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I'm working on my Tactical Squad and had a random thought. How many of you paint your Chapter Badges? And if you do, do you freehand it, use decals, or have custom pads with the badge molded in already? I'm freehanding my crescent moon badge. What about y'all? Maybe post pics of them too, I dunno.

Oh, and this can qualify for any species that uses an insignia, not just Space Marines.

I tried freehanding for quite a few models. Some would turn out good and some utterly sucked. So, I sculpted/molded/cast my own now.

Here's what my 3 variant chapter badge shoulders look like... some misc other stuff from my first casting efforts in there too.


on a model:

JWMarines wrote:
I tried freehanding for quite a few models. Some would turn out good and some utterly sucked. So, I sculpted/molded/cast my own now.

Here's what my 3 variant chapter badge shoulders look like... some misc other stuff from my first casting efforts in there too.


on a model:

Those are beautiful.

I just started up some Marines, so I was giving this some careful thought myself. From a gaming/modeling perspective, custom ones are really cool (and JWM's homecast ones are awesome!). But from a fluffy/realism perspective, marines move between different companies and the suits are personal, so it seems strange to have company and squad designations carved permanently into a shoulder pad. Chapter ones I can see being permanent, but then that kind of clashes if you're doing the rest "flat". So flat it is for me. Then, at least for Marines, I figure they're not personally painting up their armor - probably a Servitor paints it on with some 5000 year old, holy relic of a template. So the decals seemed the best way to go, with any personal embellishments and maybe squad designations freehand (haven't done any of those yet). For other armies I might think differently.

And obviously this is all personal taste. I'm probably overthinking it, anyway.

tppytel wrote:
I just started up some Marines, so I was giving this some careful thought myself. From a gaming/modeling perspective, custom ones are really cool (and JWM's homecast ones are awesome!). But from a fluffy/realism perspective, marines move between different companies and the suits are personal, so it seems strange to have company and squad designations carved permanently into a shoulder pad. Chapter ones I can see being permanent, but then that kind of clashes if you're doing the rest "flat". So flat it is for me. Then, at least for Marines, I figure they're not personally painting up their armor - probably a Servitor paints it on with some 5000 year old, holy relic of a template. So the decals seemed the best way to go, with any personal embellishments and maybe squad designations freehand (haven't done any of those yet). For other armies I might think differently.

And obviously this is all personal taste. I'm probably overthinking it, anyway.

I love your train of thought. My explanation for slightly differing marks on my armor is that each marine paints their own armor and markings, as well as builds their own equipment a la Salamanders. Hence why I have some differing consistency. Lol. Companywise, just use codex colors (Gold/Yellow for 1st, Silver for 2nd, etc).

Neutralista wrote:
My explanation for slightly differing marks on my armor is that each marine paints their own armor and markings, as well as builds their own equipment a la Salamanders. Hence why I have some differing consistency.

Totally fluff-sensible... Salamanders are crafty! My Ultramarines, on the other hand, are strictly by the book.

Thing is, my Marines aren't Salamanders. :3 they just took a leaf out of the Salamanders book.

I always painted mine on marines. They were ultramarines

Most DIY armies are a case of copying existing decals/ pads or to paint them, so keeping the symbols easy to replicate was important whenever I did something without 'official' support.

First army as DIY meant painting the chapter badge.. but inexperienced as I was it may look a bit "special"..
Templars, Salamanders & co got decals or pads, but the Raven Guard had nothing back in the day of Index Astartes so again , paint it..
Other DIY armies also got painted badges.
My DA based marines just did a color swap and use the common winged sword badge.

Shoulder pads are nice to have, decals a solution , to paint them maybe inevitable sometimes.
The real issue is, badges are so small and I would have to outsource the paintjob if I want them well done...