Myrmidons - homebrew codex marines plog

[ewar]

Hello all,

As the title says, I’ve decided to put together a codex marine chapter called the Myrmidons. Having spent most of this year painting saurus for my Lizardmen army, I need a break from painting rank and file for WFB. I had a russle about in my bits box and found the old 3rd edition tactical marines sprues, so I put together a combat squad (all that was left having used the rest for base decoration for my Eldar).

I haven’t painted a space marine army since my very first foray into 2nd ed 40k around ‘91/92 – so I have a lot of very ancient space wolves in a loft somewhere. With all that in mind this is also going to be an army based almost (but not entirely) around the look of models/fluff rather than their table top efficacy. Fantasy is my main game, so I’m looking forward to just painting these models for fun rather than worrying about what’s most efficient blah blah blah as I don’t play that much 40k, only a couple of times a year.

So, the chapter themselves. They are called the Myrmidons and are themed around the characters/events of Homer’s Iliad (the siege of Troy). I’m in the process of sorting out some fluff for them – but suffice to say they are a chapter of warrior philosophers and aesthetes, concerned with winning their opponents over to the Imperial Creed with words as much as with bolter shells. They prefer close ranged combat (not assault), using phalanxes of bolter armed tactical marines and terminators in a fully mechanised assault.

I originally was going to do more modelling around the Ancient Greek theme, but having seen a lot of Spartan/300 themed marines which I didn't like I’m going to stick with being as codex and vanilla as possible and restrain the visual element of the theme to just the chapter logo, which is a silhouette of a Greek helmet (will include below at some point).

The one thing I haven’t decided yet is which primarch they are successor to. It can’t be Guilliman, as my lifelong gaming buddy has a 20 year collection of Ultras which I’ve been fighting since the aforementioned Space Wolves were started, and therefore I cannot bring myself to join them! I was thinking of Dorn, but he comes across like a bit of d1ck in the fluff. I don’t know much about the other loyalists primarchs to be honest, so if anyone has any suggestions I’ll gladly hear it.

The models I currently have scrabbled together are:

AOBR Captain
Command Squad
1 x 10 man (AOBR) tactical
1 x 5 man tactical
AOBR Dreadnought
6 AOBR terminators (with assault cannon added)
Terminator Librarian (Space Hulk)
10 Terminators w/HF and assault cannon (Space Hulk)
Landspeeder Storm
Scout squad
Rhino
Vindicator
Chaplain in power armour

Green is painted, Orange started, Red unstarted.

So, without further ado, here is what I have done so far:

The first half of Tactical Squad 1:


The complete Tactical Squad 2:


And detail shots:




Will post some pics of the dread later. All C&C is much appreciated!

[GingerBalls]

Love the orange. Its a rare marine colour and you've done it well.

[ewar]

Cheers for the feedback! I chose orange by going through the codex and modelling websites and noticing there are virtually no orange marines. I'm not sure why but it does feel a bit ancient Greek...

[PrimeMinisterSinister]

I really like the orange.
As for who they trace their lineage back to: it can be Gulliman by way of a different chapter. Chapters are kind of awarded successor chapters for awesome service, so it dosen't have to be straight up Ultramarines.

[PariahZero]

Nice looking marines there lad cant wait to see the dread!

[KtL]

Good start here Ewar. I particularly like the rock bases, they look almost like a rocky sea-shore.

Welcome to the Cult of Orange:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/i...showentry=4718

[Intrepid Adventurer]

That... is some tight painting, mate. Well done!

[anselminus]

that's nice start

cheer
anselminus

[ewar]

As promised, here are some pics of the dreadnought I've done. Since painting this guy and the tac marines I've been working on a chapter logo. I've never printed my own transfers before so I've had a go at that.

Has anyone else tried this before? It's a massive pain in the ****! Initially the ink would just dissolve as soon as the transfer was put in water (not a great thing for the transfer). I got round this by using the wife's hairspray as a fixing agent - seemed to solve the problem. Though actually getting them on the models was difficult as well, as whenever you manipulate the transfer on the model it would pull the inked part off, as it's so delicate.

Anyway, I've now done the dreads chapter badges and also the 10 man tac squads. Will post some pics at some point with the badge. They're not all perfect, but good enough. Using Microsol has helped as well I should add...

[eltanko]

These guys look great. I really like that colour scheme, it's like a tiger orange. Not too bright as to look odd! And very well painted too.

ElTanko

[ewar]

Good start here Ewar. I particularly like the rock bases, they look almost like a rocky sea-shore.

