The Next Five Sitnam Marines

I have 5 more space marines that are ready for basing and the finishing touches.  They need to be based, and the purity seals need to be painted, the Marine with the power fist needs both shoulder pads and the others only need the chapter symbol on them.  I do have about 8 shoulder pads ready to have the decal put on them.  I am hoping that I can get those done before Christmas.

In the left corner you can see my Term Cpt.

I do like how the Sgt has turned out so far

The first 4 are going to be used to fill out the second squad, an all plasma squad.  With these 4 I just have 2 more standard Marines to paint up to finish up the squad. The Army is coming along at a pretty nice pace, not screaming fast, but not at a snails pace ether. I hope that I can get another 2 Marines primed, 2 more scouts primed, and 2 more Marines for my Kill Team primed as well.  right now it has been way to wet out side to prime anything so that has been a little disappointing.

Questions and Comments are welcome.

Hirst Arts and Space Hulk First 8 Parts

I know it has been quite some time since I have posted about my Hirst Arts Space Hulk project.  So this evening I thought I would take what parts that I did have cast and see how many of the corridors I could put together. To my surprise I was able to make 8 parts.

Some of the corridors glued to the foam core

All 8 pieces on the foam core waiting to be cut

A close up of one of the bigger rooms

These are not looking too bad, Once they have dried and set up I'll cut them out and then paint them up.  I do think that I will first fill the foam core with as many pieces as I can before I cut them out. This is making storage a little easier. 


The Mold Cast count:

# 276: 49
# 277:  6
# 325:  5

I will defiantly be casting more pieces after seeing how these are turning out. That and it reminded me of building with Legos when I was a Kid.

Questions and Comments are welcome. 

Shoulder Pads The Next Generation

In my previous post I used Green Stuff to sculpt tactical squad markings.  After reading the blog lascannons and lances  and seeing what he had done with his Space Marine chapter marking and shoulder pads I commissioned him to make me some very basic chapter markings.

So I'll be using the rubber stamp engraving that is on its way here, to make shoulder pads.  I'll be make a master mold and then casting my own shoulder pads.  I am looking forward to trying my best to work with resin, and rubber molds.  As this process goes I'll continue to up date the progress, and failure.  We will hope that failure is at a minimum.

Hopefully the rubber stamp engraving will be arriving before the first of the year.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Shoulder Pads

Well I have taken some green stuff and made a total of ten Tactical Arrow shoulder pads.  I'll be using these for the next Tactical Squad that I put together, I do think that I will try to make a chevron instead of the Arrow on the shoulder pad of the heavy weapons marine.  For this next squad I think it will be a Lascannon, or Heavy Bolter this time.

10X Tactical Arrows

There is a local Art Supply store here in town that has stuff to make rubber molds.  I think that I might try to make some casts out of resin of some shoulder pads.  We will see how that goes...  I have talked to the guy who runs the store and he makes molds all the time, however not for anything that small.

What Codex for Sitnam Warriors

This afternoon  I was searching the interwebs for some fluff about the Mantis Warriors, right now there really is not too much to be found. After Imperial Armor 10 I figure that will change.  This is not a bad thing, the lack of fluff is one of the main reasons I was drawn to the Chapter in the first place.  However I am looking forward to reading about them in Imperial Armor 10 to find out more about them.

In the mean time what I have found is that the chapter is known for having its own distinct close combat tactics.  This is something that the veterans are trained in as they progress up the ranks. Another interesting thing that I also learned was about a combat haze that in the heat of battle the battle brother will only see the enemy, much like tunnel vision.

With those interesting facts, it made me think and not only the codex Space Marines would be a fitting choice, but that Blood Angels could be fitting as well.  The tunnel vision (Black Rage) would fit in with the fluff that I have found so far.  Also the close combat tactics would also work with the assault nature of the Blood Angels as well.  So those are really the only two points I have for using the Blood Angels Codex.

Now another codex that I was looking at is the obvious choice, codex Space Marines this gives the chapter plenty of options.  Most of those options are available in the Blood Angels but there is no Black Rage with the Space Marines.

Think coming up with a list might be a good start, so I might want to do that, but in the mean time I need to pick a codex and run with it.

Hoping to get some feedback and ideas, so questions and comments are welcome.

Sitnam Warriors so far.

