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So my friend asked me to convert and paint a couple of Helbrutes for his Khorne army.

Main Objectives
+ Make them unique and interesting
+ Make them look significantly different from each other
+ Make them more Khorn-ey
+ Magnetize some wargear options

Tools used (so far)
+ Super-glue
+ Plastic glue
+ Metal file
+ Hobby knife
+ Hack saw
+ Green stuff
+ Miliputt
+ Paper clips
+ Thin card

Modifying the gauntlet
The first thing I did was shave & file away the Chaos Undivided icon from the gauntlet.


Next I printed off a small Khorne icon onto some cereal box card, cut it out, glued it on. I then added small rivets.


I made the rivets by heating spare sprue, and stretching it extremely thin. I then trimmed the strands to size and attached them with super glue.
+++ Remember not to melt it or burn it. Heat it above the flame until its soft enough to stretch. +++


Re-positioning the arm Part 1
I don't really like the position of the power fist. Looks too gangsta. So I sawed it off.


I drilled a small hole in the arm socket and secured a paper clip with super glue. Once the glue dried I lodged some Milliput inside for extra strength. More later


Replacing the creepy tentacles Part 1
Baring in mind where I want to move the arm, I needed to lose these tentacles. I'm happy to do this cos they're a little too Nurgley for a Khorne Helbrute anyway.
I took these away while the casing was still in parts, using a hobby knife and a rounded file.



I hope to fill this hole with wires, maybe linking to the power fist.


+++ More very soon +++

+++ EDIT: Cropped images +++

Looks very promising so far! Can't wait to see more!

Gonna watch this, it looks very promising, i cant wait to see the final result.

I like where this is going! Also, I'm totally stealing that technique for making rivets.

Okay just a couple of updates. More this evening.

Re-positioning the arm Part 2
So I had to take off the chain from under the power fist. Once I reposition it it'll be in the way and in the wrong position gravity wise.


Fitting the Plasma Cannon Part 1
I've also started working on a weapon upgrade. This was requested by my friend. He wants one of the Helbrutes to have a plasma cannon.


The plasma cannon I've used is from the IG Sentinel kit. The Venerable Dreadnought kit also has a plasma cannon, but the IG is more rounded and looks more Rogue Trader. We want this retro look, because this Helbrute was once a World Eater.


I'm off to get some guitar strings so I can start wiring and adding Green Stuff.

+++ More soon +++

I see where this is going and I like it!
Reach goal: make different weapon ends to swap out with magnets!
I found the big left arm was tough to remove cleanly from the body but it can be done with a bit of filler as you have demonstrated.
Looking forward to seeing how far you go (ready to do a shameless copy at any point).

Fantastic work so far. Looking forward to seeing how that plasma cannon looks on the Helbrute. And I agree. The standard arm is a little too.. hip hop hurray.

Brother Dakath wrote:Looks very promising so far! Can't wait to see more!

Thanks for the feedback! This project is moving at a pace, so you wont need to wait long for updates.

Obsidian Raven wrote:Gonna watch this, it looks very promising, i cant wait to see the final result.

Thanks! Hopefully we'll be ready to paint in about a week!

roastbeefaweefs wrote:I like where this is going! Also, I'm totally stealing that technique for making rivets.

Thanks! Glad you like my rivets! Remember - safety first! :p

Talizvar wrote:I see where this is going and I like it!
Reach goal: make different weapon ends to swap out with magnets!
I found the big left arm was tough to remove cleanly from the body but it can be done with a bit of filler as you have demonstrated.
Looking forward to seeing how far you go (ready to do a shameless copy at any point).

I was considering doing magnets and you've convinced me. I dont usually play chaos, so I need to find myself a Codex and see what the Helbrute's options are. Thanks for the inspiration.

SickSick6 wrote:Fantastic work so far. Looking forward to seeing how that plasma cannon looks on the Helbrute. And I agree. The standard arm is a little too.. hip hop hurray.

Thanks! Yeah the plasma will be interestgin! Stay tuned

This is class,i can't wait to see more.

After some inspiration from Talizvar I've decided to magnetize some parts.

Magnetizing weapons Part 1
After getting my hands on a Chaos codex, I've been looking at the upgrade options. I've managed to get some weapons together from my bitz box.


