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Nice weapon platforms. One thing I am learning is it is all good and great to have options and swaps possible, but storing and messing about with them is a pain in the long run, sometimes you are better off just making a decision and fixing those puppies in place. Don't let that stop you though.

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions- what with a new office project, the partial government shutdown and weather over here it's been quite hectic. Rest assured, I am following all y'alls blogs, even if I don't have time to comment as much as I would like!

I'm on the fence about magnetization: on the one hand, I love the idea of being able to customize a game team right down to the heavy weapons (remembering that I grew up in an age of Warhammer 40k when you could buy _one_ krak grenade and give it to a specific model- you just had to put a piece of tape on the underside of the model's base to prove it)- it's a CDO (OCD with the letters in the right order) dream! And let's not forget the 'find a brick, build the Taj Majal' syndrome!

On the other hand, Cam has a very good point about keeping track of all that junk. The SPAAG I customized at the beginning of this blog is a case in point: it's one of the few things I have that _is_ magnetized at the moment and I've got keep after it to have its three sets of weapons not go straying.

It's funny, because the whole 'magnetize it' comes from my core inclination that I'm going to game these things. We've had a previous discussion about that earlier in these pages, and I just can't change my nature to build things so they can be gamed (albeit, sometimes with the expectation of a broadly interpretive and generous group to allow some of what I do).

And I'm cool with that- it gives my modeling/painting world structure (very few of us can handle a truly 'resources unconstrained' environment in which we have total freedom of expression) and still leaves me to build out the occasional diorama if I want.

I've just got so much to paint up!

Thank you all for the comments, suggestions, constructive criticisms and for just showing an interest. Knowing that someone besides me is actually looking at my pieces and projects is a huge reward for the effort.

Rock on.

I have an entire plastic storage box with alternate weapons for my tanks, walkers, etc. However, I can say I CONSIDERED, but never went as far as implementing what others have done, which is to magnetize individual infantry weapons for swapping.

My rationale was never 'gaming the system', however.

I'm just cheap.

I never saw the need to buy ANOTHER vehicle, when I could swap weapons on the ones I already owned. And once I hit a decent # of vehicles (usually groups of 3), I just stopped buying them.

$$$ to spend in other places.

My $0.02, keep up the good work, Meer!

--B.

 Syro_ wrote:
@Kid_Kyoto: Are you suggesting mechanicus Kataphron destroyers and breachers? When you mentioned servator torsos, that what I thought of.

Yeah those.

The GW Stupid Name part of my brain filled up years ago.

Looks promising. Mechanical bodies instead of turrets would really add to the weirdness here! I don't know much about current GW, but back in the day there were some big tracked dudes with a cannon. And then there are hovering necrons...

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'm definitely following up on them. The 'big tracked dudes' I think you mean, Wirecat, are Kataphron Destroyers. I stumbled across a pic in the gallery and then went and looked up more images in the innerwebz. Once I finish the more 'normal' platforms, those are next (naturally, I went and bought three more toys from the dollar store). I have some Robogear troopers that are really too big for 28-32mm scale, but should be perfect for this application. Shoot, now that I read back a bit, Syro gave the answer ages ago- Kataphron Destroyers. So between you three- Kid_Kyoto, Wirecat and Syro- there's my next project lined up! I don't even know whose side the Destroyers are on!

Here's some pics with the gun systems all installed. Per my inner agreement with myself, all are fully interchangeable. The packs, radios, ammo boxes and such may shift around a little, and I believe I will hang track skirts over the sides to make them easier to paint:







The dingus mounted opposite the lascannon is supposed to be a target acquisition radar, or something- it's literally there to balance the lascannon out (also magnetized so it can move with the cannon). The power pack for the cannon is mounted on a stud behind the monitor of the vehicle and connected by the cable you see; each of the tracked platforms has the same stud (a piece of styrene channel) in the same place, so theoretically, I can pull the lascannon off for something else and put it back on any of the platforms at need.

