Gitsplitta wrote:@Styrofoam:
I'll make you a deal... if you paint a Corsair for me... I'll paint a Mantis Warrior for you. We'll each figure out how we're going to incorporate the model into our respective armies, and we each do the build so we have what we want gear-wise... but we'll do the painting for each other. That way you have an authentic MW and I have an actual Corsair! We could always paint each other's colors... but that's not the same as having it done by the person running the other chapter... that's much cooler. Perhaps there were some members of each chapter "stranded" with their allies when Badab went to hell. Perhaps not all corsairs were converted to chaos before the end of the rebellion, thus when their chapter fled, they stayed on with the MW's to attone for their misdeeds, or perhaps some MW liaisons to the corsairs became tainted during the war and fled with them. I think it works... as least as far as I'm going to worry about. It is very fluffy and could add some interest to both our armies.

Actually building a tainted MW would be a peach.... I'm jealous already.

Gitsplitta wrote:@Styrofoam04:
Actually, while you could have a tainted mantis warrior in your list, I couldn't have a Corsair in mine as at the time of the rebellion they were the Tiger Claws... not the Red Corsairs. However.... my Mantis Warriors don't yet have any dedicated objective markers. If I put a seriously cool chaos marine blazing away on a 40mm base (as like a Corsair accidentally stranded) it would make a great and very fluffy objective marker for me (trying to capture the stranded Corsair for inte. etc).

Styrofoam04 wrote:That would be really cool. It would be like a Raiding party that was overrun and he is the 'last man standing' surrounded by empty shells, magazines, and bolters! I'll prolly open a WIP and we can work on the details. I'm pretty excited!

After having this conversation with Gitsplitta I have decided to start a wip. I will make paint one of my Red Corsairs to trade for one of his Mantis Warriors. Since his fluff wont allow one to be apart of his army it will be an objective marker 'last Corsair standing'

But before I can start I need as much info and ideas for this project. I havent done much conversion before but this will be a great place to start!

I'm slightly confused - are you making or painting the Corsair? Or both?

Either way, it is a pretty cool idea.

If you are looking for things to include on the base, you could try adding in an autocannon with the barrel melted/glowing red hot (if you are painting it), ripped sand bags (from bullets etc), bits of bodies and rubble that have been blow about by grenades and or from failed assaults, fallen comrades, perhaps the ripped and bloody standard of the Corsairs/raiding party, and plenty of empty brass casing.

I will go through some of my watched threads/bookmarked pages for some tutorials on making various things and see if there is anything fun that might help you.

Chains might be fun - for tying up plunder and slaves.
General basing ideas/tips
Making sandbags - can also enhance them by using some cloth with a good fibre pattern on it to press into the bags.

I'll be making and painting i guess.

Those sound like great ideas and any help and links would be appreciated.
i really like the sand bag idea

I had an idea of having him reach for a bolter that still has a fellow Corsair's arm attached to it. But I dont think it would turn out and it wouldn't be as action packed

I've added a couple of links to my post above.

If you want to bounce any ideas about, feel free. Same if you want any advice on how to do things.

Personally I would arm the guy with a bolter and a bolt pistol, one in each hand. Then have him aiming them at different targets, perhaps as if he is sweeping them across a wall of enemy?

I might be tempted to gouge a couple of chunks out of his armour and GS the underlaying support structure (check out the shoulder pad on the dead guy in the bottom right corner of this image to see what I mean).

If you want to go a bit more wild on the conversion, you could possibly try and pose him crouched down taking cover behind a barricade?

I think you might want to avoid posing him in any way which does not represent combat.

OK Styro.... I'm on board too. If you want, I can post periodic pics of my progress on your mini here too.... though I'll probably run the full WIP on my Mantis Warrior blog.

The only criterion I ask for is that it is mounted on a standard 40mm base, so I can use it legally in any 40k game as an objective. Other than that, the world is your oyster....


Think about what you want for your figure. I'm part of a big gaming group here so can probably scavenge any bits I need to do the modeling that way. You just tell me what kind of marine you had in mind, any gear needed, weponry, etc... and I'll do my best to pimp you out a chaos Mantis Warrior the likes of which this world has never seen! (well.... that's the plan anyway) Anybody with ideas for me is welcome to post them... my blog is here... http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/289929.page.

Good luck Styro... this is gonna be a kick!

When i think of the bolter and pistol idea I think of Boondock Saints and this image (but with power armor)


I might use a space wolves head and have a broken helmet on the ground

The broken helmet sounds like a cool idea.

I also like this idea....but the space wolves heads look a little goofy imo....Id go for a basic bald and give him some nasty scars.

Ive painted some faces I'm not sure which would look best.

I haven't painted the hair yet, that will come later
or should i just use a reg CSM head

LOL, for some reason I can't stop laughing at #1. The mustache...it just....lol. Id use one of the open mouth heads that show some motion, like 13 or 5.
Anyways this is a great project and I hope it goes far! I love swaping Marines between people, If you want another contestant, let me know!

OH, btw, Boondock Saints are AWSOME!

six looks the best in my opinion

I think head number six would look the best.

12 Looks a bit asian.

I might go for 13 and chop off the top knot.

Six looks great... but how are you going to put the cigar in his mouth and the beret on his head?? *grin*

Five, six or seven.

#7 looks like Arnold from Conan the barbarian

#3 or #4 looks the most like the big yin in that photo...

I also started a marine swap PM blog, so make sure you post your progress there as well!
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/305404.page

So far 4 votes for #6 is that the final verdict?

As for the helmet I'd like to hollow one out then add the damage to it. I have a small dremmel and hundreds of small bits, a few ball ones. has anyone done this? Is there a tut? should I hollow out the eyes as well?

