Kill Team - Dark Angels

Kill Team is basically a small skirmish battle based on Warhammer 40K, using 5 - 10 (ish) models per side to fight out a number of scenarios. With the launch in Summer 2018 I decided that this was a perfect time to put together a Dark Angel band, by mixing up some old Rogue Trader era miniatures I had in the cupboard along with some of the new Primaris miniatures that I had so far avoided.

Using the BattleScribe app and the Core Manual I pre-ordered (pictured above) I played about with possible lists in attempt to get a team together as close to the 100 point allocation. I worked out the miniatures I wanted to use as well as a couple of alternatives and set about putting the team together.

First of all, Dark Angels schemes and painting styles have varied a lot over the years, but I wanted to stick to a fairly dark green scheme, inspired by this picture that I first saw on the cover of 'Space Marine' too long ago, which if I stop to think about it I start to shudder... ;

The Team
I decided upon an Intercessor Sergeant as a Leader (18pts). I got a 'First Strike' starter set from eBay, thinking this was the cheapest way to get some Primaris marines. I promptly added a head, sword and book from a 'Dark Angel upgrade' pack, hacked off the shoulder with a small saw and replaced it with a DA one.

Intercessor Gunner (16pts) which is a comms specialist. Again, I used the DA upgrade pack to replace the shoulder and use an alternative helmet.

A Tactical Marine Gunner as Specialists (16pts), which my good friend Darren supplied. However, his left arm needed replacing as it had an Iron Fists shoulder on it. I had a pack of DA tactical marines from the Dark Vengeance set, so I borrowed an arm from there.

2x Tactical Marines (12pts each), an Intercessor (15pts) and a Scout Sergeant (11pts) as non-specialists ... from the selection of models shown below that I had stored away;

Bases

After preparing the miniatures, I started getting the bases ready. I didn't want to have to use GW 32mm bases and then build them up myself, and I didn't want to use Necromunda bases... I wanted something a little different, so I got these  industrial resin bases off eBay from GameLink. I washed them first, then primed them in black, followed by grey to bring out the detail.

Once primed, I highlighted the metal elements as per the picture below. When it came to mounting the miniatures on the bases, I drilled and pinned them so that they had a stronger contact.

Painting
The significant parts of the Dark Angel scheme was as follows;

• Armour - After spray priming in black, and then spraying in Caliban Green (which I then went over in thinned Caliban green by hand to give a deeper green), I washed the miniature in Nuln Oil to give shading depth. After going back over the raised areas in Caliban Green again. I then mixed Caliban Green and Warpstone Glow (after thinning them) into progressively lighter layers. Lastly, I gave it a wash with Biel-tan Green and then edged the significant edges in pure Warpstone Glow to really bring out the green.
• Bolters/Rifles/Purity Seals - Casings were based in Khorne Red and highlighted in Evil Sunz Scarlet. The ammo clip was based in Lead Belcher and highlighted in Runefang Steel. 
• Chest eagles/Skulls - Based in Zandri Dust, washed in Agrax Earthshade and highlighted in Ushabti Bone. 
• Chapter symbols - based in Celestra Grey, washed in Nuln Oil and highlighted with White Scar.

Paints used;

The 7 members of the Kill Team;

The Intercessors;

The Scouts;

The Tactical Marines and Heavy Bolter;

Sooooo... I'm all set to play my first game of Kill Team at the Welwyn Wargamers club with a team I'm pretty happy with. Since the photos above I varnished them with Munitorum. 

I hope this blog proves to be of interest to any other Dark Angel fans or Kill Teamers. As always, it's really for my own records, so please be kind :)