The Iron Without ~ Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors

[Morden279]

'I am old, my Lord... I know of so many wars. They all seemed so important at the time, but now I don't even remember what they were called... Millions of dead men! I don't know why. Nobody knows... You could so easily stop this war, my Lord. All we have to do is get up, now, quietly, and go home to your Father. You would be the greatest of all the Primarchs...'


As a side project away from my interminable Imperial Guard, I've decided to attempt something I've been wanting to do for several years: a pre-Heresy Space Marine Legion. Developments in my own painting and modelling skills over the last 5 years coupled with Forgeworld's incredible armour kits has made this ambition an attainable reality.

Why the Iron Warriors? If I had to attempt a PH Legion, I told myself, it would have to be one which later turned traitor. What the Horus Heresy series from the Black Library has done superbly is undermine 10,000 years of Imperial historiography. No one Legion turned traitor wholesale, and the deciding of loyalties during Heresy was not a black/white affair as the events of Istvaan III demonstrated. The Iron Warriors were no different. There is, therefore, something profoundly poignant behind the Greek Tragedy of the Horus Heresy: the existence of centuries of faithful service to the Emperor during the Great Crusade, history which has previously only warranted footnotes in the established fluff. It's this service that I wish to recreate.


Army Disposition (1500pts)

HQ
- Warsmith (using Vulkan He'Stan's rules) COMPLETE

Elites
- Ironclads (Sternguard) w/Rhino COMPLETE
- Ironclad Dreadnought w/Mole (Drop Pod)

Troops
- Tactical Squad w/Rhino IN PROGRESS
- Tactical Squad w/Rhino

Heavy Support
- Goliath Siege Tank (Vindicator) COMPLETE
- Goliath Siege Tank (Vindicator)
- Predator Destructor




Primary Goals

- Extensive (and exclusive) use of Pre-Heresy equipment.
- Conversion of vehicles to Pre-Heresy patterns and models.
- Employment of Crusade-Era, Roman-inspired Legio Iconography
- Experimentation with Green Stuff casting for icons and insignia.


Resources Intended for Use

Preparation for this project has involved extensive research. I've found some superb existing tutorials on various modelling tecniques which I intend to make use of. Component resources are also listed.

GUIDES:

Mk.II to Mk.I Rhino Conversion Guide by DeSnifter
Green Stuff Casting by Melchor
Green Stuff Casting by Ferrus Manus
Sculpting scrollwork and other elements
Weathered Tank Tracks
Grime Streaks
Gunbarrel scorchmarks

HOBBY ACCESSORIES:

AK Interactive Streaking Grime, 'Panzer Grey' (eBay)
AK Interactive Odorless Thinner (eBay)

COMPONENTS:

Urban Warfare Bases by Dark Art Miniatures
Deco Beads (Studs and Rivets)
Forgeworld: MK.II Crusade Armour
Forgeworld: Mk.III Iron Armour
Forgeworld: SM Character Conversion Set
Forgeworld: SM Special Weapons Pack
Forgeworld: Phobos Pattern Bolters
Forgeworld: Repressor Kit (used for Ironclad Rhino)
Mk.I Rhino Conversion Kit by Machinator
Blood & Skulls Industry (Predator Turrets and Sponsons)
2x1mm magnets for infantry weapon swaps (ebay)
MaxminiEU: Leather Pteruges/Straps
Blight Wheel Miniatures: Bionic Arms & Tool Attachments


HOW I PAINT (See also 'GUIDES' listed above):

[Over Chaos Black Base Coat]

Iron Warriors Dark Armour
Boltgun Metal
Devlan Mud Wash
Badab Black Wash
Boltgun Metal - Line-highlight edges of armour, drybrush prominent flat surfaces (vambraces, greaves)
Chainmail - Extreme highlight for upper surfaces of armour, such as top of helmet (employ sparingly!)
Badab Black Wash

Iron Warriors Dark/Tanned Flesh
Scorched Brown darkened with Chaos black (recesses/wrinkles)
Scorched Brown base layer, leaving recesses in shade
Scorched brown progressively lightened with Tallarn Flesh for raised areas (nose, cheekbones, top of head). I applied at least 4 stages of highlight.
Devlan Mud wash.

