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Sorry to hear about that, Graven. Be good to your family; that's what it's all about! Keep you chin up, mate.

I don't think I have much that's chaos-y (maybe someTzeentch...), but if there's non-chaos-y bits you need, let me know, and I'll see what I can find.

I have a ton, Graven, but when do you need them by?

Graven, I have a bunch of Chaos bits... many of which are Khorne that I can send. No idea how I got them but you're welcome to them all. Trouble is it's about a 10 day trip to post from here to you. Will that work?

Thanks chaps. Contest runs till end of June so if bits materialise around end of may from the us that's still plenty of time - and very, very much appreciated.

I might have some khorne bits will have a dig around today. I'm going through a bad patch at the moment as well, life sometimes is a pain in the behind. I find a good project always helps keep the mind occupied.

Thanks bud, for both offer of bits and mutual assurance!

Sorry Graven I have a distinct lack of Khorne bits, all my Rhinos were from razorback kits.

Although with Khorne you could go down the route of painting all the symbols on in running blood.

So Gitsplitta is running a mantis warrior contest. The swine!

I was totally hit by inspiration; I have never had a build come together so fast:


"You are mine."


The Preying Mantidae, dedicated to hunting down the Red corsairs. I wanted to convey an almost lazy arrogance with the csm despite the general kilinating, whilst having the mw, statue-like, unnoticed, choosing his moment to strike.

There's still a bit of gs work to be done. The wolf skull will become a mantis head, which is the main one. More ambitious is my plan for the paintjob - I'm going to try to do chameleoline, and match the scenery: this could go horribly wrong! Not only that but the Mantidae are supposed to have snake tattoos, which I'm also going to have a shot at.

I must be crazy.

Shut up, you lot


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@giraffeX - no probs bro. I appreciate the sentiment regardless!

This going to be awesome, Graven! Be sure to post pictures of how you change that wolf skull into a mantis head!

Thanks man!

Filled eyes and some gaps with gs. Cut back the nose and rounded off the top of the skull. Like the results?

Very cool green stuff work, I was wondering how the skull worked into he picture. I'll look for som khornish stuff, pm me you address and we'll see what we can do.

Thanks mate, will try to do a better pic at some point!

I've been bowled over by the warmth and generosity of the response to my little whiny rant - you guys are awesome, and why dakka wins out every time as a place to indulge in mutual geekery.

So, on that note, 2 things:
1) I have in no way made press moulds of various skulls to adorn the temple with
2) I am going to really push the boat out - or at least try - with this next contest.

Here's the next WIPs:

But graven, why is there ivy climbing up that MW? Surely he'd not been there that long?

this is why:

Aforementioned chameleoline.

You will have noticed, also, that I've left the mould line on the front of the leg. This is deliberate - it's to help mark out the corner of the building.

I'm going to try some very intricate lighting effects with this. I spent a disturbing amount of time sketching shadows last night...


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Don't know if that's much better. You may have also noticed he's headless at present; it's currently waiting be painted under a magnifier (yup, that's another new thing I'm trying) and is then getting tattooed, because apparently, they are.

I must be mad...

This is all looking really nice, looks like I'm going to have to try and improve on what was just a marine on a base now.

I think you've just raised the bar

Cool. Chameleon camouflage is the kind of ambitious thinking I definitely approve of. Sounds really good. Keep at it.
Hope RL stuff improves for you soon.

Looks sweet, Graven! Very nice gs work, and the ivy is a great touch.

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't."

@GiraffeX - I think your bar's already pretty high amigo

@DrH - thanks matey. Feeling a bit cheerier, if terrified by this project!

@yb - thanks man. And you sure know how to keep an English teacher happy!

Supply drop!

Thanks to whichever of you wondrous folk sent this.

And of course those aren't press moulds. Don't be silly.

The power cables to the side of the skull look like pincers, happy coincidence? That's coming along really nicely and I look forward to seeing it completed.

 inmygravenimage wrote:

@DrH - thanks matey. Feeling a bit cheerier, if terrified by this project!

Good to hear.

I know what you mean, I'm frequently scared of messing up a model that I've had a brilliant/crazy/ambitious idea for (such as the current wave serpent).
But remember to recite the litany against fear:
"I will not fear, fear is the mind killer, fear is the little death that brings total obliteration, I will not fear..."
and all will be well.

Nice collection of bits there

On the claw, yeah. I saw that before gs'ing, but still can't believe how well it's worked. Don't worry. I'm sure my paint job will ruin it.


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Yay dune!

Also, Gitsplitta's contest is here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/10950/289929.page#5619457.


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Wow. I am Capt Auto-Append.

Here's what's I got up to this evening, in a narrow window of cake and work.

Exterior ivy:


The light, and some gap filling:

The plan is to zenithally highlight, creating shadows and light.

Here's the ivy again:

Now you might notice I've added thin strips of brass where the steel beams are behind him - and do I spy an aquila there?

Why yes, yes it is:

Need to bend that front shin ivy a bit.

And here's a view of the torso, with a line travelling up matching the window frame.

Progress. Got mrs g to check it, and she's okayed it, so y'know, wifely seal of approval

looks good man hell i wish i was half as ambitious as some of the folks on dakka im just happy to paint stock models lol keep up the great work buddy

Thanks man, and appreciate you swinging by! I freely admit I am a modeller first, painter second and player 3rd!
Forgot the torso pic:

Gives a better view of the mantis head claw, too.

Very ambitious project and I bet this will look amazing

No trouble Graven glad you got the supplies. The Ivy's just a really nifty touch.

Really making good progress there graven.

Knightley wrote:Very ambitious project and I bet this will look amazing

You say ambitious, I say foolish I hope I live up to expectations!

Llamahead wrote:No trouble Graven glad you got the supplies. The Ivy's just a really nifty touch.

Thanks man. Some of those shields have already made it onto The Lord of Blood as armour, never planned to have a daemon on the shrine so I'm blaming you and your mighty epic fu. You'll have to wait for pics of him though, I need more skulls (and to find a vehicle combi flamer, it's hiding...) Ivy only good if it works!

Gitsplitta wrote:Really making good progress there graven.

Thanks mate, you've got a lot to answer for

Priming done. Humbrol primer is excellent - dries in 5 mins - but boy do you go through it fast! Zenithal highlights and shadows added - these pics are in neutral ambient light.


All of the shadows you can see are painted.


Mrs g's reaction was, "Wow." Hope pics can convey how well this has worked!

Ooooooooooh, that's a nice touch.

Look forward to the effect this has on the mantis and his "prey".

Very good, Major Tom uses the same technique on his models.

@ DrH: thanks man. I think, from tests, the shadows will travel up the back of corsairs legs, but he'll be fully lit. The mw on the hand will be 40k Shades of Grey...
@Gits: Wayyyy outta my league but he's a huge and direct inspiration.

Been out of the world for a spell....quick review is in order i feel:

loved your pinks/purples from the diorama, they came out really great! I get what you mean about the deep purple glow as well, if you arent looking at a particular part then it seems like a shadow is cast over the rest of it....full on creepy...

Sorry to hear about the troubles, glad you are seemingly on the mend my friend

Wish i could help on the bits front, but it would appear the great and good of Dakka appear to have you covered...good on you lads (and ladies), looking forward to seeing it all used!

Mantis Competition...what can i say....literally rubbing my hands together in glee.....

You should join in Reiko... it's not too late.