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.

Hey guys,

So I am painting up a squad for the Horus Heresy, I decided to go with Ultramarines...

In advance, I'd like to know what was different about the UMs back during the Heresy.

Were any Codex Astartes rank-colours prevalent? Perhaps in a more subdued tone? Since Rowboat wrote the Codex I figured that he may have carried over stuff that was already in use in the Ultramarines; AKA red helmets for Sergeants, white for veterans, etc.

Was it still the same old UM blue? Or deeper?

And am I right in using only MK IV and MK V armour with no MKVII or Corvus? From what I understand mkVII appeared late in the heresy and Corvus MKVI was manufactured on Mars and given over primarily to the Raven Guard and, just as with MKVII, to those chapters that participated in the defense of Terra. Since the UMs were on the other side of the Galaxy being distracted by the Alphas, I figure it is reasonable to assume that they would not be able to get their hands on MKVI or MKVII armour.

Essentially this thread is an invitation to throw every single minor obscure little point about how Heresy-era Ultramarines should look at me, so please, every obscure little detail!

Thanks

The Ultramarines used Praetor Pattern armour Forged at Veridia, not yet a formally accepted mark within the Legiones Astartes. Which is basically MKIV with Praetor helmets.

Red helmets within the Ultramarines were Marines that have been marked for censure. When the Word Bearers hit Calth a Marine that was marked for censure did something heroic and from then on the Red Helmet became a squad sergeant helmet.

Now one thing I'm not sure about are the markings on the shoulder pads, something that I need to find out about.

25 Chapters Masters
10 Companies per Chapter
1 Company = 1000 Legionarires + Support retinue (Rhinos, Land Raiders, Predators, Gunships and Super Heavy vehicles.)

It was the same blue, but they all had gold instead of just the 2nd company

The upsidedown omega symbols were also displayed as ivy instead of a horseshoe.

Eh Deff? Do you mean that the U logo is upside down pre-heresy?

Look at the pic Thamor: i'm guessing Deff's referring to the "U" being like a laurel instead of a solid letter.

 Henners91 wrote:
Eh Deff? Do you mean that the U logo is upside down pre-heresy?

No, he means its an upside down Omega symbol. Which is what the Ultramarine U really is.

Knowing GW they will come up with some difference to convince us to buy new models rather than use our current ultramarines

Although I agree with the red helmets being a sign of censure I've never heard whether or not all the shoulders were gold

Just a guess but I would have thought the couplers would still apply to each company within a chapter though and ther would be something additional for each chapter

I think the 'U' being a laurel is just on that one marine, so I'd ignore that. I know the blue was a slightly different shade, I read that Aggemann changed the shade of blue after the battle for Macragge for some reason.
Different chapters/ companies had their own insignia on the shoulder guards too, I think that was in Know No Fear, but I'm not at home at the minute so I can't verify that, something about two guys up from training painting on a new insignia for a while.
There was also a big trend in plumes and brushes on top of the helmets to denote rank, but that was for all legions.

 Sir Samuel Buca wrote:
I think the 'U' being a laurel is just on that one marine, so I'd ignore that. I know the blue was a slightly different shade, I read that Aggemann changed the shade of blue after the battle for Macragge for some reason.
Different chapters/ companies had their own insignia on the shoulder guards too, I think that was in Know No Fear, but I'm not at home at the minute so I can't verify that, something about two guys up from training painting on a new insignia for a while.
There was also a big trend in plumes and brushes on top of the helmets to denote rank, but that was for all legions.

The U as a laurel is pretty much a stable with the Ultramarines. Black Reach terminators even have it on the back of one of the Power Fists.

Yes, but the 'U' as ivy/a laurel isn't the standard Chapter symbol, but an occasional fancy shiz, typically worn by Veterans.

The cover's of both Betrayer and Know No Fear display non-laurel 'U's. I.e. The Omega symbol is unchanged from modern Ultramarines AFAIK.
I'd like to know Deff's evidence for it being a ivy/a laurel in the heresy era.

I believe there was a mention in Know No Fear, where Abnett did a shout out to the Iron Snakes as the 18th(?????) Chapter.

I think it was a different colour shoulder pad or knee pad to denote the chapter, despite the standard colour scheme elsewhere.

Personally I think a very slightly darker shade of blue and a more bronze like trim (but heavily highlighted) would work better for UM (pre-heresy or not).