Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I have to say I personally prefer the marine in the centre. For me the highlights are more subtle and natural. The third scheme would work I think but you should drop the extreme highlight of pure sw grey.

Hi again!

I'm finally starting to get settled after a summer of work and after the first week at the university. I've been quite busy so this post will be focused on what to come rather than what I've done and will exclusively be about my Crimson Fists and what RT SMs I managed to get my hands on this far and my plans for these minis. If anyone wonder why I've started this project instead of focusing on my SWs (which by no means is a dead project) there are mainly three reasons. One: every time I look at the cover to the 2nd ed rulebook (which happens quite often) I get an urge to have an all beaky CF army; two: after seeing other RT-projects I realized how cool the old minis were; three: it's a way for me to learn how to paint space marines (I have set the standards pretty high for my SWs, well on a lever that's beyond my set of skillz atm anyway). So for those who are waiting to see some SWs, just be patient !

monkeytroll - Thanks, its nice to be back! Yeah, the middle guy would probably fit in quite nicely, but I'll see as I start to paint his squad.

Lennysmash - Thanks for your input, I will drop the extreme highlight as an experiment!

So, back to the subject of the day. I'll probably got minis enough for three full tac sqads or two Tac squads and one squad of Sternguards plus a squad of 5 Scouts. The tac squads will be equipped with ML/F/PF, the sternguards will get 4xcombi melta (working on those)/1xHVY Flamer (have some ideas) and the scouts will get 4xSR/1xML. I have no idea about the SGs really but from what I've heard that's how they "should" be equipped. To do this I will have to produce at least three Flamers, four Sniper Rifles, four Combi Meltas and a HVY Flamer. I got some ideas for some of the weapons and have started realizing a couple of them as you will see and I would be glad for some feedback about them!

That's just the infantry but as for the rest I'll let the pictures speak for themselves (mostly...).

Tac sqd. 1, lacking flamer-marine. The marine holding the ML is originally meant to sit on a vehicle but is now getting other duties.


Majority of tac sqd. 2, the devastator (far right second row) will be converted so that I can fit one of those plastic RT ML on his shoulder, the guy with the hand flamer (far right, first row) will get a proper flamer (and will get a pointing hand instead of the hand flamer).


These are alternate sgts if I decide to drop the power fists.


Two members from my Sternguards.


Another 17 (I believe) marines !


First attempt at a RT Combi melta, I'm already getting second thoughts, maybe I should have put the melta-part over the bolter-part (like the current version of the combi melta)? What do you guys think?


My scouts, four of them will all be converted to hold one of those sniper rifles which the guy in the center got blu-tacked to his chest (which very much is a WIP). The ML will be one from Space Crusade mainly because it wold be the easiest RT-eraish ML version to convert so it fits one of these scouts.


My HQ-choices this far, In my 500pts list I'll use the Librarian (I got the Chaplain mostly because I thought it looked cool)


My predator which is getting an overhaul (since the last owner hadn't done such a good job at assembling it I had to take it apart, the paint will be removed any day). I'll magnetize the side sponsons and will make another set with HVY Bolters


Last pic for the day, another vehicle getting an overhaul (have also been taken apart), I'm missing one of the twin-lascannons though so anyone having one for sale please let me know , this will eventually take a load of CC-termies to the enemy (will just have to get some more termies).


Comments and critique are more than welcome as usual!!!

c0un7_z3r0 I have a small collection of RT pieces. If you want, send me a PM and I'll send them over to you. Its mostly just extra backpacks, arms and a few pieces for the MK1 Rhino variants but there are also a few of the old Space crusade scouts which I'm sure you could convert. One even has the scout HB.

Let me know if you want them.

Oh and curse you for having a MK1 Raider, so jealous.

Oh boy, what a nice bunch of old-skool marines. I particularly like the original minis with the funky boots and knee-pads, have a soft spot for those. Nice pile of RTB-01 bits too, I think I can make another 2 marines out of my original sprues (well, the second lot I bought, the first lot got built up the same day )

The space wolves are awesome ! Makes me want to rock mine again.

