Tuesday 30 April 2019

The scythes of the emperor - Space Hulk Terminator force



Just so that I'm honest with you, I've only come late to Space Hulk. My real first was actually when I played at my friend Sho3box's.
Now the game really pressed my buttons and I really liked the self contained nature of the project. Of course, like most sane people, I've wanted to have a 3D space hulk but I guess that could be arranged pretty easily with modern kits now. I've also realised many of my friends were into it so making my own force to have the opportunity to play it every now and then could be fun !
So just put this album, the intro is probably the most accurate rendition of how a Space Hulk sounds like and just dive with me !




Now of course, the first question that will arise to any person about to paint space marines is : "what chapter/colour scheme ?".
It's a valid question. Well for some reason the scythes of the emperor (and not the emperor's scythes) have always held a special place in my heart, perhaps not because of their colours but  more because of the doomed chapter thing and because like often, they were served by iconic artwork :

Advanced Space crusade - Chris Achilleos
Just look at the pic above, and dare tell me it's not the best of both worlds between Alien and 40k, right ?
Also, Do you see terminators with baby feet standing on blue metallic garage doors or just regular blue laser placenta ?
Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith
Oh and by looking around for more knowledge of them, I came across a pretty cool explanation of the whole Scythe and horse thing about them on this excellent site.

Now I'll be honest here, ANYTHING that puts this brilliant song into my head gets a massive approval from me :


So we were settled on the chapter, not that I like paiting yellow but sometimes you have to follow your heart and not your lazyness.
On the other hand, there was one thing I knew and I was pretty sure I didn't want to paint them in the old colour scheme which looked ... old.
I think the updated colour scheme is pretty excelennt and pleasing visually so this was perfect !



I also had to select the models, now this was much easier, I'm a Jes Goodwin fan so I could only paint his terminators and I had to paint his first and not the round shouldered ones obviously ! I quickly tried to determine what number of terminators I needed and which equipment to get and Oh surprise ! The answer was basically the content of the RTB09 !


Now I knew from painting my chaos terminators that the poses could greatly be enhanced by pinning the arms and bending them here and there to emphasize the slight dynamism and realism. Of course, terminators should be running or doing backflips but a little posing goes a long way I reckon to make them even more pleasing while keeping that sense of humanoid tank.
I also knew 30/32mm bases are the best compromise for old terminators and I immediately knew my 32 Necromunda bases were just what I needed to fully set the scene.


A bit of green stuff work and a zenithal undercoat later, I was ready to start the painful process of painting a two part scheme with black and yellow (making me seriously reconsider for Blood angels).


So the real painting could start ! Painting black and yellow aren't exactly the easiest colours around and I was really pleased until the weathering part. Now I couldn't bear the idea to have pristine looking terminators but I think they really lost a lot of contrast and readability in the process so I'm not entirely happy with the outcome if I'm being honest here...

The 3 characters are all great and a little twist in the arms to open their stance with the sword/halberd goes a long way like raising the bolter up to give them more realism.


For some reason I'm an absolute fan of the minigun model, his pose and shield make him a proper bad ass but I know flamer boy will be a great asset in game (that damn first scenario) !


Then we have the Morituri's ^^


Since I picked the modern scheme to paint them, I thought adding freehands was necessary for some good oldschool vibe !


Of course this is what I'm realling looking forward to :



Now, what did I say again ? Oh right, I love self contained projects. Having no more than 10 of the 32mm Necromunda bases was just perfect to prevent the projects from going anywhere else... I only have 25's left and I'm not putting a terminator on them...

 DAMN !
OK I know, This seems easy to handle, just look away JB, just don't look at solegends...



Only 10 of them (I would need a heavy bolter though...


Well we'll think about that later... I guess.
Good thing my buddy NIco is taking care of the terrain for our coming game but I'd be quite keen to play some hive infestation actually ^^




43 comments:

  1. absolutely lovely JB...well done. Space hulk is so fast and fun I think you'll have a blast with this unit.

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    1. I have to say it's fast and fun and with the timer makes for an exciting challenge. I'm eager to play some more !

