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 Viterbi wrote:
The bikes need purity seals too, can‘t let the machine spirits get any wrong ideas

Good point, well made!

A bit late congrats on finishing the 100th model this year.
I'm far far behind you

The red on the crusader's cloak is astonishing.
Really like the effect! The model is neatly done all around.

Can't wait to see those bikes done, they will look really awesome in a group. And like youwashock hinted, a group shot is strongly recommended

 Ezki wrote:
A bit late congrats on finishing the 100th model this year.
I'm far far behind you

The red on the crusader's cloak is astonishing.
Really like the effect! The model is neatly done all around.

Can't wait to see those bikes done, they will look really awesome in a group. And like youwashock hinted, a group shot is strongly recommended

Thanks Ezki, as the saying goes, it’s quality, not quantity and you’ve got me beat on that front! . The Crusader was a nice quick palette cleanser that came out pretty well for the speed. I fancy another adventurer once these bikers are done, and since everyone loves a group shot I’ll get the SMH Tactical Squad out too.

I didn’t do any painting on Sunday, but I did a bit of crafting and mould making instead. I tried my card templates again but this time with Oyumaru instead of GS. It seems to have been successful and delivers much neater (if not smooth) results. It’s also a bit thick at the top, but it’s pretty decent I think. I might use some GS in this mould then try to smooth it either before or after it cures in order to make another mould. Alternatively I might try again with the card but maybe on a flat surface and use the Oyumaru’s flexibility to press it on to a pad. Any thoughts on how to smooth and reduce the thickness? I did a tactical marking and an assault marking too, so will mark up the bikers this way I reckon.

Thanks for looking

PS do I paint the sides black and edge highlight them or leave them purple?

Hmmm. I think maybe roll out some GS nice and thin. Cut a card template of the overall shape and transfer that onto a shoulder pad. Smooth it into shape and then sculpt the design into it.

When it cures you can make a mold of the thing. Using the mold you carefully fill the shape with GS and press a new shoulder onto it, let it cure, remove mold.

I'm tempted to try it myself just to see if I'm making sense.

What theCrowe is suggesting makes sense. In that you have a single master shoulder pad to make a mold. One that you used only a thin layer of GS to create.

Once the mold is created, you can spray in a little release agent...let that dry...then impress a small amount of GS into the chapter badge of your mold and then push in a new blank should pad.

The GS will adhere to the blank should pad and be easily removable for the next copy.

Now the trick is to let the release agent appear to try, because if you push in some new GS and the release agent gets on both sides it will not stick to the blank shoulder pad.

I did something similar for my first batches of forage caps for my Imperial Guard...except that I just pushed in the GS into the mold and remove it once dry (the release agent made it so the GS did not stick to the mold - I used PAM as the release agent spray). I used two part epoxy to glue the cap to the cut down head...so I had a deeper GS mold, but the concept is similar.

My two cents,

CB

theCrowe wrote:Hmmm. I think maybe roll out some GS nice and thin. Cut a card template of the overall shape and transfer that onto a shoulder pad. Smooth it into shape and then sculpt the design into it.

When it cures you can make a mold of the thing. Using the mold you carefully fill the shape with GS and press a new shoulder onto it, let it cure, remove mold.

I'm tempted to try it myself just to see if I'm making sense.

Captain Brown wrote:What theCrowe is suggesting makes sense. In that you have a single master shoulder pad to make a mold. One that you used only a thin layer of GS to create.

Once the mold is created, you can spray in a little release agent...let that dry...then impress a small amount of GS into the chapter badge of your mold and then push in a new blank should pad.

The GS will adhere to the blank should pad and be easily removable for the next copy.

Now the trick is to let the release agent appear to try, because if you push in some new GS and the release agent gets on both sides it will not stick to the blank shoulder pad.

I did something similar for my first batches of forage caps for my Imperial Guard...except that I just pushed in the GS into the mold and remove it once dry (the release agent made it so the GS did not stick to the mold - I used PAM as the release agent spray). I used two part epoxy to glue the cap to the cut down head...so I had a deeper GS mold, but the concept is similar.

