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Post by: McGibs
I've had this army in the works for about two years now, but I'm finally starting to get highlighted models done! I wanted to do an army that was clean and practical, making use of a lot of decal transfers and edge highlighting, which was something I've never really tackled before.
The helmets are from https://bombshellminis.com/36018-helmet-set-r8/ and consist of a clear plastic dome and pewter collar (I didn't want to paint faces, so I sprayed them with gloss black). Conversion was pretty easy, just removing part of the marine's collar. On some of the pushfit models with pre-attached shoulderpads, I had to trim the piping on the pewter collar down to fit, but its not very noticeable on the final thing.
Lore wise, I liked the idea of having an Ad Mech controlled Marine force where they function essentially as Marine Skittarii. They were orginially escorts for an Explorator Fleet, but have since been hijacked, mindwiped, and cloned by the Fleet Magos. The modified helmets are (on paper) to provide extra protection in hazardous environments, but really because the marine's heads have been horribly augmented with cybernetic shackles that they simply don't fit in Mk X helmets anymore.
Rules wise, I run them as Deathwatch to reflect their fleet's wealth of technology gizmos and total lack of regard for codex organization.
Intercessor Squad
Hellblaster
Aggressor:
I'm not a fan of the big bullet mittens, so I replaced his arms with Tartaros Terminator arms.
And bonus tagalong, my Ordo Xenos Inquisitor, who's sanctioning the whole Explorator Fleet.
The model is a Necromunda Van Saar with a Palanite Enforcer revolver.
He's very smol next to his bodyguards.
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Post by: The Newman
1) This belongs in the art section.
2) By the Emperor's left-most jewel that's gorgeous.
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Post by: McGibs
Oh whoops! I mustve had a brainfart when I made the thread.
Can one of the mods please move this to Painting and Modeling Showcase?
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Post by: bullyboy
nah! keep it here too, otherwise I may have missed this. Fantastic army.
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Post by: Nevelon
The terminator arm swap on those aggressors is genius.
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Post by: Vaktathi
McGibs wrote:Oh whoops! I mustve had a brainfart when I made the thread.
Can one of the mods please move this to Painting and Modeling Showcase?
Done
Also...love it. Great concept, beautifully executed. The bubble helmets work fantastically well and your painting is marvelous.
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Post by: insaniak
Yup, these look fantastic!
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Post by: KingGarland
Beautiful.
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Post by: Soul Samurai
They look fantastic! I love the "sinister astronaut" look you've got going. Especially as you've done such a great job of making such a dark and monochromatic colour scheme look cool and interesting - the pitch black but super glossy bubble is perfect!
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Post by: tauist
These look more like what I'd imagine "Space Marines" actually looking like! If these had a bit of grime/battle damage, I'd give them 9/10 - Good work! The only thing I'm not super keen on is the leaders gloss varnish appearance (I only like gloss varnish on the helmets)
Do those tartaros termie hands include the storm bolter with two distinct bolter barrels? I'm trying to conceive how I want my termies to look like and I'm desperately looking for ideas how to avoid the dreaded "cross-eyed" look the reg. storm bolters get if one messes up drilling both bolter holes 100% symmetrically..
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Post by: McGibs
Thanks guys!
These look more like what I'd imagine "Space Marines" actually looking like! If these had a bit of grime/battle damage, I'd give them 9/10 - Good work! The only thing I'm not super keen on is the leaders gloss varnish appearance (I only like gloss varnish on the helmets)
Do those tartaros termie hands include the storm bolter with two distinct bolter barrels? I'm trying to conceive how I want my termies to look like and I'm desperately looking for ideas how to avoid the dreaded "cross-eyed" look the reg. storm bolters get if one messes up drilling both bolter holes 100% symmetrically..
I was unsure about the gloss-red as well, but leaving it matte just didnt pop enough. On tabeltop, when not getting blasted by photobooth lights, I think the effect is a lot more subdued.
I also wanted to keep the battle damage pretty low, as the theme behind them is more "research aquisition" than trench fighters. They come down from space to beat up people and steal their gizmos for the Ad Mech. I doubt they're on a planet's surface for more than a few hours at a time if they can help it.
