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I don't think the dogs were too chunky but all i can say now is

Awwww, puppies.

Gas mask wearing war dog puppies

The Riddle of Steel wrote:Really cool stuff. I'm glad to see all the updates. I'm loving all of it, but the dogs with gas masks and grenades(?) are really unique.

Thank you for your kind words

gobert wrote:What an awesome project! I think the size reduction on the dogs was the right call, they got almost looked like small horses at the first size. They also seem pretty smoothly printed, or did you spend hours sanding them smoother?

Small horses; Actually I received a "complimentary" ratling from a recent order, and when I compared them, my immediate thought was they could ride these

Da Boss wrote:Amazing work here. How did you cast the horses? A unit of Rough Riders is the final thing I want to add to my guard collection, and I want something like the look you have got here.

How do you cast anything I have 10 or so spare casts if you are seriously interested

 amazingturtles wrote:
I don't think the dogs were too chunky but all i can say now is

Awwww, puppies.

Gas mask wearing war dog puppies

Fingers crossed that is what the enemies of the Imperium think, and get distracted before being run over by a thundering cavalry charge

The smaller dogs look good! They're on 25 mm bases now, right? It looks more natural with the smaller bases, anyway. If you continue with dogs and artillery, please consider this alternative.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs_in_warfare#/media/File:The_Battle_of_Frontiers,_August-september_1914_Q70232.jpg

Those dogs towing machineguns are available in a "heroic" 28mm scale from Brigade Models. I have a couple and they are nice.

The Rough Riders are looking outstanding - great choice of figures, really nice stuff. I look forward to seeing some painted.

Pomander Cask wrote:The smaller dogs look good! They're on 25 mm bases now, right? It looks more natural with the smaller bases, anyway. If you continue with dogs and artillery, please consider this alternative.

Yeah 25mm bases now.

Hmm what an interesting idea, and how novel. I have no idea where they would go though. Maybe perhaps just a one off in a kill team

kestral wrote:Those dogs towing machineguns are available in a "heroic" 28mm scale from Brigade Models. I have a couple and they are nice.

The Rough Riders are looking outstanding - great choice of figures, really nice stuff. I look forward to seeing some painted.

You and me both, after the tow guns are converted, the airbrush will come out, if I don't get distracted with other stuff (again!)

Being a Jock, I approve of Scottish Guard regiments.

Always have liked the Drookian Fenguard, from the reference to being 'drookit' (Scots for soaking wet) to the fluff of them being somewhat marauding fellows of ill repute.

Cracking work!

 Elnibbus wrote:
Being a Jock, I approve of Scottish Guard regiments.

Always have liked the Drookian Fenguard, from the reference to being 'drookit' (Scots for soaking wet) to the fluff of them being somewhat marauding fellows of ill repute.

Cracking work!

Thank you very much, and I am very impressed with your Scottish knowledge, not many people would know that

Tow Gun Progress Part 1



I am excited to say today I can show a sneak peak of what is being worked on. Doing an all cavalry army would get a little boring if it would only be made of only one squad, in this instance Rough Riders. Therefore other squads are being converted to incorporate the cavalry element of my army.

Heavy Weapon Teams are the first to get said treatment, after all it quite clearly said it in the 3rd edition rulebook



Now I am certainly made enough to do such a thing.

Despite my best efforts and some valiant attempts I found it rather difficult to create such a conversion, that would be easily replicated. Therefore I reached out to Maarten van der Zalm, a miniature designer to create the trailer and gun in CAD so that it may be 3D printed and easily replicated.

I now have a few sample shots of what we (mainly he) have been working on.

Please while you are here, take a look at his Shapeways Shop Youbreakityoubuyit

It will mean a lot to me if you can support him






The design eerily resembles the Death Korp aesthetics to match well with the rest of my army. The ammo cart will have a removable lid, inside of which will have magnetisable inserts, each one corresponding to the heavy weapon in tow. Ammo Drums for Autocannons, Power Packs for Lascannons etc

As always I hope you have enjoyed, and I look forward to reading any comments you may have

See you soon

All the updates are looking great Minigiant! The command squad is awesome! Are you planning on doing any more work on the commissars cloak? That musician/vox operator is super cool. I look forward to seeing the heavy weapons team!

Minigiant wrote:


Thank you very much, and I am very impressed with your Scottish knowledge, not many people would know that

Well, being a Jock, I am a Scot! I'm from Galloway in the south west - a 'border reiver'.

Look forward to seeing how the horse-drawn heavy weaponry turns out. Keep up the good work!

 zahnib wrote:
All the updates are looking great Minigiant! The command squad is awesome! Are you planning on doing any more work on the commissars cloak? That musician/vox operator is super cool. I look forward to seeing the heavy weapons team!

That comment is always ominous, it means someone doesn't think it is properly finished.
I don't plan to do anymore to it, I know some people think it needs more folds.
I may attempt some freehand work on it once paint starts being applied but not sure as of yet

 Elnibbus wrote:

Look forward to seeing how the horse-drawn heavy weaponry turns out. Keep up the good work!

