Ultramarines Spartan

The biggest difficulty I had with this model was one of the energy cables disappearing on me while building it.  Otherwise it is basically just a bigger Land Raider.  Not wanting to have to bother with water slide transfers, I opted to raid my dwindling supply of brass etched.

 Knowing the scare effect Land Raiders have upon players, I am sure the Spartan would have a similar "kill it fast" effect.  That kind of psychological effect can be interesting to observe, especially when playing in tournaments that allow Forge World.  Though this purchase was mainly a way to round out my Ultramarines Chapter, it also helps beef up my Pre-Heresy force, which does include a 20 Marine Tactical squad.

While working on this model, I found another on Ebay, so expect to see Spartan 2 as a post some time in the future.

Ultramarines Deredeo

When I first saw the Deredeo, I knew it was a model I would want to add to my collection immediately.  I think this kind of impulse buying is one of the things Forge World relies on, because if I had waited, I most likely would have picked up the plasma carronade variant instead.

However, now I am not sure if I will just add another Deredeo, and if I do, then it probably would be a benefit to add a third, since most vehicles now come in squadrons of three.

 However, this model fulfills the desire I had to build a Contemptor with twin assault cannons and missile launcher, so I feel I can wait to add my third Contemptor when the Ultramarine variant is released.

Objective Markers

When the wounded Space Marine figures came out a couple years ago, I promptly order two packs.  An error in the packaging gave me a total of five wounded marines.  I painted them up like generic Ultramarines and then let them sit in my display case for a long time.  With the emphasis on objectives in 7th edition, I brought them out and retouched them.  I also was able to acquire the wounded terminator from one of the Tyranid kits, giving me sick dead or wounded marines. 

Touching up the already existing models, I made each one a different company, from two through six, and then added water slide transfers to emphasize that each company was also an objective number.  Especially since not every player may be as aware of Space Marine and Ultramarine details as myself.

Roboute Guilliman - Part 2

         As I continued to work on Guilliman, I worked to touch up different layers, as well as add each layer of color.  For these layers, I had to wait for the Argax Earthshade to dry.  First I added a layer of Kantor Blue.  A layer of Warpstone Glow was added to the green areas, Ceramtie white for the white, Gehenna's Gold for the gold areas and Ironbreaker for the silver.  Then I added a layer of P3 Midlund Flesh to the face.  The scenic base was given a coat of The Fang to begn attempting to layer in the marbling effect.

 The next group of layers were Russ Grey on the scenic base, Warboss Green on the laurels, a second coat of Ceramtie White to the white areas, including the cloak, and a wash of Reikland Flesh on the face.  His hair was also given a coat of Averlund Sunset.  The leather straps got a layer of Skrag Brown.

     Once the wash dried on the face, another coat of P3 Midlund Flesh was applied, tightening up the area around the eyes.  Then a .005 Micron Pen was used for the pupils.  The blue areas were given a coat of Macragge Blue as well.

 The white areas were then given two coast of White Scar, and final highlights were applies to the smaller details, gold got an edge highlight of the old GW Shining Gold, the laurels a highlight of Moot Green, brown an edge highlight of Balor Brown.

The scenic base got two coats of Ceramite White.

Finally, the base got two coats of White Scar, and then the edge of the actual base got a coat of Abaddon Black.

Guilliman's armour then got a layer of Altdorf Guard Blue, followed by edge highlights of Calgar Blue.  His hair also got a layer of Zamesi Dessert.

The last thing Guilliman gets is a coat of Abaddon Black on his scabbard.

Once the model was finished, I sprayed it with a coat of Testor's Dullcote.

Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines - Part 1

 Changing careers and going back to school has left with me little free time this past year, and much of the time I had to work on projects was consumed by commission work.  I had been thinking about coming back to this blog for a while, but I wanted to do so with a project that I was truly enthusiastic about, and could bring a new look to the way I present my work.  I chose a model I would have waited an eternity for, Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman.  Having seen after market versions of Guilliman, and the Horus Heresy novels presaging his release, there were images of Guilliman already out there.  I even managed to snag a copy of his Horus Heresy card game card.  I fell in love with this model when I first saw it, but also knew that the scenic base was something that needed to be detachable, as hauling around marble statuary.  Above is my initial look at the pieces of the kit.

 The scenic base goes together really easy, with only the iron halo type piece on one of the banners being something small and fidly to worry about.  Guilliman himself also goes together fairly easy, though I had to fudge where the pistol goes on his back.  The only pieces that cause any real difficulty are the Ultima (or Agemo if you prefer) symbols that attach to his leather waist straps.

 

Guilliman has a pair of tabs on his feet that allow him to naturally seat on the display base, allowing him to be interchangeable without fancy magnets or pinning.

 I used the tabs on Guilliman's feet to carve out the spaces for him to sit on the base to be used in game.

 The base then just got a coat of Stirland Mud for texture, and Abaddon Black around the rim.

 When I begin painting a model, I prime black, and then base coat the areas I plan to wash.  These areas received base coats of Warplock Bronze for the gold areas, Leadbelcher for the silver areas and Zandri Dust for the tan areas.  Then a wash of Argax Earthshade was brushed over those areas and left to dry.  Next time, I will work through the layers I use to finish the model.

After Market Upgrades

When I acquired the Ultima Strike Force, essentially, for just the terminator captain, I had to decide what to do with everything else in the box.  Owning an entire Chapter means I don;t really need a lot what is inside, so I did end up selling some of it.  The Storm Raven will be coming to this blog soon, as will the Venerable Dreadnought and another Terminator squad.  But the Assault squads I liquidated, and I am still decidng on the Land Raider.  So contents, distributed, I then had to figure what to do with what I am keeping.  One way to enhance, or diversify your collection is through the after market bitz market.

This squad of terminator was built using Chapterhouse Studios Gladiator torso bitz for Terminators, and their  Heresy Era shoulder pads.  Two quick swaps and you have a whole new model built.  Sadly, the left over arms I had wouldn't mesh with the shoulder pads, so the terminators have modern weaponry.  But the conversion works I think.

While after market bitz or kits are not as mainstream in the Games Workshop modelling universe, the historical model world is replete with them.  When thinking about projects, look and see what is out there, it is definitely cool to make your own, but sometime it isn't necessary to reinvent the wheel - or pay Forge World prices for something that can stand in nicely.

Captain Agemman

While this is not the first rendition of Agemman I have done, I am definitely liking the new plastic Terminator Captain.  I did have one minor slip with the hobby knife while cleaning up the sprues on the banner piece, essentially necessitating that I reduce the number of spikey bitz on it.  But other than that the model fits together really nicely.

I kept the pallet the same as my other Ultramarine models, with the addition of layers of  Dawnstone and Codex Grey (old GW color) for the rock Agemman is standing on.  My Micron pen died while working on this model, requiring me to pick up a new one, however I like the crispness it allowed me on Agemman's personal heraldry.

Once the heraldry was outlined with the Micron pen, I used a fine point brush to color it in, and extra layers of white to make sure any mistakes were cleaned up.  Next week, look for some Battle Fleet Gothic action, as the first round of the campaign gets started.  I will have the fleet roster and battle reports up.