Macragge 333rd Mechanized Infantry

[orangesm]

First of this is an Epic force. I am using the Steel Legion Army list as the basis.

The Regiment is from Macragge - homeworld of the Ultramarines. Yes it does produce Guard Regiments while at the same time supporting the Chapter.

The first part of project consist of building a playable army of 3000 points.
That army is:
1 Regimental HQ (w/ Hydra) [1st Battalion Command]
1 Mechanized Infantry Company (w/ Hydra)
1 Tank Company
1 Infantry Company
1 Artillery Company (w/ Hydra)
2 Shadowswords

Following this I will finish off the 1st Battalion of Mech Inf by painting up the Chimeras for the Infantry Company in the 3000 pts and an additional Mech Inf Company and probably another Tank Company.

Already painted is a Mech Inf Company and I am working on a Tank Company.

Also there is a scale comparsion for those unfamiliar with Epic. A Rhino with an Epic Rhino and a stand of Infantry.

[Anvils Hammer]

awesome mate!!

makes a really nice change to see some epic stuff!

get some really really good photos so we can appreciate them properly.

cheers, and good luck

[firestorm40k]

Yayy, more Epic on Warseer!

These look really good, OrangeSM, keep us posted!

[orangesm]

Tanks & Infantry.

The offensive punch of the 3000 pt army minus a hydra is done and here are some pictures. I did a little image editing using iPhoto to try to get them looking a little better.

The 3rd picture is an experiment with brightness that I think would look good as a background image for a website or cover of a document dealling with epic or ig.

5 Dec: Primed the rest of the core beginning army.

[orangesm]

Painted up a Hydra Battery tonight.

They are the 2nd Battery, 4th Company, 4th Battalion of the Regiment.

On the back of the turret they have the three column color blue green blue.

Tomorrow I go to work on another company of infantry, not sure whether it will be the Battlegroup HQ or the Dismounted Mechanized Infantry. I need to order Artillery in the next week or so, I am undecided as to whether to get Forgeworld Basilisk or get the Specialist Games pack (I need 2 packs from GW, 3 eventually). I like the SG Basilisk, but I like FW Manticore - Thoughts? (FW Basilisk for comparision)
The regiment will have 2 Baslisk Companys and 1 Manticore Company. The entire Artillery Brigade is only 2900 points with a standard Command Company (formation from Steel Legion List) and the Hydra Co.

[orangesm]

Alright mid-week update. I have been slowly working on another Company of Infantry. 13 stands of infantry is very much assembly line techniques. Each stand is 4-5 guys that are all the same. There is the command stand which has a little variety. I am amazed I am considering building 8 Mechanized Infantry Companies (6 Mech Inf, 2 Brigade HQs (Superme Commanders)) in the long run.

I am considering a scratch build project for the Regimental Command.
A Leviathan - something bigger than the old model, but similiar weapons fits. Any suggestions for inspiration?

I did some work on my Thunderbolts, I changed the Tail from a single solid color to include Wing (Blue), Squadron (Yellow), Flight (Red Gore & Orange). Also a shot of my work bench and the current Company I am working on.

Did finish the Khaki on the infantry tonight.

[Mojaco]

I know this is hard, but could you make a shot of infantry that actually shows the colours? i'm curious how you made Ultramar guard look, since I've done them myself aswel. Ultramar 131th, hoo-rah!

[orangesm]

It is based off a 40k test model I did years ago. Sadly this was with my (Steel Legion) IG army which went missing this summer during my move.

Since Epic scale is a bit harder to paint, I am keeping to the main colors. The Kommando Khaki, Dark Angels Green, Ultramarine Blue, Boltgun (for the weapons)

I did not try to do the * on the Epic models as it would prove difficult and not get the effect I wanted.

[orangesm]

Maybe making a list change in response to the general disuse of the Marauder.

Instead of the Artillery Company(+Hydra) and the Hydra in the Regimental HQ, I would take 2 Flights of Marauder Bombers and 1 Flight of Thunderbolts.

Any thoughts?

Oh and some progress made today.

[Mojaco]

Yes, go and do that! I've got no clue to the rules, but thunderbolts look ace.

[orangesm]

I completed the infantry company today. Sadly I did a poor sealing on some of them, but it is still very table top worthy.

That leaves a Mechanized Infantry Company & 2 Shadowswords, before I have to decide whether or not to use Artillery or Aircraft in support of the Battlegroup.

The Regiment will eventually have 2 Basilisk Companys and a Manticore Company. Those 3 Artillery Companies with a Hydra Company are going to make up the Artillery Battalion - 4th Battalion 333rd Mechanized.

