The Velsen Sector: KrautScientist's INQ28

[Majkhel]

Cherubs are soooo AWESOME! :D

[OakRiver]

Very nice. I'm looking forward to reading the mamzel's lore.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

Awww so cuuute! Look at his little bitty skull! Who's a creepy nightmare-inducing munchkin of death!? You are! Yes you are! Awwww

[KrautScientist]

Haha, thanks a lot, guys! :) Really happy with the cherubim myself: The little guy with the hat will be named "Nullsum" (thanks to a brilliant suggestion from fellow hobbyist A_Tempest_Sinister), and his buddy will be called "Aerial".

 

A blog post on Meandering Shade has made me realise that there's something really interesting you can also do with a cable maker -- quite an eye opener! So I simply had to build a majordomo for this latest project:

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's contemplating a dataslate while his mistress talks to a supplicant, and probably interjecting pointed questions and remarks ("What were your credentials again?" "These numbers don't seem to add up...")

 

As always, let me know what you think! :)

[ElDuderino]

Dude, you've been on a roll lately! Everything looks great, mamzel, chibi guy... the eldar one is amazing though, I had no idea they were geigeresque back in the day! Time to research:)

[KrautScientist]

Cheers, mate! :)

 

Well, maybe I exaggerated when I called them "Gigeresque", but one some of the earliest Eldar models (and even moreso in the Rogue Trader era Eldar artwork), there is a much stronger biomechanical influence on their design. On a related note, check out the - very impressive - results of the Bonereaper challenge I mentioned here.

 

 

In other news, I have one more WIP to share with you all:With all the unarmed models and little critters, I felt that the retinue was also in dire need of some heavy muscle. I wanted a "palace guard"-style character, and with a highly stylised and idealised look, to match the amount of ostentation on the rest of the models. Now the Custodes and Stormcast Eternals basically have the market for statuesque, hulking warriors cornered between them, so I had to get a bit creative to come up with something that doesn't look too similar to them, while also invoking some visual cues from either.

 

Anyway, here's my  - early - WIP:

 

 

As always, let me know what you think! :)

[Majkhel]

Wow, this "court" group is getting better by the second! Blanchitsu simply oozes out of it :)

How would you like an idea of creating a whole diorama setting with those?

[Markus_]

I am loving these true to the setting characters you keep coming up with.
Especially the Mamzel on the previous page is fantastic, and I love that allonge wigged noble.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Dude, you're on fire!

I missed the mamsel updates and everything that came after, so I'll comment on all of them.

The mamsel. Where to begin. The idea speaks to me immensely, in part because I've been thinking of making a floating chair kind of thing for a Power Guild member for Necomunda. But yours is just soo.. creepy and inspiring. Damn. I love the head and the cabling is super creepy. Top tip: I see you using GS cables a lot - maybe consider getting some guitar string as well, for that thinner work? Also, I identify the flamer nozzles a little too much with, well, flamers - maybe I am alone in this, but consider maybe getting the exhausts from space marine backpacks? That's what I'm doing with my floating chair. 

The cherubs are just fantastic. I love, LOVE the little napoleon dude especially. Such a wonderful idea.

The Majordomo's hair is just simply inspired. I'm stealing that idea for sure!!!

The Palace guard is the least eyebrow-raising of the whole bunch, but that's nothing negative, as even he looks wicked cool. That;'s some complicated kitbashing right there. he will need some work of course, but I have the utmost trust that you'll nail this guy as well. 

Kudo's!

[Filkarion]

"Ehi, I finally commented something after a long time on amazing Kraut 's Khorne stuff...But look he also updated his Inq28 Plog, ohh, I expect really good stuff..."

 

+++Sound of mind blowing+++

 

Holy Jess Goodwin hands and vocal cords, there is so much amazingness here I do not know where to start from

 

 

...Let me try...

 

First, thanks for MEANDERING SHADE... Straight to bookmarks!

Second, the Eldar/Ossiarch project idea is awesome. Yes, old eldar where really alien in a disturbing way in a lot of drawings... I saw Maugan Ra as I was little and i would neve tought back then there was a space elf/fairy under that armor...