So let's start with the power fist upgrades. I added a 5mm magnet under the wrist. I had to scrape out some plastic with my knife.


Working on the torso
I also did my first bit of glueing on the model, attaching the head and outer-torso.
I decided to use the default head for this Helbrute, the second Helbrute will have a custom head.
Due to the intricate teething i decided to undercoat the head and inner-torso prior to assembly. This avoids having to undercoat in difficult-to-get places.


Replacing the creepy tentacles Part 2
I've also decided what to do with the gaping hole where the tentacles once were. I'm going to sculpt an eye.
I've added the eyeball in green-stuff and will sculpt the eyelids when it's dried.

Looking great so far. Subbed.

Be interested to see what you manage to come up with

Great work. I'm not a fan of the tentacles (I always thought they were horns) protuding from beneath the arm either. A classic case of GW's current "not knowing when to stop" approach to sculpting.

An eye is a great substitute, but I think it looks just as good empty, like a random exhaust port.

shingouki wrote:This is class,i can't wait to see more.

Thanks for the support!

Paint_To_Redemption wrote:Looking great so far. Subbed.

I appreciate it! More on the way

SilverMK2 wrote:Be interested to see what you manage to come up with

I'll do my best! :p

Flashman wrote:Great work. I'm not a fan of the tentacles (I always thought they were horns) protuding from beneath the arm either. A classic case of GW's current "not knowing when to stop" approach to sculpting.

An eye is a great substitute, but I think it looks just as good empty, like a random exhaust port.

Yeah you may be right. I might leave it empty for the 2nd Helbrute. Exhaust port could look pretty good. Thanks.

Great work on the Hell Brute conversions!

Personally not a fan of the over-tentacled, over-spiky look GW is currently doing with the newer Chaos models, and the pose on the HB is just awful, but you're making it look heaps better!

Very interested to see the progress - and so fast!

I've been following this all day, great job with the regular updates and quick work! They look good so far, keep it up, I'll be watching.

Okay a few more bits....

Magnetizing weapons Part 2
After touching up the weapon space that I carved earlier, I glued the two pieces together.
Once joined I filled the gap with some Milliput. When it's dry and add some magents. I'll also fill the joins with some Green Stuff.


Next I've started preparing the weapons. I found an old Reaper Autocannon in my bitz box. It was already a little painted and attached to a Terminator arm, but that can soon be fixed.
I carved the hand and handle off but left the skull. I had to also fill in one end to flatten it out.


Re-positioning the arm Part 3
I also filed and shaved away the wires left on the power-fist arm. Smoothing it off with some Green Stuff.


+++ Gonna leave the putties to dry over night, More stuff in a few hours. +++

legolooney wrote:

I don't really like the position of the power fist. Looks too gangsta. So I sawed it off.

i like your attitude. i dont like it, saw it off ^_^

Lamby wrote:Great work on the Hell Brute conversions!

Personally not a fan of the over-tentacled, over-spiky look GW is currently doing with the newer Chaos models, and the pose on the HB is just awful, but you're making it look heaps better!

Very interested to see the progress - and so fast!

Thanks! They'll proably release a posable kit as soon as I finish this

Sir Samuel Buca wrote:I've been following this all day, great job with the regular updates and quick work! They look good so far, keep it up, I'll be watching.

Thank you! I'll be sure to keep em coming!

HamHamLunchbox wrote: i like your attitude. i dont like it, saw it off ^_^

I'm a simple man

+++ Another update in about an hour! +++

Sorry for the delay, lets get going.

Re-positioning the arm Part 4
I've now re-attached the arm in a more conventional position. I drilled a hole in the arm and glued the paper clip in place.
Once again I strengthened it with Milliput.


Replacing the creepy tentacles Part 3
I've also been working on sculpting the eyelids. Sculpting is not what I'm best at, but I think I pulled it off.


Magnetizing weapons Part 3
I've added magnets to the weapon arm & the Reaper Autocannon.


+++ Next I'll be magnetising the rest of the weapons & sculpting the Power Fist shoulder. +++

Been a bit slow recently, had to wait for putty to dry at each stage, but I'm still working hard on these models. Let's get to it...

