Iron Hands Tactical Squads [1]

So I started making some Iron Hands marines for a bit of fun, and they've taken on a life of their own now. I've got two squads of Tactical Marines assembled now, and in various stages of painting. I'm also excited about the Clan Raukaan expansion that's rumored to be coming out next month.

The squads are comprised of one original box of Tactical marines, and one of the new plastic sets. I have to say the new plastics are absolutely fantastic. The differences between the two sets is quite noticeable. The old plastic squad seems to be made of a plastic similar to the kind Privateer Press is using with their Warmachine models. It's tough but hard to clean up, prone to leaving small pieces of plastic hanging on, lots of mold lines, and the detail is a bit soft. The new set has some of the crispest detail yet on plastics, as well as nearly non-existant mold lines, and is a really nice plastic to work with. If this is the way plastics are heading with GW, we're in for a treat. Of course, I'm not entirely sure that justifies the price increase, with the old set around $35 and the new one closer to $70. Still that's a different issue.

I've also sprinkled through some resin parts from the Iron Hands Tactical Squad Upgrade Pack that GW produces. I believe it might have been metal originally, buts its Finecast now, so the usual buyer-beware advice applies. Once again bubbles, thin resin in parts, and holes opening up in the part when performing clean up is evident. Have that Liquid Green Stuff on standby!

The parts consist of sculpted shoulderpads, various heads, a couple of sets of replacement cybernetic legs, some front torsos, and some augmetic arms with modified bolters. The Mechanicus-style power hammer is pretty cool! At $30 they're not cheap, but they are worthwhile for the shoulderpads and the ability to sprinkle augmetics throughout your Iron Hands forces. It would be nice if they also did a pack for Terminators, as well as a decal sheet for Clan logos on shoulderpads. Forgeworld has a great variety of Iron Hands options, and I might look at picking up the pack with the Rhino doors in it later.

It's also a great shame that they don't seem to do any parts for building Iron Fathers. At this point I'll have to look at purchasing a Techmarine model and doing some customizing.

So far the paint scheme has consisted of a black undercoat, Chaos Black, then all the metallics painted with Leadbelcher, washed with Nuln Wash, then bought up to a bright silver with Runefang Steel. They suggested a blue wash in the paint guide, but honestly it didn't make enough visible difference to be worth the effort. The armor was edged with Dark Reaper, then Thunderhawk Blue. The lenses were painted with Mephiston Red, Troll Slayer Orange, the Yriel Yellow. A spot of White Scar was used on the corner of the lense.

The weapons were painted with Celestra Gray, washed with Agrax Earthshade, then highlighted with White Scar.

Various cables were picked out with whatever colors took my fancy.

The bases were done in a desert style and consisted of a small resin detail piece from 40k Basing Kit, slightly overwashed with glue, then small rock chip, and dipped in sand. The bases were then undercoated, painted with Khemri Brown, drybrushed with Desert Yellow, and drybrushed with Bleached Bone. Any small items on the base such as spent bolter shells, or broken equipment was painted as required.

I'll continue painting them, and I'm about to start work on the back banners for the captains. I might have to look at making my own decals, as I'm not sure I want to spend the time hand painting all the clan insignias on the right shoulder pads. It's already bad enough painting all the numbers and squad designations on the knee pads.