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thanks, Tyranid Horde...








I really must get round to some better photography one of these days, but its raining today so inside blurry crappy shots is all you get...

get the kit here: https://www.ebay.com/str/Blood-and-Skulls-Industry?_trksid=p2047675.l2568


just fyi, the conversion lowdown is:
I already had the part constructed rhino in a job-lot from a friend
all I needed was two track sections (yes I mean two actual bloody induvidual tracklinks. thats was a wasteful and expensive purchase of a whole set of tracks...GRRR!)
The side-plates, front-plates and exhausts are the bloodandskulls kit.
the other changes are thus:
I added the grills to the door-steps (made from mesh).
I made the front lights out of missile pods from the landspeeder typhoon.
I added handles and reinforcing strips on the top-doors.
The rear door is classic plastic rhino kit with a cut down modern grill (from landspeeder?, valkyrie? I cant remember) in place of the viewport. I felt this made more sense as a vent rather than viewport due to its low position on the model
The top bolter-hatches are valkyrie missile pod backs with two of the same marine bike bolters attached, with the added cawl bolterrifle mags for a more modern aesthetic (think of the stormbolters that come with the rhino)
oh, and front tow hooks are from the leman-russ sprue...

all in pretty happy with it.
to be honest I prefer the fw side door details more but the blood and skulls engines/exhausts are much more satisfyingly oldskool...
the front plates of both are both equally as good as each other to my mind.

also I lent towards this one because I thought it would be cheaper, in fact it was until I got butt-funted on the import charges at this end once it came through the post... but meh, all in all it cost +/- the same as a fw one but then, remember, i had the tank chassis already so it actually works out more? I dunno. its great quality none the less but took a LOT of reforming in hot/cold water. not an amateur kit by any stretch. you really need to know about resin to do this and be comfortable with hacking and slashing/filing/filling etc... luckily. I am... ;D

only noticed the sexie classic landraider style "liberator" (rhino compatible) tracks in the B&S store after I ordered the replacement standard issue ones from ebay. otherwise I'd have gone for them 'n' all...

the other consideration is that the plastic SoB's are on their way and GW have teased some mk1 style rhino doors with ecclesiastical iconography included but who knows what that might mean? its not like horus heresy era mini's have not been re-imagined in plastic before (mk3 and mk4 marines?) so why not the rhino too..?
yeah, shan't hold my breath on that one...

Still considering adding a 'grab-rail' as on the classic one.

*edit*
lumix g1 with 14mm-45mm lens - I love you


rhino revisisted

first scout "neophyte Jace'tat" done!

with brother "Cissero" for scale (as this was asked for)

septimus

quintus

Tay'Lar

L'yden

reiver sgt Hall AKA big Ed!

finally you can see what they all really look like now!

I have to say that is one beautiful Rhino

The minis are excellent too. Great job!

 Machinator wrote:
I have to say that is one beautiful Rhino

The minis are excellent too. Great job!

Thanks machinator! You're kit was a real inspiration for me to actually do a rhino at all. The fact I had a chassis knocking about is just fortuitous! I'd not have done it otherwise. It's that oldskool look and those damn sexie exhaust systems that made me do it!
Excellent kit really. Not just saying that but the pics speak for themselves! Thanks for getting it to me so fast too...


I've also done some more conversion work with the scouts, tweaks to the weapons/equipment and general character of the existing models and two new neophytes entirely!


bolter guy. now with silenced tigrus bolter and visor head.

shotgun guy. now with bald scout head, these feature a lot in the artwork so I figured one would be good to include (taken from the spacewolf sprue; the mohawk head with the hair removed)

heavy guy. now using the African looking head from the deathwatch sprue because variety is nice and, imho, rather lacking in 40k!

sneaky pistol dude, now with nvg head, because why not?

