[img]I'm sure I'm not the first to do this, but I'm kitbashing plastic Pistoliers with Cadians to make plastic Praetorians.

I was pleasantly surprised that each box of Pistoliers contains 17 heads. This means I can do head swaps for a full Infantry squad (plus one spare for a character or towards a weapon team) as well as make a 6-man Rough Rider squad from each box. Handy! It also means I'll be fielding lots of rough riders so it'll be a characterful army. I debated not using the beards ones, but decided I like them after all!

Here are the first three infantrymen and WIP on a Rough Rider. I trimmed the legs to make the upper leg armour look more soft pads than plate metal, trimmed behind the leg and scored a line in the calf to mark the top of the boot. I left the knee of the armour but trimmed off the rivet, again so I can paint them up as knee pads instead of metal armour. I'll drill through the grenade to fit the hunting lance, turning it into a handgrip instead.

For the Guardsmen, I had to trim the collar off the bodies so the back of the helmet would fit. Otherwise, assembly as normal. I'll be saving all the multi-barrelled Outrider guns and armoured torsos to convert into my army's Stormtroopers with Hellguns.

Awesome idea! Keep up the work!

Quick mockup of a limber style lascannon:



Just realised my number of minis per box calculations are wrong because of the torso donation - oops! Ah well, will give me spare legs, and if I figure out a way to make the Pistolier torsos into carapace-armoured Stormtrooper torsos I won't end up short any minis. Phew!

dude sweet army, i definitely like ur idea of using empire pistoliers to make praetorians. maybe with the rest of the pistoliers you can turn them into veterans/stormtroopers/penal/etc.
anyway i look forward to seeing the rest of ur work

Really clever idea, using the pistoliers- you've made some very nice updated praetorians, there.

Started a test scheme. I've stripped him now as washes ruined the trousers, but what do you think? I prefer the white trousers to the studio blue/red stripe ones I think.

ooh! This thread looks like it has lots of promise. Subscribed, can't wait for more

.

Quick update:

Stormtrooper mockup...



Not perfect... C&C welcome. I wanted to use the Outrider torsos, so using the capes made a lot of sense too. I added a Catachan lasgun barrel to the repeater gun, to give a mini-multilaser look. Hope you agree it makes a suitable Hellgun. Not sold on the power pack and cable... They may need a touch of work.


Update:

A little squad of Stormtroopers is coming together nicely.



And here's a Commisar, body was in an eBay bitz bag.

I think I may shorten the repeater Hellguns by cutting the multi barrels at the next section down, then re-affixing the lasgun emitter. Just a bit too long just now to look plausible!!!

Test model. Face is a little unfinished, and overall won't win prizes, but I'm happy with it.




What basing should I use? A nice trad green to offset the red? Something sandier and tuftier?

Let the squad painting commence...

Flitting about like a mad thing. Started on a biplane Valkyrie/Vendetta... Building around a plywood biplane model!

A couple of years later...



More to come.

I like it you should continue

Those look very nice. I especially like the choice of color for the models.

Wow, great work on those rough riders. It only took you...2 years? Not bad. It typically takes me upwards of 5 years to complete my conversions.

Reinforcements!

My Bronekorpus eBay special tanks arrived!











And with some Rough Riders:





More Rough Riders:










More tank stuff:

I raised the hull up, as per Paradigm's review of the Bronekorpus tanks. It looks a lot better. From this...



...to this...



This barrel makes for a rather perfect Leman Russ Executioner. Just need to add a lascannon to the hull.

Argh, having glued one up I don't know if I prefer this arrangement now!!! The perils of choice.

Personally, I'd raise the hull on any you want as Russes, leave them lowered on any Chimera-hulled tanks. Should help distinguish them.

I have a plan... Forward raised hull for Russ config, and I've made a rear raised hull with mini turret version for Chimeras. That way, the big box carrying troops is at the back. I'm going to model a new hatch on the flat back of the hull, rather than use the kit bits. Photos tonight, hopefully.


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Removed all the Chaos dabblings and early versions. Updates with more finished Scions and squads soon.

While I work on tanks and Rough Riders, I also threw together a couple of personalities.

My scratchbuilt Commisar Yarrick - DV Chaos Lord cloak, Space Marine front torso, Baneblade commander head, AOBR Warboss power klaw, Terminator arm, previous edition monopose plastic Terminator Storm Bolter, Scout legs and pistol arm, copious Green Stuff and Milliput. Still to do: drill barrels, final details, sand on base.




I've heard some people suggest that the GW Yarrick didn't actually kill Ugulhard, instead commissioning a human-sized klaw to *look* like he was a badass. Well, this guy doesn't have that problem. He has *definitely* killed a full-size Ork Warboss!


And here's a characterful medic, from a Macragge Lieutenant Whatsisname that had lost a hand and had a melty glue face. New 'rubber glove' hand from Empire Militia, oversize syringe cut down from a Marine back banner.



(eBay bits boxes are fun when you're bored)


Also, moved all my images to Dakka gallery as I'm bored of Photobucket, and they are hopefully more accessible now. Updating the whole plog was a bit of a pain!

Neat kitbashes!

though the shaved helmets make me think more 1950's sci fi than pith helmets

Starting to paint. Yegads I'm bad at painting, it's been so long!!

Rough Riders update: there are now 10, including bugler and standard bearer (no in-game effects, they're just fluffy and look cool).









Just a tiny bit of gap filling and barrel drilling to do, then basing and painting.

I'd comment and tell you stuff looks great, but it seems like you don't notice or acknowledge any commentators.

I haven't really given the thread a lot of attention, to be honest, so thank you for the praise and the criticism is fair and noted. ;-)


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And actually, kenshin620's comment has shaped the final direction of my Stormtroopers... Pics up very soon! I went much more "Fifties Spaceman" in the end.

Very cool stuff. The world needs more bearded guardsmen.

Today I hit the bitz box, as well as finishing some Heavy Weapon teams. The Officers first...

I had a few of these guys kicking around:


So I cut them in half to become donor legs and raided the bitz box.



Then did some Greenstuffing.


And came up with these guys! Two Commissars, a new General and a Preacher. Hope you like them.

Some updates...

Characters and Command


Scions / Stormtroopers - I've decided mine will be known as 'The Old Guard' as they're all veterans of many a campaign.






These guys have all been base layered now and the flat, bold red looks fab. Really ties all the bits and conversion together.

Now the Infantry squads...





That's all for now. Hopefully some finished painted figures very soon!

Those Scions are glorious! Lovely job all around, but the Scions are especially eye catching. Wish I had a squad for my own Praetorian force!

Thank you! I'm super proud of them. They're now very red!!!



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Oh wait, DarkTraveler777, yours is THAT Praetorian army? Oh boy, it's glorious. Wonder if I've bitz left to make you a squad up?


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A few episodes of Flash later...
(a subconscious choice - must be all the red)



I'm a sucky painter right now, essentially re-learning after a huge break. I'm going to be using largely bold colours and then dipping using Army Painter Quickshade (Dark Tone, for a dramatic look). Should enable me to actually get this army painted some time this century! I've lots of Genestealers and Tyranids to build, plus my Marines to resurrect too. I did a test Terminator using this red spray base and similar colours, and it was surprisingly good. So dipping it is, and maybe I'll get to play a game with a fully-painted army for the first time since second edition... :-/

Wow I've not been here in a while! House move, new job, new roller Derby team. A lot has happened in a year!

So I have flu, proper minging flu. I'm using my recovery time to get my armies in order. I have finally modded up the Russian cheap ranks into my mechanised platoon!



Four 'Chimeras', one with dual Heavy Flamer (for LOLs, deterrent, and lack of Heavy Bolter bitz).

Then a Wyvern / Hydra (can swap weapon tips to the rocket pods to indicate Hydra, and use the ones shown for Medusa), a Leman Russ Eterminator, and two Leman Russ Executioners.

Not bad for £40 and some bitz from bitz seller sales, eh? Total cost is well under £60. They'll also being doing double duty in my Genestealer Cult army, and the Chimeras look a lot like the old LIMO in profile. How apt!

Wow! how have i missed this!

Some really amazing conversions there along with a great theme, really stunned by the scion conversions.

Loving what you've managed to do with the tanks, saw the thread but haven't seen many of the final product.

Will be watching with eager excitement!

Very impressive, i like not standart guard so much!

Thanks guys! I made a bunch more turrets today, so I can swap up what tank is what for extra tactical/fun options. For total silliness a Deathstrike Missile from a Berocca-style tube! After the photo I did some more detailing on it and added skulls for extra silliness.



Yep, the Deathstrike is silly and crude but let's be honest, no-one owns one, they probably rarely use it, and this one was FREE. So now I can run some Kill Team games with it as an objective, gamble on it in a 40K game, and even bank on it as a legit tool in APOCKYCLIPS!

I need to get back on with the troops and actually finish them!

That annihilator conversion is pretty great, and the troopers too. I think i might prefer your guys with the empire helmets to the classic pith helmet ones.

hahaha! i love it, brining over sized death to the enemies of mankind!

You have inspired me, I have a company of Death korp, loads of new on sprue empire models and about 100 guardsmen second hand from ebay. They'll be getting a similar treatment.
Hopefully with results as good as yours

Loving this plog, such great ideass

So pleased you're all enjoying the blog. Thanks for the kind words. Now: a tank painting update!

I started on a test scheme using one of the Russes, one of the Chimera hulls, and the Deathstrike Missile + carrier for lols.



I was going to do them grey or black, but a friend suggested khaki/tan. I had a spray can of Army Painter Bone so used that as a sand-coloured base, and added stripes of P3 Bootstrap Leather, followed by a thinned wash of Army Painter Strong Tone to shade and dirty it up a bit. I'm going to let it dry overnight as I was fairy liberal! Tomorrow I'll do a quick highlight and call them done.

The purple on the gun casings is a company signifier, but also an easy way to show Genestealer Cult affiliation if I field them in my Cult army instead of my Guard. Each Russ can have its gun swapped out for Autocannons, Plasma Cannon or Battlecannon (couldn't be bothered to convert - will just say the two barrels fire smaller shells that add up to one battlecannon's worth of damage).

I had a little calamity in that the turret's connecting bit snapped off, as the paint undercoat made it stick and it broke when I turned the turret. I'll replace with a small piece of metal rod to avoid this in future. And probably do it on alllll the other turrets, aiieeee.


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@Huron Black Heart - you must show me yours when you start kitbashing!

Here's a little test assembly:

I adore the Lascannon, and all of your infantry is absolutely spot-on. I'm honestly envious of those Stormtroopers, they look too good.

Tanks are shaping up well too.

Those stormtroopers look awesome! Very well done!

Dude your tanks are awesome. Really unique looking, but instantly recognisable.

Amazing work!

EDC

May I ask what you used to make the Rough Rider Hunting Lances?

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
May I ask what you used to make the Rough Rider Hunting Lances?

I second this, thinking about having some rough riders for kill team

Sure thing @HBMC

I started with a Cadian Sergeant Chainsword arm, stripes scraped off, and weapon chopped mostly off, leaving the handle, handguard and generator/engine bit. Then I chopped a Chaos Marauder Horsemen Spear in half, shaved all the studs off the haft, and glued either side of the cut-down Chainsword. To me, it gave the technological look needed but kept it sleek-looking and not top-heavy like gluing stuff to the blade can.

On several I braced the butt of the spear haft against the rider for extra strength when glued.

