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++This is a hybrid modelling/painting thread, so MODS I apologise if this is in the wrong place++


I am currently building some Imperial Guard (well, and some Salamanders too) - roughly a 1500 point army, for a Tale of Gamers style event on another forum.

However, I've so-far been struggling to complete my goals, and though I manage to get things modelled, I never seem to get a lot painted.

If I could get some C&C on my conversions - which will be painted up , and some support to get them painted - what with working 6 days a week - and the current economic crisis slowing everyone's contributions on our relatively small forum - it can be really disheartening to try to not only complete the current goals, but also to catch up on previous months' that I've missed. What's worse is the Tale ends in January, I believe, so I am going to loose what urgings I do get to finish my projects - I really want to have a painted army, but without some focus like a Tale of Gamers I never seem to be able to find the time to get on with it. I'm hoping to find some kindly posters here that can offer advice on improving my work and encouraging me to get on with painting the darned things.


This is the list I am hoping to finish up building:

Doctrines
Iron Discipline

HQ

Command Platoon
Command Squad - Senior Officer: Bolt Pistol, Power Fist & Iron Discipline. 1 Veteran: Laspistol, CCW & Company Standard. 3 Guardsmen: 3 Meltaguns.
122

Mortar Squad 1 - 6 Guardsmen: 3 Lasguns & 3 Mortars.
80

Mortar Squad 2 - 6 Guardsmen: 3 Lasguns & 3 Mortars.
80

Elites

Hardened Veterans - Veteran Sergeant: Storm Bolter, Surveyor & Frag Grenades. 9 Veterans: 6 Shotguns, 3 Meltaguns & Frag Grenades.
132

Troops

Infantry Platoon 1
Command Squad - Junior Officer: Laspistol, Power Weapon & Iron Discipline. 4 Guardsmen: 4 Flamers.
74

Infantry Squad 1 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Grenade Launcher.
68

Infantry Squad 2 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Grenade Launcher.
68

Infantry Squad 3 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Grenade Launcher.
68

Infantry Squad 4 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Grenade Launcher.
68

Infantry Platoon 2
Command Squad - Junior Officer: Bolter & Iron Discipline. 4 Guardsmen: 3 Lasguns & 1 Lascannon.
71

Infantry Squad 1 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Autocannon.
75

Infantry Squad 2 - 10 Guardsmen: 9 Lasguns & 1 Autocannon.
75

Fast Attack

Hellhound: Turret Inferno Cannon, Hull Heavy Bolter, Extra Armour & Smoke Launchers.
123

Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank 1: Turret Battlecannon, Hull Heavy Bolter & Smoke Launchers.
148

Leman Russ Battle Tank 2: Turret Battlecannon, Hull Heavy Bolter & Smoke Launchers.
148

Basilisk: Eathshaker Cannon & Hull Heavy Bolter.
100

1500 points exactly, featuring 97 Infantry & 4 Vehicles.

The first picture is an example of my colourscheme, which I have since changed slightly (finalising the scheme is a part of this months goal), and an example base for my army:

I intend to paint the lasgun black (highlighted with Codex Grey), and highlight the Armour with Catachan Green, and do the metallics...but it gets the jist across nicely, something like this (obviously not finished yet though)





Here are the squads, and Sergeants, for two of the squads of First Platoon. The other squads will be later additions, once I get some more FW parts.

Squad 1:



Squad 2:




Then there's Second Platoon.

The Lieutenant (needs bipod adding to Bolter)


First Squad (may be a couple of dudes missing from the pic)



I was aiming for an Autocannon team taking cover in a ditch, but it appears to have turned into a fortification/wall. I'll add a spade or two when I base the darned thing properly.

Second Squad (squad not assembled, just Sergeant and WIP Autocannon crew)



Does the legs/bum look too out of place on this guy? I realise I should have shortened the legs, instead of leaving them at the "cut at hips" length, so he's extraordinarily 'leggy' for a Guardsman. I'll file the "foot" of the cannon that's going between his legs so he sits flat - it's catchin on the legs at the moment (the shoulders will then be -intentionally- hunched too).

