Minotaurs Space Marines – VI Squad

I finally completed the last of these guys a few weeks ago now. As is usual, they (almost) all got started together and then kinda got split into pairs and trios to get through the detailing stage. I enjoy painting marines more as individuals, and it becomes less of a grind, so it works for me.

Minotaurs Space Marines Veteran Sergeant and Plasma Gunner.

The sergeant is a bit of a bits-delve. New tactical legs, a 2nd edition powerfist, Anvil Industry “Vanguard” (not-Mk8) chest and cape and topped with a Puppetswar “Temistokles” head. I had to carve off the lower part of the PW helmet to allow it to fit into behind the gorget. The pteruges on both figures come from Anvil again, and the plasma gun came from my stockpile of FW bits. I went RT-old-school with the Plasma Gun paint since it fit in perfectly with the Minotaurs’ weapon casings – red with copper coils. I considered doing something more fancy with his cloak, but he’s just a sergeant and pure red works for Spartans. I’ll get jiggy with someone else’s cloaks down the road, I’m sure.

I haven’t included a link to Puppetswar because despite their designs being utterly fantastic, their service and casting was atrocious. Probably the worst consumer experience I’ve had from an online retailer. Certainly the worst in years. here’s the gallery of my order, and here’s the saga, more or less as it happened. Here’s a post from another bloke that was made after I ordered mine, but before mine had arrived – so you know, it’s not just me. While I’d like to pick up more of their items and see if they’ve improved, I’m just not willing to send more money their way after all of that.

Minotaurs Heavy Bolter Gunner and Corporal

Something interesting about this squad is that with the exception of the Sergeant, they are all recycled marines – all of the torsos and legs came from Nerdfest09 over on Dakka, when I purchased the scraps of his Blood Angels/Flesh Eaters force a few months ago. The heavy bolter guy was actually complete and painted by Nerdy and sent as a gift, so he had more of a touch-up to match the rest of the squad (and a FW resin shoulder added along with a new “Spartan” head replacing the bare head that will in turn go on a Carachodon or Flesh Tearer in the future).

The others were in various states, and so most have new heads and all have new arms, as they tended to be more CCW-geared – though a few were headless and many were ‘armless anyway. I bought a couple of sets of Minotaurs pads off FW several years ago, and between the sets there were a few miscasts. FW were kind enough to replace them (their CS is pretty damn good) and so given the theme of this squad, I used a few of those pads here as well. Hopefully they don’t stand out unless you’re really looking for them! The second marine here is the “Corporal” who will be the second combat squad leader. He was chosen because of the small tabard and MK8 torso.

Minotaurs Space Marines.

These three are just standard tactical Space Marine troopers. I tried to match up the shoulder pad types on these guys. Another Anvil Spartan head makes an appearance here as well.

Minotaurs Space Marines.

Finally the last three of the squad, including another Spartan head and one marine that had been given some “battle damage” to one of his armoured greaves. The BA arm and bolter came out fine when painted in a non-BA style, and really I’m very happy with how these guys came out – especially as they’re almost all “recycled” marines given new life. As these guys were completed in September, they count as an “additional unit” for my Tale of Gamers painting challenge. I need to try and get something finished this month for the challenge, but it’s going to be bloody hard to do so…

Next up for the Minotaurs will be a Librarian, Captain (or other officer type) and a Dreadnought. I’m waiting on a Devastators box to steal an open right hand for the Captain, and I need to get some very thin plasticard for the Dread, so both of those have stalled out. Once I get back into painting then, I think the Librarian will be next up…