Briancj wrote:
How do you make those nice rounded rivets?

I buy white 1mm half-round nail art beads from eBay. :-)

They glue onto a drop of plastic glue/polystyrene cement just fine, and you can reposition them with a knife tip while the glue dries. Best modelling tip I ever picked up!

Thank you kindly!

You’re very welcome!

Awesome and tasty updates sir. I really need to go buy nail art beads, had some in my watchlist for ages as well !

 Ruglud wrote:
Awesome and tasty updates sir. I really need to go buy nail art beads, had some in my watchlist for ages as well !

You’ll not look back... blimey, just reading your wonderful Thunderhawk build and it’s making me want to make one all the more. And we seem to buy Plasticard from the same peeps!

Stormraven isn’t done yet, but here’s a quick post-work addition to an old build:





Quick re-arming to outfit this relic with Crusader-pattern weaponry ahead of an upcoming Ambush / Cities Of Death game. Do come closer and ambush it... please!

Lord Imperator Felix Catticus of the Felix Legion is unimpressed, and wants to know why you are not attending your Liege.

 Briancj wrote:
Lord Imperator Felix Catticus of the Felix Legion is unimpressed, and wants to know why you are not attending your Liege.

Hahahaha, true dat. Harley is a Phobos fan but dem points... it's too spendy. Plus, this build now proves the Dark Angels invented the Crusader pattern, right? Ya don't see any pre-Heresy style Black Templar ones do you? No! We made (kept) all the best Dark Age toys...

Nice addition, and very well equipped for urban combat indeed

Very nicely done! And agreed- the cat looks less than thrilled with the work.

The detail on that thing is awesome! Even though it's mostly white, it looks pretty cool already. Crazy what you can do with plasticard nowadays.
The land raider's not bad either.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
The detail on that thing is awesome! Even though it's mostly white, it looks pretty cool already. Crazy what you can do with plasticard nowadays.
The land raider's not bad either.

I just snort-laughed. Well played, sir.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
The detail on that thing is awesome! Even though it's mostly white, it looks pretty cool already. Crazy what you can do with plasticard nowadays.
The land raider's not bad either.

You win one (1) internets.

Holy balls that's good. Given the skills you've shown here, I'm actually wondering if you scratch built the cat.

Been looking for those nail art beads, do you have an eBay link you could share?

 Skinflint Games wrote:
Holy balls that's good. Given the skills you've shown here, I'm actually wondering if you scratch built the cat.

Been looking for those nail art beads, do you have an eBay link you could share?

Thank you!

Here’s my go-to guy: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F330856747955

Cheap and fast. I’ve used the 1mm (rivets) and 3mm (lenses/lights) sizes in my builds.

hi, lovely work as always.
question i need to ask, how are you filling the gaps in the plasticard? would liquid green stuff and a bit os sanding be best?
i've attached a pick of my basilisk, hope you like

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 Skinflint Games wrote:
Holy balls that's good. Given the skills you've shown here, I'm actually wondering if you scratch built the cat.

Been looking for those nail art beads, do you have an eBay link you could share?

Thank you!

Here’s my go-to guy: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F330856747955

Cheap and fast. I’ve used the 1mm (rivets) and 3mm (lenses/lights) sizes in my builds.

Thanks man! Really appreciate that, was struggling to find 1mm ones

dreadwing wrote:
hi, lovely work as always.
question i need to ask, how are you filling the gaps in the plasticard? would liquid green stuff and a bit os sanding be best?
i've attached a pick of my basilisk, hope you like

Niiiiiice!!! I live that build. You should be plogging too!!!

For filling I use Milliput, Green Stuff, or a mix of the two. Milliput has the benefit of being able to smooth it with water, GS is easier to work. Let it set hard (good 12-24hrs) then sand with your nail file. (Liquid green stuff is useless for this stuff, it doesn’t fill gaps that big and shrinks as it dries.)

I also try and avoid filling where possible as it’s a pain! If I can live with gaps I do. If I can’t I fill. I’ve started trimming some parts slimmer like the vision slits/ports so there’s no gap, vs just bending and having gaps everywhere.

dreadwing wrote:
hi, lovely work as always.
question i need to ask, how are you filling the gaps in the plasticard? would liquid green stuff and a bit os sanding be best?
i've attached a pick of my basilisk, hope you like

This is beautiful.

Impressive stuff, as always!

@dreadwing: you wouldn't happen to have the plans for that beauty would you? I could do with a medusa or 3 and Building them is tempting....

Look up "WH 40k Papercraft" on Facebook - link to a Google Drive with all Patoroch's templates in.

So, I'm making a big Tau battlesuit... will share pics once more done as I'm nervous as to how my freestyling will be received!

Looking forward to the freestyling - and +1 on the papercraft thingy, it's an amazing source of inspiration.

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 Ruglud wrote:
Awesome and tasty updates sir. I really need to go buy nail art beads, had some in my watchlist for ages as well !

You’ll not look back... blimey, just reading your wonderful Thunderhawk build and it’s making me want to make one all the more. And we seem to buy Plasticard from the same peeps!

Yeah, do it - you know you NEED to.....

And you've reminded me that I need to restock on 1mm plasticard - thanks for the ebay nail art beads link, cheaper than the ones I was watching

You’re welcome! I’m torn between Titan (means making my own plans as the netplans suck) or a Flappyhawk. DAMN YOU RUGLUD AND BLACKADDER. Stop being so inspiring.

Ok, haven’t finished the Stormraven because I started doodling this...



We just got another friend into 40K and I wanted to make him something and to try out the T’au aesthetic. Bear in mind this is all just being thrown together without a plan! Lots of detailing to add. Still very much sketching in three dimensions, with detail to come later. I also wanted a Crisis Suit feel to the cockpit and head, like they’re one product line. Dubbing this the Riptide KV104-X.



I’ve run out of large pieces after making the first layer of this base (traced round a Tyrannofex base) so I’ve layered up in overlapping sections. 3mm thick and sturdy as hell now. Top will be textured so no need to fill the joins.

You can also see the start of leg and hip assemblies. To replicate the ball joint at the hip I’m using bits from copper plumbing. Wish I’d been patient and got actual spheres to glue in as these were a nightmare to actually assemble!



Quick interim scale shot. Looking about right to me.



Back vanes need some bulking and detailing so the end effect will be a touch less ‘Starscream’ and more T’au. Rifle-style gun being bulked out. Barrel tips will be swappable to represent either the burst cannon or ion guns.

Also, tried to save some time and material by using foamcard between plasticard sheets for the vanes. This bit me in the ass and needed various extra rods and struts adding to get a solid join. Oh well!



Mocked up thigh pads, and legs assembled and epoxied on. I intend to fill the thighs with putty, sand to a curve when set, then detail with 0.5mm styrene to better get the T’au look. If too big I’ll make new ones (I’m thinking that way right now tbh).



The end of the 1997 (!) bike wheels will be capped with T’au symbols so that the threads end up looking like circular vents instead of threads. An undercoat will help the black and grey parts blend visually - they ‘read’ a bit strangely just now but work fine, trust me. ;-)

Any feedback, gang?

I'm amazed you're not following plans for this! That thing already looks impressive!

Thanks for the lead on the blue-prints by the way.

Great googa-mooga that's coming on a treat! Is there anything you don't scratchbuild better than the kits come out?!

Too kind, both. Thank you. More work on him tomorrow. Spent the last few evening readying more building for a Cities Of Death game using the Ambush scenario. It’m not 100% happy with it but it’s functional!

Woohoooooo juat figures out how to make the rear landing gear, and not only that but the Stormraven stands up on it! This means it can be used as an objective or terrain in smaller game, and makes me happy!

Photo updates soon, but T’au Suit is ongoing, Stormraven nears completion, my Land Raider has been undercoated, I’ve made and painted half a table of ruins and fences and I have 48hrs of gaming starting NOW! Wish me luck - about to be Ambushed by a T’au/Eldar alliance. Uh oh.

dreadwing wrote:
hi, lovely work as always.
question i need to ask, how are you filling the gaps in the plasticard? would liquid green stuff and a bit os sanding be best?
i've attached a pick of my basilisk, hope you like

Some really good work on this thread, I'm glad I found it (just today in fact). Allow me to field this question......

The best way to fill gaps is to not create them. It's just as hard or harder filling and sanding gaps as it is cutting precisely. Overlap your edges and file and sand off the overlap.

Let me quote myself from my tyro days when I built my LandKreuzer:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/236187.page

 The_Blackadder wrote:
Thanks,

The Sounds Of Sanding:

One of the questions I most get is how do I manage to get my edges and corners so crisp and smooth and without using fillers. Well I've attempted to answer this on many occasions recommending the tools shown here but it was only this morning that it came to me that I sand by sound...........

http://i.imgur.com/PCFjBdi.jpg


The big problem with sanding anything especially soft material is maintaining a level stroke with the sanding block or file. Most people when they sand have a tendency to rock the tool especially at the end of the stroke where they reverse the sanding direction. This causes two problems; one, by necessity the edges become more sanded as the pressure at the point of contact increases at the fine edge causing more material to be abraided and two, the double stroke of the reverse of the direction.

There are two ways to eliminate this. The first is easy, just sand in one direction but the problem there is you still have the extra pressure at the end of the stroke. The second is to sand in a circular or figure '8' motion which I learned when honing chisels on a stone and carried over into sanding just about anything.

So check your sanding progress often and if possible reverse the piece so the edge surfaces gets equal work and try to decrease the pressure when you get to the end of the stroke so the edges don't get over-sanded.

So where does the 'sound' come in?

This morning I was absently sanding the small turrets seen above and I noticed that the sound of the sanding dropped in pitch as I made flush contact with the entire surface of the work. I probably do this subliminally so I know precisely when the surface is flush and smooth. You'll have to practice with this technique but it's better than filling with greenstuff which you have to sand again anyway.

HTH

Oh, and the scissors.......... On thin styrene up to a millimeter I use a good pair of scissors to rough cut the excess close to the edge of the work. they are much easier to control than the knife and you are less likely to cut too close and damage the corners.

My apologies for hijacking your excellent thread.

great work!

 The_Blackadder wrote:

dreadwing wrote:
hi, lovely work as always.
question i need to ask, how are you filling the gaps in the plasticard? would liquid green stuff and a bit os sanding be best?
i've attached a pick of my basilisk, hope you like

Some really good work on this thread, I'm glad I found it (just today in fact). Allow me to field this question......

The best way to fill gaps is to not create them. It's just as hard or harder filling and sanding gaps as it is cutting precisely. Overlap your edges and file and sand off the overlap.

Let me quote myself from my tyro days when I built my LandKreuzer:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/236187.page

 The_Blackadder wrote:
Thanks,

The Sounds Of Sanding:

One of the questions I most get is how do I manage to get my edges and corners so crisp and smooth and without using fillers. Well I've attempted to answer this on many occasions recommending the tools shown here but it was only this morning that it came to me that I sand by sound...........

http://i.imgur.com/PCFjBdi.jpg


The big problem with sanding anything especially soft material is maintaining a level stroke with the sanding block or file. Most people when they sand have a tendency to rock the tool especially at the end of the stroke where they reverse the sanding direction. This causes two problems; one, by necessity the edges become more sanded as the pressure at the point of contact increases at the fine edge causing more material to be abraided and two, the double stroke of the reverse of the direction.

There are two ways to eliminate this. The first is easy, just sand in one direction but the problem there is you still have the extra pressure at the end of the stroke. The second is to sand in a circular or figure '8' motion which I learned when honing chisels on a stone and carried over into sanding just about anything.