The resin pegs in this pic show where I'm intending to putsome blasted treestumps. Should be about as high as the cannon itself.

What to you think, too many, wrongly placed or gonna look good?


My Hardened Veteran conversions/upgrade pack hybrids (note: they have since had lots of grenades added, I've not got a newer pic since adding them though):







The final one is a "counts-as" Stormbolter for the Veteran Sergeant. Will loose the Ork sight, as it is a little too large.

They'll have wooden stocks to the lasguns, and probably have red goggles too. Like the one on the left inthis pic (NOT my models btw)


And finally the Command Section (VERY WIP at this stage):




and my "Standard Bearer"



To finish this month's goals, I have to finish building Second Platoon (so half-squad and Command Squad), as well as some Greenstuff work on some Salamander marines of mine. Hopefully I can get caught up on some painting then, as I've already mostly painted one squad.


Many thanks for any criticisms, advice and general comments, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing what my somewhat unorthodox mind has come up with conversion-wise as I have had building them so far.

Very nice.

Nice colour scheme, nice inclusion of resin parts.

The standard bearer worries me, somewhat.

But, eh, huge giant Lions on chains are awesome.

Keep it up.

~sA

jeebus, I can't wait to see more!

I'm gonna have the handler's feet gouging a trench through the mud, as if he's being pulled along. I'm also going to get rid of the High Elf symbols, and probably make the carapace/shoulder bits like the chestplates of a regular Guardsman.

Thank you for the comments. Which paintscheme do you prefer - the black gun or the khaki gun (bearing in mind the black needs highlighting etc)?

3 bottles of kick?!?!? are you doing it in 24 hours or something


Its looking good- keep it up

I like the black lasgun.

Everything looks great, though some of their heads just look a little off. It could be the angle of the camera though. Something to maybe check on though.

I'll be waiting for the "treadhead" part of your title

Which heads do you think are looking "a little off" - since obviously if it isn't picture angle I'll need to fix it.

I'll hopefully be finishing the building of my Basilisk tank hunter soon, ready for painting in December. After that, or concurrently with it, will be the pair of Russes. Got a few ideas lined up already, so can't wait to get cracking on them.

My last conundrum for this month however is how to assemble my Lascannon team. I'm a little stumped at the moment as I can't decide between a dynamic "firing" pose or something a little stranger. Current idea is having the loader sheilding eyes/readying lasgun, and the gunner firing the lascannon which is twisted to about 45 degrees from the regular "forwards" position...if you get what I mean. Do you think this sounds like a plan, or should I try to find something a little different?

From top to bottom for the semi-awkward heads: Pics 16 and 18. The trooper bounding over the wall in Pic 21 could use some slight re-positioning of his legs. Most likely in somewhat of a downturned motion towards the ground, or with his foot/ankle extended in a way that makes his leg longer. Or... like I said, it could just be the pics and my poor eyesight

You you dont mind may I suggest changes to your list before you get too deep in this.

You desperately need to fill in some lascannon somewhere. I suggest taking three between the squads of second platoon.

The autocannon and heavy bolters can go in first platoon, they have good synergy with grenade launchers being of fairly similar S and Ap4. Also as they are cheap you need not worry so much about forfeiting the firing if they have to move.

Excellent job and we would like to see more, but why not make your IG list good on the battlefield as well as looks good.

I also question the lion, ultimately that huge cat on a leash is just another guardsman in melee combat. that doesnt make sense.

If you get more cats and reins you would have 'counts as' Ogryn very easily and they would look fantastic as a unit and as a concept. All you really need are storm bolters or such for the ripper guns.

There are so many other ideas you could use for standards, not least of which are using a spare standard from one of a number of fantasy armies. Most fantasy infantry boxsets have two or more standards in them so any fantasy player should have access to some spare standards, assuming they dont throw away their bits.

I also have several suggestions for your list, but I'm wondering if you want those, or just C&C on your painting and modelling?

