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Strewth, you should sell me one then you'd have a regulation battery if 3 *whistles nonchalantly*

They're looking great, is this part of the emplacement you're doing then?

Yeah, or I could just try and get another 2.

Yeah, they're for the artillery emplacement for the final stages of the campaign. Basically, i'm making soil embankments, roughly A4 sized, large enough for two tanks to fit in with a concrete loading bay/ramp inbetween them. I'll probably make 3 or 4 of them so that'd be enough space for 6 to 8 tanks.
I won't be attaching the basilisks to the emplacements so that it'd be possible for you to put your tanks in there instead for different scenarios later on.
Also, I kind of like the models. I've given them a paint scheme that shouldn't look too weird as either active or decommissioned tanks in either your or my guard armies.

Cool I look forward to seeing those emplacements.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm restarting this thread to cover my Marine army, I've be covering the stuff I have already completed (around 2k) and the stuff I'm adding/finishing (maybe another 3k).

I started this force when I got back into 40k (with the 4th edition Codex) to replace my ancient Rogue Trader era army. I still have most of my Rogue Trader force and I'll do some pics of them when I the chance. The force was then altered to fit with 5th and now again with 6th (though a much smaller adjustment) I'll show what I'm working on now as well as units I've already completed.

I'm having a difficult period (to say the least) in my life ATM but always find solace and rest in my toy soldier addiction but it will mean updates may be a bit spaced out.

Here's some pics...



This is my scheme for my Ultras, it's a bit different from the standard I'll go into detail on it later, here's what I'm completing ATM...

I thought a good place to start after not painting any Marines for 3-4 years would be finishing off my 3rd Tactical. After 8 man units were disincentivized in the 5th ed book I had to bulk up all my tacticals and this unit was the one Tacticals 1 & 2 were bulked up to 10 from, I got some replacement guys but never painted them, I scrapped the Sarge as I never liked him enough and decided to convert one..



Just a Black Reach guy with interesting helmet, I've chopped away the left (as we look) arm and will replace it with a pistol bearing one, I'll sculpt on some details to cover the lack of chest eagle and 'belt buckle'.



I dug out 2 BR buddies to round out the squad..



The special guys are ok painted from before and have been rebased already, I've just swapped out other units weapons if I want a Las/Plas Tactical but with the proliferation of MCs with a 2+ these guys deserve a completed squad of their own. The Lascannon is missing it's scope and big back pack as I wanted the Tactical variant to look lighter than the Dev version. The plas gunner is supposed to have burn marks on his arm to show emergency venting. He also has an honour marking on his knee and a wreath in his 'U' which he earned in the heat of battle against a friends Tau.



These guys joined the muster, the left one is a rebuild of an old model, the right the last remaining guy from the first unit I painted when I restarted this whole army in 4th ed, that squad was reundercoated and completed and I'll do pics soon(ish).



These 3 guys are from yesteryear but will be ok with just a rebasing (that's some classic RT basing right there) and a bolter drilling..





Ta Da, a bit less mid 90's now and will look fine in the back rank.



Undercoating..





*Skip to the end*



Completed!



The (minor) conversions on the Sarg look good I think..



All my Sarges get rank insignia.



The guy on the left is the repaint of the first marine unit I completed guy, the other a BR unit filler..



Another BR bloke and the rebuilt snapped in half bloke from above..

It was really nice to start doing my SM again even if it took quite a while to get back in the swing of my 'recipe', I decided after a long scrapping of my bitz barrel to do a further Tactical (No.4) as I had enough guys laying around I'd just have to recondition them a bit..More troops are always good and I wanted to practice a bit more before moving on to fancy units like Terminators and scratch built Sternguard.

I hope you liked this update and I hope my IG subscribers will give the SPHESS MAREENS a go, I've reasonably grand plans for this force, it will outstrip the IG in points, and I've just nabbed a lot of swag over Xmas and my birthday, this was always the army the IG were supposed to support.

Thanks for reading, let me know any thoughts,

Next time, more Tacks and my Thunderfire gets started...

SCHWAG!

Looking forward to seeing the push!

Thanks Bri! Hope you like em!

Here's some more of the same....



These are the salvage marines.



Sarge is mostly new, chainsword arm is off recently demoted sarge of the above completed squad. He is sporting a 'Grav Pistol' which I part ordered a few of. I like the idea of them as they have a similar damage output to a plasma pistol without all that embarrassing overheating nonsense.



