I got really excited about this project, and asked Scibor (http://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,index.php) if it was OK if i posted a WIP blog here while it was going on...

so here's what's happened so far...

I came up with a concept for a huge centrepiece for my Daemonhunter army, and decided that it could only be done justice to by commissioning the work to a pro, and i chose Scibor for obvious reasons (check out his CMON stuff)

Here are a few of my concept sketches...

and i made a little test model (though the pose is reversed, by accident...)

I sent all this (and more) to Scibor, who came up with this sketch...

And this is what he has now started (i've also asked him to paint it)...

more updates will follow as he provides me with stuff!

C&C is most welcome!

although no one seems interested in this, i'm still very excited about it and got my first WIP shot from scibor today and had to share...

 

One moment please whilst I retrieve my jaw from the floor.

Even unpainted that is one of the most beautiful models I have even seen. It makes regular Grey Knight Termies look like dog vomit.

Yup, this is exactly why i chose him. check out his website, and look at his Coolminiornot stuff, he is incredible. (very modest though)

also, the model isn't a GK, but an inquisitor lord in terminator armour...

Always great to see a pro at work. Nice concept sketches and Scibor has really done produced an outstanding miniature. It great to see a project like this in the making. So what are your thoughts on future colour schemes?

I don't even want to think of how much the commission for that is ^_-; 

Really awesome model.  Can't wait to see it completed. 

Posted By grey_death on 12/10/2006 5:56 PM
I don't even want to think of how much the commission for that is ^_-; 

Really awesome model.  Can't wait to see it completed. 

nor do i...

re. painting... i'm not entirely sure. My GK army is mostly STs, with GK termies, all mounted. so he's not a GK... the overall colour scheme, esp on the vehicles, is scab red and black. lets see if i can find some photos...

 

there are some of my stormies (nearly done) infront of my WIP rhinos and finished termies. the razorback is for my Xenos Deathwatch squad.

even though the rhinos are not done, thats pretty much where the paint is going. so its a very dark army... C&C welcome, esp on the Inq paint scheme...

Torealis, I hate you. Seeing this model actually prompted me to go check out his stuff at his site and CoolMini. I no longer have the will to live knowing what 40K in heaven must look like. I will not be able to look at my miniatures without anything but scorn for the rest of my days. And I am probably going to have to cry myself to sleep tonight.

On another note.... I like the look of your Termies. Its hard to tell from the photo but do you bother trying to get the blue metal finish on them? I have had mixed results from various test GKs of mine and I just wanted to find someone who has done it before that might have some tips.

As for the Storm Troopers I am not entirely sold on the UN-esque helmets they have. Or at least the blue clashes with the green when I look at them.

WOW!!! How much is a mini like that gunna run? It has gotta be a grip. Do they make those leg guards out of a mold, or are they all freehand sculpted per commission?

how much is he charging for that model he is making?

Posted By Atma01 on 12/10/2006 6:54 PM
Torealis, I hate you. Seeing this model actually prompted me to go check out his stuff at his site and CoolMini. I no longer have the will to live knowing what 40K in heaven must look like. I will not be able to look at my miniatures without anything but scorn for the rest of my days. And I am probably going to have to cry myself to sleep tonight.

On another note.... I like the look of your Termies. Its hard to tell from the photo but do you bother trying to get the blue metal finish on them? I have had mixed results from various test GKs of mine and I just wanted to find someone who has done it before that might have some tips.

As for the Storm Troopers I am not entirely sold on the UN-esque helmets they have. Or at least the blue clashes with the green when I look at them.

The blue is meant to be their visors, and though UN was a theme for my guard army it wasn't quite meant to carry into the STs... we'll see... any suggestions?

I didn't go for any blue on the GKs, and like them that way. Silver is more... knighty?

 

And everyone, i'm not going to say how much it is, thats between me and scibor. i'm just going to say that to me, to see my vision come to fruition, its worth it.

Re. leg guards, they are freehand sculpted. the only things done on a mold are the swirly bits on the shoulder pads.

Wow, that detail on the legplates is unearthly! I also really think that the cloak looks like a heavy cloth adorning this Inquisitorial form, beautiful.

He's getting a bigger cloak over his shoulders once the other arm is done. for colour, i was thinking black armour with scab red details?

That sounds good to me, as the Inquisition has a strong red theme.

Posted By torealis on 12/11/2006 3:17 AM
Re. leg guards, they are freehand sculpted. the only things done on a mold are the swirly bits on the shoulder pads.