With the Imperial Armour 9 book out and everyone all sorts of excited about it, I thought that it was time to look at what I have in the way of a secessionist army.  For some time I have been working on a Sitnam Warriors Army.  (Sitnam is Mantis spelled backwards) This army has been going slow, because I have been piecing it together little bit by bit.  I have another Marine Army that I have finished painting all the Models, I just need to get the Rhinos and Heavy Support vehicles.  More on that army later... So here are the fully painted and based models that I have as of right now.

Terminator Sgt

Six Terminators, One Rhino, Four Tact Marines

One Assault Marine, One Dreadnought, Ten Tact Marines

These are all the models I have painted up so far, my plan is to make the Sitnam Warriors my primary Space Marine army.

As for right now:
Ten Marine Tact squad w/flamer and rocket launcher
Six Terminators squad w/heavy flamer
One Dreadnought
One Assault Marine
Four Marine Tact squad w/plasma pistol and plasma rifle
One Stern Guard Vet

On my painting desk I have the rest of the Marines for the second Tact squad waiting to be finished.  Five Scouts, One more Assault Marine, and a Terminator Captain with lighting claws.  With more to be built and painted.

Thanks for Checking out the page, questions and comments are always welcome

Free Stuff in the Mail

I while back Mantic Games offered a free sprue with two ghouls on it if you signed up for their online news letter.  I thought what the heck I might as well sign up because free minis are great.  Well finally in the mail they arrived and this is what I got.

The Free Sample

After looking at the models; I think I'll been picking up a box of the ghouls and one of the zombies after the holiday season to paint up and use for extra pieces in 40k games.  Damn their tactic worked.  Oh well they will be fun to put together and paint up.

A Little Progress on the Sitnam Warriors

Seeing as I have not posted in quite so time I thought I would do an update.  I have still been working away at the Mantis Warriors.  As of right now I have three basic Bolt Gun Marines (BGM)  that need to be based and final details painted on, once I have those guys finished the squad just needs to have two more BGM and a heavy weapons Marine painted to finish out the squad.  The basic squad layout is a plasma heavy squad, plasma pistol, plasma rifle, and plasma cannon. I like the AP of the plasma and the blast template for the cannon also.

These are the first 4 finished

After listening to the Independent Characters Pod Cast, I have really been leaning towards getting the IA9 book, I figured that I would be getting the book sooner or later.  It now looks like I'll be getting it sooner they did a really good review of the book, and went over a boarding action game that they played and it sounds really cool.  I think I'll be casting more Hirst Arts models this month to try finish the Space Hulk / Boarding Action game pieces.

The mold cast count has not changed I have been lazy and not ordered a bigger box of dental plaster.

Kill Zone Team List

The first model that I have made for a possible member of  a Kill Zone skirmish army list.  The model was originally painted to be a Chapel Apprentice for a campaign that I was in.  After looking at the model and reading more and more about the Kill Zone rules at Galaxy in Flames. It looks like the model will be the first member of my Kill Zone, Kill Team.

The top torso and arms are black, the legs are green

Still showing Chapter Insignia on the left shoulder

The helmet detailing

So it looks like I'll be using this model as a Sternguard Veteran, for my Kill Zone List.  I do like the color scheme so I might use it for a whole squad of Sternguard Veterans later.

The List

• Devastator Sgt                26             Signum
• Devastator Marine          26             Med Pack
• Devastator Marine          20             Close Combat Accessories
• Devastator Marine          41             Heavy Bolter, Suspensors
• Terminator Sgt                40
• Terminator Assault Sgt    45             Team Leader, General Skill (+1 WS)
• Sternguard Sgt                35             Specialist Skill (Extra Shot)
• Scout Biker Sgt              40             Cluster Mines

                                              273pts

I have only played a few games with this list and it works pretty well in Kill Zone, however I figure the 275pts is a bit much for a quick game of Kill Zone.  However we are having a great time with that amount of points.

The Mold Casting is still coming.  Last week I received the other two molds in the mail so I have continued to cast.

Mold # 276 has 49 Casts
Mold # 277 has 6   Casts
Mold # 325 has 5   Casts

I ran out of Plaster again so I think I'll be ordering in bulk this that, 50lbs or so....


Also in the second Picture you can see the corner of the first Space Hulk section that I put together....

