More magnet madness!

A comment on that last post (thank you!) asked me about the magnets I use.

I’m using 1/8″ diameter x 1/32″ thick magnets for magnetizing the Marines’ arms. I got them off eBay from a seller in Hawaii.

To magnetize the arms, one goes in the shoulder on the torso and the other goes in the arm. I had originally tried using 1/16″ x 1/32″ magnets on the wrists so I could switch weapons at the hand but those magnets are so small they don’t stick together very strongly, so I decided I would just do them at the shoulder. But I might try the 1/16″ in the wrists again if I were building a model that had a two-handed grip on its weapon – when I eventually get around to building some Devastators I may try this.

I use 1/4″ and 1/8″ magnets on my vehicles and dreadnoughts. The 1/4″ ones I use for the dreadnought arms and hardpoints on the Rhinos. The larger size makes for a very positive attachment. I used 1/8″ magnets on the smaller vehicle fittings, like the weapon components on the Razorback.

The next time I put something together with magnets (probably a Predator) I’ll take some pics of the process.

Recent work – Bikes & Captain

With the holidays coming up, I’ve pulled back on acquisitions of new models for my Space Marine Chapter. The last things i bought were a Bike Squad and an Assault Terminator Sgt. I got off eBay to use as a Captain or Lysander stand-in. I spent most of the month working on these guys and finished them off this weekend.

I really like the bike models and I’ll probably build out a full squad of these plus an attack bike at some point. I magnetized the right arm of the sergeant so he can be equipped with a power sword or power fist. If I pay attention to the polarity of the magnets I’ll be able to use these arms on any future figures I build as well.

The banner on the bike sgt. is magnetized so I can pull it off for storage/transport. I had an idea to put banners on all the bikes, but talked myself out of that, fortunately! My wife was laughing and said I should write 「夜露死苦」(“yoroshiku”) which is a pun on the Japanese word for “greetings” that uses kanji characters for dark and nasty things – you see this sort of thing on the banners of Japanese bosozoku motorcycle gang punks.  I thought about it but that second kanji would be a bitch to write that small. Anyway, the bikes came out okay, so I’m happy with them.

The Terminator Captain I will eventually use to lead a Terminator Assault Squad, but for now, he’ll stand in for Lysander (I’m calling him Masamune). I wrote the furinkazan chapter motto on his left greave and I think it came out really well this time – some of my better work with the fudepen. I’m getting better and more confident writing kanji so small, but I’ll be damned if I’m not holding my breath every time I do it – there’s no room for error (an I do make a lot).

I’m satisfied with the mon on the banner. I originally wanted to do the actual Date Masamune family crest, but a test on a piece of scrap quickly revealed it was just too hard for me, at least with my level of brush control. So I went for an easier design and used the Tokugawa family crest, which I did without looking at a reference because I know it well. Thing is, when I was painting it, I couldn’t remember whose it was, and then when I was done, I realized it. Probably should have used something more obscure, but oh well.

This was the first “modern” Terminator model I’ve painted and I have to say, it’s a pretty cool model.

Motivation

With almost every mini I paint, there’s a bit of a psychological hump to get over right at the beginning (for me anyway). After I prime a figure and then start in on the basecoats, it always looks pretty crappy. I haven’t fixed the edges, smudges, goofs, etc. When I look at these unfinished minis, I always think, “This is never gonna look any good,” and I feel Like I want to just put it aside and forget about it. Powering through this little mental block is kinda tough.

Dreadnought & Sergeant pics

Took a few shots of my dreadnought. I finally got all the weapons painted and it’s all done – a good feeling! I magnetized all the weapons and put big magnets in the torso and legs so the two assemblies can move or come apart for storage. Here we go:

The basic loadout

I painted the same Chapter markings on all the right arm weapons

Close combat weapon w/ Heavy Flamer

The CCW weapon mount is magnetized and I can switch between heavy flamer and storm bolter

The kanji read (left) Oni (right) Guma - Oniguma - Demon Bear

Banners attached

Opposite side

Lascannon - I tried the "heat stained" effect on the barrels using washes. Came out pretty well.

Assault cannon, also with heat discoloration and muzzle scorching

2nd Company Banner with the company commander's insignia (top), company number (middle), and company insignia (bottom)

Honored Brother Oniguma's personal heraldry

Front close-up, with the Chapter motto on the right armor plate

"Move as swift as a wind, stay as silent as forest, attack as fierce as fire, undefeatable defense like a mountain."

And you remember that old captain model I dug out of the bits box the other day?

Well, I painted him up as Sgt. Akumashi (Daemonbane), hardass leader of one of my Tactical Squads. He’s survived an insane number of close combats against foes that greatly outnumbered or out-rolled him. The bionic leg is a good representation of that I think. I ditched the original cloak and used a current backpack and banner pole. The power sword is from that old bits sprue I found from 1992. Since the mini and the sprue are contemporary to each other, they fit perfectly.

Been doing a lot of painting lately!

Game pics from 40K, plus Tomorrow’s War

Played 40K again last Thursday. Got whupped but kinda expected it. I blame my dice and general muddleheaded-ness trying to learn the rules. I put a whole load of pictures up on Flicker, which you can check out at this link. To whet your appetite, here are a few good ones from the game.

Rising Sun Chapter

Chaplain, Dreadnought and Captain

A better shot of the Dreadnought's banners

Scary view!

One vs. many

This is what happens when you don't pay attention to detail!

There is a writeup over on the 40K Fight Club forums too.

In other new, I picked up a copy of Tomorrow’s War at last. I’ve only just started getting into it, but already I can say this is the successor to Stargrunt. TW has Stargrunt’s DNA all over it – effectiveness based on troop quality instead of weapons, real leadership effects, and a brilliant action-reaction sequence of play that keeps you involved at all times. I have fun with 40K, but to be honest I really dislike the Igo-Ugo turn sequence which I find artificial and primitive. But everything about TW is pushing minis rules in the direction I want them to go.

I’m really looking forward to getting the Pig Iron minis on the table again, and getting deep into Tomorrow’s War! Expect more on this before the end of the year!