Chaplain's hobby misc. Red Gobbo!

[The_Chaplain]

A small question: does anybody know of a decent resin casting kit for purchase online? An accident occured as I was browsing at the local michael's today and I'm freaking out they're gonna ban me for life <_<

[ephrael]

A small question: does anybody know of a decent resin casting kit for purchase online? An accident occured as I was browsing at the local michael's today and I'm freaking out they're gonna ban me for life

Do you have a Hobby Lobby near you?  They have a great starter kit to try.  It also depends on what you are trying to cast.  PM me so you don't get into trouble for talking about it and I'll explain more.

[The_Chaplain]

So let me first say that some minor progress has been made on the bike command squad- minor things like gap filling, sanding, etc.  I'm quickly approaching a benchmark in that the chaplain and captain will be getting feet attached soon, and in the captains case- a torso!

 

The new model kits are quite lovely- I received a sternguard and a tactical box as presents for making it through 2 months of not smoking- and fiddling with the models has taken my mind off of that health and money consuming habit.   Model pictures are gonna be posted this weekend, tonight's update is instead an odd one-

 

How to best model the following?

 

On the captain I have combined the ravenwing command squad robed legs with the greaves from Ortan Cassius- which are a mk. iv armor.  I thought to myself, I've never seen a character in artificer mk. v "heresy" armor; and began to scour the internet for pictures.  This was the closest I found:

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/thumb/c/c6/ArtificerArmor.jpg/180px-ArtificerArmor.jpg

Now, Cassius' leg greaves are very similar to those pictured- but I have to say I'm not a fan of the warbly patterning on the greave armor fields.  How could I convincingly make mk v armor studs?  I heard that water filters sometimes contain sufficiently sized plastic balls which can be cut into studs- but mine was filled with a flaky, black asphalt looking stuff instead.  Where can I find studs for mk v armor?

 

For the captains torso, I tried placing the new sternguard mk 8 torso on top- the logic being that sicarius' armor, despite being mk 2 in origin, has a mk 8 style chestpiece.  Unfortunately, the round belt buckle impeded the placement on the RW robed legs.  Instead, I cut the belt buckle off, and replaced it with a belt from a ravenwing command squad torso.  What I'd like to do is completely cover this torso in a tabard, rather than have a cloth "toga" with chest armor exposed.  I'm farily convinced I can sculpt greenstuff to mirror the other half, but my question is:  Should I file off all the preexisting toga cloth, lay down a mk v cabling system, and then cover it up with "cloth" so it looks like a tabard/robe was put over it? Or should I just mirror the other half and say that the suit of armor was artificed to have a mk 8 chest, and everything else is mk 5?

 

Also, how can one make a mk 5 helmet look like a proper piece of "artificer" armor?

 

For the emperor's champion, how can I model a helmet like this?

http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/919021958183168065/0B5648F1D40319E41D6529B17A7B10001276080B/

 

Source of the image is from space marine the video game,color scheme is my chapter's. A plasticard strip down the front of the grill is the safest bet, but which head would be easiest in terms of shape to sand down for that sculpting/carving work?

 

That's it for tonight folks, like I said actual model pics should be posted this weekend.  Thanks for looking, any c&c you guys can give would be appreciated.

[Montuhotep]

A torso like that IS avaliable - snag is, though, that it is part of the FW kit of Sevrin Loth and his bodyguard:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Red_Scorpions/MAGISTER_SEVRIN_LOTH-CHIEF-LIBRARIAN-OF-THE-RED-SCORPIONS-WITH-HONOUR-GUARD.html

 

 The last picture shows the one you're thinkinbg of.

[ephrael]

The Brita brand filter replacement cartridges for their water pitchers have the little beads in them and are relatively cheap.  For the torso I would just use whatever you have handy and cover it with the greenstuff tabard.  Why make it more complex than necessary?  Artificer MK V helmet is a tough one short of some type of crest or wings there isn't too much room to do much with the studs on there.  The champion's helmet you are looking for might be on the power armor Grey Knight sprue.  There are some that are close to that shape already.

