The Conclave

The Ordos Majoris - Hobby, Painting and Modelling => Painting and Modelling => Topic started by: Rayner on November 13, 2011, 03:10:09 PM

Title: Rayner's Return
Post by: Rayner on November 13, 2011, 03:10:09 PM
After a lot of changes over the last few months (the major one being not having access to a computer), I can now finally post some of the pieces I have been working on.

First up, a continuation from the old "Word of Chaos" thread, here is my take on an Iron Warrior Chaos Marine.
Perhaps not as "Chaos" looking as I may have wanted, but I'm quite happy with the pose and overall look.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_001-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_001-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_002-1.jpg)

Also, here's a link to the painted and completed Word Bearer (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_112.jpg)

I have also started work on a Magos Biologis warband. Still need to make the techpriest leader of the group, but here are the pictures of the painted and WIP models for the "test subjects".

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_003-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_003-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_004-1.jpg)

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_005-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_005-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_006-1.jpg)

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_007-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_007-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_008-1.jpg)

Next up is a new warband, military based and lead by Inquisitor Istovan Crane

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_009-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_009-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_010-1.jpg)

First warband member is Serena Varreis. Not overall sure about the look of this model, once again faces are not my strong point.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_013-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_013-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_014-1.jpg)

Second member is Guard Trooper John Brennic. Finally got round to painting this one! Not completely sold on the camo pattern I have attempted.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_011-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_011-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_012.jpg)

Final member for now and still WIP, is Adeptus Arbites Enforcer William Croach. The sword handle looks a bit crooked in these pictures. I will try to adjust before painting. Also, I need opinions on the left shoulderpad - does it look too big?

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_015-1.jpg) (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_015-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_016.jpg)

As usual, comments and criticism are very welcome.

Enginseer Edit: click for bigger; we likes seeing great figures :)
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: MarcoSkoll on November 13, 2011, 05:17:54 PM
Quote from: Rayner on November 13, 2011, 03:10:09 PMonce again faces are not my strong point.
In this case, the problem is that you've made the head a little oversize. It's not a terminal problem considering GW's heroic proportions, but you should scale the size back slightly for future.

You might also find this post here (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1268.msg16919#msg16919) useful - I explain the basics of facial proportion and structure, which should help get more realistic results. (Oddly enough, for something we look at every day, most people don't actually really know how faces look.)

I'd add that your rear view link here and for the model above are actually linking to the front view.

QuoteAlso, I need opinions on the left shoulderpad - does it look too big?
This is 40k. Shoulderpads can NEVER be too big, boots must also be huge and everything else should have all kinds of extra accoutrements in the form of impractical detail and useless gubbins.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Adlan on November 14, 2011, 04:40:16 PM
The WIP enforcer is a lovely conversion, really nice to see the work you've put into it.

Serena Varreis looks fine, the face is a little off, but a lovely job all the same, and no more off than some GW heads.

Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Rayner on November 14, 2011, 08:59:50 PM
QuoteIn this case, the problem is that you've made the head a little oversize. It's not a terminal problem considering GW's heroic proportions, but you should scale the size back slightly for future.
I think that has something to do with the way in which I sculpt the heads. I start with a solid ball of GS and add to it. Looking back, I can see that the original ball is the size I want the head to end up and by adding layers of detail it ends up being over-scaled for the rest of the model. This is obvious when looking at the enforcer, where I have used a smaller solid GS ball to start sculpting the helmet onto.

Quote(Oddly enough, for something we look at every day, most people don't actually really know how faces look.)

Strangely enough, I'm able to draw faces far better than I can sculpt them! Guess that's got something to with the extra dimension carving/sculpting something brings into the mix. I've only been sculpting in this fashion a couple of years, so I'm not surprised there's still a lot to learn  :)

QuoteThe WIP enforcer is a lovely conversion, really nice to see the work you've put into it.

The enforcer is actually one of the quickest conversions I've done so far, only taking an afternoon to get to this stage.
Its the old story of rooting through the bits box, finding parts that look good together. Before you know it, an image forms in your head and you're compelled see it to completion.

Quotethe face is a little off, but a lovely job all the same, and no more off than some GW heads.

I gave up on buying head kits from ebay after some bad experiences. The lots I bought were either ridiculously oversized, even though the were marked as 54mm scale, or the detailing was REALLY bad. If anyone has any reccomendations, heads are always scarce in my bits box  :-\
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Kaled on November 14, 2011, 10:13:28 PM
I've bought and used Historex heads and Andrea ones, and I think I have some MIG ones which are pretty nice too. Some appear oversized or undersized on some models, but I think that has more to do with the varying proportions of 54mm models in general than it does with a particular problem with 54mm heads.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: MarcoSkoll on November 15, 2011, 12:17:21 AM
Quote from: Rayner on November 14, 2011, 08:59:50 PMI think that has something to do with the way in which I sculpt the heads. I start with a solid ball of GS and add to it.
Yeah, you do need to start smaller. I personally start with an egg shape about 1mm less in radius to give room to build up.

