Epic Space Marines part 7. - Ultramarines part 3. Armoured support

More from my Epic Ultramarines, a selection of amoured support. First up some original Predators, I actually attempted the same effect with my large scale Dark Angels - a ruddy great orange turret! Unfortunately I can't find it anyhwere, so I currently have a 40k Predator chassis, with the las-cannon sponsons but no turret!

Original Whirlwinds, based on the DIY tutorial that was in White Dwarf. I made two full scale Whirlwind Turrets at the time, I've still got them and they're detachable so may wellfeature in my reborn Dark Angels force.

Lastly, Vindicators. These are the Mk 2 design from Epic. I have some of the original Mk 1's based on the DIY tutorial that was in White Dwarf but these were the ones I got fully painted, decalled and varnished. Maybe the decals are a bit Imperial Guard now but I still like the idea that these models have markings on top, so they can be seen clearly by Titans and Gunships overhead. It really brings a sense of scale.

Epic Space Marines part 6. - Ultramarines part 2. Thunderhawks

Here's my Thunderhawks. G.O.D. I loved Thunderhawks in Epic. They were the single best unit for Space Marines, shortly followed by Land Raiders and then Tarantulas [in my book]. Realistically there was no way the amount of stands suggested could fit inside one but they were the best delivery unit.

Drop pods were ridiculous, you put a stack of card drop pod markers on a blast template, balanced it on a ruler, then tipped the template, where a marker landed you replaced it with a pod. If it landed off-table or on terrain I think it was destroyed and even if it did land units on First Fire orders got to 'snap fire' at the incoming pods and blow them up before landing - useless!

Better to have one of these babies swoop in from anywhere, blast hell out of everything with it's rockets and cannon and then carry on being a thorn in your opponents side for the remainder of the game.

As you can see there's a squad of three for some Tactical Units and a personal transport, I think this was for a Chaplain, or an Inquisitor, whatever I felt was the best option at the time. Two coloured decals were used to get the winged Ultramarine Skull.

Not so sure how I feel the new version of the Thunderhawk shapes up against these, design-wise, then again these aren't exactly iconic [or even aerodynamic] but I've always liked them nontheless.

Actually, just spotted they look more like the new Stormraven with underslung wings than a Thunderhawk...

Biel Tan-tastic

So my son got some Eldar for Christmas, that seems ages ago now but this blog isn't always current. Anyway despite my request for advice and my son's initial desire for Iyanden and Nacretineï he decided on Biel Tan. Not sure why, his cousin has White Scars army so they'll look very similar. Now despite my instructions to 'not interfere' I thought I'd at least come up with some painting plans for him to follow so he could get a decent result. However, when I asked him if he wanted to start on some of my old Warhammer Fantasy Battle High Elves he said 'no, he'd rather go straight to the Guardians and Jetbike'. 

Of course I sat with him and painted these fellas whilst he did, ultimately wishing I hadn't because I found a better solution in my tests than the one I suggested based on this tutorial. I really liked Lloyd's guide and his Guardian looked cool but perhaps a beginner using Badab Black as a light wash for white isn't always going to be subtle. 

Anyhoo my test below from left to right is 

• Vallejo Stonewall grey basecoat with white drybrush [subtle]
  Black basecoat helmet with Sap Green craft acrylic [glossy]
• Vallejo Stonewall grey basecoat, Badab Black wash, with white drybrush [less subtle]
  Black basecoat helmet with Vallejo Dark Green [matt]
• Vallejo Stonewall grey basecoat, Badab Black wash, with white drybrush [less subtle]
  White basecoat helmet with Vallejo Dark Green [neon but kind of acts like a wash so built in highlights]
• Anita's Baby Blue craft acrylic basecoat, with white drybrush [so subtle, so pretty, soperfect]
  Black basecoat helmet with Sap Green craft acrylic [glossy]

The right one is what he should have done, less mess, easier to do and quicker as it's one less paint to add.

So here is my son's first Jetbike using the 'Vallejo Stonewall grey basecoat, Badab Black wash, with white drybrush [less subtle] and Black basecoat helmet with Vallejo Dark Green [matt] method.

And the Guardians...

To be honest I can't say I've learned enough from my Being a Pushy Dad post. I've still helped to much, there were tears and tantrums and really I should just leave him to it. On the plus side we had two sessions of painting to get to this stage and he did instigate the second session which is progress in my book and I think I left him to it more the second time. Inbetween all these Eldar I've got him painting a Genestealer and a base of Rippers but I've not photographed them.

'nids part 14. Trygon interlude

Now that you've seen how the Hive Fleet got it's colour scheme here's another example of a big gribbly. I'll put some bigger pics up at some point, he's had some highlights added to his talons since these were taken and I may add one final set of turquoise highlights, as I did with the Tervigon.

The hardest part about painting a Trygon in this way is the tail, that baby goes on forever! Loads of striping and dotting |||| .:.:.

Terrain is everything - 40k Hex Tower 1.

Having created the '40K outpost that got bigger 'I started to add more items using the same architectural asthetic. Here's the initial sketch, it was for a tall thin tower of a similar height to the 40kOTGB. It reminded me of the Tower of Orthanc from Lord of the Rings

The tower would mainly be used as a scout outpost. Not entirely sure how the lookout would get up there but a lift might allow them to get the top because a spiral staircase would struggle, but what the hey!
Lot's of issues with the buttresses twisting so it's not entirely plumb straight but this is the best angle. View it from another side and it's the leaning tower of Pizza.

Here is is, pretty much finished on a CD base. Still to colour the door and buttress supports. In game terms it's a bit of a 'red herring' trying to maintain unit coherency is a nightmare. I allow anyone in the lookout to be in coherency with the rest of the unit at the foot of the building. Presumably the enhance comms equipment inside allows this. However, it pretty much means your unit is static. Of course if you just have one las-cannon perched at the top this may be ideal, though in real terms, not so much...

.pdf templates are available here.

Epic Space Marines part 5. - Ultramarines part 1. Land Raiders

Here we go with the first of quite a few eked out posts on my Epic Ultramarines. First a 10 man squad of Land Raiders. Somehow I can't imagine the current version of the Land Raider looking quite so iconic in Epic scale. The paint style is overly exagerated, much like my firend Jay's Ultramarines from around that time. I removed the tiny door viewports so I could have a flat surface to add the number decals. Each unit of three with a separate identifying colour, white, yellow, green and black for the command tank.

More coming up!

New Blood Angels gubbins

Not that we didn't know this stuff was coming but I just saw GW announced this 40 minutes ago via their new facebook page and wondered if I could get the Youtube embed to work...