Interior Vehicle Painting

So to finish off one of my space marine armies I have to 2 rhinos, 1 predator, and 1 vindicator.  For the first rhino for my Sitnam Warriors I painted the interior on the rhino I went with a white interior and then added some detailing on the console and then dry brushed the floor to look like mud.

Up close shot

 If anyone has spent any time in the interior of a military vehicle they are not white, most have a mint green tint to them.  For the other marine army I'll be using the mint green look. 

Mint Green Base Coat

  This Rhino is going to be used as a Devastator Squad Rhino and I'll also be magnetizing it to be a Predator as well.  More on that later.

Here it is with the painted interior

I'll be adding more detail to the floor of the rhino later, but as for right now it is starting to shape up.  Side note you can see the Devastator Squad Marines at the top of the photo.

Re-Basing Models

I have an older Space Marine Army that has been just sitting in its case and has not seen the table for quite some time now.  The big problem with the army is the fact that when I finished painting them I did a different colored ring around the base so that I could tell the difference between the squads.  It was not a bad idea, but the theme of the army was a deck of cards so each squad was a different suit.  So why would I really need a diffenent colored ring for each squad, I don't.

As you can see the different colored bases

Here is a close up look at the finished bases

All of the models now have the same base and no more of those many colored bases so they don't look too tacky any more.  It is really cool how with a new base the army now has an all new look and feel to it.  I was planning on selling the army after I re-based them, but now I am not sure.  
 

Colored Blocks?!?

On Monday I ordered the other two molds that I will need to complete the project!!!  I am hoping that they will be here by the end of the week.  In the mean time I have been casting away!  This afternoon I thought I would try something new with the Hydrocal while casting, I added some drops of paint to the water before I added the Hydrocal.

So that was the first of the two colors that I tried, Black and then later a Green color. the goal is to add the color to the mix so that when I start basing the pieces it will be easier and go a little faster when it comes to painting

Side by Side with the standard color

Side by Side with the Green block

The Stash to date

The Cast Count Continues #276 is at 45 casts

Painting shoulder pads...

Anyone who has ever painted space marines has had to deal with painting shoulder pads.  This afternoon I thought I would try something different.  I thought that I would try to make a stencil with blue painters tape. 

Started with base-coated Shoulder Pads

Next I drew a tact squad arrow on the tape

Then I painted the color I wanted the Arrows on the Pads

After cutting out a couple of arrows I then placed them

I then painted over the stencil with the base color

After pulling the stencil off it looked alright

Finally a little touch up paint!

On the model

For being a first attempt at stenciling on the Tactical Squad Symbol, I think it looks pretty good.  questions and comments are welcome!

Space Hulk Project Continued ....

Back in business, on my last day off I went to the local art store and was able to pick up more Hydrocal FGR 95.  I still have not ordered the other two molds.  I have just been putting it off, hopefully I'll get around it is soon!

The casts have been coming out alright some with air bubbles, but nothing that is too bad.  I am counting on it giving the piece a little character when it is all said and done.

 The Cast Count Continues #276 is at 27 Casts

Casting, or how I ran out of Plaster...

Five pounds of Hydrocal FGR-95 is the stuff that I have been using to cast the pieces from the mold.  This week the target was to cast the mold three times a day.  Once before I leave for work once at lunch, and again at night.  This system has been working out very well.  So well in fact that I have run out of the plaster.  This has put things at a stand still.  I am hoping that I can pick up a 50lb box of plaster at a cheap price I hope that will be more than enough to complete the project.

The Cast count as of right now stands at

Mold #276  21 casts

Hirst Arts and Space Hulk

I have started to make my own Space Hulk board using the Hirst Arts molds.  The plan is to use the directions from Hirst Arts web site. SPACE HULK INSTRUCTIONS Right now I have only one of the mold the #276 the idea is to make three of the basic sets.  I am going to try to make three casts a day fro the rest of the month. That should give me enough to make three or so sets.  Later this month I'll be ordering the the other two molds. 

Right now I have cast #276 a total of 7 times

I'll try to keep a running log of progress as the weeks continue.  The plan for the the three sets is to keep one for myself, sell one on E-bay, and for the third set is to take it to the a local game store and see about trading it fro some store credit.  Hopefully the owner likes to wheel and deal as much as I do.