Thank you

Minigiant wrote:

 zahnib wrote:
All the updates are looking great Minigiant! The command squad is awesome! Are you planning on doing any more work on the commissars cloak? That musician/vox operator is super cool. I look forward to seeing the heavy weapons team!

That comment is always ominous, it means someone doesn't think it is properly finished.
I don't plan to do anymore to it, I know some people think it needs more folds.
I may attempt some freehand work on it once paint starts being applied but not sure as of yet

Haha, sorry I didn't mean for it sound ominous! But yes I think it could do with some more folds as it looks a bit flat at the moment. Maybe som freehand designs will fix that though.

 zahnib wrote:

Minigiant wrote:

 zahnib wrote:
All the updates are looking great Minigiant! The command squad is awesome! Are you planning on doing any more work on the commissars cloak? That musician/vox operator is super cool. I look forward to seeing the heavy weapons team!

That comment is always ominous, it means someone doesn't think it is properly finished.
I don't plan to do anymore to it, I know some people think it needs more folds.
I may attempt some freehand work on it once paint starts being applied but not sure as of yet

Haha, sorry I didn't mean for it sound ominous! But yes I think it could do with some more folds as it looks a bit flat at the moment. Maybe som freehand designs will fix that though.

Sculpting Cloaks will always be the death of me I will happily attest to that


Automatically Appended Next Post:
40k Willys Jeep



While the CAD Files for the Tow Guns are being worked on by someone else, I have had some time to pursue a side project that I have wanted to do for a very long time; A 40k Willys Jeep.

Now the use of Scale Miniatures in 40k has always been met with mixed results. They suffer from scale issues, and not being ‘heroic’ enough.

[*] Tamiya 32552
[*] Wheels – Blackdog US Jeep Accessories
[*] Stowage – Blackdog British SAS Jeep North Africa
[*] Heavy Stubbers – Forgeworld DK HWT
[*] Brass Barrels – RB Models 20mm Oerlikon L/70, grooved barrel
[*] Legs – Victoria Sitting Kilt Legs
[*] Arms – Mad Robot Miniatures

Where it fits into my Regiments Organisational Structure I do not yet know, nor do I know what rules I would use for it if it ever graced the table but, what I do know is that I am very happy with it.

The corrent consensus is either a Staff Car for the Command of an upcoming Field Artillery Company or as part of a future kill team (Long Range Desert Group esq)

It has been suggested that with a little moderation to its loadout (Which I note will never happen), it would make a good count as Tauros. To that I say, a 1/48 Wasp Flamethrower Jeep would be an even better replacement.

So I have been a busy little bee while waiting for the completed CAD files to come in. No idea what I will be like while they are awaybeing printed. Exciting times ahead

Proof of Concept: Drookian Dragoons



While I am making a Cavalry Regiment, I never once said I was sticking just to the Rough Rider unit; that would be incredibly boring wouldn’t it. I am of course waiting for the Tow Gun Parts to be finished, and while I am waiting have that pent up hobby energy so I decided to crack on and do a proof of concept for a unit idea I had, Dragoons.
Quick history lesson:

“Dragoons originally were a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot.”

Note: I don’t care about the legality of base sizes

The intention of these is for them to count as Infantry if I ever get to play again (Haven’t played properly since 5th). I am of course limited to them not being able to realistically mount up in a Chimera but, the image of having more cavalry really appeals to me

Components

▪My Highlandised Death Rider Horse
▪Puppetswar Cossack Head
▪Victoria miniatures Kilt Legs & Rolled Sleeve arms
▪Death Korp Lasgun
A lot of work still to go with this but, the proof of concept is there. There will need to bit of green stuffing to smooth over the saddle, fix the stowage, and have the reins hanging down.

Have you considered having a "Chimera" that is a block of horses with removable riders? So you can add the riders to represent when your "Dragoons" are inside the "Chimera", and then remove all but a handful to represent the empty "Chimera"?

 Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:
Have you considered having a "Chimera" that is a block of horses with removable riders? So you can add the riders to represent when your "Dragoons" are inside the "Chimera", and then remove all but a handful to represent the empty "Chimera"?

I had actually considered something along those lines actually. I ultimately decided against it for a few reasons. I hardly ever play so it is a lot of extra work for very little need. Then it is not what I call a 'clean' conversion; to explain the unit I need to mount and dismount my troops. And finally, as there will be a heavy weapon team in the squad it kinda explains the units speed as they hitch and unhitch the big gun for firing

Drookian Dragoons



I have been riding that surge of hobby energy, and finished off my Dragoon concept and rounded it out with the other 7 standard infantry. Making it one “count as” Infantry Squad currently minus a Heavy Weapons Team.

After removing the riders I had to rebuild

[*]The Saddle
[*]Baggage
[*]Stirrups
[*]Reins
[*]

The Stirrups while fiddly were not too difficult. If I was to make more I would 3D print them just to save time.