Hey Styro... don't forget you need to provide me with some information as well so I can start on your half of the project! I need to know what kind of marine you want and what gear you want him to have... once I have that I can start my part of the bargain...

GS

Ya I'm still trying to fig that out.

What are Mantis Warriors known for?


What role would i use them in?

I guess since he will stand out maybe make him a aspiring champion.

Styrofoam04 wrote:Ya I'm still trying to fig that out.

What are Mantis Warriors known for?

Two lines on this... & since I know you've had the insane patience to plow through my blog, I think you're familiar with both.
1. From the original rule book, the only thing notable about the MW's from dozens of others was the existence of "Tranquility Campaign Snipers", full marines in specific camo w/ bolt guns. You've seen my take on that as Sternguard.
2. Goto talks about "Mantidae", special assault marines that go into a permanent state of battle trance and have to be led by another marine with a "connection" to reality (almost like eldar wraithguard). They're his invention but I'd planned on doing a unit as Vanguard, I think you've seen my prototype there too.

Otherwise they're just a UM successor chapter, so basically anything goes. A reasonable back story is that the marine in question was working closely with the Tiger Claws during the Badab War as a liaison of some sort and became corrupted in the process. I suppose he could have been any type of marine, or be in any type of unit. I have tons of RT era marine parts and can get ahold of plenty of chaos bits to in order to make a really interesting conversion. All I need from you is some general guidance on which direction to head in.

Styrofoam04 wrote: What role would i use them in?

That's the $64,000.00 question. Anything from a trooper to one of the members of your command squad... depends on how prominent you want him to be.

Styrofoam04 wrote: I guess since he will stand out maybe make him a aspiring champion.

As you see fit... just tell me what I'll need to know to correctly build the WYSIWYG model and I'll take it from there. Will have plenty of chances for your input in the process so you're happy with the end result.

The problem with chaos is they don't have scouts or snipers. what I meant was are they more CC or heavy weapons, etc.?

i want this MW to be unique. I might even make a squad based around him. (which goes back to the champion)

My chosen are are made up of blood claws turned after the crippling the Wolf of Fenris. They are called Huron's Wolves.

If they are CC I might use him like Berzerkers?

if they are more Heavy then in a squad of Havocs or another chosen?

or even fast i have a squad of rapters still in the box?

O.K.... assaulty... I can do that. Jump pack? I can rig him like the Vanguard I experimented with... or I can try and green stuff up some actual preying mantis arms and say his "mantidae" style chain swords actually chaos/mutated into real preying mantis arms over the years (chaos still does that to it's adherents, right?).

I can do a heavy too. Just keep in mind that he's going to be a chaosed out Mantis Warrior, not a straight chaos marine. I think you'd want his origins to be clear... not just like one of your existing marines painted green instead of black. Though it would be useful to see a photo of the others of his troop type, that way I can see what his immediate influences would look like.

Most Chaos do, but I don't think Huron dabbles in mutations. The Red corsairs are pirates (renegade marines) they take technology to expand their army enough to take back what is theirs ... Badab! I believe any Mantis warriors that remain would want the same goal for their planet. To be truthfully honest I'm not a fan of the new codex and I'm thinking of using the SM codex instead (but don't tell anyone). Most of my stuff is SM based.

But hey use your desecration I believe anything you do will be awesome! I just need him to be usefull. a killer mantis warrior with mantis claws would be great with berzerkers but its to bad that skull champions can't have lighting claws and to put him in a squad of shooty marines would be a waste. So this is the problem I have; how do I utilize him?

In the old codex I would put your guy in Huron's retinue but I don't have that option anymore.

That's OK Styro, I can wait... Take your time and sort it out, when you think you've got enough for me to get started... just let me know.

If it's not to much to ask I'd like it to be a Raptor aspiring champion. that way i can make the rest to follow suit. and it would be a unique unit.

The mantis warriors can be the speed of the Red Corsairs. they drop in from the skies and tear you apart with their mantis chainswords. Then move on (sounds more like locusts, lol)

I'll prolly have a squad of 5 or more. One with a meltagun and the rest with bolters. And An Aspiring Champion Raptor w/ lighting claws(mantis claws) to lead them

If it is not plausible then I'll think of something else

Nope, that's perfect! (was kind of hoping you'd go in that direction) I already have some ideas for some interesting "deviances" from the prototype to make him truly unique. What size base are they on? Normal or large (i.e. terminator). I've got a neat idea but I think I'll need a 40mm base to pull it off.

I'll start pulling the parts together and get started! Would you like WIP pictures here, or should I keep them over on my MW blog?

lol I can sense your excitement in your text! Go all out, I don't want to hinder your work in any way. I can't wait to see your direction

if you could post here as well that would be cool. It will keep me on my toes and add a bit of competitiveness!

good luck cuz mine is gonna Rock!

Don't forget to check on the base size for me... I'll need that to plan out whatever action I'll be modeling. I want him to be cool.... AND legal!

Sounds sweet

Gitsplitta wrote:Don't forget to check on the base size for me... I'll need that to plan out whatever action I'll be modeling. I want him to be cool.... AND legal!

Well since I don't do tourneys and my buddies are fine with it. Then any base size is fine.

as for my WIP:

I have hollowed out the helm and will take pics soon. Im not sure what battle damage to do to it? hopefully I'll get some time this week.

Well, it'll be a few days before I can start assembling anything. I have an idea for my the MW doing a flying bushido kick, one mantis-arm extended with the kick, the other in the ready position. If I can pull it off on a small base, I will... as this is probably the legal base size for the figure. If I can't however, I'll build it on a 40mm (terminator) base. Everything is just an idea until I start assembling the figure though.

OH, and I watched "Boondock Saints" for the first time because of the photo you posted.... very cool flick. Now added to my DVD collection.

Thanks!

