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My first WIP thread. It's taken me a while to get round to this, so there's a load of images to start off with.

The list for my Raven Guard is as follows:

Raven Guard 10th Company
Taskforce Korbijn
Luther McIntyre Campaign

[HQ] Steward Captain Korbijn = 140
*Counts as Lias Issodon (IA9)*

[ELITES] Sternguard = 310
-10 Sternguard
-Combi-Flamer
-2 Combi-Meltas
-Drop Pod
-Locator Beacon

[ELITES] Dreadnought = 160
-Heavy Flamer
-PLasma Cannon
-Drop pod

[TROOPS] Scout Squad = 150
-10 Scouts
-Bolters
-Missile Launcher

[TROOPS] Scout Squad = 150
-10 Scouts
-Sniper Rifles
-Missile Launcher

[TROOPS] Scout Squad = 150
-10 Scouts
-Sniper Rifles
-Missile Launcher

[FAST] Scout Bike Squad = 145
-5 Scout Bikers
-2 Astartes Grenade Launchers
-Melta Bombs
-Cluster Mines

[FAST] Land Speeder Squadron = 140
-2 Land Speeders
-2 Heavy Flamers
-2 Multi-Meltas

[FAST] Stormtalon Gunship = 155
-Typhoon/Skyhammer Missile Launchers
(Plan is to Magnetise this)


Total Points Cost = 1500
Total Model Count = 52
Total Expenditure = £278.45 (Roughly $428.42)

There's no real need to critique the list, the chances are I'll completely ignore you if you do, but feel free nonetheless.

Now, I'lll start with Steward Captain Korbijn, built using Forge World MkVI armour and Raven Guard bitz and various other gubbinz I could find, and my favourite helm from the Black Templars sprue. Not at all unhappy with how this chap turned out. I chose to limit the amount of white because he is one of only eleven PA marines in the army, and the Sternguard display a lot of white because of their veteran status. I sculpted the cloak myself, though it can't really be seen here.


Next is the first half of my Sternguard Squad; unless I run into anything monstrous, I intend to combat squad this unit.


The second half; this squad was built using FW bitz and some Assault Marine legs for the more dynamic posing, and to make them look bigger next to the scouts.


The Drop Pod for the Sternguard. I didn't want to over-adorn this, the Raven Guard seem to prefer function over aesthetics, and this is obviously a craft designed for atmospheric re-entry.


The first of my Scout Squads, I plan to convert the scouts with bolters from the snipers, to increase the unified look of the army. The squad doesn't have camo-cloaks, but Issodon gives them the Stealth rule anyway.


And finally, the first of what will be 5 scout bikers, they seem a versatile unit, and I like the look of them, they will be outflanking with a Stormtalon in tow.


I'd be thrilled if Dakka could let me know what it thinks. Be gentle with me though, I'm new here.

Looks fantastic man, love the Captain, that's my favourite helmet too ;D
Nice blog, can't wait for more

Thanks man, it shouldn't be long before the next post, I'm finished with Uni for the summer and feeling motivated.

I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Now normally I love the monarchy, I think the royal family are wonderful and hilarious and that they give Britain an excellent sense of national identity and pride that couldn't be gained from an elected Head of State. But...

CURSE ME FOR A FOOL IF I DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING!

Games Workshop, in their wisdom, decided to release a bunch of fantastic new kits on Jubilee weekend, and now my Stormtalon hasn't shipped in time. So the chances are I won't get it until Friday.

And now my local hobby shop reveal that they don't even have my Land Speeders yet.

I'm going to have to spend all week painting gaunts.

They all look quite good, especially the captain and the scouts, though I can't help but think that the sternguard would look better if they had a strong tertiary color to break up the black/white a bit.

Rayth Phaenor wrote:They all look quite good, especially the captain and the scouts, though I can't help but think that the Sternguard would look better if they had a strong tertiary color to break up the black/white a bit.

I know exactly what you mean, as an army in its own right it seems a bit too monochrome. I wanted to get a more gritty aesthetic (which sounds terribly cliché now that I've typed it). Although it didn't come out all that well on the photos, their lenses, seals and laurels are all picked out in a deep green, and the odd detail in yellow or gold acts as a contrast to the dark silver. As it happens I intentionally kept the colours fairly dark because the Imperial Guard army that sits alongside them (pics to come) are all in quite rich colours.

Some of those guys look wicked cool. Barely see too many ravenguard beyond JUMP PACKS JUMP PACK JUMP PACKS

Howabout some grey edging?

I love it. I will be keeping an eye on this.

Miss Dee wrote:Howabout some grey edging?

The Sternguard are the only Marines in Power Armour in the whole army, and most of them are in MkVI armour, so no edging at all. The Land Speeder pilots are from the 8th Company: Assault Reserve, so they will have grey edging. If I ever decide to take the list to 2000pts I might add more PA marines, but that'll depend on how well the 1500pt list performs.

