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So the time has come. I have tried to resist it for a long time but I have finally been pulled in. That’s right….I am starting a Space Marine army. Why? Well for one, I have added a lot to my Tau and feel like I need a little change. I think it would be interesting to see what I could do with Marines. For those of you not familiar with my Tau, they are my beloved ARC-16’s. You can see my completed models in their collective background thread (each model has a name and a small history) as well as my current log with some reinforcements.

Now does this mean that I will stop working on my ARC-16’s? Of course not! I love my Tau, but I know that when the new codex comes out we will be getting some new toys and I want to conserve my energy for this. So count on seeing some sporadic updates for my ARC’s as I go, but I hope to keep these Marines moving along regularly.

Army Background/Basic Premise:
Located on the Eastern Fringe, the Guardian’s of Raivath are a Chapter that wish to return to the old ways of the Imperium; the age of science and reason the Emperor sought to bring. They became aware of how far the Imperium has fallen since the days of the Great Crusade after uncovering a functioning “time capsule” or sorts that was created by a Rememberancer attached to the Ultramarine Legion working in this area of space. The discovery sparked the Chapter to begin doing away with the religious dogma so prevalent in Imperial society and instead take on a more rational view. The people of the region followed the example of the Marines and over the course of several decades a very different society began to blossom.

The star system they protect had been surrounded by warpstorms about the time that this discovery was made, thus preventing anyone coming in or out. This would later prove to be a great disadvantage to the people of the Raivath system, as once the storms cleared, they were greeted by a silence in the warp they had never encountered. It was then that they Tyranid fleet came.
The Marines sought to evacuate their civilian populations as best they could, but circumstances beyond their control forced them to fight a war on several fronts, culminating in the destruction of all the Marine Companies with the exception of half the entire 10th Company, half of the 1st and a few scattered elements aside. This was also at great cost to the pursuing Hive Fleet who saw their fleets reduced to one Hive ship, despite ravaging every world in the system, save for one.

The Marines fell back with the refugees, protecting them from the remaining Tyranid. And it was at this crucial moment that they encountered a Tau Expeditionary Fleet. Seeing the situation, the Tau offered their assistance; something which the Marines begrudgingly accepted. With their combined efforts they destroyed the final Hive Ship and thus ended the threat of their pursuers.
It is at this delicate time that we join in the story of the Guardian’s of Raivath. How will they respond to the Water Caste’s offer of peace and relocation for their civilian population? How will they rebuild their fighting strength? Are there any other survivors left in the system?

The List:
So what list are we gonna be working up to?

++HQ++
Captain Raahi (Shrike Count-as)
Captain Taksheel (Lsyasander Count-as)

++Elites++
10x Terminator Squad
-Chainfist
-Heavy Flamer
-Assault Cannon

10x Terminator Assault Squad
1x w/ Lightning Claws
9x w/ Thunder Hamer and Storm Shield

++Troops++
6x Scout Squad
Veteran Sergeant Akhil (Count-as Telion)
1x Missile Launcher
4x Sniper Rifle

Srg. w/ Teleport Homer, Power Fist
4x Combat Blade, Bolt Pistol

Srg. w/ Melta Bombs, Power Weapon
4x Combat Blade, Bolt Pistol

Srg. w/ Teleport Homer, Power Fist
4x Combat Blade, Bolt Pistol

5x Scout Squad w/ Camo Cloak
4x Bolters
1x Heavy Bolter

++Fast Attack++
1x Land Speeder Storm with Multi-Melta
1x Land Speeder Storm with Heavy Flamer
1x Land Speeder Storm with Multi-Melta

Is this list really effective? I think it could be. Although, I image it is a one trick pony. It was originally made by Fritz with a few changes made by me. The Assault Termie’s infiltrate in with Shrike, while the LSS’s and their accompanying Scout squads infiltrate and scout near the enemy. My other two Scout squads bring up the rear, pinning down enemies with Sniper Rifles and laying down some Missile fire. The other Termie squad takes advantage of the Teleport Homers, laying down some bolter fire while getting a boost from Lysander’s special rules. Oh and the Camo cloak scout squads can benefit from the Bolster Defense rule, giving them some really strong cover. This list is not up for debate, as I really won’t be playing (I am more a hobbyist than a gamer). It is simply something that I think would be fun to do.

