The Conclave

The Ordos Majoris - Hobby, Painting and Modelling => Painting and Modelling => Topic started by: mcjomar on February 25, 2016, 01:52:22 PM

Title: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on February 25, 2016, 01:52:22 PM
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301748872138?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I'm looking at it, and part of me really wants to snag one (or two).
In part I can see it being good for either an explorator, paranoid Inquisitor, a bounty hunter, maybe a few other things too.
In part I just really like the sculpt.
No idea what character I'd actually end up making.

There's also this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291221053318?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Would probably need a headswap (Jaxon?) and gunswap (maybe gran a 54mm lasgun or shotgun).

And this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301360423597?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Again, headswap, plus weapon swap (stubber).
Not sure what female head I could get away with using.
If you haven't noticed by now though, I really like using the daemon huntress head, so that would work, if I could get one (or more) of them.

Worth it?
Or just focus on the projects in front of me (some of which will only be started during the IGT, which I'm probably going to go to).
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on February 25, 2016, 03:54:59 PM
In my opinion:

Phantom: Easily. This would suit an Imperial body glove, even a lightly armoured one, fairly well.

Shepard: Maybe. However, that particular conversion won't work. GW parts are generally incompatible with many third party models, as their characteristic "heroic" style makes them rather chunky. (Compare here (http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Inquisitor%20Models/WIP%20Models/CIMG1280.jpg) where Slick's head is much larger than the converted Airfix paratrooper, or here (http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Reference/CIMG0017Vitruvian_600.jpg), where I compare a guardsman to the Vitruvian man). If you want to swap the head (although sculpting new hair/headwear wouldn't be too hard), you'll probably want to check a site like Historex for 54mm head packs. Weapon wise... Barbaretta's shotgun might look alright, but forget any of the squarer/bulkier 54mm weapons. (Although that said, I have had success with using certain of GW's 28mm weapons, which are bulky enough to fit on realistically proportioned 54mm models. Lasguns work well if you find a way to extend their buttstocks a little).

Beyond that, if I'm honest, the armour is potentially a problem. It's one of the more distinctive elements in Mass effect, and I don't think the style is entirely "Four-Tee-Kay" enough. The WH40K visual look tends to take variously after the Renaissance era or 80s sci-fi, but much of the Mass Effect series plays more to the current "iPhone" look we currently treat as futuristic.

Liara: Probably better than Shepard. While the same warning about incompatible parts applies, and her clothing is again fairly distinctive, it can better play the "body-glove" angle. A bit of conversion and a well thought out paintjob would probably work. (I'd go with trying to make the jacket look more distinct from the underlying layers, and for the love of the Emperor, don't paint either in white with blue trim)
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on February 25, 2016, 07:13:06 PM
For Liara I'd say to make her more imperial, a blood red with black trim might work out quite nicely.
Swap the pistol for a stubber or laspistol (or something pistolish from the 40k range I guess).
Still don't know about the head though.

For the cerberus one, I really want two - one to replace the gun with a pistol, the other to leave as is - not sure why, I just think the model doesn't really need a lot to change it for some reason. Bit hard to put my finger on as to why.

I've snagged a reaper Beladonna to take on the 54mm scale version of the 28mm necromunda bounty hunter model I use in that warband - I couldn't resist.
Again, the model is so good I really want to avoid doing anything to it, if I can avoid it.

For the acolyte, I'm still thinking of using my daemonhuntress model, but maybe just say it's powered carapace, and give her a laspistol instead (I've dug one up from somewhere). I've ordered space marine poweraxes and thunderhammers as they look to be exactly the right scale to use at inquisitor as normal hammers and axes (or maybe they have shock generators attached?).
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Alyster Wick on February 26, 2016, 04:08:54 AM
Everything looks/sounds suitable. As Marco showed with his first link, enough GS can make a plastic army man look like a 40K Imperial Guard. I'd also agree w/ the comparison between the 2 female minis and the 40K body-glove.

