Farsight Enclaves template for Quartermaster

Available for download here.

Army Builder Space Marine files

Update (11/6/2013): My latest Army Builder patch for the new Space Marines codex is available.  The major change is that Scout Sergeants, Tactical Sergeants and Devastator Sergeants can now replace both their Bolter and Bolt Pistol with items from the Ranged and Melee lists.  The standard Army Builder version only allows users to replace bolt pistols, not bolters.

OK the AB40k.org folks beat me to the punch and posted the Army Builder files for the new Space Marine codex late yesterday.  Kudos to them, they look really good!  Now we can all go for the high score in Army Builder with the new Space Marines.

A few items of note regarding the new files:

• The previous Space Marine codex still appears in Army Builder.  It's listed as "Space Marines" while the new codex is listed as "Codex: Space Marines"
• The files don't allow Space Marine chapters to ally with each other (yet).  
• They've already released a patch for the files.  Note that it does not correct the "Space Marines allying with themselves" issue - I'm not sure exactly what all is in the patch.
• The new Space Marine files don't allow alliances of any type with any other armies or vice versa.

I've uploaded a patch of my own that includes the following:

• Latest Codex: Space Marines patch referenced in the above list.
• Fixed alliance issue with Codex: Space Marines - they can now create alliances as detailed in the 40k rulebook.  Note that this is not a fix for Battle Brother alliances between chapters.
• Removed previous Space Marines codex from the Army Builder army list.
• Added Farsight Enclaves rough cut.  Point values are there, rules enforcing Signature System uniqueness are not.  Wargear for Farsight's Commander Team is not listed, but point values are.  Users of the Farsight Enclave files will need to perform manual validation of their army lists.  Don't be that guy who shows up with 3 Riptides all with Earth Caste Pilot Arrays!

Instructions for applying the patch:

• Download the patch
• Make sure Army Builder is closed
• Run the patch.  DO NOT place a check in the box saying delete files not updated - you will destroy the files and have to start fresh with a new 1.29 import 
• You may want to install to a different game system folder to preserve your current Army Builder files (recommended)
• Start Army Builder
• Profit

Rough cut of the new Space Marine template for Quartermaster is here.  I've tried sending templates to the Quartermaster support email address, but they've all been ignored.  I also have a template for Farsight Enclaves (also a rough cut) if there's any interest.

Army Builder files for Farsight Enclaves

In short - I have some.  They aren't pretty and do not enforce uniqueness on Farsight Signature Systems.  If anyone is interested, I'll put them up on a google share.  I recommend that anyone interested use the instructions here to install the current 40k files to a separate directory, then include my files.  This will keep your current 40k data files from getting screwed up, plus it won't interfere with your automatic updates.

Storm talon magnetizing tutorial

This tutorial describes the tools, materials and techniques I used to  magnetize my Space Marine Storm Talon.  The only weapon not magnetized was the Heavy Bolter because, well, it's a Heavy Bolter.  Use caution when cutting, drilling and gluing!  Follow this tutorial at your own risk.

The materials and tools used: thin metal sheets (from hobby lobby in their model railroad section), scissors, hobby drill, 1/8" and 3/32" drill bits, xacto knife, file, rare earth magnets (1/8" diameter x 1/32" thick) and of course super glue.  The Rio Rancho Observer (background) is of course optional.

A close up shot of the metal sheets, for the curious:

Here are the weapon bits and "pods" (rear left) for lack of a better term.  You get two sets of pods with the kit: one that is more for the Skyhammer or Typhoon missiles and a second that is more for the Heavy Bolter or Lascannon.  I went with the latter pod purely for aesthetic reasons. 

The missile bits are in front and the lascannon bits are tipped over in the back to display where I attached the metal sheets.  The magnets were placed in the pods.  Here's a better picture:

   I drilled out two holes in each pod starting with the smaller drill bit and then used the 1/8" bit to widen out the hole.  I wound up drilling clean through the plastic with the small bit.  Note that I drilled my holes right on the line that joins each pod together.  For this reason, it's very important to start with a small bit.  Don't jump right to the 1/8" bit because the pod will start to split.  Yes, I found this out the hard way. 

   Once the holes are ready, put some super glue around the edge of one of the holes and carefully line up a magnet with the hole.  Don't try to shove it in by hand.  Once the magnet is lined up, get something hard and flat and gently press it down into the hole.  You may need to mash the magnet further into the hole by pressing the pod down against a table (magnet side down).  The magnets need to be flush with the surface of the pods.  Repeat these steps for each magnet. 

   Now for the fun part - the metal sheets.  Take a look at the back of the weapon bits.  Fortunately, they're all the same size which simplifies things.  Note: the edges of the metal sheets are sharp!  Grab the scissors and start cutting a thin strip of metal from the rest of the sheet.  Try to make the width of the strip a bit less than the back of the weapon bits so it will fit inside (take a look at the above pic).  Note that the metal strip will curl as you cut it so be ready to flatten it out with something.  I chose a dice cube but anything hard and flat will do.

   Once you have your metal strip get it somewhat (not totally) flattened out then take a look at the weapon bit and slice a little piece off.  The piece should fit within half of the weapon bit.  Slice another piece off that fits within the other half of the weapon bit.  In the picture above, note that the lower weapon bit has one piece of metal already fitted - the metal for the second half of the weapon bit is sitting on the cutting board just to the left of the weapon.  You will have to do more flattening and trimming to these small bits to get them to fit just right, but it's well worth it.  Once you have these two small metal pieces sized just right you can use them as templates to slice up the rest of the thin strip of metal, resulting in small metal sheets that are just the right size for any of the weapon bits.  Again, use caution when slicing these small metal pieces off the larger one!  

   After all of the small metal sheets have been sliced out, make sure they're nice and flat then glue them into each weapon bit.  Wait for the glue to dry before seeing how they fit with the pods.  Glue the pods to the Stomtalon chassis (per the kit's instructions) and you are done.