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Force Commander Toriel, Blood Ravens 4th Company


maverike_prime

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A while back I began a project log about my efforts to create a new Abaddon model for my forces. I had a really great time and enjoyed the feed back I got at each step of the project. Now I'm begining a new project log.

 

I've been playing Dawn of War II quit a bit recently. I admit, initially I was annoyed that it was more of an RPG style system them an all RTS like Dawn of War I had been. But you know what, I paid good money for it so I played it. I grew to enjoy it. The characters are memorable, is perhaps more then a little annoying, and the story was put together well enough to make me feel like I had some investment in my troops but the game play was smooth enough to not be lost to the story.

 

And so, I've fallen. I've been inspired to create a Blood Ravens army based on Dawn of War II. So with that in mind I am announcing the formation of my project log: Blood Ravens.

 

The key point for Dawn of war II were the characters, including the force commander (whom represents yourself). I want to build the characters themselves. So allow me to introduce you to the characters:

 

First we have Captain Garvin Toriel, recently appointed Captain of the Blood Ravens 4th company:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/toriel.jpg

This is the force commander you play through out Dawn of War II and Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising. While you can equip him with dozens of different armor styles, including terminator armor, and outfit him as a bolter specialist, close combat expert, or supporting unit I think I'm ultimatly going to go with Terminator armor mainly because the way I played him, he fought from the front.

 

Next we have Devastator Sergeant Avitus:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/avitus.jpg

A gruff individual, he got on my nerves a lot through out the campaign. He is extremely vocal is his disdain for any non-space marine and even more so about his hatred for non-humans. He is constantly berating the Imperial Guard for their "weaknesses" and frequently voices his questioning of the reason to be helping them (Where is that "bitch-smack Avitus" button when you need it?). None the less, he can pour a ton of fire power onto a target.

 

Then we have Scout Sergent Cyrus:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/cyrus.jpg

Arguably the eldest of the main space marine characters, Cyrus served with the death watch before returning to the Chapter as a trainer. Fiercely loyal to his initiate students, Cryus is principle responsible for the next generation of Blood Ravens. (This is going to be a counts as Telion.)

 

Next we Tactical Sergeant Tarkus:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/tarkus.jpg

Resolute in the face of danger, Tarkus' ability to think clearly under fire and hold the line provided me with a serious advantage on several missions. Later his ability to be equiped with Terminator armor allows me to use his 4 man squad to hold an area while my other 3 squads eliminated another threat.

 

Finally we have Assault Sergeant Thaddeus:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/thaddeus.jpg

Hot headed and impretousness, I found him really annoying in the beginning of the story.

"A quick jump, a few grenades and we'll have it." (Um... no. You'll have a face full of Dakka-dakka from the orks and I'll be shy one assault squad. Leave the tactics to the commander kid.) But love him, or loath him, his speed coupled with the abilities he gains latter on made him a favorite option for fast moving attacks.

 

Obviously, the focal point for each of these characters will be the faces. So I will need to convert the faces to resemble their digital counter parts.

 

Force commander Toriel and Tarkus I think will be the easiest. Toriel just needs the head with the squad hair cut from the devastator box while Tarkus is a stern faced bald marine (What marines player doesn't have a dozen of those heads in their bitz box?)

 

Avitus will be more of a challenge. I'm not sure what to do to achieve his face. Initially I was thinking of the head from the devastator box, again with the squad hair cut, but now I'm thinking the exposed head from the command squad set will work better. using green stuff I can build up the hair and the scar on his face along with the... whatever that is around his head. Bionics?

 

Cyrus is the real challenge. I'm not aware of any space marine head that looks like Cyrus and likewise I'm not away of any 40k head with the Commander Riker beard on it. I'm open to suggestions here. I know I'm probably going to need to green stuff the optics, so that's no real issue there. And green stuffing hair isn't much of a problem either. The real catch is that Cyrus appears to have a very thin head. Perhaps something from the High elf range? I don't know. Suggestions?

 

Beyond the characters is the color scheme. I'm in the process of developing the paint scheme I want to use for my Blood Ravens. So far I've figured out 2 recipes and completed a test model for one of them.

