Crusade!

So it’s been a while since I’ve updated this project, and sad to say I’ve not gotten any more painting done – a combination of working right through this pandemic we have been dealing with (yaay for working in logistics…) and just not being physically up to moving the stuff blocking my painting table.

What I have been able to crack on with however is building & kitbashing more stuff. Specifically the new Ragnar Blackmane (such a good  update) and an assortment of Primaris Space Marines to accompany him. Which of  course meant digging inot the bitz box to make them a little less… Codex Compliant 😉

First up was a basic Pack of Intercessors to stand in as Grey Hunters, built out the Dark Imperium/Conquest kits. Most were standard builds with heads from the various Space Wolf kits, the exception being the Pack Leader who started as the Primaris Ancient, with a Thunder Hammer from the Vanguard Veterans kit and an Intercessor Bolt Pistol arm.

*not pictured – a Hellblaster Pack built at the same time who all have the wolf-head helmets from the SW Pack kit and the SW Upgrade kit*

Fairly simple but came out looking pretty nicely I think. Didn’t want to go overboard on the Wolfiness (I lean more Viking than Furry thank you)

Next up, whilst I do really like the minis from Indomitus they don’t really look terribly Space Wolf, and the amount of overt crusader-style iconography, especially on the Blade Guard, did not make me terribly enthused to attempt Wolfing them up (thankfully though they should be right at home in either my Raptors or Crimson Fists). Instead I opted to dig into the bitz box and see what I could rustle up.

So, the Blade Guard. I was going to use Primaris Lt’s (I may have brought a few too many issues of Conquest for the sprue with the Lt’s, Ancient & Intercessors), but they didn’t really “click” for me. Instead I had some spare bodies from the multi-part Hellblaster kit, which handily have the extra thigh armour. Perfect for bodyguards. So, the weapons are the Frostblade & Frost Axe from the SW Upgrade sprue, whilst Mr Dual-Wield got the Powersword arm from the base SW Pack kit, and Greigor Fellhand’s knife-arm. The Storm Shields are from the Wolf Guard Terminator kit,and the rest are a mixture of bitz from across the Primaris & Space Wolf kits.

The Assault Intercessors are simply standard Intercessor bodies from the multi-part kit, with chainswords liberated from various kits and donated Heavy Bolt Pistols from the Easy To Build Reiver kit. These are going to get painted up as Blood Claw stand-ins (and yes, I know a Thunder Hammer is not currently an option for the Assault Intercessor Sgt, but I fully expect it to be an option down the road). I have since swapped out a couple of the heads, and do need to go back and give them some equipment around their belts. Even if it’s just empty holsters….

The Incursors were a really simple build – built stock with no real signs of being Space Wolves beyond some very hirstute heads,courtesy of the Thunderwolf Cavalry kit. Slightly awkward as those heads have flattened-off necks, but a bit of liquid greenstuff & superglue got them to fit in nicely. Fluff-wise I dig the idea that Incursors, Infiltrators & Eliminators fit right in amongst the Wolf Scouts in a way Reivers do not, so wanted them to look a bit more “tacticool”…