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IG Codex ... Argghhh ... <looks at large pile of cadian boxes> ... <considers doing some IG> ... <Ponders which force> ...

Cadians ? ... done to death, who wants to be the same as everyone else ...
Vostroyans ? ... Character ... Cossacks ... Hmm possible ... but too archaic for me .. and METAL ... metal is the bane of conversions.
Catachan ? ... oh please ... Rambo ... big arms ... BIG ARMS ... nah ...
Death Korps ? ... got a good few packs of them, with snapped off gun barrels, resin weak and snaps ... expensive ... like the look though.

Uhhh oh ... just ruled out all the plastics ... hmm not good

Praetorians ... Character ... Metal ... hmm no longer sold on the GW site .. ebay .. possible rarity appeals
Mordians ... Praetorians with caps ... prefer Praetorians
Valhallans ... Russians, Look ok ... great coats ... hmm maybe
Tallarn ... Arabic never moved me ...

Steel Legion ... hmmm WWII German Paratroopers ... that might work, Metal ... Hmm based on Armageddon, would work well with my Salamanders ... Nice artwork too, stylish, and the cool laying down and firing Heavy weapons ... Ok this is working for me. But I want plastics ... and compatability with the Cadian sprues ... oh damn ... time to do some work.

So began an Easter weekend of fun converting, with the intention of making a Cadian soldier into a Steel Legion soldier ...

I have got about 85% of the way there so far, just gloves, boots and lightning emblem on shoulder left to green stuff.

Take a look, tell me what you think, anything wrong ?








I used this for inspiration ...

Current models lack, medics, banners, flame throwers, mortars, etc etc etc ... the range is limited to around 13 figures total.

By being able to use Cadian plastics I can now fill those gaps easily.

As for heads, I will sculpt my own in Green stuff, anything I sculpt myself I will cast in resin.

You right on the money ... I wanted to check viability first, before heading into production.

Here is a list of the changes so far: -

Chest: Chest piece was from Vehicle sprue, and was chosen as it did not have any armour on. Channels cut for straps, straps made from plasticard, Ammo Pouches made from plasticard,rebreather made from plasticard with the grooved section being cut from one of the cadian trooper heads, Eagle shaped clasps added finally.

Head : Taken from a Steel Legion trooper (one of the few without a massive mould line), Added gas masking tubing using the "power cabling" from Dragonforge ( http://www.dragonforge.com ). At some point I need to sculpt the head from scratch so I can mould and cast my own copies without legal issues.

Arms : Cadian Rifle arms, Shoulders shaved down and some small creases added, more work needed to make proper folds, also need to add the lighting strike insignia on the left shoulder.

Hands: Detached from the Cadian rifle arms, rotated slightly, the hand that was part of the gun was carefuly cut off without damaging it, and attached to the arm and therefore allowed the use of a different weapon.

Weapon : Because the Steel Legion are an Armoured Fist unit and as such spend a lot of time in vehicles, they generally use Las-Carbines instead of las-rifles. The normal metal models have carbines (with folding stocks), and I used the Las-Carbine with folding stock from the Tank sprue to represent this. I had to change the way the hands worked to make this happen.

Legs : Cadian legs, trimmed down at the top, Three layers of green stuff to build up the bottom of the coat, final layer applied carefully and smoothly, Coat pleats added last.

Feet : Need to trim the boots back, and then sculpt on the changes to a full knee high boot, also add a small skull in the center at the top as per the 4th edition IG codex image of a steel legion trooper.

Canteen : At the moment I am using a Forgeworld Elysian canteen, however it doesn't fit with the style on the metal models, something else to make from plasticard or Greenstuff.

Knife/Bayonet : Currently a Forgeworld Deathkorps knife, I am happy with this and find it matches the metal steel legion nicely, I have a significant amount of these from my Deathkorps, so might stick with it.

Blanket : Currently taken from a metal Steel Legion trooper, however its going to be sculpted in green stuff so it can be reproduced.


The future ...

Do more converted parts to enable me to use the new Cadian command sprues, and all the old Cadian stuff, and the add-on forgeworld cadian parts.