Painting update:

Finished a Russ hull, a Chimera hull, some weapons and mostly finished the Deathstrike Missile.

Your tanks have turned out really nice.

And I'm a big fan of your Deathstrike. It looks great.

I love those tanks. Always inspiring to see someone do so much with things that aren't crazy expensive.

Sweet, tanks are turning out really good! Wasn't sure if that model would cut it but you've pulled it off!

Very cool, I like the outriders conversions and the Bronekorpus tanks.

I'm going to have to pick some up myself.

Mostly been working on Necromunda stuff lately, 'scuse the lack of updates. But I'm doubling back round to my Guard for a bit.

Tonight... Ratlings made from ancient Squats I found in a box, paintstripped, pulled apart and committed heresy upon!



The non original arms on the squad leader are from Empire Militia, with a bit of the forearm cut out and hand reattached.

The sniper rifles are Marine bolters with the grip and magwell removed, a few diameters of styrene tubing and some Green Stuff. A fun evening's construction, even if there was some swearing whilst waiting for gun barrels to dry to receivers and trying to keep them true!!! Yeah, they have no magazines... should I add backpacks and cable them up, imagine they're loaded round by round, or just not care?

Whaddya think? I've another six to make up some other time, too. Fewer original arms left so I'll have to get creative!

Very cool project. I love the variety of models you're using. Especially the deathstrike missile. That's quite a conversion.

Thanks brushcommando! Junk became a model. I think it's because I was an Ork player in my youth... making random vehicles from stuff is now in my DNA.

Painted the Squatlings tonight. Daylight pics tomorrow but here's a teaser...

Nice work on the guns.

This is great! Subbed!

Cheers chaps. Here are some daylight pics.















Now to base them, and then paint some humies.


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And here we go - first Scion is ready for basing...

I love what you're doing with the Bronekorpus tanks, fun little kits with a lot of uses.

Awesome the ratling snipers look wicked.

Your take on the Scions is awesome too, great idea!

EDC

@Kid_Kyoto they're super fun. You could probably get some good civiilian vehicles from them.

Ooh, they're also released a second model, an AA/artillery version! Only unemployment is stopping me pulling the trigger on more Bronekorpus funtimes...

Thanks @evildrcheese! I made a command squad last night... few belt bits to add and GS to tidy/finish, but largely done.



Yes, that guy is a bugler.

No, I didn't add a medic. Considered it, I have a nice model made, but one more gun is lots more fun!

No, I know that Tempestor Prime is far from optimal (too many points spent on a squishy chap) but he looks fancy and that's most important to me!

I've also been working on their adversaries... soooo many Nids. Should probably start a separate thread! This ugly chap is fully magnetised. Once I find all the arms in my bitz boz he'll have Scytals option and a Swarmlord mode too.

Much painting achieved! Two squads done and based, plus some characters. None will win a Golden Demon but are far improved from where I was. They're bright and 'good tabletop' standard so that works for me!

Surging from Bunker 177


The Old Guard (Praetorian Scions)


Squatlings (counts as Ratling Snipers)


Yarrick


Officer and Medic


All together again...


Much paint-thinning to be practiced, but I'm happy with them so far. I can go back and add things as my skills improve.
Yarrick was rescused from a terrible pint job I did a while back, hence the back banner being so claggy.

Few more pics at my gallery here: https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-10953-54612_Painted%20Praetorians%20%28plastic%20Kitbash%29.html

Lots of cool kit bashing here, really enjoying it

Brilliance. Everything from the first pistolier kitbashes to this. Funny how the pistolier heads make for interestingly pulp-sci-fi pith helmets.

Thanks guys! Man, photos aren't wonderful. I'l look to building a lightbox next week, mayhaps...

This is all very good, and your skills are much better than you give them credit!

Too kind. :-)

Painting commences on the Rough Riders and Veterans (Catachans that I realised after buying were fuuugly, but I've turned them into a triple melta suicide unit).

Wow love the new scions & the command squad and that tyranid is some model. Well done sir this thread is still coming up with new and interesting things.

And painting some regular Guardsmen at last...


The Catachan Veterans are done, Rough Riders will be a while. Guard squad may well be done tomorrow, so significantly faster than Scions.

Brilliant work as always, love the normal troops and those scions.

I managed to buy a Baneblade for £20. Score!

They packed it in a cardboard box. Loose. GAH. Broken sponson guns, snapped lascannon. Some work to do. And they built it with sponsons at the front. That's just wrong. Old Epic player me needs them at the back. So, to work... here she is stripped down:



I've magnetised the guns to replace the tiny pin they'd tried to use. The previous owner had done some fairly shonky battle damage to the sides. We'll need to replace or improve that. Then there's the sponsons. I'm gonna have to cut away side panels and make new ones.

Riveting for the first time. This is the definition of madness. And if the poly cement doesn't hold the nail beads (seems to do so so far?) I'll be double mad...



And did I mention they glued the lascannon turrets down on the sponsons??? Must fix that...

Quite the TLC the old girl is gonna need, the previous owner didn't do her justice. Glad she's in capable hands!

Thanks dude!

Now we have four:



And some barrel tidy ups and embellishments. They'd half-scraped some eagles off so I repaired with GS plates and riveted, plus some little extra details for fun:



And a test fit after prising the original badly-battle-damaged panels off:



The rear set will be magnetised for sponsons on/off options.

how do you make rivets like that?

@STG - these are half sphere nail art beads. I lined up a plasticard blank with one of the original panels and added drops of poly cement (plastic glue) at about the right spacing. I poured out some beads, licked my fingertip, picked them up and applied them, then used the tip of my hobby knife to position them. The poly cement I think only melts the plasticard rather than the bead to the card, but it gives a longer working time than superglue and plenty of adhesion.

Here's the basic panels done - I'll make a third set so I can go smooth sided.



And here's the Hellhammer config:



I also added a Heavy Weapon Team gun shield to the Stubber so the poor crewman has some protection whilst he's fending off encroaching enemies, and some gargoyley light things to the back of the tank, as there was a space they fit in exactly and they looked fun.

Still undecided on how much more detailing to add. I am thinking I should sculpt some big emblem for the side panels, Instamould and replicate it.

That's looking a lot better already!

Cheers @CommissarKhaine!

The arched viewport they hacked off the hull annoys me. Gonna have to repair that too.

 JohnnyHell wrote:
@STG - these are half sphere nail art beads. I lined up a plasticard blank with one of the original panels and added drops of poly cement (plastic glue) at about the right spacing. I poured out some beads, licked my fingertip, picked them up and applied them, then used the tip of my hobby knife to position them. The poly cement I think only melts the plasticard rather than the bead to the card, but it gives a longer working time than superglue and plenty of adhesion.

Nice, good idea, do you know if they are 2mm half spheres? i cant find any smaller than that.

I'll check my eBay for you... see what they were


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@STG - they were 1mm - this is the listing I bought from:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332108257621 - they do 1mm

awesome thanks dude!

This is some excellent, beautiful work from top to bottom, man!
Love all the kitbashes and conversions

Thanks @fraoliva!

I started playing with lists including the Baneblade, and the damn missile launcher kept tipping me over. No idea why they stuck that thing on. Sure, I can use it as a HK missile counts-as, but 10pts is 10pts. So I made a comms dish to pop in instead should I want to be frugal:



Can anyone spot the design inspiration?

I also dropped the turret and broke off the tiny lasgun. That has no rules? So I started building some stowage to cover it. Not right yet, but a start. Still, this thing cost me £20 and I'm having modelling fun. Can't complain too much. :-)

very nice painting on the yarrick and medic and such. Nothing more characterful than well painted IG

Thank so @bebopdrums2424!

Made a stowage box to cover the lasgun. It annoys me that it snaps so easily, else I'd keep it.



The vent detail was Instamoulded from elsewhere on the tank. Now to rivet it and attach.

Edit: DONE!

Looking a lot better . Not a clue as tot he radar dish, but it's looking pretty fine!

I can't tell you Who inspired it, but I'd answer in the affirmative if you mentioned a certain canine.

Makes a few panels, does a few rivets, suddenly thinks he's Blackadder... one visit to VK and one PDF later:



Making it out of plasticard from papercraft templates, so much trimming and bodging will no doubt ensue! Wish me luck!


Update:

After a prevaricatey day, progress! Ever thought having model kits come with preface pieces was too easy? Try this!



Not much work work done, but much tank made. Templates mostly work out ok, some issues where I've butted in places I should have trimmed, and geometry shifts as a result. Mostly ok though and I'm learning as I go!

The VK templates do deviate from the FW model in places, so I'm eyeballing them back to FW-ish in some places. For example the big lump of Green Stuff is replicating a curved plate on the original, whereas the VK design was separate plates. The upper hull is noticeably shorter and of a slightly different design, but I don't think I'll bother changing that now. I'll just Armour plate it and hope for the best.

I think it's all a few mm smaller as well, based on a measurement somewhere online. It'll do though, and I'm having a lot of fun with the build.

Turret is held on by and rotates on a magnet, and a circle of plasticard on the bottom seats into a ring it was cut from in a plate on the upper hull. It seats positively, is held on well and rotates nicely. Happy with that. The twin-linked Heavy Stubber can swing in its mount.

Filling and starting to detail turret



And making tracks

Nice work on the Vulcan so far.

Your Baneblade looks amazing. Seeing the development was...riveting

EDC

Hahaha what you did there. I see it. :-)

Vulcan is coming on so well, really happy with it. Easier than I thought, just have to be patient with the cuts. I've started on sponsons today and am debating how to attach the tracks...

Current detail level:

Beautiful work here. I have a big soft spot for "rescues" so I loooove stuff like this. My entire army is essentially rescued minis. Keep up the fantastic work. Also love seeing the hand-made tanks (at a good level...not just a cereal box w/ a straw attached!).

Thanks @Elbows!

More progress. Sponsons made (magnetised), heavy bolters made, 'wheels' made, and tracks going on. Track fitting is hell. Shoot me now.




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Tracks done! I hid the bodges as best I could. Doesn't look awful - I'm happy!



And later a couple more details, added engine box and exhaust stacks. LOTS more detailing to do, but she might get to play a battle tomorrow!

Ooh VERY nice! How did you do the tracks?

Cheers! My prouds are increasing the more detail I add. :-)

Tracks was a base layer of plasticard, shaped with notches. Then a second set of tracks cut into thick and thin slices. Thick slices glued on as track links, then the leftover thin strips glued on top as tread. It's not as pretty as GW treads but it looks the part. It was TEDIOUS but the Real Ghostbusters on Netflix got me through.

The black plasticard was the thinnest I had but split when bending it. There are several bodges that will neeed a touch of filler. I also ran out of the correct tubing with *one* wheel to go, so I halved it and stuck to the side of the tracks you'll see.

Next steps:

- Make sponson options
- Make pintlen weapon
- Finish power plant
- Filling, filing and finishing
- RIVETS!

Played a game last night, even though she isn't finished.

The Vulcan Mega Bolter destroyed the Avatar of Khaine! Annihilated him by staying stationary and letting rip with a 30-round salvo. Next turn it wiped a whole squad of Dark Reapers to a man. Then Eldar happened, and it took Melta shots from one side from Fire Dragons, then was D-weaponed into oblivion by some lucky Wraithguard. Really fun game.

