Lukas the Trickster ‘joins’ the Executioners?

[Yosef Hausakluif]

So out of boredom and looking for a fun distraction from other projects, creating a Bloodclaw squad for a ‘counts as’ Lukas to run with. Just an excuse to model a Lukas proxy. Not shown are a melta gunner and other plasma pistol trooper already built and painted to bring the squad to total of 6.

‘Pack leader’

Power fist marine:(can’t see it as trailing behind him out of shot/see next photo):

Trooper I’m gonna name ‘Bane’:

And my ‘counts as’ Lukas/Loki the Trickster:

Comments welcome!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

So far just the basic black base coat, bolt gun, then mithril over brush, and then first wash of bulb oil. Basic recipe for my executioners armor.

[Oshikai]

Nice Kitbashes, they will look ace when done. One Nitpick, I feel that the other Models steal the show a Tad, Not-Lukas feels a bit Vanilla in comparison.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

You know, after looking at them all together in pics I feel you may be on to something there Oshikai.

 

Maybe I should remove the arms from the current not Lukas model and start over for him; as he is kind of generic compared to the other individual models,

 

Thanks for the feed back and inspiration.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Starting to block in the basic colors. Pics to follow.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

I’m an essential worker and with my wife working from home and 8 year old son home all the time; not a lot of time for painting. Progress on this small squad is slow.

Here’s the basic scheme I’m blocking in real rough at the moment. Figured more yellow on these as would be veterans of the 100 year crusade whittled down into a small special squad of character killing marines after 99 plus years of attrition.

Really giving consideration of rebuilding the Count As Lukas; and making him more of an individual looking model instead of his current appearance. Maybe just a head swap and cape of some sort. Thoughts? Any feedback appreciated. Less yellow? Note; green knee pad simple way of denoting their 4th company allegiance.

Here’s the Lukas I might edit a bit and rework his torso and legs and head;

BANE!

Another reason to redo Lukas; love this ‘pack leader’ models pose and bits, and not sure of odds of 2 former Xenos hunters in the same squad:

counts as WG;

Two members from another previous squad that have been faced sourced for this project. Hence their a little more finished than the others of the group.

Any feedback appreciated! And many blessings to all world wide during these extraordinary and difficult times. Thank goodness for this hobby and community.

Edited May 18, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Working on a much more intimidating ‘Counts as’ Lukas/Loki the Trickster for my Executioners’ project:

Need to finish the base of course and find a suitable power source/pack; but also a beef enough plasma pistol too.

Feedback and suggestions welcome!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

So work continues on this model. Trying to make something that would standout a bit more for my Counts As Lukas. First tried a regular plasma pistol left arm and wasn’t as dramatic as I hoped. Have two choices A and B for a chainsword instead. Let me know your favorite. I will most likely model a holstered or mag locked plasma pistol on his belt/back. Or maybe an over the shoulder pintle Mount a la the predator.

A:

B:

And don’t mind the tape I used to keep the arm there; of course that’ll disappear once glued.

[jeremy1391]

Option B looks more in line with the executioners style

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks Jeremy1391. I appreciate the feedback. I agree with option B, and then as with a lot of my models I came up with a whole new look that is also befitting this Model. I just wasn’t feeling the chainsword and L Claw and wanted it to be as close to a not Lukas the Trickster as possible.

I give you one of the last of six of his squad, Lael the jackal, never having taken the title of sgt., as he wanted his deeds to represent his role, not his rank. Slayer of kings, bane of the traitor and mutant, the end of any foolish enough to face him and his men.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Been a bit distracted lately with other power armor related projects and trying to finish out the last of my Executioners’ Battle company based loosely off of the end of their post Badab 99 year penitent crusade to regain their place in the High Lords of Terra’s loyal Astartes.

Based off of the Space Wolf Dex for more modeling fun and opportunity and to represent their more warband nature after 99+ years of attention and crusading than adherence to the codex pattern.

