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Mounts for the lamp-eyes look good, but may want to adjust the angle of them a tad, looks like they'll be pointing a bit down when attached at the moment....

Headlights look awesome, my friend.

Headlights good, very good. Need to protect them though, like you did with the camera guards... consistency and all that

Ah, progression. A good thing to see .

MagosBiff90 wrote:This thing keeps getting better and better.... soo much detail on one model! Really cool!

Thanks Magos.

monkeytroll wrote:Mounts for the lamp-eyes look good, but may want to adjust the angle of them a tad, looks like they'll be pointing a bit down when attached at the moment....

Thanks MT.
I had a plan for attaching them to the tank that lets them look ahead. See below.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:Headlights look awesome, my friend.

Thanks Waaazag.

Red Harvest wrote:Headlights good, very good. Need to protect them though, like you did with the camera guards... consistency and all that

Thanks Red.
It is a good point. But the guards would have to be pretty big to reach over these and may not look as nice as the simple ones over the cameras.

I could put a grill over the front of each lens as you get on the kit's spotlight, but as the Driver is looking out through them it would be like looking through railings all the time and would make them look less like eyes (this will make more sense if you think about how it will look with the dozer blade attached ).

Speaking of the dozer blade, that will also be able to protect the headlights by being raised (like shielding your eyes with a hand).
Also, the design I'm thinking about for the blade will push things to the sides (which it why the cameras on the sponsons needed the guards).

Next, I need to finish these off: I think I may paint the back silver but be slightly darker in the middle (pupils). Then I'll attach the lenses.
Once those are finished I can then go back to filling gaps and maybe add a few more small details.
Then, It'll be dozer blade time...
I should probably look at the tracks at some point too...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
Ah, progression. A good thing to see .

Thanks. Yes, progress is good.

Here it is:

Marvelous! That front hatch is really fantastic... Nicely done.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Marvelous! That front hatch is really fantastic... Nicely done.

Thanks Gits'. I'm quite pleased with that hatch.

Here's the headlights with the inside painted, glass on, edges filled and sanded and primed.

I'm reasonably happy how they have turned out. May need another gentle sanding around the edges before painting, but done.

The glow is really hard to get a photo of (let alone a good picture), but here's a couple of shots that have been brightened by as much as possible (the original photos are pretty much black).

It looks good IRL, it's just that my cameras (mobile phones) are struggling to pick it up.

And I have decided what is going to be placed on the odd-shaped bit on top of the gatling sponson...

A disposable video camera that is either for propaganda or research, and is completely separate from the tank's systems. Could even be jettisoned if the tank is destroyed and the footage reviewed later.

Fills a gap anyway.

Also remembered that I still need to make the exhausts. That'll be before or after the imminent gap filling I keep talking about and not doing...

That's crazy awesome. Love it you old nutter

Brilliant, headdlights are spot on. And yet more little details.

I like the look of the camera. Nice and simple.

Camkierhi wrote:Brilliant, headdlights are spot on. And yet more little details.

Thanks Cam. Not many more details left, but a few still to go.

Warboss_Waaazag wrote:I like the look of the camera. Nice and simple.

Thanks Waaazag. Yeah, one piece of sprue with a suitable tube for a lens.
The external cable and little leg make it look less of a permanent fixture than the other additions to the tank.

Gaps have been filled and sanded. There's a few little rough patches, but they will be sorted next time I have the milliput out.
I have also made the straps to hold the body(part) bags roll on to the tank.

They could be better, but I'm satisfied with them. Yes, they are different lengths. But they will be painted up to look very worn and beaten.
Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?
I didn't notice until well after the glue had dried and it's far too much effort to correct it.

In other news; There will be a brief interlude in the tank build...
I've pulled out the next commission piece, so keep an eye out for an update over in that thread. It's the chaos lord from the DV box so he shouldn't take that long.

I've also pulled the next "rescue" model off the shelf and I've given him a thorough sanding to even out the (less than last time) missed mould lines and the (worse than last time) thick-paint streaks. So, he will be appearing here soon-ish.