I also have a list written for a 6th Company Orbital Drop force, tactical reserve, just in case I ever go completely insane. They'll all have orange pauldron rims, which should be quite striking. That runs to exactly 3000pts and involves 117 models, including 11 Drop Pods. Like I say, I'd have to be utterly potty to try that, it's predicted to be in excess of £500.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

kenshin620 wrote:Some of those guys look wicked cool. Barely see too many ravenguard beyond JUMP PACKS JUMP PACK JUMP PACKS

Absolutely, I'm as big a fan of Shrike as you're likely to find, but Lias Issodon captured my imagination, and I felt that a shooty RG force would be a nice change. I can't promise it'll be competitive, but it will be fluffy and with any luck it'll also be attractive.

Finally! Update time!

1. My Stormtalon is nearly finished, expect pics within the week.

2. Along with the Stormtalon will come 2 shiny new Land Speeders, my other rapid support element.

3. Today I ordered my copy of the 40k 6th ed. rulebook. *squee*

4. To fill in the gap, here are some pictures of a Blood Raven I painted because I was bored of black.







Quite happy with the freehand, even though it was just a filler model essentially.

I love the look of the Raven Guard keep it up !

Looking really good, loving the stern combi flamer. the skin tone is spot on.

Finally! My Stormtalon is finished.

Named 'Ephrenia' after the former admiral of the Raven Guard starfleet, this Stormtalon now takes to the air under the command of Steward Captain Korbijn, bringing swift justice to the traitor forces invading the Follax system.



I've made this longer and sleeker by mounting the Assault Cannons higher up and a bit further forward. I'm rather happy with the results.



The insignia on the wings was a bit of a gamble, but I think it paid off. The Smurf's Stormtalon we keep seeing has the fast-attack symbol on the wings, but I don't think it really fits considering that Stormtalons come from the chapter Armoury and not from any of the fast attack elements. By that logic, all the Land Raiders, Vindicators, Whirlwinds and Predators should have the heavy-support symbol plastered all over them. Inconsistency offends me.



The devil is in the details. I put a frankly ridiculous amount of effort into the interior of this model. I know some people think it's unnecessary, but I find that painted interiors really lift your army to another level. I kept the colours light so the model could be black without being dull, and I think turning the pilot's head a bit really adds character.

The interior looks fantastic. The little details really makes it look special. I must say I have been checking up on this thread as I am starting to build Raven Guard as well and it is very inspirational.

UnCool Villain wrote:The interior looks fantastic. The little details really makes it look special. I must say I have been checking up on this thread as I am starting to build Raven Guard as well and it is very inspirational.

To inspire is my primary intention. There's little that pleases me more than seeing new, original, interesting armies going together. I look forward to seeing your own RG.

Update time! I finally finished the interior of my first Land Speeder. Again, considerable effort for minimum effect, but that's how I role. I also got some stronger clear rod to make the flying base, and I magnetized the land speeder to the stalk, I've already fielded this in a game and it really worked. No wobbling, no snapping, and peace of mind for all involved.





I really wasn't sure about only having colour on the right shoulder, but it's growing on me.



Following this Land Speeder, I couldn't really face doing the other one just yet, so I started my second Scout squad. These will be armed with Bolters to make them a bit more mobile (yay, 6th), but to avoid using the same five poses six times, I'm converting half of them from Sniper Scouts, the other five will have rolled-up cloaks which I may or may not sculpt myself. Expect finished pics at some point, maybe.





The rebreathers are to hide the massive underbite all the Scouts have.
Reminds me of this:

Fantastic looking army, nice to see use of a IA character in an army, they give so much more background to a force. Looking forward to seeing more from this army as it has so much potential

Young Logan

I got my PC back, so I've been playing games rather than painting scouts. That's my excuse anyway.

I also had my first few proper games with the 500pt version of this army, resulting in two wins and a loss, which isn't bad considering that these are the first three games I've played in more than a year. So now I know where my strengths really lie and what the army needs in future. Rapid strike elements are the key, so the Stormtalon, these Land Speeders and my Scout Bikers are essential, I also lack melee proficiency, so a few assault marines might be in order, perhaps as a later addition. So with the below list I have in sequence been massacred by and have massacred an army of Sisters of Battle, and I've executed a punishing guerilla strike against a large mob of Orks.

[HQ] Steward Captain Korbijn = 140

[TROOPS] Tactical Squad = 135
-5 Space Marines
-Combi-Flamer
-Drop Pod

[TROOPS] Scout Squad = 150
-10 Scouts
-Sniper Rifles
-Missile Launcher

[TROOPS] Scout Squad = 75
-Bolters

Total Points Value = 500

All very promising. Korbijn is a monster, he and his 5 men saw off 20 boyz in last night's game, Overwatch is my friend.