For the Shepard model I actually think he'd be fine. 40K is generally more bulky and gothic as opposed to modern and flashy, but a quick weapons swap, a bulky shoulder pad, and some random iconography should do the trick. There are plenty of iconic 40K items that could be used. I don't even know if a head swap is necessary. I'll also point out that I've gotten a miniature from North Star before and they scale beautifully: http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0450_zpsde1e5abd.jpg It's not the same "range" per say, but take from it what you will.

As for the rest of the ideas, I look forward to seeing some pics!
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on February 26, 2016, 02:32:14 PM
Quote from: Alyster Wick on February 26, 2016, 04:08:54 AMAs Marco showed with his first link, enough GS can make a plastic army man look like a 40K Imperial Guard.
True, but still, the models I started with (1:32 Airfix WWII British Paratroops) already bore a fairly strong resemblance to Cadians. They've got the long jackets, providing the "skirt" around the waist - although I went further, a lot of the original model could have been preserved.

Start with the right box and just a couple of shoulder pads would give you a very passable version of the old Cadians. (Actually, I have another box for specifically this purpose, so I can pull out two visually distinct Guard units if needed. I may do some of them as specific homages to things like the Codex:Cityfight cover).

There are things that could be done with Shepard, but to my tastes it would involve sculpting over or replacing quite a lot of the model.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on February 26, 2016, 07:17:18 PM
Vaguely related, what about Andrea Miniatures Dark Nova line in 54mm? Are those compatible?
There's two in particular I'm looking at, Kusanagi, and the Chaingun guy...
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on February 26, 2016, 08:04:34 PM
Quote from: mcjomar on February 26, 2016, 07:17:18 PMChaingun
I'm going to go into "firearms mode" and be pedantic that "chaingun" is not a synonym for rotary or Gatling-type guns (even if many video games mix up the names). Chainguns are single-barrelled, using a chain to directly drive the bolt - while a rotary gun often does have a chain drive, it drives the barrel assembly, from which the bolts are then cam-driven.

Mind you: Regardless of the exact name for his weapon, Gabriel Blackburn should work well.

I don't know so much about Kusanagi. I'd consider her listed 65mm hight as pretty tall for a 1:32 scale miniature, and she would need more conversion work in my opinion.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 05, 2016, 05:32:48 PM
Okay I think I've found my headswap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Legend-1-35-0045-U-S-Navy-Women-Pilots-Set-/351647534106?hash=item51dfd38c1a:g:AhkAAMXQlgtTA1aw
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Legend-1-35-0043-U-S-Navy-Woman-Pilot-1/182024903381?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D477afee0355a475683e5cc3a66e56610%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D351647534106

And added bonus, these 1/35 ladies are actually clothed!
I mean, seriously, the amount of normally clothed female models in 1/35  or 1/32 or 54mm scales (roughly) is irritatingly low - I don't know whether to be offended that there's so many naked woman models, or worse that almost all of them are truly horrifically sculpted (so terrible). I mean truly howlingly bad here.

So yeah, people of the Conclave - would these heads fit Liara's body for a good Imperial-type character?
(I'm in favour of the lady with short hair, as that'll make for an easier headswap, and she also looks pretty good anyway).
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Cortez on March 05, 2016, 06:12:27 PM
The good thing about naked (or mostly naked bodies) is that they're much easier to convert to 40k by completely sculpting clothes/armour on them. Every cloud has a silver lining  ;D Can't do much about the badly proportioned, couldn't they even afford a playboy mag for reference sculpts though  ::)
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 05, 2016, 06:19:22 PM
It's not just badly proportioned though - many of them have truly terribly sculpted faces to boot - I'd be ashamed to even attempt to rescue those models.
They're that bad.

