True-Scale Deathwatch (24/10 - Guardian of the Covenant)

[Commissar Molotov]

Okay, so a busy couple of weeks but I managed to order some stuff from GW so that I could continue with this project. Plus, there's plenty of stuff to go up on eBay in an attempt to recoup some of my costs (and so I can spend money on Forgeworld stuff...) 

 

I wanted to finish off my Space Wolf marine - and whilst that hasn't happened, I've managed to move forward with him. Some of the stuff that was glued has been broken apart and I need to re-add some stuff to him, but I managed to give him an outstretched arm from the Dark Angels Deathwing Knights. 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Wolf1_zpsbb8f6c79.png

 

Though it seems that I will have to replace his head with one that will fit the Deathwatch shoulder pad better, I think he's on the road to completion. The one thing I would like to do would be to replace his gauntlet with a Mk III arm, like his axe-hand. That means sourcing one from Forgeworld or a bits site, though. 

 

I was interested by the Deathwatch RPG rulebook, where there are rules for giving Space Wolves in the service of the Deathwatch a Fenrisian Wolf. I liked the idea that a Wolf would take his companion to the Deatwatch - where the brothers of his kill-team might be rather nonplussed by the slobbering beast (or his Fenrisian Wolf, I suppose...) I was also interested visually in the idea of a wolf almost sinuously wrapped around his master.

 

To that end, I bought a box of Thunderwolf cavalry. If I'm going to have true-scale Marines, I might as well have true-scaled Wolves... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Wolf2_zpsec43aa0f.png

 

I've got work to do to resculpt some of the details (for example the face, and where I've carved off the saddle) but it shows promise. Have a look at this: 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Wolf3_zps999bb998.png

 

I like the idea that I could move them as a pair, and then the wolf could detach, loping off to attack enemies. 

 

Here's the team at a moment (some of the other Tartaros legs I've used are  in progress, but I have these five closest to completion): 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Kill-Team_zps86849196.png

 

Here you have my Black Templar, Scythe of the Emperor, Blackshield Librarian, Space Wolf and Minotaur. Horrible picture, but it gives some sense of where I'm going. 

 

Lastly, a little bit of progress on Morgaddon: 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Morgaddon4_zpsf77df663.png

 

This is a model that's hard to photograph, but he is getting where I want him to go. I'm doing a fair amount of resculpting on his cloak, and want to give him a suitably chaotic pistol in his hand, but he is moving forward. 

[El-Diablo]

The wolf is certainly getting there, but apart from the head that you've already mentioned, i'd change the left arm to something held down to the side a bit more. Reason being that when you get both wolves on the base, the astartes arm in it's current state will block the animals face from most angles from the front. Given the face is the focal point on most things it'd be a shame to go to the extent of adding the wolf to the shared base and not be able to see it's face.

 

First thing that comes to mind for a replacement would be a hand holding a piece of cloth or similar, as if the animal is catching a scent before a hunt.

 

Morgaddon seems to be coming on pretty well too, big bastard though.....

[Commissar Molotov]

Thanks, I've taken your thoughts into advisement. I was happy with the outstretched arm, but I'm now looking into alternatives that will allow more visibility of the wolf. 

 

In the meantime, I've made some work on the Lamenter - bouncing from marine to marine as and when I have bits and inspiration seems the best thing to do...

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Lamenter1_zpsda6d28a9.jpg

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Lamenter2_zps460f9663.jpg

 

Still a fair amount to do, but I do think he's starting to shape up.

[JackDaw]

Early days on the Lamenter as you say, but he's got the potential to look gorgeous. That little seraphic face detail on the greave is going to be a nice little touch - is it an Angel in full song, representing the redemption of the Chapter, or a lamentation in truth? Also, that mk Iv helm looks lovely on that Tartaros chest. What are you planning for the combat weapon by the by?

 

I'm still not 100% sold on a cloak on Morgaddon, but that's just my own personal thing of not liking cloaks. Looking forward to seeing where you go with him, and to see some Traitor Marines that aren't World Eaters, Word Bearers or Night Lords...

 

On the Wolf, I agree that the left arm needs to be downwards more, maybe fully down at his side. There's potential to go all out on the combat front and have a large skinning/flensing knife held in there, with the bolter mag-locked to a thigh or similar.

[KBA]

You're fearless. How has this project escaped my nutty gaze?! I'm out of likes, so just pretend I blinked into existence right next to you, showered you in a hundred thousand likes, like some weird fairy of likes, and then vanished.

[Commissar Molotov]

KBA - Thanks for the comment - much appreciated. 

