Nah, I'll be taking my time on this one... It'll take at least a couple of days! Kidding aside, even if I get the minis done reasonably quickly, the diorama base is going to require a lot of planning and work...
Hey guys, a lot of people have been PMing me with questions about the contest. Please post your questions here so everyone can benefit from the answer.
In general, the answers have gone like this (just to keep a level playing field)...
- Yes, a Mantis Warrior must the the primary focal point of your entry. Of course if you're doing a duel... having the MW as one of the two will work. However I'll probably draw the line at having some defeated MW stomped into the mud with some other figure standing over him in victory. Just misses the point of the comp all-together.
- There is no base size requirement. Anything is viable (including multi-figure dioramas or vehicles).
- Treachery can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways. In context, I see it as meaning experience, battle smarts, the ability to trick or sucker your opponent into doing something dumb that you can take advantage of. It can also mean some kind of betrayal or underhandedness... it's your choice.
Aww man, If only I had the time and the spare marines laying around I totally would've stylised the final scene of Sanjuro! Imagine a Mantis Warrior iaijutsu'ing some other Badab Astartes (probably Fire Hawks).
Oh well, I'm still keen to see what everybody else manages to produce!
Nope. You're welcome to post your progress on your own thread (or any other) if you'd like of course, but the comp's home is here on my blog. I can put a link to the rules post in my sig if that would make it easier for everyone.
Please note: I just changed the title of the first prize listed from "best miniature" to "best entry" as it's clear that some folks are contemplating multiple figure entries.
I will also make an official entrant list. You go on the list when you post your pre-build photo. You can jump in at any time before the deadline, so if you paint and build fast enough.... you still have plenty of time to think about it.
Here's the start of my entry bits laid out and then a little hour of conversion and the model is re posed and ready, just now to finalise the parts for the rest of the base and backdrop. I'm reading between the lines on the entry quote, and imagining a Mantis Veteran saying something along the lines of " They think us traitors and yet will not listen to our redemptive cries, then who am I to disappoint them"
hence the re posing, I imagine him dragging the tip of his sword along the ground through blood of slain foes, his pose and demeanor more akin to deep introspection on his recent actions, the body/ies behind him still and scattered.
Excellent start and set-up Damo. You're setting the bar high as usual.
Update: There is now a link in my sig that will take you back to the competition announcement post. I have begun an official list of entrants so you can check to make sure you're on it (after you post your pre-build pic).
Ok, let's do this thing... Missed out on Nerdy's comp this year due to the ducks refusing to line up, but modelling is sort of happening right now, so let's see what I can get done
You think Gits can come up with another 500 pages on his own? It's a trick to get your guys to make content for him! /foilhat
Hopefully he won't mind me posting this, then! (though Gits, if you'd rather I didn't post my pic here then I'll remove it)
Part 1 done... At least I can get something in before Nerdy makes us all look like rank amateurs!
Spoiler:
Mantis done. Anyone got ideas on the Loyalist Chapter he should be facing off against? I'm thinking Fire Hawks, Star Phantoms or Exorcists, but I'm open to suggestions.
Pretty cool stuff guys! Though with so many articles and gallery pics under his belt over the years, I was hoping for some mind tickling green stuff modeling from insaniak /wishlisting
wyomingfox wrote: Pretty cool stuff guys! Though with so many articles and gallery pics under his belt over the years, I was hoping for some mind tickling green stuff modeling from insaniak /wishlisting
I'm not sure how 'mind-tickling' it will be, but he's not finished yet...
OK graven, you're officially "in". I love that metal shoulder pad... one of my all-time favorites! Oh, and your thought process is truly dizzying (in a good way). I encourage everyone to go check out graven's inspiration and rationale for his entry!
I had been planning on using a bog-standard scout (seen in the cup of Simple Green in my first photo) but decided that a)that was a little boring and b)I couldn't be bothered stripping the paint off him right now... So did this instead...
Insaniak, I plan for a blood trail to the sword tip, as if he's fought well but the stress of fighting a brother marine has lent his limbs a weight such as he cannot bear and thus a more melancholy pose with the dragging sword. :-) does that sort of make sense?
@Minus: vallejo air forest green, then chromate green, then the game color version of scorpion green, finally upshaded with yellow for the top highlights.
But... I'm not judging shades of green. You can go with whatever inspires you.
Gitsplitta wrote: @Minus: vallejo air forest green, then chromate green, then the game color version of scorpion green, finally upshaded with yellow for the top highlights.
But... I'm not judging shades of green. You can go with whatever inspires you.
Yep. I only asked to have a vague idea of what shade of green you use. Of course, it will be a Minus-ish paintjob, with lots of approximation and improvisation.
I am currently cutting, filing and glueing some plastic parts. Do we have to post the proof (unassembled and unpainted model) in your topic, or in ours ?
Git's color scheme is also pretty divergent from the "official" scheme at this point as well. Really opens up the green options so long as they still look the part.
nerdfest09 wrote: Insaniak, I plan for a blood trail to the sword tip, as if he's fought well but the stress of fighting a brother marine has lent his limbs a weight such as he cannot bear and thus a more melancholy pose with the dragging sword. :-) does that sort of make sense?
I just need to know how to paint ice over glass and steel pipes really. Mostly just frost, not actual thick ice. I have no clue, and I'm doing this to challenge myself. I don't want to say much more or it will spoil everything.
If you know of any ways to do this or have a tutorial, please send it my way.
Also, with Insaniak, Para, and Nerd I'm going to be hard pressed. I love the pose you've got going on there Nerd, and Para has already painted his MW.
For frost could try putting some super glue on it and sprinkle with Bicarbonate of Soda, I use this for many things, but in its raw state could pass for frost build up, try it on spare bit of scrap. See what you think.
Superglue on its own will dry white/semi-transparent, while it'd be impractical to cover a whole surface in it, applying a blob then teasing it out with a needle or similar can get a good icicle effect that might be handy.
Very intrigued to see where you're going with this, I have a vague idea but it's probably wide of the mark...
Finished the warcaster for my little Hordes army. I know it's not what most of you are interested in, but I thought I'd show it as proof that I'm actually doing something. Not a fancy paint job, but decent enough for what it's intended to be.
Wonderful work on your entries everyone, I am very impressed and humbled by your collective efforts.
The field is very exclusive but pretty small yet. I'm hoping a couple of more folks get inspired by the fine work on display to jump in and participate.
got a little more done with the base and a couple washes on the warrior, still heaps to go to get the correct feel i'm wanting for the whole composition the other entries are all pushing it this year! some bloody cool converting
@brushcommando: Ahhh... those models really tug at my heart-strings. Welcome.
@Nerdy: Great progress mate. That base is really coming together!