[The_Chaplain]

@Paladin7221: thanks for the heads up, I already know about that torso- actually trying to get my hands on one for a project- I just posted that image because it's one of the only "canon" pictures of artificer armor, and has leg armor similar to one on a model piece for a project detailed in this blog.

 

@Mikhail, I just sifted through the brita filter I broke open earlier, there are tiny little green spheres, are those them?  I just looked at the grey knight heads, wouldn't something like a bt/da/company champion head work better though, the grey knight face plate seems like it juts out quite a bit.  Thanks for the insight though, definently gonna see if I can get a hold of one to try and fiddle with.  Good call on the torso too, no sense in making life difficult unnecessarily.

[ephrael]

The first brita filter I broke open looked the same inside as you describe yours, throw it away it's garbage. The kind you want only has beads inside it, no charcoal. The BT/DA/Champion helmet might work better than the GK one I'll take a look for you tomorrow. The best match fot that helmet is in the Sevrin Loth kit just like the torso you are looking for. That is really one of the most versatile kits that FW makes.

[General Disarray]

I think the helmet that would best fit what you're looking for would be the head from the venerable dreadnought kit that has the arches on the faceplate. The kit comes with 3 different heads, you can't really see them on GW's website because the picture they have of the sprue shows the back of the heads.

[The_Chaplain]

Okay, today marks a fairly large, bordering on HUGE update for myself.  My spirits have definently improved the last few days- my health is improving, I have a job interview on Monday, and- oh yeah, I joined a themed crusade on the Black Templar subforum.

 

So, taking a moment to upload various WIPs and beginnings of progress where they are right now- and will try to update as frequently as I can in terms of where they are now.  This "penitent" crusade is designed for those pledged to push their creativity to the limit, and the first challenge is something every Dorn successor needs: The Emperor's Champion.  Some may recall that I started an emperor's champion a few months ago- well, he's been sitting on a shelf until this week.  Today, He's been pinned to the beginnings of a scenic base.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/9883227553_642e5ea3b3.jpg

The base rubble is from Ivanus Enkomi- I'll be getting some parts to continue the torso conversion soon, as well as a helmet for this future arse-kicker.  

 

Next up is some minor updates on my captain- he's had feet put onto the model, but they need extensive gap filling.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/9883108494_cc5d4a5663.jpg

What follows is the beginnings of the captain's chest.  The main chest is from the new Sternguard veterans box(svb), with the massive belt buckle removed and replaced with a belt from the Ravenwing command squad box (rwcs).  

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3748/9883111215_68ffc840f6_z.jpg

 

 

The side armor plates have been removed and put onto the company champion model on bike- who will be getting a cosmetic shoulderplate replacement, but more on that when I have pics.  

 

Ideally, I can get my hands on the new reclusiam command squad chaplain so I can slap the backpack onto the chaplain, add some guitar wires, and glitz up the iron halo from the rwcs box.

 

What's that sound? What's that thing in the sky?

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/9883336325_0faa13388e.jpg

Why yes, it's a storm talon!  Purchased last year for my birthday, I'm getting around to constructing and converting this bad boy in anticipation for the Currus Belli challenge, which I assume will be vehicle painting!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/9883377244_0cac2c37be.jpg

 Right now I'm trying to work out the logistics of a) mounting land speeder vengeance mini boosters on to the "hollow" spaces seen above where the weapon racks would go. b ) Making the spatula and other wonky instrument array into a tarantula style firing system for missiles. c) Mounting a second set of Storm Talon boosters onto the tail, to make the model more balanced in terms of weight ratio- and up the overall look of mobility to this flying brick.

 

I'm going to wait to see what Currus Belli actually entails, but if my suspicions are correct- I'm grateful that october means birthday, anniversary and no-smoking presents for me, haha!

