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I spent a small age detailing last night while my girlfriend was playing Borderlands 3... here’s where I’ve gotten to:



I think it’s a pretty fun remake/update! I added an underslung HK Missile for good measure and to bulk out the silhouette. Stands about 4” tall!!!



I added extra detail in lots of areas, notably the feet. I kept the weird toe wheels, why not?!



Just cabling etc. to add with Green Stuff and I’m done!

FINISHED! Now to prime it...









A friend suggested just using wire instead of putty, and I couldn’t be bothered with the tube tool today. So instead I used piping either side of the chassis, and for the hydraulic cables on the legs I used one piece of stiff wire and two pieces of electrical wire each side. Did the job in minutes instead of hours!

Thanks chaps! It’s partway done already... based, washes, drybrushes and highlighting happening. I’ll upload pics later in the week hopefully. Treating myself to a new can of red spray paint helped HUGELY.

FINISHED.





Ok, maybe not 100% done as I need to add some markings, but 99% there. Mostly washes and drybrushes as life is too short!

And here’s a quick primer porn shot. This is the magic stage in a build. The primer coat unifies all your work and it becomes a ‘real model’...

 Briancj wrote:
I'd run that in my army.

Thanks dude! I’m really happy with it.

Mortar teams almost done. They don’t have the pith helmets, as I’m almost out. Fluffing it that the support section sensibly wear ear defence, so go for standard Cadian pots. Or maybe my Whiteshields man the mortars and I should paint white stripes on their lids? Whaddya think?

Very kind, thank you!

Dayum, my favourite plasticard seller is no longer selling. Anyone got any good + cheap sellers that they've used in the UK please?

Also for foamed PVC? (looking at you @Briancj )

dreadwing wrote:
stationroadbaseboard.co.uk is where i buy mine

Thanks, I'll give them a try!

Thanks, CommisarKhaine!

And thanks for the tip on stationroadbaseboards, dreadwing. I found their “seconds” on eBay, reduced as they’re scuffed. Fine by me, as I’m sanding and painting them anyway. Bigger than A4 and cheaper than my old supplier. Nice!

So I’ve been busy but not been posting as I was making a birthday present for a friend. He’s acquired two drop pods, and a Contemptor. So I wanted to help the Contemptor keep up with the Veterans in their pods... only one thing for it really...










First assembly was nerve-wracking. Making parts true is hard enough... a trio of true? Ayayayay. Test fitting with my scratch built Contemptor:





It fits! Better hope Charlie’s Dread isn’t taller (spoilers: it’s slightly shorter, phew)


I reworked the doors. I made some in styrene but they were either flimsy or too difficult to get the shape and the bulk.

So, inspired by briancj and Insaniak I bought some 3mm foamed PVC. Two layer bulked out the doors just right, and I added detail layers in plasticard as normal.



Making icons - a sane person would have made one and moulded it. Not I...






Doors assembled and gap-filled:





The treads were done with packing strap cut off a cat food delivery! More details were added later.


Before rivetting and greebling:



And after:



I forgot to take more pics showing the hinges working, but here are some rotational videos showing the doors open and closed:

https://i.imgur.com/899mEXX.mp4

https://i.imgur.com/LMoaPwj.mp4


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I gave the Drop Pod to Charlie at our gaming night at Firestorm and he promptly un-deployed his Contemptor to redeploy it in reserve! He was most happy and sent me a family photo of all three pods the next day, haha.

I’ve spent all of today making Zone Mortalis-style walls, after a very very fun game using the Space Hulk tile set and fan-adapted ZM rules for 8th. Lots of walls made. Pics to come soon!

Thank you! It was fun to make until attaching the doors. Very stress inducing. Wish I’d built the hinge in and assembled differently... then the rivets got in the way and I had to sand two off per door. Very rage-inducing. Got there in the end!

dreadwing wrote:
how did you get the deatil on the fist symbol? file/ fine sand paper?

since i gave you help on a new source, mind making me a mastadon? lol

Hahhh that is a daunting build. I wanna make one someday!

The icons... I use double sided tape to affix the template to the plasticard. It also means I can lift it off and stick to different bits of card for the next layers. I work from outside in, lifting and restocking to the next part each time.

