Clawthorn: Astral Claws Kill Team

[ranulf the revenant]

I've used Prussian blue and Payne's grey ink to give the Astral Claw's steel an effect that is more neutral than I usually paint metal. Payne's grey has similar qualities to sepia, granulating and adding depth; but it is cool rather than warm.

 

 

 

I like it a lot. Do you use oils or acrylics for this (I don't even know if using oils would still be considered an ink?)?

Edited August 10, 2019 by ranulf the revenant

[TheTrans]

Loving it so far brother!! More Claws the better!

Looking forward to see what else you do with it in the future! 

[apologist]

Excellent stuff, looking forward to seeing more

Five more undergoing painting at the mo

 

White dust and marble would be good for setting them within the Palace of Thorns. Red dust and mud would work for the battles on Angstrom or Cygnax? 

I love the idea of broken marble, but think that red dust would look much more striking. I think I'll have to experiment a bit – and check with the rest of the gang to see their plans. It'd be really nice to have a cohesive basing scheme.

 

This isn't modelling, this is art.

(Feels desperate urge to write war poetry).

You don't have to belt feed the HB if you don't want to boss.  Akkad wielded a few, any HB is canon to him.

I   This..

 

Ha, thanks very much! Parts for Akkad are en route – I just wanted to check that how the Badab War fits in with Akkad's service. Blackthorn/Swordhand is happening prior to the Badab War, right? Just wondering whether you see Akkad wearing a Deathwatch pad – would be nice to include one, if only for the sake of variety.

 

Oh man, my heart is swooning at the sight of that sergeant! I really hope you expand this team into an army so I can just see more of this!

 

As for basing I like the idea of rubble and decking. I wonder if you could do dark brown dirt, maybe scorched/burnt white stone debris from buildings, and rusted metal decking. I wonder if those colors would look good with the AC and not blend with their colors too much.

Yes, I think there's lots of options. Can't promise that we'll see an army, but I've already got some ideas for expanding the Kill Team with some themed terrain.

 

In my opinion the bases could tell the story of the thread, on the steps. Have broken stone, marble, scorched ground, torn banners. These are The Astral Claws, realising that in their direst hour the scorpion is preparing to strike at their very heart...

 

...and they shall stand firm.

For the Tyrant!

 

The SGT is coming along quite well. Will you add bloodstains to the model- maybe a dismembered/disemboweled/decapitated corpse on his base?

I've always tended to avoid explicit victims – to avoid the problem of fighting (say) Eldar, and having an ork casualty – but some blood spatter always works well on metallics. It'll add a nice visceral dimension to the visuals.

 

Your work with Primaris Marines remains inspiring and Badab might be my favorite period of the setting. I can't wait to see more!

Ta very much. Hope the results live up to your hopes! I'll see if the rest of the gang want to post here, or mind me posting their pics.

 

Payne with the executioner's axe, hmm?

Payne is an awesome name – and suitably over-the-top for the period! Perhaps Maximus, to really go retro?

 

Always great to see a new topic from you appear on these boards. 

 

Liking the subtle conversions. Despite being based on the same miniatures these Astral Claws are clearly from a different time period than your Blood Angels. 

 

The Imperial Armour Badab War books are such a masterpiece. A real treasure trove of inspirational material.

 

Difficult one on the bases. A Palace of Thorns setting could place these guys in muddy, barb wired trench setting. Problem then being if you want to keep these guys clean(ish) looking compared to your Iron Warriors it might look odd if they're not also muddied up and weathered heavier, given their locale. Alternatively a heavily weathered/rusty decking base with reds, oranges and browns could provide a nice contrast against the cleaner metals of the power armour.

Cheers Geordie, good to hear from you, and thanks for the kinds words.

 

 

 

 

 Do you use oils or acrylics for this (I don't even know if using oils would still be considered an ink?)?

