ok my pedigree chums, i have some more pics to keep you all from snapping at my heels, some for critique some for downright laughing at
firstly, some test runs at true scaling. these are the laugh at ones.
first try 
i'm sure you'll agree, a spectacular failure! it looks like the recoil from the launcher is blowing him off his feet!
second try 
well, not so spectacular a failure but still not something to be seen outside of this thread. i'm having real trouble figuring out the angles for the cuts. i've tried cutting at 90 degrees to the leg (1st try) and parrallel to the ground (2nd try) and neither seem to work out too well. need some guidance here big time.
i'm putting my initial screw-ups down to the fact that the snap-fit marines are in difficult poses to begin with. at least thats the excuse i'm rolling with. i'm waitin for some proper multi part bits to come in so we'll see how i fair with those.
on a more successful note i've been expanding my painting skill by experimenting with glowing eyes. theres a tutorial here
http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/288
and 2 test runs here
personally, i'm lovin the second one most. even in dim light his eyes seem to glow! so i think thats a success at least.
let me know what you think.