++ AUGUSTUS b'RAASS ++ pre-heresy BRASS SCORPION p.247

[Vairocanum]

Congrats on the win! The converted grav cannon backpack looks great! How durable are the pewter cables in terms of bending them? Thinking of getting some cause I might need something thicker than guitar strings.

[Augustus b'Raass]

@ Vairocanum: I got these from Dragonforge. The thicker ones do bend, but not much further than I made them on the above miniature. 

 

@ Tekman: PM incoming!

 

@ Race Bannon: I had no idea you played all those armies!

[Augustus b'Raass]

Over at the Walls Fail, Fists Do Not event thread, Coldfyre asked about my hobby- and photography setup. I thought I'd share it here:

 

First, my hobby setup. I am very lucky to have a small room dedicated solely to the hobby (Plus a rack for drying clothes, and two vertically placed mattresses for guests). So here goes:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/Desk%20setup_zpsomyyxatw.jpg

In addition to all my paints, stored conveniently in a recent paint rack, I divided my setup in seven 'regions' :
1. All kinds of pots and cans with putties, glues, basecoats, cleaning fluids, and other fluid hobby materials, plus a paper envelope end a ziplock plastic back with FW Legion and GW miscellaneous transfer sheets, respectively.

2. Old wine crate with all my tools, from jewelery saws to pliers, GreenStuff Rollers to Syphons, and GreenStuff and Milliput rolls, as well as a pot of shaving cream with which to clean my brushes.

3. Two IKEA desk lamps with a daylight bulb and a 'normal' light bulb, plus a daylight spot for when I place my photo setup. The desk lamp on the right also holds all my unused magnets, which conveniently clamp several tweezers and clippers. The ´head´ of the lamp also stores my blod of Poster Buddy.  

4. Hobby mat, together with a table magazine I stole from my doctor´s waiting room: it (used to) has 400 pages of a material that is perfect to use as a paint receptical on which to mix and thin paints.
5. A porcelain pot that holds all my brushes, as well as my water pot and the place I keep my super and plastic glue, Vallejo Airbrush primers, and airbrush thinning fluid and flow improver.
6. Airbrush tank and holder, dremmel tool, hairdryer.
7. Bucket of water in which to clean my airbrush between paints, compressor, and bin.

Now, my Photo setup is a mobile one, which I keep next to and set up on my hobby area. I got very lucky: one day I told my dad I wanted to get more serious about miniature photography, and he was like "Oh, my brother gave me this the other day, you can have it", and he proceeded to give me this awesome mobile light box:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/WP_20170327_004_zpsuhsri6ic.jpg

 

Which folds open into this:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/WP_20170327_005_zpsdaafagme.jpg 

I then place an A2 sized piece of photo background in it, which I attach with Poster Buddy - as you see, I should replace this particular one soon, as it has ripped in several places, and has been damaged throughout the two years I've been using it. :D
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/WP_20170327_006_zpszgo9w1hg.jpg

I then clip on the 'roof', using a semi-transparent white piece of cloth:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/WP_20170327_007_zpsv44zuhzq.jpg

 

And finally, I point my desk lamps into it (daylight bulb from above, 'normal' bulb from the right), and the daylight spot from the left. I also clip my camera phone onto a super cheap phone camera holder I got from China (photo camera not included in pic, for obvious reasons)  
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Hobby/WP_20170327_009_zpsqstbawy9.jpg

And that's it! I used to take hints from Kierdale's tutorial, but the one Warhammer Community posted is just as fine. IN any case, the whole Miniature Photography Section of the B&C has been a great source of inspiration, tips, tricks, and hacks for me, and I am sure it will be to everyone interested in miniature photography. 

I hope you like and that this has been inspirational/useful to anyone. My photography is not perfect by far, but it works for me - I'm not willing to invest in a good camera, so I have to make due with my phone's camera. I have more than pleasing results, if I may say so myself, but I also admit that there is a lot to be improved on it. 