My two cents,

CB

Thanks guys, I’ve been holding off trying to sculpt the symbol, but using the card as a template might just work, kinda half again on from what I’ve done so far. My lack of sculpting tools was putting me off, but I reckon using the templates should just allow me to use a sharp knife once the GS starting to firm up. I’ll give that a go next I get some hobby time. For the press mould I’ll use Oyumaru which doesn’t seem to stick to the GS. I’ve been impressed with it so far, it’s just my skill that is letting me down so far!

I got the old painting sticks out tonight and made decent progress on the Bikers. I started off with the bases, a bit of dry brushing over the contrast which didn’t seem to work too well with my matt primer. Then I slapped on some boltgun metal followed by gehennas gold for some of the fancy bits. I’m calling them done after their Agrax wash.

I then moved on to the green bits, getting the corners their white dots. I figured I’d do a bit of writing on the screens and 1 got a targeting screen. I did a bit of red on the bikes buttons too before fiddling with poses whilst gluing the bikes to their bases. Here’s a few snaps;




Seeing the gold biker on the black bike, I’m liking the combination. The gold assault markings on the bike add a bit of the Black Legion vibe I was aiming for too. I’ll try to push on now as I want to see them done and move on to something else.

Thanks for looking!

Oh and I messed about with some GS but if can’t seem to get my head around the stuff. It sticks when I don’t want it to and won’t when I do! I’ve given the current press mould a go with a smaller blob and without a pad, so we’ll see how that goes!

That's good stuff. The whole lot is working for me. The green really pulls it all together, for some reason. The highlights on the bikes are great. Excited for the big finish.

Liking the bikes, the black with gold trim makes it fit in with the gold marines without being over the top like a straight up gold bike would be.

Looking good.

They are looking amazing, finally bikes and bikers together. Target screen looks extremely cool and the tilting makes the models very dynamic and really hides their age.

Bikes and bases look great!

Excellent progress on the bikes! Even if the one guy is pointing his gun right at us. Rude!

Those bikers are outta the park. Love the gold on black scheme - they do happen to be my college colors, but also I always thought the combo looked grand and imperial and intimidating. Looks like you mixed a bit of purple into the black for edge highlights? I love that choice. Helps tie the bike and rider together really well.

The black and gold bikes really do work well when paired with the purple and gold marines. The sector mechanicus bases look excellent with them as well.

Very nice bikes. Good decision to make the bikes a different colour to the riders.

I did a little work on modelling my Astral Claws bikes this afternoon. Planning to paint them after I finish my Executioners, I reckon.

youwashock wrote:That's good stuff. The whole lot is working for me. The green really pulls it all together, for some reason. The highlights on the bikes are great. Excited for the big finish.

Thanks youwashock, i suppose the green and purple are the consistent colours, the rest was just a sway of the primary and tertiary colours. I feel the highlights on the bikes went well, probably the straight lines helped with that! Though there was a decent bit of cleaning up to do.

Guardling wrote:Liking the bikes, the black with gold trim makes it fit in with the gold marines without being over the top like a straight up gold bike would be.

Thanks Guardling, hopefully they fit in with the Tacticals too, I’ll have to get a group shot together to confirm. Hopefully the bikes are still bling, but I think your right that a gold bike might be a bit much, even in 40k!

Arakasi wrote:Looking good.

Cheers Arakasi

Viterbi wrote:They are looking amazing, finally bikes and bikers together. Target screen looks extremely cool and the tilting makes the models very dynamic and really hides their age.

I’m getting there, though this bit always seems the slowest for me. I’m glad the pose of the bike comes off as dynamic, hopefully that carries through once it’s all done! Should I add a red “enemy” dot on the target ting screen?

Yorkright wrote: Bikes and bases look great!

Thanks Yorkright, I’m glad I stumped up for the bases!

amazingturtles wrote:Excellent progress on the bikes! Even if the one guy is pointing his gun right at us. Rude!

Thanks turtles, I guess wearing ceramite armour makes one a bit more cavalier when it comes to gun safety! I can only apologise on his behalf!

Don Qui Hotep wrote:Those bikers are outta the park. Love the gold on black scheme - they do happen to be my college colors, but also I always thought the combo looked grand and imperial and intimidating. Looks like you mixed a bit of purple into the black for edge highlights? I love that choice. Helps tie the bike and rider together really well.