and these are the aforementioned new guys. I figured that the heavy has big-ass arms so why not other scouts (always appears in the artwork too) here we have a reloading guy (catachan hq arm, mag from primaris kit, and nvg head) and a shotgunguy (another spacewolf head and the shotgun arms are grenade launcher arms from anvil industries, because full stock shotguns are tasty AF!)

believe it or not I'm still not 100% done on thee guys. I'm out to make a sniper (because, why not!) and I feel a melta would be fun. yes I know, not standard scout kit but, funt it, i'll play 'em as wolfscouts to use it if I have to...
also have the pockets etc from the deathwatch sprue on the way to play about with on them.
more soon I'm sure but Ive more guard and bfg ships to get done and I've recently nearly lost an eye at work the other day so I'm nursing a rather nasty eye-concussion involving headaches, blurred vision and a lot of disorientation and general nasty hangoverness... hopefully my vision will repair itself back to normal (or close enough) over the next week or so and I can get back to painting stuff. till then this will have to do!

ok. its been ages I know but rest assured I'm not dead yet!

truth be told I've been in perpetual crunch mode at work and all non work time for any hobby has been filled up with trying to finish this: https://www.moddb.com/mods/osjcs-doom-major-crisis
its my other hobby that i've decided to wind down this year so thats done now...

which means I can get back to some real hobby!

Ive had a go through my model cabinet and found myself wanting. there is an awful amount of grey plastic staring back at me and as such ive got to get back on it.
saturday I had a commission to do (some roman centurion figures, sigh they were a challenge and so far from what I was used to doing detail and theme wise but whoever said "its good to stretch yourself and try new things" is not a model painter... ) to be honest it was a grind and im not doing stuff thats not mine anymore. im sure that sounds selfish but at the minute it feels like the only free model time im getting is for evryone else. at this rate i'll die of old age before i get all my stuff done so funt it, my stuff or bust from now on!

not much to show at present. time away from the brush has bought a different perspective to some of my work as such some stuff is gone before the brush even touched them; 'slash captain' is gone.
some of the 'experiments' have gone. Im cutting it down to bare essentials until i get more stuff done.

as such i have:
squad1 = 5 intercessors/marines in quasi mk6 armour
squad2 = 5 intercessors/marines in quasi mk7 armour
squad3 = 2 intercessors/marines in quasi mk3 armour, 2 intercessors/marines in quasi mk5 armour and a quasi mk4 marine/intercessor.
squad4 = 5 reiver/infiltrators? in the phobos/rt-esque sneaky beaky gear with the classic bolter and backpacks
squad5 = 7 palanite enforcer/scout hybryds (may end up 10)
a rhino

much simpler to get this done and then start expanding instead of all these side projects and experiments spanking it all up...

that being said:

a new lt.

I knew I wanted a real charater-full commanding figure and im a sucker for good at-ease poses.
the other command figures ive made have been so ott or "too-converted" if you know what I mean so this guy is much more subtle but its obvious hes a guy in charge.
just to complicate matters his armour is both phobos and intercessor at the same time and also features mk6 lid and a real archaic looking mk3/mk4 hybrid backpack for some oldskool flavour.
this way he can command prettymuch any unit i choose and not look out of place but for the moment I cant un-see him as the master of the scouts.
like he's assigned to teach the neophytes and as such has phobos armour and a cape to allow him to infiltrate alongside them.
his bigass boltrifle (the first I've used in this army) helps to make him seem even bigger against the scouts too but to be honest thats not the reason hes armed this way. its just because it fits the pose so well. originaly he was to have a chainsword/axe but this just looked right.
to me a command figure should scream badass and that is better articulated by silent menace and the threat of force rather than overt and excessive drama.
which imho this guy has got right, he oozes cool and collectivness. he knows hes a badass he doesnt need to show it. you already know...

sorry the wip pic is so poor quality but i did it in low light on the smartphone again.

oh and im thinking of spinter camo for the cape as one it will look nice against the grey armour and two its simple geomtric style should fit the marine asthetic nicely...

Brillo!