The difference between all these media is essentially the carrier in which the pigment is suspended. In basic terms, the carrier in oil paints is oil; in acrylics it's an air-drying plastic; and in inks it's gum arabic. There's lots of variation, of course, but the underlying thing to check is whether the carriers will interfere with each other. Oils will break down or disrupt acrylic or ink layers, so you need to varnish in between layers when using these media in combination, but most inks (certainly acrylic inks) will play nicely with acrylic paints like the Citadel colour range. In general, I tend to stick with acrylics and inks where possible.

 

The inks I use are a mix of Daler Rowney's Artists Acrylic inks and Winsor & Newton's calligraphy inks. 

Edited August 13, 2019 by Apologist

[apologist]

Painting continues apace on the Astral Claws. Nothing hugely earth-shattering, but a few light notes on some models that are proving a nice change of pace. The figures below are getting to the fun stage – all the boring work has been done, now it's a case of improvement and refinement. 

 

 

First off; let's address the grox in the room. Mouldlines. [+SCRAPSHUNTERRORABORT+] mouldlines. You check and you trim and you file and you... nevertheless see the [+SCRAPSHUNT+] things appear. They seems particularly egregious on the Primaris legs because they run the length of the front of the legs – this is owing to the orientation of the legs in the mould. The set of Hellblaster legs I received were particularly badly affected, and also seem a bit distorted on the rear. 

 

Other than those, I'm pleased with the look of the conversion. Half-tempted to go back and put the cable 'junction box' in the centre of the torso. The cradled helmet pleased me, as it was such a simple change – trim away the Primaris grille and replace with a Mark VII. Turns out the old and new maring helmets aren't as divergent as they first appear.

 

You can see the odd distortion/dip in the plastic around the calf area here. I'm guessing this is a common fault in the casting, perhaps caused by the thickness of the plastic here, or the sheer amount of casts that must have been pushed through for these cornerstones of the new Primaris army. Struck me as unusual, as GW's plastic manufacturing is normally free of such minor defects. Maybe I've just been spoiled by the flawless engineering of the Adeptus Titanicus Warlord Titan. 

 

 

With metallic schemes, it's important to build in contrast, or it just looks boring. Worse, it loses verisimilitude. A quick trick is to use different tones for different types of metal. On this Kill Team, I've used a relatively bright metal for the armour plates – i.e. the bits that make up the Chapter's uniform – and a duller gunmetal for the boltgun and backpack. A quick, subtle and simple way to add interest.

 

In the same vein, I've added a blue stripe to break up the studded shoulder pad. The silver then stands out against the blue. Note also the soft armour joints and rope here are painted in a dark green. Since metals are monotone, they can be very boring – introducing some hints of chroma elsewhere help lift the scheme.

 

 

The marine with the Maximus helm shows another way of introducing colour to a metallic scheme; use glazes and touches of coloured wash – I've added greens, blues, purples and sepias across these marines. A lot of this will get knocked back when I build the midtones and highlights back up at the next stage of painting.

 

 

The colour blue has been used not just on the pauldrons, but also on pouches and similar non-armour areas, like tabards, knifesheaths etc.

 

 

The Astral Claws scheme is a bit unusual in being quite varied – the colour plates in Imperial Armour IX show a variety of colours being used, particularly on the pauldrons, which vary between blue and silver; and with silver or gold trim.

 

It's all left up to your own interpretation. I like Mazer Rackham's ideas on the previous page. That interpretation seems nicely fitting to me, so while I haven't gone into quite as much detail yet, I like the sense of progression and transition. The marine above, then, with his varied pads, is made to look off-balance and uncertain – which suggests some character, perhaps based on a hesitancy in following Huron's cause. It's a nice conceit.

 

The difference between the metals on the backpack is quite clear here: silver top, gunmetal remainder. Like the pauldrons, the exhausts (the bobbly things on the sides of the backpack) vary in the artwork between silver and gold. Might tweak one or two to reflect this.

 

 

Dakka dakka dakka! Heavy bolters aren't Primaris equipment, but rules should always come second to the models you want to build. I've mentioned how I like the echo between the studs on the helm and pauldrons before; I've emphasised this by breaking the trim on the pauldrons into separate areas, which help to frame the head.

 

 

I often use purple wash over gold. It's always effective at creating a sense of opulence, and it's great for depth.

