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So, I'm a relatively new recruit to 40K and plastic models in general. I started off like most newcomers with some Space Marines. My first model was a lascannon Razorback.



As this was my first model, I didn't have very high expectations for how it would turn out. (Note: colors may vary. I don't use standard GW paints.) I started with a flat black undercoat, and highlighted battle damage and other wear&tear with aluminum (close to Mithril Silver I guess). Gold detailing followed (Shining Gold is pretty close) and paneling was done with light ghost grey (Astronomicon Gray is probably the best match). The lascannon turret was washed with black to give it a darker color. UPDATE: I have done some highlighting and gone over the paneling with a darker gray. Also cleaned up some of the other stuff with black again.

I followed this with a Venerable Dreadnought. NOTE: the base is very very VERY unfinished, but I can't be bothered to finish it yet. It's kinda boring to work on.



Straight-up black undercoat, gold detailing, and in some places I used an aluminum wash over the gold to give it a flatter shine. Detailing on the plasma cannon done with the aluminum again. I like to keep things simple. UPDATE: Highlighting with a darker gray, did some paneling, and drybrushed the CCW with aluminum to give it a more metallic feel. Dirtied the armor a bit too, scratches and scorches.

This holiday break I received a Land Raider Redeemer, and went to town on it.



Once again, black undercoat, aluminum detailing, gold trim, and light grey paneling. I also started drybrushing some aluminum on for battle damage and paint chipping. I'm going to touch this model up pretty soon, some of the paneling edges are sloppy and the assault cannon looks like crap. Once again I used the aluminum wash over gold to make some of the details look like electrum (a silver and gold alloy), and I think it looks pretty cool. UPDATE: Redid the paneling with a new gray, highlighted a bit, tidied it up. Redid the Assault Cannon and mount, but it's still bad. My original paint coat was really goopy and thick, and I couldn't get it off too well. Also took the photo with better lighting and no flash.

For the decals, I whipped something up in Photoshop and printed it onto cardstock. I then carefully clipped it out and pasted it on the model. My freehand painting sucks, but someday I might actually paint the insignia on.

I now have a functioning combat squad with some small conversions to give them a little flavor.



I've used the newer darker gray on them, as well as used a smaller brush size for details.

Here's the Sarge.



His conversions include a Power Sword arm and a Plasma Pistol arm off the Assault Squad sprue I'm currently making, and the banner is an unused Venerable Dread sarcophagus plate glued upright on the backpack.



The above guy wields a storm bolter like a Heavy Bolter, underslung, with a larger ammo backpack. All the parts are off the same Venerable Dread sprue, just inventively glued together. The handle he is using is a Storm Bolter handle from the Land Raider kit that never got used.



This guy has a demo charge made from a lascannon power cell from the Venerable Dread kit, and the bolter arm is made from the grenade throwing arm in the combat squad box.

I've now finished my Assault Squad Conversion, they are now known as Templar Marines. I'm creating some fluff to back up my homebrew chapter and their unconventional force organization. In the meantime, here's the Marines, inspiration taken from this piece of concept art for a Command and Conquer mod. http://wiki.paradoxmod.com/1/thumb/7/7f/TemplarArt.jpg/400px-TemplarArt.jpg



Now, a close-up of one of the Marines, and their Sergeant.





I'm currently heading back to university for about a month until spring break, so that's all the modeling that I can finish for this week. I'll leave you with a group picture of my whole collection.



Anyways, comments and criticism are always welcome. I'm also taking open suggestions for my next model or models to do over my spring break. I'm leaning towards a good plastic HQ unit - I'm sick of working with the metal parts. Suggest a fun unit for me to buy and create next time I have access to modeling supplies!

I'll keep updating this post and thread as I make more models and get better at my painting and conversions. Thanks for reading, and please offer any comments or criticisms for me!

Not bad, it could use some touching up on everything. The colors are good, but need something more... perhaps try some weathering on the models?

I've always loved the black with bronze trimmings, but it feels a bit chaos-y to me. Other than that, great work!

My tips would be to use a black spray undercoat as theres a lot of plastic showing though on these and once you have painted the bronze go back over the edges of the black to tidy the bronze up .

CURNOW wrote:My tips would be to use a black spray undercoat as theres a lot of plastic showing though on these and once you have painted the bronze go back over the edges of the black to tidy the bronze up .

I just invested in some black spray, we'll see how that goes for my combat squad and assault squad.

Thanks for the tips everyone, I've gone back and cleaned up the Redeemer a little as well as work on my new box of marines. I'll post pics once they're done!

good effort but the grey isn't really doing it for me,try thinning the paint a little and using a few thin coats.
i hope im not coming across as negative its just honest opinion.

shingouki wrote:good effort but the grey isn't really doing it for me,try thinning the paint a little and using a few thin coats.
i hope im not coming across as negative its just honest opinion.

I think I've touched up most of that, and part of the perception might be the flash used in the photo. I've used better grey paint with my Combat Squad, and I'll try and photos with better lighting so I don't have to use flash - it makes the grey seem a lot lighter than it is.

They are big things to paint, and i think you have done well, just by going for it, if you dont paint anything how would you get better? The more you paint the better you will get!

I think its very good for a beginner, though I suggest you go over the grey with a black wash (after applying in thin watered-down layers like shingouki said) and highlighting the black with grey so it doesn't look as flat.

Still better than my first tries though!

much better than my first tries... good work and welcome to the 40k community.

I think the grey you used for the accents is a few shades too bright. The fact that it's almost the same color as unpainted plastic doesn't help.

Great job starting out, though.

MasterSlowPoke wrote:I think the grey you used for the accents is a few shades too bright. The fact that it's almost the same color as unpainted plastic doesn't help.

Great job starting out, though.

Since I have some time off from college for a break, I'm going to be working on this force pretty heavily this week. My tac squad is almost done and I'm picking up a darker gray tomorrow morning to reshade the paneling and do highlights with. It'll also be used for my tac squad/assault squad shoulder pads.

Thanks to everyone that has commented and given advice, I hope to be updating the first post soon! Stay tuned!

Also, the pinning works perfectly. Thanks for the tips!

Updated the first post with new photos of the redone models, and a newly finished Combat Squad!

That storm bolter just looks sort of glued on. It does not look natural.

Thats awsome man good colour skeme

*Bump - Updated the first post with new pictures, and a poll - which models should I do next?

This is good work. Keep improving i like the redeemer.