After Badab. Mechanicus inq28 finished

[binary]

Howling Griffon 4th Company
Under the shadow of Badab. 922M41

After the disastrous ambush at Khymara, the near destruction of the 4th at the hands of the Executioners and the loss of Dreadnought Confessor Titus, it fell to Captain Uthor and Titus' nominated successor Chaplain Mogain to begin the long task of rebuilding the 4th back into a fighting force, both physically and spiritually.

Most squads within the 4th happily accepted the newly inducted battle brothers, and understood the need for an accelerated implantation and promotion due to the heavy losses sustained. There were however voices of dissent. Sergeant Galahan of first tactical out right refused to have any of the newer battle brothers added to his squad.
"We are the pride of the 4th, the first sons of Mancora and the ideal they should aspire to be. Let the thinner blooded brothers learn from us, but until they prove themselves not one of them shall join my brothers and I"

As part of the Tale of Gamers 2017 I have made the (rather foolish) pledge to build the entire 4th company of the Howling griffons, so this is the log I'm going to use to track the progress. As some of you who have seen my infrequent logs may know that I don't do things simply. So aside from picking probably one of the hardest paint schemes I decided to follow the example of the esteemed BobHunk and his team fisto Imperial fists. Yup that's right. LEDs.

So here's the current list for the fourth company, got a few conversion stuff planned (anyone armed with a power fist and Plasmagun/plasma pistol will have the gun mounted like Alexis Pollux's meltagun/powerfist). I'm also aware that there are a few differences to the standard layout for a company, with a Techmarine and a Librarian added, but I wanted to be able to field all the different options.

Captain Uthor- Artificer Armour, Storm shield Powerfist, Plasmagun

Chaplain Mogain- Powerfist

Librarian Merlain - Force staff,

Techmarine Ulfius - Servoarm, Conversion Beamer, Servitors

Command Squad "The Shield Bearers" Land raider
-Veteran, Company Standard
-Veteran, Apothecary
-3 Veterans, Storm shield, Plasmagun

Tactical squad Galahan- Plasmagun, Lascannon Rhino
Tactical squad Agravail - Grav Cannon, Gravgun, Rhino
Tactical squad Caradot - Multimelta, Meltagun, Rhino
Tactical squad Brastian- MIssile Launcher, Flamer, Drop Pod
Tactical squad Elyan- Heavy Bolter, Drop Pod
Tactical squad Parzivel- Primaris - Repulsor

Assault squad Bediven- 2x flamer, Powerfist, Jump Packs
Assault squad Lancel- 8x Bikes, 2x Meltagun, Attack bike, Multi Melta

Devestator squad Gawair- 4x Plasma cannon, Razorback
Devastator squad Morien- 2x Lascannon, 2x Heavy Bolter, Razorback

Dreadnought Dagonet - Assault Cannon

First company Task force
-Terminator squad Lyonal- assault cannon
-Terminator squad Baudwin- 3x THSS, 2xLC Land raider

And here's where I am on the construction front. This has been a huge learning curve both with the electronics and making silicone mounds so I can resin copy the helmets, but I think I've got to a point that I'm happy with.

Squad Galahan




Chaplain Mogain



And I started one of the warriors of squad Baudwin. Yes I know Cataphractii isn't a legal choice with THSS, but I figured the aesthetics looked so much better than Indominatus so I'll just use it as "counts-as". Besides, who doesn't love that new custodes shield as a Proper Storm Shield?

[Olis]

 

Emperor's armpits, those things are bright! Props to you at attempting this fairly technical challenge. :tu:

[Guest]

These guys have an angel choir play every time they enter the room their so bright! Fantastic work, recasting the heads as clear resin was brilliant. Never thought of it like that, but I can see how it makes it easier. The thought of cutting out the vision slits on a Space Marine helmet for LED's... *shudders.*

[binary]

Thanks guys, although the props should really go to BobHunk's imperial fists

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/293146-team-fisto-true-scale-heresy-imperial-fists-with-leds/

I just adapted the technique to fit standard marines instead of truescale ones as I had a pile of unbuilt marines lying around

 

With the feedback I applied a few thin layers of regal blue to the eye sockets of the chaplain and

the painted marine so they look a little more natural when the LEDs are off. This also had the advantage of toning down the brightness (although it isn't anywhere near as bright in real life, limitations of the iPhone camera I'm afraid)

 

 

Ive also found that a 1.3mm burring bit in a variable speed dremmel is a godsend when it comes to hollowing out the helmet and guns when fitting the LEDs

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Even with an incomplete paint job, the Chaplain looks AWESOME.

[Grotsmasha]

Simply amazing....very cool :tu:

[Charlo]

That blue made the chaplain perfect.

