So I started an Eldar army a while back and have been following and participating on the boards for a few months. I've been especially interested in all the great Ork scratchbuilding. So I've decided to start building my own. I don't have all the tools I need and I'm trying to spend as little as possible on the units. Thus, I think mine aren't nearly as pretty as others, but I'm still working on them.
So here's what I started with - My first Battlewagon.
<Images Below>
Then I was reading about how much everyone loved Nob Bikers now so I thought I'd make some of them too. I really liked the idea of a monobike (a la Steamboy and Venus Wars) so I thought I'd go in that direction. Here's my progress on that front.
<Images Below>
I'm not having any specific issues, but feel free to comment or offer critique. There are a lot of folks who are way more skilled and I'd love to get their thoughts. Also, if anyone could clue me in to how to post images right to the forum, I'd appreciate it.
I know, right! I've got a whole cup of teeny-tiny bits ready to go, but I want to get all the plating done first. You guys are to blame - totally inspirational. What do you guys do that you have so much time (or are so fast)? It seems like you can build a whole army by the time I get half of a model done.
Well, I don't really have that much time actually, and I'm a rather slow hobbyist as well.... I just try to squeeze in as much time as possible.
Also, in over one and a half years, I haven't even finished one army! I've still got to paint half my orks, and the IG and Zombie armies I started don't even have as much as a finished UNIT yet.... lol.
I just keep building on and on...
All I have is an eldar army to paint and this ork project. After a 12 hour day it's just hard not to be jelly when I get home. I've got images from all you guys as inspiration to keep me going.
So I did a bit more work on the Battlewagon last night and think that I'm just about ready to start riveting. I still have to figure out a good way to attach the rolla (and a dozer I haven't made yet). But I've got most of the build done.
Working on Eldar Rangers this week (converting guardians I probably won't ever use). This is from last week and I have only 2 more to do, I think:
I thought maybe I'd paint one tonight too. I just got my tubs of Amazing Sculpt, however, so there will be casting going on as well. I'll try to snap a pic or two if I make any progress.
I've been working on sporadic stuff: riveting here, painting there, casting this and that. I thought I'd share an idea for an Eldar Aegis Wall in the meantime.
Nice stuff, and I have to echo Arakasi in that we're not all fast. At all. I failed miserably to get a trukk finished for Arakasi's Rally - and we had a year to do that.
In my 30 years of gaming I have only ever had warbands as opposed to armies
Liking the monobikes, the spiked treads made them for me
Nice idea for the eldar defence line too, you planning to paint effects on the field or leave it clear?
I don't know. I haven't done much subtle OSL effect painting. I might try it, but it would be down the road. I have so much else to paint, and I don't know when I'd really use them at the moment. I don't have ADLs in my list yet.
i like your stuff... hopefully you get more work done on...everything!!!
the aegis line has caught me... and then the warbikers have belted me over for good... how did you get all those cuts of round holes so neat? the sandwich idea for these is just a cool idea that needs to be adapted for my own needs... i work in secret...(because i so often get sidetracked by other stuff...) on a steampunk army for IG... and these monowheels would be a cool addition as roughriders...
i like your stuff... hopefully you get more work done on...everything!!!
the aegis line has caught me... and then the warbikers have belted me over for good... how did you get all those cuts of round holes so neat? the sandwich idea for these is just a cool idea that needs to be adapted for my own needs... i work in secret...(because i so often get sidetracked by other stuff...) on a steampunk army for IG... and these monowheels would be a cool addition as roughriders...
There's always this if you want a steampunk monobike:
Really, watch the movie (Steamboy). It's all about fantastic steampunk war machines.
I don't know about your steampunk IG with a rough, toothy wheel. I thought it fitting for Orks, but it might look too much for you servants of the Emperor.
Orks got pushed a bit to the side, unfortunately. I'm nearly done with the Battlewagon - I have to rivet and work out attaching the deffrolla and then get the whole thing in to paint. The warbikes are awaiting a redesign of the cockpit - I'm not at all happy with how my plan worked out and need to rethink it (the ork biker chasis doesn't fit inside my wheels and so I think I need to sculpt it out of card.)
Anyway, I'm working on a little contest and some terrain (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/475041.page). I'm also trying to get my Eldar painted up so I'm not fielding so many unpainted minis against a friend who's got an absolutely beautiful Fists SM army.
So I've put the Battlewagon and Nob Bikers, as well as my eldar, on hold for the last few weeks to work on terrain and this fighting pit contest. I took my pictures last night and now I'll be trying to get my 2000 point Eldar army painted for my next game in 2 weeks. Then it will be back to the Bikers and maybe starting on another battlewagon.
the tinbitz used for the shrine is a very nice idea.... i like that piece a lot!!!when seeing the finsihed version in the middle of that sandy colored table.... you definatly did the right thing.... looks all from one pour... if you get my meaning...!
It's actually the foam covered in epoxy putty - it was a b*#&* to knead it all up for such a large piece, but it was worth it. I wanted a hammered bronze look and I think it turned out well.
So the orks are on hold until I get some of these Eldar projects out of the way. I play Eldar and want to try to have a painted army for games - I'm close, but still have a lot to do. I'm also working on Eldar terrain to enhance my table (again, since I play Eldar). Which leads me to my current project - the Eldar Bastion. I played with a stand-in last week, but the upside-down yogurt container didn't cut it for my opponent and I wasn't really happy with it tactically (Eldar can't be as zooommy when they're stuck in a building). Regardless, I've been wanting to make one for a while. This will go with my ADL, Landing Platform, and Icarus/Quad AA gun.
That eldar Aegis is one of the better ones I've seen, looking sweet! The fortress is looking like it will shape up nicely as well. Scratching eldar stuff must require some mondo patience, its real easy to get shapes that don't look right if you're not careful, but you seem to be dodging that bullet nicely! Great stuff!
Hey, Mars, Good to see new stuff up on here. I am going to be in my shop daily for a while starting tomorrow as well. I hope you will check in from time to time.
Looking forward to seeing more elder stuff on here......
Thanks guys. I've been struggling with the design of the bastion for a while, but I think this one is doable (the others were really complicated). I'll get this one done and try to figure out how to blend in some of the more complicated elements that I was wrestling with. I'll probably have it knocked together this week, but we'll see.
After all, Christmas is coming and I've got to get some gifts done which means painting, painting, painting (on canvas for a change). January will be big, though - or at least I've got big plans for getting things done when I head back to work this January. I've got my army to paint, the Eldar ADL and Bastions to wrap up, and I want to get back to my orks (Battlewagon's almost done, Bikes and Bastion or FoR). That's the story of my life though: lotsa plans and not the energy to match.
So it's been a while, but I've been slowly working on things. My Eldar army has pushed the Orks aside and dominated most of my time lately (and I've been fortunate to be getting more games in) and my terrain is mostly set. I've been trying to do more painting, but also some building. This is what I did this week. I'll finish sculpting next week, but I wanted to show a preliminary build.
Spoiler:
and
I'll take more pics tonight of my Rangers, Swooping Hawks, and Harlies (and maybe Avatar). I've also got a piece of terrain in the works for the =[_= and I'll try to get a WIP shot of that too.
I've been working on the Bastion and ADL this week. Here's some pics of the Bastion (and Quad-gun).
(and a shot from above showing the floor of the battlements - lotsa little holes...)
Gotta cut detail, but at least it's finally roughed out. I'm gonna go back to orks for a while next week. Finish the battlewagon and bikes and probably start on Battlewagon #2. I want to get the orks ready for paint in a few weeks.
Llamahead wrote: Really nice to see some proper Zenos terrain. I'm particularly taken with the Quad Gun how've you done it?
It's pretty simple actually: just the turret from a WS with 4 brightlances glued into pairs and magnetized to the turret's pegs. that stuck into a bottlecap which is glued onto a piece of plastic-card along with the door extension from a falcon/WS kit. That's got a nut glued to the bottom which fits into a hole on top of a card stand. I've got to cut card to dimension the panel lines on the stand yet and I'll add the little side shields to the brightlances once they're painted.
excellent looking... lots of detail and truly one of a kind! you see only so few alien terrain pieces here... i am really looking forward to you painting this cool looking beauty!
