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I've recently decided to make an actual list for a few of my 150 or so battle brothers (in various stages of completion, none painted though). This is just to get me started playing the game, and will be used against Emperor knows who. I do believe that the main forces listed at my FLGS are a few Tau, some SM, DA, and a Genestealer Cult.

Star Paladins 505pts
Chapter Tactics- Imperial Fists

HQ 100pts
Captain- Chainsword, Combi-Plasma

Elites- 140pts
Venerable Dreadnought- Twin Linked Lascannon, Powerfist w/ Storm Bolter

Troops- 265pts
Tactical Squad
Veteran Sergeant- Bolt Pistol, Chainsword, Melta Bombs
Space Marine- Melta Gun
Space Marine
Space Marine
Space Marine
Drop Pod

Tactical Squad
Veteran Sergeant- Bolt Pistol, Chainsword, Melta Bombs
Space Marine- Missile Launcher
Space Marine
Space Marine
Space Marine
Rhino


That's my 500 (+5) point list. It's not really meant to be a competitive list, just enough of something to help me learn how to play the game. Any comments and criticisms are welcome.
As far as the first tac squad with the melta, I originally had a flamer as the special weapon, but I decided to go with the melta as I didn't think I would need something for hordes with a points limit this small.

Okay so let's break it down in it's current state:
Venerable Dreadnought - offers ranged anti-tank (a twin-linked lascannon should be just fine at 500 points), perhaps not the most points efficient thing ever, but it'll do its job just fine.
First Tactical Squad: Meltagun in a Drop Pod. Tried and true anti-tank/MC.
Second Tactical Squad: Missile Launcher is often turned away by competitive players, but I like it for it's easy multi-role use.
Captain: Um, he seems a touch odd, more on him below.

My first criticism is that your Captain has no upgrade for melee. While he is good at shooting he's best suited to combat, so I'd recommend dropping the Combi-Weapon in favour of a Power Sword, which should give him enough punch to take other characters at this points level. Secondly are the Melta Bombs, are you expecting to get charged by Dreadnoughts or similar? The Meltagun should do you fine, and if it doesn't kill it you could always focus fire with the Dreadnought too. And the Missile Launcher squad will probably stay at decent range, right? I see why you take them, but I just think you'd be better off dropping them to get the Power Weapon and be able to hit 500 points on the nose.

Sorry if it sounded like I was kind of slating your list, it does overall look good but those were just a few things I'd change. Anyway, hope that helped and good luck!

I’m agree with pretty much everything TheManWithNoPlan said above me.

500 point lists are rough. Never enough points to do everything you want.

I might go with a lower cost HQ. Librarian would be best, but a chaplain could work as well. Captains are great, but need to be geared up to reach their potential. Artificer armor and a power weapon minimum.

The dread is fine. One thing to consider would be giving him one of the close in arms (AsC, MM) and putting him in the pod.

The melta squad could use a combi on the sarge. Drop the melta bombs to pay for it if you have to. Remember you miss 1/3 of the time. So that squad’s going to drop into position, line up the shot, and fail a third of the time. Barring other buffs. Generally you want 4ish melta shots to ensure a kill. But getting 2 would make it a lot more likely.

Not a huge fan of MLs, but they are a jack-of-all-trades weapon, which is nice for low points. And probably the only heavy you have. What you could do is sit these guys back to camp objectives by shuffling all the transports up. Dread gets the pod, metla tacs get the rhino, these guy get a nice bit of ruins and an objective to camp. It’s a job better served by scouts, but I’m guessing you cut a 10 man tac squad in half to fill your troop picks.

Depending how friendly your store is, I’d drop a melta bomb to get to 500 even. Some places write lists including flex points, but that’s very dependent on you local group.

As you expand think of what you want out of your list. Not just for units, but upgrades. Magnets can help with the second, but you don’t want a bunch of stuff just riding the shelf as points go up. The only thing in your list that would be bad later on is the bare-bones captain. It’s not a good idea to field him like that at low points, and almost criminal at higher ones. He could be demoted to a sarge in a tac squad or a sternguard, if you’ve already built him. Or cut the chainsword off and replace with a relic blade.

Very helpful, TheManwithNoPlan and Nevelon! I do happen to have a Chaplain that I can see about getting doing something with. I do see why I would want to drop the melta bomb for the squad with the missile launcher, and I will do so. The Captain was sort of something I just threw together to fill the HQ slot, but I can definitely replace his weapons with little to no trouble (I change my mind a lot so I use glue that doesn't permanently bond the plastic)