Blood Angel Space Marines for Legion Imperialis
On it’s release I bought the starter set for Legion Imperialis and the Space Marine Infantry have been in a partial state of painting since.. so this week I started (and finished) them. So back to our occasional series: How to Paint Legions Imperialis Blood Angels.
Legion Imperialis
Legion Imperialis is a small scale (ie tiny models) where you can: “Play out huge, cinematic games set in the Horus Heresy, where the full might of the Space Marine Legions clashed in world-shattering internecine conflict.”
it is the spiritual successor to Titan Legions, Space Marine and Epic 40k.
Blood Angels
There are already a lot of possible armies to play in Legion Imperialis although 18 of them are Space Marines! I have chosen to paint mine as Blood Angels as this is my army in Horus Heresy (28mm) and Warhammer 40k.
They are known for their close combat abilities but for this I have painted up the troops in the Legion Astartes: Infantry box set – except the Contemptor Dreadnoughts. In Legion Imperialis the Blood Angels can (sometimes) fight twice in close combat.
Pictures
How do they play?
Legion (Space Marine) armies in Legion Imperialis have some tough options and some great infantry. The Tacticals are very difficult to move from buildings (although destroying the building is a great option), whilst the Missile Launchers have two firing modes giving great versatility.
The Terminators and Assault Marines play best into the Blood Angels special rule. Fight twice (sometimes). And the Deep Strike for the Terminators is a great way to get them near the enemy. But be careful – Deep Strike is dangerous in Legions Imperialis.
But, if you are expecting this to take a lot of points… then think again. Infantry is cheap in LI… so all this is a little less than 200 points. The suggested game is 3,000 points so there’s a lot more to get.
Paints Used
Blood Angels are red – even in Horus Heresy. So I’ve gone for a scheme using Mephiston Red as the base. This makes a little more towards 40k, than to 30k (where they should be a little more vermillion). However I have followed the same paint scheme as my Horus Heresy 28mm army.
When painting infantry in Legion Imperialis I do – where possible – paint on the sprue. And so I have done this for all these models.
Starting with an undercoat of Black, and then drybrush the entire sprue Leadbelcher. It’s then time to pick out the armour, and for my Blood Angels this meant Mephiston Red. As they are Legion (Space Marines) there is a lot of armour so the models are very red!
I then pick out the details – Abaddon Black for the cloths, Retributor Armour for elites & leaders, and Apothecary White for the Apothecary.
The bases are simple and two tone. They are painted with Balthasar Gold and Mechanicus Standard Grey. Given a wash of Agrax Earthshade. And then the Grey is redone with a highlight of Administratrum Grey.
So that’s How to Paint Legions Imperialis Blood Angels — graphic below.
Buying a Box?
This is a permanent fixture in the Games Workshop catalogue now. The box above is a ‘Legion Astartes Infantry’ box set. It also includes 4 Contemptor Dreadnoughts (not painted above). That all means – ask at your local FLGS or our affiliate links with Element Games, or Frontline Gaming (USA). They are £31.50 RRP.
— Declan and Eeyore
