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Pics. The 1st one from yesterday, rest today in natural light - both far from what I wanted. But hey, this is just models and pics are never the same as seeing them IRL anyway.

The group shots are actually more accurate representations of the Lictor too. I am now 2months into the project and have finished more than 550pts! Quite happy about that as the summer's been exceedingly busy..







Let me know what you think. A little weathering will still go in after varnish. And I just touched up the base a little.

Nice work Migs. I like the sparkles on the edge of the effect. The lenses on the tentacles came out cool too. I think his eyes could use a brighter, lighter center to make them look more glowy. Oh, and the dark grey looks good. There are enough bits of it on the others to tie it all in. Good job!

Thanks mate, added diluted white to the eyes. Thanks for the heads up, I'd done it with all the rest of them but forgot here.

A hundred new views and one reply

Anyway, a new pic, after Varnish! Shows the markings properly and invludes some close ups of the "Antenna-fari "

Awesome as always. Make more!!

Money in the bank Migs, a bank fulla money!

Eyes are rock solid, and the dark grey / blue is a good choice and well executed. The cameoleon effect on his leg was at first confusing, but I see that he's matching the color on the rusted plate beneath his foot, and I think this comes out fine, so nice again there.

The group shot is fun too, gives some scale to these big baddies. The carni is HUGE and the zoanthrope is actually larger than I thought too ... which is groovy, as bigger is in fact better ;D

- Salvage

The Lictor is the first model I have to say I don't care for. The paint job is, of course, fantastic and the coversion is nice but it is the theme/pose of the model that doesn't do it for me.

Essentially, the 'bot looks way to static and top-heavy to be any kind of infiltration unit. To me it looks so top-heavy that one good gust of wind would knock the bad boy over.

I'm assuming that the fluff is he has some sort of stealth-field to hide him, but even so the upper body bulk and the static pose just scream the exact opposite of a stealthy kind of guy. Especially when compared to all the other models in the army which are very dynamically posed.

IMHO the Lictor robot (out of all of them) should be the most dynamically posed. Maybe coming out of some rubble or something. Of course this model is finished so these comments are kind of pointless, but if you're planning on making any more Lictor bots I would highly suggest you go for some sort of crouching/hiding pose.


Also, the 'robin hood' esque "hat" on the top of his head just looks really kind of silly to me for some reason.


Finally, I have to say the obligatory: "this is 1,000 times better then anything I could accomplish" so take these bits of constructive criticism with a grain of salt.



Anyway, I patiently await the next update!

To add something to yak's comment, it could be look like more a doc oc thinghy or a matrix preadetor. A robot with a lot of lexible arms and a corpse hiding a lot of mean tools to examing living creatures. I know your theme is this mecha thing but a Liktor is a highly specialised Tyranid organisim and therefor looks very different to all the other creatures. So it does no harm to break your scheme on this aspekt. Oh I like the idea of the mean tools...... tooooools.

I don't know Migs, the painting is top notch as allways, but I can not get away from the "squidhead" feel i got from the very first view of it.  And I agree with Yakface, the pose is very static, in fact it reminds me of a mech from Battletech, which is not a good thing as far as posing.  The now classic pose of a Lictor on a statue of the Emperor's champion is the look you should be going for in my opinion, a crouching chamelon with murderous intent.

Guys, thanks for the comments! No need to be apologetic of critisism, believe me I am used to it and welcome it. Keep the feedback coming, that's the main reason for sharing the stuff in such detail.

I agree with some of the comments and some are issues more related to taste. I totally understand the commentary too - for some odd reasons I really like this freak, how it looks like an arrogant instrument, ready to spring into action. (to me anyway) Don't worry, a lot fo dynamic stuff to come, no more Lictors though

Wow!

Just Wow...

Very nice stuff. I really can't add much of the way in commentary because I'm still stuck in Wow! mode.

About the only negative comment I could make would be about the lictor - but everyone else has said everything I would, so I'll just return to Wow!

I'm gonna have to agree with Yakface here. The lictor doesn't look dynamic enough. The paint job is great and I love the chameleon effect, but it just looks like it's just standing there, not really doing anything.

Just have to throw in my two cents. 