[hushrong]

Your latest post is eye candy. Has me wanting to dust off my AC remnants and scream For the Tyrant!

[ranulf the revenant]

 

The difference between all these media is essentially the carrier in which the pigment is suspended. In basic terms, the carrier in oil paints is oil; in acrylics it's an air-drying plastic; and in inks it's gum arabic. There's lots of variation, of course, but the underlying thing to check is whether the carriers will interfere with each other. Oils will break down or disrupt acrylic or ink layers, so you need to varnish in between layers when using these media in combination, but most inks (certainly acrylic inks) will play nicely with acrylic paints like the Citadel colour range. In general, I tend to stick with acrylics and inks where possible.

 

The inks I use are a mix of Daler Rowney's Artists Acrylic inks and Winsor & Newton's calligraphy inks.

Ah, thanks a lot. I was under the Impression "ink" would be a term like wash (so just a heavily diluted colour), so this really helps ☺️

[apologist]

Your latest post is eye candy. Has me wanting to dust off my AC remnants and scream For the Tyrant!

Let's reclaim the Maelstrom for the Emperor! :)

 

Ah, thanks a lot. I was under the Impression "ink" would be a term like wash (so just a heavily diluted colour), so this really helps ☺️

 

 

Ah, gotcha. If painting's theory's of interest, this +Death of a Rubricist+ blog post I did on glazing explains some of the terms and concepts that might be useful.

[Mazer Rackham]

 

*SNIPPETY SNIP SNIP*

 

 Akkad wielded a few, any HB is canon to him.

 

Ha, thanks very much! Parts for Akkad are en route – I just wanted to check that how the Badab War fits in with Akkad's service. Blackthorn/Swordhand is happening prior to the Badab War, right? Just wondering whether you see Akkad wearing a Deathwatch pad – would be nice to include one, if only for the sake of variety.

 

 

Ah, this is the rub good sir, our DW campaign happens just after the Badab War, Huron's betrayal and that of the Astral Claws is currently unknown to our KT.  (Insert sword of damocles here) However, there was at least one other Astral Claw that did come to the DW and return to the Chapter, there's no reason not to stick a pad on someone, although it will have to be rare - Uncle Huron wasn't taken with the Inquisition shall we say...

 

The Astral Claws scheme is a bit unusual in being quite varied – the colour plates in Imperial Armour IX show a variety of colours being used, particularly on the pauldrons, which vary between blue and silver; and with silver or gold trim.

 

It's all left up to your own interpretation. I like Mazer Rackham's ideas on the previous page. That interpretation seems nicely fitting to me, so while I haven't gone into quite as much detail yet, I like the sense of progression and transition. The marine above, then, with his varied pads, is made to look off-balance and uncertain – which suggests some character, perhaps based on a hesitancy in following Huron's cause. It's a nice conceit.

 

 

 

 

Kind words indeed!  Very keen to see how this develops.

 

 

MR.

Edited August 13, 2019 by Mazer Rackham

[No Foes Remain]

One of my favourite hobbyist is doing my favourite chapter. This. Is. Awesome.

[Reyner]

These look ace Apologist, I really like how you subtlety break up the silver of the power armour. And purple wash always works really well over gold pretty sure it's actually magic.

[apologist]

 

Ah, this is the rub good sir, our DW campaign happens just after the Badab War, Huron's betrayal and that of the Astral Claws is currently unknown to our KT.  (Insert sword of damocles here) However, there was at least one other Astral Claw that did come to the DW and return to the Chapter, there's no reason not to stick a pad on someone, although it will have to be rare - Uncle Huron wasn't taken with the Inquisition shall we say...

 

Ah, an excellent point. I shall have to have a little think about it – presumably any potential Deathwatch veteran would be quite old, too. Thanks for the thoughts :)

 

One of my favourite hobbyist is doing my favourite chapter. This. Is. Awesome.

Very kind! :)

 

These look ace Apologist, I really like how you subtlety break up the silver of the power armour. And purple wash always works really well over gold pretty sure it's actually magic.