So check your sanding progress often and if possible reverse the piece so the edge surfaces gets equal work and try to decrease the pressure when you get to the end of the stroke so the edges don't get over-sanded.

So where does the 'sound' come in?

This morning I was absently sanding the small turrets seen above and I noticed that the sound of the sanding dropped in pitch as I made flush contact with the entire surface of the work. I probably do this subliminally so I know precisely when the surface is flush and smooth. You'll have to practice with this technique but it's better than filling with greenstuff which you have to sand again anyway.

HTH

Oh, and the scissors.......... On thin styrene up to a millimeter I use a good pair of scissors to rough cut the excess close to the edge of the work. they are much easier to control than the knife and you are less likely to cut too close and damage the corners.

My apologies for hijacking your excellent thread.

Given you inspired me to pick up ruler and plasticard in the first place, you’re very welcome! Thank you for your kind words!

And yes, what Blackadder said! He’s the reason I buy more nail files and nail art beads than my girlfriend!

Build update!

Smashed out a lot of detailing today. A few more bits to do and a lot of riveting and then she’s DONE. I’m pretty happy she can stand on her landing struts, as it means she can be used as an objective or terrain in skirmish games as well as a game piece.

I made some choices based on what looked cool rather than in-game optimising. The Hurricane Bolters are not magnetised on, they’re permanent. Might as well leave the teeth on this bird, always! And Heavy Plasma... eh, it looked cool and feels very Dark Angels! Also dubbed it the ‘Umbra Pattern’ as in shadow, Dark etc.

I’m SUPER pleased she can stand up ‘landed’. The sticky-outy skids were inspired by the undercarriage pods on the FW Marine flyers. I was trying something inline and it looked terrible. Using an I-beam to easily attach these at an angle saved the day, and I just guessed all the part sizes and assembled what felt right.







And finally some spinny GIFs at https://i.imgur.com/IdIMGzS.gifv and https://i.imgur.com/4UiDBnP.gifv


I decided a turret would throw off the lines so went for wing-mounted weaponry. The plasma cannons are taken from Tehnolog tank spares, with homemade housing (including some sprue trimmings for part of the plasma ammo canister). Missile racks also from Tehnolog. The space where the chibi Stormraven’s turret sits has been filled with a hatch/sensor dome made from a Prosecco bottle top! You likely can’t see until painted, but there are some details on the engines made from cable ties. Should give a ribbed texture that will drbyrush up well.

C&C welcome!

So good man, I just sit and marvel!

 Skinflint Games wrote:
So good man, I just sit and marvel!

Thank you! I’ve done more detailing since but I’m fast running out of poly cement... need a re-up tomorrow from the model shop in town.

Fantastic work as always, JH! As a 'found item' modeling aficionado, I scrutinize your pieces now just to see what marvelous treasure (that anyone else but us would have thrown away- the fools!) you've built in.

Ordered from your 'rivet guy' and now have 1000 1mm black half rhinestones to play with- thanks for the tip for the source!

Next question: what's your method for keeping the dang-blanket-blank stupid cricket things from jumping all over the place and glue 'em down!?!? I tried swabbing a short line of superglue where I wanted to apply rivets, and tried picking them up individually with tweezers- and those suckers have some range! What's your trick? All your builds have such precise alignment of the rivets- and I don't see any story marks measured out to help keep them even.

I love reading this blog!

Thanks, I’m glad that you guys enjoy it.

I’m SUCH a hoarder! Bottle caps can be great when hidden a little. I think the engine nascelles have come out pretty nicely now I’ve added the little detail pieces that break up the original shape. Half the trick is visualising whatvthings can be, the other half is layering until they don’t look like what they were.

The T’au suit has a paracetamol tub lid, prosecco lid and oat milk lid all glued together at the back, and I’ve just started making Milliput copies of a bolt head to emulate the distinctive T’au ‘split dome/screwhead’ design element.


Ok, Riveting 101: be prepared for some horribly simple methods!

To site a rivet, I do as follows:

- Pour nail bead ‘rivets’ out into something; I use the lid from some Oxy laundry bleach that I washed out. Anything with an edge to avoid spilling rivets everywhere.

- Decide where you want rivet. If it’s on styrene/plasticard apply a drop of plastic glue. I use Revell’s precision applicator pots with the needle tip. Regardless, I usually end up with more glue than I need. Don’t worry, it’s pretty thin and dries up just fine 90% of the time.

- Shake rivet container if there are none flat-side-down. Lick tip of finger. Grab the domed side of a rivet and transfer it to the drop of glue.

- Use tip of your hobby knife to position the rivet before the glue dries. I find you don’t need to use superglue on styrene/plasticard, as the drop of glue melts the surface enough to grab the rivet and it dries up solid. I’ve lost less than 10 rivets after glueing this way across all my builds.

That’s it! Alignment is partly by eye, partly by comparing to plans (if using them), part sheer luck and inspiration!

If I’m riveting something non-styrene, like I will be on the engine cowling on my current build (Berocca lids), I do a similar process but with superglue, and try to work as quickly and as accurately as possible. If it stuffs up scrape it clean and start again. I don’t use superglue for most rivets as it’s a pain to use and leaves crusty residue if you’re not super neat. I have on occasion used PVA when adding rivets to terrain, and that’s been fine.

Give the plastic glue / polystyrene cement method a go! If I get a chance I’ll film some when riveting the Stormraven. Lots to do on that!

Thanks for the tute- I was afraid it was as detailed as it turned out to be. But, just as an entrepreneur is someone willing to work 60 hours a week for himself to avoid working 40 hours a week for someone else, if you want good rivet results you've got to put the time in.

I'll try swapping out polystyrene glue instead of cyanoacrylate- that may be easier to work with and give a bit more working time.

Good stuff!

 Meer_Cat wrote:
Thanks for the tute- I was afraid it was as detailed as it turned out to be. But, just as an entrepreneur is someone willing to work 60 hours a week for himself to avoid working 40 hours a week for someone else, if you want good rivet results you've got to put the time in.

I'll try swapping out polystyrene glue instead of cyanoacrylate- that may be easier to work with and give a bit more working time.

Good stuff!

Looking forward to seeing how you get on. All tutorials I’d seen used cyanoacrylate, but I got bored of that after the first time my finger ended up looking like a snozzcumber. Tried poly cement, worked just fine, never looked back! And yeah, the longer working time allows you to line them up properly. Once you get the hang of this method it’s faster than you think... and kinda fun!

(You will accidentally discover the taste of plastic glue along the way... it’s very acrid, like unflavoured creative. I considered a wax pencil to try and avoid this but ayyyy, the price. I’ll stick to finger lickin’!)

I'm loving all the random caps and such on there. Makes me realise why I hoard all that stuff

 CommissarKhaine wrote:
I'm loving all the random caps and such on there. Makes me realise why I hoard all that stuff

When building my Taurox counts-as I had to specify to my girlfriend which brand of milk alternative we needed to buy so I’d have enough matching wheels... as I was two short! Then I ate LOTS of cereal.

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 CommissarKhaine wrote:
I'm loving all the random caps and such on there. Makes me realise why I hoard all that stuff

When building my Taurox counts-as I had to specify to my girlfriend which brand of milk alternative we needed to buy so I’d have enough matching wheels... as I was two short! Then I ate LOTS of cereal.

And now you have LOTS of cereal packets for terrain-building.

Hahaha true.

Some squig-for-brains forgot to buy glue yesterday and forgot to bring his wallet to work today. Thank the gods for Apple Pay! Two fresh poly cement bottles procured - let the riveting commence in earnest!!!

Some before and after detailing... lots still to do. Rivets add so much weight and feel to the piece!



Oh, yeah, I made a magnetised pair of Heavy Bolters for the front to save points.


Almost midnight edit: After a loooong day working in the garden, I sat down and finished the bird. Filler was trimmed and filed down, rivets all done and last bits of detailing completed. I think it’s all ready to paint! Pictures to follow tomorrow evening after work... pretty proud of this little Dark Age relic!

And we are DONE!











I took a bunch of shortcuts and arbitrary detailing decisions as I finished up, but that’s half the fun! The sloping beams on the rear sides were going to be part of the landing gear, but I left them on when I changed tack. The threads are sloppy but meh. They’re on the bottom. The black styrene was used because I recycled some leftover track sections cut for my Macharius to add a first layer of detail. Saved plastic and cutting work, and looks perfect!

The magna grapple for carrying Dreadnought was made from a Dread fist I recently ripped off my Dread and replaced with a scratchbuilt Dread-sized Chainfist (more on that another day) - seemed fitting. I could have added cable to the spool but eh, let’s just say it’s inside the drum OK?

The ‘Umbra Pattern’ Stormraven is now ready to be basecoated tonight. As this one is going to be Chaper colours not Deathwing I can rattle-can it! Phew! I’ve got the Land Raider sprayed up Grey ready for the bone white processs to begin, and it looks great. Really helps bring it all together. Can’t wait to see this basecoated later but boy am I not looking forward to the recess shading stage! Sooooooooo many rivets to do. Individually.

And some links to 360 spin GIFs - can’t find a way to embed them here (shout if you know how!):
https://i.imgur.com/SejtGxy.gifv
https://i.imgur.com/OaYcYz3.gifv

And now you have LOTS of cereal packets for terrain-building.

Circular economy, right?

That thing is looking amazing all finished, extremely clean work as usual.

 CommissarKhaine wrote:

And now you have LOTS of cereal packets for terrain-building.

Circular economy, right?

That thing is looking amazing all finished, extremely clean work as usual.

Thank you! About to basecoat it. Nice sunny day off for spray painting!

Hats off to you, that is pure excellence in plastic...

Thank you!

Got her undercoated this morning. Really pulls it all together. Also highlights all the glue overspills etc. up close but they’re mostly underneath and will be hidden by paint!









No longer a collection of tubes and bottle caps, it now looks visually coherent. Ready for painting now!

I also painted some decking. That took a lot longer but apparently I don’t need to wash or drybrush it?

Isn't it amazing what that first coat of primer does to a scratchbuild/kitbash?

Great work!

--Brian

It's such a great moment!

Such a good effect, apparently, that some oik on Imgur posted "Yeah that's not what scratch built means. Quite the opposite. Nice build nonetheless"

I'll take it as a compliment!

It looks factory-kit made- what a great build! And with a couple of (much smaller scope) vehicle customizations and one nearly totally scratchbuilt- yes, the moment when you hit it with the first base coat and it still looks good is heady, indeed.

Nice work as ever!

Thanks guys! I’ve started painting but a little Tyranid/Aeldari Battle got in the way. We played a new Chapter Approved missions ‘Targets Of Opportunity’. A brutal, drawn-out 7-Turn nailbiter. The Eldar clinched it when their last remaining model, a Farseer, walked out of his deployment zone to score 1VP needed to win! I had a Carnifex and a Tyrannofex left and there was nothing they could do to stop him. Such a strange but fun mission!

Edit: we were sharing photos of the game the next day and noticed I should have scored Linebreaker for a draw. We rolled up the last turn remotely whilst both at work! The Farseer took the Fex to 1W but couldn’t finish him - A DRAW! We are ridiculous people.

I’ve done a bit more work on the T’au Riptide-variant suit.



Detailing in T’au style is so different to Imperial. I’m winging it big time. Trying to hew close to GW’s style but also add little bits of my own touches, as it’s an experimental suit.

I have so much tidying up to do on this but it’s going roughly to plan! I remade the thigh pieces, starting completely over on them. I’ve made a toe and am trying to mould it to save making three more... will see how that’s gone on the morning and rethink plans if need be! I intend to run a stiff rod of some sort into the calf and into the base, so the foot and skinny ankle aren’t having to support the suit’s weight.

