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.

Here's the first 6 marines of a 10 man tac box.

Only the first two marines have had a GS treatment but once I'm motivated I'll tend to the rest of the squad.
I should mention that I plan on filling the squad out to 10 models which will most likely be fielded as two 5-man units (That is until I build more).



Early WIP of a Tactical Sgt. with a Power Axe.


I'm still unsure if I like or dislike the axe, which was made using a TK skeleton warrior sword.
I do however like the exposed, gloveless battle damage look

Let me know what you think, also any ideas you might have for how to GS the rest of the models.
Obviously being standard troops they won't be receiving much more treatment than the two I've already done.
I realised that I tend to clutter my models with too many random details so I'm trying really hard to restrain myself when it comes to keeping within a constant theme and then not over doing it.
I'm thinking I might keep the candles as a recurring theme in the army. I also like the chains. Obviously bones/skeletons and fire should be a constant theme too.

Peace

Loving the guy with the exposed hand and the axe a lot. Keep up the great work!

Nice work! Is the Sgt's face a skeleton face fused with a marine head?
The arm looks amazing!

Nice work there. The chains are a little chunky for my own personal taste, but everythign has been really well executed. I too like the skeletal hand on the axe

I agree that the chains are too big for my tastes, but other than that, there is some awesome stuff here! That last dude with the skeleton hand and power axe is a total boss.

I quite like the idea of chains.

I might have to steal this idea.

UnCool Villain wrote:Loving the guy with the exposed hand and the axe a lot. Keep up the great work!

Thanks! I intend to! (keep up the great work that is )

Rahz wrote:Nice work! Is the Sgt's face a skeleton face fused with a marine head?
The arm looks amazing!

Thank you. Yes the head is a SM helmet with a severe facelift and a TK Skeleton Warriors skull, cut to fit. Both were surprisingly easy to do and really just depends on how sharp your blade is and how patient you are with constant cutting, filing and fitting of the tiniest alteration. I might have to experiment more with it on other figures down the line.

Flinty wrote:Nice work there. The chains are a little chunky for my own personal taste, but everythign has been really well executed. I too like the skeletal hand on the axe

Moltar wrote:I agree that the chains are too big for my tastes, but other than that, there is some awesome stuff here! That last dude with the skeleton hand and power axe is a total boss.

I too find them to be a little on the chunky side but unfortunatly they are the smallest chains that were available to me. I will be keeping an eye out for a thinner chain though as this link is almost run out.

Desubot wrote:I quite like the idea of chains.

I might have to steal this idea.

Be my guest. Just be prepared to get frustrated trying to position and glue them

Okay, update time.
Power Axe sgt finished.
I decided to give him a combi-plasma too (represented by the shoulder turret) which brings him to the same point value as the PF sgt.


Let me know what you think!

Peace

Did you know
All LotD
Marines I've seen are
Never this awesome

This is the chain I have been using and I think the scale works well. It's also easy to work with.
http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/gale-force-9/scenics/hobby-round-iron-chain-1-5mm-/prod_17534.html

What are you using to scar the armor up? They seem too wide to be an exacto knife

Slaters plasticard do fine brass chain at 24 links per inch which doesn't look bad on 40k marines, I find that rather than painting a chain that fine I use a chemical blackener as the chain links don't stick together.

https://slatersplastikard.com/accessories/brassWire.php#Section1

Those do look bloody good tho.

Very well done. Consider me impressed.

I definitely like the power ax sgt. Nota bene (Very good)!

I assume you have looked at quite a few pics of Legion of the Damned but if you haven't, google Bobinators Legion of the Damned for ideas and inspiration.

Asjara is also working some conversions you may find interesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemK-srExSs

Axe and plasma caster looks superb, what have you done with the missile launcher, possibility of seing it from another angle?

yo, zendark. good to see your still doing stuff. I was getting worried. lol. axeman looks awesome, castor inspired by predator? looks nice, in a "I-is-gonna-keill-if-you-is-look-at-me-wrong" kind of way. also love the modified launcher.

J.F out.

I like the skull inside the marine head.

i dont care for the chains, they are out of scale.

did you know that legion of the damned arent painted black, bones and flames. its just that their armoured is burnt, they're on facking fire and the armour is broken in a lot of places showing their lifeless, skeleton bodies underneath. fun fact aye

rayphoton wrote:What are you using to scar the armor up? They seem too wide to be an exacto knife

Actually that's exactly what I'm using. I make small V cuts carefully into the armour (using a sharp blade) on exposed areas that would be liable to battle damage.
Hence why their shoulder pads look so beat-up.

the shrouded lord wrote:yo, zendark. good to see your still doing stuff. I was getting worried. lol. axeman looks awesome, castor inspired by predator? looks nice, in a "I-is-gonna-keill-if-you-is-look-at-me-wrong" kind of way. also love the modified launcher.

J.F out.

