Hi Everyone,
After gathering most of the troops and vehicles I need it is time to start posting my intentions and some pictures so that I can get some C&C from you all. I value everyone's opinion after reading and seeing so many great things on here.

The goal is to make a diorama of the 98th day of the RG on Istvaan V....and I want to capture the moment right before the rescue and extraction of the remaining 2800 or so RG troops. The diorama will be shaped like a 1/4 of a circle with high cliff like walls in the back panels. Most of the RG will be arranged fanning out from the back and like they are on a rise. As I recall from the audio Angron and the World Eaters are marching up the rise to them. I am only gonna have like 3 or 4 world eaters in MK II and III armour coming up the hill....one will be getting spun somewhat by impacting bolter fire and one other will be on the ground bleeding out. I have a Corax started (design in a truescale size by Doghouse's wonderful method [thanks man!]) but IMO the torso is too blocky so I am tearing it off and using a grey knight chest as a base to build from. More on him later. This post is just to get it started and a test to see if I could figure out posting pictures!

The pic below is my tactical leader (Agapito...sp??) and the RG tactical brass is now on his shield but I need to add in the nicks and gouges with the dremel to match the damage on the shield itself. I have and plan on using Korvydae as my assault leader (Allinae....sp??) just want to change out his bare head for some with hair (I am partial to hair since mine was past my waist when I played guitar in a speed metal band! Ahhhhh the late 80's early 90's!!!)






And this guy is now in full primer and ready to be decked out. Some may not like his sword position, but having run around all day with a handcrafted sword in my hand before, I view heroic 50 yard dashes with the sword raised up the entire time a foolish waste of energy. You may say "Well they are SM....they don't tire that easy" Indeed, but one must remember this is the 98th day of being hounded. At this point I bet some were getting a little worn!

More soon.

Very cool idea. I was toying with the idea of starting a Raven Guard PH force, but my wilfe would kill me if I started another army. She keeps saying I still have to "finish" my other armies. I told her the there are 100 marines in a chapter... she didn't like that idea.

Anyways. I like the pose on Agapito. The sword on the Mk 6 is kind of awkward looking, but only because you mentioned it. I'm not a huge fan of the raised word heroic charge pose to begin with.

I hope you mix some different armor mrks together and even mix up some of the colors of armor components to depict the battlefield scavenging tht went on.

Keep it up!

@BDL....yes I have the following for the diorama.....

1 five man MKII Tac squad + squad leader in FW RG upgrade
1 five man MKIII Tac squad + squad leader in FW RG upgrade
1 five man MKIV Tac squad + squad leader in FW RG upgrade
2 five man MKV Tac squads + each with own squad leader in FW RG upgrade
1 five man MKVI Tac squad + squad leader in FW RG upgrade (field test suits)

1 five man MKII Assault squad + squad leader
1 five man MKV Assault squad + squad leader
1 five man MKVI Assault squad + squad leader
And I would like to have MKIV assault squad + Squad leader (anyone know when FW is coming out with those that were shown on FW Day?? I saw it mentioned the assault packs are Sang. Guard?? I can wait if they are coming out with them to reduce what I have to scratch build)

1 five man Devastator squad with FW early MK heavy weapons
1 five man Devastator squad with modern heavy bolter, multimelta, plasma, las, and grenade launcher. (Not sure about squad leaders tho I do have 2 early MK grenade launchers. And I may just get 2 more 4 pks of FW Early MK heavy weapons ..... that would give me enough for 12 guys...2 5man squads and squad leaders...money money money .....sigh)

1 Techmarine Straden kneeling right bionic arm shooting AM bolter w/ scope, power axe, and modified techmarine backpack

1 Rhino with FW RG side doors/front hatch and FW Imperial Aquilla rear door. Manned by FW MKIV tank crewman (and I do have the FW dual las razorback turret
which I know isn't PH but I may have to invoke the cool rule)
1 Land Raider with FW RG doors manned by other 2 FW MKII crewman.
1 Land speeder tempest which I know isnt PH....so.....I may ask The Damned Artificer is I could use his oldschool/newschool mashup that he made! DAMMIT....just got outbid on ebay for the 2nd ed. parts......if it was one of you guys..... :angry:
Also have FW RG venerable dreadnaught....which I know isnt PH but I may have to add cause they are so wicked....jury out on that one yet.

Also.....I have alot of FW early MK weaponry for a PH look, but.....I do have a crapton of weapon bits precisely selected from outrageously high priced selection on ebay....enough that I could almost outfit EVERY marine in a unique way!!!Every combi commander weapon made, every generic power sword, mastercraft bolters, plasma pistols with scopes, you name it I probably have one of it! Now I want to keep it basically all PH, but I think I have to use some of the cool weapons.

Also, I was unsure about individual design .....like should they be squads of solid MKs or swap all kinda parts around? I know everyone mentioned battlefield scavaging....now I have listened to Raven Flight 10 million times due to my 51mi drive to work and 51mi home!!! I recall scavaging ammo and weapons, but I was unsure about armour parts. I was thinking maybe traitor weapons and loyalist (salamander and iron hands) armor pieces. That way I could maybe cut down on the painting time per individual......tho adding at least one scavaged piece per character would prohibit boredom. I am so anal.....this is gonna take a long time methinks :)

C&C welcome as always!

Corax (not sure about chest size, may do with grey knght termi torso. Also NEED bigger shoulder pads....tyberos...the red wake here I come$$$$ dammit! He will have his wip in hand and some custom work to heavy bolter)









Agapito (sorry about shine....chaos black undercoat...need to add some nicks to brass shield then touch up and go!)





