Strike Force Talius (A Raptors blog)

[Vulkan454]

Well having been a member here for almost two years and hardly posted, I think it is time I made a blog for my growing Raptors force.
I have been collecting Marines for a long time and have recently decided to repaint my Salamanders as Raptors. The recent release of Badab War by Forge World (which I will buy sometime) has speared me on to do some more on them.

Here is what I have completed to date:



You may notice the razorback and the scouts have different highlights. Thats because I have switched from camo green to knarloc green for highlights.
One scout has camo netting on him:

I am wondering if I should put this on normal marines to represent Lias Issodon's chapter tactics (Stealth), what do you guys think?

I have also done a land raider and 10 tactical marines but they were done in a different way of painting so they will be redone sometime.
Here is what I am working on:

My Lysander count-as has got some washes on him and the helmet has finished (my first time layering):


And some WIPs:




I am awaiting my Orkhide Shade because I am going to start layering as well as highlighting. I would have had a combat squad and the new PAGKs but the postie couldn't fit the package through the mailbox so he sent it to the local post office which I am having to collect tomorrow, luckily it opens at 5:30 Am
Any C&C is welcome,

Vulkan

[Sork21]

Eagerly awaiting more from you, i particularly like the weathering on the Razorback and that Lysander proxy looks very promising too.

[Animatronica]

Hey! looking great so far!

I always loved the Raptors scheme ever since i saw it for the first time in the 3rd edition Marine codex, theses guys are looking great so far i can't wait to see more!

[Vulkan454]

Thanks for the comments guys they are very encouraging and I hope to update fairly regularly.

I picked up my order today and sprinted home:



The GK kits are amazing and highly detailed. I have started on my Sternguard sergeant (blu-tack):




I will probably not make anymore vets for a bit because I am going to get some FW armour variants and mix them in, as well as some of the Phobos patter bolters, when I save enough of my allowance.

I also had fun converting a librarian as well (blu-tacked again):




I'm not sure about the head at the moment though. What do you think?

Cheers,

Vulkan

[Shas'o Gavner'Elan]

These guys look like they'll be great! Really like the scout, its camo and everything makes it look very... sniper-y!

And I personally think the Librarian looks really good. If anything, its head might be a WEE bit out of proportion: you could try modifying it slightly with greenstuff, but it works good enough as it is either way.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing more!

[Vulkan454]

These guys look like they'll be great! Really like the scout, its camo and everything makes it look very... sniper-y!

And I personally think the Librarian looks really good. If anything, its head might be a WEE bit out of proportion: you could try modifying it slightly with greenstuff, but it works good enough as it is either way.

Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing more!

Thanks Gav, I'm glad you like the camo. I think the head may need sunk down into the neck a bit more so I will trim that.

I think this pose is better for the libby, thoughts?:



I also made a veteran (helmet needs stripped or changed):



Ravendove (over on B&C) gave me a tutorial for lenses and here are the results of it:



I also started on a sergeant but my Orkhide shade was glossy so the pics bad and he is extremely WIP anyway:



Cheers,

Vulkan

[Vulkan454]

Here is an update because I have been fiddling about with lenses and I really like how I've done them personally:

(Bit unclear this one)





And a WIP bunker for you terrain lovers:




That's all folks! I want to get my termie finished by the end of the week for when I go down to Cheshire to fight the infamous Grey Knights

[BBTramp]

Love the Razorback and Scouts!! great job lad, the white helmeted marine is cool too. cant wait to see more

[Shas'o Gavner'Elan]

The Librarian certainly looks a bit more like he's moving, not quite as static as before: so yeh, its really getting there!! I really like the muddy undersides of your tanks too, makes them look meaner and grittier. Do us all a favour and slaughter those Grey Knights please - with their new codex, they're starting to get a bit too big for their giant shiny boots! Good luck with the battles and looking forward to future posts.

[Lowmans]

Very nice weathering on the Razorback - looks like real mud!
Nice lenses too
Thanks for posting these!

[Wisdom like silence]

Hurray, Raptors! Are you using Dark Angels Green for the basecoat? I had a hell of a time finding a green that was desaturated enough to distinguish my Raptors from Dark Angels.

[Vulkan454]

Thanks for all the replies guys

@Gavner: I hope I will be able to, and give your Tau an a$$ kicking as well

Hurray, Raptors! Are you using Dark Angels Green for the basecoat? I had a hell of a time finding a green that was desaturated enough to distinguish my Raptors from Dark Angels.

The base is orkhide shade, then layer catachan, wash with thraka green, then highlight with knarloc green (yes I know its a foundation paint, but it is the exact colour I want).

I may be able to write up a battle report if i remember to take pics when I play GKs next week.

Vulkan

[Wisdom like silence]

Cool. Reaper Master Series Field Green is an exact match for Knarloc Green, if you ever get tired of using a paint with the consistency of cement (I sure did!) Sadly it's discontinued, so grab some now if you want it and find it.

