Warning – many pictures!
With all my excitement around my Word Bearers of late I was inspired to organise a game with a fellow 30k enthusiast playing a Zone Mortalis table – featured here – but the problem was, none of it is ready for the table top. Thankfully, I have a force I prepared earlier – much earlier in fact!
3rd Legiones Astartes – Emperors Children
I built the army you see following around the 4th edition Chaos Space Marine book – that should give you some idea of how long ago this army was finished. In fact I think it was around the time the first few Black Library books for the Horus Heresy were being released. Every model is converted in some way – some more than others – and as Forge World had yet to produce anything other than the Red Scorpion conversion kit for Mk4 power armour, there was plenty of bitz trading and converting required. The pics are not 100% perfect but I think you should get the idea – I might reshoot them when my light box arrives in the mail.
This is the full army shot – on the left you can see the objective markers I made – using the slannesh symbols from the plastic marine and daemon kits as well as a wounded space marine. I deliberately included some tell tale signs of the legions fall from grace into darkness as well – since I intended to use them as Chaos Marines it was important that their allegiance to the dark prince was in some way apparent.
Just after I finished the army I was fortunate enough to snag a model to represent Fulgrim from Kabuki Models who had just finished their Phoenix Knight (now out of production). I used him as Abaddon in games using the Chaos Space Marine book.
Its a solid metal model – including the cape! Its still a fantastic sculpt I think – he is probably a touch small these days but I don’t think you can mistake him for anyone other than Fulgrim!
Here are my versions of Lucius and Fabius – obviously set up to be used as Chaos Marines. I used the weapons from the 40k kits as well as the back packs but for the most part, they are converted from plastic kits. While not overtly corrupt, they both are instantly recognisable as their 40k counterparts – at least in my opinion!
These are the rest of my HQ choices – used as chosen marines back in the day. Modelled from metal marine characters but again converted – these fill in for any HQ I might need or act as squad leaders in a pinch.
I used these as enhanced marines – I always liked the description of Fabius and his assistants picking through the battlefield aftermath of Istvaan V. So 5 assistants came into being. I used darker tones on them and robes to evoke a dirty surgical feel. You can see one is missing his eyes but still walks the battlefield!
These used to form part of my Havoc squad – the bolter marines of the squad. They are carrying various ropes and pouches and have a fair amount of kit on them despite the rather plain appearance. I use them as Seekers most of the time – mainly as they carry the older style bolters!
This is the rest of the Havocs – 4 Las Cannons and the sergeant. While not ideal in the 30k rules set its what they are modelled with!
Here is my unit of noise marines – now Kakophoni marines. A metal conversion kit from GW and they were good to go. I used them as Volkites in a Tactical Support unit before book 2 from Forgeworld game me the rules for Kakophoni.
My Raptors – or Assault Marines as they are now. The back packs they wear are actually lead from the late 80’s era assault marines! I had to add metal washers to the bottom of the resin bases as the back packs made them fall over a lot!
These were my 2 ‘tactical’ squads – now used as Veteran Tactical squads and still troops thanks to the pride of the legion Rite of War. The first picture is a unit wearing Mk6 power armour while the second wears Mk5. All the studs on the legs of the Mk5 units are individually pinned on – 18 per marine! I thought I would go mad by the time I was done!
I saved my favourite unit till last – they are a hybrid plastic marine bike with a custom resin conversion kit to make them jet bikes! I tend to run them as jetbikes these days and I never have an issue from opponents – they look the part afterall! These are probably the most converted unit in the whole army!
Here are just a couple of the conversions I have in the army – the running Mk5 marine with his bolter slung (itself converted! to be more RT era in style) while my Mk6 marines continue to fight while reloading the missile launcher.
Here are the squad leaders all together and the 4 banners in the army all together – it should help show the variety of kits used. The banners I am particularly proud of – can you spot the clues to their new allegiance?
I have some daemons and a winged snake prince that also belong with the army but these days they sit out and wait till the heresy rules let them take to the field again.
Where to from here? Not sure to be honest! I never intended to add to the force back then but Forge World have released some magic models for my 3rd legion – I have a new Fulgrim and 10 Palatine Blades sat here as I write this! Maybe I can do a different company and make a new force of the 3rd. The pre mixes I used for the 5 layers on the armour are long since dried and gone so I kinda have to start again… but that might wait until my 17th are on the table!