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Ive decided to begin playing Space Marines, from Guard. I want to enjoy one of the biggest aspects of this game. The modeling and painting. I want to take my time, and build/paint my Marines decent quality. So I have a few questions.



-How do you suggest to removing pieces from the sprue? I was thinking of using snips to cut it decently short. And file the rest off? Im sick of having nice chunks taken out of my models. It ruins the look. How can I fix those models already effected? Green Stuff im thinking? Any tips?

-Will priming/painting over rare earth magnets, ruin them? I magnetized my Dreadnought, haven't done anything to it yet.

-Any simply tips for painting?


Any help is appreciated.

InfernalMajesty wrote:
-How do you suggest to removing pieces from the sprue? I was thinking of using snips to cut it decently short. And file the rest off? Im sick of having nice chunks taken out of my models. It ruins the look. How can I fix those models already effected? Green Stuff im thinking? Any tips?

Use a pair of clippers, with the flat side against the part you are cutting out, this prevents you snipping off more than you want to. You can fix any that are already affected by bunging in a bit of greenstuff and carefully smoothing it over with a modelling tool (don't forget to keep your hands and the greenstuff moist). When you have all your pieces off the sprue, use a small file to get rid of any roughness left over from the clipping and also to remove the mould lines that will run parallel to the sprue. Finally, gently wash the pieces in soapy water with a toothbrush and leave them to dry overnight; this removes any release agent and ensures that your paint will adhere properly to the model.

-Will priming/painting over rare earth magnets, ruin them? I magnetized my Dreadnought, haven't done anything to it yet.

No, Magnetic fields will not be affected by a thin layer of acrylic paint. Go nuts

-Any simply tips for painting?

Some Basics:

Use a spray undercoat, followed by a thinned down wash of the same colour - gives a nice even coverage and doesn't spoil any details.

Thin your paints! I reckon about half the advice given on this forum is telling people to add more water to their paints. Using citadel colours straight from the pot will give a very rough and uneven look to your minis. Use a palette and always add enough water so that your paints are close to the consistency of milk (If you are just beginning they can be a bit thicker than this as you are unlikely to have the patience to put on multiple coats yet).

Look after your brushes and always try to have 1xlarge brush, 1xstandard, 1xdetail, 1xold-brush.

Have a search on these forums (and PM people if you like what's in their galleries) and the rest of the interweb for tutorials on some basic techniques such as dry-brushing, highlighting, stippling, and washing. If you can master these you should be able to turn out tabletop standard minis in no time at all.

Lastly, always try to improve on a model to model basis: No-one got good at painting by using the same method over and over, push yourself to try new techniques. Sometimes you'll fail, just try harder and fail better the next time

Thanks alot J.Black. I just got back from the store with a new set of needle files. Got a great deal on 6 files, for 10$. I have a base brush & a detailed brush. I use a old crappy plastic like brush for my dry brushing.

I attempted to paint some of my guard to "high quality" if you will. Though I just used simple colors, and really didn't do any shading or anything. But you could call it....neat? I guess.

Neat is half the battle.

A simple, neat paintjob can often look better than a complex but messier one.

So far in modeling my Marines, its been a hassle. Hell, ive only put together 3, in the past hour & a half. Filing every bur, and making everything nice takes quite a bit of time. But it will be very worth it in the end.

Invest a pot of Delvan Mud wash it really makes shading and such easier.

It is a pain to get off all those mold lines and what not but yes it definetly makes it worth it in the end. AS said above water down your paints this will help a fair bit. Since your playing space marines id suggest looking at l bursleys tutorials on painting marines. You will pick up quiet a few handy tips from them. There on youtube.

Heres a quick link for you.

http://www.youtube.com/user/awesomepaintjob


Good luck and snap some pictures for us would ya.

Thanks for the link Golga. I was looking for some good vids on that. I will definitely post some pictures. Im planning on priming white, and washing it with a blue. Then repainting white. I think the white, with blue in the recesses will look awesome. Then some gold will be thrown in.

I've found that a small hobby knife (I use a Stanley) is much better at removing mould lines than a file. Angle the knife away from the direction you're stroking and gently scrape the lines away. Much quicker, and prevents the knife from digging into that precious plastic.

Also: Don't drown your model in polystrene cement! Makes a mess out of everything. Especially for the ball and socket joints a small drop will suffice.

The scholars do not agree on whether full assembly before painting is best, or to leave the bolter before painting. With my orks I assemble full up since it is faster (green tides don't paint themselves, you know!), but with space marines I would leave bolter till later.

The boltgun will only get it front of the aquilla and the final result doesnt look that hot so yea bolter till last....

also thin brush for the trim on the shoulder pads and eye lenses.

Kveldulv, I use a razor knife to remove the mold lines. Filing is to messy in my opinion. But filing down pieces left over from the sprue makes my life easier.