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There we go, that sounds more realistic

Good to know it will get easier later on

Well then, I should be hitting the paint and picking up a brush right about...

...now

Did I ever mention that I really need to be in therapy??

I impulse bought this from my local FLGS today.





Beautiful army at a fantastic price. No idea what to do with it, but there you go. Points out somewhere between 1250 and 1500 depending on how many extras I add in. Anyone care to give me any advice?? I've got 3 priests (one more than I can field at any given time), 3 wolf guard, 2 tac squads w/ rhinos, long fangs w/ razorback & T-wolf cav. While I don't want to start collecting SWs (this is a one off thing), there is a tiny bit of room for me to play if I want to make a couple of "Mark of the Wulfen" figures for the squads.

Whatever that means.

This wasn't the whole army... I just kind of cherry-picked the best (most effective) parts.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
The “Knows on Which Side His Bread is Buttered” award goes to Snrub, who really embraced and ran with the whole idea of a painting competition as a performance art. (Because anyone who refers to me as an “Honoured Lord” is going to get props aplenty!)

I am an A grade brown noser.

Thanks for the feedback as well from both Gits and the 3 judges. Very much appreciated. One comment about a missed mold line on the plasma pistol made me cringe when i realised that it was so glaringly obvious.

I love Yellowbeard's model, I have to say.

Space wolves are really fun to play and those look very nice. If you let me know what you picked up I can advise on anything you have missing and a playable list.

That's a steal! Great to have as an allied contingent for your MWs. Moar Long Fangs!

Thanks alot for the feedback Git and judges, really appreciated.
That's a very nice army, You got to love SW if they look like this.

Holy crap the last week or so has been busy.
Nice Space Wolves! Maybe one day I'll actually start my SW force properly....

Lot of good entries, lot of close calls.

In response to the comments:
Arakasi
Tools I'm using are:
GW Sculpting Tool
Sewing Needle slotted into a piece of sprue
Scalpel
Fingers

The Main inspiration for the piece was this image:

And it was strangely smooth on the carapace. Same for the legs.
Hell, all the outer surfaces are crazy smooth and clean.
Though had I more time (and not only found my thin plasticard on the last day), I'd have layered up the section on the abdomen, but alas, it wasn't to be. :(
I was debating filing the antennae to a point... then decided I'd rather not stab myself repeatedly, which would untoubtedly happen, if I tried.
Also - feet are hidden among the rocks.

The yellow edging I did deliberately thick and uneven - it was taken from another mantis shot (though that was reddy purple I think). Even then, it was actually 3 layers of yellow over iyanden darksun... not that you'd tell xD
The yellow 'star' was meant to be the 'clean' circle bleeding out to chaos - same as the distorted Mantis Warrior logo.
These were both personal choices, that I guess just didn't work (or were beyond my ability to paint what was in my head) xD
If I come back to it, I may well do thinner edges.

I did try adding more detail, but alas, I suck at 'real' painting (often relying on washing and drybrushing to do my shading and highlighting for me), and anything I tried looked like ass and ultimately got painted over.
I drybrushed white over it to try to help... but it didn't do close to enough.

The base would fit 15mm scale best, I agree. My 'excuse' is that it's the ruins a world originally inhabitted by tiny people / aliens, they're just fighting there.
No it's not custom built, the base is fish tank scenery I think... I found it in a second hand store ages ago and was using it on my gaming table as terrain.

Ultimately - yes, sculpting is hard! As my first scratch built / sculpted model, it was a learning experience, but I'll definately try more in the future!
I'm sure with practice it'll improve though.

Minus
Yes, yes I am.

The wings I haven't done a proper write up on... maybe I should!

Basically, to make the wings, I started with making a paper template (I went through 3-4 before I was happy with the shape), which I then transfered to the plastic sheet.
I used 1/3mm clear plastic that's found pretty commonly in hard packaging.
Once I cut them out, I used a pen to mark out the main 'vein' lines (the large ones across the whole wing).
I then carefully scored along the line with the tip of my scalpel (you only want to cut about 1/2 to 2/3 the way in).
After that, it was simply a matter of created the random small vein lines between each of the major ones - a semi-random set of 4 and 5 sided shapes, with no right angles, then scoring it as above.
Once done, I cleaned off all the pen, and applied a purple wash to soak into the recesses.
Before the wash could dry, I wiped it off the flat surfaces, then roughly 5 minutes later, buffed / polished it up.