Here's a 'family photo' with a friend's Russ, for scale comparison:



One of my 'Russes' having been Doom-ed and lit up by half the Eldar force:



The Praetorian LXXIX in convoy, troops tucked up in Chimeras. Turn one saw the Command Squad Chimera bust open, a Russ D-killed and my Hellhound wrecked. The whole mobility plan was quickly scuppered and they fought valiantly to escape the xenos, but when Yarrick himself fell in turn 3, Eldrad's force claimed the victory.



Update:

A daring raid by Scion strike teams secured the damaged hull of the revered superheavy. Tech Adepts are currently reinforcing the armour plating with rivets, sacred oils and unguents, and intoning The Litany Against Eldar Cheese...



Turret is now looking purdy and 90% done:




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Current status of detailing - Turret 90% done, sides 99% done, front hull 95% done, upper hull, rear hull and power plant to go.

I stopped working off the plans ages ago and am just freestyling an approximation based on images of the Forge World tank. Plus changes where I feel they're cool, or not worth slavishly copying.

Today has mostly been powered by Fresh Prince of Bel Air on Netflix!

Alllllmost finished!

Some updates:

How she looks this afternoon:


Details:

Rear of the tank, showing fuel drums, tow hook, Mechanicus shrine, engine access



Right side: cogs added to wheel hubs, detail under the front hull, engine grille, lights added to side of front hull


The back of the tank sees the only area with badly-mating panels, and my GSing hasn't sorted it. Some I'm making stowage to cover the worst bits and make the tank feel lived-in:

Rumour has it that this Tank only has space inside for an amount of ammo that would last just 15sec of continuous firing! So I figured they'd strap plenty of ammo crates to the hull, right? I made a tiny crate from plasticard, Instamoulded it and made Green Stuff copies. Same with a Jerry can I had lying around. Once dry, trimmed and sanded they should look the part and cover my laziness.

Finished! Stowage all stowed, ready to paint!

Stunnning work sir! that is exceptional, i would love to try something like that but im not brave enough.

respect for finishing it in such a short time too!

Thanks! Unemployment has its benefits ;-) well, I should be doing freelance design stuff but this pro-level procrastination right here.

Painting has begun!



...and first wash is on and drying in the sun



...a mix of water, PVA and Army Painter Strong and Dark Tone washes.

And after a drybrush of P3 Khador Red Base and Highlight...

Wow... that's an amazing build. Love it!

Thanks @CommisarKhaine. The basecoat and drybrush is always that magical stage that unifies all the elements. Card and plastic and Green Stuff are now all just "my model". But I won't be happy now until she's painted and named!

stellar work! and it's been amazing just to see that tank take shape.

Rivets are amazing too, just for how something so seemingly simple add so much to a project.

 amazingturtles wrote:
stellar work! and it's been amazing just to see that tank take shape.

Rivets are amazing too, just for how something so seemingly simple add so much to a project.

Thanks, man! I agree - until this project I thought riveters were mad. Now I know why they do it!!!

The nail art beads is the best trick, picked up from another modelling blog here on Dakka, I forget which. I ran out, so this tank must feature around 1000 rivets, which is nuts.

So I made a thing last night, and mostly finished it today.

I decided my piano Scions needed a pimped-out ride. I hate the Taurox model. So, I set about making an armoured car.

I found simple plans for an M1 that looked the part. I widened the chassis and enlarged it. Here was the start of the build:



Rationale is that this will be much simpler than the Macharius. Chassis, layer of armour plates, rivets, done.

I picked it up again today, and got carried away...



I used a 32mm base with a magnet drilled in for the turret mount. The rest is all made from sheet styrene, rods and nail art beads.

I made a turret from a Pepsi cap...


The Taurox Battlecannon is magnetised so I can build options later if I choose to. I added a radiator grille and a suitably 40K hood ornament too. The wheel arches were a pig to make. And they extend oddly far back due to size of wheels I'm using. I adapted the rear to cope.

Here's how she looks now:





It's not a replica of the M1, nor did I want it to be. I wanted to use the basic shape and build an armoured car my Scions could love. I'll likely paint it white with gold detailing just to be ridiculous. So, that's an armoured car built but the wheels in just one day's speedy work! I'm annoyed at the back but overall super happy. Simple plan was simple and worked.

Just so happens I could adapt the basic chassis pattern into a limo for my Stealer Cult. What's that? No YOU accidentally ordered a bunch more plasticard...

Nice mate, your scratch building skills are really good

Mate! Your skills are off the chain!! That macharius is awesome! So much detail put into that. Didn't realize the size untill up against the baneblqde. Brill!

And the armoured car looks the part, not sure I like the styling but job youv,e done on it is sweet, much better than the turox! Nice job!

Looking pretty nice for a 'simple' build. Four wheels, or halftrack? The rear wheel arches look like they'd fit tracks.

That is pretty impressive for a day's building, even following templates, it just screams retro genestealer cult

The hood ornament is a nice touch

Macharius looks really good too, I've thought about scratch building one a few times and chickened out, tracks were part of the reason.

keep it up, I want to see more of this!

 OneManNoodles wrote:
That is pretty impressive for a day's building, even following templates, it just screams retro genestealer cult

The hood ornament is a nice touch

Macharius looks really good too, I've thought about scratch building one a few times and chickened out, tracks were part of the reason.

keep it up, I want to see more of this!

Thanks! The tracks were fairly simple once I sorted out a system. I just made two copies of the base layer, chopped one into tread sections, glued those on, then glued the inbetween bits on top as tread detail. Simple, lazy, looks the part. I'm partway through painting so I'll chuck some shots up when done.

Now, somebody stop me?







This is bigger than I'd expected, and the body was a pig to put together. I've already scrapped my squadron plans!!! One will suffice. Yes, I should likely have done an Avenger Strike Fighter, that will no doubt come later. I just like the look of this one so plumped for it first.

I've some design work to finish today so until that's done this is where this gets left. Still missing tail stabilisers, rear of engines and rear jet, plus guns, detailing, all sorts yet to go!

The engine intakes are a trimmed Berocca tube lid tucked into a soy milk lid. I'll add a domed centre bit later.

Wow That is AWESOME!!! IIRC they had blood strips Like Captain Solo.

Just took a read through the thread.

Love the ideas.
Love the Rough riders (must make lots of em)!
Love the Baneblade recovery work.

And everything your scratch building is just awesome.

With 8th round the corner, a Tanks N' Riders army should be doable, go-fer-it!

PS As an Eldar player, I can only apologise for the 7th Ed cheese. Expect Double-Gloucester-Freshness in the next edition

Thanks Furiyen! I'm excited for the changes! I have ten of them, with two meltaguns in tow.

Guess who stuck the wings on too high up. This idiot. Cut them off, resited them, added tailplanes. Tolerance is so much more noticeable when long bits stick out than on a tank. Looking decent though. Wonder if I'll have it ready for gaming tomorrow?



I'm not a hyooge football fan but we're off to watch the Women's Champions League Final tonight, so progress is halted til after that!

Why would any of us want to stop you? Your plasticard skills are amazing and work at such speed. It's inspiring, really. I'm looking forward to seeing that Macharius fully painted and that Taurox build finished. Amazing stuff. Subscribed.

Have to agree with wanting to see the Macharius fully painted. It deserves it after all the love spent building it

I know, I know... painting urge ebbs and flows with me. This week more ebb than flow! I'll have a painting bash next week and finish it. Here's how she looks just now:

Your welcome.

Nice progress on the Macharius, too.

Can I make a suggestion? (Feel free to completely ignore me).

Yellow/Black Warning stripes over the Gun Cowlings. They deserve to stand out

Nice idea, would be quite a second edition vibe which would suit me nicely! I shall definitely consider it. Doubly so if I can get away with using my hazard stripe washi tape so I don't have to paint striped!

Today I'm sat in the garden. We're trying out our new smoker, slowly cooking pork leg, pork shoulder and a huge joint of beef with charcoal and maple chips.

So I have the best excuse to sit around and make a fighter to protect my small plastic men!

Progress update - working on engines and wing detailing:







I'm bodging and patching as I go. The underside will be different and slightly less detailed than the original, because frankly why bother? Engines will be partly saved tube/bottle caps, with a styrene rod midsection. Again, not bothered about exactly replicating the original here - an approximation of a future jet will do.


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Update: she has TEETH!

Someone's on a roll . Nice work!

Thanks! Today was dedicated to sitting around tending a fire, slowly cooking meats, so modelmaking was a nice fit. Extra nice to do so in the garden, though rain stopped play for a while and I had to rapidly cart all my gear back indoors.

Here's where things ended for tonight:



I've started riveting as I'm going to be less fussy about filling and filing every last thing. I know which bits need doing, but the wings were safe to start on. I also made magnetised payload options. I made two bombs, two large missiles, two heatseekers, two missile racks and two rocket pods. No idea if they're all game legal but I can switch things up however I feel, and use some on future aircraft builds too.

I trimmed off the upright bits I added to the lascannon muzzles as I kept snapping them off when handling the plane. I miss them. I'll re-add them before I paint.

And for those who want to know how the smoking went, here's a recap...



Pork leg, pork shoulder and beeeef. So tasty!


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Found that the base from a spindle of CDs makes an ideal stand, and fits into a brass plumbing coupler. I'd intended to use brass tubing for the stand but this is ready made and easier, as well as cheaper. I've covered it in glue, added two lumps of concrete for weight, lots of sprue to bulk it out, and sand for texture. Once this dries (if) I'll putty the edges and tidy it all up.



I took out some panels from the underside to set the plumbing joint in. I've crammed in a load of No More Nails, and will now wait for that to dry too! Once dry I'll trim the glue down, and likely just Green Stuff around to tidy it.



You can also see I need to add some engine baffle panels to hide the hot glue mess from sticking the engines together. Super glue simply wasn't cutting it trying to stick styrene to bottle tops. The engine exhaust nozzles are hacksawed and sanded down super glue nozzles.

So the No More Nails was a bust. Ripped it out. Found some two part epoxy glue. That will do it!

Whilst I waited for things to dry I finished the Taurox Prime!

Those vehicles are really well executed. Loving the rivet and panel detail

Love that armored car! Scratch building at its finest!

I'missed in awe of what you can do with plasticard! The Thunderbolt is amazing!!!

EDC

Thank you guys, very kind. I'm glad you're enjoying the builds, as I sure am!

You ... must .... finish .... the .... Macharius!!!

I willlllll, sooooon, ish?

The Thunderbolt now sits on its stand.



Gorilla 5min expoxy worked where glue gun and superglue failed.

Pilot body not affixed but shown for scale. I'll likely convert him up into a pilot for fun at some point.

Your scratchbuilding skills are really very impressive. Where did you learn them?

 Ketara wrote:
Your scratchbuilding skills are really very impressive. Where did you learn them?

Thank you! Erm, around these parts to be honest. I was inspired by Blackadder's Titan builds, but didn't want to take on anything that big. But I've read his threads for years and learnt about scoring and snapping vs cutting through, plus a few things I found out myself, e.g. emery boards make great sanding/finishing equipment for adjusting or dressing parts! Bit of YouTube too.

All trial and error really. Only really the last couple of months I've decided to really have a crack at this. Elli Patoroch's templates have been a godsend, but the armoured car is my own reworking of a simple free model.

Ooh, I undercoated the Taurox...

Dammit, now I want to build a thunderbolt.

I'm really impressed by how quickly you put that thunderbolt together based off the paper templates, out of interest how many sheets of plasticard did that take?

