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Ever since the release of Titanicus I have been getting really into not only Titanicus but also Epic, the new Titans truly make for inspiring centre pieces when placed alongside not only the original epic miniatures but also Vanguard Miniatures wonderful sculpts. Despite my love of gaming in this scale I have been rather slow in actually painting anything, however recent events have left me with rather more time to paint so I have decided to document my progress in this blog.

My aim is to paint both a traitor and imperial force across the gaming systems which I'll weave together to form the forces of a conflict called the Angelus Crusade. In the long term you can expect to see:

Traitors
Night Lords - Space Marines (Epic)
Legio Cruor - Titan Legion (Titanicus/Epic)
House Manticora - Knight Househould (Titanicus/Epic)

Loyalists
Regiments of the Angelus Crusade - Imperial Guard (Epic)
Legio Astorum - Titan Legion (Titanicus)
Blood Angels - Space Marines (Epic)
Fleet Angelus - Imperial Navy (Epic/Aeronautica)

We have to start somewhere so to begin with we will have the Titans of the Legio Cruor.

Legio Cruor - God Reapers

The Legio Cruor was assigned to the 85th Expeditionary Fleet. The 85th was under the command of the Night Lords Legion, and at times Konrad Curze himself. Whereas other fleets would deploy their titans to counter only the greatest warmachines and fortresses of the xenos and separatist human empires they encountered, the 85th embraced the Legio Cruor into the Night Lords way of war and used them as a weapon of terror and punishment. Often the Legio would deploy in force against far inferior forces, forcing the defenders to muster all available assets to try and stop the gigantic behemoths of steel and ceramite. Inevitably they would fail and flee back to their fortresses and cities only to find that in their absence the Astartes of the VIIIth Legion had turned the now defenceless settlements into charnel pits.

It was only with the outbreak of the Horus Heresy that the Legio Cruor became accustomed to facing foes of their own stature as they fought those Legio's who had remained loyal to Terra. They maintained their use of terror tactics, fitting many of their machines with close combat weaponry and sending them charging headlong towards their foes. Even a Titan princeps feels some trepidation at the sight of another god machine barrelling towards them at full stride, power fist or chainblade drawn back to strike.

Following Horus's defeat the Legio Crour retreated along with their Night Lord allies to the world of Tsagualsa from where they raided Forge Worlds of the Adeptus Mechanicus until the sons of Guiliman united to purge the Carrion World. The majority of the Legio's Titans were spaceside at the time of the attack, returning from another raid. Disdaining to stay and face the fury of the Ultramarines the Legio fled once more alongside what had morphed from the 73rd Company into the warband known as the Claws of Vadik. Evidently the Legio have managed to find support from the Dark Mechanicum within the Eye of Terror for they still plague the Imperium to this day, either striking on their own or alongside the Claws of Vadik.


Titans of 1st and 2nd Maniple led by the Warlord Parabellum


The Warlord Parabellum Engine Primus of First Maniple


The Reavers Sagittarius Metus and Vitiosus Barbara of 1st Maniple


The Reaver Falcatus, Engine Primus of Second Maniple, and the Reaver Feris Bellator


The Warhounds Cerberus and Canis Mortis

Looking good, like the candy apple red! I think you might want to try a little more wash for a bit more contrast on the steel, but they look great as is.

@Vejut: Thanks! The metal does look a little washed out in the pictures doesn't it, the shading is a bit more pronounced in real life fortunately.

Now onto the updates!


The Warlord Rex Mortem

The machine spirit of Rex Mortem is particularly belligerent, even for the war engines of Legio Cruor. As standard it is equipped for ranged fire support, laying down fire alongside Parabellum and the rest of First Maniple as the smaller Reavers of 2nd Maniple charge forward to engage. However the Mortem's princeps, Kykov, will take any opportunity to replace the Warlord's Volcano cannon with a clawed fist and lead the charge himself.





