Legion of the Damned: the Techmarine

With the return to some more classic work schedule, painting have reduced greatly these last months, and the Aliens project has been put on hold despite his good start. Epic has been my main attention of the summer mini-wise (beach & ocean remaining top priority), but with September came a new project from the past, one that i hope to be short enough to be fulfilled: a Legion of the Damned force for W40k 2nd Edition.

It's quite funny to launch this now for me. As i discovered 40k as a kid, when time came to choose my first codex, i went for the Ultramarines one because it was the only one displaying the Legion of the Damned amazingly well painted unit. It was covered with skulls, bones, flames freehands and the book provided rules for these legendary warriors.

My painting skills back then quickly discouraged me from giving it a try, but i searched and acquired their unique mini, Centurus, and did not hesitate a single second when the boxed set of specifically sculpted figures came out. When the rules to play a full force came in White Dwarf, i was ready to dive in, but the month after came the 3rd edition of the rules, which i would play for the following years...

I don't play W40k anymore, better games require my money and care, but i still love 2nd edition. A small communautary challenge was a great occasion to finally launch this project which requires a reasonable amount of miniatures, so i think i can handle this in my schedule.

So let's start with the test miniature: the inevitable Techmarine

Still not a great photographer...

First Legion of the Damned figure i've painted in many years and test subject. It's a generic mini, without bones and flames sculpted to make it easier to paint. Since i'm not skilled in free hands, i planned to go easy on it, but i must say giving it a try is fun.

However, the goal was always to try the facemask. Techmarines are priest after all, and among an army of wannabe ghosts & demons warriors, what better than a vaudoo feel for a priest ? The back of his face is dark brown to show the mask is only a make-up, and also because Space Marines are almost always shown as white people, which is just silly for an army recruiting all over a planet, sometimes several.

To add some lights and support the small flames freehands, i've given cables a fiery orange colour. Maybe it gives him some magical fuel from the warp!

See you soon with his dudes and more Epic scale stuff!