So here’s the final post for this lot – starting with the completed squad photo! Yes, I’ve gone for the 7-marine squad because Nurgle. I still think it was a dick move of GW to sell the new Plague Marine box with only 7 models in it, and especially so by adding three more models in the form of “champions” at clamshell hero prices. I may still pick some of them up to flesh out/vary my DI models, though I’ll wait till I find them for a deep discount.

Here’s a close-up of the Plague Champion. His right arm has been replaced by a Cybork arm from Gorka Morka which still manages to look the part of a cybernetically-grafted-on bolter. We know how fond the Iron Warriors are of mutation (not very) and so this seems a likely consequence of this fellow having sprouted a tentacle – amputation and some cybernetics attached in their stead!

The shoulder pad is one that befits a unit champion. It’s one of the Puppetswar ones that I discussed recently. In fact, it’s one of the miscast ones that they sent me, as the bottom of it is all messed up. How fortunate that years later, I’d work on some Nurgle Iron Warriors, eh? 😛

The rear views shows the cabling – originally red, but now repainted in brass. Less red on everything is often good.

This side view shows how the guitar wire I added to the Sector Mechanicus base makes the thing a little more integrated than the usual wires I’ve been adding on top. It also shows off the hazard stripes on the bolter quite nicely.

Finally another group shot – more of a line-up this time. It’ll be fun to get these guys onto the table and see how they perform!

The penultimate post for this first squad of Iron Warrior-aligned Plague Marines. This time, I’m showcasing the plasma gunners. Their unique selling point is really the heat discolouration on their plasma guns. It’s an effect that I’ve been playing with lately, trying to teach myself to get to a point where it looks good. I think I’m at least partway there so far – the tricky part is the transition between the brown and the blue – the purple band. It seems a little harsh on the left hand figure still.

A little about these figures – both are from the same range as the previous pair – the 1995 run. The right-hand figure is a single piece casting, excepting the backpack. No comments about the sensibility or realism of a wooden casing on a weapon that fires superheated plasma, please. Because… containment field? Or perhaps – A Wizard did it!

The figure on the left is a “regular” Plague Marine model from that line with a metal Nurgle shoulder pad of roughly the same vintage. In fact, it’s the same figure that once bore a bright, metallic-red flamer. Now, I’ve said before that I don’t like to change “finished” figures too much, but these guys were already getting a makeover with the new bases and the addition of Iron Warriors heraldry. Also (and rather importantly) Plague Marines can no longer take flamers. Sure, they get plague belchers in their stead, but they don’t look exactly like Imperial Flamers in my version of the 41st Millennium. So a second plasma gun for the squad, which obviously will have better synergy with the other plasma gun and the bolters. Plasma gun is a FW HH model (to keep it old-school) but cut down to fit properly.

As with the previous two pair of Iron Warrior Plague Marines, the Iron Warrior icons came from Pop Goes the Monkey via Shapeways. I’ve ordered some more to ensure I have enough stockpiled for what may potentially come, and no, I get no kickbacks for mentioning them. I knew about 3d printed shoulder pads and weapons and stuff for Imperial Knights, but stick-on chapter icons that function like 3d transfers which can be added to any model – including my hoard of old metals? Yeah, I really like that concept.

One more post in this series to go because I really need to go sleep now and can’t write up any more text to go with the final photos for the squad. 😡