 

Next update?  Likely Tuesday- What's in the update?  The beginnings of my first troops choice, a "blinged out" crusader squad!  As always, thanks for looking- Comments and critique always welcomed!

Edited September 22, 2013 by The_Chaplain

[The_Chaplain]

As promised, it's Tuesday, and I am back to post the first pics of some of the first "crusader" squads in my army- and a surprise or two!

 

First up, the first beakie of the unit:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/9883227826_a3f5acc184_z.jpg

The new plastic kits released for space marines lately have been superb in their amount of detail.  The head is from the ravenwing command squad box, bolter is from sternguard- but has had its magazine removed, so I could use the reloading arm in the new tactical box.  Legs are from the new vanguard kit.

 

The second beakie! He'll be the first model I magnetize- so I can swap out special weapons as I need them.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/9884721344_a845be8aac_z.jpg

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9885135274_1d723d0219_z.jpg

powerfist 1, head and bolt pistol are from the ravenwing command squad kit.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9883164203_dcb56a8416_z.jpg

Powerfist 2, he'll be getting company champion shoulderpads when replacement pads for my company champion arrive.  I blame Minotaurs threads for making me fall in love with mk8+company champion shoulderpads visually.  It just makes too much sense.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9923273693_77dfe8fa5e_z.jpg

I actually like the look of the chaos "skull" helmets as potential mk v helmets.  With a few studs, they should fit the bill quite nicely.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/9923082595_6d740a51f2_z.jpg

This isn't actually going to be a powerfist in a crusader squad, this PF wielder will actually be the sergeant on a bike squad in all likelihood.  Still deciding on what to use for his head. (And open to suggestions)

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/9883073654_990ecf1365_z.jpg

A "fine"cast sternguard I got off a bits seller a long time ago, he was in bad shape.  Actually fixing all the problems on this model is giving me the self confidence to start modelling again; and I'm far from done.  Once I'm done, He'll be receiving a strapped chainsword and a bolt pistol holster.  It's my goal to make all my ground troops WYSIWYG for bolter/bolt pistol & ccw on the same model, so I can swap them out as needed, rather than buying and assembling twice as many troops for the same end.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9883081284_44233e32ec_z.jpg

Another angle on the failcast marine.  His shoulder was one giant air bubble, I you not.  Figured, I was hacking up a finecast chaplain- might as well make the chapter badge 3d and ornate looking- I think it fits with all the other embellishments on his armor.  Still to do on the shoulderpad: adding a deathwatch shoulderpad rim (filled in lettering) to cover up the miscast helmet somewhat; also need to make some greenstuff purity seals to cover the shoulder join, and maybe a knight shield.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/9885143576_bd5ae92f18_z.jpg

I jokingly refer to this crusader as "Brother Heston" as in "You can have this chainsword when you pry it from my cold dead hands" The blank hand will be receiving a devastator bolter (the one with skull and crossbones) The chest is from the ravenwing command squad, I filed off the talons, and will be replacing them with skulls.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/9885256553_67e91e6464_z.jpg

Forgive the blurriness of the foreground (for the first time in blog history, I am the one taking the model photos, not my fiance- who is infinitely more talented than I am at it.)  The blurred hand is an open palmed hand which I pinned upwards at the wrist for a "come here and show me what passes for fury among your misbegotten kind" pose.  The pose reeks of arrogance, so I thought it was fitting to use finecast Sicarius' head.

 

Speaking of Sicarius....

 

Surprise # 1!:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/9923010253_19ecc36e1f_c.jpg

Forgeworld is supposedly releasing updates for space marine chapters in their Imperial Armor series, giving each of their characters and chapters expanded rules, and chapter tactics.  So, as I was fiddling with bits the other day, I found my old hacked up sicarius torso, and bits from the FW tank commander sprue, and bam! Some more work done on an Androcles counts as model. This will be combined with the limited edition GW sergeant from a while back (for orders over 200$ or something- all I know is I got it for cheap on ebay) There is something so satisfying about the idea of making devastators elites so they can provide covering fire for advancing bikes and LRC transports. 