Those ork bikers might just be the coolest 'bike' I've ever seen. The truks and wagons are awesome too, looks good and orky, can't wait to see them painted.
Hey all, I haven't posted for a while (at least not to this blog). When I first started 40k I decided to play Eldar, but I quickly saw the potential for scratchbuilding Orks. I started the battlewagon and warbikes and then got caught up in trying to keep up with painting my constantly evolving Eldar list. While my list was changing and I made minor modifications to units (my Swooping Hawk wings for example) I started working on terrain. Terrain led to ruins, ruins led to fortifications. Since I kept wanting to try out fortifications I realized that I could build them, to make them less like captured Imperial assets and more like ones made by Eldar (and eventually I'll work up some Orkish versions). Anyway, as I kept working, I got a little more comfortable with the models and materials like green stuff and polystyrene.
So I thought I would consolidate everything I've been up to onto this thread. I haven't gotten a ton done, but I wanted to see everything together. I still have to get painting, but sculpting is moving along.
So here goes. I'll start with units.
Spoiler:
Here are the Swooping Hawks that sort of started it all. I didn't like that their wings were based on an animal that evolved on Earth. I figured that the Eldar and other creatures from the Maiden Worlds had evolved independently and so things like the wings and some of the iconography needed to change (also why none of my Eldar are without their helmets).
Anyway, here are the Swooping Hawks.
Here are some Rangers (I added cloaks and altered their rifles to emulate a bright lance). Here's the prototype again:
and with some paint:
Here are my Warp Spiders. I didn't like the way that the GW models were all identical and sooooo static. I had really liked other conversions which gave them more motion and a better silhouette. I'm still working on these so this is all I have at the moment, but here are the prototypes.
I've also been reimagining the Avatar of Khaine. I didn't like how anthropomorphic he was (consistent with my desire to separate Eldar from Humanity) so I looked around for an alternative. This is what I've come up with:
(prototype A)
(prototype B)
I've also had been working a lot on my bike council (although I haven't worked on it in a long while). Mostly I just need to paint, but anyway, here is my council:
And some units I really didn't convert at all, but they're also the most paint complete:
Autarch
Fire Dragons
Howling Banshees
War Walkers
Here are the Terrain and Fortifications.
Spoiler:
(the Bastion is actually further along than this, but this is the pick I have at the moment)
Thanks DrH. You've got some wild conversions going on there too! Great stuff.
I have a feeling that the new codex will usher in new models - including new Warp Spiders and a WS Phoenix Lord (since that's the only one missing). I'm curious what direction they go with them.
As far as the Avatar, everyone on Dakka seems to prefer A, but I'm still not sure. I'm going to sculpt/paint them both up and compare them again at that point.
Sure, why not. Two is better than one. You could always alternate them if you like them both. Painting always makes the difference, it is difficult to tell what's good or not before it's painted.
that battlewagon is proper well done, and them monbikes made me lol, keep up with the orks
also them eldars also look pretty damn sweet, keep up the good work
Oh, and I also sculpted this the other day. I have a buddy that my friends and I are helping get into 40k. We chipped in together and got him the SW battlebox and Njal for x-mas. He was talking about the Psyber-Raven rules for Njal and wondered what people did for the marker out on the table. I thought I'd give him something better than a coin or bottlecap.
Well, I copied bits of bits and cut them up and swapped them around, cast those new bits, added other bits and cast them. My dining room has been a little manufactorum the last couple of weeks.
The details are pretty good, for the most part (helmet eye inprints are all there, for example). I'm pleased that my mold making skills are coming along.
I've been painting a bit lately, but I finally figured out a way to hinge my Landing platform. I have some detail work to do on it yet, of course, but this is the rough state of it at the moment:
Shielded:
and Unfurled:
Now I've got to get back to painting to try to finish up my army for a game next weekend.
If only I could work as fast as the rest of you guys. I only have a couple of hours a night. Most of the time I'm too beat or distracted to get too much done. A little every day though, right?
So I've gone with what I know. Here is a quick pre-vis of what I'm hoping to accomplish with the Avatar. While I'm still planning on seeing both head variants through paint, I prefer the "faceless" head as it feels more like a possessed machine, rather than a creature - for similar reasons as to why the Wraith-type units don't have faces. Anyway, I want to add dimensional fire (in addition to OSL effects).
So I had a month off of work and didn't get anything done (well, 40k-related anyway, I did build a deck on my house). Since I've been back I got some paint on these guys and the next 5 started. I've also got bitz for another 10 coming. I really like them.
I also got a game in with the new codex and didn't do too bad.
Sooooo.... This week, I've been working on painting my Striking Scorpions (including my modified Exarch). I still have work to do (on pretty much my whole army) to get them finished, but I don't like fielding primed-only models if I can help it.
More than that, however, I've been working on a drop pod for my friend's Bjorn. I've got the big stuff roughed together and once I work out a hinge, I'll start on the details. I reckon I'll have it mostly done by the end of next week.
Hey all. I've been following others for a while, but I thought I'd post some of my WIP projects. I've departed from Eldar again for a little while and gone on to Space Wolves and Orks for a change. I've been cutting sintra for the last month or so, but have yet to actually finish something. Anyway, here are the irons I've got in my fire:
[EDIT: I took a couple more pics last night and thought I'd toss them into the mix as well]
Cool, that looks awesome! The planes o like immensely!And thewga noobz look brilliant too. I once started wit a LR but never finished it, that is an aweful lot to cut for...respect . Droppod is looking amazing!
@DrH - Absolutely. They'll be as Ork-ified as the official one, but I'm mostly worries about the fine detailing TBH. I don't want it to look too cobbled together.
@Vik - Thanks for all the kind words. It's nice to see you going back to Orks as well.
@King - It would nice to have things to a playable state though. The problem with so many projects is that I end up tinkering with one for a while and then with another without getting the first one to a point where I can run it with an army. They're in reasonable shape, but my friends all have painted armies (very nicely done) and I feel like the slob when I bring unfinished stuff. The jets in particular will be a process since I have big plans for their bases as well as the jets themselves.
Well back to RL-work (I wish I had more time to tinker!!!).
awesome work mate, i really like the look of the ork fighter, cause they look like A10's and those are awesome. Also awesome work on those plasticard land raider and drop pod.
Thanks for checking it out. I'm working on getting some basing done (of the dakkajets) and then I'll have more to post (plus that dam Land Raider has been distracting me so I might have more to show on that front as well).
I guess I got more done last night than I thought I would. I like how it's turning out. It gives me confidence for what the other 2 bases are going to be.
So here's where I'm at:
Tonight I think I'm going to have to go back to Eldar and paint something (I have a game this weekend). Or, I'll get sucked into more Land Raider/Dakkajet work. I want to try some OSL on my wave serpents though.
So let me know what you think and feel free to make suggestions. Thanks again for checking up on me.
Base looks da bomb...literally!
For me that flame/smoke effect looks totally convincing! That poor rhino never knew what hit him...
By the way...is that rhino a scatch build or bitz?
Also how did you build those planes, did you make your own templates?
@Vik - Everything is scratch - so far. The rhino and the jets are templates from papermodels I found online. I've been collecting patterns for a while now so the droppod, LR, rhino/razorback, a-10 dakkajets are all from papermodel patterns, but I have lots more besides.
No, what's that? Can you PM me a link to the group?
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I was scouring pretty hard when I was planning the Dakkajets - looking for an interesting airframe so it came down to F-4U Corsairs, Stukas, A-10s, and the Mig15. I'm sort of sharing the ork army with a friend (he's got da boyz, I got da Mek) and he liked the A-10 best. I keep the rest of the library in case I want to use something for a looted wagon or battlewagon or something.
Whoa, I just had a fantastic idea: what about a bastion and ADL set that's made out of cobbled together Imperial vehicles, all stacked on top of each other.
Here are a couple of pics of my major projects and how far along they all are. I have been going along kind of leisurely lately and I'd like to get a bit more done every night. If only I didn't have to work...
