Paradigm's Hobby Blog: Dagger Dagger Dagger! Vax'Ildan Arrives

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Paradigm**

Ta chaps.

@Zambro: Yep, Shadespire would definitely be a candidate when I get some time for gaming, trouble is that I'm not a massive fan of any of the warbands other than the skellies; Stormcast don't do much for me, the Khorne guys are just like the other Khorne guys I have dozens of and the Orruks I just don't like the style. That said, the Skaven crew look neat and I'm looking forward to the Fyreslayers, so there may be more Shadespire here in future.

But that is then and this is now! First mini of 2018 is a-go! And yes, it's another bloody Space Marine. But this is also an example of what I mentioned above about painting to a very specific theme and feel. Here, I wanted to capture a really bleak and muted tone (even more than my usual style), a Marine that's been in full survival mode for a long, long time and is unrecognisable as the proud warrior he once was. Fallout meets Logan meets 40k, odd as that sounds!

Yes, the name is a dreadful pun. No, I don't feel bad about it!

Ta for looking, any thoughts welcome!

**EmberlordofFire8**

I always love raven guard. Nice work.

**WarbossDakka**

Can't help it if you've got a dissertation to do, I'd rather focus on that then crank out minis to show us folk on here

**Nevelon**

Nice summery of last year, and good start to this one. Keep up the good work!

**ZergSmasher**

Nice summary of 2017! It's funny how your slow year model count is almost double my best year model count! Your first model of 2018 is really creative and awesome, and the name you picked is actually a clever pun IMO.

Hoping your college stuff goes well, and that you can actually get a few games in 2018.

**Ynneadwraith**

Just catching up and an interesting retrospective for the previous year. Especially when it comes to being more discerning with choices of stuff to paint. Definitely relate to that one.

Also, I too share your love for the stunning new skelly model

it really is a fantastic sculpt (which you've done excellent justice!). Been eyeing it up for a Kearl conversion actually...

**Paradigm**

Cheers all!

More new stuff, this time a model built from Anvil's new Dress Uniform range in the style of GW's Vostroyan Firstborn that the new parts allow a fairly accurate recreation of. This is just a test paint for the squad, but I think so far so good.

Any thoughts welcome, thanks for looking!

**youwashock**

He has a bugle? That rules.

**Paradigm**

Yep. I was going to give him the slung rifle and an empty hand, but the bugle was too cool a part not to use in the end.

And while I'm here, a quick preview of the rest of the squad, these minis are top notch even by Anvil's always-excellent standards and the Regiments range is so extensive now that if you're looking for a modern take on any of the old-school GW Guard regiments then they should be your first port of call.

These guys are done as Vostroyans, but with the parts Anvil offer you could easily recreate DKoK, Steel Legion, Praetorians, Mordian Iron Guard, Valhallan Ice Warriors, Catachans... Basically any kind of Guard regiment you can think of.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Paradigm wrote:
These guys are done as Vostroyans, but with the parts Anvil offer you could easily recreate DKoK, Steel Legion, Praetorians, Mordian Iron Guard, Valhallan Ice Warriors, Catachans... Basically any kind of Guard regiment you can think of.

Just to jump on the Anvil Industries bandwagon, their not-space marines range of exo-lords and conversion bits look very cool.

**WarbossDakka**

Wow, they look ace. Anvil Industries have some great kits, as well as upgrade kits for definitely not Marines. Can't wait for the full squad.

**Paradigm**

Whoops, forgot to post these guys up here. The finished Vostroyan Command Squad. Featuring much bigger pics than normal thanks to a new lighting setup that actually makes that doable.

Thanks for looking, any thoughts welcome! Come back soon for something very cool and very different!

**ZergSmasher**

Those Vostroyans turned out really nice! Your gritty weathered style fits any Astra Militarum regiment, and it certainly worked for these guys.

I've looked through Anvil Industries' site before trying to find something that looks like it would work for Chaos Cultists. Most of what I found seems much better suited to Guard, though, but maybe I'll have another look now that I've seen how good their models look with paint on them.

