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Thanks! The Spider is one of my favorites so far.

January of last year I made a slew of custom bases to use for some abandoned project. My Dark Eldar I think...

I have to say, I am so damn happy I made those things. Having a variety of base designs has been more helpful then I could have imagined.

Shawn G.

Greetings all.

Sorry I've been so poor at posting lately, I've been kind of busy and have had little time to update this thread. But I do have new stuff comming!

Incomming:
Doom/Night Scythe
Re-designed Crypteks

Give me a little to come down from how good 6th made Night Scythes and I have some new pics posted today!

Shawn G. (SoI)

The preparation for NOVA continues.



First up, I knocked out 5 more immortals last week. Thins brings the needed model count down to 8. I used some Praetorian heads to represent sergeants for my squads. I know, I know; “Necrons don’t have sergeants!”. But I like it and it looks cool so shut up.

I’ve already started the last batch and plan to have them completed this week.





Next are my Cryptek redesigns. I opted to redesign my C’tek a while back, as I didn’t think they looked robust enough to be minor characters. I used the Praetorian/Liche Guard kit to make them look a little beefier, and I have to say I dig this design a lot more. I’m especially fond of the glowing orbs on their backs.







Lastly, I got my bases from Dragon Forge last week. I set them up as masters for my checker plate base design and casted the molds. I now can produce my own 150mm, 120mm, 100mm, and 80mm bases. Having a large variety of base layouts has been so useful!

I used a 120mm base to mount the flying stand for my scythe. I actually pinned the flying stand to the base as I didn’t trust glue to be strong enough on it’s own. The rock formations I made out of sculpey were really easy to cut with an X-acto so I got the look I was striving for.

I already said how much I love this kit, and I like it even more after it was painted. After adding the flying stand this model is likely now my favorite! It’s so damn sweet it gave me cavities. I must have more! And after the rules for flyers in 6th combined with the Necron FAQ, I’ll likely have at least 6 Scythe variants.

That’s all I gotz for now. More to come as I progress.

Shawn G. (SoI)

@ kencotter - That is a BRILLIANT idea! I'm going to build one using that concept today. Thank you sir!

@ skoffs - Here ya go. Just took this at your request and I have to say, I'm surprised at how far I've come in this project. The army looks pretty damn good so far.



Shawn G. (SoI)

@Young Logan - I'm working on the last 10 immortals I need for this list. I should get them done this week.

@ Dysartes - I did see them. And they will very likely be bought. That new flyer looked pretty damn cool as well.

Shawn G. (SoI)

@ iev1atan - The bronze uses a base of VMC Orange Brown (70981), highlighted with 50/50 Orange Brown & Golden Yellow.

Greetings all. I've been in a bit of a rut for these last few days. I'll be back in the saddle and cruising shortly.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Sorry people for my lack of content. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been in a bit of a rut and it’s been difficult to drum up motivation to paint anything. Well it’s seems like I’ve gotten over that hump and I’ve been cruising nicely. NOVA is only a few short weeks away and I need to get cracking if this project is to get done!

I’ve focused on getting all the small stuff done, and so far this week has been very productive! Here’s what I got done:



I finished the remaining Canoptek Spiders that have been rotting away on my desk for weeks now. The template model is in the middle.



I also knocked out 4 more scarab bases. That completes the necessary scarabs for my display, but I’ll likely hammer out a few more for completeness. Here’s the whole lot as I can’t distinguish the old ones from the new. Which is good I guess!



Since I’ve pinned down what I intend to bring to NOVA (More on that later…), I built and painted 2 additional Heavy Destroyers for this army. I even utilized a leftover Tesla Destructor to build a left-armed cannon. Not a fan of the Deathmark heads now that they are done, but oh well.





My NOVA list includes 2 small units of warriors so I built and painted a template model. I hate the glow rods that these guys come with so I gleaned some new ones from cannibalizing the new rod design out of the plethora of gauss blasters I have sitting around. I have to say, this guy looks good! 9 more to prime and paint!







Years ago, my wife got me a GW dice box for Christmas. I love that thing and I’ve wanted to use it for years, but it was cast in porcelain like resin. It would break my heart if that thing were to drop and shatter, so it’s sat on my mantle for over a decade. Finally I let my compulsive nature take control and made/painted a dice box for this army.