@Cam: You're in! Excellent start. I have no idea about Hordes stuff either, I'm just kind of making it up as I go along. Apparently I could have picked just about any color and it would have been more appropriate than green... ah well, just call me a color non-conformist.
I actually got to play Hordes last night vs. a very good teacher. He kind of played himself through me and my army, and he won! Actually it was a very interesting and useful learning experience. Enough so that when I played a second game (vs. Thing 1.0) I ended up winning by my half of turn 3 without ever swinging a blow (basically won by maneuver alone). Lesson learned... It's an interesting game but vastly different from 40k. I sometimes find it hard to "switch off" my 40k brain because those skills really don't translate at all to the PP game.
Here's today's progress.
I like how they're turning out, although I may have applied the glaze too heavy on the tranquility pattern. These are actually the first beakies I've ever been able to get my hands on, and it's been a really cool experience playing with them. I'm pretty sure this blog is the main reason I fell in love with the retro aesthetic so it's only fair that they be painted as Mantis Warriors...
Very well done bc. Love those old models, simple as they are... and you've done an excellent job painting them. Outstanding work on the tranquility vet.
Just thought I'd pop in and let you know what I was up to (besides a lot of cheer-leading). As I promised Thing 1.0 I've been faithfully working on my Hordes army. I'm almost done with what was in the original boxed set.. at which point I'll take a break and do a big, scary, 40k model for my Halloween army to go along with the next step in Yorkright's and my ongoing campaign. (I owe you guys a battle report by-the-way.) What's interesting... and something I hope to have some pics to share by tomorrow... is that the last unit I've been working on are a unit of ogre spearmen. Now, I realize most of you don't give a flying fig about Hordes models... but the interesting bit is that these guys are sporting a lot of metal plate armor. This has given me a lot of opportunity to practice with nerdfest09's brilliant and easy armor painting technique. I think they're coming out beautifully, even though I fall far short of the standard nerdy sets. Even so, I'm very excited about showing them to you because it's a new technique to add to my painting tricks *and* it's something anyone can learn. So it's very much in-line with what I hope my MM Challenge promotes... creativity and experimentation.
We don't care if people don't care. I haven't posted anything related to 40k for at least one year. So come on, show us your Horde or whatever game you paint !
Finished the Mantis Maker entry, I wanted a moody atmosphere for it so went with a quiet almost slow composition with the mantis walking slowly away from the Errant marine as if in thought about his actions and what it means to be a mantis Warrior.
Gits, it just so happens that I'm starting up Hordes as well, and I'd love to see your style applied to the Warmahordes aesthetic. Let the naysayers naysay all they want, it won't change those of us who enjoy your content!
Nerdfest, the dio looks amazing! Really atmospheric, and I feel a sense of solemn pride from the MW, almost as if he is happy he won, but the fact that it is a brother marine deeply saddens him. I'm guessing that atmosphere was the intent of the dio though? Please correct me if I'm wrong
I think the walkway could have used a little more detailing to make it look more finished, but the painting is fantastic, as usual. Love the scroll work on the shoulder pad, and the blood smear from the cape is a great touch.
Cheers Insaniak, my original walkway plan was changed thank to my best mate nicking my terrain bits box and not returning it yet! I was going to have a doorway at the end half open with an arm glimpsed through the opening and walls around the edges so the only really visible model was the mantis, but since I had to use what I could scrounge the walkway needed to be scaled down and not too busy. :-)
That's a good one, Nerdfest. I can't wait for Ramos to see it. A scene from the Badab War won't go wrong with me.
Did you consider some markings on the shoulderpads? The Marines Errant are a Codex following chapter after all, so their doodles have to comply with Guillman's guide to doodles.
Wonderful concept and execution Damo. Think you really hit the mark based on what you were shooting for.
@Rygnan: Thanks. I nearly finished one model last night, unfortunately I didn't have a chance to do the last, little, stupid thing that'll finish it off (and it' looks odd without it). I have a 40k game scheduled tonight but I'll try to get that last bit done and post a pic before I head out.
Rygnan wrote: Nerdfest, the dio looks amazing! Really atmospheric, and I feel a sense of solemn pride from the MW, almost as if he is happy he won, but the fact that it is a brother marine deeply saddens him. I'm guessing that atmosphere was the intent of the dio though? Please correct me if I'm wrong
This...
Love love LOVE the diorama.
Gorgeous work, Damo. Thats gonna be a tough one to beat!!
Winters is my absolute favorite purveyor of 40k battle reports, and a really great guy to boot. Please go over to his channel, give him some of your viewing time and likes... and especially chime in if you like his new "Deployment Zone" video. Like most of us, his hobby time is limited so he'll only continue them if there appears to be a desire for it from his adoring fans... WHICH YOU SHOULD BE. I really can't say enough about the quality of his battle reports... they're short (30ish minutes), narrative-driven, the tables & armies are always beautiful and Winters can weave a tale as he describes the action like no other. You'll be doing yourself a favor if you go check out his channel.
He's got a series of reports for a campaign between his 30k admech and a dark eldar force. It's really a great series and his story telling is fantastic. His tables really stunning too.
Is there any scope for posting a small (no more than 150 words) fluff pieces with the entry? I know a good diorama should tell its own story, but I think mine benefit from a small blurb.
Paradigm wrote:That is completely awesome, great use of colour, superb textures, all round excellent!
Thanks Paradigm... turned out better than I expected actually.
Minus wrote:The armour plates on his legs look interesting. Could we have more views ? I'm curious.
Sure, not certain they show you anything that these don't... but sure.
Nice model btw. Maybe the weapons deserve a bit more attention, but overall the mini looks great.
Maybe some drybrushing on the metal bits... yeah. The point of these models (for me) is not to go overboard with them. Just make them look nice.
Yorkright wrote: Nice work Gitz, really liking the armor plates. Was that done with several washes to get that effect?
That's nerdfest09's special armor painting system. I'm not sure if he's officially posted the formula yet, but perhaps he'd be willing to post a link here if he has. Nerdy??
Hey Gits, no I don't think I've posted up a metals method for how I do it other than when I was doing my Orks, it's basically the same but with no orange in it. I'll see if I can find where amongst it all I posted it (if indeed I did) if not I'll gladly reply to anyone who wants a rundown :-)
and Stormwall, I think I answered your query in my blog? did you ask there as well? but yes you're right, it's a pad, painted then white design lightly painted on and then a wash of cassandora yellow to stain the white and blend it to the pad nicely :-)
Aye, we are! Think I made a note of some of your metallic methods before, but this one looks a little different.
Got my entry done, a scene depicting the moment at which this Mantis Warrior realises he can never find redemption and fully embraces the fate of a traitor:
The Star Phantom's offer was clear as he approached. An honourable fight, a good death, and at the last absolution. Galen readied his blade, shifted his weight, and stared in silence at the approaching warrior. A split second to think...
