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Narric's Miniature Modelling & Painting log

Started by Narric, May 17, 2013, 04:17:45 PM

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Narric

As promissed, here be the current models for my Junker Force.

Convict Squad 1:
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Convict Squad 2:
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As an added bonus, I took a few pictures of some Space Marine models that have been sitting at my side for a while. Currently unbasecoated, and unnamed, due to the chapter being very much 0% groundwork :P

Character 1:
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Character 2:
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Here is the current idea for a colour scheme. I do have a couple models painted in it to a degree, so may post those when I get the chance to snap pictures :P
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Thats all currently. Still waiting for my order from SG.

Narric

Finally purchased the Rulebook and the Junker Forcebook, and of sweet baby religious prophet, they gorgeous compared to the PDF downloads I've been using up to this point.

I also recieved a new set of Convict sprues, which will do nicely for the Exo-suit conversion, alongside some models I shall be using for my Preator and Lictors.

The Preator and Lictors were chosen from the "Militia" range of models. Admitantly its a small range, but the models all have character to them. I wouldn't be surprised if I did use all of them as a character at some point.
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I decided whilst waiting for the delivery that her name shall be Gabriella. Her lineage doesn't start with much honour, being descended from thieves and murderers, but she fought with blood and passion to achieve the rank she now holds. Her Shame to "Fame" tale is what inspires the Convicts she leads into battle.

Then there are my Lictors.
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"Rudus" (on the left) served time within the convict legions himself. Yo'd think this would make him kinda to the convicts under his own charge, but "Rudus" believes such treatment would soften them up, and he will not stand for a worthless army.

Castorio (on the right) is the most recent in a long family line of Enforcers. He wears his rank with pride, and ensures that all convicts he holds the leash to know it. He has been known to activate the neural spike over petty deeds, but only to ensure his charges know his control over them.

On the modeling side of things, I personally didn't like the pistols they all carried. Yeah, they look sort of cool, but these are supposed to be people of rank, so why carry hodge podge weaponry to the battlefield. I decided to replace them all with the Widow Maker Pistols sold by Anvil Industry.
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Now these look consistant!

To be honest it has been a while since I worked with Metal miniatures. My experience with Games Workshop Metal models put me off, as I hated the idea of identical armies and characters. It lead to some ingenious conversions, if I toot my own horn, but unfortunately those models are gone to me.

All Rudus and Castorio need now is a little GS work to give them the Neural Spike Activators, and they'll be ready for paint.

For Gabriella, I also added a Combat Blade, as per her Forcebook wargear.
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I think the pose works, and I look forward to the paintwork.

I may not be able to get painting, as I work during the day and at the end of the day the sunlight isn't with me to go out back and spray basecoat. Hopefully at the weekend I'll be able to.

Narric

Now this is a challenge I can sink my teeth into....


Haven't quite done enough to start the GS work, as I'm trying to bulk it up to ensure the GS has something to mold around.

Inital modelling is/was a bit tricky and annoying, as I am currently using Super Glue instead of the normal Poly Cement I would use for Plastic models. Using Super Glue has meant faster drying times, meaning faster work, but I'm making sure to stop and examine what I'm doing regularly, as I don't want this project to go south without my knowledge.
The discs of green are from some molded "shells" I cast myself. The casting isn't 100% and the shells are a little bit squished in a certain direction, and bent slightly.
I hope that this conversion project inspires the Scotia Grendal Team into making a resin/plastic kit for the Exo-suits, as that would be very awesome. For me its also a great way or me to show off my modelling skillz...... or not.

Work certainly didn't stop, and over the past couple days I have made an extensive amount of progress. I'm personally pleased with how good the Heavy Grape Gun is looking, whilst simultaneously being apprehensive of the trails of sculpting the Cestus (Powerfist)


Thank goodness for being a hoarder?
The Shoulder Pads were bought from Anvil industry. In hindsight, I perhaps should have bought the "Terminator" scaled shoulder pads to emphasize the bulkiness of the Exo-suit. But for my first team, I think I'll look good regardless.