See if I can make transparent resin goggles ... now that would be cool.

Part of the challenge is improving my Greenstuff sculpting skills, and therefore of course the rights to reproduce my own resin copies.

I am hoping it will be a nice army in the end, with some character and variation not normally found in the Steel Legion.

Indeed, but this way I have the ability to choose the pose and variations in pose that sticking purely with the metal miniatures doesn't give me

Oh these heads will not be too hard, lets face it, its a helmet, with a gas mask and some goggles ... not like sculpting a face.

Ok was a good night tonight, got one of the gloves done, put the lighting flash emblem on the shoulder, and made a folding carbine stock out of wire that looks the same as the one on the tank kit carbine. Pics tomorrow.

While looking at the new IG codex, I came to this rough army list .. please bear in mind I am aiming towards an Veteran Armoured Strikeforce.

The following is 1500 pts.

Company Command Squad with Medi Pack & MeltaGun in a Chimera, with Heavy Bolter x 2

Veteran Squad with Meltagun x 2, in a Chimera, with Heavy Bolter x 2
Veteran Squad with Meltagun x 2, in a Chimera, with Heavy Bolter x 2
Veteran Squad In Valkyrie, with Meltagun x 3

3 x Leman Russ, 2 Normal, 1 Punisher
Hydra
Basilisk, Enclosed
Armoured Sentinel with Missile x 3
Valkyrie

Depending on the complexity of the final model I might well do a tutorial.

I hope to paint them so yes .. although I will try and follow the slightly darker colours in the inspiration image in my original post.

Its looking to be Ash Wastes as the basing style, however I am never sure what people do for Ash waste style.

Some Picture Updates ...

Firstly here is an extended version the Folding stock normally found on a Las-Carbine. I hope to model a few of the arms to accept this version.







It took around an hour to make the stock, but I think now I know the "how to" I could do it in about 30 minutes, or possibly cast it in resin?

It feels strange to be doing this much modelling. I haven't put this much time into doing this for years, but I am enjoying it immensely. I have to achieve things before the real world calls me back or worse, I burn out, therefore I am pressing ahead hard.

This mornings update focuses on the aquila clasps on the chest, the shoulder emblem and the glove.

The aqulia clasps are less than 1.5mm they were scraped with a scalpel to reduce the hard edges, then cuts were made to create the fantail of the eagle and to hint at the location of the heads





Next up is the first glove done, when the greenstuff has hardened I need to fatten up the fingers a little to make a more glove like feel.



Lastly the emblem is done, and I need to practice it a lot so I can do it on other arms.





More photo's later, with a comparison shot showing a Cadian, my Steel Legion trooper, and a Metal Steel legion trooper side by side.

It is. As a matter of fact my steel legion trooper is held together by the stuff

Here are some comparison photos showing a Cadian built using almost identical components to the one which I am making into a steel legion trooper, then there is my Steel legion trooper, and finally a metal Steel legion trooper.

The pictures are deliberately stripped of colour to make the comparison easier, although there is a final shot with colour for those interested.






Here is the colour photo.



I was surprised to see the differences, the first difference between the Cadian and my trooper is the bulkiness that the shoulderpads and helmet give the Cadian, followed closely by an illusion of height difference (Cadian looks slightly taller), however even when measured they are virtually the same height. The second more obvious difference is 2mm difference when compared to the Metal Legionnaire, if I am going to use them together I will need to make sure the scenery on the bases boosts the Metal Legionnaires by a couple of millimetres to fool the eye.

Although the boots remain to be done, as does the final gloved hand, I am pleased with the result, and have begun work on my own sculpted helmet, soon to be followed by a complete head. While the first layer of greenstuff dries on the helmet, I have also put the basecoat of greenstuff down on the right foot. Hopefully more pictures tomorrow showing progress.

Oh lastly I found a wonderful rolled up blanket, which comes attached to the Cadian backpacks from Forgeworld, which I will be using instead of the metal one.

@ xcom85 : The folding stock is one of my favorite bits, but won't be used till one of the later models. I need to make a die so I can reproduce it quickly and accurately.