Anyway, here's a pic of the Land Raider (which is what I've been working on mostly the last couple of days), the dreadnought droppod, the dakkajets (got in a little bit of work on the wreck base), the Battlewagon, and the Warbikers.
I didn't think to get the MegaNobz or any of the Eldar stuff into the picture.
And a couple of new close-ups of the Space Wolves LR:
So I have a question: my buddy (who I'm building this thing for) runs Krom Dragongaze Space Wolves. He doesn't like a lot of iconography, but we both agree that the top of the assault ramp needs something. So I cut a bit last night to see what it looked like. I don't like the Krom sigil (as it's too asymetrical for me) and so I altered it a bit. I'd like some feedback in addition to my friend's.
yes! that looks way better in my opinion...i had to look up the chapter...but after some more input i say your take looks way more royal than the other... specially the crown bit looks very good... the teeth yo got perfect by the way... and that is nothing for the faint of heart on that scale...!
Details, details, details. So many details (and I haven't even started riveting yet). I've been working on my friend's LR much of last week and this week. He decided against the iconography I posted earlier and we went with something he found in his codex (I think). I like it a lot. I also thought I'd post the whole thing so you can see where I am with it and send along your thoughts and feedback.
Anyway here goes:
As always, thanks for checking in and thanks for any feedback!
Nice work. Getting better all the time. That new icon looks like it was a pain to cut out...
How close to an actual LR are you aiming for?
I haven't got one so I can't tell, but it looks like one to me. Are you going to be agonising over details or taking some artistic licence?
I'll always take some license. I don't have a "real" one either, just photos of what other people have done. This one is specifically for a Space Wolf army, so I'm trying to add in as much detail in that direction as possible (the treads have runes on them, for example). And I'll never be able to have it be indistinguishable anyway.
EDIT: And, yes, the icon was a bit of work. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out though.
You mean my sloppy cutting? I guess I'm more of a Mek and not always paying attention to straight lines. I'll have to figure out a way to fix that. Hmmm...
@Vik: No worries, I don't disagree, though and think we were probably talking about the same thing.
Regardless, I think I'm going to take a break from the LR for a bit anyway and go back to orks or *gasp* Eldar. I've got all 20 of my Warp Spiders roughed out and now just need to detail them (added armor and the like). I probably need to get some feedback on my warbikers - so I need to hit them again so I have something to get feedback on. Then there's the Dakkajets and the second Battlewagon...
I was back to the Land Raider last night for a bit. I had an idea and thought I'd see what it really looked like in real life (as opposed to my sketching).
I was going for something like the DA Banner of Devestation. So what do my fellow dakkans think?
Sure. I'll try to put something together. I'm still developing it (and the landing platform) - detail-wise, but I can send you what I've got so far. Maybe things you do to flesh it out will give me some ideas. I'll PM you (or just post a file here) when I have it cleaned up.
The Attack Squig was a Wolf Lord who lost out to Old Zogwort (Now Youse a Squig).
The banner would be something like this:
My SW player friend isn't thrilled with freehanding it at all, so I may have a go, but I don't think it will be quite as complicated as that DA one Vik.
So I started working on some terrain again last week. It was partly inspired by the idea I had for the League's contest "Big Guns". The original concept was a wrecked destroyer, crashed on the surface, with some of the gun ports accessible. That never got off the ground with all the other RL stuff I have had going on. Finally, I was inspired to actually do some stuff last week when I grabbed some junk from the office. The first one, the tower, was pretty straight forward. The wreck, part of a 3 part deal, could go on forever with detailing. I think I'm going to dust it up and then try to get a real rusty look to it.
So here's the tower:
And the Wreck:
I don't think I'll have anything new until 2014. Happy Holidays Everyone!
those filter thingies...they look very good as platforms...and you "uncanned" the cans quite good...those tower pieces will look good once painted...maybe some loose wire or rivets?
as for the wreck...looks very promising...will be the devil to paint...where I see some problems is the use of sprue in such a way as you show here... will probably show up as painted sprue...?and not as open circuitry? and happy holidays to you...
(also...it was "es" instead of ihn^^...otherwise quite decent german^^)
Good to see yet another use for sprue. Will be interesting to see how that ends up.
Perhaps a few more things overlapping it in certain places will disguise it further...
I wanted the sprue to look like external rigging or other surface texture. I was going to add blocking here and there (which I started with some circuit board bits), but otherwise, I'll have to think about disguising it. I had been worried more about the inside being too bland, but I think I can panel that up a bit and add some lines to it to just break it up a bit. I've got a lot of old phone wire, maybe I can use that to add lines of cabling.
How do you guys do it? I check in (way too) often to follow folks like Vik, Wazzoo2000, hk1x1, Klaus, not Santa, Develain, and Luciusletroll (among many others). I'm always amazed at the work they do, but I don't know how they do it. I get home from work (and granted I work 12 hrs/day) and most of the time I don't want to do anything. I get bit every once in a while where I work steady for a week, but then I peeter out and loose interest. I haven't painted in months.
I'm good at making lists of what I want to do, but I'm terrible at getting any of it done (I don't know that I've "finished" anything). This all sounds more frustrated than I really am, but I am curious about how to get that fire lit. Once it's lit, how do you keep it lit?
Some of us don't have jobs to go to and so may seem to be working very quickly, whereas I...(I mean those people... ) are just doing little bits, just as slowly as everyone else, but have much more time in the day...
Having worked in pubs and done 12 hour shifts (in one, and as split-shifts), I know that at the end of one of those days you just want to have a sit down and "be entertained" before bed (rather than lift a finger to make your own entertainment). So I feel your pain.
The only advice I think I can give is to break down the large jobs (finishing a model) into much smaller jobs, like painting all the red bits, and not worrying about the whole model and how it's not getting finished. Done like that, you have many small "victories" and don't get stuck thinking that you're not making progress on the whole model, which can lead to a lack of motivation.
I think there is something to that: Not finishing things, not being able to cross projects or ideas off the list does make it more daunting. Especially since I seem to always have more ideas to add to the list.
Well, I had a game last weekend and have been a bit more enthusiastic/busy this week. Plus, I had a bit of inspiration and so I started a new project and am pretty jazzed about it.
I've been pretty busy the past couple of weeks. Things are looking good. I've got a game in a couple of weeks and will unveil after that. All in all, I'll have a ton to show you all.
Hey Doc. It feels great. I've been creative and productive. I'm out of the rut.
I'll try to find a few things I can post without giving things away. Needless to say, I'm really excited and really can't wait to start posting things to get some feedback.
Part of the problem I have now, is that this week I've diversified again as a supply drop came in. I'm hoping to finish the Land Raider and get some more work done on the Dakka Jets and the Eldar ADL, Landing Platform, and Bastion - and the quad/icarus too. On top of all of that is my main project (Project X) and maybe the start of a second (Project Y) since I'm making good progress on "X".
So, I've been jumping from project to project the past few weeks. Some are (as I mentioned) under lock and key until the game the weekend after next, others are known and so I can work on them. Basically, I gave up and just unboxed everything to see what I had and where I was with everything as a whole. It was like setting up a triage: these Fire Dragons and this Wave Serpent is good, these War Walkers need a little work, these guys need more work, this War Walker is a disaster, etc. That made a huge list of to dos, but helped me prioritize a bit, which helped.
Anyway, I thought it would be good to get something done. The Land Raider is just sitting there staring at me and I wanted to get it off my plate. So I've been working on it on the side, but consistently all week. Since you've all been patient with my teasing, I thought I'd at least share this and get your (more experienced) thoughts on it's progression.
I got a leather punch the other day and I love it. The rivets are all 2mm - I would have prefered 1mm, but I think it looks a ton more finished. I also finished the base of the flag a touch (and broke the anvil off the top of the flagpole, but I'll glue that back shortly). I've got to do the back doors yet and rivet the back, but I feel like I'm close. Although, tbh, I doubt I'll ever feel like it's "done".
