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A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 10:00:30


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Hi guys,

I've been considering a grot army for quite some time now. Panic's brilliant models gave me just the push I needed to get started. Since I already own a guard army,
I'll be using the ork army book for them. All vehicles should be possible with some conversion work, but that's still far away. This'll be more of a modelling then a gaming project, so tabletop effectiveness comes second. Grots are just fun .


Here's some tinkering I've been doing.

Grot wartrakk:



And a deffkopta who's had some basic greenstuff work done to it. I still need to fix up where I cut away the ork legs, and add some gubbinz to make it more grotty.




I used wolf rider legs, torso and arms, since they're slightly bigger and made it easier for the grot to reacht he handlebars. Besides, since they're greenskins bigger is better .

For my mek, I'm thinking about a tau crisis suit, but that's still in the conceptual phase. Anyway, let me know what you think!ain


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 10:07:07


Post by: Squig_herder


First off, its good to see more people really make an effort to make their armies unique and personal.

These models are great so far, I love the wartrakk, it has real character.

Keep posting.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 15:00:35


Post by: KingCracker


I agree. This army will be very cool and fun looking when its done, and that rarely happens. Nice work so far


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 15:40:09


Post by: the_ferrett


SAG, KFF or KMB Big Mek?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 15:40:58


Post by: SgtSixkilla


Yay! Orky vehicles with booster seats. I love it. A hella shooty grot warband shouldn't be terribly inefficient, should it?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 15:49:22


Post by: thesilverback


Great look. A grot army no reason it can't exist. Nice modeling, army looks like its going to have some real character.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 18:13:11


Post by: Death By Monkeys


Hey, where's the skull on the front of your wartrakk from?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 18:30:02


Post by: nethaniellovesthorpe


Dude! This is awesome i have waited for ever for someone to make a squeaky waaagh!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/20 19:53:45


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks guys! It's nice to see all these replies, it'll keep me motivated!

SAG, KFF or KMB Big Mek?


At least one KFF mek to keep all my kans/dreads safe, second will be another KFF or SAG, depending on mood and modelling options.

Yay! Orky vehicles with booster seats. I love it. A hella shooty grot warband shouldn't be terribly inefficient, should it?


Felt the same way. Plus, with dreads in troops and quite a few killakans, it should ok in cc as well; nothing likes S10 PW attacks thrown at them. It'll be pretty fragile, though. If by shooty you mean grot units: don't get your hopes up...

Hey, where's the skull on the front of your wartrakk from?
It's from the WH Ogre bulls set; it normally attaches to the standard. Since the ogres became ogryn (that's evolution for you), I still had it lying around.




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/21 06:42:35


Post by: nethaniellovesthorpe


Haha! Awesome!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hey level my adoptables if you can! Sorry about my double post.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/21 07:33:13


Post by: DiscoVader


This looks really awesome, can't wait to see how it turns out!


Also, the idea of a Grot with a SAG is highly amusing to me. I fully endorse the idea.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/21 08:23:44


Post by: CommissarKhaine


DiscoVader wrote:This looks really awesome, can't wait to see how it turns out!


Also, the idea of a Grot with a SAG is highly amusing to me. I fully endorse the idea.


Thanks!

Right now, I have three options in my head for a counts-as Mek. One's a Tau crisis suit (done before, but it's cool and grotty), the second one involves using a sentinel to make an 'Aliens' power lifter thingy. Third option is a mini tank with a big gun . I might make one of each though (one for each weapon option, make sit easy to tell the difference), but that's still in the dim and distant future.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/22 04:52:21


Post by: nethaniellovesthorpe


Haha! The power lifter idea is awesome, if you want to go for some major cheese you should make a mech out of a bunch of grots all holding stuff together on stilts and things.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/22 09:41:55


Post by: Aduro


Got a local guy who's done something like this. He made up a biker squad, replacing all the orks with grots. He made up for the weedyness of the grots by putting ~4 on each bike. One bike still has an ork, and he's got runt herder gear,


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/22 18:17:56


Post by: Orkeosaurus


Nice start to the army.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/23 15:28:53


Post by: nethaniellovesthorpe


I like the Grot motor herd idea. Thats funny.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/23 19:45:46


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Lots of grots on bikes... Like the idea! I don't have plans for warbikes right now, but maybe I'll get access to some cheese nobs this way .

I managed to get the other two koptas done, now I'm messing about with bits to make a mek. I was a bit at a loss becasue all my ideas are bigger then the base allows, but then it struck me while looking at the book that big meks have bigger bases (40mm). So, with some extending with slate, I still have all my options open. First mek will be in the power lifter thing, mainly because I have a sentinel lying around and I think it's cool. I'll probably leave the Tau crisis suit for a warboss stand-in, that way the distinction will be clear.

Anyway, some pics from the two other koptas.










All three together. It's blurry for the last two, but the grot's face on the first kopta says it all!


And pic of the whole 'horde' so far. Time to get some troops choices methinks: dreads and grots!





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/11/23 19:51:31


Post by: Newt-Of-Death


I love gretchin so terribly much!

Definately need to have lots on foot tho!

A big centre piece like a stompa or battlewagon or Deff Dread would be cool to do grotty, and have like 20 or so gretchin just pouring in and out of it like insects going bananas!

Something to do with a water-pump and bucket system has a potential air of humour to it!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/01 20:27:55


Post by: CommissarKhaine


So, got an update for the good dakka folks. After some head-scratching and trying to design a proper mek, I remembered Mad Max III. For those who haven't seen it, there's this tiny guy riding a big oaf (called Masterblaster) who also serves as a bodyguard. I figured that the gretchin have managed to get their hands on an ogryn servitor of some kind, and that they hard-wired him to one of their own (hence the cables in the head). Plastic rod and guitar wire are your best friends here . The gretchin is still loose, so this is not exactly his final position. I'll make sure when he's finished that both models will be looking in the same direction, implying some kind of mind-link between big dumb guy and small dumb guy .

So, here's my 40K take on Masterblaster (not the best pics, but natural light is hard to come by these days):







The power klaw may get ripped of at some point, but I had to make do with what I had lying around; I'm pretty happy with the rest of the model.

big centre piece like a stompa or battlewagon or Deff Dread would be cool to do grotty, and have like 20 or so gretchin just pouring in and out of it like insects going bananas!


Right now, I have a battlewagon with legs in mind, like a giant mechanical squiggoth; I'll probably be getting me one for the holidays. I aslo intend to get some of the warhammer snotlings to add to the mix, since some of them are quite hilarious.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/01 20:48:00


Post by: Empchild


EMBARGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT thing ROCKS!!!!!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/02 18:12:31


Post by: BAN


haha little green men


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 13:48:27


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Empchild wrote:EMBARGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT thing ROCKS!!!!!!


Thanks
I've decided to combine my original revolution with some Mad-Max looking vehicles. I plan on a grey + camo paint scheme to give them a uniform look (with bits of red paint job of course ). Anyway here's my next addition, a war buggy:



I lengthened it a bit (original wheelshaft is where the gear stick is on this one), by about an inch to make room for an engine in front. I wanted to add a nitro, so I used a sentinel missile launcher for the air inhaler part. The button on the skull will be painted red, obviously . The original buggy looks rather goofy anyway, this one actually looks like it could get somewhere fast. The missiles can't rotate, but if any opponent hassles me about it, buggies are AV 10 all round anyway. I'll probably add an ammo grot in the back as well, it's looking a tad empty right now. As for the driver: I greenstuffed him a rear end, and the buggy driver's arms were weedy enough to be used for a grot, so that made things a bit easier. I did modify the steering column though to make everything fit.

It's the first time I tried heating plasticard (used a candle), and it amazed me how easy it was. Roll cages and bullbars have definitely become a much easier prospect now!

Some more pics:





And the view the mini gets right before being run over by a crazed grot (that's what the bullbar is for, after all):



So, let me know what you think!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 16:05:39


Post by: The Dreadnote


You magnificent bastard. This thread has become substantially more excellent.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 17:15:43


Post by: ratjak


That buggy is amazing. i love it.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 18:18:21


Post by: jamsessionein


A suggestion regarding bending styrene tubing.

If you want to avoid the cylinder from 'crimping' as you bend it, like what happened on the buggy's front bumper, you need to fill the inside of the tube with something so that it holds it's shape. In the past, I've used coat-hanger wire, and I've also heard of people packing the tube with sand.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 18:26:56


Post by: theHandofGork


Who run's barter town?!?


Seriously, the master/blaster model is great, really good thought you had there.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 21:55:59


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks for all the postive replies guys! This definitely helps me to keep going, with a kid and a busy job modelling time is hard to come by...

jamsessionein wrote:A suggestion regarding bending styrene tubing.

If you want to avoid the cylinder from 'crimping' as you bend it, like what happened on the buggy's front bumper, you need to fill the inside of the tube with something so that it holds it's shape. In the past, I've used coat-hanger wire, and I've also heard of people packing the tube with sand.


Nice idea, I'll definitely have to try that. Like I said, it was a first try and I'm pretty happy. The 'crimping' didn't bother me on these models, but I'll definitely try the filling up trick for some other models.

Next up: a second wartrak (giving me a full FA choice together with the buggy) and some basic grots. I'm about to close a deal on some gnoblars (the ones riding on each others' shoulders) to count as runtherds (ecpext commissar caps and coats here) and some other random stuff, and then my army will even have a core choice . Talking about core choices, I'm debating how to make deff dreads from scratch. If you thought goldswords were bad, check these guys' prices for what's basically a metal tube... Few tourneys in Belgium require GW models, so scratching them is no problem at all. Warjacks from warmachine may be an option, but right now I'm going squigkans and grotkans. Squigkans will be dreads and will be based on sentinels, grotkans are still in the very conceptual phase... Using ogres is out of the question though


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 22:05:21


Post by: Vet Sergeant Travis


Pretty awesome man, can't wait to see it painted. I know alot of people just used empty paint pots with some orky gubbinz stuck on them for killa kans, you'd need something a bit bigger for deff dreads though.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/05 22:07:32


Post by: LunaHound


There are so many amazing concepts in this thread that i havnt see from anywhere else , 10/10!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 01:01:44


Post by: Humblesteve


I've bent conduit pipe before, and filling it with water or fine sand works well. Of course we're not worried about the integrity of the pipe here. I'd shave the bent out parts a little and then just smooth out the inside with a little GS.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 01:08:55


Post by: ZacktheChaosChild


I love it. Great, Orky work!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 02:30:38


Post by: DiscoVader


Very cool! Love the look of the war buggy and the MasterBlaster conversion looks fantastic!

For the ammo grot at the back of the buggy, perhaps have him loading a missile into the launcher? Would look pretty neat, IMO.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 03:15:20


Post by: KillaKan


This is all going to look so cool when it's done. Can't wait for the Kanz.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 03:35:10


Post by: malfred


I always love Grot armies. Please update as soon as you can


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 03:48:11


Post by: Plankwalker


Love the Buggy and the Masterblaster!

I've seen mention of fielding grot armies as Orks and for each Counts As Ork, you have a Grot with another Grot sitting on its shoulders.

Keep up the great work.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/06 19:45:45


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks for all the positive replies guys!

Vet Sergeant Travis : thanks, I'm still brooding on the kans, they're up next together with a dread. I've seen the paint pot ones, but they're not quite what I want. Aduro's sentinel-based kan looked very interesting, I may have to steal that idea. It's just that that's gonna make for some very expensive kans...

Lunahound, Zack, Killakan: thanks!

Humblesteve: thanks for the tip, but I kinda like the bent look for the buggy; I'll defintiely use it for any imperial vehicles I may scratch.

Discovader: check out this halftrack . The buggy will have a grot with a hammer on top banging at the missiles to make them launch, but he's being kept separate for painting.

Malfred: you're a mod, so I gues I'd better listen . Here's an update!

Plankwalker: I plan to do grots only for now. The grots riding on each others' shoulders will be my runtherds.

So, an update. I finished a wartrakk, giving me a full FA choice (two watrakks plus buggy). Now all I need is core. This one was made into a german-inspired halftrack, since I really like the look of them and the wartrakk simply begs for such a conversion.

So how did I do it? First I inverted the tracked part of the chassis, giving me a nice backpiece. I cut off the exhausts and put them on the new rear end. I didn't add the bike part, but built a seat and engine out of pasticard and greenstuff. The wheels where donated by a toy truck I got for 0.5 euro. It has 4 more wheels waiting to be put to good use . I the mudguards where simply plasticard that got heated and bent. The rokkit launchers was made from some random bits and two mortar tubes. The grot hanging on and reloading is from the stompa set. I wanted to add a bit of narrative to the back, so they're in the process of reloading the rokkits.

Anyway, some pics:




The front is a bit blurred, but these show the interaction between the loaders nicely.

A front view:

The copper plates are from a modelling shop, they come in bags of 30 or so. Perfect for this army!


Yep, I added a dashboard . There are pedals, a handbrake and a gear stick as well, but they're very hard to see.

And this is the driver. His head will be painted separately so I can reach his deluxe red sun steering wheel.



This one and Masterblaster are probably my favourite models so far. Some of the detail is lost on the pics, but I hope the paintjob will make them pop a bit more.
Let me know what you think about this one!








A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/07 22:27:19


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


When I have fixed some kind of photo station and taken pics of my scratch built Kans and Deff dread I can link those to you for inspiration! A hint on my kans are: kinder eggs!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/08 14:51:37


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Good idea Rose_Mountainz, I've been considering those as well; are they OK for size?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/09 08:25:00


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


well, I think they work perfect, easy to modify and they look very orky. The size seem to be great imo!, though long time since I saw a "real" GW kan. But on friday when I've got free from all schoolwork I will start my orkblog and will then post pictures of my dred and kanz so you have to wait until then! hope that I can give you inspiration


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/09 11:48:22


Post by: Million


There is so much win in this thread - your vehicles have got so much character! I love the grot loaders on the last wartrak


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/10 07:10:59


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks Rose-Mountainz, I'll be looking out for your kans this weekend! I think the reason you don't see many GW kans is simple; for the price of one most people can scratchbuild 3-6 that look better... GW never improved on the original kan concept, which still dates from the late eighties...

Million: Thanks! I find that the grot models have a lot of character, and they fit into a few very thankful archetypes for modelling making it a lot of fun. I mean, who doesn't like vicious yet cowardly creatures with a wicked sense of humour? (Can you tell I have a kid? )


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/13 15:51:01


Post by: the_ferrett


Slight OT, Why does noone ever consider combining Gretchin with warbikers in rules for Apoc?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/13 22:58:34


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


CK, sorry for my delay but at last, you can find the link to my blog and pics of my conversions in my signature, feel free to check it out


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/13 23:19:16


Post by: lowkey48


Awesome stuff, definitely gonna pass this thread along to my bud who is looking to individualize is own Ork force.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/14 00:02:06


Post by: Owain


Great job on the buggy. I've always loved Grot armies.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/14 00:07:19


Post by: malfred


Haha, I just moderate the wiki section of the site. So I write articles and encourage
others to do the same.

Guess what I want you to do when this army is all painted and done?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 09:37:17


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Well, it's been a while, but I managed to get some more work done on the little green men. Since I've run out of glue, this'll have to do for now .

Malfred: I'll see what I can do. I'm working on some background as well, and if it all fits together nicely, I'll try and write an article on the grots.

First off, I finally managed to put together a killa kan. I was stuck on this one since I has so many concepts floating round my head, which were mostly way above my skill level. I definitely felt something sguig-like was in order, but was stuck on the bits to use. I knew I wanted to integrate the close combat weapon (squig jaws) and the weapons (missiles shooting from the 'mouth'), but I also knew totally scratching it was a fair bit above my skill level with plasticard and greenstuff. In the end, I started of from a valk missile pod, and added bits till I got a squig-kan (greenstuffing still required). Now let's hope the twin-linked rokkits suit my play style .





Not the best pics, but the light isn't all that (and I'm not very good at taking pics) . I hope you'll be able of making out the details. Since the grots have been scavenging some imperial stuff (the ogryn mainly ), I figured that some sort of mining device would be perfect for grots to make killa kans out of, hence the bulldozerlike crew compartment.

I also felt I needed an expensive unit to make up points and to take away focus from the kans. Enter some counts-as meganobz, which will also allow for an additional battlewagon in my force; always a good thing IMO. If I decide to add a warboss instead of a second big mek, they'll even be troops! They're based on Tau XV-25 stealth suits, which are nice and bulky. I twisted the torsos 90 degrees and dremeled out some bits to make the grot fit in. I might change the feet, but I like the basic concept: one close combat arm and one shooty mount, clearly different in design. My only gripe would be the roundness of the shooty shoulder, but I like the general look of it. If I ever decide to make an INQ Munda space/deep sea diving suit, I'd probably use the XV-25 as a base for that as well; it has a nice high-tech look to it.

Some pics:






The grot without a helmet had his weapon arm magnetized since I'm not sure on the optimal loadout for them yet. I'll probably magnetize all the others, I just forgot do it on the first grot.

A pic of the rears, where I added some orky power plants made from the ammo drums from the ork bikes:



So, opinions?

And, last but not least: merry christmas!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 10:35:53


Post by: Wrexasaur


Those are seriously awesome.

You could do a bit more work on the feet, but I don't think it will really make that much of a difference. Look forward to seeing them painted.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 17:53:24


Post by: Charlatan


Oh my god Master Blaster!! Amazing.

