Samurai Knights...The Space Marine Edition

[kellyj]

So after a brief hiatus from painting and modeling (bad case of burnout after finishing my Samurai IG)...it's time to get to work on the next part of this saga. And what do you know...those guys at BoLS decided to do a contest for new projects.
It started with my Samurai IG:
SGTs
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Imperial%20Guard/2SGTs.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Imperial%20Guard/2SGTs.jpg.html)
Veterans (Plasma in this case...I also did a Melta and Grenade launcher Squad)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Imperial%20Guard/Plasmagunners2.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Imperial%20Guard/Plasmagunners2.jpg.html)
and Platoon grunts
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Imperial%20Guard/PltSqd2.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Imperial%20Guard/PltSqd2.jpg.html)
along with a typical Chimera. I use the vehicle banners as a HP counter...each banner is 1 HP with the vehicle counting as the third.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Imperial%20Guard/SB1_zpsaec15bb6.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Imperial%20Guard/SB1_zpsaec15bb6.jpg.html)

4 Image per post limit, so...

[kellyj]

So now, the next part...Space Marines.
Started with a test model for a Marneus Calgar in Power Armor for a generic hero HQ type. I need to get a scale Katana and switch out the sword.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Samurai%20Knights/Tokugawa4-1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Samurai%20Knights/Tokugawa4-1.jpg.html)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Samurai%20Knights/Tokugawa3-1.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Samurai%20Knights/Tokugawa3-1.jpg.html)
And he needs a ride...so a Land Raider Reedemer
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Samurai%20Knights/LandRaiderlefttopfinal.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Samurai%20Knights/LandRaiderlefttopfinal.jpg.html)
And Rhinos/Razorbacks for the dudes. I don't like these scratch built banners so I will probably dump them and use the printed paper banners the Land Raider is trying out. This set of home made decals came out pretty bad and I already removed them and made a better set.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Samurai%20Knights/RhinoWIPrghtside2.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Samurai%20Knights/RhinoWIPrghtside2.jpg.html)

[kellyj]

And of course...the basic troops themselves.
The backpack. I went with the same banner I used with the IG, just attaching it to the pack itself.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/backpackbannerwip1_zpsa5f56811.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/backpackbannerwip1_zpsa5f56811.jpg.html)
And a partial dude with a test paint scheme. I'm using a mix of after market heads from different companies to add variety while keeping with the theme. I don't like how dark this red came out.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Troopwip1_zpsd6ac564f.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Troopwip1_zpsd6ac564f.jpg.html)
A more complete trooper with a test paint scheme. I'm liking this base shade of red much more.
I'm thinking of going with white shoulder pads to match the white fenders on the vehicles.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Troopwip4_zps52916f4b.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Troopwip4_zps52916f4b.jpg.html)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/Troopwip3_zpse55b4bef.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/Troopwip3_zpse55b4bef.jpg.html)

[kellyj]

And of course you have to have a themed objective...bashed together using some spare Sisters of Battle stuff:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/3Objectiveswip1_zps4ebd7809.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/3Objectiveswip1_zps4ebd7809.jpg.html)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a191/kell553/3Objectiveswip2_zpsfd3723f5.jpg (http://s11.photobucket.com/user/kell553/media/3Objectiveswip2_zpsfd3723f5.jpg.html)

Apologies for sideways images...the Bucket shows them right side up yet they still link over sideways.

[YorkNecromancer]

Lovely idea; are those the Wargames Factory ashigaru heads on the IG?

Really like the cherry blossom motif. Makes a nice contrast to the endless profusion of skulls! :)

[kellyj]

Thank you, and yes they are. The IG Sgts and HQs use the WGF Samurai parts (including cutting off that ridiculous chain sword and replacing it with a Katana), the vets use the helmeted Ashigaru heads and sashimono banners, the Platoon grunts get the bare heads and no banners.
Each model uses a Cadian legs and arms with appropriate gun and the body, head, and banner from the WGF kit. Since the WGF kits are true scale and GW is heroic I had to use green stuff on each model to bulk out the shoulders so the arms would fit the bodies without looking goofy.
Each squad uses a specific Samurai Mon (family symbol) on their sashimono and clothing color to identify individual units.

In addition to the cherry blossom banner I'm planning on a Bonsai tree, Kabuki actor, Geisha, decorative fans, and a Koi fish.
For the Space Marines I think each Marine will get a unique Kanji (his name essentially) and a squad symbol (Koi, Tiger, dragon, etc). I may also make each squads sashimono a unique color; red, blue, tan, green, etc.