Tactical Squad Alejandro WIP

Right, I'm far, far too impatient to wait to set stuff up, so here's the WIP first half of Tactical Squad Alejandro, including a Shrike that's been on Deathwatch duty. This was an excuse to test out painting and highlighting black on a Marine. Oh course, if I'd known I'd be this happy, this would be a Raven Guard army, so I guess it's a good thing for you Shrike fans :P Excuse the sloppy silver, as I get so bored of being neat with it, especially with the GW base silver. Mine always goes very runny, even after two pots' worth. All these guys need now is the silver washing and highlighting, the black highlighting. any eyes and purity seals completed and then basing and transfers (so not much then :P)

It's gone a bit quiet, and a small change of plans

So...been a while! I haven't disappeared into the ether, although there have been some changes!

First, I now have a decent camera, and a lightbox to use them with. These are both new to me, so I've been playing about with them to get things how I'd like, which hopefully explains the lack of recent photos and posts.

Secondly, and also dealing with the above, I haven't done as much painting as I'd like. Call it being busy, call it laziness, call it Titanfall, but I've been fairly slow. I've built plenty, including a Tactical squad, a second Sternguard unit and the two Web Captains, but painting wise I've been behind. This will change however as I get back into the flow of things.

So, with excuses out of the way, what have I actually been doing hobby wise...?

Well...the first thing is I am now the owner of a small Scions force of 1500 pts or so. The models were too nice to resist, and although gaming wise I think they'll get battered, there's something about small elite armies of Special Forces types that totally appeals to me! These will also be tied into the Fourth Shrine War, and show that normal humans (even if they are trained killers from birth) can surprise even Astartes.

Also, and I know this will be a disappointment to some, I've changed my mind on which Chaos legion to paint as my army. I was umming and ahing over a few, but I happened to read Vengeful Spirit last week,and that sealed the deal.

The tale of Wosnek Terra-Born and his sorceror 'The Vermille Hexatude' will hopefully be as fun for you all to read as it will be for me to write. The Crimson Shrikes will look into a dark mirror, and emerge changed for all time.

Demi-Squad Yestine

'It is said that any brother of the Crimson Shrikes Astartes chosen to be elevated to the elite of the First Company must undertake a series of trials to prove they are worthy, the most notorious of which is known as 'The Piercing'. The megafauna of the Shrikes' homeworld is covered in barbs as long as a man's arm, and covered in the most virulent toxins. The chosen is taken to a suitable tree, and subjects himself to having these thorns pushed through his body. He is then left to hang for nine days and nine nights, a sacrifice of himself to the Emperor. The toxins wash through his blood, causing hallucinations and visions to fill the Astartes' mind. Not all Marines survive this torment, and those that do are said to have some foresight of future events granted unto them, including the manner of their death. Whatever the truth, the warriors of the First Company, also known as the 'Thorn Wreath', are brooding, Introspective souls. They let the screams of the heretic and the crash of the Bolter speak for them'

'Rituals of the Raven Guard and Successors' - Tominas Rotajz

Below can be seen Demi-Squad Yestine of the First, led by Jor Yestine. These brothers were a fearsome force during the initial phases of the War, and Jor was the obvious choice to lead 'Hunter Revealed' after the mortal wounding of Captain Shraane. Indeed, after the War's conclusion, Brother Yestine's command capabilities and consistent tactical excellence even against the forces of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion led to his promotion to Captain of the Ninth Company. 

Productive days and The War Escalates.

So, with the (relatively) lovely weather we're having, I've spent a productive day getting models sprayed and prepped for future painting. There won't be much actual work put into the below, but I just wanted to show how the army will develop over the months and years. But first some WIP's of my Sternguard, which I really need to finish but just seem to be avoiding!

They seem a little washed out here, but the robes look really nice in the flesh. I really do have to get a decent camera and soon! They just need the arms and weapons completing and they'll be ready to go.

Next, a few little additions to the Shrikes' motor pool. The Rhino with the Stalker front is the personal transport of the Captain of the 3rd, and not because I forgot to actually put it on my Stalker at all....

