#4 : Space Wolves

Space Wolves

    

The Space Wolves are a very independent chapter that has been around since the first founding.  Their homeworld, Fenris, is a world of fire and ice. The wildlife on Fenris has been determined to be the most dangerous on any planet, making the planet's inhabitants battle-hardened and ferocious. One of the most deadly creatures in the universe, the Fenrisian Wolves, fight alongside the Space Wolves. They can grow up to the size of a small horse, and the Thunderwolf, the apex predator of Fenris, can grow up to 8 feet in height.

The Space Wolves are my favorite Space Marine chapter. Although I don't own as many of them as I want to, they are a great race with lots of variety. In my opinion, they are an army for more advanced painters, as it is slightly difficult to make the light blues, yellows, and browns of their armor look good.

Overview: If you are an intermediate/advanced painter, give the Space Wolves a look. Even if you are a beginner, still give them a look. 

#3 : Dark Angels

Dark Angels

The Dark Angels were the first of the Space Marine chapters. Started by the Primarch Lion El'Jonson on the Death World of Caliban, the Dark Angels fell from grace, due to a horrendous betrayal, around the time of Horus Heresy. Only the innermost members of the chapter know the true nature of this incident, but it destroyed their home planet and nearly shattered the entire chapter. Their honor forever tainted in their own eyes, the Dark Angels strive for redemption and restoration of their honor. More information of the Dark Angels can be found here:  Dark Angels - Lexicanum

The Dark Angels are a great race in general. They have lots of miniatures (lots of new ones, including lots from the new Dark Vengeance box set and from their new codex). With Deathwing squads and lots of great vehicles, there are a great variety of units. They are very easy to paint decently well, and not so difficult to make look really good. 

Overview: Dark Angels are a great army, both for newcomers and veterans. Simple as that.

# 2 : Blood Angels

Blood Angels

 

The Blood Angels, one of the original Space Marine Chapters, was started by the Primarch Sanguinius. They excel at close combat fighting, and are well known for their bloodthirsty nature. Recruiting mostly from their home planet Baal and the surrounding moons, the Blood Angels convert their initiates in the same fashion as any other Space Marine Chapter.   Additional information can be read here:   Blood Angel - Lexicanum

The Blood Angels, very similar to the Ultramarines, are very simple to paint and play with. Their tactics are straightforward, and their color scheme involves mostly red, black, and some yellow. This does not, however, make them boring to paint. As you can see from the above photos, a very detailed miniature can be attained using just those colors (and a few more). 

Overview:  The Blood Angels, like all other Space Marine Chapters, are a great starting race. They are easy to paint, simple to play with, and overall a great army. 

#1 : Ultramarines

Space Marines

Because they are both relatively easy to paint and play, The Space Marines are probably the most popular race. Also, the Space Marines can be painted any number of different ways, giving them a plethora of color schemes. There are 4 different codexes, and therefore 4 sets of rules/army lists describing the Space Marines. I will post about each of the 4 sub-groups individually.

Ultramarines/other space marine chapters

The Ultramarines are one of the most popular races. They, along with many other space marine chapters, follow the rules from the Space Marines codex picture to the right.

The Space Marines were genetically engineered by the Emperor himself. Also known as the Angels of Death, the Space Marines are superior to any living man. They have several abilities brought about by the presence of the gene-seed, a series of special organs that can be implanted into a new recruit's body. For more info on the Space Marines, refer to a codex (if you have it) or the following link: Space Marines - Lexicanum.

While the Ultramarines are generally painted blue with gold/yellow trim, the great thing about Space Marines is that you can paint them however you like. Below is a picture of 2 of my own Space Marines, one painted as an Ultramarine, the other as a new chapter all together (it is not an original color scheme, and I can't find the original link where I saw it).

Just as a reference, below is a list of some of the Space Marine Chapters. This just shows how many color schemes are already available, and how easy it is to create a new one!

Overview:  The Space Marines are a great starting army, arguably the best. They are very straightforward to paint and play with. Regardless of your initial army choice, I would still recommend getting a small squad of Marines just to mess around with (and possibly practice new color schemes on)