I've never done a project log before, so bear with me....
Since reading Angels Exterminatus I've been smitten with the Lord of Iron and his embittered legion; the backbiting, distrust of one another, the emperor and the Chaos Gods struck me as a legion who are 'aligned' to chaos merely because no one else accepted their mathematical approach to war. Victory is not an abstract concept, it is the equation that sits at the heart of strategy. Victory is the will to expend lives and munitions in attack, overmatching the defenders' reserves of manpower and ordnance, Purturabo once said; for me nothing sums up the grimdark better!
While the legion was winning wars and expanding the Imperium - cos daddy said so - the others gained the glory.
I often commute by train to work, which gave me a fair while to read all the BL books that had caught my eye; so I started reading McNeil's Ultramarines/Iron Warriors crossover series; you know, the one with Honsou - 40k's biggest asshole with no shits to give!
My aim is to create a few smaller armies, generally geared towards 40k, but I would like to move into 30k eventually so I'm building VERY fluffy lists with very little 'chaos' symbology; 'cos who needs gods when you have super heavies!
I have updated this post on 16/01/17 to rework the project list to align with the 2016 Traitor Legion Codex Supplement (which is friggin' aces faces).
I try and keep track on how I'm getting on with a simple colour code system:
Red = Don't have, need to buy
Orange = Got, but in a box/needs making
Green = Primed and ready to paint
Black/White = Complete
It’s a total of 7050 points (excluding the fortifications, but they will probably end up being over 1000 points anyway), and I'm pretty impressed with how much chaos I actually have given that I only started this about a year ago. (Ebay FTW!)
My current lists are as follows:
Iron Warriors Combined Arms Detachment
IW; RELICS OF OLYMPIA - 2000pts
(1xHQ, 2xTp, 3xEL, 1xFA, 1xHvy, 1xLOW)
Warpsmith; The Forgemaster (HH Forgelord)
Breacher Marines (20)
Cultists (10)
Ferrum Infernus (plastic ven dread conversion) (HH)
Contemptor (HH)
Contemptor (HH)
Storm Eagle (HH)
Fire Raptor (HH)
Typhon Siege Tank (Veteran of the Scouring)
This lot are the ancients of the legion, the Heresy era Relics of the armoury still maintained by the Forgemaster (who will also be my 30k Forgelord). I have tried to build them so the majority can be used in either 30k or 40k with breacher marines being standard CSM in 40k, and the cultists being potentially used as human axillary in 30k.
I recently got the Death Masque box and will be using the dread in there as the Ferrum dread, using an LR Crusader flamestorm cannon. I'll be bulking him out with lots of extra plasticard armour and ablative plating to make him a viable siege dread.
I have made a fair bit of progress on the building of this detachment, with only the breachers and ferrum dread still to make, and (only) the flyers still to purchase.
I have got to do a bit of work on the bases for everyone, as they're pretty rough at the moment.
Iron Warriors Grand Battalion Detachment
IW; HOUNSOU's WARBAND - 1250pts
Warsmith Honsou; The Halfbreed
Chosen + The Newborn (9) + Rhino
Bolter Marines (10, 2xMelta, 1xCombi) + Rhino
Bolter Marines (5)
Raptors (5, 1x LC, 2xFlamer)
Bikes (5)
Autocannon Havocs (5, 4x Autocannon)
Defence line + ammo dump (fort 3)
This is where I plan to make Honsou and the main characters from the BL books; Vaanes has made it into the Raptors squad, The Newborn is the champion of the Chosen squad and Grendel appears in there as well. I toyed with the idea of making Grendel a champion, but he just isn't - he barely bothered to turn up, let alone lead people!
I have also included an ADL in this list because to use the 'Grand Battalion' Detachment requires minimum 1no Warband and 1no Aux; which in this case is the fortification slot. It makes an easy 12500 point base for me to add on formations or other detachments without having to worry about which unit/formation forms the 'core'.
