The classic Traitor Legions are back with a bang in the upcoming Codex: Chaos Space Marines, thanks to a huge slate of characterful rules, but they’re not the only bad boys roaming the galaxy. From deep within the Maelstrom, the infamous Red Corsairs are also making a play for galactic domination with Legion rules of their own.
While scanning the airwaves for Chaos activity, we caught wind of a roaming warband led by Huron Blackheart himself. On seeing just how amazingly it was painted, we had to find out how Lukas Gorniak – also known as @SecretlyShiva – created it.
Lukas: The Red Corsairs have always had a special place in my heart. While they weren’t too prominent in early Warhammer 40,000 lore, I've always enjoyed the idea behind them. Space Marines turned pirates, with recruits from all across the galaxy – what's not to love?
Over time, they gained more lore and backstory through Black Library stories and Forge World’s Imperial Armour books, but what particularly caught my eye was the short story The Wolf of Fenris* in an older edition of Codex: Chaos Space Marines. Reading it really sealed the deal for me and since then it has been my dream to field a fully customised and unique army of Huron Blackheart’s finest.
And, with the release of Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team in 2019, and a new Chaos Space Marine range released shortly afterwards, I finally started to fulfil this long-held goal.
Kill Team allowed me to start small, making each member of the squad unique in its own right. I gave them each a backstory and former Chapter, before converting each model using all kinds of kits across the Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, and Death Guard ranges. It really made me think of each warrior as their own character with a unique personality. Of course, as the game received more expansions and options – and eventually a whole new edition – my team started to grow into a small army.
But what are the Red Corsairs without their leader, Huron Blackheart? I knew I wanted to add the Tyrant of Badab eventually, and seeing how he's become a lot more prominent in the lore, I told myself I needed to have a model that reflected his status as the second-biggest Chaos warlord out there. I used a body from the Havocs kit for the increased height, with the Talon of Horus from the newly released Abaddon to represent the Tyrant's Claw, and many other smaller details. Overall, I think I've captured his character quite well.
Since then, I've started to branch out into Warhammer 40,000, building the force up to play larger games. Recently, I painted my first vehicle, a classic Rhino, with more to come down the road.
I can’t wait to see what the upcoming Codex: Chaos Space Marines will have in store. I'm already eyeing all the Cultists, mutants, and Traitor Guardsmen to expand the Tyrant's Legion as Huron's human militia is known.
Thanks Lukas! The Red Corsairs are just one of the Legions getting rules of their own in Codex: Chaos Space Marines, so stay tuned for more information coming soon. In the meantime, embark on your own tactical skirmish operations with the Kill Team Starter Set – the perfect place to start building your own group of highly trained operatives.
* In which a Space Wolves Strike Cruiser is captured by the Red Corsairs, and several of the crew renounce their loyalties rather than die.