Each wing took roughly 1 hour and a bit to make, from start to finish.

It's a visually stunning end result, but a nightmare to actually do (everything needs to be so careful!)
I actually intend to try it on some infantry-scale wings, out of black plasti-card, with a white wash, so we'll see how that turns out!

The orange / red / yellow bits, are wall-vines / creeper plant things.
It's meant to be an alien world, and I was pretty sick of painting green at that point.
It's admittedly easier to tell what they are a bit further out.

Whalemusic360
Yes, certainly hard to judge - even when me and my partner went through the entries to see how it stood up (and that was just ordering the pictures from favourite to least favourite), it's just so different to everything else it's hard to place it!

I liked the guardsman and how he turned out, plus I liked the idea of him swooping down to eat his prey, which is why I chose the above stock image for my 'base' over others.
But oh well, maybe I'll do another one next year, sans-guardsman!
And yeah, my painting is nothing special, and unlikely to improve that much any time soon. xD

Gits
I enjoyed the competition (apart from making the bloody wings!), and it pushed me to try scratching/sculpting , which I have been meaning to do for ages.
It was great taking it from a few paperclips and disjointed bitz (ultimately used a CSM torso, SM shoulder pads, 2 1998 DE splinter pistols, some Dark Elf Swords, a Dryad Head and some Kroot Shoulder Pads) up to an actual model!

I'll try and fit it into some games - it's a massive points sink so I'll have to make an army around it.
I'll be sure to take pictures and do up a battle report when I do though, as per request.



Overall, it was interesting, and I think came out admirably for my first sculp, and not too badly for my first ever P&M competition.
With practice I should be able to make some really interesting junk.

I'll be sure to apply for next years one, I'll have to do something bigger and better though.
A Mantis-Themed Heldrake maybe.
Or if you extend the competition time to 2 months, maybe I'll attempt to do a Mantis Themed Warhound.

@Snrub: You know, sometimes it's the little things that can make a big difference. It's not all airbrushes and NMM. As I was forwarding comments I noticed that Minus had mentioned to several people about ringing the base when done. I thought it was a cut-and-paste error because he repeated it so often, but no... when I checked, sure enough... several of the figures still had "painting mess" around the edges of the bases. That makes a huge difference visually.

The other thing to keep in mind with a competition like this is that your score is only as good as your photographs. Several of the entries (in my opinion) were hurt by the quality or chosen views shown in the photos.

@Gir: Thanks, I'll PM you with details.

@graven: Well, that's how they started (just the T-wolves actually)... but when I went back to pick up a tac squad, then looked at the long fangs... it just became apparent that if I bought 1 or 2 more things I could have an entirely legal army, which if nothing else will make it easier to dispose of if I decide to sell it. In the mean time though, their main purpose is to act as an ally for my Mantis Warriors. You'll probably see the priest/T-wolves/tac squad combo featured in upcoming battle reports (and I really think they'll look nice on the table next to my MWs.... did you notice there's even a Mk-1 Rhino in there??).

@Selv: Wonderful to have you along for the ride my friend!

@Ovion: Good thoughts. That's kind of what I was hoping for with this competition. Yes, it's wonderful to have fantastic models... but it's also wonderful to connect modelers with some honest commentary that can really make them think and help them along. I do look forward to seeing that Mantis Deamon in action!

Gits, I believe you can take 2 Rune Priests per HQ Slot, so in a sub 2k points game you can take up to 4 Rune Priests.

Edit: Also really jealous that you're able to do such things like this. The only store in the area that sells used armies sells them at the price they are now, regardless of age, paint, assembly, etc... Buddy went to buy a whole bunch of old LotR figs and the guy was selling them at their current retail price (wtf?!)

I'm a little fuzzy on the difference between a Rune Priest and a Wolf Priest. I've got two guys in SW grey and the third in normal chappy black.

Dude! those Space wolves are mad! what a great score for you Gits! the wolves especially I would love a closer look to see how they were painted? they look like a lot of time was invested in the whole lot!

Fifty wrote:I love Yellowbeard's model, I have to say.

Thanks very much, Fifty! Glad you like him.

Gitsplitta wrote:I'm a little fuzzy on the difference between a Rune Priest and a Wolf Priest. I've got two guys in SW grey and the third in normal chappy black.