Mad Max + Grots = a dystopian flutter in my heart.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 18:44:42


Post by: Empchild


Different, but well COOL, great work man keep it up.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 19:17:31


Post by: Dobie


Those grot Mega Nobz are sick. These are the kind of creations that keep this game fresh and show just how far some creativity can go. Well done.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/25 22:55:10


Post by: Lycaeus Wrex


Brilliant concept. Outstanding execution. I demand MOAR!!!

L. Wrex


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/26 07:05:11


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks guys!

Wrexasaur: I still have a third suit waiting. I'm going to try and cut down the Tau feet and make some more orky feet, adding some more hydraulics and some pointy bits. This will also allow me to align the hydraulics a bit better; they were a bit fiddly while still using the original foot.

Charlatan: MasterBlaster is my favourite modle so far I think . the dystopian effect will be further enhanced by the background if I manage to get it on paper. Basic concept: a Magos Biologis experimenting facility, where captured races are 'studied'. The AdMech understimated the grots, who used an ork uprising as a cover to get out. Still pretty vague, but it should allow for some interesting options and modelling work.

Empchild: thanks, the whole aim of thios army was to do sopething different. Since I'm a pretty competitive player, doing an army just for modelling is also a very interesting experience.

Dobie: Thanks man, quite the compliment . It's twisting the torsos that changed the models enough to be very different from their parent model IMO.

Lycaeus Wrex: Thanks . Like I said, I'm out of glue, so I've started some painting; expect to see a painted MasterBlaster and/or a deffkopta in the (relatively) near future!





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/29 09:52:17


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Hmm, not much love for the killa kan apparently.... Is it just that the megagrotz outshone him, or do you guys have more fundamental issues with it?

Anyway,

My first painted model in this log: MastaBlasta himself!







This last pic was edited by the dakka gallery. It exaggerates some of the colours, but since I used a flash to take them the others had the colours washed out a bit.


So what do you guys think? I'm pretty proud of him, since it was my first attempt at weathering and the rust and damage came out decently. He'll make a suitable centrepiece for the revolution! Next up: starting a battlewagon and a third megagrot.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/29 09:56:00


Post by: Arakasi


Cool. Have to disagree about him making a "suitable" centrepiece for the revolution though. A "great" centrepiece more likely!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/29 10:33:07


Post by: the_ferrett


Have a look at the FW grot sponsons. Chucking them (Or converted similars) in the shoota spots of the battlewagon would look particularly fun.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/29 14:57:28


Post by: Empchild


EEEEEEEEEEMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, anyways cool model!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/30 23:15:14


Post by: Dysartes


Lovely paintjob, CommissarKhaine

Regarding the Squig-Kan, it looks like the jaw could do with some piston-y type bits to make it clearer that it bites people, mebbe?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/30 23:44:31


Post by: Llamahead


The Master Blaster model is awesome. I'm also planning to make construction equipment inspired Kans in the future, I've got the Quid shop diggers waiting for when I have the time and inspiration. Looking at the Tau Stealth Suit models I reckon those could be used as Killa Kans as well without much trouble....


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 00:21:56


Post by: Sandman


This army looks absolutely fantastic. I love the conversions and it shows tons of character, kudos to you. I'd gladly go to WAAAGH!!! with these little guys any day.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 08:49:40


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: Thanks, I like your Dark Angelz as well, nice Apache!

the_ferret: I've seen those, And I think I can sratchbuild them just as well, especially since the battlewagon kit comes with four big shootas anyway. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Empchild: you really like shouting that, don't you?

Dysartes: Thanks! The pneumatics are there, but they're not visible very well on the pics. They were also added as an afterthought, since I got caught up in getting the jaws right... I'll add some more obvious ones on the next kans.

Llamahead: looking forward to your kans. As for the stealth suits: they might make OK Kans, but I feel they're a bit small. Besides, what would I use for meganobz then?

Sandman: thanks!

So, on to the third megagrot I could build out of the stealth suit set (till I get the next set, anyway). Since I ran out of PKs, I scratched one; turns out it's pretty easy, so I'll be making all PKs myself from now on. Judge for yourself:





And a view of the rear, where most of the grotification took place:


I still need to greenstuff up the gaps, but I'm waiting till I can do a whole bunch of 'em together.

And the three together:



And here's a little teaser of the battlewagon conversion I'm planning:



And with that, it's off to 2010. Expect some more deffkoptas, a suitably grotty battlewagon, and some commissar-inspired runtherds. See you next year and best wishes to everyone!




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 09:44:22


Post by: Yggdrasil


I agree with most people around here: your mega-Grots are awesome!!!!

They clearly stand out as very Orky (or Groty, I should say) while being mostly built from Tau parts, that's fantastic!!!

Your kustom Powa Klaws are also great, if they weren't white we could wonder from which sprue you have taken them...

Congratulations!!!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Ah, and as for the KillaKan, I'm not so fond of the concept, but that's a personal preference...

It definitely looks like a squig, with a caterpillar-like "cockpit", no problem for that, still... There's something to it I don't get.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 10:01:43


Post by: deadly chicken


Those are some awesome stuff!!!!

I like the launcher walker!!!!!

Those grot suits are cool too!

DC


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 11:13:01


Post by: Lexx


The blastamasta model is great. Really gives the impression of the grot driving/control him and his actions. Great work.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2009/12/31 17:20:53


Post by: Arakasi


That powerklaw is awesome. I've really taken to plasticard myself and this just helps to show what can be done. I will remember this when I run out of powerklaws (or more likely, when I run out of unique powerklaws - oh, that would be now )


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/01 21:17:29


Post by: LiveforFun666


Huzza! i'll get to give the first reply in the new year
love the mega-grots, and the others are cool too
and if youre making grotified battlewagons and meganobz then i want to see some stormgrotz and looties!

Cheers

LFF666


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 13:14:52


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Hey guys finally managed to get some work done in between all the festivities.

Yggdrasil: Thanks, the megagrots definitelty came out right. I feel the same about the kan, so this project 's been suspended for now till I find what's wrong with it.

Deadly Chicken: thanks man! If I scratch the squig-kans, there may be one up for sale if you like it so much .

Lexx: Thanks, that was the image I was going for!

Arakasi: it's really easy, give it a try and show us the results! One piece of advice: leave the back piece (where it connects to the arm) long enough. That way you can test-fit a few times and with different poses till you find the one you like. My PK started off about 1 cm longer then it is now for that very reason.

LiveforFun666: thanks! stormgrotz and lootas are not a part of my list right now, though I've built up some ideas for them. The stormgrots would obviously be riding either winged squigs (thank you GW for the new gargoyle kit!) or squiqs with rokkits strapped to them. The PK Nob would have a squig with a mechanical jaw to count as the PK. The lootas... I've still got the powerlifter idea from Aliens floating in my head, so maybe I'll make those just for fun.

I've only done some basic plasticard and cutting work on the battlewagon, but I wanted some opinion on it while it's still WIP. The whole idea was to make it more into a mechanical squiggoth rather than a wagon, so I removed the track and wheel axles, and started building up some legs. After several scratched attempts, these are the legs I came up with:





They're not attached to the body, which explains the wobbly poses (and the paint pots ). I can still repose them, and the angle at which they attach to the body can be changed as well, thanks to this:


If you'll look at the front leg, you see how I attached them. Both the leg and the BW body have a tube sticking out, in which a bunch of smaller plasticard rods go. I can cut/sand them to be the length and direction I want, changing the angle and position of the legs doing so. Not the best pic, but I hope I got the point across.

Now, something I need an opinion on. My BW will be equipped with a defrolla, which means I can't put the big iron 'Gob' in it's usual place. While toying around with it, I found it fit on just as well over the top of the cockpit, making it look a bit like a triceratops/protoceratops:





So, what's your opinion on it? I kinda like it, it also changes the 'face' of the battlewagon a lot, which is good. I'm just a bit worrried that I'm taking the squiggoth/walker bit a tad too far. Not to mention that squiggoths don't have those bony crests...

Still to do: greenstuff/file down/fill up the legs, make some shoota turrets, fill up the bottom of the battlewagon where the legs are attached, and scratch a deffrolla. Basic concept for the deffrolla right now: two huge tusks, with motorized sawblades between them. After that, it's the basic finishing touches to grot it up abit. I've got a bunch of warhammer snotlings that'll make great additions to the wagon.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 13:30:37


Post by: the_ferrett


Ummm do you have any plans for the odd looking D shaped gap between the crest and the cheek as it were?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 14:01:03


Post by: Empchild


Im loving this. very intrigued to see where your heading with that.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 14:29:54


Post by: CommissarKhaine


the_ferrett wrote:Ummm do you have any plans for the odd looking D shaped gap between the crest and the cheek as it were?


I'm assuming you mean between the doorway and the crest? Not yet, but I'll probably be adding some supports anyway, and maybe a turret. I'll try to integrate it into the bits for the door that still need to go there as well.

Ah, yet another dilemma: doors that hinge and a fully detailed interior? Or just glueing it shut since I already glued in the rear door anyway?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 17:48:00


Post by: The Good Green


I'm struggling with that dilemma right now, too. I really like the detailed interiors, but if it's all glued together, how will you get a brush in there?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 19:43:16


Post by: CommissarKhaine


The Good Green wrote:I'm struggling with that dilemma right now, too. I really like the detailed interiors, but if it's all glued together, how will you get a brush in there?


1) I'd have to add a lot of detail, that's part of the dilemma; basically, the cockpit only has floor plating. I'd need to add a driver's seat, dashboard,...

2) The roof isn't glued on yet, just stuck in place


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 20:01:24


Post by: Arakasi


Same. I'm trying to assemble as much as I can whilst leaving access to interiors with the intention of gluing the final chunks together after painting - though with trukks it will still be able to be seen at the end.

Back on topic - that vehicle is very ambitious. Its a fine line between a triceratops and... a puppy! I think the legs could use more pistons - I'd use the FW Mega Dread for inspiration here. Love the deffrolla concept. I guess I'd be inclined to try breaking the gob up and using it as "shoulder" plates for the tops of the legs? The head of the squiggoth is quite small compared to the rest of its body...
Actually, looking at the Mega Dread, two trukk engines (or custom built) angled out from either side to give it more width might look cool too... Feel free to ignore! (just ideas, not guaranteed any good...)


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 20:36:52


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Great minds think alike

Considering the vehicle: since I pulled of a knight titan , I feel I should be able to pull it off. Pistons will definitely be added, but first I need the basic shape decently finished: gaps closed, everything sanded down, then the detail will be added. Especially the front legs will need some detailing and doodads added, since they're pretty thin right now. But bigger didn't look right.

The shoulder plate idea is pretty cool, definitely something I'll have to consider. Right now, shoulders were going to be plasticard pauldrons to protect the worky bitz; I'll see how the gob fits
I've seen the FW mega dredd, but I don't want to widen the legs; right now, they'll fit right in with the wagon's normal size, integrating nicely into the body. Thanks for the idea though, it may help me out considering my kans!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/04 20:40:02


Post by: Imperial Monkey


That battle wgon is awesome, as is the rest of them!

It looks like a smaller AT-AT from Star wars... CREWED BY GROTS. Great idea! love it!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/05 03:23:49


Post by: thesilverback


Liking the look of the Battlewagon with the legs and change in the front plate gives it a real animal look. To bad, likely to high tech for the Snakebite Clan. Can't wait to see more.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/05 18:47:51


Post by: Mad Mek


There really good you know!

I like the trakks the best!
But to be honest i dont like the Orge Guy with the gun attached to him i think it loses the grot touch.... sorry


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/05 19:42:03


Post by: Llamahead


The battlewagon looks great I really like the dinosaur transformer look. For the Deff Rolla I'd be tempted to go with a great sweeping pair of claws rather than the teeth as I think that to fight the teeth would have to be far to close to the ground which wouldn't lookt that good.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/05 21:34:26


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Imperial Monkey: Thanks! Might have to do some Jawa grots now... Or... storm trooper grots .

thesilverback: Thanks. Might be a bit hightech for the snakebites, but they could always convince a mekboy to build'em one! Or you could replace the engine with a treadmill filled with squigs/grots

Mad Mek: Thanks, I like the wartrakks too, especially the WW2 one. I like MasterBlaster a lot (obviously ), but hey, different tastes... I have to disagree with losing the grot touch though: the first thing that pops on the mini is the grot, the ogryn was specifially painted in muted tones for that very reason. IMO, it's clearly a grot and his mount, not an ogryn with a grot attached.

Llamahead: That clinched it in favour of keeping the crest, thanks! Arakasi's suggestion didn't quite fit since the gob is too large to act as a shoulder guard. Just may have to do Slag's (the dinobot triceratops) colour scheme now .
I decided against claws because 1) orks aren't tyranids, so I only wanted four limbs and 2) there may be confusion with grabbin'klaws, of which I might mount one on top (or a big magnetic harpoon maybe, not sure yet). I think the tusks will do fine, an elephant doesn't have trouble with them being to close to the ground either; I'll just have to worry about where I attach the saw blades. I'll tackle that problem when it presents itself, which is still a bit off; I added some greenstuff to the legs today, will add a second layer tomorrow, then sand it down. After that, I'll attach the legs and start doing some detailing to get really get this project going. Maybe after that, I'll get to the tusks...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/06 01:51:43


Post by: The Good Green


oo oo oo! I wanna see MasterBlaster painted! Have you painted anything else?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/06 06:04:07


Post by: CommissarKhaine


The Good Green wrote:oo oo oo! I wanna see MasterBlaster painted! Have you painted anything else?


Check page 2 of the thread then .

I'v started painting a deffkopta and some basic grots (I don't want to end up having to paint 120 grots last), but they're still WIP. Most work is going into the battlewagon right now, and I'm also painting up some IG for a tourney in february, so painting the grots will be a slow process for the next month or so. After the tournament, I'll be able of devoting more time to them.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/06 18:54:22


Post by: Mad Mek


When i said i didnt like the MasterBlaster i meant was like i always imagined grotz being dum thats the only part the modelling and painting is awsome !!!!!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/08 00:11:21


Post by: The Good Green


CommissarKhaine wrote:
The Good Green wrote:oo oo oo! I wanna see MasterBlaster painted! Have you painted anything else?


Check page 2 of the thread then .




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/08 02:42:27


Post by: thesilverback


Thanks for the hamster wheel engine idea, but may try more of a clone type walker instead of a storm trooper type walker but don't know looking sweet so far.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/08 21:30:06


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Mad Mek: Thanks, glad you like the model! I don't really think grots are dumber then Orks though, just more cowardly and less strong. This is why they don't get the opportunity to show what they're capable of. Grots often assist meks, and grots put back together Mad dok Grotsnik after a dread cut him open. It's also grot riggers that help fix an immobilized vehicle, just like techmarines. So, in short: IMO they're no dumber then orks (not saying much, I'll admit ), so they should have acces to anything orks could plausibly make.

thesilverback: looking forward to the model, make sure to post it on dakka!

Now, a minor update: I attached all the legs and started on some detailing (still lots to go) I tried to make it look a tad unstable, like it's lurching forward. And of course, the driver is wondering where that grot near the legs is hiding...







Why orky tank shocks should always do d6 S10 hits:


I might still rip off the front leg, but I'm gonna give it a nights' sleep. The crest and such still need to be added, but that's for later in the process.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/08 23:06:33


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


gahahah! I love it, looks like some cute squig thing

however, like the design on the legs and the ramshackle look of it, now add lot's of gubinz to them keep it coming mate


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/09 00:11:04


Post by: Darth Bob


I like all the conversions in the thread, and I love the battlewagon. However, I can't help but think that the front legs should be beefier (like the rear legs).


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/09 00:16:54


Post by: Wrexasaur


Yeah, you should beef up the front legs for sure. Flipping them around so it has 'dog' legs would also be cool.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/09 07:26:09


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Rose_mountainz: thanks, gubbinz are definitely necessary. I'll also be adding lots of welded on armour plates etc. to create that orky look. Front legs will probably receive some additional pistons to make them a bit more solidly attached

Darth Bob, Wrexasaur: I tried making 'em as thick as the rear leg and it didn't look right. The main problem is that the front leg is full extended, making it look really thin when compared to the rear legs. I'll be putting the pistons in different places for the front and rear legs to emphasis their different roles; rear legs are the main method of propulsion, front legs are there for balance and a bit o' stompin! If you check out any pic of a squig hound, you'll see its rear legs are much more pronounced then it's front legs. Granted, squiggoths don't have that leg imbalance . Actually, if I were designing it from scratch, I'd put the back legs a lot higher, adding to the animal look. Quite a few real animals have the rear legs attached higher to the body.

I also tried to reverse the legs (doggy-style ), but it made the point were they were attached too close to the front legs. And I felt like keeping the 'head' free, so moving the front legs forward isn't an option.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/09 11:52:24


Post by: thesilverback


I am inspired by this battlewagon walker and will be sure to post it but first got to get out of this desert and home.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/10 20:58:40


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Hey guys, got the legs finished this weekend, but the rivetting ate all my super glue . So, no modelling till I get a new bottle (tomorrow or so )

So, here it is with the legs finished. I still need to add a turret tot he back for a second big shoota, and the tusks-with-deffrolla contraption I've been considering, but that's for later. I didn't change the body much since the kit is really nice. There's rivets everywhere, but white on white doesn't show well with flash... It's got both hexagonal and round rivets.