Comparison side by side....pretty accurate I think.



Be gentle guys....these are the 1st 2 marines I have EVER built.

Slainte'!!

Also forgot to mention that I will have 2 or 3 terminators in cataphratti armour! I am making the assumption that not many of these heavy weights make it through the initial slaughter due to being slower....totally gueesing on that one but it sounds good enough to convince me!

And corax with have alot more detail to him....and I am not sure about the helmet yet. No backpack since as per Raven's Flight..."it'll be some time before this raven flies again...."

Techmarine Straden will be kneeling with his power axe laying in the dust on left side while left hand is grasping metal feathers on remains of Corax's assault pack, while some welding electrodes lay next to power ax/Corax backpack electrode wires leading into left port of techmarine backpack....meanwhile looking right and shooting bolter. I am going on my own self made fluff that when Corax tells Straden not to bother with it on the 1st day, Straden is so shellshocked/PTS syndrome/pshyche scarring due to the horrors committed by the traitors on their brethren that he keeps bringing his Primarch's assault pack with him everywhere......trying to fix even though it is a hopeless cause.....

He should be assembled and primed this weekend.

Little crtique
Never put the brass etch where it will be hidden.
You have it on the inside of the H'bolter that sits against the chest.

That is true for any model,never go crazy on spots that are hardly seen

The swordsman rocks,love the tac arrow on shield

Also look into the LIMITED EDITION GW Raven Guard tansfer sheet,they won't be around forever

You know about Micro-Sol and Micro-Set for waterslide transfers?

Thanks for the tips Big Will.....I removed it due to some build up of super glue but on the outside of the heavy bolter was a small RG brass symbol that I will re-add ....most likely remove the large brass one from other side....too large for the bolter I think....may just make some kill marks.
Got the micro sol and micro set! Now....the GW raven guard transfer sheet....I looked at it and passed due to not seeing anything not already on the FW raven guard transfer sheet. Is their something I am missing that makes it a must buy?

The FW one is much bigger too.

Soon as I get the proper shoulder pads on Corax and making sure they have a nice line of rivets on the raised edge of them, I will follow the Deliverance lost look and just have white transfers on the pads. I know he looks a little plain right now, but I still have to adjust the upper thigh armor shape, add the detail to chest piece, cabling to abdomen (Dragonforge cabling on the way....Thanks Big Will and The Damned Artificer!)...then sculpt up a large raven skull type cod piece thing like on the cover. His whip will be made from the FW renegade militia whip as the base. The heavy bolter will have more ammo belt hanging all the way to ground and spooling around in a small circle. Making some press moulds today out of very small detailed celtic jewelry I have. My goal is to attempt to add little celtic knotwork details to the lower leg armor....if I cant get it detailed enough I will paint it on. I am a celtiphile so I will be adding that touch to him in some ways.

Also wanted to give a big thank you to Ilmarinen for my Agapito MKIII chest piece! We did a little swap and he got me the piece in record time even dealing with US customs! He took a big chance on a raw recruit.....heck I don't think I even knew how to post on here at that point! Thanks Ben!!!!

Forgot FW made em too,the FW one is probally way better if it is like my FW IG sheet
Not a must then,be cool to have just cause

yeah I was thinkin just get it to have it anyways! Oh yeah Big Will....pulled the trigger on another airbrush/compressor kit......got a Paasche Talon and a much nicer pump than the tiny thing I currently have. Should be here next week. So now I will have a metallics brush (the one you have...get it on moday) and a superfine detail brush. Getting my pratice tank from friend and I may pick up an IG vehicle this weekend to work on also.

Separate brush for mettalics always is a good idea.
I heard good things about Paasche let me know how you like it/ease of use

Finally got my modeling/painting desk made and mounted to the wall. Basic but I dont care! Just need a nice drafting stool....guess I gotta deal with walmart now....ugh.

Ok....just read Face of Treachery in the Age of Darkness novel. Changes my entire perspective on the painting of my RG survivors on Istvaan V to say the least. I realize now that I will really have to mismatch some armour and do ALOT of different paint schemes to account for the armour scavaging goin on. THANKFULLY I dont have much done and the guys I do have assembled are not even fully glued together. This will add more thought needed when building and painting but should ease the boredome with all black you might otherwise run into with the RG. Should be crazy looking when done.

Got the new drafting stool a cutting mat and more and more paints. All set.

Looks like you could use a bi-directional window fan
Alclad stinks to high heaven,be a plus to suck the fumes out.

Actually....I was gonna do the airbrushing in nice little storage area I have, but want I really want is a small little airbrushing booth made by tamiys....you can get a single or double fan model and it is small enough to fit on that desk and I can blow the fans right out the window. That's the goal but will have to wait since it is $200 for the booth. For now I will have to move from one area to the other.

I looked at the booth,not hard at all building yourself.
One of these days,I am going to build it.
But the main componennt is a computer fan or like I did,ripped the inflater out of inflatable Santa Claus it is a computer fan with a plug ++++

You get a large box like you get at kinkos,ups at big 24x24 square or rectangle
with a hole cut out the back big enough for the fan to fit into snugly.
Then the old hobby shop owner reminded me about paint coming out the exhust.
He has seen pro models wreck the side of a house so the final exhust needs a filter like a t-shirt,something to catch the atomized paint

The awesome thing is I have 2 nice heavy duty computer style fans from a GC Mass Spec instrument......I worked in a lab for several years and managed to scavenge a few! I should just build one......tig weld some light sheet metal together and make a filter system. Ok...new project.

hows things going??? just listned to the audio cd again and remembered this thread... cmo;n lad i wanna see some goodies :D