[MK] To Reave and Reap; Corsairs

[Magos Kasen]

Soooo, it's been a while since I haunted these parts. I took a bit of a break from 30/40k this year, putting my beloved Iron Warriors on hold. I had a brief plan to paint some 40k marines for a chapter of my own design, in a more high tech theme, but that never went anywhere. A few months later though, GW do most of the work for me and gave me the Primaris marines. Higher tech, bigger, better space marines? Why yes please, thank you sir. I love the Primaris marines, they are everything Space Marines are supposed to look like imo. And conveniently the new units perfectly suit the style of the Corsairs I had envisaged - brutal short ranged units specialised for boarding actions and zone mortalis combats. 

 

Fluffwise - the Corsair's are a Dark Founding chapter of unknown heritage, specialising in void warfare and boarding actions. They are broadly codex adherent, however the high attrition cost of their methods of warfare results in higher casualty rates than most chapters endure, which ensures they maintain a larger than normal scout company and recruit aggressively to replace losses. They are a fleet based chapter without a home world, recruiting from the slums of hive worlds they visit or from amongst juvenile gangers and pirates captured during combat, favouring aspirants who show fearlessness and aggression.

During the preparation for the 13th Black Crusade, the bulk of the chapter, around seven companies, was committed to the defensive fleet stationed at Cadia. The resulting destruction of the Gate and formation of the Cicatrix Maledictum left the scattered remnant's of the Corsair's on the verge of destruction. 

Recent decades have seen the slowly rebuilding chapter commit its forces to the Indomitus Crusade, taking part in numerous battles and campaigns alongside their brother astartes and other Imperial forces and making several forays into the Imperium Nihilus. The primary objective of the chapter and acting Chapter Master Jeor Catello is to discover the fate of their missing companies and to recover their prized battle barge Herodius Nero.

As thanks for their service in the Crusade and to aid the Corsairs in recovering their operational strength, three companies of Ultima founding marines, along with stockpiles of new MkX power armour were awarded to the chapter during the Triumph Donatus of Viatorus, along with the newly commissioned battle barge Incendiax.

Currently the Corsairs are in crusading alongside allied Imperial forces in the east of the Ultima Segmentum where they are attempting to chart new passages through the Great Rift and establish communication with lost Imperial worlds. 

 

Brother Hyax of the Corsairs, 4th Company, 3rd Squad, seen bearing inverted Omega campaign badge showing service in the Indomitus Crusade.

http://i.imgur.com/cwk4TkJl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aXq5LoJl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2r9igMJl.jpg

 

The scheme is a reimagining of my original Corsairs chapter, with a more thought out colour scheme that I like a lot more. Opinions? Thoughts? Too dark?

 

I've not yet added any weathering to this guy, and I'm not sure if I should or not. Usually I would, but I'm deliberately trying to challenge myself to paint a more clean, crisp style of mini and make better use of decals. 

[Kinstryfe]

That looks great. I love the chapter symbol.

[FuriousFerret]

Great scheme and paintjob!

[The Traitor]

Awesome! Very clean highlighting, and I like the colour scheme a lot, that blue is great. However there are two things that I'm not sure about. First the name, "Coersairs" leaves it very open to interpretation, being easy to confuse with Eldar corsairs or even red corsairs, so have you though of adding something to it? Maybe the Deep Corsairs? Or the Lost Corsairs? The second thing is the base, it looks too plain and too bright in my opinion, but I think it would look much better if you added some bigger boulders and darkened it a bit. Overall a promising start, can't wait to see more!

[Magos Kasen]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

 

@The Traitor - I can understand that the name is a bit vague, but I'm fairly content with it, for a couple reasons. Primarily, while I've left their genetic heritage unknown at the moment, to be able to adapt to any new GW fluff that offers interesting possibilities, I was originally envisaging them as either Raven Guard or White Scar successors, and both chapters' successors often have single word names - Raptors, Rampagers, Marauders etc. Plus, I doubt the average Imperial citizen even knows the Red Corsairs exist, so if a mythical Space Marine shows up and says he's a corsair, well, who are they to question him?

The bases, well I agree, that's a fairly bland example. I'm making them to match existing bases in my collection, but I'm mixing it up a bit to make them more visually interesting, so hopefully you'll like the next few a bit more.

 

On that note, here's the second marine to join my forces. Introducing Hellblaster Brother Ulos, 7th Company, 6th Squad. Brother Ulos proudly displays both the inverted omega signifying service in the Indomitus Crusade, but also a white shield bearing a bloody teardrop, proof of taking part in the Liberation of Baal, a prestigious honour. Given that the Corsairs were not formally involved in that campaign, it is probable that Ulos fought as one of the Unnumbered Sons before being assigned to the Corsairs at the Triumph Donatus. 

