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Those Sternguard look gorgeous! Really well done.

Top quality as ever Zam. Now for the questions:

Who/what is next?
How many points worth of Fists have you got painted up?
And any chance of a group shot soon?

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

@Para: I'll see what a black background looks like for these guys, next. I have a few lamps I should use, but the bulbs bust and I've taken ages to get around to replacing them. As soon as I've replaced them, I should be able to take nicer pics and not have to wait for the "perfect" hour and a half when the light is just right in my room

@San: Cheers fella! Red cloth is the easiest thing to do, imo! Was a little worried that the grey drybrushing would take something away from it, but I turned out alright, imo.

@Nev: So close to 3k... When I've crept over the 3k mark (17 points to go...), I'll get everything out for a whole army picture. And I'll look into close up pictures for the sternguard when I get some time to photograph minis next - likely the weekend.

@Kitten: Thanks dude! I sort of ran out of steam half way through them, but they turned out well.

@Thraxas: Cheers mate! I have a box of Tactical Marines and the Master of the Marches model waiting. I have no inherent 'like' for the MotM model, but he is the 5th company captain... And the Tacticals are going to help me make a Demi Company. I might hold back 5 tacticals for next month's painting comp - I read somewhere the theme is Space Marines to mark a year of the comp. I have a hair under 3000 points (2983) - army picture when I'm over 3k...

Hey guys, It's update time again!

I have built and primed half of the tactical sqaud. I'm not sure if I want to keep the other half for next month's Space Marines themed painting comp. Or if I just want to get them done and paint something else for that comp... We'll see how quickly I get through these guys.



Also, some progress on my comp entry. But I've hit a wall... I want to go with a preheresy death guard colour armour. But it just doesn't look right, imo. Thoughts?






And my creativity completly dried up when it came to the base, so I bought one...


Thoughts?
Z

I think maybe a colder armour colour, more toward blue/grey than yellow/brown, might do the trick. I know that's more World Eaters than Death Guard, but without anyone to compare it to in an army (unless you have a PH DG army planned!) you should be able to get away with it.

Morning guys,

Been working away on the 5 tacticals... I've done all the base colours and washed, just a matter of decal, weather then details.
I must say, I do quite like how the dark yellow looks after the wash.



I'm going to crank out the next 5 when I'm done with these, too. I've decided on getting a Command Squad and more Sternguard after - gives me options for next month's painting comp.
I'm thinking about buying them from the GW website. The total is £50.50, which is 0.50 over what gets me an entry into their comp, but I'm rethinking as I might buy stuff only available on their website to qualify for the comp and get the Marines elsewhere... I'll just have to see what is webstore exclusive and how close I can get it to £50.


@Para: lol, no Heresy armies planned... I'd be doing Fists if anything I'll give it a shot on The Big Guy, see what happens...

Z

They look very nice.

Tacs are looking good. Fun to see them before they get sent through the meat grinder.

While I do like the command squad box, it’s getting really old. Some of the detail is soft, and the mold lines are kinda bad. It probably needs to be re-cut. Also you have easy access to FW parts. Some the of banners/champions/apothecaries they do are just stunning. If you are feeling lucky enough to try for GW’s sweepstakes, I'd focus on the web exclusives. You often get less of a discount at your FLGS for them, so you don’t loose as much money. (That depends a lot on your local set up)

The command squad box has a ton of cool bits in it. I think I ended up getting 3 of them myself for assorted reasons. If you want one, get it.

How’s the giant demon doing? Pick a color for his armor?

Tacticals are coming along nicely. The plastic Sternguard are such beautiful models.

Thanks everyone!
After a bout of sickness, I'm back with the tacticals.

Here is the first 5, finished and awaiting bases:


And I have built the next 5




I'm using the Anvil Industries heavy bolter again. Such a sweet piece!
I've glued the grit to the bases, and I just need to crack out the airbrush to paint them.

@Nev: I agree, the command box is very "soft" on details. I'll have plenty left over from the sternguard box (and not to mention my extensive bitz box) to hopefully make them a bit more eye catching. Not to mention, I ordered some Anvil Industries bits for them, too! Gluttony has made his way to the back of the paint desk... I stalled on painting his armour and now I can't bring myself back to him. I'll give myself a little while before I try again - will most likely miss the deadline for the comp :(

Z

Squad is shaping up nicely!

Those Tactical Marines are looking gorgeous! Real nice work

Top work as ever, those Anvil Industry heavy bolters are cool. I have been meaning to pick up some of their own sci fi range miniatures for a while now.

Thanks guys!

Got another WiP of them:


Aiming to finish them today or tomorrow. Either way, next opportunity for pictures will be Thursday. Then you'll get the full any pictures, too

That's it, for now - Just a quick one.
More thursday
Z

Awesome. The Sterngaurd on the previous page look great and the tac marines are coming along nicely. Nice use of that alt heavy bolter.

EDC

It seems I've missed a lot since I last checked in. Vindicators, Drop Pods, Tacticals and more. Congrats on Conquest, 4th Place in the tourney and amassing 3000 points of Dorn's Finest. Can't wait to see more.

Sick Tacs man, always been a sucker for well painted yellow. You'll love the Sternguard, chock full of fine details everywhere. It's like painting 5 HQs.

Looking good, should be an awesome squad when they're all done!

Hey guys,

@EDC: Thanks man! Too much power armour, recently... might have to do some armour next..?
@Adamski: Wow, really has been a long time since you've checked in... You had a lot of good stuff to catch up on!
@Warboss: Yeah, the sternguard really are great models. So much detail!
@Para: Thanks fella!

As promised, here is the update. (Hold onto your hat...)













