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.

Trooper #1 built! (this one is fully magnetized)

I'm really digging the way they look, Git. I'm sure that your paint will make them even better. I really like the way the banners look on the one of the left. They give a cool, insectoid 'wing' effect. Very appropriate for Mantis Warriors, I think.

You're painting them tranquility pattern right?

Not bad at all Gits! you've made them totally individual to you and the Mantis! job well done, they're going to look super sweet with paint (of course!)

Trooper's got a mighty fine strut on him, a serious swagger, like he's cool and he knows it

Thanks gentlemen. The "strut" is built in... so I can't take any credit. Seriously, there is almost NO room for fiddling with the poses of these figures. A small shift in torso positioning is all I could manage and even that made it difficult to find a loin cloth that would work (thus the improvised one seen in the pic). You pretty much have to build them exactly as designed or other elements (the hoses and cables in back for example) won't go together correctly.

Exciting news for the day...

I just ordered 3 Godzilla movies and a collection of 5 Gamera movies. Wooot! Those should make evenings locked in my studio painting much more enjoyable! (and I've got to do something while I'm waiting for the 16th to come around)

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Thanks gentlemen. The "strut" is built in... so I can't take any credit. Seriously, there is almost NO room for fiddling with the poses of these figures. A small shift in torso positioning is all I could manage and even that made it difficult to find a loin cloth that would work (thus the improvised one seen in the pic). You pretty much have to build them exactly as designed or other elements (the hoses and cables in back for example) won't go together correctly.

Exciting news for the day...

I just ordered 3 Godzilla movies and a collection of 5 Gamera movies. Wooot! Those should make evenings locked in my studio painting much more enjoyable! (and I've got to do something while I'm waiting for the 16th to come around)

With a knife and greenstuff, anything is posable.

Not to spark a dub/sub debate here (there are plenty of them out there) but I know I prefer to watch my Godzilla movies in their original Japanese, with English subtitles. Unfortunately, reading and painting don’t go well together. But I am a fan of the genre.

I agree Nev, but since they're my "background noise" when I paint... I need them in English. (plus the kids enjoy them more if they're in English)


Third centurion body is together! Making good progress now that I'm comfortable with them. Have to take a few hours break for Thing 2's soccer game, then I'll be back at it for the tricky parts (magnetizing the guns).

Great work on making these guys more interesting than the stock models. You're starting to make them look tempting now.....

Ahhh Kaiju films... I love em! (throwing my $.02 into the subs ring- though Ill still watch em all regardless! xD )

Though my only experience with Gamera films is through Mystery Science Theater. Godzilla on the other hand, I remember watching tons of it a few years back. Still a big fan of Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla.


Centurions look great, and its great to see you found a use for the heads! Back banners are a great touch as well, and really add that Asian aesthetic to the MW.
Really looking forward to seeing more MW green on these guys... Or some Tranquillity yellow, perhaps

It'll be green. I know everyone want's to see me do everything in tranquility camo, but it's only special if it's rare. I might do one in tranquility colors... perhaps the other sergeant... but we'll see.

In the mean time I've been thinking about how I'm going to do my other MW projects & decided that that all my "modern" MWs will have as strong a Japanese aesthetic as I can figure out how to give them without losing the MW aspect. Made for some interesting mental exercises this morning... especially concerning what to do with the vehicles.

Should be interesting times ahead!

Did you ever figure out stuff to make power katanas? I was cleaning out an old box of crap and found the old prototype I made a few years back

 Gitsplitta wrote:

I just ordered 3 Godzilla movies and a collection of 5 Gamera movies. Wooot! Those should make evenings locked in my studio painting much more enjoyable! (and I've got to do something while I'm waiting for the 16th to come around)

Ah, a kaiju fan, eh?

I just ordered my Godzilla tickets last night for the midnight premiere. I haven't been this excited about movie in a long, long time.

Finished centurion #3. This one included the added frustration of launching the newly magnetized and drilled bolter thingie across the studio... never to be seen again. So I raided box #2 for an extra bolter mount & then went on e-bay to order more of these little darlings. I'm sure it won't be the last time one gets lost (or launched).

That's NOT how missile launchers work Looking good Bro.

Here's a pic of the squad together. Let's have a little caption contest, shall we?? Winner get's an "atta-boy" and bragging rights for the day.



My entry:

Looking good.

I still reckon that it needs the greaves to protect those spindly ankles.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Here's a pic of the squad together. Let's have a little caption contest, shall we?? Winner get's an "atta-boy" and bragging rights for the day.

Great looking models Gits, from someone who hates these centurions. But you've made them look good - personally I think leaving off the lower leg plates combined with the mantis heads makes them even more insectoid looking.

As for a caption:

"Catalogue poses everyone, catalogue poses...!"

Marine on left: Hey Sarge, isn't that your wife coming out of that restaurant with the base commander?
Sarge: You, trash his car, quick.
Marine on right: Okey doke. *whistles*

@Ramos: I bought a bunch from one of the third party companies, they're terriffic!

@Phutarf: yes, I agree with you completely on that. I may cook up little shields to go on the top of his foot to shield the lower ball joint, but the centurion legs would ruin the aesthetic.

Great captions guys!

How about:

"Introducing the third annual Mantis Warriors bird watching excursion. Leisurely strolls through the hills spotting all manner of wildlife along the way."

Also great work on those centurions Gits. How you managed to make those guys look good is beyond me but well done for achieving the impossible!

dude where's my car...

 Commander Cain wrote:

"Introducing the third annual Mantis Warriors bird watching excursion. Leisurely strolls through the hills spotting all manner of wildlife along the way."

This made me laugh way harder than it should have.

THIS is how a Mantis Warrior goes bird watching...

Sargent Bud: Alright people, stay with the group and remember here at the bio we're dependent on keeping homos balanced within the system!

Most of the way through the build of #4... the sergeant for the second squad. I think you're going to really like this one! Hope to have it done tomorrow sometime.

You really need to have one biting something's head off.

I need some space shark heads

"OK you two, report to the decontamination unit again. What have I told you about licking radioactive waste...."

I thought people might be interested in seeing the sashimono components. Given the parts... I think you can work out how to do the build yourselves. A bit finicky but I like the way they turn out.



Barring unforeseen circumstances... I should have a finished pic for you in a couple of hours. The sashimono are all that's left (not that it takes hours to make them... but I have other things to do this morning).