 

JackDaw - I'm glad you liked the Lamenter, as I was rather inspired after leafing through the Seraph thread. I seem to've picked a good/bad time to start work on him, though, with the upcoming Blood Angels release. I think I will have to see what bits are on offer in the Blood Angels terminator box! The massive chainsword on the Sanguinary Priest could be a good bet for him, but who knows what goodies there'll be... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Hagar_zpsaa77d034.png

 

Based on Midian's feedback, I went back to the Space Wolf and took him apart - which hadn't been something I wanted to do. I had built the model around having an outstretched right arm (a bit of a rarity among the Terminator bits) but I think - think - I may have found an option. With a little alteration to the neck, I can have him looking as though he's howling defiance at his opponents before getting stuck in. It's a pose that works quite well when he's on the joint base with his wolf. Feedback would definitely be appreciated. 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Killteam_zps07d2dadf.png

 

Here's the Kill-Team as it stands; I have made a few changes since you saw them last. The Lamenter has a shoulder pad, made from a Forgeworld Imperial Fist one; the MInotaur has had his torso removed, as it just didn't work with what I wanted. I have put the torso on new Tartaros legs and used the Heavy Flamer I started to assemble for the Sun Titan. I have a half-completed Heavy Flamer marine, though I don't know what Chapter he'll be from. In the background, I have a potential start on a Dark Angels marine of some kind, though I didn't want one in my squad - the model has potential so I'm keeping him around until I can decide. 

 

Still, hopefully you guys will be interested by how the squad is taking shape. I need to eBay some bits to raise funds for the next few models, but I look forward to any feedback you might have. 

[JackDaw]

Well, aren't they all looking rather lovely? Good call on the Wolf, that pose is a lot less showy and bit more 'grown-up' Rout. Vylka Fenrykr rather than Space Wolf, if you get what I mean. Works for me a lot more than the flinging arms around pose. Also a nice contrast between the roaring Astartes and the silent hunting Wolf - a good mix-up there as the norm would be to expect it to be the other way around. 

 

I'll be honest, I'm totally underwhelmed by the BA release - the Priest is terrible and looks like Elvis in spaaaaaace, and if the Terminators are anything like the 'special' termie captain that's in the box, they will be just as awful. However, I look forward to seeing more on the Lamenter. 

 

You know what I want to see though ;) 

[Commissar Molotov]

Part of my frustrations with this project has been trying to get things from disaparate kits to fit together as though they're meant to be. My Space Wolf is an example of that. I've gotten him to 95% finished on at least three occasions, and on each one I've had to disassemble him, based on either forum advice or my own frustration with how he hasn't quite fit my mental image of what I wanted. 

 

Yesterday, I took him apart again because his right arm (always a problem with terminator-based models...) just wasn't in the right angle. It was actually a case where the model photographed better than in real life. 

 

I think I'm somewhat more on the right track with him now - I think I need to green-stuff the vambrace slightly to fit better with the terminator upper arm. Beyond that, I think that I might not be able to give him a bolter - it looks slightly too big in the position he's holding it. I might be forced to give him a bolt pistol, but I'm slightly conflicted in that regard - I want as many of the squad as possible to be carrying Deathwatch bolters, and need to find a balance between allowing them to be highly individualised warriors and a unit that works together. 

 

I do think that my two wolves do work much better together as a pair now, as pointed out by Midian: 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/wolf1_zpsf398aa5e.png

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/wolf2_zpsf19c2ace.png

 

Here you see him alongside my part-completed Lamenter. I've looked through the new Blood Angels releases, and as JackDaw said, they're a little underwhelming for me - especially because of how the Terminator torsos have been cast with the helmet. 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/wolf3_zpsb6d77109.png

 

I've used a Forgeworld Imperial Fist shoulderpad with the fist removed, giving me a circle for the heart and blood drop. I had thought about green-stuffing over the vents on one or both sides of his helmet's "snout", giving a surface for a teardrop to be painted, but wasn't sure. 

Edited December 14, 2014 by Commissar Molotov

[Grizzly_bear]

Fantastic thread to read brother, loving the death watch, may I suggest a scythe of the emperor in the death watch ;) not biased or anything

[KrautScientist]

Though I think your SW model is coming along swimmingly, by and large, I believe there is one rather big problem with his anatomy -- and let me preface this by saying that I am very willing to suspend my disbelief when it comes to (true scale) Space Marine anatomy, both because truescaling can be so hard and because Astartes anatomy is hardly realistic at the best of times.

 

That said, I believe that the way his right arm attaches to his torso really doesn't work, or rather: If you look at his head, his chest and imagine his arm (underneath the pauldron, of course), there is really no way that a halfway normal looking shoulder is going to look like that: There's just too much space there. Now maybe it's just due to the angle of the pictures, but it does look like his right shoulder would have to be seriously dislocated in some way to allow his arm to fit on like that. So I think it might be necessary to take off the arm, shave off a bit of the chest/shouder portion on that side, then reattach the arm in order to make it look as natural as the left one. Again, maybe it's just the angle of the pictures, but this has been bothering me for your last couple of updates, so it seems to be the problem won't be going away just by seeing different pictures of the build. Apart from that, he's looking great, of course. Really like the WIP Lamenter as well!

 

EDIT: Since Mol has brought this up to my attention: I am referring to the model's right arm (the one with the axe), not the arm that is on the right when you look at the picture ;)

Edited December 14, 2014 by KrautScientist

[Nomus Sardauk]

My earlier suggestion for an Iron Champion still stands, but if you'd like something else maybe one of the BA's new boys, the Carmine Blades?

