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So I've been coming to dakka dakka for quite awhile. One of the first threads I followed was one of Migsula's (his cool Tau from way back). Since then dakka and the community has been an important resource for me. However I've never contributed much in the way of modelling so I though my current project would be a good way to give something back.

This isn't going to be anything as bad assed as Migsula's stuff or any of the nice scratch build threads. This is just a blog about getting a bunch of decent quality table top tyrands finished for my summer gaming. Hopefully it will be enjoyable and/or helpful but it will at least motivate me.

Questions comments and criticism is always welcome.

So I have a few stages that I'll be working in, each stage being about a month or so of work (best laid plans of mice and men).

Stage 0, as I'll call it is about done. Its hashing out ideas, test painting, etc.
Stage 1, current. I'm shooting for 1500 points of stealer shock by May 31st.
Stage 2, June. Add 3 zoanthorpes, 30-40ish gaunts, maybe some spore sacs and make a display board.
Stage 3, July. Add another 60 or so gaunts, 6 warriors and/or ravenors.
Stage 4, beyond summer. Whatever I don't get done earlier and also add some apocalypse goodness.

For Stage 0, I started out coming up with a paint scheme. I really liked the jade blue-green and turquoise schemes that have been on the net, so much so that I decided that would be the basic colors involved. Examples are the awesome Tyranids on http://www.necrotales.com/ and also the ones seen at Toronto games day when the Tyrandis codex was just rumors (checkout the gallery at warpshadow).

To pick the paints, I was aided by a few tools on the web. One is kuler and the other is Color Match 1.0.

In this case, I had a paint already in mind for the blue-green carapace: Reaper Master Seriers Deep Ocean. So I plugged that into Color Match 1.0 and got the hex number that it corresponded to. Then I took that number to the kuler tool and played around till I found a good contratsing color for the exoskeleton. Got the hex number and went back to Color Match 1.0 to find a close match in the paints I have or can buy easily. Walla, found RMS driftwood brown would be a good contrasting color for the exoskeleton. I decided I also wanted orange as an accent on hoses and eyes but just picked what I had on hand (GW Firey Orange) and liked the affect that RMS Deep Red (sp?) has over white primer for fleshy bits.

These tools are handy if you want to design a scheme around color theory or just want to play around with various combinations. I will definitely keep doing this in the future.

Next was test models. I won't bore you with my trials and tribulations, suffice it to say that I was enjoying painting the blue but the exoskeleton was a chore and a timesink with only so-so results. So I turned to dipping. I've read various threads here and around the net and was worried about the lackluster results on blue. Then it hit me, just don't dip the blue. Paint the stain on the troublesome exoskeleton and paint the carapace normally.

Below is pics of test models, sort of my proof of concept (click to enlarge). Lighting on my pics will be poor till I can get some kind of light box made (gonna borrow my tortoises uv light).






So the idea is sound in my opinion and will save me a load of time, even with having to paint the dip on. I do need to mix the dip a bit more I think as there's not much in the way of shading on these guys. I also think I will try to water down my driftwood basecoat so that there's some lighter bits. Finally, the highligts here are just SW grey mixed into the Deep Ocean. I've got the other colors of the triad now so the Sw grey will be part of a final highlight only.

Anyways, now with a plan of attack, I could get off my butt and actually start building and painting. Onto stage 1.

Right now I'm pretty much just ridding models of mold lines, prepping and building. No painting as of yet but I hope to have some pics soon. In the meantime here are some WIP shots of my HQs.

Seems like it'll be an effective palette. I like the orange details. And the hq's look badass. Looking forward to following this.

I just don't care for the Zoidberg Genestealer head. I would much rather use the new Lictor head. That one just looks much meaner and better. Is a real nice swap there though, quite seamless.

Digging the Devourerers.

Nice. The angle of the TL Devs on the Flyrant seems a little extreme, though. It's almost like he's trying to snap his own wrists. I think it would look better if you straightened them out a bit by having him wield them lower.

I just don't care for the Zoidberg Genestealer head. I would much rather use the new Lictor head. That one just looks much meaner and better. Is a real nice swap there though, quite seamless

Thats obviously a Cthulu head. [/sarcasm]

Seriously though, I think the gribbly heads are cool. The painting is really nice too. The beige is a little bland though, try drawing out the black spots. I.E. make them start bigger and fade out more gradually. Maybe give them a highlight or two if they get big enough.

I agree with t-C on the angle the devourers from the wrists --its awkward. Rad GS work there btw.

-Leo037

Aduro wrote:I just don't care for the Zoidberg Genestealer head.