The Reins on the other hand were annoying to do, particularly the ones over the head. The Greenstuff ones are sharper but the Plasticard one has far better shape.



Tow Gun Progress

You will see from the pictures that there are only eight Dragoons, that is because a heavy weapon team will be joining them. Maarten has been chipping away on the CAD files. Here are some of the newest renders (Rivets will be the last thing added)



Future Project



Games Workshop recently announced the new Adeptus Mechanicus Unit: Serberys raiders. I of course looked beyond that and finally saw a far simpler route to making

Bio-Priest Fleshseer AKA ‘The Vet’ (Count as Tech-Priest)

Here is some inspiration I will be working off of for it:



Thank you very much. I look forward to reading what you have to say. See you on the next one

Excellent progress all around, and i like the idea for that guy, especially the beakish face mask, if you end up using that

Plague Doctor tech priest....awesome! Great stuff in this blog, really inspirational.

Excellent stuff.

I am ashamed to have missed the drookit reference. Will there be sleekit Scions?

amazingturtles wrote:Excellent progress all around, and i like the idea for that guy, especially the beakish face mask, if you end up using that

I will most certainly be using the beakish face mask, and I think I will be giving them a Power Scythe over the normal Power Axe

Da Boss wrote:Plague Doctor tech priest....awesome! Great stuff in this blog, really inspirational.

Thank you very much

Excommunicatus wrote:Excellent stuff.

I am ashamed to have missed the drookit reference. Will there be sleekit Scions?

Sleekit Grenadiers would be cool wouldn't they, Navy Seal esq. I am not sure, I have a few ideas brewing but, they are a way a way unfortunately

This is extremely cool, are you planning to add any horses in motion like charging? I really like the idea of Cavalry in the future but I'm coming at it from the other end with thunderwolves myself. Keep up the project it's awesome!

Jimbobbyish wrote:
This is extremely cool, are you planning to add any horses in motion like charging?

Don't get me wrong, i would really like to. I would love to add a bit more dynamism in the poses of the horses but, having seen a few other peoples attempts 100% of them look terrible. If I was to do it, I think a full sculpt would be required, and I am not that confident in my abilities

Jimbobbyish wrote:
I really like the idea of Cavalry in the future but I'm coming at it from the other end with thunderwolves myself. Keep up the project it's awesome!

I am well aware of your Landsknecht Marines, they are fantastic. I shared the blog with a few people, and have added the concept to my list of "Full Conversion Armies"

Loving the updates Minigiant, those dismounted riders look great. I'm looking forward to seeing some painted up!

Laser Cutting Templates - 40k Truck



Close to eleven years ago, Dave Taylor and Chris Wynn came together to build the awesome truck you see above. (Facebook: Dave Taylor Miniatures)

You can follow the build process here

Part One

Part Two

They then very kindly released the templates for the build so that others can copy this awesome conversion.



Now I always wanted to make this conversion but, was never willing to draw out all the templates by hand, especially if I ever wanted to make more than one. Therefore with currently being under quarantine procedures with the CoronaVirus Outbreak I converted the templates into DXF Files so that they can be accurately laser cut.

I reached out to Dave Taylor and Chris Wynn for permission to share these (Evidence available upon request), and wouldn’t you know, now they can too be yours.

You will want to cut into 1mm thick sheet styrene

Now due to global prevailing conditions I am not yet able to cut these myself but, I will be updating the file from time to time with any minor improvements that may or may not need to be made.

Again thank you to Dave Taylor and Chris Wynn for designing this awesome conversion, and everyone praise them for letting me share the DXF files with you

The Files can be downloaded from here

Update

Just a quick update today

Progress has admittedly been rather slow, and that is because I am currently under the affect of the COVID19 quarantine in China. On top of that my glue has dried out, and now I am relatively stuck with what hobby I can do in my apartment.

That said, I received an update on the TOW Gun kits that I am commissioning, and the variable lids representing different weapons ammunition has been finished.

Until the next one, have a great day

This blog has really grown arms and legs since I was last here. Great to see your artillery idea coming to fruition.

The digital sculpts are looking great.

 howie wrote:
This blog has really grown arms and legs since I was last here. Great to see your artillery idea coming to fruition.

The digital sculpts are looking great.

Haven't seen anything yet. This is small fry compared to something soon down the pipeline

Hey, that's hobby commitment ! That's the essence of what we all hope to achieve one day. Great blog, thanks for showing !

 godardc wrote:
Hey, that's hobby commitment ! That's the essence of what we all hope to achieve one day. Great blog, thanks for showing !

That it is very high praise, thank you very much

Amid worldwide chaos I bring you a big update!

The CAD designs for the Tow Guns are near enough complete, and therefore, ready for printing.

A method was devised on how to attach the gun to the cart. A solid connection made more sense than a second trailer hook since that could cause the cart to fishtail really weird in rough terrain. Now there’s a single balljoint connecting the horse to the cart so it is pulled more like one big trailer.

Hopefully the next time you see me I will have the prints done, and something assembled.