 

the two paint schemes I've come up are:

 

1)

Red Armor:

Scab red (2 coats)

1:1 Scab red: Red Gore First High light

1:1 Red Gore: Blood Red 2nd High light

Badab Black wash

Metal Areas:

Bolt Gun metal

Badab black wash

Bone Areas:

Kommando Khaki base coast

4 coats Bleached bone

Eyes:

Knarloc green basecoat

Snot Green High light

Scorpion green High light

Skull White dot

 

2)

Red Armor:

Red Gore

Devlen mud wash

Metal Areas:

Bolt Gun metal

Badab black wash

Bone Areas:

Bestial Brown Base Coat

Graveyard earth

4 coats of watered down Bleached Bone

Eyes:

Knarloc green basecoat

Snot Green High light

Scorpion green High light

Skull White dot

 

 

Here's the test mini for the first paint job:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/test-01.jpg

 

 

there is a reason I'm trying to figure out multiple paint schemes by the way. In Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising, they introduced a Corruption system. Based on certain acts you took, or certain pieces of wargear you use your squads may become corrupt and begin to lean toward Chaos. I want to make a note of this in my army but in a subtle way. Basically I want to have an alternate paint scheme that is still blood ravens, but is darker. Kinda like Midnight Blue compared to Regal blue sort of darker. It's still blue, but the midnight is undeniably darker and in truth you probably wouldn't notice the difference in color unless an example of each was standing next to one another for comparison.

 

So.... I guess that about wraps me up for right now. I need to pick up a few things to continue my development of the army plan but I won't be able to get those until Monday.

 

As always, Thoughts, comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcome, and encouraged. I'll be updating this project as I make advancements in my plans.

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Nice ideas ;) and you arent alone mate ;) hehehe... Love the game too and all the sweet armours it has..

Though id go for Cato Sicarius head for the comander and the one from devastators as avitus or maby the newer tankkomander head that you get from the Land raider crusader and gs the hair ? for cyrus there is a head from the Empire greatswords thats realy nice.. missing the bionic eye and beard though.. :S hehe and well tarkus is well a bald headed one from say comand box or the TDA box :) Thaddeus well maby a head from the Scouts as i see him as a young bloke still... ?

 

Cant wait to see more of whats to come...

Cheers mate and looks good sofar btw!

 

Love your Abaddon!!! Its awesome and very well made!! Big Cheer!

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except the captain is actually from the 5th company and his name is actually aramus.

 

Where he came from doesn't matter. End of DoW II: Chaos Rising, he is placed in command of the 4th company to replace Davian Thule. And at no point in the game is the name dictated to the player.

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There is one though its not showing on that pic... there is one with the hair slighty tusseld by the wind that would look great ;) its to be seen in Bits and Kits for exampel ;)

have no clue to show it though... but it could work nice :)

 

Hope to see some more realy soon mate :)

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I think you guys are actually referring to a head from the Empire Pistoliers unit.

 

I'm not sure how hung up you are on expressions, but this at least has the hair you would need. I find hair is a lot harder to get right than beards.

For Avitus, there is a bare head in the Dark Angels Veteran sprue, which has the haircut you would need, and a closed mouth. I would recommend maybe adding a very small amount of green stuff around his jaw and temples for the bionics, but keep it very thin. Depending on how you want to build your guys, you can have Toriel with the closed-mouth head, as it has a calm and almost amused look to it, and the Devastator Sarge head has that growl that suggests he's in the middle of unloading a whole lot of bolter shells.

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I think you guys are actually referring to a head from the Empire Pistoliers unit.

 

I'm not sure how hung up you are on expressions, but this at least has the hair you would need. I find hair is a lot harder to get right than beards.

For Avitus, there is a bare head in the Dark Angels Veteran sprue, which has the haircut you would need, and a closed mouth. I would recommend maybe adding a very small amount of green stuff around his jaw and temples for the bionics, but keep it very thin. Depending on how you want to build your guys, you can have Toriel with the closed-mouth head, as it has a calm and almost amused look to it, and the Devastator Sarge head has that growl that suggests he's in the middle of unloading a whole lot of bolter shells.

 

Hmm, I think I can work with that head. Cyrus is characterized as a teacher/commander of sorts. I think I can model a scout sergent with the rifle down and an arm pointing as if he's directing the squad in some fashion. Sculpting a beard should be fairly easy work.

 

Thanks Dexter. Once I get to building Cyrus I think I have a good place to start now.

