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

[KrautScientist]

Alright, you have the armour down pat now. The tweaked recipe works great! I have to say I'd prefer a warmer skin tone, but that's probably a matter of personal preference. I stand by my earlier assessment that you should try to incorporate some of those disgustingly awesome yello buboes on your Plague Marines as well.

 

The one thing I really don't like about the models is the green plasma, as it seems like a slightly weird choice to me. It's too clean to work as sickly green, and in any case, I think a red/orange effect would work much better in this case (and arguably match the rest of the colour scheme far better).

 

Those minor gripes notwithstanding, I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with next, buddy! :)

[DuskRaider]

Knockin it out of the park, Auggy! I really like that gold trim, it's a great contrast to the cool white and green and really makes the whole model pop. They really are filled with detail, that's why I think you're crazy saying you want 60+... although I find myself wishing I had more, if only to paint.

[Mechanist]

I need to get a proper look on a monitor but from my phone they look solid. I do agree with Kraut about some orange pustules but as a lovely contrast but also to tie to the pox walkers. As for the plasma I need to see these guys bigger but the green looks nice and if you have orange pustules it might be to much. Red might work to tie with the already used spot colour.

[ChazSexington]

If there's another ETL, I'm happy you're on our side!

Absolutely cracking work as always!

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks, guys!

About the pustules - I agree that they need to feauture on the marines, to tie them in with the poxwalkers. The problem is that the marines, being armoured, don't have a lot of surfaces of exposed skin on which to feature the pustules. Plus, they should look distinct, as they are vastly different units. The Zandri Dust as a base for both the cloth and the armour in combination with the fact that both units are based in the same way, should also help t tie them up. 

In any case, I've been working on the next set of Plague Marines, again featuring three plasma guns. I'm quite pleased with the way I've managed to build unique marines from mostly the standard DI Plague Marines (which have been undercoated by the previous owner and stripped by me, hence the partial undercoat in most bits), plus some bits from the customiable PM set and some MkIII bits. Take a look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking and comments welcome!

 

Cheers!

 

Replies!

 

@ KrauScientist: Thanks! I agree about the pustules, but as I've said in this post: it's kinda hard to find decent exposed skin to put them on - or do you think pustules could grow on armour and wouldn't look out of place? About the plasma colour: no. Plasma is either green, blue or purple. Red plasma looks non-SciFi-y and dumb. But that is just my opinion.
 

@ DuskRaider: Haha yeah I gues that is kinda crazy, but then again my production always blasts when I'm inspired - plus when I've done a couple, I always figure out a very efficient way to paint them,. so I don't think I will have too much trouble. 

 

@ Mechanist: I agree - if there will be pustules, those in addition to the red fly iconography will give enough ties to the poxwalkers. Red plasma would overwhelm the miniature. Plus, red plasma doesn't exist in my universe.

 

@ ChazSexington: I'm always on your side in the ETL, buddy! As long as your side is Chaos!

Edited April 6, 2018 by Augustus b'Raass

[KrautScientist]

 

@ KrauScientist: Thanks! I agree about the pustules, but as I've said in this post: it's kinda hard to find decent exposed skin to put them on - or do you think pustules could grow on armour and wouldn't look out of place? About the plasma colour: no. Plasma is either green, blue or purple. Red plasma looks non-SciFi-y and dumb. But that is just my opinion.

 

Regarding the pustules, yes, I totally think they could appear on the armour itself -- in fact, it seems to me as though some of the armour detail had been designed with that idea in mind. There's also precedence for this on the classic Dave Andrews models. I think, ultimately, it comes down to whether you see them as a ski condition or as some kind of daemoic fungus that can infect every surface. Although, given the very nature of the Plague Marines, it's hard to tell where the armour begins anyway (and whether or not it is completely anorganic any longer at this point).

 

As for the plasma, we all have our preferences, and if you think red plasma looks stupid, then that's that. I was rather talking about an effect like hot radiator coils, though, interpreting that part of the weapon as coils that heat up. And I think it would look great in reddish orange. More importantly, though, I stand by my assessment that the green doesn't really work well as is: If you want to keep it, you should try to make it glowier and murkier (like gaseous flames, St. Elmo's Fire, that sort of stuff) or switch to blue. Just my two cents ;)

[Augustus b'Raass]

That's a great point about the pustules being part of some daemonic fungus - It's inspired me to go back to the above WIP builds and start adding them! Thanks, Krauty!

 

Don't think I think that plasma is 'stupid' - I just that I've never managed to make plasma glow look good in a red hue, which has made the goblins in my head go on strike and yell out in protest whenever I try to think of doing plasma coils in red. My calling red plasma 'dumb' is more because I have no rational reason for not using it, as I've seen people do it with marvelous effect. Inn any case, I have thought of doing the plasma in purple to complement the colour of the tenctacles, so I might give that a try. Blue is out, as that would add another colour (next to bone, red, green, gold, and purple) and I fear that it might overpower the miniatures and make them look like a christmas tree. ;tu: 

[Viridia]

Purple sounds like a great idea, it'd certainly stand out for the coils. On a little bit of a tangent, I've been looking through your old Khorne Berzerkers work, and it has inspired me to try my own. In your opinion, is it worth trying to replace the leather boots with the shins from the actual Khorne Berzerkers, or is it too difficult to make work?

[Dantay VI]

What about giving the plasma coils a wash of lamenter yellow or something similar like sepia to get a more "sickly" green look rather than the clean bright green?

[KrautScientist]

Man, I know I can be a bastard like that, but to be honest, I think purple would be even worse ;)

 

If it has to be green, I agree with Dantay VI above: Make it a sickly, murky green.

