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.

Gits, I have got to say that you are producing some great stuff. I check your blog every week and after skimming through yet another 4 or 5 pages of chatter there is always some nice little bit of inspiration or one of your beautiful mantis warriors at the end of it

Always eager to see more.
Cain

Gitsplitta wrote:
@shalemusic: Don't be modest... you've been hangin' in with me since the beginning with advice and encouragement. You're as responsible for this blog as anyone! And you originated & maintained the GMS!

Hey dont go blaming me (or who ever shalmusic is) for that stuff, its not my fault!

@Cloudburst: Thanks! I will keep those points in mind as I continue forward. Time has taught me to be open minded... the end results are so much better and the whole process is so much easier if you let other people help.

As to the power fist... I may do both... unfortunately it's a closed fist & as such is probably not a good candidate for OSL... however I like the idea and may keep it in mind for a future figure. Would be a nice touch on a commander eh?

GS: I have them set aside for you, you just give me the head's up when you're ready.


And to all, tonight's progress. In keeping with my promise to be more disciplined about my painting. Got the insignia done on the shoulder pads. Not perfect... but as good as I can do. These were done with little micro pens, not brushes. I find my control is better that way.



Tomorrow might be futsed up due to one of the boy's Christmas concert at school, but I think the camo will be the next step. Then I'll decide what to do about the power fist and helmet. I have Friday off so I'm hoping for some power painting time then.

Good idea with using micro pens for detail work. Might have to steal that. :-)

Your blog is inspiring to read due to the community that it has fostered, and the way that everyone jumps in to the project. Stuff like the wings and helmets are jaw dropping.
I hope my own log gets half the level of community involvement that yours does at some point in the future. :-)

My stuff in on hold waiting for conversion parts to come in the mail, and hopefully a few trades to get here so I can start converting some of the marines I got in trade, and hoping a couple of other trades/sales happen so I can affort more conversion bits from places like ChapterHouse and Maxmini.

nice work, im digging the symbols!

nice free hands. and a late call on the katana it looks about the right size. the blade looks too be as long as the arm and thats a normale size katana.

Thanks gentlemen, small steps. Just noticed that I need to do something with the back of the scopes... funny all the things you miss that a simple photo can reveal.

From this point on I'll work on them individually, starting with Sage's trade (the middle guy in the picture above).

Pics'll do that to you...Pretty logical though, since you usually look down on a mini, not straight at it like the lens does.

The micropens seem like a good fix for small detail work, I'm definitely lootin' that idea!

Did you add something to the helmets? The old beakys I have dont have the big ol thing in the middle.

May have to get you to a head/pad set to make a modern MW too. Ive done a sniper and some old school, but am yet to actually paint one

I really like the shoulder pad detail on these minis. It is the one thing that i keep on looking at in the whole picture.

@Khaine: Thanks man. Feel free. I looted the heck out of it when I asked how people did the writing on their purity seals, this just seemed like the next natural step.

@WM: Nope, not a thing... that's just the way these old mini's come. My plastic beakies all have a raised area (check my gallery) but not as pronounced as these are.

@btemple0: Thank you. I built up the little disc from green stuff as a lot of the older metal beakies had round plates on them for the insignia. After that I just sat the original artwork in front of me & did my best to copy it on the pad.
As I've mentioned before... these look so stark and YELLOW because there is no camo pattern on them to break it up. Once the leaves go on, you'll be surprised by they change in character.

Going to be a long night... have to stay in town for the Christmas concert, then a long, late night drive home into the teeth of a snow storm. I can't wait...

Even with the green on it the pad would still draw my eye, but then againi like to look at things like that on minis, even my own, which is why my salamanders never had both shoulder pads finished.

Insignia's looking mighty fine there Gits. I've never found a red micro-pen yet, closest I've got is a browny-reddish tone, guess I'll try looking for one on t'internet instead of just the odd art shop I pop into. I find I have better pen control than brush control too, use 'em for any writing, occasional black-lining and damage.

Micro pens worked very well! They must be great for mass producing insignia without using the hated transfers. How well does the colour stay on? I thought that it would just wipe away if you tried something like that. And I have got to say that the yellow armour is perhaps the best I have ever seen and that is saying something!

One of the most interesting things from my perspective as the OP, is that in the 8 months since I started this blog (that's right... only 8 months... actually a little less) the people who are actively contributing has completely rolled over 3 separate times. If you skim thought the blog in groups of about 20 pages... you will see completely different sets of contributers dominating the discussion at different points.

I am still here! I am just taking a break from discussion, enjoying everyone's work. I think the talking rollover is just an effect of people adding their input, and like me, stepping back to see where all this goes.

For me, the MantisQuest (tm) has taken an interesting turn towards Asian themes in the army. I am curious to see what develops when the marine swaps are through.

The pens I have are Sakura, Pigma Micron 005, #1 archival ink. I've used them for all my purity seals and litanies and once sealed, have never had an issue with them. On lighter colors they cover with no problem what-so-ever.

I got a whole set off the net for very little money (don't remember how much now, but I remember being shocked at how cheap they were). I have red, purple, black, blue, green and brown. The brown is very handy when you want something like text but black is just too jarring and red is to pale. I have thought about them for the things you mention CC, but I haven't tried them yet in those applications.

Home after a very harrying ride through the snow... my front tires aren't worth beans... Car is parked at the base of the driveway as I can't get up the slope. However, all are home and safe. Concert was cute as all things are that feature the little tikes. Time to grab a cup 'o Joe and contemplate whether I really want to tackle some painting or just go to bed early & see if I can shake this cold.

