Millest's Modelling Meanderings - A modelling log

[millest]

As a bit of a push to get things done for friends, random projects and just for fun I have decided its time I actually logged some of my conversion work outside of my stalled 1313th and Rogue trader projects, so coming up are some of the many and varied things I work on that seem to fit outside of my normal projects.

 

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Sergeant Pasanius Lysane - An Ultramarines Character Conversion

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Some time ago my friend and some time contributor to the Blog Damien decided he wanted a new army, after an awful lot of playing with ideas, half started and quarter finished project he decided he fancied a themed Ultramarines army!

He eventually decided on the 4th Company of the Ultramarines (as the initial image suggests), led by Captain Uriel Ventris (more info here: Ventris and the 4th). He wants to include some of the characters like Ventris, Pasanius and Learchus so as a thank you and for fun I offered to convert Pasanius for him as I had some great ideas, plus it was an excuse to read the books again.

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Uriel Ventris - Looking bad ass and hopefully getting his own model soon!
When starting the project I remembered that according to the books "his physique was so massive that his Power Armour had to incorporate salvaged pieces of Tactical Dreadnought Armour to fit his frame. His primary weapon was a heavy Flamer" (lexicanum entry: Pasanius) so I ordered some bits and decided to make a start.

When ordering the bits I thought I would try some new sellers online and when they arrived I was a tad disappointed as the bits for the most part turned out to be copies, suffice to say the sellers we reported and dealt with. Still rather that stress about it I cracked on and used the following bits:

 

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My thoughts were initially to use standard Terminator armour but I liked the way the Tartaros pattern mirrors normal marine armour, that linked with a MKIII/HH era heavy flamer (one of the few genuine bits I received) I thought it would make a convincing go at the Sergeant. So with some chopping of arms and the Torso (basically chop the "hood" off and then cut it in half) and stick some extra bits like a rear marine torso on and you are good to go. A little bit of chopping of the shoulder pads and some green stuff in some gaps and I am pleased with the overall look of him.

 

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Front view showing the flamer and some of the Terminator bits used, the head sits a little high for me but if not liked I am sure it can be shaved down and lowered.

 

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Side view showing the use of terminator legs and the shaved down Terminator pads, I didn't do much to the pads just shaved a few bits off the bottom to make them appear more like power armour pads.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oux8IL-9z0/VXhS-cc3SII/AAAAAAAAE1Y/SWOmlN4vPt8/s320/WP_20150610_004.jpg
rear view showing the back pack mounted on a standard power armour torso to give the positioning, the extra cables on the Tartaros pattern legs that run up in to the torso give a nice effect and set this off. You can also see some of the green stuffing I had to do to smooth some of the joins out to make it more armour like.

 

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Right view showing the other pad and re-positioned arm, this took an awful lot of green stuff to pad the shoulder out and mount the pad. I also used a Bionic had here, in the books Pasanius has a bionic arm (I wont spoil any more here) and rather than replace the whole arm, as it looked quite small next to the armour, I chose to replace just the hand and assume the arm is in the armour. I also used a FW marine bionic for this as opposed to the source mentioned in the book as they looked too small.

 

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Final front view showing the heavy flamer and the left hand that was replaced with a cupped power armoured hand to give a better flow to the arm.

 

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finally a comparison picture showing Pasanius next to Brother Testor (my random practice model for various schemes and techniques- hence the name) showing how large he is and how he towers over other marines.

Hopefully this model will see paint in the hands of Damien soon and we can get you some pictures of him and the rest of the 4th company.
Any questions, comments or feedback please feel free to comment.