It's great hearing from you Magos! (Thanks for the kind words)
I've actually been lurking on your weathering thread. I love it and really want to do the same effect to some of the terrain pieces I've been working on (the crashed freighter and the storage tank tower). Did you post a tutorial at all?
mars2024 wrote: It's great hearing from you Magos! (Thanks for the kind words)
I've actually been lurking on your weathering thread. I love it and really want to do the same effect to some of the terrain pieces I've been working on (the crashed freighter and the storage tank tower). Did you post a tutorial at all?
Hey mate! Thanks very much! I am pretty sure if you check back a couple of pages on my blog there is a little list of the steps i take to get the effect.... have a look and if you have any other queries just drop me a message and i will try and help you out if i can!
So I'm almost ready to unveil the top secret project, but in the meantime, I just thought I'd share a little bit of the other work I've gotten done in the past week(s). It's not much, but for the amount of time I've been able to put into things, I'm pretty happy.
First the Land Raider.
And then the wrecked freighter. I'll do the other side tonight.
I've also started to get paint on the tanker tower. I'll try to post some of that tomorrow as well.
I think for most imperial stuff 2mm rivets are a good choice... I use that size on all my stuff and it works for me, the primed LR looks amazing and the freighter is so convincingly weathered!
I don't want to spoil the game on Saturday. I love bringing out something new and unexpected to throw off my friend's. Last time was the LR and that was great!
The weathering is a lot of fun actually. I'm not sure it's the best idea, but I like that the whole thing smells like coffee now. I just need to find a way to keep it from flaking off.
So a quick update on the new-ish terrain. I'll post some table pics after the game this weekend. I've got one more night to work on stuff and I've got quite a bit of painting to do tonight. Very exciting (I just hope that I can keep the momentum going).
Anyway, here is the wrecked freighter. I'm going to seal it tonight as well (although I'd like to put a little banner with a name on it, maybe "Cadian Hope" or something (suggestions/ideas?).
And here is the storage tanker tower thing. I've only really started painting it, but you can kind of see what I've got in mind. I'll rust the bejesus out of it too (like the freighter), but that will have to be later.
Thanks again for checking in. C&C is always welcome.
So here's my big project. My Crimson Hunter. I played a game this past weekend and really wanted to surprise my friends as I knew they would be bringing flyers and they knew I didn't have any. It worked about as well as I had heard/expected. I came on the board, got glanced by intercept (after jinking), managed to blow up the flyer he had on the board and then I got blown up the next turn by another flyer. I don't know that it was worth it, but I was really excited to build it and even if I never fly it again, I really like it. Anyway, here's the progression of about a week and a half to two weeks of work.
Initial pieces with the reference I was trying to match:
A quick dry assembly:
A bit further along:
And with some paint:
So it might not be worth all the build up, after all, but I like it a lot.
Great stuff! I have been thinking of converting some plain Nobz to MANZ for a while, and your design concept looks great. Love the bikers too! Please keep scratch building and posting pics.
So I've changed gears a little bit over the past couple of weeks. I've got a ton of work to do for40k, but I really wanted to convert the YT-1300 for x-wing. I started with the existing YT-1300 and after making a couple of attempts at a plastic card version, I decided to try a press-mold. I'll go back to the plastic card, now that I have a better sense of the ship, but I think the copy turned out well. I was especially anxious to get it to paint.
I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
This was my reference:
Spoiler:
And here's what I started with:
Spoiler:
And here's where I ended up:
Spoiler:
I may do a bit more painting (the insides of the engines, for example, but otherwise I think it turned out nicely.
I got in a game last night and ran Chewie and Lando, because I ~really~ wanted to. It wasn't a good list and I got beat pretty good, but it was great having both the freighters out there.
Thanks, I'm back to 40k now and will try to have something to show soon.
@Vik:
That's a good point. I sort of had a scheme, but not really a rationale as far as what would be blue and what would be white (the orange panels would be "replacements and repairs"). Now that you mention it, it does seem like other paint schemes are more about racing stripes and other decoration. Mine really isn't, I guess. Hmmm.
don´t you worry tho... it does looks very good... I just wanted to hear about your motifs...
Automatically Appended Next Post: some of the artworks on x wings or the republican gunships ive seen looked like war paint too... that is my strongest association...
Yeah, I've seen some of those and I actually wanted to stay away from that idea of chevrons and pinstripes. I don't know why, but I wanted a more lived in/working look. I probably should have just done the whole thing blue rather than a vague portion of the pie (if you imagine the disk part of the yt-1300 as a sliced pie). Don't get me wrong, I'm still in love with it and will treasure it as a successful (completed) project, but maybe I should have put the color design through more rigorous paces.
Now it's back to 40k, though. Lots of projects and the show's going on hiatus so I won't have any excuses (other than home renovation and actually spending time with my family for a change).
Sorry everyone, work finished up for me last week and now I'll be spending my copious freetime...
Remodeling my Bathroom! Yeah!
Also, getting reaquainted with my kids and wife - I've been away for a while so family life is a bit of a readjustment. I'm going to try to get some building done, but it will most likely be along the lines of the LR - stuff for friend's armies. Maybe some terrain here and there, but mostly vehicles.
I just had a great game this past weekend. 2000 pts vs. SM.
It went great! I won 15 to 2 and only lost a unit of Warp Spiders and a Wave Serpent. By the end of turn 5 he had 3 models left. As a bonus. my Crimson Hunter didn't die!
I'm almost done with my summer hiatus from work , but that also means I'll be back to building stuff again . My list hasn't gotten any shorter and now that the Ork book is imminent, I'm sure I'll be busy.
Hope you're all having a good summer and I'll post more when I have something to show.
Hey Vik, I did see that, but I really have so many projects to do that, unless it fits with one of those, I don't see myself making time for it.
On that note, I've got a couple of projects in the cooker - I'll try to post pics tonight or tomorrow, depending on how much I get done tonight.
1st) I'm re-imagining my swooping hawks, similar to my warp spiders. I found a tutorial on recreating FW Corsair wings and am giving that a try to make my SH wings a little more dynamic. I'm also going to try to do a little better with the ribbons.
2nd) I looked over a tutorial on banners and so I'm redoing the banner for the SW Land Raider. My first attempt was with miliput, but I let it cure too long and it came apart when I tried to bend it. I'll try it again tonight, otherwise, I'll go back to GS and try it that way.
3rd) I'll be joining a Makerspace in town and 3D printing some things in the future. I won't have anything to show for that this week, but maybe next week.
4th) and lastly, I'll be working out an Imperial Customs Corvette for X-Wing.
Obviously, I won't get all this done tonight, but I'm hoping to get a ways down the road on all of these this week. We'll see how I do.
Yeah, milliput is not great for things that you need to bend or stretch. I have done a cloak with milliput though, I used a card scaffold and then sculpted the milliput on to that to create the folds (I also made the hood with tissue and PVA and puttied over that).
Try mixing them. I have mixed GS and milliput together with much success. You mix them individually then combine them. Keep going until uniform colour, then sculpt away.
So mixing miliput and GS worked out pretty well! I'm a little concerned that it might be a bit brittle like the miliput only cast, but I got it out of the mold and it was really flexible. I'm really happy with the result:
I also got a couple of wing sets done last night too for my new Swooping Hawks. I like the ones I did way back when, but I feel these are a good upgrade. I know a bit more about the game, and about basing so I think these will be better. Anyway here's the new concept:
And the ones I have:
The Imperial Corvette didn't work out so well. I was basing my design on a schematic from the old west end games smugglers supplement, scaled up to fit in with the CR-90. When I laid out the pieces, however, it was all wrong. I went online and found some other scratchbuilds, but they're much bigger than I think I want to go.
I'll be doing more research today, but I think I'm going to shift focus from that back to Orks for a while. I want to get my Blitza-Bommers and MANZ done and move onto the Battlewagon again after so long. I've got this long list and even a little calendar of what I'd like to have finished and by when - all in the hopes of staying motivated and on task. We'll see how long it lasts.
Thanks again for taking the time to check in. Your thoughts are always welcome.
Catching it before it's too rigid is the trick with the banner. I mixed 50/50 GS and Miliput and waited about 35-45 min before breaking the mold. Then I fiddled with it for another 10-15 min before I let it rest and harden. I'm nervous that it will break (I'm used to the flexibility of cured GS) but I think it will be ok.