Hi!

Lennysmash - Hehe, I always cursed myself for not buying one before they got OOP, which is one reason why I haven't used Landraiders much in recent years (yeah... that might be an odd reason)...

monkeytroll - Yeah, I'm quite happy myself, there is still a couple of minis out there that I'd like to get my hands on but I guess my desire is saturated (is that the right word?) for the time being!

Mandrake WK - Thanks, there is always room for more SW-WIP blogs so get those puppies rockin'!

I've altered my palette a little bit after some advice from Lennysmash, thanks mate, and would like to hear some opinions. The two grunts are painted using the same palette which basically is the same as the sgts but without the extreme highlight with space wolves gray. I should probably say that there is still some work to do on these lads, finishing the skin, highlights on pouches, bolters, the red glove (apart from adding a backpack and do some basing). But thoughts and ideas about what to do better or so would also be appreciated, (like should I add a red stripe on the helmets(?) and such stuff). Don't be shy I can take criticism !

I have a pair of lascannons from the old predator set that look to be the same as the ones for the landraider, although I can't be certain.

I love these guys. I'm using as many of my old 2nd edition models in my Crimson Fists army and had bags and bags of RTB01 marines that went missing at some point that I still agonize over not having now that I'm rebuilding my marine force.

Your color scheme looks almost identical to mine, but cleaner. Just a sugggestion, but make your sergeant's laurels green to add a bit of balance to the red fist. Also, you might want to try using Badab Black to line the power fist, adding a little definition. I know from painting these guys myself that the detail is very fine and gets obscured easily, requiring a little more contrast and definition to bring it out.

Keep it up!


Edit: Do you have a copy of Rogue Trader? There's a centerplate illustration showing the various heraldry of the Space Marines of the time. If you're following a RT theme, I'd use it's giudelines for what goes on the helmets. After all, you've got the bolter marking on their pauldron, right?

Gavin Thorne - Yes, the Landraider side sponsons basically constitutes of two Predator-lascannons where one is mounted on top of the other, so I would say your'e right. Those lascannons of yours doesn't happen to be an abundant part of your collection do they ?

I actually believe that I stumbled upon your CF p&m blog, great work btw, as I searched for inspiration to my paint scheme (which might explain some of the similarities). I think that I might try badab black, the fists are currently washed with Gryphonne Sepia which isn't doing much for underlining the details I suppose. But do you highlight the fists after washing them or do you just leave them as they are?

I unfortunately do not have a copy if Rogue Trader, I haven't come over any reasonable priced copy yet especially since I've focused on buying minis this far. But the marking on their pauldron is meant to be a Tac sqd insignia, I just copied it from the cover of the 2nd ed rule book (I found a similar tac insignia in an article at bolter and chainsword and thought "what the heck").

Really digging the deep blues you have going on there count!

How did you get your hands on the old RT models?

Yes, they are spares and you're welcome to them. PM me and we'll work out a deal.

I do highlight the red after the badab black wash, usually Blood Red with blazing orange highlights.

I scanned the page I was referring to for you and it's in my gallery. I'm not sure it's 'kosher' to do this, but if it's not allowed for any reason please let me know and I'll take it down immediately.

Page 1 and Page 2.

Looks like the symbol on your pauldrons is not the bolter symbol I thought it was, but there's still room for it there.

I'd definitely use the old scheme for helmet stripes, maybe even rank badges under the chapter badge.

Knightley - Thanks man! Ebay is my no. 1 source of RT minis, they aren't that expensive and if you check in regularly it's possible to do some real bargains!

Gavin Thorne - I'll try that, I really like the way you paint the red on your CF, just have to get me some badab black! Thanks for the scan btw, it was really interesting, I'll see how I'll do with the insignia. My first thought was to not paint any chapter symbols on the pauldrons since the marines on the RT/2nd ed rule book doesn't got any, but now I'm getting second thoughts. It might not be my top priority however.

