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I probably should have started this log a little earlier, but at least starting it at this point my painting is much further along. Everything is still in the initial base coat stage with some models still requiring a little more before are start to perform the clean up and second base coat. Normally I would go with a wash stage, and I still plan on applying a wash. however, I think I am going to try a more limited wash that I normally perform. The first reason is I want these miniatures to have a very clean look. The second reason is the fact that they are already black, so I don't think a total wash is really going to change anything.

I also plan on trying different techniques that I haven't before. Due to the largely black color used, I want to try edge highlighting. I am thinking of going with a neutral or dark grey but mulling over the idea of using a dark blue. I still want to study other painters stuff before commuting. I also have to decide if I am going to try using more than my typical black, earthshade and sepia washes since these models are more colorful that what I usually paint.

On to the pictures:


This is Galvanius a Black Legion Chaos Lord. I am trying for a ghostly green power sword and haven't decided if I just want to go with white or maybe a white with a bit of yellow. For the faces in the armor I am thinking of going with a gunmetal color with the idea that the Warp has altered it and it is constantly shifting and moving with the souls of the victims of the marine wearing it.


This is Saturmorn Carvilli and the same photo I uses for my avatar picture. Up close the model really shows where I need to go over with a second coat of paint.


The Chosen, unlike Saturmorn, I wanted white loin cloths to differiate them from the indepentant character. As of right now, the Chosen with the strange tongue thing has it painted pink. I don't know if I am going to keep it as I don't like the feature and would prefer to mute it so at a couple feet I don't really notice it.


Initiates (Cultists) squad Juarez. I tried to incorporate dark greens and browns into this squad to make it a little easier to separate them from the other squad but not so much I couldn't blend the two later. For the champion I wanted orangish hair as he kinda reminds me of Sting from Dune. I don't know if I like the yellow on his lapels though. Maybe it will look better with a wash. If it doesn't, I can always go back to black.


Initiates (Cultists) Hector. I went with a blood red, dark grey and browns for this squad. I think the red Chaos Stars really pop, however; I also kinda think it makes them look like followers of Khorne. So I am thinking of switching to the yellow I used for the shotgun champion of the other squad's lapels instead. I haven't quite decided as I will have to change this on several models and I don't know if it will look as good as the red.


The Hellbrute, Tripticus. The backstory for him is he was fairly recently a Chaos Dreadnought that underwent drastic mutation into the hellbrute (this is the reason why he is crazed in Scenario 1 in Dark Vengeance). I don't know if I am going to keep the parasite thing pink as once again I kinda think is feels connected to a Chaos god when it matches their color. However, it is a really good contrast to the black and bronze.


I don't have a backstory for him yet beyond fallen Dark Angel captain. Strangely, this model is one my least painted yet most photogenic. I am also going to try and multi-layer on the wings. I am trying to given this a slightly khaki-tan color with whitish tips to show these Fallen have dirty wings. I don't know how well I am going to pull it off though.


Fallen Dark Angel Librarian/Dark Apostle, Benediction Nold.


Fallen Dark Angels Tactical Squad. Part of me wants to reverse the colors of the arrow and Dark Angel insigna. However, both of those colors are a real pain to work with and I don't want the huge arrow to stand out any more than it has to. Also, I decided that my army uses Neon infused plasma aka inferno plasma which is reddish-orange and glows like hellfire. Hence using orange instead of the usual blue.


Fallen Dark Angel Terminator squad. I wasn't sure if I was going to stick with black armor the whole army through, but I think it works pretty well for the Terminators. The cords on the Sergeant are a darker red than that of the insigna, but I don't think it contrasts enough. I am considering a golden yellow maybe highlighted with bronze to stand out more.


Fallen Dark Angel bikers. I still need to go over the Sergent's robe with white and paint the inside par blood red.


Chaos Raptors. I tried to get that power fist to look like it was punching out who ever is in base-to-base contact with him. I know its a bit silly.


Chaos Space Marines. They don't have bases as they are from the new box with the rhino and come with the 32mm bases. This puts me in a delima. Most of what I have his on 25mm slotta and l like them more than the 32mm (I don't like basing and tend to do bare minimum). However, the future is 32mm. So do I buy more 25mm and base these guys to match or do I buy 32mm and try and convert before I go too far. Or do I just not worry about it. AAARRRGG!



Rhino in Black Legion colors. I am not one fore kit bashing or modifications. Although, after seeing some plastic trimming on other people's tanks I wouldn't mind adding a little to this tank. Technically I did make a slight modification removing the rotting head (gross, people have to ride around that rhino ya know) fence post with a broken off spike. I also made due with the parts I had to make an infrared spot light hatch plug. Note the loyalist dark angel helmet.