Welcome to the Cult of Orange:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/i...showentry=4718

Loving the Cult of Orange, you can consider me a fully paid up member!

These guys look great. I really like that colour scheme, it's like a tiger orange. Not too bright as to look odd! And very well painted too.

ElTanko

Glad you like it. I'm working on some terminators at the moment, will post up some pics when they're done.

[Kravunhive]

Loving the work you've put in here.The orange is perfect, and i agree it fits them well. Would be interested in a bit of background on these dudes...

Keep it up

[Ostling]

The orange looks nice! Love the dread!

Greetings

[vahouth]

Very nice!
Your marines are something that was missing from this forums.
I'm always interested in seeing a different colour scheme in marines and yours are really good.
The Eldar heads are also an interesing addition.
Keep it up!

[Wishing]

I really like that colour, I agree that the slightly earthy tones to it makes it feel quite bronzey and mediterranean. Really good choice.

[ewar]

Hi all,

Thanks for the kind comments - I am still beavering away on the terminator squad, but between being out of the country with work and starting Mass Effect 2 only a small amount of progress has been made!

In the meantime, I have written the first bit of fluff for the chapter - that's what 6 hours waiting in Stansted airport will do! Anyway, as always feel free to leave C&C and I will endeavour to get some more pics up during next week when i will hopefully have time to get some models actually finished...


++Iona++
++Segmentum Obscurus++

Captain Hector leaned forward in his restraining harness, eager to see out the window. The orange glow of re-entry was gently subsiding into the pale blue of clear skies, as the Thunderhawk Persephone roared through the thickening atmosphere. It had been 53 years since Hector’s last visit home, and he’d forgotten how beautiful Iona could be in the early morning. Even from his current extreme altitude he could see the rising sun glinting off deep blue seas, white limestone islands liberally speckled all the way to the horizon. Yesterday his native world had appeared like a jewel hanging in the abyss, seen from the bridge of his Battle Barge Hephaestos, but even that didn’t compare to the view planet-side.

The drop ship levelled off at a few thousand feet, leaving huge contrails in its wake. The pilot was obviously glad to be back as well; the normal military flight path abandoned, the ship making a blazing trail towards the nearest island chain. Dipping down to skim the waves, Hector could see fishermen in simple wooden skiffs standing and waving happily before being knocked overboard by the following sonic boom. The distance to the island was covered in a matter of moments, the Thunderhawk climbing steeply up the rocky flanks of the mountainous terrain and over into the valley beyond. Wildlife scattered before the ship, mountain goats leaping away from the terrifying orange spectre, even though the ship had passed by before they’d made more than a single bound. His genetically enhanced vision allowed him to see the smiling faces of shepherd boys on the hillside and the displeasure on their mother’s faces as the peace of their morning routine was so unceremoniously shattered.

The towns and villages of his home world were made of white stone, olive trees providing shade over the genteel squares and soaring marble temples. ‘I must brush up on my debating skills’ Hector thought to himself. Half a century was a long time to go rusty and he would be expected to take his turn in the forum and fence wits with the local elders in the coming weeks, as tradition demanded.

His people, the Achaean’s, were famed across the sector as warriors and philosophers without equal. From birth they were trained with spear and shield and expected to train their minds equally well, spending time learning at the feet of their elders, discussing the meaning of existence and the inherent truth of the Imperial Creed. Despite the beauty of their world, the Achaean’s led a difficult life. Eschewing all forms of advanced technology, the men and women of Iona lived by their wits alone, fishing the azure seas and farming goats in the rocky hills of the island chains. War between the tribes was frequent and bloody; fleets of square rigged triremes would regularly assault rival islands in the search of plunder and glory. It was the dream of every young Achaean to be noticed by the God-emperor’s warriors from Mount Olympus; and thereby selected to take part in the annual Games from which the space marines selected only the bravest and most daring warriors to join their ranks.