Study early Gundam, and it may help as well.

 Briancj wrote:
Study early Gundam, and it may help as well.

Haha good shout. I’ve been pretty much eyeballing it from various anime, Trabsformers and Tau images up on my computer. Keeps me inspired whilst not slavishly copying anything. I want this to be the Coldstar of the Riptide world.

https://i.imgur.com/dpEqb9X.gifv

Can’t for the life of me get the 360 GIFs to load here so I’ve linked it.

Bad photos in bad light tonight, but you can hopefully see the sheer amount of detailing done. Just a little left to go and I can call it finished and donate the XB104-X to her new owner. This one is going to be a present, as I don’t have a T’au force.



I decided against a shield, it didn’t fit my rifleman look. I decided to make the roundels under the pauldrons into Ion Shield Emitters, each covering a side arc. I added vanes emulating those around the GW model’s Ion Shield.

I also adjusted the stance hastily to get it ready for a battle in the week. Not 100% what I had intended but it allowed me to create a strong ankle joint and fit the feet on the base. Both important! The toes were moulded with green stuff based on masters that I made.

With the detailing and the vanes it’s really capturing the spacefaring, Coldstar-of-the-Riptide-world I was aiming for.

Battle-wise, she almost killed Eldrad single handed, branched nova charges multiplying shots and boosting her saves. She weathered a round of return Ulthwe fire, and bravely used a Stratagem to fire at full efficiency despite being on 2W remaining, but the pointy-eared crystal dill weed survived it all and Smited the big suit into oblivion. Still, Andy enjoyed using the suit so that’s what counts! M

"Greater love hath no man, than he give on a scratch build to a friend."

I can see the detail you've jammed in- excellent job!

That Stormraven is remarkable, well done!

MacPhail wrote:That Stormraven is remarkable, well done!

Thank you! It’s taking a small age to basecoat all the metal. Then I have to wash it all and recess wash all the green. It’s so borrrrrring but it WILL be worth it!

Meer_Cat wrote:"Greater love hath no man, than he give on a scratch build to a friend."

I can see the detail you've jammed in- excellent job!

Just an excuse to make something in a new style and not have to paint it!

The Tau suit is bonkers! I love it. Keep up the good work!

Thanks! I finished it up the other day and it’s now with its new owner. Pics at some point. I played my Tyranids against it and it put up a stonking fight before finally falling. It’s a weeee bit tall so we’re considering whether I should make some other weapon options for it to count as one of the FW suits!

I want to make a Titan soon but may try an update of a classic Epic Imperial Knight first. We’ll see...

Have I thought of applying for a job with Forgeworld at all? You’ve got crazy skills. I can’t cut a straight bit of plastic card to save my life. Any tips, but it looks like you just use a ruler, which still goes wrong for me.

Your scratch-building is so neat and clean!

The Umbra-pattern Stormraven is a masterpiece!

Andykp wrote:Have I thought of applying for a job with Forgeworld at all? You’ve got crazy skills. I can’t cut a straight bit of plastic card to save my life. Any tips, but it looks like you just use a ruler, which still goes wrong for me.

Lamby wrote:Your scratch-building is so neat and clean!

The Umbra-pattern Stormraven is a masterpiece!

Cheers guys.

I wrote up a little kit list and how-to at this post earlier in the thread: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/180/513429.page#9584963

I’m still planning on doing some videos but just need to get set up and find the time!

Any advice for working with plasticard would we welcome, be it a video or a simple written post. Most people also don't realise the advantage of a template when it comes to this sort of thing.

 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
Any advice for working with plasticard would we welcome, be it a video or a simple written post. Most people also don't realise the advantage of a template when it comes to this sort of thing.

I’ll be on it in a couple of weeks, got folks visiting for a while.

I have ordered a pile more plasticard from Hurlbat, including some 0.5mm (woo, splashing out) for easier curves, shallower detail, basis of capes, etc.

I was debating what to make, then Patoroch only went and released a Termite template! :O :O :O That might leap to the top of the build queue if I can find a suitable cylinder for the core (screw making a tube when I can reuse a found one and detail it!).

Trouble is I’d wanna make two, and load them with Dark Angels Company Veterans toting storm shields, with plasma and storm Bolters up the wazoo. I’ve had this idea of a drill assault element for ages, and was going to make counts-as drop pods in the style of emerged Termites (we’ve all seen the third-party resin ones and scratch builds right?). But the chance of having them slither around afterwards meltaing Eldar is too tasty a prospect to pass up! Having Iron Armour veterans storming out, boarding party style, oh my.

I’ve been painting-dodging again, making some Black Knights out of my Dark Vengeance bikers (simple plasma pistol clip/glue with scratch made Corvus hammers), and a Sammael to lead them. Sammael is based on Patoroch’s template for Corvex, with a few alterations to suit my mostly less blinged-up take on Dark Angels, and to save a tonne of sculpting work so I can get it completed quicker. I’ve gone with a Chapter icon instead of the Imperial Eagle on the prow, skipped the giant book altogether, and have it mostly assembled. A big old chunk of detailing, finishing and sculpting of cables and purity seals to go. Pics when I get time - I threw him together on Sunday for last night’s game. Top prevaricating.

The Stormraven did pretty well last night in battle, zooming forth ahead of my Ravenwing, attempting to assassinate the enemy warlord, but leaving him on 1W by split firing too much. At least he nuked the Banshees that I was worried about. She then bit the dust, but my opponent forgot she had passengers! She disgorged her cargo of Veterans, Tacs, a Company Champion, a Company Ancient and Company Master, who then had little fire to face as he’d spent all his shuriken fire chipping the Stormraven’s armour away. They then proceeded to shoot, soak up bullets, and charge through ruin walls to avoid Overwatch, and generally made a fine Aeldari paste out of the once-proud poets and painters.

Terrain!

Needed some variety from ruins all the time, so knocked up some LOS-blockers you can’t stand minis on:



Here they are naked:



I always find tin cans look better sideways on. They look less obvious tin cans then. Ingredients: two food tins, inner card tube from kitchen towel, assorted bottle caps, a sellotape core, MDF sprue from my Necro buildings, toothpicks, impact glue, superglue.







This is based around a light shade we were going to throw out, and a cosmetics gift box. Other ingredients: an iPhone box, tonic cans, copper pipe fittings, vitamin tubes, assorted bottle caps, a washing powder measurer, MDF sprue offcuts and MDF detail pieces, some mesh carpet tape stuff, a sellotape core, some bits of plastic sprue, printer cartridge tops, impact glue, superglue and PVA.

Primed (plus a hill made from an old uPVC door panel):



(The large paint pot is the many litres of textured black emulsion I bought for terrain! Cheaper than a tester pot at a time!)

Still soggy:



Really all comes together!

To finish it up I hit it with a very heavy dark blue drybrush, a mid grey blue drybrush then an ice blue drybrush. All with a 1” house brush! Washi tape then turned an average looking thing into a cool looking thing, as usual.







Oh yeah, I also threw in an old bike light and some cotton wool for a bubbling promethium tank!

Pretty pleased. They’re a good size for LOS-blocking and we’re done in an afternoon.

(I don’t know what I did differently on Imgur when uploading them but they’ve somehow had 115,000 views on there and 1,900 upvotes!)

Holy freaking cow! "In an afternoon..." he says. "Just some junk lying about..." he says. This is incredible! I love making things from odds and sods I find lying about- this is terrific! I'm actually getting ready to try to do a piece of Necromunda out of common household items (or a defense piece for the LoTR competition- I've never tried that before) and largely inspired by your blog here.

A truly fun piece, playable and clever. Really well done.

Wow, those look great! Thanks for sharing your tips on the paint scheme as well. The addition of the Washi tape really does take them from good to great. Thanks for sharing!

You’re welcome guys! Yeah, washi tape really is an industrial terrain secret weapon!

I’ve some stuff to post soon, including a scratch built alternate take on Corvex, and some ACTUAL PAINTING PROGRESS on things I’ve made. I know!!!

Very cool use of the light.

Wow

Lots of eye candy in this blog to gawk at! Going to enjoy working my way through all 13 pages.
Let me start by saying though that the terrain on this page is insane. Imaginative, very well constructed looking and with a natty paintjob to boot.

Subbed and eagerly following.

Thank you guys! Comments very much appreciated!

Unhappy with my old one, I decided to make a better Razorback turret...





Nailed it!

I didn’t use a template for this one, I just freestyled it. The Marine and chair were from an Attack Bike that never got fielded, so I turned it back into a regular bike. Waste not, want not... and thus the idea for this turret ‘remake’ came about! No magically disappearing legs on this one. Dude has a proper seat.

Very nicely done!

Thanks! I think it’s gonna get ‘new model syndrome’ later tonight; fielding a small 1K force against my friend’s T’au. Small, because I’m taking the Razorback *and* my Land Raider Crusader! That’s half my points gone.

Awesome conversions!

Thanks Ghostmaker!

I’ve got to take some photos, but I’ve just finished a ‘remake’ of the old Rogue Trader era Inquisitor in Terminator Armour. Yes, beard, ponytail and cyberleg guy! I had a spare Termy suit that was missing a leg from an eBay bundle, so it was just fate...

Also finished a bonkers Techmarine on Bike conversion, complete with Conversion Beamer. Stay tuned...

Here’s recent project #597... a ‘remake’ of the classic metal Inquisitor in Terminator Armour.



I always loved this model! In an eBay job lot I acquired a plastic Terminator missing its left leg and right toe. I’d previously started making it into a Captain, making a running pose with sprue and intending to sculpt armour. Never happened of course!

So the other day I set about doing a remake of the metal Inquisitor instead. I tried to image how the GW team would update the model is making it today.



Not many WIP shots I’m afraid, but this is a selection of angles of the main assembly and sculpting. I filed things back further and added some small details. The missing kneecap was my fault, I’d removed it and glued on something else, so I had to resculpt the armour’s patella.

I’ve been painting it the last couple of days, partly inspired by the very old Inquisitor novel cover, and partly in homage to the custom chapter I used to paint my Marines as before unceremoniously paint stripping them! That’s where the white pauldrons comes in.

Here’s where I’m at... probably 85% done at this point. Not a Golden Demon winner but better than ‘tabletop stabdard’, and I’m always learning.



I really think he captures the original mini well. The retro pauldrons shape, the needler/bolter combi weapon, the digital lasers and the bionic leg are all present, and I hope you’ll agree he’s recognisable as an update of this classic miniature. I added the Genestealer Hybrid head partly as I’d melted one flat with plastic glue by accident, and also as a nod to his role in the Ordo Xenos. I’ll play him as a Deathwatch Captain, with Storm Bolter with SIA representing the Needler Combi Weapon, and a Powerfist with Meltagun representing his Jokaero Digital Lasers in lethal fashion.

I'd say you've nailed it; I stopped acquiring Terminators when I stopped playing Space Hulk (so, around 1994) and remember this figure well. You've captured the original and incorporated upgrades subtly- a great figure!

Fantastic conversion there Johnny. An excellent re-imagining (?) of a classic model.

Cheers guys, I’m super happy with it. Painting is almost done so I’ll post more pics once I’ve added iconography.

Spectacular work as always! Inspiring me to pick up some plasticard to do more for my Renegades... Do you think a Salamander would be an easy first attempt at scratch building, if i follow Patrioch's template?

 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
Spectacular work as always! Inspiring me to pick up some plasticard to do more for my Renegades... Do you think a Salamander would be an easy first attempt at scratch building, if i follow Patrioch's template?

