From DavidB - The Khan's Fist- DavidB (25pts)

 Hu- Black Thunder

It only took a couple of days, but I finally got a few troops completed. I have also populated my desk with far too many minis once again! ;) The White Scars were a bit of a challenge to photo properly, but besides 30k, I shouldn't have too many more this season. I picked these up a couple years ago and they did not get assembled and primed for awhile. I am still quite fond of 40k, but I admit that these gave me a little buyer remorse. Over 60 bucks for five guys and the scars could easily need another 15 of them to make them more useful. I couldn't help but compare to other games and miniatures and realize that for 10 bucks less, I could have a 30 man platoon for Bolt Action and Warlord Games does not have stock issues and supply problems like 40k. Still, I do love the White Scars and love playing 40k. These do bring me joy, but I may have hit the limit for new White Scars. 

I used a zenithal highlight from my airbrush, then I used apothecary white contrast paint to shade the white armor. Instead of using army painter fanatic paints, I used the army painter airbrush white triad paints to even out the splashed on contrast paint and clean up around the red trim, leather, and gold on them. I like the airbrush paint as it is very thin and is able to shade the apothecary white contrast paint in manageable coats so I do not lose the zenithal highlight or the painting sorcery of contrast/speed paints. These lads will hit the table in games, but a good half of my joy in the hobby is the model building and painting and this is by far the least stressful way I have found to make nice white uniforms/armor. It is just bonus that the process isn't labor intensive.

Plain white armor is very boring, so I did find (like the other White Scars I have) places to add some red trim so they are not just white space marines. In the "offical" paint guides, White Scars have a red chest aquilla, but I am more a fan of them sporting gold chest eagles.

I also gave the Sgt and the plasma gunner additional red markings in keeping with the space mongol aesthetic and also remind me that they have the spicy plasma guns. I used the old standby industrial hazard stripes as they do look pretty sharp with the clean white armor... I also imagine that the Admech Priests absolutely enjoy selling chainswords in any option the customer wishes... you can have black with yellow stripes OR yellow with black stripes as the God Emperor intended!

The sculpts and details on these miniatures are really quite good. My favorite one is not the Sgt or plasma gunner, but the one trooper obscured above by the Sgt's power sword. His pose is crashing forward using his armor and space marine stature to absolutely body someone with his own self. Almost like whomever he is hitting isn't worth his chainsword, or a pistol round.

5 spacemarines for 25 points

11 skulls

and one squirrel

edit*

center is my favorite of the bunch

changed lighting a lot, but still cannot quite capture the white armor.

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Welcome back to the Challenge, David!

I love seeing you back with your White Scars, even though they are the 40K version. :) Your tidy brushwork really does them great servies especially with cutting-in the red 'facing colours' and the Henry Ford black and yellow chain swords. I agree, the shoulder charging chap is the best of the litter - definitely saving on pistol rounds and chain links. All this being said, I can see your trepidation in expanding the squad further given those extortionate prices. But who knows, maybe Santa may have something for you under the tree! 

25 points for your opening gambit. Well, done David!

- Curt