Lords of the Legion
CSM; HQs - 750pts
Terminator Lord; The Siegebreaker (HH Warsmith)
Sorcerer
Dark Apostle; The Burning Brand
Daemon Prince
The Lord will be a conversion of the Iron Hands 'Iron Father' model, and will double as my HH Praetor/Warsmith. I plan to sculpt a mace for him to wield which will be a two handed affair as close to the codex description as possible; a large sphere of gloss black. I'm also toying with the idea of putting the combi bolter on a servo arm rather than hand held, as this would be more in keeping with the rest o the model; servo arms, bionics and MIU's.
I will be using the DV lord for the Sorcerer as he seems to be the best model for this proxy, and want to create an Apostle that embodies the Iron Warriors version of chaos allegiance (I'm thinking more advisor to the Commander, than an actual apostle of the gods). I'm planning on giving the apostle the 'Burning Brand' from Codex CSM and keeping him as a front line body to keep cultists/slaves from running away (imagine the Russian commissars in WW2; no retreat!)
The Daemon Prince is a tricky one; RAW means he will be dedicated to a particular god, but in practice I don’t want there to be any iconography, conversely I don’t want him to be a useless points sink. I played around with load outs on battlescribe and think I'm going to go with a winged, power armoured, tzeentch aligned prince with black mace. I plan to use some large engines instead of wings, and instead of being a psyker of tzeentch, he will be a front line heavy hitter, with the "re-roll 1's" modelled as lots of bionics, and vats of engine oil to provide the "luck" aspect.
Formations
STRONGHOLDS OF CHAOS - ??pts
Fortification
Fortification
(Fort 3 included in warband points)
Ages ago, a buddy of mine made me a set of 1' x 1' scenic tiles for gaming. I ended up with an aquilla strong point from a FLGS on the cheap, so we made a couple of 2' x 2' tiles as well. These fortifications slots will be an aquilla strongpoint and a set of vengeance weapons batteries, but I haven't got them out of the loft to actually points them up.
CSM; CULT OF DESTRUCTION - 375pts
Warpsmith; The Malevolus
Obliterators (3) (centurion conversions)
I saw a set of conversions of centurions on Eternal Hunt some time ago, and really wanted to do my own versions. The GW obliterators are, in my opinion, pretty meh… but centurions turned into obliterators could look the NUTS! I have chosen to give the warpsmith no upgrades except a sigil and the cranium malevolus to back up the obliterators.
CSM; FIST OF THE GODS - 1125pts
Warpsmith; The Warpbreacher
Land Raider
Land Raider
Vindicator
Vindicator
Vindicator
Before, I had the land raiders placed into the individual CADs, but now with the restrictions (and apparent uselessness of the chaos land raider) I decided to put the two tanks with some other tanks and make lots of tanks. TANKS!
I really want to make one land raider that Honsou can use (complete with extra armour made from plasticard, shitloads of spikes, and probably some dead imperial fists hung from various meat hooks), and one that I can also use in 30k (so no chaos icons). I will probably take the 30/40k approach to the vindicators as well, and attempt to make them useful for both games.
I've put the land raiders on hold at the moment as I'm playing about with ideas and researching modern armour plating methods. When I do the extra armour, I want it to look authentic and functional rather than just some plasticard stuck to the sides. I made some decent progress with a test run of plasticard on one side, but it needs a lot of refining of how the doors/sponsons will integrate - particularly the doors, as I want to make these magnetised so the door is hinged properly and the inner hatch then opens.
CSM; HELFORGED WARPACK - 750pts
Warpsmith; The Techserpent
Helbrute
Helbrute
Helbrute
Helbrute (metal dread)
Helbrute (metal dread)
I have ended up with a load of dreads/helbrutes from various sources, so I want to make a proper helforged warpack, with each one unique and each one heavily converted (although I might keep one helbrute as per the original DV box set, depending on how lazy I get).
Many ideas, but no progress as yet.