The Rex Mortem is my final titan for now, which gives me two maniples of four engines each. In future I will be getting another of the excellent starter boxes which will expand both maniples to five engines each, the remaining Warhound and Reaver will join my Imperial Epic forces as members of the Legio Astorum. I'll also be adding a Nemesis Warbringer to provide some long range artillery support to the Legio.


1st Maniple of the Legio Cruor, Fortis Configuration


2nd Maniple of the Legio Cruor, Ferrox Configuration

With the titans done for now I'll be moving onto the other half of my Titanicus collection, the Knights of House Manticora. Here is a WIP shot to give you a taster of what is to come.


Cerastus and Questoris Knights of House Manticora

I've also assembled some reinforcements for my Epic scaled Night Lords, principally these superb tanks from Vanguard Miniatures.


VIIIth Legion Fellblade Squadron

This is going to be awesome!!! Nicely painted Titans dude!

Love that lacquered red on your Titans, personally I have gone for Mordaxis and Astorum for my two Legios.

Malika2 wrote:This is going to be awesome!!! Nicely painted Titans dude!

Thank you, I hope the rest of the blog lives up to your expectations!

ListenToMeWarriors wrote:Love that lacquered red on your Titans, personally I have gone for Mordaxis and Astorum for my two Legios.

Cheers, I got the idea when I was using it paint shoulder pads on some 40k custodes. Mordaxis have pretty nice scheme, I particularly like the purple, and Astorum are the best looking of the loyalists which is why there will hopefully be a couple of their engines showing up later on in this blog.

On the painting front I hit a slight snag in getting my knights painted, namely that I am out of bone paint and for obvious reasons I can't pop round to my local FLGS and get some more. Not to be deterred I have started painting my first Epic models!

Blood Angels vs Night Lords

The bitter rivalry between the VIIIth and IVth Legions dates back to the days of the Heresy itself. The Angelus Crusade has brought the Night Lords and Blood Angels into conflict once more as Dante directs his Chapter's 3rd and 4th Companies to join the Imperial Crusade force to purge the dark empire established by Prince Vadik of the Night Lords.


Blood Angel and Night Lord patrols clash in the midst of Dekkian Primus.


A Legio Cruor Warhound ends the encounter quickly.

Those tanks look so good! The red is especially nice.

Wow, I was aware there was a scale difference between epic and AT, but that is a huge difference.

amazingturtles wrote:Those tanks look so good! The red is especially nice.

Thank you!

endlesswaltz123 wrote:Wow, I was aware there was a scale difference between epic and AT, but that is a huge difference.

Yeah the plastic epic stuff is a little small compared to the new Titanicus sculpts, however it is a lot closer to the right ratio than the old Epic titans were! And honestly I'd rather my god-engines were more towards the godly end of the scale than the puny end

With the test pieces done the next goal is to get a playable army of Night Lords completed, I'll be using the EpicAU Horus Heresy supplement for these guys, which has the added benefit of meaning I can easily ally in my Titan Legion and Knight Household. So with that in mind here are my first three completed formations!


An VIIIth Legion Demi-Company, the Shadow Flayers, supported by a Fellblade superheavy and a Talon of Contemptor Dreadnoughts,


The Shadow Flayers, along with Dreadnought support, dig in to defend the promethium silo.


Mounted in their Rhino transports, and with an attached Whirlwind AA variant providing air defence, the Shadow Flayers advance down a key highway.


With heavy resistance expected the Shadow Flayers fall into formation with a Fellblade superheavy tank.


A Talon of Contemptor Dreadnought prepare to defend the highway from an Imperial counter attack.

endlesswaltz123 wrote:
Wow, I was aware there was a scale difference between epic and AT, but that is a huge difference.

Keep in mind that the old Epic game's scale was all over the place. Whilst infantry was more or less 6mm (somewhere between 5mm and 7mm), vehicles often didn't match: the old Titans were closer to 3mm, and vehicles varied somewhere between 3-4mm (those old Space Marine Rhinos come to mind here) and 1-2mm (Capitol Imperialis, Leviathan, etc).

