25 replies to this topic

[PowerHungryMonkey]

+++ALL HAIL THE NEW FLESH+++

 

 

+++ERROR+++

+++ERROR+++

+++ERROR+++

+++CORRUPTION+++

 

 

I'm back again and kicking off another project; a BIG one. I've recebtly picked up a large commission project to build a Dark Mechanicus army. I've been given pretty free reign for the main part but am restricted to an army list that the client has going... about 6500pts worth of army list...! Yeah, this is going to be nuts.

 

The basic premis is to use the Nighthaunt range for the bulk of the base models. This is nothing new I know but I'm hoping I can put my own spin on it. There will be plenty of other stuff to that isn't using those models either. The client has sent me a HUGE box of models to get started on and I'll also be dipping heavily into my own bitz boxes (plenty of good gribblies left over from my Iron Hands).

 

Right, basic intro outof the way. On to the first pic:

 

 

First unit on the chopping block is a bunch of Techpriest Corpuscarii. I really like the idea of these guys, have since the vague mentions of them I remember seeing of them when I started up in 2nd Ed. The problem is the models really don't do it for me. Not sure what it is. Anyway, for a Dark Mech version of these boys I wanted to go a bit more ragged and haggard. I felt like they should look emaciated and wasted as their vital energies are spent up, burnt up from the inside, they should also be hunched and knarled, broken backed thanks to that huge capacitor on their backs. I was looking at the Crypt Ghoul kits for this as I'd used them before to make Warcks in my old Haemonculus Coven but then I remembered there are now plastic Ur Ghuls, perfect. So there are around 19 more of those ugly little guys sitting in my bitz box.

 

Still working on what to di with the manacles and wires leading back to the capacitor but I really like the look of this guy. 2 uints of them should look really nuts I think.

 

Anyway, there will be updates soon and there is a whole lot of insantiy brewing in my monkey brain. Stay tuned.

 

PHM

[Jukkiz]

oooh, lovely idea. I would use part of that loincloth to mark them, also are you painting the circuitry under their skin?

[Yosef Hausakluif]

Looking forward to seeing what you will be cooking up!

[Xin Ceithan]

Always interested of seeing how people put their spin on DarkMech. I like it!

[Verux]

Very interesting project. Looks like it is off to a good start.

[Trokair]

Well this is going to be an interesting thread to keep an eye on.

The larger hands from the kit on the skinny body make them look like some sort of gloves. Also the hunched over pose makes it look like he is really struggling with carrying that power pack.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

oooh, lovely idea. I would use part of that loincloth to mark them, also are you painting the circuitry under their skin?

 

Thanks Jukkiz. I don't have the loincloth parts for the Electropriests. The client used the bulk of the kit to make his own Fulgarites, I've just been given the left-overs to make my insane idea look more Corpuscarii. Also the loincloth is part of the robed legs and, while normally for a one-off or small unit that's no issue, cutting off and shaving back 20 of the buggers dose not sound fun. Heh

 

As for painting, thats all on the client. Once he joins up to B&C I'll get him top join in the plog with comments and eventually painted minis.

 

Looking forward to seeing what you will be cooking up!

 

Thanks Yosef. I'm looking forward to it too

 

Always interested of seeing how people put their spin on DarkMech. I like it!

 

Thanks Xin. These guys are probably not strictly "Dark" Mech but they certainly aren't strict adherants to any proscribed Adeptus Mechanicus doctrines. I'm not planning to go too Chaos and insane with them but I want them to obviously not the good guys, but also not mutated, twisted freaks... for the main part.

 

Very interesting project. Looks like it is off to a good start.

 

Thanks Verux. The Corpuscarri was the first unit that really crytalised in my head when the client and I were first discussing the army. He's be very gracious in allowing me to run with ideas (like buying 20 Ur Ghuls!!!) even when its gonna cost him.

 

Well this is going to be an interesting thread to keep an eye on.

The larger hands from the kit on the skinny body make them look like some sort of gloves. Also the hunched over pose makes it look like he is really struggling with carrying that power pack.

Thanks Trokair. The hunch was really my first concern with the model. Those capacitors on their backs are HUGE and I'd wager even a Marine would be a little off-put by them. I had to fix that; so raising them on the back and using the hunched Ur Ghul torso really gives a proper sense of weight to them.

 

The hands are from the actual Corpuscarii kits and they actually are rubber gloves with copper (I'm guessing, for conduction) finger tips. They really remind me of the gloves for Johan Kraus from the Hellboy comics.

