Here come the Wonderbolters!
Surprise!
Last month I started out with a goal of doing the 24 Rainbow Warrior terminators needed to play an old series of Space Hulk games. I have a few done, but it is a very specific list, and needs a lot of conversion. And in addition do some normal marines and vehicles to bring it in line with OWAC rules.
But in the intervening month my mission statement has expanded. Turns out I will be combining this challenge with a year long challenge to do 12 units for an single army (any era). So I am starting with the space hulk units and old school marines plus whatever I can dig up. And vehicles. Lots of vehicles. Whodda thunk it? A legit Rainbow Warriors army instead of one just for Space Hulk. And so it grows.
This month I decided to do 10 of the terminators when the OWAC is fresh, which should take pressure off the rest of the challenge. I usually do a lot in January for that reason. What was I thinking? These are big complex models, even though I cherry picked the rank and file (storm bolter/power fist), avoided faces and most of the specials and conversions for this month. With blog and photography included, I just made it. Whew!
But I have 2 Space Hulk squads now, a standard one to play with, and a less standard squad to start to fill that list.
These Second Legion Rainbow Warriors are independent thinkers with a lot of personal iconography variations, heavy on wings, lightning bolts and stars (please don't call them cutie marks!). As the marine is sitting in the suit, they come in big and bigger, with a corresponding amount of detail! These are the Wonderbolters, and have MLP Wonderbolt names and a Pony theme will be running through this army. And the personality and the personal icons of their namesake pony. Not to mention that the Wonderbolt icon and Rainbow Warrior icon are identical! Space Hulk terminators usually are deployed in squads of 5, 1 leader, 1 special, and 3 bolter & powerfist termies, who we will call normal. Here are the 2 space hulk squads.
Whiplash and Fast Clip
Whiplash- lieutenant otherwise normal.
Fast Clip- normal Fast Clip & Whiplash always been in the same squad since they became marines.
Short Fuse and Starburst
Starburst- normal, great shot
Short Fuse-normal with legendary short temper
Crescent Moon the techmarine
Crescent Moon-Techmarine with bolter and auspex in the traditional (pale) red (Okay, it's pink)
Got tiny servo arms for the auspex too!
Since the list of scenarios call for 2 different Techmarines, and I don't know of any Terminator techmarines except for Iron Fathers and Warsmiths, I converted. I will be converting the other one too.
Squad 2
Firefly
Firefly sargent with the beaky helmet and power sword leading
Fleetfoot, Rapid Fire and Cloud Chaser
Rapid Fire- normal opinionated timid novice, always been smallish
Fleetfoot- normal, first and fastest
Cloud Chaser-normal, a nimble marine, quick to the rescue
Blaze
Blaze the Highly Decorated with Flamer hot temper too
Even though I avoided a lot of specialists, of which there are many on this list, it was still a rather hellish month. These are big complicated figs, the list is very specific, and the appropriate models are often not available. So a lot of conversions are necessary, and those take time.
And there are a lot of rainbows on the back.
And how do I keep track of the names?
points10 Terminators- 42 pts each
Servo arm and Auspex +32 pts
Flamer +10 pts
total 462 pts
So... my new bright idea- the Vehicle of the month club, I love scratch building vehicles, so in each Rank and file month there will be a new vehicle or two + whatever figs I get done. I'm not worried about points, and I will probably get a squad done anyway, but the vehicle every month obeys the letter of the OWAC rules, and will allow me take my time and do a nice job with my special termies. Which is the whole point of this challenge to me.
Well, they definately grab you by the eye sockets and shake you! Nicely done
ReplyDeleteI think my monitor is playing up again? ;)
ReplyDeleteTurning this into a whole army is going to be spectacular, that's for certain
Ha - MLP marines 😀 brilliant! I really like these space bulk sculpts - it's a good job they're super soldiers with that eye catching colour scheme. I'm looking forward tho to the vehicle treats!
ReplyDeleteCompletely bonkers.
ReplyDeleteI love it !
Unique as always! I've sent a link to a mate who will love the MLP mash-up! :D
ReplyDeleteI think you re right about Terminator Techmarines being a rare breed, which I think has been a missed trick over the years as there is huge possibility there imho. I've got one lined up for my Fire Angels based on an old Cyclone Missile Launcher Termie and some of the parts from the old plastic SM Devastator sprues. Your conversion has got me thinking about it again :)
These are lovely, that pink is eye-catching to say the least!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be an army that we'll never forget XD
ReplyDeleteOff to a great start! Love that pink Techmarine.
ReplyDeleteI don't know - I'm getting serious Trnasformers/He Man/GI Joe (Action Force for us Brits!) vibes from the names you've given them ;)
ReplyDeleteLove it - bright, bonkers and loads of fun! Can't wait to see what you do with the vehicles!
Brilliant job Lissanne! Don’t think I’ve seen such a colorful bunch of SMs before, but I can’t wait to see more!!!
ReplyDeleteWONDERFUL! I really like such bright colors!
ReplyDeleteA riot of color in an otherwise grim world, and I am here for it - never not gonna love me some Rainbow Warriors. Looking forward to more!
ReplyDeleteGotta love the old Rainbow Warriors - my first painted marines were fr Om this chapter. Not quite as bright as yours though, or as pink 😃
ReplyDelete