Hi All
My army is slightly off beat in its organisation ( Don't tell the inquisition ) 
Companies are split into 3 troops and a heavy support group. Each troop consists of 1 assault squad and 2 tactical squads led by a Captain supported by a Nuncio vox and a vexillas.
The heavy support group consists of 2 Devastator demi squads, Dreadnoughts and any Centurions ( if I ever see a conversion for them that I like) These troops are controlled by a Company Master with command squad supported by a Veteran squad.
This still gives me 100 fighting marines in each company ( Plus the Veteran Squad shhhh) but allows the company master more flexibility in sending troops off as self contained battle groups.
My reserve Companies are different as well, the 6th and 7th comprise of 10 Tactical support squads for a reserve company ( not split into troops) These squads or demi squads are reserve squads and are sent to support other companies as needed. the same is true of the 9th reserve company, this is split with 10 demi squads of heavy support squads and 10 demi squads of devastators.
Following on from my last post, I have finally got a few of the marines finished. Below is were I stand at the moment with my 6th and 9th companies. Sent to aid the 5th company on Pandora.
I hope you like them and please leave any comments on the models or my task org

First up Squad Rikbiel 5th squad of the 5th company
Using 3 Marines from the Dark Vengeance set this squad has a Missile launcher and a plasma gun with the sgt armed with a power sword and a combi Grav gun

Next up Squad Ophieln 6th squad of the 5th company
Using 2 Marines from the Dark Vengeance set this squad has a Plasma Cannon and a plasma gun with the sgt armed with a Chain Sword and a Plasma Pistol.

The 6th Company 
The symbol on the marines arm is an upward facing arrow, this is used by other Chapters as a designation of a tactical squad but I use it to represent that these are Tactical support marines, I plan to add squads with Melta guns, flamers, Plasma guns and Volkite Caliver
Here is the 5th Squad armed with Rotator Cannons, I love these models.

The 9th Company
The symbol on the marines arm is an inverted "V", this is used by other Chapters as a designation of  Devastator squads but I use it to represent that these are Heavy support marines
Squad 1 armed with Auto Cannons

Squad 2 armed with Las Cannons

Squad 3 armed with Heavy Flamers

Squad 4 armed with Volkite Culverin

Still to finish are the Plasma Cannons, Multi meltas, Missile launchers and Heavy Bolters

I'm still debating how to flesh these guys out, the 30k Legion list says that to increase these guys to a 10 man squad would mean another 4-5 Heavy weapons with the Sgt either having one or being equipped with a bolter. I think I'm swaying towards the second Demi squad being kitted out with Bolters carrying extra ammo. Either that or kitting them out with another 5 heavy weapons so that fluff wise they are sent out as Demi squads in support of the other companies.

So Thats it for this update, I need a break form painting Green so i'm going to do an Imperial Knight next and then some more Tau before returning to my Da

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions/ comments please leave them below.
Till next time Take care and happy painting.
  

Pin Washes and Shading

I got asked the other day how I do my Pin washes so here is a real quick over view of it.
Items needed:

Gloss/satin varnish
Oil paint
Thinners. ( i use an Artists thinners which has less odour)
Something for the oil paint to go into and a separate one to clean the brushes, ( I use little pie dishes)
Brushes.
Paper towel.

First off paint on all your base colours then Varnish the model, i'd recommend two coats
Satin and gloss varnish both have a different effect and it depends on the look and effect your after.
Gloss allows the paint to run using capillary action and gives a much finer line and cleans better.
Satin allows some to leach into the surrounding area.
I have used Satin Varnish on these. 

Put some thinners into a dish and then add Oil paint to it. The thickness of the mix depends on what you want to achieve but it should be very dilute, almost like squash.

then its simply a case of loading your brush with the mixture and touching it to the crease you want the wash to urn into, if it doesn't run chances are the mix is too thick, if it runs but you can't see the paint its too thin.

any over spill can be cleaned up with a spare brush dampened in thinners, no rush for this as oils are slow drying you have several hours.

for the shadows I use a thicker mix ( milk like) and deliberately over spill, then with a damp brush I pull the mixture down towards where I want the shadow to fall. this blends the line and also blends in my previous airbrush blending.
I used Black for the pin wash and blue for the shading.

 


















On Cream models like Deathwing I use Burnt Umber for pin washes.
Hope this makes sense and you can see what I was trying to achieve in the pics 
below. Next step is using the original light green to add battle damage and then use weathering powders to age it.
Thanks for looking and please leave comments.

The Dark Angels paint continues

Hi Guys
I had the week off last week for the kids half turn and had a thoroughly great time in the lake district Kayak Fishing.

Even though it doesn't look like I've got a lot done work has been continuing apace.

Its about this time that I get a low in my painting morale, I seem to spend hours painting for no obvious results.

80 Marines ready to rumble.

Now ready to start shading 

5th battle company, 6th Tactical support company, 9th Heavy support Company

Mk IV dreadnought and Venerable Dreadnought

5th Company Command Squad.

So colours used so far are:
Cold Grey for pipes and between armour plates.
Scarlett red with some black for purity seals and lights
Chainmail silver for tops of backpacks and weapons and magazines
Leather brown for pouches
Khaki for purity seal ribbons, Chest Eagle wings and company markings
Magic Blue for the Krak Grenades
Electric blue for eyes
Tinny tin for skulls and stuff

Finally... finally I can start to get on with making these models look more realistic.

The next step is an important one. I now need to spray them with gloss or satin varnish
this is for a number of reasons the main one is to protect the work I've done so far and secondly allow a good surface for the oil paints to do their job.

After I've used the oils I'll probably start to paint Demi squads at a time, 80 models is a few to many to concentrate on doing the finishing touches on.