How To Magnetize Space Marine Aggressors

[jaxom]

Materials

You'll need an Aggressor kit and whatever you'd usually use to assemble it, plastic glue, super glue, Green Stuff or another 2 part solid epoxy, three per Aggressor 2mm (wide) x 1mm (deep) magnets, and six per Aggressor 3mm x 1 mm magnets. You'll next one extra 3 mm x 1 mm magnet if you don't already have a handler. I also recommend a thin strip of magnetic material to keep your magnets on while not using them (they are easy to lose). A metal ruler or strip of magnetic tape is good for that.

 

Step 0

Clip out and clean all parts for one Aggressor. It's easy to lose track of pieces if you try to do this for more than one at a time. Assemble the legs and torso. I cut the hoods off at this point. Grab a bit of Green Stuff and make an ovoid or egg shape. Dap a bit of super glue on one thin end and shove a 3mm x 1 mm magnet there. You can add a notch, dot or other sign to keep track of what orientation you have on its magnet if you want to make another with the opposite orientation.

 

 

Step 1

Use a 2mm pin vise to drill a hole in the top center of the power pack. It should be about the center of where the frag launcher will sit. I use a blob of Green Stuff with a magnet in it to handle my magnets (there are two in the picture below). Check the hole depth as you drill. You want the hole to be deep enough for two 2mm x 1mm magnets and the top magnet flush with powerpack.

 

Step 3

Carefully place superglue on the base of the bottom magnet. Don't over load it; if you do, it will mess with hole you drilled. Place the bottom magnet into the hole and push down gently until it is flush with powerpack. Slide the top magnet horizontally until it has separated from the bottom magnet and then put it someplace; keeping care to have its orientation remain the same. Push the bottom magnet down the hole with a toothpick or other non-magnetic stick thing. Plastic glue the powerpack to the torso. Superglue the top magnet to the bottom of the frag launcher; be careful not to flip it over or it will be repelled by the bottom magnet.

 

You can continue onto Step 4 while the glue dries. Be patient with the glue. I let it sit for 3-4 hours just to be safe. Once done, the frag launcher should sit pretty well on the power pack. Remove the frag launcher and place another magnet into the hole so it orients onto the top magnet. Remove the magnet with your magnet handler, take the magnet off the handler (keep track of orientation!) and glue an ornament or purity seal - the Aggressor kit comes with a bunch - on top of it. I trim the loin-dangly bits to get a reliquary looking thing. 

 

 

 

Step 4

Assemble the gun mounts and only the attached hoses.

 

Step 5

Super glue two 3mm x 1mm magnets into each hand's bottom well. You want the glue to coat the bottom surface of the stack, but not reach the top magnet. Let it dry and remember to be patient. Only move onto Step 6 after the glue has had time to fully dry.

 

Step 6

Make a pea-sized blob of epoxy [I make chainmail loincloth out of leftover epoxy if I mix too much] and cut it in half. Dab a bit of water into two top hand wells (left and right for one weapon type) and place one half of the epoxy in each; about where it will be on top of the magnets when the top and bottom hand parts are put together. Dab the exposed epoxy with water. Press each top hand well onto their matching bottom hand well and then take unpress them. The goal is for the top magnet to make a little impression. If it did, then carefully remove the epoxy and carefully brush it and the top hand well with tissue to soak up water (if it didn't, move the epoxy around and try again). Dab a bit of super glue into where you want the epoxy and gently place the epoxy there. Ignore the completed hoses in the pictures.

 

 

Wet the exposed epoxy again and make sure it still fits to the bottom hand part. If it does, brush it with tissue to soak up water and carefully dab super glue onto the top surface of the top magnet. You don't want the glue to flow over the magnet's side when you press the top and bottom hand pieces together. Speaking off, press the top and bottom hand pieces together. Let the glue and epoxy dry overnight. You can then separate the magnets without worrying about tearing the epoxy.

 

Repeat the process for the other weapon type, beginning by placing two 3mm x 1mm magnets on top of the ones in the bottom hand wells.

 

Step 7

Place a a weapon on an arm. Carefully dry fit the remaining hose/ammo belt piece for one arm so it's tank/box is appropriately on the back pack, Glue arm in place and glue the hose/belt together. Do not glue the tank/box to the back pack.

 

Be patient and once the glue dries, remove the weapon and hose/belt, and repeat the process for the other weapon. It should be simpler because the arm is already in place.

 

Repeat this process for the other arm.

 

Step 8

Finish assembling the Aggressor as you see fit. I used the helmeted head and chainmail loincloth replacing the normal dangly bits.