I am however a fan of Airpower (better be since that is what I do for a living) and am going to expand my Imperial Navy assets beyond the 4 Tbolts and 2 Marauders I currently have.

[orangesm]

I just finished up my 2 Shadowswords for the 3000 point army.

The top has the Regimental symbol on top, broken by a hatch. It is the inverted Omega with a Sword (Cross) through it. The entire Corp would have the inverted Omega with carious symols around them.

This leaves me with just the Battalion HQ (Regimental HQ from the Steel Legion List) to paint before I am left only with my choice of Artillery or Airpower. Both can fulfill similiar battlefield roles, but require a different playing style. Artillery also means fewer activations. 3 Aircraft flights means 2 Activations more than the Artillery. Aircraft however are more vunerable when they make their attacks having to get within 15cm to deliever their payload. It is a definite choice - I may get both if I make a FW order!

[firestorm40k]

These are looking good, OrangeSM, keep it up, I know how intimidating a task painting an Epic Guard can be.

[orangesm]

Alright... going with buying both (Basilisk & Marauders) along with making an order for lots of Aircraft with AI.

[orangesm]

I am still on vacation and will be for about another week. When I get back home I have the Regimental HQ to finish up and a FW order to make.

The Forgeworld Order will be two fold. I will be purchasing 3 packs of Basilisk, 2 Marauders for the larger Epic Army (1k expansion will include the Basilisk, Hydras, and more Infantry). Along with those I will be getting Lightings (possibly some for Epic and AI) and Tau Barracudas (for AI).

So hopefully before the end of Janaury the army will be done to 4k. (It will keep growing, but become a side project)

[CELS]

Very nice work, orangesm. I'm particularly impressed by how clean your paintjobs are. How do you get this result? Do you use a lot of black ink, and then carefully paint smooth surfaces afterwards? It doesn't look like simple drybrushing.

[orangesm]

I do not do anything particularly special. I try to be light (like when you want faint lines with a pencil) with the brush and try no to have really wet paint (only watered down a bit). So it is somewhere inbetween drybrushing and painting I guess.

[orangesm]

Now to conduct some necromancy!

Alright... I changed the details on the aircraft. I am also still torn between having Aircraft or Artillery for the 3000 pt army. The big difference is where the Anti-Air comes from and the vulernablity of and the flexibility of the BP weapons.

The Wings symbol the greek "Pi" blue field, the Thunderbolts are part of the 3rd Squadron aircraft 3, 4, 5, & 6, and the Marauders are 5th Squadron aircrafts 1 & 2.

Currently working on the Battalion Command, lots of little infantry gets boring.

[orangesm]

This morning I finished up my Battalion Command (a Regimental Command in terms of the army list).

1st Battalion Command

I am including pictures of the two styles of army, minus in one the Company of Basilisk and in the other a flight of 2 Marauders. I need to order them from FW, but am currently waiting until I have the money to also get a ton of various flyers and some other Epic minis.

IG Army w/o Flyers

IG Army w/ Flyers

From here I have to make that order. I still have a lot of Epic IG to paint, but for now I am going to shift focus a little bit and build some terrain while painting some more of my 40k Ultramarine Company. I have to buy alot of materials for terrain building and plan out all the things I want for it.

A friend is working on some terrain to match his new Tau army, I will look at and decide if I want to make a larger set to use with it or not. Also want to make a 'standard' temperate green table set or a mix sand & green savannah table set.

What ever the basic table set I also will need to create various sets of terrain for it, 28mm Fantasy/Medivel, 28mm Sci-Fi (40k), and 6mm Sci-Fi (Epic/AeroImp), may also decide to build some 6mm Fantasy/Medivel for Warmaster if I decide to start 2 armies for it.

Here is an image for various scale comparisions.

[orangesm]

Ok so I have yet to make my Forgeworld order - I am holding off to see if two of my friends who live (or will soon) in my local area want to get anything for 40k, Epic, AI, or BFG to spread the cost out and I do not make a massive order right now (trying to save money to pay off a credit card). Yes if I am making an order I would probably end up making a £250 to get free express shipping. But I have plenty of other things to paint before I order and while I wait.

So here is a shot of what I am working on. Some 40k Marines for my Ultramarines 3rd Company - a Rhino, Librarian, and Power Armored Marneus Calgar on on the list The other picture is the table and terrain for the table.

Thinking about it I am probably going to also pull out and prime Chimera's for the infantry formation I have and possibly the last formation of Infantry to finish out the 1st Battalion, the last Shadowsword to finish the Superheavy Company and a squadron of Sentinels. This would put the painted force of pure IG available at 3750 not including air support, space support or titans.