 

This post is getting kind of big, so gonna continue in a new post

 

 

[deathspectersgt7]

Some nice kitbash's you have going on.

[The_Chaplain]

Alright, plugging right along! Post 2: Electric Boogaloo!

 

First up, chainsword brother # 3!:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9922779555_793442d4b2_z.jpg

Head is from the Dark Vengeance set- the bolt pistol arm has been cut, and positioned outwards, and the sword has been cut, pineed and pointed downwards.  This will provide some dynamism in posing of models.  I've given serious thought to replacing the bolt pistol with a bolter for a "true grit" kind of pose.  I've yet to decide on shoulderpads, but hey what else is new?

 

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/267/c/1/confessor_trooper_wip_by_emo_catboy-d6npxs2.jpg

Have I mentioned the new marine kits are great?  Who would have thought that awesome poses and detailed armor was around the corner?

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/9922830296_eb01fe7fc9_z.jpg

You can certainly use the new kits to breathe new life into old bits, like this captain's head

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7386/9922893654_f4a64eb5cb_z.jpg

replaced the rosarius looking charm with a grey knights reliquary I picked up somewhere. When he's placed on running legs, it'll look like its swaying from the movement of his running.

 

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/267/b/e/confessor_mk_iv_trooper_wip_by_emo_catboy-d6npwxo.jpg

As much as I try to spread my bits around between kits, sometimes you cant help but use a head and a torso from the same kit. In this case mk 4 helmet and torso from the new sternguard box.  

 

bolter is from the forgeworld tank command set, as is the shoulderpad.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/9885294533_f59efecbf9_z.jpg

backpack is from the ravenwing command squad- with a skull from the fantasy range<?> added on top, almost looks like a winged memento morii.  The hack-job on removing the DA icon didnt go so well, need to figure out something to add there to make it look smoother.  Might add some guitar wire for more cabling as well.

  

The shame about this model is that the new vanguard kit's legs are in the wrong position for how I posed this torso, so I'll either need to use death company legs on it (those have a mk 4 don't they?) OR, cut and reposition the mk 4 legs from the new tactical box.  I plan to make all tactical legs from the new kit into running legs!

 

Speaking of death company, I did have one of their shoulderpads in my bits box, and it's already found a home:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/9922920563_9060f969a5_z.jpg

I will be turning the X on the pad into a chevron, and painting it like the Penitent crusade badge we designed in the BT subforum:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9882585826_eec525e803.jpg

 

What a marine will look like while running:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9922867104_0c346400cf_z.jpg

Drum magazine is from a dark vengeance chosen.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/9922861626_9313a0dde6_z.jpg

Another drum fed bolter crusader.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/9922749196_10b91776af_z.jpg

A crusader whose head came from a chaos tank sprue

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9922721975_29b3205f2c_z.jpg

Another chaos "skully" helmet.  This model's head needs to be paintstripped (and badly)

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9922772015_9397de9ec6_z.jpg

Need to sand the deathwatch shoulderpad, and finish filling in the lettering so it just looks like a rimmed pad.  He'll be getting a knight shield where that greenstuff join is.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9885117106_2e6d53106e_z.jpg

Head is from the venerable dreadnought kit if I'm not mistaken.

 

Wrapping up the model pictures today are 2 new WIP bikers for my bike command squad:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9922828923_c6a5fe4a6a_z.jpg

This is a replacement model, I lost my original so got this one in a trade, he used to be a plasma gunner marine.  His arm has been cut off (mainly because command squads can't take plasmaguns/meltaguns/etc. anymore.)  The head has been swapped with one from either the vanguard or sternguard box. I plan to make this a mk8 torso, and replace pads with special company champion style pads. 

