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Been doing a lot of research on the subject and I am pretty confused on what actual physical models i need to buy to start building this army. Regular SM with forgeworld shoulderpads? I also see a lot of mk1/2/3/4 full models on forgeworld and they dont come with weapons. So i seee several style of bolters but i do not know which one to get! Things like the sons dread are easy enough to figure out. But this whole 30k thing has got me spinning in circles!

Any suggestions on how to start?

Thanks a lot dakka!

MkII and III armor are typically matched with Phobos bolters, mkIV and V are usually matched with Tigrus bolters, mk VI armor is usually matched with Umbra bolters. 30k is not cheap to get into, so be prepared. Legion tactical squads are minimum 15 models and maximum of 30 models. Color schemes will go a long way towards showing the legion. Decals are enough, but the shoulderpads and upgrades like helmets and torsos do a lot to show the legion character.

It really depends what look you want. If you want the FW armor pattern marks (2-4?) then you're pretty stuck buying from FW. Bolters and weapons are extra, and not included with the bodies. If you look at the infantry bundle packs, they show the bolters that "go with the mark of armor", but any bolter will work.

If you wanted to do Mark IV, you could use assault and tactical (plastic) torsos with the crossed belts, without the aquila to emulate Mark IV armor. Couple that with FW red scoprion helmets, and whatever bolter you prefer.

I'd also recommend the FW shoulder pads, as that will set them apart and provide some nice detail to paint.

I hope that helps, and hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I'm planning a 30k force, but haven't actually bought anything yet.

Thanks for all the help so far! It has really put a lot of things straight for me!

Another question. Could i buy a space marine batallion and slap on some sons of horus shoulderpads? I have been looking for exampls of this. Does this look resonably cool? In my group we are not hard core wysiwyg.

30k dose have larger squads becuase games tend to be larger(you really wanna feild the fun stuff) but i have yet to meet some one who was bannanas about what mark armor you use(me and my freind play weekly with our 40k stuff reprasenting before we commet to buying anything) i would reccomened before you even buy a model, read up on the armys, and play a game or two(i thought for sure i would wanna play wolrd eaters, and death guard out of the first book but i dident like either) i love SoH but now with Iron Hands out i am at a deliema cause there more my preffered style of play. but SoH are alot of fun and who dosent wanna feild Horus. all this being said, when it comes to the models, and the cost, its all about you, if its a labor of love and you want an acuret army, pay up son! if the game is more importnat then just make sure its close to WYSIWYG. P.S. tac squads start at 10 and goto 20, most things in this game are either 5-15 5-10 or 10-20(mostly).

Pancakey wrote:
Thanks for all the help so far! It has really put a lot of things straight for me!

Another question. Could i buy a space marine batallion and slap on some sons of horus shoulderpads? I have been looking for exampls of this. Does this look resonably cool? In my group we are not hard core wysiwyg.

The thing with 30k and most FW based stuff is that they are designed for fluff enthusiasts and serious hobbyists in the fluff (by my understanding) the most common armour marks during the heresy would be Mk 3 & 4 with a smattering of 2, 5 & 6. Now in the 40k plastic range there are a handful of bits that allow you to represent Mk. IV & V. There are several Mk. 6 helmets and legs, while the new tactical box gives 2 chestplates. Some models have aspects of Mk. 3 (crusader helmets mainly). The overwhelming majority of 40k space marines are depicted in Mk. 7 armour. If that doesn't bother you, then the 40k plastics with SoH Forgeworld Pads and Brass Etch will do a job. However, for most (my evidence for this is the activity on bolterandchainsword.com), the appeal of the 30k setting is the opportunity to undertake great modelling projects and make their forces as fluff accurate as possible; that tends to mean buying forgeworld models. But there's noithing to say you can't incorporate plastic bits here and there, particularly when it comes to weapons or the Mk. 6 bits that are quite prevalent in the Space Marine range.

I heartily recommend reading through sheep's SoH project log http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/457003.page and Bolterandchainsword's Heresy Showcase thread. The first few pages of the latter show what can be achieved with minimal forgeworld purchasing (there just wasn't much Heresy-era stuff out when the thread started) , whereas the later pages show forgeworld stuff in all its glory.

With mine I just go with early mark helms and shoulder pads. Most people look at those two things and overlook the rest. Well painted and weathered, those two things have the most eye catching detail anyway. I do try and use the crossed belt armor suits when possible but with my army on the bright side, a lot of their stuff is heavily customized and decorated anyway so it isn't a big deal.

With assault marines you can find Sanguinary Guard jetpacks on ebay. I use the bodies as well for character models. Night Raptors are pretty much less chaosified Raptors. Get rid of overt chaos marks and find scary helms and there you go. Ebay is your friend when it comes to parts buying for Heresy. I just collected the parts for two full terror squads and weapons for another from puppets war and ebay for under $100. Note I am playing Night Lords so your experience might differ on what you can get, but the parts are out there.

You can easily use the "modern" marks of armor (VI and VII) and slap on SoH shoulderpads. I would also recommend using the SoH helmet upgrades and maybe pick up the SoH command and Reaver Squads to use as squad leaders/Commanders.