Aaaawwwww.

Thanks for the CnC guys.

The reason for the wierd angle on the devourers is two fold. One, I used the scything claw arm as a base and thought using less GS in the wirst gap would be better. I'm still a newb at sculpting and while I like how things have turned out imy detail work doesn't hold up well to close inspection.

Main reason however, I was getting inspiration from spinefist arms and this is a close representation of how those are posed. It is kinda awkward but maybe it will look more appropriate when surrounded by the little guys. I'm thinking this would have worked better had I went with a flying pose but I wussed out and went the easy route. Now I'm torn as to wether I should repose the arms. The arms are sticky tacked to the body at this point so I can still cut and start over pretty easily.

Thoughts?

Also, I wish I could have procured a lictor head cause I agree it is better. I guess I just assumed it wasn't available as a bit anymore (or ever, not sure). Anyways the plastic one works as is and is better then the opera singing head in my opinion.

Finally, the exoskeleton is a bit bland, I agree. I'm hoping I can add a bit more depth in the future and will work on applying the spots a bit better (they were an afterthought that turned out to work well). Also future stealers will have the carapace bits so there will be a bit more blue on them then the test model.

Thanks again!

Well, I get the look you're trying for, but I would still suggest reposing. It doesn't need to be extreme; just as few degrees would do a lot to ease the awkwardness. It would be simple, just one cut near the inner elbow and one at the wrist, and a bit of GS. From the GS/knifework you've shown, I imagine you could do it in a couple of minutes blindfolded.

Like your painting, anticipaiting some great bases though.
Very good modelling.

Azmodai

I was just looking at your tyrant again and I noticed the pin at the tip of the devourers. Slap some greenstuff around those so they look more organic and less like metal rods.

-Leo037

I have a friend who did his devourers almost exactly the same way. The rod will look normal when its painted trust me.
The only critique I have is the tyrant's seam lines where the shoulders join the torso piece are showing on her chest (and back to probably) if you go over that with some super glue (or green stuff) it will fix it right up.

I'm really liking the color scheme and your greenstuff work so far (even the stealer's head)! Can't wait to see this army finished!

Thanks for the comments guys.

Quick update, no pics and nothing too exciting though:

-I moved the devouers a bit on the arms but I did not redo the elbow joint. I was about to make the cut and decided against it. Not doing so does force the arms against the wings but I'm ok with that.

-Seams on the hive tyrant will be fixed tonight. That was one of the first things that jumped out at me when viewing the pics. Would have done it last night but I ran outta cured GS.

-As Foda mentioned, the pins on the devourers should look fine once painted and stained. I don't want to bulk them up too much

-One gunfex is almost complete. Arms have been recut/resculpted to have left and right gun arms. Also gap filing and whatnot. Holy Khador gap Batman, I was surprised how much filing on the back I had to do. Just gotta attach the arms, the feeder hoses and the head. I hope to be at about the same point tomorow on the second fex.

-I've stripped the paint off some previous painted stealers and have started to build more.

I'm shooting for having everything built and primered before the weekend and I'd like to have some painting done as well.

Resurected this projected after a 6 month hiatus. I decided to play with Salamanders while my current army was playable and legal (have quite a bit to do to it now and little motivation). So I am gonna work on this project for the next few months.

Since the last post my cat knocked over the lid I was storing the models in, flinging them all over my rec room and removing limbs from half the army. Luckily nothing was seriously broke, just the stuff that was poorly glued so better now then later.

The Hive Tyrant lost its wings in the process. I've decided to leave em off in favor of the walking him with Tyrant Guard. I really like the models and they will synergize well with my new list. Ya I've decided to go with a stealer shock/nidzilla hybrid -- eschewing the dakkafex though for the nicer looking stranglerfex (magnetized though so I can run em as ninja fexes or whatever).

Some progress since the post above

-Two gunfexes have been completed. Here's pics of one of em.



-Built a plastic Lictor




-Working on some replacement limbs for the Hive Tyrant and magnetized sockets (pics once completed)
-Made some more genestealers inclduing 6 acid maws. Making that 46 stealers built.

Here is a pic of the built models so far


To do in the next week or so
-Finish up work on the Hive Tyrant model
-Add bits and bobbles to the larger bases.
-Base, basecoat and prep for painting on dip to the currently completed models

For the future (shooting for end of december early january -- earlier if possible).
-Complete the stealers etal with painted carapace and completed basing.
-Purchase and build 3 more carnifexes with magentized options.
-Purchase and build 2 Tyrant guard.
-Paint the remaining lot.
-Build a display board.