As I had commented earlier, I worked on the boots last night and made a small addition, just on the knee a small skull, the idea came from the illustration of the steel legion in the 4e Imperial Guard Codex. Now one boot is almost finished I am pleased with the look.

Here is a picture from the 4e IG codex: -


@ Captain Fabulous : Thank you, If this all goes well, I hope to have a fair number of them eventually.

I do indeed have other conversions planned, Heavy weapons, tank and ordanance crew, command squad, medic, standard bearer, etc.

After an unproductive morning I finally managed to catch up on some more sculpting ...

1. Heads

A] Interesting head from the Baneblade sprue, with some minor sculpting it would serve well as a trooper without helmet and as such becomes head number 3 on my list.
B] An old head I was working on for a potential deathkorp project, which can back to my attention, currently head number 2 on the "heads to do list".
C & D] Freshly sculpted helmet shape on its second layer of greenstuff, the lip around the base of the helmet needs extending and minor modification for the front, then an eagle needs to be placed on the front also, this will then be cut off, moulded and cast to serve as my master helmet for future cadian sized heads. On a minor note, in image C the gap from helmet to head on the side seems wide merely due to the lack of an ear, when I checked its the same size as the other side.

2. Boots

a] Right hand boot completed, with new skull as mentioned in previous post.
b] Side shot demonstrating heel now cut into sole of boot, where there was none previously, and the extension of the sole to surround the back of the heel, which is faithful to the original metal steel legionnaires.
c] Rear of the boot showing seam/zip line leading down to the aforementioned sole extension surrounding the heel.
d] Wasted Greenstuff (and who doesn't mix to much) is being used to pad legs for the next Leg sets in the Leg list. Rather than waste GreenStuff its often worth using it to prepare for future work as padding and hole filling is often required (especially for clothes).

3. Shoulder

The shoulder has been extended with a minor lip, this will serve to hide the point at which the arm joins the body (normally hidden by the huge shoulderpads on a cadian), and it also accentuates the "Coat" aspect somewhat by extending the lapel. The other side remains to be done, but I was pleased with this side so will definitely do it.

4. Blanket & Gloves


Nothing special about these two, just showing the nice detail of the Forgeworld blanket and the fact the other glove has now been done too. Of the original list of things to do only one boot, a shoulder extension and the head remain.

I am hoping to finish off the other boot by the end of tomorrow, as well as the 2nd stage on the helmet and the shoulder, with some preliminary work on either a new arm set or one of the legs.

Just finished the second stage of the helmet, got one last stage to go and adding the aquila on the front.

Flagging a bit now, got the boot and shoulder to do, the boot will take longer and is only the 1st stage of a 3 stage process. I might just go for the shoulder lip as its a one hit wonder and I will be finished with the torso completely then.

Ok, its a monday ... that means work!

I am working for the British Museum today (they are a client of mine) so not much will be happening till last thing tonight.

The shoulder was done last night, and tonight I face the boot, last stage of the helmet and starting work on some new legs. I am considering creating a tutorial when I make the next one, showing the stages and effort involved.

Current update : Took some pictures to show current progress as an assembled trooper. Realised it won't be long now before I am ready to work on the second one.









To answer an earlier question, the stock was done with a pair of needle nose pliers and huge amounts of patience over the course of an hour.

First layer of second boot done now, two more layers to go, Lapel on second shoulder extended not happy though and might cut it off and redo, Aquila added to front of helmet with GS.

Still need to get skull embedded on boot, need to tidy the lip on the helmet.

Pics tomorrow morning after all the GS hardens, if I get time before work.

On an interesting note, as I was working at the British Museum today, I had time to go to Warren Street and visit Tiranti's a casting, moulding and sculpture shop, where I picked up a couple more Wax Carver #5, my sculpting tool of choice (and favored by many sculptors) I also collected some Silicon rubber so I have sufficient for the casting.

This mornings pics: -
The picture of the head needs to be clarified, it is not destined to be an open faced head, it is merely the framework for me to make the helmet on. Once the helmet is made and cast, it will be cut off the head and become the "master helmet" for the next generation of work where i work on different gas masks and different goggles.

