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.

Hi guys!

Some of you may know me from the forums already, while others may have no clue who I am. I am an avid player of Warhammer 40,000 and have been since the 2nd edition of the game, well over a decade and a half of playing this wonderful game and enjoying all aspects of the hobby. I’ve collected many armies over my time playing Warhammer 40,000, but the Tiger Claws/Astral Claws have always been a Chapter that held my curiosity. They were rebels and renegades, leading the largest rebellion of Astartes since the Heresy nearly 10,000 years after.

…The path to damnation is paved with good intentions….

Huron and the Astral Claws fought for the Imperium with Honor and Valor for 5,000 years before being cast out due to the greed of Bureaucracy; embracing the corruption of the warp like many of their brothers had done ten millennia before, in order to survive.

The plan for this army has already been laid out and most of the squads have been designed and bitz set aside well in advance. I sold off some of my other armies and put in a massive order to Forgeworld, of which most arrived today. I will be using Codex: Space Marines as the foundation of this army, along with Huron, Valthax, Sumatris and a custom character based off of Sicarius as the 4 different HQs. The army itself is themed around being the 2nd Company of the Astral Claws/ second demi-legion.


Order: with pictures!

THE BOX!


The Box after I peaked and found missing stuff but put it all back in for a pic (Naughty Forgeworld)



MkII Assault Squad, MKIII Iron Armor, MK IV Maximus Armor, MK V Assault Squad, Red Scorpions Tactical Squad Upgrade (10xMK IV Helm/Torso), 2xRed Scorpion Honor Guard (Amazing Bodies/Champion Heads/Weapons, also includes a full command squad boxed set)

1 of Each type of Bolter, Special Character pack, Special weapons pack, Heavy weapons pack, 2xBoarding Assault Upgrade sets, 4xAstral Claws Shoulder Pads, Astral Claws Terminator Shoulder Pads, Astral Claws Transfer Sheet
Huron, Valthax, A 2nd boarding marine.

2x Contemptor Dreadnought (4xKheres, 2xFist, 2xCyclone), Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer Kit (It looks so much cooler)

These items will all be used along with a few hundred bitz I sorted and set aside to be used for the project (Leftovers from other FW orders, boxed sets, things I put away, nearly 20 Backpack Cloaks from the old captains ^.^)

THE FLASHY STUFF (Some of it)




The Army

Below is the army composition, the vehicles are already owned by me so in most cases there will be conversion work required (In the case of my Razorbacks, I am converting them all to have a slightly different feel to them, as if Valthax had done some major customizations). Unfortunately, after receiving Imperial Armour Apocalypse Second Edition I think I may be forced to run one Contemptor as a normal Dreadnought in order to fit my other Land Raider Achilles in (So I have 2) because Mortis take up Heavy Support and normal pattern take up normal slots.

Chapter Master Luft Huron
Captain Corien Sumatris
Armenneus Valthex
Commander Karth (Sicarius rules, converted model)
Command Squad ‘Vengeance’
Command Squad ‘Wrath’
Terminator Squad
Terminator Assault Squad
Tactical Squad ‘Claw’
Tactical Squad ‘Talon’
Tactical Squad ‘Razor’
Vanguard Squad ‘Reaper’
Assault Squad ‘Slayer’
Bike Squad ‘Retribution’
Contemptor Dreadnought ‘Ancient Diomedes’
Contemptor Dreadnought ‘Ancient Hektor’
2xLand Raider Achilles
Land Raider Crusader
Land Raider Redeemer
2xRhino
4xRazorback

Painting

I have already begun to experiment with the ideas of the proper coloring, but I will likely do what I did with my Grey Knights which was simple and effective:

#1. Black Basecoat
#2. Drybrush of chainmail from the top down to create recessed areas of shading on the model.
#3. All of the details are picked out on the model. Thinking a regal blue color for the blue.
#4. Highlighting finely with Mithril Silver
#5. Wash of Badab Black over the armor and most detail enough to dirty it up and take away the majority of the ‘shininess’ and leave just enough to be effective.

Progress

This weekend (After my last mid-terms) the first set of models will be going up as I work on them. I plan to complete a single squad at a time, beginning with my 3 tactical squads. I hope you will all enjoy my progress and be able to offer any critique or advice.