 

[millest]

Like a Phoenix - The 1313th rises again![b*]

So after my stripping experience (I'm still finding notes in my underwear) and in preparation to our road trip to Nottingham in just over a week I have dusted off the 1313th and have started working on a few models towards my 500pt force. Here are some sneak peeks before they get some paint, once finished and back from Nottingham I will get proper pictures up because I don't want my opponent to know too much.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66D1q7Qo5iI/Vg0Q6bgToNI/AAAAAAAAFHU/c3-3n284kro/s320/WP_20150929_004.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYUtk9eJv3k/Vg0Q6RMxpkI/AAAAAAAAFHY/tmu44J8xaXo/s320/WP_20150930_001.jpg

things are moving forward at least and hopefully once painted it looks like I will actually have achieved a goal on my project tracker - only 4 years after it was conceived!!!

for those interested my mini article on stripping can be found here:
http://millests.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/pai...urs-of-war.html

[Dosjetka]

Looking good! I really like the poses on the Guardsmen :tu:

[millest]

thanks, for my vets and command units I like to try different poses, I even try to sneak some fun poses in to my platoons but there are just too many guys to convert in those :)

hope to get some more of my converted Inquisitors and retinues worked on once back from Nottingham to make things more board appropriate

[millest]

Reinforcements inbound - adding HQ elements and Vets to the 1313th

well folks today really is a day of firsts! Gw listens to the fans, I post a second post and I also appear to have done some modelling..... shock horror.

Today was spent either rebasing models to match the new standard I am using for the army or modelling up bits to fill out some of my options, so with out further ado here's what I have been up to.

up first is the yet to be named commander and his basic command squad, some slight conversions and some brass etch as well as new bases.
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next up is my command unit extras, a couple of flamers and meltas to give me options and a nice Standard bearer to represent Kell when I decide to run my commander as Creed, hence the impractical power fist.
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this is my Kasrkin command squad with the final conversion work done and finally mounted on 32mm secret weapons miniatures urban streets bases to match the rest of the force.
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Final HQ squad element is this autocannon team, two plasma gunners and the scanner operator, basic work but just gives me more options should I fancy swapping out models.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hilRn88mDs/VkUMKMNWYdI/AAAAAAAAFW0/W3M21orMe3E/s1600/4.jpg

next we have two heavy bolters for use with my veterans when I fancy swapping out my lascannons for a more target rich opponent, I like heavy weapons squads as  I like to have them almost acting out a scene and hope that works with these guys.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EkvyovuJQ7w/VkUMKZemW1I/AAAAAAAAFW4/mZdQjj_KWEQ/s1600/4a.jpg

final models for my veterans are these three melta gunners, as with everything else only modelled up to provide options for me to swap around a bit.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IOaRxo7ezCY/VkUMKehc1rI/AAAAAAAAFW8/JW6oZrbjctg/s1600/4b.jpg

I also dug out my advisors and based them up ready to paint, I love these models and they are some of the very few bare headed models in my force, I love them but I forgot how much of a pain in the arse metal is to work with.
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final part of the HQ and Elites for today was this Wyrdvane Psyker squad, not much done to it apart from rebasing but chopping off the tags and little spurs was a pain in the ass.
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so that's some of today's work, hope you enjoy and who knows might even get paint on them once everything else is built :)

[millest]

Ad Mech Thallax - The 1313th Ogryn detachment proxy

another post on my progress and one which I enjoyed doing a little more than normal.

I personally don't like the ogryn models GW produces, either past or present. So I decided to take a slightly different route and as the 1313th are accompanying an Inquisitor I thought he would have access to some awesome toys so decided to use the Forgeworld Thallax.

I decided to give one of the Thallax a MKIII breacher shield just to mark him out as the Bone'ead upgrade when I run using them as Ogryns, nothing fancy but just think it works really well and adds something to the squad.
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the other four (five when the replacement leg arrives) are all in various poses and one is modelled with the beckoning hand so I can use him as a second leader should I split the squad and field them as Ad Mech forces or smaller squads.

These are links due to their size! I will learn to resize images one day!
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[millest]

Guards! Guards! - More warm bodies for the 1313th

So today was a good day for the 1313th as they finally on Friday the 13th got some warm bodies to swell their ranks! Todays build consisted of a whole platoon, some extra weapons and some additional command units. Additional work was made for myself by swapping out all the heads that had bare faces for gas masks but all in all was a good day.
Downsides however included running out of bases, running out of gasmask heads and how the hell I managed this one I don't know, I ran out of guardsmen!! Oh, and my chair broke :( still a productive day that left me putting this lot (and some others not pictured) to bed

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[Plains of War]

Im sorry to hear about your chair :P but I'm sure all the progress made makes it worthwhile. I certainly don't envy you at all. I would kill myself if I had to put together all those guardsman lol!