Also also, I've pulled out this carving I did a while ago as I've decided that she won't be getting extra details (like arms and hair) and will be painted up like marble...maybe...

She has had a breast-reduction operation, but that's all the changes.

Thanks.

All looking great.

Looking forward to the Choas Lord commission piece, should be great by the standards you have set so far on those.

Statue looks great, why not gold, high gloss finish and call her oscarette?

Oh and the buckle straps are the wrong way around btw! But great work and the straps do look brilliant.

 Dr H wrote:

Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?

Oh yeah. But an easy one to make. Don't worry about length difference. It just means one was cinched tighetr than the other. (that's not the mistake BTW)

I think you've gotten more use out of the sprue than the bits that came on it. This is an excellent sign.

Camkierhi wrote:All looking great.

Looking forward to the Choas Lord commission piece, should be great by the standards you have set so far on those.

Thanks. Yeah, being a single model means that he will be my Gold standard, so I will put every effort into the painting. I think I even have a scheme ready for him too.

Statue looks great, why not gold, high gloss finish and call her oscarette?

Ta. Well as she is carved and with the base of the model left as un-carved sprue, I though she would look better as a carved material (marble) rather than a cast material (brass or gold).
Depends on if I can get her to look like marble as to whether she remains marble. Plans may change.

Oh and the buckle straps are the wrong way around btw! But great work and the straps do look brilliant.

Got it in one.
Thanks.

Red Harvest wrote:

 Dr H wrote:

Can anyone spot the "deliberate" mistake with them?

Oh yeah. But an easy one to make. Don't worry about length difference. It just means one was cinched tighetr than the other. (that's not the mistake BTW)

Ta. Yes it is.
Not worried about the length, although it was also a "deliberate" mistake, it's not a problem as the buckle thing.

Those buckles were such a pita to get on there (should have threaded them on before gluing the strap down), once I'd noticed I thought "well they stay that way then..."

I think you've gotten more use out of the sprue than the bits that came on it. This is an excellent sign.

Yeah, it's free building/conversion/carving material that comes with pretty much any model. I like "free" things.

If she works out well I may do more (I may do more anyway) and make them a range of "one off's" to see if they can add to my money making.
Miniature one off sculptures, there's a niche that I can "carve" out for myself...

Naw. It's the buckle thing that's the mistake. The other is just serendipty... gives the piece even more character

Well, you pay for the sprue too. It's GW remember. Nothing is free. I'm surprised they don't charge people for breathing the air in their stores.

The mini mini sculpt is very nice too. Once done, you could make a mold for it. It would make an excellent building detail, like a caryatid of sorts.

 Red Harvest wrote:
Naw. It's the buckle thing that's the mistake. The other is just serendipty... gives the piece even more character

Thanks.

Well, you pay for the sprue too. It's GW remember. Nothing is free. I'm surprised they don't charge people for breathing the air in their stores.

Maybe that's what all the people that complain about the cost of the models are missing, the wonder material that is sprue...
Use it to fill gaps,
As a spacer to add length/height or change angles (such as a models joints),
To make added details or extra texture to a flat surface,
Carve into a unique shape,
Can be bent, cut, sanded, carved and glued seamlessly together,
Make a terrain feature or even a whole building...

All you need is sprue (and lots of time and patience).

The mini mini sculpt is very nice too. Once done, you could make a mold for it. It would make an excellent building detail, like a caryatid of sorts.

Thanks. Yeah, I have thought about casting it. But then it wouldn't be a one off... decisions decisions...
She's only just taller than a Space Marine, so wouldn't be good for holding up temples. But it is possible to glue several bits of sprue together and then carve a larger one... So many things to do... so few hands to do them with...

So much sprue for you! that carving is excellent, I have an impression you were trying to carve yourself a little nerd porn? you naughty boy! go straight to my thread! :-)

Just cast the blank shape and then use GS for details to individualize them.

Also, if you glue the sprue upside down on cardstock or plasticard, space 25mm apart, it makes a nice slotted dovetail, into which slotta bases slide nicely. Makes for a good way to transport and deploy minis.