Army Theme:

So first thing you’ll notice is that there are no Tactical Squads or really any power armor beside Raahi, the Shrike count-as; the reason being that I have always found a lot of power armor lists to be very boring. I have always liked the idea of an army with stark contrasts, being filled with rookies and elite veterans. So maybe I will add some Tac Marines in the future…probably with a drop pod.

The GoR will be masters of lightning strikes and covert infiltration and I want each Marine to give that appearance.

Army Modifications:

So let’s get down to some business.

The Terminators that I plan on using for my regular Termie squad are the Space Hulk ones with a few Black Reach Termies thrown in. The biggest change you’ll see on them will be the removal of all skulls, scrolls and other esoteric images (as best I can). I have never liked that part of the Marine aesthetic, so I will be getting rid of them. What that means for me though is a lot of filing and gap filling. But those Space Hulk models are so cool that I must use them!

As for the Assault Termies, I have one issue: I hate the current Storm Shields. Big crosses? Come on. I want them to look sci-fi, not like knights of the Holy Roman Empire! So what the heck can I use for Storm Shields? I want something that looks like a genuine piece of high technology, but I can’t find anything that would work. Any suggestions? I know Chapterhouse has some, but they are not the look I am going for.

As for the Scout Squads, I will be heavily using the modified Scout bodies that come with the Landspeeder Storm. I think these offer some great poses and can provide some uniqueness to an otherwise bland part of the Space Marine army. One issue I have though, is that I hate unhelmeted Marines. So what can I use for helmets?

Here are some ideas I’ve seen (NOT my models):


Elysian heads, while way cool, can be pretty pricey. And I’d have to wait like three months to get them from Forgeworld. So any other options would be welcomed. Although this is my favorite of the bunch.


Modified Space Marine helmets are an option, but it might be hard to get them to not look so goofy. No offense to this guys army. Just not my style.


Cadian Storm Trooper heads are an option, but I don’t care much for the look. Plus, I would probably have to get them from Forgeworld so there is the expense/wait to consider.


These are apparently from an AT-43 kit, but I have no idea how to source those parts without buying whole models.

So those are a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing.


Color Scheme’s:

I have recently become enamored with the colors used by cultures in India and the Middle East and I would love for that to be reflected in the colors worn by my Marines. However, I would also like for them to look a little more akin to modern, secular armies. It’s hard to find a balance with such conflicting styles, so I have come up with four options.

Scheme 1:




So here is the first scheme. This is definitely the more outlandish of them and consists of Liche Purple and Golden Yellow. I have also thought a purple army would look cool, but I don’t think I’m sold on it. Thoughts?

Scheme 1a:



Now this is just a slight variation of the first scheme and reverses some colors. I think I prefer the yellow heads better. The Scouts would stay the same color.

Scheme 2:




Now here we have the most subdued of the schemes and probably the closest to “secular” military colors. It is Chardon Granite for the main color, with Orkhide Shade for the green accents and Iyanden Darksun on the chest. The aquilla is painted Tin Bitz and the eyes are going to be a Shining Gold.

I like this look, but I know that Chardon Granite is a tough color to highlight, so may prove to be a bit of a challenge for me. Still, challenges are good, right?

Scheme 3:




Now this is probably my favorite scheme. It uses Iyanden Darksun for the main color with Macharius Solar Orange as the accent. Enchanted Blue lenses and Tin Bitz aquilla. I think this reflects the middle eastern vibe I was going for, while staying to true to a desert camo, modern military look.

Scheme 4:




Again we have a color reversal from the last one. This would give them a little more flavor while keeping them still within the bounds of desert camo (sorta). The only difference is a Shining Gold aquilla and Scaly Green lenses.

So out of all those options, which do you folks think would be my best option? I am leaning toward the 3rd scheme, but some feedback would be helpful.

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So there you have it; the start of my Space Marine log! I thank everyone for reading this and thank everyone in advance for their replies!

All hail the mighty Wolfs16 as he creates another project log about his Tau.............wait!............ WHAT'S THIS!!! MARINES?!?!?! YOU TRAITOR!!!!

