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@tsl: Yes of course. No entries are considered "final" until the 15 of Nov.

@Case: I like it. Interesting concept. I'm anxious to see where you go with it.

Well, working through midnight... a friend who is a computer guru managed to help me get a functional computer back. Turns out Windows 8.1 (which I just installed) has a fatal flaw when combined with nVidia graphics drivers. Will have to call them about that today.

Lets see. On the modeling front... I dropped the marine I was working on and it exploded. Took me a couple days of poking around to find all the parts. On the plus side I was able to easily paint some "hidden" parts of the model after the explosive deconstruction. I think all I have left to do are the eyes and some "squiggles-a-la-Knightley". Will have it done today for sure. I might make a point of dropping all my models after airbrushing as it really does make them easier to paint the details.

Wow lots of good entries here. Really good mix of old school models and new school parts made to look old school.

This'll be a toughy.

excellent. I'v made a "mantis claw/ chain fist" for my terminator. I don't think I'll win, as it won't be very stealthy loking, but meh. th only prize i was interested in was the first one, so i wasn't going to win anyway. I will of course still make,paint and show the model.

^Nightmare gits! Let's hope it wasn't skype!

 the shrouded lord wrote:
excellent. I'v made a "mantis claw/ chain fist" for my terminator. I don't think I'll win, as it won't be very stealthy loking, but meh. th only prize i was interested in was the first one, so i wasn't going to win anyway. I will of course still make,paint and show the model.

Nonsense and poppy cock. You don't compete in these comps for the prizes. You compete because it forces you to make some thing you wouldn't have normally made. They challenge your painting skills and pits you against your fellow hobbiest. It doesn't matter if your modelling skills are sub par or your painting sucks. You do it because you can and because it's fun. You do it for the challenge. A potential prize is just a nice bonus.

The reason this competition in particular is so damn good is because Gits, in all his wisdom, put the onus of decision on the competitors. Which I think is a very smart move.

He gave competitors this

"Once the silent warders of the Endymion Cluster, in the wake of the Badab Wars the Mantis Warriors have been bound to a century long penitent crusade which may well see the end of the Chapter before its conclusion. One of the rare descendants of the savage White Scars, the Mantis Warriors’ millennia of isolation on the far edge of human space has left them much changed from their origins. Experts in the art of guerrilla warfare and the sudden application of violence from concealment, the Mantis Warriors are subtle and cunning killers, wreathed in mysticism, who strike with the fury of an unexpected storm."

And one clear instruction.

Best figure that hits closest to the mark wins.

Gits has basically said "Here's a thing. Now go. Do. Come back when it's done." And that's what's brilliant about it. Everyone is going to interpret that passage of text in a different way and complete their entry in the way of their interpretation. You have to chose how best to hit that mark with no real guidelines from the person you have to impress. It's not like Bebops Guardsman Grand Prix where we all had to paint exactly the same thing. Or Nerdfests recent Sin City challenge where everything was in grey scale. (Both excellent comps in their own right, don't get me wrong). It's a much more challenging comp because it is so free form. You're not just relying on your painting ability or your modelling skills to see you through. You have to rely on your knowledge of the subject matter and how best to apply it in this situation.


So you chose a terminator. One might not immediately associate a terminator with guerrilla warfare or stealth. But I'll be buggered if just randomly appearing near/behind/in front of someone unexpectedly via the means of teleportation isn't stealth in some form or another. And I'll be doubly buggered if teleporting in, applying obscene amounts of violence with a chain fist, and then teleporting out again, and then doing this multiple times over the course of a day/week/campaign isn't bloody well considered guerrilla warfare.
"Hmm. I was alone a minute ago. Now there's a brassed off looking demi-god in a rather large suit of clanky armour waving an arm mounted chainsaw in my direction. He'd have to be pretty stealthy to get this close without me hearing him."
"Hmm. That's the 5th time a large demi-god has appeared out of no where and slaughtered my men only to vanish again. I do wish he'd stop."



In short - Good work TSL. Carry on.




Oh and hey Gits. Have you seen FW's new Vorax Battle Automata? What'd ya reckon, Mantis Warrior dreadnoughts or what? They're practically screaming to be painted green.

@Snrub: Good call. I'd need two of them to do what occurs to me.


Well, finished Dust's GMS marine. First one in many, many months... how'd I do?



Sorry for the poor photograph... still working without a proper photo booth.

Hmm, doesn't look like the break has done any damage to your paint skills Gits Right shoulderpad looks like it might benefit from a bit of touch-up near the cable, other than that all good mate
Post-crusade scheme works well.


And Snrub....you are an evil, evil man. The month hasn't started and technically I'm already over my hobby budget, and then you go and point those out.....

Clearly all your fans have left you for greener pastures.

He looks pretty good. I'd say the sword handle shouldn't be the same color as the marine though, looks unfinished.

Oh wait... the sword handle. I forgot to paint it.

"Never-mind..."