 

On a somewhat unrelated note I've decided to magnetize some of my troops, for a couple of reasons. First, it will allow me to try different load outs, swapping a flammer for a melta gun or a Missile Launcher for a Heavy bolter, with out needing to have a seperate model for each. The other reason is cost. Well, this is kind of the same point but I'll be able to represent several versions with a single model versus needing several models. Look at a tactical squad:

 

7 Marines with Bolters. ( No need to magnatize)

1 Marine that may have one of the following:

  • Flamer
     
  • melta-gun
     
  • Plasma gun

1 Marine that may have one of the following:

  • Heavy Bolter
     
  • Missile Launcher
     
  • Lascannon
     
  • Multi-melta
     
  • Plasma Cannon

1 Sergent that may have any two of the following

  • one Chain Sword
     
  • One Power Fist
     
  • Combi-weapon
     
  • Storm Bolter
     
  • Plasma Pistol
     
  • Power Weapon

 

That's seriously like 30 models to represent all the options. Where if I magnatize the Heavy weapon, Special weapon and sergent, I just need the parts for various options and with my bitz box, I feel pretty confident in having the majority of parts I would need to accomplish this.

 

So I'm going to magnatize 3 members per each squad.

 

For those that are following this work log and want to see how I'm going to magnatize them, please read on.

 

I'm going to need 2 magnets for each point of connection. So I need to make note of how many points of connection I will have.

 

With the heavy weapon guy, I'm going to need 3 points of connection. The Right arm/Shoulder, the Left arm/shoulder and the back/pack. So that's 6 magnets.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/magnets.jpg

You can see by this diagram I'll need to place one magnet in each of the arms and another in each of the shoulders. I'll also place one magnet in the back of the upper torso and another in the inner section of the back pack.

 

The special weapon trooper will only need one point of connection, and that's the right arm. You may be saying "Wait a minute. You need to change both arms." Well, no. I don't. If you think about it, the left arm is just holder the front of the weapon. And it's an open hand. I just need to change the arm holding the weapon. So I'll need to set magnets like so:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/magnets-2.jpg

 

Lastly the sergeant. Baring the possibility of making the heads removable, which is an idea I'm entertaining for reason I will go into later, the sergeants will need 2 points of connection, one on each sholder so I can swap out the arms for the various weapon options.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/magnets-3.jpg

 

I just ordered the magnets. For those interested, I ordered magnets from K&J Magnetics. I've worked with Rare earth magnets before and free confident I can get away with using the smaller sizes in all the connection points I'll be doing. I ordered a package of 100 of the D201-N52 magnets. I'll be sure to post a step by step of my efforts once the magnets come in.

 

Now, I had mentioned that I was thinking about making the heads removable. That's half correct. In Dawn of War II, there are a lot of equipment options. Just because Tarkus begins with power armor, doesn't mean you can't give him Terminator armor later on. The Commander can be given a jump pack like wise. So I'm considering the possibility of making the head for each character model removable so I can equip then with different armors if I choose to. Not totally sold on this idea just yet, but it's an option I'm thinking about.

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That head from the Dark Angles vet sprue worked out really well for Avitus.

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/avitus_head01.jpg

 

 

HAH! Love it! I have quite a few homages to DOW 2 in my armies. My Heavy Bolter for my Vets has "More Corpses" inscribed behind his weapon, and a Missile Launcher carrier n has his bionic jaw-graft.

 

Anyways, for some of the models, how about the Blood Angels Vanguard Sergeant head with hair slightly trimmed for Thaddeus? And for Tarkus, perhaps take the bare head from the Command Squad box, and file some of the features slightly flatter for Tarkus' "stone-wall" look. For the Commander himself, Sicarius' head works PERFECTLY with a very slight filing of the bony cheeks.

 

:wub:

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Nice preparation, I can't wait to see them whole!

 

Those magnets should work well for the arms. I have all of my weapon specialists and sergeants/van vets magnetized in this way. I used 1/8x1/32 and 1/8x1/16 when I ran out of the first. While the thicker magnets are a more secured connection, its slightly more annoying to drill the holes due to the torsos being two-part right where I drill. I had quite a few split on me when I wasn't careful.

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And I present to you the Singing Trio of Space Marines!

 

 

No, just kidding. I've completed a test mini for each of 3 color recipes I've come up with:

 

#1: http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/painting_01.jpg

This one is the most basic of the three.

 

  • Red Armor
  • Chaos Black prime
  • Scab red base
  • 1:1 Scab Red: Red Gore highlight
  • 1:1 Red gore: Blood Red high light
  • Badab Black wash
  • Bone
  • Kommando Khaki Base
  • 3-5 coats of watered down Bleached bone

 

#2: http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/painting_02.jpg

 

  • Red Armor
  • Chaos Black prime
  • Red Gore Base
  • Devlen Blud wash
  • 1:1 Red gore: Blood Red high light
  • Bone
  • Bestial Brown Base
  • Graveyard Earth
  • 3-5 coats watered down Bleached bone

 

#3: http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/painting_03.jpg

This one is based on a recipe I found on Heresy-online.