Enjoy!


Be an Astral Claws..or Tiger Claw, you sneaky git!

I’m open to modeling a specific marine as anyone who wants, should they request it; just post what you would like to be and if your forum name wouldn’t fit the lore too well (DoctorStrangeLove69) try to give me a first name or something to identify the trooper. All squads will have roster sheets.

If you want to be a Tactical Marine, I will be working on Tactical Squad ‘Claw’ first.

Tactical Squad 'Claw' are known to be one of the first squads into battle and are a generalist unit armed with a pre-heresy missile launcher, pre-heresy flamer & sergeant with combi-melta and power fist.


Astral Claws Battle-Brothers

Battle Brother Jonus Dodanna of Assault Squad Slayer armed with bad@ss sword and pre-heresy bolt pistol (swampyturtle)


Tactical Squad ‘Claw’

Tactical Squad ‘Claw’ are known as one of the Second Companies pre-eminent Tactical Squads, deployed in virtually any engagement in every theatre of war possible. They are all accomplished Veterans and in regards to marksmanship they are known to be on par with the Firsts Sternguard.


Shot of the full squad (Couple backpacks missing, didn't want to run down to my basement for them)



Missile Launcher with spotter



Shot of the squad from behind




Tactical Squad ‘Razor’

Tactical Squad ‘Razor’ are boarding and siege specialists, each member of the squad an expert at short range firefights. Clad primarily in void hardened Mark III and IV plate and armed exclusively with melta weaponry, the bulkheads of capital ships and bunkers crumple like paper.


Fact is, I use the warp to summon these squads in. The truth is in the picture.



Tactical Squad 'Razor' ready for battle.



Another shot of Razor



Yet another shot of Razor



Back shot of the squad




Mortis Pattern Contemptor:





How I had initially magnetized it:




Ready for battle:




In action:




10/27:

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've BUILT most of the army but Forgeworld still hasn't got the rest of my shoulder pads here.... anyways:


Behold,

Captain Corien Sumatris, The Tyrant's Champion:



Side Shot:



Back Shot:




Another side shot:






Thanks for looking


Plan to update this soon with some new stuff! woohoo!

Are you going to be playing them as a standard SM army, or are you going to use them as a CSM army?

baneofmorgoth wrote:Are you going to be playing them as a standard SM army, or are you going to use them as a CSM army?

I will be using Codex Space Marines. It's meant to be more of an Astral Claws force before/during and right after the Badab War. Not so much chaos corruption or anything.

Hey Zero,

I cant wait to see more, you plan on naming all of them?

Is your colour scheme going to be based on the IA books or the original RT stuff?

If I ever get my Red Corsairs finished it will be awesome to get a game in and some photos.

The past VS. the future

Long live the Tyrant of Badab!

thats an amazing order right there! Im really enjoying the look and the background. consider this subscribed!

Assault Squad ‘Slayer’
^
I'd like to be a part of the assault squad if you can find room. I dont think my username will fit but the name i go by in Dark Heresy may Jonus Dodonna (yes thats a star wars reference)

Styrofoam04 wrote:Hey Zero,

I cant wait to see more, you plan on naming all of them?

Is your colour scheme going to be based on the IA books or the original RT stuff?

If I ever get my Red Corsairs finished it will be awesome to get a game in and some photos.

The past VS. the future

Long live the Tyrant of Badab!

Hey dude,

Yeah, we will have to have a game when we're both done.

I plan to do mostly the IA9 color scheme with some Tiger Claws marines as well, like the old RT.

I also wil name them all yeah, want in Battle-Brother? lol


Automatically Appended Next Post:

swampyturtle wrote:thats an amazing order right there! Im really enjoying the look and the background. consider this subscribed!

Assault Squad ‘Slayer’
^
I'd like to be a part of the assault squad if you can find room. I dont think my username will fit but the name i go by in Dark Heresy may Jonus Dodonna (yes thats a star wars reference)

Sure any preferences on armor (Got all marks available) and weapon loadout? Sgt has power fist & storm shield.

and is it May Jonus Dodanna or just Jonus Dodanna (I got the SW General! Woo)

IdentifyZero wrote:
Automatically Appended Next Post:

swampyturtle wrote:thats an amazing order right there! Im really enjoying the look and the background. consider this subscribed!