Blocked in the basic colors for these ‘Blood Claws’ and ‘Lukas’. The green knee pad denotes 4th Co. allegiance. Yellow harkens back to their roots with the Imperial Fists. The back banner will be a red shield and axes over the dark Crimson Fist type blue. Back of banner is just a green ‘4th Co.’ stripe stylized; these are themes throughout the squads that visually tie them all together. (Plus I hate painting Roman numerals)

Clean up and washes and more layers to follow, but some progress:

Lukas:

‘Bane’, Lukas’ mirthless brother:

The coolest head of the squad, from all the years of working within the strict discipline of the Ordo Xenos:

The ‘old man’ of the squad; seeking an honorable end above all, one that the DeathSpeakers can record for prosperity of the Chapter; axe a gift from the Wolves themselves when last their paths crossed on the field of battle in service of the ‘All father’, a gift to his Laughing Axemen:

Plasma pistol marine, sort of a point man/lone wolf feel to him:

Metal gunner and comms specialist:

[Bjorn Firewalker]

You did a good job on the models. Yes, they can be better, but improvement will only come with practice (and patience with your critics), so continue on with the expectation your works will eventually be worthy of appearances in White Dwarf magazine.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks for the kind words of advice!

 

More to come in the days ahead.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Made some progress and revisions to model. Forever blocking in colors and next washes and then details. Getting closer to satisfied with look. Bit of an homage to the BL white scar image I’ve always liked!

More to come soon.

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Executioners’ headhunter killteam:

(Counts as Lukas the Trickster and Bloodclaw Sq. W/ WGPL)

Much in the manner of Pre-Heresy AL kill teams and headhunter squads; towards the end of the 100 year penitent crusade; this squad evolved into a small cadre of axe brothers who specializes in sowing confusion amongst the ranks of the enemy and seeking to eliminate its leadership or best warriors in the most brutal and high viz way possible. Even among the Executioners some within the chapter have had misgivings about the perceived excesses of this particular squad and formation in terms of bloodlust and penchant for violence and the apparent wanton displays there in; BUT one thing can not be denied are their effectiveness on the field of battle as both terror troops and an asset in defeating the enemy. Without the head, the body dies.

First off the Man himself; Loki/Lukas. The laughing axe man that leads this rag tag squad of meta human killers. Still some work to be done on final highlights and base, but overall pretty pleased with the final result.

Idea is Loki takes quite literally his job and role as the emperor’s headsman; even more so in the 99 years since the chapters’ crusade to regain their honor. This dedication and done say cunning exuberance is at times unlike his chapters usually more solemn but bellicose nature; and Loki’s exploits and tactics of harrowing the enemy’s command and champions has not escaped the notice of the High executioner, chapter master, and some even whisper the Inquisition’s delegates and liaisons chronicling the crusade.

The WGPL; made out to be the old man of the squad; there to temper the squads actions both with the enemy and amongst themselves. While the others Often lose themselves in the scrum and slaughter of the mission, the old man is usually more cold and calculating, often taking the head of the biggest threat first with an ancient axe gifted to the chapter’s DeathSpeakers after a combined action with the Vlka Fenryka as a sing of respect and honor amongst warriors. It has been passed down amongst the chapters warriors, who show the temerity and skill to use the weapon to its highest purpose, ever since.

Melta gunner for those harder to crack targets, and also the units commo man. Often called the head hunter. He keeps and marks Important skulls as trophies and does not part with them after presentation to the deathspeakers as is normal custom. He covets only a few for unknown reasons even to his squad mates; only to place them at the next kill whose skull may replace it then. Not often does he lose his cool under battle lust, but at the same time, many a retinue and bodyguard has fallen to his accurate melta blasts and bolt pistol snap shots; clearing a path for his brethren to the real target of their harrowing.

Plasma pistol brother; newest to the squad, and joined when the rest of his assault squad was slain fighting against necrons in one of the chapters last actions during their crusade. Favors his plasma pistol as it always finds its mark and punches through most metals he encounters, and reflects the white hot anger he harbors with each shot; feeling he must regain his lost honor as the lone survivor of his squad: secretly wishing he had fallen with them instead. Has taken to the habit of crushing slain enemies’ skulls beneath his ceramite boots while muttering something about, “phase out now fetcher”. His squad mates joke that he’s making sure their not metallic underneath and the necrontyr stalking him still.

Took to calling this Axe brother ‘phantom’; as silly as it sounds his war paint reminds me of the broadway play Phantom of the Opera. Backstory is he was even more haunted and taciturn, even for an Executioner, after his return from the Ordo Xenos. Often quite and reflective before battle, but once unleashed utterly swift, brutal, and belligerently efficient, but still with not a sound uttered. At times can be heard whispering to himself within the interpersonal vox link.

