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^ Finally.

Norn King wrote:^ Finally.

You know it! If they had pulled their finger out and got these done for the initial release they would have saved a lot of people a lot of heartache. And saved my eyes from a lot of dodgy conversions. I guess i would have a missed quite a few great conversions too though.

Ugh, i really need to get a proper update done, bit busy right now but i've done some work on the 'Stealers and on my other project. Looks like i need quite a few parts for basing which is holding me back. I'll be able to afford them soon but i don't want it to hold my schedule up too much....
In the infamous words of Baldrick: "I have a cunning plan!"
I'm going to do as much prep as possible until i get the bits, that way, when they arrive, i'll have done a lot of casting and green stuff work already. I'll be casting a few components, mainly for my other project, using Oyumaru. If i'm happy enough with the quality i'll make a master copy of a new Tyranid Warrior torso, left forearm and right forearm. I'll also have a go at doing some of the foundations of bases in advance. That should get me ready to pretty much glue the models and finish the bases. So, updates will be thin on the ground for a while and then i'll be throwing down a lot in one go.

In the mean time, if you have anything to share please do! Did anyone get anything out of the Genstealer review/rant?

I found it very interesting! Something to think about (that I hadn't considered) to when I finally get around to my Space Hulk minis (yeah, no time soon)

Actually, if anyone has any ideas for wings i'd like to hear them, i'm having real trouble with that part of the model

Wait for the new Tyrant parts to be on the bitz sites, order the wings and the tail. Not only will this save you money but it'll save you conversion time as well. Judging from the pictures, it seems like the fleshy areas of the Tyrant wings are about as thin as Gargoyle wings which means they will be much easier to customise than the Balrog wings. With a sharp blade, some precise cuts, some patience and a good deal of GS, it should be possible to repose them to fit your needs. Such an approach would also be a lot faster than scratch building your own wings.

Arakasi wrote:I found it very interesting! Something to think about (that I hadn't considered) to when I finally get around to my Space Hulk minis (yeah, no time soon)

Nice one, glad it helped! I thought it was nice to get a negative slanted view of them rather than the usual positive outlook. Really though it just proves how great those minis are.

Dark_Gear wrote:

Actually, if anyone has any ideas for wings i'd like to hear them, i'm having real trouble with that part of the model

Wait for the new Tyrant parts to be on the bitz sites, order the wings and the tail. Not only will this save you money but it'll save you conversion time as well. Judging from the pictures, it seems like the fleshy areas of the Tyrant wings are about as thin as Gargoyle wings which means they will be much easier to customise than the Balrog wings. With a sharp blade, some precise cuts, some patience and a good deal of GS, it should be possible to repose them to fit your needs. Such an approach would also be a lot faster than scratch building your own wings.

Yeh, i think you're right Dark_Gear. I hate holding a up a project without knowing how long for but i have other stuff to do in the meantime and it probably won't take long. Plus, i'll end up with a nicer model if i use stock components.
I'll be getting some Boneswords to make my life easier too! I'm not a fan of the Lash Whips though. They look very... limp.

Quick question, has anyone seen the Jormungandr colour scheme anywhere? White Dwarf maybe?

The Jormungandr colour scheme can be seen in the latest White Dwarf, the Apocaplypse book and also in one of the GW Website's articles if I recall.

The new sword and whip are both looking too rushed to be worthwhile. The design looks like it was sculpted back in 3rd Edition. Heck, they're not even posable! To make things even more ridiculous they are priced the same as a set of 3 Forgeworld Shrike Wings which are definitely much finer looking sculpts.

You make a very good point, perhaps i was being hasty. It would also be a bit of a travesty to pay £12 on them just to start hacking them up. I can probably make something more effective.
I'll get White Dwarf then and check out the scheme, i might hint at it in my own. I keep changing how it's going to look so anything is possible right now.

