‘Begun, this Clone Force has’ – starting out on Star Wars Legion

14th April 2023

Making a straightforward start – by putting together a couple of squads of the phase 1 clone troopers.

There was a fair bit of mold line scraping on these, but for the most part they were quite small.

The push fit joints on them worked well, so I could test out a few poses with them. Where possible I tried to make the repeat models have a slightly different pose, to try to get a little variety in there.

I even had enough time to start on a BARC speeder too

17th April 2023

Managed a bit more work on the clones over the weekend.

Finished off the first Barc Speeder.

It was a bit fiddly around the arm alignments with the handlebars and the sidecar gun.

…And put together Obi Wan.

Then returned to the clones.

There is quite a bit of mold line cleaning on these resin plastic minis. To help my sanity I broke them up into groups of four mostly.

Laid out all of the relevant parts for each mini (working in pairs of same models to aid ‘muscle memory’), cleaned each up then glued the batch of four.

Rinse and repeat until they were all done ?

Then it was onto the second Barc speeder.

With that done, my two core sets (second Obi Wan went to another home) worth of clones were built.

Hopefully this won’t be partly duplicated,  since when I tried to upload it first time it all vanished…

27th April 2023

Its been a while since last update. I have had some slow progress (for various reasons), but managing to get a little more done most days.

After the core set I started into the build process for the expansion packs that came with the bundle deal last May. These are a mix of hard plastic packs and the resin plastic.

First it was the Phase 1 Clone Trooper upgrade pack.

Same process for these as the others. Clean and build ?

I chose to use the bare head on the leader just so it would stand out a little. A couple of the other upgrade chaps had visored helms, so they look a little different to the rest too.

Next up it was the Republic Specialist pack (more clone troopers of course). These are hard plastic; so snip, clean and build for them.

In this instance each of the models has a choice of three heads – Phase 1, Phase 2 and bare head. I’m not quite sure which to use yet (both aesthetically and rules wise for phase 1/phase 2) so I left the heads on the sprue and can spray them all at the same time.

A couple of bits were a little fiddly on these, but overall the join lines were very well placed to keep the finished model ‘clean’.

Then I decided I needed to review the magnetising option. They have quite deep bases, so I knew one magnet on its own would not work – and I didn’t want to have to milliput each one to build them up.

Looking around I found an old bag of washers, which, when checked, worked out to be pretty much spot on to act as a shim and make it so that when I glue a magnet on its flush with the bottom of the base. Job done ? I will roll this out at the end of the process.

Next came the character models. Captain Rex (resin Plastic) and Padme (Hard Plastic).

I wasn’t sure on weapon choice for Padme. I like the look of the small pistol, but was concerned that the thin barrel could get snapped off in play or moving around. As such I went with the blaster option instead (hopefully that wont cause a problem with opponents. But I’m not planning to play competitively, so should be fine).

Rex had some head choices, and I went with the phase 2 helm. But may change this later perhaps.

Finally for this period of work it was on to the Arc Trooper expansion (Hard Plastic). Snip, clean and build again.

Some of these are on flying stands. To avoid getting them covered in paint I have left those off for the moment, and will add them back on once the models are mostly done.

I had a bit of a debate about the trooper that could be armed with blaster or sniper type, and echo who had the same. Since there was only one DC15x (sniper type gun) upgrade card in the pack.

Then I realised that the card referred to a model armed with that. And the only way to get an extra model in the squad was via that – so I built the extra trooper with the sniper gun. Why there is an option for it to have a blaster instead I’m not sure – unless it is something to do with a strike team split maybe.

Additionally Echo (named character upgrade) can be armed with pistols or sniper type. But on his profile card he has range 1-5, so that seems to imply a sniper rifle – so that is what he got ?

So now it is just the AT RT to go from last May’s bundle.

I’m hoping that I can get that built before this May arrives…. next week…

30th April 2023.

The AT-RT is the last of the Clone forces from last year’s bundle deal.

Opening the box I found the build instructions rather lacking.

Luckily there are more detailed build instructions available online.

The main body part, and the start of the legs, all went together OK.

But then came the feet and lower leg….

They were rather fiddly to say the least – another time where I felt I needed another pair of hands!

Then it was just a case of choosing which of the two drivers to use and snip,clean and glue (8 pieces for this one).