Ha ha ha, all jokes aside - your stuff is always amazing, and looks like this is going to be no exception!

As for the background, I already really like where you're going. A chapter that is not fanatically xenophobic and religious. IMHO this could lead into some nice conflict with Marine Chapters that maintain close ties with the Ecclesiarchy. Great background .

Hmmmm, for shields you could take a look at some Scibor Mini's Stuff. They have some beautiful sculpts, although it may not be quite what your looking for.... not too sure .

I agree with your choice on the colors, except maybe use a Bestial Brown for any cloth bits.

Really looking forward to seeing more of this!!

- Null

Thanks Null! Yeah I think scheme 3 is probably the best bet. It's bright, but still acceptable as a military color. Does anyone else have any input?

As for the shields, I looked at Scibor stuff already and while cool, it didn't fit what I was going for. I know I've seen some shields used by Gundam models, so perhaps I should look into those.

Hey Wolfs16

Yeah, Scibor has a different style.

Gundam shield would be sweet. You could probably do a simple plasticard mock-up and cast some copies - maybe something looking like this:


Personally I like the second one, it's your call though .

I've been searching around a came across MERCS mini's . The heads from some of their CCC models in the link might give you some ideas; the concept art section of the site might give ya' some ideas too.

Also, I've been meaning to ask where you found that amazing art you used in your header image?

- Null

I'd say "definetely go for the third one", Wolfs16.

I'll admit to be pretty biased against the first options (as I just don't like purple), but as far as the other schemes go; you've already painted quite a lot of grey, and Charadon Granite leans towards this theme as a main colour; plus, your models would end up being really dark. Like, seriously, a really "I don't see this being a good-looking model as it's just so dark I can't take a look at it properly unless my eyes are 3 inches away from it" dark tone.
And the fourth scheme wouldn't really strike me as a "realistic" scheme, which is something you want to achieve.

So yeah, my answer'll be 3. Striking yet not Power Ranger, realistic desert scheme. Sold!

On an unrelated note, I can see why you'd want to take a break from the Tau- you've worked quite a bit on it, and to keep the interest in the hobby fresh you can go work on other stuff. Just... Don't become too much of a marine boy *tear*

Alright, I'm done with the joking part too . Have fun creating your new army, and thank you for sharing your work with us- I'm sure this project, too, will be a blast for everybody if you do!

Take care,

Kiten

Aww, a Marine blog? I was hoping that you would restart your Tyranids

Well, I would definitely have to say that the 2nd colour scheme looks best in my opinion, though the other schemes look good aswell.
Also, quite an interesting background concept, and out of interest, did that Tau fleet happen to be the ARC-16's?
However, one small issue with the background piece you wrote, it would appear that you have pinched my surname for the Chief Librarian

Pinched your name? Pinched half my idea for incorportating remnants of a chapter and a whole ton of Gue'Vesa into my forces!! (minus the "reborn imperium" idea, I really like that thought... wish it had been mine!).

Wolf, I personally prefer the 3rd option as well.... especially if it isn't a bright, Imperial Fists yellow but more of the dark tone in the pics above.

I enjoyed the opening fluff, can't wait to read more!

As far as the heads go... I was considering using some of the heads available for chaos marines with the bare head and just the facemask portion on with any chaos-y markings sanded off. I believe an example of what I am envisioning is from the gunnery trooper that comes with chaos Rhinos/raiders and such but I can't find a good picture at the moment.

Wolf you are and I'm guessing will continue to be an inspiration! Everytime I log onto ATT and click "View new posts" I hope to find additions to your blogs! Someday, when I don't have a 14 month old with the "if you don't pay attention to me when I want I will scream" mentality.... maybe I will be able to get back to my own blog.

I'm liking the sound of this project, Wolfs16!

I would love to see you make the purple scheme work. The purple and yellow would be very hard to pull off however, perhaps if the yellow was used more sparingly. I'm thinking of a crimson fists style, where you have maybe 1-2 spots of the other color. A shoulder, a fist, or a helmet.