[Vulkan454]

I may look into that some time then. Dalanos (Lysander) is finished and so is the sergeant so I'll try and get some pics up soon.


Well here is the long awaited report, I didn’t manage to make a report against my mates Gk but I played my other friends Tau on Sunday so here it is (1400pts). It’s my own 4’x4’ board but it’s unfinished (needs grass and sealing):

Raptors army:

Captain Dalanos (Lysander)
Tactical Squad Fawkes (Meltagun, Razorback [Dozerblade] missile launcher)
Tactical Squad Reyen (ML, flamer, Rhino [Salamander vehicle that has sponsons])
Scout Squad Audon (Telion, HB)
Sternguard Squad Lokkar (Power Weapon) [Grey bodiless guys]
Dreadnought Tyron
Land Raider ‘Corax’s Talon’ (Storm Bolter, Hunter killer)


From what I remember he is what he had:

Commander (Airburst thingy, Missile pods, 2 drones)
2x Fire Warrior squads (12 in each?)
21 Kroot (Shaper)
2 Crisis suits (Plasma rifle, 2 drones?, missile pods)
Stealth suits (1 drone, 2 burst cannons, 1 fusion blaster)
Hammerhead
Broadside (TL-Railgun, Missile pods)
Piranha (Fusion blaster)


Sadly I don’t have pics of deployment. And sorry about some of the pics bad quality (probably taken by me).

Raptors Turn 1

The Techmarine drivers fired up their engines and zoomed towards the Tau force.

The mighty Land Raider ‘Corax’s Talon’ fired it weapons at a small unit of gun drones and the mighty machine downed three of the four drones. Their will broke and they started to flee towards the table edge. Brother Tyron, encased it dreadnought stomped forward an extra step (ran 1”). The Rhino on the left flank fired its storm bolter at the Tau sniper team and killed one drone. The new recruits (scouts) guarding the Raptors objective aimed at the Fire Warriors but their shots fell short. Half of Squad Fawkes shot at the Crisis battle suits with their missile launcher but the rocket was caught by the wind and scattered harmlessly into the ground.

Tau Turn 1

The lone gun drone continued to flee to safety. The Tau Piranha soared west towards the Razorback.

The sound of jet packs was heard as the Crisis battlesuits jumped nearer to the Land Raider. Both of the Fire Warrior squads moved forward with the Ethereal in the second squad. The Tau commander, Gavner’Elan targeted the Dreadnought with his weapons and managed to immobilise the downed warrior. The Hammerhead rotated its might railgun towards the ‘Corax’s Talon’ but the beam just scratched the paintwork off the indomitable machine. But the Broadside suit braced its self and its railgun wrecked the Land Raider. Out spilled a disgruntled Captain Dalanos and Veteran Squad Lokkar. Following suit the Piranha also wrecked the Razorback. (Brown stuff is wreckage)

The sniper team downed one of the hastily evacuated brothers out of the wreckage of the Razorback. The fire warriors managed to lose 3 shots at the combat squad but the power armour saved them all. The Kroot chirruped to each other and fired at the veteran squad killing two of the mighty warriors including the Sergeant. In the assault phase the Crisis suits moved backwards.

[Vulkan454]

I'm not sure when I can post the rest up because on my Mac Warseer has a load of malware warnings and I can't disable them. So I'm doing this on my iPhone. Sorry about the delay. If you really want to you can see the rest on bolter and chainsword if you want to in the WIP section.

[Sork21]

Nice work here, love that Land Raider. Captain Dalanos is very well executed too, not over the top as some termies are, keep it up .

[Vulkan454]

Thanks very much. Well after the Malware attacks here is the rest of the report:


Raptors Turn 2

The first half of squad Fawkes picked itself out of the wreckage of their transport but one brother tripped and impaled himself on a sharp piece of metal. The Rhino smashed into the river but the water just sizzled on the engine and it continued unharmed (passed difficult terrain test). The Sternguard also clambered over the dangerous terrain but two were consumed in pools burning oil. Squad Fawkes took their revenge and Brother Tannis destroyed the Piranha in a ball of gas that left the Raptors unscathed but consumed a Fire Warrior.

The scouts fire at the sniper team and kill 1 drone. The team lose their nerve and start to run. Dreadnought Tyron tries to kill the commander but his system is still confused so he missed. The combat squad guarding the Raptors objective killed three Fire Warriors with their missile launcher. Dalanos’ Veterans killed three Kroot thanks to the captains Bolter Drill.


Tau Turn 2

The last gun drone flees off the table. The Tau fleet was engaged in space so the Stealth suits didn’t turn up. The Kroot stalk towards the Sternguard and so do the Crisis suits. The Fire Warriors again advance towards the ruin. The Broadside waddles forward a measly 4” and fires a shot on the move and hits Brother Tyron’s fuel tanks and he exploded in a ball of fire.

