Time for some Characters

One of each sounds like a good start

The one thing you can definitely say about Rogue Trader era miniatures is that they ooze character.  So I picked out one of each hero type from the collection, chucked them in the isopropyl alcohol whilst I finished off the last squad.  

First thing to note.  Whatever white I used on the Medic definitely didn't want to come off as easy as the other colours.  It took a little scrubbing some time in acetone and finally they were as nude as the blisters they came in.  

Second thing,  I really didn't pay much attention to mould lines etc... back then.  Well nothing much has changed though I did run the edge of the hobby knife over most of them through I did end up missing one line on the Techmarine,s leg (which was promptly put to good use as a section marker for etc the hazard stripes)!

Original Paint Job

After Stipping

Unfortunately I had run out of black primer and I couldn't be bothered making a special run to the hardware store so undercoated them in trusty grey.  I use Rust Oleum primer which I think has a better value for money compare to GW or similar primers though more expensive than the cheap, cheap cans.

Anyway, once the initial green base coat was on, I don't think the grey really made a difference compared to the black.  

Grey Undercoat (As I ran out of Black)

As per the Space Marine Painting Guide with some artistic license:

• Techmarine, chapter green, with White hands (on shoulder pad) and some Industrial Patterning 
• Medic, chapter green with helmet half White and half Red with Red shoulder pad and left arm
• Librarian, chapter green apart from the book motif.  So White Scroll on shoulder pad
• Lieutenant, chapter green with personal livery on right shoulder pad and rank markings.
• Chaplain, chapter green with Black helmet with White skull - so white Skull Face

All finished in their new Salamander livery

I don't really have a plan on how I want to paint each marine until I start and then it either works out or it doesn't.  However I have settled on some consistent features:

• the Chapter Green mix.
• Black backpack, shooting weapons and shoulder pads
• skulls, terminator honours and similar motifs are bone-ish
• imperial eagles are yellow

I have a dreadnought in the isopropyl alcohol and it will be up next.

The Salamanders need a Veteran Squad

 

Bring out your 'Old Lead'

Next unit of the rank is a mix of 1988 and 1991 era marines. Pictures below are of them stripped prior to their black under coat and with the finished paint job.

Mk VI Corvus Armour 1

Mk VI Corvus Armour 2

Artificer Armour 4

Artificer Armour 3

Terminator Honours 1

Terminator Honours 2

Terminator Honours 3

Brother Dixon

Brother Leach with Plasma Gun

Brother Martins with Hand Flamer and either Heavy Plasma Gun or Plasma Gun as it changed depending on catalogue

Brother Morris and Brother Angst with their Melta Meltas, undercoated and finished paint job. 

Brother Morris with his Multi Melta and Bolt Pistol

Brother Angst with his Multi Melta

Now that you have scrolled through all the pics.  New bigger space marines might be nicer to paint (so I hear, but since I don't have any and am unlikely to every buy one I will just have to take people's word on this), but these marines seem much easier to paint that 20 year old me remembers.

Whilst the hand sculpting seems a little dodgy compared to today's digitally sculpted miniatures, they have lots of character and lots of fun to paint.  Also I am painting quickly and this batch of 12 will have taken less than 6 hours to paint.  I am happy to call these decent table top standard and think they look much nicer than the original paint job.  I am actually looking forward to having them all painted in one uniform colour scheme.

They are also nowhere near as shiny as the photos suggest.

The next batch is soaking in IPA and ready for a final wizz in the ultrasonic cleaner, toothbrush, wash and then they will be ready for painting.  It is time to give this force some characters, so I have a Lieutenant, Chaplain, Librarian, Medic and Techmarine up next.