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

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks guys! 

 

They're finished - another three Plague Marines, with together with two earlier 'bolter spares', makes a squad of five. These have a close assault role, wielding two Plague Spewers.

 

Take a look!

 

 

 

First Specialist

 

Plague Champion

 

Second Specialist

 

I hope you like them! I find their fleshy cables a bit too dark - I shouldn't first wash those with Crimson, but just and only with watered-down BFTBG....

 

Anyway, C&C is most welcome! Let me know what you think. 

Cheers!

Replies:

 

@ BubblesMcGub: Thanks, buddy! I have an idea where I just use a regular old metal rod, and greenstuff that up, together with some glass micro beads... The tentacles were easy to do, but mind you those were done with clay shapers. :)

 

@ hushrong: Yeah I agree, and when you pointed it out I thought  "damn, he's right", but alas I had already started painting them! What do you think? Do I get away with it? Another alas is about your excellent idea - but unfortunately I have no DV DA Librarians left...

 

@ sfPanzer: Of course!!! hahahaha

 

@ Vairocanum: Painted up and well! I'll see how the skull in his open hand would look, though I'm not sure it would look shakespearean... ;)

[DuskRaider]

Looking good! I was skeptical of the MaxMini helms at first, but they worked out well.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks, DuskRaider! Gkad you like the helmets. I was a bit sceptical too, but I decided to just order them and see if they're acceptable. Turns out, they're even better than I hoped! 

 

I am letting go of my 'no third party bits' policy, as I am no longer that interested to game at or display in a GW store. Tourneys are mostly non-GW anyway. 

 

+++++++

 

On a different note and directed to all visitors - and I apologize if this perhaps comes across as needy - I appreciate the likes my posts regularly get, but much prefer a comment with some feedback - even if it's a short one! Likes are great, but comments keep this thread - and by extension my inspiration - going!! Cheers!

[Greenz]

Ah, I’ve missed the last few updates...

 

Your PM are phenomenal! You’re really tempting me to get working on my Weeping Legion, but I need to stay focused for the ETL. I like what you’ve done with the tentacles and pustule bits, they look very... moist :D

 

I think my only critique, and it could just be because I’m on my phone, is that the brass looks a little too clean. But at the same time, it does help stand out and not muddy everything up. I’m not much help, am I hahaha?

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks, Greenz! I agree that sometimes the brass is a little too clean - it's a delicate balance between making it stand out and having it be clean on the other, or dirtying it up but risking losing it between all the grime. I think I should use a little Patina or Nihilac Oxide perhaps...?

 

Anyway, here's the first of a couple squads of close combat oriented Plague Marines. 

 

First, the CHampion with a plasma pistol and a power fist. I really like this guy - his backpack is from the DI PM champion, while his plasma pistol arm are from the DI Blightbringer. Lovely bits to convert with. 

 

Next up, the standard bearer. I used a shield that's also a Nurgle symbol as the icon. I think it's from that Putrid Blightkins kit. What I love about this guy is that I can use him as a Nurgle Icon Bearer in the squad, but also as a regular guy, as the icon isn't too obvious. He has a sword on his backpack too, so he is wysiwig for a two-plague sword toting guy who doesn't cost anything extra. 

 

Here's the first of two Great Cleaver wielding guys. WHat I love about this one is his Maxmini backpack and his FW shoulder pads in combination with his creepy helmet. To make this pose possible, I had to subtly extend the tentacle that's holding the heft of his axe, so that it still reaches his torso. 

 

Another dual plague sword toting marine. Nothing fancy, really: his torso and right arm are just bits form the Plague Marine kit, the left arm is (obviously) from the EZ plague marine kit, while his backpack is from the DI set. 

 

And last but certainly not least, the second Great Cleaver! A fairly simple comversion, really, but one with great effect, if I may say so myself! I changed around the axe head from the DI Lord of Contagion. His Maxmini diving helmet is fantastic - I really like that thing. I thoroughly enjoyed creating this guy.

 

I hope you like! These Death Guard really have made my conversion senses tingling - the fact the both the Dark Imperium plague marines as the new Plague Marine kit all are fairly restrictive - lacking the interchangeability we've come to expect from two decades of Space Marine kits - at first made me apprehensive of starting the army. But now, I've come to see it as a challenge that I thoroughly enjoy overcoming. The fact that I'm making Nurgle marines only makes it easier - if there's a hole somewhere, I simply fill it with a blod of GreenStuff or cover it with some pustules and 'hey presto!'  it looks great. 

I'm really happy with these dudes. WHat do you think? 

 

Let me know through some comments. If you like them, don't just click 'like'  (this is not Facebook) - tell me why you like them or what exactly you like a bout them! If you don't like them, or have any feedback - I can take it! Don't hold back, I'm a big boy. As long as it's constructive, I fullheartedly welcome it - in fact, it'll force me to think about certain choices, which makes the eventual choices I do make that much more certain. So please, let me know in comment what you think. 

