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WIP - Salamanders Istvaan V Survivors


Carraigf

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Hi all,

 

Starting a PLOG for my new Salamanders force based around Varias Tarragon and his band of survivors following on from the drop site massacre of Istvaan V.

 

My aim is to post updates at least once a week as I build and paint my first 1500 points of Salamanders using the Covenant of Fire RoW and then I'll see where my games take me in terms of adding new units to the roster.

 

I'm a huge fan of both the Firedrake and Pyroclast models and love the look of Volkite weaponry, especially as it suits the Salamanders fluff of being able to maintain even the most complex weaponry in a battle ready state, so hope to be fielding lots of cool stuff and a heavily fluff based force - though I also love the Scimitar pattern jet bikes so some of those may make it into a later army list.

 

For the colour scheme I was really inspired by Cosmic Castaways work on his Salamander force and he's been kind enough to share the recipe so I'll start by posting a few of his pics as these really were the inspiration behind the muted green ad battle worn look I'm hoping to achieve, followed by pics of the squads I've assembled so far.

 

This is only the second force I've collected since returning to the hobby a little under a year ago so please do share and tips and tricks, critique and criticism. All will be gratefully received, wish me luck brothers!

 

CarraigF

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As promised here's a couple of pics from Cos' force that really inspired me, both in terms of which legion to collect and how to paint them.

 

CC Tacticals

 

CC Veterans

 

Credit: Cosmic Castaway

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And here's my first WIP - most of the cleaning up done before assembly - still want to add some GS detail - certainly on the Sgt's vambrace and the vexilla staff.

 

Only used a few parts from 3rd parties - spell crow tabard and pad - and a sprinkle of the FW legion heads - while I want to showcase salamanders as a legion of artisans I've no intention of customising every legionary so I'll be picking out details in the paint job - custom shoulder decals and contrasting bolter colours rather than custom bits for the most part.

 

Customised Spellcrow Shoulder Pad


1st Tactical 1 of 4


1st Tactical 2 of 4


1st Tactical 3 of 4


1st Tactical 4 of 4

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As its week 1 also have a second update - cleaned and built my fire drakes last night as well - again more to do but happy with how they look - some mean hammer bearing mothers right there smile.png

Firedrakes Master

Firedrakes 1 of 4

Firedrakes 2 of 4

Firedrakes 3 of 4

Firedrakes 4 of 4

Firedrake Head

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Those fire drakes are a truly hateful unit. I'm sure you'll get your money's worth out of them, and they'll look fantastic in that green you've got on those nice looking tacticals.

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Thanks both - again props to cos as the painted ones aren't my work :)

 

Have to say loving the scale of these guys - maybe it's the bigger bases but they just seem meatier than my old snap fit DA marines, but then I stopped collecting those 20 some years ago and things have moved on a fair bit.

 

Basing wise I'm not sure how to model the urgall depression - anyone got any tips on how to pull off black sand/gravel? Any pics would be ace :)

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Right I'm following this. For the base I would base black, drybrush codex grey, wash with agrax, drybrush stormvermin fur. That's what I use on my XVIII legion bases which are supposed to look like lava flows.
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Hey up our baz - must be a thing with guard players choosing salamanders for 30k - maybe its the fight to the last man bit :) Got a few pics to share?

 

Cthonia that stuff looks awesome - is that painted up or just straight out the tin/pot?

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Hey up our baz - must be a thing with guard players choosing salamanders for 30k - maybe its the fight to the last man bit smile.png Got a few pics to share?

Cthonia that stuff looks awesome - is that painted up or just straight out the tin/pot?

I believe that stuff is painted up, The stuff I have seems to be pitch black, I have not applied anything yet to show though.

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Hey up our baz - must be a thing with guard players choosing salamanders for 30k - maybe its the fight to the last man bit smile.png Got a few pics to share?

Yeah I think there is something in water in the barracks-personally always thought Sallies are truly the defenders of humanity much like the guard.

Sample Marine from the 55th Line Company:

gallery_72518_11677_223378.jpg

If you haven't found it yet my WIP is here.

our_baz 55th Line Company WIP

Look forward to seeing more of your stuff

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Thanks baz - have to say he looks pretty sweet and i like the cork base - now following :)

Hey up our baz - must be a thing with guard players choosing salamanders for 30k - maybe its the fight to the last man bit smile.png Got a few pics to share?

Cthonia that stuff looks awesome - is that painted up or just straight out the tin/pot?

I believe that stuff is painted up, The stuff I have seems to be pitch black, I have not applied anything yet to show though.

Cheers Cthonia - looks like another item to order in.

Think I'll use that with some slate or cork to break it up a bit.

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  • 1 month later...

Hey folks - so when i said weekly I obviously meant monthly lol - actually with all the best intentions I've been slowly working away but due to some family issues haven't had time to post.

