Kicking off an Escalation Challenge.

So... It appears we're giving an Escalation Challenge a go.

I'm finally going to get my Traitor Guard project off the ground. Linus has lots of Daemons built and clamouring for colour, and Tom Erik was saying something about 'eight guys and a flyer' for March. I hear that André is putting an old idea into motion too, and Ørn will no doubt shame us all as soon as he finishes off his current projects and catches us up closer to summer.

We started with 250 points of our chosen army early this month, but I'm not sure how far along everyone's managed to get. I have my Infantry Platoon up to 'basic tabletop' standard, but want to take it a little bit further before posting, so I'm obviously behind schedule. I guess I'll have to rethink my next 250 points, and pick fewer models for April to compensate and get back on schedule.

There is the small matter of a new Codex right around the corner too. That's sure to prompt a few changes, I'm sure.

Hopefully, the other participants have managed better progress. Perhaps we'll even see some pictures here before Adepticon kicks off...


JørnN

Ultramarines Makeover part 14 – Vanguard Veterans

As stated during my ”makeover series”, I had to take a break, build and paint something new. It was now time to continue the process of giving the whole of my Ultramarines army a makeover.

Next unit to update was my old Vanguard Veteran models. It was quite a project to remove the models from the base, and then cut of and file down the metal ”mounts”. I decided to change some of the weapons, and fix some old mould lines etc. when I was in the process giving the unit a makeover (of course). Also my painting skills have improved some (I hope) since these models where first painted, so it was pretty much a total overhaul of the models, not only weathering and changing the hue of them. And this is how they turned out:

Next article will be the last in this series of my ”makeover” posts; Marneus Calgar, Honour Guard and my favourite Chaplain in Terminator Armour.

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Ultramarines Tecmarine with Thunderfire Cannon

Fritz/Way of Siam Han and Brother Sgt James speak so highly of this ”contraption”, I felt I had to have a go at it.

I am not a big fan of the Finecast-models, so I decided to have a go at the bit-box and see if I could scratch build a Thunderfire Cannon, hoping it would not look to awkward….

With bits from a Redeemer, City Sprues, Nephelim fighter, Plasticard, Tamiya 1:35 scale Panther and PzKf III bitz, I started out building one.

Adding tracks from a old Tamiya 1:35 Tiger kit (splitting the track in two, adding more plasticard and some left over Forge World bits), I managed to finish a model I hope makes an ok presentation of the idea of a Thunderfire Cannon.

Back in 2008, I bought a Tecmarine set (with servitors’). I always felt the vereos arms where ”over done”, so I selected some of them and pinned this old metal model to the point it could be used as a weapon. Anyway, this is how the models turned out:

Next – my old Vanguard Veterans needs a makeover!

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Warhound Scout Titan

Back in 2010 I finished my Warhound Scout Titan – ore did I…? Her is a link to the original post: http://teamstormbolter.blogspot.no/2010/11/ultramarines-2-reinforced.html

I recon the readers of this blog have noticed that I have spent this autumn and winter giving the whole of my Ultramarines army a makeover. Adding wear and tare (battle fatigue/damage), changing the hue of the models and adding new bases, where amongst the most notable changes. After working on lots of infantry models and tanks I needed a change, hence it was time to address my Warhound Scout Titan.

Although the Titans are not a “member” of a specific chapter, my Titan will certainly be fielded alongside my Ultramarines. So I thought it only fitting to keep the makeover in style with my Ultramarines.

But this project was more than a mere makeover! My original design/posing had a fault; the base chosen was not heavy ore large enough to support the weight of the model because of the "tilt" I had chosen in order to make it look like the Titan was taking a step forward. The whole model became unstable. Also - this was before the era of magnets - risking the upper body falling of....Not good!

One evening I visited Jørn for morale support while I “gently tore" the model of the old base. Puh, only two “toes” broke! Jørn had supplied me with a new base (thx); the problem was the angel the legs where positioned in, limeting my options to make an ok scenic base. After a lot of test fitting with the larger terrain features, I screwed right through the base and into two quite large holes I had drilled beneath the feet. The racin did not crack. It was time to make the scenic base trying to cover the original design faults.

Base after applying my standard concrete/plaster/sand goup mix and sand.

Masking the model before base coting with black spray paint.

A comment to my original post was a question if I should not make the plasma coils stand more out(?) A good idea. Now, how to apply the effect? This is how it looked before the makeover.

The plasma coils after the makeover:

So this is how the model turned out after the base was finished and the model was weathered and given several washes with different MIG products (and lots of varnish):

In order to support the “body section” I drilled a large hole in centre of the top leg section and the upper body, fixing a thick steel rod to the leg section. I also used an industrial magnet (with a centre hole) witch holds 2,5kg. The model is now level and holds steady!

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The interior was given a slight upgrade as well. “In the grim darkness of the fare future…”

Close up of the base (hope I managed to get almost the same colour as Jørn has got on his Aquila Lander mounted on he’s Chaos Warhound Scout Titan base…)

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What next?

There is a funny little guy with some strange tools and a trolley waiting!

Cheers,

Ørnulv

Ultramarines Sternguard Veterans

As implied in my comment to Jørn´s response, I decided to “upgrade” one of my Sternguard veterans to a Sgt.  Thx for the constructive input Jørn!

Going through al units I suddenly noticed that I had not given two of my Devastator Sgt reed helmets, so I changed head’s on these guys as well.

Finally I converted two of my old Vanguard veterans to Sternguard Veterans (Bolter to be fitted later on one of them).

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I have wanted to field these guys for a long time, but dreaded the previous Finecast models. When the new Codex came out, finally they where made available as a plastic kit.

The set was absolutely awesome! So many options, and so many details. Now – what weapons to give them? I could not decide, so I opted for two units. One 5 man squad with Combi-Melta, and one 5 man Squad with Combi-Plasma. In addition two Veteran Sgt with the special issue Bolters. Why Combi-Weapons? Well, I expect that they will be a priority target; hence I wanted to keep their points value as low as possible. And with their special issue ammunition, they can dish it out with their bolters as well!

I decided to give them the same base colour scheme as my old Vanguard Veterans (they have still not received a makeover), using a lot of white, but adding my new weathering / battle damage look. Hard lining is time consuming and hard work (for me anyway). The remedy was to invest in my first set of Kolinsky 00 brushes. I recommend them!  Enough said, this is how they turned out.

Sternguard Veterans with Combi-Melta

Sternguard Veterans with Combi-Plasma

What next? An old giant needs a makeover:)

Cheers,

Ørnulv