Nah... Those are Scibor's standard press-moulded leg guards.

Not knocking it, though... the model is looking excellent so far.

That model does look amazing, even though most of his work is press-molded, it is still amazing.

Posted By insaniak on 12/11/2006 11:59 AM

Posted By torealis on 12/11/2006 3:17 AM
Re. leg guards, they are freehand sculpted. the only things done on a mold are the swirly bits on the shoulder pads.

Nah... Those are Scibor's standard press-moulded leg guards.

Not knocking it, though... the model is looking excellent so far.

even the =][= marks?

The skull on the left hand greave looks like it's probably sculpted. The rest is pressed out as a single plate and fitted onto the existing greave.

ah ok, well, as you said, still an amazing model...

Yup, how it's actually achieved really isn't as important as how it looks in the end...

Hi freehand stuff is not as good as his press mould stuff(Check out his Horus on his CoolMini submissions). It is of course about 25x better than anything I could do but he clearly knows how to get the most out of his moulds. And in the end they just look amazing.

We need find some way for insaniak and Scibor to have a kid. The only foreseeable problem with that would be that the child could in all probability create a model so awesome that it tears the very fabric of reality allowing all sorts of nasty things with tentacles and teeth through. But it would totally be worth it for that model.

Anyway on the subject of the blue visors if you want to keep the blue as its not really the problem I would suggest either darkening the color a bit or changing the green bits on the Troopers to either a darker green or another color all together. Or make them the same color.

Does Scibor freelance for anyone or do you personally know him?

Scibor does commission work, check his website.

i'll finish up a batch for STs and post them... tomorrow.

As for painting the Inquisitor I am interested to know what it would look like with Crimson Armor with the detail picked out in gold. Or vise versa. With a Black hood and tabard(and the smaller back cape) with the larger cape a darker Crimson and some Black and Gold detail.

And are you getting a small shield bearer with the model like in the concept drawing? I was never much of a fan of that sort of thing until I say that drawing and this model.

yeah, i will be getting a shield bearer. He'll serve two purposes. a) i wanted the model to be able to have a storm shield (but not to have to have one) and b) he acts as a familiar.

for the colours, what i think i'll do is print out the sketch and just draw on it with crayons (or colouring pencils, given that im over 6)

Your colour suggestions are intriguing...

He has a painted Inquisitor model on his CoolMini(I think on his site as well) that has a nice color scheme but the more I think of the Crimson armor, Gold detail and Black hood/tabard/cloak with Red and Gold detail the more it appeals to me. Especially if you could do a freehand =I= on his tabard in Crimson/Red. It just screams "Don't F*** with me!".

What sort of weapon is he getting? Polearm? Bardiche? Glaive? Spear? Scythe..*Looks on with hopeful eyes*..?

i asked him to sketch the weapon i requested. i'll post it if i get it before he does the model of it... you'll just ahve to wait...

If it turns out to be a Scythe I could very well cream my pants. I am giving you fair warning.

*writes a quick email to Scibor*

scythes are out i'm afraid. he's not the grim reaper...

can't wait to get more pics!!

Awwww.... a little part of me just died inside. But with that hood you could have fooled me. I mean Death does keep up with the latest fashion trends and Termie Armor is IN these days.

Depending on how this turns out I might seriously consider commisioning him to build a Chapter Master for me.

More pictures! lubberly jubberly!

 

I am very impressed. especially considering the theme for my deathwing is inquisitor based. (ordo minoris, not certain faction.)

It gives me ideas for what i am going to do for the model I am repping "lysander" as.

Wow, I love that Inquisitor!

Does this guy work for GW? And if not, why?? awesome stuff here and on his website. Love that land raider...

Nice. So he is going to have a 2nd Ed GK Nemesis Force Weapon kinda thing going on. I have 2 questions;
- Is it actually possible to use a Bardiche with a Shield?
- Is he actually going to make the Shield look like it does in the sketch?
That Sheild design is fsking awesome. I can really picture a couple of Crusader Henchmen with those and Power Weapons.

-no
-yes
-i know... i might ask him if he can make some more...

If he press moulds those shields I would definitely look into getting some. It would depend on the price of course.

Any updates?

if there were, i'd post them.

I just got this this morning, and had no bad things to say about it...

this sculpt is looking great. I wish I had a fraction of that kind of talent... I'd be a happy camper.

