Drop Troops Inbound:9/12 Ogryn Tummy

[jaxom]

Commissar Aldous Harrison

 

http://i.imgur.com/IHWjoRum.jpg   http://i.imgur.com/3lJ707Lm.jpg

[jaxom]

With the Tale of Hobbyists done I'm going to use this space to post WiP. My current goal is to complete the Primaris that came in Dark Imperium. I've been working on the second Intercessor squad:

 

   

 

One thing it took me forever to really get in my head was that it's okay to have a serious clean up step. It's made doing shoulder rims much less stressful.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Is that the Inquisition's symbol on Commissar Harrison's thunder hammer? Where'd he get it, anyways? A reward for services rendered to an Inquisitor?

[jaxom]

Is that the Inquisition's symbol on Commissar Harrison's thunder hammer? Where'd he get it, anyways? A reward for services rendered to an Inquisitor?

 

It is, I was inspired by the picture of a drill-abbot from Inquisitor. At the time I did it because the face of the hammer seemed too bare, but thinking on it now I like the idea of an aging drill-abbot giving his hammer to his most promising pupil at the schola progenium so it can once again see service smiting the foes of the Emperor and inspiring the troops.

____________________________________________________________________

 

I did more work on the intercessors, the gluing has started and the painting is done. I snapped picture of them after the cleaning step:

 

 

I shaded the aquilas before that. If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone wanting to practice layer-ink-highlight it's to use these aquilas. They're laid out in such a way that layer-ink-highlight works great and the raised edges are nice and crisp.

 

And here's two waiting for glue to dry:

 

 

The major difference is there pauldrons have the blue ink on the interior of the rim to improve contrast at a distance.

 

I plan on putting the marksman honor in the squad mark on the shoulder because they all have scoped guns. As far as I can tell that works WSIWG stalker bolt rifles, but this will reinforce their shootiness compared to the other intercessor squad.

[jaxom]

First stage of the decals is drying:

 

 

Once fully dry I'll add the second layer of decals; the marksman honors in the center of the squad-type mark and the red skull for the sergeant. The latter is going to be a bit tricky because on the previous sergeant I put it in the same place I plan on putting the marksman honor.

[jaxom]

I finished the decals. The layering takes some time because of all the drying (first decal setting, dissolving the decal backing, matte layer, second decal setting, dissolving etc).

 

   

 

Marksmen complete! 

 

I'm taking a break from 40k for a bit as Malign Portents rolls in. Finally decided to test the waters in the Age of Sigmar.

[jaxom]

It's always nice when there's a perfect storm to make a long dreamed of project take flight.

 

Superfluous background

Way back in 2010 I was looking to get back into the hobby. I had been watching the CGI Starship Troopers television show (courtesy of the internet), the valkyrie was a great kit, and I loved the Kasrkin background and models since they were first released during the original Eye of Terror campaign. Cadians still had the Grenadiers trait and I thought it would be great opportunity to try my hand at more extensive green stuff work by converting normal infantry to kasrkin (rather than trying to ebay a bunch of the metal ones) and making a drop troop force. Life took a hard left and the project never got off the ground (heh) beyond ebay sniping two valkyries, a few of the old Cadian Force boxes, and converting two pairs of legs.

 

I still have the two valkyries and the Tempestus Drop Force is totally a thing. The day I read the rules for it I started thinking about how to make Kasrkin from Scions. Some internet searching later (no need to reinvent the wheel) and I was looking at a major hurdle - getting my hands on hostile environment Cadian torsos. Serendipity led to to finding similar looking helmets on Shapeways and I picked up an order to see how they looked in real life. I put them to the side while working on the Relics of the Armory event, but now ETL VII is at the door so I did a mock up this evening of two different options.

 

  

 

I'm not so AR that I think they need to look exactly like the old Kasrkin models, but I feel like they should be recognizable to those who are in the know. These are the two most straightforward options, but I could also mix-and-match like Frater Cornelius (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/343312-cornys-hobby-thread-the-faithfuls-of-cadia-kasrkins-wip/?p=5094166). The only downside to that is either of the former two options would let me get more bodies out of my bits.

[jaxom]

I really dislike the plasma gun option in the scion kit, but it did give me the idea for this:

 

 

 

 

Don't believe in yourself! Believe in the Emperor! Believe in the Emperor who believes in you!

I'm going to tell you something important now, so you better dig the wax out of those mutated ears of yours and listen! The reputation of Kasrkin echoes far and wide. When they talk about it's badass leader - the man of indomitable spirit and masculinity - they're talking about me! The mighty Lukas Bastonne!
 

 

 

Original version with plasma gun arm:

[jaxom]

Working on converting plasma guns. The scion kit, overall, is rather nice. My only two gripes (beyond the near universal "more of the useful special weapons in a kit instead of one of each, please") is the "I'll point instead of aim" plasma gun" and the restricted Tempestor Prime torso.

 

  

 

Next up is using GS to fill in the gaps of the joins around the barrel.

[MegaVolt87]

I like the direction you are going with the drop troops. However the long arms weapons are not exactly compact or tactical when one thinks drop troops. I would consider these more air landing troops via big atmospheric landers just behind or in the front lines. Like D-Day landings, except with big air transports instead. 