The 2nd one isnt as awsome, but still pretty good.

You really wouldn't want to take your helmet off in a battle situation unless A: your badass or B: because it is useless/damaged C: its uncomfortable or D: to show rank.

Finch Claw wrote:You really wouldn't want to take your helmet off in a battle situation unless A: your badass or B: because it is useless/damaged C: its uncomfortable or D: to show rank.

or unless you're in a movie. Wearing a helmet is the leading cause of death in hollywood. That and not having a name, backstory or relevance to plotlines.

ssREV wrote:

Finch Claw wrote:You really wouldn't want to take your helmet off in a battle situation unless A: your badass or B: because it is useless/damaged C: its uncomfortable or D: to show rank.

or unless you're in a movie. Wearing a helmet is the leading cause of death in hollywood. That and not having a name, backstory or relevance to plotlines.

lol!

I plan on adding damage to the helmet. I'm just not sure by what did the damage. I know i want it on the right side of his face (his right). and I know i want a pretty big chunk missing. I was also thinking of adding a few scratches on his face. The helmet did it job.

You could put a large split down the middle like someone smacked him in the face with a sword but he pulled back or they didn't hit him hard enough and his helmet split leaving him unharmed.

Bio-acid of some kind for the damage, always seems to get a trooper to drop his gear in the movies. ohohoh.....or phosphorous grenade shrapnel with directional lighting effects.

Both totally cool. Keep up the good work both of you following all the threads on this one.

Bio-acid of some kind for the damage, always seems to get a trooper to drop his gear in the movies. ohohoh.....or phosphorous grenade shrapnel with directional lighting effects.

Both totally cool. Keep up the good work both of you following all the threads on this one.

bio acid eh?

I think the schrapnel idea works a bit better. You could then carry on the damage to the armour around the area.
This is a sweet idea and i cant wait to see some of the planning from gitta

send some pics.

its a great idea!

Sorry for taking so long to post pics but I really inly have the weekends to really do anything

Here are Ideas for the hollowed out helmet. Its not painted but it is primed so you probably cant make out the detail. Tell me what you think

Not lightning claws imo. 2nd is best if you don't wan't to model extensive damage to the corsairs face, plasma would wreck it pretty bad

I think the 'Bloter' would be the best option. You could simulate him being targeted by Vengeance Rounds, which would be nice and fluffy too

Mantis Warrior update: I got the legs for the flying bushido kick done today. This was the most critical step as the whole pose hinged on getting the legs right. It was also the trickiest as the legs had to be completely cut apart, filed to shape and reassembled. Still have a bit of green stuff fill to put in, but the scary part is done.

No pics as a storm knocked out our satellite Internet & I have to use my phone to post. Maybe tomorrow.

- GS


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Additional update: Body, head and legs are built and assembled. Will start working on the arms next, though there might be a bit of a delay while I wait for the shoulder pads to come in. I can always paint the rest of the figure while I'm waiting though.

Further update: Found perfect parts to do the arms and "mantis swords" & began the process of dissection and re-positioning... will have less of that to do than I had feared. Should have the build done in a day or two.

wow I better get a move on it! all i have is a head and a helmet

Take your time Styro... I'm just working through the build as I'm inspired to do it. I'm in no hurry... I just made a decision to only do one swap at a time and have other folks who are already working on marines to swap with me... so I need to get yours done before attempting anything else. Don't want you to feel rushed... take your time, have fun with your conversion! Stretch your legs a bit with it... no problemo.

So I was able to find some time and I now have a all the marine pieces I need. I have the head painted. I tried to paint the beard a salt n' pepper look. (I'll get pics as soon as I buy batteries) I have a CSM torso, legs, and backpack. I have two out stretched arms holding bolt pistols. To get the left one I had to use one from the SW sprue. Im not happy with the angle, it might be too far apart. But if he's fighting multiple targets it kinda makes sense.

I tried to do the bolter hole in the helmet, but it didn't turn out. So I made look more like he was attacked by a chainsword. I'll have to build the base before i can paint the helmet so I have an idea how it will be placed.

As for the base Gits wants a 40mm base. There is not much I can add to a 40mm base so I'll have to keep it simple (so no body parts ) I'll probably have a sand bag wall filled with bullet holes and bullet casings and magazines everywhere. I haven't decided if he will be behind it or In front. I think in front would be more like the movie but in stead of cars behind him taking all the bullets it will be the sand bags (why is it that after 40,000 years they're still using sand bags? )

Gits: I'm going to need to know how you do your bases so I can match to the planet your on

I was thinking of a brief story to go with it:

Huron received an intelligence report that a imperialist Mantis Warrior Chapter was paroling near the Maelstrom. He sent a small raiding party to gather information and their technology. He thought it to be wise to send his trusted chosen, fore he is unsure of how deep the remaining Mantis Warrior geneseed in his Corsairs goes.
Unfortunately for his raiding party, they were ambushed and all but wiped out. Brother Il Duce remains and fighting tooth and nail with everything in his arsenal. Not so much to stay alive, but to kill as many of them as possible! Every corpse means another bolter or magazine.
During the last assault Brother Il Duce nearly lost his head by a chainsword. An expertly aimed bolt to the face from his bolt pistol, stopped the advance of the chainsword through his helmet. Feeling the hot blood trickle over his ear and down his cheek through his beard, he decides to remove his helmet. A helmet that prolong his life for the moment.
Knowing his doom is near, he equips any bolter or pistol he can find. He will not have time to reload therefore each weapon added will be seconds to his life. He then leaps over the sand bag bunker that protected him and begins his last stand! ...