No. No, he would not die like this. Not at the hands of his brothers, not at the hands of the ones who would leave him nameless, call him faithless, let him fade away into nothingness. Fate had made him a warrior. Fate had made him a traitor. Now, as he raised his bolter and unflinchingly, hatefully pulled the trigger, fate would make him a survivor...
Any thoughts welcome! It was great fun putting this piece together and I learned a lot in the process. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you come up!
Curious Para, why make the headshot fella on a removable base? Doesn't seem like the heroic leader of a squad type, on account of the being dead as hell.
whalemusic360 wrote: Curious Para, why make the headshot fella on a removable base? Doesn't seem like the heroic leader of a squad type, on account of the being dead as hell.
Yeah, in hindsight that was a mistake, Initially there was going to be a more active model there who I would have wanted to be removable, by the time I added the Star Phantom I'd already sculpted the hole for the base to sit in so it would have looked weird to have him either standing in a raised circle or (if I filled it in) on a small, circular bump... might see if I can do something about it, but I kind of think any attempt to 'fix' it will look equally odd.
Well done Para! that's a damn fine entry and a 'bloody' good head shot to boot! I love the base and texture and am still suprised how fast you can paint! and I thought I was fast lol
They're fantastic! Only model there I'm not keen on is the big gribbly thing on the left, but that's purely on the aesthetics of the model, the paintwork is fine.
Oh yeah. More of the same to an extent because I've got two sets from the boxed set. I'll do the other four gribblies as they're just darn good. I've got another 5 ogre spearmen that'll get done eventually. I've got a minor character called a shepherd that'll be next, and a character to go with the ogres... those two models will be first. I also have a kit for another of the big beasties... it comes with the parts to make two other versions so I'll use the beasty in that kit and the one from the other boxed set to make both of the new variants. Once that's finished, I should be able to play a full tournament list that's OK. Maybe by that time I'll have some idea of what the heck I'm doing.
The warmachine games are interesting and fun, but they bear no relation what-so-ever to 40k... so my 25 years of 40k experience isn't worth anything on the warmachine table. Nothing translates. Mechanics, strategy, game flow... it's all completely different. That's not a bad thing... but it does make my learning curve very steep.
Gits, you do realise if those Circle Orboros models are plastic I'm going to be (again) sorely tempted to get some and paint them up like my own hounds of vengeance! :-)
A bit simple perhaps, but I tried to go for maximum fidelity to the colors in the old "Chapters of the Badab War" poster. Now I realize that some of you may be wondering how this fits in with the theme. That's simple: I knew I could never compete with the likes of you all in a straight painting competition, so I decided to rely on the old age of the models, and the rather underhanded tactic of appealing to Gits's nostalgia to win out over all your youthful exuberance! Mwuahahahaha! No seriously... well I thought it was clever at least...
It very nearly was! When I was half way through taking the white up from a dark grey base, I did think 'I could just leave it here and call it a Space Shark', but in the end I opted for the Star Phantom just for maximum contrast with the other elements of the piece.
Loving the other entries, some really stunning models! Don't think my painting will be up to scratch but hopefully bag some points for use of some older parts
My statement of entry and some wip pics, count the heads.
My enthusiasm for painting is kind of flagging a bit as I've found it very easy to find other things to do besides paint. I'm looking for a mental diversion here until I can get myself cranked up about hitting the painting desk again. Anything interesting going on in anyone's hobby life?
Went to drop off the last bits of the Warlord to Ramos last weekend (well, almost last bits). Played some Zombicide black plague with him and his brother. It makes some nice improvements on the original. Finished up modeling the Salamanders to send to our favorite Hondaboy. Going to assemble some other junk for him next.
I'm in the same boat, Gits, I made the mistake of getting hyped for my Age of Sigmar project long before the minis were due to arrive/I could buy some more, so short of tinkering with some fluff for that I've not been getting much done in the past week or so. I have a Tactical Squad sitting on my desk yelling 'paint us, paint us', but they suffer from... well, being a Tactical Squad, and thus really, really repetitive!
Good luck getting your motivation back, what's up next when you do get around to painting?
Me too.. I haven't painted since before Adepticon. Trying to ge through the portal comp, but am struggling with my design. Too much in the spring to do list inside and outside. Fighting practice starts up so I need to get my gear in shape.
For me? Well, on the side I'll continue to work on some of the Hordes figs because Thing 1.0 has been brow-beating me about it non-stop. "You need a bigger army." "You need a bigger army." My next project... sitting on my desk actually... is a shiny new box filled with Bloodthirster goodness to be painted up for the next step of the campaign (and to join my Halloween army). I'm trying to decide if I just want to build the generic one (that would come in with a summoning spell) or if I want to try and figure out how to switch out the arms so I could field more than one version of it.
I'm also putting together a care package for Hondaboy including my reaver... but I'm waiting on one last model to come in to my FLGS before I can send everything off.
The youngest has been making me play a lot of MTG lately... which rots my brain. But I'd feel like a bad father if I said... "no son, I don't want to play with you"... and frankly... I DO want to play with him. So that's that.
Thank you guys... I found a little bit of inspiration last night.
Working on this one-off Hordes figure that I really like the sculpt of. Thought it would be a good chance to work on my human skin technique (which is crap). Still very WIP but I am pretty happy with how the skin is coming up. I'm using very basic techniques on the rest of the model in order to contrast stylistically with the skin & make it stand out a bit more.
Got together a Bloodthirster recently, and lets just say... It doesn't like being magnetized. I magnetized the 2 handed Axe for storage, but getting the other configurations on seem nigh on impossible. I am happy with the sculpt, even if the armour plates seem in strange places.
Gitsplitta wrote: My next project... sitting on my desk actually... is a shiny new box filled with Bloodthirster goodness to be painted up for the next step of the campaign (and to join my Halloween army). I'm trying to decide if I just want to build the generic one (that would come in with a summoning spell) or if I want to try and figure out how to switch out the arms so I could field more than one version of it.
Recent Faq...Q: If you play Daemons and you successfully summon a Bloodthirster using the Daemonology psychic powers, what profile will the Bloodthirster have: the one in Codex: Chaos Daemons, or one of the ones in Codex: Khorne Daemonkin?
A:You can choose to use any of the army list entries from Codex: Chaos Daemons, Codex: Khorne Daemonkin or War Zone Fenris: Curse of the Wulfen – but not Skarbrand!
Bloody awesome! love that power fist and the green blend on it looks superb! gotta look after your mates right! and it helps when your mate is in a tonne of armour :-)
@WD: That's up for debate. I was originally planning on having a small group do the judging... but am toying with the idea of a popular vote for the "best mini" category. The "best interpretation of theme" I will pick myself (and will gladly take all the abuse I'll get as a result).