My experience so far with mixing these things, it gives you that flex, but eventually it sets solid, very hard. I have also mixed the metal putty stuff with GS and also Milliput, worth experimenting, just be quick with the metal one.
Your results so far look brilliant, seriously impressive.
Yeah, I'm afraid to try that metal putty stuff in my instamolds. I've been meaning to ask you if you've used it like that. I'm going to cast some more wings tonight and then ~maybe~ do a real injection mold for the first time. I'm super nervous.
I have personally had no issues so far with the metal putty, on silicon moulds or on instamould stuff, but I would certainly not say I have covered all the bases, so please do be careful. Also Please wear gloves. The one thing with the metal is, is does get very hot, for a short period of time, the good news is 15 minutes and it is solid and you have your bits.
I did get some more wings cast and I finished my Singing Spear conversion (DA Exarch spear arm and the sword from a High Elf model - he's in the same pose as Caradryan, but with a sword instead of an axe). I like it a lot, but I feel like it should be the "Spear of Teuthlas" and find another blade for a regular Singing Spear. Anyone know of a model with a cool looking blade that's a little less grand - maybe the one on Alith Anar?
My friend also got the GW terrain set so now I'm thinking a bit on my terrain. I've got a pretty good variety, but my ruins are a little lacking in finish - they're basically just ripped apart boxes with windows cut out and upper floors glued on. I have been looking at a few 3D models that I might spruce up and print. If I join the Makerspace I'll need things to print to make it worthwhile so this might be a good compromise.
And in keeping with the "something completely different" theme:
So in preparation of joining the maker-space I've been doing a bit of modeling in Sketchup. I'll probably get the 15-day demo for Modo in the next few weeks and get cracking on that. So far I've got a couple of vehicle add-ons modeled, but I've been working on this ruin for the past couple of days. The idea is to print it in sections that can either fit together as a whole building facade (like in the image) or as several buildings. I could also break it up more for rubble.
I've got a lot of work to do, of course, but it's shaping up pretty well. The devil will be in the details, without making the model too unwieldy to actually print.
I have a game coming up this weekend - my Eldar and my friend's SWs vs. Tau and AM. So the Craftworld goes back to outfitting our Space Wolves allies. With the Land Raider Redeemer nearly completed we move on to a Stormwolf.
This is one night's work so it's not too far along.
Unfortunately, looking at reference photos again this morning, I realized that there's a chamfer along the bottom edges. I'll have to fix that tonight and move on, but I'm pretty happy with it so far.
The 3D printed terrain is also nearing a point where I can start printing it as well, but it will have to wait until next month. All in all, you guys have been posting a bit more of your work and so it's prodded me to get on with mine a bit more too. I'm still way behind with the schedule I set for myself, but I'm working on stuff. Two steps forward and all that.
I got the chamfer fixed and a little more structure done. I forgot to do the venting in the back before I glued it all together (I got caught up in "making progress" that I now have to figure out a solution where I don't have to tear it all apart again). So that and the engines are on the block for tonight. I'm also thinking of trying the wing from the Ceastus as I wanted to give it a little more wing than the actual Stormwolf, but it ends up possibly looking more "dog-like" - if I want.
I feel like I didn't get much done last night. It's starting to actually look like something now, but I've still got a long way to go.
I keep discovering things that I did wrong or that I should have done differently. That's the trouble with making it up as I go along. I have a papercraft pattern for the Stormraven and the Ceastus, but there's a lot of difference between those and the Stormwolf so I am always discovering things that aren't right. Then I have to debate whether I need to change them or not (as in the case of the bottom chamfer). The engine nacelles are another example: my first set were too big for the rest of the model and so I had to start over. It's kind of fun to have to figure it all out, but it's a bit slower. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out - I just hope the scale is close.
So my question to you, dear reader, is whether the Ceastus style wing works or if I should go back to the regular wing from the standard GW Stormwolf?
So the game is this weekend, but the Space Wolves will be on the sidelines. The idea was for me to try to build like crazy and surprise our Tau and AM friends (3000pts split between 2 armies on each side). My Space Wolves ally was going to be the hammer and my Eldar was to be the anvil. Unfortunately, my buddy didn't get the day off after all. My Eldar will have to do all the killing themselves.
Nevertheless, I'm still working on the gear for him (although now the surprise is blown and can post everything). I did these guys first. I used my buddy's ven dread model (not the SW variant) and another one I picked up at the FLGS. Neither had a CC right arm so I had to build that. I wasn't having much luck on ebay for the shield, murderclaws, axe, etc so I figured I'd have to build all that too. Anyway, here's the Ven Dread and Murderfang that we were going to run:
I also did the cockpit and more work on the engines/wings on the Stormwolf. I also blocked in the assault hatch. It's slow going now as it's more and more detail work. I've got a turret and the sponson bits coming. Next week I'm going to try to get the back done and keep plodding along on the engines.
The dreads look awesome, great work on the weapons.
The stormwolf is looking brilliant, looking pretty spot on to the real deal to me. I just not that keen on the design of the thing in the first place. But you have done an excellent job of scratching one up.
Just a quick update. I've got a couple of engine intakes made and installed. Tonight I'll be further revising the canopy and getting the engine exhausts in. I've got to get going on the back detailing and I need to smooth out the assault ramp - it catches pretty bad on the jamb.
I feel like I got a bit done last night (as opposed to other nights where I feel like I've gotten nothing done). Still slow going, but I feel like I'm making progress.
Anyway, this it the third evolution of the canopy. I think it's much better than the first. I've got a little work to tie it into the fuselage, but I think it's turned out well.
I also got some work done on the engine nacelles, some paneling and the exhaust nozels. I've got more cutting to do for the air brakes and I think I need to move the nacelles back a little as well, but again, it's taking shape.
I also got the assault ramp roughed in and functional. The Stormwolf is supposed to be ship to ship in space combat so I wanted to give it some room to allow for breaching an enemy hull (as opposed to being right up against the side of the ship itself). With a little detailing, I think it will look great.
Anyway, thanks for checking in and C&C is always welcome.
I've been going round and round with my group about the general boxyness of pretty much all things Imperial. That said, I am liking the overwhelming brutalist style a little more than when I had started.
While I don't like the lack of aerodynamics in most of the GW flyers, Imperial in particular, the main issue I have with that one is that it looks like they took 2 separate models and just stuck one to the back of the other. It just doesn't look like a whole, continuous, vehicle.
Thanks Zambro. I don't always think so. There are so many great builders and painters (I love your FP, btw) on this site. It can be as intimidating as it is inspiring. But I plug along and get a little better (maybe) and I get to keep my friends going so that we can play. It's win/win!
So the current raft of SW projects are wrapping up and another friend of mine is starting a Necron army with his son. We had talked about what he was building (I think he's bought the battlebox and maybe another HQ or 2 so far). He was wishing he could put more scarabs on the bases and I wanted to try making a mold and casting some stuff so that was one project. I also thought I could crank out a monolith really fast (it's just a simple pyramid, right? ) Well, I guess there's a little more going on here than meets the eye. I'm making progress on it, but it's slow going since work has been a little more intense the last couple of weeks. Anyway, here's some pics.
Scarab Base Progression
When I was casting last night, however, I ran into trouble. I don't know if my mix was off or if the rubber from the mold had had enough, but only half of the resin set and now what hadn't set is bonded to the rubber. Well, I wanted another version anyway for a little variation.
So I've gotten a little work done on the Necrons this week. The monolith has a lot more going on than I had initially realized (a bit of modeler's hubris on my part). I like that I can cobble some junk into it (the bottlecap and straw segments). I'm not thrilled that it's not perfectly square, but the Mek in me is pretty strong, and I think it will turn out fine. Speaking of which, I'm totally going to make another into an Ork Bastion (sigh, add it to the list ) Anyway, the Scarabs turned out awesome! I lost a mold halfway through and had to recast it, but I used a real base (the first one was one I cut from 1/8" sintra) and the new casts are great! The mold held up even with an insane amount of undercutting which saved me a lot of cleanup and now I know a little more about casting. It's pretty cool that I'm actually learning a little every now and then.
