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How about using a servo skull with a hood sculped over it? Would look fairly unsettlling on those bare chested torsos, if I'm understanding which models you're referring to.

I broke out the paints - HUZZAH! Working on the Mechanicus Fabricator Captain to brake out the rust... literally in places

It'll be quite interesting, trying to achieve a very cool and "moonlight" red to match the rest of the army is a nice little adventure.

Excpect pics sometime this year No, but having everything set-up so I can just paint for a minute when I have a minute is the key to making this work. I'm also back to hunting parts for my desk, looking for large glass domes at the moment.

Great to hear that you're making progress, and that you've got a good station set up. "Moonlight" brings a very interesting shade of red to mind, though the idea of a cool shade of red seems a little contradictory Take your time with the pics, though not too long

Just about to upload some pics - do we have a dakka iPhone app yet??


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http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/2012/03/testing-out-blogger-app-on-iphone.html

I wish we did!

Anyway, amazing, amazing blog good sir! You're truly talented with your fantastic skills! Can't wait to see what you upload!

I recently found away to update the blog with a swift blogger app on the iPhone, waiting for the dakka variant now.

Here's a quick update for you guys too:

http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/2012/03/testing-out-blogger-app-on-iphone.html

Neil posted a very topical link to my blog too:

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/is-moonlight-blue.html?spref=bl

My approach is obviously more art than science, and very much built on how moonlight looks in Finland - rather distinct, cold, eerie shade... ( I suppose now supplemented by Californian variation )

I want my work to have color richness, but a ghostly nuance of "grim darkness".

Just stopped by your blog from this site, but I saw the moonlight pale-red... very interesting application of Neil's info link...

I'd have to see the rest of the model painted- the red you have there is currently without context. But I'm looking forward to it.

It's a very interesting challenge, and one I'm thinking of implementing on my vampire-samurai army start... There's a midnight/pitch-black OSL army out there that's just spectacular, but I'm one for more color, and moonlit or muted shades are something I've always wanted to experiment with.

-Remi

*makes a triumphant noise that is equal portions sigh of relief and excitement of things to come, with some raw northern European warrior spirit thrown in*

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l2qBWXsQvNU/T4tKTaar9VI/AAAAAAAAAbU/fup_LC0DaZM/s640/blogger-image--1924446548.jpg

And some thoughts and more pics:

http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/2012/04/nearly-there-with-breaking-rust.html?m=1

That Red fits in perfectly!!
The red is just in perfect balance.
Some how the marines that you posted don't feel very much like the Alpha Legion, or is that just me ? They still look fantastic though!!

So, how did you get that red? It looks amazing!

Good luck on the more arty approach to painting; it'll certainly be interesting to see your style develop in that direction

+++_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _...+++

...access granted...

+++

+++ Serpentine Conclave +++
+++ End minus 127 days +++
+++ voting +++

It always troubled me. That despite such complexity, such incomprehensible nuance and richness, the solution should be so finite. The irony of what was at stake and the pettiness of this grandiose play.

An honor guard of Inquisitorial Storm Troopers stood attention both sides of the narrow entrance way to the Librarium. I could feel their eyes gazing behind the opaque visors. How they stared at the hour-glass in its infamous splendor, such was it’s reputation, my reputation. I towered over most of them, but then such comparison meant nothing for a man who had walked with gods.

The two female newborns hovered into the auditorium, their vast smoke colored wings barely clearing the high double doorway. In unison the floating cherubs announced my arrival and the litany of my titles in their impossible juvenile voice like every other morning before. Thank Emperor for my seniority. I only had to suffer two more Lord Inquisitors announced after me.

All told, 17 Inquisitors, three of them full Ordos Lords; an Ambassador from Mars; Master Ormas, representative of Lords of Terra; And Venerable Judge Ascars of Arbites made up the conclave. The third such ordeal debating more or less the same subject - the fate of a system and ramifications of apocalyptic scale. With the various retinues, more than three hundred beings filled the ancient hall at the heart of the ship. The Fulcrum, of the Black fleet. Only Silas had turned up alone. That arrogant freak. Usually the most dangerous mind in a system, but today there were a handful of stakeholders for that title around.

There was Lord Demo, heir of Lord Frostschein, and all the blueblood ceremony that came with it. The Terrans did do their traditions well. Inquisitor Alberasac and the aliens. Justus, Riekens and Magdalena Von Mendell, Some Inquisitors I used to consider friends, and a few who in the end might stand as allies. Or die.

I had brought Jargassor for his ever observant intellect, and to not worry about compiling a report. The four Masks were mostly for show, but one could never predict when the brotherhood needed to earn their pay. I chose to wear full plate on this day, and Janae was standing on my shoulder, it’s head turning to impossible degrees as it too soaked in every single detail of this dress party. Four more cherubs carried my hammer, might as well do my part for the fireworks.

With seven jarring impacts from Judge Ascars’ mace the day started.
...

The small fleet of Inquisitorial vessels, Rogue Trader ships and other space faring equipment was hiding in the astroid field. The smaller vessels hid beneath Fulcrum’s gigantic mass. The ancient Black Ship baring the blunt of smaller astroids to shield the smaller craft. A violent stone splinter the size of a Baneblade had already cost the Conclave Inquisitor Rybikov and his ship, some 700 people all told. But the need for secrecy was paramount.

...

A decision was finally reached. To call it a vote would be criminal to Inquisitorial intricacies - but that perhaps best describes it bluntly, for I have no time to go in to details.

I was utterly exhausted. Full three months the Conclave had argued, lethal minds trying to oust the others - with the stakes so high and the never ending peril of the astroid field omnipresent. Only what was to come would test us harder. For those of us Inquisitors operating on Rhisienne, the perilous and clandestine journey back would further test our character.

I decided to call my ace. I ached for it’s beauty, and needed a brief respite. We rendezvoused in secrecy that made the conclave look like an Imperial parade.

The filament sail unfolded like nothing else I could compare it with. How something so vast could be so light, so agile, so fast. The slender craft was visible but a for a brief moment out of it’s stealth field as it swallowed the small cutter that had taken us to the Conclave. We raised the sail and swept away without a sound.


+++

Oh you tease!

Bloody brilliant mate, as if penned by the hand of Abnett. Argh im so in an Inq frame of mind now!

Wait, but that means...

Dun Dun DUNNNNNNNN

Love it, can't wait to read more.

Everything about your work is spectacular. Models aside, I love hearing about why you make the choices you do, your inspirations, and even your workspace decisions. It's nice to see work with such effort.

Also, I'm curious what you meant by "my conversions be even more technically precise and my painting to be much less so and much more organic. "

I feel like your painting is already very organic. Good luck with bolder work. What do you feel you need to improve?

Thanks guys, I'm feeling great hobby energy after finishing the Fabricator Captain and seeing so much nice stuff here at dakka and what friends have been working on. I feel a real longing to play some 40k, go to a tournament even, so I've decided to concentrate on some vehicles soon. I've ordered a bunch of paints and sprays, and intend to involve airbrushing heavily.

Writing short stories is a great creative tool for this hobby. Just framing a set of feelings and images in my head that help drive the vision to plastic and paint. The models start developing a personality and that influences their paintwork and faces in particular greatly.

FutureTense wrote:
Also, I'm curious what you meant by "my conversions be even more technically precise and my painting to be much less so and much more organic. "

I feel like your painting is already very organic. Good luck with bolder work. What do you feel you need to improve?

Thanks, I feel so too. However, it's a balancing act between what I feel and what I control. Inbuilt after years in the hobby and the mainstream is a set of expectations on certain technical things I find harder to shake off. But I think in organic, almost chaotic application of paint and ink a higher level of intent and clarity and indeed order exists that I want to work towards.

Technically precise is mostly about sense of scale. I've used small 1/35 military kit details and BFG parts here and there to add a new level to 40k spec, but have recently ordered even smaller scale models and parts and need to start adding them to my work.

Posted another pic at the blog. Bunch of stuff getting paint now.

http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/

So during a recent trip, killing time on the plane and the hotel, for once having some time to daydream hobby stuff. I was also hanging out at dakka a little bit and that resulted to a very strong resolution to get the army to gaming strength ...sorry for that sentence. Let just say I want to get back to owning a great army and playing with it.

I will now focus my efforts solely to making the army gaming ready rather than pursuing the study of esoteric borders of this project or going mental with time-consuming individual henchmen conversions like Borsus or Valencia. (not to say all the stuff I will be doing isn't just as mental and moon light lit..)

I have on the ready for painting list:
The new +I+ (count as coteaz)
Borsus & Valencia & 5 death cultist
The Mechanicus robot (count as rifleman dread)
3 Alpharius (count as grey knight purifiers)

I intend to build the following fast and paint them together to a sort of tied scheme of desert paint, but with different paintwork revealed underneath:
Legion Land Raider
Legion FW contemptor dread (not sure about this, as the plan for the army is plastic only)

a few Rhisienne PDF razorbacks (yes, the planet brakes the rules in several areas)
Greyknight Dreadknight thing into a Mechanicus Knight that Siimon rides around.

This will give me a very nice diverse army to use and add to. I intend to paint all the vehicles after building all of them together. This should take a long time, but give a massive result and a very coherent look.




Looking at the army I have a few reservations and have made some decisions.

1. the spec ops inspired squad of infantry is out of the army, never to be seen again with this project. The real world reference was just killing some of the bizarre oddity I love about 40k. Also there was one orange ish shade that did not fit the palette.

2. The new =I= while being smaller clearly than the marines, dwarfs the basic humans. Same with the Nurgle converted Borsus and Elf converted Valencia. As a trio they look brilliant, but fitting with the army scale does give me some concern. I may have to drop Valencia and Borsus after all, and for game play reasons this might not be such a pity. Painting them up for Alben Silas would be fun too for future Imunda sutff. I am reluctant with this decision though, I may just end up splitting them differently and have Borsus rep something else in another retinue.

3. so whatever I add to the =I='s retinue should preferably be of different physique to emphasize him, but not be human entirely to isolate the =I='s scale from other humans. I think the new box of ghouls I ordered is a good foundation for some Arco Flagellants that would look absolutely awesome with the new =I=. Throwing in some of the undead wraiths I've been converting with Scourge wings could be a very very cool unit that doesn't "scale traditionally".

What I really need though, to get gaming after painting these is a flurry of Vehicles. That should be lovely for painting variety, but I've always found assembling tanks and vehicles and absolute pain in the buttocks... I wish I could modify the Vendetta conversion to rep Grey Knight Stormbird. ...speaking of which Forge World has done an awesome conversion kit to fix the chicken flaw the GK/BA flyer has.

As much as i lament the shelving of crazy ass side projects, i think you made the right choice.

Glad youre finally working towards a playable army! lol Cant wait to see some faded camo vehicles, with legion hints poking through. A contemptor would be badass, but i kinda feel like it wouldnt fit the theme of the army for some reason. Dont ask me why.

Arco flags sound promising, as do wratihs with wings.

Finally that admech walker is so awesome, really really cool job. I cannot wait for your take on a Knight.

So to sum up, awesomeness as usual, grats on focusing on a goal and looking forward to the new craziness!

Oh boy, I can hardly wait! Regarding the Arco Flagellants: Yes, the ghouls really are a fantastic base for a conversion. I already built two Flagellants for my Inquisitor's retinue and it was a lot of fun plus the models turned out just the right shade of creepy Now to think what someone with your talent might be able to pull off...

Like I said, I can hardly wait!

Finally - some results!

http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/2012/07/legionne-activia.html

Fantastic as per Migs! Its really great that you can assembly line them, and still have them turn out so awesome!

I dunno though, something about those three seems a little less characterful than the original bunch. Maybe its just the fact that theyre unfinished i dunno.

Still, great to hear you're plugging away, hopefully we'll see more in the near future!

ahh nice to see some models after the move Migs, as always truely inspiring work

Thanks guys!

I finally have a proper update too!

http://legionofplastic.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-are-legion-one-unit-month.html

And I need to upload the pics to dakka galleries too. Any news on that iPhone app yet?

About time you you've painted something Migs! Guys look spectacular, especially in those funky doll domes Keep it up, I want to see a whole army of them within a year.

AMAZING! These new =A= are looking as great as ever, and your Glass Dome displays are great!

Great stuff and it's always inspirational to see your models. Which one won the Golden Daemon?

Love the mad scientist desk too.

I love the glass domes, great way to show off the models and saves them from collecting dust.

Glad to have your posts back, just the kick I needed to get back into my painting projects.

Thanks guys!

Bruticus - the Golden Demon is from 2006. So far my one and only golden demon entry. The event is really not for me Other than it's awesome to see what other people have been up to.


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I've now uploaded the latest batch to the dakka galleries. (+there is a new WIP in the blogger blog linked in my signature)

that is one cool WIP migs, what did you use to make that?

I used a vast pile of bits from sentinel, ork killa kans and imperial guard valkyrie kits It was a lot of fun to build.

Great stuff, good to see you posting updates again! The Jade Vessel thread was one of the biggest inspirations for me to get back into the hobby after a 10 year hiatus.