++ From the Abyss - A Word Bearers Log ++

[Noctus Cornix]

Nephilim- Hah, I can't wait either man, really. Honestly, I have no intention of trying to do any major changes to the model (he's so beautiful as is) but I do have some changes I want to make to his pose and also try to Chaosify him a tad bit.

 

ElDuderino- Thanks mate.

 

Lord Marshal- I'll take that as a compliment. ;)

 

Kraut- You know, I didn't really think about flames. It sounds like a good idea, though if I'm honest, I'm not entirely certain if that would work. The bear trap was a request from the client and I just don't have a clue of what I'm going to paint it to look like.

 

Koriel- Thanks man, but he's allready got a giant eye smack dab on his forehead and for what I'm planning, I can't get rid of it.

 

Tanith- So impatient, as usual. :P

 

Phapsody- Yeah, the Vulture is a really nice piece. Shame I don't get to use it for any of my models. That being said, I've essentially assembled and painted just about everything in his army, so I suppose its like an extension army. :)

[KrautScientist]

Well, you'd of course have to clear it with the "customer", but I can imagine two ways to go about this:

 

1. The whole bear trap is aflame (or kind of a ghostly apparition, so to speak). In that case, the whole thing should be painted in a suitably ghostly fashion (white undercoat with a green or blue wash -- or indeed Nihilakh Oxide, come to think of it).

 

2. Painting just the flames playing across the bear trap in a glowing/fiery effect - which is probably the better idea. In this case, maybe an evil green would work? A bit like the one I used on the weapon I built for a Nurgle
Lord of mine:

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2013/3/15/473726_sm-Chaos%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Counts%20As%2C%20Death%20Guard%2C%20Kitbash%2C%20Manreaper%2C%20Nurgle%2C%20Paintjob.JPG

 

In any case, this is just me throwing some ideas at you ;)

[Noctus Cornix]

Hmmm... Might have to try and give option 2. a try. Still not one hundred percent sold on the flames idea, but its certainly worth a test just to see how it looks.

 

Thanks for all the support again, guys. Your responses are part of what keep me going.

Edited January 23, 2014 by noctus cornix

[KrautScientist]

I think the combination of a hideously rusty beartrap and sorcerous fire  playing across it in an evil greenish glow could look pretty awesome. A bit like the Skaven Screaming Bell, incidentally.

[Noctus Cornix]

Good point.

[Grimm Blade]

  

Awesome kitbashing!

[Noctus Cornix]

Awesome kitbashing!

Thanks mate. :)

[Noctus Cornix]

Hail to the Ruined King, my Brothers and Sisters, and consecrate yourselves in the ash-stained blood as the Dead Word is uttered from broken lips.

 

Evening, guys. It's been a while since I've actually had the chance to work on my own models aside from my Reavers (which you should keep your eyes peeled on In Memorium for in the next few days) However, today is the day I give to my own personal project and because you people still watch this, I feel obligated to continue whether I like it or not. So, in my slow and arduous quest to completely break away from my fear of painting, I've been trying to keep most of my free time in the Hobby that I can afford to painting. With that in mind, I've been sort of just painting what I like and just trying to ensure I enjoy myself. I was actually so enthralled by this newest one that as soon as I got about halfway through, I just couldn't stop... Hence why I'm posting this at 5:30 in the morning...

 

 

 

         Surgery and Metaphysics are one in the same. . . Once you excise the decor, the chants, the faith, and the greed, you are left with but a core that each hold like twin edges of a sword. Like the scalpel, metaphysics are neither of devotion nor will.. They require precision, the most delicate hand to which symbols can be formed, the silvered-tongue by which false creeds and hollow shouts of devotion may be called..

 

But most importantly, they both require sacrifice.. No matter what you fawn over with the title of 'God', whether it be a benevolent deity or a pantheon formed of roiling miasma, each and every one demands apeasement. Such offerings may come in many forms... Crops, animals, treasured items, gifts and currencies... But there is only one possession to which all sky-gods accept with the most craven of greed, an offering that all others will spoil and sour in compare to such a treasured gift... Blood.