Paint - I was waiting to see what you did for the 'cloaking'.  I was very impressed with the leg and the more I looked at the paint the more I picked up as far as the intent for parts of the model.  The cloaking 'power source' on the back is very cool.  I loved the additional details you added for the transition of colors as well.  The whole color scheme screams of Metal Gear Solid to me.  All the different blues and greys you went with are perfectly suited for a stealth mode bot.  I do however wish i could have seen more of the stealth effect on more of the model.  Maybe having a wall or ruins he could have been hiding in could have shown this off more.  Solid markings and solid paint overall.

Model/pose - I agree with most of what's been posted, but I just think the model doesn't fit what people think of when they think of the role he's supposed to be filling.  The head is PERFECT.  Maybe even just changing the pose could have led people more in the direction of 'thinking' stealth, especially had more of his body been in contact with the ground and other materials (this would have led to more cloaking paint!). 

Just some thoughts. 

Good comments guys! If I ever made another one, that one would be:

a. more dynamic
b. with a full "field" effect.

It'd be cool to do one, but I really want to keep the systems themselves as clear individuals, so I wont. (like Transformers really) The AI infantry will come in bundles though And both A and B are something to bear in mind going forward with the project.

I actually don't care about the lictor being undynamic. It's the paint job on the lictor that bothers me. It's nice alright, but doesn't tie in well enough with your overall army paint scheme for my tastes. Given the varied nature of the robots in this army the only real visual cohesion you'll have will be the paint scheme. So it stands to reason that the Lictor's paint job should tie in better. The dark gray is fine, and looks nice, but needs some of the lighter gray that you feature on your other bots added to it. I can see why you'd make him mostly dark gray if you intend to make the weapons and techie looking parts that colour, but light gray accents should still be included if only for that visual cohesion.

Secondly, I think you could do more to tie him in with the Tyranid Lictor. You've hit the main Lictor visual element in replicating the conical head and feeder tendrils. The only problem is that these elements are also highly indicative of a squid. When I look at a big robot with those visual elements I think squid, or even Cthulhu, but not Lictor.

How can you make him tie in better with the Lictor imagery? Well the stealth paint camo certainly helps, but we see that on Tau suits too.

When I think Lictors I think of the following features, in the following order:
--> Big forward arched scything talons positioned over the main body and coming from the models back. Reverse articulated, the talons are poised to strike prey.
--> A monstrous Cthulhu head.
--> A pair of nasty looking claws with long talons
--> Chameleon skin

You've hit the second and fourth points. To me, the Lictor bot is kinda like the Zoanthrope bot would be if he wasn't floating on a stalk. He'd have the big head, but would be missing that other main element that screams Zoanthrope.

The first three elements I listed above have been carried through each Lictor model GW's done. I strongly believe you need to carry them through to your model too. Especially since your army is essentially an army of proxies.

I think the "lictor-bot" could benefit from two big Honkin swords or something.

I love it, but (and this isn't really a big but) you could have done more with the cloaking. Am I to believe that there are swords that come out of his wrists?

Posted By Jester on 09/09/2007 9:23 PM
I love it, but (and this isn't really a big but) you could have done more with the cloaking. Am I to believe that there are swords that come out of his wrists?

Yes, you are to believe so

Thanks for the comments gents,

It's always intriguing how differently people think about things. Some have problems with the pose, not paint, others wise versa. End of the day, I just gotta take the best bitz of advice/comments and make sure I love them myself.

Drake - I personally think he fits in very well. All the visual elements are there, just a darker shade through out. Most armies have a unit with a different paint scheme, be it demons, SM scouts, Tau stealth suits...and it just enhances the overall look imo.

Posted By migsula on 09/10/2007 2:08 AM
Drake - I personally think he fits in very well. All the visual elements are there, just a darker shade through out. Most armies have a unit with a different paint scheme, be it demons, SM scouts, Tau stealth suits...and it just enhances the overall look imo.

That's ok- like I said- it's still a fitting colour of blue.  What about the visual elements I droned on about?

Well it's good commentary as always. I take it all in as always. Maybe the perspective is a little different between us.

"Especially since your army is essentially an army of proxies." vs. Essentially a project of cool mech models that I can also use for gaming.

