Tau are my 'main' army there is no doubt about it. They are the army that got me into 40K and I am unswervingly loyal to the Greater Good. However, sometimes GW produce a model that both catches my eye and give it rules and/or a theme that sound like a fun diversion to normal Tau Tactics. This in turn inspires highly themed ideas of tactics and army list compositions. Add some unhealthy delusions of grandeur (care of positive feedback on my recent Tau modeling projects) and I get the plan of making one, single list to collect, build and paint (hopefully well) as a “Showcase” Army. Competitiveness while a concern is tertiary to both the theme I am aiming for and the models I can afford or already acquired etc.

Enter Shadow Captain Kyvaan Shrike, Captain of the Raven Guard 3rd Company. First appearing in the previous Codex: Space Marines, which is when I purchased his model, he returned again in the latest version with some tuning to his rules along with the rest of the space marines.

Shrike and the the Raven Guard have been covered fairly extensively in the last two Space Marine codecies. They are strict adherents to the Codex Astartes but their Chapter's history has led them down a different tactical path allowing them to become experts in covert operations, particularly hit and run style raids. Shrike epitomises the Raven Guard's way of doing war. He and the squad he attaches to gain Infiltrate and his Chapter Tactic is Fleet.

I have named this army a “Raven Guard Shadowstrike Detachment.” Quite obviously it will be led by Shrike (what would be the point otherwise?) and his “Shrike Wing” veterans and consist entirely of infiltrating, outflanking and deep striking units.

Raven Guard Shadowstrike Detachment
“We are coming. Look to the skies for your salvation.” - Kyvaan Shrike

1500

Kyvaan Shrike – Gives Fleet as chapter tactic. Gives Infiltrate to what ever squad he joins (Which 9 times out of 10 will be the 'Shrike Wing'). Has a nifty pair of master crafted lightning claws with special rules.

'Shrike Wing' – Vanguard Assault squad (5) all equipped with lightning claws and jump packs. These guys are expensive when you give them all lightning claws but they are taking the place of the old Shrike's Wing squad in the previous codex and as far as I am concerned have to be in the army. They will be made from a stock standard assault marines and the lightning claws from an assault termie box.

10th Company Scouts – A 'sniper' unit of 5 with rifles, heavy bolter and the character sergeant (suitably renamed) and camo cloaks.

10th Company Scouts – A 'combat' unit of 10 with mostly combat blades,some shotguns, camo cloaks and beacon. Outflanking, fleet footed scouts that can move through cover, call in Termies and have stealth! What isn't there to like?

10th Company Scout Bikers – Biker unit of 5. Sergeant has melta bombs and locator beacon and two scouts have grenade launchers.

3rd Company Dreadnought – Multi-melta, Heavy Flamer dread in a drop pod. It is the Black Reach dread which I will convert with a spare sentinel flamer.

3rd Company Landspeeder Squadron – Both Tornadoes with Multi-melta/Heavy Flamer configuration. (I have these two from my Broadside/Sentinel conversions)

1st Company Terminator Squad – With either Assault Cannon or Cyclone Missile Launcher. Black Reach Termies plus the one that came with the WD a few months back. Converting one to have an assault cannon from my landspeeders and the WD one to have a custom made cyclone setup.

1750

3rd Company Tactical Squad – 10 with Missile Launcher and Flamer (Black Reach Tac squad) in a fully upgraded drop pod.

2000

1st Company Sternguard Veterans – 5 with Storm Bolters and Plasma Canon in a fully upgraded drop pod. (I have a box of Grey Knights I will remove the force weapons from to use as my Sternguards – this was a 'what I've got addition' more than anything else)

Modeling progress in my next post...

First cab off the rank for my Raven Guard force is my Terminator Squad. Most of the guys are stock standard Black Reach Termies, I have done nothing more than be a bit particular about mold lines etc and just stuck them together as they come. The WD termie conversion is yet to be started as I haven't quite figured out how to do my Cyclone conversion yet, I am mostly down to Tau bits when it comes to missiles and I am trying to figure out how to disguise the fact.

The one with Assault Cannon is under way...

Storm Bolter removed, Assault canon pinned on underside of gun arm, Imperial Eagle to start the arm coupling glued on.


Green Stuff added for the arm coupling. Green stuff is not finished yet, need to add more tomorrow night and then clean up and square off the edges.






<Edit>

The back end of the AssCan is currently just cleaned up slightly from where I cut it. I am uncertain of how to shape/finish it off and the pictures I have seen of AssCan Termies don't normally show the back clearly if at all. If anyone has an AssCan wielding Termie they could take a picture showing the rear end of the cannon would be much appreciated?

Also, I love saying AssCan....

So I have made a bit more progress on getting models assembled.

The AssCan Termie is pretty much finished modeling.





I used the back of an XV8 burst cannon to finish off the rear of the AssCan and an XV8 flamer canister as an ammo box. I am fairly happy with the results I achieved with an AOBR termie and spare Landspeeder AssCan.

The Cyclone equipped termie is proving far more of a challenge as it is hard to disguise the Tau'ishness of my spare Tau missile pods.

Also worked on recently is my AOBR Dreadnought.



I added searchlights taken from my scout bikers' spare weapon cowlings and the heavy flamer was taken from my sentinel as planned.