It prints out as 6, but not well spaced, and I didn't use lots of the printed sections that make tubes/engines as I used other stuff. So probably best part of 5 sheets. For the main body and wings I used spray mount and went sheet for sheet. For smaller sections and detail panels I chose appropriate bits from my (growing) tub of plasticard offcuts, chopped up the templates and spray mounted to the offcuts. I think I'm still using the same can of spray mount I used for uni 15+ years ago!

Yeesh that's a lot of plastic, goes to show what a big model it is! Offcuts are always useful so no worries there.

JohnnyHell wrote:

JohnnyHell wrote:

Sheer, Utter Genius. These are awesome.

I really love that Thunderbolt. In fact, it's actually me inspiring to make a Tempestus Drop army with no tanks but loads of Valkyries. Not that I want to scratch build them, mind

Tangent time: That Taurox has been sparking off my old Rogue Trader nostalgia, the front grill reminds me of the Genestealer Cult they did with a converted transport. Here's a sight for sore eyes:



Now get that Macharius finished!

I started popping paint on the Taurox. First time recess washing. Slightly laborious but should look nice. Aiming for a creamy white. Think the Rolls from LXG movie.



And here's a shot of the two vehicles side by side for scale:








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 Furiyen wrote:


Tangent time: That Taurox has been sparking off my old Rogue Trader nostalgia, the front grill reminds me of the Genestealer Cult they did with a converted transport. Here's a sight for sore eyes:
{snipped super-awesome image for brevity}

Oh I know. They were in my mind. And in fact I'm planning on modifying the template again and building a counts-as Goliath for my Cult. May try and make it castable so I can duplicate it instead of scratch-building several. That would be new to me!

 Furiyen wrote:

Now get that Macharius finished!

Yassir! I'm gonna work on it in tandem with the Taurox so that I can do one while other is drying. Always helps keep my interest. Heck, I've got a Baneblade and a pile of men and horses to paint too!


...BUT something in me WILL make me start a new scratchbuild before they're done. Guaranteed. I might make something for my Deathwing so I actually play them. Now, why make a Land Raider when I can make a Spartan (and Geedubs kindly gave us a screencap of the 8th rules for free)? I considered a a Mastodon, but I dunno... thoughts? I'd do a Titan but I'd rather someting I'd actually use more often.

Damn though. Seeing that old Cult Limo makes me want to do an exact-shape copy and update the details. Hnnnnnggggg. WHAT TO DO!?!?!

Oh, and I still need to finish this that I started 2 years or so ago, before having any actual skills, just ambition beyond my abilities:


Biplane Vendetta to fit in with my oldy worldy British-looking Guardsmen. I'll probably revisit it and magnetise now I know how, so it can be a Valkyrie or Vendetta.

Omg, I love the Valkyrie / Vendetta idea

Will fit with the Praetorians perfectly. Please, for the love of God, make the pilot like this:



All thoughts of my eldar have fled from my head today, I've been dreaming of Valkyries and Scion Drop Troopers, but I'd need a theme to start investing it. Maybe after the Eldar

PS Just seen the new Doomhammer rules for 8th, its Vulcan Heavy Bolter is Heavy 20. TWENTY SHOTS!

Excellent. I suppose that means the stay still / fire twice will be gone sadly. In its first outing 30 shots from my Macharius one-shotted an infiltrating Avatar of Khaine! Eldrad didn't see THAT coming!

Fantastic, Love it all, I think the guys on foot need Bloodstripes.

Don't drop by for a bit, and the guys finishes two builds.. Lovely work as always!

 DJShadowcat wrote:
Fantastic, Love it all, I think the guys on foot need Bloodstripes.

What are these Bloodstripes you speak of?


EDIT: Ah, looked it up... red stripe down the seam of the trousers? Maaaaaybe.

Lo, what CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT through yonder window breaks?

ah yes, the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT, nothing like it to transport the men into battle.
"I've never felt safer than when i was in the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT" - trooper perkins
"10/10 love me a CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT" - IGN
"14\10" - lord Castellan Creed

the reviews speak for themselves, you must be doing the emperors work

Wow, I was going to comment on how I was enjoying the creative greenstuff work and kitbashing, but these scratchbuilds in the last few pages are really something else. Creative, inspiring work. Thank you for posting! Will be watching from now on

Thank you, really kind. I must confess to be very lucky that a crazy Russian gentlemen made such nice plans, and that they're fairly easy to adapt/bodge for Plasticard. And that my Google-fu was strong enough to find them.

Had a TERRIFYING moment earlier. My girlfriend briefly sat on the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT. Such is the badassitude of this vehicle (and my timely shout of NOOOOO!) that the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT survived intact.

Build update:



For the most part this has been an easy build so far. Some fixes to do around nose weapons where the thickness of layers hasn't matched, but easily done. Back is just layered panels and simple boxes. Much easier than Macharius.

HOWEVER, tracks are still to come and they're same design as Macharius. Not tough, but complex cuts that need to be done slowly and carefully. Plus I want this built by midweek for a game so I can field a 3 x Superheavy detachment! Baneblade, Macharius Vulcan and CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT, with air support from the Thunderbolt. Yep, I bought the FW Index. :-)

I love this thread. You're a master of scratch building and conversions good sir!

Thank you!

Oh, one thing... I'm gluing the rear hatch shut. Cannot be arsed with interiors and a flappy door isn't practical for gaming.

... But did you finish the Macharius!?

PS Love the Crassus

That Crassus is looking really good, I'm also in the middle of scratch building a Crassus, going for a heavy multi transport idea, but all stopped due to work commitments at present. Be looking back in here to see your excellent progress. Your scratch skills are awesome.

Such mad plasticard skills. Keep up the finevitable work on the CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT!

EDC

 Furiyen wrote:
... But did you finish the Macharius!?

PS Love the Crassus

Hahaha painting is ongoing!

Here's a quirk of plasticard vs paper - gaps. And here's how I solved one gap - trial and error and a custom fit armour plate.



The curved vent is super badly made as I was impatient, but a touch of filling and filing and it'll look fine. Detail-wise, I'm working between the Patoroch plans and FW pics and landing somewhere in the middle.

And here's a detailing update:



I think I misinterpreted the door as having cutouts instead of sticky-out bits. So I've now got both! I simplified the rear a lot to save card and cutting.

Tracks are simpler than the Macharius, as adding all the road wheels made it a pig to paint AND I've run out of that diameter of tubing. So I went lazy style. I realise I could have combined first track layer too now, ah well.

Evening update. The space school bus is almost ready for track links and rivets. Blade approves.



Now to pray those sponsons still rotate in the morning. Not easy to fix if they don't! I'm going to magnetise all the weapon mounts. I think 4x Autocannn is the first loadout I'll make, but with the new rules I can see myself making Heavy Flamers too. 4D6 automatic S5 hits on anything can't be sniffed at...

Morning edit: they spin!!! Actually following the plans this time paid off. Damn me trying to be smart with the Macharius.

Making tracks. Ugh. And I'm all out of skinnier card so worried that 1mm might make it all too thick.



<wobbly wobbly timey wimey>

Tracks done and on! A touch less cool than with actual internal wheels, a LOT easier to make without.



This is really coming together now! As usual, despite all the little edits, inaccuracies and errors, it looks like a CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT and that's what counts. Materials cost will be about £6 of plasticard, £3.50 of plastic glue (need a new bottle), and £1.50 of nail art beads. Total £11 of materials, plus whatever bits I use, and a few pence worth of magnets when I fit the guns/mount plates tomorrow. Beats £115 for the FW model!

She'll get her first game next week hopefully!

I made the magnet panels for all the weapons, and made a set of Autocannons:



No doubt effective in game, but the front ones look too long. Plus, some close up impact might be fun... so I made different nose guns:



THAT'S more the right silhouette. I still need to tweak the Autocannons, not quite right yet, but I'm pretty happy with the stubby, old school nozzled Heavy Flamers. Pretty proud of the ignition tube, think it's spot on.

(Please excuse the rubbish pics tonight)

That's looking brilliant so far! The addition of rivets will make this nigh-on indistinguishable from the FW Crassus!

Hope so! Rivets hide a multitude of modelling sins!

Green Stuff slathered on in a few places that need it. Now to leave for several hours until it's set enough to sand.

Not much a bit of putty can't fix!

Looking pretty bloody brilliant so far mate.

Thank you! The putty is mostly to try and emulate the curve of some of the front plates on the FW model and blend the planes. One or two gap fills that might otherwise annoy me.

Best thing? Playing a game next week with ALL my scratch builds! Just over 2K points vs Eldar, 2118 to be exact. Charlie chose using PL but the FW Power levels are all WAY high, so I point matched instead (his 101 became 123 for me!). I'll be fielding a Superheavy Detachment consisting of Baneblade, Crassus and Macharius Vulcan. That will be assisted by two Infantry Squads led by a Company Commander, a 10-man Scion Squad in a Taurox Prime, Scion Command Squad and Tempestor Prime, and a rogue Veteran melta squad in Chimera. The Thunderbolt will provide air support and extra Dakka.

Been watching Great British Menu and riveting away...



It still amazes me how these tiny half domes just bring the whole thing alive! This really is such an odd-shaped model. I love it.

Johnny, looks like your Photobucket account has gotten too popular

Oh I hate Photobucket so much... I dislike Imgur but at least it works. Looks like I'm switching.

Oddly, it seems like they've blocked Dakka but not YakTribe. Ugh. Many images to switch, best get on with it... thanks for the heads-up @Furiyen!

In newly Imgur-based news, I've sanded back the putty. Couple of bits I couldn't reach too well (idiot me detailing first) but I'll pop stuff over them if they stand out too much. Main aim was to blend both side panels of the cab and smooth the prow.

Brilliant scratch builds on these pages. Truly impressive skills. The CRASSUS is superbly put together... Eli's templates are great are they. Have been the basis of several of my (unfinished) builds...

For picture hosting, have you considered just using Dakka's own gallery?

Yeah I probably should do that, @Ruglud. My early pics are there. I just find it more complex from my phone.

Loving your sig!!! And finish your builds. Do eeeeit.


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Riveting progress. Almost there, then a couple of small details and she's done! I don't usually like crewmen popping out of hatches, but it seemed relevant for this assault vehicle, and the 4 close range Storm Bolter shots will be useful.




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Aaaaaand it's finished!







Magnetised options for sponson Autocannons or Heavy Bolters, and hatch closed or open with commander firing Storm Bolter.

There's a winged horse skull on the front. This is from a famous Rough Rider Officer's steed. The officer's own skull is installed above the rear door!

This may carry fewer men than a Gorgon, but at least they have a roof (honestly, one grenade or mortar could annihilate a Gorgon's passengers). Plus, it is a CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT and now I can say I own one. Feels good. :-) I am a little sad the Dracosan has no 40K rules, I really wanted to build one of them.

Amazing work, Johnny. Now get em all painted before you start the next scratch build

..... speaking of which... hows that epic Macharius doing?!!?

I demand magic school bus yellow .

Looks amazing , especially how fast you've cranked it out. Well done.

Oh my goodness,

I love your army, it's absolutely one of my favorite Praetorian armies i have seen in a while. Keep it up good sir i cant wait to see that Macharius painted.

Wow! I run three of these from Forgeworld as they are my favourite looking vehicle in the catalogue.

Your scratch build is very goood as I can imagine with the curves and lines of the original it would almost be like boat building, not easy.