I want to create a complete mix of load outs, with no magnets, but no repetition of weapons at all. The new helbrutes will be anti armour with lascannons, autocannons and plasma cannons and the old metal dreads will be plasma cannons and missile launchers for targeting infantry or light vehicles and walkers.
CSM; TECHSPAWN - 300pts
2x5 Spawn
Primarily a filler slot, but I wanted to make a bunch of crazy mechanoid creations or abortions from the soulforge (not the usual spawn). I'll probably end up bashing some of these together as bits become available.
CSM; TERMINATOR ANNIHILATION FORCE - 750pts
Warsmith Shon'tu (HH Siegebreaker)
Terminators (HH Erasmus Golg)
Terminators (HH Primus Medicae)
Terminators (HH Command Retinue)
I have made a fair bit of progress building these guys, who will be magnetised cataphractii terminators that can be 30k or 40k use, and may also be magentised for launchers to use as Tyrants in 30k. Currently I've got the Tartaros terminators from BoP to make into a HH command retinue, with the standard bearer being the 40k Sgt. These are still on sprue at the moment, until I clear the back log of what I have on the go at the moment.
The first squad will be all chainfists and combi bolters (except the sgt who is also my HH Erasmus Golg proxy who totes his combi melta), second squad is all power fists and combi bolters (except the sgtwho is also my HH Primus medicae, who is combi plasma and power sword), and the third sqaud is kitted out with an autocannon and a variety of power fists, lightning claws and the sgt (my HH standard bearer) with a power weapon and combi flamer.
Ive tried to cover all the bases for their use, and can swap out individuals between the squads depending on who I'm facing. The Terminator Lord will also be my HH siegebreaker, but is armed with combi melta and chainfist (modelled as a huge chainsword from maxmini)
CSM; LOST AND THE DAMNED - 500pts
Dark Apostle (DV conversion)
Cultists (80)
They're not really the 'Lost' but they certainly are damned. Cultists to iron warriors, in this instance, are slaves. Lots of slaves. Meatshields for the meatgrinder!!!
So that's the lot for now, pics will come in the replies below.
Here's my Lord of Iron to start you off!
Since reading Angels Exterminatus I've been smitten with the Lord of Iron and his embittered legion; the backbiting, distrust of one another, the emperor and the Chaos Gods struck me as a legion who are 'aligned' to chaos merely because no one else accepted their mathematical approach to war. Victory is not an abstract concept, it is the equation that sits at the heart of strategy. Victory is the will to expend lives and munitions in attack, overmatching the defenders' reserves of manpower and ordnance, Purturabo once said; for me nothing sums up the grimdark better!
While the legion was winning wars and expanding the Imperium - cos daddy said so - the others gained the glory.
I often commute by train to work, which gave me a fair while to read all the BL books that had caught my eye; so I started reading McNeil's Ultramarines/Iron Warriors crossover series; you know, the one with Honsou - 40k's biggest asshole with no shits to give!
My aim is to create a few smaller armies, generally geared towards 40k, but I would like to move into 30k eventually so I'm building VERY fluffy lists with very little 'chaos' symbology; 'cos who needs gods when you have super heavies!
I have updated this post on 16/01/17 to rework the project list to align with the 2016 Traitor Legion Codex Supplement (which is friggin' aces faces).
I try and keep track on how I'm getting on with a simple colour code system:
Red = Don't have, need to buy
Orange = Got, but in a box/needs making
Green = Primed and ready to paint
Black/White = Complete
It’s a total of 7050 points (excluding the fortifications, but they will probably end up being over 1000 points anyway), and I'm pretty impressed with how much chaos I actually have given that I only started this about a year ago. (Ebay FTW!)
