Melta weapons, drill out the barrels or not?

[averykess]

Is there a logical reason for drilling out the barrels of melta weapons? Since they are essentially microwave emitters (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Melta_Weapons) maybe the end with the ventilated shroud is a wave-form guide?

 

What do you guys think?

 

I'd like to see some kind of alternate paint scheme that doesn't drill out the barrel.

[Bannus]

Always drill out the barrels - melta or no. ;)

[captain sox]

^ This! I usually just go very shallow on my meltas. Bolters and Flamers have deeper holes drilled in them. Storm Bolters too.

[dlfleetw]

I like drilling a shallow hole and then GS'ing a lens onto the end of meltas. It makes them look different.

[Korloth Darkwolf]

I drill out the barrels and also carve out the vents too, but then i also do that to bike exhausts too.

[pueriexdeus]

If you look at the AoBR MM barrels, they appear to have a hole in them. So Id say yes.

[Olgerth Istaarn]

Always drill.

[Hemal]

I even drill the vents on the sides of the barrel, then use a jewellers saw to expand them out a bit..

[Tanhausen]

If you want a "sonic" finish... why not draw a "speaker grid" with a hobby knive?

[EmbattledSoul]

curious as to what size bit i should use for flamers, heavybolters, plasma guns, and meltas?

[Pig Of Sparta]

I generally use the 1mm drill bit that came with my Pin Vice for bolter, bolt pistol and plasma pistol barrels and for drilling the pilot holes for any othe weapon barrels. I think (since I haven't done one for a long time that I might use the 1mm one for plasma guns as well...)

 

For flamers and meltas I drill a 1mm pilot hole then usually expand the first few mm of it to 2 or 3mm using a larger bit to slightly hollow out the heat shield. I never thought of trimming out the vents as well, but it could look really good if done well.

 

For Heavy Bolters, Plasma Cannon and Lascannon I'd go with a 1mm pilot hole then re-drilling with a 3mm bit, for Multimelta's you want about the same I think.

 

oh, and to answer the original question, I'd always drill the barrels - unless they're already drilled...

 

James

[Solid Zaku]

I drill personally, but another SM at my FLGS doesn't. He's of the mind that Meltas are giant microwave cannons, so he actually puts a glass-like shimmer on the tips of his. Looks good, so I don't complain.

[MonSTeR]

I tend to paint them as solid silver chunks of metal, so as to appear as some sort of metal emitter plate or similar. No pics at the mo' sorry.

[zxyogi]

Meltas are not microwave guns thet fire concentrated fuel......

 

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Multi-melta

 

 

:)

[igotsmeakabob!!]

Meltas are either microwave guns or fire super-magma. It seems like both exist in the year 40000.

[agroszkiewicz]

I just stick the tip of my scalpel into the plastic and twirl it with my fingers. Makes a good start which I then enlarge with the tip of the scalpel.

 

Please note that I do not have a drill and a vice. If I did, I'd use those.

 

 

Personally I don't think you need to drill anything unless you are going to be staring at the models closely. When they are in a large formation small details are easily glossed over. Comes down to the whole equation of modeling.

 

T = time spent

F = frustration level

D = detail

C = color contrast

 

 

So you would have (DxC)+T=? compared to the flat number of F. Albeit these levels are totally arbitrary and differ greatly for each person. ;) lulz

[The Normish]

I never understood the whole "drill the barrels" thing. I just paint the holes black. It looks the same form above, and since I only ever go for tabletop quality, why bother doing more? It's like battle-damage. Not only is it a bother, but are you seriously suggesting that my Marines can't maintain and fix their own armor? Pish-posh!

[Brother Nihm]

I never understood the whole "drill the barrels" thing. I just paint the holes black. It looks the same form above, and since I only ever go for tabletop quality, why bother doing more? It's like battle-damage. Not only is it a bother, but are you seriously suggesting that my Marines can't maintain and fix their own armor? Pish-posh!

It's the cool factor I'm guessing, more work put into it = more cool.

Personally I think it looks too damn good not to do (yes I drill as well). link

[Meatman]

Just a thought, if meltas are basically microwaves, then you can plane polarize them with something similar to a grill you get on bbqs. Get 2 at 90 degrees to each other and you stop the wave. Essentially this

 

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/images/polarizationfigure1.jpg

 

 

 

On topic, I drill out my melta and flamer barrels, helps make the "scorched" look I paint on the end look better...

[agroszkiewicz]

I never understood the whole "drill the barrels" thing. I just paint the holes black. It looks the same form above, and since I only ever go for tabletop quality, why bother doing more? It's like battle-damage. Not only is it a bother, but are you seriously suggesting that my Marines can't maintain and fix their own armor? Pish-posh!

 

 

From 24+ inches back its not really going to matter if its a black dot or a drilled hope. However some folks actually find the process of modeling and customizing to be really enjoyable.

 

I've got over 2k points in chaos that I've never played....just paint and model them for now.

[EmbattledSoul]

Now for the scorched look, chaos black fading back to tin bitz?

[captain sox]

Now for the scorched look, chaos black fading back to tin bitz?

 

Exactly. I dry brush the Tin Bits on first, then dry brush the Chaos Black on over top. Works well!

[Ironblood]

if they are microwave emmitters, why do they have tanks and hoses? jsut sayin'. ;)

 

I drill mine as well.

[Vodunius]

I drill out the end, but not the vents on the side as I've always figured they were like the vents on a sten gun:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/khromash/9-mm-sub-machine-gun-smg-or-sten-gun.jpg

ie: there to let out hot air rather than reduce the power of the weapon by letting the actual energy out.