And I finally finished those scouts, the picture quality isn't up to much because I forgot to choose the auto-adjusted version when I was uploading it.

Finished my second Land Speeder, hoorah. Nothing particularly different about this one, but still, an update is an update.

These two vehicles are brought from the 7th Company, which is actually a tactical reserve, rather than assault. Still, the marines of the 7th are trained extensively in the piloting of Land Speeders, and are valued as support elements for the operational battle companies. This squadron is on training detail with the 10th company, tutoring the pilots of Land Speeder storms in the tricky art of controlling a big chunk of metal as it approaches terminal velocity.









As you can see, the pilot is actually the Veteran Sergeant of the squad. I reasoned that as the 7th is a tactical reserve, they'd have all the normal markings of a tactical squad, but would be in Land Speeders, so the pilot of the head speeder would naturally be the squad leader.

Okay, so I've been off-task for a while. I haven't painted anything more for the proper army list, but I felt compelled to paint some Tactical Marines. Incidentally, they're almost finished, I'm now waiting on a can of gloss varnish from Vallejo, then I'll get the last 3 done. Expect pictures soon.

In the mean time, I've painted a model that doesn't require a coat of gloss (No big transfers, you see.) This is Codicier Ernaldus, the Librarian who first found Korbijn as an infant on Kiavhar, he's a potent psyker and a first-rate mentor, and he'll be formidable once he's got a ten-man squad backing him up.







You'll probably see the freehand designs in the book, I love painting freehand, and the various books and scrolls that adorn this miniature are an absolute playground for the steady-handed. I also really enjoyed doing the pattern on the haft of his Force Weapon. This is only the second initiate in the army to bare his face (I don't count the scouts, they haven't proven themselves yet.) and I took care to get the skin-tone just right, the vibrant red of a fresh scar is a nice contrast to the muted tones of the face. Head to my gallery to see the images in full-size.

Hey there Spine.

I came over your blog while i was walking through some blogs. I really like the dark and cold colour scheme for your army. I can see that you got some nice painting skills, your models are well painted to a good standard, keep it up!

Good lines, nice highliths, nice work on the detail work, cant wait to see more really.

The tac marines with assault legs make them just so much more dynamic, love the look, done the same thing on my models, you get an alot more aggressive army, its a good touch to the army.

Keep on happy painting bud!

Nice to see this back at the top. I really like the storm talon, you have nailed the functionality of the raven guard with the paint job as well

Looking forward to seeing the dreadnought in due course as well

Young Logan

Charky wrote:
Hey there Spine.

I came over your blog while i was walking through some blogs. I really like the dark and cold colour scheme for your army. I can see that you got some nice painting skills, your models are well painted to a good standard, keep it up!

Good lines, nice highlights, nice work on the detail work, cant wait to see more really.

The tac marines with assault legs make them just so much more dynamic, love the look, done the same thing on my models, you get an alot more aggressive army, its a good touch to the army.

Keep on happy painting bud!

Your comments are much appreciated, and it's nice to see a new user coming in. I hope you can get your own blog started before too long.

The Sternguard, featured in the first, post are a huge success. They really look like brave, noble warriors and, as odd as this sounds, people really think twice before tangling with them in games. A good paint job is a wonderful psychological tool, I'm very happy with how they've turned out.

You'll see what a difference the legs make when I put up some photos of this Tactical squad I've been doing recently. The marines look fine, but that ridiculous stance they have is a real embarrassment

 Young_Logan wrote:
Nice to see this back at the top. I really like the storm talon, you have nailed the functionality of the raven guard with the paint job as well

Looking forward to seeing the dreadnought in due course as well

Young Logan

I feel like I should hold off on the Dreadnought until I've finished my Scouts, it'll be my reward for painting a full army.

The end is actually within reach now. Just 15 more Scouts and 4 more Scout Bikers, and the Dreadnought, obviously. Where I go from there is anyone's guess. I have designs on expanding this army even further with separate 500pt detachments which can be appended to the main army list as the situation demands. If I'm facing Tau or Traitor Guard, a Librarian and Tactical squad can be brought in via deep-strike to combat dug-in troops and tanks. Against armies like Eldar or Chaos that'll try to hit me in my deployment zone, Shadow Captain Korvydae can bring in an Assault Squad to catch the enemy off-guard and mount a counter offensive.

Anyway, I now have Dark Vengeance to paint, I'm doing an allied detachment from the Disciples of Caliban so I can have Terminators and a Librarian with access to the Divination powers. Watch this space.

Wow, it's been a while. Keeping a blog going while trying to look like I'm also studying is proving tricky.

Nevertheless, I have a treat for everyone today.

