Silent Swords - WIP

[Silber]

I've been quite busy the last couple of weeks. Too busy to take pictures, but not too busy to paint every now and then... proof:

The dread's done, finally. Yay!

The Scout Sarge had a little weapon swap after a couple of test games:

And two specialist bikers:

I'm currently working on more scouts, some bikes and a bike-riding captain. I'm actually thinking about trying myself in casting custom parts. Female scout stuff, shoulder pads, something like that.... we'll see....

[Terrible_Trygon]

Wow. I am quite impressed. This army is really looking good. So far most armies with female marines in them have looked quite off, or slightly disturbing or weird, but you certainly are taking this seriously, and approaching it in a sensible, yet spectacular manner.

[Khrangar]

I feel sorry for the flamer bike. If he goes too fast he'll get a burst of flame in his face. They look great though, everything does.

 

Khrangar

[Ashen-Shugar]

I feel sorry for the flamer bike. If he goes too fast he'll get a burst of flame in his face.

 

I was thinking the same. You should give him a helmet :lol: You've got some good osl on that plasma though, and good painting in general.

[Iron Bars]

That is one beautiful dreadnought. How dit you make that ammobelt? Just plasticard?

[Vel'Cona]

To start with, I am far from a fan of the XX chromosome Astartes concept. I won't go into the reasons why, as that's for another topic, but it's something I usually find deters me in every way from a poster that includes this concept.

 

That said, your army is (artistically speaking) a very impressive work thus far. Your conversions in particular are very clean and believable, and your attention to detail is admirable. Your Dreadnought is probably one of my favorite on these forums, comparable in terms of concept and design to many Golden Daemon winners. I simply can't get enough of looking at the progress pictures of this gorgeous piece.

 

I don't believe your paint style is messy at all. I tend to be more of a "biological" style painter, and prefer battle-worn and original paint styles to the overly clean assembly-line stuff you sometimes find on these forums. In particular, your grasp of lighting and "glow" effects is very striking, and requires quite a bit of study to uncover just how the heck you do it. I imagine you do quite a bit of touch-up!

 

I'm looking forward to seeing your future projects, now that I've discovered your thread. Keep 'em coming!

[Justicar Valius]

i am very sorry to many guys out there but that is now my FAVE dread i have EVER seen. kudos to you :devil:

[Silber]

Wow. I am quite impressed. This army is really looking good. So far most armies with female marines in them have looked quite off, or slightly disturbing or weird, but you certainly are taking this seriously, and approaching it in a sensible, yet spectacular manner.

Thanks mate. You know, I find myself wavering on the FSM matter. I need better fluff. We'll see....

 

 

I feel sorry for the flamer bike. If he goes too fast he'll get a burst of flame in his face. They look great though, everything does.

 

Khrangar

He's an Astartes! He doesn't friggin care! :o :P

 

 

You've got some good osl on that plasma though, and good painting in general.

Thanks. I'm kinda proud of that plasmagun... I think I'm really starting to grasp osl now, it's probably the best I've done so far. Although the Dread's powerclaw is close, perhaps even a little bit better. But considering that I put about ten times the effort into the dread the biker is definitely a step forward...

 

 

That is one beautiful dreadnought. How dit you make that ammobelt? Just plasticard?

Si. Well, that and a little GS for touchup. If I'd do something the likes now I'd definitely add more details, though.

 

 

To start with, I am far from a fan of the XX chromosome Astartes concept. I won't go into the reasons why, as that's for another topic, but it's something I usually find deters me in every way from a poster that includes this concept.

The more happy I am to have you commenting on my thread!

 

 

That said, your army is (artistically speaking) a very impressive work thus far. Your conversions in particular are very clean and believable, and your attention to detail is admirable. Your Dreadnought is probably one of my favorite on these forums, comparable in terms of concept and design to many Golden Daemon winners. I simply can't get enough of looking at the progress pictures of this gorgeous piece.

 

I don't believe your paint style is messy at all. I tend to be more of a "biological" style painter, and prefer battle-worn and original paint styles to the overly clean assembly-line stuff you sometimes find on these forums. In particular, your grasp of lighting and "glow" effects is very striking, and requires quite a bit of study to uncover just how the heck you do it. I imagine you do quite a bit of touch-up!

 

I'm looking forward to seeing your future projects, now that I've discovered your thread. Keep 'em coming!

Thanks. I've come to think of my paintstyle as "painterly" as opposed to "messy" or "sloppy", although I still feel somewhat strange when looking at some of those very clean pieces you can find on the interwebs. But in the end that's just not my style. I tried it, and I wasn't bad at it (far from GD-standards, mind you), but I did not enjoy painting that way. So who cares. The feed back I'm getting on this thread is more than enough to show me that I'm not the only person who likes how I paint, although I find that hard to believe at times.... Actually I recently entered the Dread into a Golden Deamon. Didn't even make first cut. Well, it was my first and it was a rushed decision, so I wasn't really painting this thing for the GD. (If so I wouldn't have based it on the AOBR dread to begin with!) So it's okay, I didn't expect more....