Here's the Monolith:
And the army of SCARABS!!!
I can't wait until my friend gets his scarabs (with the bases) glued on. They're gonna look sweet!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh! Here's the current state of the Stormwolf:
We actually used it in a game this week as well, but it didn't come in until turn 3 and by that point my friend's (very experimental) list was decimated. I was very excited to have it on the table though.
I got some more work done on the Monolith last night. I'm starting to hit the detailing pretty hard, but I need to figure out a solution to the guns before I can close up the bottom. I'm really, really glad that other scratchbuilders post their work as it's been a huge help to see how other people have been solving some of the same issues. I'm also out of glue.
So things are pretty much done now. I've got a little work to finish the Monolith and the Stormwolf. I got in a couple of games this past weekend vs. the Necron (one with SW allies - but no Stormwolf). Here are some probably low-quality shots of the Monolith in action.
I think I'm going to work on some Eldar for a while.
So on top of all the projects I've been building for my friends, I figured it was time to get back to my own army. I don't even remember the last model I built for myself - it must have been the Crimson Hunter, I guess. I don't think I've painted anything since. I have the urge to do that again so, I've shelved the Wolves and the Necrons and pushed back the Orks. It's Craftworld time!
First up is the Avatar. I never liked the small model GW put out for the Avatar of Khaine and I couldn't afford the FW model. I also wasn't really feeling the proxy I had been developing. I decided to go the route of converting the Avatar from the Dark Elves "Cauldron of Blood" kit. I didn't think that the pose was terribly frightening - and the Avatar should be a bit freightening, right?!?
As you can see, I gave him a tiny change in his stride (and I'm still debating trying to tackle his sword arm, but with his shoulders thrust back like they are, I'm not sure I can pull it off). I'm also trying to think of something to deal with the valentine's heart in his hand (which I hate). I was thinking of a wraithlord or wraithguard's fist (with blood dripping down and all that) or maybe a smooshed Tau or SM (since those are the armies I face most often). Any ideas?
@Cam: Ha! I was hoping that it would look more like a "You want some!?! Come and get it!!" kind of a pose, but now I see that whenever I look at it. Damn You!!!
@ DrH: I need to figure out what to put there, though. I'm also (probably unnecessarily so) struggling with the idea that while blood continuously drips from his hand, he's made of magma, and thus anything he touches - that isn't magical or whatever, would burn. I'm not sure showing a burning marine in slagging armor would be recognizable. Hmm...
Well, apparently I have no attention span (not even a short attention span) when it comes to building. A friend of mine and I played X-Wing the other night and it inspired me to pop over to TheMetalBikini and, of course, he's running another contest. I couldn't resist.
It's a terrain piece for X-Wing, which is sort of weird because the game itself is pretty 2 dimensional and "terrain" that isn't just a print lying on the starmap will probably cause more headaches than fun, imho. There are a lot of 3 dimensional asteroids out there, but they always seemed like they'd just get in the way (you can't really overlap your base over them, can you?). With that in mind I wanted to do the XQ-4 Deep Space Platform from the old X-Wing and TIE Fighter computer games.
Spoiler:
I thought if I just cut it in half and built the platforms on the same plane as the ship bases, everything would be fine. The central torus would be the issue, especially the upper decks, but I thought if I made it boxy down near the playing surface, you could still put models on top of it (as if they were flying over it). So here's what I came up with (I have detail work to do yet, but this is the basic form).
Let's just say it's HUGE! The map is only 3'x3' to begin with. I haven't measured yet, but I'm pretty sure that just about everywhere is within range of the platform's guns (or the platform is in range from just about any deployment). I've also done cards for the platforms and the torus. So theoretically it's ready for a game. Like I said, I have a lot of detail to add and if I had more time, and more wits, I think it's perfect for some electrical action to light it up. I also gave up on having it be modular - platforms separating from the torus, which remains in 2 parts. It's kind of nice to have it stay together while I move it around, but I think it would also be nice to be able to remove platforms as they are destroyed. I'll try to figure that out again later. I'm also thinking about working up some little guns that could go on the platforms as well as some other nibbly bits to flesh out the torus (which need the most love, I think).
Well, it's done. It didn't turn out as well as I would have liked (the wires didn't like the glue and I had to use the more sloppy hot glue gun to get it done in time), but the XQ-4 Deep Space Platform is done. I guess I can get going on something else now.
I'm actually looking forward to trying to paint this Avatar, as well as getting back to my Dakkajets and MANZ.
I've actually been working on other (40k) stuff this week, but it's been sort of slow at work and since I'm stuck behind this computer anyway, I figured I may as well get some other stuff done. I've been meaning to figure out a way to start dabbling in 3D printing and this seems like as good as any. I'm not recreating the wheel (or tread), and it kind of looks cool. Now that I've been playing with this for a while, I think I'll start on the Imp Corvette next. Of course, I'll keep plugging away on everything at home as well. So much (gaming) work to do...
I'm hoping that I can fit the pylons (separately) onto the bed, but I may have to break it down further. I think that will be the least of my worries. I'm much more concerned with resolution.
I'm not entirely sure why I've decided to post this now as I won't be able to do any more building until 2015, but WTH, right? I'm also not sure if I'm going to keep this little thread going anyway since I'm not sure why I post. I'm looking for feedback, I guess, but most of the time there isn't anything to really critique because it's not done or it's pretty... meh I guess. I'm not Wazzoo, or Klaus, or Vik, or Camkierhi , or any of the other guys who really inspire me. Mostly because I take forever to get anything done. I'm mean, I've been working on that damn Battlewagon literally since the my first post; the Dakkajets for probably more than a year. They're not even ready for paint. I guess I don't know what I expected, and so now I'm reevaluating my what I wanted to get out of this great community. I don't know, I feel like I should just have a beer and shut up.
Anyway, here's what I've been working on. I've spent probably as much time reorganizing and figuring out what I want to work on, what bitz I've got, and what I need to scrounge up. Since my buddies have really been on me about them, here's the current status of the dakkajets. Not much progress since I was working on them before, but a little:
Spoiler:
Then there's the surprise project. I had been reading how stuffing MANZ squads into trukks was working out for some people. I didn't have any trukks so I though I could crank a few out. They're a mix of the Normandy beach landers and a half-track. I like them and I'm making decent progress on them. We'll see if that keeps going after the new year. The biggest issue so far has been the wheels, but I think I've got a handle on them.
Spoiler:
So thoughts, ideas, concerns? And thanks as always for checking in.
While small or irregular updates don't lead to much feedback in general, you shouldn't think of the quiet as being a lack of interest. Many people just like to watch and even the most "popular" of threads can go quiet from time to time.
Also, a good way to get more feedback is to ask for specifics. Showing a large vehicle/building/etc and saying "thoughts?" won't get as many responses as a picture of a suspension fork (or other small part of a model) and saying "what do people think of this, should I do a, b or c?"
It's also difficult to pass comment on part builds or concepts as the reader doesn't know what the builder can see in their head of where it may be heading. It's good to add a paragraph on your own thoughts and ideas and people will find it easier to get involved.
Also, also, don't put yourself off, or put yourself down, by comparing yourself to others on these forums. Every person has a different life outside of DDakka and will commit wildly different quantities of time in each day/week to the hobby. Someone may only get an hour a week and cannot compare what they produce to someone that spends 8 hours a day on the hobby,
There's many people out there that could say the same about your work.
It's a hobby, do what you enjoy, and work to your own level, do your best and you will improve in time.
I see my own blogs more of a broadcasting of my work and thoughts, rather than a conversation. If people just want to listen then it's fine, if they want to get involved then it's great.
That's quite a lot of babble, but hope it helps in some way.
The jets and trucks are shaping up well. Keep at them and if I or anyone else has something to add at some point, we will let you know.
Never worry about how fast you're getting stuff done, we all work at vastly different speeds before we even factor in outside influences on our hobby time. Go back to the first pages of my cybork or chaos blogs and you'll see plenty of stuff that's still sat on my workbench Hell, off the top of my head I think I've only finished one thing this year - and that's still sitting in front of me waiting to be repaired!
