Bases
I chose to build up an urban rubble base using some left-over bits from a cities of death box. If you're planning on making an urban combat themed army and need broken stuff for your bases, you can't get a better deal than a single small building from this set. Even with liberal use, one box will give you enough panels, architectural details, and wall sections to last an army or two.
I also chose to leave the peg unglued for ease of transport and replacement. It also leaves things open for the future if I wanted to created a tilted pin for the speeder to be displayed at an angle.
What Not to Paint
As I paint everything before assembly, I made a couple mis-steps with the first speeder that I was able to correct for with the second.
You can see in the image above that there is a dividing piece of plastic that the speeder uses for structure that you will never be able to see once the speeder is assembled. Also notice that the back side of the panel that has the seats on it will also be closed in and needs no paint.
The other thing to pay attention to is the area directly to the right of the diving panel. I had already painted the area for the second time when I remember that it too would be covered completely. See the image below to get a better idea of the complete assembly.
Assembly Tips
I noticed with both of the speeders that there was a problem getting the top/front panel to sink all the way into position. You can see what happened here:
I realized that there was a small nub on the controls that was not allowing the top to sit correctly. You can see the worn down point where the two pieces didn't fit correctly:
I chose to solve the problem by simply cutting the nub off:
Once the cut-off surface got a coat of boltgun metal, the top fit perfectly. The missing piece leaves no noticeable gap. It's something to bear in mind if you're having similar difficulties.
Detailing
Though there were some flat panels that got some freehanding love, I chose to focus mainly on weathering and damage to push the sense of speed like I did with the bikes. Though some marine chapters cover themselves in script and ornamentation whenever they get the chance, I wanted to keep things tuned down for that minimal urban design. Not only does it keep things simple, but it really helps focus the eye in on the details that matter.
Conclusion
These models are a very cool addition to any space marine army, paint up fast, and look great on the battlefield. With these pieces of knowledge, you can get yours finished even faster, and always just a little better.
