Rogue Trader Blood Angels… a new project!!

So after spending a few years of focusing on some more modern models I have returned to the original premise of this blog… Classic Astartes!

In light of this I have made up a couple of squads of late Rogue Trader (1990/92) Space Marines in Mk VII Aquila pattern power armour.

I must admit that I really have a soft spot for these old models as they were the first miniatures that I bought and painted back when I initially got into the hobby! I literally can’t believe that was over thirty years ago.

I spent ages flicking through numerous old publications deciding what Chapter to paint these guys; eventually settling on the Blood Angels as they were my first force… plus I really like painting red!

I have decided to go with a painting style that is as similar to that used by the ‘Eavy Metal team in the late 1980s/early 1990s as possible! I want these guys to look like the gorgeously painted models I used to stare at in White Dwarf as a kid!

These models are an absolute joy to paint and for me it was like traveling back in time as I got started on painting them! I am really looking forward to seeing what they look like when they are finished!

A real trip down memory lane for me was painting up these original bolters and the squad’s heavy weapon. These old guns are just so cool!!

Now I’ve caught the bug I think I’m going to end up doing a full force of these ferocious space marines.

More Chaos Cultists!!

Having enjoyed painting up the pair of Chaos Cultists last week I decided to dig out a couple more of these models to expand my futuristic forces of evil. 

I chose two identical models to demonstrate that with a bit of thought and variety in the selected paint schemes then it is possible to make them look both distinct and different.

It was great fun to paint up these guys as the combination of flesh, robes and leather made a nice change from the smooth curves and lines of power armour that I usually end up painting!! 

I tried to give them a suitably worn, rusted and grubby look to show that these debased heretics spend little time caring for their equipment.



I am really pleased with the final look of the models and I’m sure I will revisit the range in the near future as I’d like a small detachment of these guys for a skirmish/RPG campaign I’m looking at running!

Chaos Cultists!!!

After a fair old time spent painting different types of Space Marines in power armour I thought it was time to do something a bit different just to break up the monotony…

With this in mind I dug old some Chaos Cultists that have been sitting in my pile of shame since they were released in the Dark Vengeance box set back in 2012! (Christ… where did that decade go!)

This gave me a chance to work on some different materials such as fabric and leather; which make a nice change from the smooth ceramite of Space Marine power armour.

I really want to run a narrative, quasi-RPG 40K game soon, with a number of different factions who have normal ‘human’ individuals as the protagonists. These guys will probably form the basis of the chaos cohort for that campaign.


Overall these guys were fun to paint up, so I have already built and undercoated a couple more which I’m planning to work on next!

Flesh Tearers Primaris Reiver Squad… Complete!!

After something of a hiatus due to Covid lockdown I have finally managed to finish off the rest of my shiny new Primaris Reiver Squad.

I have to say I really like these models… I think they look suitably menacing and their lines are just really visually pleasing. I know some people don’t like their grav-chutes but I think they look pretty cool.

I chose to give them bolt carbines for no other reason than they look awesome, however to be honest in game terms I don’t think that they are massive effectively!!

I really think the Flesh Tearers paint scheme fits all Primaris models well, and this is even more pronounced on those warriors who are equipped with the cut-down Phobos armour such as Reivers and Incursors.

There’s a few more figures currently sat on my paint station to be completed; but I’ll probably do another squad of Reivers at some point… maybe with the Bolt Pistol and Combat Knife combination!

Flesh Tearers Primaris Reivers

Having just completed a couple of squads for my Horus Heresy era Iron Warriors  I decided to make a return to the more ‘modern’ battlefields of the 41st Millennium for my next project.

It’s been a while since I added any battle-brothers to my Flesh Tearers force and so I think I’ll be expanding the ranks of these ferocious sons of Sanguinius next. 

As such I have just started work on a squad of Primaris Reivers for my force. These guys have been equipped with Grav packs so that I can take advantage of their ability to Deep Strike.

Most of my Flesh Tearers Army is actually made up of traditional space marines in old marks of power armour, but I do have a few squads of the assorted Phobos variant Primaris Marines as I love their aesthetic.

I have followed the same paint recipe as all my other previous Flesh Tearer models. It takes a while to apply, but I think it achieves a really nice deep red.

As per all the Primaris sculpts I have worked on previously these guys are an absolute joy to paint and are really impressive looking miniatures when complete.

I am very much looking forward to finishing the squad off and seeing how they do on the tabletop!

Iron Warriors Heavy Support Squad...Final Four Models!!