After another couple of days painting I'm starting to amass a respectable force, still a way to go before I hit 3000 points although I do have several titans I can call on to help with that! As its nearly Easter I also have a mini challenge for you all in this update, find the techmarine! (Spoiler alert: it won't take very long)

The new additions:


A squadron of Night Lords Land Raiders turns onto the highway.


Each tank proudly displays the heraldry of the VIIIth Legion.


The heavy weapons specialists amongst the Shadow Flayers fight in dedicated squads, laying down cover fire whilst the line troopers advance open their foes.

And some group shots:


The Shadow Flayers assemble at full strength, forty line marines led by a Lieutenant Commander and supported by heavy weapons squads, Rhinos and a Whirlwind AA tank.


An VIIIth Legion battle group parades for review by their daemonic lord, Prince Vadik.

I also found some time to complete my first formation for the Imperials and added another four stands of Blood Angels to finish the tactical formation. You'll notice that they are currently lacking Rhinos, that is because I have decided that whilst the Night Lords will use Deimos hulled Rhino variants, the Blood Angels will be restricted to the more modern versions. I've also now realised that I should go back and paint some black shoulder pads to denote sergeants!


Three tactical squads of the Blood Angels 3rd Company.

Awesome work so far! Love the Epic

Amazing how quickly you can build a large SM force in Epic scale

 gobert wrote:
Amazing how quickly you can build a large SM force in Epic scale

I've had some of these guys languishing unused and unpainted for years so its nice to be getting through them, I'm so glad I'm painting them in a post-contrast world though, makes it so much quicker painting the armour! It's also very satisfying to be able to complete an entire formation in a day or two. On which note I have another formation to present!


The Terminators of The Morderci, led into battle by a powerful sorcerer these are perhaps Vadik's most brutal warriors.


The Morderci would often teleport into battle, appearing in the midst of the enemies ranks to slaughter their leaders and sow fear and uncertainty.

Awesome!!!

I decided I needed a break from painting tiny space marines, so I have spent today working on a further addition to the Imperial side of the Angelus conflict.

The Steel Legion

Whilst it was the Astartes of the Blood Angels chapter that formed the cutting edge of the Angelus Crusade, the bulk of its strength lay in the massed formations of the Imperial Guard. The planet of Armageddon in particular committed several of its Steel Legions to the cause.


Leman Russ Battle Tanks, A Company, 53rd Armoured

The end of the bank holiday seemed like a good time to take stock of all I've painted on over the last week or so, therefore in this update I'll be showing off another few formations I've completed and group shots for both the Night Lords and the Imperials.

Night Lords


To counter the armoured might of the Astra Militarum the Night Lords deployed squadrons of Sicaran Venators into Dekkian Primus. The secrets of their construction largely lost to the Imperium these vehicles dated back to the days of the great crusade itself, and it was only Prince Vadik's close alliance with elements of the Dark Mechanicum that allowed the Night Lords to keep them fit for battle.


The Raptors of the Unguis Raptus once fought alongside Zso Sahaal, the Talonmaster, himself. After his disappearance, following an ambush by the perfidious Eldar, many of those who survived attached themselves to the growing warband of the then Captain Emmanuel Vadik. Now they serve as his shock troops, descending from the skies with inhuman shrieks and howling chainswords.

Annoyingly I forgot to undercoat the command unit for these guys so they are currently one short.


The force Prince Vadik has committed to taking Dekkian Primus is already considerable, however it is but a fraction of the might at his command.




In the vanguard fight the Terminators of the Morderci and the Raptors of the Unguis Raptus.


The heart of the warband are the infantry squads of the Shadow Flayers.




Two Talons of Contemptor Dreadnoughts fight alongside the Shadow Flayers, it is a topic of some discussion amongst the Astartes as to whether being saved from death and interned in a dreadnought is an honour or a punishment with the prevailing opinion being that it is in fact both.






Vadik's ties with the Dark Mechanicum, and his seizure of a bulk transporter during the fall of Tsagualsa, have provided him with an armoured force that is the envy of many a warband within the Eye of Terror. The jewelled crown of his armoured might is a trio of Fellblade superheavies.