@Cam: Beautifully done. The greens, the work on the faces, the free-hand decorations... all wonderfully done. I have a couple of questions for you though.
1. Why is the on Mantis Warrior lying down on his belly? He doesn't appear to be injured.
2. Where is the left arm of the silver marine? I can't make out from any of the photos what position it's in.
Hey gits, I got bit my the mantis fever but I started my painting without technically enrolling. I don't feel comfortable entering anyways after so many guys have put in such hard work with beautiful results. Is there a secondary portion I could enter, that isn't part of the main prizes/judging? And seeing as I've Practically finished the mini I don't really don't have an expectation, I just wanted to try my own hand at a mantis warriors theme. Great entries so far, cams is just brilliantly nuts. Anywho, the hordes mini is looking great. Don't be so hard on yourself, those skin tones look fab. Nice and even painting. Great job Cheers Gits!
The hordes mini looks great gits. Very penetrating stare; I've never been able paint Iris's - I don't know how you manage it! The base nicely balanced the colours in the mini too!
Have to say the minis in the painting challenge are looking really good to! Go dakkanaughts!
She looks great Git's, fleshtone is fantastic, even if it was not obvious, the skin says we are looking at a lady, great stuff, that purple is brilliant too. Great mini, glad you are putting these guys up.
Thanks guys. They never look as good blown up on dakka as I think they should given where I left off with them. The skin highlighting still looks blocky to me in spite of my best efforts to do gradual blends... but it was a good exercise none-the-less.
I use a clay shaping tool (i.e. GS tool) to do the eyes. It's a round, soft rubber (or perhaps Teflon) point. I gently dip it in a little black paint and then just touch it to the eye... leaves a nice, fairly distinct and uniform dot which works pretty well. The size of the dot depends on how hard I press the tool into the eye socket.
Been a shift in my painting schedule. Going to finish up my 30k EC Dorito dreadnought for our club's first 30k night in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on my EC thread for progress.
bebopdrums2424 wrote: Hey gits, I got bit my the mantis fever but I started my painting without technically enrolling. I don't feel comfortable entering anyways after so many guys have put in such hard work with beautiful results. Is there a secondary portion I could enter, that isn't part of the main prizes/judging? And seeing as I've Practically finished the mini I don't really don't have an expectation, I just wanted to try my own hand at a mantis warriors theme. Great entries so far, cams is just brilliantly nuts. Anywho, the hordes mini is looking great. Don't be so hard on yourself, those skin tones look fab. Nice and even painting. Great job Cheers Gits!
Considering you weren't painting anything when the comp started, an exception seems reasonable (up to Gits, obviously). It doesn't really fit with the theme though, beyond being a mantis warrior.
Yeah, i probably should read the specifics of the comp before posting i was under the impression anything to do with mantis warriors was acecptable. However, again, i dont want any exceptions made for me, and it would be unfair to jump in to the main comp at this point in time. Im just interested in participating from a community standpoint
Shut up and adapt your entry to fit the theme, it is a stunning piece and no one here is going to argue it should not be in the comp. Besides if it falls short on theme at least it gives people like myself a fighting chance against your stunning painting.
As to adaptation, you will best get started on a second model to show how age and experience is better than your beautiful shiny clean marine teenager...
Sorry for not being very communicative guys, spent the weekend at my folk's to help celebrate my dad's 90th.
@beepop: Please, please enter the competition. I'd love to see what you did, your participation will only make the competition better regardless of whether you nailed the theme or not. If you can adapt it to fit the theme as Cam suggested, fantastic. If you can't, don't sweat it. Let the judges sort out how to handle your entry... but everyone whose been watching this thread and especially your fellow competitors deserve to see the fruits of your labors. More importantly YOU DESERVE to have them seen and appreciated!
OH... and in looking over MY OWN RULES... there is nothing that says you HAVE to enter a themed piece! You wouldn't get any theme-based points in the judging... but all other aspects of the scoring should be wide open to you.
If Bebop enters that mini he's easily in my opinion the best technical painter by far, everything his damn brush touches is simply beautiful. And I agree he should enter, if he's been inspired to do so then it would be a shame not to! I can't get over the way he's blended the armour, it's just beyond words and I am honestly VERY jealous of his skills!
You guys are way too kind! Thanks for such nice compliments!! So ok I'll enter Thanks so much for allowing me to join the fun!
Cam you're nuts! But my guy sure is sparkly, he needs to get some. Hehehehe...your trash talk has inspired me my friend, and I most certainly will fall short to your brilliant construction skills. I can't pass up the challenge!
Damo, you know how to make a geek blush!
Gits, below I'm posting the first step to completion, all the wip pics are in my blog, but from here on out I'll be posting the unbuilt parts for the 2nd model and the diorama base. Let me know if there's any issue with what I've done so far, I won't hesitate to cheerfully back out! ... I just posted it in my own blog for you guys here and the sake of spam, here be the first of my four part entry. Cheers and looking forward to it!
Too stunning for words. Needs to be here though, and I am sure you can pull something together.
Oh and Gits..you asked a couple questions, firstly the youthful whipper-snapper Mantis got gut punched and was about to take a double tap to the back of the beaky, when his much more experienced buddy saves his bacon. And as for the Left arm of invisibility...
Spoiler:
It is there I just folded it a bit around his back. Like he is trying to itch that scratch!!
So glad you decided to go with it bebop. You're entry is perfectly valid as a quick pic check makes it clear you've worked in the context of this competition. So no withdrawal is necessary.
I am inclined at this point to extend the deadline by one week in order to accommodate more than one (not just bebop) late entrant to the field as I firmly believe we'll all benefit from giving them enough time to do the job they really want to. Objections can be PMd to me where I will consider them (in confidence of course).
@Cam: Got it. Thanks, that explains things perfectly.
Yggs!!! So glad to see you back. Loved to pic in your blog. Great stuff!
"In to" is probably a bit of an exaggeration. We got a bunch of free models at Adepticon last year and my eldest (Thing 1.0 here on dakka) really got cranked up about the system, painted a bunch of models and is playing whenever he can. I promised him I'd paint up my guys so we could play together. That being said, it's an interesting gaming system, very different from 40k and the local Warmachine group is a great bunch of folks... so it's really a no-lose situation for me. 40k is still my game though and I'll be back to painting proper 40k miniatures TONIGHT! (I'm pretty excited about that.)