 

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/267/8/a/confessor_space_marine_command_squad_biker_wip_by_emo_catboy-d6npybs.jpg

The other new biker, used to be a bolt pistol biker from DV- I hate that model's chest armor, and the bolt pistol, so away they went!  Helmet, again, has been replaced with one from either the vanguard or sternguard box.  I also plan to make this a mk8 torso, and replace pads with special company champion style pads.  His chest armor will likely receive the gorget armor from the BT upgrade sprue robed torsos.

 

Here you can see the head replacement from the side:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/9922706085_0c9255705b_z.jpg

 

 

So that wraps up today's update I think- thanks for looking folks.  If you have comments/criticism/critique or ideas (like backpack suggestions, shoulder pad ideas, etc.) lemme hear em!  If I like the idea, I will definently do my utmost to get it on the model!

 

 

Sorry that some pictures are bigger than others- I have to host certain pictures on deviantart as opposed to flickr, because the B&C post coder doesn't like the file extension or something.

Edited September 24, 2013 by The_Chaplain

[Krikey]

You started this thread in May of 2012? I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't seen any of it -- probably due to various extended absences. Still, I would think I would have seen something. I love the chaplain conversion, the dreadnought conversion, the bikes, the ...

 

It's all very nice. Kudos.

 

~K

[Unknown Chronicler]

Great work, I just went over your entire blog and I must say I love your greenstuff skills, can't wait to see this army grow in the future :)

[The_Chaplain]

Some nice kitbash's you have going on

Thank you brother.

Great work, I just went over your entire blog and I must say I love your greenstuff skills, can't wait to see this army grow in the future

Thank you, I must confess a almost all of my greenstuffing so far in the blog has been "press mold" and wasn't actually sculpted by me- but sculpting from scratch? that's something I want to learn how to do in the future!  In the meantime, actual sculpting by me is done in the form of gap filling and smoothing surfaces. Thanks for giving the thread a look through, much obliged!

 

 

You started this thread in May of 2012? I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't seen any of it -- probably due to various extended absences. Still, I would think I would have seen something. I love the chaplain conversion, the dreadnought conversion, the bikes, the ...It's all very nice. Kudos.

 

You have no idea how much that means to me Krikey- I've been envious of your work, and many of the other talented member's of the boards work for so long, I felt compelled to try my hand at conversions and eventual paintwork of my own.  Some of it hasn't lived up to my personal expectations (like the confessional stole on the dreadnought), so I'm back at the designing board- but I will try my dangdest to keep up the work, and one day maybe, reach your all's level.

 

Sadly not too much got accomplished today in terms of modelling- mocked up most of an apothecary "objective" marker, and also went about turning a spare DV biker (since command squads can only be 5 and I had 6) into an attack bike- complete with the beginnings of a leg greave transplant on the gunner.  Hopefully I can get pictures taken and posted of that in the next day or so- was distracted with errands today.  

 

On a side note, does anyone know where the heck this shield is from? (Okay, I cant get the image to work regardless of what website I upload it to, fantastic!) Guess I can describe it?  It looks like a grey knight style shield, except the inner field is mottled like the detailing/artificing on the old metal chaplain on bike legs?  Really frustrating I can't post the image...:

 

Also, does anyone know a good idiot's tutorial for repositioning and pinning space marine legs?  I swear I've got like 15 tactical legs lying around and that clenched buttcheek pose they have going on drives me crazy, haha.

 

Thanks again for the views and kind words brothers and sisters- I'll try and get another update on here soon!

Edited September 25, 2013 by The_Chaplain

[The_Chaplain]

Alrighty folks, don't get too excited that this blog has jumped to the front of the page- just popping in today to give a whats what of going on as well as to ask a few questions.  I won't have a picture update until probably next week- both this weekend and next weekend are going to be packed for me in terms of scheduling: another trip to the renaissance faire, gming d&d, getting cars fixed, and of course how can I forget my birthday (no doubt the in-laws will want to make a big hulabaloo out of that one) so sitting down to work on models will be a sweet relief by comparison.