Well done, you have some skills fella.

TRIPLE CRASSUS, @Digits? Wow! Can I ask how you arm them for 8th? Autocannons seem tempting but can't shoot at units within 1", so for an up close and personal assault it seems like weapons that can always shoot whatever is threatening your Infantry seems best? Leave my other tanks to the heavy lifting?

I opted for rule of cool when I built them. Heavy bolters looked absolutely fine to me and make sense. They have the range to fire from turn one unlike the flames option. I do love auotocanons and use them an awful lot in my army but think they look odd on the Crassus. I don't see these as any kind of offensive weapon except they can discharge a lot of troops where you want them. I'm still waiting for my Forgeworld book to see if there is any change to them.

Great work on everything here!

Would you mind sharing the templates for some of the tanks? I'd love to try ,y hand at scratch building but I don't know where to start.

Digits wrote:
I opted for rule of cool when I built them. Heavy bolters looked absolutely fine to me and make sense. They have the range to fire from turn one unlike the flames option. I do love auotocanons and use them an awful lot in my army but think they look odd on the Crassus. I don't see these as any kind of offensive weapon except they can discharge a lot of troops where you want them. I'm still waiting for my Forgeworld book to see if there is any change to them.

This image is just beautiful!!! Thank you!

The rules on what the Crassus can fire when have informed my choice, plus I agree Autocannons look odd on the Love Slug (as I'm not calling my Crassus, noooo).

Amazing work asalways, looks really good and seems like you managed to keep the designs simple enough to build fast but also retained enough detail to look quallity! Nice build.

I quite like thethe look of the autocannons, the spinaly look is quite sifi.

Thanks @stonned_astartes!

Last night saw all my creations in battle together for the first time.

The Taurox Prime was obliterated early on. Charlie identified the Scions as a threat based on previous games. Two died disembarking and the rest were cut down in short order through weight of fire.

The CRASSUS ARMOURED ASSAULT TRANSPORT transported some dudes into assaults down the centre of the table. It fared OK, but bore the brunt of the Eldar wrath, and was destroyed on turn 3. I guess that's its job? It had terrible Heavy Flamer rolls, and the Heavy Bolters were always at 5+ to hit as it was moving. A tricky truck to use. I misdeployed the guys inside, piling out early and into the wrong place, so they took some hurt. I should have waited it out and hopped out en massed in turn 3.

The Thunderbolt was shot out of the sky on turn 1, poor bugger. His shooting was effective, but the Eldar player was focussing on one or two things to take down a turn, and the 'Scarlet Aquila' got lit up badly. A couple of Bright Lances and he was downed.

The Macharius Vulcan made it to turn 4 before dying. It displayed a mix of spectacular shooting and bad whiffs. Dark Reapers in cover were tougher to shift than last edition! 2+ save to start from made them dig in like ticks. The Vulcan Mega Bolter then caused bugger all damage to an encroaching Falcon despite a 30-round salvo. Said Falcon then disgorged Fire Dragons that, well, I believe the term is "wrecked face". Eldrad assisted by Dooming the Mach and Guiding the Fire Dragons, psychic dickbag that he is.

At the end of the game I had an undamaged Baneblade sat in one corner, and the depleted Eldar all slowly making their way across to meet it. I misdeployed it but it still had devastating shooting. Scraping line of sight on things feels odd but then's the rules. The Baneblade Battlecannon is crazy, and it can roll a bucketload of secondary weapon dice. If I'd plonked it centrefield it would have died, but the Demolisher Cannon could have come into play too, and I needed that as Infantry get far more of a chance of a save. And Exarchs tanking with invulnerable saves is annoying haha.

Interesting game tactically. Superheavies aren't invulnerable. Shurikens scored as many wounds on them as Bright Lances (well that's an exaggeration, but shuriken did damage). This edition is super fun and challenging in that respect.

We called it a draw just after midnight at end of turn 5. He'd shot his way through 57 high toughness 3+ save Wounds, plus a bunch of squished Guardsmen. Aiiiee. I think if we'd played on I'd have lost through sheer lack of options and mobility.

Oops, I did it again...



Someone must be able to guess what this is already?

Good grief... That's outstanding!

Thanks!

A little more progress. Getting the 'teeth' to align is a lot of sanding, testing and patience.

Nice work as always. What is the material you're using for the actual pieces? Surely not standard plasticard, is it something alternate?

Just stock stuff, Elbows. Regular 1mm plasticard, aka 40,000 gauge which is cool.



Layering up the sides while I try and figure out what to use/get for the wheels. Marine aesthetic is very different to guard! More cutting / less riveting.



Can I just say how proud I am of freehanding that circle? :-D
The Flamer is just a temp borrowed from my Crassus so I get magnet polarities consistent. I'll be making twin heavy bolters and twin heavy flamers.



Think I'm leaving it there for today!

I have an ambitious plan for this chap. The hull will be painted bone white and weathered, not too many other markings, maybe some small black panels to break it up. I'm intending to magnetise the weapons, doors, front ramp and cupola hatch. Then, I'll make two sets of fittings: one for Dark Angels, which I'll paint up to be Deathwing. The other will be more teeth-and-tentacle-y for Death Guard. This should allow me to run one tank with whichever army I fancy playing that day!

Edit: I lied and did some more. Realised I made slight errors and didn't recess some door bits, but I know how to make it look decent so it's ok. The hinges will be proud but I can live with that. The bits above door I took as decoration should actually be part of the door. At least it means a simpler piece to cut, and I know how to make it look decent anyway.

So, here's where I actually left things! Made the entire power plant and bulked up the track sections. I missed off the drilled detail on inside of tracks next to hull but meh. So be it.

Fielding my Dark Angels for the first time EVER on Friday, for a change.

My Ravenwing felt sparse, so I made them a friend...





Few bits left to do, then filling and filing, but it's serviceable for Friday's game once I make a base. I started this yesterday evening, so I've fairly smashed this one out!

Holy cow, you are another scratchbuilder who builds at the speed of light !! Impressive, very impressive - a gorgeous model and such a clean build

Thanks @Ruglud!

The Speeder looks prettt naff tonight as I've slathered all the joins with Green Stuff, to sand/slice tomorrow.

I really want to finish the Spartan but am stuck on what to use for the wheels. Need 15mm rod or tubing and I have nothing of the sort. Anyone have any suggestions? May just need to fork out for some Plastruct rod in town; my dwindling supply of cheap Chinese bargain pack styrene has nothing that size.


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Filling and filing DONE
Detailing DONE
Riveting DONE

She's ready to prime!

where do you get the templates for these? or do you just make it up?

 STG wrote:
where do you get the templates for these? or do you just make it up?

These are Eli Patoroch templates, google them and you'll find several sites to get the PDF templates from, but the risk of downloading files is yours

Primed!



Couldn't find any black nearby so it got a blast of grey, and I'll have to hand-coat with black.

A keen eye can spot lots of little deviations from the original FW model, a few omissions, one key piece on back-to-front, and a pile of little embellishments I added. I tend to get to 90% done then sorta freestyle from there, based on the papercraft plans and on pics from the FW site. I'm happy with the little personalising touches here.

Played two games tonight. The Tempest excelled in the first, killing Wraithguard and scoring objectives, though I discovered it's weapons aren't too well synergised with being a fast vehicle. If it moves, both weapons systems are Heavy, so -1 to hit. If it Advances, it can't fire. So it's a balancing act.

In the second Charlie make it a priority and shot it out of the sky before it could move. In BOTH games I finished deploying first but he Seized the Initiative. Both! :-/




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 Ruglud wrote:

 STG wrote:
where do you get the templates for these? or do you just make it up?

These are Eli Patoroch templates, google them and you'll find several sites to get the PDF templates from, but the risk of downloading files is yours

Yep, they're Eli Patoroch files. Adding "vk" to the search terms will find them easier, though you'll have to muddle through some Russian (I don't speak Russian, but muddled through).

Wow freekin amazing scratch builds, inspiring!

Man, this is incredible stuff. Can I ask, do you use any special tools beyond the usual? I attempted to build a Rhino based on the Patoroch templates once with my standard hobby knife, mini saw, and selection of files and it was a complete disaster zone. I suspect I might just be garbage at working plasticard, but I thought the same about sculpting until I got clayshapers and improved immediately so I'm hoping there's a similar "shortcut" I've been missing here too

 Yodhrin wrote:
Man, this is incredible stuff. Can I ask, do you use any special tools beyond the usual? I attempted to build a Rhino based on the Patoroch templates once with my standard hobby knife, mini saw, and selection of files and it was a complete disaster zone. I suspect I might just be garbage at working plasticard, but I thought the same about sculpting until I got clayshapers and improved immediately so I'm hoping there's a similar "shortcut" I've been missing here too

Clayshapers are AMAZING.

Thanks for the praise. These results are just down to patience and practice, really, and learning from Blackadder's threads. The biggest thing I learnt from him was about scoring and snapping vs cutting clean through. You do a cut with low pressure to mark the line, go over it once maybe twice with a little more pressure, do this all round the piece, then carefully flex the plastic and snap it out of the sheet. You might need to cut what I call 'escape lines' into inward corners to help snap sections off. MUCH sharper results if you do this wherever possible. That's the scratch building 'quick fix' tbh, and changed my game.

For the basic box constructions to begin the vehicles I cut the four sides, then reinforce the corners with sections of square tube section styrene. Simpler and stronger than cutting brackets, as you get a long stable contact point not a thin edge. That's Top Tip Number 2. Shout if pics of this would help!

Files suck. Buy emery boards (see below). I buy more nail art supplies than my girlfriend!

Kit list:

KNIFE - I use a snapoff blade knife, so if I feel the cuts getting less easy I snap off a section. They're cheap as chips so no worries churning through blades.
RULER and CUTTING MAT - I have a cork-backed steel ruler and self-healing cutting mat. And a lap tray nicked from the kitchen to pop them on so I don't chop my legs when I 'Netflix and chop'.
EMERY BOARDS - My secret weapon is emery boards. They're useful for dressing the edges after making a piece, sanding and reforming bits, curving corners, sanding down Green Stuff, etc. Largely use them instead of sandpaper.
GLUE - I use Revel polstyrene cement/plastic glue with the needle-style applicator. Gorilla Gel Super Glue when needed. Gorilla two-part epoxy for special occasions.
DRILL - I use a pin vise to drill out any circles, and also to create things like the vent slitss in the Spartan engine - drill two holes at ends of the vent, cut lines between them, voila.
SPRAY - I have a can of 3M Spray Mount that I use to affix the printed plans to the plasticard. I used to just attach a sheet to a sheet and cut, but now my offcuts pile has grown somewhat I'm being more frugal, and cutting the templates into sections first so as to minimise wastage/maximise offcut use. I still may have to make a Gargant from the massive pile of Plasticard bits I've amassed!!!
PLASTICARD - 1mm / 40thou stuff from whoever's cheapest on eBay that day. Very occasionally thinner stuff (like Spartan engine). Also a bundle of cheapo eBay Chinese styrene rods/struts regularly comes in INVALUABLE for shortcuts, detailing and structuring. I'll try and do a full WIP on my next build to show some simple tricks when making the early box sections. It was £12.99 and took a few weeks to arrive, but I've bought two and am only just starting to run out of sizes after all these builds, as well as scenery and conversions. MUCH cheaper than the hobby shop Plastruct etc. brands and just as good.
RIVETS - 1mm half round nail art beads from eBay are my rivet go-to.
HOARD CRAP - Save every bottle cap and tube cap you can. They come in handy.


