Slightly misleading title on a number of fronts. Long story short, I have slowly been getting back into 40K after about 10 years away and finally started building models. However, this time I decided to do it right. No more hastily thrown together kits just to surprise friends with a spiffy new Ravager they didn't know I owned just to get a tactical advantage (held together by rubber bands no less).
In that spirit I'm putting together cultists to start out a chaos army but I'm really looking at have them pull double duty as the beginning of my Inquisitor 28mm contingent. I've amassed enough bitz over the years that I wanted to start assembling some 28mm fellows with personality that'll get use beyond the 40K table. So I figure I'll start with some thugs and go from there.
Now, after all that I'm somewhat ashamed to tell you that all I've got to show right now are bases, but this is a big step for me! I've vowed to go one stage at a time with all this and step one is getting the bases prepped for 30 cultists before I even start looking at bitz. I've got one test base done and a bunch that are at varying stages of being built up. I've got to give a shoutout to KrautScientist whose techniques I stole (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1952.120).
Phase 1 (this is really my phase 3 or 4 but before this the pics are pretty boring):
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0355.jpg)
Phase 2 (added some rubble):
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0349.jpg)
And the "completed" test. I'm not overjoyed with it right now but it did help me work a few things out. First: my paint has gotten to thick, I should water it down. Second, I spent some much damn time between steps to make sure glue was dry, the plasticard was set, etc only to screw things up by rushing the wash job after stipling. Big mistake. Anyway, I may dress the bases up with a bit more color variation but for 30 cultists this was surprisingly quick and easy with a result that will make me very happy once I've refined a few things.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0353.jpg)
Best thing about this is that the techniques used on this base should translate over well into 54mm (not just the painting, but the actual construction). This may not look like much to many of the veterans out there, but it's a big step for me to plan ahead enough that I do something other than glue unpainted sand to my bases, so this is a big step forward.
What, people don't find bases comment worthy? I'm shocked... ;)
Moving on to more "real" things I've done mock-ups of two potential models. First is an agining pit fighter appropriated by a to-be-built Inquisitor.
Here's the mockup w/ Chain Axe and laspistol:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0362.jpg)
Other views (as I'm forgetting how to make it look nice and fancy):
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0365.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0363.jpg
Here's the mockup w/ Chain Axe and Implant Chainsword:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0369.jpg)
And non-fancy links to other views:
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0368.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0367.jpg
http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0366.jpg
So it's a very rough mockup. I'll be filling in the nurgly gaps with GS and adding studs across his flesh to show how he's riddled with sub-dermal enhancements. The intersection of head and neck will be fixed and the chaotic iconography removed. If I can do it tastefully I'll add some bionic-looking bits to his legs. Some manner of drug implants will also be obligatory.
Second guy is a Skitarri who is part of a unit which hunts down heresy within the Mechanicus, specifically preparing to take out malign intelligences and heavy corrupted tech.
With Plasma Pistol:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0371.jpg)
With weedy guard arm:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0373.jpg)
With slightly ridiculous SM arms:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0374.jpg)
There's a decent chance I'll just say screw it and try my hand at using plastirod, guitar wire and scraps to come up with something more mechanicusy for his arms.
While I'm up in the air about exactly how to model him the character will definitely have haywire grenade(s), a custom shotgun with specialty rounds (made of plasticard and persistence), a plasma pistol and some TBD close combat weapon. The plasma pistol is more of a last-resort weapon and also a sacred artifact (he'll have to pray over it before using it). While he's a more typical hard-as-nails warrior type he's incredibly specialized and saves his good wargear for their intended purposes (the dispatching of grotesque tech-monstrosities). To use them on a more common foe would be an act of blasphemy in itself.
Anyway, I know they're rough mockups but it's been a busy couple weeks. And the bases are coming along nicely, but I'll spare you all until there are more things ready to stand on them :)
Very intriguing conversions! I will enjoy seeing these take shape. Great idea for the head on the nurgle lord, too!
I like the look of these. The WHFB plastics and the new cultists have been in my hands in store many times recently.
I look forward to seeing how you de-nurgle the pitfighter.
Bases look lovely. Might have to try my hand at a couple myself.
Nice work, excited to see where you go with the painting on the aged pit-fighter. He comes across a bit nurgle-ish around the gut in my mind, but the paint may totally change that. On a side note, no wonder Inquisitors are so uptight... every time you see a plump looking gentleman you have to stop and wonder 'is he with Nurgle... or did he just have a few too many beers over the last holiday?'
Okay, so here are more pictures of bases...but there's paint on them!
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0390.jpg)
Okay, so maybe not so exciting, but still, progress is being made. I'd say the big problem at this point is that I can't tell if they look good or if they just look like a mess. Then again, they're supposed to be half-rusted out ruins, so maybe they look like a mess but that's good. I don't know.
