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:

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.

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.