The thinness of the front leg is a lot less of a problem now:





here's a view of a front leg's hydraulics. I still need to add detailing to the bottom, but that's for later.


I've got a bit of a dilemma now: I like the model better with a roof on, but from a gaming perspective the roof sucks big time; I really want my battlewagon to be open-topped since it'll be transporting a bunch of megagrots and I want to get those stuck in ASAP. My question for dakka: would you make the roof count as an 'ard case autmatically? I'm sure some son of a grox would try to pull this, and I'm curious what you'd say if you were a judge in a tourney, providing there can't be a misunderstanding in that an other BW would have the 'ard case and look similar.

Anyway, here's the model with the roof, let me know what you think!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/10 21:21:01


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


haha CommissarKhaine, this just keep geting better and better The first walking BW Iv'e seen, and a darn nice one to bet!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/01/10 21:41:34


Post by: Ajcosford


I reckon the roof on top would be fine, you could always convert a landraider style assualt ramp on the front i reckon that would look pretty cool. Plus grots, even mega armoured ones are small enough to jump out of those gaps, even with a roof


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 18:57:53


Post by: CommissarKhaine


So, finally got my battlewagon to a decent level of 'finished'. I might greenstuff up some gaps and add some random gubbins (some hydraulics on the gun turret probably), but it'll do for now. I've been distracted updating my guard for a tourney, so I don' t have all that much to show, but I figured a finished wagon might be interesting. In the end I decided to keep the roof because it looks much better, and it's still pretty open topped.

Ajcosford: no room for an assault ramp, as you can see .

So here goes:

Legged batllewagon with defrolla front:




I wanted to continue the bestial theme, so I added some huge tusks which serve as a base for the defrolla. I figure that the grots had a genetic 'memory' of a squiggoth, and tried to build the wagon in it's image. I'm also contemplating boarding planks and/or a grabbin' claw, but since those'll be add-ons, they can wait.


Side views:




I'm not entirely happy with the raised leg. I won't be ripping it off on this one, but I'll try adding the defrolla on the next one before finishing the legs completely. Right now, it looks a tad clumsy.


And to finish it off, a view of the stuff making the rolla rock'n roll:


It's mainly a bit of sentinel lascannon, combined with bits cannibalized from ork bikes. Since I used lots of bike bits on all kinds of conversions, the bike bodies made a good source of bits. Next up: a step-by-step of some megagrots, and I'm also gonna try painting some basic grots, since otherwise I'll have to paint like 120 last; not something to look forward to. Let me know what you think of the battlewagon!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 19:30:20


Post by: Empchild


Looks great, can't wait to see some paint on it.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 23:05:13


Post by: Stump


Just found this and I am glad I did.

FUNNY STUFF!! and well done too. Who am I kidding? This stuff is AWESOME!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 23:19:46


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


Been waiting for this update a long time now Khaine but you never disapoint! looks ace, the deathrolla is a nice finish and ad a bit of killy' stuff to the stompy' stuff


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 23:41:03


Post by: trench.one


I love this whole thread , always wanted to do a gretch' army. You shoudl get some snotling in there as well, if they still exist.extra comedy value.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/05 23:42:23


Post by: Qualude


I know what you mean. I tend to be a bit more lenient in my judging (if were having fun and it's awesome whats the problem, right?). MY understanding of WYSIWYG goes something like this.
When it comes down to something you've never seen before, with rules played to a player's specification, you just really need a way to tell the models apart. What does a voidshield generator look like? It looks awesome. If it looks awesome and professional, it looks darn well like whatever you want it to. If you want to make your own and slap them on your scratch built awesome titan, who am I to tell you "oh dude but it's not a GW voidshield". Thats just lame, and I'd never let it happen at my tournament.

So my personal ruling would be (assuming they want to follow some form of a WYSIWYG guide) as long as the ones you wanted to be closed topped had some sort of up-armor or shield generator attached to them, you could call what you have there open topped. It has big windows and I'd rule you could play it open topped just like a sentinel. Open topped doesn't have to mean "it has no roof", it can just mean the passenger compartment isn't enclosed entirely, and even then there's exceptions like space marines.

However, if they're all going to look the same and one is going to be open topped, it's a no-go. You have to pick one or the other, it's an absolute rule that is in place to eliminate confusion, and I bend it for nothing.

So in short what you have there looks awesome. Stick some big shieldy looking bit somewhere on the closed topped ones and maybe a grot up there (I'd say an extra green grot is a quick easy way to tell whats open and whats closed) and I go, "oh those ones have a grottish dampening field, awesome", and your good to go.

There needs to be a large easy to identify difference, it keeps people from getting confused and god help us trying to lie and cheat.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/06 07:19:14


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Empchild: thanks! I'm still debating the final colour scheme and doing some testing. Right now, it's down to orange with weathering and black accents for a crazy, 90's like grot army, or black with orange accents for a more 'Mad Max' style.

Stump: thanks! I recently found your thread as well, which is simply brilliant. If I don't like the GW dread coming out, I'll probably be lootin' your ideas.

Rose-Mountainz: it's been a while since the last update, I know, but it's been a rough few weeks . Tourney is on sunday, after that I can focus 100% on the little guys again. Well, apart from work, raising a kid, minor construction works in the house,... . Right now, I'm still wondering whether shootas have a place in here. Matrix-style gunsuits or aliens power-lifter suits have always looked great IMO. But, it would be a lot of fiddling to get it right. We'll see what the future brings I guess.

trench.one: thanks. If you look closely, you'll see that the gunner in the turret is a snotling; I have bought the set from mail order, and they'll get added here and there on the wagon; they're being kept separate to make painting a bit easier. The one giving the finger and one of the tomato-throwing snotlings will definitely be going in there. I also ordered some grot tekkies for more flavour, but they haven't arrived yet.

Qualude: thanks, that's a very clear post, and echoes my feelings nicely. My argument would be that a rhino counts as open-topped if you fire from the big hatch, and this wagon has bigger windows on top and on the sides. Also, I won't be using closed topped battlewagons (yet), so there can't be any confusion. I'll just make sure those are totally enclosed. In the end, I've decided this should be a fun and good-looking army first, so I'm going to try and control my competitive side and count on common sense (naive, I know ).



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/06 08:19:27


Post by: trench.one


just spotted them, nice one, good job.just jnoticed the squished grot on the walker as well.nice touch


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/14 07:31:43


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Ok guys, update time, with a painted model (yes, I do paint once in a while )!

On a more serious note: I've tried a few different colours since I didn't want them to be black and brown. My wife told me to do yellow first, but that was simply hell to paint. In the end I decided on a muted, dirty, orange, with lots of weathering. This deffkopta is a first attempt, but I'm pretty pleased with it. Bigger vehicles will have tiger stripes added to them, but I felt that would make the kopta too crowded. I might change the rokkits, but they were a bit of an experiment as well; the white may be a bit too bright as it is now.

So, some pics (first 3 with flash):







The colours without flash are a bit more realistic; they show off the weathering better, not to mention the mini-grot hitching a ride





I know his sword hand is a bit messed up; he had a glue accident and I'm too lazy to cut if off (for now). Maybe if the whole army is finished...




So, what do you guys think? The main vehicle I'm worried about is the battlewagon; the tiger stripes will defnitely prove to be a challenge there. And I'm still in the middle on how to paint the megagrotz; orange like the vehicles, or something a bit more muted?




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/14 13:23:36


Post by: Aelyn


I like it! In particular, I think the black-and-white rokkits work - they looked a little off in the first pic, but the side views clinched it as good. Also, I actually like the imprecision of the checks on the sword - sure, regular checks would work, but I think they work better (for grots) when they vary.

The Megagrotz... Hmm. Maybe metallic for the most part, with some plates picked out in orange? It would tie them together with the vehicles without being overpowering.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/14 18:12:41


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


Red ones go faster try to get a spray gun for adding stripes to your BW maybe? I think you should go for quite mush orange/red paint on the megagrotz and a few metalic plates. Think it would look dramatic, but try it first so it don't get to much of a effect and looks silly.

Cheers.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/14 18:33:38


Post by: Joetaco


These are awesome! I can't wait to see whats next


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/14 21:34:09


Post by: Llamahead


I like the construction vehicle vibe. That battlewagon looks great and as far as I'm concerned it looked open topped. It certainly helped that it doesn't have the big turret. The DethRolla looks awesome on it as well. Can't wait to see what's next!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
http://www.shop.microartstudio.com/sf-miniatures-c-36_38.html has some great heads you might be interested in for the Grot Commissars by the way.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/02/15 06:32:35


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Aeleyn: thanks, I didn't bother tidying up the checks because I thought 'Hey, it's just a test model...', but I do kinda like it as well. The rokkits will get some tidying eventually though, but they look decent enough right now.

Rosz_Mountainz: thanks. I have an airbrus, but haven't used it yet; the battlewagon might be a good moment to start with it for sure .

Joetaco: thanks. This being grots, I don't even know what's up next . Things I still need to make: more megagrotz (maybe I'll do a step-by-step), lots of basic grots ( a bunch of those will be needing converting to set them apart a bit), commissar grots to count-as runtherds, a second HQ... I'bll be waiting for the new deffdreads and killa kans since I like the look of them in the piccies, hope they look good irl as well.

Llamahead: thanks! I've made my mind up on the open-toppedness as well; if I make an enclosed one, I'll just use lots of plasticard to really make it enclosed, probably adding sponsons where the side windows are now. Those soviet grots are great btw, I'll defintitely be ordering a bunch of those! Especially since making commissars of the gnoblars piggy-back riding is being a tad more difficult then I expected... Great find!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/03 16:57:53


Post by: CommissarKhaine


So, finally something more painted: the halftrack got finished enough to put up some pics of it. I may add more weathering, but I'll experiment with weathering powders on some other models first before I give it a go on the halftrack. Pics with flash were auto-adjusted with the dakka gallery, which works nicely.

So, the front view:


Sides. The dashboard is a bit blurry, but it's there and it has a radio. The deluxe steering wheel got completely obscured by the grot's head, so that's a lesson for the next one I build: don't bother! .





And a rear view, showing off the interaction between the two loaders a bit more:


So, what do you guys think? I kinda like the dirty, earthy orange. I'll be finishing some basic grots as well, since otherwise I'll be stuck painting 120 of 'em last - not an inviting prospect! I'm a bit stuck on the minders right now, so expect something on those shortly to get dakka's opinions.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/03 22:40:10


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


I think the orange color works brilliant, it just fits the grotz perfect in an odd way
keep up the good work as allways Khaine.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/05 19:47:54


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Thanks Rose_Mountainz! The green and orange compliment each other nicely, IMO and they still leave room for some black and white checks. This is why I chose an earhty orange tone.

Here's a bit of a treat for the lovers of classic models: I scrounged some old skool grots from a friend of mine. They'll be getting a black undercoat and some paint as soon as the weather clears up. I think they're full of character, and they wont go amiss amongst the younger grots; but, judge for yourself:

group shot:


ammo grots:


tekkies; the oiler squig in the right grot's hand is very hard to see, but looks very cool irl.



And two 'regular' grots. The one with the knife actually looks mean, and the one with the autopistol.. is just cool


Enjoy!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/06 20:56:36


Post by: Behind th Mask


I'm loving this man. Awesome awesome project. If you do make a shock attack gun, you should have it sucking an ork through the tube. That would be pretty funny. This is turning out simply amazing!!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/06 23:58:26


Post by: Llamahead


If you really need to add variety I'd suggest a few Gnoblars as well the looted improvised weapons just work for Grotz. I used them in my Orks as I did the squad before the new Grotz came out and they added some brilliant variety easily. They're also pretty good to paint.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/07 00:12:20


Post by: trench.one


the old skool models are perfect for character,sweet.keep up the good work.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/07 07:19:24


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Behind th Mask : Thanks! the ork being sucked through is definitely an idea to consider; I'll need more then 2 HQs for variety anyway, so this one is definitely in!

Llamahead: I've got a bunch of gnoblars, and some of the WHFB snotlings will fit in nicely as well. Below you'll see some gnoblars put to good use. How did you feel about their heads though? They look really small to me. Some of the gnoblar trappers seem pretty cool as well (the one with the bear trap being a firm favourite)

Trench.one: Thanks! I really like the old models, miss their vicious humour a bit in the newer ones. It was a sad day when greenskins became serious :(

Now onto some pics. I finished my first test for a grot 'kommissar'. He's pretty rough but I'm going to paint him up anyway, then look for some tutorials to improve my green stuffing skills and make a better coat. Just consider him a 'proof of concept'. The base model are the gnoblars piggy-back-riding, with a green-stuffed commissar's coat and a cap stolen fromt he IG vehicle accesory sprue. His squig hound didn't fit on the base anymore, so the next one will be getting an extended base; this one's hound will get a separate base. The whip and grabba stick of from the runtherd, to make clear what he's supposed to be. The gun has been drilled out and the mould line removed since the pic was taken.







And a size comparison with regular grots:



What do you guys think?






A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/07 08:41:51


Post by: Arakasi


This was exactly my first thought of how a grot army should represent "Orks" - one on top of the other! Also works for 2 wound models...

Had to go back through the thread to make sure I wasn't repeating myself - must have been another grot army plog (Panic's?)

Which just reminded me how awesome all this is - keep up the good work! I can't wait to finish painting my current wip so I can get back to converting - taking on all of this (and others) exceptional work as inspiration!

Arakasi


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/07 19:27:27


Post by: Behind th Mask


Love the Kommissar. I agree with Arakasi, great for multiwound.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/08 20:41:07


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: Thanks man. Still, I'll only be using them here since I want the kommissars to really be lording it over the others to make clear what they are. Panic's log did have a discussion on using these as well, so I guess it was there; followed that one with interest too. In the end, I feel that if I make all my 'orks' like this I'll be restricting myself without reason. I know the feeling about converting as well: while I enjoy painting, converting satisfies the mekboy in me a lot more. It's not tha tpainting isn't creative, converting is just... more creative . Glad to have you drop by, some cross-pollination between our threads should be interesting (consider your apache style kopta looted btw )

Behind th Mask: Thanks, glad you like him. Too bad the runtherd only has 1 wound

This is what I use for 2W nobs (WIP, obviously):



Just a few basic colours done; I still need to add all the detailing and weathering. I'm not going to add tiger stripes like I planned originally; I think all the lines on the model will add plenty to see, and the black would detract from the model. For the battlewagon, I plan to add graffiti to break up the large orange areas; it fits the grots more and adds to the construction yard feel the vehicles (and suits) have right now. Also, I prefer brighter colours on these, so graffiti will give me a lot more options then tiger stripes.

here are some basic grots as well: I plan to have about 120 in the end (4 groups of 30, other troops will be meganobz or dreads), so I figured I'd better paint a bunch now before ending up with nothing but basic grots to paint.







These are unconverted, and were more of a test that I could mass produce these and still have them look decent. In the end I'll probably add coloured dags to the bases to keep all the units apart.

Right now I've finished modifying a bunch of grots, to make sure none look the same. Pics as soon as they get some colour, black undercoat doesn't show well on pics...




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/08 20:56:50


Post by: Arakasi


CommissarKhaine wrote:Arakasi: Thanks man. Still, I'll only be using them here since I want the kommissars to really be lording it over the others to make clear what they are. Panic's log did have a discussion on using these as well, so I guess it was there; followed that one with interest too. In the end, I feel that if I make all my 'orks' like this I'll be restricting myself without reason. I know the feeling about converting as well: while I enjoy painting, converting satisfies the mekboy in me a lot more. It's not tha tpainting isn't creative, converting is just... more creative . Glad to have you drop by, some cross-pollination between our threads should be interesting (consider your apache style kopta looted btw )


I enjoy the exchange of ideas. You just never know when something will be used, rejected, spark new bouts of creativity - or just be right for someone else tagging along for the ride... It's not that painting isn't creative - it just isn't *always* creative (cleaning up bases and varnishing come to mind as recent expeditions in tedium...) Look forward to see your take on my Apache Deffkopta. One of these days I'll get around to the other versions I originally planned.... (and a recent new idea too...)


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/09 06:49:25


Post by: Behind th Mask


Well I feel like a dumbass LOL, sorry about that. I'm not too keen on the Ork codex, I have spent entirely too much time with arrogant ass Eldar. LOL .... LOVE the Nobs by the way. This army is going to look killer on the tabletop.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/09 21:28:50


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: my thoughts exactly; I joined this forum because it's alive and very constructive. And over here, people are happy if you use one of their ideas, quite refreshing... For the deffkopta, I plan to really make a two-seater; other then that, there's very little set in stone.

Behind th Mask: don't worry about it, I once shot meltaguns at an avatar . besides, I kind of used the same logic : T2 +T2 =T4 . I'm glad you like the nobs, I think they may be the most effective conversion in the army; I like Masterblaster, but that's a character. I plan to have aunit of these, maybe two, so I feel they should look good.

Here's a finished megagrot, there's two more in the pipeline and I've also started the battlewagon, which will takes ages just to get the basecoat on proper... Too many nooks and crannies, and I glued everything in place :(. Other then that, I'm working on some additional megagrots, I plan to have at least one unit of 9 in the finished army. this time, I'll be spending some more time on the feet to grottify them a bit more.

