Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Thanks Januine. And you are not wrong, they always think it's a good time to jump up! As he's never seen me do anything like this before, he didn't leave that spot pretty much. Just kept sniffing glue fumes no doubt. Oh, and the one mad moment when he decided to try and maul one of the missus' prized sofa cushions. He bolted as soon as I clocked him, little devil!

Devils they can be.....but a devil I couldnt live without!!!! Loving that mesh of the land speeder cockpit with a quad chasis - genius idea. Looks rugged as hell - could drive to 'The Eye' and back on a single tank of petrol with enough left over to pick up th shopping!!!

@ Januine - You're completely right mate, he is truly one of the family. And as for the Land-Quad, it does look rugged. It's the look I've been after. I'd love one of these to go grocery shopping in! It would upset a few people if I chucked this in the parent and child parking bay!

Quick update before I spend the afternoon with my son.

Got the back of the Land-Quad started. I used the rear half of the Quad tractor cab, and milliput'd the missing panels in. I used the back half of the Storm to give it that Land-speeder look still.



I used some of the ancillaries from the Storm to complete the front end of the cab.



And I fitted the pen springs to the chassis. They've compressed nicely, and add that little bit of extra detail. They're mostly hidden by the tyres and mud guards, so I won't need to go into too much to make them integrate with the build.



And now that the basic build is done, I improvised a clamp from a silicone gun, and a few hair bands and elastic bands to hold it all together whilst it sets. Once its concrete strong, I'll GS all the milliput smooth and start with extra details, such as grab handles, rivets and a whip antenna.



Please excuse the mess. I've been so excited to start this project, I've operated most of my home from this very corner of the living room!

Have a great afternoon guys, I'll add more once I get back tonight!

Bash

Ooh, very cool, and clever improvised clamping! consider pen idea nicked, also

Looks really cool. You are getting a lot of detail into a very small package.

@ Graven - Thanks dude. And you're very welcome to the idea. That's the joy of blogging, share and share alike!

Just a quick update. Finished filling the massive void at the back of the Land-Quad. Also added a few details such as rivets and grab handles. I've dry fitted the Heavy Bolter for now, as I won't add it until properly until the crew are done. Tester man is kindly modelling for me to show how much of a beast this thing is. Very apt for a insertion/kill squad.

Going to be adding mud-flaps to the rear, and maybe some Jerry cans. Haven't decided if I want the deep desert operation look for what is essentially an urban operation team. Going to be adding the whip antenna tomorrow.

I did score myself another regular Land-speeder and a regular plastic Dreadnought from eBay. Got the pair for £15 (feel free to convert that into your nation's currency). So another Land-speeder to kit bash. Might have to use the 1/35 Ferret armoured car I spotted the other day.

That's it for today. More tomorrow.

Bash




Automatically Appended Next Post:
@Archer - Thanks very much mate. It's nice working on one project at a time. What I felt I lost with my previous armies was the attention to detail. This will be much smaller, but the effort is in the quality rather than mass of models.

That's just crazy Bash... you get a coat of paint on that and I bet the two chassis blend together just fine.

Thanks Gitsplitta. It'll look a lot more cohesive once it's painted, but it's coming together nicely. Just finished filling small gaps with GS just smooth out the milliput. Once that's set, I'll finish adding some details.

Bash

This post is quite picture heavy, as I've managed to get quite a bit done today.

So I got started on one of the monocles. Once it's set, I'll finish the helmet mount.







I'm really liking the Scion kit. It fits in really well with my idea of a Mentor hit-team. I also got started on one of the team members. He's on the comm-link. I've stretched out a thin guitar string for the cable from the handset to the Vox.



Weapons have been commenced. I've slimmed down the bolter, and used the stock from the Scion Lasgun as a suppressed muzzle. I've fashioned an ACOG sight from the muzzle of the Lasgun. I'll GS the mounting rail and fixing points once it's dry. I'm also thinking of a hand-grip fixed to the underside of the stock.



Finished the details on the Land-Quad. I decided against any 'deep desert' fixings, as this will be painted in an urban theme. However, being an ex-soldier, I know that when it comes to vehicles, there's never enough room for kit. So it was quite amusing hanging day-sacks on the sides. I fitted the rear mud-flaps and applied some nicks and bumps. The whip antenna has been dry-fitted. I'll wait until the vehicle has been painted before fitting it properly. I've taken a picture of the suspension, as it's not obvious in the other pictures.









I've also primed a Black Scorpion figure to use as one of my informants. He's rather heavily armed for an informant, but I've wanted to paint this figure since I bought him 3 years ago!



That's pretty much it for now. I'll be working on the monocle for this rest of this evening, so I should have an update later on.

Bash

Quad and Monaco are looking just great! Keep at it.

