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Hi folks, after a little pause I got back to the sculping side of things... I started to catch up some delayed projects, I had on the table, and this is one of them:

Client: http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/

Project: Xeno bases

I was aproached by Secret Weapon folks and after we talked a bit we decided to go with some Xeno styled bases and display plinths to go with their range of cool bases & stuff...
So I got my hands dirty and made this set of Xeno bases ( I dont know what will be the final name for this set)... was a blast and I can say we are planing more projects fo the future.
These pictures are a pre preview / non official snaps I made ( I think only 2 bike bases will change a bit but its very close to the final thing).
Hope you guys like them for your ripley miniatures or bugs or xeno related stuff.

Awesome work dude, just awesome. If I could just figure out a color scheme for Alienids, I would be all over it...but silver/black just doesn't look good on the table.

Keep it up looks sick.

Giger himself would be proud!

Those are the coolest things I've seen in a while.

What other base sets are you thinking of doing?
I love to see a Necron/Borg like set!

Currently, they have a trench set, which I'm considering getting for easy bases.

Would you like the first-born spawn of my loins as a suitable tribute? Damn those are nicr.

Wow, those look awesome. I almost wanna re-base all of my alienids now... if only I had the time..

Not complaining at all, they are awesome, but what is the deal with the doughnut bases? why would anyone want to take out the middle, or is it just easier to make that way?

Nav, Those are fakking excellent!

Best xeno bases I have seen, and maxmini did a pretty good job recently.

I really, really like that you changed up your style a bit on these ones, the only thing I didn't hands down love about some of your sculpts was the spaghetti-ish greenstuff tubes that were a bit ott (for my taste only!), but these are restrained, refined and flat out gorgeous!

Every piece looks thought out, nothing looks just stuck on... masterful!

Great work, man!

And good to see it's for Secret Weapon Miniatures. I got some of their trench bases for a future project, and they're a nice product. Their helmet crests, razorwire and panniers are also calling to me...

Here the Secret Weapon Miniature blog entry:

Introducing the "Alien Invasion" line of bases by master bug sculptor Pedro Navarro. This line is complete and just waiting for me to give the final approval on so that he can ship them back to me for production.

That means this is your chance to chime in with your feedback... and maybe a better name than the one I came up with. Otherwise I'll have these shipped to me at the end of the week and ready to pre-order as soon as the master sculpts arrive later this month.

And this... this is only the beginning....

http://blog.secretweaponminiatures.com/2010/06/product-preview-alien-invasion-bases.html

They will be on preorder later this month.

Do I get this right: 10x 25mm, 5x 40mm, 2x 60mm, 6x biker base, 2x 60mm display base with removable hole (one small, one large)?

Can you give us more info about the display bases and the holes?

Those look brilliant. Good job.

Nicely done, dude!

These could be really cool for a fluffy space marine army sent on a suicide mission to a tyranid hive, maybe prisoners sent to explore or something

Those are the Secret Weapon-style "straight sided" bases, not the angled ones GW uses, correct? Pity that... They look great, and I can see a case for the straight sides, but I guess I've drunken the GW Kool-aid... I just don't like the way the straight sides look.

Valete,

JohnS

Those are so Fantastical!

Really, really good work. Those would be so fun to paint.

Grundz wrote:... but what is the deal with the doughnut bases? why would anyone want to take out the middle, or is it just easier to make that way?

There are a couple of potential reasons... Some painting comps allow for larger display bases or plinths, but only if the model is also mounted on a regular-sized base so it can be removed for judging.

It also means you can paint up a model with a larger display base, but still remove it from that base to use it in a game.

love it, gotta get my hands on it

I'd be too worried about my painting skills ruining them, i'm quite the perfectionist and would spend several hours on each of these bases to get them looking just right

Wow... those look awesome, Nav.

MeanGreenStompa wrote:Giger himself would be proud!

Funny you mention that, because every long night I did these bases I watched several marathons of Aliens movies and on the special edition making of dvd there was THE FATHER Giger talking about the movie and gigling that people were scared of the alien... With his grey hair lack of one teeth, calm voice and deeeeeep eyes he is truly a inspiration.

Thanatos_elNyx wrote:Those are the coolest things I've seen in a while.

What other base sets are you thinking of doing?
I love to see a Necron/Borg like set!

Next stuff I cant really say but its still bug related.

MajorTom11 wrote:Nav, Those are fakking excellent!

Best xeno bases I have seen, and maxmini did a pretty good job recently.

I really, really like that you changed up your style a bit on these ones, the only thing I didn't hands down love about some of your sculpts was the spaghetti-ish greenstuff tubes that were a bit ott (for my taste only!), but these are restrained, refined and flat out gorgeous!

Every piece looks thought out, nothing looks just stuck on... masterful!