I first cut the large circle from 1mm styrene. Then the inner from 0.5mm. Then I cut the palm/digits from 0.5mm styrene as close as possible, roughly trimming corners, and finally sanding the curves with my emery board. I then glued it all together. The rivets were half round 1mm nail art beads as usual, and really make it pop. They give the icons some real ‘weight’. Easier than I expected make, as it was largely cutting rectangles and sanding corners. The palm required some delicate curve cuts and dressing using a round or half round needle file.

Zone Mortalis stuff to come another time, but for now...



MkI Leman Russ, baby!

I got given two Russes for my birthday, and I bought a third. So I dug out the hull I’d started scratch building and decided to make a counts-as Pask.



This is the inspiration, the original Epic scale Leman Russ before they redesigned it. In keeping with my other retro Guard, my “Pask” is driving a prized relic.



Sanded the front cupola to a curve, added the tracks and started adding links.



Testing the turret. I actually cut this down after assembly as the paper plans had a ridiculously tall turret. It’s magnetised and rotates freely and securely without a physical rod through into the hull.



I made a mantlet that allows elevation. Sadly it’s the only pivoting gun on the model due to lack of foresight and lack of patience! So be it! The Battlecannon is using a spare Vanquisher but (counts as normal Battlecannon). It can simply be removed and the Punisher Cannon slotted in if I want to run that variant. Everything else is hard glued because eh, BS2+? Might as well take the good toys.



The Russ kit Plasma Cannons were way too big for my needs, so I freestyled some. Layered alternating strips, glued, capped, sanded and wrapped, with barrels and details added afterwards. Came out nice!



He has a slight “I NEED A HUG!” stance, but I’m really happy with this. I updated the sponsons a little from the sticking-straight-out gun the Epic model had. Halfway between Epic and 40K looking, I think. Also I glued the sponsons in upside down, whoops. Looks fine. You can also see the hull-mounted defensive Heavy Stubber. I added it here to mirror detail on the original Epic model. Chose Stubber for looks and range over the Storm Bolter that might be more ‘accurate’ to the old lump of lead.



As it looks right now as I head off to work. Lots more riveting and detailing to do, as well as a detail layer on the tracks. The end is in sight though... then I can start magnetising the plastic kit Russes! 3x Commander plus Pask is gonna make people *cry*...

Aaaand we’re done:





Pretty happy with how this ended up. There’s stuff I’d do differently if was to make another but for now I have three actual Russ kits to magnetise your to be his friends! C&C welcomed!

Thank! Part of that is Patoroch’s plan, part of that is me only following them to main build stage then kinda free styling it when detailing. I reduced the height a lot, and that meant missing off some viewports. The mantlet was also all freestyled as the plans just had a wedge shaped box. Glad you like it.

 mcmattila wrote:
By the Emperor, that's once again a brilliant scratch-built model! I wasn't familiar with the Epic design before, but I think it's close enough that it doesn't look odd when put next to the new models. Could be sold as a "special" mark from Forgeworld I reckon! The only thing I don't like that much is the plasma cannon turrets. The cannons themselves are great, but the joint doesn't look functional. There doesn't seem to be enough space inside to turn the gun like that, if you catch my drift.

Can’t disagree at all, very fair feedback! It’s a bit of a didn’t think it through bodge. I may do back and redo the sponsons with magnets so I can switch the weapons, and so I can paint the tank whilst redoing the weapons. For now though they’ll do as a placeholder!

Never throw away test bits!

I made a Christmas gift for Charlie, who I made the Crimson Fists Dreadnought Drop Pod for.

I made the doors originally as a box construction of 0.5mm styrene and bracing/padding. They were still to flimsy, and the odd shape would have made 1mm too chonky, so I rebuilt using foamex.

I saved the test doors though!

I made one new fin in full detail, and two in plain foamex, with intent to cover the detail areas in ‘mud’ from the crash landing.

Some paper maché, filler and a few details later and this is what resulted:







Hope you like it. I’m really happy with it as a lazy build that will look great as scenery. Lots of details skimped on vs full Pod build, but enough to look good. In particular the couplers near top of veins are a simple strip instead of layered tubing, and I couldn’t be bothered to make two more Fists logos in full so I ‘blast damaged’ one of them.

