Ultimate Tutorial Guide to Magnetizing All 8 Baneblade Versions

By Drago | July 11th, 2023 | Categories: astra militarum, How To Tutorial, Imperial Guard, Magnets, Videos

Here’s how to build and magnetize all 8 Baneblade variants with one kit using magnets and spare sprue to make the Octobaneblade!

Variety is the spice of life when it comes to Warhammer 40k. Don’t waste your money on multiple kits; make the mighty Octo-Baneblade! Check out how to assemble your Baneblade kit so you can swap bits out for all eight variants, especially with the new codex out, might as well future-proof your minis when the rules invariably change again.

With varying points, costs, and situations, having magnetized bits and options helps with playing WYSIWYG games. This overview goes through building and how to magnetize the Baneblade to allow for every available option and build.

Imperial Guard Baneblade Tank:

This plastic kit contains 295 components (no, that isn’t a typo) to make an Imperial Guard Baneblade. Alternatively, you can also make a Banehammer, Banesword, Doom Hammer, Hellhammer, Shadowsword, Stormlord, or Stormsword super-heavy tank using this kit. Also included is 1 Transfer Sheet which can be used to add markings and insignia.

We’ve also seen this have a few price jumps recently, so you want to get more out of it than ever before! Let’s see how to magnetize the Baneblade.

How to Magnetize All the Baneblade Variants!

We get all our magnets for hobbying from The Magnet Baron. Use coupon code Spikey10off to get 10% off your next order with them!

Start with building the model to include treads but not gluing in the top panels. Instead, magnets will be going underneath these panels. Measuring can get a little bit tricky here, but you’ll need to add a few pieces of spare sprue from 1.5″ off center from the front of the armor plate, 6/8″ off center from the back, and 7/16″ from the top. Make these sprues as flat as possible to support the different hull options.

One thing to watch out for when building it up to this point. You do not want to glue the piece Rob is pointing at, to the actual treads as it will contour your treads. The little lip on the outside is the only thing that you glue the tread to.

The instructions are very unclear on this still, unfortunately.

Next up, you need this to be as square as you can; if it’s not, we’ll have trouble later on. Mount it to about 7/16th of depth here.

Magnetizing the Baneblade Turret

Rob used a 10mm x 2mm (Approximately 3/8″ x 1/16″) for each weapon and another for the turret mount itself (pictured above). Once you have all the weapons magnetized, we can start moving on.

Next up, you want to build the top part separately. Once you get to this stage, you can start magnetizing. But don’t glue any more than this! Also, be sure to dry fit before you move on.

Magnetizing the Sponsons

These top panels need to be magnetized to support the sponsors hanging over them. DO NOT GLUE these two pieces so you can attach and replace (if necessary) the magnets underneath. He uses two 3/8″ magnets for the inside piece and just a little piece of tin on each of the sponsons, as pictured below.

When it comes to the sponsons, glue in thin strips of tin to attach to the magnets. These metal strips are great since they lie flat, don’t need any drilling, and don’t have to worry about polarities.

Front Plate Assembly. Cut tabs off of sides to sit flush with the hull.

Next, you’ll take the front plates and slide them into place. Don’t glue them in, as they are meant to slide in and out, depending on your variant. However, you’ll want to make these sprues as flat as possible to support the different hull options. Check out the video for all the details!

Adding the Main Weapons

Once you’ve got the hull taken care of, you’ll want to go ahead and dry-fit the top weapon again. Remember, the goal here is to make everything interchangeable. When it comes to throwing magnets on, make sure they are on their correct sides to stick together. Check and re-check.

Magnetizing All the Baneblade Variants

When it comes to assembling all of the other variants of the Baneblade, remember that they all use the same hull. Once you get the sponsons and tracks set up for swapping out, all of the other turret options should sit into the cradle of sprues you made.

If you magnetized everything properly, all of the main weapons/sponsons should be completely interchangeable. As you can see here, Rob can simply change the parts in and out depending on what he wants to use!

If you need more clarification and want to see the step-by-step process on how to magneize all eight versions of the Baneblade, check out our video!

Magnet Baron also sells an upgrade kit that contains all these magnet parts and tin strips you’ll need to magnetize a Baneblade or even make an Octobaneblade!

Octobaneblade List of Magnets & Tools You’ll Need:

Magnet Sizes

Steel Plates

Rob uses this Hand Sized Pin Vice and drill bits to get the holes ready to go quickly for all the magnets.

Wowstick Motorized Drill Watch us use at around the 24:00 mark in this video by clicking here.

Hand Sized Pin Vice For larger projects like Knights, Forge World kits etc.
Pin Vice For Miniatures We like the army painter one, but there are a ton to choose from
Drill Bits For Magnets (small quick release) Larger Bits (for vehicles etc.) Quick-release set
Wowstick Motorized Drill makes pinning and drilling out barrels a breeze and helps with magnetizing miniatures, but you still need a pin vice to bore out pilot holes over 1/8″ in diameter.
We get all our magnets for hobbying from The Magnet Baron. Use coupon code Spikey10off to get 10% off your next order with them!

Get Your Magnets Here 10% OFF Use Code Spikeybits10

Have you tried to build and magnetize all the Baneblade variants yet to make an Octobaneblade?

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