 

 

Back to the cutting mat for me now. I'll be putting most of my hobby time into this comission for a good while but I still have a few things to add and finish off to my Space Wolves and I've got parts comming in for a little side project to my side project... but you'll find out about that soon.

 

Cheers

PHM

[Pearson73]

Nice mix of parts, you've really nailed the emaciated, cog in the greater machine aesthetic. I imagine that all but the most revered and ancient servants of the machine god are considered fully expendable and sustained only to the margin of use. Amongst the Dark Mechanicum, such things would only be more extreme, with forbidden technologies and energies being used to sustain workers far more than simple food.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

And then there were three:

 

 

Cheers

PHM

[Pearson73]

The bindings over the eyes are a nice touch, is this a theme that will be carried through the force? Expendable/superfluous organs being removed from the lower classes of warrior?

[KrautScientist]

Now this is interesting! And almost like a dark mirror to your Iron Hands, in a way, which is just delightful

 

Your recipe for those Corpuscarii is a fantastic idea! The bent backs and emaciated look make a world of difference! One thing I thought straight away when seeing the model and reading your explanation: How about replacing their heads with some of the Blight grenades and trophy heads that come with the Plague Marines and Palguebearers? Many of these have their eyes and mouth stitched shut, which would be perfect for the look you seem to be going for.

[Trokair]

 

The hands are from the actual Corpuscarii kits and they actually are rubber gloves with copper (I'm guessing, for conduction) finger tips. They really remind me of the gloves for Johan Kraus from the Hellboy comics.

 

Funny you should say that the image that sprung to mind (I just could not place it earlier) was from the glove used to open the portal in the first film adaptation.

Edited by Trokair, 09 August 2020 - 07:34 PM.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

The bindings over the eyes are a nice touch, is this a theme that will be carried through the force? Expendable/superfluous organs being removed from the lower classes of warrior?

 

The bound and stiched-shut eyes are part of the acual Corpuscarii kit. The lore is that all the energy flowing through their bodies burns or melts out their eyes. But I like the idea of a bit more extra surgery than is strictly 'required' going on with these guys. I have to be careful tho, a lot of the ideas I've got in my head are treading really close to what I did with mu Haemonculus Coven, and while I loved that army, I want to do something new and not just copy old ideas.

 

Now this is interesting! And almost like a dark mirror to your Iron Hands, in a way, which is just delightful

 

Your recipe for those Corpuscarii is a fantastic idea! The bent backs and emaciated look make a world of difference! One thing I thought straight away when seeing the model and reading your explanation: How about replacing their heads with some of the Blight grenades and trophy heads that come with the Plague Marines and Palguebearers? Many of these have their eyes and mouth stitched shut, which would be perfect for the look you seem to be going for.

 

Thanks Kraut. I like the idea of using the blight grenades and maybe even some zombie heads. I'll look in to it but I'd need to source a few as I'm really avoidied the Deathguard range like the plague... see what I did there?

 

 

 

The hands are from the actual Corpuscarii kits and they actually are rubber gloves with copper (I'm guessing, for conduction) finger tips. They really remind me of the gloves for Johan Kraus from the Hellboy comics.

 

Funny you should say that the image that sprung to mind (I just could not place it earlier) was from the glove used to open the portal in the first film adaptation.

 

The Ranga Rok gauntlet. Probably one of my favourite props from any movie, I love it. While the orignal movies are good (and the new one is a ******* abomination) they never really lived up to the comics for me. I can definatly see a place for Herman Von Klempt and Karl Ruprect Kroenen tho somewhere in this army. Maybe even a Kreigapf....

[Majkhel]

Oh sweeeeet! Corpuscarii are already great and I'm really looking forward to where this will take you!
You're using mandrakes' skirts? Might also want to check the ol'good Flagellants kit.

Keep the creativity spark up and buzzing!
 

[PowerHungryMonkey]

Oh sweeeeet! Corpuscarii are already great and I'm really looking forward to where this will take you!
You're using mandrakes' skirts? Might also want to check the ol'good Flagellants kit.

Keep the creativity spark up and buzzing!
 

Cheers Majkhel. Funny you should say that about the Flagellants. When the Dark Eldar range got the full overhaul about 8-9 years ago (?) I made 20 Wracks using Flagellant legs, Ghoul torsos, and arms from all over the place. Soooo much sawing and greenstuffing to blend those torsos. While it looked cool, I DO NOT fancy going through that again. Plus the Mandrake legs have a lot more movement to them and allows for some more dynamic poses.

 

That's not to say I've made this any easier on myself. Each of these guys has an average of 6-7 pins in them, I'm still figuring out how to do the manacles and then I have to fill the gaps at their throats. I also have a huge box of other kits and bitz waiting for me, so its hard to stay focussed. I'll get through a 10-man unit then maybe try out some Sicarians.

