I'm just walking with a ghost: Deathwing Army

[YorkNecromancer]

The Dark Angels were my very first army, back with RTB01 back in 1990. As a result, the Deathwing are kind of close to my heart, and this is my modern version. There are a few conversions dotted around; mostly kitbashes, although there are a few minor scratchbuilt components and sculpted details. Nowhere near as much as I usually do, though. I've had this army undercoated and waiting for details for six years now. I finally got around to it. Took about five days to do everything, which is one of the fastest turnarounds I've had on any army ever.

Command Squads Munkar and Nakir:
http://orig15.deviantart.net/e682/f/2015/146/2/6/2015_05_26_23_36_28_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyi1.jpg
http://img15.deviantart.net/925f/i/2015/146/d/9/2015_05_26_23_42_36_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyfj.jpg

Squad Munkar is lead by Interrogator-Chaplain Maalik, who is my stand-in for Belial (because I can't stand the Belial model).

Storm Shield details:
http://orig05.deviantart.net/85eb/f/2015/146/8/a/2015_05_26_23_43_27_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyet.jpg

Tactical Terminator Squad Mu'aqqibat:
http://pre11.deviantart.net/2826/th/pre/i/2015/146/8/5/2015_05_26_23_39_30_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvygp.jpg

Tactical Terminator Squad Ridwan:
http://pre03.deviantart.net/2e1f/th/pre/i/2015/146/b/a/2015_05_26_23_41_05_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyg0.jpg

Assault Terminator Squad Israfil:
http://img06.deviantart.net/ba47/i/2015/146/4/5/2015_05_26_23_44_38_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyem.jpg


Whole army shot (sorry for the blur/dimness!)
http://img04.deviantart.net/5b3e/i/2015/146/5/8/2015_05_26_23_31_40_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyiq.jpg

I didn't have any tranfers of the Deathwing logo, so I basically had to freehand everything. To camouflage the fact I can't do consistently accurate Deathwing markings, everyone's got a slightly different version of the logo: single wing versions for former Ravenwing riders; designs incorporating the Inquisition's seal for former Deathwatch; chapter markings from other chapters to indicate former Chapter diplomats and the like.

Close-ups of freehand shoulderpad markings:
http://img15.deviantart.net/b768/i/2015/146/7/d/2015_05_26_23_40_29_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyg8.jpg
http://img14.deviantart.net/bbd8/i/2015/146/f/8/2015_05_26_23_41_31_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyft.jpg
http://img13.deviantart.net/9ec6/i/2015/146/9/f/2015_05_26_23_45_05_by_yorknecromancer-d8uvyef.jpg

[Kirsten]

wow, those look incredible, especially the freehand stuff.

Dark Angels were my first 40k army too, though eight years later. I'd be tempted by a deathwing army too, especially with the new box.

[YorkNecromancer]

The 'Dark Vengeance' models really are eminently convertable. The only issue is that with the two identical guys, you're going to need a Dremel and spare helmets if you're going to want significantly different poses.

[Kirsten]

how many of them are dark vengeance terminators?

[YorkNecromancer]

Ten. The rest are a mix of 'Black Reach' Terminators and standard tactical/assault Terminators.

Oh, and a variety of bits left over from my Deathwatch Knights (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?53209-Deathwatch-Knights) conversions.

[Kirsten]

no deathwing boxes then?

[YorkNecromancer]

Not full ones, no. Just the bitz. :)

[Kirsten]

impressive. I do like the new deathwing box, lots of cool bits.

[Insert_nickname_here]

Very nice, Mr Necromancer. And I much prefer your Maalik, what was GW thinking with the Belial model?

[40kGamer]

Very nice! Deathwing has always been near and dear to me as well. The freehanded designs look great! Nice touch going with the variations to disguise the fact that replicating a freehand design is a nightmare. :)

I'm old school enough that I'm keeping the native American theme with these guys. That bit of fluff was some of the first I ever read.

[YorkNecromancer]

I had a go with some Native American-inspired designs, then I got all worried about cultural appropriation (http://jezebel.com/5959698/a-much-needed-primer-on-cultural-appropriation). So I did a bit of reading on the topic, felt better about it, came back to the models, and realised what I had done was just... Turd. So, I repainted their pads, and you can see the results.

Definitely love the old Native-American inspired DAs; that's not a culture that gets enough referencing in sci-fi.

[40kGamer]

I had a go with some Native American-inspired designs, then I got all worried about cultural appropriation (http://jezebel.com/5959698/a-much-needed-primer-on-cultural-appropriation). So I did a bit of reading on the topic, felt better about it, came back to the models, and realised what I had done was just... Turd. So, I repainted their pads, and you can see the results.

Definitely love the old Native-American inspired DAs; that's not a culture that gets enough referencing in sci-fi.

Good thought! I have some native American blood in my family tree but it is always worthwhile to make sure one is paying homage rather than usurping cultural references. I can imagine the designs are challenging to capture in miniature. What you finally landed on is ace. :D

[YorkNecromancer]

I just didn't want it to be a hodge-podge of differing tribal designs; I think successful art is art that comes from specificity, be that from specific personal experiences or specific cultures. I can't stand the lazy 'ah just throw it in, it's fantasy, no-one will care' nonsense.

I initially wanted them to be Anasazi (because that's the most likely tribe John Redcorn comes from in 'King Of The Hill', and I do like to hide in-jokes in as much of my 40k stuff as possible. :) ), but when I experimented with taking those designs and 'Dark Angel-ing' them, it didn't quite work- lots of hard-edged spirals and swirls that were way too tricky for me. :( I'm alright, but not quite good enough yet, and a man's got to know his limitations.

I'd love to see someone pull it off, though. Especially on Deathwing.

[Kirsten]

you definitely need a model for Two Heads Talking

[40kGamer]

you definitely need a model for Two Heads Talking

Seconded. The story that started it all... :)

[YorkNecromancer]

That would be awesome. And I haven't made a Librarian yet.

Hmmmm...

[Kirsten]

see, has to be done

[Lurker]

Love those Icon variations. I particularly enjoy how you tied them together with the models past personal history, i.e. ex raven wing rider etc. Fantastic idea, if you don't mind I might try playing with that for my SM's.

It will be a tad bit more difficult as I run a non codex chapter though. With an established fluff chapter you have all that history to play with. With a custom chapter- it will present a challenge to really bring it out and make it recognizable. Still, something to play around with...

[YorkNecromancer]

Fantastic idea, if you don't mind I might try playing with that for my SM's.

Go for it. :) The whole idea of these threads is to share ideas. :)

[cypher623]

I love the models, I love the poses, I love the freehand work, but you are really missing out on the bases. Generally it is a mistake to have your bases the same tone or color as your model, so that light gray with the terminators does nothing to set off the beautiful models. I would suggest either a darker base, so that the white pops, or a reddish base to allow the white to stand out but compliment all of the scarlet details. Just one guy's opinion. Hope it helps.

[YorkNecromancer]

Oh, I know. :)

Sadly, my hands are tied. These Deathwing are part of a greater (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?49607-Deathwatch-Army) whole (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?49838-Imperial-Guard-Army). All my 40K armies are based with the same cityfight style, so that when they ally (or fight one another), there is consistency. Normally it doesn't matter - my other armies all being different, darker colours, but it's an absolute pain here. Ah well.

As a side note, the only exceptions are my 30K armies, which have rust-red bases to distinguish them from the 40K ones... Which is a further pain because my AdMech (http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?48252-My-Most-Ambitious-Scratchbuild-Ever) are traditional red! :)