BB - Conversions/Sculpting: Luna Wolves Test Model 17/11

[Blissful Brushes]

@Deathspectersgt7: Thanks, yup he is Slowly but surely...

In my inability to stick with any project for long, or rather, stop myself from starting new projects as I go, I have unsurprisingly began another project, and it is of course another Power Armour project.

As to what army it’ll be I am as yet undecided, I have, however, narrowed it down to two:

• Ultramarines I Company, post Battle for Macragge. So it’ll be full of Tyranid War veterans and I envisage that lots of the members have served in the Deathwatch.
• Deathwatch Strike force to go with an inquisitor project that I have in the works.

So to aid this project I purchased one of those new tactical squads. I did debate the Vanguard/Sternguard boxes for the extra fanciness because the marines be they Deathwatch or Ultramarine will be veterans, but I came to the conclusion that everything that I do I chop up and GS so there's little point in spending more money for less models when I'm going to do most of my own detailing anyway.

So without further ado, I present the early WIP of the first marine from the box. He's a bit smaller than my Luna Wolves - I've halved the spacers around his torso because I felt that my Luna Wolves were a bit top heavy, this is the result of that thought process. Any opinions either way?

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Deathwatch%20Ultramarines/2014-03-04150309_zps7e5b56e0.jpg

Oh, and there's a normal marine there for scale purposes and Darren the Daemon Prince poking his head through in the background.

Any comments, questions, and most certainly in this case, advice is welcome and much sought after!

[deathspectersgt7]

That will be cool to see , Hey I'am working on 4 others and just added another one so I know your pain.

[Blissful Brushes]

So I ruled out Deathwatch...then while I was browsing the SM 'dex I stumbled upon my old love...Black Templars, which once more brings me to square 1...Templars or Smurfs this time.

 

To keep productive without making a final decision (that Ultramarine symbol can be scraped off easily enough and I can always make another..) I've started on the chest plate and the extra leg armour that those Sternguard sets have. One thing I've never seen is an ornate MkVI plate, so I've decided that the only logical thing to do is to make one. So I'm sculpting in a stylised Aquila, with the head and body of the eagle being the nexus of the cabling on the plate, with the eagle's wings following the curve of the cables.

The reference that I'm following is this image, which I believe is from the Lexicanum, though it's just the result of a Google search of Aquila...

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/8/82/800px-Aquila1.jpg

 

The thigh plate has some tentative battle damage pressed into it so far, and I'm thinking about just leaving it at that, these marines, be they Templars or Ultras, will be a bit cleaner than my usual style. Though I will of course reshape the bottom of the plate to bring them more in line with the box-set ones, and I'll probably sculpt or freehand (if I ever touch a brush again) something pretty to keep it from being too bland.

So here he is, Dave the Marine, oh, and his head fell off and one of his GS eyes fell off and I can't find it, so he's down to a single bionic eye rather than the full suite that I was going to give him.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Deathwatch%20Ultramarines/DSCN1327_zps83e77dc2.jpg

I'm working on the other side of the Aquila as we speak, so I'll probably stick that up tomorrow.

 

Comments, questions and criticism are welcomed as ever!

 

 

[Monstra Sumus]

I say Ultramarines. You obviously have the skills to do them some serious justice. 

[deathspectersgt7]

Smurfs don't need anymore apron wearers.

[Blissful Brushes]

Smurfs it is then.

 

 

So I've made a mock-up of his final pose and base, it's obviously very rough and the arms will fit properly when there's not 2mm of GS messing things up. Since this photo I've started sculpting in the body of the Aquila itself, I've got one side, the rest of the tail and a claw in now. My only conundrum is how to add some parchment to his left shoulder pad to get the Smurf symbol in because it's lacking on his studded pad, any suggestions to this end would be appreciated.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/2014-03-11002512_zps8f01c475.jpg

 

Hopefully the aquila will be finished tomorrow!

 

C&C is welcome as ever!

[Blissful Brushes]

Righty then, my first Marine is finished! (Unless anyone can think of anything else that needs to be added to him anyway) After looking through Veteran Sergeant's awesome log I decided that I'd try adding an extra spacer mid-shin, and while it's certainly a bit more work, I'm happier with the results. The only issue is that because I suck so badly with plastic-card I have to just use it as a tiny spacer then GS around it which is a pain in the proverbial, but such are the problems of life.

