Contemptor Centurion - Body & Head Complete

[chaplainmikey]

I was planning on picking up some Centurions and converting them in a similar fashion so its nice to be able to follow someone elses attempts, which is looking brilliant so far.

 

Looking forward to seeing this progress. :)

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Keeping an eye on this thread for sure! Loving the work on the centurions

Where did you get the hand? Is it a forgeworld tartaros powerfist?

A previous people have mentioned, how about a contemptor head sticking on top? Or leaving it sunk in and using a terminator head?

[malika666]

You made that model bearable! I saw the artwork in the Space Marine codex, which looks quite cool, but the unconverted models are just horrid. nice to see you play with it.

 

Don't feel that robed character you made. I don't imagine the Mentor Legion to have any real ornamentations on their armour, or robes for that matter. Just stick to a simple Mk VI, VII or VIII armour (preferably Mk VII or VIII) and more high tech/modern gear, rather than Heresy era stuff. But that's just me. :)

[Brother Pheidias]

I concur with all malika666's suggestions. The Mentors were allways about new gear. The changes to the Centurion are quite remarkable though, actually makes it look good!

[Candleshoes]

Up by demand is a small tutorial in paint as to the thought process:

 

Step 1) - Carve the dreadnought fins off the feet, so you are left with the normal foot print.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/1_zps160f842e.jpg

 

Step 2) Carve the ornamentation off the legs. Though this may seem like getting rid of detail, trust me, it isn't, it really helps get a slimmer look.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/2_zpsa9854c3f.jpg

 

Step 3) The Chest - looks tough, but it isn't. Invest in either a very small saw, or be very careful with your hoby knife, and while the chest plates are still unglued and seperate, cut down the red lines. Cutting less than more at this stage is safer, as you can always cut away more after you glue the chest together. It is easier to judge how much more to shave off. Make sure not to completely cut off the power plant grooves in the back, as you still need to have the pack fit into it. As the removal of the secondary weapons will create holes where the arms should go, cover up these holes with either greenstuff, or with an overhead projector sheet, cut out to the size of the hole.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/3_zps0abf74f2.jpg

 

Step 4) Is the extended torso. Take a small ball of greenstuff, the size of this circle and sit your slimmed down chest onto it. With your hobby tool, try your best to smooth out the rims where it meets the chest and legs. This may mean removing portions of greenstuff to make it sit properly. Don't worry too much about making it look pristine, as it will be highly covered by armour plates.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/4_zps3e1ee46f.jpg

 

Step 5) The creation of the new crotchpeice. Since we aren't using the thigh armour, cut off one of the side peices, and insert it directly under the belt buckle, covering up a large portion of your greenstuff work on the extended torso. Again, remove any detail to keep the slimmed look.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/5_zps1f046d18.jpg

 

Step 6) The new shoulder harness - as we will need to skinny down the shoulders to cover our new arms, remove these extensions. From here, the shoulder pad will have one edge sit on the front of the chest pannel, and one edge sit on the back power plant, being supported by the small shoulder fin.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/6_zpsb5b5069c.jpg

 

Step 7) The first arm - Remove the lower gun mount, the arm detailing, the arm's piston, and the overn mit hand right where the hand begins. The hand used to replace it is a cut down version of the forgeworld Cataphract termie armour power fist. A small ball of greenstuff is more than enough to provide a bit of give to the armpit, and to secure the arm to the new shoulder. Don't be afraid to smooth out the gs edges around the arm and chest armour.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/7_zps504a0ba2.jpg

 

That's it so far, hope it helps and shows it's not too complex to achieve a different look.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/MentorsCenturion5_zps242b71e2.jpg

 

@mikhail

I have a few different heads so far, the actualy centurion helm, a mark IV helm, a half cut Cataphract Termie helm that is exactly like a contemptor head - just need to see how everything sits before choosing. I will likely post up the options before choosing.

 

@IamJacksusername

I was also a little unsure about the models, and didn't even pick them up release day... it was actually a spur of the moment purchase and knew that I wanted to try something a little different. People had a lot of ideas after seeing the models, but I haven't seen a lot of those ideas come to fruition.

 

@ Ludovic & Greyall

Thanks, really appreciate it.

 

@WarriorFish

Tutorial above, hope it helps.

 

@AngelsAbsolute

Its a half cut Cataphract Termie hand - always found the level of detail on their fingers very impressive.

 

@Malika666

The Chapter is certainly one of the ones that had received quite a bit of fluff since Rogue Trader, but it also has been one of the worst for identity chages and contradictory information. I really dig the bits about branching out to other Imperial fighting units and brining home that tactical know how, to further their arguably, most exhaustive and intense training regime in any Chapter. Other than the Deathwatch, the Mentors alone held that niche, and thats where I thought to take them, with fluff already supporting them having squads with no seargent, as each brother was equally a veteran. Experimental tech, like you mentioned was the other side to that coin, but it always seemed portrayed a little too over the top (time travel wargear), and could be done in much subtler ways (ex: each bolter being customized etc). As they are one of the youngest Chapters on record, I thought it might be interesting to try and develop some fledgling traditions, as they cannot compare to such vaunted and elite chapters like the Imperial Fists or the White Scars. The majority won't have robes, but several will. Like with any DIY content, its hit and miss. Hopefully with some paint on them soon, I can see how it will play out. 

[WarSpirit]

That centurion conversion is looking great, can't wait for the finished version. Might make me love these models after all.

[Inquisitor Eisenhorn]

Destined to be one of the most valuable threads on the B&C!!