The first one is the demoted sarge himself, the middle is mostly new parts I had spare, the last is an old reloading conversion (which was then dumped into paint scheme test model status) by my old housemate who gave me his SM when he defected to Tau (4th ed era). I got a bunch of guys who have been subsumed over the years.



I wanted to update my Devs who were armed with 2xML, HB & LC in 4th, then converted to 4xML in 5th (though I was doing it before all the cool kids) to 2xML, 2xLC, so I tried to get another LC off eBay, I eventually managed to get 2 guys with 2 nice old metal ones for the princely sum of £2. I put him into this group of models as I normally pant groups of 4-5 at a time. There are 3 more Black Reach guys, and another bits salvage from an unloved pile also another gift from my old housemate.



These are the specials I had already done from before, they had been supplanted from their squads but again are painted ok and will just need rebasing and maybe some heat damage to be passable.

This unit will put me over the half way mark to a battle company, I've always resisted the idea of getting one but I'm getting more tempted....

That's all for now, I've started my Thunderfire, so pics of that next time..

Hiya!

So I got sick of painting normal troopers...

I undercoated this puppy a bit before the wind went out of my sails with Marines and I shifted to Guard (like 3-4 years ago), so it's the lovely almost impossible to build and extremely heavy metal version.



I googled around (and checked the gallery here) for ideas on how to paint it, I didn't want to just do the 'normal' scheme. I found a nice one which was just metal with heat damage/dirt on the shooty end.



I drybrushed it black and then purple..



Then a layer of blue..



Then I redid the black for the barrel end and added some chipping too. I washed a very dilute brass in patches over the non muzzle end to give a little sparkly effect. The above pic is a bit washed out by the lighting sorry. I added several browns and that Stirland mud stuff to the tracks to weather them.



I really like the Techmarine but feel with the Servo Harness the model is somewhat lost. So I hit upon the idea of making it an independent creature. I laid it flat and added the targeter thingy off the top of the gun to the upbending cables as a head and boom, cool robot Johnny 5 lookeelikee.



The Techmarine got his arm raised to try to make him look like he's beckoning on his robot pal or a servitor. He'll get a standard servo arm back pack I've got laying around. That way I can run him as a normal Techmarine with or without servitor, I've got an old damaged one about the place, or as a Servo harness guy by adding the robot (which won't have a game role) or as a Thunderfire gunner (with his robot buddy).

Hope you like em, more on these guys soon. I hope to get to do some more pics soon, I'd like to do some shots of my RT stuff for the nostalgia..

TTFN

Here are the completed shots of the Thunderfire.



The launcher itself, as per usual having some trouble lighting the reflective areas...



I think the heat damage has come out well and can be seen a bit better in this shot..



The insignia shows the Heavy Support symbol and the number 3 for the 3rd company which this lot belong to.



The Techmarine...I did my own version of the machine cult symbol..



The servo arm has hazard stripes and a slung bolter..



Servo harness robot...more hazard stripes on lifter arm thingy..



Heat damage on flamer..



Techmarine beckoning on his pet robot who is looking for 'INPUT!!!'



I did a quick job on a servitor as well, I probably won't use him much but I had the model. His hand was missing so I replaced it with a couple of rods, it's supposed to look as if he can plug them into terminals... his metal areas are dirtier and less well maintained than his betters above, it's a servitors life...

I'm pleased with how they've come out. It's a great unit on the table top too, I used to like them with the 5th ed book and now they are better again. I used to love Thudd guns (and still have one) so now Thunderfires have barrage they are the proper successor to the old unit.

Hope you like it.

I'm about half way through Tack squad 4...



But I've just taken some pics of Tack 2 to showcase as well as the Rogue Trader version of the same unit..pics are in the gallery if you want spoliers, I'll post them up soon..

Wow, so weird to see many of your old marines getting a face lift. But what it does show is a stark contrast to how much your painting has improved and the style for the army has evolved over the (20?) years you've had them.

I was also just pondering how much I like the techmarine, perhaps if I did marines I could find a way to just have them (or the Mk 8 if FW pulls it's finger out!).

Send my regards to Librarian Eldritch! Fingers crossed I'll be able to see them in person in about 2-3 months.

I think this pic shows the difference in painting quite well...



The original RTB01 marines won't be getting a make over but some of the scrap heap stuff that's been kicking around has..as seen in the Tack squad I finished and the ones I'm doing ATM. I do try to keep some of the RT aesthetic (like helmet stripes etc) as I love that look. I'll post more pics of the 2 squads represented above when I get time, maybe tues, it's my first Tack squad from the RTB01 kit and the replacement I built (same classic load out of Flamer/Rocket launcher) in the 4th Ed rebuilding of my SM army.