There are some reasonable 54mm scale (read I only found one on ebay worth anyone's time in my opinion) physical scale ones - kind of like the davinci man, but a female one.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on March 05, 2016, 06:21:03 PM
Maybe. I have seen 1:35 figures used in Inquisitor, but it has to be for a small person; the difference in the scales is equivalent to about six inches of height. (And you tend to then need a little artistic licence to get over them not necessarily being built with small person proportions).

Whether it'll be possible to carry out a parts swap between that and a 1:32 figure... without actually seeing the two models alongside, I couldn't really say.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 05, 2016, 07:11:42 PM
Welp, I pushed the button so I guess we'll see.
I'm hoping it'll scale better than if I tried the "54mm" Kusanagi model (who is ridiculously tall if she's in scale!)
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 11, 2016, 07:36:30 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/ZvJRU48.jpg)

Firstly - wow the img tags are working this time.
Secondly, as you can see, the Female Shepard model has arrived (so did the other mass effect one - all that's left is Liara to arrive).

Now, I'm thinking swap the left hand for either an IG cadian laspistol hand, or try to kitbash the laspistol in the picture onto the hand holding the assault rifle on the left.
Heads wise I have two, plus a helmet head - the helmet is classic mass effect style though.
Also - the armour. Possible issue. Space marine shoulderpads just look wierd, but I'm thinking some puches/holsters and purity seals from 40k scale models might work to cover some of it, what with this model scaling better with 40k scale parts than with =][= scale parts, heroic being what it is.
Would that be enough, with a paint scheme, or will I need to do more?

I'm thinking she could be an (another of my) imperial guard veteran model?
Or something else.
Not sure.
Part of me still wants to use the helmet, as it imparts a bit of mystery to her identity by hiding her face.
Even though the helmet is pretty recognizable.
Thoughts?
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Lord Borak on March 11, 2016, 10:48:23 PM
Looks really nice actually. Is there a chance you can take a picture next to a GW Inquisitor model just so I can see the scale? I was thinking of getting that model myself.

Maybe, if it scales ok, the lucretta helmet? That might 40k it up a bit. Definitely swap the gun out for a more 40k one. A =][= lasgun cut down or major Jacksons laspistol might work. Actually, now I'm thinking about it, the Revolver off slick is quite dainty looking so might scale well with that model.

As for the shoulder pads. I'd steer clear of marine shoulder pads unless you seriously convert them. The problem with MArine shoulder pads is that they're so iconic.... everyone just seems them and thinks "Oh, you've slapped some marine shoulder pads on". Maybe give her shoulder pads more like a sister of battle?


How 'big' is the Kusanagi model compared to the =][= models?
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on March 12, 2016, 01:35:08 AM
Unless you're going to do something with it, my call would be to avoid the Mass Effect helmet.

Depending on your conversion confidence though, there might however be mileage in turning the model into a Sororita. Sculpting some cloth would disguise some areas and you'd have an excuse to add iconography and religious trinkets in others.
It's not quite up for being full Sororitas armour, but could perhaps be a lighter non-powered variant intended for use on missions where regular maintenance may not be available. (Which would also be good for game balance).

QuoteSpace marine shoulderpads just look weird
Yeah. I'd normally give them a miss on anything other than an Astartes; They're a rather iconic element of the Space Marine armour design.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 12, 2016, 08:19:20 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/ZfQW0X7.jpg)

Okay, so here's my 54mm version of my Inquisitor Gideon Lorr model (yes he'll be renamed as a unique character, no worries).
They're of a similar height, maybe a couple mm taller.
So we could suggest they're about 6 foot tall maybe a little more, very leggy, but a little thinner than usual (hence why I need to grab some IG cadian spares to use to give them weapons and gubbins).