Mainly C&C on the modelling. The list is made of units that I hope to look good, and my local area is pretty laid back and "theme" players. But a little advice wouldn't be amiss, so long as no major changes would need to be made (and not cluttering the thread too much)

I know I need more Lascannon, but I don't really want to drop anything - 1st Platoon needs numbers - I make it run up a flank (using cover where possible, I'm not a complete dolt) to threaten objectives and suchlike, covered by the Firebase/Veterans/Tanks. The Veterans have bagged some serious armour in their time and the Mortars are pumelling my mate's Ork force at the moment.

Everything else is pretty much "cheap-as-chips", having avoided expensive doctrines and wargear for the most part - bar the SO, but I've found with the new Retinue rules he generally gets 1 round of swinging, and a PW wasn't cutting it.

I suppose that I could drop one squad from Platoon 1, give the 2st Platoon's Command Squad an Auotcannon and upgrade to a pair of Lascannon in the squads (ups my Lascannons to 2), and then take a Sentinel with Lascannon as a roaming Tankhunter? I worry about not having enough Autocannons to deal with transports like Rhinos and Trukks, where they are superior weapons to the Lascannon, yet I do realise the Las will help out about my current weakness - heavy armour (I've only a lone lascannon, the Veterans, the Basilisk and the Russes to take them on at the moment).


When I had the concept for the Lion = Standard, I didn't realise quite how large the Chariot lions were. The basic idea was the Lion would be the company mascot (they're the Cadian 96th "Blackfoots"), and though the Standard Bearer's stats are fairly pants, he's better than a regular Guardsman - maybe the Lion helps out a bit. Using it as an Ogryn would be fantastic, but I don't want to take Ogryn yet (they're too expensive in this incarnation of the rules - should an eventual new codex make them cheaper/better/whatever then consider the idea noted!).

However, since one player I play against is an obstinate git when it comes to base sizes, I'm going to have to build an alternate model anyway (on a regular base). I've a few Fantasy boxes lying around, so I'll see what I can find. Thanks for the idea!

looks great! I'll be watching for more!

@Zamboniknight - this update I hope will please you


I've a confession to make - I was going to be saving something for a December goal, but seeing as how I'm nearly done for this month, and how I got my FW order through, and I've had lots of comments on why my moniker is "Treadhead" of some sort on every forum I'm registered too (quite a lot, if you visit other popular forums you'll no doubt have noticed my work there too)...

...I present to you a very, very WIP Basilisk Tank Hunter!


This shows the cannon concept I came up with. To distinguish this Basilisk from regular indirect-fire ones, I thought a muzzle-break might be in order. It looks front-heavy as the back section isn't complete yet. And yes, everything is held down with white-tak, getting a smooth fit with the resin is taking a little time.


Everyone seems to have their Commander with a pair of binoculars directing the shots...from the back, behind the blast screen...so I thought I'd try something that I hoped to be different. So I;ve my Commander instructing the Driver where to turn/go (obviously the gunner's neck is too long). I'm using the really old coupla as I don't like the new one on the Bassy, and I can't find a cool old Metal one anywhere :(


Frontal "mood shot" showing the crew a little more clearly.


This shows the scale of the darn thing. The barrel extension really makes it look a beast.

Things I hope to add:
1) Gunnery team cradling an anti-tank shell, and preparing to open the breach (not the whole rear-hatch thing usually shown open on conversions, but that smaller, inner circle that's the real gun breach - and is the perfect size for Vanquisher shells.

2) Track Guards - at least baby ones to the front section. The Vanheim shield prevents the normal trackguards fitting, so some clipping may be in order, or going with the front/back parts of the guard, and just covering the "nose" of the Basilisk tracks.

3) Camo netting. No self-respecting tank hunter would drive round without trying to distort their outline a little. Will have it draping over the top of the bulky part of the gun, in a "pyramid" out over the rear of the tracks.

4) Minor details, such as a chain to the left-hand side, a fuel canister to the right, some spades/picks etc, spare camo-rolls, some exhaust ports on the rear of the bulky-bits of the sides (according to the IA books, these are the 'engine housings' - so some more exhaust ports are in order. Will have them in a half-U shape, from the rear of the unit pointing down to the ground.