As it was I used the head from the other driver, as I preferred that head but the main pose of the weapon wielding one.

Once painted I will look to magnetise the gun. (Although I may just glue one in if I change my mind).

30th April 2023

With that the Clone forces are assembled.

I now need to decide on the plan for basing, and then get out the white spray (when the air dries a bit) to get the painting underway.

6th May 2023

My wife has fractured an arm bone, so hobby has taken a step back.

But…. there has been some progress.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for the basing, but in the end I thought I would just go with some sand and gravel.

It’s basic, but I can build on it with tufts, droid parts or other stuff in the future.

For the large bases I believe the arc lines are important, so before the first layer of glue dried I scraped the basing material away from those lines.

To stop it rubbing off once applied I went over it all again with a thinned coating of pva to seal it.

Then I rolled out my magnetising to all of the bases. Using the washers and magnets (now running out…)

For the larger bases I applied two of each to ensure a good hold.

8th May 2023

(second time trying to post up….)

With the minis being magnetised it meant I could use an old metal frame to mount most of them.

This would allow a bit better access for spray coverage.

Some dry and slightly warmer weather allowed me to get the spraying carried out.

It took a couple of coats and some touch up sprays, since the TT combat white spray I have doesn’t seem to go down overly well – may have to go back to Citadel ?

13th May 2023

For the Clone armour I decided to go with Soulblight shade. Its pretty much a contrast paint tbh.

I thinned it a touch for my first test piece, but it did go quite grey.

Because of this I had to give it a drybrush to bring back the white.

I started out with the gw ‘dry’ paint, but ending up just using a normal white.

I also thought I would quickly try a more thinned Soulblight grey for some other clones.

Doing it this way should cut out most of the drybrush stage, and when rolled out to almost 50 minis should save a good chunk of time.

Then it was back to the test piece, and the stage I was dreading…. the black bodysuit, and other black detailing.

I used contrast black for this as it flows so much easier than a standard paint, making this stage a little less onerous.

For the base I went with a simple neutral colour. Just basically used wyldwood contrast over the white, followed by a mid brown base rim.

Looks a little plain really. To differentiate units on the tabletop I plan to use coloured markings on them.

I’m not sure yet if it will be different colours on each unit, or if it will be the same colour but in different layouts.

It will be less thematic but it will be more usable on the tabletop.

For the test piece I went with yellow, and also added a grass tuft for a little base interest.

15th May 2023

Feeling happy enough with the overall visual results for the test piece I then went ahead and rolled it out to a complete squad.

15th May 2023

Having carried the process out on a whole squad I think that I will change it up a little for the next squads.

Rather than doing them in three groups of seven models – which I found quite hard going for the black painting stages – I think I will instead work in groups of three.

If I use the matching models that should mean that it will be quicker to do the black stages, as they will be the identical places for each of the three matching minis and I will only be doing three at a time.

Just have to make sure I put them back into their squads before adding the colour markings.

So, up next on the paint area are… ‘the pointy boys’

May 29th 2023

After some time away from it, I am back onto some Star Wars Legion work.

I found it a little hard getting motivated for the current work – the continuation of the black body suit work, and the less frustrating armour wash and dry brush.

As mentioned previously I am working on groups of three, but not yet doing the colour stage (unsure if I will go with different colours, or use different layouts of yellow).

So, another two sets of three had their armour work done.

Then I carried out the body suit work on a set of three, and put them alongside the pointy boys.

And then the same slow (for me anyway) process on the next three.

That’s now nine down, twelve (of the base phase 1 clones) to go.

3rd June 2023

I have pushed on through with the basic phase 1 clones up to the body suit black stage.

So now I need to decide what I am going to do with regards to the squad markings.

As seen previously I have one squad with yellow markings, which I quite like.

But now I’m stuck between choices – either doing yellow on all the squads, ( perhaps denoting units with slightly different patterns, or by marking on the bases) OR by using different colours for the same markings.

I’ll pause on these chaps for a moment while I have an internal spate of indecision about it…

7th June 2023

While dithering about colours I did some work on the phase 1 Clone trooper expansion pack.

But then I had some thoughts about how to differentiate the squads of troopers while maintaining an overall uniform feel.

I plumped for painting one shoulder pad in a different colour for each squad.

However, the colour seemed just a little jarring to me and didn’t sit well.

