The epic-scale miniatures for Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Legions Imperialis are a sight to behold, and hobbyists throughout the Warhammer Community office have been eager to paint a few of their own ahead of their release (which is coming very soon!) Since they did such a good job with the Space Marines and Tyranids of Leviathan, it’s only fair they get to try their hand at some really miniature painting.
First up is Joel, who has painted both a big and a little Kratos….
Joel: Raven Guard
The Kratos is one of my all time favourite kits, so I jumped at the opportunity to paint a Legions Imperialis version. I painted my full-size one as a more extravagant centrepiece style miniature, and I wanted to see if I could replicate that approach at epic scale. Take a look at the two, side by side!
I think I managed pretty well to get the detail downscaled! The kits have almost as much detail as the full-size Horus Heresy kits, so they’re lovely to paint up. The name “Unmerciful Disaster” – lovingly taken from the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem – was sadly the only thing I couldn’t manage to scale down on the smaller version, but everything else was just about manageable.
Luke: White Scars & More
Like Joel, I copied the markings of my full-sized White Scars Kratos, and tried to mimic the weathering at a small scale with Contrast paints, stippling, and drybrushing – it was nice and simple, and I could see myself doing a few more epic scale tanks for the V Legion.
I used the four Contemptors as a fun little taster project to figure out what other Legions I could pursue if I decided to do a whole army, primarily using Contrast paints and drybrushing – but I was so taken with them, I spent a little extra time doing some weathering and freehand.
They’ve got just enough detail to take Contrast really well, but also have excellent surfaces for working in some extra interest. I don’t think I’d do that level of freehand across a whole army… but it was fun!
Gadge: Solar Auxilia
I’ve opted for a Legions Imperialis force made entirely of Solar Auxilia, and decided to start off with a powerful hammer composed of two Leman Russ squadrons, with a single Baneblade as their anvil.
Legions Imperialis models are incredibly detailed despite being in epic scale, so it’s really important not to lose this detail with overly thick paint or too many layers. Drybrushing and Contrast paints are the key to this ‘sand and spinach’ scheme that will look good on both desert and temperate battlefields.
I started off with a base coat of Zandri Dust Spray undercoat, which was drybrushed up with Flayed One Flesh, where the tonal difference helps pick out every hatch and rivet. To avoid swamping the model with excessive paint, I used Creed Camo Contrast paint to apply the camouflage bands and blotches, as the translucent quality of Contrast paint allows the existing highlights on the base coat to surface. Other parts were painted variously with Black Legion, Blue Horror, and Evil Sunz Scarlet, before being outlined lightly with Agrax Earthshade.
Lastly, I applied weathering by giving the tracks a light drybrush with Terminatus Stone, before dipping a brush in Ratling Grime, wiping most of it off, and dabbing it all over any areas where I felt the tanks would be either well-oiled or getting in contact with a lot of grime – the vents, grills, gun barrels, and wheels.
Ken: Solar Auxilia
These are the first Leman Russes I have painted this millennium, so I stuck to the box art as a guide. The key to a look I was happy with was pushing the contrast, which on such a small model was a challenge, but a fun one.
I used Basilicanum Grey for the body of the tanks, drybrushed heavily with Dawnstone, then applied directional drybrushes of Administratum Grey and Ulthuan Grey. The treads are Black Legion with an overbrush of Leadbelcher. To boost the contrast I then went back over panel lines with Nuln Oil. I dotted lenses, lights, and field glasses with white, then Magmadroth Flame for colour pops.
The Leman Russ is the Auxilia’s workhorse, so I felt these should look cohesive and battle-worn. I added unit transfers from the box and the tiniest numerals I could find on the Warhammer 40,000: Leviathan transfer sheet – number VIII was too large for the miniature so my squadron includes one to seven, then nine!
Chris: Night Lords
I started by spraying these with Chaos Black, then added a zenithal coat of White Scar spray. I applied an all-over coat of Ultramarines Blue Contrast before adding highlights of The Fang and Altdorf Guard Blue.
The lightning flashes again used The Fang and Altdorf Guard Blue, before being finished off with Corax White. At the same time, the metallic areas got a basecoat of Iron Warriors with a rust effect created by a watered-down coat of Magmadroth Flame Contrast.
The Night Lords emblems were hand-painted in Khorne Red and Corax White before the models were washed with Targor Rageshade to give a dirty, aged look.
Grog: Solar Auxilia
These models were undercoated in Leadbelcher, before base layers were applied, and a heavy drybrush, wash, and weathering. The darker of the two was painted first as a command tank (with a lil' guy in the turret). However, I found I prefer the slightly more standard drab green of the Hellhammer and will use this going forward. The turrets have been left unglued so as to rotate, however I advise that if you do this, do not blow heavily on the model to remove any stray dust as you will send them sailing across your room!
These aren’t the only miniatures from Legions Imperialis we scooped up. Steve also put his brush to work on some vicious Night Lords, while Darcy picked out two Kratos tanks in the classic yellow Imperial Fist livery and Gav’s red Leman Russ tanks prove just how much detail you can show off with even a relatively simple colour scheme.
Going even further, Eddie’s micro-diorama wowed us with careful use of the Civitas Imperialis Ruins and a pair of Sicarans in a lethal tank duel. If you cross your eyes you could almost believe it was a full-size Warhammer 40,000 display, which just goes to show how much detail these incredible miniatures pack in.
Have these models given you your own ideas for a Legions Imperialis army? With a massive range of miniatures to choose from – from artillery and speeders to super-heavy tanks and terrain – it’ll pay to have some in mind before pre-orders start… very, very soon.