The Vanguard Veterans of the Death Tempter chapter are known internally as the "Reapers" when gathered for an assault.
Brothers chosen to perform this role are selected for their ability with shock assault bit more importantly have faced Death in the battlefield by being seriously injured.
Space Marine genetic enhancement allows for improved combat survival. To join the ranks of the elite a Brother must have suffered a grievous injury whilst still performing their mission. Proof of their tenacity and courage.
Brothers of the Reapers often display their mechanical augmentations recived in the line of duty more prominently than other sections of the chapter.
The Reapers gain their name from their role. They are said to be sent to engage and eliminate the Emperor's enemies that wish to evade Death's grasp, those that hide behind the strongest fortifications or amongst the strongest bodyguards.
To build these guys I wanted to try and make the cyborg elements of a iron hands chapter show prominently. The problem is that cybernetics are not that easy to get in large numbers. Space marine kits tend to have a bare head or maybe an arm or two. Even the Iron hands upgrade pack only contains 4 arms. Nowhere contains legs in the current range.
Looking at the mechanicus range there is plenty but are too small to easily sit on a primarus marine.
Therefore I wanted to try and make my own using wire
I tried a couple of test arms on random pieces from my bits box. What I found was that the wire can't sit on the outside and look good. It needs to have the arm cut back as deep as possible so the wires build it back up. A single looping big wire running undneath looks good.
Then I went whole hog. Got a assault intercessors kit and cut the lower half of the legs off and cut the foot off of the shin.
I filled the gap with a 2mm plastic rod into drilled holes I made for a good solid connection.
Onto this base I put a metal pin to look like some actuation is in place and then thick wires symmetrically around it.
Initial paint scheme uses silver and nuln oil shade to highlight the small wires with some of the bigger ones picked out in yellow.
Plan is to go back and pick out some of the under lying pieces in bronze so it's not just a brick of silver.
Work has started on a second squad member.
I should have enough hammers and shield for a uniform 5 man combat squad. The second squad is going to have to be more mixed. Ideally I'd like a grave pistol lightning claw mix but I think I only have one grav pistol.
