My DIY Space Marine Chapter Idea

Artwork by The Chamba on Deviant Art

I'm digging back to my childhood on this one. If you don't recognize the characters in the artwork, it's The Silver Hawks. An 80's cartoon about high tech intergalactic police fighting against organized crime. So here's what I plan to do with them as Space Marines.

Tutorial: Space Marine Plasma Coils

Another tutorial. This time, the subject is Space Marine Plasma Coil Glow. I have seen plenty of tutorials on this, but they all seem pretty involved to me, having many steps and gradient highlighting. If you're a lazy painter like me, you want something quick and easy that looks halfway decent. So read on because I think I have the technique for you.

Assembly Update: Asterion Moloc and Ivanus Enkomi

It's been a while since I've had a post on, well, much of anything really. I have been so busy with work (lots of overtime) that I haven't had much time to do anything. However, I finally got started on putting together Asterion Moloc and Ivanus Enkomi of the Minotaurs (I obviously didn't do a Loot Call update, or three... possibly five...). Here's some in progress pics.

I nixed the bases they both came with and opted for a different base. This is Asterion atop a 40mm Spartan base from Scibor Miniatures. Just need to get his right arm and spear attached, his crest, and then figure out how his fracking cape attaches...

Just the body of Ivanus so far. He is mounted on a 28mm Ancient Ruins base from Scibor Miniatures. If it looks weird... yeah. That's how his stance is, even if you put him on his included base. I always thought it was an oddball stance. Good thing he's a badass.

WiP: Storm Raven Base

 Now that my Fantasy tournament is over, I have started working on the base for my Storm Raven. You can see it above, primed for painting. More pics inside of the following steps.

Modeling Updates: Corsairs and Space Marines

 
 So this is a small update on my current projects. As you can see above, I got my corsairs dipped. They should be dry enough tomorrow to hit with the matte spray. Then I just need to base them. Additionally, I began work on my Storm Raven. Or more specifically, its base.

Back View

Front View

Got it all sanded and I included a couple pieces from the Scibor stuff I got in the last Loot Call post. One of the Spartan Basing Kit heads was used as well as two sections of the Templar Ruins. I also want to get a pack of the bricks from Secret Weapon Miniatures to put more rubble around the base. The flyer stem isn't glued on yet, just there for show until it gets primed. Now I just need to get the Storm Raven assembled.

Assault Terminators Assembled!

So I got my Assault Terminators completely assembled, all with the shields from Scibor Miniatures. They're just ready for a prime then a paint. Here' they are:

I think the shields really give them a better feel for being minotaurs chapter with the Greek symbols.

Blog Dump: Updates on Various Things

Been really busy of late, so I haven't been getting in posts like I should. So just a quick update. No pictures, sadly.

1st Squad of Minotaurs Done!

This is the finished 2nd Company 1 Squadron of my Minotaurs force. There's 10 of them there, I swaer (one is hidden behind the Sergeant). The Quickshade turned out great. After dipping them I used a paper towel to blot away the excess and the final product was awesome.

The only hitch I ran in to was when I sprayed the matte finish on them. I had never had this problem when I sprayed my Skaven, but when I sprayed my Marines the matte finish wrinkled. I have since read that it's problem related to the solvents in the matte spray and how it reacts with the Quickshade varnish. The other difference between my Skaven and Marines was that I used the Army Painter matte spray on my Skaven and used the GW Purity Seal on the Marines. (I was out of my Army painter spray) I did detect less of a "gasoline" smell with the Army Painter spray so there must be less solvent in it.

In the meantime I have some bottled matte varnish I can brush on which should work out fine for future models even though it will take more time. Better than having all that time spent making them pretty get messed up. :)

Minotaurs Escalation Force - 1st Squad Done

Finally got my 2nd Company, 1st Squadron base coated and the shoulder decals applied. Here's the result:

Here's the first one I completed in its entirety and Quickshaded to see how it would turn out:

The Quickshade turned out great! So now I have no qualms with continuing the rest with it. Unlike What I did with my Skaven, after dipping the model I used some paper towel to blot the worst pooling, so it came out real nice.

One thing I noticed though... no amount of SolvaSet will make the decals lay perfectly flat on those rounded pauldrons. If anyone has any tips how to put them on without getting wrinkling around the edges, please let me know.

Onward and upward. More painting to do.

Space Marines Coming Along

I've been working on assembling my Minotaurs when I can. The goal is to have them done and painted by February for the start of the Escalation League. I just got my Forgeworld order yesterday, so I can start working on the vehicles. I got Minotaur Shoulder Pads and Rhino doors. Also the Minotaurs etched brass and transfer sheet. So I am good to go.

Here's a shot of one of the command squad with the shoulder pad:

And here's some Tac Squad members. I just need 2 more Tac members to be done with my troops.

I haven't attached the weapon hand to my Captain yet. I'm debating if I should magnetize it or not. I may go out today and see if I can find some magnets small enough for his wrist and the gun hands. Just got a multi-speed Dremel for Christmas so it will be handy for doing the drilling work. I already have a chuck from my old single speed Dremel, so it's good to go in regards to drilling.

My 2013 Army in a Weekend: Minotaurs Chapter Space Marines

Some of you may be wondering what I mean by Army in a Weekend. A local game store named Art of War, every year, does an event called Army in a Weekend. You order an army -- has to be a complete army -- from any system. You get 25% off and have to pay it off by the end of November. Then they make a bulk order and you can pick up the order mid December. They stay open for the entire weekend, the idea being everyone hangs out at the store and builds then paints their army. 24 hours a day from Friday to Sunday.

Unfortunately, I do not have the pull with my wife to be able to hang there and do that. If I was single I would! Anyway, so I chose to do Space Marines for this year. (Last year I did Trollbloods from Hordes) So I ordered the Strikeforce box set, 2 Rhinos, a box of Assault Terminators, and a Devestator Squad box. If my finances allow it I will add a second Devastator Squad box and a Tac Squad box to even those two out to 10 models. Then I just have to go to Forgeworld and buy the Minotaurs chapter upgrade pack along with Asterion Moloch... because unfortunately, you don't get the Preferred Enemy: Space Marines without him in your army. On top of that, with the forthcoming Codex: Inquisition, it looks like it will be fun.