2-in-1 Macharius Vanquisher/Vulcan Heavy Tank C&C, please

[IVIilitarus]

http://i.imgur.com/Nsq1hRa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mfVCZc8.jpg

 

FULL ALBUM HERE: http://imgur.com/a/DhqYh#0

 

My project for my 1 week break from university. 2 Macharius tanks in one.

 

Some notes about the tank:

1. The Vanquisher was built as a combination of ambush predator and command tank. A large concentration of antenna imply a command and control role and the camouflage nets hopefully give the impression of it being a sneakier, long-ranged fighter. Mind, I'm still not sure what good the netting is with a hull the size of a house, but Forge World's in-house modelmakers did camo netting for their Macharius Vanquishers and that means I can too.

2. The battle damage on the right side was done following a technique similar to the one shown in this video:

Once I had made the holes, I painted the interiors with a Runefang Steel and used https://kitkraft.com/Tamiya-Weathering-Master-B-Set/ black soot to work the edges to add a burnt metal effect.

A series of photographs shows exactly how I did it here: http://i.imgur.com/XpfhqZ1.jpg

3. The camouflage net was made by soaking a stretchy gauze bandage in a mix of thinned wood glue and white paint, then applying it. The round ends of paper clips were used as the fastener thingies that hold the net to the tank. Process here: http://i.imgur.com/plljf0R.jpg

4. The antennae were created by using side cutters to cut paper clips up and sticking them in drilled holes. Then painting them black.

5. The process of painting the crew was accompanied by a large amount of profanity.

6. During this project, I only drank from my water mug for paint once.

7. The main technique for weathering on the tank was simply sponging Leadbelcher onto edges and areas that needed weathering. Decals were weathered lightly with Tamiya Weathering Master B's Snow.

 

8. The tank commanders had minor converting done. The default model for a heavy stubber gunner on Krieg crews holds the heavy stubber in a firing posture with both hands. I modelled a pointing gunner with one hand on the rifle by cutting the stubber trigger mechanism with two hands in half, leaving one hand attached. Then I cut an empty trigger mechanism for a heavy stubber in half and glued the half to the trigger mechanism with the hand. The commander's other army was a simple pointing arm that comes with the kit. The Vanquisher's commander combines the binocular arm with the pointing arm.

 

9. The tank is technically 2 tanks in one. I placed generic vehicle markings on the hull and unique decals on the turrets. The hull bears the 127, VI, designate it as part of the 127th Marienberg Shock Army, VI Company.

 

The vehicle bears Space Marine 2nd Company roundels because in my lore, the world's Imperial Guard regiments work extremely closely with their native Space Marine Chapter. The relationship is co-operative to the point where Imperial Guard elements are assigned to Space Marine companies semi-permanently and have the honour of bearing their heraldry. 127th, VI Company is assigned to the Space Marines 2nd Company.

 

The turrets bear unique markings instead of generic ones like the hull. The Vanquisher is themed as a command vehicle and hunting predator. An alpha wolf theme was appropriate and I took the snarling wolf's head decal from the Space Wolves transfer sheet as its primary identifier. Vehicle kill markings are displayed proudly underneath  it. The Vanquisher is vehicle No. 1 in VI Company and the Macharius is vehicle No. 3, as indicated by the vehicle specific numbers on the turrets.