Hey everybody but Minus, thanks so much . And Minus, bring it on broski. ((actually youll make me choke on my words i just know it.) Despite whales fantastic alternative, (sneaking up from behind), my teenage Mantis is off on his wild hunt to prove his manhood, (ala 300), by slaying a, well, Mantis. Im going to make his challenger an enraged space alien mantis monster. Here are beginning WIP. The greenstuff collar bone plate is just a base plate for his neck and head to go. Im gonna be Gsing most of that part so ill probably fail or it will look stupid and ill give up and try another route. Or ill succeed and itll be glorious.
Just dawned on me that I never uploaded any images from the big Badab War Apoc game at Adepticon.
In short, I thought it was a really fun, well managed game. Not everyone had a Badab army, but there was enough there to make it interesting.
Here were our defenses... you can see a bit of my stuff, Solar_lion's and Ramos Asura's as well.
Here were the forces arrayed against us. That titan would prove to be an important asset for the attackers.
One of the attackers had a cool inquisitional force. Loved his vehicles.
We had a lot of drop pod troops and we spent most of them pounding the city ruin where the opposition had a high-point objective.
The opposition moved forward relentlessly. My sternguard held out in a bunker (they're actually in it, not on it) and accounted for themselves reasonably well.
Here's the whole table from the attacker's point of view. You can see SL, Ramos and I all working together to try and secure the 3-point objective (my pod is on it in this pic & refused to die... gaining us 3 victory points).
One of the attackers "special strategem" cards allowed them to re-deploy some of their troops late in the game. The inquisitional forces suddenly appeared on our right flank not very far away from a breached wall. Brother chaplain Cassius and his scout bike escort charged out to meet them. The delay they caused in the inquisitional advance prevented the Inquisitional forces from breaching the wall in any meaningful way.
With the walls breached and most of our units destroyed, we were desperate to keep Chapter Master Huron out of enemy hands as well as protecting the two objectives within our shattered walls.
All around the battlefield lay the smoking ruins of war.
We are breached!! Please take note of the Tranquility venerable dreadnought on the top of the wall. He kicked butt all day. I don't remember how many flyers, skimmers and vehicles he took down but it was an impressive final tally.
In the end, the game rode on a final hand-to-hand combat between Huron Blackheart and the Chapter Master of the Raven Guard.
It's a wonderful piece of work Minus. Really unique and interesting. Love what you've done with that old model.
For those of you wholve been following my Mantis Warrior / Blood Angles campaign with Yorkright... I've finally finished the latest battle report. No Mantis Warriors this time as the story is morphing to include other armies... but I'm sure they'll be back eventually. I included a story summary at the beginning, so if you haven't see the other reports you can get caught up in a single, short paragraph.
Well, I've got three projects that I really want to see completed... and if the artists can't get them done in time they may lose the drive to finish. The obvious answer is to extend the deadline because dag-nabbit I want to see them done!!
...no, seriously, after finishing working through 516 pages of this blog o' doom, I could use a drink.
Gits, I'm really impressed with the work you've done - on painting the Mantis Warriors, on developing a community around such a project (and around your network of blogs). and on nurturing your sons' interest in the hobby, regardless of which game they prefer.
The new deadline is the 27th of this month (instead of the 20th). So I added an extra week. If you look at the competition announcement (see link in my sig), the date listed there has been changed and is correct.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Aw heck... let's just make it the end of the month. That makes a lot more sense.
...no, seriously, after finishing working through 516 pages of this blog o' doom, I could use a drink.
Gits, I'm really impressed with the work you've done - on painting the Mantis Warriors, on developing a community around such a project (and around your network of blogs). and on nurturing your sons' interest in the hobby, regardless of which game they prefer.
A round of applause, sir.
You are brave Dysartes, to attempt such a daunting task. It's been a really fun blog to run and frankly wouldn't be a shadow of itself without all of the contributions of that community you mentioned. I hope to keep it going for quite a while yet... I have drawers and bins filled with Mantis Warriors awaiting the gentle caress of my brush. Thanks so much for sticking with it and your kind comments. Please don't be a stranger!
Unless you are coming out to play it with me, not a likely occurrence. There is no local scene for it, and I'm not looking to be the guy to try to change that.
@Dysartes: Thanks for reminding me. I should get back to those. I also have 10 scouts that I really need to paint up to complete my 10th company list which actually did pretty darn well in a local tournament this weekend. I will try and make them a priority.
Unless you are coming out to play it with me, not a likely occurrence. There is no local scene for it, and I'm not looking to be the guy to try to change that.
stonned_astartes wrote: Thank god!, My mantis mini has disapeared, 100% stumped as to wear hopefully i can find it in this next week.
Not the first time a Mantis has gone AWOL during one of these contests. I think it was in the first one where the figure went missing for three months...
Gitsplitta wrote: I actually sat down and painted for a bit last night. Didn't get a lot done, but it was the first time I painted in weeks. Small steps, right?
It’s surprising how much gets done when you actually sit down though. Far more then if you don’t. Good to hear you are at the brush again. I know I need to lock down my motivation and work on a few things. Random puttering does not a lot of progress make.
"The new Scouts fared well?"
It was the first time that the Grandmaster had spoken, since acknowledging Artur's arrival and their bout had commenced. As ever, it was impossible to read his unblinking, sightless eyes. So like the Mantis itself, thought the honoured veteran Commander, encased in his metal shell. He cast his gaze across the board once more. Resignation, perhaps? The servos had by now relayed all permutations to the Grandmaster, and the pincer of Artur's remaining Astartes assured him victory against the ancient warrior. A ploy? Perhaps. But with only the Rex remaining, his choices were few, his options limited beyond noble self-sacrifice.
"Aye, my lord, well enough. They will be fine instruments of the Emperor's will, should he deem them worthy." He shifted his remaining Devastator to pin down the gleaming, golden Rex. "You are checked, my lord. And I believe the game is mine."
A statement, not a question.
"Tell me," continued the Grandmaster, barely acknowledging the inevitable, "Were they as attentive to all of the details of Tranquility as you once were?" A nudge from the servo-arm, prolonging the endgame. Artur frowned.
"I schooled them in full, just as you did me, sire." The towering Terminator shifted to his whim, "And checked once more, upon two fronts." The pause lengthened like a rift in time itself. "You have but one move, Grandmaster, and it ends in Regicide."
"Did you know that I was a Vanguard, Commander?"
Artur frowned despite himself, accessing memories deep in his core.
"My lord, there were no Vanguard Veterans of the Tranquility campaign."
As if from nowhere, the table shimmered, shifted.
"None that you know of, child." A rare crease at the corner of the Grandmaster's mouth - a suggestion of a smile?
A Vanguard, clad in corvid armour and streaked black on yellow, bore down upon Artur's Rex, and struck hard and true.
"A Mantis always guards his secrets, Commander. Regicide, I believe. As you say, I had but one move open to me."
There was nought he could do but let cry a wordless, furious yell, slamming his fist to the table and sending his slain Rex reeling.
