The Horus Heresy: Betrayal.

As I paint my way through the Snakeman horde, I have got distracted towards a project I have always wanted to do: a Horus Heresy era army using the current miniatures and based on the series of books.

Recently, with the release of GW's 'Burning of Prospero', they have released plastic Mark III Space Marines, at a much lower cost than the Forgeworld ones (even cheaper if you shop around on e-bay, as I did!). Some years ago I bought the 'Betrayal at Calth' box set for the Mark IV Marines, Terminators and the Dreadnought, and so could'nt resist picking up some more plastics now whilst they are still around quite relatively cheap post release. To give it all a framework, I bought (on e-bay cheaper again!) The Horus Heresy Book One: Betrayal.

The book is gorgeous. Really high quality and full of lovely artwork. It, to be frank, also contains the Crusade era army list, which was a prime motivator for purchase. However, that is not to decry the book, which very pretty :)  .

On the subjet of pretty, my idea is to gradually assemble an Emperor's Children army. I have always liked this Legion, and liked them in the books. I also liked them in the older art book from GW/The Black Library, 'The Horus Heresy Collected visions'. When building the army, I have that books look of the Emperor's Children, with the current army list and miniatures to fulfil that ideal. With that in mind have I painted three test miniatures, a Mark III; a Mark IV; and a Mark VI. I also re-based my 'Classical' scenery to give it a more battlefield look, and to act as a backdrop for photography.

All this is something I am doing in the background, I am still painting the Snakeman army, but they will be finished very soon. I have an allied contingent of ten half painted on my table as I type.

Enjoy :)

 The Horus Heresy Book One: Betrayal.

 Emperor's Children.
I am going for a 'pinker' look to mine, as per earlier artwork. I will also have a few more Mark III armoured Marines than it consider, as I like them, and the Legion did use them, just not as much as others.

 The Horus Heresy: Collected Visions. 

A large book packed full of Horus Heresy inspired artwork used in the eponymous Collectable Card Game.

 Emperor's Children.
I am aiming for roughly this look.

Plastic Emperor's Children. 

I have not as of yet painted any numbers or iconography on the shoulder pads. These are really little more than test models to refine the armour colour.

 Mark III.

I have added 1cm square plastic card on the bases to suggest wrecked marble flagstones.

 Mark IV with Missile Launcher. 

I plan to use a Heavy Support choice for on a squad of these, and equip them with Flakk Missiles. 

The bulk of the armour in the army will be Mark IV.

 Mark VI Marine. 

I thought that a squad of Mark VI's would be fun to have and very Horus Heresy rather than just the usual Marks II, III, IV, and sometimes V.

 Ruins.  

A lot of the ruined cities in the 'Collected Visions' book look Neo-Classical, and so I thought this scenery, and the Marines bases, would suit.

 Front view.

 More ruins.

 The larger one is a converted fish tank ruin, as are the ruined statues.

 Legion Tactical Support Squad in Mark III armour.

Making more flagstones! 

Next week, Snakemen!