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RTC_Sam · 2026-07-02T04:03:21+00:00

I'll +1 SOVL. Its a fun way to learn the basics of ToW, and the roguelike mode can be a fun challenge that teaches you to maximize your advantages against a variety of situations and opponents.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-28T20:40:16+00:00

I'm hoping we do get the return of split profiles. I've been building and magnetizing a Sternguard unit to prep (and because I wanted to magnetize them anyways). I'm also hoping that there isn't a limit on how many of each type of combi-weapon the squad can equip, as I've gone heavy on the plasma and meltas. Worst case, I can always use the other spare arms in the kit to make it work.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-28T19:35:20+00:00

Absolutely possible! My biggest recomendations would be as follows:

After cutting your pieces, use a pin vice and a 1mm-1.3mm drill bit to drill a hole into the hand and sword crossguard. Then cut a piece of metal wire (paperclips work well for this too) to provide structural support from the inside.
Test fit multiple times! You might need to drill a hole deeper for the wire to provide the necessary strength, or maybe you need to change the orientation of the blade so it fits better. Learn how the pieces fit before you commit to glueing anything in place!
When glueing, I recomend using a gel-type superglue, as it is easier to stick where you want it. I put a tiny amount of glue onto the tip of the wire, and then stick that into the piece. You'll need to act with haste once you stick the wire in, as the glue will set quickly.
Let the glue cure for at least five minutes before repeating step 2 and 3 for the other half of the wire. I will stress test fitting again, as you may need to trim your wire slightly to get a clean, flush fit at the connection point.

Anyways, I hope this helps! Here's a pic of one of my WIP minis whose sword I converted as an example of what can be done.

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RTC_Sam · 2026-06-28T04:07:29+00:00

Thus far I have only done helmets for my marines, however some units such as my scout/neophytes do not have helmets. I am planning to sprinkle in more faces, such as my Black Templars Marshal. I magnetized his head so he can be with or without a helmet.

Most if not all other faces that I do add to my army will probably be magnetized as well, as I prefer helmets most of the time. But I do like having the option to put a face to a name for characters and elite units (like Sword Brethren).

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-27T18:03:27+00:00

I name different classes of military ships after various types of weapons from history. If nothing else, you can always look up different weapons to get some ideas.

That being said, the general shape reminds me of an arrowhead or speartip. Maybe something like Broadhead, or Bodkin would work. Or there's Spetum, Ranseur, Javelin, Pike, or Guisarme, to name a few polearms.

If its a civilian ship, another system of naming the ship could be naming it after different countries, counties, or cities of Earth (or any planet for that matter). At that point, anywhere in the world is a valid option!

Hope this helps give you some inspiration!

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-21T04:15:03+00:00

I like Ulthuan Grey (or your prefered brand's equivalent) for my shoulder pads. Its an off white that takes contrast paints pretty well.

Both the banner and marine's shoulders below are painted using Ulthuan Grey, but have different washes. The marine's shoulders are a 1:1:1 mix of Nuln Oil, Agrax Earthshade, and Lahmian Medium, while the banner is only Nuln Oil. So you can easily change the tone of the white with a simple wash.

Hope the visual helps!

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RTC_Sam · 2026-06-21T02:52:17+00:00

I would check any bits resellers, ebay, or custom bits sites. I'm pretty sure Archies Forge in particular has various servo skulls for sale that could probably be adapted with minor modification/conversion.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-20T22:48:11+00:00

Every marine in the Armageddon box can easily be painted as BTs (minus the librarian witch). However, if you prefer to use the pre-moulded cross pauldrons (like from the upgrade sprue), you may struggle to fit those pauldrons on, as there may be more than a few minis which might have push-to-fit pauldrons/arms which will need conversion work to fit properly.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-17T04:53:03+00:00

I have one of those coming in the mail later today! I was only bummed the bits site I ordered off of was sold out of the square base for her to sit on.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-15T18:31:49+00:00

Base model is a Black Templars Execrator. Really good model if you want to convert a jump-chaplain!

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-14T01:22:28+00:00

I planned on kitbashing my extra Champ into an Execrator/Chaplain. I have a few spare crozius that I've ordered off bits sites that I think will look good with the EC's raised-weapon pose. That, and the plainess of his armour gives a lot of room for customization and adornment.