Anyway, here is the batch that's furthest along what I think will be my traditional route from now on (well, I hope to god it's my traditional route since 9 of 30 bases are there). At this point they were based with a "Rust Red" primer from some random company. I then stipled on Skrag brown followed by a heavier stipling of Boltgun Metal. I then gave them a quick (and somewhat heavy) drybrush of Boltgun Metal to get the edges.
From there I watered down some Skrag Brown and threw in a dash of dishwasher detergent help it stick in the crevices. Overall I'm really happy with how this solution behaves. I dropped it into the space between the "metal plates/scrathes/bullet holes," around the border of the rivets and dashed it all over the grating. Overall it worked great (at least I think).
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0393.jpg)
Now below is the one that's closest to completion. The difference between it and the 9 above is that I was lazy and washed it in Gryphonne Sepia rather than waiting until I got to the store and picked up some Skrag Brown to water down.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0392.jpg)
So my query to this esteemed body is whether or not you all think a layer of Gryphonne Sepia would be helpful with the 9 midstage bases to help pull everything together. My thought is that it'll help unify the rust and metal. After that I can do a light and targeted stipling of Boltgun Metal to add some texture. I'd them pick out the Boltgun Metal with an incredibly light drybrush of Runefang Steel. For some good measure I'd add some Nuln Oil in random patches to simulate oil and possible some bloody smears.
Also, I know I already gave a shout-out but I'd just like to reiterate my thanks to Krautscientist. I stole or marginally modified a ton of the techniques you used to create the terrain pieces in your 28mm thread.
Okay, I trust this update will be more interesting. Despite moving at a snail's pace, I've finally finished the bases! I'm quite happy (I may clean up the sides with some Chaos Black for consistency's sake but all the difficult work is done).
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0401_zps63f3e220.jpg)
Now for minis! These are all just tests/mockups but still, they let you know the direction I'm heading.
First up, I've been talking with Dapper Anarchist about a TDKR Bane-esque mutant. His story is that he came from a Mechanicus planet where mutants are used as near-slave labor. The sturdiest ones are taken, lobotomized and injected with a growth hormone/steroid cocktail. This particular mutant (in addition to a nasty face deformity) has significant but slow regenerative abilities. After being lobotomized his brain slowly, slowly recovers and he bides his time until he breaks free. Things happen that are better left for the Rules/Character Development section and he ends up in the service of an Istvanian Inquisitor. His brain never fully recovered so he has to take a test whenever meeting a new character or he'll Mistrust them (bonus for mutants, penalty for mechanicus).
Anyway, I have two potential bases for this guy, options below (regardless of which mini I use the head from choice 1 will be his head).
Choice 1:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0402_zpsdd8ab287.jpg)
Choice 2:
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0403_zps9be33ff7.jpg)
Next up is a medley of test minis for my cultists. I want them to have some personality (enough that a number of them can be contacts/grunts/or fully fledged characters for INQ 28):
Want to give this guy different armaments but I just love what he's got right now. Very conflicted.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0407_zpse10f34dd.jpg)
For INQ this fellow's body will be cohabitated by a daemonic beast. If he fails a WP test he must spend moves removing the gag, after which he will let lose a daemonic scream that's rather unpleasant for those close by.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0411_zpsce2e4a47.jpg)
This is an experiment in using hellion heads to make blood-pacty looking guys. I'll have to do some GS work around the ears but I think it works (they don't appear to be too slight to match up with the cultist bodies).
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0415_zps3b566edc.jpg)
Lastly I'm just overjoyed that these pieces are working well together. I wanted to make some slimmer cultists based around some of the art from the new CSM codex. I'm trying to channel my inner Clive Barker and I'm very happy so far.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0418_zpsd54e91d6.jpg)
Quick update:
Got my first cultist test-mini (mostly to show that I'm actually making progress), also got some work going on the gladiator.
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/photo-2_zps81a05064.jpg)
(http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/photo-1_zps1b8675f1.jpg)
And here is one I like to call 'The Unfortunate Meeting': http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/photo_zpse410fe4e.jpg
Yes, the gladiator outweighs the cultist by a rather large amount...
Missed the leader cultist (http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/IMG_0407_zpse10f34dd.jpg) last time around. For a conversion so simple, I love the result. All in all (not referring to this case either specifically or singularly) I'm increasingly impressed by the potential the Dark Eldar range is demonstrating in Inquisitor.
Quote from: Alyster Wick on January 04, 2013, 06:51:17 AMYes, the gladiator outweighs the cultist by a rather large amount...
The Nurgle Lord must outweigh my feudal worlder (all seven feet of muscle that he is), so the cultist was never going to stand a chance.
I say choice 1 for the Bane-mutant - it's just more 40K, the other one is a bit too comic book.
Quote from: DapperAnarchist on January 04, 2013, 01:25:21 PM
I say choice 1 for the Bane-mutant - it's just more 40K, the other one is a bit too comic book.
Completely agree. How does he stack up in terms of stature next to your other more standard 28mm cultists?