To be honest the GS work is what is scaring me with this, as I want the finished model to look its best, to compare to the original sculpt and metal models. I'll be sure to get over it though.

Narric

#48
A very unexpected addition to my Junker Force. This Artilary piece started out as just some random "Junk" around my work station.

I suppose in a way that is what the Junkers do, they turn refuse into working weaponry and tech. I just wasn't expecting to get quite immersed in Junker metallity just yet. Considering they're primarily soldiered by convicts, i don't want to think about where I could be going.

All the current pieces together.

I very much just raded any seemingly suitable piece off my workstation, drilling holes, and gluing random bits together, and its rather surprising how it all looks. The main gun is certainly pure luck. I'm definately going to be considering casting it in Blu-stuff. You can also see the mobile base plate, and a spent shell casing.

The Main Cannon is made from a couple Robogear missile launchers, a junker backpack, and some random bits and pieces from my workstation. The barrel itself is two Brush bristle protectors, one inside the other.


The Artillary base is made from a decorate gem from a piece of wall art. I get these sort of things from work, as the wall art regularly comes back, or even into the store, broken. These pieces get left lying around unused, so what I do is a service.


The Spent Shell Casing is just a random little piece. I figured I'm going to make this so it can be modelled either as ready to fire, or in the process of a re-load. This will give the model some much needed variety.

Narric

The challenge continues....

And there has been some serious GS work done to it.


Its kind of amazing how much a difference some bulking out with Green Stuff can make. I'm now feeling incredibly confident that my scratch-build wouldn't look out of place amongst a unit of the official model. I do admit, the feet could use a bit more work. they look like the stumpy feet of the human character models from Mass Effect. I also including the face cloth covering. I think for future Convict Junkers I'll probably do the same, as it fits with the artwork a lot better than the basic plastic pieces. I also included the bulk that connects the torso to the hip motors, and the "power supply" on the back. This guy is a solid mass, just waiting for his....

Armaments...

And here is the first. The much more heavily bulked up "Heavy Grape Gun." Now with structure and piping.
To be honest, the hardest part of the HGG was really the modelling of the gun barrels. the GS work is really just filling and bulking. I'm kinda surprised about how much I worried about it.
Learning experience. Hopefully now I'll be less inclined to put a project on hold due to demanding GS work.


The Cestus, which to 40k players would be the equivalent of a Powerfist, is still demanding. I probably should have bulked it up with sprue pieces more before doing the GS work, but I think I would have lost the freedom for how it will ultimately look.

"Strongest left hand in the Void."

I'll be honest I nearly sculpted the fingers for a right hand. Would have made for a very special Exo-suit Junker. From what I've learnt with this one, I know that posting the fist is actually going to be very easy, which is great know, as I already have a pose in mind for the second Exo-suit.

This suit so far has been a fantastic learning experience. As well as a proper test of the tools I have to hand. Strangely, my files can't handle green stuff, but grinding down my sculpting tool for a flatter surface was no problem. I'm thinking some new tools should be on order.

Next thing for me to feel hesitant about is going to be painting, and that's more because I fear for the paints and brushes I use, rather than my own skill. Joy

Narric

"Lets slap some junk together and see it makes a good Cannon...."

Said a Junker technician once upon a time. He must have some sort of Midas touch, because I don't see how this pile of scrape could possibly work. Mainly showing off the GS work I have done to it since I last posted about the SFC. Mostly I've been gap filling. When it comes round to making it look like it can be fired, I'm going have  pile of difficulty to wade through.


As a simple scrape together counts-as, I doubt I could do worse, and I'm sure if I managed to duplicate the model, a battery of these would give my opponent pause to charge my lines.

Praetorian Guard head without face mask.


