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Can't wait to see the Ven dread Git.

just finished reading all 41 pages in one day and was wondering if you considered using the wings from the tau vespids for your assault marines? im picturing somethin like the sanguinary guard (i think) the jump pack with the wings between it and the body

Hey polari! I'm honored to be your first post on dakka (at least that's what your stats say). I'm not sure I know what the wings on a vespid look like. I'll have to look it up.

Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks for reading!

i think he's right. the vespid are a little locus like

I think they're too small. They look neat, but I don't think they'd be believable moving the bulk of a space marine.

Looking good Gits, keep up the good work.
how about blue bottle wings? they have a nice shape do them and it would be believable that they could move a space marines bulk if done to the correct proportions.

Greets oaktree, thanks!

"blue bottle wings"?

Not sure what they are, can you provide a pic or link?

A blue bottle is a type of fly.
http://www.harpercollege.edu/ls-hs/bio/dept/guide/gallery/flies_scorpion_flies/original/blue_bottle_fly_lucilia_sericata.jpg

Actually I knew that... thought you were referring to a type of model given the context. I was thinking more along the lines of dragonfly or grasshopper wings as I believe they are closer to a preying mantis wing. Not too dissimilar from what you're proposing, just more elongated. But I want to see what graven and Blackhand come up with before popping off too much. Don't want to stifle anyone's creativity.

Sorry about the confusion, a conversion of my friends came to mind while i was reading through your blog.

I dunno Git. I think the Vespid wings might be worth another look. The command wings at least. I think the Vespids are suppose to be pretty big, like the Kroot. So the wings might look bigger on the marines.

Also the silhouette reminds me of the chaos packpack vets.

It's a great suggestion, no worries! Once I get the ven dread done I'll be looking to finish up the sternguard squad. Be a bit yet before I'm ready to work on the vanguard so there's time to consider lots of different options.

A vespid is slightly larger then a marine i think been a while since ive seen a vespid model since i run an alien free tau army *gasp!* i know no kroot but i think it would be proportional looking at real insects it looks bout right

The Guyver had a sequel???????

looking great keep up the good work!

Don't forget, the wings won't be holding the marine up - that'll be the actual jump pack. The wings will be for guidance.

I actually happen to have a lone vespid commander on my desk at home. Came in a box of tau crap i decided to trade for a while ago.

If you like, I can pop up a comparison pic when I get home. I can even sticky-tac the wings on a marine to give ya a feel of the idea?

Sure RA, that would be great! Thanks!

Alrighty!

Side-by side comparison (gah! so orange!? stupid light >< )


and on the back of a tac marine:

wow that looks better then i thought...they do look a lil small now but they work for the vespid right?

the wings arent big enough i think, thou it looks better than i first thought

Size is a bit small , but I also kind iof feel they are a bit ragged looking, and more organic then I think of when I imagine a space marine equipment. Even the wings on a Sang guard jumppack have machined areas on them to show that they are Mechanical wings as opposed to a real feathered wing.

Noit to dump on your ideas! It could be a simple to solution to the Mantis Jump Pack Conundrum!

Problem is that these need to be believable as imperial constructs. Not alien or chaotic technology. That's one of the main foci of the mantis warriors return (at least in my version of it), that units like the vanguard and assault squads that would have taken heavy casualties during the crusade would have been re-supplied by Mars with new equipment on their return to the folds of the Imperium. Even extreme designs like the sanguine packs are based around standard Imperial tech designs... the vespid wings, cool as they are... are not.

I see a couple of problems with vespid wings.

1: They're metal.
2: A box of vespids are expensive, especially if you plan on just using the wings.
3: They're pretty bat looking. They'd be more in style for a night lords army.
4: As others have mentioned, too organic and realistic to be believed as a current imperial machine.

Gitsplitta wrote:Problem is that these need to be believable as imperial constructs. Not alien or chaotic technology. That's one of the main foci of the mantis warriors return (at least in my version of it), that units like the vanguard and assault squads that would have taken heavy casualties during the crusade would have been re-supplied by Mars with new equipment on their return to the folds of the Imperium. Even extreme designs like the sanguine packs are based around standard Imperial tech designs... the vespid wings, cool as they are... are not.

You may have to make them and then cast the one you like the most do you want them to be super bug-like or just and unorthodox looking wing shape? you could also just use the sanguine packs without wings at all.

Ok then, I didn't really want to show my WIP till the sang guard packs arrived but I was kinda thinking of something like this....



Instead of the segments on a normal insect wing I thought we could use use something similar to the power vanes on a power weapon to mimic them but still keep that imperial look.

Here is the two wing version on a marine, I have cut the wings down about 3-4mm as these were a bit long IMHO.
Believe it or not Manitidae have two sets of wings, one that has a full range of movement like a dragonfly and a second smaller set that is attached at the bottom end to the abdomen.





And here the marine is again with just the one wing
A lot less butterfly-like huh?



Oh and just for kick here is a pick of the Mantis Helm on the marine all by it's lonesome



So Questions..

What do we think of the Power Vanes idea?

One set of wings or two?

Is this TOO robotic? should we find more of a happy medium between an insect wing and my design?

Cheers

BLACKHAND

I like the wings.. but I don't think you'll get flybuys points on that one BH!

Was irony an accident or sheer insideousness?

Nice big wings.

Damn! I see that damn symbol all day every day and didn't even think about it, in my defence I tried to paint over it!

(For everyone not in NZ, the blue symbol on the longer wing is for "flybuys" a card that lets you collect points toward air travel...Gak, I'm even plugging it when I'm off the clock!)

Lol ironic.

Love the power vanes idea. I think the double wing looks more dragonfly than butterfly - I guess you could cut down on the width if it was confusing. When i was working on my/Gitsplitta's Stormboyz Nobz - the original idea for the wings was to mimic the Imperial Acquila - don't know if that idea helps any... Also, I'm thinking having the wings angled down might look better as well (especially if he's not actually in flight)