After two whole years of on-and-off painting (though mainly off) I have finally finished my Imperial Guard Veterans. When I wrote the army list, which is shown below, I calculated that the GW models would come to roughly £400, which is just obscene, so I went for the fantastic Napoleonic-era infantry from Victrix. Honestly, I can't overstate how wonderful these minis are as guardsmen. Rather than paying £18 for 10 Cadians I managed to build all 35 of the infantry you see pictured here for a little less than £30, though shopping around online helped immensely as well, the Autocannons are 1:72 scale German 'PAK 40' guns by Italeri and I built the Grenade Launchers myself.

42nd Follaxian Light Infantry "No Hopers"
5th Follaxian Armoured Corps
Escape from Luther McIntyre [Last Action]

[HQ]Company HQ = 320
-Field Marshal Hubert Thistlethwaite, Lord of Wickersgrove *CREEEEEED!*
-Ensign Officer Victor Habberjam, Earl of Birreldon *Kell*
-Master Servatius Claudel *Astropath*
-Captain Augustus Coxswain *Officer of the Fleet*
-Camo Cloaks

[TROOPS] Veteren Squad I = 115
-Grenade launcher
-Autocannon
-Forward Sentries

[TROOPS] Veteren Squad II = 115
-Grenade launcher
-Autocannon
-Forward Sentries

[TROOPS] Veteren Squad III = 115
-Grenade launcher
-Autocannon
-Forward Sentries

[TROOPS] Infantry Platoon I = 415

Platoon HQ = 105
-Flank Lieutenant Aurelia Bennet *Al'Rahem*
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad I = 90
-Commissar
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad II = 55
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad III = 55
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad IV = 55
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad V = 55
-Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad V = 55
-Grenade Launcher

[HEAVY] Leman Russ Squadron = 320
-2 Leman Russ
-Heavy Stubbers

[FORTIFICATION] Aegis Defence Line = 100
-Quad Gun

Total Points Cost = 1500
Total Model Count = 95 + Fortification
Total Expenditure = £137.53

Now this list has seen quite a bit of re-writing since the release of 6th ed. So if anyone has any good advice that would be fantastic. Ideally I'd like to keep to the 'Light Infantry' theme, but chuck some ideas at me anyway. If extra points need to be freed-up you can drop one or two of the Infantry squads. I don't think I really need a blob that big, but it'd be nice nonetheless.

First, a full group-shot.


The Company HQ. As I say, this will have CREEEEEEEED! and Kell added later.


The Company Colour. Marvel at my mad freehand skillz.


Veteran Squad 1, nothing too radical going on here.


Veteran Squad 2, advancing at march.


Veteran Squad 3, locked in a fierce close-quaters with... something.

Extra points for the 'fisticuffs' guardsman?

'What are these doing on a Raven Guard blog?' I hear you ask. Well, you'll probably see from the bases that these chaps are designed to sit alongside my Raven Guard. The two army lists were written side-by-side as part of an ongoing narrative.

The painting on these isn't massively impressive, they're only guardsmen, but the quantity was what made them take 2 years. The rank-and-file infantry will not have the white details, those are what really made them a chore to paint. But I am very happy with how these turned out. As always, comments are encouraged.

I'm finished with Uni for the summer, now I've finally got time to update the blog. Huzzah!

Since my last post, I have done a whole Tactical Squad, plus a few other things. I'm aware that these are not relevant to the army list written above, but I had a sudden compulsion to paint a squad of rank-and-file marines, so I did.

Continuing my theme of Reserve Companies, these chaps are from the 6th, a tactical reserve typically dispersed among other forces as single squads to bolster the line and capture objectives while elements from companies such as the 7th and 8th engage the foe from a flank. 6th Company Marines are also trained extensively in the use of motorbikes, and are well equipped to fight from the saddle as well as on foot. Despite the jarring change of theatre, from Kastoral Novem's arid salt flats and scorched earth to the verdent fields and filthy cities of Follax, and Shadow Captain Korvydae's controversial decision to designate a mere Brother Sergeant as his steward, these men have stayed true to their orders and continue to train and instruct the fresh recruits of the 10th.


I've toned own the highlights on this squad, so they allow my characters to stand out a bit better.


Every marine bears a tactical symbol and a squad number, the orange border shows that this squad is drawn from the 6th company. Also displayed on each marine's right greave is the distinctive yellow diamond symbol which signifies that this squad took part in the ill-fated Kastoral Novem campaign.



Also, here are some better quality images of the Librarian I posted earlier in the year, now that I have my light-box again.






As always, comments are welcome.

Love the liddy

No Raven Guard for you today, I'm afraid, but if you click on the link below, you'll see what I've been doing instead.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/536804.page#5793455

Night falls.

Welcome blackness spreads.

And a resumption beckons.