so, i've got a Squad Of Guard NPCs (http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/guard.jpg) made for a demo at Helix (before they shut :( ) and was rummaging around in a Box Of Crap© when i found this guy:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/00.jpg)
one of my first miniature purchases ever, from a Military Model Shop called Bonapartes* in Bath.
As you can see, he's rather on the large size which is why he's spent possibly a decade in a box.
As i'm looking to expand my guard squad, i thought he'd make a fine Officer to lead the NPCs!
so, i Cut Him Down (http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/01.jpg), starting with his boots and neck to try and bring him into scale a bit more...
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/02.jpg)
while fitting the Guard, i'm sure he was a little on the large side so dug out my favourite Inquisitor miniature to check...
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/03.jpg)
he's still on the large side (you can't have NPCs loom over PCs!) so this time i cut above his knees (http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/05.jpg)... this made him scale a bit more appropriately!
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/04.jpg)
from here i've glued the legs back together and slapped some greenstuff over the joins. It looks a little off, but i plan on adding folds to neaten up the join!
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/06.jpg)
You can see the start of his replacement belt buckle as well; i've had to bulk it up so i can get the Aquila on there!
As i'm missing his right arm, i may build him a Bionic Arm, mainly as an excuse as i've always wanted to make a finer non-combatant-style rather than the big clunky battlefield weapons...
*holy crap! they still exist (http://www.bonapartesmilitarymodels.co.uk/index.asp)!
so, been tidying up the GS work, dug out some swords to hang off his belt.. gots a few options; i like hte middle one, but the right hand is more "40k"...
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/07.jpg)
Nice work shortening him - the proportions still look fine. Bionics seem like a no-brainer!
Ruaridh
thanks :)
well, here we go:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/08.jpg)
I'm thinking his hand is palm=upwards and either a pipe held by the bowl, or holdign a data-slate upto read, or holding a bionic-monicle on a stick (like opera-going glass)...
so, i've missed a few steps .. again!
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/09.jpg)
can't quite see the pipe's pipe but it's there :)
it's got an Aquila on the front; The Emperor's Finest!
rebuilt the sleeve and rolled it up, added a button to keep it rolled up as well.
Next up he needs a command squad; i've got 5 of hte Napoleonics guys left over, so may do non-combat command squads, so they've got data-slates and communications equipment style of thing rather'n a 40k-esk "4 special weapons!"
makes sense, what roles do you envisage? scanner, comms, medic off the top of my head
seeing this makes me want to get out the box i have of these in the cupboard that you inspired me to buy when you started on the squad a while back, probably wont happen though :)
The arm work is excellent and very interesting to see the wip as well.
Radu- Medic, Drummer, Scanner (loads of telescopics, auspexes and the like), Quartermaster and maybe a weaponsmith; i know Mechanicus does most of it, but it makes sense to have someone semi-trained to ensure maintenance / repeair work is done :)
andwho, here's the NCO painted:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/10.jpg)
the Drummer is a stock mini from the set, just with the Shako Badge turned more into an aquila.
On the Command Backpacks i'm going for a Skull while the troops have a winged skull (as illustrated!) :)
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/drummer.jpg)
and the start of the medic; loads of medical equipment, adding some + on his details :)
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/medic.jpg)
may add some form of goggles for medical work (like a microscope / light gear) and some hanging tools but these guys are NPCs :lol:
any chance of a pic of the NCO from the side to show off his arm a bit better now it's painted? Looked great at the sculpting stage.
i missed the reply.. sorry! will grab a.couplea.pics later :-)
in the meantime:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/medic.jpg)
medic has tools.etc :-)
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/comms.jpg)
the communications / auspex guy.
all manner of scanni g equipment, auto-logging equipment and fax machine :-)
dunno if i should do a standard bearer and quartermaster or just a pair of special weapons troopers!
Sweet. I'd love a view from the left of the comms guy to check out his autoquill.
Bonesaw on the medic looks great as well.
Ruaridh
Absolutely loving these guys so far, especially the Comms Guy. I'd be in favor of a quartermaster (the idea of a Sharpe-esque shotgun toting fellow appeals) but anyways keep up the good work! I look forward to seeing more of whatever you do next :)
that comms officer looks like he's stepped straight out of GW artwork, having been attending to a General in the midst of battle.
so, couplea closeups:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/bionic.jpg)
and the auto-quill:
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/nco/comms.jpg)
it's a syringe arm from the Dark Eldar Talos, with an extension made from Barberetta's bolas and the 28mm titan Adept Servoarm...
That is some nice butchery equipment :)
The comms bloke is great, really funky
so, i've started a little side project that's been sat in my bits box for far too long; a recon outrider.
i picked up one of These (http://www.toybotstudios.com/2007/04/ff-mechanical-arts-gallery-and-review.html) in a trade a long while back (to the point where i can't remember who from!).
First thing was to cutting away the majority of the OTT anime stuff; stripping it back down into something slightly more 40k.
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/biker_01.jpg)
I;ve started with the rider early so i can get his pose right; he won't be attached permanently to allow the bike to sit as an objective ... i've got a spare guardsman so that i can model him off the bike :)
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/biker_02.jpg)
i'm planning on adding eagles to the side panels and then bulking up the handle-bar section to fit the Marine one
the front blobs are going to be headlights (like the centre of the Marine Bike handlebars) and i think i'm going to have the rider holding binox, and then side panniers to the back wheels for him to carry his recon stuff!
Gonna make an optional sidecar?
na; with the lean it wouldn't sit properly!
so, i've done some work;
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/biker_03.jpg)
i've gone for a Ghost Rider style helmet to aid in the mystique associated with an outrider / scout!
hopefully enhanced by the mass of stuff carried and what will be a sniper rifle strapped to the fork!
the rider isn't glued so he can be removed and used on foot; the bike has a kick stand so it'll stand on its own!
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/biker_04.jpg)
his helmet's hanging from his pack so that he can better use his sniper rifle!
i need another Artemis Boltgun sight to stick onto the rifle (you may note he's holding it on the bike; he's detached it for reccy work!)
the onfoot version is a bit more mobile than i'd like (i want a sniper!) but it's the last guy left from my box so it'll do!
...
"wait Gavin!" you may cry "you said* there was 16 guys in the box! a 10-man squad, 3 man command squad and 2 bikers! there's one set missing!"
turns out there isn't i bodged together a Quartermaster, takign inspiration from the Krieg Quartermaster.
(http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/gallery/inq/guard/quartermaster.jpg)
going for a Handlebar Moustache and a pimpin' hat, i wanted him drawing an ornate pistol (thankfully still holstered so can be anything).
I extended his cloak like the Krieger but on the whole i'm not to impressed by this one; he's just uninspiring!
so, huge update; thanks for looking!
*i can't remember if i did say how many was in the box!
Quotethe communications / auspex guy.
all manner of scanni g equipment, auto-logging equipment and fax machine :-)
What, no kitchen sink? No ironing board? *Sigh*
Gonna do a proper dogsbody? :)