As such I decided to try a stripe of colour on the shoulder pad rather than complete colour blocking.

Happier with that visually,  I went with it, corrected those I had done and then rolled it out for the rest.

Finally the addition of some base tufts, and going into their storage/carry box.

Hoping I can fit all my clones in this (at least one of the vehicles will be mounted to the side)

11th June 2023

Slow but steady, as always with me.

This time it was the Phase 1 Clone Trooper Upgrade pack.

For the majority I painted them as per the base clones really.

I debated a bit on the cloth on top of the backpack. It started off yellow, then grey, then I finished on beige. Although I think the wash was a little heavy – I painted three layers of different beige, but the wash seems to kill most of that.

18th June 2023

another one where my first upload vanished….

This week, for various reasons, I didn’t have very much hobby time, but I did manage to complete four more clones.

This time it was the Phase 1 Clone Specialists.  These are the first of the clones that are in hard plastic…..  and some of the mold lines snuck through the clean up step.

I’m sure that I will still have missed some though  ?

They all received the same treatment of wash, drybrush, highlight, body suit and gun black, spot colours.

For these there were a few extra steps such as the attempt at a red Cross on the medics shoulder, the hologram in the commanders hand etc.

I also gave the comm specialist the bare head from the medic, as I liked the haircut but didn’t want it for the medic.

Up next I think it will be the Arc Troopers unit.

24th June 2023

This week it has been the turn of the Arc Troopers.

For the armour stage I included Echo and Fives, the two named characters.

But after that stage I concentrated on the core five.

Same process as for the rest of the clones.

Tidy up the armour, run through the dreaded body suit stage, tidy up mistakes again, lay down the yellow, tidy up…. again.

Then onto highlighting the yellow and painting in the coloured buttons on their left arms.

Then the rest of the core Arc Troopers, and I have a five clone squad complete.

25th June 2023

With the end of June approaching I thought I would just take stock quickly.

I have got through:

28 Phase 1 clones

4 Phase 1 clone upgrades

4 Clone Specialists

5 Arc Troopers

Still to complete are:

The characters Rex, Obi Wan and Padme.

Echo and Fives from the Arc Troopers

2 x Barc Speeder and crew

AT-RT and driver

Not sure how I’m going to tackle the vehicles yet.

4th July 2023

Limited hobby time of late, but I returned to this and got Echo and Fives ready for duty.

I decided to paint them in their traditional blue colour accents.

I researched online for images of the two characters and tried to replicate armour details, markings and such like.

The basics were as per the other clones. But I did enjoy adding more detail to their armoured skirt things and suchlike.

I even  tried to replicate Fives’ tattoo…

Then I picked out some more details like the buttons on the forearms, and a few other bits. And they were done.

6th July 2023

I had Captain Rex’s basic armour painted and was going to paint him alongside Echo and Fives,  but ended up not doing so.

Hence finishing him off now.

Added the usual black body suit as above, and also chose to paint the bare head and the phase 2 helmeted head.

I found images online and painted his blue armour detailing.

Then I decided to paint some battle damage on the blue by painting white chipping on it.  It looked pretty tidy with the intact blue stripes and I was a little nervous about doing this stage. At first it looked rubbish, but as I did more it began to work for me – fortunately  ?

I also added some kill markings on the side of his helm, on both forearms and one leg.

Actually pretty happy with how it looks in person.

8th July 2023

Title is a give away….. its time for Mr Kenobi.

The armour was done in the same way as the rest of the clones.  There was the addition of some highlights on his dark trousers.

Then it was on to the robes.

I spent extra time on these, layering up and then doing a couple of highlight stages.

However, instead of my usual highlighting I went a bit brighter and also instead of highlighting the whole ridge of cloth etc I just picked out top and bottom of the folds – and it seemed to work well.

Guess I’ve been highlighting too simply  in the past  🙂

Then onto the face.

Not completely happy with how the skin came out, but don’t want to attempt to modify it and potentially make it worse.

I highlighted the beard and the top of the hair in a couple of stages, and that then helped the overall look of the head.

After painting the lightsaber (by picking a viewpoint and then highlighting up through blues to a white line) I asked some friends if I should try to paint the red symbol on Obi’s shoulder pad.

The first response was a yes, so I decided to go for it  ?