My current lists are as follows:
Iron Warriors Combined Arms Detachment
IW; RELICS OF OLYMPIA - 2000pts
(1xHQ, 2xTp, 3xEL, 1xFA, 1xHvy, 1xLOW)
Warpsmith; The Forgemaster (HH Forgelord)
Breacher Marines (20)
Cultists (10)
Ferrum Infernus (plastic ven dread conversion) (HH)
Contemptor (HH)
Contemptor (HH)
Storm Eagle (HH)
Fire Raptor (HH)
Typhon Siege Tank (Veteran of the Scouring)
This lot are the ancients of the legion, the Heresy era Relics of the armoury still maintained by the Forgemaster (who will also be my 30k Forgelord). I have tried to build them so the majority can be used in either 30k or 40k with breacher marines being standard CSM in 40k, and the cultists being potentially used as human axillary in 30k.
I recently got the Death Masque box and will be using the dread in there as the Ferrum dread, using an LR Crusader flamestorm cannon. I'll be bulking him out with lots of extra plasticard armour and ablative plating to make him a viable siege dread.
I have made a fair bit of progress on the building of this detachment, with only the breachers and ferrum dread still to make, and (only) the flyers still to purchase.
I have got to do a bit of work on the bases for everyone, as they're pretty rough at the moment.
Iron Warriors Grand Battalion Detachment
IW; HOUNSOU's WARBAND - 1250pts
Warsmith Honsou; The Halfbreed
Chosen + The Newborn (9) + Rhino
Bolter Marines (10, 2xMelta, 1xCombi) + Rhino
Bolter Marines (5)
Raptors (5, 1x LC, 2xFlamer)
Bikes (5)
Autocannon Havocs (5, 4x Autocannon)
Defence line + ammo dump (fort 3)
This is where I plan to make Honsou and the main characters from the BL books; Vaanes has made it into the Raptors squad, The Newborn is the champion of the Chosen squad and Grendel appears in there as well. I toyed with the idea of making Grendel a champion, but he just isn't - he barely bothered to turn up, let alone lead people!
I have also included an ADL in this list because to use the 'Grand Battalion' Detachment requires minimum 1no Warband and 1no Aux; which in this case is the fortification slot. It makes an easy 12500 point base for me to add on formations or other detachments without having to worry about which unit/formation forms the 'core'.
Lords of the Legion
CSM; HQs - 750pts
Terminator Lord; The Siegebreaker (HH Warsmith)
Sorcerer
Dark Apostle; The Burning Brand
Daemon Prince
The Lord will be a conversion of the Iron Hands 'Iron Father' model, and will double as my HH Praetor/Warsmith. I plan to sculpt a mace for him to wield which will be a two handed affair as close to the codex description as possible; a large sphere of gloss black. I'm also toying with the idea of putting the combi bolter on a servo arm rather than hand held, as this would be more in keeping with the rest o the model; servo arms, bionics and MIU's.
I will be using the DV lord for the Sorcerer as he seems to be the best model for this proxy, and want to create an Apostle that embodies the Iron Warriors version of chaos allegiance (I'm thinking more advisor to the Commander, than an actual apostle of the gods). I'm planning on giving the apostle the 'Burning Brand' from Codex CSM and keeping him as a front line body to keep cultists/slaves from running away (imagine the Russian commissars in WW2; no retreat!)
The Daemon Prince is a tricky one; RAW means he will be dedicated to a particular god, but in practice I don’t want there to be any iconography, conversely I don’t want him to be a useless points sink. I played around with load outs on battlescribe and think I'm going to go with a winged, power armoured, tzeentch aligned prince with black mace. I plan to use some large engines instead of wings, and instead of being a psyker of tzeentch, he will be a front line heavy hitter, with the "re-roll 1's" modelled as lots of bionics, and vats of engine oil to provide the "luck" aspect.
Formations
STRONGHOLDS OF CHAOS - ??pts
Fortification
Fortification
(Fort 3 included in warband points)
Ages ago, a buddy of mine made me a set of 1' x 1' scenic tiles for gaming. I ended up with an aquilla strong point from a FLGS on the cheap, so we made a couple of 2' x 2' tiles as well. These fortifications slots will be an aquilla strongpoint and a set of vengeance weapons batteries, but I haven't got them out of the loft to actually points them up.