That shield made me splooge in my pants. I can't wait to see the models painted.

I wish i could update this more often, but still, after a christmas break, she's all coming together...

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8056/inquisitor8zn2.jpg (high res)

with this going on the left shoulder:

Jeebus!

Please ask GW for a job.

I don't care if he pressmolds.. the original has to be sculpted in order to CREATE the mold. Right?
This thing is Beautifully done. It won't just be the centerpiece of the army, it'll be the centerpiece of the table.

VERY cool!

I'd love to see some images of it from behind.
Any chance you can request rear images?

Eric

Nope, atleast not in the traditional sense. For the relief stuff, he creates a model on 3dMax and then the mold is cut using a 3d printer.

the original has to be sculpted in order to CREATE the mold. Right?

Wrong...He's just lucky enough to have access to all that exspensive techno stuff

Cool. It's coming along great!

I also have access to rapid prototyping, but I'm still learning to sculpt traditionally, so I won't try it just yet. When I do have the time, I'll start with a vehicle of some sort.

Posted By Holycrusader on 01/08/2007 1:23 AM

the original has to be sculpted in order to CREATE the mold. Right?

Wrong...He's just lucky enough to have access to all that exspensive techno stuff

and, y'know, the skill and imagination necessary to use it effectively.

 

i'll ask for rear images, but he's going to have a cloak soon enough

Whilst the whole standing triumphant over the dead Daemon head thing is cool I prefered them to have seperate bases. Still that thing is going to look crazy when its done.

And seriously what is the issue with the guy using press moulds. Its not like he denies it and it still takes allot of skill and talent to make these sorts of models. People need to stop writing his work off just because he prefabs parts.

we're now talking about colour schemes and final details...

colour wise i've asked for something similar to his Templars. Black Armour witha gold trim (but darker than his usual, more brassy than gold) with scab red cloak.

final details, he's making a cloak and i asked if he could put words running along the bottom, he says tahts cool, but what to put? ideas?

well the typical 'burn the heretics etc' thing would come to mind first,but thats too...uuumm...cliche by now.
Fake latin scriptures would be my choice or a goth-looking lace pattern design(believe me it can look very nice) on the bottom of the cape.

'Deus Emperator' couldn't go wrong. Though there is nothing more pimp than having the word EXTERMINATUS running along the bottom of your robe. Especially if it has the giant =I= on the back.

And I still say Crimson/Red Armor with Gold highlights/trim/detail and black tabard/robe/hood with Crimson and Gold highlights/trim.

it does have/will have the =][= on the back, and Deus Imperator is a good one.

here's the latest update from scibor... just waiting for the cloak before he starts painting it!

 

Wonderful nemesis weapon, and I dig the base too, with the huge slab balanced on a nice base of skulls. The pose is really solid too, now that things are all together.

You should be quite happy with your commission, look forward to the paint on it

- Boss Salvage

Good lord, how in the world do these artists work with GS like this??? Every time I try to sculpt with it, it never does what I want it to. Beautiful

predominantly he uses 3d design programs and press-moulds the really crisp stuff, but alot of the work is also handsculpted. whichever way you look at it, its a great result.

Agreed, I'd really like to see a video of a sculptor this good at work.

That blade is awesome. Almost as cool as a Scythe. I really can't wait to see that thing painted now.

sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool look in cant take eyes off it

 

Posted By Moz on 01/23/2007 7:22 AM
Agreed, I'd really like to see a video of a sculptor this good at work.

 

It will learn you almost nothing... Especially in Scibors case when he use molds on such a scale, he use molds to create heads, faces etc Without those molds you will be not able to achieve that effect

 The hand sculpted things are weaker parts of his minis (robes, hairs). At last he make a big progress recently...

Posted By torealis on 01/23/2007 6:43 AM
predominantly he uses 3d design programs and press-moulds the really crisp stuff, but alot of the work is also handsculpted. whichever way you look at it, its a great result.

Don't suppose there's any information available on how to do this?

GW should take a cast of this. I would love to buy this miniature (as a retail blister). I wont ask how much custom miniatures cost, to be honest I couldnt afford one at any price. Green stuff breaks different to metal or plastic, I darent ever use the minature for fear of the damage it would take on the tabletop.

im glad GW aren't taking a cast of this! i an't wait to whip him out at my local GW...

here we are, the finished article... scibor is just beginning the paintjob...

 

paint in progress...

should be finished soon!

