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So, I'm building up a couple of companies of Space Marines... (I know, imagine that, here of all places)

The idea behind it is that they're a Second Founding Ultramarines successor chapter that has clung to the organizational and rank structure of the original legions. I've always been a big fan of the Roman legions, so enjoy the similarity of structure and function, and have decided to use the ranks and titles of the Roman legions. In addition, I have named all 1,000+ marines in the chapter (yes, no duplicates) using the Roman pronomen nomen cognomen structure (hey, that's what happens when you're bored in Iraq, what can I say).

So, after all that prattling, here's my idea for the color scheme for the chapter:


Here's the test marine I painted up. If you look closely (hard to see in this pic) his name is actually below the tactical squad symbol. I printed up custom decals that include all the names of the marines.


Also, being a long-time 40K player, I decided I wanted a squad of Mentor Legion, as I loved the whole concept of them as the guinea pigs of the Imperium. If any of you remember the old OLD Mentor Legion fluff, you know what I'm talking about (I still have that copy of White Dwarf somewhere in a box). So, I'm putting together a Sternguard Veteran squad of 5 veterans, all with cutting edge gear (got some great stuff for the conversion from Anvil Industry out of the UK).


Anyway, lots more pics to come, lots more building to come, so stay tuned.

Wait, you named over 1000+ marines AND created custom decals for each and everyone of them?



You are mad. MAD! I want to see more!!

Btw, your chapter symbol looks badass! It looks like a screeching eagle!

There you are. Looking good so far!

So, here's the force organization chart for the chapter... You can see the pauldron trim colors for each company in the column colors.

It is awesome how organized you have it. Right down to the helmet, trim, and arm colors. So which Lt do those guys in picture fall in to? Is that the first company you are working on?


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You should paint up the captain and the command squad, put them in parade formation and then update this blog with parade ground pictures as each squad starts to fall in.

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
Wait, you named over 1000+ marines AND created custom decals for each and everyone of them?

Ummm... Yeah, pretty much. I also spent a looong time researching the ranks and positions of the Roman Legions, so the ranks and positions of the chapter match that of the Legions. (see the chapter org chart I posted)

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
You are mad. MAD! I want to see more!!

Thanks, yeah, I kind of resemble that remark.

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
Btw, your chapter symbol looks badass! It looks like a screeching eagle!

Glad you like it! I actually served in the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles, so that (and the omnipresent Imperial eagles) were obvious influences in the choice of chapter names. I toyed with calling them the Swords of Ventanus (after the Ultramarines Legion hero, Captain Remus Ventanus), but liked the eagle theme, as it opened a lot of possibilities for conversions, etc., considering how many eagle devices and themes (doors, standards, etc.) FW and GW make.


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 Depraved wrote:
It is awesome how organized you have it. Right down to the helmet, trim, and arm colors. So which Lt do those guys in picture fall in to? Is that the first company you are working on?

Thanks, man. I'm actually working on (mostly) the 2nd Company right now (hence the yellow trim on the pauldron of the test figure). The Mentor Legion guys will actually fall outside of this force organization chart as, per the old-school original fluff, they get loaned out to other chapters to test out equipment and train their marines (hence "Mentor Legion").

 Depraved wrote:
You should paint up the captain and the command squad, put them in parade formation and then update this blog with parade ground pictures as each squad starts to fall in.

That's a good idea, I just might have to do that.

Your attention to detail is fantastic. Such a neatly organised force chart, man, this project will be fun to see growing to completion

The parade idea from Depraved is pretty good, but I will be happy with any update

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
Your attention to detail is fantastic. Such a neatly organised force chart, man, this project will be fun to see growing to completion.

Thanks. Yeah, you should see the Excel spreadsheet I've got that lists out the entire chapter, by name, broken down by squads and load outs, with their points. I might have to post it to Dropbox or Google Drive and put a link on here.


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 TheDraconicLord wrote:
Your attention to detail is fantastic. Such a neatly organised force chart, man, this project will be fun to see growing to completion

The parade idea from Depraved is pretty good, but I will be happy with any update

Very cool! Love the attention to detail.

Thanks, man. I'm having fun with it.

Great project, crazy, but great. I also like the parade ground idea.

sparkywtf wrote:
Great project, crazy, but great. I also like the parade ground idea.

Hey, crazy can be fun...