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Started painting in a Ravenwing scheme. A very lazy drybrushed blue/grey edge highlight scheme. Looks ok tbh! The black was a bit patchy so I slathered on some Dark Tone wash to deepen it as well as shade the metals and green recesses. Hope it doesn't pool or go patchy as I've gone to bed now! Excuse bad pics and wet wash glare.

Back on the Spartan horse. Have no monies for tubes so trying another method.

Cutting a LOT of circles to make the wheels. I'll just make the edges and not worry about the middle. Mostly hidden by tracks, and if not no biggie. Wishing I'd boxed the middle of the tracks now though.





I'm cutting them out roughly, using curved nail scissors to cut into circles, then sanding the edges with emery board (started with sandpaper but it was too coarse).

Each track has 30 small and 4 big circles to cut out!!! One done, one to go.

Awesome builds, and at an industrial speed to boot!

Thanks! Speed has plummeted as I'm doing tracks. I see why people make one and cast them...

Tracks annoying me so took a break and did some riveting and vent detailing. Before and after...

Excellent stuff and invaluable advice for those who wish to dip their toes in scratchbuilding with plasticard...

Hope it's helpful, Ruglud! Let me know how you get on.

I've hit a snag when cutting tracks... without the wheels being a rod across the track unit, you can see through the links too much. I think I'll need to add a second layer of plasticard to reduce that somewhat. More circle cutting, yay!

The worst thing is, this isn't even done and I'm looking at what to make next... maybe a simple Rhino?

Big update!



Ran out of rivets so I've ordered some more. It's around this stage of the build you REALLY notice all the not true, off-centre, ever-so-slightly misaligned bits. Time to patch over some, not worry about others, and just get this done!

Twin heavy Flamer constructed on a magnetised base so I can build other options at a later date. For now the idea of 2D6 auto hits is too funny not to have heavy flamers.



Sponson structure built. Circular base is magnetise to the hull so it removable for transport, and allows rotation of the sponson too. You can also see the beginning of the Nurgle front door. More on that in later updates.



Making lascannons x8 = tedious. Still need to detail the sides. I glued them so that the barrel fun of the gun below sticks to the gun above for strength.



Lascannons installed, and demonstrating the range of motion possible thanks to the pivot mount and magnetised attachment.



And finally a test for together. The sponsons REALLY increase its presence and sheer size!

Edit: evening session... did a door icon. Nerve-wracking cutting such tiny bits out.



Edit edit: both done!

Stuff is Awesome and I love the plasticard work!

 JohnnyHell wrote:
-snip-

Thanks chief that's really helpful. Now I just have to figure out how to re-scale the templates for a Rhino to fit the truescale dimensions I worked out Time to scout ebay for some emery boards.

Thanks Ghostmaker!

@Yodhrin - the files can be edited and rescaled in a vector graphics package. If you don't have Illustrator then Inkscape is a great free alternative (it's what I use). The only downside to Inkscape is having to open each page one at a time. Drop me a PM, might be able to do it for you if you don't have the right software/knowhow.

I haven't seen a Scratch thread this cool since the old WiP forum- Great job!

Do you still have your plans for the Taurox? I've been looking for an alternative to GWs model and yours is perfect.

 Eddtheman wrote:
I haven't seen a Scratch thread this cool since the old WiP forum- Great job!

Do you still have your plans for the Taurox? I've been looking for an alternative to GWs model and yours is perfect.

Sure do, want me to clean it up and post it? You'll have to figure some bits out from the photos as the back was freestyled when it turned out the wheels were too big, and the grille is also freestyled!

I might make a second to cast up at some point.

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 Eddtheman wrote:
I haven't seen a Scratch thread this cool since the old WiP forum- Great job!

Do you still have your plans for the Taurox? I've been looking for an alternative to GWs model and yours is perfect.

Sure do, want me to clean it up and post it? You'll have to figure some bits out from the photos as the back was freestyled when it turned out the wheels were too big, and the grille is also freestyled!

I might make a second to cast up at some point.

Yeah If you could post those I'd really appreciate it. No worries on having to figure out some bits on my own- I usually change up parts of a template to suit my needs. I've starpted casting models once I get one finished- Its usually much faster and more consistent and occasionally someone buys one from you .



If I may offer some CC on the lascannons- Yours look fantastic but they're missing the coils at the back of the barrels. Not saying that you should change them, but for future projects I have an easy way to make those. I found some plasticard that was shaped like corrugated aluminum and cut it into strips of 3-4 ridges. I wrapped these around the smaller tube of the lascannon barrel and bracketed it with a the larger diameter tube. It does a pretty good job of mimicking the coils on the back of the gun.

Here's a few pics
http://imgur.com/a/Dxvgs

Good lord you work fast. More fantastic stuff.

 Eddtheman wrote:

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 Eddtheman wrote:
Snip

Snippity.

Snip snip

...

If I may offer some CC on the lascannons- Yours look fantastic but they're missing the coils at the back of the barrels. Not saying that you should change them, but for future projects I have an easy way to make those. I found some plasticard that was shaped like corrugated aluminum and cut it into strips of 3-4 ridges. I wrapped these around the smaller tube of the lascannon barrel and bracketed it with a the larger diameter tube. It does a pretty good job of mimicking the coils on the back of the gun.

Here's a few pics
http://imgur.com/a/Dxvgs

That looks AMAZING! Need to find some of that sheet!


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Not a dramatic update tonight, but I've finished most of the detailing and riveting. Just the sponsons left to detail/rivet and the tracks to do.

I noticed from FW pictures that there's a little inner shield at front of the sponsons that didn't seem to be in the Patoroch plans, or I lost the paper templates when trimming others out, unsure which. I freestyled some from offcuts and super glued them on. You can see it just peeping out in the bottom right pic.

I also treated myself to some 3mm half round nail beads, and used them for the targeter lenses as well as a couple of details on the tank.



Busy day tomorrow but I may try and break the back of the tracks on Thursday. AND I've had a brainwave re: the ribbed detail on the Lascannons. If I roll out some Green Stuff into a thin sheet, then press a plate from my Tentacle Maker into it, I'll get a flexible sheet of ribbed detail when cured. Trim it up and superglue it on. Will give it a go!

I caved and bought some Plastruct rods at a model shop to finish this. Also some half round rods to make track fabrication simpler.

After doing the axles I took the plunge and installed one track. Minimal bodging required to get it to line up. The join is hidden on the bottom and one at the back. Both will be hidden when I make the hinges.



Wow I didn't notice how out of focus that top pic is! Currently deciding if I can be arsed with double-thickness for the tracks. May end up looking rough as all the manual cuts align/misalign. Think I may leave it at single thick. Thoughts?

Here are the 'hinges' just laid on top as a test:



Edit: eh, couldn't wait. Added the hinges. Calling this side DONE!




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Aaaaand here... we... go!

97% done, just the lascannons to finish, vents on top to Green Stuff and a couple of gap fills to do. Mostly the design doesn't need filling. Oh, and the Nurgle doors/weapons set.















And showing off the range of sponson articulation. The targeter pulls up and is connected to a rod, like a pin down through the lascannons, into a clip underneath. Will mean I can build alternate guns if I want to.

I need help. That isn't even 100% done and I've spent four hours on this today...



I chose the Deimos Rhino because why make a standard one? Also it's only 3 sheets of parts, so less once I discard parts I'll replace with tubing, and when I use offcuts for small pieces. I've used all cut sheets so far, no pristine ones started, and the bulk is done. You can see errors happening here. I glued on the vision slits then had to slice them off and reposition higher so as to be flush with the upper hull plate (that I hadn't yet added). Annoying.



I've also wasted time cutting the circular door hole, as there's another layer to go on top! D'oh! Maybe I can work it in and create some depth? Oooh, yes... I'll layer the two circles and chamfer the edges so it looks thick and sturdy. Plan.

Now I need to stop prevaricating and tidy the house. Here's how she looks just now:



I was worried it wouldn't be cool enough as a Rhino, but I just wanted one over a Razorback for some reason. Will likely make one of those at a later date now I know how achievable this build is. If I carried on it would be done by dinner time.

*frantically searches for the subscribe button*

nareik wrote:
*frantically searches for the subscribe button*

Hehe thanks... much more to come ;-)




Boring update: I roughly sorted my plasticard offcuts from my various builds. Not fully sorted yet but lumped into useful bits, odd-shaped, tubes and rods, long strips and tiny bits. More to do later but calm has been mostly restored. I'll be keeping them in the big box; it's a useful working/dumping space.

I have two and a half full sheets left, plus a million bits. I might have a go at redrawing the old official GW Dreadnought Drop Pod plans a little bit... add eagle heads to the top, wing details lower down, etc. Aquila Pattern Drop Pods. If I change the pattern and make it my design I should be able to cast them up. Never tried casting. Scary!

Or I might just smash out more Rhino-based things. A modular one for Razorback/Whirlwind/Predator should be possible.

I still have a hankering to make something HUGE too. So many choices!

Could you do a tutorial on how to build these things? I'd love to scratch build something, but I have no idea where to start.

Wow, just fething wow.... Fantastic work on the Spartan and everything else.

Very impressive building work there!

First class, top notch work mate. Wish I could work at your speed and still maintain the intricate detailing

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
Could you do a tutorial on how to build these things? I'd love to scratch build something, but I have no idea where to start.

Sure, I think I might! Will be fun to do. Pics or video?

Also what kind of thing would be a good subject?


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FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:Wow, just fething wow.... Fantastic work on the Spartan and everything else.

JamesY wrote:Very impressive building work there!

Ruglud wrote:First class, top notch work mate. Wish I could work at your speed and still maintain the intricate detailing

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:Wow, just fething wow.... Fantastic work on the Spartan and everything else.

Thank you all! Appreciated.

Ruglud, it's not so much speed as 'not much else to do'. Design work has been hard to come by and I've been filling my days with builds.

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
Could you do a tutorial on how to build these things? I'd love to scratch build something, but I have no idea where to start.

Sure, I think I might! Will be fun to do. Pics or video?

Also what kind of thing would be a good subject?

Either one. I prefer pics but if you want to do a video thats fine. As for models, something small like a rapier would be good.

Ooh Rapier, nice idea. Are there still rules for Guard crew as well as Marines? If so it can do double duty for two of my armies.

Im pretty sure there are, but AFAIK they don't have access to the laser destroyer variant, or else that variant is so terrible its not worth taking. So a quad launcher would probably be best.

Ok, from my Indexes and BattleScribe it seems Guard can have the Laser Destroyer only, Marines can have Quad Heavy Bolter, Laser Destroyer or Quad Launcher.

I've found the PDF and it's a fiddly bugger of a model! May do some simplifying before I start. There are definitely shortcuts we can take. Small builds can show up errors and misalignments more obviously, so precision practise will be the order of the day. I'll make at least two at the same time I think for Rule Of Two. Three if I can be bothered!

Nice figures!

Man- I need a watch that lets me get done in four hours what you do! Massively impressive work!


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Man- I need a watch that lets me get done in four hours what you do! Massively impressive work!

Amazing stuff...

Thanks guys!

I read Warhammer Community today only to find they've stolen my Praetorian conversions AND not trimmed off the feather! Some new regiment name to help sell people mutiple boxes to make one unit grumble grumble...

Not to worry.

