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Bossasaurus wrote:"Waspinator under attack! Waspinator engage enemy! Waspinator: terrorize!"

YYEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS


Lookin good BH. I like the 1st one.

Mantis helms looking good there - not much of a reply I know, but it seemed the page was stuck so just trying to free it up

actually - on the subjest of the lines of bumps, if you tried creating them using dots of pva glue like some peeps use for rivets would that stand up to casting?

edit: hmm, didn't seem to work, still couldn't get to this page, let's see if editing this works...

Funny you should say that Monkytroll, I had trouble with a thread flicking over to a new page the other day, curious..

As for PVA I will give it a go and see how it stands up cheers for the suggestion!

Heh, I know Tony-nids had a few issues with this on his 'nids thread, 3 pages in a row if I recall

Guyver you mean? The second one reminded me of Waspinator, who is fooken' classic in beast wars... I love em, and would like to see more insect themed parts, like the chaos raptors feet but more insecty

Loving those helmets, very unique whilst retaining just enough of the space marine shape so that they don't look out of place.

Can't wait to see them finished.

@Bossasaurus - GUYVER! thank you !thats been bugging me all day

@Wib - Thanks! I was kind of hoping for a helmet that shows the Mantis theme while still being something that the Imperium would outfit their marines with,

Yeah, i couldn't remember the name ether- so i googled it. Erm, did you think about making like Mantis variant Mk?

Thats all up to Gitsplitta, a variant armour would be cool, but expensive in the numbers we are talking about,

I do want to try and convince Gits to try out a single engine jumppack like the sanguinary guard, with mantis wing "control vanes" instead of feathered wings....but we will see.

That would be VERY cool. Sooo are ur sculpts expensive? & how far away from Auckland is Whangarei?

Hey guys! Whenever Blackhand posts new sculpts I make a point of laying low so I don't squelch discussion and ideas. But this seems like a point a which I should make a comment.

Blackhand, love the new sculpts, very insect like. As previously mentioned the crest is a little chunky but your points about the necessity of casting are well taken. I'm wondering though if in resin, that bit will end up being a bit fragile and have a tendency to break? My thougt is that if you were to take the same shape & curve it along the back of the head just a bit. It would still stick up & be a notable crest, but would be less prone to breakage. Also you could support more of it directly from the dorsal ridge of the helmet so it would be more solid. I'm probably not describing it well but I think I can draw a picture & post it if you'd like.

I'm *very* interested in some jump packs. Truth be told I had already given away or traded away all of my standard jump packs in anticipation of using some of Paulson Games 3-engine jump packs... but as there is no production date for those (they're still WIP at the studio) I am very, very open to suggestion. I really love Chapterhouse's pre-heresy jump packs for projects like the chaos mantis warrior or to go with any Mk 6 marines... it fits the time and they are really sweet. But for a modern, newly equipped mantis warrior I need something that looks new-tech.

I'm open to anything you want to try Blackhand. I'll keep you in skaven stuff up to your neck if need be. I don't necessarily need dozens of a body sculpt... maybe just a few here or there for special figures, the command squad, vanguard, etc.

Gits

Hey, the shoulderpads look amazing. I'm loving them. Keep it up, and we need more paint. just to remind us you've not lost it

LOL! Thanks Imp. The Great Marine Swap has sucked away most of my painting time... that and my orks recently to get ready for yesterday's tournament. I'll get back to the MW's as soon as I can. I want to get the venerable dreadnought done as he is such a good compliment to my sternguard.

I have a couple of spare jump packs - which you're welcome to - but I also have some interesting insectoid wings from a Rackham Scarab-thing; want me to mock you up a giant buzzy jumpack which, ultimately, you could cast?

The helmets are freaking awesome Gitsplitta and if you wanted to you could also do a predicon themed chaos chapter
8O but very nice helmets

@Bossasaurus - Whangarei is about 3 hours away from Auckland, and as for my sculpts, I am really not sure yet! The work I am doing for Gitsplitta is more about helping out a fellow Dakkite with a fascinating project, I will be starting a few commissions in the future and I hope to work out some idea of what to charge...may even set up a commissions blog so people can contact me and set up work.

@Gitspltta - As for the crest I think I see what you mean and I can dummy up a version of what you are thinking of..I think.
I keep thinking that since there will only be 10 or so sergeants I should just add crests and antennas to a basic cast helm post-casting to save on casting hassles. I can then use thinner more blade-like crests ( literally the tips of skaven halberd blades ) which will look better and be stronger as they are plastic.

I will have a play with some GS on a few chest plates and see what I come up with but as for jump packs I just don't have any to hand. If you see any Sanguinary guard jump packs in your travels it might be worth picking up a few.... I think they echo the long body shape of a mantis better than the double engine pack and with insect wings we could have them folded when the marine is landed and spread when "flying", I don't know just thinking

@Inmygravenimage - I'm sure Gitsplitta would enormously appreciate another variant jumpapck, I for one would love to see what your take on a mantis pack would be!

