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Just built my first Stormraven with the Chapterhouse conversion. Loved the kit. Went together very well. I think it does a great job of mirroring the look of kit parts, but making the vehicle so much more realistic and impressive. Ordered the kit on line and received it within a week. Overall, a very good experience. Looking forward to getting this painted (it will be a Death Company vehicle, so black with red trim).

Here are some pix:






I made one minor change to the conversion kit instructions, and that was to utilize the parts cut from the engines to create supports for the tail boom. I think it looked better than the tail alone, as that seemed too abrupt to me. This also allows the Stormraven to taper some in the back. Fortunately, it also extends the lines from the wings and the front cockpit. I think when it is painted, it will help blend the kit and the conversion elements seamlessly together.

It's a little self endulgent, but I love seeing the kit being used. Great position for the supports. I also recommend using them as weapon mounts under the wings.

Thanks Spot. I didn't consider using them under the wing, but I think that is a great idea. I have another Stormraven to build, and I'm going to consider it for that kit, as I will be using the Chapterhouse conversion on it as well. I'll post pictures as I get it painted (hoping to start this weekend). BTW, I checked out some of your links, and your stuff is inspiring and amazing. Thanks for the comments.

A few more WIP images. Painted ones to follow shortly.

Update with lots of pix. Primer and initial painting follows:






The red Death Company "X" was painted before priming, then masked. After the Chaos Black primer was sprayed, the tape was removed, revealing the symbol.






With red details and weathering test on the left wing.



Comments welcome. More to come soon.

It looks pretty good!

Thanks, Capitansolstice. Appreciate the comments.

Here are the latest pix, covering the decals I made in Photoshop and printed, then applied to the Stormraven.


The image of the Grim Reaper was printed on white decal paper, coated with acrylic, then cut to shape.


I created a paper template for the wing to finalize the trimming of the decal.


The decal placed on the template. It was then trimmed to fit.


Test fit before application.


In place and left to dry. I had to very careful not to break the decal as I applied it.


Tail markings also were created the same way.


Side view with the decals in place. They are shiny because they are coated with acrylic (Future) to protect them while I weather the Stormraven.


Another view of the Reaper on the wing. I'm very happy with the result and think it was worth the effort. I know that I don't have the skills to paint something this complex freehand - perhaps on the next one.

The Decaling makes it look really good, and the chapterhouse conversion is seemless. Are you going to spray matte over the decaling, because they seem shiny right now.

Hey Cap. Thanks. The whole ship will be sprayed matte after weathering. The decals are covered in a gloss finish right now to protect them. They should even out after the matte coat. More to come.

Ok, Cant wait!

Looks Great!

Looking very nice, love the grim reaper.

Capitansolstice wrote:It looks pretty good!

+1

The paint work does looks great, though I don't like this conversion kit and the "stretched" look it induces all that much...

Dang I need to try that decal process out! its bloody amazing!

I do that decalling process myself and am a big fan of it. Terrific job.

Hell yeah.

WOW that looks amazing, I thought about buying 2 of the conversion kits for my Legios Custodes but changed my mind at the last minute.

Love the decal, it really sets the model off!

Well done

Thanks for the comments and encouragement, everyone. It is very much appreciated. I think that this has been my favorite 40k project so far. I'm trying to get this wrapped up for our Planet Strike game this weekend.

Here are some quick update pix.


Decals added to help break up the black. Small details have started to be painted.


Next time, I paint the Hurricane Bolters before assembly (what a pain).


The main Reaper decal has been washed, and now blends in much better with the model. I will do the same with the rest.


A better view of the Angel of Death (Company).


The pilot. Still needs highlights and final details.


The cockpit. I tried to add some color here.


Ready to deliver some DC Assault Troops.

More to come soon. Thanks again.

The deal has blended in beautiful after the wash. Awesome.

that's a very good SR
but i dont like the extra tail piece... lot of people do that. i think the original size is very well.

but it looks very well .

congrats

Ouze wrote:I do that decalling process myself and am a big fan of it. Terrific job.

You could sell those decals! IG armies, SM armies and Eldar would love things like that!

Thanks again for the comments, everyone. Lysenis, the decals are pretty straightforward to do yourself, but I do think someone could have a nice business selling custom sets. I usually scour for images on Deviant Art, as well as GIS. The Grim Reaper was found this way, then modified in Photoshop (mostly colors to better match the overall paint scheme), and then sized and printed. I use white decal paper I get at my local hobby shop and print it on an Epson Artisan 800 Ink Jet. Then, I spray them with three coats of acrylic gloss to seal them, and then it is off to the model.

Here are some updates. Spent last night finishing up the cockpit and turret details, as well as getting started on knocking back the decals with some washes. I think I have another session or two to complete weathering and final details, paint the base, and this bird should be ready to fly. On to the pix:


Pilot and Servitor at work.


A view for the Emperor's enemies. I'm coating the clear glass with Future to increase visibility. They will drop in at the end.


Side view.


Here you can see the tail marking for the Death Company. The decal is being weathered back to blend in with the model. After applying a gloss coat, and then a matte one, this should be seamless.


