WH40K Chaos Space Marine army

It is great to have a job where I am able to work from home during COVID but it does nothing for getting armies completed! During the lockdown I haven’t been playing so I have managed to knuckle down and complete the remainder of the Red Corsairs 15.

Huron has been my main focus for my hobby time over the last couple. It followed the same process as the previous Red Corsairs Marine unit, the main difference being the power axe.

The power axe was based with a dark grey/blue, then the shade built up by airbrushing Army Painter Electric Blue. White was then added to the Electric Blue and highlight on the very edge of the blades. Finally, some fine white line edging was painted for the extreme highlights.

I play the army with a good proportion of Red Corsairs so it makes sense that I take Huron to lead them into battle. Unfortunately, the GW model is showing it’s age and in my opinion, isn’t great when comparing it to the recent releases. This is also a good opportunity to have a go at a (hopefully) simple conversion.

The official Huron Blackheart

Where to start…

The obvious elements are The Tyrants Claw, which is a special power fist which has ranged attack and a power axe. In addition, as the leader of the Red Corsairs he needs a dynamic imposing pose. Huron also needs a model to represent the Hamadrya.

I had a bit of trouble finding a suitable model for the base of the character, eventually, I decided to use the Aspiring Champion from the Shadowspear box.

The Aspiring Champion from Venomspear

This model had a heroic pose that I was pretty happy with (if you can call Chaos characters heroic), I would just need to switch out the chain axe and the plasma pistol.

Digging through my bits box I came across a selection of suitable components. A power axe from the Chaos Terminator box and one from the latest Chaos Space Marine box. I found three options for the power fist, I really liked the size of and detail of the Chaos Terminator power fist but it didn’t quite work with the pose I wanted to create.

The power fist I settled on needed the Imperial insignia shaved off. I then took the receivers off of two bolt pistols and grafted them onto the back of the power fist, this is quite a consistent look inline with the Obliterators and  Abaddon.

One problem I found was that the Aspiring Champion model features an empty holster. Horon doesn’t carry a pistol so it had to go. To cover up the removal I used a grenade/pouch/sash.

For the power axe, I decided to use the one from the Chaos terminators, this provided a chunkier weapon and differentiated the model from the other Exhalted Champions that might be in the army in the future. To help Huron stand out from the the rest of the Marines I based him on a 40mm base and built it up so that he stands slightly taller than the other troops.

The familiar from the Chaos Terminator Lord sprue was used for Huron’s Hamadrya.

The painting of Huron to follow…

This CSM army really started when Shadowspear was released (March!!). Today I have completed the first unit!

Paint recipes

• Primed with Vallejo black surface primer.

• Armour: Base Citadel Base Memphiston Red with an airbrush. Red highlights airbrushed using Citadel Layer Evil Sunz Scarlet and Citadel Layer Wild Rider Red.

• Armour and bolters: Vallejo Model Color Black, highighting with Vallejo Model Colour black Grey, mixing in Citadel Layer Dawnstone for brightest highlight.

• Gold areas: Army Painter Greedy Gold, shaded with Citadel Shade Agrax Earthshade, highlighted with Citadel Layer Sycorax Bronze.

• Silver areas: Army Painter Plate Mail Metal shaded with Citadel Shade Nuln Oil.

• Tabards: Army Painter Monster Brown shaded with Citadel Shade Agrax Earthshade, highlighted with Citadel Layer Ushabti Bone.

• Bone areas painted Citadel Base Zandri Dust shaded with Citadel Shade Agrax Earthshade, highlighted with Citadel Layer Ushabti Bone.

This project documents the progress of my Chaos Space Marine army, it is currently focused around the Black Legion.

Alongside the painting, expect to see the odd light conversion.

Black Legion

• Abanddon [primed]
• Lord Discordant [wip painting]
• Chaos Hellwright [wip painting]
• Chaos Space Marines (x20) [primed]
• Havocs (x5) [wip painting]
• Predator [wip painting]
• Obliterators (x3) [wip painting]
• Venomcrawlers (x2) [ wip painting]
• Heldrake [wip painting]

Red Corsairs

• Huron Blackheart [completed]
• Chaos Space Marines (x15) [completed]
• Greater Possessed (x4) [wip painting]
• Master of Possession [wip painting]
• Master of Execution [primed]

Chaos Knights

• Despoiler [built]
• Wardogs (x2) [built]