Yes, it's a lovely quick – and effective – approach. You can try green as well, for a slightly unusual effect. Works nicely on Necrons.

[apologist]

+ Brother Lyron Acast +

Both pragmatic and cautious, Acest maintained a healthy scepticism of the Tyrant's creation of the Legion; though not to the extent to speak up against it. Loyal to his beloved Chapter above all, Acast maintained the crest of the Astral Claws rather than the Tyrant's own sigil. This was a common indulgence, well-accepted within the Chapter; though such half-heartedness proved no defence in the face of Imperial retribution. His analytical and sceptical mindset proved useful in keeping him and his comrades alive – but not forever. Acast's charred remains were discovered in the wake of the Star Phantoms' first assault on Gonda.

 

 

Fun with freehand. Breaking down the Astral Claws' original big cat icon was fun. I used off-black and off-white, to avoid it looking too stark.

 

 

I introduced a thin wash of the same rusty-red brown used for the base to the lower legs and feet, rubbing it away before it settled. This left it in the recesses, and helps tie the figure to the base.

 

 

He may be sceptical, but he's pragmatic, too. He wears the Tyrant's symbol on his right pauldron – y'know, just in case.

 

 

Pleased with the freehand here. A very 'standard' space marine, but I rather like the effect you get by back-converting Primaris into classic Mark VII.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Apologist

[Reyner]

That freehand is crazy good. You are a braver man than I am :D good choice with the bases too the red dust works very well. 

[apologist]

That freehand is crazy good. You are a braver man than I am good choice with the bases too the red dust works very well. 

Thanks – and not sure if brave or masochistic!

 

+++

 

+ Brother Yoruban +

Sharp-eyed and incisive, Yoruban was a popular member of the squad, particularly noted for his wit – and his aim. Fully trained as the squad's support member, his skills were put to use as sharpshooter when Soter – who Yoruban joked needed the practise more – was assigned to the squad.

 

 

Very enjoyable to get back to some variety in skintones. Most of the recent skin I've been doing has been fairly similar – ruddy dwarfs; so it was fun to experiment with some warm dark skin tones. I worked from a midtone base of even amounts of red, yellow, blue, white and some same red-brown I used for the basing, then worked down into the shades (adding more brown and blue) and up into the highlights (adding more yellow and white). As with almost all the skin I paint, there's a hint more red in the cheeks, chin, nose and lower lip, as these are areas where the blood is closer to the surface.

 

 

 

I'm fond of the conversion work here, and the paintjob seems to complement it well. The pauldron is relatively simple, bearing the squad number and a campaign honorific. Between the bare head, Mark VI conversion and carried helm, he's already interesting enough to avoid needing help with freehand.

 

 

Some gouges were already taken out of the pauldron – I was tempted to develop the weathering a little further, but decided to keep the squad relatively spare for this project. The rest of the PCRC tend to paint very cleanly and neatly, and I want the Astral Claws to fit in.

 

 

As well as carrying his helm – really love this bit, taken from the lieutenant model that makes up the basis of Sergeant Aldin – this marine bears a different weapon to the rest of the squad. I think it's an auto-bolter; but that might be what the others are carrying. Perhaps this is a stalker bolter?

Edited August 19, 2019 by Apologist

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the Astral Claws. The freehand symbols are well-painted.

[brother tycho]

As im scrolling down through pic after pic of gritty authentic astral claws, im finding myself making an involuntary mmmmmmm sound :)

[hushrong]

Awesome work on the two latest Astral Claws! The gritty paint jobs show they’ve been busy. I also love the freehanded emblems too. Both the original chapter symbol and the tyrants claw. Also, the red tones of the base contrasts nicely with their silver and blue armor.

[apologist]

Excellent work on the Astral Claws. The freehand symbols are well-painted.

Ta – surprisingly fun to do. I was rather dreading the big cat's head (is it a tiger or maneless lion?), but it proved easier than the Tyrant's claw.

 

As im scrolling down through pic after pic of gritty authentic astral claws, im finding myself making an involuntary mmmmmmm sound

Ha ha – working as intended (thank you!)