I really like the Techmarine too, there are 2 with helmets and one without (I think) in this style..I also like MkVIII I think you can do a suit out of the new Tack kit as well as my fave, good old Mk VI (Space Wombles).

I've still got old Eldritch, I'll do some pics of my SM heroes eventually, some of them as even painted OK...keep me posted about coming over it'll be great to see you..

Yeah, that pic really does demonstrate the size difference, let alone the detailing in the mini. Most of those little unz will be too runty to convert, even if you swapped out the arms and legs.

Yes most RT SM stuff just doesn't stand up to the current range, I think you can still get away with some IG bits (as seen in my army already) though.

Here's those pics..

So this is the first Marine unit I completed, I think I would have been about 12-13..



I can still remember the sheer awe of opening the 'Imperial Space Marines' (or RTB01) box for the first time, so many sprues, so many possibilities. There was 30 guys in there so I decided to make Tactical, Devastator and Assault squads, I already had the Terminator box so with some random metal heroes this gave me a sizable Marine force by the standards of the time...



The squad was changed slightly when the 'Combat Squads' rule was released, I painted a tasteful yellow stripe onto the bolters of the 'forward' combat unit. The Sarge was a retcon, when 2nd Ed was released he came free with WD and I replaced the units sarge..as you can see the painting is better (LOL). I can still remember being proud of him.



Flamers were the only special to come in the kit. He has 'Flamin' Death' written on his shoulder back when Marines were less mannered..



The 'Support' Combat Squad. Sub units were led by Veterans hence the white hat, Sarges still wore white too, this was before the red helmets which I still don't subscribe to.



There is some slight improvement of painting and posing in general I think..



Pro conversions here. I like the idea of the Rocket Launcher guys having an ammo lugger/loader so made a little ammo pack with a wire handle. His bolter got a side loading mag and a grenade launcher too for some reason..

I'll do the pics of the contemporary version soon..hope you liked the blast from the past..

I need to get some pics of my RTB01 Ultras up on Dakka. Always nice to see other peoples. So much fun with that old box.

 Nevelon wrote:


I need to get some pics of my RTB01 Ultras up on Dakka. Always nice to see other peoples. So much fun with that old box.

Thanks, I'd love to see them, I've noticed your avatar before..I'll post up some more soon, probably my old dread next..

Here's the rebuild of that unit. It started out as a 8 man 4th ed build but was bumped up to 10 with 5th and the weapons were changed to the classic FL/RL..



It's a bit more accomplished than the original above..



Though has the same themes, here's the 'forward' squad (without yellow stripes on their bolters). They are posed as if they are charging forward, their leader points the way and exhorts them on. There is a Razorback (not pictured) these guys are supposed to be piling out of, I'll do pics sometime.



The Sarge has the nice bionic arm from the old Captain box and a Mk VI head as I love them, all my Sarges had them at one point, I've been forcing myself to add other Mks to spread it out a bit.



Flamer guy and (unfortunately) blurry buddy, no snappy slogans on this guys shoulder however..



Rocket Launcher and helper. The heavy has a side arm like in the original squad and the Mk VIII chest plate as it looks like blast protection against all those missile launches.



His helper is still hauling hauling ammo for him but not in a little carry case.

I hope you liked them. That's my 2nd completed Tack squad, I'll do some shots of No.1 soonish, they have no RT analogue unfortunately, I've found a little time to do some painting and have been slogging away at Tack No. 4



They should get done soon....not sure what to work on next either more infantry or a Cassius conversion I've been buying FW components off eBay for or my new Predator I want to convert..

More blast from the past stuff..



My lovely Dreadnought a Deredo class attack support machine.



He was an absolute arse to assemble. I remember dry fitting it all with blue tack at about the age of 13, you could keep about 30% together at any given point. I finally managed to get hold of some glue and I could see what it looked like finished. The markings on the bolters where straight out of the WD, I think each skull was 10 kills and each stripe a single one. There's a tiny white circle on the shoulder joint which has the bolter symbol on it, I drew the line a painting each bolter armed marine with one however.



It was a real big painting effort for me back then and I was very pleased at how it turned out. I went with the gnashing teeth look as did pretty much everyone else in the world.