Third and more important, thank you. Now I know what to do with conquest nuglings, as I do not do nurgle and got some Death guard models to "Slannesh" them... Cherubim are awesome!

Forth, The lady on fling chair is impressive! Fun fact, I am working on a Slaneshi lady on a lectica and position of the left hand are similar. My WIP is in early stage, bu I will post some pics when I have time (working from home since before the COVID crisis and 2 small children at home do not help actually). Also the old skull as face works very well, I used the same bit on my not finished knight pilot. (I do not want to point at my work in your tread, sorry, but I am happy of some similarity in ideas! Unfortunately for me, your execution greatly outpaces mine, but I hope to get better in time).

As for the Butler, no words. I love him. Everyone should have one. I would like to say more, but I just love everything, is one of the best thing you have ever done in my opinion, maybe because I love the concept so much

 

Then technical stuff: I have a cable maker, but I have hard time doing good cables as you, and I need like a lot for lots of conversions in WIP state... so, any tricks? Could you point me at some tutorials? I feel like I am doing something wrong, the grenstuff (army painter...maybe it is not the best one) Seems always be too sticky or too soft (so I mess things up when posing the cable)

 

Thanks for the enduring inspiration!

 

As far as 

[KrautScientist]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone! I am really having a blast with this latest group -- in fact, I had feared that I might have "lost my touch", so to speak, since the level of quality seems to have soared all around, and some of the stuff I was working on just felt trite and derivative. But with these latest models, I think I am in a pretty good place. I am not saying that none of this has been done before - and, indeed, I have been taking inspiration from fellow hobbyists like Jeff Vader, EdT and others left and right - but these do feel like a breath of fresh air for me.

 

@ MMajkhel: I am defintely thinking of some kind of presentation base for the retinue, mostly because I have been thinking of some of EdT's brilliant displays while working on these models. We'll see how it goes...

 

@ Markus_: Cheers, man!

 

@ Auggs: Thanks for the detailed comment, buddy! I thought you might appreciate these, seeing how they also kinda fit into your latest Necromunda guild project. You raise a good point about the grav suspensors, although I think they might work pretty well if painted with some kind of glow effect, since I don't see them as exhaustsm but rather as some kind of emmitter -- does that make sense?

 

As for the cabling, I am still finding my feet, although I'd say I still have a fair amount of experimentation to do on the production of GS cabling before I expand into using further materials That being said, I have already used a bit of fine wire to fine-tune the cabling on my World Eaters icon bearer (the one you don't like ).

 

As for the guard, yeah, he's definitely less of a character and more of a stoic background presence, but that's really the look I was going for: He is, after all, a guard and not a major player.

 

@ Filkarion: Cheers, mate! That's way too much praise. Also, feel free to share a link to your own project, once you have something to show: I'd love to take a look!

As for the Cherubim, using Nurglings for those wasn't my idea, but credit must rather go to Jeff Vader -- he was the first hobbyist whom I say using that particular approach. His blog also totally rocks So now you have another thing to bookmark.

 

Regarding cable making, I am still only a learner myself, but I guess I have two things that might help you: One, I am using Greenstuffworld's roll maker tool, and the thing about it that really acts as a bit of a game changer is that it has these small, plastic guard rail parts that help you align the two halves of the tool. So you don't even have to work in one go when making a given cable. I don't know if all cable makers have these, but they really do make a world of difference!

 

Two, there are all kinds of agents you can mix into the GS so it behaves better when sculpting and sticks less to your skin -- for these cables, though, don't use any of those, but just use water and make sure everything is nice and damp. I used some kind of vaseline when sculpting the ragged cloak on my recent Gholam conversion, and it was brilliant for allowing me to really pull the GS into those long, thing sheets. But when I tried to use the remains afterwards to make some cables, it didn't work at all, so only use water. That's my two cents, at least.

