Copper Oracle | 4. Rank and File Terminators and Dreadnoughts (886 pts)

The Hammer had fallen, Dreadnought drop pods smashing into the beleaguered Mantis Warrior defences. 

The Munitions depot had been a strong point and the defenders had dug in well, but  it was not enough and as the pods burst open with a falling panels and hails of twin-linked Bolter fire the air was filled still further with the screams of incoming jump packs.

Within the command complex the Mantis Warriors prepared for the their last stand as casualty reports  and sector losses poured in. Captain Azteem and his surviving command squad faced the blast door in grim preparation for the end, their fingers set against the triggers they would never press.

Light filled the room and from it stepped Squad Kempler, the teleporter light fading to be replaced by the Fire Hawks bright armour and fire of storm bolter and heavy flamer. 

Captain Azteem was the last to fall, small comfort as his cold weapon fell from his hand and hit the floor moments before the blast doors gave way before them. 

Chapter Vs Legion. Anonymous memoirs of the Badab War

My plan for March was a simple one, tactical squad with another Dreadnought and some Techmarines as stretch goals. 

While I started on batch painting the tactical squad, bases and then base yellow I worked on the Dreadnought and Techmarines to break up the monotony.

With the three done well ahead of schedule, I felt confident in dipping into my regular painting queue some Doctor Who Krotons and Quarks and a couple of test pieces for 40k in 15mm my gaming group was looking at. An excuse to try Fire Hawks in 15mm and also become a test to see if I could do their logo in freehand. Up to this point I had avoided unit details as I was mulling over using decals or 3D print, but ended up happy with the result that I could create with a 5 step paint plan and I felt I was able to reproduce, thankfully clouds are quite forgiving.

Original Fire Hawks logo

Contemptor and Marine (based on a penny) for 15mm scale

With a couple of weeks to go the Real World intervened and the time I had planned was heavily reduced so I switched over to my Terminator squad and another Dreadnought which would give me 11 figures (count 2 for Dreadnoughts) and get to the finish line for the month!

Brother Wardens Bosphus and Suluris supported by Techmarines Ghenit and Yartik

Terminator Squad Kempler in Relic Saturnine Pattern Terminator Armour

The First Company are known as the Destroyers, a name taken from the World Eater Terminator bodyguard Unit. 

March Completed forces

With a bit of time spare, I was able to go back and add the Chapter badge to my previous painted forces as well as company details for my Dreadnoughts and squad Sergeant helmets. I used the book Insignium Astartes as a guide.

Three Completed Dreadnoughts with updated Chapter badge and 8th Company Shield

Techmarine detachment

Assault squad updated with Chapter logo and squad sergeant repainted helmet

Completed Fire Hawks so far...

1.  "Devourers' 1st Company, 5th Squad, Squad Kempler

Terminator Squad (5)

Storm Bolter and Power Fist, one marine with Heavy Flamer, Sergeant with Storm bolter and Power Sword = 450

2. Brother Warden Bosphus

Contemptor Dreadnought

Duel Boltgun x 2 = 201

3. Brother Warden Suluris

Contemptor Dreadnought

Duel Boltgun x 2 = 201

4. Techmarine Ghenit

Bolt pistol = 17

5. Techmarine Yartik

Bolt Pistol = 17

Total = 886

Grand Total so far = 2244

Copper Oracle | 3. February Wildcard bits and pieces (522 pts)

The Mantis Warriors had halted their retreat and dug in around a munitions depot. In desperation they had abandoned movement and flexibility that played to their Chapters skills in exchange for safety and a chance to survive.They had chosen well, It’s wall were thick and has been built to endure fire from without or an explosion from within. It would need more firepower than the Fire Hawks that harried them carried. 

But the Fire Hawks were not alone and as their forward units encircled the position, armoured drop pods were already burning their way down from low orbit deployment. A hammer was needed to break the Mantis Legion and Warden Tyrak would be that bright strike and lay open the way. 

Chapter Vs Legion. Anonymous memoirs of the Badab War 

After making such a strong start in January, February was a worry for me. The shortest month coupled with various work commitments and a half term away did not leave me much time and I didn't want to end up compromising on the paintwork just to get things done. 

In the end I decided on using my Wildcard and just seeing what I could get done...

Bomb Bots were featured in the original Rogue trader book but never had miniatures released for them, although they did lend themselves to a easy creation from the bits box. 

I found this one as a 3D file and printed off the five you can have per Techmarine.  

The Techmarine for the bots is Communications officer Kendall, i have seen him used as a Techmarine by others and he works perfectly as the controller. I also gave him a Jump pack to allow him keep up and also bulk him out a bit as he is a small sculpt.

