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.

Hello all,

I'm planning on modelling up a Deathwatch kill team, and have a question about armour - do marines assigned to the 'watch take their own gear with them, re-paint it / add new shoulder pad, or are they assigned a whole new set when they arrive?

Why is this important?

Well, if it's the former, then I would model a Space Wolf with a "space wolf issued" shoulder pad, with runic inscriptions etc, and an Ultramarine with a sculpted UM pad.

If the latter, and Deathwatch marines re-paint their right shoulder pad (of their all-new issued DW armour), then I'd just paint up a plain pad.

Thoughts and advice please!

Thanks,

Hazrat

They bring their own armor and re-paint it, aside from the left shoulder pad (which is worn as the right shoulder pad as long as they are in the Deathwatch), to not anger the machine spirit.
Deathwatch shoulder pad, weapons and IIRC helmet are Deathwatch equipment.

Depends on which version you're talking about. There are some newer sources that indicate that marines arrive without armour and are eventually given Deathwatch armour for the duration of their secondment.

Interesting - what are the sources you are talking about please?

Thanks,

Hazrat

I know in Deathwatch, by Steve Parker, marines begin their training without armor and then recieve it at the end of their training. However, it's strongly hinted at that the armor they recieve is the same armor that was originally taken from them when they arrived, after it has been painted and modified by the Deathwatch's attendents and techmarines.

jareddm wrote:
I know in Deathwatch, by Steve Parker, marines begin their training without armor and then recieve it at the end of their training. However, it's strongly hinted at that the armor they recieve is the same armor that was originally taken from them when they arrived, after it has been painted and modified by the Deathwatch's attendents and techmarines.

Indeed. Known colloquially as "Donning the Black", IIRC.

Ok, so if I was modelling up a squad - use chapter specific shoulder pads (on the right) for full effect.

Wouldn't all the chapter specific armour iconography (wolves / dark angels etc) look odd in black though?

 Warboss Hazrat wrote:
Ok, so if I was modelling up a squad - use chapter specific shoulder pads (on the right) for full effect.

Wouldn't all the chapter specific armour iconography (wolves / dark angels etc) look odd in black though?

...not sure what you mean, but their chapter emblem/icon/whatevers (That is, their right pauldron) is not colored black, just the rest of their armors

and even if the color looks odd, you don't want to enrage the PA's Machine Spirit now, do you? (huh... do I?)

I googled Space Wolf Deathwatch and a couple quick matches:




Iconography of the original chapter remains in that chapter's colors. It's just the base armor painted black. Notice how even the knee pad of the bottom guy there is still in yellow.

As others have shown:



Marines are free to maintain various icons and symbols while part of the Deathwatch, noted above by the collection of blood drop icons. The right kneepad seems to be commonly(but not exclusively) painted with the chapter symbol as well.

jareddm wrote:
I know in Deathwatch, by Steve Parker, marines begin their training without armor and then recieve it at the end of their training. However, it's strongly hinted at that the armor they recieve is the same armor that was originally taken from them when they arrived, after it has been painted and modified by the Deathwatch's attendents and techmarines.

I never took it that way to be honest, my take was that they received Deathwatch armour. Also, the other source I had it mind was Blood of Asaheim, specifically the scene of Ingvar's return to the chapter. He is returning to the Space Wolves without armour, as the Deathwatch armour he had been given during his secondment was taken back when he was released.

EDIT: Regardless, that version goes pretty strongly against the established fluff of how this process works. So basically, do whatever you want because either way is valid.

I have also read Blood of Asaheim, as well as many of the Deathwatch supplements in which particularly accomplished members of the Deathwatch choose to leave their armor with the Deathwatch so that others who follow in their footsteps may benefit from it. It is with this thought that I viewed that particular scene.

Thanks for all the research and advice people!

I'll see how I get on and maybe post some pictures eventually.

Thanks again,

Hazrat