Silver Templars Progress

As a Codex chapter, the Silver Templars are remarkably easy to get going.

Leadbelcher basecoat all over.  Boom. Job done!

One peculiarity that I have not noticed on a Marines paint job before, is that the plate that the eagle is mounted on has been painted black, slightly marking it out from the rest of the armour.

I've also gone with Astrogramite on the bases rather than the Stirland Mud that came with the box. I envisage most of my models as fighting in Hive Cities and so on.

Warhammer Conquest and Silver Templars

AS regular readers know, I subscribed to Warhammer Conquest as a means of picking up two armies I didn't really ahve (Primaris and Death Guard) as well as some cheap terrain.

From the start, Conquest promised details of a  Primaris Chapter, something new to GW background.  That chpter is the Silver templars and the magazine started drip feeding details of this new Ultramarine offshoot as well as releasing an additional extra hardback background book for the Chapter.

As Conquest comes to an end, there was another opt in extra (£35 cost) for a Silver Templar painting guide. In afddition to additional paints, the set would include a flip chart paint guide and 5 multi part Intercessors along with a Lieutenant that had previously only been available in an Ultramarine/ Eldar box.

The package as it arrives is shown below.  Although not expensive to do (I assume) I do like the presentation of the marked up box rather than just receiving everything jumbled up together.  Little things but shows some thought and care.

Having fallen behind in building/ painting the Primaris, I have decided that som,e of the models will be allocated to the Templars rather than joining the Ultramarines. In addition to the models with the paint set, my templars will initially consist of a further five esay build Intercessors, a second Lietenant, an Ancient and a Captain.

The paint set Primaris.

More to follow as progress is made.

New Kid On The Block - Wargames Atlantic

We all know there are a lot of gamers out there who, after reading about the wonderful variety of Imperial Guard, (Astra Militarum in new money apparently) end up disappointed by the current GW range available in stores (Cadians) and the cost (how much for a box of 10?).  That basic troops cpost is possibly why for the first time since the 2nd Ed Codex that the basic Troop choice is a squad not a 25 strong platoon.

As such, there is a market out there for those who want to grab it.  One of the new starters is Wargames Atlantic who have seen a niche and are pushing ahead with a range of plastic sci fi troops that potentially have a use for Imperial Guard players.

Their range is known as Death Fields.  The concept being that powerful aliens love Earth's warlike history and sport.  They are lifting troops from Earth's past to fight for their entertainment.  They promise rules once they have a fleshed out range but so far the range consists of:

1. Raumjagers - WWII German paratroopers.

2. Les Grognards - Napoleonic French, Foreign Legion and WWI French all fighting together.

3. To be confirmed but possibly British Victorian era troops.

Do you see what is happening?  It may be a coincidence but in their first two releases, you potentially have proxies for Steel Legion and Vostroyans (models below have the Bearskins of the Old Guard). Mix the heads from the first release with the greatcoats of the second and you have Death Korps of Krieg.  As for release 3, what possible use could there be for a sci fi leaning Victorian era infantry?

Available in boxes of 24 for £25, I have constructed these as a 55 strong Platoon.

Others may carry out a full review but some facts and thoughts:

The set comes in small sprues containing everything you need for three models (and more).
Torso and legs are one piece and only have three varieties.
Rifle arm pairs have three varieties.
Special weapons are included.  Each sprue contains a flamer, grenade launcher and a meltagun type weapons. Also included is a plasma cannon?

A limiting factor is other arms.  For a sergeant/ character the pistol and sword are both held in the right hand.  The only left hand option is a pointing hand or a grenade throwing arm.

When you view the photos, you can see that a big army could end up very samey. Not necessarily a criticism from me but others like a lot of variety.

Being plastic, convert.  The only conversion I've done is through adding a GW IG standard for the Command Squad but the potential is there.  They are slightly smaller than GW models though but likely match up nicely with a lot of the resin manufacturers.