As to the trukks, I like the idea of the high rear cab, always good to see non-standard designs
Love the trukk designs, often thought orks would do something like that, just an open topped front ramp type thing, land based landing craft. Looking like a good start, watching closely as always.
The planes are great and would be nice to see them progress, but exactly as the others said this is YOUR hobby.
I am honoured to be mentioned, but honestly I feel I get a lot out of all of you guys and inspiration is all around us. My blog is exactly what Dr says a broadcast, more hoping to help someone and give thoughts out than gather any praise. I really enjoy feedback when I get it, but often don't . And if anything working as fast as I do at times, means I do whole projects without people even noticing, I do somethings and am really chuffed, and no one even looks at it, then I am on the next and the page is turned and it is lost forever.
I really hope you continue here, I enjoy your work and your contribution my hobby, thank you.
Thanks guys. I think that's probably how I should have been looking at it all along. I'm definitely going to keep posting and keep checking in on you guys. I think part of the problem is that while I don't have a lot of time at home to build, I'm here wandering through Dakkadakka A LOT. It feels like an empty hall sometimes when I can't wait for the next post or pic and I'm thinking, "what are you lot doing!?! Where is everyone?"
I'm hoping to do a little building tonight. We'll see what I can plow through.
Thanks again for all the support, guys. I've not been too busy (busy at work, but not at the manufactorium), but I cranked through this last night. I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out this time (I've had 2 other abortive goes at this ship). I'm just thinking that I want to make it thinner. This is what the reference looks like:
Spoiler:
And this is what I've got so far:
I'm torn, because I like the idea that you can fit/dock a large ship like the YT-1300 between the pincers, but it feels like a different ship than what's in the reference. I can pretty easily chop up the connecting spans and squeeze the ship together, but I can't decide.
I like the idea of it being able to dock with the larger freighters.
There's this image:
[img]" target="_new" rel="nofollow">[img]
Which shows it docked with a class720 freighter, comparable in size to a YT-1300, so that seems to work ok. If in doubt just claim it's a knock-off copy produced at a shadowport.
Thanks, monkey, I was thinking that too. I think I'm going to slim it down, but only a little. It will give me a chance to give the wings a little more angle too. I think I'm close as far as the scale goes. Right now I'm at 16" long so that's a little longer than the CR-90.
Good job on the shape of the corvette. While your front prongs are not a narrow compared to the rear section than in the picture, if you want something to dock in that gap you want to compare it to the thing you want to dock in there. If it fits in there with enough wiggle-room for your average pilot to work with, then job's a good 'un.
I wasn't sure about the spread of the prongs, but I think I'm going to go that route after all. Right now the YT-1300 just fits and that's kind of cool.
As for the tank: It's from the "Small Soldiers" movie. It's the Buzzsaw tank (which is a cool/hilariously Orky idea anyway) toy. It's huge and I'm going to turn it into something like the Skullhamma here:(http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/File:Skullhamma.jpg). I don't plan on doing too much to it, just closing up gaps and missing panels and adding sponsons (right now I'm thinking of 2 on the turret - as well as another turret on top of the yellow one, and 2 or 4 on the sides of the tracks, plus a gun position in front).
But I've been working on the Dakkajets and trucks, as well as the IMP Corvette and another freighter class ship for X-wing. I also want to crank out a couple more MANZ and I have Stormboyz bodies coming from ebay...
Speaking of so much to do: I hauled everything out last night for a group shot. I also have bodies for 15 MANZ and 20 Stormboys and I'm going to make a mold for the monobikes and start casting them. My goal is to finish what's on the table as well as the MANZ, Stormboyz, and bikes not shown. I'd also like to do a Stompa, but I'm not going to start any more projects until these are done (as well as the X-Wing stuff I'm working on).
Spoiler:
I've also got a game coming up so I'll need to do some maintenance on some of my Eldar and get some more paint on them (not to mention basing, which I've fallen behind on as well). I feel a bit more motivated lately so I really want to harness that.
Thanks. Painting is for some reason even more of a challenge. I suspect I'll always feel there's always more to do, another detail or rivet that I should do before I prime and paint.
Gotta move ahead though! I go on hiatus in 11 weeks and want to be ready for paint by then. That's my goal!
I took a little break from building this past week and decided to do a little painting. Mostly it was just to catch up my Eldar for a game this weekend, they've been showing up unpainted for too long. I did manage to get a little building done, however. I have been running a jump pack Autarch for a while now and so I thought I should have something a little more WYSIWYG. He's pretty much a mishmash of a whole bunch of the Eldar Aspect Exarchs: torso and head from the Shining Spear Exarch, with added DA helmet crest; arm from Fire Dragon Exarch, arm from DA Exarch with Striking Scorpion Chainsword; legs from Howling Banshee; warp jump pack is scratchbuilt; standing on the hand from an old Wraithlord.
I also did a little work on a Warp Spider as a test. I'm not loving it, but I don't hate it. I'm curious what others think about the blue and where else I could add copper to tie it together a bit more.
Backstory:
1) I may have dreamed this, but at some point one of my good friends who's an excellent painter teasingly mentioned that my army looked like it had just been primed gray. I don't disagree.
2) Many CWE schemes feel very similar to Tau where panels are painted different colors. I felt like that was a trap I'd fallen into.
3) I chose my Craftworld because they are described (in their extensive 1 paragraph) as being master artisans, especially of Eldar grav-tanks and titans. I feel like I'm not giving the best demonstration of what warrior-artists would do with their vehicles when they weren't fighting.
Anyway, I stole the idea wholly from someone online, but that's what the internet is for, right? So what do you think?
This is what my Wave Serpents look like, but I'd add this Maori-like motif (while keeping the other aspects, the blue and the red elements).
Thanks guys. I did the Wave Serpent last night. It's the most "completed" tank I have so far and I was curious how the red motif would work with the blues panels and spirit stones and all of that. I like it. I think it makes for a more unique and interesting army. I feel like I've turned a corner to something better.
I'm also playing with OSL and want to incorporate that into the fleet as well. It's not great (yet), but I like it and am excited to keep developing it.
It's kind of scary, actually. I have tons of images. Of everything: Eldar, Orks, SM, SW, a few Necron. I have no idea where most of them came from. There is one I have of a Fire Prism with a similar motif in blue. There's also a grav tank with a similar OSL scheme. I'll have to look around Dakka and see if they're here.
I got a little more work done on these guys. I like how they're turning out - it's good to have some vehicles that feel a little more completed. Still a little work happening on Orks, but I enjoy being distracted by the army I actually play. I also like that I'm painting again. I don't even know how long that's been since I really painted on a regular basis. Anyway, here are the Wave Serpents. I'm going to try to start knocking out the other tanks I have next week. I'll post a group shot next.
In addition to my painting efforts, I haven't abandoned my Orks. I've been working on the Trukks mostly of late so here's where I am with one (another kind of came apart while I was fitting the mounting wire so it might have been a little too ramshackle. I'll repair it tonight).
I'm not sure if I should just go back to a regular un-based, standard "pose" trukk. I thought the crazy, jumping, bouncing, ramshackle trukk would be fun, but maybe it's too much.
Right now it's just a wire. It seems to work well enough. I'll hid it with some foam and basing terrain. I'm a bit worried about how to hide the crappy "suspension" I'm using. I'm thinking of trying to cram springs and wires down there to camouflage it.
After a friend of mine pointed out the modeling for disadvantage of having the trukk posed (up higher than it would otherwise be), I decided to go back to the non-posed assembly. I've got one pretty close to being ready for rivets and the other 2 with a bit more to do. Then I'm going to finish those dakkajets. I swear to Gork!
Agreed, on the "modeling for disadvantage". Unless you're making a showroom piece, you're better off keeping on the table. Regardless, I like it! Hmmmm, wonder if I could make one of those...
