Ashen Sentinels - my Primaris Space Marine army

[firestorm40k]

Several days (a week basically ) later I finally get time to get pics of this finished squad - but here we are:

 

I'm pleased with how these have turned out, and very happy with the scheme overall 

 

On to the next squads now - I've got another Assault Intercessor Squad that I've started the highlights on, then another of those, a Hellblaster Squad, and a Lieutenant to do. I'm hoping I can get these all done by the end of the year  I've finished another project I was workong on, so hopefully I can focus on these and get them done..! 

Edited October 1, 2023 by firestorm40k

[Pearson73]

Smashing stuff! The plasma is really nicely done and the decals help complete the models.

[firestorm40k]

Thank you @Pearson73 

 

Here's where I'm at with these now; the squad at the back has had two armour highlights. The one in front has had the base colour and wash applied, so will start on panel-lining them next. And the Hellblasters at the front have just had the base coat (two thinned coats of Dawnstone),and will get the wash next. 

 

I'm taking a bit of a 'tandem' approach with these, instead of the usual 'production line' approach. By that I mean I'll do one step on one squad (e.g. painting the undersuit), and alternate with doing a different step on another (e.g. armour highlights). 

 

I'm hoping that by taking this approach I'll get them done within the time frame I hope (by year end), but without getting fed up of doing the same step 15 times in a row. That's the aim, anyway..! 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Ah, the batch painting line ... smells like progress  

 

On a more serious note, I like your painting handles. Stupidly, I threw mine out years ago when they dried out - the old white flip-top pots aren't nearly as good as a handle!

[firestorm40k]

Time for an update, though not very exciting - I'm working through the armour highlights on each squad, staggering these with other steps (e.g. panel-lining) on other squds between. Here's some more vintage Citadel paint pot action for @Firedrake Cordova 

 

 

On 10/12/2023 at 12:58 PM, Firedrake Cordova said:

I like your painting handles. Stupidly, I threw mine out years ago when they dried out - the old white flip-top pots aren't nearly as good as a handle!

Thanks - my keeping these has nothing to do with me being quite a terrible hoarder when it comes to hobby related materials, honest  But they have certainly proven to have usefulness long after the paint has been used up/dried out - and you're absolutely right about the new pots! 

[firestorm40k]

Another semi-irregular update  Painting production line operations continue  Armour done, undersuit done, I'm now on the hoksters/pouches (and managed to sneak in base coat of green on the shoulder trims). 

 

You may notice the chap at the bottom of the photo; I found my 40mm ZM bases (ironically after ordering some more, the very day they turned up as well ) and decided to build the Captain to go with this Boarding Patrol. 

 

As you can see, I'm using the Imperium exclusive model - at first I was going to give him a helmet instead of using the head that comes in the kit, but he has a helmet sculpted on his leg, and I couldn't be bothered to remove it and repair the leg where it would have been  My main reason for wanting to change the head originally was simply because I'm not too keen on the way he's looking upwards. Anyway, I've assembled part of the miniature (the part with the cloak hasn't been glued on so I can paint in sub-assemblies), and when you view the miniature 'head-on' (so to speak) he doesn't appear so much to be looking upwards (thankfully!) 

 

From that angle he looks more like he's making a challenge, rather than looking up as though parrying a blow from a bigger foe. 

 

I've also found my unassembled Chaplain from the Indomitus set, so I'll start assembling him soon 

[Rusted Boltgun]

Progress is being made! Nice and methodically too, I should take note!

 

Quick question - are those arms on the sub-assemblies drilled and glued to the mounting wires? If so, do you 'just' snip them off and glue them to the bodies later?

[Magos Kasen]

These look really great, I like the colour scheme a lot. 

[firestorm40k]

8 hours ago, Rusted Boltgun said:

Progress is being made! Nice and methodically too, I should take note!

Thank you @Rusted Boltgun! I'm all about that methodical progress  though to be fair, miniatures like Marines really lend themselves to being painted with that approach.

8 hours ago, Rusted Boltgun said:

Quick question - are those arms on the sub-assemblies drilled and glued to the mounting wires? If so, do you 'just' snip them off and glue them to the bodies later?

They are indeed drilled and glued on to the wires  When they're completed and ready to be stuck on the bodies, I carefully twist the wires, to kind of 'unscrew' them off the armatures. 

 

25 minutes ago, Magos Kasen said:

These look really great, I like the colour scheme a lot. 

Thank you @Magos Kasen  I'm pleased with how they've turned out, and it's a colour scheme that isn't a chore to paint - just as well as I've a lot more Marines I intend to build and paint for this Chapter! 

[gaurdian31]

The new group is coming along great! Excited to see how your captain comes out!

[firestorm40k]

On 11/17/2023 at 2:14 PM, gaurdian31 said:

Excited to see how your captain comes out!

Thanks @gaurdian31, I'm planning on painting him in the New Year - along with another Lieutenant, Bladeguard Veterans, Aggressors, and this chap:

 

I built this Indomitus Chaplain today, painting on the other Marines continues, I'll get pics of those soon 

[gaurdian31]

I really like that chaplain, best thing to come out of the Indomitus box for marines. Can't wait to see the current group of marines finished. They are looking good each update!