I molded that beauty up; man did it take a lot of rubber, and cast it in my own black resin. I then painted it in my army colors, magnetized, and varnished the ever-living-crap out of it. And before you ask, yes the dice match my army colors. I did mention I’m compulsive at times…

I’ll be tackling another Annihilation Barge this week while I work on cutting the base slots out of my display board. Cruising along nicely!

Shawn G. (SoI)

Thanks MajorTom. I cut my rods out of the gauss blaster from the Immortal kit. After a little trimming they fit in perfectly.

I should take some pictures of how I did it and post them here.

Can you link the shapeways rods? To be honest, I've never even heard of this site. I had no idea that 3d printing had come so far!

Shawn G.

leohart wrote:Love the dice box. You said you casted it. Does that mean you can make one more? :-)

Yeah I can make more, but that is dangerous ground to tread my friend.

Shawn G. (SOI)

@ Dr. Temujin - It didn't take long to cast, but did eat up a lot of rubber. I use the sample containers from smooth-on for my molds, and it took 2.5 containers for the base and 1 for the top. Takes about 24 hrs to cure. The resin takes an hour for safe demolding.

@DanSly - Thanks! Glad you like.

@Mike - I'm looking forward greatly to NOVA. Need to get some more games in. I've been kind of starved lately. I should be complete by then.

Shawn G. (SoI)

So, the NOVA Open is a scant 8 days away and I’m still painting.



I finished the needed warriors for my list. With them ALL the infantry in intend to paint for this army are complete, at least for a while. Huge milestone passed.



I mentioned before that I’ve not been overly compelled to paint the wraiths. While I like the models, they are to damn fragile (the whip coils were designed foolishly). These are my redesigns for this Thokt project. I was worried that the models would not fit the scheme, but that is no longer the case.

Last Saturday I was looking at this project found a problem. As a whole the army looks good, but it was lacking something. It’s been bothering me for weeks now and finally I figured it out. The army has no centerpiece. Couldn’t have that now could I?

I have 2 whip coil designs that I should have finished shortly. They’ll be posted soon. Before NOVA I promise!

Shawn G. (SoI)

@Razieltemplar - Black with an orange glow would look very good as well. Be sure to add 1-2 other colors to add some additional contrast and to break up the scheme.

@ Dr. Temujin - I have to agree with you, that one does look pretty archaic next to the Necron line. I wanted a unit that would stand out in my army and this unit does that well.

@ Rabid Ferret & Flachzange- Than you!

@ Praxiss - The H. Gauss from the stalker kit is pretty large. It's shorter, but thicker then the Tesla A. I got from the barge kit. I thought it would make the unit look a little off balanced so I didn't use it.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Yeah, H. Destroyers are not very popular right now so you can get them on the cheap online if you dig a little. I just made these for S & G's.

I've been hammering away on my display tray. I had it finished last week, but I changed my list so it had to be redone. I'm kind of glad as the original one was pretty boring. This new one is not that much of an upgrade, but it is a big improvement. It should be done today, but I wont have pics for it till Sat or so as this afternoon is going to be pretty hectic.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Hmmm, that wire bit from the spider sprue would work well. I'll give it a try. It will have to wait till after NOVA though.

Shawn G. (SoI)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
My display is done. Thank god for that!



Here’s a group shot of the right side of my army display. It took me forever to get one good pic at this distance. I really need to get better with my camera…

Just 3 models left till I’m done:
2 Wraiths
1 Night Scythe

I can knock those out in 5 days...

Shawn G.

@NakedSeamus - I used the green crystals from Gale Force 9. They come in 2 other colors (red & blue) and are likely just what you are looking for.

I'm waiting till I get the last 3 minis done before I show the whole display.

Shawn G.

Scythe finished. The last 2 wraiths will be done tomorrow.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Well, I’ve finished all I intend to bring to NOVA, and with 2 days to spare!





I finished my second Night Scythe last night. I was a little surprised at how quick I was able to hammer this kit out. It inspires me to field some more, though I can’t say that about the Ghost Ark… That kit is pure madness!





