The Iron Without ~ Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors

[Gen.Steiner]

Congratulations on a truly inspiring plog, which I am going to borrow heavily from (in terms of organisation of posts that is ) when I do my Raven Guard Great Crusade mechanised force. I love what you've done in terms of background and in modelling, and your painting is excellent.

[ArcticWolf]

Wow. I'm a long time follower of your IG thread, and I can't believe I haven't seen this until now. Truly amazing work, I espescially like the Sergeant - I think he's my fav.


My local wargaming club is aiming to take all 18 Pre-heresey legions to the next doubles tournament at Warhammer World, and as such I selected (Rather fittingly) Luna Wolves. I havent made a start yet, owing to the fact that it is quite an expensive project, but I aim to be starting soon.

I'll point out this thread to the chap who is doing the same legion as you, and I may even 'Borrow' some of your ideas. I too really wanted to use the 'Iron' armour variant for my standard Astartes, but apparently the Luna Wolves were one of the Emperor's favourites and therefore received new equipment quite early on, so I'll have to use the MKIV Maximus armour. I will however be mixing in some of the Iron armour into the Assault squads when I upgrade the 750pts list up to a full 1750 pts list.

Again, thanks for the inspiration!

[Morden279]

The sergeant is an ace model - and the only reason I made the effort to go to Games Day last year (though meeting Dan Abnett was a plus).

I'd love to get involved with something like that (via The Tempus Fugitives - I know they've started doing Crusade era events), but I'd (personally) be concerned about some corporate apparatchik at WW showing me the door owing to my use of third-party conversion components. Indeed, the bloke on here who's done that superb Thousand Sons force received a very dispiriting response after enquiring whether he could use his Terminators which sported non-GW legs at a company organised event. (It didn't matter that these constituted about 2% of the parts in the entire army.) In any case, I digress. I hope your lot has a good time of it - and good luck with your Luna Wolves. What points value are you going for?

By all means - he's more than welcome to, just a link back here would be appreciated, natch. In terms of armour, its issue would be determined by A: The timeframe 'snapshot' in which the army is based, and B: The Legion itself, for the reason you stated, and C: The tactical utility of the armour itself. Concerning point C, I'd warn against using Mk.III armour en masse. It was not a standard issue variant (it's just up-armoured MK.II) owing to its weight, bulk, and heavy power usage which limited its deployment time. Consequently, I use it on my Sternguard, which are a shock/line-breaker unit not intended for prolonged deployment. Assault squads could - I suppose - use it, but it would - I think - be a strain on jump packs. I'd honestly stick to Mk.IV if you're planning a Pre-Heresy LW army, as Mk.IV was introduced about 50-20 years before Horus was corrupted. If it was earlier - Crusade era - it'd be Mk.II all round, which is the time period I'm going for.

In terms of an update, I'll have the Ironclad Rhino finished with pics up by the end of next week.

[ArcticWolf]

Morden, thanks for the reply! We are being strict and saying absolutely no non-GW components. Even bases. Unfortunately this means I have to sculpt plumes on all my squad sergeants as I aren't even allowed to buy third party plumes. The doubles event is 750 points but I hope to be upgrading it to a full 1750 point army.

A plot will probably follow once I get started and I would be grateful for your input

Looking forward to the update!

[Morden279]

UPDATE

There's been six months without a proper update. WHAT? There's been six months of no Iron Warriors. WHAT? No pictures. WHAT? No fluff. WHAT? I've finished the Ironclad Rhino. WHAT? I've finished the Ironclad Rhino. WHAT? I said I've finished the Ironclad Rhino. WHAT? Here's the result.


Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors Ironclad Rhino (Sternguard Rhino)



The Ironclad Rhino is a heavier command variant of the standard Rhino design employed by the 4th Legion. Introduced almost immediately following the commencement of the Great Crusade, the Ironclad Rhino forms the mobile lynchpin of the basic Iron Warriors tactical unit - the Centuria - and is the assigned transport for a single Ironclad squad, which in turn constitutes the command section for two further Tactical squads of Legionaries.



Owing to its command role, the Ironclad design differs notably from the standard Rhino STC and features a taller hull to incorporate enhanced communications equipment. From here, the Ironclad Squad's First Sergeant can co-ordinate the Centuria's actions alongside those of the rest of the Cohort and the wider Legion chain of command. Apropos of the Ironclads' role as heavy 'shock' unit, the Ironclad Rhino enables its occupants to engage external targets through firing ports mounted along its flanks without exposing them to return fire - a problem with the standard Rhino's dorsal hatch. The Ironclad Rhino also features a unique weapons configuration, housing its twin-linked Bolters into a single offset turret, which in turns allows for the mounting of a dorsal commander's cupola capable of carrying a variety of weapons. This variant features a Heavy Flamer, the utility of which evident after the 4th Legion's frequent assignment to siege duties following the Justice Rock Compliance. The gunshield, however, quickly proved inadequate protection for the Legionary using the cupola weapon in the close-range firefights involved in siege warfare, and was soon replaced with an enclosed Chimera pattern turret requisitioned from Imperial Army armoured divisions.

