Khorne's Eternal Hunt - KrautScientist's chaotic WIP thread: Fine-tuning Eightbound...

[ElDuderino]

Sweet, I really like that shoulder pad!

[Augustus b'Raass]

I love what you did to the face plate and you used the edged brass like a boss. I love that you used ogre belly plates as knee pads - which work nicely as WE symbols. Good job mate! Also - and I'm sure you're going to fix this: the blu-tacked spikes are a little croocked, which make the whole 'composition' of the spikes look a little off balance. I know that it's caused by the blutac but still: I'm pointing it out so you can keep it in mind when doing the final glueing. I also have endless trust that you'll do an aweseom job because one of the things I really dig about your army is that there's never too much and never too little.

 

@TearsoftheRaven: No.

[Montuhotep]

This is all working out very nicely indeed - as ever your choice of bits is perfect - at least now I know why I can never find any Heldrake or Fiend armour plates in the bits stores!

[NoLats_McGee]

Wow man, just wow to everything here. I finally read this from beginning to end after glancing at parts for ages, and I've never been keener to go do some kitbashing. Haha. Great work.

[KrautScientist]

Thanks a lot, guys! I really appreciate the positive feedback!

 

Two things today: First up, fellow Dakkanaut dantay_xv had an amazing idea for Barrow Harrowthorne's background that I want to share with you. To quote dantay himself:

 

Ah well, no worries. The other idea I had, but again might not work would be bloody hand prints on the lower limbs and small totems or skulls at the feet of the knoight like offerings or devotions

As the 4th company go to war they walk by Harrowthornes Knight & touch a blooded hand to its armour in the hope of receiving Khornes blessing for a good hunt etc before going to battle.

Harrow thorne despises the men of the 4th Company for such acts of brutish superstition, but by their simple acts, his pride has been rekindled by regaining a small measure of the power he lost when honouring his debts to Angron and his World Eaters.

Like the ord of War that the Baron is he, strides forth amongst his "charges" and reaps terror and discord on the weak and pitiful worshiipers of the Corpse God.

However the aloof-ness of the Baron, plus  the veneration which some of his men heap upon the Knight is beginning to grate on the Huntsmasters nerves and some speculate that there will come a time when the 4th are called upon to go big game hunting before the Baron's hubris becomes a threat to the Huntsmasters rule.

I think this is an absolutely fantastic idea, and something that would perfectly fit my World Eaters! I may have to do one or two small adjustments in order to make the fluff fit my idea of Harrowthorne (there is no actual hubris to him, for instance, at least not when dealing with the legionaries of the 4th), but I'll definitely adopt this part into the "official" lore of Khorne's Eternal Hunt :)
 

The other thing I want to talk about is the latest update on the model itself: After a particularly grueling day at work (Mondays will do that to you), I treated myself to nothing short of the most fiddly piece of conversion work on my Chaos Knight so far: The actual cockpit.

Thanks to a bitz donation from fellow hobbyist Belphoebe that arrived earlier today, I was finally able to tackle this part of the model. And while it felt like I was getting nowhere for several hours, I am now really happy with the result. Let us take a closer look and peel back the layers of the onion, so to speak:

Here's the Knight's torso right now:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629834-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

@ Augustus B'Raass: As you can see, I also tidied up those skulls, replacing them with less clunky ones, mate ;)

 

Now let's remove the top hatch:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629835-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

Why look, it's Baron Harrowthorne!

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629836-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

As you can see, the Baron is perfectly visible through the open hatch -- just as planned!

Now let's remove that carapace plate:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629837-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

In front: Harrowthorne in his completely scratchbuilt cockpit. And in the back: The Knight's engine block.

Now let me tell you one thing: The hollow interior of the Knight may seem huge at first glance, but if you're endeavouring to add both a pilot and engine, you'll find yourself running out of room very quickly! Figuring out where to put what was probably one of the most difficult things about this conversion!

Another look from the front:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629838-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

As you can see, Harrowthorne fits in rather nicely -- although it is a slightly tight fit

Now let's take at all the warts below the hood:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629839-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

The cockpit itself was mainly constructed from Land Raider parts: The floor is a shaved down Land Raider turret hatch, while the view screens came from one of the inside panels from the same kit. The cockpit's back wall was made from plasticard, and a couple of additional bitz were used to blend in the seams of the conversion.

The engine block is a cut down Land Raider engine. As you can see, the engine compartment is mostly hollow, except for a lonely support strut made from leftover sprue...

