Epic 30k in 3mm (Ultramrines painting test figures)

[Chamberlain]

I decided to do Net Epic: Armageddon and do 30k using the EpicAU 30k mod. And to do it in 3mm scale. My first Ultramarines are from vanguardminiatures.co.uk -- they're Novan Elites from the Defeat in Detail 3mm line.

I have some bases on the way and am going to be painting up Word Bearers to be the main opposing force for the Ultramarines.

Group shot of my test models

• Chamberlain
• Mar 26, 2019

Closer picture of the Contemptor Dreadnoughts:

Contemptor Dreadnoughts

• Chamberlain
• Mar 26, 2019

The real question is whether or not you can tell the weapon load outs :D

Some Tartoros Pattern Terminators (or at least that's why I'm claiming they are):

Terminators

• Chamberlain
• Mar 26, 2019

Once based there will be only 1 heavy weapon per five, but that's just how they were cast on the...

A repainted hot wheels first order transporter as a Legion "Skyserpent" dropship.

Skyserpent Drop Ship

• Chamberlain
• Mar 26, 2019

Hot wheels first order transporter repainted as an ultramarines drop ship. Some contemptor...

And a comparison with a GW Skeleton on a 1 inch base for anyone looking to get a sense at just how small these are.

Scale shot

• Chamberlain
• Mar 26, 2019

GW Skeleton for scale reference. Yes, those tiny things are terminators

 

[prewarsalad]

This is awesome. I really wanted to play epic. I bought up a whole 'counts as squats army but my eyes are too shit.

 

[Stoof]

So a Terminator is the height of the thickness of a standard base . Good God man, why do you hate your eyesight

I just couldn't paint them!

 

[Malika]

3mm is how Epic should really be played!

 

[Chamberlain]

I was worried I wouldn't be able to paint them either. Or that a painting session would tire my eyes out really badly. Turns out it really isn't that different than just doing detail work on 28mm. Edge highlighting 28mm and doing a line of trim on a 4mm terminator is about the same thing.

That said, I've seen loads of people who simply spray prime them in the main colour, drybrush a lighter version and base and they turn out quite nicely. Touching some metal on certain parts like weapons or tracks would help though I guess.

What probably has helped the most for my painting is just admitting I'm starting to grey and my eyes aren't what they used to be and I needed reading glasses.

 

[Azzabat]

I’m not, nor have I ever been into epic, but these are amazing and I could be tempted on your painted minis alone.

Great work.

 

[Chamberlain]

I have no idea whether or not I'd recommend 3mm to someone else. There's definitely something to be said for 6mm in terms of really looking the part (check out some of the sculpts from Vanguard and Onslaught). As for 3mm when you get 18 jet bikes and 12 speeders for £10 is sounds like a lot... but then you get them and they are tiny.

That said I did place another order after seeing them in person, but I had to paint the smallest stuff I got first to be sure I could do a whole project and not be frustrated. I'd say it's worth a test to see if you like it.

The main draw for me is that I'll be playing a game that normally fits on a 6x4 table on a standard 30inch/75cm wide folding table with room to spare. Or any coffee table I want. And if I ever want to run a game on a couple tables pushed together, it can be a truly large battle. Transport, terrain, etc., is all easier when it's smaller. No big trees or buildings to anything to have to transport to the club.

And 3mm is just cool:

Not mine, from:
https://hobbynotaddiction.wordpress.com/2018/03/20/dominion-wars-the-3mm-madness-goes-on/

I plan on basing my vehicles individually and the infantry in smaller squads.

 

[Punktaku]

last year (i think it was), there was an explosion of activity around Micromunda. i think your stuff is even smaller than that was (straight epic scale)

 

[Resmire]

This has made me nostalgic as all hell. I adored the original epic. I had the original space marine, but no one to play it with at the time (being 8 or 9 i think) i loved the scale of it all. Loving the minis, they're looking perfect for what you're using them for.

 

[Chamberlain]

This has made me nostalgic as all hell. I adored the original epic. I had the original space marine, but no one to play it with at the time (being 8 or 9 i think) i loved the scale of it all. Loving the minis, they're looking perfect for what you're using them for.

I had a very similar experience and I decided that since full sized 40k or 30k was crazy for large battles, I'd finally do a couple forces in 3mm for Epic. I'm going to do Ultramarines and Word Bearers and then maybe after that Imperial Army and Eldar. O8 miniatures has a 3mm sci-fi line that includes some stuff that would work perfectly for Eldar. Here is some painted by Thaddeus Blanchette:

I'm going to supply the miniatures, terrain, etc., and host a gaming dinner party every month or so. There's enough Horus Heresy novel fans among my friends I should have no shortage of participants.

 

[Resmire]

I had a very similar experience and I decided that since full sized 40k or 30k was crazy for large battles, I'd finally do a couple forces in 3mm for Epic. I'm going to do Ultramarines and Word Bearers and then maybe after that Imperial Army and Eldar. O8 miniatures has a 3mm sci-fi line that includes some stuff that would work perfectly for Eldar. Here is some painted by Thaddeus Blanchette:

I'm going to supply the miniatures, terrain, etc., and host a gaming dinner party every month or so. There's enough Horus Heresy novel fans among my friends I should have no shortage of participants.

That sounds like an awesome idea, the horus heresy book series really brought the who universe to life for me, especially the first trilogy of books. It was nice reading about all these legendary heroes of the past and how they led the galaxy down the path its now on.

If and when you get some games played you should definitely do some battle reports with lots of pictures, epic looks awesome on the board.

Kudos