Some painting finished earlier...

I mentioned in the previous post I had managed to get some painting done in the build up to the family addition.  This raptor legion tactical squad had been assembled and partially primed for a while, so I tidied up the old primer grittiness by scraping with an exacto and gave them another coat.  Then I followed the same pattern as my older models using mostly washes with a bronze metallic and some dheneb stone for details with a touch of metallic-y yellow.  They still look great IMO and are super quick to output.

test photo from within display cabinet

With the latest codex release, the Raven Guard have their own Chapter Tactics that have altered slightly from the stuff previously implemented with Shrike.  Forge World have also released some chapter tactics for the badab war chapters and it gives rending to boltguns/bolt pistols if they don't move (classified temporarily as heavy to ensure no crazy combos with the dark angels salvo banner - damn!)

I am pretty torn on these guys - I have 5 assault terminators that I think I can get assembled and painted before the year is out (I still have aspirations of beating my target of 100 painting points) and along with the models already done that would be right close to 1000 points of marines.  A squad of scouts or something would put it near that level.  At that point I am wondering if it's really worth hanging onto or if I should look into trading/selling it.  I need to cut back on the marine armies as it's obviously a bit overkill and I would rather keep armies that play differently (like the Ravenwing army) instead of tons of tactical/assault squad based armies.  Any thoughts?  Or suggestions on the one thing to add to this to bring it around 1000 points and maybe make it more appealing?

Novamarines bonus post - Entry to TFP "Squad" theme competition

Well aren't you folks lucky!  I decided that while I have everything out I would snap some pics for an entry to Silar's second competition over at The Fallen Princes. The theme is squad and you can include a transport if you wish.  This works out perfectly for me as I had a ton of painting to do for the upcoming Astronomi-con tournament!

combat squad (sgt: combi-melta/power fist, special: meltagun)

The tactical squad is pretty simple.  It's a second AoBR squad I picked up cheap, but I have built a couple replacements mainly to get some more high strength (melta/power fist) into the squad so the sergeant and special weapons marine are not monopose pieces.

combat squad (heavy: missile launcher)

Here's the transport portion of the entry.  This drop pod was dead easy to finish, all I did was spray it black with the doors open and drybrush the hell out of it.  I picked out the storm bolter inside with black to match all the rest of the weapons.  Then I quartered each door using painters tape to keep it neat and put a Novamarines chapter decal where I had to cut off the previous chapter symbol.  Total maybe about 2 hours (possibly less)

drop pod - doors closed

It's not very imposing when the doors are blown - could end up being a benefit.

drop pod - doors open

Due to the amount of stuff I had to paint for astro - I will likely have two more entries to the competition from my Novamarines alone.  Next up will be a small squad of scouts and then a squad of terminators (I will need to magnetize & paint up a sergeant power sword arm and it might not happen before the tournament - but the competition doesn't end until July 24th so you have PLENTY of time to get your own entry submitted!

Been a busy boy...

Here's what I've been up to over the past couple weeks.  Early in the year I called about booking the hobby room at our condo so I could get some stuff primed.  I like to have lots of stuff in this state as it means if painting motivation/inspiration comes to me, I can act on it more easily.

In this batch there's my Mordaci Blaylock conversion and an AoBR tactical squad for my Novamarines, Pedro Kantor, a sternguard squad, a devastator squad, a land raider and a rhino for my Crimson Fists, finally a jump pack chaplain and my deathwatch marine for my Raptors.  I also tried to undercoat a tactical squad of Raptors white, but the can was pretty empty and it eventually started getting gritty so I stopped.

What's the best thing I should do for the poorly undercoated white guys; should i just give them a brush to see if it removes the grit? strip them and start again? any other magic tips?

Space Sharks painted - tabletop quality (+17pp)

Well I've finally gotten these guys to tabletop quality, there's still some details and stuff I should pick out, but as this was the first run and it took longer than usual while I sorted out colour schemes, etc. I need a break. I'll probably do the touch ups for these guys when I paint more Space Sharks stuff. Currently my thoughts are to paint a unit of Orcs for the Lo2G at Two Headed Dragon, and then I'm tempted to paint up my Raptors assault marines, since I've completed the test mini using just washes over a white basecoat and it looks great.

Here are some pics, sorry for the lower quality.
Captain


Command Squad

Deathwatch Heavy Bolter

Tactical Squad

Space Sharks - getting caught up on troops

Due to the BoLS contest I ended up painting the razorback before the squad got finished. Has definitely inspired me to get working on the troops I had undercoated because fielding the razorback without any sharks on the table is bound to bring bad luck, and I want to field that razorback!!! To that end I put a bunch of time into the first tactical squad and command squad over the weekend.

I also did a touch more on my undead blood bowl team, but just three quick piccy's of the sharks for now.

Command Squad


Tac squad 3

More Novamarines.. Tactical Squad and Dreadnought

OK, i'm back with some photos/updates.

Some tactical squad shots.. I tried to use model parts to unify these guys. For eg. all the bolters have either a scope if they go in the ranged/heavy combat squad or straps if they go in the close/special combat squad. Have one extra bolter guy and with the deathwatch sergeant could actually take as 2 5 man squads (no special/heavys).

All (aka options)


Close range (flamer + straps) with DW sgt.


Long range (missile launcher + scopes) w AoBR Sgt.


A painted shot of the deathwatch guy. Still to highlight armour and do power sword plus last bit of heraldry.


Plus a couple pics of the dreadnought. I especially like the crushed tree under his left foot.

More Space Sharks... Tactical squad 1 built, Tactical squad 2 nearly built

Now have the command squad and two tactical squads pretty much built.
2 guys in the 2nd tac squad need old RT001 beakie heads (one incoming) and I need one more scrolled/cmdr shoulder pad for the guy landing from jumping the fence in the second squad.
Other than that I just need to fix the a RT001 beakie heads in the first tac squad and the cmd squad champion to add some neck.
Few more bits/bobs for the tac squads (grenades, ammo & stuff)

Tac1 running squad

Tac1 standing squad


Tac1 guy leaping wall closeups



Tac2 running squad

Tac2 standing squad


Other features;

• obviously all beakies. been lucky with getting some old RT001's so am trying to keep a ratio of 1 in 5 with older style beakies.
• only SM/CSM torsos with tubing (one of either of two torsos only)
• only older style backpacks (from like 2nd ed. - they just look more aquatic)
• went with the scrolled/raised circle shoulder pad for chapter pad - will paint the raised circle white and put decals on. "first in, last out" motto on the scroll.
• some older shoulder mount version heavy weapons.
  
• trying to really unify the look, so everyone from Tac squad 1 will have all kinds of extra kit (ammo, 'nades, bolt pistol), everyone from Tac 2 will just have a small ammo/'nade pack on the right leg, everyone from other squads will get the same little items across the squad as well.

combat squads I tried to make obvious.
- special weapon & sergeant have tactical legs, but the other three have running legs.
- heavy weapon all have tac (ie no running) legs, one guy helps carry extra heavy ammo.