Thanks Gitsplitta. I'm really chuffed how the Land-Quad has turned out. I'll be priming it tomorrow, and possibly start base-coating if the primer has cured properly.

Bash






Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just a final post for tonight. Finished GS'ing the monocle mount and strap. Photos aren't great, as I really need to invest in a decent daylight lamp for evening photos. I did build myself a quick DIY lightbox, which I'll field test tomorrow. The Missus thought I'd well and truly lost it when she got home and found me surrounded by shredded white t-shirts and cardboard. The dog had fun attacking stray cardboard.





So that's pretty much it for now. I've started assembling the Soft-knock team members. I'll upload photos of those tomorrow.

Bash


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Seeing as that I can't sleep. I thought I'd write a bit of fluff for my 'Soft-knock' team. This is the first time I've ever done this, and I have Gitsplitta to thank for the inspiration.

A quiet day was too much to ask.

Enforcement Sergeant Teven's lip sneered in disgust. It wasn't the sight of death that bothered him. Forty-two years in the force had hardened him long ago. It was the smell. The sweet stench of cooling cauterised human meat almost overpowered him. The shots were precise. Three in total. At the optimum range to allow the micro-warhead of the bolter shell to arm and detonate on impact. Against the unarmoured and unshielded bodies of Governor Toombes and Administrator King, death was instantaneous. And if had the house-carl hadn't of entered the corridor leading to the study, he would still be alive, rather than spattered along the far wall.
Teven turned to Clay, who had just got off the vox to the station. He looked tired. Being a new parent was tough, and being comm-linked at 4 in the morning just added to the strain.
'I already know the answer' said Teven 'but I'm going to ask anyway. Any witnesses?'
'Uniform are to talking to the rest of the house staff, but so far, nothing.' Teven rubbed his aching eyes. They'd been at the Governor's residence for an hour. They'd been called in to investigate after being alerted by an Enforcement patrol. One of the servants found their colleague in the top floor corridor. Well, most of him. The shell had hit him in the shoulder, tearing off his left arm and most of his chest wall with it. What was left of his respiratory system was caked up the wall, destroying a picture that was worth more than Teven's entire retirement policy.
'Boss', called Clay, 'it's Central on the Vox. They want to talk to you'
Being voxxed by Central was always an ill omen. But considering the importance of two of the victims, it didn't really surprise Teven.
'Sergeant Teven Sir' he uttered in feigned formality.
'Sergeant Teven, you are to follow my instructions exactly as I explain them to you', said the familiar voice, 'do you understand?'
'Captain Powell, what's this about? I'm knee deep in administration stiffs' Teven retorted.
'Look, this has come from much higher than us' said Captain Powell, unable to disguise the unease in his voice. 'A medicae team will be at your location in a few minutes'.
'Why!?' shouted Teven. 'How in the warp am I to conduct an-'
'Sergeant!' barked Powell. 'I don't know exactly who authorised this, and I doubt I'll ever find out. The fact is, that this clean-up has been green-lighted. Report back to your station, handover all documentation and picts to Lieutenant Wiles. He'll debrief you'.
'Sir, I don't understand'
'You don't need to Sergeant. And if I'm honest, neither do I. Powell out'
Teven handed to vox unit back to Clay. The first sun started to creep over the horizon. Clay was still knelt by Governor Toombes, his pict-slate casting a green glow over his face.
'Clay' Teven said, tiredly. 'Pack it up. We're to meet the medics at the front'
'Central's orders?' Clay asked.
'Central's orders'

Powell, still in his training suit, sat in his chair. He looked at the figure in front of him. Even if it wasn't wearing armour, the figure cut an impressive size. The illumination from its eyes catching the reflective surfaces of his gilded pen set. The light unit on his desk allowed him to pick out the deep emerald of it's armour, and the red Raptor on it's breast. Though it's weapons were slung, he had no illusion that it could kill him with a single strike of it's massive fists. And it knew it. Powell cleared his dry throat before speaking.
'It's done. Clean-up is on it's way. Evidence will be planted. My guys will be briefed, and this will get buried'
'Good. We wouldn't want to have to return'. The voice was distorted and tinny due to the helmet's voice module, but clear enough to notice the menace behind it's answer.

That's it. I had fun writing this. Can't say I'd make any money from it any time soon. But to explore another avenue in the whole aspect of my chosen chapter is a real buzz.

Bash

Thought I'd chuck a picture up of my primed Land-Quad. I thought I'd try something a bit risky, and new. So I looked up how to do the 'Yeast extract' weathering method in the Dakka P+M article forum. Chaos black base, followed by Tamiya TS-46 Light Sand, then applied yeast extract to the areas I wanted weathered. Then a final coat of Tamiya surface primer (Gray). It'll dry nice and matt, as no military vehicle is ever glossy, not matter how many time you apply buff and shine. I learnt that the hard-way.

