On the Workbench [December] - First Legion Characters

On the workbench this December, I took some time to assemble and base the two new(ish) Forge World characters for the Dark Angels.  The sculpts are very detailed and will be loads of fun to paint.  Everything went together very smoothly and all the parts fit as expected.  Some minor heating was required to straighten the swords, but this is nothing unusual for working with resin models.  I detected no other warping in the other parts..

Forge World painted their model with the bare head, but I can't imagine why any Dark Angels player would forgo this amazing winged helm. Maybe because it's a bit too much with the wings given the shoulder pad and the shield??  The helm looks fierce, and very Dark Angels, so I'm keeping it.

All angles of this model are well detailed and in keeping with the Forge World Horus Heresy aesthetics we've come to know and love.

My Dark Angels characters are all mounted on custom cork bases so I did the same here. Vallejo Black Lava was used to texture the flat areas of cork to hide its inherent "corkiness".

I'd have loved another weapon option for the Terminator's left hand.  Both the model and armor design for the hand holding the weapons makes a weapon swap with anther cataphractii terminator model unlikely. I'm not hating on the Volkite Charger (a fitting relic for the First Legion), but I might have chosen something more effective in game terms. but then who am I kidding.  I barely play so this is a display army in any case. :)

The attention to detail continues with this model.  Almost too much to paint...almost. I welcome the challenge. So many little details here.

I need this sword in my life.  I could use a whole pack of swords like this for the army, in fact. This is a true paragon blade for sure.

With so much back detail, I'm compelled to paint it and the inside of the cape, before assembling the model in total. I also like that one could leave the cloak off with no noticeable effect.  The cloak attaches to the normal armor and there are no modeled attachment points at all.

And of course, another signature cork base, with skull...because, Grim Dark.

That closes out what I'm building this month.  With the Christmas holidays rapidly approaching, I don't expect to make a lot of time available to hobby.  I'm leaning on painting some Blackstone Fortress models...but damn, these Dark Angels are so sweet I may need to get paint on them sooner rather than later. Time will tell.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!