Techmarine Barath

The red for the Techmarines is darker than that used for the flames to mark them as different, but some original livery armour will still tie them into the army

Techmarine Kirann

Follows the same convention with partial Fire Hawk armour and the remainder in dark red and metallic

Next on my table was the Land speeder I had prepped but hadn't started last month. I wanted one of these, not just for the classic RT exposed crew look but also to provide some fast support for my Assault squad.

This one is unfortunately not an original but a modern community sculpt I have printed.

'Sky Shard' 

A late night burst of inspiration (the upside to insomnia!) also enabled me to complete my first Dreadnought

Warden Tyrak

February Challenge figures

This month has shown me I need more Techmarines, and two more Land speeders for a full squad!

Fire Hawks completed force so far...

1. Techmarine Barath

Bolt Gun, Jump Pack = 21

2. Bomb bots

x5 = 25

3. Techmarine Kirann

Bolt pistol = 17

4. ' Sky Burners' 8th Company Land speeder Support Squadron

Landspeeder ' Sky Shard '

Heavy Bolter, Multi-Melta = 212

5. Brother-Warden Tyrak 

Furibundus Dreadnought

Duel Boltgun, Las-Cannon = 277

Total = 552

Grand Total so far = 1421

Copper Oracle | 2. Rank and File Assault Squad (836 pts)

  The Fire Hawks took pride in their savage reputation, but even within their own,  the 8th Company was known for its bloodthirsty choler and eagerness for battle. On more than one occasion elements had been been censured for their habit of interpreting or ignoring orders to allow them to engage or pursue the foe and in one particular admonition they had been reminded that they were not World Eaters.  Captain Agni had responded;

'Only Worlds?! We are Eaters of Fire!'

- 'The Burning Chronicles, 8th Company Remembrances' 

For a new project, I have started this one about as organised and prepped as I could possibly be, all the figures based, assembled and undercoated along with a clear plan in my head of what to paint. 

I had even reset my painting table and hugely expanded on the inevitable front two inches of open space to paint as well as removing all my other WIPs to a safe distance out of sight to try and reduce distraction!

I decided to start off with the first of my Rank and File slots and took the Assault squad. As a unit they fit the particularly aggressive character of the Fire Hawks perfectly and I wanted to start of with the one of the big blocks while I still had New Year/new Project energy going!

I started by batch painting the unit with the base colours, this can be quite monotonous but I distract myself listening to Audiobooks (currently Horus Heresy/Big Finish) and its something I can dip in and out of as time allows just doing a colour at a time. For the later stages I tend to go back to a couple at a time to get the feel of the figures again and actually seeing figures getting finished helps the final push.

After a good start the batch painting was leaving me a little bored so I decided to start a couple of the characters for some variety. The Chaplain was equipped with a jump pack as well to support the Assault unit so it would be nice to have the whole lot done while the Medic was another one that was a little different. 

 

I ended up finishing the two characters quicker than I thought and started on my originally planned stretch goals, Dreadnought and Techmarine, but after starting the base colours I put them to one side to try and focus on actually finishing the unit

The Chaplains scheme is based on the Howling Griffons who are an Ultramarine successor chapter like the Fire Hawks (thought the Ultramarines have not confirmed the Fire Hawks claim...)

Chaplain Alarak

As with the Chaplain, I have based the Medics scheme on the Ultramarine pattern

Getting towards the end of January I felt quite confident in finishing the marines so looked at adding some more figures to the table. I couldn't decide on a scheme for the Dreadnought so put together some more marines to add to a Field Police Unit I had started at the end of last year for the army and I ran out of time to complete the Land speeder so will add this to February.

Chapter Badges and Standards I will add on as part of my Leader Month as I am waiting on decals

Field Police image from Rogue Trader rulebook

With five already painted, the other five would allow me to field them as a tactical unit and also gave me the paint scheme for my second Chaplain and a Rhino Transport

Chaplain Rhino paint scheme 

Chaplain Orloz

Field Police unit with Multi-Melta, Webber and duel Power Gloves for more Apprehension and Pacification than Eradication

Completed Assault squad

Fire Hawks force completed so far

 (including the five Field Police completed before the challenge begun)

Points so far:

1.  'The Fire Eaters' 8th Company, 2nd Squad

Assault Squad (10)

Flamer, Plasma pistol, Sergeant with Power sword and Bionic Leg, All with chainswords,  All with Jump packs = 282

2. 'Dominus'

Field Police Tactical Squad (10)

Melta-Gun, Web Gun, Sergeant with two Power Gloves. All with Bolt Pistols = 272 (136pts for this challenge, as half were painted)

(I have counted the Field Police as a tactical squad to allow them access to the heavy weapons options)

3. Chaplain Alarak

Champion, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword. Jump Pack = 23

4. Chaplain Orloz

Champion, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword = 21

Rhino Transport  = 373 points

5. Medic Lanac

Field Medic, Bolt gun, Chainsword = 34

Total Points: 869 pts