 

http://i.imgur.com/DoYgymUl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RdYutAQl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Jivg4iPl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hiVXrO0l.jpg

 

I'm not convinced by the bronze weapon casing, and I'm debating adding some OSL around the plasma too. Opinions?

[rednekkboss]

Sharp looking paint scheme. Great color combo! Nice work on the Chapter symbol too.

 

As for the plasma gun. Maybe leave the muzzle piece bronze and do the bulk of the casing in the grey you used on the bolter?

Edited August 23, 2017 by rednekkboss

[Calas Typhon]

I do like the idea of having a bronze casing, I think its a bit light though.

 

The scheme is great, the emblem is great too. Looking forward to more.

[Magos Kasen]

Ok, so in between working on the next Primaris Corsair, I've been messing around with one of the Death Guard from DI, just as a palate cleanser. Really working on creating a sense of texture for him, rather than the clean, smooth Primaris. Also wanted to find a cold colour scheme, rather than the very warm ones most Death Guard end up in. Only problem is that I really don't know if I like it, so I figured I'd actually post something mid-paint for once and get opinions. What do you think? Suggestions/critiques?

 

http://i.imgur.com/Niraxn6l.jpg

[Vairocanum]

Fantastic looking paint job, love the colors! I think adding some "wet" effects could look nice to the mouth and leaking bits. Looking forward to seeing this completed!

[Magos Kasen]

Thanks, some good suggestions that I'll bear in mind.

 

I did a bit more on the Death Guard before getting stuck into another Primaris. A bit more rough and ready, I'm slowly easing more towards production style painting with these guys. Decided to try my hand at a minor conversion too, to see how well the old marine parts work.

 

Brother Taal, 4th Company, 3rd Squad. Taal is armed with an ancient 'Phobos' pattern bolt carbine, demonstrating the tendency among some Corsair squads to use these lighter weapons. While they lack the long range efficiency of a standard bolt rifle, the carbines are shorter and more wieldy, an important consideration during room clearing and corridor fighting which is the Corsairs' speciality. Most Tactical and Intercession squads within the chapter will field at least one or two marines armed with different patterns of carbine. Taal bears the dagger icon of the Gharost Purges, an old campaign from the early 9th century M41, perhaps a mark of pride to show his seniority and experience compared to the newly inducted Ultima Founding brothers of the chapter.

 

http://i.imgur.com/MxEopeUl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/NmzgHB3l.jpg

 

Thoughts and opinions always welcome :)

[Ryltar Thamior]

oh wow, these're beautiful! I'd keep it just "Corsairs" for the name - nicely fits what they're about without the pretension that the "Luke NounVerber" approach to unit naming can entail.

WHat's the grey on the bolt-weapon cowling btw? And yeah, i'd do something about the 'brassy' plasma weapon, although not quite sure whta. 

[Studio Silvernale]

Davey Jones approves

[sockwithaticket]

Cool scheme, especially the chapter icon. Not sold on the metallic gun casing for the plasma, have you tried it with the grey of the bolt rifles?

The heavy corrosion on the Death Guard looks good.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The honor markings are a good touch. Excellent work on the individual models.

[MikhalLeNoir]

This is just fantastic work here. I absolutely love the freehand chapter symbol.

[darknation]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback!

 

@The Traitor - I can understand that the name is a bit vague, but I'm fairly content with it, for a couple reasons. Primarily, while I've left their genetic heritage unknown at the moment, to be able to adapt to any new GW fluff that offers interesting possibilities, I was originally envisaging them as either Raven Guard or White Scar successors, and both chapters' successors often have single word names - Raptors, Rampagers, Marauders etc. Plus, I doubt the average Imperial citizen even knows the Red Corsairs exist, so if a mythical Space Marine shows up and says he's a corsair, well, who are they to question him?

The bases, well I agree, that's a fairly bland example. I'm making them to match existing bases in my collection, but I'm mixing it up a bit to make them more visually interesting, so hopefully you'll like the next few a bit more.

 

On that note, here's the second marine to join my forces. Introducing Hellblaster Brother Ulos, 7th Company, 6th Squad. Brother Ulos proudly displays both the inverted omega signifying service in the Indomitus Crusade, but also a white shield bearing a bloody teardrop, proof of taking part in the Liberation of Baal, a prestigious honour. Given that the Corsairs were not formally involved in that campaign, it is probable that Ulos fought as one of the Unnumbered Sons before being assigned to the Corsairs at the Triumph Donatus. 