It’s not a bad place to start! Lots of straight edges, boxy shapes, hidden road wheels, not toooo many fiddly bits. Should be good! You’ll get to learn the joys of tracks hehe. I recommend ignoring the way they’re designed and going an easier easy route... take a peek at my Macharius build pics or nag me for how! You’ve also got a forgiving design for figuring out the first joy of making paper models in plastic... adapting to the thickness of the material. Tanks that are 1mm wider or taller don’t look substantially different, so you can get away with less trimming and bodging.

Super excited you’re going to have a go! Keep me updated with how you get on!

What is this?



Did I have to wait in whilst we got a new door fitted and spend all afternoon making something new?



Yep. I used a cut-down salt container with a couple of wraps of 0.5mm styrene for the basis. All the wonkiness and joins get hidden under later stages. Mostly 0.5mm today instead of my usual 40thou as I’m doing curved sections, with 1mm for the tracks, structural bit at base of the power plant/weird five pointed butt thing and some details.



What a difference a few rivets makes! Here’s a side by side comparison:



Loads of errors (track base layer on backwards, decided I’m hiding it with links rather than prying off x5) and stuff I’d do differently but that’s every build for ya! On the other hand several bits were easier to do in plasticard not paper, so many corners have been cut.

So far I’m super pleased with it. Lots more to do, including another 63 track links to go on then all 105 to shape a little, all the drill mech bits and more on the butt. Then hundreds of rivets. Then finally to tunnel up into an Aeldari base and drill all their dudes!

Also, inspired by another favourite Epic model from my youth, and by Meet_Cat’s Mortars (check out his thread!) I’m going to follow up the Termite with some Mole Mortars!

More to follow!

Sweet Mother of Styrene- that's awesome!

 JohnnyHell wrote:
- Decide where you want rivet. If it’s on styrene/plasticard apply a drop of plastic glue. I use Revell’s precision applicator pots with the needle tip. Regardless, I usually end up with more glue than I need. Don’t worry, it’s pretty thin and dries up just fine 90% of the time.

I prevent using too much glue by putting the glue on a random piece of anything (usually cardboard), picking up the rivet, dipping it in the glue and then putting it on the model. This only adds a miniscule amount of glue to the rivet, but ehough to keep it in place.

Great tip. I usually use that for superglue precision, but have just practised being more accurate with polystyrene cement... as I use too many rivets for that method to be fun!!!

I am envious of that Termite! As for the salamander, I just need to order some more plasticard and some beads for rivets and then I'll give it a go. Would you recommend starting by assembling the template to see how it all fits and then using a copy on the actual plasticard or just going straight to the plastic?

Up to you! I just went straight in with plasticard as I didn’t want to do the job twice. You’ll also need to adapt the templates a little to account for the thickness of the styrene

I’d suggest cutting all the parts as-is, and not trimming any down much. For the track units you can just use the two side pieces and track layer to save material. For the hull a mm or so of extra width won’t be noticeable. Tanks are quite forgiving builds.

I can recommend using double sided tape instead of spray mount. Much easier to peel off afterwards, though you do need to be careful you use enough so bits of template you haven’t trimmed/cut yet don’t fall off! I barely ever use spray mount now.

That's an amazingly accurate termite, Johnny. I thought it was going to be terrain at first; some sort storage tank.
How are you going to tackle to the drill?

Slowly! I started last night and after building a couple of sections I can see lots of compromises the paper model makes vs the resin version. I’m going to use the basic paper structure then try to up the accuracy a little as I go. Things like one long roller on the Patoroch plan is actually two cogs on the real model. Annoying as I’m too far in to full disassemble, but I can replicate something to give that effect easily enough. At the end of the day I’m aiming for “oh cool a Termite!” as the reaction to it, not 100% accuracy. Just needs to look cool and be playable.

I’m using 0.5mm sheet to roll into cones to make the basis of the conical cutters, and styrene tubes with surface detail for the cogs. I will also likely glue some sand in places if needed to add some post-drilling grunge and to hide the worst errors/compromises!

They are "just" templates after all. My reaction was definitely in the range of “oh cool a Termite!”

The inquisitor put a smile on my face, I remember that model. Damn fine work on converting him up. If GW decide to remake that classic model, I hope the person tasked with doing it sees that conversion.

I've missed to much awesome on this thread to comment on, but I'm glad to see some terrain here

Thanks OMN! High praise for the Inquisitor, thank you so much. More terrain to come soon too (I need to prevaricate and avoid painting somehow!).

Here’s an update on the drill mech assembly. Under structures for the small cogs on, adding cog detail (not worrying about bevelling every piece!) and a test cone added (it worked).



Very pleased thus far! I’m using offcuts from the track making process for the cog teeth, and I think it approximates the FW kit’s multiple cogs a little better without needing a huge redesign.

The ingenuity you and people like Blackadder, OMN, Wyloch etc show- pretty certain you could build these things for real ;-)

^ So true - fantastic work here!!

Thanks guys. All of those ‘hair rollers’ are now toothed up as cogs. I’ve a lot of small cones to make on Friday then cutting the teeth for those begins. May be a touch more laborious and involved than just cutting small rectangles that look like cog teeth at arm’s length! Wish me luck.

Well isn't this impressive! The termite is really coming along very nicely! I wouldn't want one of those coming up from below my battle line...

Thanks for the advice with the templates. I've got some double sided tape handy, the plasticard and half round beads ordered and on the way, and the template printed. Decided I'd go with the Griffon instead as it's probably more useful to me.

One last question: should I cut the elements out of the template to fit them more efficiently to the card or just tape the whole template to a whole sheet?

Keep up the good work and good luck with the Termite!

Up to you! I used to spray mount the sheet to a sheet of card and cut. It was easy to get me started and I wouldn’t lose Of forget pieces. Nowadays I cut each element or groups of elements out and then tape that to the plasticard.

Whichever method, grab a spare box and store all your offcuts. They come in handy for small detail pieces later on. I’m making the teeth for my Termite cogs entirely out of offcuts from making the treads. And keep me updated on your progress!

(Ooh, if you’re making a Griffon I bet you can make different drop in beds for Griffon, Basilisk, Salamander etc. with just a little tweaking...)

That's fething amazing! I don't know what I was expecting you to do with the front drill, but it wasn't that.

Do you make your own templates or do you get them from somewhere?

Cheers! This is one of Patoroch’s amazing pieces of work. I’m adjusting the front to land somewhere in accuracy between the papercraft template and the actual FW model. Chucking in some extra details to better match the original, and bodging where I’ve made errors.

Quick drill update. Having to down tools for a bit and prep for family visit, so here's what I've done when I was prevaricating and not vacuuming this morning!



Bit different to the legit kit, as that implies several contra-rotating toothed wheels... this is more of a stabby, whirry, burry cone.I like it though and should look fine once painted up. Now just to make another 6 mini cones and detail all 10...

Thanks for the advice!

The Termite is unbelievable now that it's got some detail on the front!

Check this pic out then!!!



She’s looking purdy. I bodged some little armoured wedges to blend in where I’d set the gun hatches above rather than into the body. They also beef out the front nicely. Rear finished apart from some GS cabling. Allllllmost done!

Also: some bonus Mole Mortars I threw together for my Guard...



Based off the ollllld Rogue Trader and Epic models, just to continue my nostalgia trip. These were pretty quick to make but doubt I’ll make more, simply because I don’t wanna paint ‘em all! Just a unit to annoy my mates, haha. May make some other variants like Heavy Mortars (also of a Mole variety, obvs) for variety.

Lovely work. The termite looks the business!

The Termite is fantastic- but mole mortars- that takes me back! No school like the old school- and you make it look so easy- well done!

Now that's craftsmanship right there.

Only one thing left to do with it.
-Mould it.
-Cast it.
-Make bank.

That drill head is seriously well imagined. Looks fiddly as all get out though to put together. How many hours do you estimate you put into this in total?

Oh man, sadly it’s totally uncastable the way it’s built! Time-wise, I spent about three full days and a few shorter sessions on it. I was watching Doctor Who and got through 2 and a bit seasons, not entirely while doing this but will do as an estimate. So somewhere in region of 25-30 hours maybe? I had a few sessions where I just stared at it and couldn’t be motivated to do the next bit, or didn’t have time to get stuck in, but later those short bursts were great for getting the teeth done and not burning out on it.

I mayyyy try some moulding soon. I want to make Mk I Leman Russes... plural. And I can’t be arsed to hand make every single one! Should be eminently castable if I build them right. The original Epic models are a different shape to the modern kit, and there’s an ace Patoroch plan for them. I’ll need to learn how to make ball turrets for the sponsons!

Cheers for the praise guys, glad you’re enjoying the builds. I really appreciate your comments.

I agree, the next stage completely bowled me over. You're sure you shouldn't go to work at Games workshop? They could do with the help!

Outstanding work.

*bends down to replace jaw* - That. Is. Incredible.

Hehe thanks guys! Family now gone so back to the modelling! My gf is away next weekend so I may have a Netflix and scratchbuilding marathon haha.

Amazing stuff! Love the termite.


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The metal Inquisitor was always a favorite of mine, amazing re-imagining of it!

Thank you! He was a proper labour of love and I’m really proud of him. Making the leg took some thinking, I can tell you!

Ok, Termite is now painted! Don’t all fall off your seats!!! Yep, I finished a paint job in just a day.

Here are the final details to its nose and butt:



Primed (that magic moment):



This was just matt black primer form a £1 shop. I then hit it with heavy drybrushes in various shades of iron and silver, all applied with a 1” house brush for speed!



Blocking in the green, further coats, then recess shading with Dark Tone:



A few colours and transfers. So far so 2nd ed!



Weathering! Lots of scraping applied with the 1” brush and various other brushes:



Then I ran very wet brown washes into all the nooks and crannies for mud, and some random orange for rust. Then a final bright silver drybrush to reestablish edges, and some black lining around the gun barrels.

The result:





I’m pretty damn chuffed with it!!!

This is a very VERY good model.... It only gets better with sime paint on it!

As a side note the plasticard has arrived... And the "rivets too... Have been experimenting with a sentinel and I'll show my progress later if you want.

Wow.

That thing is beautiful! You'd seriously not know it's just plasticard.

You made a tidy job of that mate, nice one !

Great scratchbuild and fantastic weathering!

Bloody hell. That looks like it's about to spring to life and burrow through your desk :-O

Seriously awesome build and paintjob there sir, hat off and jaw dropped!

This thing is so good I had to come back and comment on it again. It's fething astounding!

Thank you for the kind words guys! Was a lot of fun to do and managing to get it painted before it’s first Battle is hopefully a new precedent I’ll set!!!

The Termite did some good work in its first game, but the Mole Mortars were stellar, putting the fear of various gods into the Aeldari and making them make some lovely mistakes I could capitalise on.

Not quite a victory - I lost on VPs at tail of turn 7, but I would have won with another turn. He had barely any dudes left alive, whereas I had two tanks and some Veterans kicking ass and taking names. Still, a tense game and the Termite added a whole new dynamic. Very fun to use.

The best bit was surfacing to wipe out the enemy Fire Dragon’s and Warp Spiders that popped up in my backfield (a counter-deep strike), then most of the Marines jumping back in the Termite and going for a little slither across the battlefield to find more pointy-ears to shoot/chop up!

I like your skill to build any thing you want from plastic!

Thinking about build Marauder Bomber for myself, what do you think will it be hard?

 Strohkopf wrote:
I like your skill to build any thing you want from plastic!

Thinking about build Marauder Bomber for myself, what do you think will it be hard?