I have not yet managed a fuel hose connection I am happy with though so that part remains unfinished.



Aside from that it is basically finished the modeling stage.

I assembled one of the Landspeeders. Nothing particularly special about it, it comes with all the parts I needed/wanted. The only thing missing is Raven Guard icons but I'm more inclined to just paint those on then try to model something.



Lastly (that I have pictures for a present) are two scout bikers assembled. I just can't seem to get these guys sitting in their saddles properly so their feet actually reach the foot rests... is there some special trick I am missing???







Aside from that I am taking care to correctly model all weapons they are equipped with... scout bikers have a prodigious amount of gear they carry... Bolt pistol, shotgun AND combat blade, normal scouts have to choose one to carry, these guys get it all. Hence I am paying particular attention to small details like if they are holding their shotgun, the holster will be empty while their blade is sheathed and their pistol is holstered and vice-versa etc, etc





That is all I have pictures of for now. I am currently working on the sniper scout squad and the special upgrade sergeant but am still in the, "Hmmm, I wonder what would look interesting?" stage hence no pics just yet.

Hey there Mont'sha,

Nice and Subtle Conversions so far.
Although I am not so sold on the Tau-Flamer canister on the side of the assault cannon. It looks a bit odd. Maybe go for a spare heavy Stubber or stormbolter ammobox from the vehicle sprue - wich I think will suit better.
Or leave it without.
The dread is really nice so far.
Are there any specific symbols the Raven Guard use? I have no Idea about the Raven Guard, I only know Shrike; black armour; and many Assault Marines. Feathers? Wings?
The point is that the Termie or the Dread could need some decorations to make them more look like Raven Guard.


Looking forward on any progress
- Greetings

Raven Guard don't really have anything that unique to the chapter like Space Puppies with their furs. Shrike has a fair few feathers and I suppose it could be extended to more units in the third (Shrike's) company, though I haven't seen it really done on most Raven Guard I have ssen. It will be more a matter of painting the Raven Guard colour scheme and the Chapter symbol. GW don't seem to do transfers for Raven Guard nor include the iconography on sprues so it will come down to painting to make them really look Raven Guard.

The idea of feathers is a good one though and I might take a shot at putting them on my sergeants for starters. I'll see how quickly I can pick up the greenstuff-fu to do it.

feathers will be a good starting point, but just bear in mind that the Dark Angels also make use of feathers. what i would suggest as well, is to try and get as many of those space marine 'beak/hawk/bird' helmets as possible. and then, maybe also try to paint navy seal camo on any exposed marine heads, just to further the concept that these guys work in darkness and are sneaky sneaky

One of my friends played Dark Angels way back in 3rd, and from what I remember there was (still is? I dunno anymore) a subsidiary of the DA called the Ravenwing. While there are slight differences (mostly the addition of a light green), from what I've seen they look, both aesthetically and gamestyle-wise, very very similar. Needless to say, the fact that DA use feathers shouldn't stop you from using them on your Marines, as they can only add to the personality of your burgeoning Raven Guard force. I might even suggest stealing (making a few modifications of course) some Eldar Swooping Hawk parts to use as 3d decals on any landspeeders or rhinos.

Good luck with the army- be sure to post some WIP shots!

Hey Dal'yth Mont'sha!

If you want to make your Raven Guard more Raven Guard, then I have some tips for you. Fist if you make some bareheaded Marines, give them a very pale skin and black hairs (the older the Marine the paler the skin becomes). This is caused by a mutation of the Melanchromic Organ. Due to their near-destruction at Isstvan V, the Raven Guard has only older armour (Mk. IV-VI), so the beaked helmets are very common (which taco already has pointed out) The company markings are on their right shoulder guard rim (white 1st, yellow 2nd, red 3rd, green 4th, black 5th and so on …) I am not so sure about this, but I think that the troop markings are located on the left knee guard, but it could also be the company marking again, but it is certain that they use Arabic figures.
You can also look >here< for some information.

I like your assault cannon on the Terminator and the searchlights on you Cybot. Keep going!

So long!
-Shavaun

Those scout bikers are sweet. Nice that you're putting the effort forth to WYSIWYG them. Does that shotgun holster come with the bikes?

Raven Guard Decal Sheet.

Water-slide transfer paper isn't too hard to come by, either.

Thanks for all the hints, tips and links there guys. Got me some research to do if things are quiet at work now

Also might have to ask a couple of friends to poke around their bitz boxes, I have a friend who plays DA's and one that plays Eldar so I might be able to get a few 'wingy bits' to play with

Theambit

Yes, the scout bikers come with that holster. I am a little disappointed in one regard that I have essentially backed myself into a corner having to use it on my bikers, I would love to have been able to have used one or two on my foot-slogger scouts. Them is the breaks.

I like what you're trying to do here.

I recommend picking up a metal file (such as Privateer Press sells) to help you sharpen the edges of your greenstuffed searchlights/assault cannons.

It's a small detail, but one that may eventually become annoying to you given the amount of attention you've paid to small details throughout your army. Files also help eliminate things like greenstuff fingerprints.

Just in case you've not seen them yet, this and this from Forgeworld could be useful for inspiration and reference, or if you are feeling particularly flush, they could even provide you with some very nice veterans and leader-figures.