Gits


OH, Hey rashad... you ninjad's me... :-) Nice to have you back.. Lurking is more than acceptable. But make sure you pipe in if something tweaks your curiosity or you have an idea to share.


Speaking of taking an Asian twist... anyone know where I can find appropriately sized Asian looking heads for my helmetless guys? Not much of a racial mix in the GW stuff and I'm not capable of sculpting my own.

Paint, paint, paint!!!

chug the coffee and get to work!
haha. I cant wait to get home and see my younger siblings in their little shows its always wonderful and cute!

and sorry about the car, that seems like a drag, I'm trying to go my entire life without learning how to drive. Being a city boy I may be able to pull it off, I've gotten through three years of college without one in the middle of nowhere!

No driving!?!°c?!? That's like my favorite thing in the world, bar none (pg conversation). I'll use my spare time between pretending to study for finals and pretending to do work stuff to scour the internets for ya.

Glad that you are now home and safe. Now you can get on with painting your MW

Forgot to comment on the cool details on the sarge's face, he seems to remind me of the Terminator, in T2, near the end when he is missing part of his face.

Like the MW insignia designs on the shoulder pads, those detail pens must be brilliant. I may try and pick up a set. I seem to really like the raised discs for some reason, they appear to bring more focus towards the badge than if it was just directly on the pad.

Still need to get round to PM my addy to you.

whalemusic360 wrote:No driving!?!°c?!? That's like my favorite thing in the world, bar none (pg conversation). I'll use my spare time between pretending to study for finals and pretending to do work stuff to scour the internets for ya.

I love being in cars, just I don't really want to learn, its kinda a game to me to see how long I can last, plus I plan on living in some sort of city so having a car is awful...

Hrm... Have to look for a retailer of them around me, along with some paint shapers, and a retailer for GS.

I too hate transfers witha passion. THey always seem to tear on me when I'm trying to put them on a model.

Sageheart wrote:

whalemusic360 wrote:No driving!?!°c?!? That's like my favorite thing in the world, bar none (pg conversation). I'll use my spare time between pretending to study for finals and pretending to do work stuff to scour the internets for ya.

I love being in cars, just I don't really want to learn, its kinda a game to me to see how long I can last, plus I plan on living in some sort of city so having a car is awful...

Must say that back at home, the city I live in is pretty well impossible to live in without a car, so I don't know what sort of city you live in... By the way, Mr. Mr. Mr. Gitsplitta. I must say that I have, recently, discovered this thread and though I cheated and skipped to the summary, this is quite the amazing project you are undertaking, especially in your use of the old old models. I applaud you in this, especially since you balance this, a family, work, and the burgeoning hobby lives of your kids. I thus take off my hat to you, in admiration of this and of your good work thus far. -Kaesar II

Looking excellent as always buddy. Your blog continues to be an inspiring example of the very essence of dakka - or at least p&m - and I'm even going to stop dragging my heels and get back to working on stuff myself! Go Team gitsplitta (though not in the snow, it seems)!

Sorry guys... cold has moved into my chest, sleep was necessary. Also an old friend found me and I got effectively "mugged" on Facebook by 20 people who haven't seen me in a decade or more. Nice.... but a bit overwhelming.

On driving: I have driven everywhere my entire life, so I can't imagine my life otherwise. However I have lived in major cities for short stretches and can see how you could get along quite nicely without ever owning a car.

@Lord Kaesar II: Thank you and welcome. Going to the summary was a good idea... the blog has just gotten too long to expect anyone to really sit down and read through the whole thing. I sometimes wonder how well I balance all those things... I'm sure my wife would give you an interesting opinion on the subject.

@graven: LOL... "team gitsplitta". That modified avatar of yours is funny and disturbing all at the same time. Thanks for your nice comments... I just plug along & hope what I do is interesting.

Today should see at least on of the figures really come together... perhaps two if I'm lucky Lot's to do outside of painting today though... none of it fun, especially with a chest cold.

Gitsplitta wrote:
Speaking of taking an Asian twist... anyone know where I can find appropriately sized Asian looking heads for my helmetless guys? Not much of a racial mix in the GW stuff and I'm not capable of sculpting my own.

Here are some options:

This being the most obvious:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/miniatures/micro-art-studio/conversion-lab/nezumi-samurai-heads.html



But seriously,

some of these guys look pseudo asian...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/miniatures/micro-art-studio/conversion-lab/elf-rangers-heads-set-1.html

a few of these (1,2 & 5; left to right) you could pull off...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/miniatures/hasslefree-miniatures/bits/human-male-heads-a-sprue-of-5.html

and if you wanted to exaggerate it...
http://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/miniatures/hasslefree-miniatures/bits/elf-male-heads-a-sprue-of-5.html

Only thing I'm not sure of is if they're truly appropriate in scale. As to where you would find a beef-caked-out-space-mariney-asian-faced-dude...

I live in Brooklyn, NYC. My parents have a car, they have to move it every two days haha or get a fat ticket...
They subways are pretty good overall for transportation.

Those asian heads look pretty cool. I don't know where else you can find them, maybe build them.. if you want to be a bit of a GS Hero!

Actually a number of those have potential... they're cheap enough. I can always order a few and see how they look.

Thanks Moltar!

Anytime, Git. Sorry about the first link, I couldn't resist the absurdity.

Sage I almost made it to 40, but work re-locating has now forced me to start learning. I've always believed there's enough other maniacs on the road without adding to their numbers