Vries, 2nd Tactical Squad, 3rd Company, Red Scorpions

It's again been a while since I have posted any updates for my Astartes army. I play Tau since they were released in 3rd edition and have only started to collect a Space Marine army again cause I got bored of my blue-headed xenos. :-)
Anyways, here is the next troops choice of my Red Scorpions army: 2nd Squad under the command of Veteran Sergeant Vries.

Veteran Sergeant Vries, leading his battle-brothers into combat.

Members of Vries' demi-squad bear a yellow stripe on their boltguns. The Sergeant himself has a power fist and his brothers can rely on an Astartes missile launcher should they have need for heavy fire power.

Demi-squad Zoran. Lead by the charismatic Veteran-brother Zoran, the second demi-squad engages enemies over great distances, making use of their Boltgun's scopes. They also have an Astartes Mk. VII Plasmagun against better armored foes of the Imperium.

Raum, 1st Terminator Squad, 1st Company, Red Scorpions

Gosh, it's been too long since I updated this blog. But no longer to wait! As 6th edition of 40k was released only a couple of days ago, it was about time to add some new 28mm GW models to the growing army. After all I want to try the latest reincarnation of Warhammer 40,000 with a brand new army. :-)

 Brother Sergeant Raum with his veteran battle-brothers.

 A Cyclone-Missile-Launcher to back-up fire power of Squad Raum.

 Raum is wielding a mighty Power-Sword in battle.

 More details of the squad. Note the two plastic Terminator figures from the Space Hulk game that I have converted.

Mk.1 Rhino, 3rd Company, Red Scorpions

The Mk. 1 Rhino is among the oldest vehicles still in use within the Imperium. It was used when mankind spread among the stars and already was old when the Emperor himself started his Great Crusade. I got this one off ebay for bargain. Unfortunately I had to discover it was in worse shape than I thought. :-(
The headlights: they are scratchbuilt because for some reason the former owner never glued some in place.

Tactical marking on the side doors. I used a decal from the new Rhino kit but cut it into shape and repainted it.

Again a brass etched part from Forgeworld. I love those things.

Because both handles were broken, I had to replace them with parts of a Leman Russ tank. The marking again is a decal cut into shape from the newer Rhino kit.

Battle damages, oil paint washes, weathering powders - this Rhino has seen many battles!

Predator Destructor Mk. 1b, Chapter's Armoury, Red Scorpions

The Predator tank is one of the oldest vehicles in use within the Adeptus Astartes, the design dating back to the Dark Age of Technology. It was built in direct response to the Ork incursions. The model shown resembles the Mk. 1b variant, a Citadel (all) plastic kit, based upon the old Rhino chassis. The kit is old - older than 20 years to be exactly. I was lucky to got one in good shape.
Business end: A turret mounted Autocannon and sponson mounted Lascannons.

Pintle mounted Stormbolter, Smoke dischargers and Searchlight.

Side view of the old plastic variant of the Lascannon as it was looking like during Rogue Trader times (first edition of 40k).

I replaced the antennas with radio antennas from a Leman Russ tank. The chapter emblem is brass etched and from Forgworld.

Heavy washes of thinned down oil paint together with powders in rust colours add to a heavily worn battlefield look.

The "Dozer Blade" rather looks like a battering ram - but I guess it doesn't matter if you get run over by either of them :-)

I tried to paint the Searchlight in greyish colours instead of yellow. It was a first try and doesn't really look like I wanted... but hey - I'll keep on trying new stuff.

A close up shot of the Lascannon. Note the burnt front end.

Heavily chipped colour stripes.

Turret details and rust and oil stains all over the place. This tank is thousands of years in service. How long is it under warranty of the Adeptus Mechanicus I wonder?

The tank has had several washes and lots of paint chipping, using various techniques.

Mk.1 Razorback, 3rd Company, Red Scorpions

The old Mk.1 Razorback is one of the oldest vehicles within the Red Scorpions chapter. Dating back to the early days of the 36th millenium this chassis has seen its fair share of battles.
The paint is worn and chipped all around the vehicle. Note the rust effects on the exhaust which was achieved with Tamiya weathering powders mixed with Scorched Brown.

A rather unusual design: a Lascannon mixed with twin-linked Plasmaguns. Barrels were drilled and effects of burnt metal painted on with various layers of GW washes.

A note on the Marine gunner of the vehicle: I decided to field this vehicle with my Devastator Squad, so the gunner got the markings from such a squad. The rust stains were painted using thinned down Burnt Umber oil paint that was applied to all rivets and recesses.

The effects of chipped paint were done with an old "sponge" - just like the ones that come with GW blister packs. Just apply some paint (I used GW foundation paints) and carefully dab around the edges and panels.

I chipped the yellow markings with the base colour grey of the vehicle. This resembles how paint was flaking away and the original tone becomes visible.

The Red Scorpions icons are FW brass etches parts. The "3rd Company" marking is painted free hand. The rust stains are oil colours (burnt umber and various brown shades).

The lower part of the hull was drybrushed with a selection of brown paints to add to the muddy and dusty look.

I really like how it turned out. While some might argue that Space Marine vehicles should be in much better shape than Imperial Guard ones for example I want to point out this Razorback is an early Mk.1 and thus is in service for generations. I doubt a vehicle in that age would look brand new and shiny, especially not if in use on a battlefield for some month in an ongoing campaign.

Khrom, 1st Tactical Squad, 3rd Company, Red Scorpions

Veteran Sergeant Khrom's demi-squad of Tactical Marines. Note the yellow stripe upon their Boltguns. This marks them as members of Khrom's team.
Brother Veteran-Sergeant Khrom himself. Awards: the Aquila when appointed to squad leader. Crux Terminatus for actions above and beyond the call of duty during the Ork incursions in Ultima Segmentum. Khrom is one of 3rd Company's oldest veterans.

Second demi-squad, under the command of Veteran-Brother Zoran. They back up firepower with an Astartes Mk .XII Plasmagun.

Veteran Brother Zoran. Zoran proofed himself time and time again to his Sergeant. For his tactical understanding and knowledge as well as his bravery, Khrom appointed him to lead the second demi-squad into battle. Zoran is a Veteran by any means, having accomplished 58 missions. Its expected he will be transferred to 1st Company to gain training with Terminator Armour soon and finally be awarded his own Terminator Honours.

Brother Hecate. The Plasmagunner of demi-squad Zoran. The purity seal shall ease the spirit of the gun. May it never fail and boil.

Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine - my Collector's Edition box has arrived

Today the guy from the parcel service brought some awesome stuff: a 40k Drop Pod, my company standard bearer and last but not least my copy of a Playstation 3 "Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine" Collector's Edition.

The Collector's Edition for PS3 comes in a huge cardboard in the look of a book. Within you find a magnetized 1:1 scale purity seal that will stick on metal surfaces.
Next you'll find the original Soundtrack of the game on CD - it has 19 tracks that will from now on run in the background when I paint. To its right the artbook, containing a lot of images from the concept art that was used to create the game.

Some of the concept art is absolutely lovely. I think I might just go ahead and re-create some characters of the game or build some terrain to look like the one depicted in the book.

Last is the game itself in its jewel-case. Below you see a set of collcetor's cards. Those depict the characters and enemies you'll find in the game. It has additional info on the back, like hints about weaknesses etc.

I will have some friends swing by later this day and have a first go with the game. I am soo looking forward to that.

Stay tuned, new painted Red Scorpions will be posted soon, too.