I like the third scheme, minus the more orange parts. I'm not too sure what you could replace them with, but something feels off to me when I see it next to your yellow-orange. Maybe it makes me think of pumpkin pie? I love the yellow-orange though. If you are going for a desert look then this could go very well with some heavy sandblasted weathering.

As to head choices, have you taken a look at pig iron heads? They have some great options and aren't too expensive, though it is based in England as well, so you may not get them too quick. Check out this combination set for a fast look at most of their options.

Can't wait to see how you progress! I too have jumped ship for a while to work on a Raven Guard breakaway army, so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to see what you come up with.

Amen! I have always asked myself why on earth they would use skulls on armor instead of, lets say, the Aqiula or a symbol of Terra. Skulls are for pirates. Period. So let the Dark Eldar have them .

I agree with Null. Look at Gundam models for inspiration. The (inverted) tear shaped shields they use look really hi-tech.

Or, energy shields! You mentioned your marines are more oriented towards science so why not. Hard to pull off though. Then again, you are one of the top modellers here so why not!

Or, don't know if this is even possible with Termies but, let them wield the hammers 2-handed and make big armored bracers for both hands.

Hoods. Your scouts already have cloaks so it would not be odd for them to have hoods. Much like the Dark Angels. That leaves you with a small head area. You could use the Dark Angels helmets or use the scout head with the visor and add a breather.

Please don't take the purple and gold. Emperors Children look-a-likes. Hate those guys. Orange and Yellow, or vice-versa, rocks. Orange is always good. (Cant help it. I'm Dutch )

PS: I want more fluff!

Edit: Inspiration for model with high-tech 'gadgets Link

Pig Iron Productions via http://www.thewarstore.com has a selection of scifi heads that are orderable. Try the Heavy Infantry Head sprues (20 heads for about $7 USD plus shipping) or a selection of other ones (I'd try the Heavy Infantry Visored Helm myself). That might help your dilemma.

As far as "grizzled veterans," while there's nothing wrong with your list at all, you may wish to consider Pedro Kantor and Sternguard as well. Sort of almost a Crimson Fist approach in a sense, but definitely going your own way with the Tau elements. I look forward to watching your progress

Oh, and if you end up with sniper heads with night vision goggles that need a home, lemme know. I'll be needing lots if I ever get back to some of my Imperial Projects (one of the companies of my IG Regiment is light infantry with those heads on Cadian bodies, and I want to do all my Blood Raven scouts with night vision goggles, even if they're not using sniper rifles).

EDIT: I have to admit to liking scheme 3 the best...

No! A proud shas'vre has turned traitor!

Just kidding, but a blog on the marines, and a very interesting list too.

As to the scheme color, I personally suggest either scheme 2 or scheme 4 as the other two look either silly or the insides of a 'nid stomach.

I also have a nice challenge that would be cool to see you try, but it will have to wait till your done with your marines.

The inner marine in me is pleases that you have made a log of the emperor's finest warriors. Darn, I was beaten to tje pig iron head suggestion.

Great replies guys! Thank you so much for your help! Let me begin...

Null:
Those are great reference pictures. I agree that the one on the right looks the best. However, plasticard is my nemesis. So while I could really push myself to learn it, I think I'm gonna try and find a bit instead. Hey, I'm a Firewarrior, not a Fio!

As for the image I used as the header, I found it online at random. It seems to be called "Tyranid Hive Ship," and appears to have been made by Zen Master. I used without permission, so if Zen Master were to see this, don't sue me!

Those MERC models look awesome! I wish I could use some of those helmets. To bad they don't sell them separate...

Kiten:
Yeah, I think the 3rd option is the winner. The first one does look a bit Power Rangery (recently saw an episode of that show....not as cool as the child in me remembers ...). Also, good call on the Charadon Granite. While it might look cool on paper, it would make the models super dark and is something I am trying to stay away from. Looks like you've settled it for me!

Oh and don't worry about me becoming a Marine fanboy now. It took me a days to stop thinking about what Sept these guys were from. You can take a man from the Tau, but you can't take the Tau out of the man.

Weeden Project:
Splinter Fleet Reclaimer will probably see some love once they get another wave from GW. Right now, the models I want to make all require a ton of conversions, and I don't really feel like going back to that right now. Maybe down the road the call of the Hive Mind will drag me back in.