Here's the obligatory scale shot, bearing in mind that the Ultra is in more of a squatting position than the standard marine, and the MkIII helms are quite tall. Compared against one of my pathfinders - the upright sculpt - he towers over it nicely.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/fo1k4_zpsae07c532.jpeg

 

Here's a few better images of him, the only thing that I'm not sure about is the positioning of his head, but that can be worked out if it's deemed a bit awkward.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/cliAQ_zps99da37c0.jpeg

 

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/CbbdH_zpsc56eab2c.jpeg

 

I filed down the back of the combat knife and made it look a bit more deadly, saw teeth at the back and an edge at the rear. The paper towel is going to be the battered remains of a squad banner (his old squad) in place of the customary Chapter/Legion symbol on the left pad. How I did it comes from our good old GS guru BCK's Log, Page 47

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Gc7JY_zps97d8bf92.jpeg

 

Thought I'd throw in a close up of the aquila on his chest because I'm very happy with that, took me a bleeding age to finish though! I'm not sure if it can be made out properly, but where the GS is on the bolter I moved the skull down to the magazine housing, stuck the barrel in line with the cocking handle and in that thin layer of GS etched a small kill tally. It should show up with a couple of washes hopefully though!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/0qfgE_zps1c03ee04.jpeg

 

 

I hope people like it, any suggestions would be appreciated, let's hope it's time to force people to like Smurfs again..damn you Ward...

 

C&C is welcome one and all.

[Monstra Sumus]

He's looking good! Certainly a big bloke. I like the position of the head, to me it gives off the impression of him searching for that 'smooth shot' among the sea of enemies to get his Golden Boltshell. 

[Veteran Sergeant]

That's a good looking model.

Glad I could be an inspiration for it. And don't feel too bad. I suck with plastic card too. I just get by on creativity and stubbornness.

[Blissful Brushes]

He's looking good! Certainly a big bloke. I like the position of the head, to me it gives off the impression of him searching for that 'smooth shot' among the sea of enemies to get his Golden Boltshell.

Thanks, and that's a good way of looking at it. Justifies leaving it as it is anyway!

That's a good looking model.

Glad I could be an inspiration for it. And don't feel too bad. I suck with plastic card too. I just get by on creativity and stubbornness.

I think I'm going to have to try and scratch build something to get my skills up with it...and I know how you feel!

Today's update then.

Luna Wolves revival! First of my Seekers. When he's based properly (that base is just my stock base for photo taking at the moment) he'll look a more hunched over hopefully, as if he's being a little bit stealthy. He's part of a recon oriented strike force so it's SF poses all the way from here. Cam cream and potentially cam on the armour, if I can make it look right anyway.

So without further ado:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Luna%20Wolves/18048a8a-d060-4817-a252-246cecdea65c_zps3f5fa645.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Luna%20Wolves/2001a898-f784-4f14-aefb-97ffd88237f4_zps3ee0e3c9.jpg

I've Greyscaled them because some people don't like the shine of the green-stuff and it's easier to tell how well the conversion blends into the model.

In other news I've got a bit further with my Daemon Prince, it's just not notable enough to warrant a photo. I've got his groin and tail sorted now. The current conundrum is how far to take the one side power armoured: do I give him a power armoured thigh and sculpt it as if his forked leg has either broken out of the armour or fused with it?

Also, if there's any gamers among you, any help with some lists I've been proposing for my Smurfs would be appreciated.

Starting out very low - I'm a slow worker for one - at 500 points. The few lists that I've envisaged so far follow thusly:

Hi all,

I've never played a proper game in my life really, just a couple of drunk games with my mate (failed saves and snake eyes = drink) and an introductory game in-store so I haven't much in the way of experience in army building.

Because my collection of painted models (1) far exceeds my resin/plastic pile (a ton) I'd like to start with a small army. I go mainly by models rather than overall effectiveness, but should it be deemed necessary I'd go out and buy some stuff to make it a viable list.

So I came up with 3 lists, any help would be most appreciated!

First:

HQ.

Librarian: 65

Troops:

10 man Tactical Squad: 160

Flamer

Missile launcher

- Rhino: 35

10 man Tactical Squad: 165

Heavy Bolter

Plasma gun

- Razorback: 75

Lascannon + twin-linked plasmagun

I would combat squad the Razorback squad and chuck the librarian in with them and hope he zaps/stabs things effectively. Hopefully the Lascannon + Plasma gun would give decent anti-tank 'cause I doubt there'd be many Russ(s)/Land Raiders at 500 points. Though of course, if there are feel free to correct me!

Second List:

HQ:

librarian: 105

Level 2 Mastery

Bike

Troops:

5 man Scout Squad: 70

Sniper rifles

Camo Cloaks

10 man Tactical Squad: 160

Flamer

Missile launcher

- Rhino - 35

Fast Attack

Storm Talon: 125

Skyhammer missile launcher

Rhino's either cover/transport depending on if I'm playing a static army, scouts speak for themselves. The Libby would be biked up for mobility and extra T (I think he gets that anyway...) I should think that he'd draw a fair amount of fire too which'd leave marines alive to do more work. Storm Talon from all I've heard is meant to be a bit on the nasty side of life and the Skyhammer can go AP2 which'd cover my lack of anti-armour.

