WIP: Imperial Fists Mk.III tactical squad

Imperial Fists Mk.III tactical marine

Just a quick post today to show off another finished tactical marine. This model is for a different tactical squad: my first Mk.III squad. I last did something with this squad last year, so it's been a long time coming. This model is brings the squad up to half strength (five models) and features the squads Legion Vexilla banner. It also marks the completion of the first set of 'old armour variants' that I ever bought, a year or so before Forge World launched the Horus Heresy range proper. One day I might even finish the squad!

WIP: Imperial Fists Mk.VI tactical squad

Horus Heresy: tactical marines in MK.VI armour

Lately I've been prompted to look again at the Imperial Fists in my modest but largely unpainted Horus Heresy era collection. Perhaps spurred on by the standard bearer I finished in February, and by the Alpha Legion that are forming a rival faction on the same shelf, I've looked again at the unpainted models I have to hand and decided to spend a little time on them. First among them are these offerings for a tactical squad in Mk.VI armour.

SHOWCASE: Alpha Legion contemptor dreadnought

Horus Heresy: Alpha Legion contemptor dreadnought

Today we have a new addition to my (very slowly) growning Alpha Legion collection: a contemptor dreadnought. This is the Forge World model, complete with sculpted Alpha Legion details. I've armed it with a power fist and a volkite culverin. I have no idea if these are any good in game, but they look cool and that's all that matters to me as a painter. This model features lots of airbrush work, mainly on the blue armour, but also on some source lighting on the main weapon.

SHOWCASE: Imperial Fists legion standard bearer

Horus Heresy: Imperial Fists legion standard bearer

It's been a while since I first started this. For the longest part of that, he'd stood on my desk minus a head and with a blank banner. That was until Forge World released their Imperial Fists transfer sheets and, with it, the banner decal that I'd been waiting so long for. Admittedly, it still took me a while to finish him, but here he is now. This model is a war-torn veteran, his armour damaged by countless attempts on his life, yet still he holds his legion's banner aloft. After the one for my Alpha Legion, this is the second standard bearer I finished last month. It marks a welcome return to my long-neglected Imperial Fists and I'm quite pleased with how he turned out.

WIP: Ultramarine's tactical squad

Warhammer 40,000: Ultramarines tactical marine

Last year I attempted to paint an Ultramarine for the first time in many years. The result was uninspiring. This year, I've decided to pretend that didn't happen and try again. This time I'm happier with the result. The model featured in this article is the first of what might one day be a squad of them. I wouldn't hold your breath for the rest to appear any time soon, but I feel somewhat more motivated by the results this time around.

SHOWCASE: Alpha Legion standard bearer

Horus Heresy: Alpha Legion standard bearer

This is the first of just three models I managed to finish in February. I've worked on several others that will hopefully show themselves in the coming months, but for now I'm focusing on those that are done. This one—a standard bearer for what will be the command squad in my Alpha Legion collection—was a relatively quick job, following the pattern I'm already familiar with from my veteran tactical squad. The most difficult part with this was applying the transfer (from Forge World's Alpha Legion transfer sheet) to the banner. It took lots of patience and decal medium, but it's done now and ready to join the others.

WIP: Alpha Legion veteran tactical squad

Horus Heresy: Alpha Legion veteran tactical squad (first half)

It's been a while since I posted. I did hardly any painting in December while I focused on other projects, not least my writing, which has been very beneficial. The downside has been that what was already, for me, a disappointing year on the hobby front ended with barely a whimper. I have, however, not been entirely idle. In the last few weeks I have returned to painting with a renewed motivation and some renewed goals. Among them are these offerings from a new army: the Alpha Legion.