So, piccies:






And a scale shot for fun:


looking at the finished megagrot, I might add some more weathering or some black and white checks; I'll leave him to dry overnight and think about it tomorrow.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/10 18:18:41


Post by: Million


I think that's a good idea - he looks a bit too uniformly orange at the moment. Great shape though


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/10 21:06:12


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


Looking good! though some more weathering would look nice


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/11 20:26:14


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Million: I've added some more weathering and a name to break up the orange a bit. Glad you like the shape, it's a model that I'm quite proud of exactly because it's a very simple yet effective conversion. I like the lopsided look it gives the grot, not to mention it focuses attention nicely on the power klaw

Rose_mountainz: I agree. Here he is with some more weathering and some graffiti.





I'll probably add names or some kind of text to all the megagrots, and I'll probably go with the star as a unifying symbol. Classic grot revolutions have a red star, but this will fit better witht he orange. Or maybe I'll go for a hammer and sickle, that's still up for debate


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/11 22:11:07


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


Komunist Grotz, it get's even better!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/11 23:07:13


Post by: Arakasi


Weathering + Graffiti = Improvement. I'm digging the understatedness of the additional work too. I do like the pose - is he supposed to be dragging that powerklaw or preparing for a long swipe?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/11 23:27:35


Post by: Million


CommissarKhaine wrote:I'll probably add names or some kind of text to all the megagrots, and I'll probably go with the star as a unifying symbol. Classic grot revolutions have a red star, but this will fit better witht he orange. Or maybe I'll go for a hammer and sickle, that's still up for debate


In fact, why not make a megagrot armed with a hamma n sikkul!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/12 19:32:29


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Rose_Mountainz: Thanks . The old grot rebellion were pretty communist inspired, down to the terror squads keeping the other grots in line - a job that seems quite fitting for the megagrotz, come to think of it. Those and the kommissarz!

Arakasi: Glad you like it; I also felt the need to keep it understated, I want the orange to be the first thing you see if these guys hit the table. . As for the pose: it depends on the arm . Right now he's dragging his power klaw, but since the gun arm is magnetized, I can turn it up a bit and then it looks as if he's preparing to go for a really big uppercut with the PK

Million: Because then he wouldn't have a gun . Painting the hammer and sickle on somewhere will probably happen at some point though, I do want some variation in there.

Since there were some (quite rightful) remarks about the feet, I decided to improve that part on the next bunch. Here's a step by step on the megagrot:

1. Cut down the hooves and add the basic shape in plasticard. Basically, cut out snowshoes, then add the side bits.


2. Add greenstuff to fill in the feet and start the base for the pistons:


3. Add the pistons themselves


I added more tubing to the back so there's room for the pneumatics:


4. Build up the torso. basically, you assemble the stealth suit torso, dremel out room for a head, and flatten the rear so you can attach an orky power pack. You should end up with something likes this after adding bits:


here you can see the rear, with the pneumatics for the legs:


5. Build the weapon arms. This is the first grot to actually get a magazine with his shoota. the PK is plasticard; a bit bigger then the other one. The next one will be smaller again I think, this is taking the lopsidedness a bit far. I magnetized the shoota arm, but it's nothing spectacular. A 2mm round magnet will fit nicely in the 'eye' socket of the suit

So, a fly-around:


The flash took away most of the detailing I'm afraid:


showing the piston on the PK:


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/12 19:46:21


Post by: Denthor23


This is some awesome stuff!!!

I'm lovin the concepts here and i can't wait to see more, do you fancy doing a 'army' shot? I would love to see all the diffrent elements together that scale shot just makes me want too see more! Keep up the good work mate.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/12 20:25:49


Post by: Llamahead


How about Hammer in one hand sickle in the other gun mounted on the back or shoulder? These are looking excellent. Have to agree with you about the Gnoblar heads they were always the weak spot of the kit.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/13 08:51:58


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Denthor23: Thanks! I'll see what I can do for an army shot, but I really don't have all that much painted :(. Maybe if I add the WIPS as well... I'll see what I can do!

Llamahead: Might consider that for a warboss . The problem I have with the gnoblar heads is that they're smaller and that they lack definition; if you look at a grot or a goblin head, the sculpts are much more pronounced (some would say exaggerated), which means the gnoblar heads are basically a very different style.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/13 15:01:47


Post by: Dragonchef


WAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nice work keep it up, more pics for the pic god!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/13 23:23:19


Post by: EagleArk




Stages of a ork


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/14 19:02:31


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Young_Logan, Dragonchef, EagleArk : thanks!

So, another komissar built. I've decided I need to work on getting workable units for a while, which means I'll be focusing on: megagrots + battlewagon, constructing and painting kommissars and regular grots. That way, I'll be building up to a playable force, which in turn should motivate me to paint and model more .

For this kommissar I decided that if his squig hound had broken loose, it would add some narrative. So I cut up a grot from the biker kit, added coat and cap, and greenstuffed some more hair and a leash for the squig. I tried to capture some movement with the coat, going for the moment where the squig decides to leap after his former master. The grot actually looks... threatening for some strange reason; he has a very determined look, and I guess the kommissar cap and coat also help. Here goes:







And a parting shot of the coat, which I'm reasonably proud of; we'll see how it holds up when the painting begins:






A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/14 20:06:58


Post by: The Good Green


That is awesome! Oh man! It is such a sweet diorama base!

Great work! The coat is fantastic and the grabber claw and attack squig are superb. Dynamic pose and all!

WOW!

Are you going to enter it in any competitions? I think it could work for several categories.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/14 20:12:06


Post by: shas'o vera


CommissarKhaine wrote: but that's still in the dim and distant future.


there is only war!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 07:37:26


Post by: Arakasi


Cloak looks awesome from here. I only hope I can do my robes half as good!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 08:13:34


Post by: Saintspirit


The second commissar are hilarious! The orkyness (grotyness?) over the whole army is wonderful, I'm actuallt thinking about making an ork killteam now... And that says a lot...
One idea in case you'll make another Mek: Why not copy the concept of the WC3 Goblin Tinker? - I'm more than meets the eye!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 16:15:53


Post by: CommissarKhaine


The Good Green: wow, thanks . I didn't even consider it as a diorama base to be honest, I just wanted to add some life and humour to the model - but now that you mention it... I'm not too sure about entering it in any competitions. First off, there aren't that many painting comps in Belgium and second, my painting skills are decent but nowhere near the pro-stuff you see in painting contests. Thanks for the compliment though!

Arakasi: thanks man! Cloaks/robes are doable, I've found that curing time is the main point here: for a relatively flat surface, just roll it out, cut out the right shape, and tack it on. the you just let the greenstuff cure a bit and remove the fingerprints, finally you add some shape. Then, be patient or you'll mess up your earlier work! I started too soon on the cuffs, which messes up part of the sleeve. Patience is key here I think. For a creased robe, I've got no idea though.

Saintspirit: Thank you - and it's definitely grotyness in this thread! If you make a killteam, put up some pics, it's always interesting to see other people's work! The goblin tinker is definitely an option, though I'll probably add some techmarine flavour to firmly situate him in the 40K universe.

On the painting side, I finished another megagrot( for a grand total of two.. time to paint a bit more instead of messing around modelling methinks). This one's PK is plasticard, the shoota is from the warbike set. I've run out of biker bits, so my next gunz will need to be kitbashed a bit more.

So, pics. Fist is taken without flash, the others were taken with flash and then corrected by the dakka gallery.











The gun is in different positions because that arm is magnetized. That way, if I ever decide I need 9 combi-skorchas, I can .


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 16:33:10


Post by: Anung Un Rama


This is a fantastic army. The colors are great and your conversions are friggin awesome!

The only thing I don't like is the ugly old shoota on your Masterblaster (which is still a fantastic conversion btw).
The Kommisar Grots are hilarious, I can't wait to see more of your army.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 18:40:31


Post by: The Good Green


It is a perfect (and quite comical) duel diorama. Your rebellion is fantastic. Keep it up!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/15 21:03:32


Post by: Young_Logan


I love the idea that grots can actually think for themselves and may actually be slightly more clever than normaly Orks


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/16 18:55:40


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: Thanks! I like the orange as well, it really makes the army 'pop' on the table! The old shoota... is very hard to rip off, as I've found out, so he's staying . I made Mastablasta a bit too soon, it's only afterwards, when I looked at the more modern shootas, that it occured to me that it looked kinda goofy. Still like the model though, and the sickle-mag on top makes up for the goofiness of the gun itself. Glad you like the kommissar grots, I feel I should be spending some time on my basic troops choices, and these guys make that interesting.

The Good Green: Thanks again! I'll try and keep them all fun and interesting-looking!

Young_Logan: I started off as a WHFB player, and in the fantasy background, goblins always were smarter then the orcs, I think it just kinda stuck. it also makes sense: since they're not strong, they need other assets...


Anway, I'd like your opinions on my WIP battlewagon. The orange has been finished, now I'll start adding detailing and weathering. I also intend to add plenty of graffiti to break up the orange a bit; suggestions are welcome, as long as they're suitably vicious and insulting!












And a group shot of all the painted stuff, painfully showing I need to paint a lot more grots...


Let me know what you think!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/16 21:27:49


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Again, the colors look great, especially on those big vehicles. I guess it would be good idea to break up the complete orange plating with some regular metal colors but I'm sure it will look better as soon as the rivets are all painted.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/16 22:04:48


Post by: Saintspirit


CommissarKhaine wrote:The goblin tinker is definitely an option, though I'll probably add some techmarine flavour to firmly situate him in the 40K universe.


I'm looking forward to that, though i will probably make one myself too
Graffiti? Put up the Angry Marine Chapter Symbol, and some various insults (especially those from Angry Marines, they are angry!)


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/16 22:18:32


Post by: Rose_Mountainz


Your BW is looking lovely in paint For graffiti I would sugest looking at real life graffiti that may work as an inspiration source for you

some bloodsplatter on the "arms" holding the deathrolla would also make for a realistic addition but since it's a WIP I asume that youwilladd lot's of detailing stuff later.

Cheers and keep up the good work as usual


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 06:33:47


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: Thanks. What do you mean by 'painting the rivets'? To be honest, my plan was to leave them (especially all the small ones) as is, maybe adding some flesh wash around the bigger ones. The whole model will be geting weathered, of course, just like the meganobz and wartrakk. But before that, it's graffiti time

Saintspirit: I'll see if I can find a use for those; the angry smiley should do OK, bt I'm looking for.. more vicious/raucous stuff right now; guess I'll have to take a look at all the angry marine armies out there!. We'll see what inspiration time and the internet bring

Rose_Mountainz: Thanks . I've been studying rl-graffiti, trying to get a feel of the colouring and shading; I'll probably try out a few designs on paper before transferring them to the battlewagon - I don't want to mess this up. Bloodspatter on the arms is definitely a good idea, kind of forgot about that; but it'll get added as soon I add some
more weathering. Basically, all I've done so far is finishing the orange and the defrolla up to a decent level, and blocking up the next areas I'll be working on. After the regular stuff (guns, exhausts, grots,...) is finished, I'll add graffiti, then weathering to tie it all together.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 09:21:20


Post by: Dysartes


Don't forget to add blood around the squished grot on the foot

They're looking good, I must say.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 09:34:44


Post by: Anung Un Rama


I mean just that: paint the rivets. In your case preferebly with boltgun or chainmail. I works for my bright red vehicles.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 10:14:35


Post by: kestral


Great project - love the imagination. I personally would darken or reden things with another wash - it looks a little too "salmon" right now. Just my opinion of course.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 21:13:32


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Dysartes: Blood will definitely be added around the grot; glad you like'em!

Anung Un Rama: I checked out your battlewagon, and the painted rivets certainly do look good on it; however, there are two reasons I won't be doing this on my battlewagon:
1) Your battlewagon is a dark(ish) red, which makes the rivets work; I've messed around with metal over the orange, and it won't have the same effect; you need a darker base to really make the rivets pop. Weathering will of course be applied on the wagon, and probably around the rivets as well though.
2) In reality, stuff would be riveted before it's painted. Realism and 40K don't go together well, I know, but it matters to me

kestral: I think the salmon is due to dakka correcting the colours a bit; it's a more brownish organge then salmon is. (well the salmon I eat anyway ). If it's not: tastes differ

So, I finally finished my 3rd megagrot, giving me a small but legal unit of 3. This was the first one I converted, and it shows a bit. Still like the little bugger though!











Next up will be the battlewagon and a grot mob, trying to get to a legal and painted core of the army


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 22:07:06


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Fair enough. Have you tried just Tin Biz for the rivets?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/17 22:17:59


Post by: EagleArk


For gafiti on that had crest thing write GROTTY
RULZZ

Sorry ot carried away anyway just rambalings.

Eagle.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/18 05:10:27


Post by: Commissar Agro


WOW!!! cool army
looks great, keep up the good work


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/18 20:11:18


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: maybe for the crest or some of the bigger rivets... I'll try it out on the belly of the beast

Eagle Ark: No . Right now ' Ol' Yeller' got stuck in my head for some reason (as far ast the crest goes anyway), either that or a title from a racing movie/game

Commissar Agro: Thanks! Always good to get approval from a fellow commissar

Not much of an update tonight, only finished my 5th megagrot. For the next bunch, I'm going, to try and alter the position of the cc arm; I hadn't done it so far because it involves some pretty risky cutting in the stealth suit torso, but I'm running out of options otherwise. I want them to look unique! I tried to go for a heavy-duty pneumatic sledgehammer on this one, what do you guys think? the next one will probably get the obligatory huge chainsaw, but I'm waiting for mykilla kans to come in from maelstrom; it's been almost two weeks by now:(

Anyway, pics:


combi-skorcha, made from an ork shoota, a heavy stubber barrel and a flamer. Plus random bits of course



I ran out of biker bits, so I have to improvize a bit for power sources/backpacks:


and a view of the jackhammer:



He needs some greenstuffing, but other then that I'm gonna call it a day on this. Unless I rip off the weapon and start a new of course, still debating that course of action...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/18 20:36:39


Post by: frawd


Superb looking stuff. I have been a long time WHFB guy so most of my conversions have been with GS. But you my friend are pushing me to scratch that 40k itch i have had for a while.

Keep it up.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/18 21:08:06


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Looks pretty awesome. Again. Keep up the good work.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/18 21:32:45


Post by: EagleArk


NP on the name i was brainstorming perhaps somthing like `lat out!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 01:29:58


Post by: nkelsch


Those are the best Megagrots I have seen. They still look mega while being more grot-like instead of just an Ork model with a grot head on it.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 05:35:13


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: Thanks! I intend to try and keep going like this, mainly since it's a modelling army first, so no need for rush jobs!

EagleArk: that's better! I'll use this one with 'go fasta stripes' to represent the red paint job (not sure if red graffiti will look good on the orange but it's worth a try)

nkelsch: Thanks! More or less the look I was going for.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 06:48:20


Post by: Arakasi


Looking awesome as always (latest Megagrot). Its funny - I'm not really a fan of the battlewagon's look (though the idea, modelling and effort are awesome), nor the orange (again, just personal preference), but together it's starting to grow on me - I await its completion with anticipation!

And this...

CommissarKhaine wrote:
I ran out of biker bits, so I have to improvize a bit for power sources/backpacks:


...is, in my opinion, a blessing. The latest Megagrot looks better for looking more random and cobbled together because of it. Definitely worth the effort! Now if I could only update my plog as often as you do (too busy building Trukk, no time to photo/upload/write!)


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 08:28:42


Post by: Commissar Agro


as always, its looking good.
i agree that the random bits help add to your lastes megagrot

FOR THE EMPEROR...or wait my bad. FOR GORK AND MORK!!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 10:05:44


Post by: shas'o vera


Arakasi wrote:...is, in my opinion, a blessing. The latest Megagrot looks better for looking more random and cobbled together because of it. Definitely worth the effort! Now if I could only update my plog as often as you do (too busy building Trukk, no time to photo/upload/write!)


question, whats a plog?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 10:51:43


Post by: ceorron


Yeah this just looks awinspiring. Makes me want a grot army. Yeah looks amazing.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 12:01:06


Post by: The Dreadnote


shas'o vera wrote:question, whats a plog?
It's a blog with a stupider name.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 13:34:58


Post by: Arakasi


The Dreadnote wrote:
shas'o vera wrote:question, whats a plog?
It's a blog with a stupider name.
Painting and Modelling Blog - I thought this was what all the cool kids called them


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 14:55:35


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: Thanks . Glad the battlewagon is growing on you! I'm not sure the last megagrot looks better; it certainly looks more cobled together though. The main thing that makes a difference compared to the older ones IMO is the fact that I spent a lot more time on the feet, adding detailing and cabling running to the backpack. As for updating: it's just bottlenecks, basically. I had a lot of stuff half-finished, which means getting lots of stuff finished merely requires some restraint when it comes to starting new projects - or running out of parts temporarily. And as we all know, I can resist anything, but temptation

Commissar Agro: well that's two votes for cobbled together backpacks; you guys might be onto something . Oh, and the proper battlecry should be 'Viva la revolucion!'. Or 'Hasta la victoria siempre!'. Or 'Squig beer ftw!', not entirely sure

ceorron: Thanks! As for wanting to: make one!





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/19 16:04:17


Post by: EagleArk


MMM

SQUIG BEER FTW


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/22 19:06:26


Post by: CommissarKhaine


EagleArk: Euhm.. No

Two ideas for the graffiti on the crest now: one's "Ol'Yeller", just to mess with people's heads if they want to put it down; the other... We have a show here that's called Man! Liberation Front (M!LF); I feel "Grot! Liberation Front" would be a nice name for the army. And being able to paint G!LF on the front of the wagon is just iceing on the cake .

