of the Sequencer.
"I thought I was going to have to commence without the pleasure of your company....Brother." rasped Varlack.
'Brother? You and your band of abominations are a blight on humanity.' spat Yanaris.
"It's a shame we can't discuss the pro's and cons of your flawed arguement but Grishnor over here has need of your cybernetic life support systems."
Yanaris's eyes flicked to a huge warrior with crippling injuries lying on an operating table infront of him. His eyes then moved up from the warrior to his own body and he could see that he had been exposed completely from his Sarcophagus. His pale wasted flesh was raised in respose to feeling cold air for the first time in centuries, his eyes continued to rise until they once again looked into the cold lifeless gaze of Varlack Creed.
"Im not sure if you can still feel pain but I do intend to find out. Purely for research purposes you understand. Oh and Grishnor here, has need of one of your eyes." Varlack informed him in a clinical detached manner.
Yanaris then watched powerless as the surgical knife mercilessly approached his right eye. He began to scream within his mind as the knife reached his eye and began to cut. The last thing he saw was a flicker of life finally sparkle in the eyes of Varlack Creed.

baneofmorgoth - Cheers mate, I personally prefer the SM models to the CSM ones but glad your getting the inspiration. All the models I've made use only the SM battel force and Zombie box set. Its great for adding body parts to your marines.

I resisted the tempation to start Varlack Creed and have instead been working on my Assault squad. I wanted these to look dynamic and look like they are the first wave of my force that decend and slaughter civilians. I've again used the zombie kit to build a civilian. The main problem I've had is trying to make the model look like a 40K civilian rather than a zombie! I added grenades and a badge and also green stuffed a nose and covered the lower teeth to made the face look more human. Im not entirely happy with it but I've learnt alot for the next model. I also painted stubble on the face and added a tattoo to add more realism to the civilian. Any advice people can think of to make the model look more 40K for the future would be appreciated. As for the marine himself I've kept the standard scheme with some more red in places. The pose was relatively easy to produce and just involved cutting into the zombie shoulder with a hobbie knife then gluing the chainsword carefully in once the model has been painted. It balances naturally but i can imagine it will be a nightmre to transport and play with!

Im pleased with how it looks and hopefully a squad of these will look suitably threatening. Next I willl be working on the rest of this squad.
Here are the pictures, C and C welcome.

Lunahound - Well it is halloween soon. Its the reason I left them all helmeted rather than using spacewolves and having them look like just barbarian SM. I think not seeing their faces makes them look more menacing.

King Pariah - Thanks alot, Im glad people are liking the fluff, I wanted to keep it going but it wasnt getting much reaction for a while.

Weetyskemian44 - Haha, thanks for pointing that typo out its adds a whole new dimension to their relationship! i've edited it out now. The fluff will continue and Im looking forward to writing Varlacks entry as it will expand on his background. Yeah its the look I had to go for eventually just a dirty civillian (maybe ill). The other zombie heads aren't as bed. I wish I had more spare marine bodies to use so they could all be fighting blood angels. I did consider removing the Purity seals for that reason but it seemed like alot of work. Maybe I will go back and remove them at a later date.

Radiation - Thanks for the feedback. I think Im going to stick with the helmets, I was toying with the idea of having some assault marines helmetless but I've now decided against it.

Here is the next assault marine in pieces ready to start painting. I always paint my marines in separate pieces before assembling them at the end. This marine will be landing on the legs of a fleeing civillian whilst de-capitating him with his axe (hopefully).

Alright update, I've finished another Assault marine and I think it may be my favourite model to date. I've tried to pose the marine as if he is landing on a civillian and breaking his leg whilst at the same time de-capitating him with his power axe. I bent the zombies legs and green stuffed sleaves on to try to reduce the strange proportions of the zombies. I tried a lightening effect on the power axe that I will also do on the power fist for the sergeant. The pose took a while to get balnaced but i currently balances without any added weights. It is however very fragile! Unfortunately by the time I've finished it here in Vietnam the light has gone so I couldn't get good picture so I'll post a preview and post better pics tomorrow.
C & C welcome guys.

Here are better pics of the Assault marine, Hope you like them.

Dajobe - Thanks, glad you like them.

baneofmorgoth - Its just a case of balancing the model when posing them. The civillian is posed as close to the front of the base as possible to counter balance the marine behind him. However I think when I start gaming with the army I might glue something under the base for added stability. Cheers for the positive feedback!