Despite my distaste for Scibor using a machine to accomplish most of his work, I would love to see a tutorial on how he achieves his NMM gold effect; he seems to get it done flawlessly on each one of his minis he paints...

Unfortunately I sometimes feel it takes away from the rest of the model, especially when he contrasts it with a mostly black armor. His use of reds and oranges on the shield & cloaks are really working well, however. Scibor, just stop making the armor black!

Posted By Mr. Bombadidaloo on 02/20/2007 3:36 AM
Despite my distaste for Scibor using a machine to accomplish most of his work

Interesting point of view, however, where does it end?

"Oh I hate that fact that the sculptor actually uses a modelling tool to create his work!!"

I mean, what does it matter what he uses to make a piece of art, surely its the inventivness, and creativity that should be the judging point and not the "tools" he uses. Or perhaps you feel the computer designs the parts, sketches them, produces the finished miniature and all that Scibor does is turn the machine on?

You are aware that most GW stuff is now created on a computer as well? The only stuff they hand model any more are the showcase pieces such as special characters and the like.

Anyway, it is a quite frankly jaw-dropping miniature. I'm very suprised he's not a GW employee.  Although if he was, GW would probably have to get rid of most of their other sculptors, and take the majority of their models off the shelves.  He seems to understand the idea of heroic characters and the like, rather than "lets just stick more spikes on it to show that it's evil".

The only parts of his miniatures i'm not keen on are the ones with modelled flames or smoke. That simply never works on a miniature in large quantities.

That is easily the best looking Black armor I have ever seen. The model just screams 'Badass'. Can't wait to see this model finished.

Posted By Mr. Bombadidaloo on 02/20/2007 3:36 AM
Scibor, just stop making the armor black!

That's at my request! Black/Red are the dominant colours of my Inq army, so he fits in perfectly, i think he looks menacingly awesome.

And as for the machine work, i'm with Delephont 100%

Ah, the cat's out of the box :-P Well I'm still going to have to say that I have seen a lot of Scibor's painted models use black contrasting with gold details.

My problem with using a machine to sculpt his stuff is not the fact that he is using the machine, but the fact that what he produces with the machine is very similar on every one of his sculpts- big bulky shields, knee pads, and shoulder pads with embroidery. Sure GW uses machines, but the work they produce has much more variety (granted they try to keep some similarity within races =P) Scibor's sculpts just remind me too much of (this is going to sound weird) the two weeks I spent in Italy, constantly seeing crappy damaged "reproductions" of great paintings for sale laying spread out across the ground by various shady vendors hoping to sucker unknowing tourists into playing 50 bucks for what cost 50 cents to make.

Sorry torealis, it is not my intention to bring gloom to your wonderful idea in concept then in execution. It is a marvelous sculpt and Scibor's NMM are flawless.

Posted By Mr. Bombadidaloo on 02/20/2007 9:14 PM
Sorry torealis, it is not my intention to bring gloom to your wonderful idea in concept then in execution. It is a marvelous sculpt and Scibor's NMM are flawless.

i think any attempt to bring gloom would have been ruined by that last sentance! That, in a nutshell, is why i asked Scibor in the firstplace.

Posted By darronk on 02/20/2007 12:07 PM
You are aware that most GW stuff is now created on a computer as well? The only stuff they hand model any more are the showcase pieces such as special characters and the like.

Anyway, it is a quite frankly jaw-dropping miniature. I'm very suprised he's not a GW employee.  Although if he was, GW would probably have to get rid of most of their other sculptors, and take the majority of their models off the shelves.  He seems to understand the idea of heroic characters and the like, rather than "lets just stick more spikes on it to show that it's evil".

The only parts of his miniatures i'm not keen on are the ones with modelled flames or smoke. That simply never works on a miniature in large quantities.

I disagree with his quality inorder to be a sculptor for GW/Rackham/Corvus Belli. And the comment about them having to change there whole line and sack sculptors is frankly silly.

I don't really care if he uses a machine inorder to get results, fair enough. But if you look at his non armour/ letter/ weapon blade peices your see the quality isn't that high. Look at the daemons head for example, it not really high enough quality to work for one of the big companies. Whilst they all use machines for sure you still need the skills in traditional sculpting as a base as well. Just because pro painters may use stencils or transfers for letters and numbering on tanks for WD /company brochures etc doesn't mean that they can't hand paint them. But a pro painter who can't hand paint such things in the first place and who relies on these will never really grow to be as amazing as they should/ could be. I think this is something this guy will have to address if hes ever to move beyond simple conversions and scratch build components to fully fledged original sculpture. 

