SHOWCASE: Talon's Reach space marine captain

Warhammer 40,000: Talon's reach space marine captain

So... yes... Updates have been a little thin on the ground of late. There are good reasons for this, but at the same time, they're not particularly 'good' reasons. Unfortunately, real life has reared its ugly head a lot this year and inflicted a seemingly limitless number of woes. The main one that has impacted my painting, however, has been that work is so ridiculously busy that I now exist in a near constant state of exhaustion. Many things have suffered as a consequence, my health and my painting among them. I have, however, managed to find time to complete what is—at the end of April—only the second model I've finished painting so far in 2017: this limited edition space marine captain.

Side view

Those who were paying attention will notice from the subject that I've settled on Talon's Reach as the chapter name. In keeping with the avian theme, I've given this particular model the name and title Avium Manibus, Fourth Captain. If only for my own amusement (and because, first and foremost, I'm a writer), I've written a short narrative background for the chapter to give me some focus. The theme continues through most of the names, though I've also worked in a back-story where this chapter was largely decimated when the population of its home planet was almost wiped out in an orbital bombardment by an unknown assailant. Any models I paint henceforth will largely be what remains of the fourth battle company, plus some first company veterans, all of whom were off-planet at the time of the attack, and now on a mission to rebuild the chapter and avenge their fallen. Given how slowly I paint, I figure this is a good way to justify why I won't get around to painting many of them. "It's not that I'm slow. It's just that the rest of them are dead."

Rear view

If you've read my blog before, you may remember this test model I painted in December. I actually started this captain before that test model, but with all the details on him, I wanted to paint a more basic model to make sure the scheme worked before I spent too long on it. I also wanted to actually finish a model and, at the time, something simpler seemed for achieveable. The colour scheme has survived largely as it did on the test model. A couple of comments on Instagram compared it to the scheme for the Novamarines (theirs is white and blue, but the photographs don't always make the distinction). I had actually considered Novamarines before I settled on this scheme, but had a desire to use turquoise and bone colours instead. I've also reversed the quarters as they would have been for Novamarines (with the darker colour in the top right and bottom left as you look at it, instead of top left and bottom right for Novamarines). I did this to enhance the contrast on most of the standard marines who hold their boltguns across their bodies from right to left, leaving a natural shade on the left leg, and presenting a much brighter upper body—complete with chapter symbol—to the enemy. As this captian presents the darker side of his face to the viewer, I've had to add extra details to that side—bright green lenses and striped yellow cabling—to make it stand out.

Avium Manibus, Talon's Reach, Fourth Captain

Once I've painted a plinth for him to stand on, I plan to enter this model into the Golden Demon Classic event at the end of May. Obviously, I have no expectations of him earning a trophy, though I'd be happy to pick up another finalist pin if he makes the first cut. I'm quietly confident that he'll at least make it that far if only because I think it's a better effort than the model I entered last year who achieved the same, but we'll see what the judges think on the day. If anybody else is going along to Warhammer Fest on the day and wants to say hi, you'll find me there on the Sunday. I'll be the ridiculously tall guy, dressed all in black, hovering around the Warhammer 40,000 single miniature cabinets, straining to see if the card next to this particular model has any circular stickers on it yet.

UPDATE: I'm not sure where the time went, but Golden Demon Classic was almost a month ago now. Anybody at the event will know that the painting standard was off the chart this year. Needless to say, this little guy didn't even make the first cut. So, no finalist pins to go with last year's, but it was amazing to see all of the amazing miniatures on display, and an honour to even be in the same cabinets as some of the incredible entries that went on to earn trophies. As for me, I'll keep practicing and (hopefully) improving in the hope that I'll do a bit better next time. Now, I just need this heatwave to pass so I can bear to spend time in the study again...