The Lion’s own. A Dark Angels HH thread

[The Pounder]

Ok people, I’m taking the plunge and I’m going to build an HH Dark Angels force.

 

I have recently read Descent of Angels and now I’m hooked.

 

Also imo Lion’el Johnson is the best Primarch model.

 

Before I get too carried away I’m thinking of painting them black, green and bone rather than the usual black and red. (I’m currently working on a Black Templars project so I’d like there to be some differentiation between the two armies)

 

So is there any lore reason I can’t use the traditional palette on my 30k Dark Angels?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Marshal Mittens]

Just my opinion, but the Galaxy is a big place, its completely plausible that a force of dark angels incorporated green in their colors.

[Slave to Darkness]

Black with green edge highlighting looks ok, someone did that way back when Tempus Fugitives were doing HH rules and it looked pretty good. I think the 'loyalist' DA's led by Luthor had green in their scheme to represent the forests of Caliban unlike the Traitors from Terra in the black. ;) Has been a while since I read the DA books though so I may have gotten confused on why they had the green. 

[Gamiel]

So is there any lore reason I can’t use the traditional palette on my 30k Dark Angels?

No. It's a big Galaxy and the DA are known for having lots of different symbolism and markings that non but they understand.

 

Suggest taking a look at WD#464 for some conversion and/or alternative painting ideas

[WrathOfTheLion]

Black and bone is definitely used for Deathwing, so you can easily incorporate that or make some twist with that.

 

Not as certain on Green as far as a primary color, but as said, the Legion is a big place. I have done shoulderpads in green, which can add a nice touch.

 

The variant Inner Circle Knights Cenobium used white as their primary color, so that looks like a cool area to explore altering color schemes possibly even further by making up a Knight Order.

[Raziel-TX]

Given that your DKoK army is so great, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing your Dark Angel army.

[Pearson73]

Looking forward to seeing you tackle the first legion. As for the colours, I'll echo the others, the Calibanites tended to go for a green shoulder pad, bone appears on some of their elites and also the Dark Angels have tonnes of heraldry and alternative armour plate due to their background of knightly orders!

[Cactus]

I think if they're mostly black with bone/green/red accents and a winged sword then nobody will doubt that they're Dark Angels. Edited April 28, 2022 by Cactus

[The Pounder]

Thanks very much for the speedy replies!

 

I’m definitely going to go for it, I’ve ordered myself the Dark Angels Terminator Praetor.

 

Thanks again for the vote of confidence!

[The Pounder]

Well Forgeworld sent out my Praetor at warp speed!

 

Had a chance to play around with this Praetor and I’m happy with the colours. I’ve gone with a dark and brooding scheme, hopefully that comes across.

 

I think the head gets a little lost but I think that’s just how this model is.

 

I’m really looking forward to the HH event next week (not going sadly but will be watching it with interest)

 

Can’t remember where but I read that it’s safe to buy Cataphractii models as they’ll still be the same scale.

 

Here’s the pics:

 

HH Dark Angels Praetor

 

HH Dark Angels Praetor

 

HH Dark Angels Praetor

 

HH Dark Angels Praetor

 

HH Dark Angels Praetor

 

Thanks for looking!

[Marshal Mittens]

Looks great!

[Raziel-TX]

Nice. Moar! Haha.

[LameBeard]

Beautiful stuff. Love the gold and the green cloak especially.

[Brother dean]

I'm late but a Green shoulder pad behind the chapter symbol denotes a warrior from Calaban not from Terra so...  Yes.  Green and Bone are definately allowed.   Also there is so much vagueness about heraldry that anything is allowable under:  "Thats what the markings of my company look like." 

[The Pounder]

Thanks Marshall Mittens!

 

Raziel-TX not sure what I’ll get next, I’m waiting to see what happens next week (HH event)

 

LameBeard, I originally went with Runelord brass which I thought was a little too muted so the Retributor Gold came out!

 

I’m really happy with that cloak.

 

Thanks Brother dean, glad to hear that. Definitely the scheme I’ll be moving forward with!

 

Here’s hoping the HH open day is massively positive!

[The Pounder]

Thought I’d resurrect this thread as I’ll be working on my Dark Angels again soon.

 

I’ve made a bit of progress so here’s a few pics of the Lion and my first Deathwing Companion!

 

 

Dark Angels Deathwing Companion 
 

Dark Angels Deathwing Companion 

 

Lion El’ Jonson Primarch of the Dark Angels 

 

Lion El’ Jonson Primarch of the Dark Angels 

 

Lion El’ Jonson Primarch of the Dark Angels 

 

As you can see, I’ve continued with a black, green and bone colour scheme.

 

I had done a Black Templars force for my brother so I wanted these to look a bit different.

 

Next up I’ll be adding to my Deathwing Companions.

 

For Lion! For Caliban!

 

 

[The Pounder]

Thanks for all the likes gents!

 

I was wondering if you could help me?
 

I’m looking for some inspiration for my Dark Angels, I was thinking audiobooks.

 

Could someone in the know suggest the best ones for Dark Angels?

[Cactus]

This is a controversial opinion but I really like Descent of Angels because of its focus on pre-Imperial Caliban society and the knightly orders. It establishes ritual and secrecy as a core part of the Order's identity that is carried over into the Legion and if you're familiar with the Dark Angels in 40k can be read as one big pile of tragic foreshadowing. The last part, after they leave Caliban, is balls however and best ignored.

 

You can skip Fallen Angels without missing much but the short story Savage Weapons is excellent and the novella The Lion is also pretty good.

 

Angels of Caliban has some great moments but is tied in with the Imperium Secundus arc so YMMV. I recommend this after DoA so that you're familiar with the cast, and possibly do Unremembered Empire first too if you want the whole meta-plot.

 

Luther also portrays Caliban in the pre-Imperial period (via flashbacks) and does so in an overall more satisfying narrative.

 

Edit: there's a 45min HH audio drama set on Caliban that I enjoyed but I can't recall the name of right now. IIRC it slots in before Angels of Caliban. There should be a narrative of simmering resentment and betrayal running through the HH Dark Angels stories but with so many different authors and no real conclusion (yet?) it's difficult to say if this is the case, or how well it's portrayed.

Edited September 9, 2023 by Cactus

[The Pounder]

Thanks so much Cactus!

 

That’s exactly what I needed!

[Cactus]

You're welcome. I checked my shelf and the audio drama is called Master of the First.

[The Pounder]

Thanks Cactus! I’ll look it up.

 

This week’s update is a Herald for my Dark Angels.

 

I really wanted to do a Cataphractii Herald to go with my Inner Circle Knights.

 

So I kitbashed this:

30k Dark Angels Herald 

30k Dark Angels Herald 

30k Dark Angels Herald 

30k Dark Angels Herald 

 

I think the conversion is a bit on the rough side but I think I get away with it!

 

I’ve stuck with the green, black and ivory scheme and I feel it works.
 

[Xenith]

Looks great, I dont think it's rough, could be a fw model! 

[Pearson73]

The Companion and the Lion both look ace, particularly the cloak and robes.

 

I like the Herald a lot too, the standard is fantastically well done.

[The Pounder]

Thanks Xenith! Glad I got away with it!

 

Pearson73, cheers! I really need to finish my Companions soon.

[WrathOfTheLion]

It looks great, I like the conversion. There's some really cool stuff you can do mixing the Deathwing kit with the 30k terminator kits. It's how I made a Tartaros Deathwing Companion, although I need to convert the rest of the squad sometime.