What was extra fun was randomly chipping chunks off it all over so it will look extra beaten up from its crash landing.

Can’t wait to see how Charlie paints it up!

Thank you! Grab some templates and have a go. Practice is all it takes. I had a lot of time, was unemployed and couldn’t afford kits, which was the impetus for me starting. Now though it’s just something I enjoy and a way of making unique stuff. Starting to combine that with my love of terrain making is also super fun.

Two more builds done lately - one I can’t reveal yet as it’s for a birthday present... and it’s one of my best!

The one I can show is something I’ve wanted to make for a while. I found some ten-year-old Russ track sections and made this...







The Heavy Flamer is from a modern Russ, with added scratch built receiver, fuel tanks and a dual grip from a HWT kit.

This was testing the slide-in deck section:



I’ll be making other decks for Basilisk/Wyvern etc. Possibly an Autocannon for the alt Salamander Scout build.

This was the basic build finished before detailing:



Sides are two layers of Foamex for ease of construction with the odd side box shapes. Here’s the very early stages after all the basic shapes were made and stuck together:



Let me know what you think!

Thanks all! Super kind words.

Yeah Secret Guy is one I’m very proud of. Hopefully pics up soon.

The under hull detailing was lazy, I didn’t do the rivets that wouldn’t be seen, but those strips... why not?

Now just waiting for the Welsh weather to, well, weather a little less so I can get some things basecoated! I came into three regular Russes for my birthday so I have a LOT of tanks to paint now.

Did some some painting... jumping armies again...





This is a dreaded ‘concept scheme’! The concept is hiding in shadow, so minimal colour, but just flashes of colour for interest on lamps, guns, weapons and effects. Not meant to be OSL per se, apart from on the converted Nexos, just something cool to look at. Aim is to get all the army to this stage, so they’re table-ready, then go back and pick out goggles, facial detail, Cult icons etc.



Colours used if you fancy a bash. I used P3 but any will work. Top row is the main ‘night’ colour, and it’s basically the Space Wolves armour colour triad drybrushed over black primer. Then the other colours get drybrushed on. Add edgelights to taste. Made a wash from Coal Black to shade the flesh.

I think these guys will look effective en masse and hopefully get me a feeling I’ve completed an army!

And some hand flamer conversions to round out a squad of twelve...

 Snrub wrote:
What's your technique for cutting out little pieces like what you've used on the hand flamers? (which are excellent, btw)

I struggle to get little pieces like that accurate cut up or shaped. Does it really just come down to practice or do you have a specific method for it? What sort of blade do you use?


Really love the bright orange drybrushing on the GSC too. It's a really interesting look.

Mostly just practice tbf. Sometimes I cut a strip to a set width then cut sections off, for replication and/or ease. This helps a lot. For odd angles I glue up regular shapes, wait for it to dry, then sand off the corners with my emery board or knife trim them - never be afraid to glue, wait, sand and reshape. Sanding can be tricky when so small but I sometimes am literally just rubbing the end of my finger against the emery board with the part wedged underneath! For the domes and pips they're nail art beads as usual.

The knife I use is an 18mm snapoff blade knife, part of a cheapish two-set on Amazon, blades just bought cheaply on eBay. You need a sharp edge so if cutting ever feels difficult, just snap off a segment and carry on. I use an old Berocca tube as a sharps bin to stash the snaps in. Make sure you get a knife with a metal blade guide... the ones without end up breaking, as the knife eventually starts wearing the plastic above the blade slot due to applied pressure, and the whole blade ends up moving. Sucks.

 stonned_astartes wrote:
Awesome stuff as always, great idea on the interchangeable back end salamander.

Like many things like this though, I've yet to make another back end! Rainy day project mayhaps... luckily we get plenty of those in Wales!

Here’s my pièce de résistance... made as a birthday present:



This is the X-VSP-1D... an experimental T’au Battlesuit. Counts-as a Coldstar Commander. Fluff is that it’s either a Vespid-liasing commander paying tribute to their form, or an actual Vespid granted a customer Battlesuit.

I’ve used lots of hints to the Vespid models... the cables, head vanes and stacked ‘eyes’, wings, clawed hands, fly-like feet and the torso ending in a stinger.

