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Blog Entry 001

“What’s that smell…?”

Hi everyone. How’s it going?

So I’ve had my Marine army sitting here unassembled and unpainted for FAR too long and after speaking to an old friend, I’ve decided to build them into a force of Plaguemarines. However, I won’t be running them as Chaos but as SM as in many respects I’m more familiar with the SM Codex and prefer the structure of their FoC and rules.

As I’ve always found Nurgle to be the most interesting Chaos God, I’ve decided to model my army around Plaguemarines and all things Nurgle. This’ll mean a lot of conversion work with green stuff and a hell of a lot of filing.

Using the SM kits I have, I’ll use my file to file down any Imperial insignia as well as the majority of armour details, leaving a nice blank Marine canvas with which to sculpt on. Now, I am by no means an expert with green stuff and in all actuality this project will be my first time really getting to grips with this stuff, so with me luck.

I’m also in a small competition with the friend I mentioned before.
As sixth edition is on the horizon and we’re both still novices rules-wise we’ve decided to learn 6th edition together and both build a new army for the occasion.
He calls it a “Tale of Two Gamers” which sums it up nicely.
I will be letting him know about this thread and encouraging him to post his bits as well, so keep an eye out for some nicely painted Eldar. (If not, I’ll get some snaps )

As for the competition, we’ve set it up in stages.
Two weeks from today our goal is to have 750 points worth of units built for a practise game.
Every month after that will include a new goal.

Month One – 1,000 Points Table-Top Ready
Month Two – 1,250 Points Table-Top Ready
Month Three – 1,500 Points Table-Top Ready
Month Four – 1,750 Points Table-Top Ready


Each month we’ll also decide on a new rule to add, such as “Next month will require a Heavy Support Choice to be Table-Top ready” ETC. we’re both hoping this will encourage us to get things done, as we’re both slacking on our hobby a bit.
I intend to update this blog daily at the very least, so watch this space!

So, without further ado, here’s some early WIP of my first Custom Plaguemarines:







And a couple of WIP of my Plaguemarine Champion:




And just for a bonus:



All feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Not a terrible start. The GS could use a little more bleniding into the models to look less "tacked on" but not terrible.

A really good "nurgle" GS tut is here http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?172615-Nurgle-101-%28updated-Jul-13-with-custom-Nurgle-Dreadnought-power-claw%29

Fun choice! I, too, have always had a heretical fascination with Nurgle

I admire your dedication to converting each and every marine in your force. That's a lot of effort, and I think it will pay off if you take your time.

I like the mask that you did for the first marine. Creepy and disturbing! A few ideas and CC: Don't get too carried away with the drilling, and if you drill a hole, rough it up and use some GS to avoid the "I drilled a hole in him" look. Also, I would prefer to see many, smaller Nurgley tentacles instead of the few big ones. The big ones always end up looking like GS and not tentacles, IMHO.

Anyways, best of luck!
Rawson

The above looks great. I just want to point out headless guy's torso is.not completely smooth. You can still make out the outline of the Aquila. I suggest another round of filing or GS on that.

Also, if you want to make the greenstuff appear to be more part of the model, rather and an addition, why not try drilling a whole for those GS tendrils to come out of? Simply drill the hole and GS as normal but insert one end into the hole so it will be coming from the inside.

Blog Entry 002

“Gifts from Father Nurgle!”

Hey guys, late update tonight.
Work was a killer as usual.

However, today was pay-day! And what a pay-day it’s been. Kicked off the day with a trip into town and remembered that my local Argos was having a 60% clearance sale.
£200 camera for £85? Yes please!
I was intending to save some money to one side this month and next for a decent camera, as I was using my camera-phone which isn’t too shabby but just doesn’t give the results to be fair, so this was a huge bonus for me.
I then hit my local GW and picked up a Razorback along with a pot of Athonian Camoshade (shade), Death World Forest (base), Castellan Green (base) and Stirland Mud (textured).
I’m hoping this’ll give me the results I’m looking for.



On the modelling/painting front there are no updates today but watch this space, as I intend to get some work done on my Marines tonight/tomorrow before work.
However, I do have an update on my 750 list as I’ve decided that hands down I’ll be taking a Captain Lysander count-as.
This will fit very nicely with my theme as he gives the Stubborn universal rule to all of my units, as well as having some nasty abilities himself including Eternal Warrior and being STR 10.
I’ll also be keeping it pretty simple for the first part of our “Tale of Two Gamers” by taking two full-strength Tactical Squads.

That’s pretty much it for tonight, so I’ll finish by thanking everyone for their interest thus far and address a couple of questions/feedbacks:

@Galorn: Thanks for the feedback mate. I’m planning to give all the GS work a thin layer of Liquid Green Stuff to even it out a bit. I’ll also take a look at that tutorial tonight. Thanks!