[Biohazard]

New Plague Marines are looking great bud, especially the Cleaver and Icon Bearer. I was never really a fan of those Maxmini heads to be fair but they work really well with the new DG aesthetic

[Pearson73]

New close combat squad looking good, the axes especially look like they'll be a great playground for rust and spoiled metal effects. My favourite member has to be the chap with a shield however, the stride forwards and bulky armour give him a real presence and arrogance about him.

[DuskRaider]

Not a fan of the Diver helm. Cleavers look awesome... Not too sure about performance in game but they do look awesome.

[Panzer]

About the lack of feedback:

I think one reason for it is that the Plague Marines already have so many details and are relatively new so that conversions are less obvious for non-DG player and they don't create as much of a reaction as the nightlords vehicles for example which are originally mostly blank and every bit you added changed the whole look of the model.

[Mechanist]

I think that has to be the best squad yet. by and large my on;y real criticism of your whole death guard project is that I would encourage you to look at some of the more obvious repeats and see how you can hide or manipulate them. the two examples that stand out are the pox walker with the scrawny arm on it's left hand side moulded into the chest and the marine with the belly mouth towards the right hand side of the belly. These features are very distinct so the repetition does stand out a little despite the awesome conversion work around them. Next time that belly mouth crops up you could look at drilling out the tentacle and replacing it with a raw wound or different tentacles. 

[hushrong]

Dude, I was loving your work but your latest batch of marines have me head over heels!!!

 

The champ just looks big, imposing, and I love how his power fist is out like “C’mon, what are you going to do about it?” Then you see the rest of the stabby squad and realize ‘not much’. Going to take some notes to copy them later for myself...

[Augustus b'Raass]

Thanks a lot for the feedback, tips, and suggestions, guys! Much appreciated!

Now that I have learned that the ETL is back in town, I've started prepping - no sense in starting painting stuff that's ready for paint before May 1st. I'm going to vow only the stuff that I actually have, which is quite significant already:

Typhus, 4 Blight Drones, 3 Helbrutes, a squad of 3 Deathshrouds, at least 25 plague marines, 3 Blight Haulers, 30 cultists, 30 Plague Bearers, two rhinos and a Land Raider. I also need to repaint Scabeiathrax the Bloated and finally finish that Death Guard Daemon Prince I've been working on since July of last year. Plus of course a Renegade Knight and a bunch of Khornate odds and ends.

 

Additionally, I have Mortarion, 3 PBCs, and almost the entire Death Guard character range in back order from slow-delivering Wayland games. 

 

And some stuff on back order from FW - Red Butchers,  another DP based on the Mourngul, and some other stuff.

 

Anyway, I started with the Characters I do have: two Plague Surgeons. I already have Nauseus Rotbone, ut I don't want to have a special character-type guy that everyone has. So I added in the body of the DI Noxious Blightbringer and ordered Fabius Bile to pillage and mix-and-match his equipment. here's what's the result:

 

First up is the Surgeon who's based on the standard GW one. I basically gave him Fabius' backpack and replaced his horrendous plague sword with a cleaver (not a great Cleaver, just a normal one, which in game terms will fucntino as a balesword):

 

And the second guy has the body of the DI Noxious Blightbringer, coupled with the GW Surgeon's backpack andbalesword, and Fabius' syringe/pistol-thingie. He's turned out to be a more dynamic guy, and I love him!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed converting these guys! The idea for them came to me just before sleep last weekend, and I immediately ordered Fabius to make it happen. :D

 

Let me know what you think! Your comments really inspire me, and as you know I always reply to each and every one of them. :) :tu:
 

Cheers!

 

Replies:

 

@ Biohazard: Thanks! I felt the same way, but just though frack it and ordered them. It was a nice surprise to see them work so well. What do yuo think of the backpacks?

 

@ Pearson73: An thanks! He's made up of parts from two different DI Plague Marines, which I had left over from another project. Fused together, they convey a great sense of movement! :)

 

@ DuskRaider: Oh well! I like it, so let's call it even. ;) I realized later that the Flails of Corruption almost infinitely better than the Great Cleavers, but rool of cool? 

 

@ sfPanzer: Aha! That is a great point, which I hadn't thought of. The weird thing is that each and every one of the marines I've built is in some way converted - it's just not very noticable due to the reasons you stated. Oh well - I hope that some Deat Guard players will notice. ;)

 

@ Mechanist: But... but... all my poxies are different! All 110 of them! But I understand that the creepy extra hand is a dead give-away. That being said, I do get what you'r saying re: the belly-mouth. I had three of those guys, and they're all worked into different guys with different weapon combo's in relatively different poses, so hopefully it doesn't stand out that much. The fact that you noticed does make me rethink my confidence in that hope, though...  I did however, start smoothing the belly-mouths of the second Plague Marine kit I have just started on. 