THanks well my spaguetti bases for my own army are really a huge simplification of this, I would be nuts to make individual bases like these for 300 of my bugs eheheh...
These are for casting and for everybody so i really had to make them special.

Kroothawk wrote:Here the Secret Weapon Miniature blog entry:

Introducing the "Alien Invasion" line of bases by master bug sculptor Pedro Navarro. This line is complete and just waiting for me to give the final approval on so that he can ship them back to me for production.

That means this is your chance to chime in with your feedback... and maybe a better name than the one I came up with. Otherwise I'll have these shipped to me at the end of the week and ready to pre-order as soon as the master sculpts arrive later this month.

And this... this is only the beginning....

http://blog.secretweaponminiatures.com/2010/06/product-preview-alien-invasion-bases.html

They will be on preorder later this month.

Do I get this right: 10x 25mm, 5x 40mm, 2x 60mm, 6x biker base, 2x 60mm display base with removable hole (one small, one large)?

Can you give us more info about the display bases and the holes?

What you want to know about the Display sets?
I think Secret weapon created these Displays so that you can take the best of one model... You can use these for your own displays or a major painting competition (were plinths are pretty much common) and since the inside slot is removable you can still have a game with your minis. Its the best of both worlds really.

fleewits wrote:These could be really cool for a fluffy space marine army sent on a suicide mission to a tyranid hive, maybe prisoners sent to explore or something

You know as I was making these I imagined Ripley with her flamer walking in... I think these fit any race entering a invaded planet.

cygnnus wrote:Those are the Secret Weapon-style "straight sided" bases, not the angled ones GW uses, correct? Pity that... They look great, and I can see a case for the straight sides, but I guess I've drunken the GW Kool-aid... I just don't like the way the straight sides look.

Valete,

JohnS

The sizes are the common ones but yes its not angled edges, personally I can see what you are saying yet with trim painted black no one would notice it.

insaniak wrote:

Grundz wrote:... but what is the deal with the doughnut bases? why would anyone want to take out the middle, or is it just easier to make that way?

There are a couple of potential reasons... Some painting comps allow for larger display bases or plinths, but only if the model is also mounted on a regular-sized base so it can be removed for judging.

It also means you can paint up a model with a larger display base, but still remove it from that base to use it in a game.

Exactly.

Thanks mates and more gigerish stuff on the plans

O.O God damn, those are brilliant.

NAVARRO wrote:

MeanGreenStompa wrote:Giger himself would be proud!

Funny you mention that, because every long night I did these bases I watched several marathons of Aliens movies and on the special edition making of dvd there was THE FATHER Giger talking about the movie and gigling that people were scared of the alien... With his grey hair lack of one teeth, calm voice and deeeeeep eyes he is truly a inspiration.(...)

Thanks mates and more gigerish stuff on the plans

Nice stuff, looking forward to your next projects.
Here, a cookie for you: http://www.dravenstales.ch/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Giger_cake.jpg

Best wedding cake ever!

Incidently, does anyone else find giger slightly unnerving?

Great work as always Navarro.

That makes me want to start a Tyranid army, so I could actually use those!

Wow, this thread is jumping!

Chiming in for Secret Weapon I'll just verify a few of the comments:

The display plinths with a removable base are for both competitive entries and gamers. I have a couple of models in my cabinet on plinths that include the removable base so that I can toss the model into my bag and take it gaming. It's a great way to keep a display and still be able to play the model.

I do know that the straight sided base isn't for everyone - but I have a mix of straight and bevel edged bases in my Guard army and I don't think anyone has ever noticed. Certainly nobody has commented even when I post photos. I decided to go with straight sides as a Secret Weapon signature for a couple of reasons though -- the primary of which is that on a 25mm base I didn't like losing 2mm to a bevel that often left my model hanging over the edge. At larger sizes it's less of an issue but having a foot floating in space always annoyed me.

The bases will go up for pre-order as soon as I have the master sculpts. I don't want to risk a problem with the post and have to refund orders

Kroothawk got the sizes right:

10@ 25mm
5 @ 40mm
2 @ 60mm
3 @ 25x70 bike (two sets for a total of 6)
1 @ 60mm display plinth w/ 25mm gaming insert
1 @ 60mm display plinth w/ 40mm gaming insert

I will also be shipping a 90x120 oval blank to Navarro ASAP so that the theme can be completely finished.

I for one do plan on putting some Space Marines on these bases so that I can use them without having to start ANOTHER army

Thanks to folks out there that have some of the Secret Weapon goodies - much appreciated.

There's more coming from Navarro so stay tuned - and check out the blog for more previews. I have 5 new conversion bits coming next month!

Just an idea, what if you made them into inserts too? That way people could place them on whatever type of base style they wanted. Could broaden your market for those who have an edge preference, and save you some coin on resin too?