Thanks Don, it sounds like your college is a bit regal! I always felt they were quite opulent colours, kinda perfect for Marines. Yes, the mid tone on the black is purple, I’ve followed it on from my BSF Black Legion dudes. I want the Void Panthers’ First Company to be Black and Gold, hinting at a dark past/future.

ListenToMeWarriors wrote:The black and gold bikes really do work well when paired with the purple and gold marines. The sector mechanicus bases look excellent with them as well.

Thanks LTMW. The bases are Sector Imperialis, they’re quite nice, but they lack variety, far too many duplicates for using with a whole army. I reckon I’ll have to modify some of them, but I think doing so might tie them in more with the Space Marine Heroes bases.

Fifty wrote:Very nice bikes. Good decision to make the bikes a different colour to the riders.

I did a little work on modelling my Astral Claws bikes this afternoon. Planning to paint them after I finish my Executioners, I reckon.

Cheers fifty, I’m enjoying seeing these guys develop, I only wish I could get them done sooner! I look forward to seeing you smash out your Astral Claws bikers. Will they be getting more modelling attention than the Mantis Warriors?

Speaking of modelling attention my bikes and bikers got some tonight. I’m giving my crafted pad markings another chance. I had to redo the tactical and assault markings as i did them in the middle of a blob so couldn’t get them in to position on a built Marine. I think the bike Sgt will still have issues with his Chainsword getting in the way sadly. I’ll have a gander at what they look like tomorrow.


For some reason I dived straight in with the stock built biker...

I think the assault markings might have too much GS In the mould, hopefully it’ll be easy to rescue! Not sure how the revised Chapter Badge will turn out. Despite starting in the first proper pad recipient, I’ve also got a new pad en route from Northern Ireland, courtesy of theCrowe. I’ll be giving that one a go when it arrives, maybe I can make a mould that fits the Sgt!

They got even more modelling attention after that. I used up some GS purity seals and some plastic ones from my start collecting box. Each bike got a seal as did each marine. I even cracked out the painting sticks and got some Zandri dust on them followed by a sepia wash. Before calling it a night I painted the base rims too.

They’re getting closer.. I promise! If I get a quiet meeting tomorrow I’ll sort out pressing bolt pistol bikers pads too (assuming they first pads come out ok!

Thanks for looking!

Fingers crossed for your press moulding success. More yellow than blue in the mix might help as it'll make the greenstuff a bit softer and easier to press thinner.

Bikers are looking super cool already.

Waiting to see how the experiment turns out. Looking great so far.

Pic of the giant yellow "pads" is great. Good luck!

Hope your moulding (is that a proper word?) works out! And yeah, a red dot for enemy contact would look cool on the screen.

Oh boy the bikes are looking good!
The details on the screens is a nice touch.

In a "morning coma before coffee" I saw the picture with the yellow chunks on the biker and rubbed my eyes a few times, until I finally realized they were not the actual shoulder pads

Hopefully it works out well!

Bikers are looking good gobert.

Cheers,

CB

theCrowe wrote:Fingers crossed for your press moulding success. More yellow than blue in the mix might help as it'll make the greenstuff a bit softer and easier to press thinner.

Bikers are looking super cool already.

Thanks bud, the new pad arrived today


The Sgt will be the first recipient of it. The thinness of your sculpting is way better than what my paper attempts could muster, thanks so much! The mould looks like it may have slipped so I might need a couple of goes, I’ll check in the morning.

Yorkright wrote: Waiting to see how the experiment turns out. Looking great so far.

Hopefully you’ll like them, though I’m more excited at the new pad on Sgt Crowe/Corvus.

youwashock wrote:Pic of the giant yellow "pads" is great. Good luck!

Yeah, they look pretty comedy! The Sgt has gone pink and yellow because he’s more bling!

Viterbi wrote:Hope your moulding (is that a proper word?) works out! And yeah, a red dot for enemy contact would look cool on the screen.

Yeah, moulding works, though Americans would say molding. Google reckons that both are fine though. I forgot the red dot... I’ll try to remember next time.

Ezki wrote:Oh boy the bikes are looking good!
The details on the screens is a nice touch.