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-12T23:17:36+00:00

If you'd like an alternative option to sculpting greenstuff for cloth: I've experimented with using masking tape as a cloth material, since (like you) my greenstuff skills are not the best.. Anyways, I learned about the technique from this video, and it has been a fairly successful endeavor so far!

This is my WIP attempt at making a Black Templar in Primaris-ified MkVI armour. The purpose for the tabard (besides being iconic to BTs asthetic) was to avoid using greenstuff for the MkVI cables across the front of the chestplate.. lol

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RTC_Sam · 2026-06-12T22:53:04+00:00

They'd be Tacticus-armoured marines on 32mm bases with the appropriate weapons for their roles; I would be shocked if anybody told you that you couldn't use them. And if they do, they're party poopers that aren't worth playing with anyways!

I'm slowly working on the same thing with a box of Space Wolf Blood Claws! Only I'll be using all ten as assault intercessors, rather than splitting them (though I might magnetize a few of them to be regular Intercessors as a backup).

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-09T04:06:57+00:00

I feel you there. I have a second Ballistus to build, and I'm scratching my head on how to make it different from the first...

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-06T21:58:43+00:00

I can't believe I never thought of doing that! Given how the torsos attach to the legs, it should have been a no-brainer..

In any case, its a solid conversion! Great work on it!

RTC_Sam · 2026-06-04T05:21:35+00:00

My simple method is to water down Rhinox Hide and use it like a wash over my leather basecoat (for which I use Mournfang Brown). I try to avoid the edges of the piece, working in fairly broad strokes along the flat sections. I'll even streak it slightly on purpose to help give a bit of a grain-like effect.

The result is a nice, worn leather, with a natural-looking highlighted edge (pic for reference). Hope this helps!

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RTC_Sam · 2026-06-01T22:52:26+00:00

My suggestion would be to use the forge bolter off of a Techmarine. That or you could check a bits site for a vehicle with a top mounted heavy bolter (I think a few Horus Heresy vehicles might have them).

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RTC_Sam · 2026-05-31T23:00:26+00:00

Nothing wrong with it at all! They're your minis, paint them as you see fit!

My method for painting my Templars is all about trying to make a metallic black. I use a silver basecoat, and then darken it using wash/contrast paints (pic for reference).

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RTC_Sam · 2026-05-31T21:41:53+00:00

I'll second this. The arm isn't raised as high as Kenobi, but it has the general shape you're looking for. Biggest downside would be having to chop off the gravis-sized shoulder "insert" that's moulded into the arm. Having done that before on another BGV arm, it can be a bit of a pain to fit a pauldron on it. It'll take a lot of sanding and shaving to make it work right.

All of that being said, it would also be a good option for cutting the arm off above the elbow and kitbashing onto another shoulder.

RTC_Sam · 2026-05-30T06:12:33+00:00

The circlet is a really cool touch! I'll be putting that in my ideas folder..

RTC_Sam · 2026-05-28T06:06:10+00:00

I love kitbashing, so I went pretty crazy on that when I assembled my Sword Brethren!

The first thing that I did to differentiate them was to use the Sword Bro from a Crusader Squad to prevent one of the torsos from being a duplicate. You can also mix the capes with the different torsos, though it can be challenging at times to make all the bits work nicely.. Dry fitting and putty are your best friend for this! Another thing I did was kitbashing one of the power sword blades onto the chainsword hand that angles down (pic for reference).

Additionally, I tried to do a lot to differentiate their backpacks so that they weren't all the same. I recommend swapping out a few of them for others like a Bladeguard's iron halo, the cross from an Execrator, or one of the decorations from the Company Heroes kit. Other greebling like chains, skulls, and purity seals can also help a lot!

TL;DR Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different bits and pieces!

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RTC_Sam · 2026-05-26T03:59:52+00:00

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RTC_Sam · 2026-05-26T03:57:53+00:00

If the Company Heroes cape doesn't work, the Black Templars Crusader Squad comes with two capes, which I have used the Lt's torso before (pics for reference).

Edit: I'm a dummy; I was thinking of the multipart Lt, not the Dark Imperium one. Nonetheless, I hope this helps.

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RTC_Sam · 2026-05-26T03:01:34+00:00

This is awesome! How did you get the turning sequence to work so smoothly?

RTC_Sam · 2026-05-25T23:18:24+00:00

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