Here's a few pics of my 6th megagrot. He has a rock drill for a cc weapon; I tried to mimic one of the heads of the Krieg siege drill from FW. The base for the drill was a bit of tau drone, the rest is greenstuff and plasticard; his power pack is half a buggy engine, with odds and ends added. I added it before all the comments on the scratched one looking better came in, but I'll try and scratch the next three megagrots'" backpacks!

So, Pics:








And a group shot of these 3:




The wagon is coming together slowly, and I'm also painting some basic grots and the first kommissar. Pics will be up shortly!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/22 23:51:54


Post by: Dysartes


Any change of a group shot of the 3 painted megagrots, CK?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 06:47:15


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Dysartes wrote:Any change of a group shot of the 3 painted megagrots, CK?


Sure:



the left and middle ones are my favourites of the bunch; the one one the right was the first to be converted and it shows a bit. If you compare these to the next three, the main difference will be in the feet and the fact that I made other weaponry then PKs; with greenskins, I feel you need some variation. My killa kans shoud be arriving any day as well, so I'll have an additional supply of nifty cc bits from those.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 07:21:52


Post by: Dysartes


Hmm - the one on the right does look a little static compared to the other two, but they all look good, CK.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 08:09:06


Post by: EagleArk


Meh the one on the right looks like he is lining p for some dakka?

Eagle.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 11:11:31


Post by: Commissar Agro


There is always room for more DAKKA!!!!
lol
Cant wait to see some killa kan goodness


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 21:01:51


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Dysartes: I know, that's why I prefer the other two. Not that I dislike him, but he kindof reminds me of the old terminators as far as the pose goes: fist to the side, and storm bolter straight forward... I do like the face though; the helmet adds that bit of grot goofiness and lack of common sense. Anyway, glad you like'em!

EagleArk: Just that!

Commissar Agro: Exactly, no such thing as too much dakka I'm hoping the killa kans will arrive somewhere this week, since I'm pretty anxious to get started on them; I've held them, but I feel I never really 'know' a set till I've assembled it. Curious to see what options they'll give to the G!LF

I also managed to finish a few more grots, with the three plastic grots converted. I'm having some trouble individualising the one-piece grots though... Esepcially the one aiming along his gun will be hard to make different.

So, pics:

First off, one of the classic grots and his converted buddy:

The classic metal grot wasn't converted at all, since the model has a lot of character. I have a second one of these, who'll probably get attached to the battlewagon. The other lttle guy has two new arms and the manic look any grot should have

The next two:


The one with the sword is usually holding a gun (and he and his buddy still needs their claws finished, looking at the pic), but I felt it looked a bit 'Samurai-grot' with the hair. The other guy had a simple gun swap, since his sword is sculpted onto his body. I also gave him a pair of jeans .I might try and change the shape of the sword on the next to get some more variation. The gun itself is simply a shortened IG grenade launcher, plenty of dakka!

And a group shot to finish things off:


These guys give me a grand total of 11 grots painted... lol... Only 109 grots and 12 kommissars more to go!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/23 21:38:39


Post by: Llamahead


For some reason as soon as I read insulting I had the image of "Your mother smells of elderberries" painted on the Battlewagon......Then I had the image of one Grot saying to the other 2and den once they carry the Battlewagon into the stronghold we climb out and clobber them" Should possibly cut down on the Coffee. Good luck on the Grotz......


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 00:22:48


Post by: Commissar Agro


sounds like a nightmare, but keep at, the results will be worh it...hopefully
will you eventually get a stompa for these guys, cause i just had a cool image in my head of these guys charging into battle behind a stompa well stomping on the bad guys.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 01:02:54


Post by: GrimTeef


This is coming along great! Lovin' the walker-wagon. Good luck on painting all those grots...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 09:19:24


Post by: Anung Un Rama


The skin of the Grotz looks pretty cool, Mine have a much brighter, almost cartoonish green.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 16:16:04


Post by: EagleArk


Heh Heh Heh,

109 grots left... phew!!!
That would drive me insane, and proberbly mad, now for one of my favourite sayings.

I don`t suffer from insanity, i ENJOY it!!!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 16:37:22


Post by: shas'o vera


109 grot to paint on a wall
, 109 grots
, you take one down
, you paint it around
, 108 grots left on the wall


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 17:05:14


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Llamahead: less coffee I like the 'your mother smells of elderberries' thingy though, maybe if I add txt balloons?

Commissar Agro: it always looks disheartening, but I've painted quite a few fantasy armies, which regularly include 100+ models. if I can keep on painting 10 a month, I'll have 120 after a year. At this rate I'm painting 15-20 a month, so it should be OK. It's just.. daunting

I'll probably need a stompa to face off with my knight titan for my IG, but that'll be a reward for when I've finished a decent amount of more basic stuff. I already got hold of the stompa grots, so I got the most important bit!

Grimteef: Thanks, glad you like them! as for the grots: see the comment above. I'll make it, and sanity is highly overrated anyway...

Anung Un Rama: thanks. For those interested, here's the recipe:
- dark angels green basecoat over a black undercoat
- heavy drybrush with knarloc green foundation paint
- 2/3 knarloc, 1/3 bleached bone for the first highlight
- 1/2 knarloc, 1/2 bleached bone for the second highlight
- bleached bone with a very small amount of knarloc green for the almost final highlight
- bleached bone, applied very sparingly and watered down to be a bit opaque

EagleArk: Like I said above: sanity is highly overrated

shaso'vera: that's motivating...



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 17:26:00


Post by: The Good Green


109 huh? eh, that's not so many... :/
I'm right there with ya


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/24 17:32:57


Post by: shas'o vera


wait, let me edit it

109 grots on the shelf
109 grots
you take one down
you paint it a lot
108 grots left on the shelf


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/26 12:54:20


Post by: ChaoticMind


Love the mega grotz may have to go buy the necessary bitz once i get the reliable anti armor units my chaos army NEEDS


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/26 19:42:34


Post by: CommissarKhaine


The Good Green: not much when compared to a fantasy night goblin army, I know

Shas'o vera: 104 grots on the shelf!

ChaoticMind: Thank you! How about including the megagrots as allies? A S9 hit on the charge is pretty reliable anti-armour IMO! You know you want to, just count them as oblits .

So, five more grots painted:




And one of my favourite grots so far:


And a group shot:


If I can keep on going at this rate, I shoul do OK. However, distractions are up ahead: the battlewagon has had its detailing finished, so now it's graffiti and weathering time. Daunting...

I also received my killa kans, and they look brilliant. I've assembled the first one in a regular pose to get a feel of the model, the next ones will be tad wackier I hope. pics up soon!

On a slightly different note, I've started writing some fiction to go with the rebellion, here's a bit. let me know what you think!

WARNING: wall of text approaching!

M 39.851, Segmentus Pacificus, Gnosis IV, Adeptus Xenos research facility, greenskin holding cells

I assure you, inquisitor ‘s Yrenne , the highest precautions have been taken to make sure our subjects cannot escape. As a matter of fact, considering the 97.6% probability of an attempted uprising, maximum security precautions are always in effect in the greenskin holding area.” The voice sounded mechanical, inhuman. Adeptus Mechanicus. With the lack of humanity came a lack of the fear Inquisitor ‘s Yrenne was used to. Magos Biologis Xornos lacked humanity, in a way only the Adepts of the machine-cult could. “What about the spores they produce, Magos?” A mechadendrite extended from the Adepts waist, projecting schematics. “These pics should provide more clarity, Inquisitor. The greenskin area is separated with airlocks from the rest of the facility; it’s air is brought in from the outside, and outgoing air passes through several mechanisms to destroy any spores or, indeed, greenskins that may be attempting to travel along the air ducts. All gates are guarded by servitors, programmed to shoot anyone not broadcasting the proper signals. Hence the bio-data-specific emitter on your wrist.” “So one of these emitters gives me full access to the facility?” The magos hesitated for a second, clearly taking care to formulate the next answer properly. “You have a visitor’s emitter, inquisitor. You are safe in all green zones, as stated on the documents we presented you with, and as long as you stay near an emitter with a higher ranking, you are allowed to go wherever the higher ranked emitter goes. Should you be found … unescorted… in an unregulated area servitors or skittarii are programmed to detain you and call up the nearest senior Magos. I realize this may seem insulting to you, but we have had to upgrade our security since the latest incidents. Full descriptions can be found in the data provided.”

The data had been extensive alright: the Adeptus had provided all the information the could on the ‘incidents’ as they called them. To the inquisitor, ‘sabotage’ seemed more appropriate. There had been reports of airvalves not functioning, disappearances of personnel and servitors. Not efficient, not like the Adeptus Mechanicus usually was. “What species are detained in this facility, magos Xornos?” The Magos blurted out information, akin to an automaton. The inquisitor wondered how much humanity really was left inside that mechanical shell. “Curently, we have 2 non-psyker Eldar, 546 Tau, fire and earth caste, 700 K’tir, 1.345 orks, 412 squig hounds, 2 squiggoths, and a number of gretchin between 7.000 and 8.000 units, depending on hatching periods and daily casualties. All numbers except for the Eldar and Squiggoths can be off by 1.7% due to a delayed information transfer on the vivisections.” The inquisitor frowned “No Tyranids?” Our psychic containment facility is not finished yet, inquisitor, it would seem unwise to draw the attention of any tendril fleets. This is the same reason we do not keep Eldar or ork psykers on Gnosis IV. If orks with psychic powers are detected, they are properly restrained and moved to another facility. As for your next question: in case of an uprising, we have a full strength skittarii platoon equipped for anti-personnel, and a number of auxiliaries that can be pressed into service. The PDF has been equipped with all the proper material as well, and the commissariat keeps them admirably in line, considering the natural tendencies of the Gnosis IV PDF.” And yet, none of your personnel could find the saboteurs responsible for extensive damage to the facility?” “Not all incidents can be catalogued as sabotage, Inquisitor” the Magos protested, rising high on his mechanical legs, looking like an obscene, spider-like centaur. He was cut short abruptly by ‘s Yrenne. “You’ve had 59 deaths, 32 irrepairably damaged servitors, several power leaks and shortages, several important thefts, and you still believe no sabotage is involved? My first guess would have been Tyranid vanguard organisms, but as far as we know, none have ever been near Gnosis IV.”

The inquisitor consulted the charts again, her eyes scanning over the data “falling cargo containers and masonry crushing personnel, supplies disappearing, cut cables, two ogryn servitors that have vanished, unexplained power fluctuations and shortages… Not to mention that several Tau stealth suits were stolen! Thank the Emperor the ammo had been removed! How could this happen?” Magos Xornos’ chest unit started to whirr, increasing air intake and body fluid transmissal. The inquisitor had learned early on in her dealings with the Adeptus that this indicated some kind of stress. She decided to push the Mechanicus adept. Since there was no psychic containment field active, she could enhance his emotions. Even when done subtly, it would bring his reaction time down to a normal human level, just like his emotions would go up to a human level. “This is sabotage Magos, and I wonder why this wasn’t reported earlier. These “events” as your people call them, have been happening for over a year now! If Tyranids aren’t involved, it must be chaos cultists!” The Magos startled, the gears in the chest unit going a tad faster. “I assure you, inquisitor, this facility is loyal to-" “How can you be sure? Have you checked every single worker here yourself, Magos?” “No, but…” She decided to spring the trap. “So, what do you think, Magos?”

Jealousy” It was blurted out, and the tech adept was obviously startled by his own answer. “Continue” The psychic imperative was barely needed. “My work with the smaller greenskins is ground-breaking. We have separated a number of them from their bigger cousins, and it creates a very different social structure. They have proven useful if cowardly workers, and some share the genetic aptitude considering all things mechanical of their larger cousins. They may provide us with interesting information on greenskin technology and genetic imprinting” “What else? Just this can’t be enough!” Again, a little nudge at the mind. It was harder to affect a partly mechanical mind, and she couldn’t read the thoughts like she could with an unenhanced human being, but she could surely work his emotions. The Magos’s defenses cracked open a bit more. “The holy grail of greenskin study is similar to the inquisition’s radical path, as you are well aware. A weapon that would make greenskins turn upon each other in such a fashion that they do not get the chance form a Waaaghhh!, or that a Waaaghhh! poses no threat to non-greenskins.” The Adept paused, hesitated for the tiniest fraction of a second, then decided to continue. “Social conditioning of the smaller greenskins has met with some success. I will download you a pict fragment that should prove my point”.

The pict-feed was high-quality, filmed through some kind of grating; a hidden camera in the greenskin holding facility. There was an ork visible, a huge, muscular monster, with fists the size of inquisitor ‘s Yrenne’s head. He was followed on cameras as he stalked through a number of areas. He was clearly new to this part, exploring as he went along. With surprising ease, he ripped a piece of pipe out of the wall, making for an improvised club. As he came into a new area, he noticed a few gretchin. His face split open with a wide grin, baring yellow fangs. “Oi, you lot over there! I’m hungry, get me a squig or it’ll be you I’ll be having for dinna!” The camera panned out, showing several of the diminutive greenskins looking at each other. ‘s Yrenne had studied greenskins extensively before, so she knew what would happen next: the grots would scarper off, trying to fulfil their master’s wishes. If he didn’t like their efforts, he’d clobber a few and maybe eat one of them, just like he’d said. Or he’d clobber a few anyway, for good measure. Greenskin society was brutal, and grots never stood a chance against the orks. She was in for a surprise.

Te grots didn’t scarper off. On the contrary, they assembled around the ork, grots appearing as if from nowhere, many carrying bit of glass or pipe. Then, they began to shout, one at first, then more, all the squeaky little voices blending together: “Please, master, no more beatings” “We’re workin’ as fast as we can boss!” “Don’t kick the gretchin!” What should have been a pleading, miserable voice, was instead a taunt. There was a malicious glint in their eyes, and a vicious tone to their voice. These grots would not obey. The ork, like orks are wont to do, decided to use brute force. “You lot moutin’ off now, iz ya! Feel me pipe then!” As the ork swung his pipe, cables were thrown. ‘s Yrelle hadn’t even noticed them, focused as she was on the grots’ unexpected behaviour and the more visible weaponry. It took the grots less then a second to bring the hulking brute down. It took the ork a lot longer to die, however.

this was approximately 18 months ago. It was the first time his behaviour was observed, though it had often been hypothesized this behaviour should occur.”
The next fragments were similar. The number of orks increased, and it appeared that the grots who had thrown off the shackles of repression had become a different breed of greenskin altogether. In the last pict-feed, an ork mob was lured into a dead-end, and then bombed to death with whatever the grots had found, creating a kind of mechanical cave-in. A trapped ork was tortured for hours on end, before being clobbered to death by a bunch of exhilarated grots. “Some payback…” The inquisitor mused. “Not quite, inquisitor; the grots you see here have never been oppressed by orcs. They were allowed to build up strength for 7 months. Then, we introduced a few squighounds and other creatures, forcing them to fight together against a physically stronger enemy. After that, we led a few grot slaves that had fled from the orks there. The results... Are impressive, if I do say so myself.”

So what do you guys think?



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/26 21:37:30


Post by: LiveforFun666


Indeed very impressive, like the last part when the grots chant their taunt really great story and would like to hear more about inquisitor yrennes work against the grot uprisings

Love it


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/26 22:15:58


Post by: Anung Un Rama


To be honest, 6 steps are too much for my taste, especially for a unit you field in such large numbers. I'll ask again how you're doin in about 40 models.

I like the fluff. Looking forward to more.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/26 23:13:36


Post by: Boss 'eadbreaka


Great fluff!
But where so they escape?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/27 00:40:38


Post by: ChaoticMind


CommissarKhaine wrote:
ChaoticMind: Thank you! How about including the megagrots as allies? A S9 hit on the charge is pretty reliable anti-armour IMO! You know you want to, just count them as oblits .


Evil, but in a good way The allies idea actually works with my army, thanks for the oblits idea.

CommissarKhaine wrote:
So what do you guys think?



Nice fluff I'm now patiently awaiting the continuation of the squeaky WAAGH!!!!'s history.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/27 06:26:08


Post by: CommissarKhaine


LiveForFun666: Thank you!

Anung Un Rama: it's Ok, the first four steps are done in bulk; the last two steps are reduced to 4-5 models when I start the detailing. I realise it's still a lot, but the effect is worth it to me. I don't need to get this army ready for a tournament or anything, so: no time limits . Fluff updates will be erratic, but I promise I'll continue the story!

Boss'eadbreaka: getting there! I wanted to flesh out the setting a bit; this should allow for some interesting fluff/modelling options later.

ChaoticMind: Evil is always in a good way! Post up some pics when you're done, curious to see how other people would approach building them! As for the story: glad you like it! I can't guarantee any updates there, so waiting patiently may be a good idea



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/27 11:05:58


Post by: Young_Logan


Keep going CommisarKaine, i am loving your work, i really cant wait for this to be finnished, its the sort of army i would love to play against becasue of the fun factor


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/27 14:53:57


Post by: Arakasi


Impressed! Grots are excellent, fluff doubly so. I feel inspired to flesh out more of Da Dark Angelz history now...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 13:45:12


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Young_logan: Keeping at it . The army will be getting a first outing somewhere near easter (just with some friends, and it'll sadly have to include unpainted models :( ) I'll let you know how it does. And if you ever drop by in Belgium, we can have a game

Arakasi: Thanks! I thin,k the grots are great models, they have lots and lots of character. If things turn out OK, we'll have the grots meet the Da dark angelz at some point

Now, some new pics. I recently got my killa kanz in the mail, and since I suffered from a bout of insomnia, decided to assemble them in the middle of the night. Hence the side plates that are backwards on two models . It' snot a horribly big deal though, and the model is very nice: lots of detailing! I didn't even feel that need I have with every other ork vehicle to cut it up and turn it in something decent. My only gripe is that you don't get enough weapons options, so I scratched two extra grotzookas. White plasticard doesn't photograph all that well, so I hope you can make them out.