@Rawson: Thanks for the encouraging words, they are much appreciated and I am hoping you’re right with the individual approach, as I really want a distinctive force when I’m done. As for the holes, I couldn’t agree more and I do intend to be edging them with textured paint to give a decayed/rusting effect so watch this space!
As for tentacles, I agree and there are a few smaller ones on the twin-flamer Marine in his abdomen, but I intend to add many smaller variations to break it up.

@Deadshot: Appreciate the feedback buddy and I have the gig in hand. I will be giving a layer of Liquid Green Stuff to offending areas to even them out. As for the holes with tentacles idea, I beat you to it heh heh. If you take a closer look at the twin-flamer Marine’s power-pack, you’ll see the tentacles are spewing out from the inside of the missing exhaust area.
The torso tentacles are also protruding from drilled holes, but perhaps the pictures don’t show this too well.

Well, until tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

Indeed! Nice work. So good it can't even be seen!

I like the progress so far! I look forward to seeing how your GS skills develop and how this little project of yours moves along!

I got your PM, Axel, so I came by to check your PMblog.

I'm not sure what kind of CC you're wanting for your new camera and an unopened Razorback

Good luck!
Rawson

Heh heh, thanks Rawson.
I always appreciate any input people might have about the scheme I plan to use, or any nifty things I could do with the Razorback. I promise next update will have some new stuff!

@ILUSPB: Thanks for taking the time to pop in and take a look!
You'll be seeing a lot more green stuff, that's for sure.

Brother Axel wrote:Heh heh, thanks Rawson.
I always appreciate any input people might have about the scheme I plan to use, or any nifty things I could do with the Razorback.

Well, I'm not totally familiar with the new GW line, so I can't really say about the scheme. Maybe once we see a test model? (maybe you can get your hands on a AOBR marine so you don't have to practice on the marines you've put so much hard work into)

As for the Razorback, I don't have any Nurgley ideas. However, I can recommend not gluing too much on. If all of your Rhino chasis don't have doors or tops glued on, they are much more flexible (e.g. rhino one game, razorback in the next, and a predator in a third). The tops just sit on top. Magnets are very handy in acheiving the door/sponson swaps.

Hope that's helpful!
Rawson

For the Razorback, pleanty of battledamage would look good. Pockmarks, dents, melted sections. Most of the things can be done with a knife. For the melted bits just use a hairdryer on higher and heat slightly. Then use something rounded to shape it.

The hollow eyes on the space marine are very strange...
The GS skull is a tad off, the vines are too thick.

The bubbling on the back though is awesome
One out of three isn't bad

Almost time for work. :(

@Rawson: I'll make sure to do that. Having a 3 in 1 tank can't be a bad thing. Also, I'll try and get a test sample up in the next few days. Just tried the textured paint for the first time though and it works a treat! Will have updates after work for you.

@Deadshot: Sounds good, man. I'll give that a go when I do the Razorback which will probably be early next week.

@KrimsunBaron: GS skull? I haven't sculpted any skulls yet, so which part did you mean?
Also, the eyes are weird in what sense? Because if you mean weird in a creepy and unnatural way then I've hit the nail on the head. Glad you like the Nurgle markings though. ^_^

I think he means the one on the fist. And I made a mistake. I meant low heat not high.

I think having a rusty feel to the armor plates on the razorback could look neat as well. Maybe like it had been sitting in a field for a while and the plague marines decided to take it out for a drive.

KrimsunBaron wrote:The hollow eyes on the space marine are very strange...
The GS skull is a tad off, the vines are too thick.

A little harsh, I'd say, for a self admitted novice, KrimsumBaron. Also, if you read above, these things have already been discussed. Also quoted here...

Brother Axel wrote: As for the holes, I couldn’t agree more and I do intend to be edging them with textured paint to give a decayed/rusting effect so watch this space!
As for tentacles, I agree and there are a few smaller ones on the twin-flamer Marine in his abdomen, but I intend to add many smaller variations to break it up.

Brother Axel wrote: I'll try and get a test sample up in the next few days. Just tried the textured paint for the first time though and it works a treat! Will have updates after work for you.

Sounds good, mate. Looking forward

ILUSPB wrote:I think having a rusty feel to the armor plates on the razorback could look neat as well. Maybe like it had been sitting in a field for a while and the plague marines decided to take it out for a drive.

Now that sounds like a good idea!

Really liking the tentacles will be stealing a few ideas for my nurgle force, I'll be keeping an eye on this, good work Brother Axel!