Both the Tartaros and Cataphract terminator kits have fanstastic 30k style stormbolters with full barrels that are vastly superior to the old "pig nose" ones. If you can get your hands on some I really recommend them.
You could also try cutting off the pigsnout and using some plastic tubing (or regular bolter barrels). I did this on my own chaos terminators here:
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Post by: Mr Nobody
That is one hell of a polished gloss. Thanks for sharing your light-box set up with us!
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Post by: McGibs
Thanks for the kind words everyone!
I'm still undecided on a chapter name for these guys (though they're not really a chapter). Something to evoke tones of their space faring nature, their goofy retro-scifi-look, their mind-wipedness, or their ties to the admech/science/exploration/ordoxenos.
-Void Watch (or Void Watchers)
-The Lacuna
-SPACE FORCE (would be perfect if it wasn't a 'real' thing.)
-Acquisitors
I'm open to any suggestions you guys might have!
Also, I posted this Executioner a while ago, but I figure I could keep all this army's progress in one thread. I hope this thing still gets some play, despite going up to almost 400pts.
I might go back and redo some of the dark-bluegreen highlights with the new recipe I learned doing the marines.
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Post by: Mr. Burning
Oh lawdy!
Those Marines are great. A simple idea executed really well.
That executioner is ace as well. Love the turret scheme.
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Post by: Azathothsdream
These are amazingly grimdark.
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Post by: Voss
Love the inquisitor. Made me take a second look at the Van Saar kit, as I originally thought it was rather rubbish.
Turns out its just the crappy GW paint job!
Very well done.
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Post by: Ouze
I can't get over those bubble helmets. It's such a good idea, and it is incredibly well executed. Absolutely brilliant work.
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Post by: 416_SpaceWolves
Great job on all parts of this. I'd vote for SPACE FORCE.
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Post by: Super Ready
Wow... just... WOW. VERY nice work. And fantastic idea!
I too think you'd be fine with Space Force - failing that, how about Star Corps? Or as it's AdMech related, what about something like the Machine Guard?
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Post by: Fireball
looks weird but great at the same time!
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Post by: McGibs
Finished another Fortis Killteam. Not much different about them, except the sergeant has a stun-baton because power-swords aren't tecnho enough.
Also finished one of six Cyberbikes! I don't want any squatmarines in this army, so I'm having to come up with convincing alternatives.
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Post by: JNAProductions
It's gotta be witchcraft. I don't see how else you could make something so damn awesome.
Many props to you on the amazing minis! Fantastic idea, executed amazingly well!
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Post by: cody.d.
But now I'm curious. What would you do for dreadnaughts?
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Post by: dr_sarcasm
This is just ridiculously creative - love it. And like the above poster, I'm curious to see if you pump out a dread and your ideas for that...
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Post by: McGibs
As it happens, I have three dreads. This is the only finished one, though I may give him another highlight pass.
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Post by: Super Ready
*cries in admiration*
Unbelievable, you actually had one ready to go. I'll admit though, I'm not a fan of the little... mini shield thing... shielder-pad? The yellow looks just a little out of place considering the warmer orange on the gun barrels.
The idea and execution though, as with everything else here, is incredible.
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Post by: JNAProductions
The arms on the Dreads remind of the arms from Arms-the videogame.
Not in a bad way! They look phenomenal!
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Post by: Soul Samurai
Hah, I love the bendy noodle arms! Gives it that vintage sci-fi feel that's right at home with the glass dome. Kinda wish it had the "Lost In Space" robot claw hands to really go all in on the aesthetic. Well, I'm not sure if that would really look good though, just a thought.
Anyway, excellent work!
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Post by: BrookM
So awesome, cannot exalt enough!
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Post by: dr_sarcasm
McGibs wrote:As it happens, I have three dreads. This is the only finished one, though I may give him another highlight pass.
Oh, well played good sir, well played!
P.S. Yeah, this would be an army I'd be happy to play against.
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Post by: DarknessEternal
Why would they bother having armor on the rest of their bodies if they aren't going to armor their heads?