*sigh*


@mt: I think that's mostly a trick of the light... but I'll double-check. Thanks.

Looks amazing Git's you definately have not lost your touch, you could almost stand a chance in the competition!

Good job, Gits'. Like the purple with the red flip-side. And I like the red eyes of the mantis head.

And, What Snrub said. This is a competition that judges your translation of your imagination into a model, using your interpretation.

There's also 5 winner slots, who choose their own prize, and no guarantee that anyone else wants the same prize as you. (Unless I've interpreted that wrong ).
There's still hope. Push yourself, try your best, have fun and you may even learn something new that will help you in the future.

It is time I placed my entry and forget I ever did it.

He needs names or phrases on the scrolls. Otherwise it's pretty darn epic.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
He needs names or phrases on the scrolls. Otherwise it's pretty darn epic.

It is the little things i forget...

HE'S BEEN AT THE CHEETO'S!!!

Back with a bang Panda!

And has anyone else got a distracting picture where Gits's pictures where before?

Panda! You're alive!
Good work. like the glowing bits.

I see it too, Cam. I believe Mr. 'Splitta will be replacing it with new pictures shortly.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
@Case: I like it. Interesting concept. I'm anxious to see where you go with it.

The pressure is on then!

 Gitsplitta wrote:
I might make a point of dropping all my models after airbrushing as it really does make them easier to paint the details.

I love a pro tip.

ExTra points for catching that.

I did update my marine pic by the way.

I managed to completely miss the post with the marine in it somehow. Now I've spotted him he is indeed a beauty.

Also love what comrade has done. There seems to be a lot of powerfists and chainfists considering the theme. We love to think outside the box on Dakka don't we?

Ooooh.....panda made a pretty thing.....

Very nice, cool pose, great bits, love the colouring on the chain-fist

Well thank you all. It feels good to return with a completed paint job. Freaking school eating all my time. Should leave it and do constant model things. But that is frowned upon, so from time to time i will sneak back on. Glad to see all the regs like Git, Dr, Monkey, Casey and Cam are still running around!

Good to have you back panda. It's like getting the band back together again.


OK everyone... officially 15 days left! Have seen some amazing entries so far... and I'm really excited about what's to come! There's even time for more entrants to get into the mix so step up of the spirit moves you. I may even add one more prize package if I can find enough good stuff to put in it.


OH.... and Snrub.... thank you very much for your eloquent and passionate discourse on the competition. I couldn't have possibly said it any better. I am truly humbled.

well, I'm not sleeping tonight. now i have to write a corresponding passage to go with the lad. and i was hoping for some nighty nighty.
and i agree, when i painted the first "entry, i didn't even know there were prizes, but i'm loath to be beaten by a colour pallete! by gods if i can paint white, I SHALL DEFEAT YOU, YELLOW!

Shrouded Lord, Gits' has a good tutorial on how he paints his yellow that you may find useful.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/8430/289929.page#4108629

thanks dr.h, that model is looking sexy by the way, but i think I''ll got for a more toned down yellow.

primed and ready to go!

 the shrouded lord wrote:
thanks dr.h, that model is looking sexy by the way, but i think I''ll got for a more toned down yellow.

Not a prob'. Thankfully, Gits' had a helpful link in his OP, otherwise I wouldn't have found it.
Thanks.

If you want to make the yellow faded, you can add grey paint of a similar tone (this works for any colour, so long as you match the tone; darker grey for darker colours etc...). This is instead of adding white that will lighten the colour, or black that will darken the colour.

Then the technique remains the same and the result is just a faded/washed out version of the same colour.

Liking the look of the chain-pincers.

Welp Git, good and bad news for ya.

The bad news is that I'm back, baby! If you can't remember (which is exceptionally likely) I had a handful of trash posts 2-3 years ago, primarily this one that you replied to about my custom chapter I effectively abandoned along with Warhammer as a whole around the time of my last comment on that thread.

The good news is that I'm back, baby! Err, rather that I'm starting up a Mantis Warriors force based on your thread, boii!! I'd like to find all of my old brushes and such (which I may have scrapped, I really hope not but I'm not sure...) and submit a Mantis for the challenge as well as my chapter, of course

Bought a Tac Squad, Scout Squad and a couple of brushes today. I may repurpose the Arms of Corax as a peripheral squad, but in any case I think that I rushed them and I'll need to rework them.

I scanned the first 150 pages or so of your thread today to get re-familiarized with your army and its looking (as of three years ago) beaaauutiful. I can't wait to keep reading Amazing as always

And a bit more progress...



May yet decide to re-do those striations, not convinced by them at the moment.
Also need to start thinking about the base - original plan was to have him emerging from some kind of industrial pipework, but I'm thinking the colour scheme requires something a bit less urban.....

Still in, and still working. Marine is about 97% done. Will post in the next few days barring any time consuming obligations. I must say he is looking really great.

And Gits your GMS marine looks great. Liking the purple and post Crusade theme.