Edited April 6, 2018 by KrautScientist

[Panzer]

I actually think it's fine the way it is (tho I prefer blue plasma generally). However a yellow wash over the green might work.

[hushrong]

The Death Guard are looking good! The colors came out great but for some weird reason my eyes are drawn to the tentacles. *and for some reason that doesn't seem dirty* That is an awesome purple you have there that goes well with the general paint scheme.

 

Also, I like the green glow of the plasma. It works nice and I am happy you didn't go OSL happy with that too.

 

The next batch of maries are looking good too! I like the green stuff tentacle on the DG to match his kin but I am wondering if you will chaos up the mkIII pads? They could use Nurgles touch

[BubblesMcBub]

This colour scheme works great i think but i really just want to see it next to your poxwalkers haha

[SkimaskMohawk]

Really digging the gold. I think it really helps break up the bone while also doing a better job of framing the green.

[gaurdian31]

You could also try a more orangey red if that makes sense. Also the new guys are looking good!

[Mechanist]

I honestly though there was a number of Buboes already on the armour panels I have seen them added a few time to the old metal models and even went ahead and did my own after seeing it as a good way to add colour.

This chap

[Trixie]

Amazing work on these Death Guard, I very much approve of the bone/green scheme rather than the common 40k green version. Keep em coming !

[Vairocanum]

WOW, stunning work on that first squad. The second squad is looking really cool so far too, definitely looking forward to seeing them painted up!

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks you so very much for the overwhelmingly positive feedback on the Death Guard, gals and guys! It's very motivational to read all of them! In fact, I have already started working on the next series of six plague marines. I realize this is quite a strange number for Plague Marines - them normally coming in squads of five (minimum) or seven (fluffy). My intention is to field them in MSU style, so only five. I am not sure why I am painting them six at a time, to be honest - it just happened! My plan is to make three squads of five with three plasma guns, plus two squads of five each for the other three special weapons (meltagun, plague spewer, blight launcher), with two of those weapons per squad. And then three squads of seven kitted for close combat. Does that make sense? :D I am fairly certain though that the total amount of Plague Marines will not be 6x5+3x7=51, as I will never field all of them at once and most squads share two bolter-wielders. I'm not sure about the math here, so most likely I'll frack up and end up with 51 plague marines anyway, but the intent is to save me some effort.

 

ANYWAY!!

I already started work on the next batch of five. I'm already starting to make some progress in making the process of batch-painting these guys more efficient. An order of painting is developing, which I hope eventually will make painting five of these guys a five-hour procedure instead of the twelve it's taking me now. 

 

I also finished the one guy in the first squad that I forgot to paint a backpack for, by painting his backpack. Take a look!

 

 

And then there's the Malignant Plague Caster that comes with the Dark Imperium boxed set, which I converted based on some inspiration I got from our very own KrautScientist. The DI Plague Caster has a veritable ridiculous face, so I had to do something about it. I liked Krauty's solution, but actually really wanted a MkIII helmet. So this is what I did.

 

Still not too satisfied with the pose of the miniature, though. His plague wind gust (or whatever it is) just isn't to my liking, so I will probably end up replacing his right hand with one of these:

 

Anyway, I hope you like! Feedback welcome!

Cheers!

 

Replies:

 

@ Viridia: If I thought it'd be worh it, I'd have done it. It's a LOT of effort, and the payoff will only be worth it if you're a very good sculptor. I am not. I'm actually thinking of sawing through their pelvis and replacing their legs entirely with MkIII legs!

 

@ Dantay VI: I'm actually considering redoing the 'glow' with Zamesi Desert!

 

@ KrautScientist: Haha alright, alright. no Purple. :D How about redoing the glow with Zamesi Desert? 

 

@ sfPanzer: Blue... damnit! All these choices! ;)

 

@ hushrong: Than you! I'm glad you also 'see the appeal' of purple tentacles. ;) I have chaosed up the shoudler pads. Thanks for reminding me!

 

@ BubblesMcGud: I promise I'll make a group shot of this next squad surrounded by my favourite poxwalkers. :) Or you can look at them life, on Friday. :) Also, I ordered your Sicaran and Scorpion, finally!

 

@ SkimaskMohawk: Cheers, good to hear!

 

@ guardian31: hahaha argh nooooo no more plasma options! Hahaha I think I'll just stick to green, or else I'll never be satisfied and will remain in choice-limbo :)

 

@ Mechanist: Good point! I've added tons of buboes on the armour. Also, that's a great looking colour scheme. 

 

@ Trixie: I shall, thanks!

 

@ Vairocanum: Cheers, buddy! Hoefully I'll be able to finish them by tomorrow evening. :)

 

  

[BubblesMcBub]

i don't know if i like the mkIII helmet on the plague caster this way but i think if you change the wind to the open hand and also replace the staff it willl be awesome. as i think the staff is the weakest part of that whole model.
The plague marines in the other hand are awesome!

Really excited to be able to crush them in a gme in the future with my own Iron warriors!

[gaurdian31]

But each squad could have a different color of plasma! I'm kidding, the green is looking good. Really like the new plasma gun marine, the rust on the blade is really well done. Are you doing more to the Mk III helm to make it look corrupted? Right now it kinda sticks out.

[SkimaskMohawk]

I'd strongly recommend to not do 3 plasma as your main damage focus. The Blight launcher has a higher range to damage output and does more in range of arch contaminator (basically the only warlord trait shipped with the death guard book lol).

 

That being said I do really like how the plasma looks

[DuskRaider]

^ He's wrong, 3 x Plasma is great.

[wilks_]

The death guard recipe is looking great !   Def agree with the open hand change.

[hushrong]

Yep yep yip! Still looking good!

 

Also, for the sand-pocket wizard...I think it would be really cool if you sculpt a few tentacles coming from the mkIII grill.