Really though, it's a cross between what Cam and Briancj have said earlier: I can swap everything around, but in the end, to avoid the pain in the tuckus, I'll probably leave everything assembled just as if it had been glued up. Still, good practice and experience for me.

More follows soonest.

Looking real good!

Budget Hammer for the win!

Thanks Kid! I'm anxious to get these three done so I can start messing about with the Destroyer conversions. I'm wondering (if you have access to the Dollar Tree, and if they carry these toys) if they couldn't be equipped with a water cannon and loudspeakers for street clearing duty wiht your Arbites? Here's the three platforms with everything primed and the hulls basecoated:



Next will be to hit the hulls with some rust/corrosion/scrapes and a wash, and get the guns painted.



More follows soonest.

They are looking spot on bud. Really looking forward to the Destroyers. Did a few servator type things with body parts from the Sedition Wars Plague group myself a while back, really enjoyed it. And can see these working out brilliantly.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Looking real good!

Budget Hammer for the win!

I read budget Hamster for the win! (thinking pet sewer rat)

Really loving these gun carriages. Keep up the good work .

Hamsters are hoarding creatures, You can't really budget them. But these platforms should look good, not cheap, as a unit or one by one. Neat earthly base color!

Those are cool little tanks. They Remind me of US weapons platforms with a semi-autonmous nature.

Thanks Warboss- that's what I was thinking too, when I saw them! I've got three more to do up as Destroyers next, but after that I may do another set, with features to make them resemble our autonomous systems more closely- and no associated crew.

The real update tonight though, is I can't get any painting in until at least tomorrow. I came home from our little farm where my wife lives and I stay on weekends (we're split base because I have to go where my work is, which is mostly Northern Virginia, for now) and found my kitchenette in the little place I rent under water. I reckon some knucklehead upstairs from me tried to run a softball through the garbage disposal, because now you can hear all four floors yelling when someone tries to use their kitchen sink. About every one and a half hours I have to start bailing out the sink as the back pressure floods it again. The service is coming tomorrow morning and hopefully will be able to effect a repair.

But I can't focus on even base painting and washing when every hour or so a Plague Marine starts crawling out of my sink to which I must attend, rapidly. Others probably have that kind of focus, but I don't.

So, I'm kvetching to y'all and watching Rampant, which is a new movie from Well Go Entertainment set in medieval Korea and they fight zombies with martial arts. How cool is that- zombies and martial arts in the same movie!

Hopefully, more follows soonest.

Nice work on the little armoured thingies.

So, to quote the estimable Doctor, the little armoured thingies are done. Given my penchant for allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the good, I could do a lot more to these, and there's a bunch to re-do, even. But for now, they're done. What do we expect for a buck, anyway? Got to try a few new things as well, all need more practice.

Here's a group shot, one each heavy bolter carrier, autocannon carrier, lascannon platform:



The heavy bolter carrier:





The autocannon carrier:





The lascannon platform:





Group shot, bows- on:



New things:

- Used the sponge press method of stippling on rust and scratches using Pavement Black and Vallejo's Rust Wash for the second time. Overall, I like the effect, but want to use it some more to get the right look.

- Tried Object Source Lighting in a small way on the lascannon coils the and the battle scuttle on the autocannon track. The effect is 'okay' as is- could always be better, but would definitely be better if I extended it onto the track itself and not just the weapon. But I remained true to the original proposition that the guns had to be interchangeable between the tracks and (forthcoming) ground platforms, so couldn't make all three 'electrified' from the lascannon overcharge.

- Made more extensive use of decals to add some color. I only have about a billion of these of various sorts hanging about, time to use them up.

-Used zero weathering powders and/or dirt, everything is multiple washes.

- Actually used some of the extra tarps and bedrolls I've made out of surplus/excess greenstuff from other projects (I'm cheap and hate to waste anything). I like how they look hanging off the sides.