First killa kan, basic assembly to get a feel of the model:


Numbers two and three, with scratched grotzookas. I wanted one to look like it was charging and the other one as if suffering recoil from the grotzooka.









And a group shot:



On my next batch of killa kans, I'm going to: 1) set the side plates straight and 2) try and fix the ball joints for the legs, since they don't allow all that much movement; a pipe system like I used for the battlewagon should be feasible.




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 15:17:24


Post by: Arakasi


CommissarKhaine wrote:Young_logan: Keeping at it . The army will be getting a first outing somewhere near easter (just with some friends, and it'll sadly have to include unpainted models :( ) I'll let you know how it does. And if you ever drop by in Belgium, we can have a game

Arakasi: Thanks! I thin,k the grots are great models, they have lots and lots of character. If things turn out OK, we'll have the grots meet the Da dark angelz at some point

Look forward to it! (though I imagine it won't be soon...) Da Dark Angelz have had a few field trips now - but also sadly included unpainted and incomplete models ... Still, as time goes by, they look better and better (now if I could only get my regular opponents to stop upping the points faster than I can complete them!)

Loving the Kans. I have some in the mail myself, though initially for bits and inspiration rather than the Kans themselves (looking for buzzsaw and weapon inspiration for my Deffkoptas...). If you hadn't mentioned it I'm sure no one would have noticed the backwards side plates - or if they did, would have thought it was deliberate It does seem to be a theme regarding lack of weapons options - but personally I prefer the unique look that comes from having to scratch build the additional grotzookas - here and in other blogs - and am looking forward to myself - eventually.

I also tend to assemble my first model fairly basically to get a feel for the model Its nice to see the dynamic poses possible though!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 15:26:32


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Nice Grotzookas. Can't wait to see the whole unit painted.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 16:53:01


Post by: Panic


yeah,
Nice KillaKans, and I agree the grotzookaz look top notch.
Might steal your Zooka conversion ideas for my own MiniWaaaagh!

Painting grots can take it's toll keep it up.
I hope to get paired against Arakasi at the dakka meet up, so my boys get to show them D'ork Angels who's boss! Haha!
And thinking about match ups It would be cool to pit our armies against each other!

Panic...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 19:23:14


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: know the feeling ? Quite a few guys at my LFGS are fans of grey... Still, it's very satisfying to see an army grow! The kans are great, you'll enjoy them! If you intend to cannibalize them for bits, I'm sure the bodies would make nice grot sponsons; and the legd, arms and engines have lot sof uses. It's a very nice kit! I only used half the engines on two of the kans, because the regular engines stick out pretty far. I prefer the less obvious look this gives me, and it also grants me some interesting bits. The grotzookas...My main problem is, that there isn't all that much to scratchbuild. The barrel is just plasticard tubing with some detailing, and anything vaguely box/barrel like and the right size will fit on top. Add to tnat that the flamer and shoota arm are the only arms suitable to start building the zooka, and I'm afraid there won't be all that much difference between all the scratchbuils. As for the side plates: it does matter, since it also alters the angle of the legs. If mine had their legs in a normal pose, they'd have X-legs. Positioning of the legs is a weak spot of the kit btw, with reall ball joints there would've been a lot more options. Still, only a minor gripe for an otherwise great kit.

Anung Un Rama: Thanks.They've been undercoated black already,so there's hope there

Panic: Glad to have you drop by! Feel free to steal any ideas, it was your grots that pushed me over the edge in the first place to start this little voyage to insanity. If you meet Arakasi, take pics and post a batrep, it should be cool. If I ever go to the dakka meet up, we'll have a game- grots vs grots - total chaos .


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 21:29:30


Post by: Young_Logan


What thickness plasticard do you use in most of your conversions as im thinking of getting some to aid conversions and such like


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/28 22:15:52


Post by: The Good Green


I just read the fluff. It's awesome. An Adeptus Mechanicus initiated Gretchen Revolution is an amazing idea that lends itself very well to a Big Mek grot army. Well done, and well written.

*edit* thos grot-zookas are great too.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 06:47:20


Post by: Arakasi


Panic wrote:yeah,
I hope to get paired against Arakasi at the dakka meet up, so my boys get to show them D'ork Angels who's boss! Haha!
And thinking about match ups It would be cool to pit our armies against each other!


Orks dat dinks d'ere beakies versus grotz datz dinks d'ere boyz - oh what a confused battlefield! Looks like I'll be arriving on the Friday and I believe Sunday is a free for all - so plenty of opportunities to put down a grot insurrection or two... required or not

CommissarKhaine wrote:Arakasi: know the feeling ? Quite a few guys at my LFGS are fans of grey... Still, it's very satisfying to see an army grow! The kans are great, you'll enjoy them! If you intend to cannibalize them for bits, I'm sure the bodies would make nice grot sponsons; and the legd, arms and engines have lot sof uses. It's a very nice kit! I only used half the engines on two of the kans, because the regular engines stick out pretty far. I prefer the less obvious look this gives me, and it also grants me some interesting bits. The grotzookas...My main problem is, that there isn't all that much to scratchbuild. The barrel is just plasticard tubing with some detailing, and anything vaguely box/barrel like and the right size will fit on top. Add to tnat that the flamer and shoota arm are the only arms suitable to start building the zooka, and I'm afraid there won't be all that much difference between all the scratchbuils. As for the side plates: it does matter, since it also alters the angle of the legs. If mine had their legs in a normal pose, they'd have X-legs. Positioning of the legs is a weak spot of the kit btw, with reall ball joints there would've been a lot more options. Still, only a minor gripe for an otherwise great kit.

Panic: If you meet Arakasi, take pics and post a batrep, it should be cool. If I ever go to the dakka meet up, we'll have a game- grots vs grots - total chaos .


I have the opposite problem - except for endtransmission (who is building up his force at the same time), everyone else I've played has had fully painted armies

There may not be *much* to scratch build on the grotzookas - but I've still yet to see two as similar as using the provided one! I'll keep in mind the side plate orientation issues - actually, this sort of information is a perfect example of why I follow too many project blogs - I imagine it will be very helpful to all of us following behind...

There will be pics and batreps Though I think da boyz would have more fun watching grot versus grot than having to take time out (and risk humiliation) to put them in their place...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 09:14:28


Post by: shas'o vera


well, you all put my tau to shame,my painting skills are horrible, and im a bit afraid to post picks of them on here now.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 09:15:51


Post by: Behind th Mask


I would love to go head to head with these guys, just to see them on the table. Loving it!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 10:54:03


Post by: alexwars1


The grots..are awesome. You've created an army rich in background and awesome. I tip my hat to you.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 15:46:26


Post by: mikeyboyj


Love the ogre idea, looks wicked. Grot army is a great project.

Have you seen the Runtbot figure Forgeworld released for their open day at the weekend? It would make a good warboss or anything else you could think of.

Keep up the good work

[Thumb - runtbev.jpg]


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/29 17:32:29


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Young_Logan: 1mm mostly, with 0.5 mm or cardboard for detailing and 1.5 mm for very sturdy things. For the grots, I haven't used 1.5 mm yet. 1mm is easy to score and snap, and it's solid enough for most projects.

The Good Green: Glad you like the fluff (and the grotzookas). Initiated isn't quite word I'd use, but you'll see when the fluff evolves

Anung Un Rama: Brillant models! If the rules are okay, I just may have to include a few. Thanks for the heads-up!

Arakasi: Good motivation to paint then . Look at it the positive way: you've got lots of guys with experience, use that to outclass their armies . As for the grotzookas... I think the problem is they don't really provide a challenge to scratchbuild. But you're right, I haven't seen two that are the same either - as it rightfully should be in a greenskin army! I'm so looking forward to the pics of the batrep! Maybe next time I'll try and make it to the meet-up... We'll see!

shas'o vera: Post them; that way you can get constructive criticism and improve; it's the best way to up your game. The dakka community is friendly, so no need to be afraid.

Behind th Mask: If you're ever in Belgium, let me know, I'd love to face off against your exodites!

alexwars1: Thanks! Grtos really allow for fun conversions; I simply love the creative options they give you!

mikeyboyj: glad you like it! I've seen the runtbot; but I don't know anyone going, and it would mean using a stock model for a character - ain't gonna happen with this army! I like the concept though, might steal it.



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/30 21:55:30


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Hey all, it's pretty hectic at work, and both the wife and son have been ill, so little modelling time. To add insult to inury, I dropped the battlewagon, which is suprisingly sturdy: only the little gun turret needed fixing!I managed to get the kans sprayed black, and I did some more work on the battlewagon other then repairs: here's a start on the graffiti. Still WIP, and still needs weathering, but I thought I'd show what I've been up to:







Can you tell I played vampire?




I'll be adding plenty more scribbling, and I need to detail a lot of the grafiti a bit more as well. After that, it's weathering time!





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/30 22:48:22


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Kooking good
I assume you'll paint the "teeth" on the upside down front ram as well.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/30 22:54:32


Post by: Dysartes


Coming along nicely, CK - does the front-on shot show that you've started to work on Squishy?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/31 17:11:50


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: glad you like it . As for the 'teeth' I'm still on the fence on this one: I'll either turn the big ones into horns, or I might make it into a gaping maw and some eyes. Gaping maw and eyes are cooler, but they'll be in the way of the bone krusha graffiti. In short, still hesitating. If you have any suggestions for graffiti, feel free, there's quite some room left on wagon!

Dysartes:
these pics should answer your question:





Please take into account that in the second pic the grot is 5 times bigger then he really is, so the painting isn't that rough.

I'll probably mess about with green wash and devlan mud to add some more depth, and I'm gonna mess around witht he blood effect. For those wondering: being crushed to death means you start bleeding from all orifices first as everything inside you is squished, hence the bleeding eyes, nose and ears.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/03/31 20:38:02


Post by: Newt-Of-Death


Squashed Gretchin!

Thats all class.

The orange looks really good.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/01 01:02:50


Post by: Commissar Agro


squashed gretchin looks great


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/01 07:41:43


Post by: Dysartes


Yup, Squishy looks good, CK


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/02 10:20:45


Post by: Saintspirit


I love it, but i think it need some colour variation; not only orange. Some other colour.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/03 14:57:06


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Newt-of-Death, Commissar Agro, Dysartes: thanks, glad you guys like it

Saintspirit: that's why I'm adding graffiti, to break things up a bit. Main colour is still orange though, I kinda like it.


Here's some more WIP pics, with some more graffiti and weathering added. I'll be adding bits here and there, and I'm also painting up two more grots to be added to the wagon.

front view:



side views, one with a guardsman for scale:





and two miniature's eye-views:





I'll be adding more weathering and dirt, maybe paint some of the rivets, and maybe the occasional graffiti here and there, but other then that I'll probably let it rest for a bit. i find that it helps a lot if I don't touch a modle for a bit: then I can always look at it with a fresh eye and some new ideas.


I've also written up some more background, so beware the wall of text:

+++M 39.849 Segmentus Pacificus, Gnosis IV, Adeptus Xenos research facility, greenskin holding area +++

Oi! Where did that squighound go?” down that drain pipe!” Chittering voices floated down. “Gitskag, go check it out!”

The grot called Gitskag went forward cautiously. The grots had clambered in to a derelict part of “da hallz”. They didn’t know how they’d gotten here, and it still freaked them out. Sometimes, doors opened or closed. Sometimes, the fog came and they fell asleep for no reason. When they woke up, some of them had disappeared. Even in their huts they weren’t safe.

Sometimes, whoever controlled the hallz sent in the Enemy: the green, lumbering brutes, that thought them lunch and tried to boss’em around. The run-away grots called them “orks”. They told horrible tales of slavery and violence, of how the orks would kick them or eat them, for no reason. Not here!

The drain pipe was dark, and dank. A squig hound could be waiting, right outside of the little bit of light shining in from the mechanical suns. Not a place where any grot wanted to be. “Skrazza, pass me da torch”. The flaming stick was duly passed; Gitskag hated these jobs, his innate cowardice rebelling against the thought of danger. But he had a visible reminder the lads had his back: crude, makeshift spears stuck out beside him. A jumping squig hound would have to aim very carefully to get past those. The torch-fire gave off flickering shadows; any of those could be the hound, waiting for a chance to strike.

The grots were hungry, but this hunger had to contend with a cowardly temperament: there were five in the small hunting party, and all five saw the one hound everywhere. They had good reason to be cautious though: the party had started of with six, but old Kabneg had always thought himself a better hunter then he actually was. The squig had hidden in another conduit, and had taken old Skabneg’s head off in one bite, almost jumping through him instead of over him. This time, the voracious beast had gone further down the pipe though: they couldn’t make out the light of the tunnel entrance behind them.

Suddenly, they heard a surprised yelp in front of them: a noise squig hounds never made, except when they saw something that could eat them. In the tiny mind of the average squig hound, that wasn’t much. The grots froze, wary of anything that could scare –or eat- a squig hound. They heard a thump, then nothing. Hunger and curiosity finally got the better of their fear, and they stumbled forward carefully. Even then, Gitskag almost fell down the hole in the pipe. “Oi, no pushin’ back dere! Dis a big hole!” He stuck his head down, seeing nothing, so he dropped the torch. It fell a good 15 yards, before revealing the squig hound, it’ s back broken from the fall, lying on some kind of old, rusted flooring: a hallway, leading into the darkness. The group couldn’t make out much, but they realised this was big: they’d found an exit! The hallz were all enclosed, large, mechnanical doors opening or closing without the gretchin controlling them, effectively trapping them. They did it: those who sent in the orks. They who controlled the mist. They who made their mates disappear. This was big, and frightening. Skrazza was the first to say it: "We oughtta come back ‘ere, with more folks. And ropes! Dis is an escape!”. Slowly, the grots left their dark pit of hope, excited at the prospect of escaping these halls.

As they neared the exit, they heard weird noises: mechanical whirring and buzzing, voices. The voices weren’ t of their kind, and didn’t belong to an ork either. Their excitement was replaced with fear.

Silently, they approached the exit. This was the first time this had happened, and the grots were wary. Every time they had encountered something new, it had been hostile. First squigs, then squig hounds, then the orks. New things … often wanted to eat them.

Gitskag, was the first to creep to the exit, finding a suitable vantage point behind some rubble. He peered out carefully. What he saw, was horribly unreal: clean, white things, with weird stuff on their back, unceremoniously loading some of his tribe in tracked vehicles. They were even grabbing some of the tamed squig hounds! There was one red creature there, standing tall over the servant-creatures, directing them; it looked like a mechanical squigspider. They all wheezed, unhealthy-looking puffs of smoke emerging from their backs. There were bigger creatures, too: larger, on 4 iron legs, with mechanical arms. These arms triggered a memory: no grot had ever seen a gun, but the shape screamed ‘weapon!’ to them. The greenskins innate memories started to activate; neurons they didn’t know existed, popping into life. They stayed low, instinctively trying to avoid detection. “How many subjects?” The voice came from the leader-beast, addressing the others, clearly directing the action. “65, sir”. “These will do for now, let’s move out before they wake up.” A heavy, coarse mechanical voice responed: “Hrmph. Let them wake up, Magos. We shall cleanse this area of these wretched greenkins!” The monster that had spoken activated it’s gun arm for emphasis, enery cells activating with a high-pitched, threatening buzz. “Not yet, Rogan. Your skittarri are here in case of emergency, not to destroy an interesting test setting. Besides, we need these for later vivisections. No killing, and no disturbing the test setting!” Magos Xornos kept an eye on the skittarii; he was more worried about them messing up his experiment, then that he was afraid of any gretchin awakening. The chemical compound they used was highly effective. Besides, the little runts weren’t in any stage of development that could be threatening for the facility; maybe in a few years, if he gradually introduced technology... What a weapon would they make! Still, first things First: he would have to check for any morphological changes in their brains. “Move out! We have work to do”

It took the little grot party quite a while before they mustered up enough courage to crawl out of the old pipe. As they wandered around the camp, it became obvious that the intruders had taken a lot of their friends. “Them’s worse then orks” muttered Scrazza. "We don’t even know when they’s coming! And they control the fog!” As some grots started to move again, it dawned on all the grots: this was the real Enemy. The one behind the others. The one responsible for all the lost grots. “What do we do now, Gitskag? It was Squealer who looked to the old grot. “We use da hole. We move down dere. We keep it a secret, or they’ll blow fog in dere as well. The gits can stay up ‘dere, have them be taken away. We take da good crewz down!"

It had been almost a month since they’d discovered the hole. The hole led to an old network of passageways, which was infested with squigs and spiders. But the grots pressed on, more afraid of the Enemy then they were of creatures that were, in essence, prey. In the end, the main passageway led to a huge cavern. Scrazza had taken the lead in the exploring, and he was the first to see it: a golden gleam at an end of the tunnel. There was a strange scent in the air as well, and heat. Cautiously, the grot approached. What could be there? Suddenly, a thundering noise made the explorers startle. What had they awakened? The grots scattered, their innate reflex to scarper off taking over. But they didn’t run as far as they should have. When the crashing noise stopped, the grots carefully crept forward again, sticking to walls, rocks, any bit of cover that could obscure them from whatever had made the noise. Silently, Scrazza peered into the room.