Edited March 27, 2017 by Augustus b'Raass

[Kobrakei]

That's super useful, especially as I have the same mobile studio! I got it years ago but never bothered with it, but I'm totally going to crack it out now :)

[Augustus b'Raass]

That's super useful, especially as I have the same mobile studio! I got it years ago but never bothered with it, but I'm totally going to crack it out now

That's good to hear! Do you know where to get them? I got mine from my dad, but I'd like to know the producer/store, as many people have asked me where I got it. :tu: 

[Tekman]

 

That's super useful, especially as I have the same mobile studio! I got it years ago but never bothered with it, but I'm totally going to crack it out now

That's good to hear! Do you know where to get them? I got mine from my dad, but I'd like to know the producer/store, as many people have asked me where I got it.

 

Never got that PM but.... I'll forgive you ;)

 

Also the Xenos (you know what I mean) has them quite often, sometimes the action as well, but the Xenos has it 9/10 in stock.

[Augustus b'Raass]

After that whole Skyhammer Annihilation Force rollercoaster of the past month or so, I decided to take it somewhat easy and focus on somthing that required a little more effort. I've been wanting to do a fully kitted Imperial Fists Command Squad on bikes for quite a while now, and have been collecting bits for them too. They have all already been named a loooooong time ago, too, so it's about time these models get some names to them!

 

Biker Command Squad

Company Champion - Klass Valfodd - Dolchiate Remembrancer
Weapon Specialist - Alric Dustan - guardian31
Weapon Specialist - Koorso Drakk - Dragonlover
Apothecary - Cespar Kolloman - Slipstreams
Company Vexilla - Honored Haekon Druss - Flint13

 

I'm going to do them one at a time - except for the two Weapon Specialists. All the bikers in this squad need to look as spiffy as can be - like the OOP Ultramarine Honour Guard, but instead of the toilet seats, I'm looking for the same Templaresque Imperial Fist theme I've striven towards in the rest of my army.  This is why I'm using the Dark Vengeance bikers as a base, because of the cool Acquila-wings-for-biker-steering-bar-shields-thingies.

I'll begin with Flint13's miniature, as she was the one that got me into the B&C, originally. She's quite a bit less active nowadays, so I hope she'll still see this creation. Here's a preliminary mockup of the vexillarius.

On this guy, I've dremmelled away the Dark Angel iconography of the flag and smoothed the surface out with liquid GS as best as I could, so I hope it'll look like a battered, but well-cared for Company Standard and will take some (a lot of) transfers. I might also give him a storm shield, made from the shields of the Templar Brethren set. And there´s the issue of a severe lack of purity seals for one with the surfix 'honoured'. 

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpsl5rp3f1a.jpg

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpshzcd4y1o.jpg

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpszxj0lgf5.jpg

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpsxx2ho1kh.jpg

What do you think? Any ideas about Honoured Haekon Druss? Let me know! 

 

I really appreciate your feedback in comments on this. I appreciate likes too, but they don't really qualify as constructive feedback, no do they? My goal in posting here is to inspire and share my skills, but also to be inspired and to improve myself - and for that I need actual feedback

 

 

@ Tekman: well you know how we feel about the Xenos around these parts. 

Edited March 27, 2017 by Augustus b'Raass

[gaurdian31]

Maybe a purity seal on his chest or the front wheel housing or both? What power pack are you going to give him? An older mark pack would help with the honored part I think too. If possible to swap a shoulder pad with one of  the terminator honor pads from the sternguard? You could also put text lines on his shoulder pads or armor or both.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Yes! Those are some excellent points. I'll see about that sternguard pauldron - I'd have to dremmel away the current one, which will be quite the operation - but I think I can pull it off. For the torso, I could actually swap it for one of the Templar Brethren torsos - which would go nicely with their backpacks, too :)

[OutlawSixActual]

Thanks a lot Augustus! It really gives me some ideas for the space to work toward. Right now, since this was such a spur of the moment thing, my work space is a corner of the dining room table :D. Of course it lets me spend time with my 4 year old as he plays with his green army men next yo mine.

 

As for the bikes, it looks great, but what's always bothered me is that special wespond ought to have a mount. Have you thought of anything like that? Some sort of fixable swivel mount so the biker can use both hands on the bike when needed, instead of being permanently one-handed.