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Post by: Skinflint Games
This is awesome, absolutely beautiful work. 40k meets Lost In Space!
Incidentally, Latin for Space Force is Vi Spatium, that could work?
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Post by: McGibs
DarknessEternal wrote:Why would they bother having armor on the rest of their bodies if they aren't going to armor their heads?
*shrug*
What makes you think they're unarmoured?
Maybe it's transparent ceramite?
Maybe it's a sensor dome and not transparent at all?
Maybe the heads underneath the domes are so cybernetically augmented they're basically armoured anyways?
There's plenty of stupid crap in 40k, and the correct answer to 99% of them is "because it's cool".
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Post by: cody.d.
Heh, good on ya mate, love em. Though for some reason I imagine their arms waving around like Olive Oyl from Popeye. But yeah, the bubble helm really does improve the Kastelan. And the little antenna and dish is really fun too.
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Post by: Misclicking ork
DarknessEternal wrote:Why would they bother having armor on the rest of their bodies if they aren't going to armor their heads?
Well, like OP said, the rule of cool, and all those unhelmeted marines (and a lot of other things) are a thing.
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Post by: Dukeofstuff
Deep Recon Force?
Cause they look like they would be used on deep space installations
As always, I am in awe of things like this. My own army feels cheap and poorly done now, and my effort uncreative.
But .. Could those helmets potentially be used on scion bodies (or are they too big for gaurd?) Or for an officer of the fleet or an astropath, I think maybe for the guys flying in the vendetta cockpit, they look pretty awesome.
(Or even on the various martian admech bodies. I could easily imagine that if they didn't somehow fail to mate to the parts below.)
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Post by: McGibs
Dukeofstuff wrote:Deep Recon Force?
Cause they look like they would be used on deep space installations
As always, I am in awe of things like this. My own army feels cheap and poorly done now, and my effort uncreative.
But .. Could those helmets potentially be used on scion bodies (or are they too big for gaurd?) Or for an officer of the fleet or an astropath, I think maybe for the guys flying in the vendetta cockpit, they look pretty awesome.
(Or even on the various martian admech bodies. I could easily imagine that if they didn't somehow fail to mate to the parts below.)
Brilliant thing is that the Bombshell helmets come in 3 different sizes and styles!
The ones I use for these marines are the R10 set (10mm)
https://bombshellminis.com/36021-helmet-set-r10/
There's the smaller R8 set with two different collar and dome types that fit human/guard scale minis and would be perfect for scions. The red inquisitor I posted uses an R8 helmet.
https://bombshellminis.com/36018-helmet-set-r8/
https://bombshellminis.com/36019-helmet-set-t8/
And finally there's the R12, which doesnt have a collar, but is big enough for vehicles (pictured on the dread I just posted)
https://bombshellminis.com/36031-plastic-dome-sprue-r12/
These guys should give me money for shilling like this.
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Post by: Dukeofstuff
The first thought I have is that it would work really well if its the right size, as the dome of glass on a martian style admech tank. Rather than a cover/metal door, give it a reflective dark dome by spraying the paint on the inside, to make it mirror-esque.
I think this would make a very nicely spooky martian feel to the crawlers and similar.
Anyway, ..
And thank you for the info, I bookmarked them in as pages to keep and hope r8 comes back in stock soon!
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Post by: Soul Samurai
DarknessEternal wrote:Why would they bother having armor on the rest of their bodies if they aren't going to armor their heads?
Why do you think the domes aren't armoured? Isn't the strongest conventional material (i.e. not white dwarf matter) known to man diamond, which in it's pure form is clear?
But more importantly, it doesn't matter: they look fantastic.
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Post by: Nurglitch
These are gorgeous. Now I want to collect some Space Marines.
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Post by: Blastaar
Terran Marines! I may have to copy you, here. Aggressors may make good Firebats, methinks.........
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Post by: Don Qui Hotep
Ooh, what a cool army concept! Great brushwork too. Subscribed.
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Post by: bubber
Super Ready wrote:*cries in admiration*
Unbelievable, you actually had one ready to go. I'll admit though, I'm not a fan of the little... mini shield thing... shielder-pad?