Final List, thanks to anyone who's still reading on...

HQ

Librarian: 65

Troops

Scout Squad: 69

4 x Sniper rifles

Scout Cloaks

total - 69

9 man Tactical Squad: 131

Flamer

- Rhino: 35

5 man Tactical Squad: 75

Flamer

Fast Attack

Storm Talon: 125

Skyhammer missile launcher

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to rip this apart, I'm the first to admit that I'm a total amateur at this list building stuff!!

On the modelling front, any comments/criticism/suggestions are more than welcome!!

[GhostMalone]

I must say true scale conversions are my favourite but I have no skill in the area.

 

But you my good sir get a gold mother:cussing star for this!

[deathspectersgt7]

LOOKING GOOD !!

[Blissful Brushes]

I must say true scale conversions are my favourite but I have no skill in the area.

 

But you my good sir get a gold mother:cussing star for this!

*pins gold star on chest* I'm making a tut on these at the moment, try it out when it's done! I think you'll surprise yourself, I know I did, and even if you do suck...

pull off the GS and start again and keep going until you don't, you'll get there! I had a dummy squad for experimenting basically, and now...now they're still in pieces :L

 

LOOKING GOOD !!

Ha thanks!

 

Hopefully more coming late tonight/early tomorrow!!

[Blissful Brushes]

Morning all,

 

Just a small update today, I've put paint to model for the first time in a few months. I've got the basic shade of blue down on the armour, just some highlighting and shading to do but I'm happy with it at the moment. The banner on his arm is finished, and I'm pretty chuffed with it, Blood for the Blood God works wonderfully! Hopefully it looks a bit scorched and worn, that was what I was aiming for anyway.

Obviously there's a hell of a lot left to do on him, but it's an ok start.

 

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/DSCN1383_zps29cc0841.jpg

 

C&C welcome as ever!

[GhostMalone]

Now that's an ultra!

[Monstra Sumus]

Banner is looking top stuff, I'm looking forward to how he turns out. 

[Forté]

Looking good but thin your paint. The white looks a bit lumpy.

[deathspectersgt7]

He is coming along nicely.The Banner on the arm looks Good.

[Blissful Brushes]

Now that's an ultra!

 

That he is! Hoping for some darker and .grittier Ultras rather than the parade ground ones that GW do.

Banner is looking top stuff, I'm looking forward to how he turns out.

 

Thanks! So am I lol...it's always a mystery as to what the final result will be when I paint. Though, no more painting for a while - on hols tomorrow.

 

Looking good but thin your paint. The white looks a bit lumpy.

Yea, the white didn't go down very well at all. I've stripped the helmet and started it again. The shoulder pad looks good enough, IMO anyway.

 

 

Today's update then.

 

I went to my local GW the other day to find out about the art of list building, a topic hitherto unknown to me. While I never really intend on playing the game much I figured that it would be less daunting to have some smaller targets to work towards rather than a full company with accompanying armour and whatnot. So he helped me write a 1k list that would work ok in a game and most importantly, for me anyway, has some good potential for conversions.

There were two options I went for in the end, having no real idea how good things were in a game I went with his suggestions. So here's the two list options, both are pretty similar:

 

Librarian, Mastery Level 2, Shield Eternal: 140

Tactical Squad, Plasma gun, Missile launcher, Sgt. Storm bolter, Rhino: 210

Tactical Squad, Gravitation gun, Heavy bolter, Sgt. Storm bolter, Rhino: 205

Storm Talon, Twin-linked Lascannon: 140

Attack Bike, Multi-melta: 55

Centurion Devastator Squad, 3x Grav-cannon and Grav-amp: 250

Total: 1,000

 

OR

 

Librarian, Mastery Level 2, Shield Eternal: 140

Tactical Squad, Plasma gun, Missile launcher, Sgt. Storm bolter, Rhino: 210

Tactical Squad, Gravitation gun, Heavy bolter, Sgt. Storm bolter, Rhino: 205

Storm Talon, Twin-linked Lascannon: 140

Attack Bike, Multi-melta: 55

Storm Talon: 110

Vindicator: Siege shield, Storm bolter: 140

Total: 1,000

 

What these lists give me more than anything is the chance to get some good conversions in. If it turns out that when (if) I do end up playing that they are crap to play against for whatever reason I'll probably change it up to make it a bit more enjoyable. I'm hoping to make both lists, which is a total of 1,250 points all in. To which end, I bought myself a Stormtalon that day as a treat!

 

As with many, I'm not a fan of the Stormtalons, they're too boxy for my liking, but I do think that they have great potential. Now, I have no experience in vehicle conversion, so this could well be a bit hit and miss, but hey, got to start somewhere right?