The weathering on that Rhino is incredible - and the beaky helmets look great on Primaris marines. I had missed this blog up until now, glad I caught it this time around!

 tzurk wrote:
The weathering on that Rhino is incredible - and the beaky helmets look great on Primaris marines. I had missed this blog up until now, glad I caught it this time around!

why thank you. tbh i was unsure about trying the same weathering as on the infantry on the vehicle but its has worked to some effect. if not exactly realistic or entirely sensible in its application as it does look a little cartoonesque, it does match the troops so overall I'm happy with it.
it was really an excuse to buy the b&s kit! it is a nice conversion kit and ideal for a rt-era themed army afterall...

as for the beakies. you've got to be careful... the neck gorgets on primaris marines can get in the way, resulting in derpy-spacko-marines, as such, I find the beakies are a lot easier to apply to reivers or other phobos armoured troops.
on the regular intercessors it will work if the head is in a more upward position (the sgt conversion for example) but i'd strongly suggest shaving the cones down somewhat with a stanley-knife or whatever on others (as is done on 'cissero' and 'L'yden') you may not have noticed I've done this but it is vital in order to get the marine to look down or angled naturally. Just look at 'Tay'lar', if you're a little more critical, you can see i've not done this and he looks a just a little spazzy, not terribly, but his head is a little off-centre and now I cant unsee it. as such i'll never do another beakie without shaving down the lid or using an alternative
the said other alternative is to simply get the heads from the raven guard kit as they are already short enough to fit within the gorgets, bit expensive though so alternatively you could get these: https://bitsofwar.com/home/742-legionary-heads-raven-pattern.html#idTab1 which seem to be the right size too, though i've not tried these as of yet but may well do in t'futre...

Have you considered painting shark mouths onto the “beaks” (as seen in rogue trader)

You got a reference pic of one of those beakie helmets painted then? Or even some art representing it... Can't say I've ever seen that and I've been at 40k since... well, let's just say, a lot of hair ago...

Sounds like something I'd like to do but I'd like to do it 'right'...

 osjclatchford wrote:
You got a reference pic of one of those beakie helmets painted then? Or even some art representing it... Can't say I've ever seen that and I've been at 40k since... well, let's just say, a lot of hair ago...

Sounds like something I'd like to do but I'd like to do it 'right'...

It was just artwork, I’ll try to find it. It was very reminiscent of the nose art on the P-40 Tomahawks, Mustangs, Spitfires etc.

Edit: I can’t find the specific picture right now, but here’s basically what I meant:

Oh yeah... Like this: https://images.wikia.com/warhammer40k/images/7/7d/Jaws_of_Doom.jpg

too derpy for me i think...


*edit*
must just correct myself from above re. the raven guard sprue.
just got my hands on one in the flesh and the beakie on that sprue is no different in length of "cone" as a regular marine beakie so don't buy that sprue on the strength of that. get those ones from kromlech or shave the cones down on regular beakies if you want them to fit within the neck gorgets.
what an absolute cheeky-sneaky-cheat of gw to do that though eh?
deliberately take the picture of the completed model from an angle that made the helmet look 'sleeker'.
tbh i think its kinda stupid to make a conversion upgrade kit that is not actually fully compatible with the models its intended to convert. and its not like its a third party kit either is it?
as I said before, they'll be fine on reiver or other phobos armoured primaris but only good on intercessors looking up! LOL
I personally think they've really missed a trick there...