Nira - More fluff will be coming dont worry. I intend to write fluff everytime I finish a squad or character. So the Assault squad will get a story, not sure whether to write a battle for them or a story of how each member joined the Collectors. Which do you think? The Tyranids were just to provide a back story of how he lost his legs, but yeah the Blood Angels defeated them. However my regular opponent is a Nids player so I will be writing more Nid stuff in the future as Varlack is very 'interested' in the genetic possibilities of the Tyranids....

Nira - I agree I think I'll do a battle involving the squad. At the moment I'm leaning towards Dark Eldar but don't worry the Tyranids will be back but I have plans for them in the future. Im glad you like the fluff it's fun to write.

I've finished another Assault marine, this one isn't killing anyone as I thought it would be too much to have every member of the squad killing a civillian at the exact same time so some members will be simply running. He's posed quite similarly to my Tactical sergeant but I do like the pose so it doesn't bother me too much. I've tried to add some accessories to dempnstrate movement and speed like the banner streaming from his jump pack. I've also included a group shot so far. Next up is the squad sergeant with a power fist.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Looking at the photos I might add a body part to the base to help tie him into the rest of the squad. What do you think?

Mr Merlin - Thanks alot for those comments they mean alot Im glad you like the marines. Just shows what you can do with just a few small conversions. I've looked at your orks before and been really impressed with the painting and really characterful conversions. I think we both like to make each model a mini diorama.

Its been a long time since my last post. RL has taken oveer a bit and I've been busy settling into life in Vietnam. However I have a week off so I'm going to be painting and (hopefully) finishing my Assault squad. Here is the finished Seargent with a power fist. I did toy with the idea of having him crushing the head of a civ with his power fist but bottled it and ended up with the standard pointing pose that all power fist armoured marines in the galaxy have. I tried to add a lightening effect to the powerfist but im not sure it comes across well in photos. Im fairly happy with it but its difficult to get yellow lightening to stand out on a yellow background. The last marine will be getting converted today and he will be dispatching another helpless civillian/zombie. Its hard for me to post WIP pics becuase I usually paint my models before gluing them so WIP pics arent that inspiring but let me know if you are interested. C and C welcome as usual.

The green stuff work has been finished for the final Assault marine. The unlucky civillian is catching something and Im fairly sure its gonna hurt....Im slightly worried about balance issues for this one but hopefully it will work. I may also try OSL for the first time. I will get some painting done today and after that its onto the man himself, Varlack. WIP pics.

Baneofmorgoth - Thanks mate, Im happy with how the army is going. I hadn't thought of that but now you mention it I will definately have to have a marine taking a scalp. Thanks for the idea.

Lots of photos today! I've finished the final Assault marine and hes one of my favourite models so far. Boom Headshot! The conversion work as mainly repositioning on the marine and green stuff on the civillian. The main challenge was gluing the model in place. It required a penny glued under the base to stabalise the model and it will be a nightmare to transport and play with but hey, its supposed to be a show army! I tried to paint an OSL effect from the plasma shot but im not sure i made it bright enough or that it comes across well on the photos.
I have included a squad shot of the Assault Marines and i think they look really dynamic as a unit. The 'flying marine' stands ouot a littel but when I expand the squad to 10 in the future I will model some other marines in similar flying poses. They are all fragile but I think it was worth it for the poses.
Finally I took an army shot so far. I always enjoy seeing other peoples army shots as the army expands so I thought I'd take one. The army looks cohesive but the units still stand out individually which im really happy with.
All this expedition needs is a leader.........

Rogue Wolves - Thanks they look like I imagined which doesn't happen very often. I hope the leader turns out as good for my next conversion.

Tarar2d2 - Haha thanks, I got the inspiration from the golden deamon entry with the skeleton getting shot. it was surprisingly easy to convert as I had alot of half heads from the scalps for the shoulder pads.

Ovion - Unstable isn't the word mate! these will be a nightmare to play with! Luckily im stuck here in Vietnam for the next year so I wont be playing. I have stuck coins under the bases which does help but the last one is definately the least stable, U need to position the civillian as far to the edge of the base as possible to try to counter balance the marine. Im glad you like the models.

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback it really does help and motivate me to try new things. Im trying to write some fluff for the assault marines but its not flowing at the minute. I will also start work on varlack and post WIP pics as I think Im going to need some advice. Cheers.