While on the topic of vehicles, I forgot to post this last week. I finished another Annihilation Barge while I was working on those last few warriors. Turned out well.





Next up are the last 2 models I needed to finish for NOVA. I’ll be using these beauties to represent whip coil wraiths. I may have overdone it a little with the colors on the back of their hoods, but finished is finished.



Here’s a group shot of the whole unit. I now have a proper centerpiece for this army.







Last up are some additional shots of the army on its completed display. I’ve piss poor lighting in my basement so getting a good full shot is nigh impossible. It’s either that, or I have no idea how to use my camera correctly… (My wager is on the latter…)

I would take this over to the GW shop to get some good pics like I did last year for Blob’s Creek, but that shop is depressingly small with worse light then what I have at home. I’ll take them upstairs and see if I can get some good shots there.

Well, that’s it! I’m ready for NOVA and I’m getting pretty damn stoked.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Thanks All!

@Keltikhoa - I will give that a try here soon. Just taking a break before diving into NOVA. Likely next week.

Shawn G.

Thanks all.

I'm about to head to NOVA for registration. I'll be staying at the Hyatt so I don't have to transport all this stuff. Don't think I'll make it for the 7pm cut off.

@Leohart - I think I could put something together. Give me some time and I'll replicate it small scale.

Shawn G.

Well, I'm back from NOVA. I had a BLAST and I have to say, I'm now hooked on competitive gaming. My crons went 5-3 for the weekend.

I'm now trying to pin down my next army project and I'm taking commissions from friends to help me fund it. This army was about 75% funded. I want my next project 100% funded. Nothing like doing something I love for free!

Shawn G.

Buried and long since forgotten, the Thoct Dynasty rises…

Damn, Been a while since I touched this tread…

Hello people, Soul’s back in his painting chair prepping for Adepticon ’15. I’m building/painting new force to participate in the Team Battles. I have some new units I’ve been working on so this thread is going to see some much needed action.

First new unit – The Ghost Ark







Back in 2012,I built and painted a Doomsday Ark. I’m unsure if you are aware, but hat kit is a NIGHTMARE to assemble. It has a mind-numbing amount of parts and I swore I would never build another, but they are so good now. Like scary good. And the Adepticon list we are building calls for 4.

This thing took hours to build and longer to paint, I’m rusty and I’ve been trying some new things to cut completion time. I opted do not include the ‘crew’for two reasons. Firstly, the 10 mounted warriors are 50+ parts to assemble. 50. Seriosuly. 50+. Second, I didn’t think the paint scheme I designed for my warriors would lend enough visual interest to warrant such suffering in assembly. I was worried I would not like it when it was complete, but I do. I like the ‘openness’ of it.
I built a cool base for it to float over. I used some pine bark for the rocks, but I suck at base design. I’ve never been happy in any base scheme I’ve created save for snow bases. A base redesign may be in order. I’ll try a few things and post my results to get your opinions.

Shawn G. (Soul)

GiraffeX - Thanks. Feels nice to be painting again.
Anvildude - What you suggest sounds cool, but I'm terrible at sculpting. That's a little beyond my talents.
Warboss - Thanks.

I'm in the process of modding this scheme some. I've gotten better with my airbrush and its cut my painting steps down by quite a bit. I'm going to try my new techniques in large scale and finally paint the monolith I've had primed for years.

Soul

Ah, I understand you know. I don't think that would work for me.

I would love if the kit had some sort of layout where you could display a mounted battle ready crew. Kind of like how the dark Eldar hang of their raiders. As it stands I'll just likely leave it open.

Soul

I've bee kicking around the idea of changing my armies bases for a while now. since I'm so bad with base work, I've decid to go with what I know. Snow.

Here's a mockup using pine bark rocks and baking soda snow:





Here’s it next to one of my new destoyers. I’ll have the unit finished this week and I’ll post and go over the revision of my paint scheme.





Shawn G.

So anyone familiar with me is aware of my love for a good dice box. I’m always on the look out for one for my armies. I have two for my tomb kings; one I’ve shared and the other I’ve been sitting on for a few years. And I’ve one that is actually Imperial designed that I recast and painted to go with my Necron army. The second box while awesome, never settled well with me. The colors may match, but the theme is all wrong! And my neurosis would not grant me satisfaction until I found a suitable replacement. I searched and searched but never found one that was acceptable and years ago, 2012, I said to myself you’re going to have to build one. I never got around to it, and then I fell into my funk and everything went to the wayside. Till now.