 

So: first of all, a rundown of what has been accomplished since last update.  All of the gap filling on the bike command squad is DONE. Sanding of said filling? Also done! The captain/chapter master on bike model has been given a teleport homer/orbital bombardment relay system targetter in the form of a cut down C.A.T servitor from space hulk- barring a bit of cable work I still need to figure out.   The sicarius to androcles conversion has received a boon and a burden simultaneously: my college buddy/part time roommate sent me the new captain 2013 clamshell- and I am harvesting it for parts! Notably, that sweet iron halo for use on the androcles counts as.  The problem?  The one way to make it fit is to extend sicarius' back neck armor, and to square off where the pipes<?> currently reside.  So, over the last 2 days, I've been sculpting a block out of milliput to accomplish just that; that's right folks I'm sculpting things now, run while you still can.  Like I said, pics will probably be up of this work and more! (probably!) next week.

 

And now for the real reason I'm bumping my thread today:  I received "one" of my birthday presents from my fiance a bit early.  Let me preface this by saying, I returned home the other day to see that the fuselage of my storm talon was beyond cracked, it was broken, and on the floor coupled with the fact there was a very content looking cat on my hobby desk.  Her solution?  Buy something more dense for me.  And so, I have received a storm raven! 

 

The only problem I'm having with the model visually is, well, it isn't exactly grimdark now is it?  Between the frankly derpy looking turret on top, the structurally superfluous vent hood behind it, the comical aquilas premolded onto the chasis, and the kind of stumpy fuselage, how do we make this bird into something a little more menacing?

 

Well, I've been scouring the internet for conversion ideas, and I've run across I think are worth replicating, with my own spin on them of course: 

1.) Reliquaries recessed into the storm raven

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtRy92d8yL4/UPeGEnBhvgI/AAAAAAAAAe0/OU4ODh3Q0vw/s400/skulls2.jpg

The panel that those skulls are in measures roughly 1.5'' across and 1'' high more or less at it's highest point.  (image courtesy of the blog heaven's teeth, found through google)

 

What I would like to know is: what are the dimensions of the "reliquary" pieces (just the encased skeleton) shown here, from the vengeance gun battery if I'm not mistaken: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8555/10173689405_036e51fd96.jpg  I plan to sandwich them with black templar reliquary bits from the upgrade sprue and centralize them on the panel like so: (o O o)

 

2. ) Studded armor panelling similar to those featured here (please excuse the heresy inherent in the image):

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m289/Sheep_06/Khorne%20Angels/IMG_0306.jpg

(image courtesy of the blog forlorn hope hosted by dakkadakka's member Sheep)

 

Thoughts? comments? Any other ideas for this big bird?  My friends are under the assumption it's going to look like a flying church when I'm done with it- an idea I'm 100% okay with if it puts the fear of the Emperor into some heathens!

 

 A sidenote- I have successfully quit smoking, and this friday the 11th will mark exactly 3 months since I quit! The last year made all my attempts that much harder: with the desperation of trying to find work (still trying, but things are looking a little more optimistic) and the aftermath of my grandmother passing away: selling off her home, dealing with the finances, threatening of lawsuits between family members, etc- it was a stressful time for everyone involved.  But still, I quit!  And while I have thanked everyone who was directly involved (friends, family, fiance, etc)...

 

...I also wanted to thank you all- for commenting and looking at this hobby blog; because it has given me incentive to continue working on these conversions, work through the joneses/cravings and not spend time (and money) on things that gave me a cheap high.  The support of this wonderful forum community and the company of friends is a good enough "high" on its own, and I wish I had realized that sooner.  Thank you all.

[The_Chaplain]

I said I was gonna have some pictures up this week, and by the throne, I am a chaplain of my word!

