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.

Instead of spreading out my guys in separate threads in the modeling section, I thought I'd start a blog of sorts here instead. As a bit of intro for those who haven't seen them before, I wanted a larger scale space marine showpiece to have on the shelf, as I love vanguards I decided on a converted/scratch Inquisitor scale Battle Brother Artemis figure. Just before I wrapped up the build I already wanted more, so now I'm aiming for (at least) a combat squad of 5 vanguards. Already having finished two models, here's pictures of them for those that missed, and then I'll get onto my work in progress.







For vanguard #3 I decided on a powermaul and shield combo, he's going to be running while shielding his front. I haven't started on the shield, but it's going to be a tall riot shield of sorts, I'm thinking similar to the boarding assault shields from Forgeworld.

Progress so far:

Powermaul is pretty much done, I'm still mulling over if it needs more around the blades, but I'm quite satisfied with it as is.




The legs are also mostly done, I removed the cables in the back and filled the areas with greenstuff, then added studs. The studs are only in the back, there's none in the front except two small ones on the left kneepad. His left foot was ever so slightly modified so he stands a bit more upright, the right leg was pinned and greenstuffed into place slightly away from the default position.




Right now I'm working on the torso, progress so far:



I'm trying to aim for something similar to the chestpiece on this one from Forgeworld, except I'm going to go for a flat plates angled together, like one of the death company chestpieces.

Have made some progress on the chest, still needs a bit of polish and bling (mostly studs, possibly an emblem in the middle).

looking great so far! you're really talented!

Interested to see your progress

pretty awesome stuff! Defiantly subbed!

Bit more progress:


Torso pretty much done..




Started on the shield.




And a mockup to show the general pose.

What the... Excellent work! Love the detail work on the mace

Progress has been a bit slow as I've been busy with other stuff. Here's what the shield looks like now..




Also been simultaniously working on another artemis figure for my brother as a christmas present, going to be a ultramarine champion/honorguard. For him I decided to try my hand at scratchuilding a helmet, progress so far (very WiP):

Wow! A squad of these tough nuts will be great! Loving how dynamic you are managing to make then and also give each its own character. How are you finding converting all that metal?

Can you imagine the price of these if they were converted to fine cast....

Zwan1One wrote:
Wow! A squad of these tough nuts will be great! Loving how dynamic you are managing to make then and also give each its own character. How are you finding converting all that metal?

Thanks! Yeah I'm working hard to make each of them stand out individually, I prefer them that way. Converting metal isn't so very bad anymore as I've bought a powertool (dremel equivalent), still it takes more work than plastic or resin (oh if only!). My main beef with the metal is that once you look closely, especially on stuff that's supposed to be flat and uniform (backpack, gun) it's all slightly warped or uneven.

Can you imagine the price of these if they were converted to fine cast....

Well some items have gotten price hikes when being turned into finecast, even so it feels like they're charging for the model and not the resin. I'm not sure I'd pay extra for a resin version, but that would depend on the quality of the casts etc. The dream would be a injection moulded gray plastic version, looking at what you can get in regular 40k vehicle or infantry kits in amount of plastic I wouldn't mind paying the extra, especially if they threw in a sprue of optional stuff (weapons, helmets).

One can only dream.

I think he was the most popular of the inquisitor range. Most war bands seemed to feature Brother Artemis. Probably should have been made in plastic in the first place. How long did the first two conversions take? Did you build your own legs on the second?

Hey Johno, you wouldn't happen to be anywhere near stockholm?

Zwan1One wrote:How long did the first two conversions take? Did you build your own legs on the second?

It's a bit hard to judge how long they took, my first guy took ages because of RL getting in the way so I took some long breaks inbetween building. Second guy took slightly more than two months of on and off work, third guy has taken a bit more than a month so far and probably has around another month of medium intensive work left, really depends on how much I do per day.

On the second guy I merely modified his legs, his right leg had the kneecap removed and resculpted into a mk6 leg instead. As much work as I seem to put into the legs on these guys I've pondered sculpting them from scratch and casting, then again same goes for the torso as well. And arms.... and and and.... Gets a bit tedious having to modify all the same things over and over.

xcasex wrote:Hey Johno, you wouldn't happen to be anywhere near stockholm?

I'll pm you about it

Small preview of what I've been distracted with lately, going to be a present for my brother (hopefully for christmas). Ultramarine champion / honour guard / to be determined;

Lovely to see some Inquisitor action on Dakka and these are really impressive.

Slight update. Stomach/belt is done, boltgun has gotten a boxmag (and new shoulderstrap), shoulderpads have gotten studs and right one an emblem.

Sooooo cool

nice stuff, the mace is brilliant as are your sculpting skills.