Hey Shroud
Was offline for just over a month as I waited for my new internet connection to be set up. All sorted now.
Yeah the caster is predator inspired and I'm likely to keep using the design as I much prefer the look of them over the either too-squashed or too-bulky Combi-Bolters.
Will be attempting to get my hands on some SG hand flamers/infernus pistols and some grav pistols to represent combi-flamers/meltas/grav respectively

Also, to those who are interested more in the ML conversion

Apologies for the poor quality photo.

kb305 wrote:I like the skull inside the marine head.

i dont care for the chains, they are out of scale.

I understand your feel.
Just picture them as really thick industrial chains or something (that's what gets me to sleep at night ).

Novelist47 wrote:did you know that legion of the damned arent painted black, bones and flames. its just that their armoured is burnt, they're on facking fire and the armour is broken in a lot of places showing their lifeless, skeleton bodies underneath. fun fact aye

I think in this case the rule of cool trumps your fluff
Besides, both the 40k wiki and Lexi mention their armour being decorated with bone plus the design of the official GWS models would suggest otherwise.

 Novelist47 wrote:
did you know that legion of the damned arent painted black, bones and flames. its just that their armoured is burnt, they're on facking fire and the armour is broken in a lot of places showing their lifeless, skeleton bodies underneath. fun fact aye

Except, not.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
These guys are looking great so far. I do think the chains are a little on the large size. My favourites are the Sgt with the Axe, and the two models in the first image - the powerfist guy and the other skull-helmed one.

I don't know what it is, but these guys don't quite cut it for me. I'm missing the skull-bits/ribcages on different parts, and the torn/burnt tabards. I think the chains took away from the models, and made them look black templarish.

 poda_t wrote:
I don't know what it is, but these guys don't quite cut it for me. I'm missing the skull-bits/ribcages on different parts, and the torn/burnt tabards. I think the chains took away from the models, and made them look black templarish.

I know how you feel but I'm trying really hard to not go all out on these guys. I'm still yet to do any GS on the last 4 in the first picture.
Also, you gotta remember these dudes are just the rank-and-file and so will not be so heavily adorned.
But don't worry, there will be skulls
Along with more bones and a ribcage here or there (I want to use that particular theme more on higher ranking figures). GS'ing will also cover bits of cloth and stuff.

I hope you'll be more satisfied with the finished product

Oh no worries about that, I look forward to seeing them absolutely!

the last model in the original post can only be described as creepy.

mind if I steal the combi- idea. dude, I would have mailed you some infernus pistols, but I chopped them up for my stern guard.. which I didn't end up making, sigh.

 the shrouded lord wrote:
mind if I steal the combi- idea. dude, I would have mailed you some infernus pistols, but I chopped them up for my stern guard.. which I didn't end up making, sigh.

Go nuts! It's a fairly simple conversion, I did it after the backpack was attached but the first step probably would have been easier if I'd done it before I attached it as I needed to cut away room for it to fit.

cut away a the little box thing above the bottom exhaust vents and stick whatever you want as a anchor point for the rest of the arm.
glue the pack to to torso before sticking on the arm or you may find that the arm obstructs the torso when gluing.
for the arm I used a tactical squad scope then, cutting and filing both ends to fit, inserted it between the torso and backpack where it should sit firmly. Don't be afraid to make the necessary cuts, if you damage any detail it is easy enough to touch up with GS or possibly even conceal the damage from view (As I often do )
From there it's a simple matter of attaching the weapon and garnishing with any desired accessories.
I also like the idea of a targeting lense though it is unnecessary as I'm sure a marine's PA would have means to incorporate the targeting into the pre-existing system.

If you have any questions just drop another comment.
Good luck with that one man, hope it works out well.
Peace


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I should also mention that with the plasma pistol I actually cut parts of it away to shrink it's size down. I'm unsure if the same will have to be done for the other combi types.

stupid question: where on the pack does the arm attach?

I can only describe it as the rectangular box with a small cylinder on it located between the upper and lower exhaust vents.
Cut that thing off. you don't want it. It's in the way.
Now in that flat surface you have created for yourself you can attach a joint or piece that looks like an arm attachment that you can stick your appendage to

 Xendarc wrote:
I can only describe it as the rectangular box with a small cylinder on it located between the upper and lower exhaust vents.
Cut that thing off. you don't want it. It's in the way.
Now in that flat surface you have created for yourself you can attach a joint or piece that looks like an arm attachment that you can stick your appendage to

this thing?

Firstly: Awesome!! Ive been wanting chaplain headed space marine skull heads forever but you do much better in your conversion!
The chains look awesome. Out of scale? They are super humanly strengthed with powered mechanical muscles. A "regularly" sized chain would easily be snapped apart like most of you will be snapping the turkeys wishbone apart this thanksgiving with your mom. Ever seen any sort of the scrooge movies where the ghost with the chains is wearing those hugely thick chains?
Yeah, your legion of the damned models are Win.

 the shrouded lord wrote:

 Xendarc wrote:
I can only describe it as the rectangular box with a small cylinder on it located between the upper and lower exhaust vents.
Cut that thing off. you don't want it. It's in the way.
Now in that flat surface you have created for yourself you can attach a joint or piece that looks like an arm attachment that you can stick your appendage to

this thing?

That's the one.