 

 

So, anyway, I have another update for you: First of all, I have started to tidy up that guard conversion a bit:

 

 

I'd say the basic setup definitely works. I think I'll be adding some small details to bring him into 40k a bit more (some small cables and augmetic plugs that suggest some kind of powered armour, but only very subtly so). The one bigger addition I am still contemplating is whether or not to give him a shield. On the one hand, it could end up overcluttering the model, on the other hand, it would add to his somewhat statuesque presence. Out of all the options I have tried so far, I like this one best:

 

 

Since it's a beautiful and sunny day today, I also took the opportunity to photograph the rest of the models again. So here are the retinue members I have so far:

 

First up, obviously, the "grimdark Mamzel", named "Lady Bloodbriar" for now:

 

 

 

Then there's her majordomo, Corvinus Icter:

 

 

 

 

This next picture also gives you a better look at the dataslate:

 

 

 

And, of course, the two cherubim: Meet Nullsum...

 

 

... and Aerial

 

 

And here's the entire group so far:

 

 

As always, let me know what you think!

Edited March 25, 2020 by KrautScientist

[ElDuderino]

Cheers, mate!

 

Well, maybe I exaggerated when I called them "Gigeresque", but one some of the earliest Eldar models (and even moreso in the Rogue Trader era Eldar artwork), there is a much stronger biomechanical influence on their design. On a related note, check out the - very impressive - results of the Bonereaper challenge I mentioned here.

 

 

 I don't know man, i found this gem and that looks pretty damn Giger to me:D

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VwWE8VjPAiY/Ut-JYvmKhEI/AAAAAAAABuE/GBqdKLY6h4E/s1600/Tony+Hough+Eldar+Illustration.jpg

 

Still love all of these new guys, I can't believe how fast you're churning them out!

Edited March 25, 2020 by ElDuderino

[Evil Eye]

I'd vote yes to the shield, it really completes the model IMO. And I have to say I actually really, really like that guard! He has this really cool stoic look to him, and the overall aesthetic gives me Jes Goodwin concept sketch vibes, which is always a good thing.

[Elzender]

Loving all the retinue, KrautScientist!

 

About the guard, I like were you're going with it, and I think it works well both with and without shield. My only bit of concern is the spiky trim, which I can't help associating with chaos. Would you consider the option of removing some of the spikes? Also the skull hanging from his belt, I feel it looks a bit weird for a bodyguard to have a combat trophy, although I guess it can be understood as a warning to potential attackers. Other than that, the miniature looks really imposing, looks the part for a bodyguard you don't want to mess with.

[OakRiver]

Very nice. Does Lady Bloodbriar take any inspiration from Mavis Blackbriar in 'Skyrim'? I like that the guard is stoic and imposing, and an observer might believe that his appearance takes cues from the Custodes, perhaps indicating the hubris of his mistress. For the shield, I like the idea of the winged design, as it shares visual cues with the churubs. But I also like the mini without the shield, as is comes across more imposing, as if they are displaying their strength to a potential aggressor. I like how invested Corvinus Icter is in his dataslate. He has the air that the person speaking to him is so beneath his attention that the speaker only serves to confirm the data that he already has at his fingers. 

Edited March 25, 2020 by OakRiver

[noigrim]

Looks ace, the shield should cover he hand to give him an hoplite vibe

[Majkhel]

A comment on the guard from me as well. I like the positioning and general aesthetic of the shield, however I agree he looks just as well without it. My only concern though would be the right arm which seems to be attached visibly lower to the shoulder than the left arm. I admit it's not easy considering the elongated pauldron. Also overall direction the lance has is perfect.

[KrautScientist]

Thanks a lot for the feedback, guys! Here's a look at the guard model (let's call him the "Sentinel" as a placeholder, as that is what I call him when naming the pictures for now), with a few tweaks and some further cleanup applied:

 

 

• While I still haven't decided whether or not I want to keep the shield for good, this would be the tweaked position for it if I decide to keep it.
• the skull trophy has been exchanged for something a little more fitting (I use the winged sword device as a symbol for St. Sabasto, the "Sword Saint", even though it's originally a DA symbol, obviously ;)
• I've tried to fine-tune the position of the arms as well, although they are just tacked on for now, so they are prone to being moved out of position ;)

 

@ ElDuderino: Yeah, some of the artwork from that time is, in fact, rather gigeresque, even if the models from the same time didn't necessarily bear it out.