- Tried to make what would have been the driver's hatch on the toy into the fueling point/charging port by adding extra grub and rust, to show frequent contact with clumsy soldiers. I actually tried to make 'Unleaded Fuel Only' decals to put on or near each one, but couldn't make them small enough so skipped that.

So I have to say that for a Dollar Store project, I am actually quite happy with the outcomes. I tried some new stuff, learned some things (including what I don't like/doesn't work) and we move on. I've got three more of these little transformer-type robots, and will try to make some Khador Destroyers next. But the very next project- to have some fun and try a new approach to doing eyes- is a female heavy weapons gunner from the Heresy Girls 1.0 range. I've backed all three of his Kickstarters and I need to get some of 'em painted up.

Thank you for looking in. As always, your constructive criticism is always welcome, especially your tips and guidance on the new things I've tentatively tried here- like OSL.

More follows soonest.

 Meer_Cat wrote:
New things:

- Used the sponge press method of stippling on rust and scratches using Pavement Black and Vallejo's Rust Wash for the second time. Overall, I like the effect, but want to use it some more to get the right look.

-Used zero weathering powders and/or dirt, everything is multiple washes.

Thant's what I was thinking while looking at pictures - You have used them to a very good effect. Pigments have their use, but not universal one. Not everything needs to be salted with them.

- Tried Object Source Lighting in a small way on the lascannon coils the and the battle scuttle on the autocannon track. The effect is 'okay' as is- could always be better, but would definitely be better if I extended it onto the track itself and not just the weapon. But I remained true to the original proposition that the guns had to be interchangeable between the tracks and (forthcoming) ground platforms, so couldn't make all three 'electrified' from the lascannon overcharge.

Mixing is good, I attest to that!

- Made more extensive use of decals to add some color. I only have about a billion of these of various sorts hanging about, time to use them up.
- Tried to make what would have been the driver's hatch on the toy into the fueling point/charging port by adding extra grub and rust, to show frequent contact with clumsy soldiers. I actually tried to make 'Unleaded Fuel Only' decals to put on or near each one, but couldn't make them small enough so skipped that.

Decals are good and very appropriate too. There is that one more thing powder pigments are good at - weathering decals...

Overall I think this is a great result, Meer Cat. Please continue Your endeavours!

Thank you very much for the detailed (and extensive!) feedback, Wirecat- it is very much appreciated. I've got another vehicle project lined up in my queue- a counts-as Chimera that I reckon to do as a straight build, but put into use the skills I've been developing and practicing using the new air brush. But in the interlude, I've got a perfect figure from Heresy Labs HG 1.0 to try out skin/flesh painting techniques.

I've got the figure, I've got the paints and I've got White Dwarf November 2017 with the instructions! We'll see what happens.

Thanks again for dropping in; I've been watching your sculpts with keen interest as well.

Good job on the tiny tank things.



Look good, so no direct feedback, but a couple of hints on the new things you've tried:
Sponge chipping. I do this in a few passes;
1st is the undercoat, do this for where all chips will be, large or small. Some will be left as just the undercoat (not down to the metal). Use a contrasting colour or tone to the paint-job so that it's visible.
2nd is gunmetal, I use an old small brush to add a random shape within the larger chips. leaving just a thin line of the undercoat between metal and paint-job.
3rd is silver, again within the gunmetal shapes. Also can be used for small scratches in addition to the chips.
4th is a little black wash in the middle of only the largest of chips. to give them some depth.

You can also go as far as highlighting the upper edges of chips, but don't tend to because I always mess it up when I've tried. I've not got it to look right.

OSL:
I've found that the source needs to be white at it's brightest and the nearest of the cast light needs to be almost as bright as that. This should blend into the colour at the outer/farthest 20-30% of the area and then blend into the paint-job beyond that seamlessly. Should always result in being lighter than the underlying paint would be (it's being lit up).

If you have any coloured lights/leds about, bring them over and shine them on the model to see what actual light looks like for reference.

Beyond that, I'm not expert in OSL. I rarely use it.