Now to see what paint scheme the Mad scientist comes up with for his creation!

nerdfest09 wrote:So much sprue for you! that carving is excellent, I have an impression you were trying to carve yourself a little nerd porn? you naughty boy! go straight to my thread! :-)

No, I have other means to scratch that itch without resorting to carving things...
Thanks. It was just an exercise to see what was possible and was a study of the proportions of a body (feet to knees to waist to shoulders to head) and the female body is just more pleasing to look at than a man's (as trim as your physique is... ).

Red Harvest wrote:Just cast the blank shape and then use GS for details to individualize them.

That is a thought. I need more practice with putty first (I picked up some Sculpey III recently for practice).

Also, if you glue the sprue upside down on cardstock or plasticard, space 25mm apart, it makes a nice slotted dovetail, into which slotta bases slide nicely. Makes for a good way to transport and deploy minis.

That's a good idea. I'll have to remember that one for when I ever need to move my models further than the shelves they sit on currently.

shasolenzabi wrote:Now to see what paint scheme the Mad scientist comes up with for his creation!

Now, let's not be hasty...
I don't know what scheme to use yet, but there is still plenty of time to find something as I've not finished yet...

Adding more details,,,still a scheme will come to mind

But in the mean time...

I've finished painting the sprue statue.

Guardian #5 for scale.

I went for marble using (well, attempting) the method used by Bebopdrums with a series of little, overlapping, blobs of various shades of grey.

Thoughts?

On the guardian or on the statue??

(just kidding!)

Purely personal choice here, but I would add a vien of a different hue running through. either gold or black, or maybe a dark blue. Almost like a flash of colour. It's great, but looks a bit stony to me at the moment. The vein makes it marble.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
On the guardian or on the statue??

(just kidding!)

Well either would be fine, although that's not the best picture of #5.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Camkierhi wrote:
Purely personal choice here, but I would add a vien of a different hue running through. either gold or black, or maybe a dark blue. Almost like a flash of colour. It's great, but looks a bit stony to me at the moment. The vein makes it marble.

Thanks Cam.
I hear what you say. If I could paint fine enough I might have added it, but this is done from dark to light, covering the dark to get the thin lines. I would either make a mess of it or have to re-do the whole thing again (it took two goes to do this).

I was using this picture as a reference:


I'll do more colour on the next one.

Painting marble on small surfaces... hoo boy. You need to 'float' the veins by adding a glazing liquid to the paint then spread it using a feather or something similar... I suppose an old cheap brush like a 3/0 would do. Build up the layers this way, then seal the whole thing with pure glazing liquid, and make sure to have a smooth finish. I've only tried painting marble once. I think I ended up with granite :S

The key is to keep experimenting. Then let us know what you did so we can do it too

On that scale you've done a great job :-) looks suitably marble or granite to me!

Red Harvest wrote:Painting marble on small surfaces... hoo boy. You need to 'float' the veins by adding a glazing liquid to the paint then spread it using a feather or something similar... I suppose an old cheap brush like a 3/0 would do. Build up the layers this way, then seal the whole thing with pure glazing liquid, and make sure to have a smooth finish. I've only tried painting marble once. I think I ended up with granite :S

The key is to keep experimenting. Then let us know what you did so we can do it too

Thanks Red.
I wonder if I can get glazes that work with enamels or if mixing with the various varnishes I have would work... I'll look into it.

She has got a coat of satin varnish to give the slightly polished look. Don't know if that comes across in the photos though, it's not terribly apparent in real life really...

I'm always experimenting, that's in my blood. This will be revisited at some point.

nerdfest09 wrote:On that scale you've done a great job :-) looks suitably marble or granite to me!

Thanks Nerd. I'll take marble or granite for now.
I did consider your method for marble, but didn't think it would work on her as keeping her wet would just make it run off or into her crevices... ... We'll call it a successful experiment for now and come back to it later.

Wow, that's some good texture-making. .