Now there is a face only a mother could love.
Made by chopping and lopping a Vampire Count Crypt Ghouls face to pieces, and gluing it to an equally chopped and lopped Legionary head. God damn that's an ugly mug. The plume is simple Plasticard and green stuff. I'm going to build up a layer or two, and cut the "feathers" into it. I think I got the shape right, its just the details which are being a nuisance. The Praetorian Guard aren't going to be featured in my force for a while, as I need to focus on my current character, infantry, and heavy support choices. Still, something for me to look in horror at whilst I work.

Narric

Realized I can't decide what to do with the spare Convict Legionaries I will have after doing the Exo-suit conversions. So I'm looking for some external input for what to do with these last six guys. That is enough for a couple of models:

- 4 to 6x Grenadier Convicts (swap Shields for Grenades)
- 4 to 6x Suicide bombers (swap Shields and Shotguns with Explosives)
- 4 to 6x Dune Raiders (requires heavy conversion (a full bike made for each), fast moving and shooty)
- Up to 6x Suicide Bikers (Suicide bomber on a Motorcycle, bought individually)
- 3 to 6x Sandrunners (roughly equivalent to IG Rough Riders, no shooty)
- Convert some Standard Bearers and/or Centurions (Either apply specialisation traits to Convict squads, or exemplify them in a single character)

Narric

I've made sure to keep working on the rider for this, as it is very much going to be unique to me. Been a while since we've seen this relic. And now we have a glorious imposing rider atop it for truly put the fear into the enemy.

The choice to go Art Scale was from the fact I didn't like the legs that came with the Jetbike. Sorry @Thantos . Thankfully I had some Terminator legs going spare, and a lust to complete an Art Scale Marine doing something other than standard around or posing. Thats not to say a number of [urlhttp://masteroftheforge.com/2012/10/02/truescale-kharn-finished/]Art Scale[/url] Space Marines I've seen don't look good, but in fact the opposite of being very inspirational to make me want to try it myself.

The trickier part is the actual modeling of them.



And to get around that I kinda cheated. I didn't have spare Space Marine arms to hand at the time I was working on this, so I resorted to using some "Shells" I had cast from a shelving peg with a green stuff missile tip molded on.

The result is an increadibly chunky looking piece of armour, and I think once I get some bulk onto the torso, it will look just right.


As an aside, I had difficulty keeping the Rider on his mount, and decided to use a couple 2mm neodyniam magnets I got from Anvil Industry ages ago. It worked an absolute charm, and when the rider is mounted, it takes a good deal of vicious shaking to get him off the Jetbike.

Current problems are the feet curving off to the sides. I'm not too sure how I could have resolvedthis, but i'm sure with some widening of the foot plate I can make it look decent.

Narric

Some Space Wolves I won in a recent eBay auction.

I have a couple reasons why I've started a small Space Wolves force.
#1 I love the fluff of truly vicious space marines with near literal kin ship to wolves. The fluff in the 5th ed codex really gets me going.
#2 I folow the Space Wolves blog, who have some fantastic advice on the subject. They also got me inspired to do more work on my Adepta Sororitas Codex for a time. well, until I had to start college anyway.

Its unfortunate that I'm now going to have to weigh up buying the newer Space Wolves codex, but as and when I do I'll be making sure I have a nice colection to complement it.

Battle Leader Hoggar
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Pack Leader Gindjar
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Pack Leader Lorguun
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Pack Leader Mroka
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Pack Leader Oggei
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These are very simple character cards I've made for my Battle Leader and the current only other space wolf models I have which I intend to use as Wolf Guard Pack Leaders. I'm sure a Space Wolf player or two are going to tell me how foolish I am, but oh well. I was mainly going for models with character, rather than squeezing the maximum damage loadout.

I'd like to think that with only a single Space wolf sprue, I made five very distinct character models, who will look perfect leading my squad of Blood Claws and other younger Space Wolf units.

