Autarch on a Jetbike

This is my entry for Fritz's Contest.
You can vote on his site and please do, there are lots of great entries.

Despite my love for this model, I don't think I'm going to win this one. Part of this is due to that I had this boy assembled and primered right before the announcement, so too much conversion was already out of the question ... the underslung Reaper Launcher is magnetized, however ... and can be replaced with a Fusion gun.

So basically my only hope at winning this was with a paint-job (but the competition is fierce and the conversion-fiends definitely brought their game-paint. See Ron Saikowski's entry as well as Bill Lewis'. That is some seriously amazing work, guys.)

My Autarch is of the Alaitoc Craftworld, and as they're referred to as "The Starstriders," I thought I would take that as inspiration for the paint-scheme, and painted a galactic and star-ridden carapace. The Alaitoc symbol has runes of the various aspects painted down the blade, so that it looks more like Khaine's Wailing Doom (which has runes down it). I imagine that these are some of the aspects that he favors after having walked all paths towards being an Autarch.

Magnetizing Your Models, Part 2

For Part 2, we're going to deal with a much smaller magnet, requiring a finer level of skill.
If you haven't already, I would suggest trying your hand at the larger magnet uses covered in Part 1 before attempting to use these. Undue frustration helps no-one.

On to the further uses of the large magnets as well as some smaller ones. For our primary example, I give you my new Space Marines Commander:



There are two magnets installed in the model above. The first is the same size covered in Part 1. It is lodged in his left shoulder. The shoulderpad was glued up at the top so that replacement arms can be easily slid into place underneath the shoulderpad.

For the second magnet, I used a 1/16" diameter disc magnet (1.5mm). You can find it here. It's the smallest size they carry over at Gaussboys. Compared to the magnets covered in Part 1, these are half the diameter and half the width. With 3 dimensions cut in half, you're left with a magnet that is 1/8 the size of the already small ones covered! Look at it embedded in the wrist above! It's tiny! Be very careful handling them, getting them near other magnets can cause them to violently propel themselves towards the other magnetic field (given that their mass is so low).

How To Use Them

As in Part 1, the first step is to drill a small hole where you want the magnet mounted. For this, I use a 1/16" drill bit in a pin vise. Glue the magnet in. LET IT DRY.

Next up, take another small magnet (one that you plan to embed in the gun-holding hand) and let it stick to the embedded magnet in the wrist. Use a permanent marker to mark the side facing out. When you are done drilling a hole in the hand, prepare to glue in your second magnet. Since you marked the side facing outwards, that mark should go IN the hole. You should not see the mark when it's mounted in the hand.

How this has worked for me:

The magnets are still quite strong despite being so tiny. I have nearly every equipment option for the Commander that is available in the new SM Codex. The only things left for me are to convert a Thunder Hammer and a Combi-Flamer.

Another way to use the small magnets? Let's move to another example; A Chaos Terminator Lord.

Magnetize the shoulderpad separate from the arm. Why would I do that?!? It's just more work!!

In case you'd like to have multiple shoulderpads in order to paint a god-specific Mark on it. Suddenly, your one model can bear the mark of any god he wants simply by swapping out the shoulderpad.

The method of how follows similar to above, though this took a little trial and error for me, mainly in finding the right spot for the magnet. Given that there is a larger magnet already mounted in the shoulder of that same arm, keep in mind that the smaller one will align itself according to the larger. Also, it will want to sit parallel with it. In the picture above, you'll notice an empty hole about mid-shoulder. The magnet didn't want to go there ... and (it's hard to see from the light reflection) the actual magnet is mounted below the empty hole where it sits parallel to the larger one. For where to mount the matching magnet in the shoulderpad... about here:

It's the gold dot in there...

Here's a better look at the back of the shoulder again:

Different angle, but I think you get the picture.

Poll and Changes

First up, I'm changing the nature of the poll. It's more general now, what army do you want to see more of, etc. You can choose multiple options now. Let me know what's coming up...

Secondly, the hobby stuff (like the magnets and the terrain sets) will be posted when I complete them as well as the Comics, so you won't see them on the poll anymore (they seem to be the most popular features, so there's no point putting them up against unit reviews). On that note I've gotten some serious headway done on the Space Marine Commander conversion and I'll be getting some pics up soon showing you why he's being nicknamed Magneto by some of my gaming buddies.

Third, I've finished my Autarch submission for Fritz's competition. I'll let the photo debut over on his site (The Way of Saim-Hann).

Fourth, I've gotten sucked into Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. It's awesome. I'm trying not to let it get in the way of my modeling too much. If any of you are interested or also play, I run Order on Be'lakor and Destruction on Avelorn. Shoot me an email and I'll send you character names. We can save the world together, or destroy it, whatever's your pleasure ;P