ALmost 3 years ago, some forum members got the crazy idea to create a Space Marine chapter based on this very forum. Some brainstorming occurred, and the result was the founding of the venerable Lead Legion.
Some of us got around to painting some miniatures for this chapter, the idea being that we'd create an avatar of ourselves within the Legion. I went with being a Scout Sergeant, and was the first to complete a marine in the chosen colours of the chapter.
However; this was a bit of a rush job, in my race to be the first. Additionally, I did this painting while on vacation, and I had brought only very little supplies with me. Also, the lighting and conditions were, let's say, less than optimal.
So it had always been my plan to revisit this first guy. And I had built the rest of his scout squad too, but they lingered in WIP state for several years, with just the skintones completed, but very little else.
But in keeping with this thread, I eventually got to finishing them off, and they're now ready for action. In fact, they had previously been used (in their WIP state *gasp*) in a (watered down) game of Lost Patrol with my little girl (her scouts actually won the day too
), and I intend for them to be used in that capacity from now on.
First, here's a shot of the entire squad:
Then there's the Sergeant. I changed very little to him, but I did replace the hamfisted, hand painted chapter badge and the alchemical symbol for lead on his right kneepad with decals I printed up for the squad.
I managed to foul up the application of the chapter symbol a bit though (too much Microsol while still repositioning the decal
), so I had to retouch it by hand. And I just noticed a bit of a mistake there, which I will repair, but that was only after the pictures were taken, so bear with me on that...
Then the first scout. He's armed with the traditional scout load out of a Bolt Pistol and a Combat Knife. The colours on his left kneepad have been inverted, to indicate that he's the senior scout in the squad, and has command when the sergeant is not there. Obviously this has nothing to do with the fact that this decal too was ruined during application (it tore in at least 3 separate pieces) and I had printed no spares, so I had to use a GW issued number that unfortunately was white. No sir; nothing at all...
Like his brethren, he bears the Lead Legion scout symbol of the X-Acto blade on his chest, and the alchemical symbol for lead on his massive belt buckle.
As tradition demands, his Bolt Pistol bears markings for all kills made with it, in this case, 11.
The Scout bearing number 3 has been given the honour of wielding the squad's heavy weapon, a Heavy Bolter in this particular case. This venerable weapon is a relic of the chapter and proudly displays its kill markings; 7 vehicles and 23 enemies. It also bears an Imperial Aquilla as an honour marking for enduring effective fire under combat conditions.
The Scout is further armed with his standard issue Bolt Pistol, sporting 3 kill stripes.
The following scout, bearing number 4 on his knee pad, has been allowed to carry a brand new Bolt Gun into battle, to whet the weapon's spirit's thirst for heretic blood. In this scout's hands, it has already issued the Emperor's wrath onto two enemies.
He has rounded out his armament with a rather ornate Combat Knife, no doubt issued to him for acts of bravery.
The final scout in the squad, bearing number 5, brings a particularly effective close quarters loadout of a Shotgun and a Combat Knife. The Shotgun is brutally effective against groups of enemies, often resulting in massive kill counts, as is evident from the gun's impressive 22 kill markings.
This scout also sports a crude tattoo of the Imperial Eagle on the side of his head, probably acquired before his induction into the Lead Legion. However; it is still a mark of pride.
Like all of his Scout brethren, he wears two gold ear studs. Only after they have been initiated as full Battle Brothers, will they be allowed to shed these trinkets, to indicate that they are now capable of exchanging all of their gold for lead.
And finally, here is the squad in action. They find themselves in quite a pickle, as their Patrol is Lost in the jungle, and their search for a certain Escape Pod has stalled, as they are being beset from all sides by Lurkers in the undergrowth...
Yes; another WIP project finally completed!
03 October 2007, 10:14:24 AM