Having made a Thunderbolt, the body section is a bit of a pig due to some of the angles, but once that’s done it’s lots of large flat pieces. It’ll take a while but will be worth it!

Do you make up the blueprints for these scratchbuilds yourself, Johnny, or do you get them from somewhere?

 Snrub wrote:
Do you make up the blueprints for these scratchbuilds yourself, Johnny, or do you get them from somewhere?

I made up the one for the Taurox counts-as armoured car, but the rest are mostly by Eli Patoroch. There’s a large Google Drive folder with them all in now, and a Facebook page - much easier to find.

I searched him and found a thread on Zealot forum. Bloody hell, the guy is prolific.

Saved the pages for future scratch building attempts.

 Snrub wrote:
I searched him and found a thread on Zealot forum. Bloody hell, the guy is prolific.

Saved the pages for future scratch building attempts.

Could you share the link?

Here you go, the VK link to many of Eli's templates. Just click the link on the description for the full PDF format template.

https://vk.com/album-28784290_147338158

I found this one.

But Kyor's link looks good too.

Thanks guys, just clicked links and

Anyway, shan't derail this thread any longer - let's get the popcorn and see what Johnny's got to show us next...

Well, it’s something a little bit different, involving terrible woodwork, LED candles, cutting out hexagons and I’ve just bought a lot of filler.

That sounds wonderfully ominous! I'm sure it'll be great!

While I'm at it I'll leave these here:

Duuuuuude that looks great! You’ve nailed it! Enjoying working with plasticard?

Given how proud I am to look at this sentinel (It took a long time), I am enjoying it. it's such a shame Forgeworld don't sell the original kit.... It's such a nice looking model.

(PS: sorry for hijacking the thread a little. Long may the scratchbuilds continue!)

 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
Given how proud I am to look at this sentinel (It took a long time), I am enjoying it. it's such a shame Forgeworld don't sell the original kit.... It's such a nice looking model.

(PS: sorry for hijacking the thread a little. Long may the scratchbuilds continue!)

You’re very welcome! Lovely work. Are you going to start up a P&M Blog so we can follow your work too?

hah, you know it hadn't crossed my mind but I probably should! Now if only I could figure out how to post images into the messages properly instead of right at the end... I can't make head nor tail of the tutorial....

That Termite - Unbelievable and amazing. Great work sir, you're a master builder without question (and the paint job aint half bad either :thimbsup:

Thanks dude! Apreciated!

Resisted issue 1. Splurged on 2 x Issue 2. Here are my spoopy bois after some quick hacking and chopping:



Little bit of cleanup and filling to do but ‘‘twas a fun hour’s assembly! Only bits used were a Marine backpack (to replace vents where plasmagun was cut off), Cataphracti arm, Skaven tail and a Chaos Marine head, plus a few Citadel Skulls. I’ll mix with my Dark Imperium dudes to make one 2x Plasma squad and one 2x Blight Launcher.

Fancy building me a leviathan ;-) Nah seriously your scratch building skills are incredible! Plus I have a thing for IG so overall I love this log

Thanks dude! I am mighty tempted to have a go at some ridiculous Leviathan/Capitol Imperialis type behemoth!

 JohnnyHell wrote:
Thanks dude! I am mighty tempted to have a go at some ridiculous Leviathan/Capitol Imperialis type behemoth!

Just do it!

Then let my Fenriders circle round it.

I have to ask, where is that bird skull stuck onto the Death guard backpack from? It may just be the perfect piece to stop me needing to sculpt 15 bird skulls

Nurgle gribblies! what is the new plastic like? It looks a bit more shiney than previous GW types....

As for a behemoth.... I'd be interested to see that!

 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
Nurgle gribblies! what is the new plastic like? It looks a bit more shiney than previous GW types....

As for a behemoth.... I'd be interested to see that!

Works like a dream, the only challenge is if you don’t want to paint it then any cut bits will be a slightly different colour. But as I’m gonna paint that’s no issue. It’s not more brittle like the Space Hulk Genestealers. It’s just like the grey plastic but green!

Super cool work in this thread, very inspiring!

Those plague marines are looking good. Nothing like some simple conversions to help break up some samey samey models.


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Minigiant wrote:
I have to ask, where is that bird skull stuck onto the Death guard backpack from?

It''s from the citadel skull pack.

A (lets be honest) indispensable kit for any modeller.

 Snrub wrote:
Those plague marines are looking good. Nothing like some simple conversions to help break up some samey samey models.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Minigiant wrote:
I have to ask, where is that bird skull stuck onto the Death guard backpack from?

It''s from the citadel skull pack.

An (lest be honest) indispensable kit for any modeller.

Thank you, yes that's the kit! I bought it to get some Gor skulls for the 3D Gorechosen arena I'm working on, but the others are coming in super handy. The resin ones I had before couldn't easily be trimmed flat to go on a cauldron, etc. And the bird skulls are soooooo cool.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

g0rb wrote:
Super cool work in this thread, very inspiring!

Thank you! I will have more eon the go soon... work stops play just now.

 Snrub wrote:
It''s from the citadel skull pack.

An (lest be honest) indispensable kit for any modeller.

I have apparently been completely out of the loop and never knew about this kit.

Thank you for enlightening me!

Updates... woooot.




Here’s a pair of EveryRhinos I’m working on. They’ll be convertible to be Preds, Razorbacks, Rhinos or Whirlwinds.







Beginnings...builds don’t look like much for a looooong time and these looked boring until the side vents went on.



Side view before cleaning up some of the overhang the track guard pieces had. I made them by eye as the sides came out thicker than the template (thickness of the material being the reason) so I just cut a strip and eyeballed it.



Newbies with their venerable Deimos pattern sister!



A cat to keep you interested! Eddie is such a derp.







Going for an urban combat/harsh environment look. The front has been adapted to have a singled lensed vision port instead of a slit, and an armour panel applied to the opposite side. The cupola ring is from a Tesco fake £1 coin for trolleys and the turret ring is a 32mm base. The top plate can be swapped 180 degrees to be used as a Predator turret base plate instead. The side vents were made from 0.5mm sheet instead of my usual 1mm, to avoid massive seam lines. I’m learning!



Making guns. Starting with twin assault cannon loadout. The guns slot in and out to save on magnets. I’ll be making other loadouts too.



Test fit. Looking decent!



More detailing and Storm Bolters built. Again, fed from inside on urban-hardened pintle mounts.



And that’s where we’re at as of last night! More detailing to go on the hatches, LOTS OF RIVETS to do, door emblems, maybe some stowage and purity seals, then I can start building bits for the other variants. Phew!

Amazing scratch building skills! I bet those Rhinos could pass as the real plastic kits when painted! The only critique I have is that the wheels are a bit awkward as they come outside the tracks. You maybe could have put some spacers between the outer armor and the wheels to tuck them in deeper, but I guess that's too late now.

Yeah I totally agree. I cut the tracks and the pattern parts were too slim. So I wedged them in. Probably an error. May change my mind and layer them up - we’ll see!

Scatchbuilding is very hard to begin with, to make something that is hard to tell apart from the original is a true talent. Well played.

Thanks! According to one Imgur user I’m basically the devil and my habit of making a few toys for personal use is driving up GW prices for everyone. So now you know who to blame!

Almost done now. All detailed and riveted bar the doors, where I’m deciding whether to do 3D Chapter icon or just simple. Pics later.

Amazing work as always, such crisp lines.

 JohnnyHell wrote:
Thanks! According to one Imgur user I’m basically the devil .

Definitely made a deal with SOMEONE for those skills

I've seen people build the actual kits and have them look considerably worse than your scratchbuilds!

Very kind, thank you! I am super proud of these, turned out so nice.

This week’s hobbying...



Some scratch built boarding shields, FW-style. Will be used to make a squad of Dark Angels Veterans with lots of Combi-Melta, all hopping out of my Termite. Ouch.



Some industrial terrain made from till roll cores. Inspired by the chap at the till at Firestorm Games the other day. He was making similar, and I’d been hoarding till roll cores from work too. Charlie suggested the pallet and ties so I knocked one up.



I painted 13 Genestealers, three Ripper bases and a Lictor this week! I figured out a simple drybrushing scheme so I could actually complete models, instead of worrying about super detail. It paid off and they don’t look bad. Some WIP shots before all colours done, final shots to follow...







23 more Stealers to go... plus their friends! Will try and keep the momentum up.

Off again...



Making 2x Dark Talons. Doing two Razorbacks at once helped me get them done and alleviated the in-game issue of a lone target to prioritise. So here we go!

Reinforcing seams and covering vents inside:


I used 0.5mm instead of 1mm styrene and it was much easier with the complex shapes and avoided adding too much bulk like my previous flyer builds.


Those bits went together faster than expected! I deviated and made one set of wings and a cockpit:



Some bits will be slightly different to the GW model for speed/laziness/personal preference, as ever. More updates to follow!

Great jumpin' Jehosaphat on a pogo stick- the Mad Cutter's at it again! The build looks great already- machine made crispness with the circular base used for whimsy!

I'll say it again, but you really are a master of plasticard!

So the planes were getting me down, and I’ve put them to one side until I can be bothered with the faff.

My friend Charlie wanted to learn some scratch building, and to make another hull for the spare bits of his Octoblade, so he can run an extra X-Blade. So we had a ‘follow along’ session, and as a result I started making a Shadowsword. Mine will mimic the original Epic model in some ways, and the new kit in others. It’ll look retro but without the silly triangles at the bottom of the hull. You should be able to spot the changes from the plan easy enough, and it will set it apart as ‘my’ Shadowsword.



Humble beginnings - making wheels after track assemblies were made.


Wheels and spacers. They should be chunky enough to visually fill the space without lots of work bulking them.


Fitting them up. Looks weird at this point.


Thicker front and back wheels visually fill the space better without making a full depth wheel like the original kit.


Tracks skinned with a base layer of 0.5mm styrene as the 1mm wasn’t behaving. This was a shortcut that would come back to bite me throughout the project! Patience, builders.


Starting the other side. The panels are meant to echo the original Epic model as mentioned.


Beginning to assemble the hull. It is in fact a smal bit too high up, but it’s long glued now! I may add a monstrous dozer blade or something to hide this. Or not, and say “Forgeworlds are different” as splainy.


Size is looking good!


Casement construction begins.


I later added an extra slope to the rear to mimic the Epic Shadowsword’s casement more closely.


Test riveting. Looks the part.


Barrel made from two till roll cores from work. You’ll see them again as fuel drums and sponson pivots! Very handy little ABS tubes for free!


Detailed up a bit. I strengthened the join and added the barrel support the Epic model had. All freestyled based of memory, images and the plans. Hopefully echoes some of the pewter model shapes whilst incorporating a little updating.


Yep.


Using packing strap as a vent grille texture. I think this works?


Engine detailing begins. Largely following Patoroch’s template.


Another side by side.


So my Twin Heavy Bolter is on the turret, not on the hull, again for nostalgia reasons. I ration that this is on a swivel/pivoting arm, so it can extend up a little to protect the tank all round. I didn’t model that mech because life is too short!


Detailing progresses...


Fuel drum assemblies built and installed.


Lascannon assembly stages. Still need a little trimming and filing.


How she looks right now! Sponson pivots are made and installed, ready for the Heavy Bolters (won’t be magnetising... who puts flamers on a SS?).

Detailing has largely progressed from front to back! I’ve got the exhaust vents still to build then it’s just a lot of riveting! I may also add some skulls using the plastic Citadel Skulls kit.

Stay tuned for more!

Simply magnificent.

That is gorgeous. Nice build!

