Category Archives: Ultramarines

Inquisition War: Deathwatch Vehicles

As part of the ongoing Inquisition War campaign at Endgame, I needed some rides for my Inquisitorial retinue and Deathwatch Kill Team.

I decided on a Razorback for the retinue.  I wanted to use something that could double as a vehicle for the Deathwatch when the campaign is done, which eliminated the various IG options.  Plus, psybolt ammo.

Inquisitorial Razorback

I used the Forge World Rhino doors and brass etch set, plus embellished with a few bits from the bits box to really pimp it out. The whole think was primed black, then airbrushed from the top with a dark gray.  This gives a slight gradient, and makes the tank look a little less flat.

The Deathwatch generally ride to battle in a Drop Pod.  This is, of course, awesome, although they often don’t survive to see turn two.  I should probably adjust my tactics.

Deathwatch Drop Pod (closed)

The Drop Pod got the same gray airbrush treatment as the Razorback.  I wanted to make this thing look Deathwatchy.  Since the thing is five-way symmetric, it took most of the small brass etch insignia to get it done.  Five each on the door, above the vent thing on the sides, on the top, and on the floor in front of each pair of harnesses.

Deathwatch Drop Pod (open)

Again, the weapon is magnetized, and both storm bolter and missile launcher are painted up.

Deathwatch Drop Pod (detail)

Updated July 2018 with improved images.

Random Rursday: Hunter Missile

On Thursdays, I like to take a break from my army projects.  Instead, I try to do something that I can start and complete all in one evening.

 

A really quick one this week.

I finished the Hunter/Stalker kit a while ago. I decided to take it in the Hunter variety in my next game. This tank, if it misses, gets another chance the next turn. That means you need a marker of some kind.

The kit came with a missile to stick in the gun barrel, which I decided to save for something like this project. A quick snip of a paperclip, some primer, drybrush, and it’s done.

Hunter missile

About the only clever bit to this model is, naturally, not pictured. I put a blob of green stuff on the underside to give the wire something to bite into. Previously I’ve only pinned stuff to more solid resin bases, which doesn’t have that problem.

The back really cries out for something from the Armorcast Cinematic Effects line, but I need this for a game now. I hope to go back and give this model a more dynamic smoke trail/rocket flame/whatever.

Updated September 2018 with improved images.

Ultramarines: Sniper Scouts

More Ultramarines, hot on the heels of the tanks.  This time I’ve done a set of the plastic sniper scouts, which I got as part of the strike force.

Sniper Scout (no cloak)

Scouts have small shoulder pads, and I didn’t have the small-U decals.  I did have some from the old space marine bike set that had a the U in a circle, so I just trimmed off the circle.  I think it works pretty well.

Sniper Scout (gun up)

I decided to use the pointing hand on the sergeant, since just about everybody puts on the other hand.  I should have put the scope back on his rifle, though.

I was pleased to see that it had parts to either do the missile launcher guy or another sniper — including the torso and head.  All you need to do to field both is to find some legs and a base.  As luck would have it, I have some scout legs in my bits box.

Scout (missile launcher)

I somehow missed that the crouching guy had his own torso, complete with cloak that goes around the leg.  I noticed after basecoating, and was able to correct it without any real problems.

Updated September 2018 with improved images.

Ultramarines: Old School Whirlwind

This is the third and final tank from this batch.  This was the first 40k tank I bought with my own money (as opposed to a gift), way back when it was released in 1995.  I painted it at the time, although not nearly to my current standards.  Unfortunately, I failed to take a picture before I re-primed it.

The chassis is a white plastic, and the turret and radar dish thing are pewter. I’ve mostly been using Reaper’s Brown Wash on metals, before the final drybrush highlights.  On this model I decided to try Secret Weapon’s Armor Wash.  It’s a lot darker, and gives more of an oily look.  I like it, although maybe not for the Ultramarines.

Whirlwind

I used the weathering powders here again.  I think it added a nice dirty look to it, although I need to play with other weathering techniques.  I went from bright to dark browns on this one, reversed from the Stalker, I went from bright to dark browns on this one.  It ended up with a much sandier look, which wasn’t really what I’m going for here.  I like experimenting, even when it’s not quite the result I want.

For bonus geek and/or hoarding points, I’ve kept the White Dwarf introducing the kit.

Updated July 2018 with improved images.