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A few questions and brainstorming to get my very first army up and running,

I have the SM part of AOBR plus a squad of tac marines (non-AOBR) with a rocket launcher and plasmagun. For my army, I want a roman legion theme. This will include: replacing chainswords/powerswords with "chainspears" and "powerpilums" using lolipop sticks and GS, adding crimson loincloths/tabards to important/older units, adding that raised trim on the right shoulder, and winding chains around arms and other little things (as in anything the dakkites can think up).

In addition, my chain of command will be named in roman fashion, led by Imperator (SM captain) "Tiresias", followed by Primus Pilus "Cealius" (vet squad Sarge.) leading the Evocati (vet squad), followed by, the Pilus Priors (tac/assault sarges). The termies are floating over by themselves as the Singulares Agusti (emperor's guard) led by Preafectus Octavius.

I think this theme fits really well with all the latin imperialism thrown in with the SM and the Imperium of Man. The force itself with be named the Praetorius Quintanus, named after the emperor's personal Praetorian Guard.

However, I have 2 problems:
1) I am new to the hobby, and have minimal experience with green stuff. How hard will it be to sculpt loincloths and chains? I saw a tutorial for chains that looked fine and dandy, but other than that im a bit lost. Also, is greenstuff the best way to creat the raised trim on the shoulder? I was thinking of bending a piece of wire on the trim, and then putting the GS on that for shape.
2) For paints, im getting the p3 Skorne set, with white and skin tone as well, and a wash of delvan mud. I already have black, blue, and gold. I want to use the metallic grey in the box with a wash of delvan mud to create a dirty metal look. will this work? will these paints be enough to cover the models I currently have? how do I paint the power spears?

here is my color scheme:



imagine that with a blood red loincloth and dirtied up a load, with a raised shoulder trim around the tan color, and a extra gold band "riveted" over the opposite shoulder. I think it will look really cool.

So, what does dakka think? Will my conversions be acceptable for casual play at a FLGS (I have no plan on tournies), will they be too hard to paint for a beginner? I already tried a few schemes and was getting the hang of painting, but then stripped the models. Is there any way I can improve my idea or color scheme? Also, throw out some ideas on romanizing the minis! All I have is spears and loinclothes, but I dont want to go down the poofy head dress route. maybe for my commander... if you think of anything throw it in!

Edit: I am also drawing a blank on any chapter symbols, so the ring is open to those too!

Oh I thought you meant the IG.

And then you said roman marines so I though Ultramarines

Well if you cant do chains I think the reaper ones are good
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/Conversions/latest/03076

and if you cant do loincloths then maybe Black Templar Tabards or DA Robes would sort of fit in.

just my 2 cents

Honestly, the tabards are a bit out of my price range to be putting on the majority of my marines, and I want to do the chains myself. Good ideas, just not really what im looking for in the conversions. I need some gs for other parts too, so I might as well make the chains out of that.

I'd go with plasticard rather than green stuff for the raised trim. I'm not 100% sure what look you're going for but you can get thin sheets and strips that you can form around marine shoulder pads if you're patient.

Also with the tabards, don't rush the sculpting. Take the time to sculpt a form between the legs to sculpt the tabard on to if that makes sense.

Where can I get Plasticard? Also, that doesn't make sense. I think you mean get a kind of gs rectangle first, then add the details on top?

Edit: Home depot has some I think... is this what im looking for? How would I cut it into semicircles? Is it the right thickness to match the trim?
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgc/R-100542281/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Decent hobby stores should carry it. You might have to head to a model railroad type store though. Most that I've used is made by these guys: http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/index.htm

That Home Depot link isn't what you want, that stuff will be thick, textured and brittle.

For the GS thing, it depends what sort of tabards/loin cloth things you're doing. What I mean is, if you're wanting to sculpt a long cloth hanging from the marines belt, you need to fill in the space that it will cover between the legs first to give you something to sculpt onto. Otherwise you'll be pushing GS around trying to form it on almost nothing.
The alternative is to roll out some GS into a flat sheet. Cut out the loin cloth size you want, give it some folds, let it cure a little so it's less malleable then apply it to the model.

1.) Praetorian Guard is the official GW name for a well known Imperial Guard Regiment, that even has official miniatures (inspired by Victorian British Troops). See here http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/314475.page So your name is extremely misleading.

2.) Several non-GW companies do conversion bits for Roman/Greek style Space Marines.
Scibor: http://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.php?group=72
Chapterhouse http://chapterhousestudios.com/webshop/ (shoulder pads and other conversion bitz
(Maxmini http://www.maxmini.eu/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12 only HH heads and some weapons)
(Micro Art http://www.shop.microartstudio.com/conversion-lab-c-45.html only some legs in this case)

Great guide for greenstuff(including tabards) here on Dakka:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/242387.page

plastictrees: I think I would sculpt it first and then stick it on. I found a bunch of the credit card type plasticard from this old game called Pirates I had lying around. I think that should work fine. How can I cut it into nice circles? Just carefully with scissors?
Kroothawk: I realized that the name was confusing last night, and I am trying to think of a new one that I like. Some of those shoulders look cool, and I will probably use them for the more important units I pick up. Thanks.

Reminds me: Urban Mammoth also makes miniatures (Junkers and Gladiator fractions) that you may find useful and inspiring, just browse the different sections here http://www.urbanmammoth.com/acatalog/ :