It's not my intention to do mech versions of Tyranids, even if some initial language maybe gave that impression. For start the TWAR only have 4 limbs. I am however drawing inspiration from them and trying to pick weapons and whatnot with WYSIWYG or atleast a very constant proxy in mind.  Inspiration, not restrictions. So I take the concept of a lictor and push it into a mech battle system on the same concept. (an advanced infiltration and information gathering unit that is lethal in hth) Some transformation will be much more radical/different. The Harridan for example is being sketched

Keep your comments coming Drake. They are very valuable to me!

PETITION

I am looking for those extra Plastic Warwalker feets!! The kit comes with 3, you need two, T.W.A.R. needs one.

Please PM or post here if you have any to spare. I can trade/paypal if need be.

Okay, mainly because of migs, I just got an account. Have been meaning to for ages, just never quiiite got there. Anyways, on to the gaming stuff!

Migs, I really enjoy looking at these big bad robots of yours, visually they are very nice. The first one (Splinter?) I wasn´t entirely sure, because it was difficult to imagine how you were going to carry the theme through in other models. But seeing more and more, I´m beginning to really see what you´re going for. Will be interesting to see the "swarm" parts of the army as well...

The only thing I might have suggested differently, is the fact that the lictor-bot has his swords "sheathed". I believe that he would look a lot more menacing, and be a lot easier to recognize if he had the swords out. But this is a tiny thing, compared to how COOL this stuff all looks. Really impressed.

There, I´m not just a forum-stalker anymore!

Hey Xan, Welocome to Dakka!

and thanks

Looks like a new forum!!

It needs a better name though! WIP stuff has the wrong connotations in my opion, as so much of stuff posted in "one off" threads also falls under that category. "Dakka Modeling Blogs" or something like that would be nice.

It'll be interesting if the split makes the "modeling" content more active or the opposite.

Posted By migsula on 09/13/2007 1:51 AM

It needs a better name though! WIP stuff has the wrong connotations in my opion, as so much of stuff posted in "one off" threads also falls under that category. "Dakka Modeling Blogs" or something like that would be nice.

With you Migs, on the need for a different name and on your suggestion too.  I actually wondered what'd I find under "WIP" - my guess was unpainted conversions, with painted stuff being in the main section.  "Dakka Modeling Blogs" brings up a totally different thing in my head, and a better thing too

- Salvage

Okay, okay. You win. The name of the forum has been changed.

"I don't know what it is yet"

Just a  small update - I did this on friday. It is testament to fun I have with these kits, I see a part and it makes me build it, while a paint scheme emrges in my head... I'm adding lots of cables and armoured coils and whatnot by which it floats on a 40mm base.

FW has those larger looking Tyranid Sporemine like things, what do they do???, maybe this is first of a set of those, or a comm link stratagem, or just a part/familiar like thing for a future model - time will tell. I ordered my self the Imperial Armour book with Nids and I'm almost finished detailing the assault carni (pic below).






The AI infantry is still on the list ASAP - I just need to hunt some more bitz and remind a few friends who've promised me parts. I will do a Trygon TWAR next I think!!!

The mycetic spores mostly just blow up real big -> S6 AP4 ordnance blast, I think. See Yak below, I was waaaay off on the stats.  Good for the price, but is this little doober a suicide bot???

Nifty gun detailing, but I'm still a little off on this new 'assault fex.' It's partially the head that doesn't match the army's style,partially the largely unconverted body, and partially the lamp he's supposed to be beating with :x

But I'm thinking paint will fix a lot of these problems for me

- Salvage

I hear you Boss. There will be a few "boring" footsoldiers in the mix, but I'll try my best with paint. I may still do a head swap when I get more "feet"

So a bigger spore mine. Hmmm... lets see where the thing goes with the cables and more detailing and then decide.

You should really get around to the infantry sooner rather than later simply because it would allow you to use the army immediately in games with what you've already finished.

Mycetic Spore mines (the big FW ones) are absolutely awesome for the points (35 points a piece). They also kick out D6-1 Bio-acid mines as a single cluster when they explode so you'll need to come up with 1-5 smaller bots per big mine.

That could actually be really cool if you made tiny little robot parts built into the big mine bot and then when you whip out the tiny bots after the big 'un explodes it would look like the tiny robots ejected out of the big one to form a little cluster.