Meduson is also the name of a pretty good short novel by Dan Abnett set in the Horus Heresy era. This isn't talking about that short story, this is about the character Shadrak Meduson, the reluctant leader of the 10th Legion after the fall of their Primarch, Ferrus Manus.
I've seen some decent conversions for his model, since there isn't one available from Forgeworld yet. But in my opinion, a lot of people have a tendency to over-do the conversion. I took a simpler approach... first, a bit of history though!
Shedrak was a simple Centurion, Captain and leader of a company belonging to the Sorrgol Clan of the 10th Legion. He wasn't the Iron Father in charge of his Clan. He was experienced, however, having served the Legion since the early days of the Great Crusade and being of Terran-born descent before being inducted to the Legion. When Ferrus fell, and the 10th Legion barely escaped with their lives, the leadership for the Legion was fractured. The Clan leaders decided on joint leadership, which Shedrak dissented against loudly. He thought it would be much more effective for a single leader to impose a singular will upon the Legion, much like Ferrus Manus ruled the legion under an iron fist. Despite his dissent, he deferred to their decision and the decision of his own clan leader: Jebez Aug.
From Lexicanum:
"The Clan Fathers determined to reorganise the legion along strictly traditional clan lines, although the rag-tag nature of their forces resulted in one particular change. Clan Avernii was barely represented in the force, the majority of them being wiped out alongside the Primarch on the surface of Istvaan V, and could not form their own unit. Additionally, small units of Raven Guard and Salamanders survivors had also been picked up during the escape, who needed to be fitted into the order of battle somewhere. The Fathers decided - perhaps in response to Shadrak's admonition that the legion should work closely with their cousin legionaries into developing new ways of war instead of turning to old traditions - to fold the outsiders and the disgraced Avernii into Clan Sorrgol. To make up for making Sorrgol a 'mongrel clan', the Fathers also made Jebez Aug the Warleader of the entire battlegroup. Aug, in his turn, made Shadrak Meduson his Hand Elect; his second-in-command."
However, the new ruling council's warship, the Crown of Flame (foreshadowing, or ironic?) was destroyed by a naval ambush set by the Son's of Horus who deceived the Iron Hands fleet by disguising their allegiances until it was too late. Furthermore, Jebez Aug was injured during the ambush, so he thrust Shadrak into leadership. Reluctantly taking the reigns, Meduson led his Legion in many counterattacks against the traitors for a good deal of the Horus Heresy.
To me, this indicated that his wargear would be less ornate, more pragmatic and practical. So I dispensed with the heavy armors and all the crazy adornments.... I kept him pretty simple, as I would any line-captain.
His nickname, "The Bloody", made the painting of this model very satisfying! I figured the model had better match the moniker, so I splattered on a good amount of blood effects for good measure.
I am happy to say the painting method that I drew up in my last post, was used with great results! It took me a scant few hours to paint this fellow, from start to finish. Even though I have a few embellishments to finish (eye lens, facial detailing, etc) the majority of the model is table-top ready and painted to what I would consider to be a moderately high standard. I am quite pleased with how he came out.
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