All good points- thanks Doc! The figure I'm doing now doesn't call for chipping/weathering or OSL really, but I've got a vehicle lined up for after that, so will have a chance to give it another go.

My two pence worth ref. Chipping. Less is often more when it comes to realistic chipping, when I first started it looked like there was barely any original paint left
Second , as the good Doctor has mentioned the chip will look good if the edge is highlighted, this is really tricky to follow the complicated sponged shape with a brush, make it easy on yourself and brush or sponge the highlight colour on first then go over it with the darker chip colour, it will match up pretty well most of the time .

Thanks Big H- between all y'all H's I'll give this next vehicle a better go!

Loving the little tankettes!

Thanks CK! I saw a couple of pieces on- I think- Mad Robot and have been wild to try a 'counts-as' Heavy Weapons self-propelled platform ever since. It occurred to me that I hadn't included any real good scale shots to show size, so here are a couple with the Athena C2V as background and members of the Emperor's Own Space Borderers for comparison:









Thanks for looking in!

So, it's been an interesting couple of weeks and I wanted to post something before you guys got the idea I wasn't coming back and started dividing my camp stuff.

I got a wild hair awhile back and was getting some really good work started, so much in the groove that I began three projects, all different themes (one vehicle, one building, one figure) and as one was drying, I moved on to the next. I was employing Cam's recommended style of having no distractions- not even lyrical music, just instrumentals (as a side note, all those bands from the 80's and 90's and even some from the 70's will never know what they missed, not having me as back up vocals). And then work assigned extra hours since we were coming to the end of the contract period and I was essentially on a double shift. But not getting paid for it- special circumstances, 'for the love of the Corps' and the revolution will be televised. I'm looking around for a new place to light.

So here's a quick look at my three WIPs, with more to follow soonest.

First up is Ursula. This is a Heresy Labs Heresy Girl 1.0 figure from the first kickstarter and I figure can be a counts-as Escher ganger or even a Chaos heavy weapons figure (I don't do Chaos, I'm just not built for it, so ganger it is):



The base coating is done (so long as I keep liking the color scheme- I'm not sure) and now is the highlighting with dry brushing and some more washes.

Next is a cyber-robot-killer machine of death from Tehnolog:



This one is just because it's fun, and a different sort of build for me. I think I gave US$5.00 for this on eBay, and it originally was intended to be a practice project for airbrushing- but the shroud on the back, or carapace, has a lot of detail that I want to pick out, so I'll airbrush something else and use my traditional brush techniques for this.

Finally, I saw a cool Hirst Arts project doing interesting things with recessing the building into the 'hillside' and having a three quarter tower roof built in, so I wanted to try that:



Obviously, this one is least along, but they'll all get done when they get done. We're almost done with the Bataan Death Shift, so I'm hoping to get back into the swing on Monday.

Thanks for looking in, and more follows soonest.

I do love all of the Tehnolog stuff. So gloriously Russian!

Me too. I've still got a couple of Trex walkers to put together- they're my favorite of the Robogear walker platforms. And I want to see what I can put together for IG flyers by customizing/converting the Spruit and other flying platforms I picked up. I tend to save up and buy a bunch at a time; when you're paying the shipping from Russia, it's actually cost effective if the order is large enough.

Lots of nice work going on here, looking forward to killer robot.

Interesting projects. Look forward to more.

Thanks Doc, Cam. I was wondering if everyone had gone radio-silent since the new year- I've commented quite a few places but don't get a lot of response. I have noticed a pronounced slow-down in activity since the start of the New Year though (not just my own). Fewer postings in the blogs, lots fewer pictures posted in the galleries.

Nothing Spring won't cure, I reckon!

I’ll admit to being less active, even my posts are more dump and runs. Tons of events, sickness and picking up OT which was rarely offered to me plus video games.......

Heresy Lab Chick looks great, definitely Escher material.

I’ll have to look at getting some of the tehnolog stuff, it’s better looking than the couple kits I’ve seen on the clearance racks at the FGS. Maybe those were the dogs of the line.