Hi everyone, I’ve been picking up GW’s monthly minis for a while now, converting them into different Militia units, such as the 710th Ironbacks. When the scout model was announced I thought it would make a good ‘elite’ unit with carapace armour.
Concept
I then thought it would be fun to model up a Lucifer Black. Being an elite unit that, by the Great Crusade, only operated as bodyguards to important Imperial officials, I thought it would be fun to include one in my Solar Command Squad. That way it meant I can use the model in game (most of the others sit on my display case) but would also add some fluff to my Lord Marshall – he is important (or politically connected) enough to warrant the extra protection.
Plan
So, with this idea, I went to the source material, flicking through my well-thumbed copy of Dan Abnett’s Legion.
Whilst they are described as wearing greatcoats (which the scout model is not), I figured that this could be explained by different environments and this more of a functional “battle gear” rather than ceremonial. I figured that this Lucifer Black is wearing a void hardened version of the greatcoat uniform so that he can keep up with the Solar Auxilia!
So when building the model, the key requirements were:
- Be game legal, i.e. same equipment as a companion
- He should be wearing black carapace armour
- He should be suitably bling-y to represent his high status.
The first thing to go on the model was the chest winged-skull. I feel it’s too identifiable with 40k rather than 30k. It was a fairly straightforward process to scrape off with a sharp knife.
Likewise the arms and boltgun too clearly read Space Marine rather than regular human. It also was the wrong equipment for a bodyguard in a Solar Auxilia command squad. So I replaced with bits from the Death Korps of Krieg kit and a laspistol from the Solar Auxilia Command section. Given the width of the chest it was too difficult to make a pose where he was holding the rifle with both hands.
For the head I knew the scout head was a no go. I’ve wanted to use the Skitarii heads for some time and I thought it would work aesthetically here. However I wanted to bling up the helmet a bit – after all he is a bodyguard for the rich and famous. So I added the crest from the Solar Auxilia Command section which I think works nicely alongside. It didn’t take too much shaving to make work and I feel it helps make the model look nice and fancy.
As a late addition I thought it fun to add the medals from the Krieg veterans set. This would help add some bling factor and would also hint at his experience.
Painting
When it came to painting, the black carapace was a given. I tried adding some edge highlighting with greys but in the end it looked too much like I had overpainted from the grey fatigues so I left it.
With the rest of the model I wanted to make sure it fit within the palette of my army, so gloves, metal, leather and other bits were all painted in the same way as my Solar Auxilia.
Conclusion
I am really happy with him. I feel he stands out and looks suitably menacing without detracting from my Lord Marshall.
Mutant Snake Eyes 