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Hey, so I guess I'm throwing a Chapter Master in to my list, and I really don't plan on buying their metal Chapter Master models. For one, I hate the metal models, and there's also no model that has the weapons layout I need, so rather than scrounging for bits that I don't have, I'm just going to use a plastic Commander box. Is there anything I can do to model him to distinguish him as a Chapter Master? I have GS, but my GS work is just... not good... but I can always try!

What's your current Captain model like? A nice looking base is always a good way to make someone look important.

1) More Bling.
2) No identifiable company markings?
3) In GW style, the more important the model, the louder he has to appear to be yelling. Choose an appropriate head.

Plus very (completely?) bald and festooned with Skulls too...

Seriously though, there is no set answer.

Depends upon your chapter of choice, but you can't go wrong with the bits from the plastic SM commander box set!

Put the cape backpiece and chest plate on him, he is very recongnizeable with the cape.

As long as he is the biggest and fanciest of the force, it should be pretty obvious. A big scenic base, say a big rocky protrusion for him to stand on, a pile of purity seals, and perhaps a converted melee weapon will often do the trick.

commander 1 or 2 service studs. silver = 50 years service gold=100 years

chapter master 5 or 6 gold studs, perhaps more

40mm bases do wonders for important models.

You could paint things on his banner to show that he is the chapter master.

However, since rules-wise they're pretty much identical (save for orbital bombardment), I'd say there's only so much you can do. Just make him look as bad-ass and important looking as you can, and call it a day.

You could true-scale him so he's larger.

I wouldn't make him larger than the rest of the marines- he'll look too out of place. Remember that in 28mm scale a small height difference would translate into a huge "real life" height difference between him and his battle brothers.

A Chapter master should have:

--> Highly ornate weapons. He gets the pick of the armoury's litter and is likely to carry weapons that would be counted among the chapters holiest battle relics. My Salamanders chapter master has an inferno pistol and an ornately decorated powerfist.

--> Bionics. A chapter master has been in service for hundreds of years. You better believe he's been hurt in battle. Remember- they bionics should be highly sophisticated if you include them. If you want that look but don't want to replace limbs a head with a big built in bionic eye/targeter would be cool.

--> Laurels, purity seals, campaign markings and trophies (if your chapter is the type of chapter that would condone trophy displays). Don't over do it by having huge skulls dangling from him all over the place... add subtle details.

--> An impressive banner on his back.

--> A nice and impressive base. Make sure it still blends in with the bases on the rest of your troops.

--> Keep him consistent. I don't believe in magnetizing the weapons/wargear on my characters- I like to keep it consistent to show the leader's personal preferences and to help solidifying the character's background in my own and my opponent's mind.

Show us your current commander and we can give you more detailed tips.

Edit: spelling

It might be easier to alter the armour colour.
Why not scribe the armour with patterns,lettering?
If he has a cape,pick a colour totally opposite to
your chapter colour,simple and a good way to make him stand out
Also stick him on a terminator base.I tend to use more
metallic paints on my captains/commanders to seperate them
from other figures.

Another couple of tips about making your commander unique:

--> Use rarer marks of armour- either the very newest stuff, or some of the oldest stuff. Just make sure not to mix and match armour types (ie the heads, legs, torsos and shoulder pads). Pre-heresy armour marks are especially effective here. Make it look like he's wearing a suit of office. If it makes sense for your chapter, however, mixing armour marks would be fine. Chapters like the Space Wolves wouldn't hesitate to freely mix armour parts in a utilitarian fashion.

--> If you use a bare head don't use a head identical or similar to one that appears anywhere else in your army.

--> Look outside the Space Marine range for a head... a unique bare head, even an Eldar bare head with suitable conversion, would look great.

Skulls. Lots and Lots of Skulls.

Look as some of the Chapter Master models compared to the Captain models. All of the Chapter Masters, save a few, look more epic than any of the Captains.

The most simple and effective idea: Heroic/Dynamic posing.
Second most simple and effective idea: Don't use the same bits.

Base him on the Marneus Calgar model!

Give him sort of chapter specific relic, deck him out in a decorative suit of armor.

As far as I know, besides the specific Chapter Character models (like Pedro & Calgar), they don't have metal chapter master figures. The master of the Recruits, Arsenal, fleet and watch are just part of the "command staff" and are not chapter masters themselves (although they make for good stand-ins). The Chapter Master is supposed to be the guy completely in charge of your chapter. So, each marine chapter should really have one and only one chapter master. However I guess you could have multiple chapter masters armed with different weapons to reflect different gear your chapter master decides to go to battle with.

I always thought the Space Marine Commander plastic box set was to be used to create your own custom Chapter Master.

I agree with redbeard, if you realy want him to shout, take zanzangs head from AoBR.