I mostly used him in 2nd as Marine Dreads were awesome then but the original RT era vehicle rules were kind of a mess. You could use the rules to design one from scratch, everything was pointed. You could use Internal Combustion Engines of Fusion power plants, assign stats individually and add kit such as Power fields. There was a later crazily complex system for shooting at vehicles where you had a silhouette and a transparent targeter (that you had to make) you aimed it and then scattered. I did manage to get a print out onto acetate of the targeting grid thing but never managed to use it. Good times. Still not as complex as the Robot programs, my all time favourite RT rules..

I'll do some pics of my current Black Reach replacement soon!

You know... I've just hand an idea...

If you, like me, cannot stand centurions, you could get two more of these old classics, clean them and this old fellow up and, with some weapon swaps, hey presto, centurions that you don't want to vomit all over!

That's a good idea!!

Unfortunately the premise of Centurions also makes me want to vomit....

Wow, you have been busy.
Your marines look much bluer, vibrant and brighter in these pics than irl. Are they a good match to the existing guys or is it photo witchcraft?
Looks like you've got back into the swing of them anyway, break out the big stuff!

They are pretty much the same, I've not done any post production voodoo.

I want to do this next unit and then I'll pick an exciting project like the airforce or a special character..not sure what to do yet. I just finished Tack 4 which is nice, I'll do some shots eventually.

Cool, it'll be great to see them all together in that case.
Especially combined with the guard.

Combined with the IG my forces are over 10k now....*evil laughter*

Quick update to show my new version of a Dread...



Completed towards the end of my last SM phase, here's my slightly converted (obligatory) Black Reach Dread...I added a top icon off the Terminator sprue (I think). I also hilariously misspelled 'ULTRA' on his leg scroll (transposed the L & T) and had to repaint in the cold light of day.



I changed over the skull and crossbones icon on the hull to a more xenosy skull with a sword through it, the logo of the 3rd Company. I didn't think much of the MM armament originally but it keeps the points down and has proven useful in the past...the ability to pop a transport (even Land Raiders or Battlewagons) and then charge the occupants can be devastating.



I converted a Heavy Flamer on as it's a good match for the 'up close and personal' MM. It's a Terminator version and the tubing it from the Dreads arm just cut and repositioned.

Hope you like. I'll do some more RT nostalgia mode next, my Devs and then the currant replacements. More soon.

 RandyMcStab wrote:

Combined with the IG my forces are over 10k now....*pseudo-monastic chanting and whimpers of pure terror*.

Fixed.

The whimpers of terror will be all yours when I roll out my 10k of wargasm backed up with 15-27 Imperial Knights hahahahahaahhhahhahaha



So I decided to stop fighting it and just collect a full battle company.

I always said I wouldn't, who really needs 6 Tacticals?, where am I going to store it?, how many games of Apoc can I really do? But now I'm over half way I just can't resist it. The current Battle Company doesn't require you to have a stupid number of Rhinos which helps too.

So it requires:

Captain - Done
Command Squad - Done but will need to add in a Standard Bearer.
Chaplain - Done

6 Tacticals - 4 are complete, with some further bitz box delving I've salvaged these..




I've ordered a pile of bitz off of 'BitzBox' who are great to help make them up as I'm out of arms etc, I also got a big banner..

I've been offered some Plug in Marines from Dark Vengeance etc which will mean I can boost up this lot to Tack No.5 and eventually buy the new Tack kit to make No.6.

2 Devastators - 1 Done, I painted up 2 extra RL to convert my old Devs into a 4 x RL squad...




With these 2 Lascannons off ebay and some other guys..



Black Reach Sarge with Auspex and Signum



Shouting Rocket loader..

I'll just need a add a few more to make another complete squad of 10.

2 Assault - 1 Done, I'll need to get another 10 of these guys..

3 Dreads - 1 Done (see above) I own another and a Contemptor which will need doing...

I have 3 Rhinos done (and another couple of RT era ones) already and I don't plan on any more.

So it's not a huge amount to do (fooling self, hard) really.

This lot comes in around 3k, I've got about another 3k of support stuff as well, some complete, some on sprues, (I'll do a mad loot shoot soon) there's 1st Company guys, 10th Company guys, Air and Armour.....

More soon..

There is nothing quite like having a full battle company on the shelf. I’ve claimed to have one for years, but it was with one of the assault squads on bikes/speeders, so not “official” with the apocalypse formation. I’m currently banging out the last squad of assault marines with jump packs (magnetized even) to fill out the formation.