Thanks guys! More updates soon once I upload some pictures. I’ve completed the sponsons and engine exhausts now. Some cabling and stowage to do, and allllll the tracks and wheels to detail up. Aiiieee. I’ve also made a defense stubber, and riveted a helluva lot more. Enjoying this build a lot!

Whoa. Once again I do my back in picking my jaw off the floor

Beautiful. I should pay you to make a tutorial/manual/how to, with a video tutorial on top.

--B.

i'll say it again, you are amazing at these.
where is it you get the rivets?

I love the genesetalers. I consider blue and purple the only "proper" colour for them, and you have done it compelte justice.

I am completely blown away by the shadowsword though!

Thanks guys, very kind words. I’m really happy I’ve recreated one of my favourite Epic models, and after fielding it for the first time earlier in the week it is a BEAST in-game. Naughty fielding before I’ve finished it, but meh.

dreadwing wrote:
i'll say it again, you are amazing at these.
where is it you get the rivets?

They’re 1mm half round nail art beads bought from eBay! I bet I get through more emery boards and nail art beads than a nail technician haha.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Fifty wrote:
I love the genesetalers. I consider blue and purple the only "proper" colour for them, and you have done it compelte justice.

I am completely blown away by the shadowsword though!

Thanks... I totally agree re: Stealers. I do have one Leviathan-painted squad that we’re the Spawn of Cryptus in 7th, and they offend me.

Splendid work as always, such precise money saving work.

So much money saved. Mind you, this was a styrene-hungry build. Probably about £10 worth of materials on this one, plus glue. i still have some putty work to do to add cables and stowage. Soooon.

Anyway, randomly I doubled back and finished off the Thunderbolt I started maybe about 18mths ago!




Finally finished the intakes and hoses. I used a tentacle maker and green stuff for the hoses. For the vents I smoothed in a layer of GS and used the tip of a clay shaper to add the detail. A 5mm nail art bead added the cone.




The Citadel Skulls kit is ace. Slice off the back and hey presto, skull detailing! Some inset into circles like on my Shadowsword, some as ‘fighter ace’ markings. I also added some stripes to the nose to further personalise, and solved/bodged the gaps around the flight stand mount and tail exhaust.




I hadn’t drilled the hole in the side of the autocannon barrels before assembly. Bad lazy! Went back and did it. Pleased now. I also added a trim around the cockpit to avoid doing any filling. Sensible lazy!


Video link: https://i.imgur.com/NoVIrZR.mp4

It’s over-riveted compared to the FW kit, and there are a few notable differences, but I’m super happy. The missile racks are magnetised to swap in different payloads. Now to paint her!

Solid work. And if you wanted to match the FW kit...you'd buy the FW kit.

--Brian

Good point, well made!

I started getting paint on her yesterday...



Primer down. This is the magical point where it’s now a model, not a bunch of scraps.



Getting the base colours down.




Wing stripes basecoasted.




Current state. Metal to do, grey and blue to highlight, windows, then it’s on to weathering. Very happy with progress.

The most Orkish of all Imperial Flyers.

 Briancj wrote:
The most Orkish of all Imperial Flyers.

Haha it is kinda Orky, yes!

In truth I ran out of red primer. I was gonna do a red from above / grey from below split scheme, but got bored of basecoating so left more grey than the original plan.

I suppose if I wanted to be a TOTAL NERD, the Thunderbolt came first, and Ork Flyers kinda followed its design.

It follows the same design principles of Aerodynamics Not Required.

If i see this without info about its creation, i ll think it is an original miniature! So impressive

Thanks, if I’ve achieved that then I’m super happy. :-)

This morning I finished off some LOS-blocking walls I’d started.


Cheap and easy. Packing polystyrene sheet, polyfilla, textured paint, drybrushed. Cap of plasticard strip with cut-up mesh turned into razorwire on the top. Bam.

They can hide tanks as big as a small superheavy!


Two sections will be plenty to add some variety to my city tables.


Andy asked if I was gonna graffiti it, so I did. Lots of in-universe in-jokes.

These only took a few sessions. One to build and glue up, one to add filler (should have used more, I was lazy and end result texture suffered), and one to paint. I look forward to cursing myself for building them when Eldar are hiding behind them.



Cutting mesh to make the razorwire. This was from a salvaged cooker hood grille, degreased and cleaned up.


Wrapping around a tube (plastic till roll core)to make the coils. These were hot glued to the plasticard capping strips, sprayed black and roughly wetbrushed gunmetal.

Holy cow those are nice! And brilliant idea for the razor wire! I broke down and bought some awhile back, but it's so expensive. I like this way much better. And the neighbors don't really need there window screens!

Be aware it’s pretty flimsy so you have to protect it. These will have to live in my miniature cabinet not my scenery tubs.

Nice to see the thunderbolt finished, it looks brilliant!

Just gone through this whole thread, your stuff is incredible, love the clean lines and it's a total inspiration. I've had a couple of ideas in mind for scenery and models so this has given me the kick up the arse to actually do some stuff. What diameter plasticard do you use for models versus scenery, or is it the same?

Also how are the Praetorians, you still doing work with them because they are amazing.

I must confess they’ve been neglected for some time, but I need to get them painted up as I’ve started fielding them more often.

Happy I’ve inspired you to make some things. The Blackadder inspired me, with his modelling log, so I’m happy this knockoff has done similar. Make sure you link me!

Wall is nice! Really usefull piece in game (what is very important I think)

Wow, those Plasticard skills are immense. Here I was feeling pretty chuffed with my BFG stuff and then I see this.. I am both amazed and annoyed at your skills!!

The plasticard skills on display here are disgraceful. That termite is just amazing... it really looks the part, and I say this as someone who loves the look of the FW model.

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words. Super proud of the Termite, and in game its AMAZING.

Working on some scenery for a game today. Converting a pork scratchings tub into a barracks/tin warehouse type thing. Pics later.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here we go, a bunker entrance/magazine/barracks/something:






Finished and ready for battle vs the Aeldari tonight!

Re-ee-wind:


Assembled and ready to paint. Base is made from polystyrene packaging and an old picture frame back, coated in filler and pva, then textured paint. The green vent thing is from a jar of pickles! The tube is from pork scratchings! Rest is my usual plasticard and nail art bead rivets recipe.


Some flatter views of the build before painting.


Quick spray black, then blast mostly from above with silver. Spray paints £1 each from pound shop!


Mix of Dark Tone and Strong Tone washes, wish some matte varnish and water added. Don’t need to be neat, just avoid too much pooling. Slap it on and fix it as it dries.


Weathering with a rust wash. Just watered down Khador Red Highlight from P3.

Base was drybrushed dark blue, blue-grey then ice blue. And we’re done!

Super cool looking!

Like the way you firstly shows finished works, and then process

Thanks! In hindsight I wish I’d added the hazard tape to the whole of the side panels rather than half, but meh, it’s all good! Didn’t take too long and will add some different dynamics to our games. My regular opponent is king of Wobbly Model Abuse, so this has a gentleman’s agreement that you can’t stop on the domed roof! Will avoid lots of silly balancing and falling. We’ll just treat it as unsuitable to be on.

Apply the old rules for Wobbly Models. On a 6+, they take a fatal wound, un-saveable by any means.

Genius!

Awesome work on the bunker! The detail on the doors is especially impressive. It could pass for a store-bought model, but knowing your scratch-building skills, it's no surprise.

The basing doesn't really work for me though. The inch-thick foam is a bit much, and it doesn't really blend with the game board. It looks like you have some thin board under the foam? I'd just leave the foam off.

Yeah the base didn’t go to plan. The board warped, the polystyrene is basic. I’ll redo it at some point. It did add to the playability though, in last night’s game. We had Tyranids fighting Craftworlders for the secrets within... sadly despite an uncanny comeback the Tyranids utterly whiffed their Turn 3 and the Aelves triumphed. Good game though! Narrow The Search is a cool mission.

As much as I hate the site of Plasticard right now, that's still an awesome site!

Love your stuff Johnny. Been catching up on old posts as I work the graveyard shift. Really inspirational stuff here.

Thanks Cleatus!



Extra last bits of detailing done. I’ve left the inside of the wheels without detailing... they won’t be seen and I can’t be bothered!




Side and top views. The variant side panels / rear sponson / slope to rear of casement is designed to look more like the original pewter Epic model than the plastic 40K kit.




Some details. The grilles and vents are cut-up zip ties. All the guns and the HK Missile are magnetised, and the barrel lifts out for transport.




Here she is in all her glory. I’m very happy with this build! Paint next!

I never thought of zip ties for vents! Brilliant!

 Briancj wrote:
I never thought of zip ties for vents! Brilliant!

It’s been a little game-changer for me! I’m such a hoarder, but this particular hoarding has paid off in spades. Different sizes of cable tie for different vents/grilles, without tedious chopping and fabricating. Give it a whirl...

Agreed- that bit of Hints from Heloise using the zip ties- fething brilliant! I shall now go and build something that is composed entirely of vents and grills.....

Love watching your projects evolve- the work is so clean and precise it's as if you'd bought the kit- except the level of detail and realism is beyond that of any kit. Truly wonderful work.

That Shadow Sword is brilliant!

Can't wait to see it painted.

Cable ties for vents, that's inspired! I'm going to go and slap some on my next build, whether it needs them or not.

Awesome work as always, you just keep raising that bar!

Thanks guys - show me what you get up to with the cable tie idea!

I quite often get spent ones from work so it’s another free bit of detailing. Different sizes give diff effects. May even attempt a plasma gun using one as the coils.

Shadowsword is now primed, though my paint got sputtery and it’s a tad damp today. Meh. Weathering fixes all!

Painting is underway. I’ve run out of red spray so I’ve opted to do in a similar scheme to match my Thunderbolt Fighter.




Priming done with £1 shop sprays.




Blocking in the red section and recess shading every. single. rivet. one by one!




Starting to drybrush the red. Using mod flesh tones to avoid going orange.




Drybrushing built up, and testing some dirt/rust runs from the rivets. Test area done... now to repeat over the whole model!

 JohnnyHell wrote:
Thanks guys, very kind words. I’m really happy I’ve recreated one of my favourite Epic models, and after fielding it for the first time earlier in the week it is a BEAST in-game. Naughty fielding before I’ve finished it, but meh.

dreadwing wrote:
i'll say it again, you are amazing at these.
where is it you get the rivets?

They’re 1mm half round nail art beads bought from eBay! I bet I get through more emery boards and nail art beads than a nail technician haha.

Aha! Very nice solution to the eternal problem of riveting.

Zip ties are quite versatile for scratch building. It's nice to see someone else realize their utility.

Ah, very nice work here Mr. Hell. That Thunderbolt turned out quite nicely. Well, all of your projects have, TBH.

Carry on.

Amazing job! Your work is very neat. Everything looks really good!

Updates! Some old, some new...



Rescuing a plane I started making from a slot-together wooden kit. Bright idea was to use various square and cavalry bases and make a biplane Valkyrie. It looked horrible and sat in a box for at least five years!

I dug it out and skinned round the lumpen assortment of badly-glued bits and it looked kinda like a seaplane. So I went that route! The AdMech fusing a seaplane and a VTOL gunship seems like something they’d do. The twin tails of the wooden kit would have been a pain to do so I made a lumpen back section. Bit toy-like overall but meh. Better than binning it! Details all freestyled, no plans this time. The grey plastic bit is from a broken toy Bat Signal!



One of our cats got killed by a loose dog yesterday, mauled to death in our yard. I tried to do something to pass the time and finished modifying and riveting the plane.





Started undercoating it. Black first to fill the many crevices, then grey, then hand paint the red like my Thunderbolt.