I'm actually a little surprised that you're using the space hulk models. The poses are a bit pants imho but I know you'll do all kinds of crazy awesomeness in reposing/resculpting them. But why not just get a box of standard stealers? That way all the bits are seperate for you to work your magic!

Just a thought!

But keep up the great posts, the Tyrant coming along great, have you seen the bonesabre/lashwhip kits GW have on preorder?

Haha, yeh some of the Space Hulk 'Stealers are less than exciting, there are a few though that, in my opinion, look pretty great. I'll be using standard GW Genestealers for about 4 of the 10 that i need, actually it's starting to look more like 5.
The bonesword kit is interesting but i'm in two minds about it, i could probably come up with a version of my own and cast it 6 times in green stuff.

Actually i've been doing some test with casting green stuff in Oyumaru again. What i've discovered so far:
Preparation is key. I set up a little tub with lengths of sprue glued in to guide the two haves of the mold together. I made sure there was a lot of pressure on the lid too which helped.
So far i've been overfilling the molds. Too much green stuff is losing me detail and causing masses of flash which doesn't clean up well.
Small parts don't cast as well as large ones. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a detail issue although it's detail that you lose on small components. Basically you need to spend a little extra time making sure the mold hugs the components you are casting. Small errors have a big effect and are impossible to clean up on things like helmets.
I'll be trying to fix these problems tonight and will report my findings! I should really promise some pictures, so i will. Tomorrow i'll have some nice shiny ones for you!

I can't believe it's the 3rd already, i didn't think my update was that late! I've been learning a lot about Oyumaru through trial and error but it's seriously stunting my hobby time so i've not got much green stuff work done. Nevertheless i snapped a couple of quick pictures:
You can't really see it but i added the carapace to the Broodlord's head.


Again, terrible picture but this one has had the same treatment, also pealed back the leg some more.


This picture isn't really worth showing, you can't see the head carapace at all. That'll teach me to rush pictures!


Repositioned the hand, added the tentacle, head carapace again and i decided to drill out all of the tiny little pipes.


This one has lots of tentacles!


Sorry about the picture quality, thanks for looking!

Your're really developing a knack for the fine tenctacles. The mouth on that last model is really well done.

Thanks man, i'm learning so much doing these guys, very taxing of my abilities. Think i've cracked the Oyumaru shenanigans... finally! Here's hoping.
Decided to have a go at some of the Warrior parts as well and they are coming together very nicely! It's been a good day for my sanity, i was worrying that this project was buckling under the strain but i hit a new wave of energy!

I'd put a realistic estimate of 2-3weeks before i can get the few bits and bobs that i need. That gives me ample time to get at least 5 'Stealers finished, cast some/all of the Warrior parts, maybe build my first Warrior, and make good headway on my other blog.

Edit: Apparently i have made 750 posts and that makes me a Indescriminate Explicator!

The Genestealer's haven't moved on much but the Warrior components are almost done. Just got to figure out a devourer but i think i have the idea down.

No pictures here just yet but the Necromunda blog has been winning a fair amount of my attention because this one has slowed down.

I'm sensing a squad of Warriors coming on if the torso casting goes well. I'd quite like to cast in plastic but that would mean waiting and i've got too many ideas for the Warriors. Plus i've got tonnes of green stuff already.

Pictures soon hopefully.

This one has slowed down due to no pictures here just yet!

Haha, very true, i don't have the cash for the basing bits though and i've been very lazy with the 'Stealers. I will try and remedy that!

Just a quick check in. Made a small amount of progress where i could but i don't have any batteries for my camera. I'll try and get some soon.

The camera mans nightmare.

Aha! Batteries.
Here is a small update on the components for the Warriors. I'll be ordering the materials i need tomorrow so things should pick up speed again.
Firstly, the torso(It mimics the torso of the Hive Tyrant.):


And the head(Again, mimicking the Hive Tyrant.):


The forearm/weapon mount(You guessed it...):

Lastly, we have the WIP prototype Devourer/shield(I will be making these individually and the Tyrant will get a beefy version.):



All comments are greatly appreciated and i especially welcome any c&c you may have to offer!