This all looks so nice and tidy now (at least for my usual, sloppy standard, but figuring out a configuration that worked almost drove me up the wall!

Here's a look from a different perspective:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629840-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629841-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

I've left the Baron himself removable for now, both in order to have an easier time painting him and to be able to take him out and glance lovingly at the model, every now and then ;) Here's the cockpit without him:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/14/629842-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

A piece of sprue was glued to the floor to help position the Baron. Etched brass grating from the 40k basing set was used to detail the cockpit's floor.

Now this part of the model was really a pain in the behind to get right, but having finished this also fills me with a real sense of achievement. I'll gladly admit that I am standing on the shoulders of giants here, though: I'd never have been able to build this without taking inspiration from projects like Nicorex' Black Templar Knight, Spamus's wonderful Knight cockpit and Jeromgb's cockpit (which I just lifted wholesale for my own version.

So yeah, any and all C&C welcome! Let me know what you think! :)

[Montuhotep]

Well, damn.

[ElDuderino]

Well that's a nice cockpit! I might be crazy but my favorite part is the grated floor. Those little, barely visible things are what makes a project go from awesome to double-plus-awesome

[Augustus b'Raass]

OK that's it! I'm getting a Knight and doing my own. Grmbl grmbl.  Very, very nice work Kraut. Awesome job.

[KrautScientist]

Thanks, guys!

 

@ Paladin7221: I hope that was a positive damn ;)

 

@ ElDuderino: I totally see what you mean! I was already considering the cockpit finished, but then my eye fell on that etched brass in my bitzbox, and I just couldn't resist, even though few people will actually realise it's there.

 

@ Augustus B'Raass: Haha, cheers, mate! Don't rush it, though: The longer it takes for you to build your own knight, the longer I can keep telling myself that mine is awesome ;)

[oldschoolsavant]

/applauds

 

Hopefully it won't be too long before you finish tinkering and slap paint on it.

[Augustus b'Raass]

Kraut, I take that last comment as a compliment -especially from such an accomplished converter and painter as you. For the same reason I think it is truly unjustified. If you say that one more time, I'll come over, slap your face and call you Susan. As punishment I'm stealing your Khorne Berzerker/Maurader mix idea.

 

BTW congrats on the deserved cup. I still want my bike back! 

[Daemon2027]

Wow such detail added to that knight, and the work done on the cockpit is insane.

[Montuhotep]

Thanks, guys!

 

@ Paladin7221: I hope that was a positive damn

Oh, it was. Believe me on this if nothing else ever again; it most certainly was.

[Skrundle87]

Ridiculously impressive stuff

[Midnightmare]

This Knight is going to rock Kraut judging by the rest of your work. Excellent thread dude!

 

Just an idea, what about filling the power cell behind the pilot with bloody skulls, so it is powered by skulls!! Obviously, some sort of nice ventage to see said skulls. Just an idea, don't worry if it sounds lame :)

[JeffTibbetts]

Man, I'm busy for a few days and I miss this? Ugh. 

 

Looks amazing! That's really close to what I'm thinking about doing with the Queen's interior when I finally get around to it. I really like the way it looks. This one also makes a lot of sense, as I've seen a few online that seemed to set the pilot too far back. If you look at the sides, behind the shoulder, you can see vents or heat shrouding starting right where your engine block is now. Perfect. I bet it's supposed to be a really tight fit in that cockpit. I imagine the pilots as barely aware of their own body once they're jacked in, so I don't see a lot of concessions would be made for their comfort. I think you got it pretty much perfect, man. Can't say enough good things about it.

 

Also, it's old news now but whatever you did with the thigh plates did the trick. They look great. I also like the extra armor around the Reaper. It makes me think of gladiators and that's never a bad association when it comes to World Eaters or Khorne in general. 

 

This is shaping up to be my favorite traitor Knight and ALSO my favorite cockpit. You rock. 