Oof, really? That’s not good, I would have expected better of GW. My hopes of an all-beaky primaris have been dashed! Dashed!

sigh...
nope, nothing else painted but lo and behold ive gone and done something actually worth posting though.

so i was thinking about our prior conversations regarding primaris termies. I figured that the aggressors were primaris's answer to both devastators and termies all in one. lets be honest. the models aren't the best eh? obese-marines. far to many pies and not enough bad-assery all round. so what next? converting custodes termies? funt that. too much effort for something thats ok scale wise but just a bit meh in the end. so i went down to brass tacks.
what is a terminator? its properly defined as "tactical dreadnought armour" when I properly think about that definition I dont really feel that a terminator model looks at all that tactical to me. nor is it impressively sized enough to bear the name 'dreadnought' either (well they were back in the rt days of models but not since second edish, even less so with primaris stuff) so I felt a bit at a loss of what to do.

you all know by now that I like the tactical function-over-form utilitarian look of the new primaris intercessors and phobos armour. its reminiscent of the old rt clean asthetic i remember so fondly. so i wanted a model that looked suitable to bear the name 'tactical' and 'dreadnought' in its title. so centurions... yeah I know stubby little fatso suits right?
well not now:

centuridevinatornought, Master Obedia

Yes I know its not a terminator. nor is it a devastator. nor is it actually a centurion. its a combination of all three that as of yet ive no idea how to field rules wise (simply as CA cents? I dunno or care really)
at one point I toyed with the idea of outfitting with termie weapons but be honest. if you could actually build a suit this big you'd put heavies on it. its just that simple.
I was also going to back fill all the legs and change the backpack too but i actually found thatafter I "fixed" the proportions (removing the hurrianebolter sections, refitting the arms, and legthening the legs) I liked the idea of a marine that can put on his extra veronica/ampsuit/powerloader battlesuit to show tau what battlesuits really are!
I mean come on man, its a spacemarine inside a space marine so that I can spacemarine whilst I spacemaine...
loads of shaving required to remove the excessive overuse of honorifica markings and loads of studs for oldskoolness but the head raising, leg-stretching and chest re-gigging has done the job for me. the rear of the legs was tricky but I found a pair of inverted cut-down reiver pads (with the rims shaved off) covered a multitude of sins. also got rid of the ott cabling and arm rigs. as on this interpretation the pilots arms are actually inside the arms. not crossed across the chest.
please bear in mind that the pose is not final as the bluetack is all thats holding it together at present. it'll look better painted

and yes, I'm a madman to even attempt this...

so.. between working, avoiding nurgles current "curse of unbelief" and trying to buy kahzi roll, I've managed to find some time to get my l.t done:





i'm real pleased at how the camo on the cape came out. wanted it to be real subtle, its a bit of an homage to the us military "duck hunter" camo as worn by marines in the south pacific during the war...
im becoming real fond of these phobos armoured marines. especially when kitted out as beakies...

Yeah, i think they look great with the beaks!

Stunning conversions, and great paintwork.

Nice subtle camo, but the pose really does it. A gorgeous mini, perfect conversion and paintjob!

thanks guys, theres this 'un too that I forgot to post yesterday.:

been done a while now but i forgot to take pics before as i was waiting on drying.
an experiment in goreno effects. (I know, bout time right?) tamiya's red x-27 clear is the answer...
this guy formerly had a box-mag bolter but ive since decided that he would be ideal candidate to +/- match that bit of spaceshark artwork (on the op) all he needed was the chainaxe.
the axe arms are actually the frost-axe blade from the spacewolf sprue and the head of the weapon is swapped out for one of them tasty shapeways prints I love so much!
as you can see i've also elected to use one of the new plastic sob bolters as his stowed weapon.
the sob bolters are a little smaller than the standard astartes gear but this makes them a good component for stowed weapons. just like how the hh stowed chainswords are about 10/20% (?) smaller than the 'in-hand' versions these work out about the same. if its smaller on the waistband it looks less bulky and does less to damage the silhouette of the model but still shows all the wargear you want the character to have...

and yeah, yet another model posing up a storm but whattayagonnado.
its also badass as well as cheesy so i don't care!