'tilting plate'
I agree with the general sentiment though, these look awesome, helped by the very smooth gloss black finish.
Love your work (gotta say I love your pig ogres a little bit more).
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Post by: McGibs
Small update: still chewing away at my hordes of intercessors. Got five more riflemen completed, and an officer (captain or lieutenant depending on the list).
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Post by: Soul Samurai
More great stuff!
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Post by: Max Moray
Impressive conversions and superb paintjobs.
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Post by: Don Qui Hotep
Great update. Cool to see more army progress. Love that servo arm. Which kit is it from?
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Post by: McGibs
It's one of the weedy arms from the Karaphron Destroyer/Breacher kit. Lots of cool gubbins in there.
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Post by: thesilverback
Super cool looking bubble headed Marines. I also like your VanSaar helmet swap, great job.
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Post by: Golem2God
This is amazing McGibs. You really sell the Bombshell Bubble Helmets with your work. Great conversions and paint job. What else is there to say?
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Post by: Soul Samurai
Love the lieutenant! The Contemptor looks good, but to be honest I miss the flexy arms. They were fun, and gave the model a retro look that worked well with the bubble helmet.
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Post by: McGibs
Don't worry, I kept the flexy arms on the "character" dread (the one I posted before). I had flexy arms holding lascannons on these ones before, but the posing was never as good as I wanted it.
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Post by: Mr. Oddity
Absolutely in love with these. I remember back when you first posted your Executioner - great to see the rest of the force coalescing around it now! The retro sci-fi feel these give off is just too cool and really hits all the nostalgia buttons. I can pretty easily see a bodyguard covering the Inquisitor while belting out a monotone "Danger, danger Inquisitor Robinson!"
Modelling question (and I may have missed it): how did you do the handheld dread weapons? Are they also 3D printed?
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Post by: Tiberius501
Man, I hate you! In a good way of course, these are freaking amazing. Glad to see you do more, that LT is boss af.
I’m jelly.
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Post by: Don Qui Hotep
Love the bladeguard, is that a Bullgryn shield? The studded pauldrun also a nice touch, gives him a bit of heft.
I like these new arms, they a posed in a way that reminds me of old tin robots.
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Post by: r_squared
Concept, execution, imagination, painting, conversions all, this thread is full of win. Top notch stuff.
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Post by: DeadEyeDuk
Not taking anything away from the skill involved to achieve the look, but I love the simplicity of replacing the normal head with such a wildly different one. I know more has been done as well, but just that swap completely changes the aesthetic of the marines to something somehow more alien (is that heresy?) to the rest of the 40K universe. Love all of the models! :-)
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Post by: Shadow Walker
They look fabulous!
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Post by: thesilverback
True awesomeness.
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Post by: gameandwatch
Man gibs, this is what i call character! The bubble heads look fantastic, its the gloss finish that really sells it though. I do really like your teal/grey main color.
I like both arms for the contemptor, i do wish it had bigger pauldrons that were more flush with the armor, but the mixup of paint schemes is something i wish more would adopt
Oh, and thanks for showing a marine with the palanite shield, was going to use them for my deathwatch but wasnt sure until i saw this!
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Post by: Waaaghbert
Wow, what an amazing army project! The style perfectly walks the thin line between trashy (in a good way!) retro-look and grimdark realism. Absolutely adore what you've done here! I'm not into Space Marines usually, but I'll follow this closely!
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Post by: Soundtheory
Brilliant work, absolutely amazing with the bubble helmets conversion!
If you are still after a Chapter name, what about Astra Venators? Automatically Appended Next Post: Astra Venators would be ‘Star Hunters’ which I feel fits your theme!
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Post by: McGibs
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been flipping through chapter names for a while, but I've moved away from gothic-latin sounding names, specifically because you have to explain what they mean. I'd rather the point get across from the get go. "world eaters" "salamanders" "crimson fists" are all easy to remember and understand.
To that end, I think I've settled on the name:
"Void Gazers"
I think it plays well with the blank helmets that are sort of look like creepy eyeballs, fits with the space-scifi-theme I want, and it's got a "Z" in it, which is always a bonus!