Updates to follow (honest!)

Sweet work.

The lictor looks very bulky, which I always thought the metal one lacked. Looks sweet mate!

I dig your Lictor, but that's a given, cause I like the plastic Warriors. I do prefer the current metal one however, especially `cause you used that darn Zoidbergian head!

No bits service = no good alternative to zoidberg. Wish the lictor head was easier to come by, but buying a lictor to get its head defeats the purpose of kit bashing a plastic one

I love the hive tyrant just wondering where did you get the wings

FlammingGaunt wrote:I love the hive tyrant just wondering where did you get the wings

My money's on Dark Pegasus from the Dark Elf range of fantasy.

Wings are off the Angelius from Privateer Press Hordes. Used the handy bits service (ironicly people used to say GW had edge on PP because of their bits service...).

Main issue I have with em is that they are difficult to pin. I do like that they aren't huge like the baalrog wings or similar -- easier to transport and game with.

This looks awesome! I really hope you get going farther on it this time around it will give me inspiration for my tyranid project which is trying to get off the ground to the painting stage, too!

Only comment I had was back to where you were talking about your color scheme. The carapace looks great, but the skin doesn't seem as eye-catching. If the dip is darkening the brown too much, maybe you could go with a lighter shade (and to have more contrast). It looks like you were thinking of lightening it in places, anyway, just wanted to chime in on that

Post more pics when you get to it

Still working on this project but haven't had anything worth posting till now. Link to my new dakka gallery is below
CnC welcome

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-270-896_Hive%20Fleet%20Cancer.html

Now the rubber band is on the other claw!

Zoidberg heads rock!!

TragicNut wrote:Now the rubber band is on the other claw!

Rofl, Zoidberg heads ftw!

A bit of threadmancy here I realize but you did say recently that you had planned on reviving this thread yourself soon anyway, please forgive me if it's premature!

I had not seen this thread before but when I looked, I took notice of your 2x TL-Dev Tyrant's arm/weapon configuration in particular. I'd be interested to see what evolutions you may have made on the design of them and/or the final result after painting.

I also tackled the conversion of 2x TL-Dev arms (but for my Dakkafexes instead) about 7 months prior to your original posting and used a somewhat similar positioning.

I really liked the effect and I'm always curious to see others who have similar ideas and a bit different execution.

My concept was to use the monstrous scything talon arms and replace the 'vestigial hook-claws' at the main joint with a pair of Devourers, positioned to imitate 'biomorphed claws'. This way the talon blades represented the Carnifex's base 2 monstrous attacks while the Devourers were modelled on the primary limbs as the main offensive weaponry for the beast. Because of the masive scything/devourer claws developed for its forelimbs, I chose to represent its second set of arms as 'vestigial' clawed arms (Hormogaunt scything talons). This worked out in a couple of ways, the Tyranid base body-form of '6 limbed creatures' was maintained, the second set of arms did not get in the way of the primary set, I liked the look and concept of the final result.

I like what you have done here rockit. I might have to reconsider my dislike for the dakka fex due to looks.

Here are some new pics I just took today. Note I am pretty much fail at taking good pics so far -- hopefully I can use my friends setup he has that takes really nice pics. Best ones are posted here but you can see the rest in my gallery.

Any event here is more painted Hive Fleet Cancer models.




As you can see I have lost the wings on the Tyrant and gave him some gaurds instead. Swapped the wings for some kit bashed arms (old scytal arms with some repostioned hands from the ugly warrior rending claws).



More pics of the Tyrant Guard


Boomfex (magnetized arms)

Gunfex. Turned a ripper into an eyeball symbiote to symbolize enhanced senses (kind of a rip off of Molochs Oroborous style senses but my own twist).

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-270-896_Hive%20Fleet%20Cancer.html
Rest of the pics are in the gallery. I hope to have an army shot that is worth while soon.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Army shots

Looks really good. Could you give us the recipe for the blue? I love it.

For the carapace and claws:
1) Black Undercoat
2) Coat of Reaper Master Series (RMS) Deep Ocean, leaving black in recesses and cracks
3) Strips of RMS Marine Teal, leaving Deep Ocean showing between toward the top of the strip.
3a) For the top plates on the MCs I did a wash of Marine Teal over the Teal and most of the Deep Ocean, leaving black and some Deep Ocean for shadow.
4)Strip of RMS Surf Aqua inside the strips of Teal with a detail brush.
5) Highlight high areas and MC plates sparingly with 50/50 mix of Surf Aqua and GW Skull White.

Looking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!