[jaxom]

I've experimented with converting guard weapons to look more like bullpup models, but the time it took wasn't worth it. Unfortunately, Forgeworld no longer does Elysians. It's just a little weird that the whole thing with stormtrooper/scions is grav-chute insertions, but weapon-wise they've usually had really big guns.

[MegaVolt87]

You could maybe shorten the ad mech guns to be like the M1 carbine, might be easier to try that. I think that may work out. Elysians were great, hopefully they get a plastic kit if GW re-visits IG. 

[jaxom]

You could maybe shorten the ad mech guns to be like the M1 carbine, might be easier to try that. I think that may work out. Elysians were great, hopefully they get a plastic kit if GW re-visits IG. 

 

I took look, and the admech guns, while more spindly, are about as long. I'd rather cut down the hot shot lasguns with the scion hands then invest the time to either trim them off the guns or sculpt new hands.

 

 

However, I do think that first go-around on making plasma guns did end up with something too bulky.

 

 

I but the barrel directly along the original rifle to decrease the height then added some GS as a base for making the plasma coils. A bit of waiting and then a second layer of GS and knife-hashing. I'm not worried if the lines are bit messy because painting.

 

[MegaVolt87]

Yeah good point. Never used ad mech kit, its a bummer the hands are like that on the weapons. That would definately be a lot of work.

[jaxom]

I didn't do any progress pictures while painting the Kasrkin because it was just a variant of what I do for the troopers. 

 

 

Only thing of interest other than the plasma guns is the grenade I added to the pointer arm to make for a more dynamic model. Why waste time pointing at a target when you could throw a grenade at it?

 

  

 

I'm now cycling through the next Tempestus Command Squad (four meltaguns), two Tempestor Primes, and two valkyries. I'm doing GS work on one Tempestor Prime and cleaning flash on the valkyries in between the TCS steps when glue or paint is drying (not actually up to painting them yet, but...).

 

Let's take the rant about Tempestor Prime official model options as given and move straight to the conversion work. One is going to almost stock; just replacing the shank with a sword-in-scabbard under the great coat. This will be the "Tempestus" Tempestor Prime with the official great coat and tempestus command rod.

 

The other is more involved and will the the "Kasrkin" Tempestor Prime. I got the idea for this one after cruising google images for "Tempestor Prime conversions."

 

    

 

Originally I was going to shave down the shoulder pads on the power fist and plasma pistol arms in order to GS coat sleeves, but then thought, "Sun's out, guns out" applies to more than just Catachans.

 

 

[Lum]

Ooooh, the idea of using that (imho) quite ugly commissar's great coat is brilliant! Very nice stuff!

[jaxom]

I feel good about progress today. The command squad is ready for priming tomorrow and the Tempestus Prime should be good for then. I don't need to do any more work on it:

 

  

 

Getting the hand and sword to line up didn't quite go as planned, but I'm okay with the result.

[jaxom]

The stone grey is interesting. It doesn't photograph well as it tends towards too dark or too bright with flash, but in person is a nice subtle effect.

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

Once I start doing more of the details it'll pop a bit more. I'm up in the air on squad marking colors - grey is weird on contrast and complimentary colors. It's a cool (blue) grey so I'm thinking of cribbing blue visor a la Imperial Heralds in which case I may also crib the dark red for squad markers.

[jaxom]

Some WIP shots for the WIP board!

 

  

 

  

 

 

I should have the squad done tomorrow; just need to finish the bases and assemble them.

[jaxom]

The 53rd Arrakeen Stoneburners

 

 

 

    

 

Overall, pleased with how they came out. It's kind of funny I've made it this long with only a single pot of a red shade. I guess I get a lot of distance from washes to tune its color (like the violet-red used to transition between the grey and red), but that only helps when darkening it. If I ever get a brighter red or a yellow to blend up my mech-red I may brighten the squad markings. 

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Stoneburners are well-painted.

[jaxom]

Not much to see here; I've been prepping the valkyries. Currently working on all the magnet bits based off http://corbaniaprime.blogspot.com/2009/05/tutorial-magnetising-valkyrie.html

 

I only have 3 mm magnets so I'm having to do some extra drilling.

 

Examples so far:

 

 

 

I drilled the exhaust nozzles to create more texture on a very flat surface.

 

  

[jaxom]

I picked up some 2 mm magnets because there are parts that really did require them. I'm not really deviating from the posted link, but through some people might appreciate the following advice. A metal ruler with cork backing is very useful for putting on the cutting mat. You can put your applicators on it and your magnets; much easier to keep track of them because they are small and will be attracted to your cutters and knife otherwise.

 

[jaxom]

I accidentally put the magnets too far up on one valkyrie so I had to trim the aft of the cockpit.

 

 

Otherwise, I primed the interiors white and painted them up. I don't expect anyone to get up close and personal so I went with a pretty simple scheme.

 

 

[jaxom]

The final result for the commissar greatcoat Tempestus Prime:

 

  

 

The valkyries are crazy; I had no idea they were so big! I've never actually seen one in person and with the sub-assemblies didn't hit home until now near the end.

 

 

I did the blue areas by using Scotch's Artist Low Stick Masking Tape

 

 

I still need to do the weapons, weathering, and decals.