Multi-basing 'De-blooded' Space Hulk Terminators

So this is a bit of a detour, but my wife bought me a copy of space hulk for Christmas (thank goodness for those copies they "found"). Furthermore, she agreed to play a few games with me once I got the minis put together (she's a bit of a sci-fi junkie and thinks space marine terminators look like the mondoshawans from fifth element). At the time the package came in the mail, I had been thinking about swapping out my  terminators that were in my army (6 TH/SS and 2 LC in a LR Crusader) for some standard terminators. Like everyone else I love these models but don't play BA, so I thought it would be nice to use them both in my army (my Hawk Lords) and but retain the ability to use them in the Space Hulk game. monkiy

I didn't want to just quickly magnetize the premolded bases to some 40mm discs (which I had seen, but felt wasn't my style), so I tried a few options. I first cut some 40mm bases to fit the permolded bases, which was a pain, and since GW didn't make them flat (there's a little slope in thier "geometric artsy" design), it meant that I'd have to file them down to ensure I got smooth transitions between the red (original) base and the black (40mm) base. So I bit the bullet and decided to rebase these guys, twice, making a base akin to a display base (since 40mm bases are too big to use in Space Hulk).

Removing the blood drops was relatively easy and only required the use of a hobby knife and a file. Where I could, I kept iconagraphy that was univeral (the chalis was questionable... but oh well) and replaced blooddrops in chains with round jewels made with green stuff and used as many commander and/or terminator sprue bits as possible. Lastly, I added a few skulls from a chaos sprue that suprisingly matched very well. Here are a couple of examples:

Once it was all said and done, it wasn't that hard to do. It's just slow going for me. The materials I used aren't really inexpensive (see the image below) and overall, are easily found. I used plastic canvas for knitting or cross-stitching (5 8"x11" sheets were like 4 USD), a "No Parking" sign from Home Depot (which was like 3 USD) to use as plasticard and some Evergreen styrene (10 USD, there isn't really a good substitute for pipes and "tech" base fodder).

Once I finish these up and get them primed I'll post some more pictures... as that'll be where the rubber hits the road. Overall, I'm happy with this and look forward to painting these puppies up. 

Also, on an unrelated note - I managed to get a "more matte" finish, which I just put of the not-so-matte finish on my scouts, and I am fairly happy with how they turned out.

Hawk Lords (Raven Guard) Icons with Green Stuff and Magnetizing Attack Bikes

So I have a little trip coming up (2 weeks in DC!), and had planned on taking some minis to paint with me. We'll see if the painting happens, but I sure would like to get the above attack bike squad finished. So I figured, why not make this post into a little tutorial on how I do my Hawk Lords (or Raven Guard) shoulder icons with greens stuff press molds. Hell, while I'm at it, why not also show how I magnetized the bikes for both heavy bolters and multi-meltas. So here goes....

Step 1. Here are the materials needed. 1) green stuff, 2) olive oil, 3) space marine shoulder bit (on sprue or off, but I find on the sprue to be easier), 4) exacto knife and/or sculpting tool, and 5) super glue (not pictured).

 

Step 2. Get a little piece of green stuff  the size of the icon you want to sculpt, and press it on to the shoulder bit. Honestly, I developed this technique trying to copy one of Ron's sculpts. Also, use a tiny drop of olive oil to smooth out the pressed circle, before you start sculpting. Fingerprints don't exactly make for nice icons.

 

Step 3. Here are the successive steps I use for my Hawk Lords icon. Of course, they differ slightly each time, but once you have one you like... you're good to go on making a press mold or you can try and sculpt them for each marine.... I don't recommend this. Just make a press mold, mash it on, and clean it up for each marine. It's much easier and consistent.

Step 4.  Now there are ample press mold tutorial by From the Warp members (e.g., Corvus and  Shotrsonfire79), but here's how I do it. Once you icon you like, dab a bit of olive oil on it, and press a bit of green stuff on top. Take care to make sure it doesn't wrap around the shoulder pad, or you'll be stuck (pun intended).

 

Step 5. Once the green stuff mold cures, pop it off and clean it up (wash off the oil). 

 

Step 6. If you do it right (or are lucky), you can pop off the icon you built and put them onto another bit. Here are the ones I did for my primed and magnetized attack bike squad.

  

Step 7.  lastly, magnetizing is easy and for me it's the final step before painting. Also, there are quite a few tutorials on the process over at From the Warp, so be sure to check them out. If your careful and have small magnets, you can put one in the bottom of your weapons and one in the handles of the seated attack bike gunner. Make sure to check the polarization before you glue them in since the magnets only attack one way. This is especially important for the second weapon.

Step 8. Paint 'em... and that's just what I am going to do. Hope you found this helpful and check back for the painted squad.