 

@ Evil Eye: A "Jes Goodwin concept sketch" vibe? That is high praise indeed! :)

 

@ Elzender: I did think about the trim, but the the Tempestus Scions, for instance, use a very similar design, so I think it's fine to keep it. As for the skull, you are perfectly right: See above for the tweaked version! ;)

 

@ OakRiver: I have honestly yet to play Skyrim (sad, I know), so no, no intended resemblance there. As for Corvinus Icter: Haha, that's exactly the look I was going for!

 

@ noigrim: Cheers, mate! See the tweaked position above.

 

@ Majkhel: Huh, yeah, those arms tend to get knocked out of position, seeing how they are just tacked on at the moment. It should work better in the newest photo, though.

 

As always, let me know what you think :)

[Augustus b'Raass]

Excellent adjustments to the Sentinel. That arm, once pointed out, was vexxing, to say the least. You fixed it like a boss.

 

About the shield: the more I look at it, the more I think it is very à propos -this is an Imperial Sentinel, after all - and the chaos like trim should be counter-balanced by the obvious imperialesque vibe the winged shield gives off. Add some purity seals to it and to the main body, and you’re golden.

 

Now get some paint on those lovely miniatures - you have the time and you know it! <3 :tu:

 

Edit: fixed some horrendous spelling errors because Im typing this on an iPad (which I hate) while bottle-feeding the nurgling.

Edited March 26, 2020 by Augustus b'Raass

[OakRiver]

 

@ OakRiver: I have honestly yet to play Skyrim (sad, I know), so no, no intended resemblance there. As for Corvinus Icter: Haha, that's exactly the look I was going for!

I was starting to get worried that I was the only person on the planet to have not finished it :D

[Majkhel]

I will echo Augustus - paint them!  :)

[KrautScientist]

Cheers for the feedback, guys!

 

@ Auggs: Fun fact, I have actually used up virtually all of my purity seals -- let this be a warning to you: It's what happens when you get into INQ28

 

As for painting, you are quite right, I do have the time -- I keep dragging my feet, though, as usual, and I am still in full building mode. Maybe I can my arse back in gear this weekend, painting a new World Eater. Wish me luck!

 

@ OakRiver: No, you definitely aren't -- I might be the only person not to even have started it, though

 

@ Majkhel:  

Edited March 27, 2020 by KrautScientist

[KrautScientist]

Okay guys, another quick update on Lady Bloodbriar and her retainers:

 

One, I felt that the bulky Sentinel needed to be balanced out by a second bodyguard, this one lithe and feminine. So I have started yet another conversion:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infuriatingly enough, the differently coloured plastic on the upper half of the head makes the whole thing look like a bad Photoshop job in those pictures -- you'll have to take my word that the whole head assembly works better in real life.

 

Also, I think I'll be giving Nullsum a little sword:

 

 

 

It just makes for an even more "heraldic" look, for lack of a better word ;)

 

And finally, I have sketched out some inconography for Lady Bloodbriar's crime syndicate ("The Bloodbriar Syndicate"? or "Cabal"? Does anybody know another cool, 40k-like word for a crime ring?):

 

 

I like the idea that most members of the organisation wear this kind of symbol -- or a variation thereof: It could appear as tiny, inconspicuous tattoos or brands on the upper echelons of the organisation, whereas low level brutes would be covered in briar symbols.

 

Anyway, as always, let me know what you think! :)

[Givemead]

Oh my actual word! That is amazing.

I think your conversions are great especially the latest group. All I can say is keep going.

[Timboli]

Very nice additions to the retinue, pretty cool idea of including that symbol on all of the models. Maybe 'The Bloodbriar Clan / Cartel / Family'? Or you could go for something less focused on the leader, something like 'Scarlet Thorns' or 'Cabal of the Crimson Thorns'.

 

While the new bodyguard looks pretty damn cool, I have some small gripes with it. I love the use of the stormcast heads, but for me the crescent of the Sequitor head is too chunky. It kind of works against the lithe and agile look you are going for. The Sentinels crescent looks a lot 'lighter' and more fitting to me.

The Bonereaper sword has the same issues imo. It looks like a big and heavy cleaver, a weapon more suitable for the Sentinel rather than a dexterous bodyguard.

 

Other than that, lovely model