[WarriorFish]

That's brilliant Candleshoes, thanks for taking the time to post up such a comprehensive explanation I've got quite a few ideas now so I'll have plenty to play with when I get some Centurions :)

Now we're just waiting to see them all finished... :D

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Thanks for the tutorial, I'm sure we'll be seeing many more "candleshoe" pattern centurions by the time this is finished!

 

How are you planning on mounting the weapons though? I get the frag missile/hurricane bolters mounted on the shoulder pads, but how will you show assualt drills/heavy weapons?

[Reichfaust]

Absolutely stunning Candleshoes; like many others you have totally turned me around on the Centurions, now I see just how fantastic they can look with some converting. Bravo, I will be following this thread with baited breath!

[DietOfLiquor]

Amazing!

[tomfoolery]

so far nice looking build.

[Xenith]

Excellent conversion, more please!

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Any more updates on this conversion? I'm so keen to see the end result!

[Candleshoes]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you very much for the support, it certainly helps in the motivation department!

Thought I would post up the next phase of the Centurion Conversion - it took a little while to think about how to make it look like it fit, and ultimately, there were a lot of possibilities. I was experimenting with a second "hand" arm, with weapons all on the shoulders (or) the weapons carried like a gun in the hands (or) pistol versions of the weapons (think dual wield) (or) detached and on a rotator like a contemptor model.

I looked at Iron Man comics, War Machine, Dr. Doom, Transformers and a few other sources for ideas on how to fit in scale the weapons, without it looking out of place. I ended up deciding on something that was very simple to do, simple to replicate, fit the new size, and looks in my opinion, somewhat feasable.

Step 8) Take the centurion right arm lascannon (or grav gun) and remove the bulk of the power cell and pack. Take the right arm and remove just the oven mit portion. You will be left with the peices below.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo3_zpsc1a62941.jpg

Step 9) You will notice that the weapon's and arm actually slot together fairly well. Glue them together.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo2_zps366e2361.jpg

Step 10) This looks complicated, but don't worry. Take your hobby knife and clippers and slim down the arm's forearm so that it is as close of a surface match to that of the lascannon or grav stock. You will need liquid greenstuff, and with a paintbrush, spread it into the large crack. Give it a few minutes, and then, with the paintbrush (wet it) start to paint water onto the model and spread it evenly. It will do all the work for you, the shine in the photo is just my GS drying. Any errors you make you can fix after it dries.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo1_zpsc01ba678.jpg


When this dries, I will attach it and begin to look at the neck and head.


 

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

So these will be devastator centurions then? I'm liking what you've done here, be sure to show us more pics! :) it's very much a mini contemptor.

 

Don't worry about swapping chapters, as long as you're happy with what you're doing everyone else be damned!

[Barabbas Sogalon]

Will there be any differences in height between this and centurions straight out of the box?

 

Brilliant conversion

[Candleshoes]

The torso is extended and trench where the neck is will be filled in, making it stand about 1 inch taller than the out of the box version, before any base work.

[Chronotonic]

nice little tutorial there

 

I like to see this done...might get some of these guys myself

[the Belgian one]

Finally someone making good stuff with the centurion kit ! I'm On my way to convert a bunch a those in some kind of techmarine harness ... 

Congrats for your work ! Don't be too fast, make it perfect ;-) 

[Candleshoes]

Some new photos to share on the WIP centurion conversion:

 

Here is the model with the arm attached, greenstuff still needing to cover the line on the lascannon barrel, and the new and raised head and neck - the Cataphract terminator helm ended up just looking WAY too small, and the actual centurion helm ended up being WAY too big, so I opted for a forgeworld MK IV helm, which of all the options, seemed to scale the best.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo2_zps44eab2e6.jpg

 

 

And for those who were wondering about the scale of the model, here it is against a regular marine. The marine is also the testbed for the new Imperial Fists colours - and awaiting a savage weathering session. The gun casings will be candy cane patterned red and black.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo4_zpse7ec61d5.jpg

 

 

A comparison to the out of box version:

 

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/CenturionOriginal_zps61a1fe85.jpg

[Noctus Cornix]

Man, the conversion work you did on this guy is really great, but if I'm honest, I think the pose does it a disservice. Its too static and the gun arm seems to be positioned in a strange way. It may just be me but perhaps giving him a more dynamic pose?

[The_Chaplain]

I kind of agree with Noctus Cornix on this one, he'd certainly look more imposing that way I think.

 

An odd side question- but the knight shield on that hooded marine in the last picture? what kit is it from?  I literally tried posting a pic of it in my wip thread asking what it was and the b&c netcode didnt like the image. 

 

Another oddity: If you stuck the new plastic chaplain head on a centurion, it would look a lot like an Atlas class mech from mechwarrior.  Okay, that one's a bit of a stretch.

[Candleshoes]

@Noctus

For the first testbed for the conversion, I admit I went very conservative with the pose, deliberately making it as static as possible in order to see the proportions. I took a quick snap of a heavily cut down set of missle pods just held against the back of the centurion, to show where it is going next, and to show how it does bulk out a bit. The gun arm is covering up quite a bit of wiring in the back - head on it looks pretty slim, but it person it has some movement when you see it from the back and side, the step 10 photo you can get a sense that when you actually see the arm joint, it looks like a normal extended arm.

 

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p113/Darkbeastman/photo_zpsa73117d5.jpg

 

@ The_Chaplain

I think the shield is from the Deathwing Termi box.

[DietOfLiquor]

I must say, you are the inspiration for me to finally pick up a box of those Centurions. What you've done so far is just boss. I can't wait to see the finished product!