 

I'm thinking something similar IN CONCEPT to the secondary machinegun mounts that we used to put in our gunner turrets. Here's an example:

 

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/modern/USA/MRAPS/Oshkosh_MATV-SXB.png

 

Not a great photo but the best i can find. The 50cal is in the main turret mount, and the 7.62 is in a second mount up and to the sode of the gunner, so he can switch to it when needed, but its already stabilized on a mount for when he needs it. It seems like this would be ideal for special weapons on bikes, a single point mount slightly forward and to one side.

 

Does that make sense? I would do it on bikes if i had them but im waiting for an eventual updated bike kit that doesnt use 2nd edition bolters...

[Augustus b'Raass]

@ coldfyre: Ha! that's a really cool idea buddy - but actually I kinda like the special-weapon-in-hand look of bikers. If you are willing to and have the skills to convert that onto a bike, then there's really no reason why you wouldn't be able to also swap around the 2nd edition bolters for modern ones! :tu: Glad you like the pictures and setup, buddy. Hopefully you can make your own space someday. For now, having fun with your son sounds awesome, too! :)

[paulJam]

That mini-photo booth segment is fantastic.

thanks for putting that up.

[Kobrakei]

 

That's super useful, especially as I have the same mobile studio! I got it years ago but never bothered with it, but I'm totally going to crack it out now

That's good to hear! Do you know where to get them? I got mine from my dad, but I'd like to know the producer/store, as many people have asked me where I got it.

 

Oh now that's a question! I think Amazon but not sure...I'll have a look and update on here!

 

Update - I found it on Ebay for quite cheap, but it just seems to be a generic product.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281533502542?chn=ps&adgroupid=40208487538&rlsatarget=aud-295856144804%3Apla-279605277745&abcId=923846&adtype=pla&merchantid=107334197&poi=&googleloc=9046172&device=c&campaignid=738085096&crdt=0

Edited March 27, 2017 by kobrakei

[KrautScientist]

 

 

That's super useful, especially as I have the same mobile studio! I got it years ago but never bothered with it, but I'm totally going to crack it out now

That's good to hear! Do you know where to get them? I got mine from my dad, but I'd like to know the producer/store, as many people have asked me where I got it.

 

Oh now that's a question! I think Amazon but not sure...I'll have a look and update on here!

 

Update - I found it on Ebay for quite cheap, but it just seems to be a generic product.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281533502542?chn=ps&adgroupid=40208487538&rlsatarget=aud-295856144804%3Apla-279605277745&abcId=923846&adtype=pla&merchantid=107334197&poi=&googleloc=9046172&device=c&campaignid=738085096&crdt=0

 

 

Here's the one I own, readily available from the same supplier in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France, at least. Although I have to admit that I've mostly used the tripod so far. Still, it's kinda nice how everything, the lamps included, neatly folds into the case.

 

 

In other news, really looking forward to seeing that biker banner bearer take shape, buddy! I do think he might look more "honoured" with a beefier breastplate. Maybe lastic Mk. 3 or one of the breastplates from the Sternguard kit?

 

As for the seals, if you want to go all out, you could even place the seals to suggest that they have been applied to him as a ritual way of bonding him to his bike before the battle? Just an idea.

[hushrong]

First off, congrats on the win! Strike fast, strike hard, show no mercy!

 

As for the gravcannon that is a sweet set up and I will have to check out this dragonforge stuff. I want some tubing for Blastmaster Noise Marines I am working on. I want some tubes to connext from their weapon to their amplifier/heavy bass backpacks and I want something a wee bit bigger than guitar string.

 

I also like the biker. It's a weird thing I did with one of my guys but maybe add rivets to the front wheel cover? Rivets are always awesome.

[Augustus b'Raass]

First off, congrats on the win! Strike fast, strike hard, show no mercy!

 

As for the gravcannon that is a sweet set up and I will have to check out this dragonforge stuff. I want some tubing for Blastmaster Noise Marines I am working on. I want some tubes to connext from their weapon to their amplifier/heavy bass backpacks and I want something a wee bit bigger than guitar string.

 

I also like the biker. It's a weird thing I did with one of my guys but maybe add rivets to the front wheel cover? Rivets are always awesome.

What an amazing idea!! Thanks! 

 

Also, if you're serious about adding cabling, I cannot recommend a GreenStuff cable roller enough. That stuff is simply unbeatable.