 

  • Red Armor
  • Chaos Black prime
  • 1:1 Scab Red: Dark Flesh base
  • 1:1:4 Dark Flesh: Chaos Black: Water (Wash)
  • 1:50 Scab Red:Red Gore highlight
  • Blood Red High light
  • Bone
  • Graveyard Earth
  • 3-5 coats watered down Bleached bone

 

What do you all think? The last one looks a bit darker in comparison to the first two and I think I'll look at that when I do the corruption of the Blood Angles. I've been toying with the idea of doing the odd weapon or part with a faint red glow to it to represent the corruption of the chapter. A more glowy red might look better contrasted against the darker scheme.

 

As an additional little update, I've also made a series of army templates to use when I build the actual army lists. They don't actually do anything, but I think they look cool and help pull the army together a bit more:

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-10.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-09.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-08.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-07.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-06.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-05.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-04.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-03.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-02.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/pre-01.jpg

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My magnets came in! I've managed to build a sergeant as a test bed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/DSCN5277.jpg

 

 

This is a quick little college I spent about 45 seconds putting together to show some of the different configurations. I still need to finish some of the other arms.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/DSCN5279.jpg

 

 

"The reports of our genetic deviancy have been.... not entirely exaggerated. What? Like you've got a better idea about what to do with your 5th arm!"

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/Warhammer/DSCN5282.jpg

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Also, tried it myself earlier. You should use the head from the Master Of Recruits model for Cyrus, and simply green stuff the rest of the hair in. If you want to do Thule Pre-Dreadnought, but as he was in DOW 2, take the Assault Marine Sergeant head with the bionic right eye, and greenstuff a little bit of hair with a very minute "Widows's Peak" and nitch the hair slightly forward with the sculpting tool. I won't spoil my Gabriel Angelos idea for you unless you've beaten Retribution yet.
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Also, tried it myself earlier. You should use the head from the Master Of Recruits model for Cyrus, and simply green stuff the rest of the hair in.

Hmm... there's a thought. I'll have to look into that idea.

If you want to do Thule Pre-Dreadnought, but as he was in DOW 2, take the Assault Marine Sergeant head with the bionic right eye, and greenstuff a little bit of hair with a very minute "Widows's Peak" and nitch the hair slightly forward with the sculpting tool. I won't spoil my Gabriel Angelos idea for you unless you've beaten Retribution yet.

 

Oh no. Sorry, I hated Thule in Dark Crusade and frankly, I think he makes a better dread then a captain. With that in mind, this is going to be my Thule:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/mkIVvendread.jpg

 

Though I'm going to get a little inventive with the weapons. I installed the DoW2: Squads mod. It opens soooooo many different looks (of course it does make your marines into Ultra-smurfs FOO!). One of them was an assault cannon for Thule:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/2011-03-04_00010.jpg

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So I made a 4th effort at paint jobs. This time with the following recipe:

 

Red Armor:

Scab red (2 coats)

wash with 50:50:200 Chaos Black: Dark Flesh: water

2:2:1 Scab red: Red Gore: blood red First High light

Gryphone Sepia wash

Bone Areas:

Bestial Brown Base Coat

Graveyard earth

4 coats of watered down Bleached Bone

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/painting_04.jpg

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Thats a bit better,I would try to add a darker green to shadow the lenses and a white to dot the eye to give the reflection look. Maybe give a some brighter highlights on the black as well.

 

Hehe, the funny part is the black isn't highlighted at all. Thats just straight chaos black. It might be that it was picking up the work light I have on my desk. But yeah, the only highlighting I did on this model was on the red and the one highlight in the eyes.

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Very nice! Will you be doing The TechMarine? Martellus or someting I think he was called. He was just brilliant, sure he turned traitor in the end, but his voice was just.... Awesome... Pretty much how I imagine all marines to sound. Rather than the new 'I've got a bee up my noise' voice. :)
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Very nice! Will you be doing The TechMarine? Martellus or someting I think he was called. He was just brilliant, sure he turned traitor in the end, but his voice was just.... Awesome... Pretty much how I imagine all marines to sound. Rather than the new 'I've got a bee up my noise' voice. :)

 

Marellus turns traitor too?! Jesus! The Blood Ravens are so forked. They've had the Honor guard, 2 librarians and the current Chapter master all turn traitor and now a tech marine? Good lord, they are ever borked!

 

But to answer your question, yes I am going to build a Model of Martellus. I actually want to try and copy this image for Martellus:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/maverike_prime/2011-02-27_00014.jpg

 

I love the dynamic look of it and the way it's so different from how Tech marines are normally portrayed.

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