 

Okay, first up is a quick picture of the (WIP) chaplain model that the cat knocked over last night after his combi-flamer barrel replacement surgery!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/10293667453_6d70dfa4d0.jpg

the new barrel is from the sternguard kit.  I also went and removed seraphicus' hip daggers, and am replacing them with what will be a series of leg bone scroll cases.  A chaplain has to carry a good yarn or two around right?

 

Here's one of the furry culprits I have to deal with on a regular basis, in fact he crashed my photoshoot, and is actually sitting on the chaplain in this picture!

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/288/a/6/our_cat_loki_by_emo_catboy-d6qkk99.jpg

In hindsight, perhaps naming him Loki was not the wisest decision...

 

Next up is a little work done on the bike captain:

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/288/5/3/confessors_space_marine_bike_captain_progress_by_emo_catboy-d6qkjlv.jpg

I tried adding studs to the cassius leg greaves for mk V style artificer armor, but I totally up the process, and have been gap filling and sanding the greave ever since.  If I can get it smooth enough, maybe I'll press mold a detail/design onto it instead.  Like on the chaplain bike, I added skulls from the space marine bike radial onto the handlebars for a heavy metal/grimdark endcap.  I've been doing the same for my command squad bikes but it's a process that'll have to wait for my last couple bikes as I've run out! haha, 2 radials per bike burns through your stockpiles pretty quick.

 

I've been hard at work on my Stormraven birthday present from my fiance; partly because she wants me to clear out my backlog of projects before I start working on stuff I get for the holidays, which is perfectly reasonable, space is a commodity nowadays.  The other reason I want to get this model going is quite frankly to push my limits modelling and painting wise.  And so, work has begun on the flying church! 

 

Here's an initial picture: 

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/288/8/6/stormraven_conversion_beginnings_by_emo_catboy-d6qkhnv.jpg

I removed the goofy looking aquila on the vtol housing on the wing, and did some minor gap filling along the edge, and overall got it ready for stage one...

 

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/288/0/3/stormraven_conversion_progresses_by_emo_catboy-d6qkipp.jpg

This is my first attempt at using plasticard/styrene sheet in my life, and in a couple of areas, it shows. I'm going to be going over these styrene panels with a finetooth comb and make sure that they are all even and level after I've gap filled and made them smooth.  I need to track down a decent looking method for making studs/rivets so that I can give these panels the old school space marine studded armor treatment.

 

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/288/f/6/stormraven_conversion_progresses_2_by_emo_catboy-d6qkixt.jpg

A progress shot of the wing.  A lot of work left on it, but I'm pleased in where it is going.

 

 

++Question for the Day++ Does anyone know what kind of brushes I should be using/method for painting for Humbrol clear red?  I want to make colored cockpit glass for this bad boy (and another hush hush part of this project).  I've ruined a couple of brushes fiddling with it already, maybe sponge brushes?

 

 

 

[infyrana]

I have to ask, and apologise if this was already mentioned - the skull shoulders upon your Seth conversion, from where are they please?  Thank ye!

[The_Chaplain]

I have to ask, and apologise if this was already mentioned - the skull shoulders upon your Seth conversion, from where are they please?  Thank ye!

Oh, no problem at all- they are from one of the games workshop chaplain models, let me dig up a link for you.

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m2380480a_99800101069_SMChaplainSkullHelmetCFC_445x319.jpg

This is the model.  

[infyrana]

Ah now I know why I recognised it, thank you :)

 

Yep, expensive way to do it - two for each set of shoulder pads needed.  I guess the new versions being in resin helps you to chop it up for use.

[The_Chaplain]

Ah now I know why I recognised it, thank you

 

Yep, expensive way to do it - two for each set of shoulder pads needed.  I guess the new versions being in resin helps you to chop it up for use.

Actually, there were a number of casting issues on that chaplain model, and so GW customer service sent me a free replacement, so I only had to pay for the one model.  And then I had the other parts for use in my biker chaplain conversion, so overall it's a net gain.