Worn Brass Trim
Tin Bitz
Brazen Brass* (leaving recesses around rivets in Tin Bitz) *Or Dwarf Bronze (my Brazen Brass has lasted since 1996)
Shining Gold - Line-highlight edges of of the trim on armour/pauldrons)
Shining Gold/Chainmail mix - Extreme highlight for upper surfaces of armour trim
Devlan Mud Wash

Equipment Metal
Boltgun Metal
Chainmail - Line-highlight or drybrush depending on surface
Mithril Silver - Extreme highlight for upper surfaces of item (employ sparingly!)
Badab Black Wash

Iron Warriors Skull
Chainmail
Mithril Silver Highlight
Badab Black Wash

Oaths of Moment
Graveyard Earth
Graveyard Earth/Bleached Bone Mix - Progressively lightened for each prominent surface, leaving recesses with the darker shades.
Skull White - Extreme highlight to tips/edges of parchment

Helmet Crests
Necron Abyss
Regal Blue - Drybrushed Highlight
Enchanted Blue - Drybrushed highlight to upper half of the crest

Base (Destroyed Bunker)
Adeptus Battlegrey
Badab Black Wash
Drybrush Codex Grey
Drybrush Fortress Grey (to more prominent rocks, stones, edges of bricks/rubble)


COMPLETED UNITS:

Warsmith




Ironclads (Sternguard):




Ironclad Rhino (Sternguard Transport):




Goliath Siege Tank (Vindicator):




That's about it. I'll add to this post with more resources etc. should they appear later and also include pictures of the finished models. Right now, the initial components are on order and are awaiting delivery.

[Draegon]

looking forward to this sir!

[the damned artificer]

Sounds very promising I must say Being an Iron Warrior fan I think it's very cool that you want to go pre-heresy with the mighty IVth legion.
I've not read about the dark skin anywhere, although I haven't read iron within. But neither storm of iron or dead sky black sun mentions it and the lexicanum site for the legion doesn't either but you should paint them dark skinned if you like it

I have some (hopefully) helpful advise for the project

The legion insignia:
The current metal chaos shoulderpad displays the post heresy chaosified metal skull, if you think that is a bit too chaos for your taste, the warsmith model have a more toned down skull that isn't distorted into the almost grin of the metal shoulder pads. This is also ideal for a green stuff press-mould. The warsmith model can easily be converted to a sergeant or a techmarine too.

Helmets:
I think the maximini helmets look a bit more like chaos helmets, i you want to mix in different helmets I'd take the steam knight helmets instead http://www.maxmini.eu/store/index.ph...products_id=60
Particularly the one in the middle and the last from the left.
The venerable dreadnought also have some nice head options http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/ca...Id=prod630020a
And the helmet and torsos from the iron warrior upgrade set would also work. The torsos have no chaos related insignia on them and the three heads with horns only need to have the horns removed to work as loyal helmets http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/ca...Id=prod1110164

Also check out my Iron Warriors, the link is in the sig, you might find something usable. Even though my army is post heresy I have included a lot of heresy era gear to give them that special Iron Warrior feel.

I'll be watching from the shadows...

[Morden279]

Sounds very promising I must say Being an Iron Warrior fan I think it's very cool that you want to go pre-heresy with the mighty IVth legion.
I've not read about the dark skin anywhere, although I haven't read iron within. But neither storm of iron or dead sky black sun mentions it and the lexicanum site for the legion doesn't either but you should paint them dark skinned if you like it.

I have some (hopefully) helpful advise for the project.

The legion insignia:
The current metal chaos shoulderpad displays the post heresy chaosified metal skull, if you think that is a bit too chaos for your taste, the warsmith model have a more toned down skull that isn't distorted into the almost grin of the metal shoulder pads. This is also ideal for a green stuff press-mould. The warsmith model can easily be converted to a sergeant or a techmarine too.

Helmets:
I think the maximini helmets look a bit more like chaos helmets, i you want to mix in different helmets I'd take the steam knight helmets instead http://www.maxmini.eu/store/index.ph...products_id=60
Particularly the one in the middle and the last from the left.
The venerable dreadnought also have some nice head options http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/ca...Id=prod630020a
And the helmet and torsos from the iron warrior upgrade set would also work. The torsos have no chaos related insignia on them and the three heads with horns only need to have the horns removed to work as loyal helmets http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/ca...Id=prod1110164

Also check out my Iron Warriors, the link is in the sig, you might find something usable. Even though my army is post heresy I have included a lot of heresy era gear to give them that special Iron Warrior feel.