He couldn’t quite work out what he saw. A huge… cave, for lack of a better word, with all kinds of tubes in the ceiling. Junk regularly fell down from them, causing the crashing, thundering noise they had heard. The tubes were huge, a grot village across, and the cave was enormous. It was also a junkyard: everything the reserach facility disposed of, ended up down here: discarded servitors, old machinery, refuse,… Still the huge piles of junk only filled half the cavern. The other half was unused, separated from the junkyard by a stream of lava. At times, a mound would shift, and bits would fall into the lava. The cavern would never get too full that way: a highly effective manner of waste disposal when it came to irrepairable machinery or materials that couldn’t be re-used. A causeway also led to the other side of the lavaflow. “Dis is IT” “What, Scrazza?” “Freedom!” Exhilarated, the grot crept forward, looking out over the cave. “Dere’s room for all of us an’ a lot more! We can keep the fog outta here!




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 04:16:39


Post by: alexwars1


Ha! Love your fluff here.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 06:08:46


Post by: Boss 'eadbreaka


Excellent! Like it!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 06:40:17


Post by: The Good Green


Awesome fluff! What a great set-up.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 06:52:58


Post by: orkyboss30000


gooking lood


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 10:55:59


Post by: Tim the Biovore


Ouch. Nice use of the WFB Giant's crushed knoblar.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 11:19:25


Post by: Commissar Agro


WOW, nice fluff.
I like the eyes next to the engine, adds to the animal affect.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/04 13:36:32


Post by: ChaoticMind


Awesome paint job any greenskin would be proud of it. Black Library better watch out this grot revolution may just take off.

BTW should be ordering bitz soon for my megagrotz.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/05 13:56:05


Post by: CommissarKhaine


alexwars1, Boss 'eadbreaka, The Good green, orkyboss3000, Tim the Biovore:Thanks a lot guys! I'm happy that you're enjoying the fluff and/or the model. I've got a few more installments planned out, but these might take a while .

Commissar Agro: I wanted to reinforce the animal effect, and those two plates to the sides were screaming for some graffiti. So, putting one and one together... It did more or less force me to paint the top like horns, but it doesn't really bother me. A gaping maw up there would've interfered with the "Bone krusha" graffiti, so I'll save that idea for another one.

ChaoticMind: Thanks. Hey, if they publish Henry Zhou,... Who knows I'm looking forward to your take on the megagrotz!

Today, I pretty much finished the battlewagon. It's looking nice, I like the general look, and it's one of those models where I feel I have to move on. Otherwise, I'll keep adding stuff till I ruin the effect. Here's a bunch of pics of the finished thing. More weathering added, some oil effects, and a few grots. The tomato-throwing one is a great model, if somewhat dated. Note that all pics were taken with flash, whick kindof washes out the graffiti. It pops a lot more irl.

Front view:


Sides, with close-ups of the grots:












A scale shot with the same unfortunate guardsman:


Top view:



Well, that's it for now, hope you guys like him!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/05 14:44:24


Post by: Boss 'eadbreaka


Real cool.

Pity to the guardsmen.

You know, somehow, that thing reminds me of an AT-AT.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/07 20:10:09


Post by: CommissarKhaine


That's one guardsman wishing he was the meltagunner of his squad . I've heard the comment about the AT-AT feel before, and I think it's a very logical link: there aren't that many four legged battle vehicles around, and the front legs do have a certain AT-AT quality. The only difference is that mine are crewed by an Ewok-equivalent

A small update today: I've finished one of my grot kommissars, and I'm actually pretty proud of the model. I couldn't get the camera to focus on both the squig and the kommissar though, so I ust went for the spray and pray in order to get a few decent ones

The kommissar:




The only one where they're both in focus:


Squig-pics:







So, what do you guys think? I'll be painting all the kommissars in this scheme, since I figure the black will make them stand out nicely. The squig hounds will get different colours depending on the unit, an element which I'll try and put into all the bases as well eventually - you need some way to quickly tell 100+ grots apart...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/07 20:25:39


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Looks good. Though the Kommisar could use a few orange details to tie him more into your army.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/07 22:55:31


Post by: The Good Green


I always think of commissars as being kinda flashy... not as bad as Flash Gits, but still very noticeable. Maybe some orange trim around the collar and cuffs of his coat. Everything else looks good... I'd like eto see the squigs hair a different color than it's skin, slight though the difference may be.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 00:34:33


Post by: Archibald Jack


Viva La Kommissar!

He looks like he is in for a mischief. I love his hat - though is needs a spot of colour, perhaps an orange or other strong warm colour to adds some punch to his prescence.

Additionally, don't the majority of Kommisars have those little chain things that run from shoulder to lapelle? I saw a tut' on here that stepped you through how to roll it out and weave it to create such an effect.

But, all that aside I love this army, so little with so much balls.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 01:16:40


Post by: Commissar Agro


Yeah the kommissar looks great, but i must agree with the others, the kommissar needs some orange to tie him into the army.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 02:40:53


Post by: DaveL


I'm extremely impressed. This is amazing work, and if I ever got to play against this army, or even just see it in person, I'd be thrilled.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 04:21:29


Post by: Owain


The Kommissar is a great concept! Heck, the whole army is. I can't wait to see what you do next.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 06:11:46


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: Thanks, I agree that he needs a few more orange details, I just didn't really know where to place them. Things I tried: edge of the coats/cuffs, a band on the kommissar's cap, some writing on the coat... None came out OK.

The Good Green: to me, the kommissars have a blood-axe feel, so no flash gitz . Orange around the collar and cuffs didn't look right, I tried it. I probably will try and highlight the squigs hair a bit more up to white though, creating a subtle colour shift. Thanks for the idea!

Archibald Jack: Thanks, glad you like him - and the rest of the army! The hat makes him a kommissar, and I agree about the orange. Actually, adding braiding to the shoulders might do the trick; it would be small enough not to overdo it and draw attention to the face of the model. Now to get the courage up to gs a finished model...I'll check out the tutorial section for some inspiration.

Commissar Agro: Thanks, see the comment above for the orange

DaveL: Thank you! If you ever drop by in Belgium, we'll meet up - or maybe if we manage to go to a dakka meet... Till then, you'll have to do with my meagre photography skills...

Owain: Thanks, I'm glad you like the army.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 06:37:24


Post by: Commissar Agro


just a thought, you could do the kommissar's pants orange instead of blue.
just a thought if you dont what to GS it. or maybe not.
im just rambling


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 06:41:40


Post by: CommissarKhaine


If the gs doesn't work out, I might try that. Maybe make it black-and-orange striped


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 06:45:04


Post by: Arakasi


I like him as is (but then I'm not a fan of the orange - personal preference, not a nitpick). I can see what others have said about a bit of orange tying him in to the rest of the force though. My first thought was a couple of orange bands around the cuffs or perhaps some orange insignia on the shoulders. Maybe your upside down graffiti anarchy symbol in orange on his back? Orange braiding sounds like a great idea and might also do the trick. While I'm being creative - how about orange patches to the cloak? (using thin plasticard and/or greenstuff to raise them above it) In fact, the more I think about it, that may have been the issue - perhaps you need something raised to paint orange to make it look right... Enough from me - just happy to be enjoying your awesome thread (orange and all!)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Commissar Agro wrote:just a thought, you could do the kommissar's pants orange instead of blue.
just a thought if you dont what to GS it. or maybe not.
im just rambling


CommissarKhaine wrote:If the gs doesn't work out, I might try that. Maybe make it black-and-orange striped


The only concern I see with this is that the orange is going to draw the eye... to his pants... of course, if that's the effect you are after...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 09:26:01


Post by: Commissar Agro


Arakasi wrote:
The only concern I see with this is that the orange is going to draw the eye... to his pants... of course, if that's the effect you are after...


yeah, i see your point.

i think your onto something with the patches, Arakasi.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 09:33:06


Post by: Warboss Gutrip


This army is win.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 10:40:10


Post by: shas'o vera


Warboss Gutrip wrote:This army is win.


such a win that its a fail


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/08 19:25:05


Post by: EagleArk


Not to brainstorm....

Give him a orange cap to tie him in with the rest of the army ant to draw some more attention to the rest of the face.

Try and work some orange onto the squig to prove that he once was the komisars and not some uterly random squig that is attacking him......

And finally that grabbymajig, try and work a flag/emblem/totem on the end.

Anyway dont listen to me no one else dose. =)

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 01:07:44


Post by: Archibald Jack


Anyway dont listen to me no one else dose

Awww, my heart sank a little when I read that. Buck up chief, they are all great ideas.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Serious question though, where the hell are you getting all these grots? Aren't they uber expensive?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 01:29:44


Post by: The Good Green


CommissarKhaine wrote: Things I tried: edge of the coats/cuffs, a band on the kommissar's cap, some writing on the coat... None came out OK.
to me, the kommissars have a blood-axe feel, so no flash gitz . I probably will try and highlight the squigs hair a bit more up to white though, creating a subtle colour shift. Thanks for the idea!


Sounds like you have it under control. Glad i could help.

And, I like the totem icon on the grabber stick idea, EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 05:48:08


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: you were right, the orange doesn't fit him . I tried to make the shoulders in orange, and it looked pretty dumb, so I made them bronze; should make you happy . Painting the pants orange would have the same effect, the colour just doesn't fit the palette of the model. I liek the idea of the patches, but I'm not goign to mess around with this one anymore. Ther's 10 more kommissars to go, so plenty of opportunites to add some patches here and there.

Warboss Gutrip: thanks!

EagleArk: like I said above, I'm afraid the orange doens't fit the palette of the model itself; I posted a pic with the orange braiding below. I agree with the orange on the squig though, my next squig(s) will probably be orange or have some orange on them. The emblem on the grabba stick is also a good idea, I'm gonna use that on the next kommissar - I'll need 12 individual models after all . See, we do listen . As a side note, I certainly appreciate your input, it helps me realize what I want or don't want. I consider feedback an integral part to a creative process, so, even if I don't use a suggestion, it does help me focus on my eventual goals and how I will achieve them. In short, a big thank you to all the people commenting on this thread is in order I guess!

Archibald Jack: grots are plastic models, 8 euro for a box of ten - so they're no more expensive then other GW models . If you're talking about the classic models: I scrounged them from a friend who stopped playing orks, and kindly decided to give them to me since he liked where I was going with the grots.

The Good Green: thanks for the help! I took the pics and then realized I wanted to highlight the hair a bit more, so the last pic is there just for you!

Onto the pics!

First, the greenstuff braiding. You'll notice in the painted pics that I lost some of the detail, I guess I'll have to make my indentations a bit more pronounced next time around:


Then, in orange. With just the kommissar in the pic it is not as bad as it would seem, but if you look at the model irl, all you saw was the orange, drawing away the eye from the actual model.


Tne, the final version, with the bronze. Though the original goal of adding orange to the model didn't succeed, I don' treally mind; I feel the braiding adds some detail to the coat, which was otherwise a bit plain. I could've gone for a golden yellow as well, but I wanted something less eye-catching, hence the bronze.






And just for The Good green: the squig with whit(er) hair (edited by the gallery to enhance the colours a bit)


Anyway, I hope you guys like the changes. I'm off for the weekend (going on a short trip), so see you all next week!





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 06:47:50


Post by: Arakasi


I do like the bronze shoulders. I can see what you mean about the orange not fitting - but I think it could have worked amongst your army (rather than taken individually). But the, I'm blinded by the orange A photo next to some of your other minis (especially the ones he will be fielded with) may have (dis)proved that. You could also have done the hanging braids a different colour to the patch on top - possibly just the hanging braids in orange would have been enough... All thoughts for the rest of the dozen I guess. Keep up the good work!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 06:57:41


Post by: w0chtulka


Awesome one, once again...


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 07:23:13


Post by: The Good Green


The shoulders are just what he needed! As a commissar, I think the Fancy-ness of his rank is more important than fitting into the theme of the army he is with, imo. The orange makes him look more like one of the boyz... so to speak.

I think the white hair does the trick for the squig, too.

w0chtulka wrote:Awesome one, once again...

Quoted for truth!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 08:03:41


Post by: Commissar Agro


Yeah, the bronze is great.
The Good Green, i agree with your point about the fancy-ness of the rank of a commissar or Kommissar. its the same for da humies and the grotz
Also i like the white hair CommissarKhaine. looks great.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 09:20:24


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: pic at ther bottom of the post . IMO the problem isn't the quantity of the orange, it's the tone I struck with the kommissar; he's pretty grimdark (for a grot), and the orange just doens't fit. My other foot grots don't have much orange either, so he fits in decently enough.

wOchtulka: Thanks!

The Good Green: You're very right about the fanciness. I was afraid to mess up the coat job, I should've added more gs details from the start. A learning point for the next one!

Commissar Agro: Thanks

I'm glad you guys like it; I was a bit unsure about fiddling with the model, but it's come out all right; the bronze makes him stand out, but he still fits in the unit as a whole. And to prove that last point, a quick snapshot of the grots in action:



On a side note, I'll have to improve my camera skills if I ever want to take a decent group shot, for some reason the camera only focuses on a few models at a time


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/09 10:01:30


Post by: shas'o vera


hey, Khaine, which camera are you using exactly? maybe i can help with your little focusing problem


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/10 00:57:23


Post by: Llamahead


Personally if you feel you must tie the model in how about using that weird green graffiti symbol from the Battlewagon rather than the Orange. It would remain green dark and would look great on the back of the coat! I don't feel he needs it however as I must admit that if theres an army to be utterly anarchic and incoherent this is it. I've never been a fan of uniform looking Ork, Skaven and Grot armies myself. They can be beautifully executed but don't look right to me. I'm also delighted to see Stompy done!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/10 21:24:30


Post by: EagleArk


Awww thanks guys you have made me feel so much better .


Anyway the bronze colour fits well, it may not fit very well but have a look at Aprils white dwarf painting guide the bonze in there is very good.

Even so, the grot look nice and fit very well so far even if the picture is abit . Perhaps an army shot is in order? you have come far and i have some strange urge to see it all so far...

Eaglark.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 14:58:54


Post by: Young_Logan


Keep going, the whole thing is going to look great when finnished, i cant imagine the face of your oponents when you start beating them with grotz


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 19:41:59


Post by: CommissarKhaine


sgas'o vera: the caerma is a a sony alfacam (DSLR-A330).

Llamahead: the weird graffiti symbol is actually the symbol for Clan brujah from Vampire: the masquerade, and old White Wolf RPG. I'm going to think about the symbol, I'll let you know (and see) what I do with it! Glad you like stompy!

EagleArk: group shots coming up, glad you feel better!

Young-Logan: no worries, I'm not straying from my chosen path

So, group shots:




And with all the WIP stuff:

Hope you guys like'em, and there's a few easter eggs in the shots !





A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 20:01:18


Post by: Arakasi


Looking good!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 20:37:19


Post by: EagleArk


I allmost forgot about you dread and kans,,,, how are they getting on? I found them a nice kit to paint and assemble (if you are wondering i assembeled and painted some for my local GW)

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 21:01:34


Post by: Arakasi


I missed the last shot when I first looked - and there I was thinking you weren't *too* far ahead of me... Now I can see the easter eggs!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/13 22:04:30


Post by: NiiloTimantti


The group shots really do your grots justice!

Earlier when I've been looking at the individual pictures in this blog I always thought the conversions were great but the colour was a bit 'meh', now that I see all your grots in one picture it all makes sense!
Congratulations on a strong vision, sir!

I think I'm missing the easter eggs, though
Unless it's got something to do with the (what I suspect is a Tau Stealth Team) box in the background of the last shot.

Anyway, thanks for a great blog, I've been reading it since you started and hope that you keep it going for a long time!

- Niilo


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/14 00:53:18


Post by: Commissar Agro


NiiloTimantti wrote:The group shots really do your grots justice!

QFT


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/14 02:35:18


Post by: Archibald Jack


Viva la Commissar! I like how the little chap turned out. The orange really ties him in with the rest of the half sized terrors. Any plans for a grot rocket team? I once put the old catachan rocket on a grot, and dubbed him "Sam Louie Kablooie" aww, the old days when I had enough money to build armies *sigh*

Also, what colour of orange is that you're using? I will be needing a similar shade soon.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/14 17:28:03


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: thanks! The reason you missed the unpainted shot in your first post is because I edited it in afterwards, having accidentally put in the same pic twice

EagleArk: They were nice, put I managed to misplace bits on both of'em, forcing me to rip them off. GW instruction booklets.... . A word of caution for people assembling the dread: when you assemble the body, the top piece goes on last. If you don't do this, you won't be able to make the sides fit properly.
I've started painting one kan, the dread still needs an undercoat. I magnetized his lower arms to keep my options open, though 4ccw or 3ccw + skorcha seems the most interesting right now.

NiiloTimantti: Glad you like them, and don't worry, I intend to keep on going for a while! I agree that the group shot brings it all together, since now you see how the orange works on all of the vehicles together. By easter eggs I meant that there were a few minis in the pics that I hadn't posted yet, but nice job on spotting the stealth suits, they will be my next three megagrotz!

Commissar Agro: thanks!