 

Touch ups: Well, in the beginning stages there's very much corrections going on. On the OSL? No. I just paint that on. I work on it, but just in that slowly I add more until I like what I see. The only real touch-up (in the sense of overpainting the "light" and doing it again) on osl that I did was on the Dread's Asscannon. TBH it's better but I still don't like it.

 

 

i am very sorry to many guys out there but that is now my FAVE dread i have EVER seen. kudos to you :)

Thanks. :)

[blackblade68]

I was kind of hoping for some flames on the candles of the Dread. (I just think candles might add a little color highlight to the top of the model. But then you'd have to paint the "glowing effect," so...)

[Silber]

Are you trying to call me out? :D

[Seres Blackthorn]

You have attempted to make female marines that aren't overly done. Your a hero to those who think about the theory but don't like most representations. I once saw an excellent FM model that was accurate to the female physique, not some guys idea of a FM, and your 'Special Scout' is similar to it in the sense that it uses much more sensible thoughts instead of the 'Sculpt Boobs, alter Rear Plate' approach to most Female Marines.

[Silber]

Thanks. :P

 

Your a hero to those who think about the theory but don't like most representations.

In other words "keep doing FSM"? Is that what you're trying to tell me?

[Uncle Mel]

Thanks. :)

 

Your a hero to those who think about the theory but don't like most representations.

In other words "keep doing FSM"? Is that what you're trying to tell me?

 

If he won't, I will. Female or not they are great.

 

Mel

[Seres Blackthorn]

Yesish, I think if the female scouts are still done to your standard, most thoughts about the idea could be altered, because honestly, most of the nerd rage over it comes from representation, not the detailed explanation. Keep up the good work, and whatever you do, don't sculpt ginormous boobs on a normal SM chest plate and call it female

[Silber]

[...]sculpt ginormous boobs on a normal SM chest plate and call it female

Yeeesh, now I know what was missing all the time! ;)

Honestly, you don't think I'd do that, do you? ;)

 

I have no pictures, but just so you know: I'm currently working on the other three female scouts. It's a lot easier than the first one because I know where I'm going.

 

Regarding the whole FSM topic, I agree wholeheartedly with Seres. Trygon said something similar, I believe. Female Space Marines have a bad image because of the bad models that have been around. Still, I need a good consistent explanation for mine. Keep your eyes peeled, guys and gals, for an upcoming thread in the LIBER ASTARTES, those of you who are interested. I'll link from here.

 

Thanks again for all the kind words :)

[Justicar Valius]

hmm it was quite low down so i am bumping this thread up so other can see the amazingness of the dred.

[Silber]

Long time no see... :lol:

Well, I'm a busy little puppy these days, but more often than not I manage to wedge in some hobby time. And every once in a while I even get around to taking pictures of it. The Scout Squad is done, building-wise. It is comprised of

• Sarge (male)
  -armed with Combi-Flamer and Powerfist
  
• 1 male Scout
  -armed with Shotgun and Boltpistol
  
• 3 female Scouts
  -armed with Boltpistols, 1 with Shotgun, 2 with Combat Blades
  

Enjoy!

The male Shotgun-wielding Scout. Sorry, it's a bad picture, I know. He's a little kitbashed, the only real conversion work was done to his head. It's a Scoutbiker's head (which looks slightly less retarded compared to the standard ones to begin with) that has been deschwarzeneggerized by slightly shaving down the chin and spiced up with some GS-hair.

Female CC-Scout. I am pretty satisfied with the head, but the pose sucks.

Female CC-Scout. I like this one. The head is cool, the pose rocks as well - yeah, I really like this one.

There's things brewin on the fluff-frontier. I abandoned what I had. Right now I'm thinking 21st founding. Just so you know. The promised discussion thread in the Liber is still due, but as I said before - I'm a busy puppy these days....

[Silber]

Renamed the Thread.

 

I've got no idea what made me call myself a puppy last post (If I must I'm a kitten)....

The Space Wolves must have invaded my mind. I hate ;) Space Wolves. Brrrr..... :P

[BlOoD_GoD]

Wow, i like all your minis, just that one with th count-as power fist, i reckon if you positioned him leaning on his mace side, it would look like he's about to hit someone.

[Silber]

Phew, it's been quite some time, huh? Sorry folks, life has been getting into my way. Despite my best efforts I still to this day have to work in order to be able to eat. ;)

I love my job, but I'd rather do it just for fun.... yeah well, enough whining, on to the real stuff.

This little sweetie is the newest addition to my force, and I'm not afraid to say that I'm quite proud of it. I've been working on it now and then, perhaps some 10-20 hours total, but that's just a guess. I was just about to prime it when I realized I hadnt taken any pictures of it yet, and that it'd really be a pity if I missed out on that. So here they are. This Speeder is inspired by forgeworld's Tempest pattern, but it's not meant to be one. I just liked the meaner, sleeker, more high-techy look of that thing and decided to try and evoke that theme on my Typhoon. For lack of a better name let's call it the Argentum Pattern Typhoon, shall we?

