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David Hardy’s Second Edition-Style Ultramarines are the Perfect Celebration of 35 Years of Warhammer

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Last week we celebrated the 35th anniversary of Warhammer 40,000 with a host of retro-themed painting tutorials for classic paint schemes.

Every era of Warhammer painting by the ‘Eavy Metal studio has its own iconic style, but the primary colours of the second edition offer a potent jolt of nostalgia to many – Goblin Green bases and blazing red bolters.

David Hardy (@SpacedCrusader on Twitter) has fully embraced that bright and bold painting style with his Ultramarines, creating a whole Primaris army that harks back to those days – back banners and all!

Image 1 – Group Shot

David: My earliest memories of the hobby were of Warhammer 40,000’s second edition. I used to pore over White Dwarf magazine, looking at all the bright colours, back banners, and green bases. This had a huge influence on my painting style, and I like to paint modern miniatures in that same bright style.

I returned to the Warhammer hobby at the end of 2016 after a long absence, and enjoyed picking up brushes and painting miniatures again. Shortly afterwards, a new edition of Warhammer 40,000 was released along with something new and exciting – Primaris Space Marines.  

Image 2 – ancient

After picking up the Dark Imperium boxed set* I decided to try painting an Intercessor as an Ultramarine, but with the classic colour scheme. I used the dictates from the original Codex Astartes – okay, technically Codex: Ultramarines from 1995. Yellow shoulder trim, golden yellow aquilas, and red gun casings.

Using Codex: Ultramarines and an old Warhammer 40,000 painting guide for reference, I set about trying to replicate the classic colour palette using modern Citadel paints.

Image 3 – Codex

My test model was well received by the community, so I set about painting the rest of the contents of my box while further refining the paint scheme. I made the blue armour lighter and started adding back banners from the Ironclad Dreadnought, which fit perfectly on Primaris Marines. 

Image 4 – Banners

I felt the force needed some heavy support in the form of vehicles, so I painted up a Repulsor and an Executioner. I painted the side doors red and added yellow vehicle designation markings to them, just like the old Space Marine tanks from the second edition.

Image 5 – tanks

I expanded the force with a store anniversary Captain, Chaplain, Librarian, Eliminators, and another Intercessor squad, led by a Veteran Sergeant made using the 500th store anniversary Lieutenant.

Finally, I painted an Invictor Tactical Warsuit, piloted by a Veteran Sergeant of its own. I pushed the colour scheme further here by adding hazard stripes to the Invictor fist and yellow to the incendium cannon. 

Image 6 – Dreadnoughts

I plan to add more to this army – I’ve made a start on some Mark VI Space Marines, and some of my Ultramarines are about to embark on a Crusade campaign that will no doubt see the force expand further.

Here’s to another 35 years of Warhammer 40,000 – Courage and Honour.

Thanks, David – what a fantastic synthesis of old and new. He was kind enough to share with us the recipe he used to paint these miniatures, so you can follow his steps and paint your own nostalgia-fuelled Space Marine.

Image 7 – paints

Share your own modern takes on retro paint schemes with us on the Warhammer Community Twitter and Facebook pages, and remember to include the #WarhammerCommunity hashtag when you share your pictures!

* The first boxed set to include Primaris Space Marines models.