Archibald Jack: you mean the orange I changed to bronze? Glad you like him though . I might do a rocket team team if I build some more buggies, I believe some of the single-piece models would look great with a rokkit in the barrel of their gun. As for the orange: it's Macharius Solar Orange over a black undercoat, then highlighted with Vomit Brown, Vomit Brown + Bleached Bone, pure Bleached Bone on the big models, and then washed with Ogryn Flesh Wash. the Bleached Bone steps could be skipped if you're in a hurry.






A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/14 19:05:48


Post by: EagleArk


There are some grots with whips or somthing in there?

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/15 18:16:19


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Good call EagleArk, I finished a few more grots and the first kommissar model. I'll try and get up some pics once I've got a few more done.

In the meanwhile, here's megagrot n°7, nice and grey. I gave him a bioniceye since I wanted to vary the appearances of the heads a bit. There will be a grot with a beret too I think, and maybe one with sunglasses. I plan to reposition the cc arms on these three, giving me some more variation in the poses. It worked out okay with the addition of some greenstuff IMO. The drill bit is from the killa kans, the kombi-rokkit is from the kans and the shoota bit is a combination of an old ork shoota and a barrel from the battlewagon big shoota. For some strange reason the glue went white on this one, but it feels okay if my finger passes over it, so it looks worse then it feels

So, some pics:




This one's a bit reddish, since I messed around with the colour balance to get a better view of the bionic eye/skull replacement. I'm considering a Thraka stand in, so I figured it would both change the look of the head and allow for some practice. Two birds with one stone!




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/15 18:49:06


Post by: EagleArk


Nice, love the agressive ness of this grot and i have had glue turn white on me before. Ignor it dont know why it dose it but i didnt have any problems.

i like how you are getting more and more adventurous with your poses, it may allready have been done many many times but have you considered looted terminators?Just to add some variety.

Have you played a game with these guys yet? get a feel for what you need?

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 08:02:28


Post by: Dysartes


Angry grot is angry!

Bonus points if one of the megagrots ends up with a corn-cob pipe


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 08:57:29


Post by: alexwars1


Drill-grot is awesome. I was thinking of doing somthing similar with that bit.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 09:06:51


Post by: shas'o vera


hmm, drill grot reminds me of the big daddy from bioshock 2


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 10:22:15


Post by: EagleArk


Never thought of that.... Quick glue on som red lights and shout RAAAAAAGGGHHH whenevery you use it........


)

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 21:32:15


Post by: CommissarKhaine


EagleArk: I dared to reposition a lot more with this model, and it shows. I don't feel like doing terminators, since everyone and their cat has used them as megagrotz/meganobz, and because they don't fit my background. Lastly, I feel that since I'm playing a partly counts-as army, I should avoid confusion on what a model is as much as possible.

I must admit that I haven't played a game yet ; I intended to do so around easter, but real life kicked in... I do have a pretty good idea of what I want though: At least one big mek with KFF, 6-9 kanz, a dread, some buggies and koptas, and then 20 or 30-strong grot units with max runtherds. Meganobz are there to scare people and to give access to battlewagons. If my second HQ is a warboss, they can even take objectives .

Dysartes: Yes he is! what a little repostioning can't do. I'll see about the pipe, if I can plasticard it the grot with the beret will get one!

alexwars1: Glad you like him. The drill bit is pretty much screaming to be used on a meganob/megagrot: it's a good scale, and it looks suitably vicious in a highly entertaining way.

shas'o vera: every guy with a drill reminds people of big daddy . maybe an idea for my Thraka stand in though... I'll let you know if I decide to take it a bit further (and if I manage to sculpt big daddy's helmet)!


Anyway, I wanted to show the good people of dakka what I've been up to tonight: a model that can be used for a burna/loota stand in. From page 1 of this thread I've been thinking about an aliens-style powerlifter or something like the gunslingers in the Matrix 2, and here's my take on it, in the shape of a burna grot:











And a scale shot to show his size a bit better:


So, yay or nay? I still need to greenstuff the gaps and drill out the flamer barrel, but other then that the model is finished. It takes a whole evening to build one of them though, so my burnas/lootas will be in small units! I'm also considering magnetizing the weapon army, allowing for easy swapping between weapon. A magnet under the gun cowling should do fine to hold a gun.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 21:46:23


Post by: The Good Green


That is super cool! Consider it copied! Although, I'd like to see the hingey bits covered. Still, SO Awesome!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 21:48:40


Post by: Saintspirit


I say, you are really good at using plastic tubes.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 22:58:16


Post by: Arakasi


I think its more like what I pictured a MegaGrot to look like (though with more front armour/cage).

Agree with The Good Green regarding covering the hingey bits. Also - I think the toes could be bulked out a little (he looks like he is wearing flip-flops).

Otherwise, worth progressing with methinks!



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/16 23:03:04


Post by: Corpsesarefun


Its the matrix 3 that has the suits

Either way all of it looks awesome


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/17 02:32:30


Post by: Commissar Agro


There is 1 gunslinger in matrix 2. IIRC

Looks good, i like the expression of the grot.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/17 06:21:24


Post by: CommissarKhaine


The Good Green: Thanks, feel free to nick it, it's the way of the grot! Maybe I should greenstuff in the hingey bits; I'll let the model rest for a day (no time for modelling today anyway-family stuff), then I'll see.

Saint spirit: Why, thank you good sir . It's all about geometry and experimenting really; plasticard is also cheap enough that you can happily mess around with it till you get it right.

Arakasi:I didn't use these as megagrots because it doesn't look 2+ armour save to me. That and the fact that I wanted to explore the Tau stealth suit idea, which seemed easier as well. Of course, now I'm stuck with the fact that I'll need more burnagrotz/lootas then megagrotz, but in the end they don't take that much more time then a megagrot to build - this one was the prototype which always takes a bit longer. If you add more front armour or a cage, you're almost making a mini sentinel, and I wanted to stay clear of that. I might add some greenstuff bands holding the grot in place though- and I'll think about filling in the hinges . The toes look Ok irl, they have hingey bits that are hardly visible on the pics; maybe I'll try doubling the thickness on the next one to see the difference, or add some small pistons just like I did with the rear of the feet.

corpsesarefun: There's one in the Matrix 2, when the Nebuchadnezzar enters Zion, and he's by far the coolest, being all wild-west gunslinger-like . Glad you like the model btw!

Commissar Agro: right about the gunslinger! I feel that the grot with the glasses has that manic look I really like in a grot, I'll have to mess around with the other heads to convey the idea thay they're all arsonists



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/17 06:48:15


Post by: Arakasi


If I ever get my core force finished, Da Tenf Kompany of Da Dark Angelz is relegated to Grotz - so I might realise some of these ideas myself in the far far distant future... In the meantime - keep up the excellent work! I have no doubt they will come out great - whatever you decide


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/17 10:23:54


Post by: EagleArk


Yay definatly yay.

I like the model as a whole and you have really captured that matrix look.
Need to make it look sturdia and abit more extravagant. Just a thought perhaps it should have a few loose wires (literally). Just my take.

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/18 22:05:36


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: looking forward to scouting grots . I decided to fill in the hinges, here's the results, together with burna boy 2!

EagleArk: thanks, glad you like'em! The second one was made a bit sturdier, and also a tad more dynamic; is this wat you meant by extravagant, or do you mean making him look PimpDaddy? The loose wires will probably be kept for the lootas, though a flamer with a loose gas hose does provide some interesting options - I'll see what I can do!

Anyway, here's number two. I decided to fill in the hinges since it does look better, and I also wanted to add some more dynamism to the model. the cc weapons will be heavily inspired by the dreads and kans, though I'll stay away from scissors to prevent confusion with PKs. I might change the drill bit, I'll see how it looks in the morning. I also changed the feet a bit, I hope they won't look as much as flip-flops now

There are still fingerprints on there becasue the gs hasn't cured completely, I'll file/dremel/cut those off when the gs has fully cured. I really enjoy making these, though they take quite a bit of time. I'll probably set up a production line for the arms; so I can gs a whole bunch of 'em then let them cure without suffering from a compulsive need to finish the model . Also, since there's barely GW bits in there, these models are actually quite cheap

Piccies of a more dynamic burna grot:








I also filled in the hinges on the first burna grot:


And here's the 'group' shot



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/18 22:21:49


Post by: Arakasi


Still think the toes could be thicker - I'd double it, or perhaps make them slightly triangular (thickest near the pistons, tapering to the toe - almost Killa Kan/Deff Dread like...)

They are improving though. Very... spindly. How is their balance?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/18 22:41:46


Post by: Anung Un Rama


My mind has been blown. I was wondering if you were going to field any troops with normal Ork stats at all, but THIS Wow. Just wow.

Also, there are no Matrix sequels. Only movies who happen to have a few things in common with that awesome action movie from 1999.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/18 22:42:23


Post by: Archibald Jack


That's one of the coolest grots I have ever seen. Are you drawing inspiration from Ripley's lifter in Aliens II? As I am sure if you freeze framed a few of the scenes you could get some good solid reference on how hydraulics all mesh together, and all that good stuff.

Secondly, do you have plans to beef the feet up? or put some stabilising toes/talons on them? Talons would be pretty cool - but either way this is still a wicked conversion


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/18 23:17:50


Post by: Llamahead


Wow these are some of the niftiest models I've seen. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Loota versions? Whats the chances of seeing normal Boyz done like this as well?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/19 07:47:02


Post by: EagleArk


This is what i meant by extravagant, big wavy armys that have no point but still look awsome. This one looks alot more like it could stand up, the extra pistons and all.

Great wor here!

EagleArk.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/19 10:05:31


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Arakasi: totally forgot about the toes because I changed the foot construction, I'll try it on the next one! I did add a side bit to the foot though, making him look a tad more stable. The spindlyness comes fromt he big arms, but they're pretty thick already; the I-beam I used for the basic arm structure and the pistons make it about 1 cm wide and 0.5 cm thick. As for balance: the point of gravity is above the base, but a tad high. I might fill in the bases if I feel it's necessary. They're more stable then quite a few GW models, so I'm happy

Anung Un Rama: Thank you, I aim to please! . I really enjoyed building these as well, though the fact that grots are half the size of a guardsman means you have very little room to put everything on. Size-wise, they look as big as an ork now, so I got that covered. I feel it's a bit cheating now, taking ork stat troops, but I need something to fill the points and burnagrots would give me a nice excuse to add an additional battlewagon

Also, there are no Matrix sequels. Only movies who happen to have a few things in common with that awesome action movie from 1999.

Point taken . 1999 already? I'm getting old...

Archibald Jack: Yep, Aliens was the main inspiration, together with a guardsman here on dakka from ironKing and the gunsuits from movies that claimed to be sequels of an awesome action movie from 1999 . As for real-life hydraulics: not on this size, it's fiddly enough already! On a guardsman I might give it a go, but on a grot it's beyond my ability with plasticard. In regard to beefing up the feet: you're the second person to mention this, and I'll follow Arakasi's idea on the next one to beef it up a bit; I don't have all that much room though, since the grot's legs still need to be in a natural position which, combined with a 20mm base, doesn't give me much room to work with...

Llamahead: thanks! I'm still debating on how I'm going to mount the loota guns; magnetizing does not seem an option right now. I'm thinking about making them either shoulder mounted or to make both arms gun arms. Maybe I'll buy me a lootas boxed set to get access to some burna and loota parts. Normal boyz done like this would cost me what little sanity I have remaining; doing 25-30 models is a lot but doable, doing 180... Let's just say the chances are very slim

EagleArk: Glad you like them . Ironically, the arms aren't longer then on the first model, I just made the model a bit more dynamic. The main improvement was in the legs and feet, which I'll still work on a bit more on the next one, maybe put the 'arms up a bit higher as well, giving me some more room to fiddle around with the positioning.




A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/19 11:36:52


Post by: Commissar Agro


WOW!
cool GS drill CommissarKaine.
keep up the good work, can't wait to see some paint on them


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/21 03:00:22


Post by: Blitza da warboy


the burna grots look awesome! I assume the drill arm is the count as power weapon part of the burna?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/21 20:48:19


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Commissar Agro: Thanks! As for the paint, I might have to- I'm out of burna bits and also out of 40mm bases which I need for my megagrots . Still, only temporary problems, and I need to update my IG a bit for an upcoming tourney as well, so it's all for the best I guess

Blitza da warboy: Hadn't even thought about that; I guess if they didn't flame, they can send more juice to their tools making them count as power weapons

ANyway, here's number three. I've been experimenting with the feet a bit more, adding claws this time, and he's also a bit taller. In a fit of madness and with Archibald Jack's comment gnawing at the back of my mind, I decided to add some more hydraulics; here's the result!


As you can see, Arakasi was (partly) right about balance issues; I totally forgot to keep the centre of gravity of the model over the base, and I paid for it. I had to glue some plasticard underneath; filling up the base with greenstuff didn't cut it. Still, the base is still there for measuring and such, so it shouldn't be a problem.

The burna was scratchbuilt, but I'm not too sure about it; guess I'll wait till I can get a hold of some 'real' burna bitz...It should be easy to snap off if I find a better bit, so no need to worry about that.




As you can see in the group shot, he's a bit taller then his two buddies, but not so much that it bothers me; that'll teach me to eyeball everything


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/21 20:52:33


Post by: Anung Un Rama


Nice work. You know their minimum squad size is 5 and nobody in their right mind would field a unit under 10, right?


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/21 21:32:12


Post by: Young_Logan


Anung Un Rama wrote:Nice work. You know their minimum squad size is 5 and nobody in their right mind would field a unit under 10, right?


They still look awsome though


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/21 22:37:10


Post by: Arakasi


Toes look better. Pity about the balance issue - perhaps use a larger base, or hang a weight off the back? This will certainly be the most unique Burna Boyz ever!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 03:08:23


Post by: Archibald Jack


Hydraulics! they look wicked. It must have been some uber fiddley work getting them to all sit in place.

Oh, and the talons on the feet look wicked too, very vicious - they remind of Kane's X addicted robot frame from Robocop II. Wow, that film swayed between wickedness and suckfest like a drunk on a sidewalk.

Is the one that's off balance taking up all of a 40mm base? or is that the standard 28mm?







A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 06:23:44


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Anung Un Rama: Do you think anyone in their right mind even starts a project like this? . I do plan to have 10-15 in the end, and they'll probably go in some kind of battlewagon - it jut might take a while to get there, but that's ok, I have no deadline with this army; it's all about letting my imagination and modelling skills run rampant.

Young_Logan: thanks!

Arakasi: Glad you like these toes better,maybe I'll try to add some more curvature to them or reinforce them a bit on the next one, we'll see to that when we get there
Balance is all my fault, really, if I'd thought about where to glue the model to the base, he would be stable. And I certainly hope they'll be unique; taking them on an outing and then facing an exactly identical army woulkd be a bit of a bummer...

Archibald Jack: Yes, hydraulics! And: Yes, fiddyl! Still, they look better like this, so thanks for gnawing at the boundaries of my mind . A suggestion for ayone applying hydraulics like this: only glued one end tot he rod in the middle: that way, you have about a mm to play around with and make it settle as good as possible.

The talons definitley look more vicious, but they take away a bit from robotic look (strange since you're referring to a big robot, but oh well, no need to worry then), so I wasn't too sure about them. Still, since everyone seems to like'em I guess they turned out OK . They're all on the regular 28mm bases, the off-balance burnagrot simply had a wedge of plasticard shoved underneath, so measuring can still be done to and from the base.



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 06:35:20


Post by: Commissar Agro


I like the clawed feet, he could be the leader to stick out from the rank and file burna boys


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 06:59:09


Post by: Behind th Mask


LOVE IT !!!! That's awesome


Automatically Appended Next Post:
the power lifters were such a great idea !!!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 07:56:35


Post by: alexwars1


For such excellent work and thread win overload, CommisarKhaine wins every cookie.


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 16:09:50


Post by: EagleArk


Here you are



A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 20:51:31


Post by: Llamahead


Looking great! Heh yeah it would probably drive me madder as well!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/22 20:56:35


Post by: CommissarKhaine


Commissar Agro: thanks! I was thinking the same thing, the beret makes him look a bit more militaristic as well; I'll probably add a sigar as well

Behind th Mask: Thanks! The power lifters definitely worked out all right. I'm still glad I didn't use it for my Big Meks though. They wouldn't fill a 40mm base properly, and I like the Ogryn servitor idea too much. Also, now I have a lot more models to play around with; the power lifter suits definitely open up some interesting options. Still, 15-30 will be the maximum I'm willing to make to preserve a small shred of sanity...

alexwars1: No need to paint them then, since I already got all the cookies? Glad you like them!

EagleArk: yummy, chocolate chips!

Llamahead: thanks!

Sadly, no piccies today, since I'm missing bits for a few of my projects, and I'm also fixing up my guard for a tournament. Next week, I'll be doing some more burna boyz and maybe have some painted minis to show as well!


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/23 09:19:50


Post by: Commissar Agro


Sanity is overrated


A Squeaky WAAAAGH!!!! (updated January 16th - orange, as always ;) ) @ 2010/04/23 15:45:43


Post by: Archibald Jack


I must say I am a big fan of this "cookies for projects" scheme, it promotes both creativity and early onset diabetes.

Seriously though, these units look wicked. Talons may subtract from the general robotic feel, but all general mechanic movement is stabilised by sharp point bits.

Good luck on the tourney.