Assault Squad ‘Slayer’
^
I'd like to be a part of the assault squad if you can find room. I dont think my username will fit but the name i go by in Dark Heresy may Jonus Dodonna (yes thats a star wars reference)

Sure any preferences on armor (Got all marks available) and weapon loadout? Sgt has power fist & storm shield.

and is it May Jonus Dodanna or just Jonus Dodanna (I got the SW General! Woo)

Just Jonus Dodanna , the may part was a typo when i was typing it out differently.

Ive always had a preference for the Mark 8 "Errant Armour" but if you dont like it in an assault squad the Mark 6 "Corvus Armour" is never a bad choice

Any plasma pistol or bolt + Power sword

swampyturtle wrote:

IdentifyZero wrote:
Automatically Appended Next Post:

swampyturtle wrote:thats an amazing order right there! Im really enjoying the look and the background. consider this subscribed!

Assault Squad ‘Slayer’
^
I'd like to be a part of the assault squad if you can find room. I dont think my username will fit but the name i go by in Dark Heresy may Jonus Dodonna (yes thats a star wars reference)

Sure any preferences on armor (Got all marks available) and weapon loadout? Sgt has power fist & storm shield.

and is it May Jonus Dodanna or just Jonus Dodanna (I got the SW General! Woo)

Just Jonus Dodanna , the may part was a typo when i was typing it out differently.

Ive always had a preference for the Mark 8 "Errant Armour" but if you dont like it in an assault squad the Mark 6 "Corvus Armour" is never a bad choice

Any plasma pistol or bolt + Power sword

Ah my post got deleted somehow after I typed it.

I've got a MK VIII torso, any preference on helm, have every single type from MK 2-7 with bionic and crusader style helms also.

I will give Battle-Brother Jonus Dodanna; a really nice sword (cannot do a power sword for normal assault squad guy, however they will double as vanguard at times so there will be a powered effect!).

No way to put a power sword on a guy in the squad, but I could model a guy with a really cool sword! Some mark8 with a pre-heresy jump pack (Old meets new, think I got at least 1 or 2 torsos somewhere). You want a normal style helmet 2 or something cool, I have mk2-VII with bionic heads and the crusader style heads.

that sounds cool! i think i'll go with the normal style helmet. Whatever works though. I cant wait to see the model!

swampyturtle wrote:

No way to put a power sword on a guy in the squad, but I could model a guy with a really cool sword! Some mark8 with a pre-heresy jump pack (Old meets new, think I got at least 1 or 2 torsos somewhere). You want a normal style helmet 2 or something cool, I have mk2-VII with bionic heads and the crusader style heads.

that sounds cool! i think i'll go with the normal style helmet. Whatever works though. I cant wait to see the model!

I've got a bitz list for your model, might even assemble him ahead of schedule xD

#1. Boarding Assault Mk VII Helmet (Has extra optics and stuff)
#2. Mk VIII 'Errant Armor' Torso
#3. Mk IV 'Maximus Armor' Greaves
#4. Boarding Assault Power Sword
#5. Pre-Heresy Plasma Pistol
#6. Astral Claws Left Shoulder
#7. Studded Right Shoulder
#8. Pre-Heresy Jump pack


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Tactical Squad ‘Claw’

Tactical Squad ‘Claw’ are known as one of the Second Companies pre-eminent Tactical Squads, deployed in virtually any engagement in every theatre of war possible. They are all accomplished Veterans and in regards to marksmanship they are known to be on par with the Firsts Sternguard.


Shot of the full squad (Couple backpacks missing, didn't want to run down to my basement for them)



Missile Launcher with spotter



Shot of the squad from behind

Wow how the heck you got done so fst?

Holy mother of god Forgeworld. I like the mixing of armour marks in your tac squads, if I had the money to do that ...

Looking forward to see what the first painting fairies will bring.

Nice! Can I be the one with the melta and fist, or the ML guy

Styrofoam04 wrote:Nice! Can I be the one with the melta and fist, or the ML guy

You can be Brother-Sergeant Joel, I dub thee so.

The ML & spotter is another nod to you my man. ^.^

that was quick for the first squad! I like the guy in the middle with the bolter and the mixture of armour in the first picture. Keep the updates coming!