Hector smiled to himself as he thought back to his own selection, many lifetimes ago now. He had been young and impetuous back then, spurred to action at the slightest hint of glory and danger. His own city-state, then wealthy and powerful, had come under siege by an alliance of rival tribes. Despite being little more than a boy, he had fought the rival tribe’s champion to a standstill in a duel in front of both armies. The battle had lasted the better part of a day until both warriors were collapsing with exhaustion. In the end, his enemy used the bronze of his shield to reflect the setting suns light into his eyes; blinded, Hector had leapt back, but alas not swiftly enough. The enemy champion’s, a man named Achilles, spear tip had darted forward and passed clean through Hectors flank to pin him to the floor. He lay in the sand, his lifeblood pumping out onto his native earth, whilst Achilles raised his arms to the roaring cheer of his own side. Unwilling to die without spiting his enemy one last time, Hector pulled the spear from his body, his vision turning dark with the agony. Clutching his innards with one hand, he shakily rose to one knee. Achilles, hearing the cries of warning from his troops, was just turning to face him when Hector pitched the spear with every last ounce of strength. The last thing he remembered from his old life was seeing the shocked look on his enemy’s face as the bronze leaf blade buried itself in his chest.

Achilles, now his brother Captain Achilles of the first company, has never forgiven him. He is the greatest warrior the chapter has ever known, and that spear throw, two hundred years ago, is the last time he was wounded in combat. The two have been bitter rivals their entire lives, from competing in the Games against each other to their promotion through the ranks of the most noble of space marine chapters, the Myrmidons.
Hector smiled to himself as he thought how much it would irritate Achilles to see him returning victorious from the Scyllian Purge. This year they would once again get to fight in the great Games atop Mount Olympus, and Hector knew this was the year he would best him.

Gradually the Thunderhawk was slowing down, descending towards the open space port in the flank of the vast Mount Olympus.

“Brother Calisto, I want a close pass at combat speed of Lord Agamemnon’s residence, just to make sure he knows the 5th are home again” he said wryly into his communicator.

“Aye sir, accelerating to combat speed” responded Calisto, engaging the afterburners, fully aware how much this would irritate the Chapter Master during meditation hours. Having both his best captains back at the same time would likely be headache enough.

[Shortsonfire79]

Hmm, Captain of the first, hard to match this Achilles....good thing he has a small weakspot

You've done well with the Greek mythology. I tried to do the same with my homebrew, except I did squads and vehicles instead of people. I really like how you stuck with the naming, and the history of your chapter and such.
The golden orange marines are superb as well.

[Corvussanctus]

Do the Salamanders have any sucessor chapters? Those Myrmidons remind me a little of the Salamanders with their closeness to the local people and their asthetic streak.
And the skin-color woundn't be a problem for the Salamanders only turn black because of the strong sun radiation on their homeplanet.

[ewar]

Hmm, Captain of the first, hard to match this Achilles....good thing he has a small weakspot

Haha, good point, I'll have to work that into a later story! Loving you conversion work in your thread too.

Do the Salamanders have any sucessor chapters? Those Myrmidons remind me a little of the Salamanders with their closeness to the local people and their asthetic streak.
And the skin-color woundn't be a problem for the Salamanders only turn black because of the strong sun radiation on their homeplanet.

I don't think the Salamanders have any successor chapters, however a little mild retcon won't hurt, especially in fanfic. I haven't pinned down who they are a successor to yet - at first the chapter was going to be a Salamander successor called the Drakes or Fire Drakes, but I didn't want to be jumping on the counts-as Vulcan wagon. Then it was going to be the Iron Hands, but from what I've read their character isn't really in keeping with my idea of the Myrmidons.

I think having them as Salamander successors is actually the best (having just read their Lexaicanum entry!) and, yes, they do have some successor chapters. I think the Myrmidons will stick with the crafting elements but not the flamers/meltas.

[Ravenfeld]

So this is the forth time I have popped into your Blog to have a peek and re-read and re-examine your minis and I gotta say I like everything about them. As far as theme is concerned your ideas line up with a concept I (and I am sure many others) have harbored for some time, that being the Greek theme. I love how you have characterized your chapter so strongly around ancient Greece, it is more than a theme actually, it is more like you took the philosophies and customs of the culture and transported them into the 41st millennium and for that I tip my hat. Your writing is strong and enjoyable, my only qualm is with how chipper your Marines are, but then again I collect Iron Hands and Death Guard, so you can see I have a rather morbid and bleak disposition!

As far as your paint work is concerned I think your orange is the nicest I have ever seen, it is bright but not outrageously so, the shading is sharp and each mini bursts with a sense of purpose and character. I am particularly fond of your tactical sergeant even though the model itself is the standard BobR sarge. The white is a soft contrast to the orange while the blue detail work (eyes) pop really nicely. Special mention goes to the bases which really play off the whole "mountain by the sea" or "island state" I think you were going for! Top notch!

I can only request this one thing, I expect a lot of fluff and battle reports surrounding Eldar, because that helmet on the base has to have some significance! Subscribed!

-- Ravenfeld