CSM; CULT OF DESTRUCTION - 375pts
Warpsmith; The Malevolus
Obliterators (3) (centurion conversions)
I saw a set of conversions of centurions on Eternal Hunt some time ago, and really wanted to do my own versions. The GW obliterators are, in my opinion, pretty meh… but centurions turned into obliterators could look the NUTS! I have chosen to give the warpsmith no upgrades except a sigil and the cranium malevolus to back up the obliterators.
CSM; FIST OF THE GODS - 1125pts
Warpsmith; The Warpbreacher
Land Raider
Land Raider
Vindicator
Vindicator
Vindicator
Before, I had the land raiders placed into the individual CADs, but now with the restrictions (and apparent uselessness of the chaos land raider) I decided to put the two tanks with some other tanks and make lots of tanks. TANKS!
I really want to make one land raider that Honsou can use (complete with extra armour made from plasticard, shitloads of spikes, and probably some dead imperial fists hung from various meat hooks), and one that I can also use in 30k (so no chaos icons). I will probably take the 30/40k approach to the vindicators as well, and attempt to make them useful for both games.
I've put the land raiders on hold at the moment as I'm playing about with ideas and researching modern armour plating methods. When I do the extra armour, I want it to look authentic and functional rather than just some plasticard stuck to the sides. I made some decent progress with a test run of plasticard on one side, but it needs a lot of refining of how the doors/sponsons will integrate - particularly the doors, as I want to make these magnetised so the door is hinged properly and the inner hatch then opens.
CSM; HELFORGED WARPACK - 750pts
Warpsmith; The Techserpent
Helbrute
Helbrute
Helbrute
Helbrute (metal dread)
Helbrute (metal dread)
I have ended up with a load of dreads/helbrutes from various sources, so I want to make a proper helforged warpack, with each one unique and each one heavily converted (although I might keep one helbrute as per the original DV box set, depending on how lazy I get).
Many ideas, but no progress as yet.
I want to create a complete mix of load outs, with no magnets, but no repetition of weapons at all. The new helbrutes will be anti armour with lascannons, autocannons and plasma cannons and the old metal dreads will be plasma cannons and missile launchers for targeting infantry or light vehicles and walkers.
CSM; TECHSPAWN - 300pts
2x5 Spawn
Primarily a filler slot, but I wanted to make a bunch of crazy mechanoid creations or abortions from the soulforge (not the usual spawn). I'll probably end up bashing some of these together as bits become available.
CSM; TERMINATOR ANNIHILATION FORCE - 750pts
Warsmith Shon'tu (HH Siegebreaker)
Terminators (HH Erasmus Golg)
Terminators (HH Primus Medicae)
Terminators (HH Command Retinue)
I have made a fair bit of progress building these guys, who will be magnetised cataphractii terminators that can be 30k or 40k use, and may also be magentised for launchers to use as Tyrants in 30k. Currently I've got the Tartaros terminators from BoP to make into a HH command retinue, with the standard bearer being the 40k Sgt. These are still on sprue at the moment, until I clear the back log of what I have on the go at the moment.
The first squad will be all chainfists and combi bolters (except the sgt who is also my HH Erasmus Golg proxy who totes his combi melta), second squad is all power fists and combi bolters (except the sgtwho is also my HH Primus medicae, who is combi plasma and power sword), and the third sqaud is kitted out with an autocannon and a variety of power fists, lightning claws and the sgt (my HH standard bearer) with a power weapon and combi flamer.
Ive tried to cover all the bases for their use, and can swap out individuals between the squads depending on who I'm facing. The Terminator Lord will also be my HH siegebreaker, but is armed with combi melta and chainfist (modelled as a huge chainsword from maxmini)
CSM; LOST AND THE DAMNED - 500pts
Dark Apostle (DV conversion)
Cultists (80)
They're not really the 'Lost' but they certainly are damned. Cultists to iron warriors, in this instance, are slaves. Lots of slaves. Meatshields for the meatgrinder!!!
So that's the lot for now, pics will come in the replies below.
Here's my Lord of Iron to start you off!