Going to be working on the last boot, and fix the shoulder tonight. Now I have looked at the helmet with Aquila ... I am satisfied and will attempt to cast the helmet later this week.

Just finished tonights sculpting...

Got the remaining boot second stage completed including the skull just below the knee, I need to thicken up a few places on the boot top, add a seam, and add the heel protector.


Extended the shoulder on the torso to the level I wanted it, so the torso is now complete I think.


Started a second pair of legs and got the rough shape of the coat onto them, this will be cut and trimmed back next time, but I wanted to get most of the "padding" on.



But for now I am going to bed

Indeed you should .. go sculpt something and show me !

Ok a bit of a change this morning, first of our regular update mainly regarding the tidied, but still at least two more stages to go second leg set.







Just because I wanted to see one of the heads I am thinking about framed on a body ...



And in the next post a change from our regular Steel Legion stuff ...

Sadly I will not be selling any of them.

Just a quick showing of an unfinished Adeptus Mechanicus Heavy Servitor, the right arm has a socket fitted to enable the use of Sentinel weaponry, and I always envisaged using them as a replacement for Sentinels in an AM army. He has been sitting looking at me now for a year, blaming me for not being inspired enough to finish him

He needs chest armour, the plasticard shoulder pads finished, tubing and piping running down his spine and connecting to his tracked carriage, a bionic eye, and a host of small details.











And in the next post this evening we will return to our regular Steel Legion stuff ...

Thanks for the support guys, and yes the Heavy Servitor never delivered for me, thats why it remains unfinished.

Oh, thanks for the tip about the Steel Legion Sniper, now I have to find one

Anyway tonight's sculpting will be second stage on the new legs, and possibly trying to get some new arms started (for variety). I will also be finishing off the boot on the first pair of legs which need a seam up the back and the heel protector added.

Interestingly that should give me enough to start casting a full figure, although I am still thinking about my own canteen. I have a valid reason for that however, in a gas mask they often have to use a tube to drink through, which isn't represented on the canteen I am currently using, but is on the metal models. So I might think about fixing that.

I haven't done this much modelling in years, and have never done this much sculpting ever ... I am now thinking 5-6hrs a day is almost like a full time job, on top of my normal work. I might well have to cut back a bit, or I might burn out at this pace.

Anyway, as discussed earlier here is tonight's work.

Most boring first: -

The next set of arms is in production, and the shoulderpad has been removed and the arm has been tested for fit with the torso, one problem the ammo packs on the chest bring is they get in the way of the arms, unless the arm is carved on the side which is out of sight, to let the ammo pack sit snugly behind it.


Next up is the unhelmeted head, simple stuff tonight, smoothed down the surfaces I am going to work on, and added the first strap to hold the mask on, there is another strap to go almost vertical infront of the ear next.




Next is the new set of legs, the padding out phase being finished we are onto working on the edges, doing the edges of anything in greenstuff is the hardest part, and on the steel legion models there is a "kick" on the edge of the cloth to accentuate it and stop it feeling quite so "heavy" that the original sculptor used. I am duplicating it, but its one of the slowest parts as it doesn't come naturally to me.


This next bit is tonight's hardest part, and I still need to practice, with my limited sculpting experience, I have never done the female form, so adding female characteristics to the torso is a bit of a challenge. This next picture shows my first attempt at this, from the get go one of the goals of this project was to try and produce a female torso for the Steel Legion, to further create some unique variation. Please bear in mind this is an early attempt, and not the finished item.

I would like to do approximately 1/3 maybe 1/4 of the troopers as women. the complex part of the sculpting is the affect that the leather harness/strapping on the Steel Legion would distort the female form and I cannot find any examples of women wearing coats wearing anything similar. That kind of pushes me into very unfamiliar territory as I prefer to have real world examples when sculpting something new.

No new pictures this morning, as I did not get up early enough to get any sculpting done, hopefully more tonight.

The female nature of a trooper is just an aspect, she is just another trooper. I want to acknowledge that they exist, without making them stand out.