Dark Angels Desolation Squad

Grab your nerf guns and your Bob Dylan albums because it’s time for a Dark Angels Desolation Squad.

Despite my initial thoughts on these bros they have come to grow on me and I managed to pick up an assembled squad off marketplace.

Unlike most of my previous greenwing Dark Angles I started with a black base coat and then drybrushed grey and white. This was followed by a green speed paint and then highlights of various greens. The gold trim followed this approach with a gold speed paint and then gold and silver highlights.

The paints I used in the approach above are below.

I am most happy with how the eye lenses came out using the below paints including the plasma red paint that I have just started using.

The base includes some old cork that was painted with black speed paint and then highlighted with the same paints I used for the base over GW astrotragranite.

Like most of my purchases I don’t know how they will go on the battlefield but am looking forward to giving them a go. 

 

Plasma Inceptors

These Inceptors were another second hand pick up and came with a light almost Salamander green paint job. A 50/50 mix of dark green and black speed paints darkened the paint on the power armour to make them match my other Dark Angels Inceptors.

The plasma coils used my current approach which starts GW white air paint followed by the plasmatic blue speed paint.

The armour trim used gold speed paints with Vallejo gold and GW silver highlights.

I prefer these GW flights stands for flying bros rather than the current trend of tactical rocks. I positioned them as if they were coming in “hot” using their plasma at short range. I also had them at different heights to break up the unit.

The base uses cork for the rocks and various flocks. Vallejo earth, beasty brown, leather and bone white paints were used to paint over the astrogranite base.

Ravenwing Darkshroud

 I picked up this Ravenwing Darkshroud at a second hand sale. Although its origin may be dubious, a little bit of green stuff repaired the worst of the miscast bits.

Painting of the crew and landspeeder followed the approach of my other Ravenwing. The stained glass used plasmatic blue speed paint over a white undercoat. 

The trim was painted with gold speed paints and various gold and silver highlights.

The same approach was used for the gold on the structure on the Darkshroud. 

Am looking forward to getting this on the battlefield to provide stealth and the benefit of cover to the Ravenwing.

Dark Angels Interrogator- Chaplain

I have always been a fan of Interrogator-Chaplains in my Dark Angels army and now I have finished another one.

I always liked this bro and picked him up second hand. Unlike my previous Chaplains this guy started with a white undercoat and I used a lot of green and black speed paints over the power armour and cloaks.

The heavy bolt pistol has more gold trim befitting of his high status within the Unforgiven.

I tried to keep a limited palette of colours with the only real exception being the plasmatic blue coil around his neck. I am liking this paint so it was included.

I used a heap of transfers including some Dark Angels words on the cloak. They are pretty hard to see on these crappy phone pics.

I am most happy with the skull face / helm which I think came out well.  

Next up is the Ravenwing Darkshroud.

Ravenwing Black Knights

An essential element of the Ravenwing is the mighty Black Knights.

Although they have not had primaris versions released, I knew I had enough spares of the Outriders to convert up some Black Knights.

As I had already assembled the Ravenwing command from the box set I had enough weapons left over that would replace the standard chainsaw on the outriders.

The plasma talons were kitbashed using barrels left over from the Hellblasters kit and some volkite pistols.

Although some of them don’t sit as square on the bikes as I wanted, I am particularly happy with the plasma paint finish on the talons. This was achieved with white air paint over a metallic base with the plasma blue speed paint to finish.

A similar paint job was used on the melee weapons with a more metallic finish over the plasma paint. Painting for the minis followed my approach to the Invader and Outriders.

The Knights had a few head swaps with the sarge also getting a banner from the old veterans kit and a cool transfer from the Dark Angels upgrade kit set.

Am very happy with the finish that does break up the standard outriders kit.  Now it’s time to get them on the battlefield.

Cypher

Despite the recent push to finish my Dark Angels I managed to pick up one of my fave minis, the man called Cypher (apologies to Sting).

I painted the power armour with a base of gun metal speed paint followed by black speed paints and washes. The gold trim on the mini also used gold speed paints and watered down brown washes with silver highlights. 

Given Cypher has been on the run for over 10 000 years I added some oxide effects on various sections of the power armour, plasma pistol and his Lion Sword.

I also wanted Cypher’s master crafted pistol to be different to my loyalist versions of plasma weapons. I used the below paints to get the nuclear / red plasma finish including a little overpaint for a subtle source lighting finish. I am still learning this technique but am happy with how it came out. I recommend the white air paint over a metal base for this approach on the plasma coils.

The cloak was intentionally dark green and used a range of green speed paints and washes with lighter green highlights. Perhaps the colour of the cloak indicates he may be questioning his previous life choices.

Other fabrics were painted with deep reds using speed paints and lighter red highlights.

I have no idea how he will go in the game but my Alpha Legion  will be happy to see him on the battlefield - whether they can trust him is currently unknown.

Ruined Convent Cathedral Terrain

 I picked up a set of the TT Combat ruined convent cathedral in preparation for the arrival of my Trench Crusade minis.

I had never built and painted any of their terrain sets and am now a convert to these dudes.

Assembly was pretty straightforward and although it took me a little time due to my lack of experience, this was not excessive and I definitely recommend their kits.

Painting was intentionally muted with various spray paints used  for the walls, floors etc with earth and light browns from Vallejo for the roof and tiles. I then used a red brown wash all over and some light highlights.

I have a further ruins kit to assemble and am similarly looking forward to their assembly.