I'll have to sit down and hammer out some cleaned up lore for them, but I've got a rough outline that also feeds into the name (they're all mindwiped)
-Chapter was founded for the Indomitus Crusade as an Primaris Ultramarine successor.
-Attached as a companion force to an AdMech exploratory fleet tasked with reclaiming imperial space lost in the Great Rift.
-Shortly after their mission started, the staunchly Codex compliant Chapter's leadership began disagreeing with the more radical leaning Fleet Magos.
-Difference in philosophies escalated, eventually resulting in a coup orchestrated by the Magos.
-The Chapter's leadership was entirely killed or captured in a disastrous mission designed to fail.
-The ExFleet systemically absorbed the remaining Chapter's resources and personnel.
-All the Chapter's marines were mind wiped and subjected to modified Skitarii cybernetics to impart control.
-Using the Chapter's captured Apothecarium, Gene Seed stocks and their own fleet based forges, new marines are able to be created from the fleet's resources.
-Ceremonial positions are kept in the Chapter's command for external optics when interacting with other imperial forces. On record, the Void Gazers are still operating as a sovereign Indomitus Chapter. In reality, they're essentially Primaris scaled Skitarii under complete control of their Ad Mech masters.
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Post by: Matt Swain
If there's a flaw with it, your stuff makes too much sense to be in 40k. Marines giving up their intimating red eyed helmets and vulnerable neck joints just for practical, technological, rational reasons?
HERESY!!!!!
On another note, it kinda reminded me of the mercury lined helmet jane fonda wore at the beginning of "barbarella".
Glossy enough for ya?
And yes, that was a double layer helmet and the space in between was filled with pure mercury for the metallic effect and the draining effect.
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Post by: kestral
Brilliant stuff - the helmet effect is wonderful. Gonna have to pick up some of those myself myself. Way to achieve something really unique!
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Post by: Matt Swain
Also these are what primaris marines should have been if we're going to say they represented a real tech advancement, but again, not 'cool' enough.
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Post by: Soul Samurai
I like "Void Gazers". But they should beware that they do not gaze too hard lest the Void gaze back!
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Post by: Frazzled
Soul Samurai wrote:They look fantastic! I love the "sinister astronaut" look you've got going. Especially as you've done such a great job of making such a dark and monochromatic colour scheme look cool and interesting - the pitch black but super glossy bubble is perfect!
Yes, they vaguely remind me of the space suits in the original Alien, but with bolters!
Excellent work and idea.
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Post by: PieInTheSky
Absolutely fantastic!
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Post by: IGtR=
A great new round of this awesome concept. I too thought of the Barbarella opening when I first saw these!
Thanks for sharing
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Post by: McGibs
Why settle for the clumsy meat-fingered Apothecaries when you can have the surgical precision of... THE DOCTOPUS!
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Post by: DeadEyeDuk
Lovely addition to the project. Wasn't sure on first viewing, but you had me at Doctopus!
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Post by: Shadow Walker
I really like these dreads.
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Post by: Soul Samurai
"Doctopus", lol. Very cool model!
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Post by: The Phazer
All very, very clever. Fantastic stuff. Also a big fan of the bendy arm robot.
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Post by: Skinflint Games
I see your Doctorpus and I raise you - Medibot!
In all seriousness though, fantastic stuff, keep it up
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Post by: Insectum7
This army is 100% awesome. Very cool aesthetic.
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Post by: Ssgt Carl
Really cool looking stuff
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Post by: IGtR=
Awesome work as ever
Thanks for sharing
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Post by: DeadEyeDuk
Love it! And really cool variation. Genuinely curious what they look like under those bubbles. Normal dudes? Skelingtons? Worse?!
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Post by: Scott
Good grief, these are amazing.
Flex-arm Dread and Doctorpus are the stand-outs for me, but honestly everything is brilliant.
Love the color palette.
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Post by: gameandwatch
WAIT A SECOND...doctopus has TEN LIMBS!?! How dare you hahaha
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Post by: IGtR=
The more of this phobos armour I see, the more I like it. Bubble heads seem to match up surprisingly well too!!