 

@ hushrong: Great! That was the look I was going for! Also, steal away! :)

[Dragonlover]

My only problem with your Death Guard is that they just aren't inspiring me to make my own, unlike your Night Lords. It might just be that I don't actually like the kits but haven't truly realised this fact yet.

 

That is a reasonable list of stuff for the ETL. Genuinely can't wait to stand against the rest of the forum alongside you again, it's been far too long.

 

Dragonlover

[Mechanist]

 

 

@ Mechanist: But... but... all my poxies are different! All 110 of them! But I understand that the creepy extra hand is a dead give-away. That being said, I do get what you'r saying re: the belly-mouth. I had three of those guys, and they're all worked into different guys with different weapon combo's in relatively different poses, so hopefully it doesn't stand out that much. The fact that you noticed does make me rethink my confidence in that hope, though...  I did however, start smoothing the belly-mouths of the second Plague Marine kit I have just started on. 

I think because these features are a large area of the torso they do stand out even amid the brilliant conversions going on round them. Bare in mind that on a table top it's a very different environment and angle of viewing to them being presented one by one twice actual size on a forum. I have no doubt that in the horde of pox walkers that they should be hard to notice.

The marines are in lower numbers and so it may stand out more when half the squads for instance have the same largish detail in a prominent place. For me it would be an area that I could play with to push the conversions and enjoyment of doing the conversion further. Would love to see a guy with the mouth hollowed at and a peeking nurgling face, others could just trim or smooth back the teeth to a rough edge with ropes of guts hanging out. Heck if you have the swinging nurgling from the plague bearers it could be a fun little detail.

 

Edit: I should probably also add that it doesn't help that the multi part plague marine box come with a further 2 belly mouths as large dominant details so I'd take it as a challenge to get more variety once your past about 15 guys in total.

Edited April 28, 2018 by Mechanist

[Viridia]

The surgeon looks great, a really creepy vibe going on with that cleaver and the whole ghoulish appearance. Looking forward to seeing all these badboys in their painted (and very unwashed) glory!

[Barabbas Sogalon]

I don't know why, but the second Surgeon brings up a mental image of a jolly old fellow skipping around the countryside while singing like the seven dwarfs.

 

Also, I love the filthy pre-Heresy colours on the Death Guard.

[BubblesMcBub]

Those 2 guys are awesome!

Really like the dark fibes from the first one!

[wilks_]

The surgeon is my favourite yet!  He is oozing menace .

[Eldrick Shadowblade]

DG is looking good buddy!

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

This stuff looks great and makes me want to flesh out my Glooming Lords some more, aside from what's in the Dark Imperium box. You've sold me on those Max-mini heads. When will you post a whole army picture? Will you do any bat reps too?

[Augustus b'Raass]

Today's my birthday - I turn thirty eight (38!)!!! Family is coming over later this afternoon, as well as friends with kids, I'm pretty much alone for most of the morning, as the GF had a day shift at the hospital, but she did have a fantastic gift for me and we had a lovely breakfast together. And what arrived on my doorstep?

 

Here's some cakes. Beautiful cakes.

 

Ave Dominus Nox Cake

 

Blood for the Blood God Cake

 

Khârn the Betrayer Cake

 

HAHAHA!!! perfect gift from the GF! What to say in explanation to my mum??

 

Cheers!

Replies:

 

@ Dragonlover: Might be, buddy! The Deat Guard are a taste apart, that's for sure. The kits are fairly restrictive, which doesn't lend itself to dramatic posing and such. Love to stand beside you in the CSM forum too!

 

@ Mechanist: No more belly mouths! I swear! I've already drilled out the first.

 

@ Viridia: Cheers! I'm looking forward to finally having a game with them. It's a cool rule, but not allowing myself to play with unpainted miniatures sure is a hassle.

 

@ Barabbas Sogalon: Oh! Like the Red Butchers? 

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@ BubblesMcGub: Cheers! He's creepy eh?

 

@ Wilks_: Glad to hear you like it! The creepy vibe was the intent.

 

@ Eldrick Shadowblade: Thanks, mate!

 

@ Hungry Nostraman Lion: Glooming Lords? Linky? I will post an amry pic when I have the army semi-ready of course. But I don't really do batreps, sorry!

Edited April 30, 2018 by Augustus b'Raass

[Panzer]

Damn, now I want cake too! Happy Birthday! :)

[Hungry Nostraman Lizard]

Oh man, those cakes. You are loved and understood. We can only hope to find spouses who "get us".

 

Ah, Glooming Lords. Well. The official scheme. 

 

 

 

 

 

My attempt at it. 

[BubblesMcBub]

Happy birthday my dude!

Those cakes are cool!

[Custom Hero]

Happy birthday Augs!

 

Loving the work so far, and condidering I really dislike the DG lits is saying something. Keep it up.