Forces of the Angelus Crusade


A company of Baneblades advance cautiously through the city.


Followed by a company of Shadowswords.


Tactical squads of the Blood Angels 3rd Company parade alongside the 53rd Steel Legion Armoured.


In many warzones 30 Astartes would be considered a significant force, however it is but a fraction of the Blood Angels commitment to the Angelus Crusade




As well as the workhorse Leman Russ, the 53rd Armoured fields numerous superheavies. Including both the versatile Baneblade and specialised Shadowsword Titan Killers.

Fleet Angelus

The myriad elements of the Angelus crusade are carried from planet to planet and protected from the hazards of the void by the ships of the Imperial Navy. When planet fall is achieved the Imperial Navy provides air support, protecting the crusading armies from above and raining fire upon their enemies.


Two Marauder Bombers of Helmawr Flight


Helmawr Flight is named for their former Flight Commander, Julius Helmawr. Julius, a distant relative of the infamous lord of Necromunda, has since ascended to command the atmospheric attack wings of the Angelus Crusade. Nominally Helmawr Flight hold the status of his bodyguard, this honour is reflected in the gold trim they bear.

Love this whole blog, wonderful stuff!

You need to get a solo game of them in sometime and see who's superior!

Wow! Those look amazing. The windows look nifty with that frosted look

The navy are looking snazzy, how do they compare scale wise to the Epic and AT models?

This is getting more and more awesome!

Thanks for all the kind words folks, it really helps keep the motivation up!

MegaDave wrote:Love this whole blog, wonderful stuff!

You need to get a solo game of them in sometime and see who's superior!

That's the plan! I would love to field my combined chaos force in one game (around 20k points). I'm envisaging some kind of siege scenario with the Imperials defending the outskirts of a city, it will be a great opportunity to use all the strategic asset bunkers from Adeptus Titanicus as well, I already have a few ideas for their rules.

I've got an old gaming buddy of mine lined up to play. He's never played Epic before though we will definitely get some smaller games in first, hopefully starting as soon as the lockdown lifts!

amazingturtles wrote:Wow! Those look amazing. The windows look nifty with that frosted look

Thank you! I really struggled with the windows actually, it was a case of adding more layers until it looked right so I'm glad it worked and I now have a recipe I can use in future.

Malika2 wrote:This is getting more and more awesome!

I'm glad you think so!

gobert wrote:The navy are looking snazzy, how do they compare scale wise to the Epic and AT models?

Aeronautic and Titanicus are the same scale, you can even compare some of the weapons like for like between the models. They are therefore a little larger in scale then most epic models, but its close enough to work especially when you take into account how big warplanes actually are even before the 40k universe gets its mitts on them! I've added a scale shot for you down below.

Whilst strategic air support, tank companies and super heavies are fun I decided that the Imperials really do need some infantry and so today's efforts were largely focused on getting some more Blood Angels done.


Captain Machiavi and his honour guard along with Tactical squads of the Blood Angels 3rd Company.


The fighting on Dekkian was protracted and brutal, this combined with the emotional resonance of fighting against some of the very same traitors who besieged the Imperial Palace itself resulted in many of the Blood Angels contingent giving in to the rage and joining the ranks of the Death Company.


A Marauder Bomber of Helmawr Flight overflies a Blood Angels strike force.

That's a big plane!

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
That's a big plane!

Well it is a strategic bomber after all!

Today sees some more reinforcements for the Blood Angels, I just need to get some devastators painted and then I'll have painted the entire 3rd Company.


Assault Squads of the 3rd Company follow a Chapter hero and his Honour Guard into battle.


Along with the 3rd and 4th Companies a contingent of 1st Company Terminators was assigned to the Angelus Crusade, their heavy armour would prove invaluable in boarding actions and other close quarter engagements throughout the siege.


Ever wary of the traitor's air support the Blood Angels made use of Hunters to protect their formations from aerial attack.

Thanks for the scale shot! Looks like the bomber is flying high over the tiny little marines! The Blood Angels look great, the contrast paint works really well on the epic minis!

