Khalil and Piers – Azure Flames Primaris Captain project complete!
In 2024 I set out to replace all of my older and almost never used Space Marine Captains with Primaris versions of themselves (which also probably would rarely be used).
2025 sent that for a curveball with all of my painting competitions. There were only two left and they sat on the backburner.
In truth, they were 99% done until today. I was waiting for a custom waterslide transfer order. Now, they are finished.
I’ll start with Khalil. He uses the new (but not the newest!) Space Marine Captain with Jump Pack model. Because the newest model allows for Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield, I used Vanguard Veteran bits for the arms. Additionally, older players will recognise that head from the 3rd edition Tactical Squad box; the same head I used for Khalil in his two previous models.
Standard paint job, but I’ve added a glow effect that I practiced on my Inceptor models last year for the jump pack. I also gave special attention to the script on the shield and pauldron.
Khalil was recruited from an ailing Hive world past its prime; where being able to climb the rotting superstructure of the domes meant the difference between life and death. He broke the record for shortest time in the aspirant trials, and was, after serving in the reserve companies, to a Land Speeder squadron. His squadron was destroyed by the forces of Victor Kalan during his dark campaign with The Alliance, but Khalil managed to crawl from the wreckage with what remained of then Lieutenant and soon-to-be-Captain Edgard. Khalil continued to serve and was promoted to Captain during the opposition campaign against Grimgull the Red. Khalil himself had the distinction of ending the Red Ork, but not before Matthius, Prophet of the Four had reclaimed the daemonsword Ba’arzunipal.
After the Chasma Spica war, Khalil struck out with a portion of the fleet after the fleeing Chaos Warlord Esharradon of the Sicarii. The relentless campaign of vengeance earned him the nickname “Fury of Iperin” as he was a living embodiment of the wrath of the Azure Flames’ new homeworld.
Before the Omega War, Khalil almost lost his Battle Barge, His Anvil (additionally most of the 7th company and his own life). However, due to the brave actions of Zeraf Antonius, His Anvil was salvaged and refurbished. Now, Khalil lives every day trying to live up to the name Fury of Iperin, slaughtering the foes of the Imperium with speed and precision.
Piers was named by my friend Joe during our writing of Big Game V. I chose his first name after Virgil from the 90’s television adventure cartoon Might Max. Piers’ voice is Virgil’s haughty British one on the occasion that I hear him speak in my head. He uses the new Space Marine Gravis Captain model, modified with a bit of green stuff at the shoulder to cover one of the WORST MODELING GAPS I HAVE SEEN in a modern GW model. Additionally, the helmeted head had the neck clipped and was attached to the hip, and the head replaced with the pewter head that Piers’ previous model had (the Captain with the Thunder Hammer from the old pewter Master of the Chapter box set).
Piers has a small OSL effect on his wrist, and the VII on his leg is a custom decal that I ended up painting over. The “purple” from the printer was a bit more like dark purple and red pixels, probably due to printing limitations, and the top had an unsightly white stripe. I covered it gently with the same purple as the cloak.
The Azure Flames have a policy; if they answer your distress call and fail, they save whoever they can as Chapter Serfs. If the succeed, they ask for a percentage of age-appropriate boys to take the tests to join the Chapter. This policy has been in place since the Azure Flames were the Sons of the Salamander. One year after their Founding, the flagship His Hammer responded to a daemonic incursion on a small space station. Few survived, but Chapter Master Logain himself led the counter-incursion and banished the last of the daemons back to the Warp. With a successful mission, the station owed a portion of its youth to the Chapter, and that was Virgil Piers, the only surviving child on the station.
Born in the void, trained to operate high tech void weapons for the majority of his life, and possessing a once-in-a-generation genius, Piers showed tactical acumen that made him a Sergeant faster than anyone else in the Chapter (only later surpassed by Zeraf Antonius). Ambushes, sieges, counter-sieges, line duty, covert actions, and any other scenario was understood, enhanced, and executed superbly under his leadership. His experience in Void Combat let him eventually be appointed Master of the Fleet by Atrus himself. Piers rarely leaves the Command Throne of His Hammer II. Now that the Chapter has a homeworld, he tends to lead expeditions on behalf of the Chapter. Only recently during the relief of the 4th company on Altea has he commanded the fleet in its entirety.
And that wraps up the Primaris Captain project! Now all ten captains plus the Chapter Master have new models and backstory.
Next: Legion Imperialis Astartes Infantry!
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