"We are hidden even in the shadows of our own history, Artur. The treachery in the truth, the hiding in plain sight - the ancient art of the Mantis."
But his words were dust in the recycled air, as his Honoured opponent was long gone.
Inspiration
Spoiler:
I'm fond of David Mamet, from whom the quote comes (I am an English (& Media) teacher, after all) and this spurred me on to thinking about Stanley Kubrick's 'The Killing' (I also teach film) with its iconic chess scene (great movie, great director, and cited by Mamet as one of his favourite moments in drama - yes, I am a nerd, thank you). I got thinking about chess games generally, and Paradigm mentioned Regicide, the 40k descendant of the game. And so it came together. The venerable Mantis General howling in rage and frustration at the unexpected defeat! I tried to stay true to Gitsplitta's interpretation of the MW, and afaik he's not done any Tranquillity pattern Vanguard Veterans so I factored that into the fluff
@Dysartes: Not sure what you mean by "pulled over", but I'm guessing you mean the page rollover. That happens every time the previous page fills... has for hundreds of pages now. The only way to help it is to post something... anything.... just to get the page to "flip" an become visible again.
Gitsplitta wrote: @Dysartes: Not sure what you mean by "pulled over", but I'm guessing you mean the page rollover. That happens every time the previous page fills... has for hundreds of pages now. The only way to help it is to post something... anything.... just to get the page to "flip" an become visible again.
I thought that's what I was doing, Gits?
Also, it let me land on this page, but with no posts on it...
@all: Just thought I'd post a little update as I've been largely absent from my own blog for a while. As the school year is coming to a close things have been quite busy around the Gitsplitta household. Have spent most of the last several evenings helping Thing 2 with an art project. It was a lot of fun & I think turned out OK. The best thing about the end of school is that I get my nights free to game with the local club again. Really missing my table time don't-cha-know.
Nearly done with a "surprise project"... I was working on cleaning up my studio from it's perpetual mess with help from Thing 1.0 when I stumbled onto a batch of close combat scouts I'd picked up off eBay. Since buying them I hadn't really looked at them. Much to my surprise upon close inspection they were actually very well painted. It's interesting looking at someone else's work and seeing things they were obviously more accomplished at than others. With some very minor tweaking (eyeballs, chip fixing, shoulder pads), I've just about got them ready to go. I do need to re-paint 3 of my own scouts in order to make them match & bring the squad up to full strength. The reason this is important is that I've been playing around with a full 10th Company army build... and these 10 scouts are the last element needed to complete it. I hope to finish the re-paints of my own scouts this week and then I'll show off the batch. Just keep in mind that a lot of it isn't really my work.
I've also taken my bloodthirster out of it's box and will be assembling that big mamma-jamma. You'll see that over on my chaos page.
Thing 1.0 and I have also been waging war on every wasp in the county who have all decided they need to live at our house. Some of the nests are inaccessible and I'll have to contact a real exterminator to get them dealt with... but I think it's really empowered Thing 1.0 who, along with his brother have something of an irrational fear of stinging insects. I used to work in orchards all the time so even though I've been stung far more than they have, I'm a lot more comfortable around the little beasties. Now rather than being afraid... Thing 1.0 just gets a gleam in his eye and goes for the can of insecticide...
I guess that brings you up-to-date. Just wanted to let you know I was still doing stuff.
Been lurking on the thread just watching how the competition pans out. Every entry has been excellent and the thought put into the dioramas, wow! Good luck to all.
Looking forward to the surprise project. So until then I'll 2nd Yorkright....Been lurking on the thread just watching how the competition pans out. Every entry has been excellent and the thought put into the dioramas, wow! Good luck to all.
Congrats and great efforts by everyone painting in the competition! Gits, thanks for inspiring us a lot with a cool and unique subject such as the mantis warriors. I'm off to la today and that means that I sadly won't be able to base my entry properly until next week. As it stands, the model/picture I posted earlier is my final entry. I would've liked to base him properly but it took too much time to get the proper basing materials at the hobby store and I kept having to leave town. Alas, I'm pleased with my final entry despite the simplicity of its base. Have fun everyone and thanks Gits
Finally something of my own to post. Here are the finished scouts. These are a rescue project so don't be too harsh. I actually had to improve the three scouts I added to this unit from my existing painted scouts in order to make them match. Good on the guy who painted the original set of 7.
Scout army is now complete!
P.S. I noticed the sergeant's left eyeball is kind of bleeding onto his cheek... I'll fix that.
Although it's interesting to note just how bad the McVey sculpted guys look alongside the others... I don't think I've ever seen both in the same squad before
Have to agree, they are coming along nicely. I really like the power fist guy. It's not too silly by being disproportionate to his body but still sticks out.
Got to say also thats not a lot of models for 1850pts. Mind you I am out of touch on such things. I think it was Panic that has a brilliant grot army and recently had a battle against 4 Imperial Knights, just seems all a bit squiff to me.
They look great to me bud. But I am bias, they are green.
Yeah, the Storms need work (both crew and finishing the paint jobs on the vehicles). But they're good enough to field. Finishing up those two will probably be the next "surprise" project.
SO... My completed Mantis Maker entry. I had hoped to get some more detail work done on them, but I've been fighting a migraine for the last two days. Ever tried painting fine details when you can't actually focus on the end of the brush? It's all sorts of fun.
So please excuse me if these photos are slightly blurry... I honestly can't tell right now
With a light crunching of gravel, the scout advances through the rubble, scanning around himself as he goes but with his eyes being drawn back to the anomaly before him. Propped up on a twisted pillar protruding from a pile of rubble, a Mantis Warrior helm sits a silent vigil.
With the tip of his combat blade, he carefully prods the helmet, lifting up its front edge to confirm that it is indeed empty... unaware that death approaches silently from behind.
Outgunned, outnumbered, the last of his squad, the veteran Mantis Warrior has lurked amongst the ruins for days, waiting with endless patience for his prey to come to him.
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.
Er... wordy words and such. Here's a top view. Just because.
Brilliant piece insaniak! Sorry it had to be completed "under duress" but it was well worth the wait. Congratulations on a fine, fine entry to the challenge!
Less than 24 hours left! The competition will close tonight at midnight, CST. (for those of you overseas... that's the same time zone as Chicago... though to be honest I'm not going to be splitting hairs over a couple of hours.
I get to take my scouts out tomorrow night for my first club-night in quite a while. If anyone is interested in how I built the army (formations and all) or how they perform now that I have several games with them under my belt... I'd be happy to post, just ask.
Cheers Insaniak! Great piece there! Beautiful colors and it really oozes the spirit of the competition! AND you finished it in the nick of time! Congrats! It's a fine piece!!
