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Different methods of plastic spacing etc.

By unecessary I mean in terms of they don't "NEED" to be there but its good all the same that they are. If they needed space though, they could easily sacrifice these extra's for larger scale marines.

Cheers,

Dante

I think the problem is that they would have to redo the entire range then. It would also mean that they would become incompatible with older marine models. I know the older models were smaller, but working with 28mm and 30mm models is easier than 30 and almost 40mm models.

I can get why they don't do it from that point of view.

Besides...I guess many people who make bigger marines enjoy the challenge of building them like that as well.

It would also be worse for beginners, in my opinion. I don't know why -- I think more people are attracted by the more relatable physique of the Marine (e.g. Not what we expect as less realistic). And also, the whole range would be void -- there's not much point throwing away 2 (?) Decades' worth of kit, moulds, models and armies just because it's less realistic, and less true to the art. It's an impossible situation for GW.

I guess it's up to us just to make them the way we like them.

sA

As a fitting reference to your discussion, here's a crappy, but telling Iphone pic of freshly primed Alpharius and a standard GW marine.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/26298-Iphone%20marine%20scale%20comparison.html

I'll do a proper comparison shot later.

What are those scary tanks in the background?

The thing is, to add up to the argument why GW wouldn't make them true scale, or at least that we wouldn't have to demand that from them. It's Migsula's story about art. Not just the painting of the large (more true) model is art, the whole creation of it could be seen as an artistic expression. The models thus become the artist (in our case modellers) interpretation of the concept. The same as how sculpts/paintings/drawings/songs/etc are expressions/interpretations of things/reality/etc. The model is thus an artform of its own.

My own little experimentations in scratchbuilding stuff from random household articles could in a way be seen as just such. I try to create my "interpretation" of something with whatever I can get my hands on. The "type" of art (models) is the same, only the method is different, or maybe not because in the end of the day we both use whatever we can get our hands on.

GW aren't interested in making art, though. Are they? Maybe. It's hard to say if through the miniature wargame , is the driver art, or strategy, the models the pawns in a game of faceless chess?

Oh, and I think (?) the big spiky one behind them is a Chimera with a Predator turret. Solid conversion, I've been looking for a damned Pred Turret for a while.

sA

Oh boy, can't wait to see Alpharius painted! He looks like a total beast next to that squat .

I think I'm going to have to give one of these style of true-scale marines a try someday, they are just too cool not to!

Cheers,

Dante

smiling Assassin wrote:GW aren't interested in making art, though. Are they? Maybe. It's hard to say if through the miniature wargame , is the driver art, or strategy, the models the pawns in a game of faceless chess?

Oh, and I think (?) the big spiky one behind them is a Chimera with a Predator turret. Solid conversion, I've been looking for a damned Pred Turret for a while.

sA

Of course GW isn't, they are a company that sells plastic/metal/resin toy soldiers. It is the modeller who is the artist in this case. A guy who sells paint and paper isn't always interested in art either, it is the buy who might be.

Thanks for that pic Migs. I had no idea Alpharius was that big next to a standard marine. Now I really want to make one of them.

As far as the art question, Malika has it right. The art comes from the modeler, while GW is merely producing the canvas.

That Astartes is impressively large when compared to an original model. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into my own small collection of them.

With regard the plastics of GW, there has been a decided march onwards of quality and even production ability. Jes created the marines by hand back in the day, now we have CAD models altered from database and spat out to a mould maker as is.

No surprise we are seeing so many FW kits, become GW main kits. Scan, adjust, print, mould.. voila'!

GW will never recreate the marine range so substantially as to accommodate their own fiction. Which is unfortunate, as I really lost my taste for marines when a 4-5ft tau was near shoulder height. In fact, I just threw in the towel and began collecting the smallest warriors in the galaxy.

Ultimately, given the base model, everyone interprets their image of a marine through their conversions and alterations. Not often you see one Sargent identical to another. Upscaling marines is an extreme expression of achieving a visually pleasing result to people, such as myself.