Veteran Sergeant - Thanks for the advice I will try something heavier when I find something suitable. Thanks for the positive comments as well.
I've started work converting Varlack Creed. Im using the Librarian model as the base as I've always really liked the model and the pose. First off I had to clean up the finecast model. there was alot of flash and due to the large amount of fine detail alot of miscasts. I had to scrape off all the imperial iconography and remove the head which would have been alot harder with metal so there are pro's and cons. I just hope they fine tune the process in the future. Im using the head from the Necromancer, as soon as I saw the model I knew the head was perfect. I've then used the sleaves ffrom the model as the base for his cape wich is going to be made of chains. They will be glued over the sleave so that it cant be seem. Im not sure about the staff at the minute. I've used an avatar hand surrounded but zombie hands which will have chains added as well. What do you think of it? Im limited for parts but any suggestions are welcome. Ive also used the staff head on the book to add more skulls. The base has a dead Blood angel on it and wil prob have severe burn damage. It would have been good to make him more like a scientist with Tech marine parts and biaonic arms but I dont have the model. SO what are your thoughts~?

Lord Dreden - Thanks that the look I was going for, over running a civillian out post with spacemarines getting killed defending them.

Forruner Mercy - Thanks, it came out better then I thought it would, the OSL doesnt come out well on the photo.

Mr Merlin- Cheers mate.

Ok so I've not had much time to paint over xmas but finally got a chance to start painting Varlack. Doing him slow and steady so painted the bottom half first to get the colours right. Im not sure about the yellow tabard what do you think? Im hoping that once the rest is painted and the arm added the black will make him look alot less yellow. I also have decided to add a face to the shoulder pad which I wasnt going to do. Hope you like it sorry its not much but just wanted to show im still alive!

Ok so that was at the start of today and this is how he looks at the end. Im really happy with how his face has turned out. I tried to be as detailed as possible and the necromancer head is really well sculpted so it gives a very natural evil expression. I think its definately the best face I've painted. I've added a stripe to the tabard and considered a more elaborate border but bottled out. A few things need minor touching up but otherwise the bottom half is finished. Just base coated the top half really but I'll hopefully get a chance to do more this week. Hope you like it.

LostSoulCasey'sLaw - Thanks mate, I wasn't planning on doing cultists to be honest I want a more elitist army where you can only get in if you have the armour. I really like your nids by the way.

Sorry for the long time with no updates but I can promise you all I have finished Varlack.....unfortunately my girlfriend has taken my camera. However I do now have a week whilst shes away to work on something else. The options are

1) 5 man Tactical squad (alll will be converted not sure how)
2) 2nd Dreadnought
3) Rhino

So which would you like me to work on next?

Shredsmore - Thanks I'm glad you like them

Lostsoul - I will definately go the elite route just to avoid painting hordes! Im a slow painter. My other army is Eldar so they are elite as well. I might do the tacticals but I want to convert them so maybe I will try to make obliterators instead with the models,

Fury - I'll keep working at my slow ass pace dont worry but Im worried Im going to run out of models.

recycledgenius - Thanks for the praise it makes it easier to keep painting in this heat over here its getting hard to motivate myself.

Pie_vendor - The Zombie kit is amazing, if I ever collect a Warhammer army it will be undead.

Lost Soul - I will try to do WIP pics in future.

Ok after a long wait there will finally be some updates. Here are the first pics of my new Dreadnought. He's going to have his head left visible so that its clear there is a man inside the machine. As you can see he's also found an unfortunate friend who will be getting squeezed. Not got much more done but there will be pics of Varlack tomorrow finished at last! And I'm also working on some fluff for him as well.

Cheers guys I'm looking forward to getting started on this one.

Finally finished Varlack Creed, scourge of the galaxy. The famed and illusive leader of the Collectors. I will add more fluff soon but for now here are the pics. Painting this model has been hard work. The finecast mis casts make painting frustrating at times when the surface isn't smooth. Also I didn't have a good enough idea of what colour scheme I wanted when I started. Im fairly happy with how the colours have turned out but maybe there is too much red? What do you think? Im not happy with pretty much the entire right arm. The staff end was made using the avatar hand and hands from the zombie kit. There will be a back story for it but I think it might be too big? Im limitted for parts but I might try to change it at some point. Im not sure whether to have the trophy rack on top so I've taken some photos without what do you think? I might add some free hand on the armour covering his stomach. Do you think the marine on the base detracts from the model too much? Im worried it adds too much red. The cloak of chains was made simply using a cheap necklace from ebay.

Overall Im happy to get it finished. We've all had the model that we've looked forward to painting but then it takes longer and longer because you want it to be perfect and the little details become annoying to the point you just want it finished. If I end up re-doing Varlack I might have techmarine servator arms fanning out behind Varlack in the shape of angels wings. I would have also liked to make him look more of a scientist using vials from the DE range. Anyway enough from me heres the model what do you think?