Need a bit of help on making PH Imperial Fists look unified

[FireHawk]

Hi, been trying to make a Pre-heresy Imperial Fists army, using mainly plastic bits from a variety of kits to get the look right and make them unique.

 

The problem is that using so many different kits, and having so many different ideas that I could use, I'm having trouble getting the army to look like one unified army with a unified style rather than a multitude of different styles that share the same yellow colour.

 

For example:

 

Should I use the straight chaos double sided chainsword for sergeants/officers and use the usual SM single sided chainsword for other marines or would the mix seem wrong?

 

Should I mix and match armour types in units or keep mk4 armour in one unit, mk2 in another etc.......?

 

Should I stick to chaos power swords or mix in the usual SM power swords?

 

Who should get the raised shoulder pads ( i.e deathwatch, raised chaos pads, company champion type) and on what side should they go?

 

What side should the studded pads go on for mk5 marines?

 

 

Any help on ideas for making armies look unified would really help.

 

 

Cheers

 

 

(Will try to post some very WIP pics later, showing different ideas and getting people to say which idea they think works best)

[magnum_opera]

A solid paint job is the best way to tie everyone together. Red chest eagles, black rims or something, keep it simple. Either use raised shoulder pads for <i>everyone</i, freehand Chapter badges, or decals (people on eBay reguarly sell like, just one Chapter's decals from a sheet for much cheaper.) Shoulderpad wise, I think you're allowed to cast those (you're allowed to cast small details for use, right, GW?) so you could do that to save time and money.

 

Have everyone use the same jump packs (for references, they used the regular ones, not the Raptor ones), speeders, etc. Try not to mix and match that. A variety in weapons is nice as it reflects the diversity in a Space Marine Legion. Armor types are another thing though, during/before the Heresy, Legions used pretty much every type of armor to that point (Mk. I to Mk. 5), though I doubt anyone but the most poorly-equipped or desperate would use the crappy ol' Mk. I. The studded shoulder pads can be converted with those little sewing pins or something like that.

 

From Wikipedia, here's a list of armor types:

 

<quote>* Mk1 Thunder Pattern Power Armour; the first Power Armour created for the Space Marines. It was developed from the armour worn by the techno-barbarians that plagued Holy Terra during the Age of Strife. It was used during the Emperor

[FireHawk]

Just added some very early stage WIP pics to my photobucket site, of course being early WIP pics they arent cleared of moldlines and barrels aren't drilling etc....

 

They are really just a rough test to see what armour types can be made using the plastic bits I have......and posted to get the ball rolling and me to actually build them rather than stare at the pieces indecisively :o . What you see there isnt final, and I plan to use Doghouse's technique to add height to the models.

 

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/FireHawkBFG/WIP/

 

(Also there you'll see a little side project for the space hulk AoD)

[T14]

I would try to use fairly uniform equipment, but mix and match armour types freely.

 

I see one major obstacle, though:

there should be no chest eagles on non-emperor's children pre-hersy marines

annoying and a lot of work, but that is a major distinctive feature of the PH imagery.

 

other than that you are doing well :wacko:

 

cheers

-t14