 

Awesome work on the two latest Astral Claws! The gritty paint jobs show they’ve been busy. I also love the freehanded emblems too. Both the original chapter symbol and the tyrants claw. Also, the red tones of the base contrasts nicely with their silver and blue armor.

Cheers – and yes, bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision, those bases; but I rather like them.

 

Next up, a closer look at two more marines.

[apologist]

 

+ Brother-sergeant Todros Aldin +

Aldin had been promoted mere months prior to the start of hostilities, and was freshly returned from a stint in the Tyrant's Legion when he was given squad command. Distant, arrogant and aloof, Aldin drew together his squad based purely on observed ability. His lack of interest in his warrior's personalities led to a team that was as fractious and argumentative as it was capable. He was isolated and overwhelmed in combat by a Kill Team of Novamarines during the Xet Offensive.

 

 

Squad 6 is Kill Team Clawthorn's designation. The Astral Claws had quite an unusual organisation, with a 'normal' Chapter, a fleet-based shadow Chapter, and the Astartes of the Tyrant's Legion; a sort of hybrid PDF in which Lufgt Huron hid more Astartes assets. Rather than a dedicated permanent group, I decided Clawthorn would be an operational command; drawn mostly from Aldin's squad (number 6), but with the potential to include other specialists he requisitions.

 

 

The huge axe draws the eye, but the figure has plenty of other bits going on. I was sorely tempted to use a more unusual helm, but wanted to leave some design space for a potential Commander expansion in the future. 

 

 

Vici – 'I conquered', his bolter proclaims. Clearly he's confident!

 

 

 

+ Brother Nmamde Kain +

Excelling in every aspect of fieldcraft and warfare, Kain seemed destined for greatness. Welcoming the Tyrant of Badab's ambition and vision, he threw himself whole-heartedly behind his master with the fervency of the fanatic. Deadly, but not cruel; and fierce, but not dishonourable, Kain was an exemplar of the Astral Claws – and an bitter example of the double loss the Imperium faced when they drove the Secessionists to rebel.

 

 

I'm pleased with the green lenses. I added a very subtle amount of reflected light to the reflective silver around them, just to help them pop.

 

 

The studded pauldron's the best bit here, I think. I took a leaf from my Iron Warriors in incorporating a broad stripe of colour – blue in this case – down the centre. This sets off the metal bonding studs nicely against the metallic background.

 

 

Well-equipped: in addition to a rope and standard frag grenades, he carries some more exotic grenades (from Victoria Miniatures).

Edited August 19, 2019 by Apologist

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Again, excellent work. I personally like SGT Aldin the most; the message on his boltgun is a great touch.

[apologist]

Ta very much. I'm also teetering on the edge of doing casualties for everyone... both to mark when they go down, and just for visuals. Too much?

 

[ranulf the revenant]

Why not? Might give your games some extra character... ☺️

[The Yak]

Some seriously tasty Badab Juice being served up around here. Always been a fan of your work Brother.

 

Love the character you have put into these beauties. The various pauldrons reflecting how much they are on board with the whole Tyrant thing is a masterstroke. Having a squad of conflicting personalities is ace and fitting for the Badab setting.

 

You are right about the double loss regarding the Imperium forcing them to rebel. Should have just given him his resources. Damn Black Library really need to give us a Badab series of Novels.

 

As for your last post and doing casualty markers for them all all I can say is that too much is not enough!!!

Edited August 16, 2019 by The Yak

[Steel Company]

Just getting caught up now Apologist, fantastic work!

 

As for Akkad and the HB, perhaps drum fed would be the way to go.... Cadence currently has a bad habit of jamming on Akkad with his back-pack supply.

 

I mean there is a reason why Tyber is lugging around a belt or HB Kraken ammo for Akkad after all.

[No Foes Remain]

I really like that blue stripe on that studded shoulder pad, I think both Nurgling6688 and Hyaenidae use the blue stripe on the weapons but it really works on the armour. Borrowing that idea for if/when I get my Astral Claws going again.

 

Keep it awesome, the Tyrant Approves