Blog Entry 003

“Blurrgggh! Kill!”

Hey, Hey!

Another late one tonight unfortunately and I’m cream crackered.
However, I do have a tasty update for you. First off all images will now be taken with my new camera, which I’m still getting to grips with so bear with me. Secondly I’ve begun work on the second of my specialists, this time with a Heavy Bolter; something I intend to take advantage with using my Lysander count-as.
The right arm is completely sculpted using the tentacle technique. I’ve also sculpted two smaller tendrils on his helmet and I intend to add a vomiting effect to his mouth-piece as well as the barrel of the Heavy Bolter.






Next up I have some more WIP of my first Plague Champion.
He still needs some work, but I’m lacking a little inspiration at the moment so I’m leaving him till I have more energy so I can really have him pop… Hmm, pop. That gives me an idea.





Also here’s a picture of my Flamer Marine with the textured paint I mentioned before.
This stuff works a treat! I can’t wait to do the rest of edging and markings.




That’s pretty much it for tonight, sadly. Work is running me ragged right now as I’m pushing for a promotion, but stay tuned for another update tomorrow evening. I’m a man of my word!

@ILUSPB: I like that idea a lot! I’ll keep that one in the idea box!

@Rawson: Thanks again for the encouragement! I want to try a wet blending effect which is why I’ve chosen two tones of the same colour. I’ll also use Knarloc Green as the brightest; as I’ve always loved that colour but we’ll see how it goes.

@Mu: Thanks for the kind words, guy! Much appreciated, and I’m very glad you could take something away from this!

Well, that’s all folks! Thanks for looking.

Nice start. When i did the horns for my Plague marines, i used GS and pre made horns (basically just rolled little tiny balls into points) and let them harden. THen i smoothed a little blob of GS onto my marine where i wanted the horn to be growing out, pressed the base of the now hardened horn in ...and presto....Instant horn growth. First page of my blog that is linked to my sig. shows the results on the termis. Your doing a good job. Keep at it and we will show the world (40k world) that Nurgle is best.

I'm liking the stance of your of your heavy bolter guy and the tentacle coming out of his nose is a nice touch. I'm wondering if the effect will be diminished by adding vomit-tentacles sometimes less is more maybe?

Brother Axel wrote:The right arm is completely sculpted using the tentacle technique. I’ve also sculpted two smaller tendrils on his helmet and I intend to add a vomiting effect to his mouth-piece as well as the barrel of the Heavy Bolter.

Good start on the tentacles here. I think they (all of your tenticles) would really look great if you sculpted some veins and such onto them, give them a bit more texture. What do you think? Also, what tools are you using for your GS sculpting?

I think the posture is a bit over-exaggerated. I like the idea of adding a "heavy look" by leaning the torso back a bit, but I think it's a bit too far in this case. It looks like he's shooting down some flyer (unless that's what you wanted him to look like, then great job! )

Watch those mold lines, too

Mu wrote: I'm wondering if the effect will be diminished by adding vomit-tentacles sometimes less is more maybe?

I'm also doubtful about the vomit effect. I would like to see a choas-y maw there instead. Now that would be sweet! Moar GS!

Brother Axel wrote:Next up I have some more WIP of my first Plague Champion.
He still needs some work, but I’m lacking a little inspiration at the moment so I’m leaving him till I have more energy so I can really have him pop…

I really like the head spike! I saw an article in WD (I can't remember which one, so if anyone does, please chime in) where someone made WE dryads out of beastmen. They took beastmen parts and had the dryad limbs and sticks and such erupting out. It was a great effect! They just took a little roll of GS, blended it into the surrounding area, and left the join between the spikes and skin rough and split. Maybe give it a go here?
The winged pauldron really isn't doing it for me. Maybe for another chaos faction, but not nurgle (unless you can make them diseased and rotten! )

On a general note, have you thought about picking up some chaos bits or sets? I think that would help in the "Nugle-ifying" process...

Let me know if I'm talking too much. Your guys just give me lots of ideas!

Keep up the great work!
Rawson

Blog Entry 004

“So it begins…”

Hey everybody.

My apologies for the late entry, but today has been a bit of a nightmare.
Sadly I have no new pictures, as I’ve had absolutely no time to myself all day long and what little time I have had was spent sleeping. However, I did write out a new 750 list which I’m happy to share:




I’m hoping that this set up, combined with combat-squading, will give me a lot of versatility.

I also grabbed the new 6th edition rulebook today and it is suhweeet, but I’m sure you all know that already.
I’ve not had a chance to read much of it yet, but tomorrow is a day off so I’m sure every minute I’m not building, I’ll be reading.

