WIP: Heresy Era Dark Angels Tactical Squad in Mark IV Plate - part 1

Have reached a good place with the first tactical squad, it was time to move on to the second. At half way through the month, I should be able to finish...but I'm away on vacation for almost a week, and that's going to take a dent out of the available time to complete my challenge!

This squad was built using a combination of plastic Mark IV armor from Betrayal at Calth and Forge World Dark Angels upgrade torsos, heads and shoulder pads.  I'm a really glad I bought all the custom bits before Forge World discontinued them!  This squad will represent recent recruits from Caliban who were decreed to wear the forest green of their home world on their left should pads in recognition of their service under the Lion in cleansing Caliban of the great beasts.  On the right shoulder pads, they were permitted to display the personal heraldry of their original knightly orders.

This should make for some fun painting, and a nice way to break up what would otherwise be a largely monochrome force (the red chapter icon not withstanding).

I'm using a head without the helmet here to accentuate the "Calaban"-ness of the unit and further help them stand out form the Terran units.

Looking mean!  The custom armor bits are very characterful.  I like the look of the heresy mark IV helmets too though, so I'll include some Terrans in that mark of armor as well at some point.

Trying out the base colors now.  The Lion decreed that his fellow Calabnites where green on their left shoulder pads in recognition of the quests to cleanse Caliban of the great beasts. Otherwise the scheme will remain the same as the Terran squads.  I'm thinking about how to add in some heraldry to the left shoulder pad to represent knightly orders.  The Lion abolished the knightly orders but did allow that legionaries could wear the crest of a past order on the right shoulder of their battle plate.

Vallejo Brass is used for the Vexilla, Sergeant's power sword, and the combat knife handles.  Leather work on these guys will be done the the same ans the last squad.  Below is a shot from the rear showing some of the leather details.  Just base coated for now.  Next will be shading and then highlighting.

That's what I've manged to accomplish so far.  I'm off on a little trip for a few days, then back at it.  Hopefully I can wrap this squad up by the end of the month.  And if possible, I'm going to try to squeak in the HQ model I pledged for the month.  Honestly, though, I'll be psyched if AI have completed the 20 marines!  That's more single models than I've ever painted in a single month before.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!