I love the size of my army. I feel that I now have such a choice of models when playing a 1500 point game. And next time they head down to the LGS, I'll be running a Demi-Company for sure!
I have a lot of "guys". Which isn't a bad thing, but I want to get some big "feth-off" units to act as centre piece models. I have a few more things to work through before I look into buying more, though.

I have Sternguard and a Command Squad in boxes waiting. I also stripped my White Scars Storm Talons (I know, I know). I'm going to a tourny next month and I want an IF ST... I also need to buy an Attack Bike for said tourney, too. Plus, I want to strip the Rhino I have for my Scars, buy a second and paint them both. That is pretty much the next few months of work for my Fists.

Oh, and also a squad of my Dark Elves have crept onto my desk... I'm batch painting 30 of them. I'll take pictures when they're ready. It might be a while, lol.

I'll leave it at that... for now...
Z

Awesome stuff! If you want something big and imposing and have the cash spare, a Leviathan Dreadnought from FW would certainly do the job, complement you existing Dreads (in my opinion, the best models in the force) nicely.

Try no to scavenge too much from your Scars. You did a very nice job on them, and in the long run you might want to be swap between the armies to keep things fresh. I could understand stealing the “Fist-y” things like the TFCs and dread, but the Talon? And scars not on bikes need something to get around in, so try not to steal that rhino if you can help it!

Your Fists look amazing. You’ve put together a good sized army, painted, weathered, and with stuff to swap around for options. The points always creep up on you. A unit here, an unit there, and BAMF! you’f got over 3k on the table. And shockingly, most of yours is playable. A huge percentage of the points in my collection is sunk into HQs, and even with formations etc. there is a limit to how many you can get into a list.

How are you progressing for auxiliary formations? So you can leverage your company into a Gladius. I see a 1st company TF, but that’s it right now. If you are planning on getting rhinos, I might look into whirlwinds instead. One would let you take the armored TF, two the suppression force. And when not needed for that, a quick hatch swap would let you mech up your tacs.

Incredibly well painted army. Your weathering is spot on. And you have mastered yellow, a feat in and off itself.

I have just read all 28 pages of this blog in 2 half days at work, though if im honest I skimmed the IG and Eldar. The 2 SM armies are amazing though, especially the Fists. I have never really liked weathering before but you have singlehandedly made me consider if thats still true.
Fantastic work!

The army is so gritty and well painted I love it! Great collection Zambro.

What an army, truly excellent consistency and quality Zambro...an army to be proud of.

Group shot looks great, amazing how army's just grow and you don't realize it until you do take group shots. The sterngaurd were a very nice addition! Still love your weathering techniques but I am not that bold yet to try to sponge apply it like you, that being said it leaves such a unique look that I envy.

Hey all, thanks so much for the kind words!!

@Para: Yeah, my favourite models in the collection are the LotD and the Ven Dread. Another dread would be awesome, but if anything it would be a Contemptor Mortis with 2 Kheres Patters Assault Cannons. Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!

@Nev: A little ways out on most of the formations, unfortunately. I have a Demi-Company, and could do a 1st comp task force, but thats about it. I quite like the flexibility of a CAD, but maybe I should look into a formation to build towards. As re: the White Scars... a necessary evil, I'm afraid. They've been stripped and I'm half way through their repaint (stalled by the fact that I have no IF decals because GW changed the decal sheets to Ultra's only *shakes fist* - ebay order placed). I need it for a tournament, and want to put full IFs down. And if I was redoing 1, I might as well redo the other at the same time. Not touched the Rhino yet...

@Azalle: Thanks man! The yellow I do is easier than it looks...

@JALO: Thanks man, welcome to the blog! The only way to do Imperial Fists is with a health amount of wear on them. Stick around for more!

@WarbossDakka: Thanks dude! I'm not done yet...

@Thraxas: Thanks! I love the consistency too (Except that 1 DP that is a slightly different shade of yellow...). It really holds the army together!!

@SpaceWolverine: Thanks! I've got a few things to work on at the minute. After they're done it'll probably be about a 500 point jump up... The only way is up! You should definately give the sponge method a try. It is literally as easy as dabbing the mini with a sponge - really hard to mess up!


Been quite busy the past 4/5 days. Not really done much.
I have stripped the 2 White Scars STs...


I've base coloured them. Will take another picture when the decals are on.

I've also made a start on The Master of the Marches.


The 5th company needs it's leader... [Even if I dont want it...]
I've magnetised the silly baby-scroll, so I can pop it off to travel with and if something gets into base-to-base it's not in the way.
I'll try to bash this guy out relatively quickly. I'm going to enter him for the monthly comp, because I'm doubting I'll be able to get around to the command squad soon.

At the FLGS today, I'm going to pick up the attack bike. Once that and the ST is done, I'll be ready for early April's tournament.

Z

I've always liked that model, nice to see a SM Commander in a more regal and commanding pose. Same reason I love the new SW Ulrik (but not the price tag!).

I think I have a ton of IF decals (the Chapter symbol ones that used to be on the old multi-Chapter transfer sheet, didn't realise they'd changed it) lying around at home, if you still need some when I'm home in a couple of weeks let me know, you can have them for the cost of postage as I don't use transfers myself.

I have a ton of decals as well. Wish you were stateside. I really do like the Master of Marches. He will be stunning when you are finished.

Poor Stormtalons, how do the wires hold up or are you just going to glue them in place?

How did the stripping affect the pilots/cockpits? It looks like there is still some red in there. You going to have to crack them open and pull off WS shoulderpads?

The captain looks to be off to a good start. I like that round of captains they came out with. The issues I have with them are a) Finecast, b) Silly cherubs, and c) WYSWYG. What are the stats on a pimp cane anyway? Probably a power maul.