I'm guessing femshep on the left will be carapace armour or similar to barbaretta (in my head anyway).
I'm thinking femshep will be holding a laspistol in her hand and have a lasgun strapped across her back (lascarbine at this scale? or barbaretta shottie might work better - I'll need to grab one off ebay)

I'm thinking of covering her in pouches, maybe a purity seal or two.
Hilariously, a classic 2nd ed bolter is in scale for the femshep model as well, even at 54mm scale.
Not that I'm going to use it - I'm not that nuts.
Although in fairness I haven't got a warband for either of these ladies just yet - I'm still mulling that one over.

Lucretia's head is too large for them though I'm afraid.
In fact most of the Inquisitor range will be too large, except for Jena's pistol/head, and possibly Barbarettas shotgun.
They're of comparable size with severina, and even she's slightly too big by a mm or two.

Neither of these are Kusanagi - she's on my "to investigate" list.


I'll admit I'm loathe to modify femshep too much, as the sculpt is just so nice and clean. And I don't trust my ability to sculpt a fleur-de-lis.

As for the cerberus on the right, she's mostly good as is. some belt pouches, a holster, and some obviously imperial weapons should be enough for her to work as is, I think.
Laspistol and a catachan sword, plus space marine commander pistol holster (for an in-scale stubber) and some belt pouches should be enough - I might even dare to sculpt a belt. Err, maybe, I mean magnets work in the future, right?  ::)
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Lord Borak on March 12, 2016, 10:26:53 AM
Thanks for the scale shot. I think I'm going to grab the one on the right. A shame it doesn't come with a bare head - I'll have to sculpt my own :S

Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 12, 2016, 01:24:14 PM
I'm sort of liking the helmet look currently.  It gives her an 'operative under cover' look
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 18, 2016, 10:31:33 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/kOWwEmm.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Y4gFw66.jpg)

From left to right:
The Operative, the Agent, and the Soldier

The Operative carries a sword, laspistol (1 reload) and stubber (two reloads).
The Agent carries a laspistol with some reloads and????
The Soldier carries a lasgun, laspistol, stubber, reloads aplenty, short sword, two smoke grenades, and stuff.


I'm debating the wisdom of attaching a sword (catachan sheathed long knife) to the Agent, but that seems a little... excessive. Looks pretty cool, but... errr.
On the other hand, it's cool.

On the Soldier I'm making a stab at giving her lasgun (cadian guardsman, probably more of a lascarbine really) straps.
I've got plenty of purity seals if I still need to detail obscuring.

I'm loathe to attach anything else to the Operative though, I really want to keep the core look of the bodyglove.

For the Agent, I'm largely open to suggestions.
The head is borrowed from the femshep model, but even though it's the same scale, I'm only, about 80% convinced by it, but I think it's because the laspistol looks massive.

The previously linked female pilots have arrived and look to be in comparable scale to the degree that I'm comfortable throwing the femshep helmet head onto the body of the navy pilots, so I now have a spare navy pilot head (the wavy windy hair one) to throw onto another body - I'm thinking a second Cerberus Operative body, because damn it all that would just look cool, and give me an excuse for more work with that sculpt. I've even got a sword and holstered stubber (borrowed from space marine kits) set aside for the task - the sword is borrowed from the cybernative powersword arm from the cadian command sprue, so while it'll probably be a normal sword, it's up in the air whether or not I'll decide she has an augmetic hand.
We'll see how that all turns out.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: blacknight on March 19, 2016, 05:29:51 AM
I must saying loving these models.  And I get what you say about not overly 40king them up so you don't loose the original detail.  I had the same issue a few years ago when I got one of the Eloith miniatures and was going to convert it to a guardswoman, didn't have the heart to cut it up so it end up as is for a statue.....

The look of the body glove is interesting and I think I might have just found the basis for my celexus.  (can never have too many imperial assassins).

Scale wise i think the laspistol on the operative and the agent both look a little too big and chunky.  For a slightly finer las pistol see if you can get the one from the baneblade sprue, it is a more refined laspistol than that which comes with the normal cadians.

looking forward to seeing some paint on these, what colours are you planning?