So here's a breakdown of what I've achieved in the last 4 weeks...

Final batch of paints in droppers - woot!

Finally finished putting all my paints into droppers - also ordered some new vallejo model air so I could follow Cosmic Castaway's recipe for my troops - finding this so much better to work with too.

Tread head moment

Got my transports sorted - still got to GS and fill in here and there - and waiting on funds to add heavy flamers to the rhinos because with +1 strength it's rude not to smile.png.

Also started the build on the Sicaran - wonky barrels need the hot water treatment but I decided to delay finishing the build till I'd completed the infantry - have a Spartan to do next then hoping to get either an Achilles or Armoured Proteus for the Pyros - Spartan is the old one with horrible tracks - still working up the courage to make a start on that beast smile.png

Strike force assembled!

So here's the rank and file - the pyros were a second hand buy so needed stripped and the sgt came with power fist - looks great but think I'll ignore it in game - also another tac squad - mixed and matched with my FW and spellcrow parts to add a bit of flavour - including some re-purposed iron hands torsos - I think they'll pass muster - will do some close ups as and when I finish tidying up each squad.

1st Squad

Decanus

Decanus 2

Got some paint fired down on the first squad - the Sgt. has a head swap - opted to use the spare fire drake helm as it's just too nice not to - these are the same as the pyros heads without the drake skin coif/veil - so thought that'd be cool - I've also magnetised so he can carry either bolter and ccw/mb or power axe with inferno pistol - I've used the same custom pad for each build too - sort of treating it like personal heraldry - will need to brush up on my gs skills though to add something really unique later.
The inferno pistol is a great little bit from anvil industries - they also do techmarine arms and natrthecium so may order some more bits and convert up my spare pyros into apothecaries/tech marines to highlight their artificer armour/coolness.

Signifer

Vexillum

Legionary

Lastly some close ups of the signifer with his nuncio vox, the vexillum, and a standard legionary - I'll likely not take the upgrades in games but the bits are too good to pass up and add a lot to the squad. Put these shots in to highlight the zenithal paint attempt,
Colour wise I'm very happy with the scheme - need to work harder on the transitions with the airbrush as looks a bit stilted atm - one key bit of learning when attempting zenithal highlighting was the importance of a solid base coat - you can see where bits of grey primer are showing through so I'll be adding in a base layer of black onto the primer before moving onto the greens in the next batch.

So that's it for now - more next week or month tides depending smile.png - C&C always welcome and warmly received - still need to order in that black lava stuff for basing but have some cork on the way so will get there eventually.

*spelling grammar etc.

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Finished the build on my Sicaran - now to make it stand out as an XVIII legion tread - thinking of trying to gs some coals, hammers and anvils but would appreciate any inspiration folk could share..
 

Sicaran

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Personally I would look at the side of the tank for some free hand painting. The recessed armour I would pant black an rock with flames (two sections front and mid). The raised plating at the back housing the LC I would go to town with a scale pattern. And the mid armour plate I would run I your armour colour.
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Cheers Baz - yeah was thinking some texture - maybe a hammered bronze look for the rear panels with coals on the recesses then flames - seen some very cool stippled flame effects

Any idea where I can track down some heavy flamer sponsors - like the infernus ones - would be great to have those instead of Las / heavy bolters that come with the kit..

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Got 10 more Pyros for my birthday - yuss! Some will end up as Centurions/Artificer Armoured Chosen as for the rest not sure yet how to field so posted an ask in the tactica thread for advice.

 

So given I had to be a grown up I was mostly not hobbying at the weekend - but did finish build and clean of my troops and transports and got a basecoat down on them.

 

Baz - love the scale pattern idea - found some good threads on how to do fairly simple yet effective scales using a v pattern - credit to Freakiq

 

Scales Freekiq

 

Also found this tutorial on a leopard pattern - think if I close up the gaps some could be good for vehicles as scaly hide type effect - credit to Real Genius @ Painting Corps

 

Leopard Painting Corps

 
Think I'll start with a green base same as my troops then take stock.
 
So next decision is what to add - transport for my now rather large force of Pyros - some will end up as Centurions/Artificer Armoured Chosen - or Predator INfernus - or a Contemptor - may try and get this lot painted at least table top first but with the hobby mojo in full swing it'll be a challenge not to spend those vouchers soonish... certainly going to add some legion flamers to the basket then work out where to cut to replace all those hull mounted HBs.
 
Pics to follow in a couple more days but have to say loving this legion and incredibly motivated to keep getting paint down - but will save some for ETL too :)
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So on reflection wasn't happy with the gradients on the first squad so stripped em back and tried again - this time paying more attention the the angles of the airbrush. Happier with the result but still needs a wash to tie it in...

http://image.bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_11812/gallery_84166_11812_521050.jpg

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