 

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Storm%20Talon%20I/DSCN1390_zpsa509d794.jpg

I've lengthened the wings out enough for me to be able to fit the Assault Cannon and the missile launcher/heavy bolter or whatever in as well.

The only issue I've potentially got at the moment is that the missile launcher may end up intersecting the assault cannon's arcs, which'd be a pain.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Storm%20Talon%20I/DSCN1392_zps83bbf807.jpg

 

So of course, with this being a true-scale army I can't cop out and leave the pilot as a standard marine, so I've began biggerizing (that is a word!) him, and will just have to cross the issue of a slightly larger cockpit when I come to it..

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Storm%20Talon%20I/DSCN1393_zps59eaba78.jpg

 

 

Thanks for all the comments so far!! It helps keep the mojo flowing. If anyone has any questions/advice criticism ask away!!

 

---Blissful Brushes---

[deathspectersgt7]

The Stormtalon conversion is cool,will be watching .

[Forté]

One tip. Never ask a GW staff member to help plan a list. A lone attack bike is easy prey for starters.

[Blissful Brushes]

The Stormtalon conversion is cool,will be watching .

Thanks Did a bit more on it today, not much mind but y'know dissertation and all that...

One tip. Never ask a GW staff member to help plan a list. A lone attack bike is easy prey for starters.

Oh, ok :/ Would a landspeeder be ok in its place? Can't think of much else with 55 points.

Thanks for the comments! It really helps

Today's update then!

I did a little bit on the wing of the stormtalon - only took one back up to uni with me lol :/ I've smoothed the plasticcard into the engine where before it was just resting on top of the wing. I've also began the slow process of blending it into the curved front of the wing, and adding my own curved bit where the wing is purely fabricated ('tis a pain in the rear for those who were wondering).

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Storm%20Talon%20I/DSCN1904_zps540bf00a.jpg

For any of you who have read/seen HH: Massacre, you will remember the remembrancers' images of Reavers. I went a bit tangental today and decided that I would try my hand at sculpting one of those torsos (the top right one) from scratch as a bit of a test. This is where I'm at at the moment, and have a half cured ball of Greenstuff on my desk as I write this. I'm pretty chuffed with it for a first attempt to be honest, I'll be adding another layer, neatening things up and whatnot with this ball.

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131114190109/warhammer40k/images/9/95/SoH_Reavery_Unit.jpg

Here's my attempt so far...

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Luna%20Wolves/Custom%20Reaver/DSCN1903_zpsecc752df.jpg

[Forté]

A Landspeeder would be much better. Especially with a multimelta.

[lokkorex]

looking good!

[Blissful Brushes]

A Landspeeder would be much better. Especially with a multimelta.

Landspeeder it is! Should be fun to build too...though I should think it'll be a bit of work to widen it for my marines.

looking good!

Cheers

Morning gents and gentettes (this is a word...ish)!

Now that my dissertation has been bound and submitted I am able to commit a little bit more time to the hobby, though I still have two essays and three exams to do, but none quite so urgent as than my dis.

So I've been chipping away at my Ultramarines mainly. I've got six chests fleshed out, they're just awaiting detailing and abdomens. On the abdomen front, I made the slight mistake of leaving all of the legs at home...so they've got nothing to grip to to make the sculpting easier. Greenstuff being the difficult material that it is to just sculpt into thin air, I'm leaving that until I'm back. So hopefully I'll have all the chestplates completed.

For that piece of Reaver artwork I've commandeered a Smurf's body for it because my own renditions weren't great and the curve just wasn't going in. I'll give Papa Smurf a MkIII in compensation, that should keep him happy.

So this is where I'm at roughly with the chest plates, I've greyscaled the images to see how the greenstuff blends into the plastic, and to be honest, I'm pretty happy. They're all still fairly rough, with only two having any detail on them.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Tactical%20Squad%20I/WIPs/DSCN1906_zps1521d481.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Tactical%20Squad%20I/WIPs/DSCN1912_zps1d66983f.jpg

So I saw Marius Perdo's Minotaurs and was reminded of that awesome shoulder pauldron from the Command squad. Of course, me being me, I don't actually have them so I've began fabricating my own. Here it is so far!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Ultramarines/Tactical%20Squad%20I/WIPs/DSCN1910_zpsf6002b42.jpg

He be the reaver plate so far, pretty chuffed with the wiring on his chest, though I'm at a loss as to how people manage to get such even wires floating about. This took me ages and is still a bit uneven in places! Were anyone to shed some light on that matter I'd be eternally grateful

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/blissfulbrushes/Luna%20Wolves/Custom%20Reaver/DSCN1911_zpsf40d88ea.jpg

Any questions/queries advice, comments or criticism is more than welcome!

Until next time!