A new Space Marine project...

[Just_Me]

I've recently been stretching my modeling and painting muscles with some Horus Heresy era projects. I reasoned that as expensive as Forge World models were I had better step up my game if I were to justify collecting them. The result has been to improve my skills but unfortunately this has left many of my rather extensive collection of older models/armies looking somewhat... sub-par by comparison.

While I fully intend to slowly work on bringing my existing collection up to scratch I think perhaps it is time start a small 40k army and build it from the ground up. I want to build a small space marine drop-pod based force based around the bread and butter of the Astartes; the tactical squads. Rather than create my own background I have looked to the existing fluff, and specifically to the Badab War books as a superb resource for all things Astartes. I wanted a later founding chapter that already has roots in the fluff and I have tentatively identified the Sons of Medusa as the chapter I want to try because their color scheme represents a significant departure from any I am accustomed to and I enjoy their shadowed and relatively high-tech background. I've thus far done a single test model to try my hand at their colors:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Sons%20of%20Medusa/ea5a0575-7be8-43ec-8755-8147dc9f4d5e_zps6f605977.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Sons%20of%20Medusa/ea5a0575-7be8-43ec-8755-8147dc9f4d5e_zps6f605977.jpg.html)

I deliberately went with a darker green than the typical almost-neon I have seen online because both I liked it better and because to my mind it fits better with the illustrations and the common reference to them as being "emerald" in color. I'd love to get some feedback from the community on both how the colors have turned out and any additional suggestions/recommendations.

[SotonShades]

I really like your scheme and agree with you about the brighter greens used so often. I would have been tempted to highlight your green a little more though, almost like an actual emerald catching the light? Also, not sure if it is just the photo, but your white looks a little heavy handed. It's always a right bugger of a colour, but as it is such a prominent part of the Sons of Medusa scheme, I might have been tempted to go with a very bright off white (probably one of the greys, mixed with white) and only the very brightest highlights in pure white.

Other than that, the metallics look great and the black is nice and deep, which I think suits the fluff perfectly. Your base is really very nice as well. Now, get on with the rest of the squad and their transport!

[Just_Me]

I think the white is washed out by the camera. I actually left the head separate and sprayed it with a white base before giving it a careful wash to tone it back bring out the depth of the recesses. I may experiment with some different greens before I finalize the scheme. The more I look at it there is something about the green on this test miniature that isn't quite what I wanted...

[Just_Me]

After playing around with some other shades of green I've come up with a new test model for my prospective SoM force:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Sons%20of%20Medusa/5cdd65c6-2f61-4802-a02e-edd2aa55a682_zps77891945.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Sons%20of%20Medusa/5cdd65c6-2f61-4802-a02e-edd2aa55a682_zps77891945.jpg.html)

I think I may like this color better than the first but I would appreciate the additional input. My one issue with this new scheme (and indeed I'm coming to realize the whole SoM color set) is that I don't want the green to come off as a variation of "olive drab" and this army in turn to come off as "generic power armored space dudes." Coming straight from more secular heresy era projects I want to fall a bit short of the more radical icon-encrusted-space-crusader (e.g. Black Templars, Dark Angels, etc) without making SPARTAN-IIs...

[SotonShades]

I like that green more. Again, I think the white is a bit off, but that is probably the photo, as you said.

The green does a little chalky though. Maybe try a glaze of Waywatcher green? should tie in those highlights a little without darkening the recesses too much. Maybe over the black bits as well to give them slightly more depth of colour

[Just_Me]

I'm considering incorporating more black into their design, perhaps rendering their backpacks in black and incorporating even more black into the higher ranks. Rationally this could be reconciled as an idiosyncrasy of the Atropos War Clan who tend to work more black into their colors than the other clans.

[Just_Me]

I've finished touching up my Sons of Medusa test miniature including some freehand work and detailing:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Sons%20of%20Medusa/SoMTest3_zps2bf2afe4.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Sons%20of%20Medusa/SoMTest3_zps2bf2afe4.jpg.html)

Unfortunately while I like the SoM and enjoy their background I am discovering that I am less enamored of their color scheme then I thought. I will probably finish up a combat squad at some point but for now I am shelving the idea of a whole army of the SoM until further notice...

This means I am again looking for a chapter to feature in my proposed drop-pod force. I am considering the Red Scorpions as I have had the idea of doing a force of them on the back burner for a while and have had an upgrade set laying around untouched. I have always thought that their color scheme was deceptively difficult to replicate but I did a test model for them as well and think it came out rather well:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTest_zpsbb3608f4.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTest_zpsbb3608f4.jpg.html)

Also in consideration at this point are Marines Errant, Novamarines, and Red Hunters, although both the Marines Errant and Novamarines have a very difficult color scheme to replicate (especially the Novamarines).

[Minibem]

Hey,

I like your original SM but I understand where you are coming from that your worried that they might look quite generic. Just had a quick look at google images and the ones that come up the least are the marines Errant. I know that the paint scheme might be hard but as you said if you want to justify paying more for FW minis then it would be good to do a good job on them. Looking at other images, you could go with a gray / white mix as shades said or a bleached bone, I forget what it is called now, with a white dry brush over the top and then regal blue with an ink wash and a very light blue wash. Looking at your minis I think that you would do a good job!