As for the fleet that met my Marines, well you are just gonna have to wait and see.

Oh and as for your name, what kind of a name is Weeden Project Faris!? Haha, only kidding. Every name I have chosen is an Indian name. I chose Faris for the Librarian since once reference work I read said that it means "Ability to discern, perspicacity." I think that fits a Librarian nicely.

abraxus:
Aha! I see my mind probe is working! Now just think about your credit card number....

I wanted a Chapter that could work alongside the Tau, while still sticking to the fluff. I will say though, that these Marines will not turn into Gue'vesa; Marines are far to proud for that. But they may come to begrudgingly respect them.

I will have to look into your head suggestion, so thanks for the info!

Hopefully you can get your hobby stuff back off the ground again! Just tell your little poop machine that daddy needs to further the Greater Good.

Revenant:
Mmmm, pumpkin pie marines! Don't worry, I will definitely be doing some weathering on these guys, so hopefully they won't look so delicious.

I have a few Pig Iron models (including two types of heads), but the issue there is that the Pig Iron models are just slightly smaller in scale to 40K models. So the heads end up looking pretty tiny on such bulky bodies. It's a good suggestion though!

Have you posted your Raven Guard on here? I would love to see them!

Yami Kero:
Glad to hear I'm the only one who doesn't get the silly icons. More aquila's please!

The idea of energy shields has occurred to me, but I can't find something that would suitably represent that. Gotta look around... Wielding the hammer two handed is another idea, but I would need to get another Termie hand from somewhere.

Your idea for hooded Scouts will probably be used for my Sniper squad. I will have the hoods covering most of their faces though, with some lenses sticking out the front.

Oh and it looks like I will be painting some Dutch marines now! Oh and thanks for the link! It makes me want to buy those things just for the helmets!

M'yen Shi:
Glad to hear that I have some approval from our resident Imperial expert. Feel free to interject some corrections in case I get something wrong! Oh and again, don't worry about them mixing with the Tau too much; these boys are still loyal to Emperor!

I definitely plan on making a Kantor and Sternguard conversion once this list is done. It should be pretty fun!

(I may have some extra heads I could send your way. I will let you know.)

ShadowSword:
Don't think of it as being a traitor. I like to say that I'm going deep under cover.

I think that the best option for my color scheme will be #3, so hopefully I don't make it look like a Nids stomach. Thanks for your input! (PM me about this challenge you speak of...)

Terminatorinhell:
Glad you're excited man! Feel free to ad any tips you have since I am a Marine newbie. As for the Pig Iron suggestion, see below...

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Whew! That was a lot of responses! Thank you all so much!

So it is official. The winning scheme is:

Scheme 3:


I have all the paints ready, now I just have to try a test Scout and test marine.

But for now, let's look at what I have to work with:


Behold! The humble beginnings of the Guardian's of Raivath! Also, the worlds ugliest carpet.

I got a bunch of Scouts through eBay and a few more Terminators are coming in. The Storms and a Scout box just arrived today, so will give me plenty to do! Also, the Scouts I got from eBay have this really weird series of magnets in them. There are magnets at the feet and at waist. Don't know why the owner did that, but I just thought it was funny.

Here though are two ideas that were sparked by all your comments. First off, I found a shield from an old Gundam model and attached it to the Thunder Hammer Termie from Space Hulk:





So yeah, right idea, but a little too big. I might use it for my Lysander conversion though.

And here is a Scout body with a Pig Iron head attached.



Not bad, but just a tad too small. Also, not crazy about the look of that particular head on the Scout body.

So there ya go! Now to start working on a Marine!

Heheh... I get to be an expert at something!

Ironically, Space Marines do NOT follow the Imperial Cult as proscribed by the Adeptus Ministorum. They as well as the Adeptus Mechanicus are exceptions to traditional worship (and are thus, of course, organizations monitored by the Adeptus Ministorum and Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition). The Space Marines do not hold the Emperor as divine, but rather the pinnicle of humanity. Since they are his children (of a sort) and fought beside him they have a different view. They still revere the Emperor but more in an idol sort of fashion. They've never formally acknowledged the Emperor as divine, but rather the pinnacle and perfection of what it was to be human. It's similar to the ironic fact that the ultimate defenders of mankind (the Space Marines) are no longer human themselves, but something more/else.

