Black Like My Soul

[Dravenguild]

Your work is ace Malisteen, I would love to play against your merry band meself someday.

[Sception]

I've made some conversion progress on the Chosen, should have a whole squad converted by the end of the weekend, and I'll try to get up some more/better pics and a group shot. In the mean time...

 

 

First up is the Champ, Gustav. Sadly not magnetize, drilling was going poorly and risking the model, so I said screw it. p.sword is probably going to be the standard kit for this guy anyway, so I'm not too upset about it.

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosencmd01_zps44f5f633.jpg

 

 

Magnets on the rest have turned out fine, as have the grey-stuff shoulder pads made with instant mold presses.

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen03_zpsd07439c0.jpg

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen04_zpsb9855420.jpg

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen05_zps97e7e8b5.jpg

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen06_zps9f14ca50.jpg

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen07_zps981213fd.jpg

 

 

And here's their in-progress ride. Lots of work to do, you can see the busted sponson and the not-a-landraider-lascannon I'm going to try and fix it with. You can also see where I've dremelled away imperial insignia on the treads, I'll have to figure out something I can do there. And the gargoyles, of course. I added some FW doors, but broke the ramp in the process, so it doesn't open and close anymore. I'd feel more broken up about it if I hadn't been dreading trying to repaint the interior anyway. I think I'll also order some FW brass etchings to add further chaosy details.

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Landraider01_zps16f85f42.jpg

[Architect]

Excellent work.

 

Dammit we should have gotten a new CSM kit like the Tactical Marines.

[Neigorath]

Looking good malisteen. Shame none of my 3 landraiders has those forge doors. Maybe once I get around to ordering the Spartan I'll pimp that with the Black Legion doors.

[Sception]

Thanks.

 

The land raider doors are pretty nice, I do recommend them.  I'm looking forward to trying out the brass etchings as well, but that'll be a bit.  Should be after the holidays before I can put some real work into the land raider, and paint the rhinos while I'm at it.

 

I'm constantly coming up with target goals, then getting distracted by other projects along the way (ie, the 1k 'starter list' I was aiming for a several pages ago, now long forgotten under huron, chosen, havocs, and heldrake conversions).  The current target goal I'm aiming for that will be forgotten long before its done is a solid troop foundation for a Black Legion list, specifically the two squads of chaos marines I've already done plus their rhinos, the chosen plus a land raider to escort a character, and a pile of cultists (not sure of configuration, depends in part on whether i'm able to trade away the starter box dark angels for yet a third set of starter box chaos).

[Sception]

Here's a group shot of the first batch of 10 chosen. Theres still some conversion work to do, particularly on the bolter/special weapon guys, and of course I've got to do bases for them, but the unit's really starting to come together, now, and I should still be on track to have them fully modelled by monday.

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen08_zpse7c662d6.jpg

 

I'm rather happy with the unit so far, apart from matbe the icon, but its on a magnet arm, so i can always replace it later, and most games will see it dropped to make room for a character, anyway, so whatever.

[Xenith]

A nice looking squad, I may have to get some raptors for bits.

 

Have you tried using 3mmx1mm magnets instead of those 5mm ones it looks like you;re using (banner bearer)? You have to remove less material, and drilling is easier, and you risk damaging the model a lot less.

[A D-B]

Here's a group shot of the first batch of 10 chosen. Theres still some conversion work to do, particularly on the bolter/special weapon guys, and of course I've got to do bases for them, but the unit's really starting to come together, now, and I should still be on track to have them fully modelled by monday.

 

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/Chosen08_zpse7c662d6.jpg

 

I'm rather happy with the unit so far, apart from matbe the icon, but its on a magnet arm, so i can always replace it later, and most games will see it dropped to make room for a character, anyway, so whatever.

 

What a freaking breathtaking squad. Amazing work, dude.

[Iron_Within]

Don't agree about your Icon Bearer, he looks brilliant. What part don't you like?

[oreaper84]

Mal... long fan of your work, love the chosen was thinking of rearranging thier gear myself but im intimidated on cutting those beautiful models! I see previously that you got some havocs done, using some delicious autocannons. Were those from forge world? and if so where can i find em? ive been looking for some time and the only thing i can find is the vulture auto cannons, but they appear different than yours. Anyways, keep up the great work, lookin forward to more great conversions!

[the jeske]

are those recasts or GW chosen shoulder pads?

[Sception]

Sadly, I didn't get the squad finished last weekend, and with finals upon me, followed swiftly by the winter Holidays, I probably won't have any more time to work on these guys until January.

 

I can take a moment to answer some comments, though.

 

 

Don't agree about your Icon Bearer, he looks brilliant. What part don't you like?

