40k scale Icicle tutorial

Hey guys,one of the things I love best about this hobby is passing on the little tricks I learn along the way.

I am making a winter themed army and wanted icicles hanging on some of the pieces.

Here is how I did it

I took a clear acrylic rod and heated it over a tea-candle.

When it starts to sag, remove from heat and pull on both ends of the rod until you get it wire thin.

When cooled pull apart and cut the tips off with an extacto knife,viola instant Icicles.

Use super-glue to attach,apply water effects where the icicles meets the wall.

Merican Lancers Sly Murphy

This is Sergeant A."Sly"Murphy the one man killing machine.

This is my take on Sly Marbo,I like mine way better.

I used another head from the GW guard head sprue this one is very Riddickesque with the small goggles,I was almost tempted to paint his eyes silver.

I made icicles by stretching clear rod over a tea candle.

Snow will be added at a later time.

Merican Lancers Advisors

These are the Lord Commanders battlefield advisors

The Master of Ordinance,Fleet Officer,and Astrotelepath

I also have made various bodyguard ranging from Lucifer Black Enforcers,Carthage Warrior Women,and Imperial Ninja

I'll use whatever bodyguard tickles my fancy any given day,however I do have an eye to make a Veteran squad out of the Enforcers.

Merican Lancers Lord Commander Vilhelm Ellsworth

I used the Creed and Kell finecast to make these models.

Shaved off the banner detail on Kell and cut off the head on Creed.

I then used a head from the GW head bit sprue.

They really need to retake the pic there are some really nice heads on it.

The Cyberhounds count as one wound marker the Lexomatic to record his Glory is the second and Ellsworth is the third.

Merican Lancers Second Squad

I finished up the second squad of ten for the first platoon.

I used all kneeling models for this squad.

I have now started highlighting the fatigues with a lighter dry brush of Vallejo Green-Grey.

Once I finish the next squad I will add slight snow patches to the bases.

I have a batch of icicles I whipped up for the tanks,I'll show you guys a great way to make them with clear styrene rod

Merican Lancer Stormtroopers

I whipped up a batch of ten Stormtroopers for my army.

I used the smallest Dragonforge cable to make the hotshot lasguns.

They are in the same color sceme but the Grav-Chutes,Respirators,and Red NVG googles denotes them as Stormtroopers.

Merican Lancer Heavy Weapons Teams

Here are the first few batches of heavy weapons teams.

Three of each type they make for drop troops.

Alot of these were pre-built I just repainted them.

The missile launchers are mostly my builds they had blank bases.

Lucky for me the guy I bought them off of is a pretty good modeler

Merican Lancers Hydra

Here is my Air-Defense unit for the Lancers.

Keeping with my motto "Stock Sucks" I added armored skirts.

I also have a shot with the Salamander with the finished tracks

Merican Lancers Command Salamander

So I am on the FW site see how the back of a Hydra goes on when I see the Salamander kit.

I always wanted to build one since reading about them in the Caiphas Cain books.

Not wanting to toot my own horn but I felt I could do a better job using a stock Chimera kit.

Building the Chimera leaving the back off then using 1mm card to make the armor that goes around the top chassis detailing with studs and strips and Aquilla from the tank accessory sprue.

I used Rhino and Land Raider comm panels and two Chimera antennae for the advanced comms.

I used carbon fiber rod for the antennae.

I used the Chimera Turret flamer and the back of the heavy stubber with g/s to fill in any gaps to make the pintle mounted heavy flamer.

I attached the FW Chimera Commander to the comm panel with 22 gauge wire wrapped around a .030 rod.

The Gunnery Sergeants stripes and Commanders US Star come from the Dust Tactics decal sheet.

Merican Lancers Drop Commissar

I used a Col. Scheffer model to make my Drop Commissar.

He would act as more of an Intelligence Officer as the Mericans benefit from some of the highest morale in all the guard.

Merican Lancers "The Airborne Rangers"Pt 1

Here is the first batch of Merican Drop troops.

I went with Elysians for this army,I am sick to death of the Cadian Plastic Sprue,all the troops look like Ernest Borgnine as Cabbie.

Everyone knows you do not cross the Creed of Cadia,everyone knows that...

The Elysians probably have the highest tech look,which is what I want.

Any Terran raised regiment would only have the best.

I have completed a standard squad plus Sniper and Spotter.

There are many more to come,the sky is raining Mericans.

Merican Lancers Drop Sentinel

I am beginning the drop troops,the"Airborne Rangers"the troops are underway,ready for posting in a few days.

But I did finish the first of the drop Sentinels,this one is number 2.

I have since added an antennae,the weapons is magnetized to swap out with Heavy Bolter.

I see the drop Sentinels as being bare bones,practically stripped down so no extra gear on the sides.

I have a nice Zippo Cannon made for the next one.