[firestorm40k]

5 hours ago, gaurdian31 said:

I really like that chaplain, best thing to come out of the Indomitus box for marines. Can't wait to see the current group of marines finished. They are looking good each update!

Thank you  Yes, I didn't bother with the Indomitus set, but I really liked how this Chaplain is a throwback to classic metal miniature (plus I prefer it to the actual Primaris Chaplain that was released a couple of years before it)! 

[firestorm40k]

Intermittent update time: been working on weapons and metallics. Got to be honest, I've not enjoyed doing the weapon casings, I've struggled to get highlights I'm happy with on the edges that I previously found easier to highlight (when I did the first five Marines) 

 

Anyway, I'm happy with the gold parts, anyway - I always find that a satisfying colour to paint 

 

 

I need to get all the weapons done this week anyway (including plasma glow), if I want to stick to my planned schedule to get these done by the end of the month

[gaurdian31]

That gold is really good! I think the guns came out well. The plasma coils are going to look so good in your style, excited to see them finished!

[Pearson73]

Looks like you're really making progress and cranking them out. It's gonna be great when that batch goes from 'one more step' to suddenly all finished!

 

The laurels are a nice touch on the Captain. 

 

The gold does indeed look good, I also really enjoy painting metallics. The plasma weapons do look a bugger to highlight, quite a bit more rounded than the bolters, no?

[firestorm40k]

I'd hoped that the final update of 2023 would be to present pics of these in a finished state, but I'm still a little way off - not by much, it must be said. Sadly, the week before Christmas we had a bereavement in the family, so for several days, understandably, painting was far from my concerns. 

 

In the last few days I've picked these back up - here they are, Plasma glow, helmets, lenses and decals done:

 

On 12/9/2023 at 8:49 AM, Pearson73 said:

The plasma weapons do look a bugger to highlight, quite a bit more rounded than the bolters, no?

I see where you're coming from @Pearson73 - I didn't attempt to highlight the curved parts, but the edges of the casing, if that makes sense. Here's what I mean - also a closer look at the second attempt at the glowing plasma effect:

 

The helmet lenses didn't feel as much of an annoyance as the ones on the first squad, but I'm happier with the eyes on the 'bare' heads; I either seem able to get them right or they look terrible! 

 

 

So what's left? Highlighting the silver parts of guns & chainsword, general touch ups - I'm also going to spend a bit of additional time on the power swords (Sgt and Lieutenant's) to do a glowing, prismatic effect.  So that'll be my first hobby objective of the new year! 

Edited December 28, 2023 by firestorm40k

[Firedrake Cordova]

Sorry to hear of your family problems, especially given the time of year.  

 

The Sentinels are really coming together nicely ... the plasma is really nicely done

[gaurdian31]

Sorry for your loss! 

[firestorm40k]

A little update - I've not progressed any painting with these (I still need to finish everything off!), I've been painting some Imperial Fists for Legions Imperialis for a change  But yesterday I picked up the copy of Kill Team Salvation I had pre-ordered; I've built 5 scouts, which I'll be painting as part of the Boarding Patrol. 

 

 

I may build the other 5 - I had planned to wait and add them to a future list for this army, but as almost the entire squad are required for the Scout Kill Team, I may move them up the painting schedule 

[Firedrake Cordova]

They do look rather good, don't they?  

[firestorm40k]

13 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

They do look rather good, don't they?  

Thanks @Firedrake Cordova - agreed, I like these new miniatures  (building them would be more fun if the parts weren't scattered so apparently randomly across the sprues..! )

 

I've started building the other 5 from the kit - doing a bit of magnetising, so I can field the Hunter specialist when fielding them in Kill Team, but as a standard Scout with Boltgun in games of 40k (apologies for the blurry pics):

[Firedrake Cordova]

Nice work on the magnetising - it looks really effective  

 

I'm sorely tempted by the kit, but I also think it's not for me (I only have first-born marines, so the scale will be off, and I like my scouts with sniper rifles).  

[firestorm40k]

5 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

Nice work on the magnetising - it looks really effective  

 

I'm sorely tempted by the kit, but I also think it's not for me (I only have first-born marines, so the scale will be off, and I like my scouts with sniper rifles).  

Thank you  Yeah, they're really nice sculpts, but to be honest if you've got Scouts already then I don't think there's a great need to get these new ones. I agree about the Snipers - real shame as the camo cloak in this new set is a cool sculpt, a squad full of them would look great! 

Edited January 21 by firestorm40k
Typo

[firestorm40k]

Excuse the double post  but I've finished building the other Scouts - so these can be fielded in 2 squads of 5, or re-configured as a Scout Kill Team 

 

 

As I mentioned previously, the first 5 Scouts will go with my Boarding Patrol, and the other squad of 5 will be used in 'regular' 40k. As I want to get my Boarding Patrol done first, the first squad will get their turn in the painting schedule first  Now I've some decisions to make about what colour their fatigues will be...