 

Basically just the icon topper - the old CSM champion helmet I stuck on top of the banner. I like the designated icon bearer himself, and will try to get better pics of him when I get the chance - he's not the same model with the icon in the previous post. It's just that I mignt put together a new icon arm for him in the future if the model doesn't grow on me after its painted - and if icons ever get to be something worth bothering with again (for undivided, anyway, I'm not running slaanesh right now.

Otherwise, thanks!

 

 

A nice looking squad, I may have to get some raptors for bits.

Have you tried using 3mmx1mm magnets instead of those 5mm ones it looks like you;re using (banner bearer)? You have to remove less material, and drilling is easier, and you risk damaging the model a lot less.

 

Thanks - the raptor bits actually work really well with them. I love those close combat arms. I'm going to end up with a squad of warp talons out of the bargain - though I might eventually bits order the raptor ccweps if I can to magnetize them? I don't know, jump pack troops are way down the priority right now, despite now nice the models are.

I've tried smaller magnets, but they never held well enough for me, so I use bigger ones. I just need to be careful - and work on a practice model to remind myself of the positioning I'm going for when drilling into the arms (aim high, if it messes up the top of the arm that's fine, it gets covered by shoulder pads anyway - but if the bottom gets messed up it really hurts the bit).

 

 

What a freaking breathtaking squad. Amazing work, dude.

 

http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/200H/f/2013/239/d/c/senpai_noticed_me_by_jip_jip-d6jxpjc.jpg

er, I mean,

http://static.fjcdn.com/gifs/Tsundere+Wolverine_d056bb_4691348.gif

 

 

Mal... long fan of your work, love the chosen was thinking of rearranging thier gear myself but im intimidated on cutting those beautiful models!

 

I don't blame you - I was intimidated myself. Messing with these models is not for the feint of heart, or those without a fair bit of modeling experience. I needed saws, files, a few new knife blades so I always had something sharp to work with, pin vice & pinning wire, larger drill bits & magnets...

A dremel in particular was needed for several of these. If you want to replace some of the heads to cut down on the chorus line factor, there's basically no other way to remove the existing head and hollow out a divet for the new head to fit in. The dremel was also needed to hollow out the inside of the shoulder pads I sawed off. Some of the parts could be sectioned off pre-assembly, but because of the weird, intricate fit of the models, some had to be at least partially assembled before I could section off arms/shoulder pads/heads.

I'd definitely say its worth doing if you think you're up to it, and the chosen aren't to pricey to pick up off of ebay (though the price goes up considerably once you factor in the raptor kits), but yeah, definitely not a first time conversion project.

 

 

I see previously that you got some havocs done, using some delicious autocannons. Were those from forge world? and if so where can i find em? ive been looking for some time and the only thing i can find is the vulture auto cannons, but they appear different than yours. Anyways, keep up the great work, lookin forward to more great conversions!

 

The autocannons are indeed forgeworld models: horus heresy -> space marine legion -> legion heavy support -> heavy support squadron -> legion autocannon set.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Legiones_Astartes/Space_Marine_Legion_Army_List/LEGION_HEAVY_SUPPORT/Legion_Heavy_Support_Squad/LEGION_AUTOCANNON_SET.html

Not too pricey at all. If you're looking for extra special weapons, you also might want to check out the legion tactical support squad options.

Anyway, the autocannons 'more or less' fit chaos marine models. Use the bolter arms, but specifically the ones that are a bit more extended and stick out away from the body more, not the ones that are bent more to hold the bolter close to the chest. You'll need to trim away a bit from the bottom of the right forearm trim, and you'll need to shave the bottom of the handle part held by the left arm to make it less square and more 'U' shaped to fit in the chaos marine model's left arm. The biggest hassle is the ammo pack - they're made to fit onto the back of the horus heresy packs, which are differently shaped and much thinner than CSM packs. Youll need to cut away a lot of the detail & little vents around the bottom of the CSM pack, and then gouge out a much deeper slot on the ammo pack. Just keep cuting away until they fit flush, then use greenstuff to fill the gap. Do all this before you glue the pack to the model, but after you glue the autocannon and arms on. Then use near-boiling water to soften the ammo belt, glue the pack on the back and the belt to the autocannon while it's still bendy to get the fit right.

It sounds like a lot, but this is actually a much less hasslesome conversion project, definitely something a newer modeler can cut their teeth on. The kit comes with five autocannons, but you only get 4 per havoc squad, so you can even afford to mess one up in the learning process.

 

 

are those recasts or GW chosen shoulder pads?

 

I did do some straight shoulder pad swapping on the models, sawing off square shoulder areas and then dremmeling the shoulder out to use the pad on raptor arms.

However, It was clear that I was going to run out of chosen shoulder pads, especially as I wanted to be able to swap melee weapon arms around for different unit configurations. So I took some of the shoulder pads I had liberated and hollowed out and made molds of them with instant mold:

https://www.coolminiornot.com/shop/instant-mold.html

To make my molds I used small piece of softened mold on the outside of the pad, waited for that to dry, then put another softened piece of mold on the inside. This way I didn't have to risk damaging the model by cutting the mold apart - the two pieces just came apart after being picked at a bit.