[KrautScientist]

 

Now this is interesting! And almost like a dark mirror to your Iron Hands, in a way, which is just delightful

 

Your recipe for those Corpuscarii is a fantastic idea! The bent backs and emaciated look make a world of difference! One thing I thought straight away when seeing the model and reading your explanation: How about replacing their heads with some of the Blight grenades and trophy heads that come with the Plague Marines and Palguebearers? Many of these have their eyes and mouth stitched shut, which would be perfect for the look you seem to be going for.

 

Thanks Kraut. I like the idea of using the blight grenades and maybe even some zombie heads. I'll look in to it but I'd need to source a few as I'm really avoidied the Deathguard range like the plague... see what I did there?

 

Hmm, maybe try the heads that come with the Plaguebearer kit, then, as they are their own separate bits (and several appear on one of the icons in the kit) -- might be easier to source than hunting for obscure Plague Marine parts.
 

[Trokair]

The Ogryn kit comes with a skull with a headband (next to a grenade) as one of the accessories, and there is also the skull with a Commissar hat. I think both could look cool.  

[PowerHungryMonkey]

Hi all. Hot on the heels of a few Space Wolf conversions comes more of the Dark Mech.

 

I got 2 more Corpuscarii finished to bring the unit to 5-man. The client has asked for 20 all up but we're still sourcing bitz for the rest. Here's the unit currently:

 

 

I generally hate using second-hand painted stuff, just coz I like the look of all bare plastic (I'm odd), but for this army I'm using stuff that's been given to me by the client so I work with what I've got. It makes no actual difference to the converting process or finished model, its just a thing I have. Anyway, we've agreed that these guys are looking better without the giant manacles on their wrists so instead I'm going to run some wires from the capacitor to their gloves and some to their halos/collars. Just to give them a bit more if the tech look. I'll be getting back to these guys when more bitz can be found.

 

In the meantime I've turned my attention to the next unit type: Sicarians. I'll be making 10 Infiltrators and 10 Ruststalkers. For now I've started with the Infiltrators and here's the first test-mini:

 

 

Its mostly a Sicarian pinned-to and housed-into the cloak/body of a Dreadscythe Harridan. The head is a servo-skull. Took a long time to figure out how to make this guy work but now that I have I feel confident in getting 10 of these guys made pretty easily.

 

Let me know what you think and I hope to have a few more made up soon.

 

Cheers

PHM

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Sicarian's frayed cloak looks badass! Don't forget to blacken the holes' outlines, so they look like the result of gunfire.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

Thanks as always Bjorn.

 

The conversion bug bit hard tonight and I hacked my way through two more Infiltrators:

 

 

This unit is going to look real creepy when they're all done. Perfect. Its funny, the first one took me two nights to work out but once I get th formula, the rest just afll in to place.

 

More to come.

 

Cheers

PHM

[Master Umbra]

 

This unit is going to look real creepy when they're all done. 

QFT. Looking awesome! Smart kitbashings all around.

[Pearson73]

Infiltrators are looking great.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The models are well-posed.

[Sherrypie]

Those ranges mesh up really well to create that flowing, anarchic image you see everywhere in Mechanicus art. Looking sharp thus far.

[PowerHungryMonkey]

Hiyo!

 

I'm back! Been in a real hobby slump these last 2 months and barely even looked at a mini all that time. Not a good place to be in with a 6k commission army wanting to be built. Luckily for me the client is super chill and isn;t on any kind of time line; plus he's just had a new baby so his leasure time is GONE for a while, heh.

 

In the last week tho the hobby itch has started up again and I've been in more of a mood to convert. I've gotten a few more Sicarians built and still loving the dynamic poses the Myrmourne bodies give me.

 

 

Going to do a few with the dome heads too. While I think they look naff, the client is a fan, and being his army I guess I should bow to his tastes

 

Even tho I'm having fun with the Sicarians, I've had a bag of 12 Mechanicum Myrmidons sitting in the draw just begging to be turned into Kataphron Breachers. I was originally going to try something a little more involved with them but they're already pretty funky base models and there really wasn't much needed doing besides changing out the weapons. I got 6 done in one night:

 

 

Like I said, simple but effective. I should be able to bash out the other 6 pretty fast. The only challange now is making them look right on a 60mm base. The footprint for them is good for a 40mm but looks pretty small when you put them on a 60mm. Not sure what to do about this but I'll think of something.

 

More to come soon. I'm hoping to get onto some Serberys Riders or Flybois soon.

 

PHM