Quick Army to assemble

Hello again,

I've thought about getting quick Wargames armies set up and my favourite all time topic is Warhammer 40k space marines. The gaming or in game aspect will be discussed by gaming specific blogs, I aim to touch on the modelling aspect of things.

Planning stage

Well it often comes down to speed (quantity) versus creative (quality). When a competitive gamer wants a quick army, speed is often the issue. Especially when one is a tournament regular. In the case of marines, what I would look for are no frills easy to assemble. A good example is the humble tactical squad.

What I'd plan if I were in a rush or want something done quick is to look at my ten man squad. I want 7 generic push fit bolter marines, one sergeant, one heavy weapons and one special weapons. Other than the missile launcher and plasma cannon guy, you will need to assemble a Lascannon and Multi Melta. So through assembly is cut down to 2.5 guys while the rest can be push fit.

The special weapons marine can be magnetised at the wrists with new kits circa 6th edition 2013. I simply swap the special weapons bit around my biker marines. Sergeants can be magnetised for weapons too. 

Get Used

I'm also an advocate of buying used marines but not vehicles. I strip the paints off the minis and repaint them. Vehicles are tougher to strip and repaint. These minis usually come assembled although adhesives maybe also stripped with cleaners like simple green. Resale prices are a fraction of the completed kit's price and are sometimes value for money.

Batch Processing

Usually do my marines, Cygnar or Trollbloods in batches. This allow for me to work on stuff when other model with adhesives or paints are drying out. Gets few things done too.

What's your consideration when trying to do up a quick army? Let us know and subscribe to our articles if this has been useful to you. Jase Libertas has been selected by Hobbymate to be their artist for miniatures at the SIngapore Toy and Games Convension happening at Scape this weekend. Do drop by to give him your support!

Believe in the sign of Zeta!

Harder and Steenbeck Evolution Silverline 2 in 1 unboxing

Sup' people. Sashimi Zeta here. Have accepted the invite by Jase Libertas to add contribute to our hobby blog.

Picked up a 2 in 1 Evolution Silverline airbrush from Hobbymate recently at a good deal. Locally, we are able to get Tamiya, Gunze, Badger, Paasche and Sparmax clones. There used to be a distributor by the name of Storm Domain carrying H&S in the past.

I leapt at the chance to get a quality airbrush and initially placed an order for an Ultra 2 in 1. Edmund convinced me to step up for the Evolution instead as I already own an entry level OEM airbrush and portable compressor. 

First Peeks

With abated breath I opened my new airbrush. Came shrink wrapped in its packaging but here is the casing and its contents. Airbrushes nowadays come double action. That means pressing down on the trigger just sprays air from the compressor. Pressing and pulling back the trigger will push the paint through the nozzle.

The 2 in one comes with a set of two needles and nozzles a 0.2 and a 0.4mm. I primarily work with acrylic paints and reviews online mentioned that 0.2 is fine enough for acrylics. Anything finer may just increase the rate of clogging.

The trigger feels just right for me as compared with my OEM entry level and Iwata Eclipse HP-CS. Its not as stiff as the Eclipse or flimsy as the OEM.

The Silverline comes with 2 screw on cups. 

The case.

The contents of the airbrush

A Closer Look

I couldn't believe the ease in assembly and reassembly. A noteworthy point is the trigger assembly. Most airbrush manufacturers design their triggers and auxiliary back levers separately. The H&S system seems to have combined both, resulting in easier assembling.

The air intake at the bottom and be adjusted with a pan head screw driver. The only difference between the Evolution and the Silverline is the needle limiter at the end of the handle. Edmund mentions that the part can be purchased separately.

The Evolution Silverline dissassembled

With that I come to the end of the first part of my review. In a future installment, I hope to be able to do an output test for the three airbrushes.

All Your Bases are belongs to Us!

Base Jumping

Pardon the lack of grammar there. It's Sashimi Zeta again here. I've recently spotted a trend of Space Marines releases on 32mm bases. For those who're interested in a history lesson, Space Marines are usually released on 25mm bases for Devastators, Tactical, Assault, Veterans (including command squad, Sternguard and Vanguard) squads.

Design Issues

The designers at games workshop mentioned that the change in base sizes was due to design and players are free to decide if they want to re-base their models or keep to the bases they were supplied with. Design aside, the 32mm bases seems to suggest larger space area, affecting gameplay. But that's for a gaming, not modelling blog to discuss.

Re-based marines and Librarian.

Baseless Assumptions

There are a two main options available to model gamers. 1) Get 32mm adapters ring which are sized to base size of 25mm bases. Slot in the model and you're done. 2) Get a model off its current base and base it on a new 32mm base.

This blog post focuses on the second option. One could simply soak the feet of a model in Simple Green or diluted Dettol antiseptic solution. This also means stripping off existing paintwork. Once done, remove the model and plant it on your new base of choice. Paint over the stripped portion and rebase.

Excision of sides

I chose to cut away the sides of the base. I simply then file the bottom of the base to make it flush and stick it on the new 32mm base. Which I added more flock. There is the other option of metal minis which were fixed in on to the old bases which had a slot in the centre.

You there! Go get a new base!

One could either cut a slot in the 32mm base to accommodate that or just cut away the metal piece piece requiring a slot. Either way, it achieves the same purpose.

Good as New! Well almost!

Hope that this is informative and helpful to you. Sashimi Zeta out!

Stripping and re painting minis

Wet works you say?

The title says it all. But before you fling rotten tomatoes at me, this is not meant to be anything sleazy, it's a hobby blog.

Curiosity got the better of me and I bought some used minis from an online buy and sell FB forum. Decided to get some used marines and tau.

Thankfully or not so thankfully, the marines were the push fit kind so disassembly and reassembly wouldn't be overly difficult.

After and Before. Pardon the sepia lomo effect.

Simple Green

This wonder cleaner also removes paints. I filled up my painting glass with enough simple green to cover the minis and left them soaking overnight. I took a scrubbing brush and brushed off the contents.

Acrylic paints were easy to rub off. My only bugbear? Enamel paints. Took like forever to get the enamel off 3 of my used marines. But simple green soaked into the paint enough for me to scrub it off with a wire brush.

I primed with Citadel Caledor Sky, the new name for enchanted blue. I primed with Vallejo grey primer and then a layer of Caledor Sky, the new name for Citadel's Enchanted Blue paint.

Tau are up

Next to get their baths are the Tau. Little grey men are going to commander Top Down while my marines are quite successful. Maybe I'll consider used marines in future.

Grey men getting green bath.

WH40K Space Wolves - Stormfang/Stormwolf conversion

This is my first conversion, which was completed about a year ago.
Full conversion of a Stormfang/Stormwolf with magnets. It can take on the configuration of a troop carrier or main gun unit with minimal parts changes, with secondary weapon swap options.



The main gun assembly

 

Rear turret/Cover options

Front ramp

Weapon options

Main fuselage