The Tau Commander’s Airburst cannon scattered onto 1 of the Kroot and killed him, but his missile pods and the cannon killed 2 Veterans and took a wound from the mighty Dalanos. The Sternguard saved all wounds from the Crisis suits. The Fire Warriors managed to kill off 1 Marine from Combat squad Fawkes. With a mighty roar the Kroot carnivores assault Squad Lokkar. The Crisis suits jump west over the Kroot and the commander moves south towards the river. The Veterans quickly fell 2 Kroot with their trained blades. The Kroot strike back with 28 attacks but I save all that wounded. Dalanos crushed the skull of another and the yellow-bellied Kroot flee.

Raptors Turn 3

The 2 surviving members of the combat squad take shelter in the temple ruin. The Rhino’s smokescreen came into play this turn and the Tactical squad stay embarked. The combat squad holding my objective blow up 5 Kroot with a well-placed missile. The scout snipers fail to kill any Fire Warriors. The Veterans kill a Crisis gun drone. Dalanos assaults the Crisis suits and he and his squad smash one to a bloody pulp. No wounds were taken in return. The Crisis suit passes his leadership test after a stern gaze from the Ethereal.

Tau Turn 3

The Kroot shaper brings them back into line (rally), but the sniper controller continues to run. The stealth suits turn up next to my objective.

Both Fire Warrior squads combine their fire and kill of the two marines sheltering in the ruin. The Hammerhead and Broadside manage to stun the Rhino through the smoke. Shas’o Gavner’Elan (Tau commander) shoots the second combat squad but none die. However the Stealth team mange to kill off two brothers from that combat squad. The Kroot assault the Veterans again and bite through the eye socket of his terminator armour (causes a wound). The Veterans kill another Kroot but Dalanos fluffs his attacks. Combat drawn.

[Vulkan454]

Raptors Turn 4

Tactical Squad Reyen disembarks and sprint into the ruin. Their flamer goes through the first Fire Warrior squad and hits and kills two of the second squad while burning one in the first. Three more Tau die to righteous bolter fire. Scout squad Audon manage to kill two Fire Warriors as well.

In the swirling combat, Dalanos saves all his wounds and his Veterans kill one more Kroot. The mighty Captain rolled all ones to wound though. The Kroot nerves break down (again) and they flee six inches but the Crisis suit holds firm.

Tau Turn 4

The sniper drone controller abandons the war field and the Kroot continue to run away. The Broadside battlesuit shook the ground as it advanced up next to the Hammerhead. The remaining Stealth suit let rip with his burst cannon but all the shots spattered off the Marines power armour. Both Fire Warrior squads shot the newly disembarked Tactical squad and 12 wounds were caused with 4 brothers falling. The Hammerhead managed to miss at point blank range with a rail gun but the Broadside reaped 2 kills. The last remaining Marines held (passed Ld). In combat the two remaining Sternguard couldn’t penetrate the Crisis suits armour. Dalanos beat away the suit’s attacks with his Storm Shield and left little but a smoking helmet after the ancient thunder hammer had its fun. They consolidated towards the Tau commander.

Raptors Turn 5

Dalanos sprinted towards the Shas’o and prepared to charge. The remains of tactical squad Reyen jump out of the ruin and flame both Fire Warrior squads and manage to kill one from squad 2. The Veterans cause 1 wound on the commander with their bolt pistols. The heroic Tactical squad then multi assault both Tau units.

The Veterans cut down the drones with their combat blades and a well placed head but and Captain Dalanos vanquishes the Xenos commander.

The Tactical squad fluff all their attacks and even lose one battle-brother, but their insane heroism anchors them in combat.


Tau Turn 5

The Broadside and Hammerhead move west and the Kroot abandon the field.

The Stealth suit’s shots are saved again. They then take shots from the Hammerhead and the Broadside but the cover saves them. Squad Reyen are wiped off the surface of the planet but take one Tau with them with an underhand power armoured boot to the groin. The victorious Tau consolidate onto the objective.

[Vulkan454]

Raptors: 1 Objective
Tau: 1 Objective

Draw

Aftermath:

I thought this was a very close game, in hindsight I should have remembered to pop smoke with the tanks of the first turn and kept the second tactical squad inside the ruin instead of assaulting. I completely forgot the scouts had Telion in them as well, which would have been very useful. Overall it was a very fun game and really enjoyable making a battle report to share with you guys.

The men/Tau of the match were Dalanos and that blasted Broadside

Vulkan

[Shas'o Gavner'Elan]

Twas a mighty battle.

Dalanos tore a bloody swathe right through my forces, despite having survived a hail of fire that more or less wiped out his veterans, a hideous tank-crash, and combat with a sizeable portion of the forces on my Western flank!

Good game! But next time you will not be so lucky as to get a draw...