Bash

That quad is the bloody business. Cracking

Really awesome looking tank/buggy/quad machine there mate! Very nice! Wanted to wait until there was a coat of primer on it to really see the full effect!

Love all the wee details too... and those pen springs are a class idea!

Looks most cool, amigo.

@ Januine - Thanks very much mate. It's coming along a lot smoother than I thought. I was dreading that I wouldn't be able to keep up with my ideas of grandeur!

@ MagosBiff90 - Thank you very much for commenting. Now that its had a few coats of paint on it, it's looking a lot more cohesive. I'm glad you like the pen-spring idea. Usually most of my ideas aren't that useful, but this one has worked!

@ Graven - Thanks as always mate

After coating the Land-quad, covering it in yeast extract (I bloody stink of the stuff now, and the dog won't leave me alone), scrubbing it, drying it like a new-born puppy, and then applying a wash, it's looking really rather good if I do say so myself:



Thanks to Tester man for the photo-bomb...




I'll upload some daylight photos tomorrow, as the colours contrast better in natural light. I can't believe the detail of the paint chipping from the marmite weathering. It looks fantastic, and something I'll definitely be doing again. It stinks to high Heaven, but it's worth it. I don't mind marmite. It's not the worst thing I've eaten. Live garden Snails, coins , kinder egg car (that thing bloody hurt on the way down. Who in their right mind puts wing mirrors on them!), and a pint of pee. And no, it wasn't mine.

I'm going add another coat of wash, and then whilst that's drying, start on priming the Soft-knock team.

Bash

Looks lovely and cohesive. Like it was always that way. Excellent.

That turned out beautifully Bash. Looks like it was intended to be that way.

Thank you very much guys. It's coming along really well. I'll put photos up tomorrow.

Bash

Marmite??? Urrgghhhh. The giant fish eye I ate tastes better than that gak...but....it does make for a great effect. Suer paint job so far

@ Januine - I've been wanting to try the Marmite weathering method since I first saw it a few years ago. I remember it being in the FW modelling book, but never got round to it. It looks fantastic. Such a clever and simple idea. And better still, no expensive ingredients, or complicated methods. I wish I'd have done this with my old DG army, as it would've complemented the whole feel perfectly.

On another note, my FW Centurian turned up today, so he'll be getting primed and ready for paint in the next few days.

Bash




Automatically Appended Next Post:
As promised, some daylight pictures of the weathering mid-stage.







Thats it for now.

Bash

The story was good. Very much enjoyed the image of the shadowy war going on and the poor old investigators caught in the middle.

The quad is coming along really well. Marmite weathering? You are playing with techniques far beyond my knowledge there. Would Vegemite work too?

@ Archer - Thanks for reading the fluff. I didn't want to give my team the limelight, as it's not about them. It's the poor souls who have to tidy up the aftermath. It was fun writing that. Might have to conjure up some more stuff later on.

As for the Marmite, it comes under various guises. Yeast extract, Vegemite, Bovril (at a push). I'd never done anything like this before, so it was a bit of a gamble. But following the 'how-to' guides (I read 4 separate articles), it all paid off. It's so simple, it really can't go wrong, unless the process is rushed. Giving plenty of time for the paint to dry between coats is vital.

Bash

After a weekend having my son come and stay, and being Minecrafted to near oblivion (it was fun really), I have finished the Land-Quad.













The transfers are from a 1/35 German Tiger 1, and the Union Flag on the front bumper is from a 1/35 British Warrior AFV. It's really come along way, seeing that I had no real plan in sight. But that's kind of my style. Just a 'see how it goes' approach. I feel that my enthusiasm has shown through on the Land-Quad. The team members will hopefully stand out, as I've got a rough idea how I want them to look.

Just got to finish the Heavy Bolter, to fix on when the gunner is done, and the comms cable going from the signals daysack to the operator.

Bash

Absolutely superb fella. great job

Thanks Januine. I'm dead chuffed with how this has turned out. It's been down to you guys for providing the inspiration. It's been great fun doing something different. And something that is unique to me.

Bash

It really is amazing. So detailed and the colours look real. I mean I could actually believe it's a scale model of a modern day vehicle.

Thanks Archer for your kind comments. Now that it's all painted up, it's certainly more believable. I'm just amazed at how well the Marmite weathering worked. It added an extra dimension to the texture, and the paint chips add a little depth, making it look like it's been well travelled. I didn't want it to look like it's just been built for one theatre of war. I wanted it to look like it's been well used, and adapted to various roles for the Soft-knock team. I couldn't be more pleased with it.

Nice ride, good read above too.

Weathering really brought it together, good job!

@ Littletower - Many thanks for commenting. It's been a fun trip so far. I've never really gone in depth with a project before, so it's great adding a bit of background to my miniatures.

Bash