And a small pile of bits and pieces that will be getting a lick of paint sooner or later. This includes a Contemptor, two Thunderfire Cannons on which the Techmarines have had arm swaps to try and make them look different, and my new Captain armed with the Teeth of Terra and storm bolter. The Marines will eventually be a Devastator unit, but I'm not in a rush for those just yet.

My Knight in his current state. Two washes of Nuln Oil give a nice look to the metals, which will then be drybrushed with Leadbelcher and Ironbreaker, before pinpoint washes with Typhus Corrosion in joints and bolts that wouldn't move much. The armour plates will be a mix of Stegadon Scale Green with highlights, yellow and black hazard striping and bronze edging, which will have Nilkanth Oxide washed over. The intention is to make this Knight look like a machine that has existed for over fifteen thousand years, which also leads me to ask...anyone have any good weathering techniques? Never done it before but I think a small amount would look really good on the plates.

And finally...

The horrors of the Ethnarch in the Fourth Shrine War have lead to a sector-wide charnel house of death and pain. The weeping and terror of mortals on every planet have created a heady musk of fear that draws dark beings from a time long forgotten. The Pleasure-Flayers of the 3rd legion translate into the Kerishian system...

House Erritian

'For over fifteen thousand years our House has endured. We have seen the mistakes of your Imperium. The kinstrife of the War of the Fallen Son, through the battles of Thor to the current days of the Fall of Man. We endured, and we prospered. And now we are in our darkest hour. Your conspiring and your treachery have brought the great usurper to our doorstep, and threatened our homeworld. We must unleash our greatest paladins to bring ruin to this horror. But be aware, son of the Corpse-Emperor, do not mistake our assistance as compliance..'

Intercepted transmission

Knight Baron Qzu-Lau, Frost-Breaker, Jade Serpent, Star-Render, Lord of the Knight House Erritian.

Demi Squad Yestine and Librarian Hetyrn Kylesa

Been a while...!

I haven't really had the motivation to paint for the last few months due to my personal life not quite going as well as I'd like. However, I'm feeling a lot better now, and thought it was time to start working on more Shrikes. This will only be a quick update, but hopefully will show what's next to be finished.

Sternguard Demi-Squad Yestine. These will have a couple of combi-plasmas when done.

Also, as a treat to myself, I've started to crack into my Librarian, Hetyrn Kylesa. I've gone for a slightly different way of painting him, using Stegadon Scale Green as a base and highlighting with Sotek Green and Temple Guard Blue. It should work well against the usual red of the Shrikes, and will be a very nice change from red 

These are basic WIP's, but hopefully give an idea of how they will look when done!

Zaiden Shraane,Captain of the III Company

'What can be said about my brother Zaiden Shraane? That he was the best of us, an exemplar of the Shrikes. He fought war like a man born for it. His commitment to a battle would be the turning tide. The fields of Ghemsecht, Adrim's Sorrow, the Tropon Conflagration. All won by decisive blows applied by Shraane.

His death on Kerishian Seven-Alpha robbed us of our future just as much as the Black Deep Atrocity did'

Talak d'Eletin, I Company, Crimson Shrikes Adeptus Astartes

'They call me 'The Revered' now. The truth is all I ever see in my brothers' eyes is shame'

Anicent Shraane, 'The Revered' - Dreadnought, Crimson Shrikes Adeptus Astartes

''Hunter Revealed', the assault force of Shrikes deployed onto Kerishian, were led by Brother-Captain Shaane. His tactical acuity and rapid assaults against rebel elements drove the fight to the Ethnarch. This would have broken any sane man. Shraane's mistake was to forget that the Ethnarch was mad. Insane enough to try any method to save himself from retribution. His response, and the insults to both the Shrikes and Shraane's honour, led to the mortal wounding of Shraane at the height of the war, and the rise of Brother Yor Jestine of the I Company to nominal leader until the resolution of the conflict'

Inquisitor Judia Isut - 'To Drift Like Fire'