The Angel of Death and the other decals are geting the same treatment.


Another view of the front. I debated painting the red on the bolters, but now that I see it all together, I think it was the right choice.


A top down view. I like that you can see the monitors and details inside the turret and cockpit. I'm hoping with the clear parts finished, they will still show this well.

That's it for now. Thanks again for looking and providing feedback.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Got a message about the Chapterhouse kit, and I realized that I had some photos of the parts and process that I had neglected to share, so here goes:


The kit parts laid out next to the partially assembled Stormraven.


Step one: attach the sides.


Step two: attach the top, and then the intake vent housing, as well as the vent cover piece where it would originally go on the kit.


Step three: attach the bottom and square everything up.


Step four: attach the kit rear bulkhead to the resin "box", and then continue with the build. The engines have to be modified by removing their mounts. As noted above, I used these pieces to make new tail boom supports. The Dreadnought harness is a nice detail, and is added after the tail boom was in place.

Thanks again for having a look. My plan is to filter, wash, dry-brush, chip and chalk the Stormraven tonight and tomorrow, so more pix to come shortly.

Jeff Tracy wrote:Thanks again for the comments, everyone. Lysenis, the decals are pretty straightforward to do yourself, but I do think someone could have a nice business selling custom sets. I usually scour for images on Deviant Art, as well as GIS. The Grim Reaper was found this way, then modified in Photoshop (mostly colors to better match the overall paint scheme), and then sized and printed. I use white decal paper I get at my local hobby shop and print it on an Epson Artisan 800 Ink Jet. Then, I spray them with three coats of acrylic gloss to seal them, and then it is off to the model.

The problem lies in the fact that most people dont have that great of capability or the equipment (my case). So someone who does this form or work can EASILY make 2-3 times the cost of the materials per sheet, and even more if custom made.

Would you do custom decals?

Your equipment is basicly the price it would be for a full sheet of multi colored paper and the sealer. I think you would be perfect for this!

Lysenis, I don't know if I would have the time, but if you want to ping me with what you are looking to get, and I'll see if I can get them made. If you have images already in mind, send me the links and I'll take a look and see if I think they would make a good decal.

On the build front, I finally got the bird done. Spent the day weathering and dealing with the final details. I will have final beauty pix to come shortly, but here are images from today's session.


This is a post in my office, and I thought it would make a perfect reference image for what I had in mind for chipping and weathering.


With that inspiration, I got to work a chipping and powdering.


My thought was that the thruster housings take a lot of abuse, both from the engines, and from the ground when the ship comes in for a dust off.


While I waited for the powders to set up, I got to work on the base. Here it is after initial coats, washes and drybrushing.


Static grass and tufts, and it is complete.


The servitor obviously keeps those guns spooling.


One last image of the pilot before I sealed him in.


20 plus hours and there you go, one Stormraven conversion. I'll have more beauty pix to post soon. The Stormraven makes its debut at my LGS tomorrow. Thanks again for looking and following along. If you have any questions about the Stormraven conversion from Chapterhouse, or want to know more about the weathering techniques, just give a shout.

That there's a beaut stormraven. You're going to be generating lots of sales for Chapterhouse. I especially like the weathering. This will be a great inspiration when I get my BA army running. Consider this exalted.

Thanks, Swordwind, I really appreciate the kind words. Building and painting the Stormraven has been a lot of fun. It made its gaming debut yesterday, and was immobilized in Turn 2, but still managed to blow up a Necron Monolith all by its lonesome. Not bad.

Now, on to the pix of the finished vehicle:


This is part of my DC Assault troops that were the inspiration for the colors and scheme of the Stormraven.


I took this under the hood light. It is raining today, so no sunshine to help with the images.


Front view. I weathered the red pretty heavily, but went less on the black (which tends to look false at scale).


A wider angle. The DC Dread is a work in progress.


In this image you can see the contrast in weathering styles between the red and black elements of the paint scheme.


The weathering on the top is not as extensive as further down the sides. I wanted to imply that the ship takes most of its abuse during take offs and assault landings.


Good view of the DC "x" and tail markings.


Rear of the Stormraven. I think on the next one, I might try to light the interior and the engines with leds.


The Angel of Death on the wing.


Another view of the weathering - the turret and the Hurricane Bolters received extra attention.


Cockpit with a good view of the weathering on the thruster housing. I started with a wash of red and sepia, then chipped with orange and dark rust (from Vallejo), then drybrushing.


The DC marking on the tail weathered and subtly chipped.




Overall, I enjoyed the kit and the Chapterhouse conversion. I do plan to make a few more Stormravens for the rest of the army, and I will use the conversion kits for those as well. They will be red, so I will probably use the reverse of the pattern here (black details and red body). I will post some final pictures in the showcase once the rest of the DC and the Dread are completed. Thanks again for following along.

very nice

Thanks, grot. The Stormraven currently is running five DC assault troops, plus Astrorath, plus a DC Dread with blood talons, so I'll get some photos with them all together once I finish painting the Dread and put them up in the showcase.

Better images now in the Showcase forum. .

Wow thats ace! Whats the balance like on the thing? WMS a problem?