In a "morning coma before coffee" I saw the picture with the yellow chunks on the biker and rubbed my eyes a few times, until I finally realized they were not the actual shoulder pads

Hopefully it works out well!

Cheers man, the screen details aren’t up to the quality of some, but I’ll take it! Ha ha! I hope your coffee was strong to clear the coma!

Captain Brown wrote:Bikers are looking good gobert.

Cheers,

CB

Thanks cap!

Oh so close now! As I noted above I got the press moulds done on the 2 Marines, the Sgt is in his casts right now though. He’ll be getting a fancy pad courtesy of theCrowe (see front of the image below for the original). The assault markings came out ok but they’re fiddly to get painted with tired eyes. Keeping with the modelling I decided to pin the bikes to their bases as I kept knocking the leaning one off!. As such the painting was limited. The headlight bars got reinstated, the pads got re base painted, whilst the icons got painted and edge highlighted. I also got all of the purity seals painted up and attached, with each bike and marine getting one.

Just reapplying highlights to the shoulder pads to do on the 2 marines and they’ll be done. The Sgt will need his pads repainting too, and his spike removing too! They’re jobs for another day as it’s WAY past my bedtime

Thanks for looking!

You'e very welcome. I do love to go all dakka community active when the opportunity arises to help a brother in need.

That's some right snazzy bikers...
Also shiny enough to draw in any Bad moon on the planet. Job well done gobert

So close you can smell it. And it smells like awesome. Strong finish!

The bikers look fantastic. The little screens and buttons are icing on a really shiny, gold cake.

It really is a strong colour scheme you've achieved with these Void Panthers, I do like them muchly. I had a similar metallic intensive SM force in the early pages of my own thread, maybe part of the reason I like yours! :E

Watching your moulding experiments with interest - perseverance is the key.

theCrowe wrote:You'e very welcome. I do love to go all dakka community active when the opportunity arises to help a brother in need.

So I was taking a look at the press mould and the original... you outlined each shape! That’s some serious skill! Sadly the press mould seems to have split as well as slipped so I’ll have to have another at making the mould. I think I’ll be able to rescue Sgt Corvus’ pad. I gave it a bit of a patch up where it slipped and cut and filed the bits where the GS went in to the split. If I get an evening this week I’ll see how it looks with some paint. Despite the miscast, it’s noticeably thinner than my attempts. Cheers!

Not Online!!! wrote:That's some right snazzy bikers...
Also shiny enough to draw in any Bad moon on the planet. Job well done gobert

Thanks Not Online!!! Always good to attract some xenos, all the easier to deal out the exterminatus!

youwashock wrote:So close you can smell it. And it smells like awesome. Strong finish!

They’ve been going on so long they probably do smell! Still a little longer to go I’m afraid

DJJazzyJeff wrote:The bikers look fantastic. The little screens and buttons are icing on a really shiny, gold cake.

Mmm cake! Cheers Jeff, the screens were actually fun this time, my previous attempts just kept going wrong! Sadly I’m none the wiser what the difference was

Ragsta wrote:It really is a strong colour scheme you've achieved with these Void Panthers, I do like them muchly. I had a similar metallic intensive SM force in the early pages of my own thread, maybe part of the reason I like yours! :E

Watching your moulding experiments with interest - perseverance is the key.

Thanks Ragsta, they’ve been fun to do. I’ll have to scour your plog to look up your Marines. Sadly you’re right on the moulding, if only these things came easily, but then where would the fun be!

No painting since Friday, but I’m pretty much done with the moulds on these guys. I’ll get Sgt Corvus to the same stage as the other 2, then push through with the highlights on the pads before I call them done. Note to self for the next lot, get all of the moulding done before painting next time! Since these guys are nearly done what should I do next? Indomitus Necron Warriors, 2nd Edition Orks, Mechanicus dudes from BSF Escalation?

I’ve been thinking of adding to my pile by buying a copy of BSF: No Repsite, they’re going for insane money right now. I don’t need the minis as I got the ETB Poxwalkers and Plague Marines. I’m tempted by the Spanish version as I mainly want the tokens and game boards. Google translate should be enough to sort out the rules. If I wait do you think the prices will get more sensible or more insane?