The Unforgiven: MKVI Tactical Space Marine

The MKVI “Beakie” models have come a long way since Rogue Trader.

In a quest to continue to paint more Dark Angels, following up painting a MKIV Space Marine, I finally got around to painting the new MKVI Space Marine that we converted a little while back. As always, I used the same scheme I devised when initially painting my Dark Angels Kill Team, replying primarily on Caliban Green (Citadel) and mixing in Glacier Blue (Vallejo Game Color, 72.095) for highlights.

The Unforgiven: MKIV Tactical Space Marine

Despite the MKIV Space Marine (right) being a much newer model than the Rogue Trader Marine next to it, it retains much of the awkward anatomical elements.

Over the year or two, I have been slowly painting Dark Angels, initially for a Kill Team, but then expanding to painting a variety of Dark Angel models that don’t necessarily fit neatly into a Kill Team, such as a Rogue Trader Space Marine and a converted Lunax7070 model. Having recently built one of the new MKVI Space Marines, I thought it would be fun to paint one of the older plastic MKIV Horus Heresy Space Marines I have had sitting in a case for years, with the hope of comparing its scale to some of the other Dark Angels I painted recently. Look forward to seeing one of the newer MKVI Space Marines painted soon too!

Oldhammer: Olden Demon 2022 Dark Angel

Space Marines have come a long way since the 80's!

I selected a Rogue Trader Space Marine for chilvers_industries upcoming Olden Demon 2022 painting competition. Although I wanted to start painting the model weeks ago, it took me a while to find a 2nd edition style backpack for the model. Eventually I was successful in getting one via eBay and was able to start painting! I decided to paint the model to fit alongside the other Dark Angels I have been painting over the last year or so. Although the scale is quite different to new models, with a similar paint scheme, I figured the model would fit in, and be a good testament to how GW models have changed over the years!

The Unforgiven: painting Lunax7070 Space Marine conversion

Omniscient.

Last week we finished building a Space Marine based on a converted cast of one of Lunax7070's true-scale Space Marines. Having finished the model about a week before the second annual Smash Bash entries were due, we realized we had just enough time to paint the model for the competition! For such a short turn-around time, we decided the Dark Angel dry-brush scheme would be an ideal choice to get the model painted quickly. I am happy to say we finished the model just in time!

The Unforgiven: Dark Angels Kill Team Sergeant

The Crimson Blade.

Last month I built another Dark Angel for my growing Kill Team, but rather than using another Primaris Space Marine, I used one of Paul-Friedrich von Bargen's 3D printable Space Marines. Although the model was pretty quick to build, being that it was primarily just a 3D print, it took me a while to get around to priming and painting it. When I did finally get out a brush, I followed the same procedure I did for the other models, which centered around drybrushing/stippling to achieve the green. The model fits nicely alongside the other Primaris-based models, making me consider building and painting a few more. Regardless, that is one more Dark Angel painted!

The Unforgiven: Dark Angel Plasma Cannon

Vast is the void in us.

Shortly after the release of Kill Team, I finished painting a Dark Angels Kill Team that I converted years back. Although I painted most of the marines I built, I still had a few that I converted with plasma cannons. With the paint scheme and process fresh in my mind, I decided to paint one of them to fit alongside the rest of the Kill Team!

The Unforgiven: Dark Angels Kill Team

Thought begets Heresy. Heresy begets Retribution.

We have been quite excited about the release of the new edition of Kill Team, recording two episodes of the podcast about it. Over the last two months, I painted two female space marines in the Dark Angels livery to support 28’s Female Space Marine challenge. Having finished two models, I realized if I pushed myself to paint three more, I would have a complete Kill Team (Primaris Intercessors)! Having already converted the rest of the squad years ago, it was not long before I had primer on the remaining models and was stippling on Caliban Green paint.

The Unforgiven: True-scale Dark Angels

Thought begets Heresy. Heresy begets Retribution.

When 8th edition of Warhammer 40k was released last year, I purchased one of the starter sets, and experimented with turning the included Primaris Space Marines into True-scale Space Marines. I found that by simply replacing their powerpacks and bolters, they made pretty convincing normal Space Marines. Being a longstanding Dark Angels player, when the new Dark Angel codex was released last year, I thought it might be fun to try to convert some tactical marines in this way. The hope being that I could build a bunch of them quickly to use in games of basic 40k (I manage to play a game or two each year). With this in mind, I got a box of the Dark Angels-themed Intercessors and set to work.

The Unforgiven: Black Knights

'One warrior usually suffices.'

The recent release of the new Dark Angels codex has gotten me to start thinking more about the future of my Deathwing army.  With the changes made to Deathwing Assault, I can no longer have a full army of Terminators teleport onto the field on turn one, making a strictly terminator army less feasible.  On the other hand, they did make the Ravenwing more viable than ever, allowing you to reroll your jink saves, while maintaining their ability to assist the Deathwing at arriving on target via deep strike.  These benefits convinced me to pull out a Ravenwing Black Knights’ box that I purchased over two and a half years ago (when the last version of their codex was released), and see what I could do with them.