Rune Priest = Librarian
Wolf Priest = Chaplain

Ah, that makes much more sense. Thanks YB!

@Alf: the store takes a pretty steep comission, but you can ask whatever price you want. The good deals don't last long... day or two max. I just got lucky in being there at the right time with spare cash.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Ah, that makes much more sense. Thanks YB!

@Alf: the store takes a pretty steep comission, but you can ask whatever price you want. The good deals don't last long... day or two max. I just got lucky in being there at the right time with spare cash.

Yeah, but even still I'd kill to be able to walk into my flgs and see an army that I have interest in, even if it's a 1 out 50 visits. Also, lucky my butt, you've gotten 2 sick deals in the past week or so

And so if you've got 2 Rune Priests and 1 Wolf Priest, you could field both of them legally

Excellent. Can I use all three Wolfguard? They can ba attached to the squads, right?

So if I'm looking at that pic correctly you have 2 units of 9 Grey Hunter Squads w/Rhinos, 1 unit of Long Hunters w/Razorback, 2 Rune Priests, 1 Wolf Priest, and 3 Wolf Guard Pack Leaders (elite slot that can have up to 3 in a unit if I remember my codex), and 5 Thunder Wolf Cav.

Yes, you can attach the Wolf guard to the squads like you could Independent Characters. So they could attach to GH squads to ride in the Rhinos. You could create another Wolf Guard Pack Leader Squad (up to 3 models) and kit them out to work with the squads so the Priests and the 3 wolf guard you have right now can ride around in the razorback. Also, you do have a Space Wolf already painted up with a fancy deathwatch pad

So true... . Thanks Alf!

It feels weird to remember all of that stuff about a codex I haven't touched since 2010 (I started and stopped playing Space Wolves in the final quarter of 2010 ), and yet I can barely remember the rules for my Chaos army

Wolf Guard go in squads of 3-10 and they can all be equipped differently so some can have terminator armour while others power armour in the same squad. They can also ride in drop pods and yes even with terminator armour which most people miss.

There is one last thing that needs to be taken care of before I can finally stick the fork in the Mantis Maker Competition.


I'd like your feedback on the competiton so I can take it into account for next year. Specifically things you did not like (though specific things you did would be great too). There are things I bungled badly (I e & Steve's entry), but aside from the glaringly obvious, I thought you guys might be able to point ous some things from your perspectives.


Two rules:

1) All comments MUST be by PM! You can bitch about the contest all you want on your own blog, but please keep this one complaint free.

2) No comments about the judges! I don't want to hear... "Whalemusic said this... Whalemusic said that... Whalemusic kicked my dog, Whalemusic slept with my wife". Especially that last one, even if it's true... lets not go there shal we?? However, things like... "I didn't like this particular creiteron." or "I didn't think the creiteria put enough emphasis on this." or "I thought this was too vague." are just fine.

Have at it... I have a thick skin and will not be offended. I also won't be arguing with you... I'm trying to collect things to consider, not try out for a debate team.

Whalemusic kicked my dog.

Judging didn't pay as much as I expected.
(and Whalemusic kicked my wife and slept with my dog )

Oh, no complaints you said...




Edit : thanks Ovion for the detailed answer.

You know... as long as it doesn't refer to his judging, you guys can pick on him all you'd like!

Ovion wrote:Whalemusic kicked my dog.

Minus wrote:Judging didn't pay as much as I expected.
(and Whalemusic kicked my wife and slept with my dog )

Man, that Whalemusic guy is a dick.

Oh, and re: the wolves. I'm fully jelly. No one in my local scene paints all that great, and the chances of me scoring a well painted army for a good price are 0. My local game store (and less local one I don't really frequent) are run less like stores and more like clubhouses for the owners. Really a bummer.

never laughed on dakkadakka more than in the last few posts.

You're great guys

I'm not intending to jack Gits thread right now but obviously the Mantis Maker challenge hasn't left my brain yet I was going through my art stuff and got inspired to doodle, so I ended up doing a Mantis Legion marine and I shall be sending it to Gits to hopefully put somewhere in his own nerd room! hope you like him Gits

"In the grim darkness of the future there is only me... kicking your butt."

Whalemusic licked my dog.

That is an awesome find Gits!