As you can see it's got some sensor array hanging from it's belly. That one's there primarily for visual balance. Also I like to imagine this speeder as a kind of scout, operating like a modern combat helicopter. Ergo, extensive sensor upgrades.

The main ingredients are: a Speeder nosemount Assaultcannon, a Speeder nosemount Searchlight, a Terminator Teleport Homer.

To give you a quick rundown of the conversion process:

1. The main fuselage was assembled without the interior
   I also cut of the normal sensor mount on the hood as well as all those little details making up the cockpit
   
2. The cockpit was closed, starting from the sides
   For this I used cardbord stencils in order to make it fit.
   
3. The new - closed - cockpit was added
   
4. The air intakes and Heavy Bolter were added
   The insides of the intakes are from the rhino sprue. It's the part that goes in place of the top hatch when building a Razorback or Predator. I bet there's scores of different parts to cannibalize that kind of detail from....
   
5. The wing antennea were added
   
6. Gap filling part I
   At this point most of the gap filling was done, for example all seams between original parts and plasticard generated when closing the cockpit were smooothened out. I also closed the holes meant for the cockpit "ladder" and the Heavy Bolter railmount. For this I used the "Superglue and Baking Powder" method (Which is awesome but will undoubtedly get me arrested one day - ever since I learned about it I carry little ziplock bags with white powder in them in my painting case....).
   By the way I probably should have done this earlier. The antennea for example repeatedly got into my way when I was sanding the sides.
   
7. The "bumper" and Typhoon Launchers were added
   
8. Gap filling part II
   This time using Green Stuff
   
9. Details were added
   

Thanks for viewing....

[Frijj]

You are right. Your fairly sloppy with your highlighting and toning.

That being said you are skilled and the free hand is pretty crisp for someone not trying to hard, unless thats a fib.

To be honest i couldn't paint like that. I like the nearness in things and can only let go of that when using washes.

I like then. They look like the gear in used, while still being well looked after.

I do dislike seeing marines with hole through plates and dinks and dents.

I few paint scrapes is nice, dependin gon the chapter. It works with space wolves, but not so much with ultramarines unless the person is skilled.

The conversion work you have done is ace. The bit i like the most is the purity seals on them all.

Anyway good job and keep them coming.

 

Though i do hate hate hate john blanche. his work doesn't look under worked liek these models do, they just look unfinished.

Like he has got part way through and put it in the finished pile rather than giving the piece the attention is deserves.

The only saving grace john has is that he has inspired others. And they are good artists.

[commander alexander]

That speeder is sooooo sweet ;) . Definitely *stolen*, mwahaha.

[1TH0R3]

Wow i love that style of painting, so unique. great job

Dreads awesome and land speeder thingy-ma-bob is looking good too

 

keep it up

 

EDIT:I think John Blanche is an awsome artist btw( in my opinion ;) )

[Commander Sasha]

Dear Silber, please accept my compliments on the above work; truly impressive, and I love outside-the-box thinking, modelling and painting. There are too many talented painters at the moment who forget that this is a time of war, and that battles are grubby! You may have shiny armour at the start of the battle, but by turn 3 that paintjob is now inappropriate for the conditions!

 

My modelling & painting is so poor as to make any contributions on this thread irrelevant, but I do have strong opinions on the female Astartes discussion, and on the communities attitude to innovative ideas in general. My female characters are non-GW proxy models.

 

Please do not give up on your direction, or if you do, do so because you have found a better solution; After pressure from the community, I caved a while back, then stopped using my female captain, then stopped playing marines because I couldn't get inspired behind my generic male captain.

 

I thus left, and started my Skaven Counts-As-Tyranids (I know, I just can't play by the rules!). Developing the fluff for my ratties inspired me to come back to my marines, and coupled with the hankering I've had for Dark Eldar since the beginning, I have now started to re-work Sasha's background: I am leaning towards her & her team not being Astartes at all, but having been captured and augmented by a haemonculus for the arenas, subsequently escaping, and going on to form her renegade marine army. Hence S4/T4 statlines, and superhuman BS/WS, but without having to mesh with canon.

(This also means I can have her as the Wych leader for my DE army when I start that! My collection will have full narrative!)

 

I agree with you that just going with a "Silber's 40K universe" is a bit of a cop-out, and I personally think that what you have presented is solid, well-developed, and upsets no more carts than is inevitable.

 

Keep up the good work, those of us that like exploring unusual attitudes shouldn't be bullied out of it!

 

Signed, Commander Sasha's wayward biographer...

[GooseDaMoose]

This dreadnought is definitely the best one I've seen so far! So totally wicked super awesome. And your female scout is also really cool. So cool in fact, that I've officially decided to make me some at some point in the future :)

 

If you don't mind that is.