Last month I started conceptualizing this dice box project. I sketched some ideas out on paper (badly) and ran it past some friends. After some re-working I started gathering parts.

First off it needed to be round. I went digging around the plumbing isle in Lowes and found a 3” repair coupling that fit the role perfectly. After a bit of sanding the piece was perfectly smooth. I did have to grind some ugly parts off and it will need some additional filling/sanding closer to the end but so far so good. I started hunting for the parts add onto the frame. Off to Plastruct!

After perusing Plastruct’s catalog for several days, I built myself a nice list of parts and made my order. Also need a lid and that took several days to find. I found this company, MSC Industrial Supply, which sold plastic disks perfect for my project. I piced up two 4” plastic disks. After they arrived, only took a day, I measured the coupling and it was just shy of 4 inches. Damn my luck. I’ll just have to fix that flaw in production.

It took another few days for the Plastruct order to arrive and by then the lid disk was nicely sanded and line divided into three parts. I also divided the coupling into three parts to make adding the plastic elements easier.

Time to begin production!









I knew a round design was going to be a pain, I had no idea. Bending that plastic was a chore that took hours. First I boiled some water and dumped the pre-cut pieces into to soften them up for bending. Little did I know that 100 degrees was not hot enough to work this plastic. I need to go HOTTER!

The oven was right out there was not way I’d be able to keep the parts from melting if it got to warm so I decided to give my wife’s hair dryer a run. The air that rushes out of the business end is really hot on the highest setting and I bet it would warm the plastic up perfectly if I was patient and careful. It took a little trial and error, but I managed to get 6 pieces bent around the coupling frame with some strong clamps. With that done, it was time to start to glue.



I got the first elements on with no problem. The hard part was getting the bent parts around the bottom of the box. I used my dremel and a round sanding bit to get the parts to fit around what I call the glowing elements. It was pretty damn difficult to get it right and I used of four of the six parts I made getting it right. I glued them down and clamped it tight for a few hours. I had to finish it one section at a time so this phase took a day or so. ~ I was so busy working on this part that I forgot to take pictures. This is a close-up the finished work. ~







The lid was easy. The pre-measured lines made adding the parts a breeze though I did have some trouble getting the vertical bits to line up correctly. I had to tear a part off and re-glue it because it was crooked. You can actually see it in the pic above.

Getting the inside of the lid has been a real trial. I could not for the life of me find a part to fit in there correctly. I settled with using some foam and some rubber bands to fill the gap. I’ll be casting this whole thing when I’m done so those parts will blend seamlessly.



I added some ½ inch plastic strips to the top of the box. These were not too hard but I did discover that my measurements for trisecting the box were off by about ¼ of an inch. Never did this before so I think that and acceptable degree of error.



Here’s the whole thing so far. Not too bad. I’m no sure on the lid as it looks like a replication of the top of the box. I don’t know what I’ll do about that at the moment. I’ll just continue with production and fix that design bug later.

Please let me know what you think so far. Feedback is very helpful!

Shawn G. (SoI)

~ Posted this from my phone! \o/ ~

Thanks so much for the feedback! I've never done anything like this before. I opted to go with a round shape just because I thought it would be cool. The reality was enlightening...

I'm in the process of pinning down the interior detail. I'm unsure if I want to etch blocks like the monolith and add that strange coffin shape for dynasty detail, or this complex tech line pattern I have in my crappy sketch designs. I'll practice both on some spare plasticard to see how it turns out.

As for the seal, I intend on filling in that entire zone with apoxy sculpt prior to casting. Getting a perfect seal is improbable as the inside shape of this coupling is not perfectly round. What's your opinion on the top? I'm not quite sure about it while it's on the box. I think the two parts look better separate then together. It's kind of bothering me.

Shawn G. (SoI)

Thanks so much for he feedback!

I have additional body work that should change this oddness that's bothering me.

Life has been a tad busy. Hope to get some more work in this weekend.