 

Just as you were to excise diseased flesh to stem the flow of cancer, blood and flesh must be paid to sate the thirst of a God. It can be the blood of your kin, of your enemies, or your own, but it will matter little for the flesh is all equal to an incorporeal creature. Your sacrifice may satisfy the hunger of your Golden Lord for a time, and perhaps great boons will be given in kind for your sign of devotion. However, this flesh will rot and whither, and once more your Deity will call upon you to appease their eternal hunger just as an infection will once more rise to taint the blood and stifle the senses.... It makes one wonder if Gods are not a cancer themselves...

 

 

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/Noctus-Cornix/20140127_044414_zpsc401ca6f.jpg

 

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/Noctus-Cornix/20140127_044500_zpsd0c7959c.jpg

 

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/Noctus-Cornix/20140127_044512_zpse1f7a6d6.jpg

 

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/Noctus-Cornix/20140127_044524_zpsb351be89.jpg

 

http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/Noctus-Cornix/20140127_044556_zps2a5d9924.jpg

 

 

 

With a twisted blend of medicine and dark powers, Sorcerer Ascendant 'Homeophage' Tra'ger has grown to become one of the most reviled perverters of the human form in the Galaxy. Though his exploits fall pale in comparison to that of Fabius Bile, Tra'ger stands singular claim to more than a two thousand accounts of tampering with human genetics, leaving his work evident in the malformed husks and warp-infused abominations that bring destruction where he had once lay his sinister touch and the gibbering blood-stained cultists that scream his name with their dying breath.

 

As' haraan Tra'ger was a prodigy amongst the Apothecarian of the XVII Legion, a young and diligent child with a precision and aptitude for flesh-work the likes of which seen only by prodigies. However, even in his earliest years, Tra'ger's  blunt disregard for the traditions and faith of the Legion found him little activity outside the apothecarian where he could master his craft. When the word of the true pantheon came to the Legion, the young Apothecary who had quickly grown bored in his idleness, had quickly embraced such an opportunity to reach new heights in his work.

 

Over centuries, he dabbled in the craft of the warp, creating sigils of blood upon the Apothecarian walls and carving runes in his own patients. With time, he came to realize the power that could be harnessed from the marriage of the warp and the flesh, fully devoting himself to creating masterful works of the corrupted flesh and the constant experimentation. With time, his powers and favor grew, and though no latent psychic powers laid within his dark soul, Tra'ger developed into a powerful sorcerer, capable of harnessing the flesh and bending the mind to his will.

 

Despite his scornful views upon faith and the traditions of his own Legion, Tra'ger found his blood-thirsty calling in the one God that would never love him in return. A Psycher and a man of medicine, the great King of Skulls, Khorne would find little love for the astute but equally blood-thirsty Tra'ger, who preferred the bloodletting of bleeding his patients dry in a sterilized cell rather than in the heat of battle, but like his kind of the XVII, Tra'ger seeks to offer homage to all Gods, even to He who would scorn the witch doctor.

 

Adapt at rituals and summonings that few amongst the Chapter can contest, it falls upon Tra'ger to create the summoning rituals and train young disciples in the art of tearing rifts in the warp. Because of his bitter and twisted love, the 'Homeophage' adorns himself with talismans and sigils of the Blood God so as to better ease the tides of the warp and sooth the scorn of the crimson hosts that he favors to call upon. More so is the Hell-forged blade that he wields in battle, an ancient artifact ripped from the grasping claws of a Blood Herald as an attempt to gain his Lord's affection, yet even still as he wields it in battle and rends soul and flesh assunder, the blade finds little use in the hands of a Sorcerer who often stands from afar and little favor from the Blood God.

 

 

Enjoy.

Edited January 27, 2014 by noctus cornix

[Forté]

He's looking awesome!!!

[Koriel]

Awesomesauce, the hood and the hip cloth (the technical term for it eludes me) really makes him look real sinister. Lovely backstory and a great conversion overall.

Oh and is that an athame on his hip?

[Barabbas Sogalon]

He is amazing! Great work

[ElDuderino]

Wow, that guy has a lot of character. Looks great, that thin arm makes him look disturbing as hell

[KrautScientist]

It's a lovely conversion, and it also looks like you are really finding your feet when it comes to painting! Take heart

 

A couple of small suggestions, if I may:

 

1. I think some of the bone parts would really profit from another highlight in a brighter bone color, especially the teeth on the leg cuisses, the horns etc.