The initial greenstuff duplicates didn't come out right - green stuff dries a bit too soft for this, but GF9's grey stuff worked great. There was some clean up work, and the pads only really come out usable about 2/3 of the time - you have to be careful not to use too much or too little, and to avoid bubbles and whatnot - but all in all they worked great. All of the pads which are a noticeably lighter grey in the above pictures are duplicate pads, there's about five or so in the group pic, and in the previous post the power axe arm and both arms in the model that was holding the icon in that pic have greystuff duplicate pads.

I do highly recommend instant mold (I think there's another product called magic mold which is basically the same thing?). Really easy to work with, much less hassle than more traditional mold making. Does great press molds for shoulder pads, basing bits, etc.

[the jeske]

auch , the last time I was doing something like that GW send me a C&D.

Cool models tconversions. The new warrior box has some cool looking organic swords to use , for the obligatory [for me] mantis stance marine.

[Sception]

I seriously doubt GW cares what I do as a random hobbyist with the models I bought from them.

[FENRISÚLFUR]

Great looking models Mal, after looking through all 6 pages your work has given me some inspiration for my own Black Legion that I have been working on. I especially like the chosen conversions, which I was previously struggling to find inspiration for! keep up the good work!

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

That squad has a great cohesive look to it!! Bravo!!

 

End of Line

[Imperialis_Dominatus]

I gave up on the ammo feeds for the Forgeworld Autocannons. The next set I make I'll have to read your post on it. Pain in the mechatendrils. Threw some autocannon drums from the IG on there, and bayonets, because Chaos.

 

I like that you, too, found a use for all the lovely weapons in the Chaos Knights box. That butcher blade is brutal.

[Ammonius]

Good looking stuff, especially that Chosen unit.

 

Thank you for the detailed description of your instant-mold experience, being able to copy shoulder pads will open a lot of new avenues for using all these parts that I got from splitting DV boxes with loyalists.

[Sception]

Progress has been slow due to holidays and frankly trying to cut down hobby time in general, but I have glued the remaining bits onto the chosen (missing hands on the gunners, mostly), though I still need to magnetize some meltaguns, and make sure they can hold the plasmaguns I've already done. And several of them need some gap filling putty work here and there. And theoretically I'll eventually want to do up some swappable bits (different melee weapons, special weapons, plain old bolters, etc). But as an initial set they're getting pretty close.

I've also based the unit, with a mix of slate, resin bits, cork, and brass bits. I'm not going to do a new group shot yet (maybe one more pre-painting), but I did replace the banner bit, as the old banner just wasn't working for me, and I figured I'd show the new one off to see if you guys agree with me that this is better:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z142/Malisteen/Black%20Legion/chosencmd02_zps01a74f0b.jpg

If you don't agree, then tough cookies, I like this better, anyway.

Part of the putty work yet to be done is to a round disk in the middle of the banner's chaos star to paint as one of those eyes I do.

[Knight of the Raven]

I agree this banner's better. The old one looked like a scarecrow.

 

I love your chosen.

[Dar'kir]

The army is looking awesome, I especially like your Heldarkes and Chosen. Keep posting more of the amazing work.

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

Banner bearer is MUCH better Malisteen!! Could we see a shot of the back of him?? I'd like to see what arm you used for the banner!!

Looking forward to more!!
 

End of Line

[Sception]

No more pics until I get the sculpting work done, but since you asked, I just used the regular CSM banner arm.

 

Also, all the regular guys being magnetized and the champ not finally got to me, so I broke his arms off and very carefully ripped out & re-did his magnets, so now he's got swappable arms like everyone else.

 

This unit's kind of become 'a thing' for me.  They have to be perfect.  Don't know why I care so much, especially when I'm finding it harder and harder to care about 40k on the whole or even my chaos marines in general, but these Chosen, they're basically my babies at this point, and everything has to be just so with them.  It doesn't exactly bode well for me getting them painted in under a year once I finally have all the modeling work done.

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

Ahh, good to know about the arm!!

 

I can feel you as well, about 40K and all. I play very little these days and when I do, it really turns me off. The local scene here is become over run with flavor of the month armies, players toting the newest OP codex to attach to the OP codex they where already playing, and not putting an ounce of effort into painting, modeling, and story. It makes me mad. But that's why having 7 unassembled troop kits, 2 fast attack kits, and 3 heavy conversions on my plate along with a new addition to THIS codex with a Night Lords project... *GASP* that is why all of that keeps me busy and investing time and love; dark, evil, nasty love, into my army.

 

End of Line

[ElDuderino]

Seems like your obsession is paying of, that's one awesome squad! I need to get some instant mold:)