 

Well, I've got styrene cut for the second half of the stormraven, but I realized I'm out of glue!  So, I'm gonna take this opportunity to make a small supply run in town, and also get a few sets in at the gym.  I'll check back in on this thread later, and hopefully have some more pictures up of stormraven progress (and whatever else I feel warrants photos at the moment) and try to get them up by/on Thursday.

 

Comments/criticism/etc. as always are welcomed and encouraged!  Still need ideas on how to make this stormraven sufficiently grimdark, and I'd love to hear yours! 

[The_Chaplain]

Alright folks, I wont be able to make an update in all likelihood this weekend (fri/sat/sun) since it's my birthday tomorrow, followed by my future sister in laws' the following day; so between my family and theirs...I'm gonna be a little busy.  So, with that said, here's the levels of progress I'm willing to show for the week.

 

First up, preliminary sheeting has been completed on the right side of the "flying church" stormraven: 

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/290/5/5/stormraven_conversion_progresses_3_by_emo_catboy-d6qsr25.jpg

Next step in the process will be to even out panels, gapfill, sanding and prepping them all for rivets!

 

Next up, a tiny bit of work done on what will be a Confessors Emperor's Champion:

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/290/8/1/confessors_emperor_s_champion_4_by_emo_catboy-d6qsrbw.jpg

A couple of brothers in the BT forums thought this model didnt look knightly/medieval enough- so Im trying to balance the grimdark edge with medieval antiquity.  I removed Seth's ab-armor, as well as his belt buckle.  I will replace the ab-armor with power cable (made from guitar string). I've replaced the belt buckle with the one from the Emperor's Champion model.  I put the EC's head on the model just to show a glimpse of what the model can look like.  I'm actually putting the Emperor's champion head onto the bike company champion model, and am using a much more unique helmet for this project, with a similar knight aesthetic.

 

I realized this thread has reached a whopping 10,000+ page views!  And is over a year old! And it's my birthday tomorrow!  SO... jubilation is in order!

 

http://th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/290/6/a/warhammer_sketch_by_emo_catboy-d6qsqh4.jpg

I started this sketch this morning, and have had to stop a few hours in, as its making my hand cramp something awful.  I'm not afraid to admit that the inspiration for this picture comes from a panel from Kentaro Miura's "Berserk" with two soldiers knocking gauntlets in a "well met" kind of gesture.  The second figure in the picture will be captain kanchelskis my biker captain.  I went in a different direction model wise than the original art, but hey- this hobby is a mercurial, mutable thing!

 

 

 

Thanks for 10,000+ page views brothers!  Here's to 10,000+ more! Keep the faith, and a smile on your face (unless you're posing with a chainsword!)

[ephrael]

I like the conversion and additions to the Stormraven, especially both the alcoves and trim. I think that you can "Grimdark it up" with your paint job afterwards. Too much embellishments might ruin it. I would pick up a 3 pack of electric motor wire from Radio Shak to use instead of guitar wire. You take one strand of wire and wrap another around it to get the coiled wire look you want but it remains very flexible. That's how I do it and I prefer it to guitar wire.

[The_Chaplain]

I like the conversion and additions to the Stormraven, especially both the alcoves and trim. I think that you can "Grimdark it up" with your paint job afterwards. Too much embellishments might ruin it. I would pick up a 3 pack of electric motor wire from Radio Shak to use instead of guitar wire. You take one strand of wire and wrap another around it to get the coiled wire look you want but it remains very flexible. That's how I do it and I prefer it to guitar wire.

Sound advice Mikhail- better to under-embellish a model and add stuff later on than go over the top right off the bat and make it look gaudy.

 

I'll have to check radioshack next time I'm over there about those cables, they sound promising.

[Brother Captain Sirus]

Nice work man, looking good. You mentioned making cracked asphalt bases early on and just wondered if you'd given any thought to crackle paint.