The latest known variant of the twin-turreted Ironclad Rhino was intended to engage heavily armoured enemy units, and featured twin-linked Plasma guns in the forward turret, and a single Lascannon in the dorsal turret. (Additional power packs reducing the vehicle's transport capacity from ten to eight Legionaries.) Introduced shortly before the 4th Legion's campaign against the Hrud, the 'Vengeance Pattern' Ironclad's focused weapons proved poor at combating the mercurial Hrud. Perhaps unfairly, the design's utility was quickly dismissed by some in other Legions, including Rogal Dorn himself, who criticized Perturabo for 'not wielding the right weapons for the enemy at hand'.



As with many other 4th Legion vehicles, the Ironclad Rhino also mounts a Havoc Launcher in accordance with the Iron Warrior's unofficial maxim of 'Compliance through superior firepower'. The massed fragmentation rocket salvos from a Legio IV cohort not only have the ability to greatly reduce enemy formations, but also provide suppressive fire on enemy defenses and strongpoints, allowing Legion units to close quickly whist suffering reduced return fire in the process. The effectiveness of the 'hail of Iron' was evidenced during the final assault on Fortress Court of the Judges on Justice Rock, when the breech blown in the citadel's out wall was saturated with Havoc rocket fire whilst the Xth Grand Company led the Iron Warriors assault. Before the 4th Legion's deployment to Justice Rock, Perturabo declared his enthusiasm for the 'challenge of siege warfare', and bade the 51st Expedition's remembrancers to find precedents for the Iron Warriors' new purpose. A visible consequence was the naming scheme of many Legion vehicles after famous sieges in human history - this one bears the legend 'Jeruzalem'.



Like the standard Rhino Variant, the Ironclad Rhino features visible tactical recognition marks on its flank hatches, forged in brass, such as with this Xth Grand Company vehicle. The Imperial Thunderbolt device, whilst having no practical use in this respect, is a common and prominent symbol of the Iron Warriors' commitment to the Great Crusade.







Bulldozer blades quickly became standard fixtures on 4th Legion vehicles during siege warfare deployment. The Ironclad Rhino mounts a super-reinforced variant, enabling the vehicle to create breaches in defenses or clear obstructions which standard 'dozer blades could not, thus allowing the Centurio's other vehicles to follow in its wake. These efforts can also be facilitated by the logis engine mounted above the driver. The magnocular and infra-red lenses visible on the outside are just part of an engine capable of allowing the Rhino's driver to analyze potential weaknesses in the structures of fortifications, which can then be exploited. Also prominent are the 4th Legion's Skull Mask icon, and the markings of the vehicle's Ironclad squad: a brass Aquila surrounded by three studs. The Ironclad squad's sigil is repeated on the vehicle's top hatch, enabling it to be easily identified by aerial units.



An Ironclad squad disembarks from its transport accompanied by the Xth Grand Company's Warsmith. Warsmiths often deploy with a Centurio as their command section instead of specialist units such as Cataphractii.


Notes

Sorry it's been so long. My current job allows me to get home early and paint for at least 2 hours per day, which is great. My next task is one of the army's Goliath Siege Tanks (Vindicator). This will be an amalgam of the Leman Russ and Vindicator kits, the reasoning behind which is twofold. Firstly, this is primarily a Crusade Era army, and the Vindy was not introduced until the start of the Heresy. Secondly, and with cunning use of magnets, this vehicle's weapons will be modular, making it a compatible proxy for other canon/fanon vehicles, such as the Olympia Storm Tank, Thunderstrike Assault Gun, Sabre Tank Hunter, and possibly new vehicles which will be revealed after the released of Forgeworld's new Horus Heresy book.

More coming up. :-)

[Corvussanctus]

Love it! The fluff is as extended as the conversions!

[muggs]

Awesome stuff! I had to go back and read the tread again from the beginning!

Looking forward to what youre going to do with the (not) vindicator

[unwanted]

I feel almost dirty saying this, but those are some amazing Iron Warriors!

[SacredBoltgun]

NIIIIICE! Finaly an Uptdate. Whats next? A tactical cohort`?

[ArcticWolf]

Wow. That squad with transport is amazing!

[synapse]

has to be one of the few iron warriors armies i like (i rarely like metallic marines), though its really great! oner thing I love (if this makes any sense) is the texture that the infantry have, which is great. really lovely army, with good simple conversions. subscribed!

[Petay1985]

good to see you posting again fella, and what a treat for a return post. The squad and transport are looking excellent and as per you usual high stand the fluff is first class. looking forward to your next update with anticipation.

[jønke]

both moddeling and painting is pure awesomesauce. Might have to make my dark vengance chaos marines iron warriors after ive seen your work. Really stunning.

[shaw3029]

Very very nice! A really nice model.

[kublai]

Love it ! Glad to see some updates !

[Jim]

So pleased to see some updates!!!

Iron Warriors are not my fav Legion, but yours are excellent...I enjoy reading the fluff that accompanies your updates and the command rhino looks amazing.

Don't wait so long for the next post fella!!!

Jim

[the damned artificer]

Good to see you back mate And the command rhino turned out so great!

More please

[sheep]

Welcome back, awesome work as always mate.

[AlexCrute]

There are a lot of great pre-heresy logs out there, but there are not many better than this one.

[Bra'tac]

Can't find the words to describe how awesome I find the stuff in this blog!!!
subbed and desperately waiting for more

Cheers,

Bra'tac