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  2. There's something so attractive about these first iteration terminators in a (relatively) obscure colour scheme with retro markings. I love that their armour is battered and chipped - they look as if they've been frantically clearing corridors and fending off multi-limbed nasties!

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    1. Thanks, that was exactly the look I was aiming for ! I have a great fondness for these terminators as well despite their flaws. ^^

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  3. OMG I can't wait to see the batrep for this one! Love the choice on the chapter, and your clean paintjob with just the right amount of weathering makes them look like the have been deep in the depths of a hulk for weeks. Awesome accomplishment too, as I know you had a lot on your plate. ;)

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    1. They're quite something and 9 is about the max I could have handled at once but I'm chuffed to have them done !

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  4. Downright mucky and murky! You are the master of the battle weary look JB!

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    1. Cheers mec, I could have done some things better but I'm overall quite pleased tbh. ^^

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  5. Well JB I think that you have carried off the new colour scheme very well indeed. Perhaps `new' is a misnomer, I remember a Chapter Approved which had all sorts of alternative schemes for Chapters based off what environment they were fighting in. I was really into the genestealers when Tim Huckleberry created his own list with cult limousines, and these terminators came out replacing the two previous metal versions and the very dodgy first edition space hulk plastics. Thank you, you have made my birthday !!

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    1. Ah, happy birthday mec !
      I like exploring the niches in our hobby to mix old and newer stuff !

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  6. I love how worn they look! Proper warriors of the imperium.

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    1. You can't stay too clean in such an environment I reckon !
      Cheers Andrew !

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  7. Great paint job on them.

    And scouts... yes... do it.

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    1. They're compelling now aren't they ? ^^
      We'll see about them later ;)

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  8. Replies
    1. Cheers mec, I'm so eager to play that damn game now !

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  9. I LOVE the old metal terminators. They're so iconic, and you've done a great job on these. I'm also a fan of little contained projects such as this. The repositioning of the arms and the larger bases do a lot for them too. I like the stealer skull addition. The updated colour scheme works very well with them. Handshakes and whiskey all round really.

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    1. Pinning the arms and switching for slightly bigger bases is so easy and helps them so much indeed !
      Thanks a lot mec !

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  10. Absolutely spectacular! No school like the old school! :D

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    1. It wouldn't have been the same without the checkers and stripes right ?

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  11. Blue laser placenta... so that's what it was!

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  12. Gorgeous work man, the-scythes.com is my site since 97' - I've only recently reacquired Jes' Terminators (which I feel have far better helm style than current) - seeing these painted up, is glorious. Would you mind if I featured the project on the site? :)

    Look forward to you trying to resist Scouts too, I've been making retro-style modern versions of late.

    Cheers!

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    Replies
    1. Well thank you for the excellent work on the site !
      The scouts aren't going to be paited soon but they are a definite entry in the to do list now !
      And by all means share these if you find them suitable !

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    2. Thanks man; labor of love etc ;)

      I shall patiently await the scouts! Oh suitable these are Sir. I'll download some images and draft up a weekend post - Cheers!

      For Sotha! ;)

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  13. Amazing paint work on all those details.

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  14. Jaune et noir faut être motivé en effet... Tes effets de dynamisme font merveilles sur ces vieux loubards et ta peinture sublime Le tout. Je trouve ça très réussi pour ma part.

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    1. Ah ben merci, je trouve avoir grandement perdu en lisibilité avec le vieillissement et je pense que je tenterai autrement même si ç aveut dire de manière plus chronophage. ^^

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  15. Dammit, this is brilliant. They look like total badasses. Mesmerising work, JB!

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    1. Thanks mec !
      I have a little friend for them to take the unit up to 10 men !

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  16. So there were eight in the RTB0X box, but you've painted nine. What's the ninth for?

    This is an absolutely stonking squad! I really like the reposing you've done with the arms, and that you've taken the time to find and mount and paint the shields.

    Also, deffo garage door.

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    1. My eight were missing parts so I got a ninth guy who eventually got painted along the rest, it was also the occasion to grow the team up to 10 men with the inquisitor.
      I do want to make combat specialists now.
      Also, totally blue laser placenta.

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