[The Yak]

Looking forward to seeing this log progress. Great start Brother.

[hushrong]

Say what!?

 

I remember years ago I saw someone do this for thousand sons but this is on another level! Looking forward to the Howling Griffons rebuild their ranks!

[binary]

Even with an incomplete paint job, the Chaplain looks AWESOME.

Thanks Bjorn, glad you approve! He's a combination of CHaplain Cassius, the company champion chest plate, Sternguard power fist, BA chaplain head, and the crazies is Cassius' and the BA one mashed together.

 

Simply amazing....very cool :tu:

Thanks Grots

 

That blue made the chaplain perfect.

I've ended up doing it with all of the marines, a wash of asurman blue on the eye lenses (and the reeeealy old purple in on the plasma gun) means they don't look as strange when the lights are off. Although they aren't as bright in real life.

 

Looking forward to seeing this log progress. Great start Brother.

Thanks Yak

 

Say what!?

I remember years ago I saw someone do this for thousand sons but this is on another level! Looking forward to the Howling Griffons rebuild their ranks!

Thanks Hushrong. I think I saw that thousand sons log as well, but it's our very own BobHunk who's my biggest inspiration.

 

Now onto the real reason you're all here. Updates!

 

 

After Khymara the 4th were given lighter, escort duties while the newer recruits "bedded in", and spent those first few years on the cruiser "Shield of Light", patrolling the Vandriss Systems, deep in the Galactic South

 

Sergeant Galahan and the veterans of the first tactical squad survived Khymara and see themselves as the best of the 4th, and this attitude frequently comes across as arrogance but squad Galahan have proved themselves time and again

 

Pict captures showing Squad Galahan during the assault on the night world of Tibbanopolis

 

 

 

Squad Galahan

 

And Chaplain Mogain

 

 

Binary

[Thousand Eyes]

Much love for Howling Griffions and extra points for the LEDs, nicely done.

[Bob Hunk]

Wonderful work binary!  You've done a great job here, doubly so if this is your first foray into electronics and resin casting too! Thank you very much for the kind shout-outs, I'm so glad that my tutorials were useful to someone. 

 

My favourite models are definitely the Chaplain and the plasma gun Tactical Marine. B) I also think it's great that you are taking on a Badab project, I'm a big fan of the Badab war.

 

Nice idea with the washes over the eyes; I've been wondering about the new-ish gemstone paints (without the silver layer, obviously) for the same purpose, although I haven't tried it yet.

 

I see you mentioned it's a bit difficult to photograph the models with an iPhone camera, and that's definitely something I've encountered as well. A little tip that I've found (and I'm not certain why this works) is to move the camera away from the model, and then zoom in. That seems to give a better image. Also, set the focus on the eye area of the model, as this will take the eyes as the mean brightness, and adjust everything else accordingly.

 

If I might humbly offer one more minor suggestion; have you considered using a little green stuff to seal the joint between the base of the helmet and the torso? It's quite easy to re-sculpt the power armour flexible neck seal, as you simply have to score a few parallel lines in the green stuff while it's still pliable. 

 

Anyway, this is all excellent work, and I'm really looking forward to seeing more. :D

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Well done. Did you make the settings yourself?

[binary]

Thanks guys

 

Bob, the gs for the collar is something I'd forgotten to do, so it'll be retro fitted to these and added as part of the construction for the next ones.

Badab was a natural choice for me, I still remember the original WD article and the original paint scheme for the Griffons, though I went for this version as I prefer the look of the FW scheme. Still need to get a copy of the Badab books though

[hushrong]

The weapons glow! Love that!

[binary]

The weapons glow! Love that!

Thanks Hushrong, gonna make most of the heavy and special weapons glow, along with a couple of firing bolters in each squad...and that's before I get to the vehicles!

 

More Updates

 

 

Started building second tactical squad, Squad Agravail, Second tactical are armed with a Grav gun and a Grav Cannon and as usual I wanted to add LED's to the weapons, however that would normally have meant copying and casting the plastic Grav weaponry and then I had the brainwave of using 30K weapons that are already resin cast. So that it didn't get confused for other 40K weapons I thought of using a Volkite Caliver as the Grav gun and a Volkite Culverin as the Grav Cannon, but rather than the accepted red "choom" I've always envisioned Grav being green, so a green LED it was. (It helps that I had Calivers and Culverins sat around from my Emperors Children)

 

 

I decided that Sergeant Agravail would have some bionics, and this was built by removing the rear of the right greave and the foot, before rebuilding both using plastic rod and small pieces of sprue

 

 

And then we have veteran Lueius, first of the Shield Bearers. Lueius is armed with a powerfist, plasma pistol and storm shield.