Cheers

BLACKHAND

i didnt know that!! then i guess go for a more hammerhead looking head.

So in between frantically submitting an online paper I realized was due today and putting my 2 year old to bed I had a go at the insectoid mantis head...and ended up with a fly rather than a mantis



I thin the problem was trying to keep the grill rather than go full tilt and making the wedge shaped face that a mantis has, once the GS dries I am going to go over the whole thing with extra GS and try and save it.

here is the side on shot of the "guyver" helm I promised days ago it show s the silhouette that I am looking for.




And just because no update is complete without a creepy video check out this page (scroll down about half way down) this is probably the weirdest thing I have seen all week

http://www.animalwebguide.com/Praying-Mantis.htm


C&C is welcome as always

Cheers

BLACKHAND

Haha, that vid is awesome!!

Not sure about the new helmet atm, i'll wait and see further progress before making a judgement.

That side profile helmet is perfect though, rerally top-notch stuff there!

Hey guys. Sorry for the delay in commenting but after spending about 15 hours gaming and or traveling for gaming on Saturday I had to take a day off (other things to do).

@Graven: I would be delighted to see what you can design! I haven't tried casting yet, but I've been following Blackhand's blog on the subject & anticipate giving it a whirl, so yes... I could cast them. Thanks my friend.

@vignor : Predicon?

@Blackhand: I can get some of those packs for you & send them with your bits.

@Blackhand (again). Sorry, but the fly helm made me LOL. *grin* It would make a GREAT Nurgle marine helm! The side view of the crest helm looks impressive. Be interesting to see what the angled crest mock-up looks like in comparison. I have no problem if you want to experiment with a wedge shaped helm, that was kind of what I was thinking from the get-go. It does however, fly in the face of our idea to try to keep it within the realm of a plausable IC. However... it might be fun to try at least one and see how it turns out.

I think the problem with the "Fly" helmet is that the head profile looks a bit off.

Mostly the eyes, I think.
I was reading that link you posted, and noticed that mantises (mantisi, mantidie i dunno >< ) have more oblong eyes that lie closer to their head, not the bulbous spheres like a fly.
Though perhaps after adding the mandibles to it mebbe it'll change its profile.

In any case, its awesome work. Im definitely looking forward to these guys getting paint on em!

Actually Ramos it depends on the species. Some mantid species do have eyes that really stick out from the rest of the head... not quite *that* much.... but significantly far to be obvious.

Gitsplitta wrote:@vignor : Predicon?

Ala Beast wars.
Maximals vs. Predicons!

EDIT:

hehehe

Gitsplitta wrote:Actually Ramos it depends on the species. Some mantid species do have eyes that really stick out from the rest of the head... not quite *that* much.... but significantly far to be obvious.

Ahaaaa I see i see.
Perhaps mandibles would lend balance to the helmet visually. As well as moving it from "The Fly" to "Da Mantis!"

Had a look at the wings alongside a jumppack this morning in between getting kids up. My plan is to use the lower section of a standard jump pack largely unmodified and a cut, filled and gs'd upper part thereof, but keeping them separate from the wings so that you can cast the wings and either cast the jump pack or acquire standard ones and trim yourself. This should lend the model more stability, as the wings are actually slightly longer than a marine is tall; however, an assault marine on a standard base should be tall enough.
Here's the source model:


Anyway, I'll photo and blog the process, and do side-by-sides with conventional jump packs.

Sounds like a great idea graven... boy that's a seriously cool source model.

Try removing the side vents altogether to give the Mantis shape to the helm bring it to a pointed chin no front vents as well add vents at the rear if that all makes any sense.

Beyond that wow awesome work once again!

I couldent bear to mutilate such a lovely model though :S, though it will be going towards a very worthy cause.

Thanks guys! this feedback is helping a lot with the process.

I will be filling the the vent on the face of the mantis helm and extending the eyes inwards to give a tear-drop shape, I am determined now to get a decent mantis head!

will also try and get that crested helmet prototype done tonight as well Gitsplitta.

The Mandigorn is in bits anyway. I never really got round to building a Scarab army :( My vast Scorpion horde was always more interesting... anyway, OT, I have the Torso/head piece still, if anyone wants. I think I stole the legs a while ago for an aberration. Wings are currently soaking in Fairy Power Spray...

I love all of the heads. I would keep the larger head you have shown as your seargent or HQ head, rather than the bladed "guyver" head, as I really think it will help those marines stand out.

For the "guyver" one, maybe have the blade more angled back? It kind of gives me a rhino horn feel atm.

I think another thing to try would be to "lift" some of the large side mandibles and have them connected only at the back, possibly with some webbing between the mandibles and the helmet (like webbed toes, not spider webs).