**Camkierhi**

Fantastic work, good solid consistently brilliant work. Guard look fantastic.

**Luvvo**

Hawt damn.

Love the command squad!

**Master Azalle**

Your work made the newsletter from anvil! Congrats man!

**Paradigm**

Thanks folks!

@Azalle: That's awesome. I knew I'd been featured on their FB page, but to actually make the newsletter as well is something I'm particularly pleased with. As a fan of Anvil for a good few years now, it's really quite exciting to have them show off my work.

And now for something completely different...

A bust of the Covenant Commander Rho Barutamee, from Halo Reach. This was released as part of a set of 3 by Spartan Games when they launched their Fleet Battles range, and with the company going bust I was slightly miffed that I'd not managed to grab the set. As luck would have it, I managed to grab the last copy Chaos Cards' online store had, and at half price to boot! Score!

This is my first time working on a bust and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. The larger areas give a great canvas for texture work, so it really suits the authentic style I like to try and capture as there's plenty of room for little imperfections and marks on armour, or folds in his cloak ect. He's fairly sizeable, slightly larger than a Dreadnought with the plinth attached, and all in all, I'm rather pleased for a first attempt on this scale/type of model. There's still 2 more to do, so look out for those soon.

In the mean time, thanks for looking, any thoughts are of course welcome!

**Gitsplitta**

Very nice work on the bust Para. Love the skin.

**youwashock**

That's very cool. Love all the wear n' tear on the armor.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

I love the armour on him, can't wait for the next bust.

**carlos13th**

Great job on the bust mate. Really impressive paint work on a scale you dont normally work with. Love the scuffs and marks on the armour.

**Paradigm**

Cheers folks. Working on the next one now, so that should be done soon enough.

@Carlos, it's been a while, nice to see you on here again! Hope you're well.

Since I'm here, can anyone recommend a (preferably UK or Europe based) manufacturer that does some decent busts/larger scale models at reasonable prices? I'm really enjoying these and would love to do some more larger-scale stuff. I've looked around a bit but a lot of them seem very pricey for what they are, so if anyone has experience here I'm all ears.

**CREEEEEEEEED**

Since you've already dipped your toes in the anvil industry world, they do a bust.
http://anvilindustry.co.uk/Boutique/special-edition/Pulse-Mech-Bust

**carlos13th**

@Para

Cheers mate, was away for a long time. Messy life stuff for a bit then multiple house moves, then just general busyness left little time for painting.

Im doing really well now though and I am trying to find time to paint among the rest of life.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also these busts seem reasonably priced

https://www.blacksunminiatures.co.uk/product-category/busts/

**Paradigm**

Presenting Bust #2, The Imperial Admiral in classic Covenant purple.

I don't think he's come out quite as nicely as The Supreme Commander, but I'm still pleased enough with it, given that I always find purple to be a bit of a pain in the backside to paint smoothly.

Thanks for the recommendations, Black Sun I was already aware of but I'd forgotten Anvil had that one. I shall likely invest in something from either of those sooner or later.

Thanks for looking, any thoughts welcome!

**ZergSmasher**

Very cool! You must give us a group shot when you finish the last one!

**angelofvengeance**

Love me some Sangheili. Cool stuff, Para

**youwashock**

These are coming out really cool. Makes me want to paint the pieces from Relic.

**Zambro**

I like your busts! (the model kind, just to be clear

)

Something I've always been curious about, but never tried. Not being able to use them in a game is the main drawback for me.

Can you do a size comparison picture? For some reason, I can't see that being dreadnought sized.

**Paradigm**

Thanks chaps. I'm not in a massive hurry to paint up the final bust, he's by far the least interesting of the set (a minor Prophet rather than an Elite, so no cool armour to play with) but he'll get done eventually.

@Zambro: I've attached a quick scale pic with a Tactical Marine on a 32mm base, hopefully that'll help give you an idea. In terms of measurements, the bust in the picture is about 90mm tall and 90mm wide at the shoulders. The other guy is slightly taller thanks to his fancy hat, and about the same width. Not sure exactly what scale these are to as the box doesn't say.