Making the arms went like this:


And making the guns:


A few mid-build views:


The grey robo-stinger got replaced by a more Vespid-like one...


Assembly before the Green Stuff cables:


The build before GS:


And some detail views:


C&C welcome!

Thank you guys! I’m super happy with it.

 Snrub wrote:
feth me!
You weren't kidding when you said you it was one of your best. It's a properly stand-out work of plasti-card kitbashing. Any idea how long it took you in total?

Looking at photos it was done from start to finish in three days. One evening, one big day build alongside housework and music recording, and a final sesh to do the Green Stuff cabling. I had barely any time before Andy’s birthday (this one was for a gift) so I had to sprint it!

No, *you* spent three days making a tiny Battle Barge...





A friend suggesting adding BFG to our 40K campaign, and as my DA have been retreating back to their fortress in our games I thought I’d start with a Battle Barge.

I used lots of different photo refs online, including a spinnable 360 on Thingiverse. Landed somewhere in between a few interpretations.


The start point - just some layers of foamex and pieces of styrene.

Thanks guys! I’ve made up four Hunters to escort this guy, and added press-moulded Aquilas and Dark Angels Chapter icons. Pics up soon, then onto some Cruisers.

Here’s how we’re looking after a couple more days... I’ve added four Hunter Escorts, two Gladius Frigates, a Nova Frigate and three teeeeny tiiiiny bases of Thunderhawks.


Layering up the Hunters. Apparently favoured by the Dark Angels, so I plumped for making four at once.


I’m using the illustrations from the rules as a main reference, scaled to the size people online say the ships are. They’re looking cool and about the right size so I’m happy even if they’re ‘off’ at all!


Cute l’il Hunters done!


I layered the Frigates out sideways, mostly so I could use sprue to save on material and bulk out quickly. Also as a dry run for Imperial Navy vessels later. Making a common hull design then adapting the weapons for the Nova.


Nova done, Gladius x2 to finish.


I added some press-moulded details to finish the Battle Barge. Really set it off nicely.


The tiniest Thunderhawk you’ll likely see haha. Still has 9 pieces to cut per ‘Hawk! I made 6, so enough for 3 bases.


The fleet before basing. Bases were standard GW 25, 32 and 60mm bases, along with some 20mm square for the Thunderhawks. Cut pieces of coat hanger were used to make the flight stems, they’ll be painted black eventually. The Thunderhawks are mounted on wire from prosecco bottle tops!!!

Thank you all! It’s a lot of fun.

Inspired by the text about no two Strike Cruisers being alike, I created unique builds for Deathwing (left) and Ravenwing (right) cruisers.





The Deathwing Strike Cruiser has boarding torpedo tubes and a stocky, submarine-like look, reflecting its armoured elite occupants. The Ravenwing vessel looks agile and fast, sporting wings akin to the DA Chapter badge, and a prow Lance for hit-and-run attacks on enemy capital ships.



Primer is such a magical step! The Deathwing barge looks ACE. Kinda Yellow Submarine-esque haha.

Cheers peeps!

Here's a thing I made over the last few days. Somehow managed to tidy the house as well. Lockdown ftw.







I used a broken Deffkopta and a 25+ year-old Gretchin as his copilot (with his gun upgraded to a Twin Big Shoota for long service!).

This will count as a Deffkilla Wartrike, with the Heavy Flamer-looking thing counting as the jet weapon, the grabbastik counting as his claw, and the harpoon launcher as the claw's shooting attack. It also has the right number of Twin Big Shootas.

I had fun with the details. The exhaust are styrene, Revel poly cement lids and bits from the inside of free pens from a hotel.

And some build pics:

Hehe thanks! tbh this was a fairly loose build, believe it or not! There's enough precision that you don't notice the bits that are off. I eyeballed absolutely everything so it's part luck/part practice that it turnout ok. The only tedious thing is the rivets, but I actually enjoy that bit!!!

The wheel was made using a technique The Blackadder uses on his Titans. I wrapped styrene round a reel of packing tape. I used 0.5mm then 1mm, when using something like 0.25mmfor the whole thing would have been way more precise. As it turned out, I could hide a multitude of sins with the rider (as you won't see the overlap bits) and the basing (as I could just sand the join flattish, glue it down, then hide everything with Milliput 'mud' and sand!).