Re-positioning the arm Part 5
Now both ends of the arm are secure I can start work on sculpting the shoulders.
First I added a Milliput base. As Milliput dries rock hard (as opposed to GS drying sort of rubbery) it made a good foundation to sculpt on.


Once the Milliput had dried rock hard, I started sculpting the Green Stuff to give a more detailed deltoid muscle.


I also feel it's time to glue the front and back of the Helbrute together now. Here's a picture of the guy so far... he's starting to shape out.



+++ Almost finished modelling this guy, will soon start Helbrute number 2 +++

Looking very good so far. And now i'm regretting assembling mine out of the box ...

There is just one thing that bugs me slightly. With the massive shoulder on one side it looks somewhat unbalanced. The gunarm was even stubby to begin with. With the way you repositioned the arm it effectively grew longer and bigger.

Well, it's chaos and all and khorne probably loves the additional muscles to slam enemies into an even bloodier pulp.

Don't get me wrong though. It's only a minor thing but something to think about on the next one.

*edit:
I just stumbled on a warseer topic opon these.
Reposing the torso like that would draw attention away from the shoulder. Maybe on your other one.

btldoomhammer wrote:
Looking very good so far. And now i'm regretting assembling mine out of the box ...

btldoomhammer wrote:
With the massive shoulder on one side it looks somewhat unbalanced. The gunarm was even stubby to begin with. With the way you repositioned the arm it effectively grew longer and bigger.

Thanks for the constructive feedback, I did start to think about that during the sculpt. I'll definitely bare it in mind for the next one.

Luckily the huge lean he's sporting somewhat works with the idea that one side is heavier than the other

btldoomhammer wrote:
I just stumbled on a warseer topic opon these.
Reposing the torso like that would draw attention away from the shoulder. Maybe on your other one.

Ah yeah I see what you mean, I was thinking about reposing the torso for the next one. This'll help me out thanks!!

This looks really fantastic so far! I'll be watching with interest.

Very nice so far! I'll be watching this. I have 4 of them to mess with myself.

Love the concept of this, I converted mine (naively and very simply) to have a Reaper but this version is x10 better! Subbed!

Wow this is so cool. Makes me want to buy a bunch of hellbrutes, forgefiends, heldrakes and make some truely infernal machines.

Samurai_Eduh wrote:This looks really fantastic so far! I'll be watching with interest.

Thanks! Stay tuned!

nemissary wrote:Very nice so far! I'll be watching this. I have 4 of them to mess with myself.

4? Lot of work but will be great fun!

retrovertigo wrote:Love the concept of this, I converted mine (naively and very simply) to have a Reaper but this version is x10 better! Subbed!

Thanks, more soon!

Karokk wrote:Wow this is so cool. Makes me want to buy a bunch of hellbrutes, forgefiends, heldrakes and make some truely infernal machines.

Glad to be some inspiration! Doing a Heldrake might be fun!

Quick update folks! I'm waiting on some Khorne Bexerker spares. So no updates for a few days. But work will go on. Keep checking in!

Right, so Ive been away from this prokect for about a week. Time to get back to it!
Whilst I wait for some parts to finish Helbrute #1 I've started work on Helbrute #2.

Re-positioning the torso Part 1 (Helbrute #2)
Firstly I just took a saw to the model cutting it in half at the waist. Pretty rough, but i'll clean it up later on.



Removing tentacle things
Next I trimmed the tentacles, same as with the last Helbrute.


Re-positioning the feet Part 1
To get some variety in the models I want this Helbrute to be standing in a different position.
To do this I've removed the concrete slab underneath it;s left foot.


I also had to reposition the toes that gripped the slab, I cut them away and pinned them in a bteer positon with a paper clip.
I'll add green stuff to clean this up.


Re-positioning the arm Part 1
As with the first Helbrute I will be moving the arm. I cut it off and then cleared away the pipes and chains.


I also added a pin into the shoulder, same as before,


+++ More soon +++

Hey folks. Ive been away from this project for a while but it's still going along.

Ive finsihed Converting Helbrute #1 and have started #2.

Heres some photos of the final conversion (#1) before paint.



The weapons are magentized. Paiting is almost done.

+++ More soon +++