Assault Marines and metal Meltaguns

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**Joshh**

So, I'm pretty new to plastic models and 40K in general, and I'm trying to emulate >>>THIS<<< with a pack of Assault Marines and some metal meltaguns from the GW blister pack. I've assembled a test figure using some old arms from a SM tac squad, and it looks like this:

However, I don't have any more tac squad bolter arms, and the arms that came with the Assaults are kinda bad for the metal meltas. I can't get them to stay on, even with superglue, and the minis would be off-balance anyways.

Anyways, do you have any suggestions on how to finish this off? My army was never designed to be table-legal, I'm just in this for the hobby, and I'm having a great time converting and painting my dudes. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

**ZacktheChaosChild**

Maybe you could order some plastic meltas and arms from a bitz dealer.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Pin the hand to the arm. That will make a solid bond. However you'll have to weigh down the base.

**Conandoodle**

Step 1: Drill small hole into wrist of plastic marine.
Step 2: Glue small piece of wire into hole.
Step 3: Drill small hole into wrist of metal metal gun component - ensuring the 2 holes line up.
Step 4: Add small amount of glue to wire and join plastic model to metal weapon.

This is pinning. A very handy technique when dealing with metal components/minis.

For the weight issue, glue a coin or washer under the base. You wont have issue with balance then. From personal experience, if you add a weight to 1 model, do it for all models in the squad. It just 'feels' better when they're all of similar weight.

**Blue Orphen**

Who says that the Assault Marines need to hold their meltas in a 2-hand grip?

Take one of the extended pistol/ccw arms, cut off the hand, and pin the meltagun/hand in its place.

Presto! No need to fiddle with getting the arms to fit right.

**Joshh**

Blue Orphen wrote:Who says that the Assault Marines need to hold their meltas in a 2-hand grip?

Take one of the extended pistol/ccw arms, cut off the hand, and pin the meltagun/hand in its place.

Presto! No need to fiddle with getting the arms to fit right.

That's what I'm intending to do, once I find some pinning stuff, and can get some practice doing it.

**Kolath**

What space marines can take meltaguns on their assault marines? Blood Angels?

**Joshh**

Kolath wrote:What space marines can take meltaguns on their assault marines? Blood Angels?

I'm not building this unit for TT, they're just supposed to look really cool. My inspiration for the squad was this art: http://wiki.paradoxmod.com/1/7/7f/TemplarArt.jpg

**MechaEmperor7000**

In case you do want to use them, you could always just count them as Infernus Pistols.

**goldlinkdawg**

when pinning i find using peices of paperclip work better than wire because they are stiffer

**MechaEmperor7000**

Paperclips are usually what people use. it's cheap, easy to get, and sturdy.

**Fifty**

BA Assault Marines can take Melta guns anyway, so they are potentially legal.

**MechaEmperor7000**

Somehow that just made them even more cheese....

**BloodQuest**

Pin the hands to the weapon as others have said, then worry about fudging the shoulder joint.

Some remodelling of the arm at the shoulder, a little bit of green stuff and the careful placement of shoulder pads should help with the masking any imperfections.

And a nickel in the base or a white metal base would solve the weight issues.

**Conandoodle**

Kolath wrote:What space marines can take meltaguns on their assault marines? Blood Angels?

They could in the previous codex couldn't they?

**Retrias**

Still legal I think, didn't have my codex with me but Army Builder says that a squad of five can take one special weapon

**Orinoco**

BA player here, meltagun is legal.

Use a plastic meltagun.

**BloodWulf**

If you put a metal Melta out away from the body in an extended arm position that will really off balance your model. As someone stated you will want to make some kind of counter wieght

**Joshh**

Hey, OP here. I'm still working on them, I'm finishing up the 4th of 5 Templar Marines (what I'm calling them, they go with my homebrew chapter). I'll post pics once I've finished painting them. Thanks for all the advice!

**Conandoodle**

Retrias wrote:Still legal I think, didn't have my codex with me but Army Builder says that a squad of five can take one special weapon

Fascinating, I just checked the codex and there is no mention of it. Only .. For every 5 models ... plasma pistol or flamer. I like Army Builder rules better

**BloodQuest**

I think we're talking Blood Angels.

Their codex (p.89) says for every five men, one can have a flamer, melta, hand flamer, plasma gun or pistol or infernus pistol.

**Joshh**

As to the tabletop legality, I don't much care at the moment. I probably won't ever play many games, I don't know anyone else that collects, and I'm not within 100 miles of a flgs. In the unlikely event that I do game, I just probably will field a regular assault squad.

These guys are just here to look cool and be fun to make. I'm really into 40k for the hobby and the fluff, and the possibility to game is just a side bonus.

On a more thread-related note, my minis are finished with assembly and I'll be painting them up tomorrow, stay tuned for lots of pretty pictures!

The pinning worked perfectly, thanks for the tips everyone, and I'm excited to finally be done with these guys (just in time to go back to college. c'est la vie.)