Regards

Marc/blacknight

Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 19, 2016, 08:36:36 AM
I'm thinking greys and deep reds for the Agent, maybe either similar colours, or a deep blue for the operative.
For the soldier, I'm less sure.


RE: the laspistols, I'm not sure how much smaller I could go.
Imperial weapons tend to be chunky as it is, and with resin I'm less sure than I would be with the usual GW White Metal minis.
I'll take a look though.

E: yeah, even when I set it to worldwide, there's nothing but standard IG parts of varying sources.
Cadian, catachan, or the new ones.

In fairness I quite prefer cadian laspistols anyway.
But for the agent, the resin model comes with both hands clasped together around the grip, which makes things a little fiddly.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Lord Borak on March 19, 2016, 09:10:58 AM
What ever you do, don't go for a grey-black scheme for the Operative... because that's how I plan to paint mine ;) You convinced me to grab one and it's nice to see that the guard hands fit perfectly on her. It helps me out with weapon options no end!

The conversions are looking nice by the way. I especially like the 'Soldier'. How does the Inquisitor scale Lasgun scale against her?
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 19, 2016, 09:24:10 AM
Welp on femshep, the guard issue lasgun looks approximately close to scale.
But when when you compare her to other Inquisitor models, it's a noticeable difference.
I'd say stat it up as a lascarbine, range E, 2d6, shots 40, weight 20, etc.
Barbaretta's shotgun really is the better choice though, as Marco said - I just couldn't get one easily. I might remodel later, if I can snag one though.

RE: the operative, I was thinking black and grey maybe. However, I like my deep blues, so I might go Regal Blue and a dark grey.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: MarcoSkoll on March 21, 2016, 01:31:51 AM
Quote from: mcjomar on March 18, 2016, 10:31:33 PMThe head is borrowed from the femshep model, but even though it's the same scale, I'm only, about 80% convinced by it, but I think it's because the laspistol looks massive.
The issue may be the neck - it's a bit long.

I'm also not completely convinced by the purity seal on the Operative, as it seems like an odd combo with the stealthy look (although I'm not really able to articulate why at this time of night).

Other than that, everything looks fairly good.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 21, 2016, 06:23:54 AM
Yeah I've been thinking that as well.
I might pop it off, and clean up the residue.
And yeah, the neck is a little long - when I tried to set the head to fit, the neck was a little short so I lengthened it a little. It might be out by a millimetre, or a fraction thereof.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 22, 2016, 09:47:27 PM
(http://i.imgur.com/IkkBWox.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UZnpHGA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Qsmix2y.jpg)

I've shortened the neck a little.
I've also slightly converted the three navy pilots I got from china.
I'm going for minimal alterations, as again I quite like the sculpts.
I've also cleaned off the purity seal from the Operative.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: Lord Borak on March 23, 2016, 04:29:59 AM
The man has a thing for the ladies! Nice conversions. The models look very dainty next to the arbite and I never realised how big covenants head was!

The Navy pilots look fine but all the poses are very similar. Consider converting them up a bit to make them look a bit more unique. It looks like the pistol arms comes separate so even just having that in a different position.
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on March 23, 2016, 08:15:50 AM
Yeah, they're largely similar - the one in the middle is only slightly different to the other two.

The arms are separate, but the way they glue onto the model is largely the same.
I might be able to break one off - I'm thinking the helmeted one, as the one in the middle is my favourite as is.
The one with long hair has a cadian belt instead, rather than a knife in hand as she's supposed to have both hands on her belt instead.
Not sure if I should mess with the long haired lady.


(http://i.imgur.com/DUbcLmu.jpg)
Title: Re: Could I use this?
Post by: mcjomar on April 03, 2016, 03:38:52 PM
If anyone wanted a FemShep model, I've tracked down a source:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/54mm-FemShep-Commander-Shepard-Female-Mass-Effect-resin-figure-RARE-/291704285537?hash=item43eaee2961:g:ob4AAOSwx~JWE409