Awesome idea. Will be waiting for more stuff

IdentifyZero wrote:

This. This right here is the my favourite thing about the hobby. Just experiencing this sight. Forgeworld can have all of my money for all I care.

e; If it wasn't apparant I will be keeping a very close eye on this thread!

Updates: Tactical Squad Razor is complete

Tactical Squad ‘Razor’

Tactical Squad ‘Razor’ are boarding and siege specialists, each member of the squad an expert at short range firefights. Clad primarily in void hardened Mark III and IV plate and armed exclusively with melta weaponry, the bulkheads of capital ships and bunkers crumple like paper.


Fact is, I use the warp to summon these squads in. The truth is in the picture.



Tactical Squad 'Razor' ready for battle.



Another shot of Razor



Yet another shot of Razor



Back shot of the squad




Enjoy guys

IdentifyZero wrote:Updates: Tactical Squad Razor is complete

Tactical Squad ‘Razor’

Tactical Squad ‘Razor’ are boarding and siege specialists, each member of the squad an expert at short range firefights. Clad primarily in void hardened Mark III and IV plate and armed exclusively with melta weaponry, the bulkheads of capital ships and bunkers crumple like paper.


Fact is, I use the warp to summon these squads in. The truth is in the picture.



Tactical Squad 'Razor' ready for battle.



Another shot of Razor



Yet another shot of Razor



Back shot of the squad




Enjoy guys

Whoaa these are lookin gud man!

Hey all,

I've finished the building of my first Contemptor Dreadnought, I've since ripped off the arm sockets and magnetized them as well and the feet are also magnetized to the base (not shown right now).


All of the parts laid out:




How I had initially magnetized it:




Ready for battle:




In action:

SIIIIIIIIICK. I need to get a Contemptor now.

Literally the best Contemptor config possible. Well done, can't wait for it to get a lick of paint.

Dog. wrote:Literally the best Contemptor config possible. Well done, can't wait for it to get a lick of paint.

Yeah, it was the rumors of this config that sold me on Contemptors and oh my god, scary but true... I cannot wait to paint this bad boy and the other I just finished today. Next week my fists shoudl arrive to (They were on back order)

Joshh wrote:SIIIIIIIIICK. I need to get a Contemptor now.

Chose a good time, the Relic Contemptor just came out along with the Melta and Powerclaw (Has plasma blaster/gravitron gun to go inside the claw)

Hey your building them pretty quick. are you going to build everything then start painting?

The Contemptor looks pretty cool.

I really cant wait to see some paint on them

Get some paint on those bad boys!

Hurrah for Badab!

Fifty wrote:Hurrah for Badab!

I wish there was a Badab War sub-forum for modeling and fluff, it would make finding and sharing Badab War lists, models and ideas a lot easier.

wow that is alot of Forge World... can't wait too see it all painted

Sorry for the lack of updates, I've BUILT most of the army but Forgeworld still hasn't got the rest of my shoulder pads here.... anyways:


Behold,

Captain Corien Sumatris, The Tyrant's Champion:



Side Shot:



Back Shot:




Another side shot:






Thanks for looking


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Nightfall wrote:wow that is alot of Forge World... can't wait too see it all painted

It will be a lot of fun I think, thanks for the encouragement!


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Dog. wrote:

Fifty wrote:Hurrah for Badab!

I wish there was a Badab War sub-forum for modeling and fluff, it would make finding and sharing Badab War lists, models and ideas a lot easier.

That would be really cool, I find myself liking the Badab War more then any other part of 40k save the Heresy itself.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Fifty wrote:Get some paint on those bad boys!

Hurrah for Badab!

Rawr.. paint stuffz... yeah hopefully in the next week or so, maybe sooner if the shoulder pads get here.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Styrofoam04 wrote:Hey your building them pretty quick. are you going to build everything then start painting?

The Contemptor looks pretty cool.

I really cant wait to see some paint on them

Thanks dude, seems the vote is people want to see paint... haha

EPIC!!!!

Limited Edition Boarding Marine? I'd recognize that shield anywhere! What I'm struggling to pin down is the head. Where did that come from? It almost looks like Cato Sicarius' head.