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So, I'd promised myself that I wouldn't buy anything more until I got at least a few squads completed... but, well, I caved when I found some great deals on eBay. So, I just ordered these:

For use as objective markers:


Oooh, Contemptor goodness:


Contemptor pew-pew bang-bang goodies:


Can't wait 'til they all get here!! Woohoo!

Nice! Are those casualties going to be from your chapter or some lesser chapter? Lol. Your making me want to break my own promise.. No new minis unit I finish my painting.

I'm going to paint them as members of my own chapter, so the objective is recover the armor and gene-seed.

The Mentors Legion idea sounds like fun converting.
I'm using Anvil myself on my Raptors Chapter. They make great stuff.

Subscribed

 livanbard wrote:
The Mentors Legion idea sounds like fun converting.
I'm using Anvil myself on my Raptors Chapter. They make great stuff.

Subscribed

Thanks, man. Do you have pics posted of your Raptors? I'd love to see what you've done.

I can 't wait to see what you do man, your attention to detail is outstanding!

Subscribed!

Thanks, Master Azalle. Honestly, for me about half the fun is the planning and creation, even more so than the painting. Truth be told, if I could afford to, I'd build them all, then I'd hire someone else to paint the minis to my specifications and just be done with it. LOL

So, some folks have been asking if I'll do a vehicle roster, too... Well, I'm working on it, but here's what I've got so far. This is the chapter HQ, cohort HQ 1&2, 1st company, and 2nd company. Let me know what you think! (Yes, I know the vehicles aren't truly to scale... and yes, I made all the vehicle outlines myself...)







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Updated the Chapter Org Chart to match:


I figured since I'm going all out on this, I may as well go all out... (Note: the illustration is really just a placeholder until I have time to paint something)

I hope that you buy and paint every single one of those vehicles.

Because that would be crazy and amazing.

sparkywtf wrote:
I hope that you buy and paint every single one of those vehicles.

Because that would be crazy and amazing.

I wish. The goal will be to buy and build all the vehicles for the 1st and 2nd companies, eventually, but it's gonna take years.


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So, figured I should post some proof that I'm not just playing around on the computer planning stuff, but that I'm actually building stuff, too.

A bit of the current army in progress:


(Note: I'm replacing all the terminators with Tartaros and Cataphracti terminators)

Stasis field collapse is bad, mmkay?


Coolest carrying case, ever.


The vortex grenade has been one of my faves ever since the old Rogue Trader days, so this is pretty awesome.


About another 70 marines worth of bits in there:


And more bits for conversions, upgrades, etc.


A detail shot of the decals I made for the shoulder pads:

*Sits down in Seiza position*

*bows*

Your attention to detail is unbelivable. You truly seem to love your custom chapter. Teach me, master!

Really, you are doing a fantastic "documentation" job, if you go trough with all this, you'll be a hero worthy of epic songs!

And all those SM are one heck of a start!

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
*Sits down in Seiza position*
*bows*
Your attention to detail is unbelivable. You truly seem to love your custom chapter. Teach me, master!
Really, you are doing a fantastic "documentation" job, if you go trough with all this, you'll be a hero worthy of epic songs!
And all those SM are one heck of a start!

Domo arigato, TDL.

I honestly do love this stuff, I've always loved all the fluff and background of WH40K, and always pore over everything I can that has info and fluff. My favorite portion of WD has always been Chapter Approved, especially in the early days when they were really laying the foundation for the modern fluff/storyline. Wait until you read the background/timeline I'm working on for the chapter.

Awesome cant wait to see pics of your legion complete

So, I finally figured out how to do the Army lists and output them from Excel (basically, print to PDF, output PDF to JPG, mess with it in Photoshop to make it match the other bits I've made so far, and voila.

Once again, you show how much you love your own chapter!

keep'em coming!

 TheDraconicLord wrote:
Once again, you show how much you love your own chapter!
keep'em coming!

Wait until you see the chapter history I'm working on!

My feelings are contained in the spoiler below.


Assemble your legion! (literally put them together dude!)

 Depraved wrote:
My feelings are contained in the spoiler below.

Spoiler:

Assemble your legion! (literally put them together dude!)

ROFLMAO!!! THAT'S AWESOME!!

This is just awe inspiring brother!

I've vowed to complete my Angels of Vengance Company before I go off and start anything new. Hopefully I can get it all done in time for the new codex.

I can't wait to see some completed units!