 

P.S. Just a thought, but I was just looking at the new Sang.Priest and thought that gilded Chainsword of his would look fantastic on your Lamenter. :)

Edited December 15, 2014 by SanguiniusReborn

[Commissar Molotov]

P.S. Just a thought, but I was just looking at the new Sang.Priest and thought that gilded Chainsword of his would look fantastic on your Lamenter.

 

Ah, funny you should say that... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan03_zps90f485a7.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan04_zps856a1f45.jpg

 

My Lamenter is almost complete now - pretty pleased with how he's going. The new arm was donated by JackDaw, which worked perfectly. 

 

The Space Wolf has received yet another new arm... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan01_zps1e7a7b6b.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan02_zps32bac14d.jpg

 

You might notice that I've added a bolter to the Wolf - an old-school Second Edition one. I hope that you think it works.

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/JanTeam_zps0b55e096.jpg

 

These are the five Deathwatch Marines that're closest to completion. They all need little bits and bobs adding to finish them up, but they're almost, almost there. 

 

Here's where I am with my next Deathwatcher - hopefully you can see the piece of art he's based on... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan05_zps35ab5e8d.jpg

[Lysimachus]

Beautiful, especially the Lamenter, it's almost a shame he won't be painted in glorious yellow!

 

New guy looks good so far, I'm guessing it's referencing the classic Crimson Fist pic?

Edited January 3, 2015 by LySiMachus

[KrautScientist]

 

 

Here's where I am with my next Deathwatcher - hopefully you can see the piece of art he's based on... 

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Jan05_zps35ab5e8d.jpg

 

 

It's that piece of Crimson Fist artwork, isn't it?

 

Looking great all around! The 2nd ed. bolter on the Wolf is a beautiful touch! Love the way it's suspended, too!

 

 

EDIT: Damn, LySiMachus ninja'ed me ;)

Edited January 3, 2015 by KrautScientist

[Lexington]

Holy cow, these are amazing. I can feel that Space Wolf's fury all the way through the damned Internet. Great job all around.

[JackDaw]

Man, that Lamenter is gorgeous. There's a simplicity to his armour, even with the extra seraphic faces, that just emphatically says Blood Angel Successor. I'm still not 100% sold on the chainsword, I think it's too thin and the grail on the basket hilt is just far too much for my tastes. But, it does look damn good on him there.

 

Space Wolf is looking huge, really robust and hench - the 2nd ed bolter is a nice touch. I get the impression that the bolt pistol is his own special, personalised and artificed sidearm and the bolter is a generic spare from stores hes been given because he keeps losing the damn things on the battlefield.

 

They are all looking boss so far, and the Fist doesn't look like he's gonna buck that trend anytime soon.

[Daemon2027]

I am rather enjoying all the work here, especially as I continue to explore true scaled space marines. Can I just say, the Iron Hand Gorgon terminator legs require very little work to fit a mark III torso on and add some nice variation in terms of diffrental armour(here is a link to a simple one I did that https://www.flickr.com/photos/99813352@N05/15934363879/) Anyway, I will continue to watch and be inspired. Edited January 3, 2015 by Daemon2027

[GrandMagnus]

The lamenter is definetly my favorite, followed by the space wolf. There is so much character on those two guys.

[LachlantheLoaf14]

I am loving this thread! so much character among the Kill-Team keep it up!

[Commissar Molotov]

So, I've managed to secure an update. With the help of my friend Peter we are adding some touches to the Deathwatchers to make them more complete.

 

Here is Tancrede, the Blackshield Librarian:

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z121/mnesimache/Tancrede1.jpg

 

 

 

 

Huge improvements to the tabard thanks to Peter, and the addition of GS piping. Trying to bring in touches of the power armoured models to make him look more authentic as a Librarian.

 

 

 

EDIT: Oops! Not sure why the picture's showing landscape. I will try to edit it when I get back to a computer.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Commissar Molotov

[JackDaw]

Well he is looking rather Swayze. That piping is flawless.

[Commissar Molotov]

Well, some progress on Tancrede, and the first pass on my Iron Talon:

 

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/67637730-9881-443b-8783-1feefd16bcea_zpswvex8p3p.jpg

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd464/INQ28/Iron%20Talon_zpssaf1rcyc.jpg

[JackDaw]

Man, that Iron Talon is looking brutal.

[KrautScientist]

I should probably hate you for desecrating a Red Butcher like that, but that Iron Talon is looking pretty promising ;) Tancrede's just wonderfully beefy. Excellent job on both!

[Commissar Molotov]

Thank you to both! As Kraut mentioned, the torso is originally from a Red Butcher. I tried using it as-is, but the legs were odd and I couldn't make a pose work really very well. (I will explain in an email, but I got an extra Red Butcher spare that can go to you if you want it...) 

 

The only problem I'm having at the moment is that he's a little bit static, with the body/leg/head combo I've got at the moment. I need to see what movement I can get in the head, but at the moment I don't know what to do with the arms to make him look a little more lively. I can't really twisted the torso and legs at the waist because of the way the torso's gone on. 

 

Any feedback would be gratefully received!