Brian Nelson, Jes Goodwin, Felix Pagiuna, Seb Perbet, Alex hedstrom all make much nicer sculpts. Also forgeworld desingers such as will hayes can do much finer more detailed work. Jes Goodwin never had machines but he could produce sculpts that really stand the test of time. Now he's able to use new technology to its fully potential to produce truly amazing work.

This guy has talent theres no disputing that but I think it will be some time before his work is of a high enough quality to be compared to Rackham and GW sulptors.

The model looks ace. I don't care how he sculpted it.

I don't like the deamon head, but the rest of it is awesome.

BYE

Posted By H.B.M.C. on 02/21/2007 6:05 AM
The model looks ace. I don't care how he sculpted it.

I don't like the deamon head, but the rest of it is awesome.

BYE

I totally agree. I particularly like his painting. I just think that there is a lot more he can expand into and learn. I'm sure that over time he can be a truly amazing sculptor.

I just hope he keeps pushing things and further develops his sculpting to fulfil his full potential rather than becoming comfortable with the level he's achieved with his current tools.

well here it is ladies and gents, the finished article...

 

Thats one hell of an impressive model . Maybe Ill get something like that when i can afford the million dollar price tag...

it looks awesome, but i would've gone w/ a different color for the demon/dragon head.

Now that the head is painted, I have to say it looks much better.

Excellent model.

BYE

Awesome.

I wish GW would hire Scibor (if they dont do already). There are a number of sculptors he could replace.

Wowza!

May I inquire as to the final cost of such a piece?

That's incredible!

And a great centerpiece to your army!

With the exception of the power axe which is far to large for my tastes (but I know some people like bigger weapons), this is a very impressive model.

Posted By Hobbes on 03/07/2007 12:11 AM
May I inquire as to the final cost of such a piece?
!

no. sorry, but thats the one thing i wont say.

That thing is stellar, just amazing! and i love the huge axe, but then i am a fan of giant weapons.

I would say you deffinately got a top quality product there, that thing is simply awesome.

Hey, one can only wonder, what something so priceless would cost... I'll have to write ST a letter later on, when I am building an army worthy of his talents & Characters..

The detail on the axe, is perhaps my favorite part of the model, so intricate.Well the shield toting pleb is a great touch too..

Posted By torealis on 03/07/2007 2:56 PM


no. sorry, but thats the one thing i wont say.

What about if you put it into other terms? For instance, how many Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers did it cost for that sculpt?

 

Or how about a general figure? Did it cost more than 300 Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers or less?

 

I really am curious.

 

 

On another note, CAD/CAM machines are coming down in price - especially for models small enought to be used in the home.

And Torealis, I respect you for keeping your financial agreements private. If anyone is seriously interested in commissioning a piece, they can contact the artist himself.

Hm...I have to wonder if his press molds are up for sale or if he'll produce custom press molds.

Wow! That really turned out... Awesome.

The colors work very well together. I would love a model like that for the centerpiece to my DH army.

how much is a junior bacon cheeseburger?

Posted By torealis on 03/09/2007 12:39 AM
how much is a junior bacon cheeseburger?

I'm sorry, but that's information I can't disclose. 



But seriously, I'll take the conversation to a PM you since you obviously don't want this topic discussed openly.

I thought I'd post here and start a flame war about artists, their tools, mass production, and universal aesthetics, but then I had a change of heart. If anyone wants a piece, though, send me a PM. It'll get bloody, fast.

I recently ordered a couple of minis from Scibor (some dwarves and bases from his Fantasy 28mm section) and I'm incredibly happy with them. I have nothing but good things to say about the guy and his company.

I'm sure there are many people who would love to field an army made of his miniatures. I'm one.

And grats on supporting real art, torealis!

And grats to you for casting Necromancy on a year old thread. Honestly, how long did it take you to find this thing?

Normally I dislike the necromancers as much as you, but I think I'll forgive this one because I've not seen this fig before, and wow, it's just... Wow.

I have to jump on the necromancer bandwagon as well although everything has already been said about this model. It really is a thing of beauty. Makes me curious about how much Scibor charges for commissions, I've had an idea about the Void Dragon for a while now that I'd like to put into use....

Wow! That's all I can say