Sounds great Styro, love the fluff! Sorry about the small base size, but if you're going to put all this work into it, I want something perfectly legal so I can use it in any tournament without having to get approval from my opponent. 40mm is the standard... HOWEVER.... if you really feel the need to go out to a larger base to meet your artistic vision... go for it! If it's cool enough, I don't think most players would have a problem with it, especially if I place it in a fairly "neutral" position on the board. Just don't go beyond dreadnought base size.

Two options with the base:

1. Take a look at my MW's. they're all done the same way (mixed brown GF-9 gravel flocking, washed with sepia or delvan mud, then tufts of static grass or tiny bits of fall color lichen here or there).

2. Build and paint everything, but don't flock the base, when it get's here, I'll carefully flock the bare parts of the base to match the army.


Come hell or high water I'll have a photo showing my progress by tomorrow.

To be honest, I don't want to part with it.

To solve this problem and the base problem I've decided to make another marker or terrain for myself. It will be the opposite of this one. It will be of the Mantis Warrior with a hole in his head. tee hee hee.

The objective will be to find and rescue Huron trusted Chosen. With Huron's Wolves on the scent it will be only a matter of time to find and capture the objective. Unfortunately they will only find his Chosen dead and Brother Il Duce missing

Oh, I like that.... two part of the whole! Very neat.


Automatically Appended Next Post:


OK, finally got things to the point where I can show my progress.

Meet Benedictus. A member of the vanguard and liaison officer to the Astral Claws during the Badab War. Was corrupted by chaos during that time and fled with the Astral Claws (now Red Corsairs). The final model will have a Chapterhouse pre-herasy jump pack and a chaos shoulder pad on the cybernetic arm (left), and one of my original free-hand mantis warrior pads on the right arm. Depicted in a flying Bushido kick (the right leg is actually bent at a sharp angle to simulate the leap, you just can't see it from this angle).

I wanted him to be a little chaossy but not over the top. He's not a traditional chaos marine, as with the Red Corsairs... having "turned" relatively recently (100 yrs or less). Since the original Mantis Warrior badge had large mandibles, I've included them in the build. I figure things like chainswords would wear out, so I used chaos swords instead of imperial models. He has one cybernetic arm and on that shoulder will be a chaos pad, as if he'd lost an arm in a battle and had to repace it (and the equipment) with what was at hand.

It's a really rough build at this point, but will get more refined in short order.







I'm sorry Styro but I had to put him on a 40mm base (termie sized), tried and just could not make the "leap" plausible on a smaller base.

GS

Wow! that looks pretty awesome! Can't wait to see it finished. Don't worry about the base. I'll make it work. The fluff is pretty cool too! As for one of the shoulder pads could you leave it blank so that i can paint it in my colours, to show his allegiance.

I ended up reading Badab War campaign book and in it states that when the Astral Claw retreated, "Small bands of Executioners, Mantis Warriors, and Lamenters fled with him into exile and together wield a mastery of the Maelstrom’s secret ways that are still unmatched by the Imperium". I'm not sure how accurate it is but they do use alot sources.

It also shows alot of paint schemes for all the chapters involved. I started thinking that if I ever start an army for Apocalypse it will probably be "THE GUARDIANS OF THE MAELSTROM" with the 4 chapters and a squad of guard "Badab PDF". Although I would need alot of $$ and it would probably take me the rest of my life to finish, but it sounds pretty cool.

Progress: I have the model primed and base coated. Going to have to go to LGS to get supplies to start the terrain (and buy batteries for the camera). hopefully I can get started on it this weekend.

Glad you like him... he looks even better with the jump pack on. He's still is a "rough draft"... needs a lot of cleaning up, detailing and such... but I think he'll look very cool when done. Well, at least he's what I was aiming for, so I'm staying true to my vision for what that's worth.

I'd like to do up the base a bit... not the flocking, you'll take care of that so he matches your army... but I think it would be a more convincing action shot if I had him leaping over something... what would be approprtiate? rubble, shrubbery... rock wall... what do you think? I'd say pile of bodies but I don't want to do that much extra painting...

Bring me...... A SHRUBBERY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, "Rodger the Shrubber" finally pipes up...

Also, you must chop down the tallest tree in the forest WITH A HARING!!!!!!

Well mine are all desert based. So if its a shrub make it a dead one. Is skeletal body an option? Maybe an animal one? Razor wire? Ruins? A banner? Tumbleweed? ...A land raider!? tee hee hee

Cactus?

LOL... "A" for effort.


Can do all of those (except the LR). Would be happy to do a skeletal body if I had one. OK, so I have some good direction there, I'll put some thought into it and see what I can come up with.

Hey Styro, this is essentially the final build (minus the correct chaos shoulder pad, whatever I do to the base and cleaning up the swords and adding little bits and bobs to the figure). Here is the build with a proxy mechanicus pad in for the chaos one (left arm). Everything is temporarily tacked in place with green stuff. Hope you like it. - GS

Can't wait to put some model's face into that foot!

Cool story relating to my half of the project.

So, I'm hung up waiting on a chaos shoulder pad. As I'm chatting with a friend at my FLGS, another gentleman overhears my need and offers to help. I swing by tonight to pick it up & when he sees me he realizes that he's forgotten the shoulder pad. So what does he do? He walks over to the army that he brought to play that night and PRIES OFF one of the shoulder pads from a chaos marine and hands it to me. This gentleman does not know me from Adam by-the-way... just overheard my conversation in the store.

THAT's good juju Styro... I hope this figure really kicks butt for your Corsairs... cause there's some serious good will in that pad.

Speaking of which... do you want me to paint his chaos pad in Corsair colors, or MW colors? Either way is fine with me, just don't know how closely affiliated you want him to be with your chapter.

ROFL that guy is my hero!