———

Here’s one I was holding out on you with until I’d finished painting it. We know how my painting goes, so here it is...





No early build pics because it got thrown at the wall and I lobbed it in a box. Decided to persevere!



Posing with quad las. Feet looked godawful when made to the template so I remade them by eye to be more accurate.



What’s this???



Surely not...



Yep. The idea is he can be armed in death as he was in one of his roles in life. Bloody big chainsword, representing a Chainfist, twin las or assaultcannon. All magnetised. Oh and I widened and built up a Terminator Cyclone Missile Launcher for extra Dakka.





From naked to basecoated - what a difference!







Painting underway. Far from done but gives you an idea of where I’m headed.




Oh and here’s a bonus Chainlord I made for a friend. His relic chainsword is styled to look like a Daemonette’s claw, to match his army theme.

That’s all for now! Check back in soon and we’ll see if I’ve put any more paint on anything!

(P.S. couple of spinny gifs and extra shots at my Imgur: https://imgur.com/gallery/e3RbJGj)

CHAINLORD!

All looks good, except...and I'm very sorry, but those rocket pods would rip right off in the event of a water landing.

 Briancj wrote:
CHAINLORD!

All looks good, except...and I'm very sorry, but those rocket pods would rip right off in the event of a water landing.

Oh most definitely. Their position is my little nod to the “AdMech aren’t quiiite as smart as they think they are” riff that runs through 40K. Misplaced inspiration. ;-) This is most definitely no seaplane. It’s not even aerodynamic - held up by thrusters and blind faith!

Sorry about your cat dude, that's awful :-( but oh my god those are some amazing builds, especially the dread- how do you bend the plastic like that?

Be thee WITCH, JohnnyHell???

 Skinflint Games wrote:
Sorry about your cat dude, that's awful :-( but oh my god those are some amazing builds, especially the dread- how do you bend the plastic like that?

Be thee WITCH, JohnnyHell???

Thanks! That was 0.5mm curled carefully around tools then glued... well. That stage was what caused the build to be flung across the room and curtailed my plans to make three! When I reattempted it it worked ok. Essentially a thin sheet superglued just along the edge/at ends. Not fun! I used Milliput and sanded it to get the final finish.

What I like best about him is using a regular Marine helmet. I’ve never understood why a Marine’s head grows in death. :-D

Previously on “John never finishes stuff”...



I left this unfinished for over a year. Using some solemn downtime to sand down the *awful* filler job I did, rivet and detail, and prime up ready to start seeing the table more. Came together nicely in the end! I envisage this as a Talonmaster who prefers orbital drops in a modified Tempest, then he blows the canopy and fights with the wind in his face and his sword free to fell the Heretics...



Primer does wonders to a scratch build. Pulls all the disparate bits together and hides a multitude of sins! The hardest part in early experimentation and learning to scratch build is simply visualising what things will look like after paint stops them looking like a pile of random stuff.

I think I remember this one 'back one'- gotta tell ya- not seeing a lot of sins even in the unprimered version.

Great build and very believable back story!

I just wanted to add to the chorus of disbelief at your plasticard skills. Absolutely astonishing work and topped off with paintwork that really makes the models both alive and cohesive. Buy yourself a pint, if I were in Cardiff I would do t for you.

Thanks guys! A beer sounds like a fine plan!

Need to finish painting the Talonguy tonight if I can as he’s going up against some Chaos tomorrow. I know my Ravenwing will likely get slaughtered but they fit my ‘no tactical patience’ playstyle haha.

Taurox redux...





Scions of the Praetorian LXXIX disembark under enemy fire!

I started this ages ago but finally completed it, in my new spirit of Actually Completing Stuff. Didn’t love the old turret; although it looked suitably archaic, I kept getting stick for it being a bottle cap. I made a new one based on a Baneblade sponson turret, with magnetised weapon options. Shown here with the Taurox Gatling Cannon and twin Autocannon.



Profile shots showing the new turret and weathered paintwork.





Some other detail shots. C&C welcome as ever!

Very nice build- congratulations on moving another model into the 'Finished' column! Love the paint scheme and how you've done the weathering- not too much, but definitely a street-rod.

Gotta say, with a car with those lines, "Praetor Al Capone, reporting for duty, ya mooks!"

Thanks, Meer_Cat! Once again, the trusty 1” house paint brush comes in handy for the weathering, with a combo stippling/drybrushing technique. Though I did start off too aggressively and snapped off the front axle! Oops.

Tasty! M1 Combat Car template, and milk carton lids for the wheels? And ALL THE RIVETS ;-) love it, ace job

 Skinflint Games wrote:
Tasty! M1 Combat Car template, and milk carton lids for the wheels? And ALL THE RIVETS ;-) love it, ace job

Good spot! I modified an M1 car template in Inkscape to make it double width, added a detail layer and soya milk lids for wheels. The wheels were too big and the fairings extended too far back so I made the platform to compensate!

Oh, Inkscape, my old friend.

Soooo... new build time!



This fugly thing is the inspiration. I love and hate it in equal measure. They released one with a Praetorian body back in the day, so that’s why I’m making one for my plastic Praetorian converted force.




Here’s the basic body structure. No build pics as there were lots of small fiddly bits! Bit chunkier, but that was intended. I’ve “new Mini’d it”.




Starting the legs. Daunting. The design is awful but I’m gonna stay relatively faithful!




More assembly.




I’m not piston about... arf.




Beginning toe fabrication. Lots more to do. Updates to follow!

I spent a small age detailing last night while my girlfriend was playing Borderlands 3... here’s where I’ve gotten to:



I think it’s a pretty fun remake/update! I added an underslung HK Missile for good measure and to bulk out the silhouette. Stands about 4” tall!!!



I added extra detail in lots of areas, notably the feet. I kept the weird toe wheels, why not?!



Just cabling etc. to add with Green Stuff and I’m done!

VERY nice work! I used to own a few of these, so bravo!

FINISHED! Now to prime it...









A friend suggested just using wire instead of putty, and I couldn’t be bothered with the tube tool today. So instead I used piping either side of the chassis, and for the hydraulic cables on the legs I used one piece of stiff wire and two pieces of electrical wire each side. Did the job in minutes instead of hours!

Dude, that is freaking AMAZING

WWWWWooooah!

Way cool!
Inspiration for us all!

Can't wait to see that bad boy painted.

Thanks chaps! It’s partway done already... based, washes, drybrushes and highlighting happening. I’ll upload pics later in the week hopefully. Treating myself to a new can of red spray paint helped HUGELY.

FINISHED.





Ok, maybe not 100% done as I need to add some markings, but 99% there. Mostly washes and drybrushes as life is too short!

And here’s a quick primer porn shot. This is the magic stage in a build. The primer coat unifies all your work and it becomes a ‘real model’...

I'd run that in my army.

 Briancj wrote:
I'd run that in my army.

Thanks dude! I’m really happy with it.

Mortar teams almost done. They don’t have the pith helmets, as I’m almost out. Fluffing it that the support section sensibly wear ear defence, so go for standard Cadian pots. Or maybe my Whiteshields man the mortars and I should paint white stripes on their lids? Whaddya think?

Well, we could get you more pith. But, I like the idea of different helms for different jobs.

--Brian

That is a real masterpiece of a scratch build, well done!

Very kind, thank you!

Dayum, my favourite plasticard seller is no longer selling. Anyone got any good + cheap sellers that they've used in the UK please?

Also for foamed PVC? (looking at you @Briancj )

Regretfully, I live in the US, so I have no UK suppliers. (sad trombone sound)

stationroadbaseboard.co.uk is where i buy mine

dreadwing wrote:
stationroadbaseboard.co.uk is where i buy mine

Thanks, I'll give them a try!

That's... an amazing build JohnnyHell - as always!

Thanks, CommisarKhaine!

And thanks for the tip on stationroadbaseboards, dreadwing. I found their “seconds” on eBay, reduced as they’re scuffed. Fine by me, as I’m sanding and painting them anyway. Bigger than A4 and cheaper than my old supplier. Nice!

So I’ve been busy but not been posting as I was making a birthday present for a friend. He’s acquired two drop pods, and a Contemptor. So I wanted to help the Contemptor keep up with the Veterans in their pods... only one thing for it really...










First assembly was nerve-wracking. Making parts true is hard enough... a trio of true? Ayayayay. Test fitting with my scratch built Contemptor:





It fits! Better hope Charlie’s Dread isn’t taller (spoilers: it’s slightly shorter, phew)


I reworked the doors. I made some in styrene but they were either flimsy or too difficult to get the shape and the bulk.

So, inspired by briancj and Insaniak I bought some 3mm foamed PVC. Two layer bulked out the doors just right, and I added detail layers in plasticard as normal.



Making icons - a sane person would have made one and moulded it. Not I...






Doors assembled and gap-filled:





The treads were done with packing strap cut off a cat food delivery! More details were added later.


Before rivetting and greebling:



And after:



I forgot to take more pics showing the hinges working, but here are some rotational videos showing the doors open and closed:

https://i.imgur.com/899mEXX.mp4

https://i.imgur.com/LMoaPwj.mp4


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I gave the Drop Pod to Charlie at our gaming night at Firestorm and he promptly un-deployed his Contemptor to redeploy it in reserve! He was most happy and sent me a family photo of all three pods the next day, haha.

I’ve spent all of today making Zone Mortalis-style walls, after a very very fun game using the Space Hulk tile set and fan-adapted ZM rules for 8th. Lots of walls made. Pics to come soon!

FaaaannnnnTASTIC.

Thank you! It was fun to make until attaching the doors. Very stress inducing. Wish I’d built the hinge in and assembled differently... then the rivets got in the way and I had to sand two off per door. Very rage-inducing. Got there in the end!

how did you get the deatil on the fist symbol? file/ fine sand paper?

since i gave you help on a new source, mind making me a mastadon? lol

dreadwing wrote:
how did you get the deatil on the fist symbol? file/ fine sand paper?

since i gave you help on a new source, mind making me a mastadon? lol

Hahhh that is a daunting build. I wanna make one someday!

The icons... I use double sided tape to affix the template to the plasticard. It also means I can lift it off and stick to different bits of card for the next layers. I work from outside in, lifting and restocking to the next part each time.

I first cut the large circle from 1mm styrene. Then the inner from 0.5mm. Then I cut the palm/digits from 0.5mm styrene as close as possible, roughly trimming corners, and finally sanding the curves with my emery board. I then glued it all together. The rivets were half round 1mm nail art beads as usual, and really make it pop. They give the icons some real ‘weight’. Easier than I expected make, as it was largely cutting rectangles and sanding corners. The palm required some delicate curve cuts and dressing using a round or half round needle file.

Zone Mortalis stuff to come another time, but for now...



MkI Leman Russ, baby!

I got given two Russes for my birthday, and I bought a third. So I dug out the hull I’d started scratch building and decided to make a counts-as Pask.



This is the inspiration, the original Epic scale Leman Russ before they redesigned it. In keeping with my other retro Guard, my “Pask” is driving a prized relic.



Sanded the front cupola to a curve, added the tracks and started adding links.



Testing the turret. I actually cut this down after assembly as the paper plans had a ridiculously tall turret. It’s magnetised and rotates freely and securely without a physical rod through into the hull.



I made a mantlet that allows elevation. Sadly it’s the only pivoting gun on the model due to lack of foresight and lack of patience! So be it! The Battlecannon is using a spare Vanquisher but (counts as normal Battlecannon). It can simply be removed and the Punisher Cannon slotted in if I want to run that variant. Everything else is hard glued because eh, BS2+? Might as well take the good toys.