Thanks for sharing
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Post by: Rotgut
I love these!
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Post by: Nate668
This army is absolutely fantastic. Can we get your recipe for that light grey/greenish color?
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Post by: McGibs
Recipe's pretty simple, it's just Vallejo model air Pale Blue (71.008). Highlights are just some screaming skull mixed in.
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Post by: IGtR=
Biker looks awesome. Definitely the best model of the bunch so far, and the subtle conversion really makes it look the business
Thanks for sharing
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Post by: McGibs
Because GW did my poor Repulsor Executioner dirty, I decided to make a swap-out turret so I can also use it as a regular Repulsor.
I consolidated the weapons a bit into "bullets/ missiles/lasers", because frankly, no one can remember them all anyways.
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Post by: Nurglitch
Much better looking with the weapons on the turret!
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Post by: Tiberius501
I am loving these conversions still, such a cool army concept. The new Librarian you’ve done looks ace, the pose is mint af. And the Tech Marine Mr. Handy suits the theme perfectly.
“And the Repulsor! How do you polish rust?!”
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Post by: Shadow Walker
Librarian is great, especially his psychic hood.
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Post by: LeeRags
Very nice I like your army.s style great paint work
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Post by: PaddyMick
I'll add my voice in praise of your modelling skills but also I love the fluff you came up with. Primaris controlled by ad-mech is a neat idea, and gives them an excuse to fight anybody
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Post by: The_Real_Chris
Is that a predator turret?
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Post by: Soul Samurai
I love the Librarian's pose and the extra apparatus on his back. The "techmarine" is very thematic!
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Post by: McGibs
Thanks guys!
It sure is, though it's got some extra gubbins from other kits slapped on. And the lascannons are from Puppets War.
I got through my five man Blade(taser?)Guard squad. Obviously the blinged out stock versions weren't going to fit with my army's clean sci-fi theme, so I went for a pretty straightforward "breaching team" look instead. The shields are from the Necromunda Subjugator kit and worked out perfectly.
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Post by: Shadow Walker
As always amazing work you did!
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Post by: Snowcloak
Those are awesome man, really.
And the way you've gotten the rims to fit seamlessly to the marine torsos is excellent! Bravo.
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Post by: Pointer5
Excellent Excellent work. The whole army has such character and the lore is Excellent as well! I particularly love the doctpus and Mr. Handy. Keep up the great work.
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Post by: McGibs
Snowcloak wrote:Those are awesome man, really.
And the way you've gotten the rims to fit seamlessly to the marine torsos is excellent! Bravo.
The helmets actually come with pewter collars they fit into, so it's not actually too much hassle. I just have to cut off the existing gorget on the armour and sometimes trim down the cableing on the side of the pewter collar (the starterset intercessors with attached shoulderpads are a tight fit)
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Post by: Shadow Walker
Dread looks great, and it really fits perfectly with the rest of the army. Cannot wait to see some gunship or speeder conversion!
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Post by: DeadEyeDuk
Well that's just fantastic!
And as you mentioned, I do love it when random bits from other kits just fit with little effort. Saves time and somehow makes you feel like you did something clever (maybe that's just me)
That KO dome just fitting on the Redempter body feels like when I put a Magmadroth head on a Trygon. May have clipped a bit here and there, but I really thought it would take ages to make it look right!
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Post by: Nurglitch
That Dreadnought looks fantastic!
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Post by: Soul Samurai
That dread is fantastic! It reminds me a little of Mike Wazowski, or a Beholder.
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Post by: thesilverback
The dread is so cool.
126715
Post by: Mutant Modifier
These bubble heads look absolutely amazing! Very unique with one of their most key features replaced, yet instantly recognizable as Space Marines. Exalted.
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Post by: tauist
You've just made a much cooler version of an AdMech Kastelan Robot! Much more imposing scale. Superb
All in all, this is such a piece of work, one of the coolest Primaris armies ever
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Post by: thesilverback
Everytime you post stuff, it is so COOL and I love it. Great job.
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