5) I might go with a "spade" on the back of the vehicle. Real artillery units used these things that are essentially dozer-blades on the back of vehicles to stop them rolling backwards with the force of the shot, and thus loosing the aim. However, no tank hunting tank (to my limited knowledge) used spades...so I might have to come up with some other idea to fill the area under the rear-platform.


Anyway, it's not anywhere near completion yet. finishing the modelling and -maybe- painting it will come in December (and whatever I can squeeze into free moments this month too), when I can hopefully get an airbrush, or at worst the GW spray-gun (since that's got to be better than hand painting, even if it's not an airbrush).

Haha... yep! Much happier! It's like a zamboni... but not on ice, and with a gun Looks great, of course except for Inspector Gadget in the cupola. "Go, go, gadget-neck!"

A few thoughts and ideas on things that I'll be adding, and would like some feedback on whether you think they're good ideas or not.

1) Crew stowage on the Basilisk, below the crew-area, to give a more solid 'balance' look without resorting to a spade. Will add that on last, though, so I can balance it to the right depth.

2) I've shuffled my army list round (again) so I deffinately need 2 Lascannon teams. But damn, I can't think of decent poses.

One team I'm thinking of having the loader pointing out a target, shielding his eyes. So almost the standard pose. Since we know Lascannons supposedly have big flash-back, it seemed smart to me.

The other...no clue. Was thinking of having them set-up a gun, but then I realised I wanted a more "action" pose, and I'm not sure how to pull off an assembly look.

3) I'm going to be adding sandbags for the Autocannon's tripod feet, since I've seen .50cals with this set up to limit their recoil. This doubles as a problem-solver as it gives my gunner something to sit on, too.

4) In the list-redux, I'm taking a Grenadier squad. Do you think I should make the rebreather lens' colours the same as the Veterans' goggles? Seems like a good way to have some continuity across a variety of aspects, but at the same time I want something to differentiate the "elite" units.

4) Got some WIPs of my Veteran Meltagunners. Cookie if you recognise the 2nd one. 3rd one will hopefully be stood firing from the hip, with a cigar in mouth. Used for Death or Glory.


This first one needs a bi-pod and backpack. Involved cutting the supporting arm, re-positioning it, then hollowing out the shoulderpad, which JUST fitted in the gap between elbow and shoulderblade, then greenstuffing the arm back underneath it. Little bit tricky, but I think the result was worth it.



Second one is having should pads. The greenstuff that's there at the moment is to represent "rolled up sleeves", the actual pad will be put on later. Used the existing ammo-belt on the arm for a guideline of where to end the sleeve. Will simply mirror the distance on the other arm. Needs to have a pair of goggles on the helmet and a backpack too. And the eyepatch was a heck of a hard thing to get right, trying to cut a small enough piece of greenstuff, then fis it between the helmet sides, and create the 'patch' part without loosing the "straps"...but not nearly as bad as trying to find the right arms. Went through EVERY cadian combination, removing the lasguns each time, then realised the issue was the Elysian melta I was trying to use. Now I'm using a Marine one, just with the back trimmed off.


Random geeky questions for those who have military service under their belts, pertaining to modelling some heavy weapons:
i) Can you pivot a gun on a tripod mount (I assume you can, and see no reason the GW ones are always pointing forward. Having the gun at 45 degrees off-centre looks real dramatic)?

ii) For field operations, when carrying something like a .50, does the team disassemble things like the barrel and firing mechanism for easier carrying, or is it left as "drop the tripod, lock in the gun in, load"?

iii) Do things like the sandbags get carried by the team, or are they purely used in defensive situations (where you have time to fill the bags where you are)?

Beautiful job!! This stuff is great! You win a Morley.

How did you make your rivets?

Which rivets? I've not added any to anything - all my tank rivets are out-of-the-box.