I'll be watching from the shadows...

It looks like you've had the sheer impertinence to raise a number of intelligent and valid points. Let me adress them in turn. ;-)

I've read both SoI and DSBS myself, and you're right - if only because most of the IWs apart from Honsou keep their helmets on (as do most Chaos Marines in artwork, literature etc). 'Dark skin' is mentioned in The Iron Without however. In any case, I was browsing through your own blog and came across this chappy:



I took one look and thought 'that's the fleshtone I want to go for'. I'd be extremely grateful if you'd provide me with the process, it looks bloody fantastic. :-)

LEGIO INSIGNIA:

I gave a lot of thought of thought to this. After hours of searching, I had no luck finding the prime candidate; the old Blood Angels First Company Shoulder Pad:



Consequently, I discounted the prominent and leering Silver Skulls pad (perversely still in production by GW whereas the Blood Angel pad isn't...) and took a scalpel to the Chaos IW pad as my option. Without the arrows, the skull-mask doesn't look at odds with the pre-Heresy iconography, and the (intimidating) stanted eyes actually match the design of the insignia on the artwork in my original post.

HELMETS:

I was only going to use these for press-mould purposes: ie. creating larger iconography to be used on vehicles and perhaps banners. However, I've since concluded that removing the arrows from the existing Forgeworld IW Rhino Doors would create ideal vehicle badges. In terms of Dreads, I really don't like the GW casts, which appear to have been hopelessly grasping at Forgeworld's coattails for the last several years.

Anyway, onto my first UPDATE, my WIP Sternguard Sergeant utilising the Forgeworld Gamesday Mk.III Boarding Marine:



I replaced the boarding shield arm with a Bolt Pistol hand, and in turn replaced the pistol with a FW pre-Heresy version in order to meet the Sternguard Sergeant's equipment loadout: Bolt Pistol and Power Hammer (Power Fist). I also added a brace of frag and krak grenades. Each of my Sergeants are also getting the old Magneus Craglar eagle headed backpacks. Mechanically they look like the FW M31-era power plants, and have the obvious pre-Heresy loyalist Imperial imagery. The brass etch eagle on the left shoulder pad is meant to represent the Sternguard/Command squad and the studs merely present for the antiquated P-H look.

I'm also upping my game with green stuff sculpting; I'm visting Hobbycraft with a mate tomorrow to pick up some shaping tools and want to finish the banner by sculpting scrollwork at the bottom to bear the Legio number. I'm already quite pleased with the 'X' numerals on the right kneepad and banner.

Next, the result of the GS cast:



It's lightly mottled but of surprisingly good quality. After some trimming I mangaged to get the badge onto the shoulder pad without much issue but will attempt a 'flusher' fit the next time around by filing the shoulder pad down for a flatter surface to receive the cast.

I've got The Master of the Watch and a Techmarine with Servo Harness on order which will combine to become Captain Planet my Warsmith. Really looking forward to converting him. :-)

[Ithor]

So the GS mould on the old BA pad didn't come out o well then mate? Either weay, I think the one you've used looks better anyway - IMO it's the perfect IW skull icon. Good find

The sarge is looking pretty tasty so far - when can we expect some paint to go on him?

[the damned artificer]

I'll dig the recipe out of my mess, I have it written down... Just... can't... find... it..

About the GS casts, don't file down the shoulderpads. Instead you make your mould like this:
Take the metals shoulderpad and press some gs over the icon and let it sit there and dry.
Then remove it, you now have the negative mould.
Grease up the mould, cooking oils are great for this.
take a plain plastic shoulder pad.
roll a ball of gs and place it in the lubricated mould. '
Now take the shoulderpad and press against the gs, forcing it into the mould. This way the backside fits the shoulder pad is supposed to fit to.
When the gs is dry, gently remove the icon, trim it, clean it for oil residue and glue it in place

It's simple and easy, trust me.

[Morden279]

I'll dig the recipe out of my mess, I have it written down... Just... can't... find... it...

If you wouldn't mind mate, that'd be ace - thanks!

Thanks for the idea on the GS moulding; my only concern that when I press the pad against the GS already in the mould I might have it slightly misaligned. In any case, I'll resolve to give it a try.