I wanted to use the Sternguard set to build the command squad due to the look of the armour, and I also took inspiration from Alexis Pollux for the weaponry, mounting the plasma pistol to the power fist. This also made it easier to mount the LED in the plasma pistol as I could run the wires up through the power fist arm. I also decided to resin copy on of the shoulder pads from the Sternguard kit so that the command squad will all have an identical eagle pad.

 

 

 

As usual the glow will be muuuuch less pronounced once paint has been applied.

 

Binary

[Bob Hunk]

Excellent progress, Binary. I completely agree; grav is green and choom is red! ;) Nice work on using the FW resin. I found that the FW resin was a little less transparent than the casting resin, so it required even closer and more careful drilling to just under the surface to get a good about of light through. If you're looking for FW resin grav guns in future, remember that there is one in this set, although that's a bit pricey for a single gun. ;) 

 

Great stuff, keep it up. :) 

[binary]

 

I now have a legal army since 2nd tactical are finished

 

 

And the first of the shield bearers veteran squad

 

 

Next up - plasma cannon devestators and a dreadnought

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work.

[Bob Hunk]

Great stuff! :D The green volkites (counts-as grav, was it?) look A-MAZING! B)

[binary]

Excellent work.

Thanks Bjorn. It's been a real blast so far!

 

Great stuff! :D The green volkites (counts-as grav, was it?) look A-MAZING! B)

Thank you for the kind word Bob. The forge world weapons are surprisingly easy to work with (thank god for my dremmel!)

I found it easier to cut the weapon in half, hollow the barrel section out and carve a slot for the LED in the back. I then mount the LED and then glue the two halves back together.

[Ace Debonair]

This is easily one of the coolest things I've ever seen in the hobby.

 

You're doing the Emperor's work, brother!

[Jackalwolf]

Ok so... Holly :cusse, that volkite looks amazing and all the weapons in general too. And the chaplain is scary as. Well done!

[binary]

This is easily one of the coolest things I've ever seen in the hobby.

 

You're doing the Emperor's work, brother!

Thanks ace. Stick around theirs lots more to come!

 

Ok so... Holly :cusse, that volkite looks amazing and all the weapons in general too. And the chaplain is scary as. Well done!

Thanks Grieux

 

More updates!

 

Started building the devestators so thought I'd document the build process. This shows how I build the 2 different styles, 1 with light up helmet and 1 with light up helmet and weapon (in this case a plasma cannon)

 

First take 2 32mm bases and 2 coin cell holders. Cut holes in the base so that the holder fits. I usually cut the hole to big. When you fit the holder into the base make sure you have the battery installed so that the base sits flat. I then attach the holder to the base with putty (I use squadron green as it's less flexible when dry)

I also stick the pcb switch to the base at this point

 

Next drill through thee leg of your chosen marine. I also dremmel out the waist and collar at this point. For the marine without the light up weapon I glue the torso together and attach it to the body. For the weapon marine I only glue the front of the torso to the legs. I then feed 2 lengths of wire through the hole

 

For the plasma cannon I mount the right arm, then cut the cannon in half just behind the vents. Using a 2mm drill I drilled through the barrel half and the widened the hole using my dremmel. The idea is to leave 0.5-1.5 mm of resin behind the coil. In the other half I dremmeled a slot that the LED would fit into.

 

Two holes are drilled in the torso under the chest plate and the LED legs are fed through and the arm glued in place

 

The resin heads are then dremmeled out and the LED is glued in so it is pointing out of the faceplate

 

The helmet LEDs are then soldered to the wires and pulled back through the body. The LED for the weapon marine is carefully soldered so the the polarity is the same as the weapons. The weapon LEDs legs are then soldered to the wires before the back plate is glued into place

 

The wires are then soldered to the cell holder. I switch the power on and test which way round they should be BEFORE soldering them. (Learnt that costly mistake very early on!)

Once it's all soldered and working the wires are cooled up and hidden using milliput.

 

Hope everyone finds that enlightening!

[binary]

 

More updates! As part of TOH17 this months first vow I'm building a devestator squad with 4 plasma cannons, and re-purposing a rather neglected Deredeo

 

Started with a couple of the devestators to make sure the LED works with the forgeworld plasma cannon

 

Then as you can see in the above pics I then partially disassembled the Deredeo and fed the wire through.

The Deredeo had the barrels shortened on the autocannons as they were quite warped and looked a bit front heavy. I then added some detail banding similar to the banding on Cataphractii armour around the halo and collar

 

Just waiting for some 1/16th scale .50cal ammo belts to arrive to replace the usual ammo belts as they don't fit the new pose.