Oh, promises, you know how real life can be! I haven't had any time to paint, so I guess some of you will be disappointed with this rather short update.
We are starting up a campaign tomorrow, discussing the final rules we will use and setting up the Planetary Empire tiles to get a map going. So I'll need to have about 3-400 pts ready by the start of October. My death company miniatures will help a lot to reach this milestone, yet I feel it might not be the most optimal 1000 points army I can produce it will still be lovely to actually play for once!
I'm going to make a few changes and try to push to finish the following before october starts:
- Chaplain
- 5 Death Company Marines (1 done, 2 almost done, 2 built)
- Death Company Razorback
- 10 Tactical Marines
- Normal Razorback (the one with the wings)
- 2 Dreadnought Autocannons
- 2 Twin-linked Assault Cannons (for razorbacks)
As you can see it looks like a though task for someone that paints as slowly as I do :D
But since I'm pushing I figured I had to move along with the chaplain. Seeing as a chaplain is either a HQ or an elite choice for at least 100 pts its a good filler (that can still pack some punch if used correctly!).
And while thinking about the different weapon options available to a chaplain I finally gave in and decided to use a weapon I have my doubts about (the hand flamer). However it suits my concept for the particular miniature very well. I'm not 100% sure on the fluff about this particular character and the chapter as a whole and their tight connection to these Huma birds (or Phoenixes). What I've considered is (please know I have limited knowledge into the actual warhammer 40k storyline, so I might be making some unacceptable assumptions):
- The feathers from these birds is a symbol for the chapter (the feather of a huma bird is said to glow brighter than a torch and it will glow forever, hence the lonely white feather that you will see more of on coming miniatures). It acts as a bringer of hope on a planet otherwise mostly covered in ash wastes with extreme temperature variations (and perpetual darkness where only volcanoes and a few choice creatures would emit light at all).
- The birds themselves are highly intelligent (I consider them in ways comparable with double-headed eagles that librarians keep as familiars, but self-reliant to a greater extent) and are trained as a part of induction into chaplaincy (and replaces their crozius arcanum as a badge of office). They would fight along the chaplains much like a trained attack dog and their incredible body heat and sharp claws mean they are considered to be like power weapons in game terms.
- The birds would be born of fire (and die in fire) and are therefore drawn to it, meaning that chaplains and battle-brothers of the chapter more often prefer to use melta weapons and flamers in order for the birds to have something to home in on (and join the fray).
I felt like I just had to equip my chaplain with a hand flamer to go along with his "pet". I've done some work on him since last update, added a "scroll" along the groin (which would be odd when your pet is a burning bird, but.. Well, I don't know - pretty much every chaplain miniature has one of these scrolls).
I decided to incorporate some skulls onto him, since that's the most consistent imagery for chaplains. So I built one into one of his greaves and added one to the backpack. I believe the skulls are both from Chaos Space Marine boxes.
Apart from that I continued on the flowing fabrics hanging out from the back of his armour. The plastic part is actually from the Empire General/Standard Bearer box and the other pieces are from a soda can. They help to add a little movement to the miniature (which was needed). Another part from Empire boxes is the "vials" on his belt, they are ammo boxes from Empire handgunners, but I will paint them as blood vials.
And, Tossidin, you mentioned that the miniature was a little stale (static was your choice of word), this is actually something I did on purpose. He will be the leader of the death company for now, and all other miniatures in that squad has running legs. I figured that the chaplain (at least in my chapter) would actually be the calm one in such a squad. Slowly but purposely moving along his frenzied brothers, letting his bird be a symbol for what awaits them (should they die with a burning heat they will be reborn anew to once again fight for the emperor) and therefore they would fight even harder!
Those of you with keen eyes might notice the melted piece of the backpack. The shoulderpad is equally melted as well as parts of his armour along the arm, I imagine that these birds are periodically so hot they actually inflict melta damage the armour of their owner!
Wow, wall of text!
Here he is! And I've almost done what I need to do before I can start to painting him:
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What do you think about the bird, is the legs to wide? Should I try to redo them (thin them a bit, maybe add more definition to the feet/claws?)? I'm leaning towards at least making the legs thinner - but I'd like your input!
Just realized the pictures might not be good enough to even answer the question
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Tomorrow we're having an evening dedicated to painting warhammer. Hopefully I'll finish of two marines then and progress on the death company rhino! If I do, there's a tutorial for you!
Hold your thumbs for an update tomorrow then!
Till next time