 

What is next on the hobby table?

[millest]

Tanks again! - Armour for the 1313th
today sees more building of the 1313th and this time we are on armour, mainly chimera based to start with but other heavier stuff is on the horizon!

First up is the ride for my Inquisitor with a Machinator 248 rear body to make it stand out and some own cast/sculpted details I think this is a nice change to a standard chimera.
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speaking of which here are three standard chimeras for if I run an armoured platoon or veterans force, given the chance I would put everything in armour!
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Hellhounds next and all are magnatised ready for the various weapons but I am in two minds about this and might just build them stock (not sure on the hull weapon though) and just change the list should I decide to run a different variant.
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finally some true heavy support in the form of the Manticore, a nice little model but not one I am really sure will get the attention or use it deserves.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fFYMQASZX7A/VkWp9zPcp0I/AAAAAAAAFaM/ST0pErDvg_c/s1600/15.jpg

[millest]

Send in the Heavies - Super Heavy Armour for the 1313th

So once again on to tanks and as promised today is something a little heavier with a whole plethora of super heavy tanks for your delectation!

first up is every ones favourite and go to super heavy the good old reliable Baneblade, still one of my favourite plastic kits from GW.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsZI_se_xxw/VkWqXgLq9rI/AAAAAAAAFao/fTwoGSlGLJw/s1600/16.jpg

Next up is my Macharius Vulcan Super Heavy, bought on a whim and not built for ages through fear of how difficult it is I finally did it, and let me tell you it was much easier than I feared. My only annoyance is the autocannons on the front as they are bent and any attempt to straighten them snaps them, does anyone have any alternatives or ideas I could use?
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whilst on a roll with the Vulcan I decided I might as well tackle the Vanquisher too, this one was equally as simple to build but needs some serious filling on the rear as there is a 5-6 mm gap between the lower and upper hull, more pics for this once I get round to doing it :)
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The Twins in their full glory, and nicely highlighting the colour differences in FW resin, not only between kits but sometimes within a kit!
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I also thought I might as well tackle the Crassus whilst at it, and whilst it took more sanding than the others combine I think the final result is worth it, now to find an excuse to use it!
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9wyE4zknx44/VkWqYKRUjEI/AAAAAAAAFbU/59bUv_gmQhU/s1600/23.jpg

there is also a crassus praetor in the pipline but that needs a tad more work then first thought but she will be joining the ranks soon, once my six russes and more turrets than you can shake a stick at are done.

[millest]

So after a quiet few days and modelling getting back in to a much more real world pace after my week of fury I decided to work on some random units I had floating about. Its mainly rebasing and a small portion of building but hopefully these are some characterful units for you to have a look at.

First up is a squad of Recon Marines from FW as a bit of a fun unit, I have a plan for these but cant bring myself to paint them just yet :)
All the models have had their bolters swapped for pistols and chainswords which might hint to their potential use.
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The serg or commander is a MKIV commander based conversion with a simple head swap and the helmet under his arm removed and replaced with a plasma pistol. His partner in this picture is glossy as I managed to squirt superglue all over him :(
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lu9M4nAKuiw/VlQid4P1BfI/AAAAAAAAFcE/8G9MgRHzHio/s1600/WP_20151123_003.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oBndXOpYcvc/VlQid2IME1I/AAAAAAAAFcA/11EJLla_aCY/s1600/WP_20151123_004.jpg
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Next are my Adeptus Arbites squad, these will probably be run as Scions or a command squad, the models are old (not the 1st version though) but personally I think they have held their own and not aged badly, if only I could get GW to bring these back (along with revamping sisters).
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K-BxFKXYbaU/VlQieZ_aHkI/AAAAAAAAFcM/uImmrrSjCJ8/s1600/WP_20151123_006.jpg

Finally in my lot of unique bits I have the Tech Priest from the old Skullz collectors set. This chap will be used as both an Engineseer and as a character in a force I am planning for the new year (watch this space), he seems very chunky given the latest FW or GW ad mech offerings but for my needs I think he is ideal and wish I could get hold of more of the set to bulk him out in to a unit.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EfjJVo9Jh3U/VlQieZ4oZmI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/TYIQezd4Vfo/s1600/WP_20151123_007.jpg

[deathspectersgt7]

Man a Treadheads Dream.