Again, sorry it’s been a bit of a slack entry but it’s been a hectic one.
For everyone wanting for new pictures, you won’t be waiting long! Tomorrow I’ll be ripping through my tactical squad and trying to get the majority of it complete. I also intend to lay the ground work for my Lysander count-as.

@Rawson: Your input is always appreciated, buddy!
The Heavy Bolter marine still needs work, and I can see those mould lines and I will be fixing them.
As for the pose, it kind of just happened. As the glue was setting he started leaning and well… it just kind of worked.
The pictures might not show it but he looks very zombified which I love! Some more GS work and detailing and he’ll work out just fine.
Ah, the wing/shield motif on the shoulder pad is more to do with the fluff I’m still mulling over.
It’s basically his former chapter-markings and I will be making them very degraded and diseased, so don’t you worry about that!
I had considered getting a couple of Chaos kits but decided against it. I enjoy the challenge of making a completely unique army using just my imagination and a hobby tool! That’s not to say that it’s going to be easy. I may re-consider at a later date, but for now I’m content.
Oh, and i agree with the tentacles looking a little flat and I love that idea, thanks! as for tools, I'm just using my hands and the GW sculpting tool for now.

Well, that’s it for today guys.
Watch this space and as always, thanks for popping in!

Rawson wrote:

On a general note, have you thought about picking up some chaos bits or sets? I think that would help in the "Nugle-ifying" process...

I agree with Rawson on this one, I think some chaos bits could add a nice injection of flavor into your marines. Nothing like having some pus and rust dripping from spikes to please Papa Nurgle.

A nice little challenge might be to try to sculpt a bit of a belly or large nodule somewhere on one of these models. I feel like a Nurgle marine isn't complete if someone doesn't have something that could ooze puss. Just a thought.

Otherwise things are looking nice.

SPB

Glad my comments weren't too overwhelming!

A couple of months ago I picked up some color shapers: they are just about the coolest thing you could get for GSing, especially for smooth shapes. I'd look into it if you hobby budget allows.

As for your list: how were you thinking of breaking up the combat squads? Lysander and a squad in the RB would work good if you kept the assault squad close to them. That would leave you with a squad with flamers and the HB on an objective somewhere.

But Lysander wears TDa so couldn't get in the RB

Deadshot wrote:But Lysander wears TDa so couldn't get in the RB

Oops

really like this thread keep up the good work and consider me subbed

Blog Entry 005

“Pray for Plagues!”

Hey guys and gals!

Oops, another late update!
Well, hope it’s worth it. Admittedly I didn’t get as much as I wanted to get done, but I’m happy with the progress I’m making considering how drained I felt today. I always underestimate how much a long weeks work plays on the body and the mind.

Anyway, one more Marine WIP added to the squad as well as some more work on the other two and the Champion, who I’m growing rather fond of now. I’ve added a fleshy loincloth to my Flamer which I feel really helps balance the model off, as before I felt that perhaps the twin hand-flamers were a bit overbearing. All three have now got blotches of corrosion and decay as well as some extra marks of Nurgle.

The new addition to the squad was pretty un-inspired if I’m completely honest and I’m still unsure of him. From some angles he looks awesome, but from others he looks far too bog-standard. I’ll play around with some more GS and texture paint and see what I can do with him.

Well, that’s enough babble from me. Here’s what you wanna see!

Here's the new guy:







Here's the updated Flamer:



And the Champion:





Bonus Group Shots:




Next up, I want to start work on my Landspeeder.
The gunner will be heavily mutated into his weapon systems and the pilot… well, the pilot will be so far mutated into his charge that he’ll be an undefined mass of mutation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the Flood from the Halo universe, but don’t worry; I’m no fan-boy. In fact, I don’t even own an Xbox anymore and have never played past Halo 2!
However, the inspiration on my Landspeeder will be undeniable.

@Rawson: I’m not sure how I’ll run my 750 list yet and I should probably mention at this point that I’ve never played a game of Warhammer 40k! At least, not for around 8 years or so, so it’s gunna be really exciting. I’m thinking I might even keep that tactical squad as one unit, having the Razorback provide covering support as I move Lysander up the field.
Combat squading the Assault Marines will give me another two units making a speedy advance, but I’m honestly not sure just yet. I’ll have a think first.

@Deadshot: Curse those fatty suits of TDA!

@Kencotter: Thanks for your sub and encouraging words!

Well, that’s all for today. Tune in tomorrow for more bloated goodness.

Looking good. My only quipe is that the Champion's Winged Shoulder looks very Imperial, namely DA.

Love your GS work, I have one little idea. How about a squid leader or something with a bare face (no helmet) with half his face dissolved by a some nurgly parasite.