Pizzagrenadier's Horus Heresy Project: Ultramarines Half Squad, Contemptor Arms

[Pizzagrenadier]

Howdy folks! I picked up a box and a half of Betrayal at Calth and shared my thoughts on the contents (though not the game).

My conclusion is that if you are into the Horus Heresy and want a nice sized force of great plastics right off the bat (at slightly better than normal GW prices), this is for you. The models and options are just excellent. If you aren't into the Horus Heresy and you hate everything GW does just because GW does it, then obviously this isn't for you.

I remain indifferent to them as a company, but continue to buy models and play my own games with them in the world they created. And that's good enough for me.

So, if you are the first type, head on over and check it out!

http://thisveryblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/horus-heresy-project-betrayal-at-calth.html

Here's some pics of the models I have finished.









Hope you enjoy. Thanks!

[noigrim]

I got my box yesterday and I'll turn them into sons of horus, adding Horus himself enough for 1700pts plus a spare veteran squad.
I'll paint them in February 'cause my 30K imperial fists'll come first!

[von Lucky]

Some nice painting. Tempting - but I know they'll sit unpainted for years (that old school missile pauncher isn't helping in keeping me level headed!).

[grant]

Really nice; also loving the missile launcher!

[Major_Gilbear]

As a game or an introductory boxed set, I'm not remotely convinced it works. However, as a way of getting the core of a 30k Marine army for a reasonable price, I think it's fantastic.

I really like your models so far as well, and I hope we get to see them all togther later on? 

[Pizzagrenadier]

Thanks everyone!

I know what you all mean by the missile launcher. That was a huge sell for me. I'm using heavy bolters for my Sons of Horus and setting aside three of those launchers for my Badab War Mantis Warriors.

Noigrim: Nice! Post some pics of those Imperial Fists. I would love to see that. They're one of my favorite loyalist chapters.

I'll be posting more updates as I work my way through the box.

Thanks!

[Pictors Studio]

"As a game or an introductory boxed set, I'm not remotely convinced it works."

The game isn't bad.  It is no Space Hulk but it isn't a bad game to play a scenario over dinner.  I've played the first three scenarios and the first one is a really neat little game, the other two were okay.  I don't think it was particularly well play tested.  The Terminators aren't very useful, for example, because you can't put enough of them on one hex. 

I haven't played a game where they were mixed with marines yet so it might work differently if you had a marine and a terminator on one hex, then their shooting might do enough.

We had the most success with two marines and a heavy or special weapon in one hex.  That was the way to accomplish some killing. 

[horridperson]

Great stuff pizzagrenadier!  Sons of Horus and and Ultramarines look sharp!  Your detailing, like the launcher rounds is really impressive.  I got bit by the bug too and couldn't resist picking up a set myself.  Please share more as you finish them.  Once I get the test model ready for action I'll post my Night Lords too.   

[Gibby]

Great painting. It looks like an ace box set!

[Suber]

Cool, they all look gorgeous!

[Mason]

Great stuff!
 

I love the Horus Heresy, so this is so tempting.
 

I will look forward to updates on this.
 



(That power armour looks great and your close-up of the missile launcher really is not helping me resist.
You bad man, you!
  )

[Tactalvanic]

Nice work, I have resisted the temptation so far, but your making a strong argument not to.

I look forward to some more of this.

Thanks for sharing 

[Elbows]

It is a great value for money as far as GW or even normal gaming go.

-Dreadnought with a couple of arm options
-Two command figures (as-is unless you modify them personally)
-Three full tactical squads, including heavy weapons, special weapons (flamers, meltas, power swords, power fists, chainswords, a "build your own combi-weapon" on each sprue, various heads, heaps of holsters, knives, pouches, grenades, etc.) --- I'm going to see if you could actually make an assault squad...might be missing enough bolt pistols but those could be scrounged somewhere...
-Five man terminator squad (my only beef with this is the over-prevalence of lightning claws) w/ some good weapon options

For around $120 USD...and that doesn't include the fact that it's a game as well.  It's very much a "buy a nice HH starting force" box.  And what's nice is this isn't like some GW starter boxes where the models are snap-together or dumbed down.  These are full standard build-your-own sprues.  The dreadnought is the only thing which is a bit on the skinny side, and I suppose the characters (just consider them like metal minis, you get what you get).

I'm so tempted to break into mine, just don't know what I'd do with them...

[Pizzagrenadier]

Thank you for the compliments! The quality of the models really helps them paint up pretty quickly and smoothly. Putting them together is the normal hassle associated with plastic multi pose, but no more so than normal. They are pretty cleanly cast and the mold lines are minimal.

Agreed on the box. I was really pleasantly surprised with what it came with.

I did look into making one of the squads assault but came up short on bolt pistols and chainswords. You could outfit the squad with a mix of chainswords, power fists, and power swords, but I personally don't like mixing. I'm probably going to scrounge and bitz order to do that.

More pics soon as I finish the first Ultras squad.

[majorsmith]

Nice! I need some vets for my Crimson fists and these will do nicely I think