So as far as Marines feeling that humanity should go back to the way it was before the Heresy/during the Crusade and not really going along with the Adeptus Ministorum, yeah, I can totally see that

Yes, Space Marines see the Emperor more or less like a father figure, not a god, which is what the Emperor really wants but the greedy imperial hierarchy wants everyone to see him as a god to their own ends.

M'yen Shi:
Glad to hear I'm not too far off on my Marine background. Question though: How do the citizens of a Marine Homeworld view the Emperor? Do they think he is a God or do they too see him as simply the pinnacle of humanity?

Terminatorinhell:
Yeah, the Imperium has really screwed itself over. If only the Emperor would have been a little more forthcoming about the warp and its dangers...maybe this whole mess could have been avoided!

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So I’ve been working on the GoR and I gotta say, the Scout kits suck. They have such limited poses that it makes it super difficult to get them to look cool! I mean, they have weird, hunchback armor, bare heads with no neck and awkwardly bent arms and legs! Ugh! God bless the Land Speeder Storm kit, though! That thing gives a little life to these freaks.

So instead of my rage, I might as well show you something, right?

Sniper Scouts are first up.


So I went with pretty standard poses here, as I really liked what they looked like on their own anyway. This squad is going to be getting a Telion count-as added in, so no need for a Sergeant. I am especially happy with the Missile Launcher guy. I used the Landspeeder Storm kits Heavy Bolter gunner body and just mounted him up on some stuff so he had a cool aiming pose. Here’s a little close-up, sans base.



Now I thought a lot about these Scouts and what they need to look cool. As I’m sure you can imagine, I concluded that a head was necessary. Although the “Headless Scouts of Raivath” have a really nice ring to them, these guys may have a need to see. So I thought I would use something with a hood, since that would just look awesome for these Snipers.


I searched around and found these, Wood Elf Glade Guard heads. They have a hood and I think they will be small enough. I would have to cut out the face a bit so I could add in some goggles and such. Or I could just leave it as is. I think goggles and respirator would look neat. Maybe if I paint it dark in there it wouldn’t be necessary to add much. Does anyone else have any ideas on hooded heads? I don’t have any Dark Angel hooded heads, so if anyone has any, can they show me what it would look like on a Scout body?

Now onto the means of transport, the Land Speeder Storms.


I really had a lot of fun building these models! I left the canopy unglued on both of them so I could get at the details inside before I glued them shut. I just gotta figure out a way to strengthen the bases. Maybe I will use a pen like I did for my Hammerhead.

Now as for the pilots. I thought about what head I could use on them and I found these.
Valkyrie heads are perfect! I am thinking of using them for the 3 pilots I will be having. Also, I am a little stumped on what to do with the weapon gunner. The kit shows a Scout sitting in the passenger seat, but he is one of the 5 Scouts that make up the squad. So I think it would be weird to have an extra guy sitting in there. Plus, I really want to use each of these Scout bodies that came with the kit, with the exception of the pilot. So would it look weird to have the gun just sitting there at an empty seat? Maybe I can convert a Servitor to take his place….Thoughts?

So now, let’s talk about my other Scouts. First up, the Bolter squad:


Now, I am especially proud of these guys, since they make use of a lot of filling and gap filling. To get the two Scouts to have capes and aim their bolters, I used a pair of arms from the LSS kit (the one of the far left) and a Bolter arm from the regular kit. With some careful gluing I got them to stick and look pretty good! They will look better with heads though.  I’m thinking of going the hood route with these guys. Would it look weird having the two with rolled up capes wear a hood?

The other two Scouts are, you guessed it, taken from the LSS kit. The reloading one is my favorite! For the guy on the far right, I have to use some green stuff to fill in his butt a little, since it is indented a bit since he would normally be sitting on the vehicle.

So after seeing this thread I decided I should give the Pig Iron heads a try. Here is how they look on Close Combat Squad 1! (Note to self: think of better names for the squads).