Update:

- attached chaos shoulder pad to model
- reduced lead foot size from a 14 to an 11... much more palatable
- fixed sloppy seam between right arm and body
- trimmed right arm up so that the right (Mantis Warrior) shoulder pad fits better
- added second motor to left (extended) chainsword & cleaned it up in general
- green stuffed the circle on which the MW design will be painted onto the right shoulder pad

Things should be ready to prime tonight! Still not sure what I'm going to do with the base but there's plenty of time to sort it out.

Thats kinda funny! I just picture the guy standing there saying "here" then ripping apart his model!

I would like one of the pads in the corsair colours. I use:

Basecoat: Scab Red (few coats)

Wash: Devlin Mud

1st Highlight: Scab Red

2nd Highlight: 1:1 Scab Red + Blood Red

3rd Highlight: Blood Red

Final Highlight: 3:1 Blood Red + Flaming Orange

I'm not good at blending so ming are usually in layers. if you have any tips on a better way of doing it let me know.

Styrofoam04 wrote:Thats kinda funny! I just picture the guy standing there saying "here" then ripping apart his model!

That's pretty much exactly what happened... blew my mind.


I can do that, no problem. I don't so much blend any more (though I used to) as paint in layers... BUT... if the layers are thinned enough, they will do a bit of blending on their own as the darker layers will show through the edges of the lighter layers.


What color trim to you use?

Sorry forgot about that. Black Trim
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/301890.page

No problem. Next pic you see there will be PAINT on 'im... (to some degree).

Nice thread, you should update it with your recent stuff.

Looking at your terminators, I think I have an idea for the base now.... thanks!

OK, have made a small but very important bit of progress... Because if the way the model fits together, I can't do the final assembly until I finish painting the Mantis Warrior shoulder pad... so I did that tonight (as well as starting the process of "greening up" the rest of the figure. I haven't painted one of these by hand in probably 15 years. Ain't any easier, that's for sure.

Here 'tis. Might try to crisp up some of the edges with yellow, but this is so small I may just count my blessings and leave it the way it is.


If I'm going to keep doing work this small, I'm going to need a stronger lens on my optivisor...

Progress on my figure for Styrofoam04. To recap... a "tainted" Mantis Warrior vanguard. Basic paint is done. Still have lots of details to do and the base of course. Camera is set wrong and I haven't had the patience to read the book to figure out how to re-set it so these will have to do for now.

GS

that looks great!1

I now have to apologize to you Gits and everyone else. I am ashamed to say I have neglected my duties in this swap. Unfortunately I have caught the StarCraft 2 bug and I have been unable to cure it. The alure of Plastic Crack has not been enough nor has the constant beatings I receive playing online. but these new images might have broken the fever!

I give every one my Word, that I'll spend all day Sat. on this marine swap and I'll buy those damn batteries to take pics

Take your time Styro, still a lot to do on him... and he can run with my boys until you're ready for the swap. This is supposed to be a fun exercise... if you force it, it won't look as good when you're done. No worries.

The Starcraft bug affects the best of us. It has drastically slowed down my progress as well.
If you need to get thru campaign, terribleterribledamage will help

It'll be a few days now before I can paint again... but I wanted to post my progress. He is effectively done, base, eyes and some other minor details non-withstanding.

Hope you like him Styro. I hope to hide the post in the terrain on the base, if I cant, I'll switch to a wire support.

Edit: you posted at the same time. that looks pretty cool cant wait till I see what you do for the base

Alright It's Sat morning as promised here is some progress. Here is the photo with my Il Duce head. I added some cuts on the side of his head. where the helmet was damaged by a chainsword


And here is the model with number 6 head

Those look great Styro!

Heya! Just wanted to pop in and give both you guys some kudo's on this great idea. Mr Styro, on the heads if you're still not sure - I'd like to vote for the Il Duce head because I think it looks better.
A guy with a beard always says 'grizzled and experienced' to me... Which is what I believe a lliason (spelling?) between two chapters should be? Just my $ 0.02.

Thanks. I was unsure until now. Number 6 doesn't look like he has the brains or experience to survive till the last man.

Well I've been working on the terrain for a bit and I think I have my layout.


I will be making 2 markers. One for Gits and the other for myself. and they both will fit on this terrain. Il Duce after finishing off a Mantis jumps over the sand bag bunker to wipe out the rest of them

The other marker will be of a dead mantis warrior with his brains on the floor.

Now i originally wanted to have guns and bodies all over the place but then I'm not sure if it will get too crowded

I think crowded would work well for this piece. The last guy standing is much less impressive if there was only one other guy to begin with.

I agree with whale. Put a few more dead guys on there to liven it up.

Il Duce is finished. This is my personal best. Tho he is pretty clean. I'm not sure if I should add battle damage or not. I might ruin it. maybe just paint chips? If so what recipe should I use for the red and one for the black.


Ok more bodies! The next question is should I have him behind the sand bag bunker or in front? (part of the wall will be on the base) In front you get total view of the model. behind it would be where majority of the bullet casings and magazines would be scattered. Or should I not have the wall on the base at all?

Have him behind the sandbag bunker. It will make more sense w/ all those bullet casings and magazines imo

He looks fantastic Styro!

I like the idea of some sort of wall, all shot to pieces for the from the front.

Ok but should he be in front of it like the movie or behind it

Depends what you want the story to be. If he still has legions of marines baring down on him, behind for cover. If he has killed most of them and has just jumped over to confront the few remaining marines alive, infront. I'd do some dead Corsairs behind the wall, some dead MWs in front and him in front killing the last one or two guys.

Styro, when we're both done, don't send me your figure until you have mine and can take a photo of them both together on your diorama!

Maybe if you had your guy out front and Gits guy behind (cuz he looks like hes jumping, like over a wall) coming out to meet the enemies head on.

