Happy to help in any way I can...
Seems like this has really generated a lot of interest. I really wish a) I could post a picture of the mini I bought which sparked this idea and b) have a go myself. But to answer Rev\'s question about where I am is a long story. I have a house in Portsmouth which is for sale and I am renting another house in Cornwall. 95% of everything I own is currently in storage and I am currently having to access my computer largely through remote access. I know some of you guys would take all your gear on the space shuttle but I wasn\'t as forward thinking as all that. Needs must as the devil drives etc.
I think it would be very difficult to post a pic of the mini up for painting as there is gonna be some slight variation. I think the basic idea still boils down to:
1) Standard tactical space marine. Metal/plastic, age largely immaterial. Paint it in chapter colours if desired. Design your own colour scheme if you want. People who are inventive will be punished by fan boys/girls and rewarded by others. I think this will even itself out.
Basically no special marines ie; Scouts, headquarters, terminators, techmarines, devastators, accountants, quantity surveyors etc. If in doubt post a pic of the marine in question and ASK!
It\'s just occurred that even amongst standard tactical marines there is a large amount of variation. Old \'Beakies\' IMO have a lot of character not present in modern plastic versions for instance. There has to be some creative leeway however, \'cos not every one is gonna be able to get their hands on exactly the same mini.
2) Bog standard base. Standard, round 25mm slottabase painted in \'official goblin green (or a close approximation). Further elaboration is up to the individual artist but largely discouraged. Small decoration, static grass, small stones etc. is in keeping with the nature of the contest but anything elaborate is likely to look stupid on a standard base and marks will suffer.
3) This is a real \'friendly\' in every sense of the word and every contestant should comment (positively, but not necessarily ingratiatingly) on every one else\'s entry.
4) How do we all keep in touch? A possible solution is for everyone to let (Oh God! it\'s gonna be me isn\'t it...?) sigh..me know when they post an entry. I suppose I could keep a list of people who want a stab at this and let every one else know when an entry has been posted.
5) I\'m largely thinking out loud now...IF people want to do this and, IF people want me to coordinate/moderate etc they will have to let me know. PM me or email at: steveapted@aol.com.
6) The whole idea, to reiterate, was to try and take the boring and make it interesting. For most of us there is possibly nothing more boring than a standard SM. So how do you make a bog SM interesting? That, my friends, is the challenge:bouncy: