Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Nah I was only joshin with you, they're great. I'm probably going to keep a 5 man squad as Mantis warriors and then re do the other 5 as a 5 man Consecrator assault squad, hope thats ok?

In regards to the helmets, I really love the first three with 2 being my overall favourite. Also have you consider transformers as a source of inspiration.
http://transformers.guidefella.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/bumblebee1.jpg
http://www.walyou.com/img/transformers-bumblebee-costume-1.jpg
http://www.itechnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Transformers-Bumblebee-Voie-Mixer-Helmet.jpg

Just a reminder... the shoulder pads for the MW (which should be ready in a couple of weeks) look like this...



And terminator pad... which I asked Blackhand to use as the starting point...

@lennysmash - I hadn't thought of transformers, seeing those pics reminds me of how insectile some of them were. I think we are keeping away from a full redesign of the helmet, these are supposed to be the "new" marks of armour given to the Mantis Warriors after returning to the fold so to speak, they still need to keep the basic shape of a marine helmet. That said instead of adding greenstuff to the helmet grill I could try carving the grill off completely and design a completely different mouthguard for the helmet, one with multiple parts and small mandibles, iit will go on the list of things to try!

Gitsplitta seeing those pads again has made me think I could add another ridge that runs from the inner corner of the eye and follows the curve of the grill/vent on the front of the helmet, might give it that segmented look of lower half of the mantis head on the pads.

Love the helmets!! Have you thought about making a helmet with antennas? Might look kinda weird, but I think if anyone can make it work, it's you. It would only be a small change from any of the other helmets, but enough to make it a diffrent one (if you're feeling lazy you could just make a version of each helm with antennas and call it a day ;P).

Hey Limbo, problem with adding the antennas at this stage is casting them, my casting process is still pretty basic and I couldn't guarantee them coming out each time.

I think Gitplitta and I agreed that he will add antennas at his end when he is assembling the marines, whether its for one marine or all of them is up to him.

Wowza! Those are awesome!
And just as I began sketching plans for my own chapters custom helmets

My favorite by far is the second one (it feels right) but all of them are awesome work!
The second to last just looks off to me. doesnt really scream "MANTIS!!!" to me.
The final one look a bit chaos-y, but thatd be great if anyone wants to "corrupt" Gits work xD

Stellar Work, BLACKHAND!

I hear theres no Mantis Warrior stuff in the Badab War IA :(

You are our replacement

They're yours Lenny, do with them what you will. (but it's cool that you're keeping a few in MW colors!) thanks.

I felt it would be a little out of order to ruin the guys. The beakies are screaming to be inducted in the Consecrator Chapter though, and as I've recently acquired three RT power fists, their wish shall be granted.

First of all, Blackhand your work continues to amaze me. Second of all, I think the helmets are all awesome, the more variety the better. The slight chaos feel totally works with the Mantis Warriors and their weird and questionable ways.

Ordo Dakka wrote:I hear theres no Mantis Warrior stuff in the Badab War IA :(

You are our replacement

To answer this one. There are going to be TWO Badab War Imperial Armour books. The second one will contain the Mantis Warriors.

Oh, and my favorite helm is the fourth one.

Yes that's correct two volumes at £45 each, and they're not actually Tournament legal are they? Well done ForgeWorld/GW another winning marketing strategy, hype up the price so hardly anyone can afford them.

i love the last two helmets, i woudl go more for that look!

i would try just making the higher ranking helmets look more regal, and the lower level ones look more insect like. maybe the higher ranks get different kind of mandibles?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

BLACKHAND wrote:@lennysmash - I hadn't thought of transformers, seeing those pics reminds me of how insectile some of them were. I think we are keeping away from a full redesign of the helmet, these are supposed to be the "new" marks of armour given to the Mantis Warriors after returning to the fold so to speak, they still need to keep the basic shape of a marine helmet. That said instead of adding greenstuff to the helmet grill I could try carving the grill off completely and design a completely different mouthguard for the helmet, one with multiple parts and small mandibles, iit will go on the list of things to try!

Gitsplitta seeing those pads again has made me think I could add another ridge that runs from the inner corner of the eye and follows the curve of the grill/vent on the front of the helmet, might give it that segmented look of lower half of the mantis head on the pads.

if you look at the SW helmets, some of them are entire wolf heads basically, not even a SM helmet at all, you could totally do that with these helmets, and have some be just mantis heads!

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Since we seem to have a pretty even split of opinion between the first three helmets and the last 2 more insectile helmets I thought that I might cast 2 moulds, 1 consisting of the normal helmets and one of the more insectile and more out there helmets. We can then cast more of the normal helmets and lower the ratio of the "different" helmets.

@Sageheart - I hadn't thought of the wolf helms, you are right they are differently a variation from the standard marine helmet. I may have a go at it and see what Gitspltta thinks, thanks!

Hey blackhand... that mantis photo you sent me might be a good prototype for a leaders helm...

I have a prototype helm with a blade on the front that I knocked out last night, I will post pics up as soon as I manage to pry my hungover sister-in-law out of my modelling room!

*LOL* I miss those days... well, not all that much really.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
A bit of happy news... FLGS had a bit consignment come in and I was able to snag some nicely painted scouts perfectly armed for my LS-Storm theory at about half the normal price. Just need to re-paint a few colors on each and it'll leap-frog my ability to field a functional army considerably. Anything that gets me a step closer with less work is a good thing from my perspective...

Gits

those helmets are amazing

i love helmet no5. and why dont you try a bigger middle piece. why not make the leaders female? the female is the boss in mantis social hyrachi.

I'm terribly ashamed that I haven't been diligently following this thread.

Git: Love the hinged chainswords!

Blackhand: Great work on the heads! Though they do look a bit chaosy, I especially like the last two with the hidden mandibles. Very characterful!

I agree with most : all the helmets are awesome, and the last 2 are so full of character! They're definitely in for sarges & captains!

^ QFT

Thanks guys, its good to know we are on the right track.

I will have some prototypes using the suggestions I have recieved posted up in the next few days, hope you can all wait!

i cant wait! but i will!

Sorry readers (and Gitsplitta!) have had a hectic week and havn't had he chance to sculpt up as many new prototype heads as I would have liked.

First off, Weety though I really liked the idea of two rows of studs alongside the ridge but my GS skills were not quite up to sculpting 2mm round studs..not to mention my eyes!

I have been playing around with antennas and horns but I have serious doubts about how well they will cast..so a change of plans...I will cast up several batches of heads and experiment with antennas on those. This will hopefully give Gitsplitta a decent amount variation in his squads and avoid casting mishaps

I do have a couple of pics for you though, first a "sergeant" style head with a crest and the "slightly more popular" mandibles.



And here is a much more Insectoid helm then most, moving towards the "wolf" helm that the SW have..though of course its a Mantis not a wolf




It's much further from the space marine helmet than the others but I think I may need to strip a helmet bat to a stub and really sculpt a Mantis head from scratch to get the truly insect head look I was going for.

C&C is very welcome as always

Cheers

BLACKHAND

"Waspinator under attack! Waspinator engage enemy! Waspinator: terrorize!"

Very cool looking helmets! They should look even better when they are painted.

Love the helmets! The blade on the helmet looks kind of big though.

i love that mantis head, i would have made it a bit longer less bulkier (if i was able to do gs sclupting like you!!) but i still love it!

Have you considered using terminator heads?
They have a longer, more insect-like shape...

@#bossasaurus - Haha, I knew subconscious memories would pop up somewhere! I'm sure the helmet with the forehead blade is derived from an 80s alien-insect-robot-suit anime that I can't remember the name of

@commander Cain - The pics really bring out the worst in them, patches that I have sanded smooth look like I have gouged them with a cheese grater! but yes they should look fine when painted.

@munch munch @ The blade is from a skaven axe-thing and is about 3mm thick, I needed it that thick so that I have a better chance of casting it repeatedly BUT either gitsplitta or I can shave it down post casting to give it a leaner shape. It a pretty basic shape so the different heads can be carved and notched differently for each model. I will post up a side on pick to show its true shape later today.

@Sageheart - Lol, To get a "true" Mantis head I will have to go shallower and wider! Mantis heads in general are almost like hammerheads, the eyes make up most of the head itself and the mouth is relatively small.

@Dragon Warrior - I am planning on sculpting a set of Termie heads but they will actually be for terminators, I havn't thought of using them on Power Armour, will have to see how they turn out and maybe they can be put to a different use!

Thanks for the comments guys, I was starting to think I had killed Gitsplitta's thread!

Cheers

BLACKHAND