I think they look pretty good! The guy on the beam with the Ripper popping out is my favorite in the squad. I plan on including a few Tyranid bodies when I can. Some may be alive! Here is a little close up of the Sergeants body.



Again, LSS kit! I replaced his Chainsword with a Power Sword. But now I was thinking about chopping off his right hand and attaching a Bolt Pistol there, but I kind of like the open hand look. He does have a holster on his hip, so I could say that the pistol was in there. But I feel like it should be displayed….not sure. I also have to add a Melta Bomb on his belt somewhere.

So what do folks think about the Pig Iron heads? At first I said no, but they are really growing on me.

Now, onto the Termies. I have been trying to think of ideas for new Storm Shields and thanks to Ar’ka, I have a new option!


Yes, it’s a Gundam shield, but I think it is really cool looking. Here it is rotated the other way:


Which way looks better?

My only concern about this type of shield is that it doesn’t really seem to fit the Marine aesthetic very well. I feel like the angles are too sharp and mech-like. What do you guys think? The other issue is that I have no idea how to source the bit accept for buying the entire Gundam kit each time. That wouldn’t work…So I’m open to any suggestions!


So now we come to a very shameful part of the log: Painting. I realized that I have no idea how to paint a Space Marine. And a yellow Space Marine for that matter. So here is my first attempt on a test model. Now I caution you, this is really rough and just uses Iyaden Darksun with a wash of Gryphonne Sepia.



Very sloppy, but just a test piece. But it did get me to thinking. I should paint some camo on these guys so that they don’t just look like Imperial Fists. So I am going back to the drawing board with the Paint scheme so I can see how best to implement such an idea. I may try something akin to Bruno Rizzo’s color scheme.

So there you have it folks! Sorry it took me so long to update. Hopefully I will get some fluff up next update.

Thanks for the plug!

And chiming in on the shield...I like the inverted look, with the longer end upward. Gives a good impression of being able to smash the smaller end against your enemies in the heat of combat; and when suppressive fire gets to be too much, he can hunch down, twist the shield a little and grant himself cover.

"So I’ve been working on the GoR and I gotta say, the Scout kits suck. They have such limited poses that it makes it super difficult to get them to look cool! I mean, they have weird, hunchback armor, bare heads with no neck and awkwardly bent arms and legs! Ugh! God bless the Land Speeder Storm kit, though! That thing gives a little life to these freaks."

And that sir is why I'm making female SM scouts (and the fact that I need a female squad for my Ayame android character to lead...) They aren't like marines at all, just like really good female guardsmen or sisters of battle in different armor...

From a human historical standpoint, the shield should be narrow end towards the palm, wider end towards the shoulder However, as this is Sci-fi, do whatever you think looks cooler!

I actually wouldn't worry about them looking like Imperial Fists. There are only so many colors in the pallette after all, lots of chapters have similar schemes. Look at how many reds! Blood Angels, Blood Ravens, Exorcists, Red Templar, Red Hunters, that's without even really looking or thinking too hard!

I also would have to disagree that Marines would use Camo. While there are a few instances and examples depending on which source you look at, it defeats the entire point of Marine personality and heraldry. A Space Marine has pride, pride in his Chapter, in his own martial prowess, in bringing the wrath of the Imperium to the Emperor's foes. Let the foe see the colors and pride of the Chapter! Let him see the Angels of Death coming for him! Let him quake in fear at their approach. There is no skulking and hiding, no, let all who fight on the battlefield know which forces stand at the end, which Chapter to attribute the deeds to.

There are exceptions of course, but I tend to think they're in the minority Now, if you want to go for that sort of character for your Chapter by all means go for it! That is the benefit of DIY after all.

Your test model is looking really good, and I'm enjoying watching this thread. I'll keep my eyes peeled for future developments

I'll just have to quote this!

Anyway. Great job on the scouts, using even Tau bits for their poses... I'm impressed (as always).

About your paint scheme doubts; I don't think they look much like the Imperial Fist, mostly for the tone of yellow. I'd suggest you to finish up the test model first, and then see wether it looks like you could put the secondary colour somewhere else on the model if you don't find it to your liking- who knows, maybe touching up their helmet a little? Or is the secret trick to paint up that chestplate more?