Anyhow, miniatures and scales aside, merrily await the continuation of the Legion

~ Tael.
I am also noting a complete MACophile compatriot the more I read Migsula's posts.

Shas'El Tael wrote:
I am also noting a complete MACophile compatriot the more I read Migsula's posts.

guilty as charged:

7/April/09 Process is slow, but immensely enjoyable.

As I am slaving away the TWAR infantry and really eagerly waiting for the tournament and finally fielding my crazy creation of past two years - I get to enjoy one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby. Collecting and organizing bitz for the work in progress. This is a nice chore, during which I design some of the most wild conversions in my head and consider a lot of aesthetic choises.

It’s also fun to look ahead and consider what I might achieve in the following year of committed effort and fun with the Legion. I’ve also spent a lot of quality time, or rather double time in the toilet with the IG rumors. However, I feel this might be the first army I really build based on what I want to build next, rather than any army list considerations. I should accumulate enough stuff to make a decent list for tournaments should I later choose to go.

Another topic that I hope to discuss in more detail at some point is inspiration and mainly drawing it from interesting and unassociated sources. My wife who is a fashion designer, is one such source. In fact, it was no surprise for me to see Vivienne Westwood (no, I am not married to her) credited in the links by John Blanche and his femme militia project. I have a big book of Vivienne’s work charting her entire career, which I find a great source of inspiration and reference for the spirit of 42nd Millenium.

Here’s a pic of small updates and my “Legion only” bitz assortment, soon to expand beyond this tray.

Oooh horns!

Glad to see an update in this log when I get home from work. That bits tray looks mighty packed with cool stuff. Need to get some pics of my own bits trays now to compare !

What are the missile launchers for?

Cheers,

Dante

How I'd like to steal that Tray... At least you're organised.

Alpharius Mk. 2 looks meaner. I'm not sure how to pick between the two -- which do you like more?

sA

The only thing I would say about the marines is they are awfully similarly posed, with the exception of the arms, are you planning to vary them a bit on the next few?

Any plans to have any action poses too? Like a running marine?

migsula wrote:7/April/09 Process is slow, but immensely enjoyable.

As I am slaving away the TWAR infantry and really eagerly waiting for the tournament and finally fielding my crazy creation of past two years - I get to enjoy one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby. Collecting and organizing bitz for the work in progress. This is a nice chore, during which I design some of the most wild conversions in my head and consider a lot of aesthetic choises.

I think one of the best part of the hobby is having all your parts and collecting new and interesting bits and just playing with them. They have so much potential and variety if used right. I always find a pile of parts very impressive and enjoy sorting them for some reason. Painting the model is relaxing and challenging but playing with the bits I find the most fun. like a kid with lego you can choose where you go and what you end up looking like.

I think that they will never do True Scale even as a small kit because GW will not want to admit that their models don't line up with the fluff, and besides the fact everything is already out of scale.

Ghost in the Darkness wrote:I think that they will never do True Scale even as a small kit because GW will not want to admit that their models don't line up with the fluff, and besides the fact everything is already out of scale.

It would mean that over 20 years of work would become obsolete. Of course they won't do it. But then again...we don't need/want GW to make true scale marines if we can do it ourselves!

Wow. Inspired.

Bits boxing is a whole other labour of love;



I use a workshop system for my bits, and several 'Project' drawers, where I can put everything away in one shot. 'Day' globe in the lamp when ferreting through the boxes at night.

Looking at the bits on your desk, I have an idea what youre up too with those wing skulls from Marine banner poles..

~ Tael.

CMDante wrote:The only thing I would say about the marines is they are awfully similarly posed, with the exception of the arms, are you planning to vary them a bit on the next few?

Any plans to have any action poses too? Like a running marine?

This is where the pictures fail to carry much of the message - 1st stance is very aggressive, leaning forward and the legs are in motion, the 2nd has legs braced wide, standing straight and letting rip.

