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Gitsplitta wrote:I actually kind of love the fact that other folks are taking a whack at making mantis warriors... even if it is just a one-off thing rather than an entire army. Makes me feel like I've accomplished something beyond my own little army.

That must be a nice feeling. If I manage to make one I'll be sure to most a picture of my "modern day" Mantis Warrior. In fact, just for the fun of it I would be happy to trade it to you in exchange for one of yours.

I think having one of the most popular threads on Dakka is decent accomplishment too

It's true enough Git. Your chapter has spread across the galaxy, pulling recruits from every corner of the Imperium. With such a polarizing reputation, it is easy to see how some might take to the Mantis banner while the rest tow the (more) official line of Mantis' tainted condemnation. It would appear their redemption is not too far off... for death finds us all.

I love the nit-picky-ness of the katana angle business... it is indeed a common mistake, but I can hardly see a curve in the models sword. As well, it depends on the angle of their strike. A vertical slash would benefit from a katana turned to curve down, though the back end would tend a bit more upward... I think.

I think a slightly different pose would benefit the wings, too. If he were advancing as he drew the sword the wings would look more natural.

And lastly, Whalemusic, dem beaky boyz got some big feet... are they thinner or longer than the newer SM?

Yeah they are quite clown-ish Ive got #3 cut up, but not yet together. Anyone have a good action pose for bolter boy #4?

The Good Green wrote:It's true enough Git. Your chapter has spread across the galaxy, pulling recruits from every corner of the Imperium. With such a polarizing reputation, it is easy to see how some might take to the Mantis banner while the rest tow the (more) official line of Mantis' tainted condemnation. It would appear their redemption is not too far off... for death finds us all.

I love the nit-picky-ness of the katana angle business... it is indeed a common mistake, but I can hardly see a curve in the models sword. As well, it depends on the angle of their strike. A vertical slash would benefit from a katana turned to curve down, though the back end would tend a bit more upward... I think.

I think a slightly different pose would benefit the wings, too. If he were advancing as he drew the sword the wings would look more natural.

And lastly, Whalemusic, dem beaky boyz got some big feet... are they thinner or longer than the newer SM?

vertical slash would be drawn like this. the curve still pointing upwards. then you pull the sheatting with the sword up vertical while you press it against your body. then you let the sheat slide downwards while you pull the sword further up and turn it with the point upwards. and then step and cut. it sounds difficult but is really easy once you know.

Keep in mind all (besides fatty... he already knows), that Japanese swords are designed to kill on the draw. I know of no other swords, certainly none in western culture... that have this purpose as part of their basic design. There is a specific Japanese form that practices the single stroke kill as it's primary motion. Draw ---> kill, sheathe. (Can't recall the name of it at the moment.)

Very mantis like actually as you go from "rest" to "kill" to "rest" again in a single swift motion.

You forgot the "clean sword" part of that routine, eh? I was just listening to a podcast about seppuku that recommended participants of that school to be the second, as it were. It is rather Mantis like, playing a rather intimate role in ones death.

Nyss hunter katanna cool.

Gits, since I still have unpainted marines, I think Im going to paint one up as a Mantis Warrior.

Awsome BBL, I can provide a shoulder pad if you want it... would even part with one of Blackhand's special heads if you ask nicely and promise to post your results here.

:-)

How about I paint you up a model in exchange for a pad and head, if you want one.
If not, I promise to put it up in this thread
And its OT, but did you ever send that grot way back when? If not, dont worry about it
(if you did, I never got it)

If I get a head and pad from you, the Mantis will be in a robe. I may even try some cool free hand on his robes ( I'll have to look up the cherry blossom tutorial I saw a while back )

@BBL

1) That would be wonderful! I'm always looking for extra marines for my pseudo Deathwatch squad!

2) Damn, I forgot. Please remind me what I was supposed to send and I'll send it with the pad and head. It was a rigger, wasn't it?

3) Would love to see that. I haven't been brave enough to try robes yet myself. Luckily with the tranquility guys, robes are kind of superfluous as there's so much pattern in the armor. Though I did have fun with Stone's cloak (my Telion figure).

I dont remember what you were supposed to send actually
Do you want a Blood Angel, or can I paint you up a Son of Ouroboros?
If you want a BA, it'll be a BfM or AoBR marine.

Son of Ouroboros please. Though a BA would be fine too.