Isn't the idea that he will eventually replace el duce in the diorama with Bennedictus? Or have I misinterpreted? If so, I need to pay careful attention to how I do the base so it doesn't conflict with the diorama.

whalemusic360 wrote:Depends what you want the story to be. If he still has legions of marines baring down on him, behind for cover. If he has killed most of them and has just jumped over to confront the few remaining marines alive, infront. I'd do some dead Corsairs behind the wall, some dead MWs in front and him in front killing the last one or two guys.

I thinking that he is part of a Chosen squad of 5. and well he's the last marine standing, out gunned and out numbered. So I guess I'll put him in front then? In the Diorama I will have the 4 bodies scattered in the bunker and filled with bullet casings and empty guns. As for the Mantis warriors bodies I'm not sure if I should have too many? at least not that close. I was thinking just the one close for the challenge of one on one. So If he is in front then there won't have much in front or on his base.

What about battle damage? Should I have no mark on him and the sand bag wall filled with bullet holes? or pump him full of lead? although blood wont be visible. and i don't want to crowd the model

Gitsplitta wrote:Styro, when we're both done, don't send me your figure until you have mine and can take a photo of them both together on your diorama!

That sounds pretty cool. But this is going to take me a long time




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Gitsplitta wrote:Isn't the idea that he will eventually replace el duce in the diorama with Bennedictus? Or have I misinterpreted? If so, I need to pay careful attention to how I do the base so it doesn't conflict with the diorama.

Actually the guy your making for me has been part of my army since the beginning. Mine will be a marker for your army as a Corsair to capture for intel. My diorama is for me of that moment (since I will no longer have the model). I will make a marker for when a squadron of Corsairs come to investigate the disappearance of the missing Chosen. In that Squadron will be your Mantis Warrior and his squad of Raptors. But all he will find there Is the dead a mantis warror (or more) and 4 dead Chosen. That Raptor squad would then have to defend that marker to the death.

Oh, that's way cooler than my idea...

so I worked on the terrain. and decided that he will be in front here the progress so far:


I have too wait for it to dry then I'll start on the sand Bags. Another question should the bunker be semi-circle, fully round or square?

It should be a wide semi circle. That would tie it together nicely

Done.

Didn't realize it when I was taking pictures but his back foot is standing on an extra clip I put behind the rock wall. He can be repositioned on his post freely so he is entirely suspended above the wall, or not as you prefer.

Looks fantastic Git, though I gotta say the tusks remind me of warcraft trolls, so all I can imagine is this guy talking with a heavy Jamaican accent,lol.

Loving the base, what is made from? Cork?

Looks like the gf9 plaster urban basing.

GF9 "Urban Rubble"

Really nice stuff, use it for all kinds of things.


"Eyyy mon, 'e stole mey ganja mon..... get 'im!!!"

woot this is the 100th post on my thread!


I love it. But I feel sorry for the little marine head

Why ... WHY! He was soo young


<== Troll quest

Nastingoes!

amazing wrk!

alright guys I need some help here. I have the terrain set up and I'm going to start working on a sand bag wall. but I need help with the bodies.
Im not sure where to start. I haven't really modeled them before. I've read a few tuts. but If you have any ideas or any links that could help please post them. Post as many as you can the more info I get the better this will turn out. Thanks

Just an update so you don't think I'm slacking off. I have finish the sand bag wall. Sorry no pics. Turns out the Old Crow threw dirt in my eyes and took the camera... for some wedding. And I haven't seen it since?! Hopefully I'll find it and take some pics.

I'm really having a hard time with making bodies. Does any one know of a good tut?

You're looking for armored SM bodies correct? Just some thoughts... keep in mind what weapons he's using to kill the opposition, and the types of damage those weapons will do. Were the first kills with something more powerful, like a melta gun that would do massive damage? He's got bolt pistols now... so I wouldn't really expect lots of limbs lying around, but perhaps at one point he used a combat knife, so you could have a body with a blade sticking out of a critical point. People also don't necessarily die (violently) in very natural poses, so you could have bodies draped over the bags, arms or legs twisted & broken. Perhaps one half buried in the mud.

I guess that doesn't help you with how to make the bodies... but it may give you some ideas for setting the scene.

I got a camera its not the best but it will get the job done. I'm still looking for my camera so far no luck

Anyway time for some pics:






Next I'm going to try making some bodies. But I'm going to need more parts. So it might take a bit.

Coming along great Styro! Wow, what a scene! Really looking forward to watching it develop.

What did you make the ground out of? Looks like the same thing I made the road on my board out of, which is scary.

I don't remember what it is called but it's like an air drying plaster clay bar. It shrinks when it dries and that forms the cracks. For the sandbags I used milliputt and after about 10mins of drying time i would use a fine thread shirt and press down to make a pattern.

Should I flock the base before or after I make the bodies and lay the magazines and bolters?

Next question bullet holes in sandbags, would they be just small slits with soot around it or actual holes? Or does the sand escaping keep the hole open? or would the pressure eventually stop the leak?

Want me to fill a sand bag and shoot it?

See now that's the kind of comment that make me want to live in the states, lol.

whalemusic360 wrote:Want me to fill a sand bag and shoot it?

LOL! Can you? Don't forget to take pictures!


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Lennysmash wrote:See now that's the kind of comment that make me want to live in the states, lol.

Ya pretty much. The most I can do is hit it with a stick, throw rocks at it... and then say 'Sorry'

I think it would depend on the physics of the sand bags involved... are they plump and tighly packed? Rather loose? Is the sand wet or dry, etc... In general, you'd probably end up with a roundish hole in the bag with a dribble of sand beneath it where the sand disturbed by the passing of the round beneath it slid out. Pretty low-key I'd think, at least for a standard ballistic round. No idea what an explosive round would do... probably blow a pretty good divot in the wall.

We gotta have some soldiers on dakka somewhere who can answer this question definitively...