I’ll give you that the extra tac squads just collect dust. If you are smarter then I am, mix up their shelf deployment wargear. Most of mine are ML/F squads, with the one exception being the 5th squad, which is my MM/M squad. When I need a third tac squad, I just grab the 2nd squad and swap in some spares from the extras shelf. If I had a designated plasma squad, or some lascannons permanently assigned to a tactical squad, then those squads would get the nod when I needed their weapons on the table.

It didn’t help that until recently squads 3 and 6 were 2nd edition “I love my bolter” marines and I really needed to want to put boots on the table for them to see action. Standing at attention like that does look good on the shelf though. Recently squad 6 was replaced with slightly more interesting Battle of Macragge push-fits.

Once you have a full company you can make all sorts of list from it. Particularly if you spice it up with some 1st and 10th marines. It’s a good goal and collection to strive for.

Yeah I'm quite excited actually at getting them all done, it'll be great to have them all staring back at me.

I had the idea of equipping the Tacks for differing ranges/roles, so 2 short ranged (MG and HB and FL - MM), 2 mid (FL - RL and I'm thinking maybe Grav Gun - HB) 2 long (PG - RL, PG - LC). I've got a Spare PF and PW sarges I can swap in to whichever squad needs it. The MG-HB unit or Tack 1 is yet to be photo'd but is the first unit I completed in the 4th Ed era and as such had to be entirely repainted so it looks good now, they normally get a PF and I'll maybe do one more.

I'm sure most people wouldn't mind you deploying an Assault squad as bikers..

The BfM plug in guys are good but the Black Reach ones are slightly nicer and still about on eBay, I've got ten mixed throughout this force and will add about another 10 of plug ins to help make up the 100.

I don't think that the grav guns are a good idea.
Found you some black reach marines too
Call/text for a good time.

Just because they're rubbish doesn't mean its a bad idea, it'd only be one Grav gun....I'll be in touch about meeting up, thanks again.

I only said that because I'm a bit scared of them.
The mcs wouldnt enjoy them one bit.

If you are just planning on camping out, a grav gun on foot is not terrible, but they really want to be on bikes. I think plasma is still the way to go for mobile non-relentless squads.

Alex Kolodotschko wrote:I only said that because I'm a bit scared of them.
The mcs wouldnt enjoy them one bit.

They're kind of similar to Plasmas in threat output, shorter range and no chance of self immolation however. If you can stand still they do have the potential to outperform Plas..

Nevelon wrote:If you are just planning on camping out, a grav gun on foot is not terrible, but they really want to be on bikes. I think plasma is still the way to go for mobile non-relentless squads.

I, personally, don't do bikes, I'm fine with other people doing it, I just don't roll that way. I'm going to have 2 Tacks with Plas, the one with Grav is for the novelty really. I'm annoyed you can't give Gravs to Terminators, they're not even on the list of Termi Combi Weps. I'd love to give Termies a Grav Cannon but alas they are the sole preserve of Termitubbies, bah. I'm still not buying Centurions GW!






Automatically Appended Next Post:
Seeing as I'm here..



Tack squad 4, they are numbered as 3 but I'm naming them in order of completion, this is one of my short ranged units designed to deal with Tyranids and my mates Blood Angles. Flamers are cheap and great against chaff GEQ units obviously but I've had a lot of joy against MEQ too as you can force a lot of saves (you also can't miss which is a plus). Flamers are also good at overwatch. The Grav Pistol and MM are both good against MCs or heavy infantry and can crack even a Tyrranofex or Riptide (not that they'll ever get that close to a Riptide) the MM (and actually the GP, on a 6) can handle a Land Raider. Bolters work on most things..



Kit in question, these guys were from my previous expansion of this force in 5th ed. I've rebased them and added heat damage to the weps..they both have targetter heads as all my heavys and most specials do. The flamer wouldn't really need one but the guy was originally armed with a PG which he lost in the 5th ed reorganisation, yay for free flamers!



These guys were both rescued from my bits box in a sorry state but look pretty good I think. The whole unit has battle damaged armour as they're the 'up close and personal unit' the other short ranged unit (not yet photograped, Tack 1) does too.



The unit is about 3 new(ish) guys, 3 Black Reach space fillers and the rest salvage jobs. I like how it's come out over all. I do like Tack squads and I like that with UM Chapter Tactics they can really perform well (as it should be).

Hope you like, more to come!




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Edit: forgot Sarge



Looks slightly like he's falling over fro this angle. White helmet to denote his veterancy and Sarge bars on his shoulder.