Ravenwing Refresh

The next three Bikers are finished and based. Again, I’m much happier with how they are now.

Originally, the first and second groups of bikes were separate units. If I remember correctly, the introduction of the Ravenwing upgrade sprue was when these second 3 Bikes were built. At some point, I merged them into a single RW squadron by adding the Squadron no. transfer “2” on the right pauldron.

This unit got two Special Weapons in a Meltagun and a Plasmagun.

At the time I was building them, it didn’t make sense to me that the high-speed, jinking, riders would have to carry their weapons into battle and ride one-handed. So, with this thought in mind, and inspired by the older Space Marine Bikes, I mounted the special weapon in front of the rider, then the Bolters on the front wheel.

I wasn’t satisfied with the plasma effect, so went back and tried to better it.

I reworked the blue and finished with the white this time, so much happier now.

Another three Ravenwing Bikers are up to be refreshed. These were originally a separate unit, that at some point I “merged” with the previous three… by use of putting “2” transfers on them.

They get the same update treatment as the previous three, but I’ll look to separate them out again with more models added to each of the units and changing the transfers.

Colours used
Bone White: Robes, Skulls

• Citadel Steel Legion Drab
• Citadel Bleached Bone
• Citadel Agrax Earthshade

Black: Marine Armour and Bike

• Citadel Chaos Black
• Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey
• Citadel Celestra Grey

Metals: Trim, motor

• Citadel Leadbelcher
• Citadel Chainmail
• Citadel Shadow Black Ink

Metals: Brass

• Citadel Leadbelcher
• Citadel Retributor Armour
• Citadel Agrax Earthshade

Blue White: Bike Faring, Company Markings, Back pole accents

• Citadel Kantor Blue
• Citadel Space Wolf Grey
• Citadel Skull White

Basing

• Citadel Astrogranite
• Citadel Celestra Grey
• Citadel Bleached Bone

Overall improvements applied

• Cleaned and tightened highlights
• Cleaned up stepped paints
• Tried to improve shading on blue-white details
• Added the extra spot colour to differentiate the metals
• Kept existing damaged transfers, used them as opportunity to create battle damage on the minis
• Attached the bikes to the bases
• Used sprue chunks to create base debris

To complete the basing I used Citadel Celestra Grey for the debris, Citadel Astrogranite for the rest of the base, then drybrushed with Citadel Bleached Bone.

Using an old brush, I worked some of the Astrogranite onto the tyres and under the bike, then rubbed the tyres clear with my finger. Leaving the tyres looking dusty and involved with the base.

A tuft each completed the basing.

It has been a while since I picked up any hobby. While home sick with Covid recently I had opportunity to get something back on the painting table. Given I was feeling a bit like death warmed up, I wasnt going to start a new project, or dive into a detailed ongoing project.

Going through and fixing these older tired, pieces felt about right for my energy level. And knowing how busy I am lately, would be small enough to keep going in the future without dragging on forever.

I started with bases. Some will remember that the plastic Space Marine Bikes, when originally released, didn’t include bases. Making your own was the thing to do for a while.

There’s nothing innovative here. Take a round base, cut it in half, glue the two semicircles to the narrow end of a rectangular cavalry base. It helps if they are the same width. Also, it helps if the bevelled ends of the cavalry base are removed so that there is a flat end to attach to.

My last attempt was OK, some of the bases withstood the rigours of time. This time I reinforced the joins with some pieces of sprue.

Some of the work to fix: missing pieces, clunky highlights and shading, details not painted. I took three of the bikes to start with. The plan: just fix up three, complete a Mini Project. Get them done and feel the satisfaction of a job complete. 

Using a pin vice and hobby knife, I drilled out the barrels on the guns. Then just for fun, did the same to the exhaust pipes of the bikes.

After repairing and modding, it  was on to paint. I went around and picked out trim I’d previously ignored with Citadel Colour Leadbelcher.

For some extra pop, I picked out some of the metallics with Citadel Colour Retributor Armour.