Bane; obvious reason for the moniker. As time went on brother Bane became more and more excessive in his brutality even for one of his ilk, and there is some concern that battle lust and bloodshed has over taken his sanity and may be corrupting him. His warlord feels it is best he serve the chapter in his suited role an hopefully find a glorious death on the battlefield before the Deathspeakers need to intervene and pass judgment and the ultimate sanction to maintain his honor before the axe.

[Master Umbra]

Man your conversions are quite cool! My only criticism, that you'll need to take with a pinch of salt, is that it looks like you're not thinning your paints enough? Then again, I wouldn't feel comfortable painting so much metallics. I would probably get a similar result. I mean, I am still a noob and already struggle with regular colors . I honestly think that if you thin your paints a bit more, add some nuln oil in the parts that should be darker and a lighter color where the light directly hits the model, the whole thing will look more defined. Basically, because you will be adding more contrast. However, I think the brass is looking quite good. For some reason, it's the silver the one not popping enough? Last but not least, I must say that the gore effects are quite nice!

Keep it up!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Master Umbra; THANK you for the constructive criticism! I do need to take it easier on the Bolt gun metal and thin it a bit. I was over rushing and over brushing the base coat and then slopping on the nuln oil; only to then paint some more metal over the top. I’m not one for edge highlighting, but maybe the next batch I’ll slow down and use some chain mail or Mithril silver for the edges. I REALLY appreciate the feedback and reply so thanks agin!

 

When I’m working on the bases I might go back and put some highlights in: like where the armor plates meet the softer darker joints, or around say the power fist and armor where the copper bronze decorations edges are. I noticed too that the WGPL’s arm is really in need of some black lining in the crevices and plates of his armor, like at his elbow armor pad joint. Pics are great for showing you what needs touched up and fixed! :)

Edited September 4, 2020 by Yosef Hausakluif

[Master Umbra]

Oh man, I am so glad you didn't take it personally! You do not need to edge highlight, just apply that mithril or chainmail over the raised areas and, more specifically, on those spots where the light would hit the surface directly. Let's be honest, edge highlight is just not realistic. Everyone does it, me included, but there is plenty of people that don't, and I feel that this will be more in tune with your style. As long as there is some contrast between highlights and shadows, you'll see some improvement, I am sure. Looking forward to see what you come up with!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

I’m here to learn from others honest opinions, eyes, reflections, and would never take it personally; isn’t that the point of this forum!?

 

I’m gonna take your advice about the armor plates and and maybe show the difference in the final update once the bases are painted and washed.

 

With work, wife, kids, and dogs; I don’t get much time to paint so sadly it’s usually right out of the pot for me and straight to the model with maybe a wet brush being my ‘thinning’. Still love it though and happy others appreciate the conversions too!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

I took Master Umbra’s advice and went over the armor plates with chain mail again to make them more distinct from the shaded recesses. Not sure if it helped or not. Bright lights may wash it all out during photos, but happy overall and appreciate the advice!

[Master Umbra]

Nice! It is indeed better, as now I am able to make out all the different armor pieces with ease. I am glad my advice helped! Regarding the photo itself, did you remove the flash of your camera? Anyway, I am still a noob taking pictures, so I am not sure how could you compensate the glare on the metallics... But I am sure it does look better in person :d.

Keep rocking!

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Thanks again Umbra!

Honestly just using and iPhone 11 with no flash and two desk lamps. One facing the models and one over the top of them.

Simple and quick, as I don’t have time for more professional photos.

[Master Umbra]

My pleasure! Ah, I see. Mmhhh, maybe this would help?

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/showthread.php?18620

Most useful bit that I could find (8:00 AM here, I might have skipped something):

 

OK (trying to post this again)

The problem I see is that you have photgraphed against a white background and your camera exposure is overwhelmed by the contrast between the white and the Dark Figure.

Change the background to an 18% grey and the exposure will balance out correctly.

 

If you can afford to get a light tent and descent lamps I\'d suggest getting them and seeing the difference diffused light can make especially with Metallics.

 

 

I would say that if you cannot grab a light tent (light box), you can just try and grab some translucent white cloth or material and hang it from the frontal part of the lamps, so it blocks the light, but not enough to completely darken the whole thing.

 

Cheers!

Edited September 7, 2020 by Master Umbra

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Cool! Will look into.