I'll fill up one this weekend and blow a hole in it. Any requests on the type of gun used or anything?

I'm guessing most 40k rounds are pretty beefy, low velocity things. round nose 30/30 or 45 cal perhaps?

We just sold the .50 BMG, which would be perfect, I'll get something good tho. .50 Beowulf maybe, or .45 or 12 gauge slug if I can't find any ammo for it.

The slug would work if you can't find the others... I think too small a round would just get absorbed by the bags and you wouldn't see anything at all.

I am moving. So everything has been packed. but before packing I started gathering bits to start making bodies. When I unpack I will have to figure out how each of the Chosen died. And I'm still trying to figure out what sandbags look like shot

So I'm finally all moved in and I'm mostly unpacked. I pulled out this project and I'm gonna to try to get it done. I have gathered bits for bodies and I have a few ideas. but nothing is concrete so far.


I have taken a skull of the Chaos vehicle sprue. I cut off the chain bits and with some GS I started to sculpt a lower jaw. This is my first attempt at sculpting and I believe it turned out pretty well. Mind you I must have dropped it 100 times!! I'm am trying to add a spine to it but I'm having troubles





After it cures I plan to do a cast of it. Then add a thin layer of GS over the cast skulls for skin and maybe little GS eyeballs. Then score up the GS skin an hopfully get the effect I'm looking for.


As for some of my Dead Chosen ideas here are a few:

1) cut in half by a power sword. Cauterizing the Wound. The cut will be on a angle from just under the shoulder to the waist on the opposite side. I will have the cut arm drop and the upper body slide then fall back.

2) Direct hit from a missile launcher. All that remain would be a crater, a set of boots and splatter

3) multiple small wounds and slow death of bleeding out.

4) .... no Idea yet

The only survivor Il Duce making his last stand

Glad to hear that you're settled again styro. Sounds like you've got a good plan, will be fun to see it come to fruition!

Did Whale ever shoot the sandbag and get pics?

Crap, I forgot. If we get a nice day any time in the foreseeable future, I'll try to remember. Its currently a balmy 12 degrees out, so not the best weather to do, well, anything.

Glad the move went fine, good to see this project get some more love.

Story-wise it might be more interesting if "il Duce" was stepping out of the hole in the sand bag wall left by say a Krak missile or some such. No reason to leave perfectly good cover normally, but definitely leave when the heavy weapons have you in the cross-hairs.

Thanks guys. I've been away too long (1 month)

Now my only road block is reference material. I need to find more links for death, blood, guts and gore (bullet holes in sand bags).

well I think I found Gore: http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Quick_n_Easy_Gore
Blood: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?autocom=ineo&showarticle=298

I've seen a few dead bodies but I cant seem to find them again. I remember seeing one cut in half and they painted the the slices to look like a straight cut and you can see the innards. I also seen a few with intestines hanging out

But it happens every time when your looking for something you never find it.

any help on searchy would be appreciated

I've added a spine to the skull

So... after your last couple of PMs. I'm hoping to see more progress here, as there is a good chance that your traitor scum might be facing of against my Omnissiah Guided loyalists.

Work harder!

I'm hoping to get a fair bit of progress myself over the next couple of days. Libby should be at tabletop standard, with just a reword of his backpack needed once I get some GS. 2 12 hour Holiday shifts with hopefully not much to do might lend itself to getting part of my SternGaurd squad done.

That's really fine work Styro... amazing what you can do with such a small object.

So after the GS cured on the skull and spine I made a 2 part mould. I made the box out of lego, then filled it with clay and then I gently pushed the piece in place. I had to build up the clay up to the mid spine (hence the blue areas). then I added the sprues



then I poured the rubber over to get this Rubber mould



then did the other side



When I did a few casts. I noticed that a bubble formed in one of the eye sockets on the mould. So when it casts it looks like it has an eyeball. Unexpected but awesome
I tried taking pictures but because the resin is white you cant see the details. So I dint bother posting it. The skull turned out great. I guess the spine details were too small to cast, but it still looks pretty cool

In the meantime I was also working on my first body. This is a Corsair that died slowly from his wounds.



I started working on head not sure if I like it tho



The major problem that I see will be painting the blood. Red on red

Gah, can't see the pics. Stupid work filter. :(

I have GS some skin onto one of the casts. I cracked the skin and tore bits off to make it look like he burned. This will be a part of a Corsair that was hit by a missile launcher.




I'll have to make it bloody and paint the skin cracks black for burn skin. I've tested two different types of blood but I'm not sure which is better



For both I panted them bleached bone.
For No.1 I gave it a wash of Devlin mud, then red ink, followed by dabbing of Tamiya clear red.
For No.2 I just washed it with red ink, then dabbed the clear red follow by adding a little black to the clear red

I find No.2 more bloody, but you see more detail in No.1

Thats kinda gross.

In a good way.

Nice work.


I think I like # 1 slightly better, but its an incremental difference.

I agree on all three counts. Nice to see you're still plugging away styro!

I have been making progress... I promise! So far I have sanded the base. Using 3 different sifted sands. Fine, coarse and mixed. In the craters and cracks I used the fine sand, then I went to the coarse sand for the lip of the craters, and the mixed sand for the rest. I primed it, then with my air brush i painted the sand bags. I gave it a very light Devlan mud wash (I had to do this over because the first time I used to much wash. I didn't like it so I painted over it)

The painted the sand bags



Here is where Il Duce will stand. Even though I never did get those photos of a sandbags riddled with real bullet holes. I tried my best. I added sand, but it will look better when painted


On a side note I have created a blog of my other works that never got finished as well.

Lords of the Maelstrom (A Red Corsair Blog)

Check it out and help motivate me

Good to see some progress~!

It's looking good Styro! Nice to see you're making progress. Will definitely sub to your other blog.