If TiB doesnt reply soon, I have a pre made BA in need of a Death Watch pad
[edit: non AoBR or BfM]

Well, got a couple of solid hours of painting in. One more night like this and I'll take a pic of my progress. Lots of little stuff... power cables, guns, pouches, plasma gun, sergeant's head to name a few. Discovered that there was still a Imperial Fist symbol an Kantor's back pack... took care of that (surprised how well it went). Things look kind of half-way done right now but should shape up in another night... just getting the basic color/wash/highlight down on the odd bits. I'd forgotten how crappy those old bolters were... even painted up they look like hell. Luckily the camo pattern can be used to cover up a lot of issues (both in my painting and in a crappy model).

Gitsplitta wrote:Well, got a couple of solid hours of painting in. One more night like this and I'll take a pic of my progress. Lots of little stuff... power cables, guns, pouches, plasma gun, sergeant's head to name a few. Discovered that there was still a Imperial Fist symbol an Kantor's back pack... took care of that (surprised how well it went). Things look kind of half-way done right now but should shape up in another night... just getting the basic color/wash/highlight down on the odd bits. I'd forgotten how crappy those old bolters were... even painted up they look like hell. Luckily the camo pattern can be used to cover up a lot of issues (both in my painting and in a crappy model).

Kantor's rules are really quiet good. Not OP, and he's got some nice little flavorfull touches. I'm thinking about using his as my chapter master, although I may do a conversion in plastic.

I've been really delving into the SM codex the past few days, and there are some seriously neat options.

did you remove the Ultramarine symbol from Sergeant Stone's Boltgun?

Btw any news on the bits arriving?

dantay_xv wrote:did you remove the Ultramarine symbol from Sergeant Stone's Boltgun?

No, but that was on purpose... part of the back-story on Stone.

Btw any news on the bits arriving?

No, but it's been a week since I've been at my office (which I use as my shipping address). Or were you talking about bits I was supposed to send to you?

Gits, I have to write a letter for civics (I'm partway done) But after, I am going to be building the warrior sans pad and head.

Quick question before I do, what arm would the Mantis pad be on, the Left?

I am going to attempt to give him a katana and the arm holding it will be a normal bent bolter arm (well, DA bolter arm) so he will be positioned similar to this

That would be great BBL! The mantis pad would be on the same shoulder as a normal marine's insignia pad... which I believe is the left as it's switched since the old days (used to be the right).

Alrighty.

For your SoO, do you want him to have a hooded helmet,a beakie Helmet (DA insignia on it) or a hooded bare head?

Finally an update:

Progress on the sternguard. I've kind of let off working on Kantor only because the others are rather formulaic and he is not. He will require some colors and techniques that the others won't, so I'll set him aside for now and work on him slowly as the inspiration strikes me.

Got most of the details done. If you wonder why I do the details before the camo, it's because the camo can be very useful for covering up flaws in painting, design and construction... so I save it for last. Big challenges left are primarily the eyes and face of sergeant & free-handing the chapter insignia on each shoulder pad. I feel like I should do *something* to the power fist... but a lot of the typical designs would be counter to the whole "camo" idea. I'll sleep on it. Perhaps I should just accept it as a good platform for a camo grouping and leave it at that.




@BBL: As you wish, though my Deathwatch squad is supposed to be modern, so there is no need to be beakie. Checked my minis and all of the rest have the deathwatch pad on the right, their own pad on the left.

Gits

love them! I def like the one for our trade! It'll be great to see him in person!

as for the powerfist I would maybe have some warning label on it or some heroic passage that way it fits with the camo scheme but does give a bit of an added detail tothe fist. whatcha think?

Looking sweet gits

For the powerfist, how about reversing the scheme like on the ven dread's head?

Only thing I dont like is the plasma weapon. It looks a bit odd from that angle. Otherwise looking good

@Timesiral: Can you be a bit more specific? Is it the weapon itself (which is molded as part of the figure) or something about my paint job? I must admit that I'm not looking forward to the lighting effects from the plasma... it'll be an all-or-nothing kind of thing that probably has a better chance of trashing the figure than it does making it look good.

im looking forward to seeing how your lightening effects work!

Well then Gits, you Get a Son of Ouroboros after all.
I'll give him a robed bare head, so I can paint his face up. (and possibly try to give him a tattoo)

I'll begin working on him tomorrow. If you can come up with a suitable name for the Mantis Warrior, I am going to write a bit of fluff. (the marines being swapped are going to meet, and have an honor duel, or something cool like that)

Anything Japanese... since he'll be one of the new generation. Not Musashi though... that name is saved for someone special.

On a related note... I may have found a katana that will work. I have them in hand (just got them all they way from Nottingham in Merry Olde England). They aren't as large as GW swords, but the are large enough to be believable, at least until I find something more appropriately sized.


Not too bad at all. Not quite "heroic", but from my experience... perfectly proportioned to the miniature for a real-life sword.