At present I'm not sure what I will include in the force. I think Grey Hunters are going to be a backup, rather than core unit. Or potentially just a character hunter unit to complement Hoggar himself.

I am planning on mainly using the vanilla space marine models with small amounts of Space Wolf gubbins on top, alongside any green stuff work I do. I am wanting to practice my GS work, and I think some Space Wolf fur pelts would be an excellent challenge across mutliple models.

As I said earlier, I still have yet to purchase the next Space Wolf codex, and I am quite curious to how the army has changed. I'm sure the change to wargear is going to have some interesting side effects.

Narric

A couple of Fallen Dark Angels I'm slowly putting together with salvaged, new and custom parts.



I'm thinking they'll make good stand ins for a Champion and a Heavy Bolter Havoc/Marine.

The robed legs are available from Anvil Industry.

The "Heavy Bolter" was made from a Dark Angel Assault Cannon, with its main barrel chopped off and replace with some plastic tubing I had to hand. I doubt it would be too much of a stretch for the Chaos Marine to have learnt how to use and carry it one handed. I'm probably going to use the pointing arm from the Space Marine Command sprue as his left arm, as thats al I can think of that would look right in this pose.

The Champion just doesn't care for shooting, so has swapped his pistol for a Power Sword. As a side note, the right hand of the Champion is actually a Necron Deathmark trigger hand. In time I will show what madness I have practice in order to have necron parts strewn across my work desk.

Narric

This marks the start of a long project I'm gonna start shortly.

Lets be honest, for the content you get, the Dark Vengeance boxset is pretty damn good value for money, even before you take into account the Rulebook, Templates and startup set of dice.
The models are superbly cast, and perfect for any Dark angel or Chaos Player looking to add a touch more umph to their force.
But then there is the trade off for other Power Armoured factions not really having the option to use those same models.
Well I'm gonna document my trails and tribulations as I slowly convert a Dark Angel Tactical Squad into a group of Space Wolf Grey Hunters.
I'm still running on the 5th ed codex, but I'm sure there is enough that has stayed the same that the final unit will still be perfectly legal.
Here are the lucky Marines who shall soon emerge as Hunters in grey.

Why do Dark Angels have such a rep with Plasma?
First man up to the chopping block will be the Sergeant, who I shall be swapping his hands for a Boltgun and Close Combat Weapon. Luckily i have a Space Wolf Torso free to replace the robed torso that comes with the model. I had orignally thought the Plasma Pistol arm was a bit more free to position, but closer inspection reveals I'm sorta stuck with this awkward pose. Ah well.

Narric

First man of my Dark Vengeance Tactical Marine squad to be brought to the knife.



Gotta love all those spare pieces you get from kits like the Space Wolves box.

The Head, Torso, Waist decoration,  Right arm, and Boltgun all came from the leftovers for my Battle Leader and Pack Leaders.

What you may not know is the torso piece for the normal model has been cut away at point to allow a snugger fit with the body. I had to go in with blade and file to get the fit right again with the "Flat neck" torso piece.

Next was deciding what head and position to use. I wanted to make sure that unlike the Dark Vengeance Sergeant, that my Grey Hunter was actually taking aim with his weapon. Command poses are great, but that is what the Pack Leaders are for.

I'm considering adding some fur underneath the waist decoration, mostly to bulk him out in that region, as the original model was deliberately sculpted out for the DV model.
What do you guys think?

Mabbz

Looks good. I agree that the waist seems a little thin, and I didn't immediately realise it was a Space Wolf just from looking at the model (I had to check an older post), so some fur would probably be a good addition.

Narric

I have a couple which I'll be adding cloaks to. I think I'll probably add some GS fur to them as well.

The trick with Bolter and chainsword here, is where I should put the pelt. Should I cover up the "Oathpaper" bit I placed under the knives? Or maybe do some sort of arse-apron?

Mabbz

If by arse apron you mean like a cape that goes around the waist rather than the shoulders, then yes, that. I think that could work.