Seeing some success with this '2 plus 1' idea. Starting with 2x tactical squad 1 marines, plus 1x Tyrannic War Veteran.

 Most of my rank and file marines just need touchups - new arms, heads, guns, loinclothes and paint in places. Many models need Macragge Blue added to highlight their (too) dark blue arnour.

Annoying how good the bolters look in blue. Might have to repaint them ALL this colour.

I had the squad number in gold too, but it looked to bland. Stark white makes a GREAT contrast to silvered-gold and two-tone blue, as you can see here: 

The white trim looks good too, but you still need gold to add richness to the palette, IMHO.

Added a drum magazine and metal loin'cloth' to the veteran. There are still a few points to touch up, but he's table ready, which is what counts.

On to the next three!

I've noted a tendency on my part to update old miniatures in part or whole, but to abandon them incomplete, and move onto another model in turn. This is not entirely useless as it inspires me to re-examine old models like this land raider and maybe get them done some day soon.

 The issue however is the sheer number of models in a full battle company plus support - I've got a lot of models to treat this way.

There may be a solution that works with my problem however. I have recently noted the ratio of models in my collection - for every 2x 2nd company marines I have one other model at least, from terminators up to land raiders. I can paint 2 regular marines and 'reward' myself with something special for a change. Even in a lazy world, I can reasonably expect to paint a couple of these set each week.

  I've played around with transfers and brass etch on my LR, and keep having trouble with the large square icons. I think this one needs the gold wreath and chapter icon repainted in white - that or the whole thing redone in bronze like the 'Courage and Honor' plate on the front left.

 On the other hand, rewriting the 'ULTRA' on the scrolls works much better now I've got a fine tip permanent marker. It always seems dry and takes a while to leave a mark, but it does clearly work. Success!

I've noted you can see the first 3 or 4 millimetres of my LR crusader. This model is at least ten years old has never been painted...