[Just_Me]

As I have several sets of Red Scorpions squad kits laying around (they're a cheaper alternative to the actual MK-IV kits and contain most of the important MK-IV components) I've decided I should continue building Red Scorpions! So here is the second marine for my squad, a plasma gunner:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalMarines1_zps582813b5.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalMarines1_zps582813b5.jpg.html)

I built a fair amount of character into this model, I tossed in a bionic arm figuring that he lost the original one to his own weapon.

While I intend to go ahead with building the Red Scorpions I would like to try my hand at the Novamarine color scheme as well. It will be a significant challenge to replicate and make it look good but I think it might be fun to try and would look pretty cool.

[Minibem]

Like the plasma gun dude!

Good luck with the project and keep us updated on the progress. I would be interested to see how the Novamarine turns out!

[Dimitrios]

I think the red scorpions are more suited to your paint style that the sons of medusa. They are looking good!

[jae4x4]

love the plasma gun effect!

[Just_Me]

My Red Scorpions squad continues to grow (albeit slowly):

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalMarines2_zps745b055e.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalMarines2_zps745b055e.jpg.html)

I've also started working on a model for a Captain:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptainWIP_zpsc733cb4b.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptainWIP_zpsc733cb4b.jpg.html)

[Just_Me]

I've finished work on my Red Scorpions Captain (or "Commander" to use their style):

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptain_zpsb2c40170.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptain_zpsb2c40170.jpg.html)

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptainback_zps6e14ca68.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsCaptainback_zps6e14ca68.jpg.html)

I wanted to capture a very "classic" Astartes Captain with power sword and pistol striking a proud and defiant pose and I'm very pleased with how this model has come out. I think he looks both suitably ornate and noble while still retaining a no-nonsense grittiness to him. I worked a lot of little detail and character into him as well; he features a lot of Red Scorpion iconography and every piece of wargear (from grenades to his Iron Halo) is modeled onto him. I wanted him to have a bionic arm because I think it looks cool and because I envision him as a grizzled veteran commander who has served for centuries and has the scars to prove it while numerous purity seals/oath papers and armourial embellishments (doubtless each with its own story) attest to his proud service record. A great example is the reliquary on his belt which I imagine it to be a token of his predecessor who perished in glorious service of the Chapter and is honored by being carried into battle by the company even in death.

Though we know a lot about the Red Scorpions in general we know comparatively little about their specific companies and individual leaders (aside from a few individuals like Culln and Sevrin Loth) which offers some freedom with constructing a background. In fluff terms I'm thinking my force will represent elements of the 4th Battle Company with some support (a Terminator squad) from the 1st Company lead by the 4th Company Commander. A large part of this project is to make a much "tighter" army with a strong unifying theme and individual detail as opposed to my old beginner's approach of adding whatever models I liked at the moment.

I intend to keep slowly working on the rest of the force now that (after an error requiring replacement) the rest of the parts I needed from Forge World have arrived.

[Kirsten]

he looks great

[Just_Me]

Finished the first Tactical Squad. I like how they came out:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalSquad1_zpsebf1ab48.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionsTacticalSquad1_zpsebf1ab48.jpg.html)

This project is fairly slow going both because I'm very busy and because, in order to work in the individual detail I want for this army, I can only stand to work on about 3 models at a time. The next step will be to finish their Drop Pod.

[Fizzybubela]

They look awesome! I'm really wanting to start Red Scorpions now. :)

[Just_Me]

I've completed the Drop Pod for my Tactical Squad:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionTacticalSquadampDropPod1_zps16f09803.jp g (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionTacticalSquadampDropPod1_zps16f09803.jp g.html)

I've also re-posed my Commander. I wanted a slightly more relaxed stance which still looked poised for action:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommander_zps8e4fe1da.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommander_zps8e4fe1da.jpg.html)

Finally, I decided to start working on a Command Squad to accompany my Commander. So far I've only got two models completed and I'm waiting for a couple of bits to arrive from eBay I need for the Company Champion:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommandSquad1_zps5f763b48.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommandSquad1_zps5f763b48.jpg.html)

[Just_Me]

I've continued to add Veterans to my Command Squad:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/Just_Me_Images/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommandSquad2_zps3dbc23e4.jpg (http://s252.photobucket.com/user/Just_Me_Images/media/Red%20Scorpions/RedScorpionCommandSquad2_zps3dbc23e4.jpg.html)

Right now two have bolters and only one has a combi-flamer but I'm considering equipping them all with combi-flamers. Its an fairly expensive option and perhaps not the most efficient but I like the look and flexibility of it. In addition because this is essentially a fluff driven drop pod army it makes sense to me that a Command unit to be deployed via drop pod, and having access to their pick of the armoury, might be equip themselves specifically for close range assault/defense in the critical first moments after the drop.

As a final note, now that I've settled on the Red Scorpion Chapter, I'm wondering if I should create a dedicated and more descriptively titled thread.