The Russ kit Plasma Cannons were way too big for my needs, so I freestyled some. Layered alternating strips, glued, capped, sanded and wrapped, with barrels and details added afterwards. Came out nice!



He has a slight “I NEED A HUG!” stance, but I’m really happy with this. I updated the sponsons a little from the sticking-straight-out gun the Epic model had. Halfway between Epic and 40K looking, I think. Also I glued the sponsons in upside down, whoops. Looks fine. You can also see the hull-mounted defensive Heavy Stubber. I added it here to mirror detail on the original Epic model. Chose Stubber for looks and range over the Storm Bolter that might be more ‘accurate’ to the old lump of lead.



As it looks right now as I head off to work. Lots more riveting and detailing to do, as well as a detail layer on the tracks. The end is in sight though... then I can start magnetising the plastic kit Russes! 3x Commander plus Pask is gonna make people *cry*...

Funky build, got a cartoon vibe fo sure.

Aaaand we’re done:





Pretty happy with how this ended up. There’s stuff I’d do differently if was to make another but for now I have three actual Russ kits to magnetise your to be his friends! C&C welcomed!

The tracks look great, and the bulky engines. I like how it's clearly styled after the Epic tanks without being a complete copy. For example, the side-hatch above the tracks is a view-port in the Epic tank, so you clearly have the inspiration from it without being a blind copy.

A+

Thank! Part of that is Patoroch’s plan, part of that is me only following them to main build stage then kinda free styling it when detailing. I reduced the height a lot, and that meant missing off some viewports. The mantlet was also all freestyled as the plans just had a wedge shaped box. Glad you like it.

By the Emperor, that's once again a brilliant scratch-built model! I wasn't familiar with the Epic design before, but I think it's close enough that it doesn't look odd when put next to the new models. Could be sold as a "special" mark from Forgeworld I reckon! The only thing I don't like that much is the plasma cannon turrets. The cannons themselves are great, but the joint doesn't look functional. There doesn't seem to be enough space inside to turn the gun like that, if you catch my drift.

That is... a lot of rivets. A lot. A whole lot.

Well done!

 mcmattila wrote:
By the Emperor, that's once again a brilliant scratch-built model! I wasn't familiar with the Epic design before, but I think it's close enough that it doesn't look odd when put next to the new models. Could be sold as a "special" mark from Forgeworld I reckon! The only thing I don't like that much is the plasma cannon turrets. The cannons themselves are great, but the joint doesn't look functional. There doesn't seem to be enough space inside to turn the gun like that, if you catch my drift.

Can’t disagree at all, very fair feedback! It’s a bit of a didn’t think it through bodge. I may do back and redo the sponsons with magnets so I can switch the weapons, and so I can paint the tank whilst redoing the weapons. For now though they’ll do as a placeholder!

Never throw away test bits!

I made a Christmas gift for Charlie, who I made the Crimson Fists Dreadnought Drop Pod for.

I made the doors originally as a box construction of 0.5mm styrene and bracing/padding. They were still to flimsy, and the odd shape would have made 1mm too chonky, so I rebuilt using foamex.

I saved the test doors though!

I made one new fin in full detail, and two in plain foamex, with intent to cover the detail areas in ‘mud’ from the crash landing.

Some paper maché, filler and a few details later and this is what resulted:







Hope you like it. I’m really happy with it as a lazy build that will look great as scenery. Lots of details skimped on vs full Pod build, but enough to look good. In particular the couplers near top of veins are a simple strip instead of layered tubing, and I couldn’t be bothered to make two more Fists logos in full so I ‘blast damaged’ one of them.

What was extra fun was randomly chipping chunks off it all over so it will look extra beaten up from its crash landing.

Can’t wait to see how Charlie paints it up!

I'm a little bit in awe and very jealous of your scratch building skills.

Thank you! Grab some templates and have a go. Practice is all it takes. I had a lot of time, was unemployed and couldn’t afford kits, which was the impetus for me starting. Now though it’s just something I enjoy and a way of making unique stuff. Starting to combine that with my love of terrain making is also super fun.

Two more builds done lately - one I can’t reveal yet as it’s for a birthday present... and it’s one of my best!

The one I can show is something I’ve wanted to make for a while. I found some ten-year-old Russ track sections and made this...







The Heavy Flamer is from a modern Russ, with added scratch built receiver, fuel tanks and a dual grip from a HWT kit.

This was testing the slide-in deck section:



I’ll be making other decks for Basilisk/Wyvern etc. Possibly an Autocannon for the alt Salamander Scout build.

This was the basic build finished before detailing:



Sides are two layers of Foamex for ease of construction with the odd side box shapes. Here’s the very early stages after all the basic shapes were made and stuck together:



Let me know what you think!

Superb! Waiting with bated breath for the other one if that's even better

That drop pod is bloody brilliant Johnny. Useful as a gaming piece and a terrain piece!

That lovely little salamander is fantastic work too of course. The detail work on the heavy flamer rig is sublime.


And that's a bold claim if you thing secret project is one of your best. Considering how good all your other work is!

That's really impressive! And I love that you bothered with the underhull details.

I THINK you sold your soul to the Warp for those plasticard skills

That Salamander is very well done, you can call me 100% impressed

Thanks all! Super kind words.

Yeah Secret Guy is one I’m very proud of. Hopefully pics up soon.

The under hull detailing was lazy, I didn’t do the rivets that wouldn’t be seen, but those strips... why not?

Now just waiting for the Welsh weather to, well, weather a little less so I can get some things basecoated! I came into three regular Russes for my birthday so I have a LOT of tanks to paint now.

Did some some painting... jumping armies again...





This is a dreaded ‘concept scheme’! The concept is hiding in shadow, so minimal colour, but just flashes of colour for interest on lamps, guns, weapons and effects. Not meant to be OSL per se, apart from on the converted Nexos, just something cool to look at. Aim is to get all the army to this stage, so they’re table-ready, then go back and pick out goggles, facial detail, Cult icons etc.



Colours used if you fancy a bash. I used P3 but any will work. Top row is the main ‘night’ colour, and it’s basically the Space Wolves armour colour triad drybrushed over black primer. Then the other colours get drybrushed on. Add edgelights to taste. Made a wash from Coal Black to shade the flesh.

I think these guys will look effective en masse and hopefully get me a feeling I’ve completed an army!

And some hand flamer conversions to round out a squad of twelve...

What's your technique for cutting out little pieces like what you've used on the hand flamers? (which are excellent, btw)

I struggle to get little pieces like that accurate cut up or shaped. Does it really just come down to practice or do you have a specific method for it? What sort of blade do you use?


Really love the bright orange drybrushing on the GSC too. It's a really interesting look.

 Snrub wrote:
What's your technique for cutting out little pieces like what you've used on the hand flamers? (which are excellent, btw)

I struggle to get little pieces like that accurate cut up or shaped. Does it really just come down to practice or do you have a specific method for it? What sort of blade do you use?


Really love the bright orange drybrushing on the GSC too. It's a really interesting look.

Mostly just practice tbf. Sometimes I cut a strip to a set width then cut sections off, for replication and/or ease. This helps a lot. For odd angles I glue up regular shapes, wait for it to dry, then sand off the corners with my emery board or knife trim them - never be afraid to glue, wait, sand and reshape. Sanding can be tricky when so small but I sometimes am literally just rubbing the end of my finger against the emery board with the part wedged underneath! For the domes and pips they're nail art beads as usual.

The knife I use is an 18mm snapoff blade knife, part of a cheapish two-set on Amazon, blades just bought cheaply on eBay. You need a sharp edge so if cutting ever feels difficult, just snap off a segment and carry on. I use an old Berocca tube as a sharps bin to stash the snaps in. Make sure you get a knife with a metal blade guide... the ones without end up breaking, as the knife eventually starts wearing the plastic above the blade slot due to applied pressure, and the whole blade ends up moving. Sucks.

Awesome stuff as always, great idea on the interchangeable back end salamander.

 stonned_astartes wrote:
Awesome stuff as always, great idea on the interchangeable back end salamander.

Like many things like this though, I've yet to make another back end! Rainy day project mayhaps... luckily we get plenty of those in Wales!

Here’s my pièce de résistance... made as a birthday present:



This is the X-VSP-1D... an experimental T’au Battlesuit. Counts-as a Coldstar Commander. Fluff is that it’s either a Vespid-liasing commander paying tribute to their form, or an actual Vespid granted a customer Battlesuit.

I’ve used lots of hints to the Vespid models... the cables, head vanes and stacked ‘eyes’, wings, clawed hands, fly-like feet and the torso ending in a stinger.

Making the arms went like this:


And making the guns:


A few mid-build views:


The grey robo-stinger got replaced by a more Vespid-like one...


Assembly before the Green Stuff cables:


The build before GS:


And some detail views:


C&C welcome!

Sweet looking ride!

--B

feth me!
You weren't kidding when you said you it was one of your best. It's a properly stand-out work of plasti-card kitbashing. Any idea how long it took you in total?

That's a wicked build.

That battlesuit looks amazing. I get a real Gundam vibe coming off that miniature. Nice rivetting job on that battletank too! Thats some dedication there.

Thank you guys! I’m super happy with it.

 Snrub wrote:
feth me!
You weren't kidding when you said you it was one of your best. It's a properly stand-out work of plasti-card kitbashing. Any idea how long it took you in total?

Looking at photos it was done from start to finish in three days. One evening, one big day build alongside housework and music recording, and a final sesh to do the Green Stuff cabling. I had barely any time before Andy’s birthday (this one was for a gift) so I had to sprint it!

So cool.

No, *you* spent three days making a tiny Battle Barge...





A friend suggesting adding BFG to our 40K campaign, and as my DA have been retreating back to their fortress in our games I thought I’d start with a Battle Barge.

I used lots of different photo refs online, including a spinnable 360 on Thingiverse. Landed somewhere in between a few interpretations.


The start point - just some layers of foamex and pieces of styrene.

Welcome back to BFG.

--Brian

Holy crap, he really did it. You maniac, you magnificent lunatic - bravo sir!

Thanks guys! I’ve made up four Hunters to escort this guy, and added press-moulded Aquilas and Dark Angels Chapter icons. Pics up soon, then onto some Cruisers.

Here’s how we’re looking after a couple more days... I’ve added four Hunter Escorts, two Gladius Frigates, a Nova Frigate and three teeeeny tiiiiny bases of Thunderhawks.


Layering up the Hunters. Apparently favoured by the Dark Angels, so I plumped for making four at once.


I’m using the illustrations from the rules as a main reference, scaled to the size people online say the ships are. They’re looking cool and about the right size so I’m happy even if they’re ‘off’ at all!


Cute l’il Hunters done!


I layered the Frigates out sideways, mostly so I could use sprue to save on material and bulk out quickly. Also as a dry run for Imperial Navy vessels later. Making a common hull design then adapting the weapons for the Nova.


Nova done, Gladius x2 to finish.


I added some press-moulded details to finish the Battle Barge. Really set it off nicely.


The tiniest Thunderhawk you’ll likely see haha. Still has 9 pieces to cut per ‘Hawk! I made 6, so enough for 3 bases.


The fleet before basing. Bases were standard GW 25, 32 and 60mm bases, along with some 20mm square for the Thunderhawks. Cut pieces of coat hanger were used to make the flight stems, they’ll be painted black eventually. The Thunderhawks are mounted on wire from prosecco bottle tops!!!

Oh, beautiful work indeed

They look great! Scale doesn't really matter much in BFG, as the ship is actually the stem of the base. What matters are the base sizes.

--Brian