some notes on detailing

what do you do when it comes to detail your 40k squaddies? when i say "detail" i don't mean the highlighting process but a more complex issue like making soldiers look as veterans or "somehow real", not a mere plastic toy.
in my opinion it's not so simple, so i'd like to have your advice. these pictures are about a tactical squad of my army:
1) above you can see my veteran sergeant, Traianus. i painted his banner in a simple but different way than the standard Ultramarines' tactical banner (i think you all know which one): a winged U with some Roman lightnings... very old rome-legion-looking. here's a closeup: it isn't very precise nor clean but seen from a certain distance i'd say it's kinda good.
2) the next guy is the squad commander Marinus. in order to make him look like that i painted a sort of iron halo on the chapter heraldry and i added a pair of seals.
in addition, as i think he must look like a sort of "old one", i gave him a weathered old bolter (the 2nd edition one, with a very "square" look and "open magazine) instead of a new one, paited with a checker pattern; it can be meant like a killcount or whatever... it looks very Ultra.
3) last but not least: Alexander the plasmagunner! since he bears the mk4 maximus pattern power armour i modelled him like a pre-heresy marine: checker pattern on the left leg (killcount?)...
trimless right shoulder pad, horizontal arrows instead of vertical, of course with roman numeral...
a pair of laurels next to the chapter heraldry, they mean he accomplished some mission...what do you think? what about your detailing works?

so, that's all for now. today i'm gonna leave italy for some time (this year i really deserve holiday)... but stay tuned and please spread the URL of my blog and support it if you like. see you soon, have a nice summer!