I've shifted my army list a little, so that's going to influence what I'll be building over the current months, and confirms I need to come up with replacements for the Heavy Weapons I've built so far (I'm dropping the 'wall autocannon' and adding a pair of Lascannon).

HQ
Command Platoon
Command Squad - Senior Officer: Bolt Pistol, Power Fist & Iron Discipline. Veteran: Laspistol, CCW & Company Standard. 3 Guardsmen: 3 Meltaguns.
122
Mortar Squad - 6 Guardsmen: 3 Mortars.
80
Mortar Squad - 6 Guardsmen: 3 Mortars.
80

Elites

Hardened Veterans - Veteran Sergeant: Storm Bolter & Frag Grenades. 9 Veterans: 6 Shotguns, 3 Meltaguns & Frag Grenades.
130

Troops

Infantry Platoon 1
Command Squad - Junior Officer: Bolter & Iron Discipline. 4 Guardsmen: 1 Autocannon.
61
Infantry Squad 1 - 10 Guardsmen: 1 Lascannon.
85
Infantry Squad 2 - 10 Guardsmen: 1 Lascannon.
85

Infantry Platoon 2
Command Squad - Junior Officer: Laspistol, Power Weapon & Iron Discipline. 4 Guardsmen: 2 Flamers.
62
Infantry Squad 1 - 10 Guardsmen: 1 Grenade Launcher.
68
Infantry Squad 2 - 10 Guardsmen: 1 Grenade Launcher.
68

Grenadier Squad - 10 Grenadiers: 2 Plasma Guns.
120

Fast Attack

Hellhound: Extra Armour & Smoke Launchers.
123

Heavy Support

Leman Russ: Hull Lascannon & Smoke Launchers.
158

Leman Russ: Hull Lascannon & Smoke Launchers.
158

Basilisk.
100

1500


I've an idea for the first Lascannon team, I'm having the gunner reapidly throwing the gun to target a vehicle coming from front-right of the team - and the loader ducking into cover (will have some bullet strikes on the cover he's ducking behind). The plans for the next team still allude me, which is worrying as I have to finish the platoon in the next couple of days.

Pics of some WIPs!

This is a WIP Lascannon. Most of this model is held together with whitetak, so don't be surprised if some parts aren't a perfect fit. What I was trying to achieve was a Guardsmen slinging a Lascannon round very quickly, to shoot at a tank that's just out-flanked them. I'm very, very happy with the gunner - a lot of cutting and bleeding fingers, but the result is well worth it IMO - it's got some movement, and when I file the waist apropriately I should get the balance/height right. I'll have him bracing his legs on a rocky outcrop, rather than trying to cut the feet and re-position - the model just won't have any structural strength if I do it.

But the loader...well, I'll let you see for yourself.



I was trying to make it look like he was cowering behind some cover, pointing to the tank (ie, he'd just been sent out to find it, and found it too close for comfort!) - he'd be behind a treetrunk or some similar cover on the final base. I dunno if it's just the FW arm, or what, but something just doesn't look right about him. What do you think?

Lookin' good.

nice work. Good job with the camera, too.

Lol form that second pic it looks like the lascannon is pointed at him!

Yes, that loader is proving to be a problem, but I think I may have fuond a solution - what do you fellow forum-goers think of this idea:

he'd be lying on his back, pointing two laspistols over the Sandbags that come in the Heavy Weapon Team box. This idea really hit my when watching the first Matrix movie (when Trinity is fleeing from the agents across the rooftops, thne dives over an alleyway and through a window) - so it's as if he's been chased (maybe by armour, or heavy infantry) back to his foxhole and readied his weapons while diving. When I eventually get round to basing the models (since I base everything separately from a painting POV), I'll have some bullet-impacts stiching their way along beside him. Anyone know how to make those (I'm thinking of just driving something small & round into wet PVA/basing to create mini craters with directional skids)?

This is good as it 1) solves the loader problem and 2) no longer looks like the Lascannon would have smacked him in the face and 3) is fairly original, as far as I can make out. Hopefully I can pull off a decent pose, though lots of greenstuff repairs to the legs/lower shirt need doing.