I've been thinking for a while about coming up with something to emulate the Forgeworld Falcon Type II with it's more streamlined tail section. The Fire Prism turret already has that feel, but the chassis just sort of stops. Here is my attempt:
Process:
Spoiler:
And here it is with some paint:
I haven't started on converting the Fire Prisms, as I wanted to see it on the Falcon and make sure I was happy with it. I think I like it enough to start on the rest of the force.
Hey Everybody! I'm back! I was on a bit of a hiatus (literally), but now I'm back. What are you guys up to? I've actually been building some of the new Eldar jetbikes, but I have been moving along with a YL-2200.
Spoiler:
I've just started painting so those pics will follow, but here's where I am right now:
So the plan is that I am going to work the bikes through and convert another falcon or 2 and then get back to orks!
I have seen it, but I'm sort of stuck with the comps: I really want to get stuff crossed off my list. I'm trying not to add stuff to the list. I'm not very good at that, but I'm trying.
Now I have to commit to a color. I didn't want it to be grey like pretty much every other ship in the game (except the firespray) and I had settled on a teally blue. But then I did a red version just because and now I'm not sure.
well... if i had to pick one it´d be the blue with the red rebellion icon...classic.... but if i´d be able to suggest... why not a muted grey or green one? like the slave one was?... or to even further distract you...the mon calamari brown-ish colouring ...?
Hmmm. Like I said, it seems like there are already so many grey ships, even my last modified YT-1300 is primarily grey. So it should be a base color other than grey. I think that's one reason I like the blue: it's much more neutral and "safe" than the red. I'm not a big fan of green (as on the original Firespray) and less of brown (like the HWK). I don't mind them, but I don't think I want more of those colors. Green might not be bad, though, with the red rebel phoenix. It would have to be pretty muted though.
Thanks for the comment, Vik. Dakka comments are great to get me to think outside of my first impulses.
well... i totally agree....grey is kinda overdone... and with the freighters you want to have individual looking ships...probably most of them are reformed smugglers like Han anyway... so customization is always good... also...in that regard... the blue is good...especially with the red phoenix.... but ave you also thought about black? with grey drybrushed highlights... kinda like a stalking ship?...for the underdogs that the rebellion often is in every dogfight this would make sense... they aren´t the type for open warefare so they have to have some aces up their sleeves....
I would love to do black, but it's so Imperial. I was thinking of doing a black firespray although, I could fluff it that this is a SpecOps mercenary force transport. I'll have to really think about the detailing to make it pop. Maybe a dark blue is a good compromise.\
well... i am atm building a 2.5 dungeon to soon play with the family...inmygravenimage gave me the links too one future day build even scratchbuilt xwngs and so one... the future is bright^^
i am an old fan of the whole SW universe...but the term firespray up to today escaped me^^
Yeah, sorry. I'm sure I knew it before, but the game definitely reinforced it for sure. And there's a lot of scratchbuilding potential in it too! I sometimes like it better since the draw of the SW universe is still stronger for me than 40k. The big difference is that you just don't need so many ships so sometimes it's disappointing that I really don't run what I've built most games. This ship is a good example of that in that I already have 2 Rebel Large Ships (like the Falcon) and running 3 is not really feasible.
I've got a Imperial Corvette in the works, but a SD would be too huge for the scale of the game - although it might be cool for an apocalypse sized game.
I am, yes. I started painting and I'm thinking that the previs is a bit too dark blue. I like the idea of a ship that contrasts with the rest of my fleet, but I don't think I'll go so dark after all. I'm going to look at it again when I get home tonight.
Yeah, I like the new sculpt a lot better than the old one. I'm really excited to have units to build again. The new book is pretty good for that as well: the formations point in different directions than before as far as putting an army together.
My supply drop just arrived so now I've got some more work ahead of me. Tons of bits for Eldar and Orks. Super excited.
Among the many things to do, I'm still moving ahead with my new Skyrunner Seer Council. Here is the new idea for the Farseers and Warlocks. Basically, the Farseers canopy will be from the Harlie bikes and the Warlocks will be from the old Eldar Jetbikes.
So here is where I got last night. I need to rebuild the horizontal stabalizers and start building the warlock bodies. I've got some ideas for spears, but I'm not sure yet.
Here's the finished bikes and Farseers (I've got one more in the works and the Shuri-Catapult isn't attached, but I've got to paint them first). There's a Guardian Windrider in there for scale. I've got a bunch of those in the works too, but they're not even primed yet.
The warlocks will be next, but I've got to work out heads for them first.
Work is totally kicking my a$$ this week and all I can think about is getting back home to work on my dudes. I suppose that's a good sign, but it doesn't help that I'm almost certainly going to have to work late tonight and tomorrow.
At least I got in a couple of games of X-Wing last night.
i know where you are coming from...usually my wife does the part that keeps me from working on my lil plastic soldiers...honey do lists^^...(currently unemployed...)
it will get better...after rain sun is always shining
Yeah, that sums up my weekends. I'm on my own (and under my own supervision) during the week. I have some stuff to do: I have to get the girl's fair entries prepped, for example, but other than that...
January will be a little different: my wife and kids are going to Scotland for the semester. I'll have 4 months missing them, but building like crazy. Then I'll have 2 months bumming around the continent with them where I won't get anything done. I'm only looking forward to it a tiny bit.
i was once alone for three weeks....i was going crazy back then...four months....i was then very productive too...out of habit and for mental preservation...
It's been weighing on me all day, but I'm afraid I may have trashed my molds this morning. I'll see when I get home, but I think my resin mix was so rushed (and apparently way out of proportion) this morning that it won't set. I was hoping to get a cast made while I was getting ready to leave for work, but it was still goo when I ran out the door. I just hope I didn't ruin my instant mold. That would really suck!
The majority of the instant mold should be fine. At worst you'll have to remake the mould, but being re-usable you will be able to cut away the instant mold and make another mould.
I had something similar happen in a RTV silicone mould and they were still usable, but had damage which got worse with each cast. Those casts were rough in places, but still usable.
I did a rubber mold a while back of a base for a friend's necrons and had a similar fail. I didn't try to clean up as much and the mold was pretty messed up, so I just remolded the original.
I guess I'll see what things look like when I get home.
Well I think the molds are ruined, but not the instant mold itself (so it seems anyway). The rubber mold is another story. I'm hoping that dumping extra resin into it will sop up all the goo that won't wash off, but it's looking like the rubber itself is degraded and after a couple of tries everything is still really gooey coming out of the mold.
That said, I remade the molds and recast a bit with a different resin last night and the cast came out pretty well, so two steps backward, one forward, I guess.
I got a little distracted last night going through my bits and starting to think about where I want to go with my orks. I started sketching ideas out for my bikes again, which was nice and I decided to put this guy together just because.
I also built some other Eldar stuff and am close to wrapping up the Eldar bikes I have. It's slow going, but I feel like this pace won't kill me. I've also got some bits to start a cyberwolf conversion and a couple other things for my SW buddy.
Another busy night at the manufactorium. Some bits came in and I got distracted with Space Wolves.
First of all the Whirlwind. I plan to make enough for a squad (even though SW can't squad vehicles yet). I've got 2 done.
I also started working out a Cyberwolf conversion. It's a small start, but figuring out all the gribbling will be the tough part. At least there's a frame to start working on.
Whirlwind Turrets are 90% built. Just detailing left.
Most of last night was spent figuring out the cyberwolves, however. I think they're turning out ok.
Once I have these done, I think it will be back to Orks! I'm really looking forward to that. It's been too long.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh, and Dr H: I was using Smooth-On 300 from a starter kit before, but they were out of it when I went to the art store a few weeks ago. I bought some KastEZ and that's what I'm using now. The mix is much more forgiving (I had many times when the cast piece never hardened, I haven't had any like that with this new brand). I'm still using my Instant Mold almost exclusively since I change subjects really often.
) on a steampunk army for 
i meant hinges of the doors, not angles per se...sorry my fault
don't have jobs to go to and so may seem to be working very quickly, whereas I...(I mean those people... 
I guess there's a little more going on here than meets the eye. I'm making progress on it, but it's slow going since work has been a little more intense the last couple of weeks. Anyway, here's some pics.
[img]
WAAAGH!!!