There haven't been much painting lately, quite the opposite actually! I've tested the "oven cleaner approach" to paint removal on plastics, with mixed result I might add. I used Mr Muscle and first out was the rhino (which I bought on ebay last year). I just covered it with oven cleaner, waited 20-30 min, scrubbed it with a toothbrush and the paint came off quite easily (it does however need another spray as you can see). Under all the paint I unfortunately discovered that whomever assembled it had used an abundance of glue (which you also might see (red circles)) so there is still many hours of work there before I can even think of just priming it !

The predator however, which got the same treatment (some parts even bathed for at least 6h in that poison!), must have been painted in some wicked color since I had to scrub it pretty hard with a scotch brite before the paint started to come off. But even after some intense scrubbing there were still much paint left (that couldn't be reached with the scotch brite), which had to be scraped or filed off using a wide range of tools. I also had to take it apart, even more than I already had done, in order to get to all the paint. It's now being assembled again as you can see and all this, perhaps needless to say, this took me some time (which I could have spent painting ).

Well, maybe there will be more painting 'til next time!

Nothing a little fine grit sand paper and an evening in front of reruns can't fix. I'm a little forgiving with older, pre-owned models since you never know who had them before or what was done with them.

One thing I've noticed is that the older plastics are actually stained with paint pigments and no matter what you use or how hard you scrub it's not going to come off. When you find those stains, just prime over them. The little bit of color left isn't going to show through the primer.

I'm glad you've had good results with oven cleaner. The stuff we have over here tends to melt plastics or cause pitting to develop. I use driveway degreaser (industrial strength detergent) or a product called Simple Green (biodegradeable cleanser) to soak them overnight or a few days or weeks until I get around to scrubbing them. Everything goes in a plastic bin with a lid and sits under the kitchen sink and I just pull the models I want to clean out and put new models in. Stays good for months.

Gavin Thorne - Yeah, there will be lots of fixing with fine grit sandpaper it seems. The Predator is almost good to go but the rhino will have to go through an extensive overhaul it seems. The exhaust pipes must be replaced as well as the headlights and so on. But then again, it's quite enjoyable to fix things up after all! I don't think we got Simple green here in Sweden, but I've used a product called T-Röd (T-Red) which is alcohol basically, and it was OK. But Mr Muscle is the best this far.

Ok so there will be a small update today and I would also like your opinion about a mini! I've finished the armor on three more marines and will soon be off to my LFGS to buy some Badab Black so that I can do their red gauntlets properly!

So here we have the three fellas, as you can see the unfortunate chap at the far left, who's carefully aiming his bolt pistol, have been taking some pounding from enemy fire (right shoulder and lower right leg) and I would like some suggestions about how to paint those battle damage? Any ideas are welcome as well as ideas and pointers about my work in general!


And here is a group shot of those in the squad who got their armor finished (well the foundation, so to speak, any way) this far!

Boltgun metal would be the obvious choice, maybe washed with ogyn flesh wash for a rusty effect. I don't know how that would look against the metal studs though.

Maybe a grey instead, perhaps using a salt weathering technique to get some flaking around the damage?

They look very good C0un7, more crimson fist to the people.

It's been a while since I gave this thread any love and I can't see myself give it much more antime soon either. I've done a whole lot though, I'm almost done with some 30+ of my Chrimson Fists, bought and stripped/restored a wole lot of RT-stuff and so on. With my main computer being dead I'll have to wait until I can afford a new one before I'll do any more picture-updates though (my current computer is an early netbook with which turns any form of graphic work into a total nighmare ).

But that's not what this post were ment to be about. The reason for this post is the new thunderwolf cavalry. I planned on using the wolfpack from Masq Minis but after seeing GWs TWC I got second thoughts...

So I have a question to all you out there "which wolves would you use and why"? Here are the alternatives Masq Mini wolfpack and GW TWC. Price or amount of conversions needed are no issues.

Any thoughts are welcome!