[Aegius]

I don't know if you're aware of this george, but FW have introduced even more PH stuffs.

dreadnought
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuf...UGHT_BODY.html

and unfortunately there aren't any links for the pre-heresy rhino and landraider yet, but they are going to be doing them.

I'll be watching this log very keenly.

[kublai]

I think "eagle fetish" is a product of post heresy times (except EC), just a hint

About the dark skin, I think I read something( Index Astartes ? ), were Perturabo had real "african" dark skin, so dark, but not "Salamanders" dark.

You should check out this forum:
http://z15.invisionfree.com/The_Great_Crusade/index.php
, its all about pre heresy, very nice forum.

[Morden279]

I don't know if you're aware of this george, but FW have introduced even more PH stuffs.

dreadnought
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuf...UGHT_BODY.html

and unfortunately there aren't any links for the pre-heresy rhino and landraider yet, but they are going to be doing them.

I'll be watching this log very keenly.

Don;t worry Steve-O, I'm fully conversant in FW's model range; myself and Ian were waxing lyrcal about the *ridiulous* stats of the Contemptor on our way to Hobbycraft.

I think "eagle fetish" is a product of post heresy times (except EC), just a hint

About the dark skin, I think I read something( Index Astartes ? ), were Perturabo had real "african" dark skin, so dark, but not "Salamanders" dark.

You should check out this forum:
http://z15.invisionfree.com/The_Great_Crusade/index.php
, its all about pre heresy, very nice forum.

Pre-Heresy Imperial iconography needs to be placed in context.

Post-Heresy use of the Aquila increased exponentially owing to the Imperial Cult's promulgation of the icon as a devotional item (along with related reliquary items in M41) as well as a signifier of allegiance to the Imperium. It's wearing by every Space Marine Post-Heresy was therefore part of a conscious effort to prevent Astartes turning traitor by binding them symbolically both in terms of faith and loyalty.

Pre-Heresy the Aquila was used much more sparingly and to my knowledge was not even worn by most rank and file Astartes. An appropriate parallel would be the use of the Eagle surmounting the motto SPQR in the Roman Legions. Individual legionnaires didn’t wear the eagle because their equipment was meant to be practical, and not infused with devotional items. Indeed, when the eagle was worn, it was on the uniforms of officers as a symbol of rank and perhaps their closer connection with the concept of the SPQR and place in the Imperial military (and therefore political) hierarchy.

Therefore, I feel it's entirely appropriate to have higher ranking Astartes wear Aquila and eagle iconography. As potential spokespeople for the Great Crusade (Gavriel Loken - a captain - personally demanded the surrender of an entire Empire in Horus Rising) carrying forth the Imperial Truth and the authority of the Emperor of Mankind; their use of the Aquila device somewhere on their armour would have been inevitable. Consequently, I feel secure in bestowing such an honour on my sergeants.

Thanks for the links, I've also seen some good stuff on Heresy online as well, are you familiar with the site?

Thanks also for the tip - I'll re-read Index Astartes II (?) and have a look out for that bit of fluff...

Incidentally my resin bases arrved today and they look AWESOME. Really recommend them to anyone!

[Morden279]

A proper update after a few hours messing about with my new shiny set of clay shaping tools:



Delighted with how the scrollwork on the banner came out, thanks largely to this brilliant tutorial:

Black Dot Barrel Studios: Sculpting scrollwork and other elements

@ the damned artificer

As you can see above, I took your advice, and the results were excellent; however, the GS started to stick into the cast when I tried to pull it away from the pad after the third or fourth one. It may have just been the high temperature in my living room owing to the heat wave...

[baphomael]

Also, as an above to the Aquilla thing, while the Emperor's Children were bestoyed the honour of wearing the aquilla en masse as a Legion, I do not believe the aquilla was exclusive to the Emperor's Children - rather, the aquilla being more like an individual honour granted like a medal to individuals for exceptional acts of courage etc. Its just that the Emperor's Children did something truly spectacular and were awarded it as a Legion honour, rather than an individual honour.

Afterall, Garro runs around with an Aquilla...and he's no Emperor's Children marine.

[Ithor]

Also, as an above to the Aquilla thing, while the Emperor's Children were bestoyed the honour of wearing the aquilla en masse as a Legion, I do not believe the aquilla was exclusive to the Emperor's Children - rather, the aquilla being more like an individual honour granted like a medal to individuals for exceptional acts of courage etc. Its just that the Emperor's Children did something truly spectacular and were awarded it as a Legion honour, rather than an individual honour.