Tidying the house and packing for holiday, but I snuck in a small scratch build. Very much smaller-scale: jump packs!

Years ago I made up an Assault Squad/Vanguard Vets squad. Never fielded them in a game to this day, as I built them from Tacticals so they were walking dudes. I need some more FA choices to fill out Detachments, so I grabbed the styrene, and...



Prototype Heresy-era style jump pack! It's kinda simple but I think it's effective, and will look fine when painted up. Whaddya think?


All of the Assault dudes I built have the Mk5-looking or Mk 6 helmets and breastplates, so this should be a good match. Now to gradually make 4 more so I can field them, then another 5 to finish the squad!

Here it is with some paint starting to go down:



I need a lot of edge highlighting practice, but I'll get there!

I really like your battle damage. I typically don't do actual damage to the model, unless I'm converting chaos models, but yours are super cool.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
I really like your battle damage. I typically don't do actual damage to the model, unless I'm converting chaos models, but yours are super cool.

Thanks! I did it years ago, 5 or 6 maybe! Fluff was this battleforce fights Tyranids a LOT. Mid-campaign vs them, and they've seen a lot of claws, tentacles and acid attacks.

I have always the greater of respects for people that can make battle damage to their models. I can't do it. It makes me too sad

Hmmm, the marine does nothing for me, but those scratch built vehicles... nice!

...I'm subscribing to this thread. Yep. Go ahead and stop me if you dare.

Are you going to fix the BotoPhucket issue on the first pages of the thread?


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Please say, "yes."

 Red Harvest wrote:
Hmmm, the marine does nothing for me, but those scratch built vehicles... nice!

...I'm subscribing to this thread. Yep. Go ahead and stop me if you dare.

Are you going to fix the BotoPhucket issue on the first pages of the thread?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Please say, "yes."

Thanks dude! Appreciate the Marines aren't everyone's thing. To be honest they're me being a jobless cheapskate, mostly, and turning bad loadout Marines into useful Marines! I've finished a squad now.

Here's some painting progress in the Spartan for you...



Usual P3 paints (I do love 'em) over a boggo cheap grey spray undercoat. Which of course took about a million thinned layers to get the bone approaching bone. I've done the sepia recess washing (Army Painter Soft Tone) and I'm now tidying up and highlighting. It's going to take a while, but the tank is 80% done at that point. I may leav the wheels bone to save some painting and just do the tracks silver, whaddya think?

Yeah, I need to go back at some point and fix the Photobucket images, just need some time. I've been on holiday for 3 weeks in Barbados (such a chore hahah) but I'm back and raring to get some of the scratchbuilds painted. And, of course, make more things...


Edit: Painting update:



I sacked off edge highlighting and drybrushed the whole thing. Added some nice scratch-like texture to the flat panels in places, a happy byproduct. Doors highlighted. Tracks blocked in and washed with 2/3 Dark Tone 1/3 Strong Tone (or Nuln Oil / Agrax if you want to translate into GeeDub speak) for a dirtier/slightly rusted look. I'll dry rush them up, finish the other details, then figure out how I'm going to weather the whole tank. Likely muddy towards bottom and some chipping around logical areas.

Painting continues, and I've started part two of the plan...




Part of the plan for this tank is one hull, two armies. I've already made the stock Deathwing parts, now for the Death Guard ones! A daemonic mouth, lascannons split into a Nurgle triple lascluster and lone 'thumb' lascannon. Side doors will also be replaced with Death Guard symbols. This is just plasticard and Green Stuff so far, and the lascannons aren't finished. Just a bulking layer over the structure. All magnetised for quick swapping between armies.

Paint is looking good !

And an interesting idea for it to be army switchable, not seen that before !

I love those lascannons on the deathguard spartan, and the new front plate looks brutal. I never would have thought to make the tank dual pruposed like that.

Dude , PM’d ya !

Thanks guys!

Got a little bogged down in chewing through guardsmen in my last game. Built a (hopeful) quick solution...





Quick, but fairly fiddly so I didn't take many photos. I also ran out of spraymount, and found that double sided tape works as well if not better! Less residue as it peels clean off and no spray fumes. May well be switching for all but big parts.

For all the huuuuge range of motion it has, the gun is magnetised for traverse and elevation. It also means I can pull it out and build alternate weapons at a later date.

Shortcuts I took were less detail on inside of tracks, nothing on the underside, and lazy, lazy ammo drums. Wish I'd done smaller bits but couldn't be bothered. Looks fine and does the job!

Yay! I've been waiting for this.

Do you have the plans for it?

Mayyyyyyybe ;-)

Quick paint job:



Since the photos I popped a rust wash on the tracks and a little bit on the other metal parts.

Slap a transfer on and it's done, to be honest!

Random one tonight...



This one won't be to everyone's tastes and that's fine! There's a story to it though.

I made the body and arm assembly TEN YEARS AGO, then never finished it. You can see the yellowed plasticard vs the new, white pieces. Last night I took the unfinished assembly, made legs, expanded and finished the torso, and detailed it all up. I'll use it as a Venerable Dreadnought.

The chin smoke launchers were an afterthought to make it WYSIWYG, couldn't think of another place to put them... but I kinda like them. He stands slightly taller than a regular Dread, and proudly displays the torso of his entombed occupant.

Fluff is he was a Deathwing Captain laid low while valiantly defending against Tyranids. His Terminator suit was irreparably damaged, and he was interred in it in honour of his valiant sacrifice.

Wow. That's a pretty awesome scratchbuild...

Thanks dude!

Getting some colours down:



Now to break and watch the WFTDA Championships final!

That thing looks pretty damn cool !

Cheers Big H!

Finally completed: the Rhino!



Twin Storm Bolters (as per current 40K possibilities) and rear hatch are magnetised. I have almost finished the magnetised Razorback turret (own design) and Hunter Killer missile. Pics to come soon. Not 100% loving the turret but eh, it works.

I have changed a few bits for ease of construction or just to get it done finally. I am SUPER proud of the retro grab rail, based on the one from the original Rhino kit. Always amazed Forge World didn't include this... now mine has one. I also made the doors have the modern zigzag split, but added raised edges to replicate the original plastic kit a little better.

I went a bit rivet heavy on the front so the face looks a little different to the original model, but it looks substantial and I like it. To anyone saying "why spend so long making a Rhino" I totally agree hahaha. If I make any more I'll do the regular, less complex pattern, but I reckon my Rhino building may well stop here! Proud of this one.

Something a little different...

Made this quickly yesterday afternoon, for my main gaming buddy's birthday as a present. Hope he likes it!



Walkway designed to hold Heavy Weapon team bases plus an Officer.
Battle damaged because I made an error when building it, and it was easier/more fun to hack it away than fix! A few bits of 'rebar' jammed in and it looks the part.

Painted VERY hurriedly with a random assortment of house paint (base layers), 18-yr-old craft acrylic, 10-yr-old Citadel half dried up paints and P3 orange for the rust wash. Charlie runs jungle terrain so I've just painted the base board as wet mud, and he can flock it and add greenery to taste. What do you think, peeps? We're gaming tonight so wanted to give the present during table setup rather than wait until Thursday.

Forgot to put minis on for scale but it's sat in the centre of a 6x4 board, and walkway is about 70mm across. Battle pics later!

Wait... rewind...



The recipe:
Simple box constructions with 5mm foamcore, PVA and dressmaking pins.
Pizza packaging foam (from Aldi or Lidl) used for textured areas. Yes scale is wrong but it looks cool and was free!
Offcuts used for buttresses and decoration.
Few bits of styrene rod for broken rebar and handles, Fantasy bases for tower firing ports, and nail art beads for rivets.
Filler and assorted offcuts/bitz added to blend into base.

Could you make me one?

Just kidding. By the way, I started my own Rapier and so far it looks OK. Thanks again for the instructions.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
Could you make me one?

Just kidding. By the way, I started my own Rapier and so far it looks OK. Thanks again for the instructions.

Yesssss awesome! Are you going to post pics?

Oops I slipped and started making a Macharius Vanquisher turret so I have armament options. Proud of how the curved section has come out!

Turret update:

Today's random build... started with a half-assembled Marine Captain missing his head and hand. Noticed he has the same collar as the Deathwatch Warden. A short while later...





Still a bunch of tweaks and tidying to do once this round of GS cures.

Just read through this thread from start to finish.

Bloody amazing.

Amazing work as always, your scratch building skills continue to amaze.

Like the idea of printing the patterns off and sticking them to the plasticard... seems obvious really.

Thank you guys! I've had a house move and job stuff recently so not many updates, but stuff to come soon! I've been painting up some Death Guard and Alpha Legion... WIP shot:




The Rhino has seen some paint, the IG tanks aren't painted yet, I know, I know...

I see you went for a black and white scheme for Alpharius... excellent choice.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
I see you went for a black and white scheme for Alpharius... excellent choice.

Pahaha. Alpharipuss is sadly not his name.

Yesterday I was meant to be quoting for design work.

Instead I made weapons to update a Space Crusade Dreadnought into a Death Guard Helbrute. I was kindly gifted this by my main gaming buddy, as he got two SC Dreads in an Eldar eBay lot.

This chap is going to be my Death Guard Helbrute. He may rock the original Multi-Melta some days but the twin Lascannon option needed to be made. He's gonna try and get up close and personal and probably fail, but have fun trying.





The feet were cut from the moulded square base, and I liked the extra height this gave so I kept it. The legs were set slightly wider, not so you'd notice but so it's not as flat a pose.

I also have the X type Dreadnought, which is going to become an Alpha Legion Helbrute with Twin Lascannon / Missile Launcher loadout. Nice and shooty, plus hard to hit. :-)

Lovely plasticard work, and a nice way to update a classic model

Fantastic scratch building. Amazing work.

Oh, those weapons arms are wonderful - looks like they could be interchangeable as well with the clip attachments...

 Ruglud wrote:
Oh, those weapons arms are wonderful - looks like they could be interchangeable as well with the clip attachments...

Thanks guys. Yes, these slide on and off and are interchangeable with the original weapons. I'd originally glued magnets on with a view to a different figment, but it seemed needless, so I ripped them off and made weapons to fit the original slide-on mounts.


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I have a tank building problem...



Watching roller derby World Cup and I knocked this up this afternoon!

Wanna build me one too?

Jokes aside, you are insanely talented! Well done!

Thank you, too kind. :-)

Update on the Land Raider! Need to get it to a state I'm happy to call 'playable' by Monday afternoon. That means riveted!



So much still to do but I made a bunch of progress today. Noticed sometime after making the Heavy bolters that the Patoroch file doesn't have the correct hull elements for the MkIIb pattern. I'll just have to say this is an in-between mark of Land Raider. This will most likely be joining my Death Guard instead of my Dark Angels, so I'll need to suitably chaosify it once the build is finished.



The sponsons were also *not* easy to make as I'd envisaged. I'd hoped they'd be easier than modern style, hence plumping for a MkIIb. I made errors in them that will be hidden once done but made assembly and making them even/level an absolute pain. I live and learn!

Work tomorrow (I now have a part-time job at a fruit-named computer company) and then Monday will be Netflix and RIVETING!

Nothing a bit of filler can't fix, looks ace!

Thanks dude!

Detailing update after a morning of riveting:



The vents were made differently to the Spartan. For that I filled a cutout with individually-cut rods. This time, the plan didn't give a cutout, and it was too late to add one. So instead I rolled out some green stuff, pressed the plate from my Tentacle Maker into it, let that cure and cut into strips. This was then cut to size and superglued in place.

