The Green Hurts My Eyes

Well I finally started the first figures of Operation 500, a squad of Salamander Space Marines. I was using a standard boring configuration of flamer and missile launcher because that is what they are armed with. I dig out my guides to painting Salamanders and boy are they bright. Painted Snot Green with minimal shading/ highlighting – which is good. The figures looked too bright for me so I researched my Index Astartes article and they are pictured in a pre-heresy green colour of something less painful on the eyes. I still own a bottle of Salamander Black with a faint residue remaining, their original colour back in first edition. So in the end I have chosen what I would describe as Battle Green or Jungle Green from the early 1990’s when I was painting my Epic Imperial Guard army. It was bought as part of a boxed set of colours and the homemade label has come off…


So I plan to continue the minimal shading on the models and avoid inking the green as my usual brown/ chestnut wash will just make it look dirty. Now having ten figures to complete I should look towards making a quick 1k list to see what else I require. Both the Index Astartes article and the armylist in the Armageddon supplement limit Salamanders Fast options to one of each, it is also noted in the Index Astartes that they do not have many Scouts but the Company is larger than a traditional 1000 Space Marines.

Space Marine Captain (Combi-melta, Relic Blade)
140 points

I wanted cheap and effective, whilst giving the appearance of affluence and wealth. Hoping the combi-melta claws back the points because three attacks hitting on 3’s and killing on 2’s are going to take an awful long time to get a return. He will hopefully be rising with a combat squad in the Rhino, at least until he has a Command Squad in the next thousand points.

5 Assault Terminators (Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield)
200 points

I was originally going to take regular Terminators with a Heavy Flamer however the list does not have anything resembling a fighting force so I changed my mind. Past experience with the 2+/3++ guys has all been bad, I never seem to be able to effectively get them to where they are needed. With a more shooting list I will deepstrike and put my faith in the Emperor, and buy some new dice.

10 Tactical Space Marines (Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon)
200 points

I bought a standard squad hence I have taken one in the list. Only changes will be to the Veteran Sergeant who will be upgrading his chainsword and bolt pistol. These are simple conversions for a simple converter.

10 Tactical Space Marines (Lascannon, Powerfist, Rhino)
240 points

With the only transport vehicle in the army I thought it wise to upgrade the squads’ heavy weapon as there is now a glut of Ironclad Dreadnoughts hitting the table at the moment. With the combat squad leading the Captain I thought it prudent to add a fist to the list in case I find myself fighting something with armour greater than 12.

Whirlwind
85 points

It is cheap and will hide at the back of the table. Whilst I do not expect it to be very effective against my 3+ save compatriots it always holds a fear factor that the player will be forced to make several saves and fail them all. I have seen how effective three of these can be even against 3+ save armies.

Predator (Sponson Lascannons, Extra Armour)
135 points

I need something that is anti-tank hence the Sponson lascannons. As long as it survives long enough to take out anything big and nasty it can blow up. If I am facing nothing big and nasty then they will focus on 2+ save units, hopefully providing a distraction from other units that I will have to rely on, yes you Terminators…

Looking to the future I see a Land Raider for my last Heavy, a third Tactical unit with lots of melta, Command Squad and transport, with my last choices hopefully being Sternguard and Vanguard veterans as my only Fast choice.