That is what I have so far. Next time I hope to have one of the units at least to the wash stage if not past it. It will probably be the cultists as I have the least interest in painting them. That will motivate me to finish them so I can paint the stuff I want to. If anyone has suggestions on what colors I go with or places I can look into for the techniques I plan on using please add a post. I feel I am a competent tabletop quality painter, but don't have any outstanding talent.

I will also take advice on units I should look to add later on as I develop this army further as a Black Legion force with fallen Dark Angels. Except for Cypher, I am already seriously considering him as I think he would be the perfect named character for this army.

Your guys look amazing. I have a buddy whose starting chaos.

I know you're pain about the bases, I have 30k Death Guard on 32's and 40k SM's on 25's. They look so weird next to each other...

I appreciate you saying that. Like I said, these models are at the initial base coat stage of my painting process. I still want to go over then again making sure I have an even coverage over everything and start to get the details painted in. I will say I really like the Black Legion color scheme.

About the bases, part of me is thinking of popping off the Raptor bases off to cannibalize them from some of the Chaos Space Marines. However, that still leaves me 5 short in which I have considered maybe also popping the HQ/Independent Character ones off even though they are slotta. I think it all depends on what I can find at my FLGS.

Galvanius, a Chaos Lord of the Black Legion

I think I am just about down with the base coat and have already put a little wash in places. Now that I'm able to get a good look as some the details though this photo, I can see some places I need to touch up. I also think I want to add some black to the plasma pistol and probably give it a wash in black as well. I still need to finish the eye of Horus too.

I like my work with the sword blade. Although, it did come out a little more ghostly than I originally intended. I do wonder if maybe I should also hit it with a light dry brush of white.

I have been able to go back put some more paint on what has already been shown, but not too much overall. The main reason is I have added even more to my collection in terms of Chaos Space Marines. I like to have a bit of color on everything so I can use them on the tabletop as quickly as possible with a rough tabletop standard. Once everything is pretty much there I go back with a second look on the base coat step before moving on to the next.


For the fallen Dark Angels I have managed to get all of their robes painted white and much of the little details save for the terminators which still need a little more work on their accessories and bling. I have a second Rhino which once again isn't all that Chaos-afied. I like the cleaner look, and I am not much over converting to add trim even though I think it would really make the vehicles really standout.


I am almost done with getting the bronze part of the Black Legion troops. I have a couple of Warp Talons that still need painting before I can go through and make sure all the trim has a good base coat on it. I would still like to fill in a few details, but I wouldn't feel too bad gaming with them as is now. Eventually, I need to come up with a plan for the CSM horns. I am thinking going with a sort of white changing to dark gray like bullhorns, but I don't know if I can satisfactorily pull of the effect.


I have most of the work on the Fallen Dark Angel company master save going back and cleaning up some errant brush strokes. I do like the colors for him though. I think they really work well.

This pretty much cover the most dramatic appearance changes for my collection. Now it is is just of matter of getting the detials filled in and cleaning up mistakes. Might be some time before the next update as I don't think there will be enough change in the miniatures to really see it outside a side-by-side comparison.

I am also pretty happy with what I have as it allows me more than enough to field a 1000 point army with choices of just CSM marines. I think I could easily get up to 1500 and maybe 1850 with everything as well. I have my doubts in this force being anything close to competitive no mater the points levels save Kill Team, but I think it could still be fun.

I have finally managed to get a couple squads past the wash step of painting. I still want to go back and perform some highlight work on them. That won't be until I get most of the rest of the collection caught up with them. I am just glad to have gotten the cultist out of the way as I am not particularly interested in them as a player even if they are important to every Dark Vengeance mission.





I have also placed a first coat of texture on the bases for nearly everything. It is thin enough that I know I am going to need to go back at place another coat. I wanted to be able to get this first application on the base so I could get around the feet before I get too far along. I know that a little bit of wash is going to get on the, but that should be covered up by the second application.

I am not so sure about the sides of the base's color. I kinda think it looks a little off being a lighter color that the top and prefer a slightly darker color as it is the side technically getting a little less light. However, I don't want to go with black as I am expecting these miniatures will mostly see use on my snow mat which oddly enough isn't what I use to photograph on. I just never felt the green vegetation looks right with Chaos Space Marines. I am thinking of going with a neutral gray for the sides which may be pretty close to the color of the texture paint Astrogranite. I figure even if this gray is really close, I with be dry brushing the top of the base to lighten it up some. This should look decent enough for my bare bones basing style.