I could use your collective input. I have a number of project son the go at the moment. One of them is to create the complete pantheon (spelling?) of Imperial Space Marine Primarchs, either as they would have been in life or as they are now ( Chaos ).

I have a sculptor lined up who is pretty good, of course he's now asking me the obvious questions like, what should they look like? how tall should they be? etc etc....

I have some ideas, but I thought it would make a nice discussion point here on Dakka!

So my questions are:

a) What should they look like, as a group or individually? Is there a buring desire to see a particular Primarch in a particular pose or style? ( No guarantees I'll get him made that way, but if I use your idea I'll send you a copy of the finished miniature!! promise. )

b) How tall would you imagine they should be in gaming terms? I don't want to make a 18ft statue, but the Leman Russ figure GW made a while back is crap and the scale is ridiculous when you read the fluff, so what is the right size in (mm)?

c) How would you use these miniatures in gaming terms? what would be their stats? and would you dare to use them at the head of your army at a local GW?

Thanks for your input guys! I can't wait to read your answers!

Regards

Delephont

Well, according to the fluff they were much taller than "Normal" Marines. I also got that impression from reading the Horus Heresy stuff. If you look at the Epic WH40K stuff the Primarchs were modelled taller as well, but that may have been an Iconic thang rather than intention.

I did take a look at the Epic stuff, but I think those renditions are a little childish, and I'd like to get mine made for WH40K scale rather then Epic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HORUS-HERESY-WARMASTER-HORUS-primarch-of-Lunar-Wolves_W0QQitemZ220090632197QQcategoryZ44118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/HORUS-HERESY-SANGUINIUS-primarch-of-Blood-Angels_W0QQitemZ220091114202QQcategoryZ44124QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Posted By Delephont on 03/25/2007 10:40 PM
Which means the Inquisitor scale figures could be a good starting point.

Hey there.

The primarchs have some figures out there, but your going to have to hunt them in terms of specifics.

To start with, the figures are ( In game) about a head taller then the old 25 MM/ 28 mm, making them around 30 MM, however in the terms of the second/ third edition figures, they sat on the 40mm bases, or in Epic scale, they are the size of a greater demon. Forgeworld if I remember rightly, ( Or was it Armorcast) had the resin figures of the greater demon primarchs Magnus the red, and whoever the Nurgle primarch is. There was another of Eacxh of the greater demon scale types for the other primarchs, and the loyalist MArine primarchs were in either 35-40 mm scale, depending on the time that you were able to aquire them.

In Rogue trader, one of the earlier dioramas made with rogue trader stuff covered the twelve primarchs on a hill, and the emperor was looking like he does in the Mike Mcvey Diorama, such as the one with Horus standing over Saganus, the primarch of the Blood Angels. The emperor was built using a terminator with a head from one of the Grail Knights, and Saganious's wings were those of the great eagle of the fantasy range.

There is a book out there, either one of the now defunct codexes, or a White Dwarf with the Primarchs in it, lined up along the magazine with the names under the models.

The White Dwarf was one in the days when Epic was still available, because a couple of them are in that scale.

If I were to make them, I would be using the INQUISITOR scale figures, and use parts from the larger figures, such as the eagle wings for Saganius, and the deamon prince ( both fantasy and 40k) models for the chaos traitor legions.

There is a couple of space marines out there, as well, and the new terminators to me come to mind for some good odd scales, combining the new plastic Terminators with some of the older smaller scale Terminators for the scale enhancement.

Sangurious (spelling?) of the Blod Angels should have armor that looks stripped down and more streamlined to make it look like his wings can actually lift him. This would also go for any mutated Deamon priarchs with wings.

Morion of the Death Guard might be the easiest and best place to start. He was described as having a "Grim Reaper" appearance so a cloak would cover much of his back. That being said, not too much should be covered or else he will just look like a giant monk. The hood needs to be up, but pulled back far enough to see his face and colar/chestplate of his power armor. Maybe a belt loosely tied around the waist so the robe will open enoug to see a leg. His skin needs to be exposed on his hand and face to see his semi-rotten flesh. Add in some gargoyle like wings coming out of his robe on his back. Don't forget the robe needs to be tattered and torn. A dramatic pose could be having him pointing with his free hand while holding his sythe in a sweeping motion at his side. This will get away from the classic GW pose of holding a weapon above your head.

Mortarion is a demon prince on a demon world.  He wouldn't even be recognizable as ever having been human at any time in his past.  Except, possibly some disease-ravaged vestage of Terminator armor that he wore when he embraced chaos.

Actually, if there's a good figure of Abaddon, that would be useful as a basis for the Primarchs.

  Horus is a fairly simple design. Since Abbaddon is his clone-son he would be proportioned about the same, with the talon of Horus (wierd lightningclaw) on one hand and a similar one on the other hand. I would have his terminator armor have a texture to it, instead of smooth plates. Basically make him look like he carved his suit from a giant block of granite. Then have cables running all over it with a giant Mark of Chaos undivided on one shoulder. Maybe have one hand doing an upward slash. (just think Wolverine from the X-men).

  Guiliman would HAVE to have the Gaultlettes of ultramar (the powerfists that Calgar has now) and terminator armor. It is Heavy in the fluff that he used them after taking them from a deamon prince. As he is the "vanilla" primarch he should not be too flashy. However, to make him look unique, make the colar line of his armor and the "trim" all over his armor a more agular look. Instead of smooth curves, just have multiple angles. I have always thought that the twin powerfists gave the Calgar model a little too much top weight. I say you should just go with it. Make his terminator armor have "pectoral muscels". Not in an obvious George Cloony-Batman kind of way, just enough to see it without knowing that they are intentional pec-muscels in his armor.

  THe Ravenguard primarch is one of the few that I would consider leaving the helmet on. A "beaky" marine helmet with the design of a raven head on it would look best. Definately have a pare of lightning claws. Make the claws be siraded, kind of like a fist full of Rambo knives. He would most likely have had a jetpack . Though it would look diffferent from modern marine jump equipement. Probably like a Hybrid of marine jump packs with Chaos raptor jumpacks. Make it somewhat pointy with the exhaust near the centerline of his back. Instead of having him on his feet, have a blast of fire from the jumppack holding him up a half inch or so. That way it looks like he is just taking off.

  I also have an idea for the Iron warriors Primarch. Iron warriors are NOT know for being mutated much. So, although he should be larger than a "normal" primarch, keep him as human looking as possible. Iron warriors are also very utalitarian. Anything that is not needed should be left off. His hemlet should look like a 13th Century heavy calvary helmet, angled with a vertical line in front of the mouth with airholes. However, leave the part of the hemet over the eyes open. Design the rest of the armor acordingly. Definately add two servoarms. As Iron warriors are not known to be a precission force or suttle a sword is NOT fitting. Stick with their 'fortress breaking" background and give him a power mace and bolt pistol.

  He's the Primarch of the Iron Hearts, I believe.  Just an obscure throwaway reference in the short story "Hell in a Bottle" by Simon Jowett published in Into the Maelstrom.  I suppose he's as "canon" as anything else in an official source, but not of much particular interest except as trivia.  He appears to be the best candidate for a Lost Primarch available, though. 

   As for the Primarch himself, a tied-back ponytail, with windswept beard and braided mustach. His arms should NOT have armor on them to give him better movement on the saddle. This being said a wrist mounted bracelette and small sheild do seem appropriate.

  Well, that's the most reasonable explanation.  Presumably the novel was vetted by Games Workshop's crack team of copy editors and continuity experts, though. 

  I just personally find it amusing when the Great Mysteries of 40K are punctured by some obscure reference.