Finally the Iron Warriors Heavy Support Squad is complete with the last four heavy bolter wielding battle brothers joining their brethren.

I’m greatly looking forward to deploying this ten man squad on the battle field and watching them shred light-medium infantry with volleys of explosive death.

I have really enjoyed working on these guys as I find both the Mark III armour and the Iron Warriors colour scheme go so well together.


I have some more Iron Warriors primed and ready to go, but I think I may work on something a bit different in the interim just to keep things interesting!! 

Iron Warriors Heavy Support Reinforcements

So the next three models for my 30k/Horus Heresy Iron Warriors force are complete and ready to take the fight to the enemies of the Emperor/Warmaster.

They are members of my slowly expanding Legion Heavy Support squad that are universally equipped Heavy Bolters in order to enable them to lay down swathes of anti-infantry fire.


The shoulder pads are a mix of the Forge World MKIII upgrades and the squad are markings from the Forge World Iron Warriors Transfers sheet.

I really love these Mark III Iron Armour models! They are just so much fun to paint!!

Iron Warriors - 30k Heavy Support Squad

So for my next 30k squad I have decided to work on an Iron Warriors Heavy Support Unit!

I took the choice to equip them all with heavy bolters for the simple reason that I think they look cool! 

I just love the image of a huge Space Marine walking slowly forwards whilst firing a heavy machine gun from the hip!

I suppose the combined fire of 9 Heavy Bolters (and a Bolt Pistol) will be handy in sweeping the field of any light-to-medium infantry I might face!

I also gave the sergeant a Nuncio-Vox unit to aid battlefield communication.


I used exactly the same paint scheme and techniques as per my previous Iron Warrior squads. 

I think they look really effective and I’m looking forward to finishing the entire unit!!

Iron Warriors Tactical Support Squad: Final Four Models

Well I have finally completed the last four Legiones Astartes troopers for my Horus Heresy Iron Warriors Tactical Support Squad.

That’s another four potent plasma guns that will be utilised for both immolating enemy heavy infantry and reducing enemy armoured columns to bubbling slag.

I have really enjoyed painting up these fellas over the past few weeks and I think that the recipe I use for their metallic power armour suits these heavy suits of Mark III battle-plate; especially when offset by the orange/red of their bases.


Next up I think I’ll be doing some more work on my Primaris Flesh Tearers for my regular 40K army... in fact I’ll probably focus on completing some more stealth troops in Phobos Armour.

Iron Warriors Tactical Support Squad: Three More Models Complete

My work on the Iron Warriors Tactical Support Squad for the Horus Heresy/30k setting has carried on at a good pace this week and I have now completed another three Legionaries for the unit.

I really like the way that the dark metal power armour contrasts so well with the red/orange ‘Mars-style’ bases. 

I must confess that it is only in recent years that I have recognised how important it is to choose a basing style and colour that compliments the overall miniature.

I’m also pleased with how the blue plasma coils on their weapons have come out, adding another spot colour to the models that really helps to break up those sharp lines of hard steel and grey.



Overall I am pleased with how these guys look and I am going to be pushing myself this week to get the final few models completed in order to bring the unit up to full strength!!

I cannot wait to finally get them on the table and see how so much plasma performs on the battlefield! I’m hoping to see enemy tanks reduced to molten slag... but in all likelihood I am actually going to watch ten expensive models immolate themselves in bright balls of superheated plasma!

Iron Warriors Tactical Support Squad: Part One

Apologies for my extended absence my dear readers... but it has been a hectic few months with work and a host of other things going on in the real (i.e. non-hobby) world!

However I have still been generating the odd batch of toy soldiers in the interim but haven’t quite got around to posting them on here!

So here is my first post of 2020.....

Here we have the first three models for my Iron Warriors Horus Heresy Tactical Support Squad. 

I have decided to do a full ten man squad of these chaos all equipped with plasma guns for some serious  anti-armour firepower. 

The only exception is the sergeant who carries a smaller plasma pistol and chainsword for melee combat (it is also the perfect surface for adding some thematic hazard stripes to the unit).

I have also given the sergeant the Rogue Trader era style rank markings on his shoulder pad.


I always find Horus Heresy models a joy to paint, especially Mark III ‘Iron’ armour... and these guys were certainly no different. This pattern of battle plate is just so brutal and deadly looking!

In the interests of continuity I have pre-painted all the plasma guns for the squad. 

I have to say that I am really looking forward to cracking on with this Iron Warriors army and finally getting it large enough to play some games with.