Of course the direction they are looking at makes a huge impact on the similarity of the pose, and that's definitely different "if" there is a 3rd.

WOO!! update! looks great as usual. Are the bulldons gonna have just the two horns like that or can we expect to see a third in the middle?

and this is entirely un-related, but is that a silver demon in that picture Tael?
regards,
-Jason

Tael, I also have those, but at my granny's place, so I collect project specific boxes when working on something.

I wish I could be that organized but I don't have a permanent desk where I do my work.

Fantastic stuff, Migs.

And thanks for the tip-off for Goodbrush. Just wow. If I were to paint/illustrate (something which I am VERY interested in) I would try for a similer style, which is also similar to some of Adrian Smith's stuff.

And miniatures are very much art, and I am personally glad for the artistic outlet that it affords me, personally. Playing the game is great, but mostly its about the painting and converting and storytelling.

This is going to be truly inspiring for everyone here at Dakka, and I am very excited to be following it! Cheers and thanks!

Eric

14/April/09 Here We go!

Buckle up, full speed ahead now As I continue on my concept models of things to come, I’ve settled for my first unit:

“The Dune Twists”

A group of really rag tag sand people/mutants, led by a Legion agent (So I will use penal legion rules that I feel are perfect for this!) and of course a Legionnaire in desert armor. The conversions will be based on the crypt ghoul IG I did for Shaddes offe Greye, but with much more gear, some goggles, etc. The basing will have the same shade as all the rest of basing, but less industrial feel and more sand and plains. There will be a secondary theme of solar worship, where the mutants see the sun as the manifestation of the Emperor. This has not been kind for their health, but they are devout and cunning, with murderous intent and able leaders.

The third Alpharius will have a shawl and lots of gear. He will have a desert scheme that is chipping away from his blue armour. I’m flirting with and idea that he is carrying/dragging an injured Twist to show the scale and Legion’s loyalty (if not the human side).

Now, if only my arms could move as fast as my head, as I already have about dozen other ideas I desperately want to make.

Sounds delightful, especially looking forward to the Dune folk. The evolving back story rings nicely, especially the manner in which the Legionnaire motivates his charges/displays his 'humanity'

I completely agree on the issue of lacking hands for ideas.. I'm churning out models faster than ever before with all the characterful model inspiration flying about and still got more mad cap ideas..

..though I'm not suggesting for a minute folks slow down or anything..

~ Tael.

Absolutely know what you mean mate, I have exactly the same problem of not enough time to make all the things I come up with in my head!

The back story for the twists sounds cool, any slight mutations planned for them ala Eisenhorn twists?

The idea for the 3rd Alph sounds good, not sure how you plan the dessert scheme though. Not a fan of marines in non-chapter colours and scheme so hope your not planning on going the usual "desert camo marines" route that has been done to death?

Whatever you do I'm sure I'll be as impressed as anything, as always!

Looking forward to paint on these guys!

Are you assembling them all first or doing some then painting etc?

Cheers,

Dante

Maybe an idea for some of your mutants. For some reason I think that the Crypt Ghoul and Kroot kits would be very compatible with each other, they are both skinny! (great argument huh?) Kroot limbs could be used to lengthen certain mutants and the Kroot torso has this great diseased vibe...well not diseased, but those bellies kind of remind me of those starving African children. Kind of crude way of putting it, but that might be the vibe you're going after when creating mutants, a class of "people" who are living in extreme poverty and are suffering from hunger, sickness and so on.

Might also be cool if you could get your hands on some Muties from GorkaMorka. If you are doing the thing in an Apocalypse scale, why not include some cavalry for your Mutant Detachment. What about these mutants by the way?

What will your agent look like, any ideas on it? *is very curious*

Do you think you'll get around to doing a non-power armored Legionaire as described in Legion? I think that would be pretty cool alongside the muties, but I could also see one leading a black clad assassination type squad. ANyway, looking forward to seeing more!