[MrBear]

A sweet biker mate, from Angel to Fist in a way that will look very cool when he's finished. The banner is still a little DA in it's design, but with your standard of painting I don't doubt for one moment  that everything will look like it was issued to the VIIth from the beginning.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Cheers, buddy!

I've ordered some rivets from zinge industries to enact the idea suggested by hushrong, above. I swear I already had some of those rivets, but for the life of me  I cannot find them... Which means I have to wait a while before I can start painting - which means I can a. continue working on the bikers, and/or b. start a new project that requires less time - like a certain limited edition chaplain...

[Vairocanum]

Wow Haekon Druss looks amazing! I love the extra plasticard on the exhausts, looks fantastic. If you get some instant mold or oyumaru you could make as many purity seals as you need.

[Black_out]

Didn't have any idea portable light boxes even existed. I must invest in one, then maybe my pictures won't suck lol.

[Kizzdougs]

Excellent work on Druss! I'm really looking forward to seeing the banner painted up and with the decals applied. The Imperial Fists are blessed with an awesome decal sheet. 

 

I recon the storm shield could look pretty sweet, and the Templar Brethren combat shield would be the perfect size for a smaller, more cavalry/motorbike friendly storm shield.

 

Apart from the storm shield, power-pack, and purity seals, I recon he'd really benefit from having a close combat weapon (preferably sheathed) somewhere, either attached to him or the bike. Maybe and axe or a sword? :tu:

[Augustus b'Raass]

Wow Haekon Druss looks amazing! I love the extra plasticard on the exhausts, looks fantastic. If you get some instant mold or oyumaru you could make as many purity seals as you need.

Yeah that particular trick was inspired by Brother Heinrich's awesome Night Lords bikers from a couple of years ago. That thread continues to be an inspiration to me, and I make sure to read through it at least a couple times a year. Don't worry about the purity seals - they're dirt cheap on bits sites and I have a supply for a lifetime.

 

Didn't have any idea portable light boxes even existed. I must invest in one, then maybe my pictures won't suck lol.

They do, and you should! :tu:

 

Excellent work on Druss! I'm really looking forward to seeing the banner painted up and with the decals applied. The Imperial Fists are blessed with an awesome decal sheet. 

 

I recon the storm shield could look pretty sweet, and the Templar Brethren combat shield would be the perfect size for a smaller, more cavalry/motorbike friendly storm shield.

 

Apart from the storm shield, power-pack, and purity seals, I recon he'd really benefit from having a close combat weapon (preferably sheathed) somewhere, either attached to him or the bike. Maybe and axe or a sword?

Thanks, buddy. I agree about the Storm Shields, although I think I'll give those to the weapon specialists only - we don't want to over-cost the unit, now do we? ;) The sword idea is a good one, though. How's about a sheethed scout biker sword?

[gaurdian31]

Do you have any of the combat blades from Betrayal at Calth? I think that would work well for a blade. I honestly haven't seen the blade from the scout bikes so I don't know if that would work better for you.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Alright, so I have to wait a couple days before the rivets for the bike arrive, and I'm waiting for GreenStuff to dry on the new MkIII body on the bike. So I thought I'd start a new, fast, cool project: the Limited Edition Terminator Chaplain. 

 

This is, of course, a recast. There wasn't a shop opening in a 500km radius around my house, and I wasn't willing to pay $500.- for it on eBay, so when my favourite recaster got his hands on it, I was sure to buy one for my hobby buddy's birthday.

 

And for myself. Because, you know...

 

 

   ;)

 

Anyway, here he is in his full unglued (but posterbuddy'd) unprimed glory:

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpstocfsw7g.jpg

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zps2cfe9dzd.jpg

 

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d185/mkruijff/Imperial%20Fists/temporary_zpsykgvsdkm.jpg

 

Super excited to start painting this guy!

@ guardian31: DUH! I'm so stupid for not thinking about those BaC swords. Thanks for reminding me!

Edited March 29, 2017 by Augustus b'Raass

[Race Bannon]

Dude ... I treated myself too, I had to. Wallet still hates me for it but I just stuff it in a pocket. ^_^

 

Anyway, this model + your skill = me be like