 

2. The Hellblade would look better if you were to pick out the handle in a different colour, if you ask me: Bronze would be an obvious choice, with the skull adorning the crossguard maybe picked out in silver. As it stands, the weapon looks slightly unfinished.

 

3. Have you tried hightlighting the folds of the hood and tabard in a lighter grey? Adding a set of simple highlights on the most prominent areas wouldn't be much work, but add some extra pop to the model.

 

4. And finally, the silvery metal parts, especially the armour trim and trophy racks, would look killer with a highligt in Mithril Silver (or a similar colour). This need not even be anything complicated, just something between a slight overbrush and an edge highlight. The sharp, ragged edges of the armour trim will actually help you here.

 

Now that you've got the standards down pat, learning a simple way of adding a pass of highlights would be the next obvious steps -- and it would make the model even cooler than it already is!

 

Hope you won't take this as haughtiness on my part, but rather as an attempt at constructive criticism!

 

Keep up the great work!

Edited January 27, 2014 by KrautScientist

[Lord Marshal Ragnrok]

badass in the house

[Noctus Cornix]

Forte - Thanks man. Glad you like him.

 

Koriel - Naaah, sorry to say but its just one of his many daggers he keeps around to use instead of a scalpel.. Gotta do his field work some how, eh?

 

Barabbas - Thanks!

 

Elduderino - Much appreciated, I'm glad that it gave the effect that I was so desperately trying to make it give.

 

KrautScientist - Oh no, not to worry my friend. I adore constructive criticism. Its what helps me get better after all. I must confess that highlights are pretty much the bane of my existence. I am utterly miserable at it and I am someone who feels that highlighting done wrong can potentially ruin the overall look of the model. That being said, I do try to work on it a bit at a time with each model and with this detailed account of what to do, I'll most likely go back to fixing up Tra'ger aswell.

 

Lord Marshal - He's hardly a badass, but thanks man. :)

Edited January 27, 2014 by noctus cornix

[GhostMalone]

Damn it noctus....

Great idea great paint job and good use of skull takers sword love it :)

 

I'm loving the smoothness in your crimson

[Tyrannicide]

I think this is one of your best pieces to date. Love the aura surrounding this sinister guy. 

[deathspectersgt7]

                                                                                     SWEET!!!!

[Noctus Cornix]

I think this is one of your best pieces to date. Love the aura surrounding this sinister guy. 

 

That means alot to me, man. :D

[ChaptermasterDemon7]

Out of all the mini's you have done, I love this one the most. I have been a long time lurker of this thread and I have to say this is one of your best pieces by far. I love the flowing of the pose and the painting is very well done as well. I love the fluff for  Tra'ger.

[geektom]

Wow, that looks really intimidating. Empty cowl is a great affect.

[Noctus Cornix]

ChaptermasterDemon7 - I always love the rare chance to get responses like this. Thanks man, that means alot to me.

 

geektom - Much appreciated, good sir. I'm rather happy because I remember alot of skepticism when I first made this guy, people thought the facelessness looked off. Glad it works when its painted.

[Noctus Cornix]

Alright, apologies for the double posting, but I thought I should ask. Trying to figure out what I should work on next. Ideas? Suggestions? If you've got an idea, go ahead and throw it at me. I'd love to hear it.

Edited January 28, 2014 by noctus cornix

[Brother Heinrich]

Nice work man, KrautScientist pretty much hit all the points I would make. Your composition and modeling skill are good and you're bringing your painting skill up with each model. I would tone down the heaviness of the wash a little bit as well. Grab a bunch of practice minis and just go to town trying to get as thin as possible on your highlights. the key to highlighting is a fine brush as well as thinner and paint retarder. with highlights you're working with such a small amount of paint that it dries out extremely quick so the retarder acts against this and allows you to do more with less.

[Noctus Cornix]

Honestly, I'm pretty happy with how the wash came out on this one. Aside from the backpack, which I admit got unfortunately a heavy load when I had to suddenly move away from my painting and had to leave it there for a second, I think the rest of it came out pretty darn good. I suppose I just have a soft spot for Nuln Oil. ^-^ I will do the practicing on the highlighting though, I promise.