A few reinforcements for my Night Lords today.


Travelling between fortified positions was always a tense time for the Imperial garrison of Dekkian Primus as VIIIth Legion raiding forces stalked the ruined city and ambushed the unwary.


Two Xiphon Interceptors of Corvo Flight patrol the skies.


Marauder Bombers of Helmawr Flight fight for their lives as they are set upon by Corvo Flight.

Excitingly these additions mean I now have everything I need for my 3000pts list painted, I'm looking forward to seeing it hit the battlefield when the bio-alert lifts over Dekkian!


Night Lords 3000pts

Tactical Detachment, The Shadow Flayers - Lord Commander, 4 Heavy Support Squads, Hyperios, Rhinos - 650pts

Terminator Detachment, The Morderci - 5 Terminators, Teleport - 425pts

Assault Marine Detachment, The Unguis Raptus - Chaplain - 350pts

Land Raider Squadron, Nostromo's Vengeance - 4 Land Raider Phobos - 320pts

Sicaran Battle Squadron, The Hidden Blade - 4 Sicaran Venators - 300pts

Interceptor Attack Wing, Corvo Flight - 250pts

Reaver Titan, Vitiosus Barbara - Veteran Princeps, Apocalypse Missile Launcher, Laser Blaster, Gatling Blaster - 700pts

Today's update brings armoured support for both forces.


The Blood Angels of the Angelus Crusade did not rely solely on the Astra Militarum for their armoured support. Whilst they could not match the Leman Russ companies of the 53rd Armoured, squadrons of Predator and Vindicator tanks inflicted heavy losses on the traitor forces. Squadrons of Vindicators, like the one pictured above, proved particularly useful in urban warzones such as Dekkian Primus. Their siege shields allowed them to advance unhindered by rubble or enemy fire whilst the shells of their demolisher cannons could level the most dug in of enemy positions in a single volley.


The Night Lords also valued the destructive power of the Vindicator chassis and its demolisher cannon. The squadron pictured above, Nostramo's Furies, was responsible for the loss of an entire company of Steel Legion Infantry when they shattered the Commercia the guardsmen were holding and brought it crashing down on the heads of its erstwhile garrison.


The Night Lords also deployed squadrons of the versatile Predator tanks. While their autocannon turrets could comfortably engage any foe, the lascannon sponsons on the tanks of The Haunter's Blades suggests that this unit specialised in hunting armoured foes.

Looking nice. I also like how you've got the new vs. old model vehicles split between the forces for some character and differentiation.

Vejut wrote:
Looking nice. I also like how you've got the new vs. old model vehicles split between the forces for some character and differentiation.

Thank you! I'm quite happy with how the vehicle split worked out, it fits with the Night Lords being veterans of the heresy whilst the Blood Angels represent the Chapter in the 41st Millennium.

Some big guns for the Blood Angels today:


The presence of the Legio Cruor and the large armoured contingent fielded by Vadik's Night Lords meant that the Blood Angels relied heavily on their Devastator squads and squadrons of Predator Annihilators. Whilst they could not take on the larger Battle Titans, their mobile and concentrated firepower could blunt the traitor's armoured spearheads and even seriously imperil lone Warhound Titans.

The Devastator detachment also means I can now field the entirety of the Blood Angels 3rd Company! Time to start working on the 4th!


The 3rd Company of the Blood Angels Chapter assemble prior to launching an assault on the traitor positions in Dekkian Primus. They are joined here by a detachment of the Archangels, 1st Company Terminators, two squadrons of battle tanks from the Armoury and a contingent of the fearsome Death Company. The 3rd Company had subdued entire worlds in other warzones but the Angelus Crusade saw them deployed alongside their brothers in the 4th. Such was the strength of arms the daemonic Prince Vadik had gathered to his banner that even the combined strength of two whole Battle Companies could not decide the conflict on their own, instead they acted in support of the Astra Militarum as a spearhead or strategic reserve, striking at key positions or repulsing breakthroughs by Vadik's forces.