Today I unveil my next hobby project: a Tactical Squad for my Ultramarines collection. Sorry, no complete Skaven Blood Bowl team for a while, as I’d like to wait if they’ll receive some more model support, apart from the rather failed Rat Ogre sculpt.
My Ultramarines collection is the home of some of my oldest models, and since then, my painting skills have improved and a lot of new Space Marine infantry kits have been released. I’ve reworked a couple of my dated Ultramarines models before, but now I’m planning something more radical: Instead of just updating the paint jobs, I will sort out a couple of Marines from each squad and replace them with new ones. This will allow me to integrate the new kits more organically into my collection than painting a single new squad that will make my older squads look pale.
As you can see, four models will be reworked (and converted to 32mm bases with the awesome base adapters from Tabletop Adapters), while six new models will be added. Amongst them are MkIV Marines, MkVI Marines from the updated Tactical Squad kit, and even a MkIII Marine. I don’t like mixing different armour pattern parts on a single model, so I made sure that each models’ armour is as cohesive as possible. For the MkVI Marines, I smoothed down MkVII arms with a hobby knife, liquid green stuff and very fine sand paper, to mimick the look of FW’s MkVI armour kit.
What do you think?
I really like this idea you have with keeping them cohesive but mixing marks of armour. It makes them look like a unit but also keeps each looking unique. Good stuff!
Good stuff Stahly, plan on redoing an UM army myself. Just about to knock off the Reikland Reavers in traditional paint scheme so a bit over blue for the moment (did not mind the rat ogre, but disappointed with Morg n Thorg). I really like your UM paint scheme, really grateful if you could share it/link to a past tutorial? Despite being straightforward to paint, I've never really settled on a UM paint scheme Ive been happy with – either too dark, too bright, etc. cheers mate.
I can concur to the above, that has to be the first "modern" metallic scheme for UM that I like !
The gold is great, what's the whole recipe please ?
Years ago, I created a tutorial for my Ultramarines: http://taleofpainters.blogspot.de/2011/11/tutorial-painting-ultramarines-stahly.html
But I'm working on a more comprehensive step-by-step tutorial in the style of our recent tutorials.
The gold is basecoated with Vallejo Game Color Shining Gold, then recess washed with VGC Brown Ink, and highlight with Army Painter Shining Silver.