[millest]

So the build process is slowing down in the lead up to our little mans first birthday and christmas but I have taken some time to tidy up my resin turrets and begin on conversions for commanders. I seem to have most turret types covered and will only be using plastic turrets for Battle cannons and Eradicators, I aim to have the ability to swap various turrets on to a pool of 6-9 Russ chassis - I have 7 already.

First up we have the commissars, whilst in game it makes no difference I like the idea of commissars in tanks. Also as I hate painting faces I have used various Death Korps Commissars that have been cut and placed (to be glued eventually) to create a dynamic Commander.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipON42zqhLQ/Vlw48U4d2rI/AAAAAAAAFc8/USFnG_MkOHI/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG

as you can see from the first picture whilst I like the FW turret body I also arent a fan of the Plasma cannon in it so a simple swap with a plastic one from the demolisher tank and you have a much beefier tank
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9bithmdfEw/Vlw48jY6NRI/AAAAAAAAFc0/eE27E7DmS-E/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG

Next up Is the Volkite, Vanquisher and converted Punisher I will be using on my command tank, with a sneak of my own Pask.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jts4ieixNDY/Vlw487N5vUI/AAAAAAAAFdA/2hPQKJVu2xA/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG

This is my prefered version of the Punisher using a DKOK Demolisher, the rules for the tank are great but the plastic model lets it down a touch. A very simple conversion but I think it fits the style of the turret better. You can also see one of my tank crew conversions using the elysian drop troopers, I like these are tank crew as the lightweight armour and jumpsuits really does work for tank crew as they usually dont have the same kit as line troops.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5lDJpDL_Ss8/Vlw486z6xiI/AAAAAAAAFdE/Wg9WxQ4HaYk/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG

Next up are the demolishers and exterminators, nothing much on these in the way of conversions apart from crew, but has to share are I love the forgeworld turrets.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cG8FjGcWCLc/Vlw48mfuhlI/AAAAAAAAFc4/IkFlblJ538g/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2dhLQCEw0o/Vlw49MyK7qI/AAAAAAAAFdI/MbUGAXDULQY/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG

fingers crossed once these are sorted I will be able to get on to building the chassis but as I am going for cut and paste style for the line tanks, the command tanks might get some extras, there probably wont be many pictures.
thanks for looking

[MosesGunn]

Awesome collection you've got there. Never seen the Mechanicus Skullz model before. Remember that programme well. How many did you have to get to receive it?

 

Those Goodwin Arbites are classics and I won't hear a bad word about them!

[millest]

i think it was 250 to get the set but I picked him up on ebay for about 8gbp inc shipping so I cant complain, especially when the complete set (which im sure are recasts as it seems to be the same seller always selling them) goes for about 280gbp.

same with the arbites, a nice ebay deal :)

[millest]

o 2016 is here and life moves on, the guard have gone on a back burner and work has taken over!

However this year we have a challenge, we have a date and we have a goal! This year myself and three of my pals are all aiming to have 2500 points ready for a 2 on 2 game at nottingham.

Initially I fancied completing my guard but I got distracted by the realms of the Adeptus Mechanicus - might have something to do the Atropos being launched when i was writing my list - and as luck would have it not long after the "Start Collecting" sets came out with a nice Skitarii bundle.

So an army was planned, a ton of boxes were bought and when I get sent away for a few weeks for work the forges of Mezoa got to work.

So far the Infantry and Vehicles (such as there are for Ad Mech) are built and awaiting painting. This equates to roughly 2000pts, the remainder of the force will be made up of a Knight, I still havent decided which pattern so have taken this opportunity to work on all three of the Forgeworld Ad Mech knights I own - more to follow on them.

The force overall is quite a decent size.

there are more pics and some extra elements here:
http://millests.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/2016-year-of-adeptus-mechanicus.html

hopefully more to follow soon :)

[deathspectersgt7]

Good looking Mech-head Army.