This blog continues to be a holy grail of inspiration, excellent job!

Too kind, thank you. :-)


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Slight change of pace this afternoon... cheap, big ruins! I'll be making a few TALL ruined buildings as well as a couple of intact ones. All floor heights 3" apart for easy play.



All drawn out using rulers and bits of styrene rod as measures, and freehanding in the curves. The buttresses were just cut to a random uniform size, but as they're quite proud they help stop the building being "see-through" as far as LOS goes. Stops firing right through the ruin unless you've a view fairly perpendicular to the windows themselves. No weird angled shots. The arches cut from the windows were recycled for the ground floor wall detail. Again, closed-off ground floor helps block LOS.

Love them buildings.

Thanks Cleatus!

So painting is a good news/bad news thing.



I mixed sand into £1 emulsion tester pots to make black textured paint. This took a pot and a half to cover it!!! I think I'm just gonna buy a 2.5ltr pot of actual black textured paint, it'll be cheaper in the long run!



So here's the bad bit... I didn't quite add enough texture to my paint (or do enough layers) so the cardboard is showing through as lines when I drybrush it. Hey ho, not to worry. I'm making more ruins so will do better on the next one. This will still do the job in-game!

I may do more brown card ones for cheapness, or may splurge on some more foamboard. We'll see!

On the plus side, it took all of 10 mins drybrushing to get the colour on. On this ruin I just need to do the brown mud around the edge to match my table and I can call it done ready for Monday's battle.

You’ve actually replicated the forms used to hold the poured concrete in place well it dries, well done ! :-)

Haha I'll take that! I feel happier with it now everyone says "looks fine".

Two more made. A two-level and a one-level.





These are ready for rubble and texturing, but as the plaster and paint would likely not dry before tonight's game I'll probably use them "as-is" tonight. Painting etc. can be done later in the week. These are pretty quick to get to this stage. Just a couple of hours work. Next up: an intact building.

The one thing I might suggest would be a brown drybrush on the rubble around the building, just to help distinguish between the ground and the walls. But it does look awesome! I might have to make some...

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
The one thing I might suggest would be a brown drybrush on the rubble around the building, just to help distinguish between the ground and the walls. But it does look awesome! I might have to make some...

Yeah, that's definitely on my to do list. Brown to match my battlefield, then a flesh drybrush over it to get that "wet mud" look. I'll probably do that when the three new buildings are painted to the same stage.

Tried the new, larger buildings out last night and the game was FANTASTIC! Having some scenery that was actually large enough to be LOS blocking on flyers and tanks was ace, and we had to maneuver around them. I'm going to make at least three more ruins and one more complete building (pics later) so we can play a really claustrophobic Cityfight game. The only downside was the now-effective LOS blocking, deployment (short end to short end) and night fighting conspired to lose me the game. That and some bad Ravenwing movement!

If anyone's in Wales, give me a shout and drop by for a game!

Remember these Launchers? I do! I'm playing an "Ancients vs Ancients" game soon - all Deathwing vs all Eldar Wraith-constructs. I realised I needed some long range punch, but I converted or cut up all my Cyclone bitz years ago. So I made this one out of styrene. I wanted three, and making more would be fiddly and tough to get them to match. So I made a basic silicone mould from Silicone Plastique, which is a two-part Silicone putty that cures rapidly into a mould - like mould making Green Stuff. It's not cheap. I bought it years ago and have always been afraid to use it! It cures about five times as fast as the packet says!!!

I made a two-part mould using the Lego box technique, and stuffed it full of Milliput. Came out crisp at the front and warped at the back. Not good enough.

For the second version I split the piece into two bits so I could make a simpler one-part mould. Turned out OK! The copy isn't quite as crisp as the original, but it will more than do now I've cleaned and trimmed it! Now to make another two and magnetise them to my Terminators!

Some construction pics...

Impressive! I may have to start making my own cyclone missiles at some point using this basic shape, I find it looks better!

Thanks for the inspiration!

 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
Impressive! I may have to start making my own cyclone missiles at some point using this basic shape, I find it looks better!

Thanks for the inspiration!

You're very welcome! I can't stand the overhanging modern ones, and had to do something!

Land Raider is done and detailed. Pics up soon.

Done!



It's rewarding seeing the contrast to the basic assembly shots above!


I want to make a Flyer next. Wondering what's better: a Caestus (love the look and it fits with my Deathwing, seems overcosted), a Stormraven (hate the look but I'd mod it to have Dark Angel Chapter symbol shaped wings; very shooty) or a pair of Nephilim (less exciting to build but could likely have two for the points of one of the others). Any thoughts/opinions?

Such sweet plasticard work! Lovely to see it come together.

I'd love to see you build a Stormraven, I actually do like the looks of those but no idea in terms of army use this edition or anything.

Looking forward to whatever you choose!

 Guildenstern wrote:
Such sweet plasticard work! Lovely to see it come together.

I'd love to see you build a Stormraven, I actually do like the looks of those but no idea in terms of army use this edition or anything.

Looking forward to whatever you choose!

Thank you! I must admit the gamer in me is leaning toward the Stormraven for dropping off a Dread and Terminators right up in an opponent's grille, whilst being shooty as all hell. The Caestus has a terrifying main gun and more Termy space, but costs more. Gah, decisions!

Truly glorious scratch building throughout, and some snazzy painting too! I’ve built two dodgy leman russ in my past but now you have me wanting another go. Nice Praetorian paint scheme btw - can you give a breakdown of how you painted the bulk of the minis? I like those washes too but still hard to believe this effect can be achieved.

Carry on o7

 Ragsta wrote:
Truly glorious scratch building throughout, and some snazzy painting too! I’ve built two dodgy leman russ in my past but now you have me wanting another go. Nice Praetorian paint scheme btw - can you give a breakdown of how you painted the bulk of the minis? I like those washes too but still hard to believe this effect can be achieved.

Carry on o7

Thanks!

The Praetorians were painted with mostly P3 paints and Army Painter washes.

- Red areas - Army Painter red spray primer, washed with Strong Tone, highlighted up startign with Khador Red Base then up through lighter shades. Some re-washing with mix of Strong Tone and matte medium, and some layers of red+medium too, to soften the transitions.
- Trousers - Elixir Blue, washed with Dark Tone, highlighted up through lighter blues.
- Pith helmets - Jack Bone, recess shade with Soft Tone, highlighted up to Menoth White Highlight
- White areas - basecoated white, washed with diluted Frostbite (I think) then neatened up with white
- Metal - usual gunmetal / Dark Tone / highlight up to silver
- Brass areas - I thiiiink I used Brass Balls, Strong Tone wash, highlight with Radiant Platinum

Marvelous, marvelous build! I'm happy when I can cut something at 90 degrees- I know I don't see the 'behind the scenes' moments of frustration, but man that's a clean build!

 Meer_Cat wrote:
Marvelous, marvelous build! I'm happy when I can cut something at 90 degrees- I know I don't see the 'behind the scenes' moments of frustration, but man that's a clean build!

Thank you! It's certainly cleaner than my earlier ones, though it's still one where the closer you are the more imperfections you can see. Arms length quality is fine for me, and I think this goes a bit past that. Pretty proud of it!

Ooh, I haven't shown pics of the hull gun changing mechanism... more to come when I make the alternate loadout!

Love your stuff, makes my legion basilisk i made rubbish, i must learn everything i can from your builds

dreadwing wrote:
Love your stuff, makes my legion basilisk i made rubbish, i must learn everything i can from your builds

Thank you! Fire away if you need any tips. I learnt by reading Blackadder's threads and just went from there. If I can inspire you in turn that's awesome. I may film a build soon, as someone on Imgur was asking. Let me see if I can get my space tidy enough and a camera set up!

Again, I'm very impressed with the work, and this time it's a whole tank! Good job:!

Thank you!

As I can't help myself, and as my Ravenwing need more punch (because GW want you to buy new kits not the ones you have grumble grumble) I present the start of "A better Talonmaster".

Basing it off a modified Land Speeder Tempest design. Losing the cockpit (to allow sword-swinging) and swapping out the stubby flight stabilisers for Dark Angel Chapter badge inspired wings...



Lots to do if I want it ready to field on Sunday, aiiieee...


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Update:





Starting to take shape and fit the vision I had for a one-seater dogfighting Hero Speeder, not the standard Speeder with extra badly-balanced guns on. No idea how I'll fudge the cockpit area yet, and I've run out of the styrene square tubing I used to edge the Tempest's vents last time. Much improvising to come!!!

Absolutely love this build! Even for you this is straight, neat, clean, detailed- terrific job!

Thank you! The cockpit is gonna be Marmite to some, I can tell...

https://i.imgur.com/F962Hmq.gifv

Can't get the GIF to load on Dakka so here's a link to a spin of the model so far. Bought a SNUDDA 'lazy Susan' at IKEA to do 360s easily. Wobbles on his flight stand so it looks silly haha.

The speeder feels VERY big.... At least it does in the gif..... Still great work mind you.... Actually I should put up my speeder before the preheresy forgeworld model is put on sale....

Your stuff really never ceases to amaze.

 Ketara wrote:
Your stuff really never ceases to amaze.

Thank you! This one is turning out just how I hoped. Lots of winging it for the guns, cockpit and chair!




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 Kyor_Degremon wrote:
The speeder feels VERY big.... At least it does in the gif..... Still great work mind you.... Actually I should put up my speeder before the preheresy forgeworld model is put on sale....

Maybe... I don't have a legit Land Speeder to compare it to. I think the size is largely correct, though the larger wings and gun arrangement certainly make it chunkier. Maybe the Tempest itself is overall bigger too? Could also be plasticard's thickness "inflating" the build by adding extra width here and there. Who knows! I'll have to put by a real one sometime. I'm not unhappy with the size, it looks cool alongside my Tempest and Ravenwing Bikers!

It may just be the picture, things sometimes end up looking odd when photographed when they're fine in real life. It looks stunning either way!

Probably is a bit large but meh, I like it! Looks big in this battle pic from the weekend (yes, I need to get on with painting!!!).



90% of the Eldar deployed right behind the fortress or in the Webway, which was a pain!

 Guildenstern wrote:
Such sweet plasticard work! Lovely to see it come together.

I'd love to see you build a Stormraven, I actually do like the looks of those but no idea in terms of army use this edition or anything.

Looking forward to whatever you choose!

So, I just checked and I have you to blame...

First steps, printing, making the basic box section and strengthening with tube styrene in the corners:


Realising I hate the look and size, and extending it so it can actually carry enough dudes:


Making engines from found materials and impact glue. We have here hoarded Berocca tubes, tomato purée lids, Pepsi caps, cashew milk tops and sawn-down superglue caps:


Wings attached to engines ready for detailing, and a FIDDLY B*****D that I hated making:


Here’s how she currently looks...

The second I saw this, an audible "What the heck has he done now?!" was heard in eastern china.

Great job. I wish I could do that.

 EmberlordofFire8 wrote:
The second I saw this, an audible "What the heck has he done now?!" was heard in eastern china.

Great job. I wish I could do that.

:-D

The detailing is looking AWESOME. Here’s a few shots after today’s detailing spree:






And here’s me having to make bolters as I have NONE spare. WHo has NO spare bolters??? I’ve run out! So there was much barrel-drilling going on this afternoon.