 

http://i.imgur.com/DoYgymUl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RdYutAQl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Jivg4iPl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hiVXrO0l.jpg

 

I'm not convinced by the bronze weapon casing, and I'm debating adding some OSL around the plasma too. Opinions?

I'm a sucker for bronze. Before doing anything, try putting a very thin wash of DA Green over the metal. It tones the colour down and adds a deep vertigris effect.

 

Go thicker with the green, maybe two thin coats, and you could then use the turquoise colour you've painted the shoulder pads to add an additional vertigris highlight. It would tie the colours of the miniature together quite nicely.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Regarding the name: Do your Corsairs and their allies have an official nickname to distinguish the Chapter from the Red Corsairs traitors? Maybe "Imperial Corsairs", to emphasize the fact they're loyalists, unlike Huron Blackheart's followers? "The Emperor's Iron Reavers"?

[Magos Kasen]

@Bjorn - I'm sticking with just Corsairs. I figure there's plenty of other one-word chapters, Executioners, Revilers, etc that they'll fit in with that crowd. And as for the Red Corsairs, I guess my guys don't get over to the Maelstrom that often, plus my dudes have been called this name for a lot longer than Huron's losers

 

Anyway, this is supposed to be a WIP thread so here's a WIP. I love the Inceptors, they're pretty rad.

 

[The Traitor]

Your scheme is so cool, can't wait to see a farce of them painted... I'm not convinced though about the blue eagle on the chest, maybe if you did the skull at the centre in black too it would look better?

[Magos Kasen]

Interesting, I'll play around on the next marine and see if I like it. I like the blue chest eagle, but I might try a bone or gold skull? We will see.

 

Anyway, I finished the Inceptor. Reasonably happy with him, although not totally happy with the base. Will have to work on that for the next one. Wanted to create the impression that the wash from the jet pack had blasted a shallow crater of dust and rock into the desert.

 

Here's Brother Artos, 8th Company, 4th Squad. Wielding twin assault bolters, Artos descends on his foes with hellfire. The Corsairs field large numbers of Inceptor and Assault squads, finding the mobility of jump packs a useful tool, especially in the void warfare they specialise in. The reinforced armour and blast visors of the Inceptor armour allows for high altitude deployment followed by surgical strikes where most needed, allowing Corsair strike teams to relieve embattled defenders as they crusade across war ravaged Ophidia. 

 

[The Traitor]

The inceptor looks awesome, are you going to add more hazard stripes to other models? For the base I think that itvlooks better if you cover the lower part of the transparent rod (just the base circle, not the actual rod) with basing material.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Personally, I think the gun shield should have a predator's face painted on it, the jaws framing the gun muzzles so a firing gun resembles a fire-breathing monster, to

 

1) Intimidate enemies,

 

2) Distinguish the wielder from the Iron Warriors, to avoid friendly fire incidents.

 

The rest of the Inceptor looks great. I commend your painting skills.

[thewarriorhunter]

Love what I've seen so far!

 

My 2 cents:

 

Leave the blue chest eagle, I think it looks good as is.

 

Glue your inceptor base down and base over it, it'll blend in as well as those stands can

 

I'm not sure about the bronze plasma, however I think if you put some washes on the tip for a heat/glow effect it might look really cool.

 

LOVE.YOUR.COLOR.SCHEME!

 

I also love the detail and story that goes with each model. I wanted to create my own chapter but decided to go Raven Guard because I couldn't think up anything good at the time. Now that I'm a year in part of me wants to go and start over... I think what you're doing is really awesome and I am looking forward to seeing more.

[Magos Kasen]

Thanks guys, really value the feedback and suggestions, it's really helpful. I'll definitely try a different tack with the bases in future.

 

As for the hazard stripes, I think I'll keep them as a subtle theme across the force. It seems a trend that the more ruthless/malevolent marines (Iron Warriors, Marines Malevolent etc) use them, and I see my Corsairs being of a similar ilk. I do really like your suggestion though Bjorn, I might try out some other terror-markings soon. 

 

And thanks thewarriorhunter, I'm glad that you like the colour scheme, the Corsairs have been an idea percolating in my mind for a while now. There's definitely a lot of fun in creating your own chapter. But I also like looking through lists of obscure chapters - I have plans for small allied contingents to join my Corsairs from a few 'official' chapters like the Halo Dragons and Death Eagles that will give me a chance to try some new colour schemes and include units that the Corsair's aren't likely to field, like devastators or chaplains.

So yeah, rather than starting over, consider adding an ally contingent to your Ravenguard, either create a homebrew, or pick a chapter that GW has created nothing more than a name for, and flesh it out and make it your own :)

[Magos Kasen]

Ok, snap poll, need opinions on which looks better - bonus points if you have an opinion of which is better rules wise, if either is even legal.