BB
Really nice! I quite like how vibrant these are . I'm really partial to your models that have some yellow, you do so well with it and it offsets all the other colors really nicely.
Kind of funny how many scout sculpts are made to be holding their arms in the air and yelling, never quite noticed that before (and I'm sure I won't again, particularly if you field these as two units). If you do that, does the "Reading Rainbow" model from the back double as the other sergeant... or would you only ever field them as a full unit?
You stole my idea! Seriously good work Insaniak. I had hoped someone with better modelling skills would use the idea of a helmet as a distraction. Fantastic diorama.
Thank you one and all for taking your valuable time to produce such a series of amazing models and dioramas for my little competition. I always find it astounding to see the talent on display on dakka and it never ceases to amaze me how such fine artists and hobbyists will dedicate their talents to enrich all the unofficial competitions that go on here. It's really an impressive community & one I'm honored to be a part of.
My goal is to have the judging done by the 7th.
To be honest... for the first time I'm considering having a poll for the "best entry" part of the competition. I'm struggling with this as I don't want it to turn into a simple popularity contest... but I'm not sure that my established judging criteria will be able to separate the entries with any surety because they're all so bloody good.
I'd really like some feedback on this, both from the perspective of the participants and especially those of you who've been following along. Would you like the opportunity to help decide the winner?
I'll handle the theme judging myself in any case, which... God help me... will be challenging enough.
I think that's the best way to go. Your original theme and quality categories judged by you and your panel, then a prizeless 'people's choice' just to see what the wider community makes of the assembled entries. Best way to do that would probably be to compile the entries into a single thread, post in it with a poll in the Showcase forum to ensure they get plenty of exposure.
If you're just looking for some help with separating out the entries, you could combine the two judging methods:
- You and whoever else is involved award scores for theme, from which you get your Best Theme winner.
- Create a poll thread allowing people to vote for their favourites, and modify that result by the Theme score for a best overall.
You could also narrow the public vote down by choosing a smaller number of 'best' entries yourself and just having public voting on those specific entries to choose the actual winner.
I'll come up with something concrete in the next day or two. My week has been nuts at work & won't get easier until after tomorrow.
Took the scouts out for a spin tonight... got crushed by a Red Scorpion army with in effect... two chapter masters (Kantor and Loth). My head just wasn't in the game and my dice hated me to boot. Fun to have a local Badab War battle though.
I don't really like public voting, because as you said it often turns into a popularity contest.
But to be honest, it's YOUR competition, so do what YOU want. I think we all painted our model for fun and 'cause we like you and your endless topics.
BTW, do you plan to make a sum up post, with all entries ?
Hello minus...dakka IS a popularity contest. but seriously, I like a special section for public voting because it's a chance for everyone to see what all the contestants entered. Builds a wider audience. For my comp, I used a panel for the main and did a fan favorite for public voting. Best of both worlds
Little late this time around, but next year could be a "blind" competition. All entries have to be emailed or pm'd to you, with no wip's allowed to be shown until voting is complete.
The final shots being hidden is quite good, we do that on the LoER comps. Stops people being demotivated seeing wonderful work finished and they are struggling.
As for now, I certainly don't mind how you do it.
To be honest don't think of it as a competition, more a bunch of friends coming together and making something different, in appreciation of one of our greatest mentors works.(just need an emote for "Creep!")
But seriously, I do this for the challenge of the piece not to compete against people. I don't stand an earthly against most of you guys, but I enter for the challenge to myself, that's why I enjoy Gits comp, and Nerdies, and Bebops when he used to run one, and of course I love my beloved LoER competitions. Please don't get me wrong here, I really like following Para's monthly comp, but found it seriously demotivating competing. Just me and my mind, not the competition at fault, but when it goes to public vote and no-one votes for you except out of shame, it really screws with your head.
Good luck everyone, but mostly to Gits, judging these entries would be ridiculously hard for me, there is such amazing skill on show, and you have definitely attracted some big guns this year.
Camkierhi wrote: The final shots being hidden is quite good, we do that on the LoER comps. Stops people being demotivated seeing wonderful work finished and they are struggling.
As for now, I certainly don't mind how you do it.
To be honest don't think of it as a competition, more a bunch of friends coming together and making something different, in appreciation of one of our greatest mentors works.(just need an emote for "Creep!")
But seriously, I do this for the challenge of the piece not to compete against people. I don't stand an earthly against most of you guys, but I enter for the challenge to myself, that's why I enjoy Gits comp, and Nerdies, and Bebops when he used to run one, and of course I love my beloved LoER competitions. Please don't get me wrong here, I really like following Para's monthly comp, but found it seriously demotivating competing. Just me and my mind, not the competition at fault, but when it goes to public vote and no-one votes for you except out of shame, it really screws with your head.
Good luck everyone, but mostly to Gits, judging these entries would be ridiculously hard for me, there is such amazing skill on show, and you have definitely attracted some big guns this year.
I view competitions as community building, not something to win. But they are a good way to push yourself out of comfort zones, and that’s something that needs to happen for improvement. Once you acknoledge that winning is not going to happen, you can focus on other, more reasonable goals. Like doing your best, or finishing in a timely manner. Or just having fun with the piece and your fellow contestants.
I feel kinda bad for not putting together a Mantis for this one, but between Para’s monthly and the LoER, I knew there was no way I could finish. And by even attempting, I’d be stretching myself too thin. I have been lurking, and (as always) am amazed at what everyone has been doing.
Good luck and congratulations to everyone who entered!
Thank you everyone for all your carefully considered words. They did indeed help. It's not that I had no idea of what I was going to do by the way of judging... but I was somewhat intimidated by quality of entries... complicated by the fact that so many of the contestants are my friends... I just wasn't sure that I could be as unbiased as I needed to be. Thus, my crisis of conscience right at the end. However... thanks to your kindness and sincerity... I have a plan that I'm very comfortable with. I hope both the participants and readers will find it satisfactory.
There will be Judge's Choice, People's Choice, Best Theme and an Overall Winner. At the moment I only have prizes for the last two categories with no good ideas on what I provide for the other two. Perhaps one of the choosing people could find something for their champion?
In any case, the overall champion will have the best aggregate score, with the categories being weighted thusly... judges choice (50%), people's choice (30%), theme (20%).
Um... can anyone tell me how to set up a poll? I have no idea.
Polls are simples, when starting a new thread, click look under the post widow itself and you'll see 3 tabs, options, poll and attachments. Click Poll, enter the question and options, and whether you want to allow multiple choice or not (probably not for this, I'd imagine, as there's not a ton of entries) and voila.
I shouldn't worry about not sourcing prizes for the other two categories, you promised prizes for two categories when this started so I don't think anyone is going to complain if you just stick with that.