QuoteStrangely enough, I'm able to draw faces far better than I can sculpt them! Guess that's got something to with the extra dimension carving/sculpting something brings into the mix.
I'm often much the same, and while I do think that 3D is part of it, a bigger issue may be that these heads are centimetre scale!

I know I couldn't do a very good job of drawing an 8mm tall head on paper.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Ynek on November 15, 2011, 02:39:15 PM
Quote from: MarcoSkoll on November 15, 2011, 12:17:21 AM
I know I couldn't do a very good job of drawing an 8mm tall head on paper.

With the assistance of a magnifying lamp, virtually anything is possible.

Although on the subject of sculpting heads, I gave a brief tutorial on my own head-sculpting method in my last Dark Magenta submission. (The Hive Maiden.) It's a technique that's always worked for me, but I guess the hardest part about learning to sculpting heads is finding a technique and set of rules that work for you. I also found that after switching to 30mm scale sculpting for a while, and then coming back to 54mm sculpting, my skills had improved drastically...

The models above certainly demonstrate a lot of green stuff skills, with the arbite enforcer and chaos marines being definite highlights with oodles of character. I don't even see anything particularly wrong with your own scratch-sculpted-head attempt, although it did come out looking rather "native American" across the eyes and brow.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Heroka Vendile on November 16, 2011, 08:06:57 PM
some very nice stuff there. I wouldn't worry about the Iron Warrior not looking Chaos enough, they are sometimes depicted as being much more utilitarian than the barbed and baroque armour of their fellow traitors.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Rayner on November 17, 2011, 12:09:05 AM
QuoteI've bought and used Historex heads and Andrea ones, and I think I have some MIG ones which are pretty nice too. Some appear oversized or undersized on some models, but I think that has more to do with the varying proportions of 54mm models in general than it does with a particular problem with 54mm heads.

Some of the heads from the set I purchased on ebay were very badly cast or oversized for use. I was disappointed at the time, as they were not that well shown in the original selling picture. The majority were okay, but its put me off buying such detailed parts in such a manner in the future.

I can see there are a links on the resource page for both of these, I'll look into them and see what I can find. :)

QuoteWith the assistance of a magnifying lamp, virtually anything is possible.

I've tried using one for sculpting small detail in the past, but I found that it got in the way and affected my hand-eye co-ordination  :-\

Quotebut I guess the hardest part about learning to sculpting heads is finding a technique and set of rules that work for you

Still trying to figure mine out I guess. To anyone who has just started sculpting or wishing to learn something new, I highly recommend the guides and videos in the modeling resources topic.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: kierkegaard on November 22, 2011, 07:38:25 PM
Wow, those are some impressive models (Istovan Crane, and the Rat Ogre servitors in particular.)

As for Serena Varreis, I don't think that there is anything wrong with your face sculpting (it is miles better than anything I could have done.) It is just a bit too big. Maybe she is a slightly big headed mutant though, and within the 'acceptable' spectrum of Imperial society.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: RobSkib on November 27, 2011, 05:16:39 PM
I'm a sucker for a great 54mm stormtrooper conversion, and yours is ace :) I am, of course, in no way biased towards it because it sports an almost identical pattern and colour scheme to my own 28mm stormtroopers!

I also really like the military guy called 'VincZid' in the url, that combination of parts works really well, and I may have to borrow that idea for the gas mask...

Overall, an excellent selection of models, wonderfully converted and brilliantly painted. The only thing that lets them down is the slight fuzziness of the photos, which is a real shame!

Keep it up!
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Rayner on March 04, 2012, 11:42:58 PM
Its been a while since I have had the chance to get any painting done, but here are some of the models I have completed since the last update.

First up, leader of the "test subjects": a Magos Biologis.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_027.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_028-1.jpg)

Next is an observer drone that accompanies the Magos and records the success of the experiments.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_033-1.jpg)
[urlhttp://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_034-1.jpg]Back[/url]

Here is the third test subject painted.

(http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_029-1.jpg)
Back (http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/VincZid/Img_030-1.jpg)

Once again, my apologies for the quality of the photographs, due to my current living conditions, these are probably as good as they are going to get :(

I'm working my way through the unpainted models on my desk, which I will post pictures of when done.
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Dolnikan on March 05, 2012, 07:47:21 AM
The magos is great, I love the green on his clothing. A very nice model. But what happened to the last test subject's arm?
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: Heroka Vendile on March 13, 2012, 01:32:33 PM
I don't think you need to worry about photo quality when your conversion and painting more than make up for it  :)
Title: Re: Rayner's Return
Post by: ismeno on March 13, 2012, 04:08:25 PM
Such excellent painting and conversion, really inspiring!