Afterall, Garro runs around with an Aquilla...and he's no Emperor's Children marine.

Quoted for Truth

The scrollwork's excellent George - I've also been playing with the colous shapers, and they're quite, quite magic...

[arakis10191]

very nice, going to be a slowish project me thinks but this already looks fantastic. I love the shoulder pad icons and the little touches you have done, keep it up

[Monsterzonk]

A really good start and an intriguing army choice! I'll sure be following this...

Cheers,
Monsterzonk

[Bob Hunk]

A great start, I'm looking forward to seeing this develop.

[Morden279]

very nice, going to be a slowish project me thinks but this already looks fantastic. I love the shoulder pad icons and the little touches you have done, keep it up

It should be a damn sight less laborious than my guard - only 27 figures to paint as opposed to 70!

Anyway, onto a small update; currently working on my Warsmith using the Techmarine with Servo Harness and Master of the Watch models. His 'Siege Harness' is going to proxy for much of Vulkan He'Stan's wargear - the WIP pre-Heresy style hefty flamer arm will count as The Gauntlet of the Forge (who needs the ornate minimalism of the Salamanders when you can have the brutal practicality of the IV Legion?).



I've also been using the new GW Liquid Green Stuff. I'd heartily urge people read this review before using it, it certainly helped me out.

[unwanted]

Looks good, and He'stan sounds like a good sub for a Warsmith.

[the damned artificer]

Looks cool, but why did you remove the opus machina (cog N'skull) ?? The eagle might not have been that widespread in the 31st millenium but a tech marine would still have studied at the forges of mars and still wear the the opus on his armour Especially an IW techmarine, there's a reason why the martian rebels (dark mechanicus) joined the Iron warriors after the defeat at terra. Så make surehe have one on his armor somewhere
I'll get back with that skin recipe tomorrow I promise

[Morden279]

Looks good, and He'stan sounds like a good sub for a Warsmith.

Ta! The Sallies and the IW are alike in many ways. Both are incredibly adept at technology; only the former added the gift of artifice and ornate craftsmanship - indulgent acts that never made sense to the logically-minded Iron Warriors.

Looks cool, but why did you remove the opus machina (cog N'skull) ?? The eagle might not have been that widespread in the 31st millenium but a tech marine would still have studied at the forges of mars and still wear the the opus on his armour Especially an IW techmarine, there's a reason why the martian rebels (dark mechanicus) joined the Iron warriors after the defeat at terra. Så make surehe have one on his armor somewhere
I'll get back with that skin recipe tomorrow I promise

Aha, but he's not a Techmarine!

The Servo/Siege Harness is for my Warsmith. Detailed fluff on Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors hierarchy and command structure is absent (still waiting for that novel, Black Library...), but I've always envisioned the Warsmiths to hold separate and distinct places in the Legion from its Techmarines.

The Warsmiths (essentially company captains), are more practiced in strategy and applied battlefield tactics; yet they still have an affinity with technology, a trait inherited from Perturabo ('the most technically minded of Primarchs' according to IAIII). Consequently, Warsmiths (and other ranking Iron Warriors) would engineer their own equipment, perhaps under advisement from Legion Techmarines, but also from knowledge and skills garnered on service. The Siege Harness is a reflection of this - less advanced than that of a Techmarine's, but still worthy of note and geared towards battlefield application.

Techmarines on the other hand, can specialise in the more advanced Imperial technology owing to their place outside of the command structure. As you said, closer ties with the Mechanicum and their techno-arcana are also a benefit of this detached position. Consequently, you'd not see a Warsmith wearing a Techmarine's full Servo Harness with its gamut of equipment, much of which is geared towards reparing vehicles and equipment - tasks not exactly of concern to a Warsmith! Needless to say, if I did deploy a Techmarine with Servo Harness, the Opus Machina would stay.

Sorry to go on a bit, but I really enjoy discussing fluff! In terms of IW command structure, I can imagine a Grand Company's Warmsith being advised by a council of Techmarines as well as by his Chapter/Maniple captains; providing detailed info on just what hardware can be brought into play. I hope fellow IW players will forgive me if I formulate some of this myself through speculation.

Thanks again for the flesh recipe, it's really appreciated! Every time I check this log I scoll pass the image of the Renegade Psycher and nod to myself in expectation!