[KrautScientist]

I am really happy about the amount of positive feedback, guys! Thanks a lot! I'll readily admit that I was stupidly happy with the Knight's interior before, but it's good to know that it actually seems to have turned out about as well as I think -- so I am not actually deluding myself ;)

 

@ Augustus b'Raass: Haha, you are very welcome to use the Marauder/CSM idea! If anything, I am glad to inspire you and am looking forward to seeing some of my ideas being twisted around to fit the 47th company! Bring it on! :)

 

@ Midnight Runner: Hmm, while a skull powered engine may not exactly fit my - somewhat less tainted and mutated - concept, it's still a really awesome idea! Maybe skrundle's still around and sees this -- I wouldn't put it past him to build yet another mutated Daemon Knight just to build an engine like that. So yeah, paging Dr. Skrundle... ;)

 

@ JeffTibbetts: Cheers, mate! I can only reiterate that it was your thread that showed me that there could be no quick and dirty solutions when converting a kit as amazing (and costly) as this, and I can only thank you for that! Regarding the question of space, while some of the more spacious cockpits look absolutely amazing, I knew that I would have to incorporate some kind of engine: I mean, I am not a stickler for realism, but it stands to reason that some of the bulk of the torso actually has to house the engine that will move the whole thing around, right? The resulting cockpit is slightly smaller than I would have preferred, but given the frantic and very uncertain conversion process, I really couldn't be any happier!

[Flint13]

Thanks, guys!

 

 

@ Augustus B'Raass: Haha, cheers, mate! Don't rush it, though: The longer it takes for you to build your own knight, the longer I can keep telling myself that mine is awesome

 

Haha, I know. Augustus is almost unfairly good at this isn't he? 

 

That knight is looking the absolute business. I have to echo everyone else and say it's your devoted attention to tiny details that makes it such a fulfilling project to watch reach completion. The kneepads, the trophy spikes, the crazy detailed cockpit. And my favorite has to be the tusks on the helm. Hands down, that makes him a step above the competition.

 

I guess I have to really step my game up in the next couple weeks. Keep putting out good stuff buddy!   

[Midnightmare]

@ Midnight Runner: Hmm, while a skull powered engine may not exactly fit my - somewhat less tainted and mutated - concept, it's still a really awesome idea! Maybe skrundle's still around and sees this -- I wouldn't put it past him to build yet another mutated Daemon Knight just to build an engine like that. So yeah, paging Dr. Skrundle...

There is always room for skulls, whether they power it or not! :D

 

Anyways, I look forward to the next update :)

[KrautScientist]

Again, thanks for the positive feedback! This really keeps me going, you know? ;)

 

 

Only a rather small upate today, but I'd very much like your input on a couple of things:

First up, I realised that the standard from the Ogre Mournfang Cavalry would actually make a pretty sweet carapace-mounted banner for the Knight:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/17/630697-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/17/630700-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/17/630701-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

I am not sure I like it well enough to make it a permanent part of the model, but maybe as an optional bit that can be stuck on when I feel like it? That hole in the centre of the carapace certainly looks like it was intended for something like this...

I have also started planning out the right shoulder pad: While the left one already sports a huge icon of Khorne, I want to use a World Eaters decal on the right one:

http://eternalhunt.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/chaos-knight-wip-41.jpg

Of course this means that whatever I add to the pad at this point must not interfere with the position of the decal, which complicates things a bit. For now, I have tacked some spikes in place:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/17/630698-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

Thoughts? Ideas?

[Teetengee]

That all sound good to me.

[Skrundle87]

Yeah looks and sounds sweet, banner on the back works well

[ElDuderino]

Maybe try another brass icon? It might look bit flat compared to the other side with just a decal.

 

The banne looks great:)

[Midnightmare]

Kind of not totally sold on the banner, looks a bit small maybe? I don't know why really *scratches head*

 

The shoulder on the other hand has exactly the right amount of spikyness going on, will look well with the huge WE symbol, especially if you weather it I'm with paint chipping.

[KrautScientist]

As always, thanks for the feedback, guys!

@ ElDuderino: It s quite possible that, after painting the model and adding the decal to the shoulder pad, I might add something on top: a chain of dangling skulls or something similar. However, I cannot do that now, for obvious reasons

 

@ Midnight Runner: I will probably be adding a suitably chaotic banner top to the back banner, in order to give it a bigger visual footprint if seen from the front. That said, the banner will remain an optional bit that I can tack on whenever I feel like it.

Not that much work left to be done on the Knight: I am currently working on the left hand weapon and waiting for a bit or two for that, so here's a couple of pictures of the mostly completed model. You might spot another small addition or two if you look closely Please ignore the alligator clip on the right arm -- it's just being used to hold the arm in position for now:

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631257-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631258-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.jpg

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631260-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631261-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631262-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631263-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631264-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631265-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631266-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

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

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2014/7/19/631259-Chaos%2C%20Chaos%20Knight%2C%20Chaos%20Space%20Marines%2C%20Conversion%2C%20Harrowthorne%2C%20Imperial%20Knight.JPG

Edited July 19, 2014 by KrautScientist