"This Is My Axe I Call Her Madeline' pose is brilliant as well as menacing The marine looks superb, probably one of my favorites of yours. Also sweet af to revisit your Sharks, so damn good

thanks Sav, the axe is now officially named 'madeline'

so no, I've not had the time to paint much recently but now ive just been given another day off ( ) ive gone and run out of humbrol matt black spray (my undercoat of choice, much better than chaos black tbh)and getting any from anywhere is impossible with this bleedin' lockdown.( yeah first world problems, i know, with the world succumbing to nurgles-rot around me at that's what I moan about!? ) so ebay to the rescue and its on order for now...
so instead of getting more painting done I've decided to finally revisit the scouts and create the final three that was needed to fill out the squad roster to ten.


this one uses one of the new sob bolters that seem just the right size for scouts tbh...


I disregarded the idea of a melta in the end in favour of this 'slayer' pattern double barreled shotty from the gsc set... ideal for ripping and tearing heresy...


the remaining parts I had left made the final conversion a bit of a bitch (was the other 'hunched over' guy) but with some anvil industry rolled-sleeve arms and some re-positioning of the waist the remaining crouching legs were relatively easy to fudge on to make for a good sniper pose...
note the bedroll as a 'stowed' cape and the addition of piss-poor sculpting on the scarf/scrim...

 osjclatchford wrote:
thanks Sav, the axe is now officially named 'madeline'

Happy to help

honey I shrunk the space-sharks!




made from vanguard's Novan Elites – Affray Squads (B).

I've never seen so much detail and character on 6mm minis that I have in this range! These are actually the first 6mm infantry minis I’ve ever painted. It was a real fun and surprisingly easy process. Basecoat, wash and highlight. Simple! These certainly have a 30k vibe to them. Featuring aspects of MK3 Mk6 and Mk5 in there but to see all the different advancing, aiming etc poses is the real kicker here. Never seen that in this scale. So nice to have stands that feature troops doing more than just standing! Lol
who did these 'sculpts anyhow, was it Malika?

so i got a trio of original white-metal mk1 rhinos that had never been painted before from ebay for less than a tenner with delivery!" I'm havin' that" says I and got to work on them asap:

now, don't get me wrong, I lke the novan elites spartam apc's fine but they just don't scream "rhino" enough for me. Maybe its the round top doors or the lack of side doors, but i just feel they look more guard than astartes to me. plus i want these to match my 28mm where possible so yeah, rhinos!

here's a (pretty blurry) shot of all the troops with the transports:


whats next? I found an old (original) metal epic thunderhawk in that joblot of stuff my old bud gave me (with the bfg ships ages ago...) alas its missing one of its side heavy bolter rigs so I might just take t'other one off and have none altogether so at least it will match...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
yeah, so I did it:


come out pretty good all told...

but in truth, I've my eye on one of these:
https://vanguardminiatures.co.uk/shop/novan-elites-eagle-dropship/

got some more work done on old obie! more like I originally intended him to look now...

gone are the old pads and lid and in place are mkV inspired alternatives.
also note a heavy guy I threw together...

Just wanted to bump this fine thread! I'm a big fan of what you're cooking up here. Just in the middle of designing/building my own RT-era influenced BA army, and your work is very inspiring.

New centurion is the business, those old pads in a totally different style had to go

Digging the heavy guy, nice weight to the gun. Also those are some SERIOUS studs across these two!

Thanks guys.


The studs are the same size on the other marines I've done...
Might just be the pic...

Not a complaint, I think it might just be how many there are between the two of them in that shot (blaming the chonky boi)

 osjclatchford wrote:
honey I shrunk the space-sharks!




made from vanguard's Novan Elites – Affray Squads (B).

I've never seen so much detail and character on 6mm minis that I have in this range! These are actually the first 6mm infantry minis I’ve ever painted. It was a real fun and surprisingly easy process. Basecoat, wash and highlight. Simple! These certainly have a 30k vibe to them. Featuring aspects of MK3 Mk6 and Mk5 in there but to see all the different advancing, aiming etc poses is the real kicker here. Never seen that in this scale. So nice to have stands that feature troops doing more than just standing! Lol
who did these 'sculpts anyhow, was it Malika?

The sculptor is a fella named Olivier, he did some cool Epic scale stuff on the French Epic forum.