Good to see some progress pictures at last!

How can you tell if someone is serious about sculpting?

You look at their WIP shots and notice that their project pieces are on a pin vice.

The GS on the interior side of the carapace is looking quite polished. While I like the scratches you've carved into the top part of the carapace seems like they're a little too sharp and their's too many of them, for my personal tastes. Taste aside, it looks likes a good sculpt for up-detailing the warrior.

I also like the direction the arm is going in.

Keep the pictures coming; can't wait to see when everything comes together.

Thanks man! I think you gave me the pin vice idea. It's so much easier that way.

With the carapace scratches, do you mean the whitish strokes all over the surface? Or specifically the notches on the edges? The white stuff is texture-less damage from filing, it wont come through when i cast, the notches are fixable. Or alternatively the scratches on the Devourer carapace? Haha, whatever it is it's fixable, thanks for the heads up!

I've got an early Tyrant Devourer unceremoniously buried underneath bits, bobs and sculpts, i'll find it and get some pics later, there might be some other things i've forgotten, i'll organise everything so i can see better.
The Necromunda gang are pretty much out of the way until another model turns up so Tyranids are being restored to there rightful place on my schedule, i hope i have enough stuff to work on!

Looking good mate, for some reason I've never really liked any of the genestealer models, they have great fluff and are supposed to be a killing machine but the models have always left me thinking 'they dont look that hard!' Im not sure of the point of me telling you that but there you go! i never said my comment would be useful. You are making the most of a difficult job though and i cant wait to see the Tyrant worked on again.

Really impresive sculpting skills you have going on here, very cool. subscribed

Thanks for the messages guys! I know what you mean about 'Stealers i'm 50/50 on them but they are iconic, i'll do my best with them.

Things are epicly slow right now but i'm working out a deal with a bits company for a large order. If everything goes well then everything is going to speed up a lot. The Flyrant will be a priority.

LostSoulCasey'sLaw wrote:You make a very good point, perhaps i was being hasty. It would also be a bit of a travesty to pay £12 on them just to start hacking them up. I can probably make something more effective.

I like your blog, your work is very good. I like the tendrils you are adding to your bugs, it makes them very characterful. I've found making armies characterful is alot of fun.

I have an idea about boneswords I am going to use on a brood of Shrikes I'm working on. The Chaos Spawn kit comes with a bunch of long, curved spines. Those things can be used as boneswords for Tyranids. Here is a link to the spawn, the parts I'm talking about are sticking out of the back of the Spawn on the left.http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440167a&prodId=prod1090563&rootCatGameStyle=

You may want to hunt them down on bits sites instead of coughing up for a whole a set. They look quite organic. I'm still undecided about those new bonesword and lashwip sets. I think the boneswords are decent and can be heated up, bent into a new position and then dropped in ice water to fix them. The lashwhips are very limp as you said, they will need some work. The Spawn kit does come with tentacles too, though they are a bit short.

Still waiting for painted pictures!

Thanks for the replies!

@Leech - Those Spawn parts are a good idea, dude. I think i'm going to go with Styrene and green stuff for simplicity. Is there somewhere i can view your 'Nids?

@Johnny - Haha, i think i've got some solid ideas for colour now, i'll see if i have the right paints to do a test model!

I've been very lazy, time to roll on with the 'Stealers. I need some inspiration first so i'm off to peruse the web!

Inspiration comes from work, so stop browsing and get sculpting.

Do you get sick of being right all the time? Hahaha!

The 'Stealers you sent me have just seen light again. Did you ever get use out of those parts i mailed you?

I'm not always right, I just have a lot of experience spotting procrastination since I'm guilty of it most of the time too.

The Venomthrope is, ironincally, replacing the head on one of my Lictors and some of the Dark Elf bitz will end up on Grotesques once I get back to them, thanks.