The Unforgiven: 2nd thunder hammer storm shield terminator

Storm of Vengeance!

When starting to build the first Deathwing terminator with a modified thunder hammer, I really just wanted to see if I could do it effectively.  It seemed like a good way to start out the year, something rather straightforward that I could easily pick up later, expanding the unit.  The first went so well and was so fun to make, however, that I immediately wanted to make another!  Now, less than a week later, the second Deathwing terminator is complete, ready to crush the skulls of those stand before him!

The Unforgiven: Building a better thunder hammer

Faith is the sturdiest armor. Hatred the surest weapon. 

I have been playing a Deathwing army for a long time, starting sometime back in the 3rd edition of 40k. Since then, terminators have changed quite a bit, but it was in 2008, with the release of the 5th edition Space Marine codex, that they really saw a boost in their combat prowess. I am speaking, of course, about the storm shield, and its boost to a 3++ (invulnerable) save. For the first time ever, it was easy to get an invulnerable save that had a greater than 50% chance of succeeding (it was, as they say, the new black).  It took awhile, but eventually the Dark Angels got an FAQ that improved their shield to that of their Ultramarine counterparts. I was thrilled, and immediately purchased a box of assault terminators, intent on adding a new unit to my Deathwing force. But after carefully trimming all of the pieces, I stopped. Having the models in my hands, I finally convinced myself of something that had been troubling me for years, their thunder hammers were simply too big. So I resolved to convert them, but nothing really seemed like a suitable base for new hammers, and the terminators sat in their box. Now, many years later, after playing some games of 7th edition, I realized my army would really benefit from a few thunder hammer/storm shield terminators (THSS).  Adam and I began to discuss possible ways to make some improved (in our opinion) THSS terminators.

The Unforgiven: Deathwing Command Squad Banner Bearer

Never Forgive, Never Forget was never so fitting.

One of my biggest accomplishments of last year was starting to assemble a unit of senior members of the Dark Angels’ Inner Circle to serve as a Deathwing command squad. I was extremely happy with how the first two members of the squad turned out, and it really inspired me to start planning the next members of the squad. There was still one element of the unit that continued to give me pause (which was part of the reason for not beginning to build the squad earlier), and that was how I was going to make a banner bearer. I always liked their traditional banner with a broken angel reaching to the sky, and was hoping that the new plastic box would give me a workable version of it. As it turned out, they did to a fashion, but the plastic banner was designed to be mounted on top of one of the terminator’s bodies, admittedly reminiscent of the old metal model, but just not suitable to be held aloft in the unwavering hand of an intrepid hero. With this disappointment, I knew I had to come up with something different. I had long considered some of the plastic banners included in other kits, such as the Space Marine command banner, but they all seemed very rigid and intractable.

The Unforgiven: Building a Deathwing Command Squad

Never forget!  Never forgive!

Ever since starting a Deathwing army way back in 4th edition, I have wanted to build a command squad to accompany Belial into battle.  When starting the army, this task always fell behind building normal squads to fill out the core of the army.  Eventually, towards the end of fifth edition, I had the core army where I wanted it, 5 squads of terminators, a host of dreadnoughts and Land Raiders, and a trio of Landspeeder Typhoons.  This got me to thinking about building the command squad again, but I still put it off, knowing that 6th edition would likely change optimal loadouts, and that a new codex was coming, one that might offer new options and maybe come with new models to aid in the conversion process.

The Unforgiven: Leading the Deathwing

The Sorrow (Metal Gear Solid reference)

One element that has changed with the introduction of the new Dark Angel’s book is the HQ selection.  Before there was really only one choice, and that was taking Belial to unlock Deathwing as Troops.  There were other choices, Interrogator Chaplains, Librarians, but none of them really brought anything useful to a Deathwing army.  The new book has given us multiple options that deserve serious consideration.

The Unforgiven: Moving forward with the Deathwing

The first Deathwing Terminators will always have a place in my heart and my army.

With the release of the new Dark Angels codex, the Deathwing were put in a difficult situation.  From a modeling perspective, things have never been better.  The release of the new Deathwing command squad box has added a host of interesting and flavorful bits, most exciting to me being the inclusion of the daggers that always used to accompany the Deathwing (as iconic as the feathers).  The exciting conversion opportunities afforded by these new pieces are somewhat diminished when considered in light of the Deathwings’ actual rules on the tabletop.  At first glance, everything seems fine;  terminator squads can still take mixed weaponry and they have gained a few new special rules (splitfire, vengeful strike, and an improved Deathwing assault).  Unfortunately, the points cost of the unit has gone up considerably to reflect these additions (a squad with 5 thunder hammers and storm shields with a cyclone missile launcher moved from 235 to 270 pts)  And if you want to take them as troops, you still need to pay the Belial tax (he is better than before, but is considerably more expensive, as well).  I will not expound upon these shortcomings any further, but if you would like to read more about it, Kirby over on 3++ details it quite well.