Gits

THese are both such awsome projects. Im not a fan of boondock saints. I know, herasy. its one of the few movies i didnt finish. BUT... i love your work. both of you. the flying ninja mantis style kick over the wall is so awsome. kudos both of you. this project really stoked me out. some of the projects you see here dont have an ounce of the spirit that this one does. Awsome. need i say more. Awsome.

Been a lot of fun for me, and that's still the only vanguard model I've managed to finish... :-)

well... I will finish eventually! ... some time this year... maybe? I really wish I was teenager again, no responsibilities or commitments... oh well I guess i just have to wait for retirement then!

sennacherib wrote:THese are both such awsome projects. Im not a fan of boondock saints. I know, herasy. its one of the few movies i didnt finish. BUT... i love your work. both of you. the flying ninja mantis style kick over the wall is so awsome. kudos both of you. this project really stoked me out. some of the projects you see here dont have an ounce of the spirit that this one does. Awsome. need i say more. Awsome.

Thanks. It is alot of fun. I trying to come up with ideas for the other dead Corsairs. Right now I'm finishing up one body where he bled to death from his wounds. Still holding his bolter even tho his clip is empty and has no more. So all thats left is to do .. is die.

Keep it up!

Reading Git's WIP MW chapter come together, and then cross-linking into an awesome diorama piece... You two and many other contributors and constant sources of inspiration.

Cant wait to see what's next - the bled-out Corsair and the spine/skull blood look amazing.

Ya Gits' MW are amazing. TBH his blog is very inspirational and right now it's the only thing keeping me going forward. Everyday I'm on Dakka at work, but at home I paint once or twice a week if I'm lucky. If only there was a way to combine them... my work and my hobby. But I guess that would take the fun out of it

Oh ya ... I forgot about the bloody skull. I have painted it a while ago, just need to take pictures. I didn't get the look I was going for, but it still looks pretty cool. I promise to take photos tonight.

Please do! Your greenstuffing and scratch-building skills are very good. I am envious. (I can't see that small any more... even with an optivisor...).

As promised pictures of the bloody skull and spine with burnt skin




Front


Right Side


Back


Right SIde

Now THAT... is grim-dark!

;-)

HA ha! I had to Google that!

o-O

Great work bro~!

Grimdark indeed.

great looking skull, very grusome

Horrific! I love it. The dead Corsair's pose is great, but I think his head should be leaning the other way.

The skull and spine bit is remarkable. Great scratch building.

So I finished painting the 'bleed to death' marine. I'm not too happy with the macro shots. To my eyes the battle damage looks good. But when I look at these macro photos all I see are blobs of colour!

I still have gore to add and paint his bolter




Maybe I'm not getting the technique right

I think he looks cool! One little thing though, if I was bleeding out to death I wouldn't nicely place my helmet on the ground, I wound toss it aside. I think the helm should look a bit more discarded.

I second that. He looks good. I think I know what you mean about the macro-shots, but it looks good. Good painting.

IceAngel wrote:I think he looks cool! One little thing though, if I was bleeding out to death I wouldn't nicely place my helmet on the ground, I wound toss it aside. I think the helm should look a bit more discarded.

And if done sneakily, you could hide the mould line on the horn...

I think you've got it right Styro... might just look odd to you because it's a new technique. That's Grey death's technique, yes?

Ya I tried Grey_Deaths Technique. I guess I just have to practice it, before I get it right. I agree about the helmet, but nothing is glued yet. I want to put a blood smear on the sand bags and on his helmet.

The Chosen Marine is shot, he feels nothing, just the hot metal passing through his flesh. He hears the popping sound of the bolt passing through his armor and exploding out the back. His hands hold the wound, But it does nothing to stop the river of blood flow. Black spots appear in his gaze. He tumbles, and braces himself on the sand bag wall. His strength fails, and he drops. He tries to control his breathing and lifts his head up. Then sits with his back supported by the sandbags. It becomes difficult to draw air, a lung has collapsed. He removes his helmet, and the white glare of the desert sun blinds him but it also brings him back. The dark spots in his vision recede. Instinctively he raises his bolter and fires. Only seven bolts fly even though he keeps his finger on the trigger. The bolter is empty! There is noting left for him to do... but die.

He waits for it.

"The strong are strongest alone" he wispered, as his eyes roll up into his head. Comforting words of his Monarch, his god king that they call Tyrant.

Now I think he needs a name. any suggestions?

Lord Alfred von Mandlefried the 4th?
Ronok Taug?
In other news: this is awesome...

Progress made

I started painting the Terrain. I haven't finished the middle piece because I am going to cast it.

Here are alot of pics:





I think I had a lighting problem these shots above were taken w/ the flash. The details were not and the sand bags look like stone. but for now i'll post them anyway. please remember that these have a light brown look. burlap sacks not stone.

Detail shots:






And the money shot



C&C are welcome

That's lookin really good styro! The colors really bring the scene alive. The holes in the sandbags really worked out well too.

I agree, it looks great! Keep it up.

Thanks guys. I was worried, I thought I ruined the holes. I find it hard to stop when weathering. I really have to invest in a light box and a better camera. So far I only have holes in the front. Should I add more? I'm not sure if it will be too much.

Next I have to work on more bodies and shell casing and empty magazines and clips. I alos have to cast the middle piece so that when I send this to Gits I wont have a gad in the wall.

I also worried about blood spatter and gore. If it will be too much and mess up the terrain.

I think a few more holes scattered along the front of the sand bag wall would be good for continuity of design. Not many... just 3 or 4.

I think I'm going to send you your mantis warrior so you can have him for the diorama. It's time you had him anyway. Would you PM me your mailing addy and I'll get him on his way. That way you can fiddle with him if you need to in order to make him fit the diorama properly.