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alright, just got my dark vengeance kit and plan on using the dark angels for my codex marines. only as most people know, the icons are everywhere on those guys.

I just wanted to know how to bypass/make them fit in with my other soldiers. is there any way to make them not stand out so much? (color schemes for my iron knights:

)

also plan on taking at least four guys and make them into sternguard also, but the only difference is that they have a white helmet.
any tips?

A sharp hobby knife and the will to use it.

besides that?

Files maybe?

The normal marines shouldn't be too bad to de-iconography.

I wouldn't really even try with the terminators since they are loaded with it, same for the special characters.

At least they didn't give all the tacticals robes, so thank goodness for small blessings I guess.

dont have a file. is there anyway to hide it with paints?

No as the iconography is raised, there is pretty much no other way to deal with them besides the removal of this. Well you could green stuff over them but then there would be bumps every where so yes, exacto knife is this best method and files will work well given that there's enough space to fit them in properly.

Cheers,
Servania

You can avoid actively calling attention to the icons with paint, but they're going to be noticeable unless you physically remove them. It's hard to imagine a modeler without a file, honestly, so I'd first suggest getting at least one (half-round being the single most flexible shape, I'd argue, and I recommend quality single-cut metal files over diamond grit ones) and putting it to the task. Barring that, a knife and/or sandpaper would also do the trick. Like it or not, they won't disappear unless you actually remove them.

Saw off the pad and put on a regular blank one?

It doesn't look that hard to me. I haven't removed mine but just cleaning the mold lines off I noticed that the details are pretty shallow so it doesn't take much to scrap them off.

It should actually be pretty easy since they're mostly just about 1-2mm raised, especially if you wanna go with a rimless shoulder pad.

I actually never tried doing it and afraid I'll reck it.

In some cases you can cover small icons, e.g. with a ammo case or purity seal. That would be difficult with entire shoulder pads though...

Swapping them for generic marine models would actually be the easiest option - so long as you can find a local DA player

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
dont have a file. is there anyway to hide it with paints?

No, your model will look bad. Invest in a file set. Worth it. GW has some but I prefer Gale Force 9's.

http://www.gf9.com/Default.aspx?tabid=285

I use a crappy nail file my mother gave me years ago, has served me well. Has a rough side and a smoother side. Works amazingly well.

I have files but I haven't really had to use them yet. I've found that with a very sharp hobby knife that you can shave of the unwanted icons very smoothly. It requires a light touch but it's much easier than hacky shoulder pads off and having to locate blank ones.

Sharp hobby/modeling knife, files and sandpaper would be my advice. Have some greenstuff (both normal and liquid) on standby if you cut too much. You'll get to practice cutting/filing and when (saying when, cause there's no if) you go too far you get to practice your greenstuff skills.

You have to start somewhere, if you stay away from it because you're afraid of ruining stuff, you'll never get past that hurdle. Just start slowly and carefully, and take it at a pace you're comfortable with, rather than just hacking away. Getting comfy with modifications will let you take your modeling to the next level.

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
alright, just got my dark vengeance kit and plan on using the dark angels for my codex marines. only as most people know, the icons are everywhere on those guys.

I just wanted to know how to bypass/make them fit in with my other soldiers. is there any way to make them not stand out so much? (color schemes for my iron knights:

)

also plan on taking at least four guys and make them into sternguard also, but the only difference is that they have a white helmet.
any tips?

A Dremel would work pretty well, I've used one to smooth off BA iconography more times than I can count. You can get one for a fair price at the store (or even eBay) and you are much less likely to stab yourself with a Dremel when compared to a Xacto blade and you are also more likely to get smoother results.

a good pair of clippers:

http://www.amazon.com/Xuron-Micro-Shear-Flush-Cutter/dp/B000IBOOWQ

will take most of it off and you can then smooth with knife and file with 90% of the work done.

A Dremel would work pretty well, I've used one to smooth off BA iconography more times than I can count. You can get one for a fair price at the store (or even eBay) and you are much less likely to stab yourself with a Dremel when compared to a Xacto blade and you are also more likely to get smoother results.

i'll second that. I picked up a $8 dremel at harbor freight and used it to remove the tactical markings from my black reach marines without any problems. The DA bits won't be any different.

um...if you don't want the DA stuff, trade or sell them to someone who does, and get what you want.

Black reach guys are still cheap on ebay (get them while you can).

I am not saying you can't do this, I am saying that when you consider the cost of these guys + your time < cost of black reach marines.

It would be cheaper than the dremel, even the $8 one.

already have a dremal, but dont have three arms. how do you use it?

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
already have a dremal, but dont have three arms. how do you use it?

Why would you need three arms? Hold figure in one hand, machine in the other.

Alternatively, if it wasn't included, buy a flexible extension axle and telescopic stand for the machine itself (or hammer a nail into the wall and hang it there).

And if you're not comfortable holding the figure in your hand then get a vice, a clamp or whatever you feel is suitable.

However if you don't even know how to use your dremel, chances are you'll be much worse off using it than carefully slicing at the model with a knife and then a bit of sandpaper or a file.