And here they are, your 2016 Mantis Maker Challenge entries! Official poll to follow!
nerdfest09 wrote: Finished the Mantis Maker entry, I wanted a moody atmosphere for it so went with a quiet almost slow composition with the mantis walking slowly away from the Errant marine as if in thought about his actions and what it means to be a mantis Warrior.
so without further hesitation I present my entry:
"Who am I to prove brother Ramos wrong?"
Paradigm wrote: Aye, we are! Think I made a note of some of your metallic methods before, but this one looks a little different.
Got my entry done, a scene depicting the moment at which this Mantis Warrior realises he can never find redemption and fully embraces the fate of a traitor:
The Star Phantom's offer was clear as he approached. An honourable fight, a good death, and at the last absolution. Galen readied his blade, shifted his weight, and stared in silence at the approaching warrior. A split second to think...
No. No, he would not die like this. Not at the hands of his brothers, not at the hands of the ones who would leave him nameless, call him faithless, let him fade away into nothingness. Fate had made him a warrior. Fate had made him a traitor. Now, as he raised his bolter and unflinchingly, hatefully pulled the trigger, fate would make him a survivor...
Any thoughts welcome! It was great fun putting this piece together and I learned a lot in the process. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you come up!
A bit simple perhaps, but I tried to go for maximum fidelity to the colors in the old "Chapters of the Badab War" poster. Now I realize that some of you may be wondering how this fits in with the theme. That's simple: I knew I could never compete with the likes of you all in a straight painting competition, so I decided to rely on the old age of the models, and the rather underhanded tactic of appealing to Gits's nostalgia to win out over all your youthful exuberance! Mwuahahahaha! No seriously... well I thought it was clever at least...
"The new Scouts fared well?"
It was the first time that the Grandmaster had spoken, since acknowledging Artur's arrival and their bout had commenced. As ever, it was impossible to read his unblinking, sightless eyes. So like the Mantis itself, thought the honoured veteran Commander, encased in his metal shell. He cast his gaze across the board once more. Resignation, perhaps? The servos had by now relayed all permutations to the Grandmaster, and the pincer of Artur's remaining Astartes assured him victory against the ancient warrior. A ploy? Perhaps. But with only the Rex remaining, his choices were few, his options limited beyond noble self-sacrifice.
"Aye, my lord, well enough. They will be fine instruments of the Emperor's will, should he deem them worthy." He shifted his remaining Devastator to pin down the gleaming, golden Rex. "You are checked, my lord. And I believe the game is mine."
A statement, not a question.
"Tell me," continued the Grandmaster, barely acknowledging the inevitable, "Were they as attentive to all of the details of Tranquility as you once were?" A nudge from the servo-arm, prolonging the endgame. Artur frowned.
"I schooled them in full, just as you did me, sire." The towering Terminator shifted to his whim, "And checked once more, upon two fronts." The pause lengthened like a rift in time itself. "You have but one move, Grandmaster, and it ends in Regicide."
"Did you know that I was a Vanguard, Commander?"
Artur frowned despite himself, accessing memories deep in his core.
"My lord, there were no Vanguard Veterans of the Tranquility campaign."
As if from nowhere, the table shimmered, shifted.
"None that you know of, child." A rare crease at the corner of the Grandmaster's mouth - a suggestion of a smile?
A Vanguard, clad in corvid armour and streaked black on yellow, bore down upon Artur's Rex, and struck hard and true.
"A Mantis always guards his secrets, Commander. Regicide, I believe. As you say, I had but one move open to me."
There was nought he could do but let cry a wordless, furious yell, slamming his fist to the table and sending his slain Rex reeling.
"We are hidden even in the shadows of our own history, Artur. The treachery in the truth, the hiding in plain sight - the ancient art of the Mantis."
But his words were dust in the recycled air, as his Honoured opponent was long gone.
Inspiration
Spoiler:
I'm fond of David Mamet, from whom the quote comes (I am an English (& Media) teacher, after all) and this spurred me on to thinking about Stanley Kubrick's 'The Killing' (I also teach film) with its iconic chess scene (great movie, great director, and cited by Mamet as one of his favourite moments in drama - yes, I am a nerd, thank you). I got thinking about chess games generally, and Paradigm mentioned Regicide, the 40k descendant of the game. And so it came together. The venerable Mantis General howling in rage and frustration at the unexpected defeat! I tried to stay true to Gitsplitta's interpretation of the MW, and afaik he's not done any Tranquillity pattern Vanguard Veterans so I factored that into the fluff
insaniak wrote: SO... My completed Mantis Maker entry. I had hoped to get some more detail work done on them, but I've been fighting a migraine for the last two days. Ever tried painting fine details when you can't actually focus on the end of the brush? It's all sorts of fun.
So please excuse me if these photos are slightly blurry... I honestly can't tell right now
With a light crunching of gravel, the scout advances through the rubble, scanning around himself as he goes but with his eyes being drawn back to the anomaly before him. Propped up on a twisted pillar protruding from a pile of rubble, a Mantis Warrior helm sits a silent vigil.
With the tip of his combat blade, he carefully prods the helmet, lifting up its front edge to confirm that it is indeed empty... unaware that death approaches silently from behind.
Outgunned, outnumbered, the last of his squad, the veteran Mantis Warrior has lurked amongst the ruins for days, waiting with endless patience for his prey to come to him.
Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.
Er... wordy words and such. Here's a top view. Just because.
bebopdrums2424 wrote: You guys are way too kind! Thanks for such nice compliments!! So ok I'll enter Thanks so much for allowing me to join the fun!
Cam you're nuts! But my guy sure is sparkly, he needs to get some. Hehehehe...your trash talk has inspired me my friend, and I most certainly will fall short to your brilliant construction skills. I can't pass up the challenge!
Damo, you know how to make a geek blush!
Gits, below I'm posting the first step to completion, all the wip pics are in my blog, but from here on out I'll be posting the unbuilt parts for the 2nd model and the diorama base. Let me know if there's any issue with what I've done so far, I won't hesitate to cheerfully back out! ... I just posted it in my own blog for you guys here and the sake of spam, here be the first of my four part entry. Cheers and looking forward to it!
Solid work from everyone! I've been following this blog for a good while now, just lurking... Finally going to show myself, and subscribe! Keep up the good work Gits, and glhf to everyone!
Kidding aside, even if I get the minis done reasonably quickly, the diorama base is going to require a lot of planning and work...
bits laid out and then a little hour of conversion and the model is re posed and ready, just now to finalise the parts for the rest of the base and backdrop. I'm reading between the lines on the entry quote, and imagining a Mantis Veteran saying something along the lines of " They think us traitors and yet will not listen to our redemptive cries, then who am I to disappoint them"
that's gotta be hard to beat already! 
assembled and now primed ready to get detailed! this is going to really be a fun model to paint 
