Another 'Agent' working for Operative Carthax, this character is for the same warband as the techno-barbarian (whom i have now named Agent Adonais). As a bit of background for how naming works in the Operation, anyone under the employ of an Operative in a sector automatically gains the title Agent. However, if one already has a title (such as confessor, sister, preacher etc...) (s)he can choose to keep it instead of the title Agent (a bit like how a teacher at my college who is a preist and has a PhD calls himself Father rather than Dr). Anyway, the warband I'm putting together is going to become rather large. The idea is to fit with the shadowy nature of The Operation (whom you can have an insight into here (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=352.msg10290#msg10290)) you never see Operative Carthax - he never goes on the missions himself, but instead employs a network of Agents to take care of whatever Affairs he is assaigned with (I may eventually make an Operative Carthax model but then again I may not - i quite like the intrigue of him being a 'warband leader' whom is never seen or on the tabletop).
Anyway, with that ramble behind me, I present you with Preacher Murphy;
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey2.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey3.jpg)
My only problem with him are that the weapons are a bit big, but i see that as unavoidable; the weapons are standard Inquisitor size, and the model is a bit small - a problem I'm just going to have to live with. As for his impressive holding of the flamer I've decided i'm going to give him a bionic or augmented arm, as I like his pose - loosely based on this image (http://alswebpage.netfirms.com/jaksbit/Dark%20Heresy/kaede.jpg) and this model (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_D5AabrxQmSw/S0USrPX2wqI/AAAAAAAACyE/WT0OB5MUAak/s400/Blog+Update+Jan+006.jpg))
(i actually just realised, i still need to fill in the arm joins with greenstuff, so i'll do that before painting)
Comment/criticisms welcomed.
I like him! Though like you say the weapons are a bit big really, given the size the flamer looks odd held in that position, perhaps if you cut and bent the left arm so he's holding it on his shoulder? Other than that I think it would look really cool if you added like external servos to support his arms using small tubes and wires?
However you work him I'm looking forward to seeing him painted! Also I really must get hold of some of the insignia packs they look fantastic on both him and Agent Adonais. Good job :)
Rob
Hmm, yeah, I might try bending the arm. I couldn't originally because the head was in a funny position and the hair was long (why he has the greenstuff around the hair and neck, i reposed the head and gave him a hair cut), but now they're out of the way I might try it. I also like the idea of making the arm more obviously bionic, so i'll give it some guitar wire.
Thanks for the input.
I'm not totally convinced by the huge weapons - for most characters this would be fine, but this guy is really quite slight of frame and the huge chunky ork chainsword doesn't really sit well. Have you tried using 28mm weapons? I think they'd fit a lot better - a SM chainsword (doubled up, check Kierkegaard's guardsmen for an idea) and an elongate SM flamer would look much more the part, and look less like he's doing a juggling act!
I really like the model, I just think if the weapons were shrunk a little it would be perfect :)
You gave him a haircut! I was wondering why the model suddenly had a serious look about him. I like the added iconography - makes him very visibly a preacher. I do quite like the flamer but at the moment it really doesn't look as if he could be holding it like that. As far as the chainsword, I think part of the issue is that the hilt doesn't match the bulk of the blade - a bit of greenstuff might help.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey4.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey5.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/father%20murphey/murphey6.jpg)
Update! Greenstuff isn't my friend, but I gave this my best shot. It lacks detail at the moment, so once dried, i'll file it down and give it a better finish. Opinions on the new pose and scaled down weapon would be appreciated.
Thanks for comments so far.
Really good work! The new chain sword looks fantastic and the repositioning of the left arm has a very natural look about it. If I nitpick I might say that the fuel cell for the flamer looks a little off but I think that will we be offset once painted.
Great job!
Rob
Much improved, looks great! The flamer wasn't necessarily too big for him, it was just a little excessive being held out to the side.
That's looking much, much better :)
The flamer rested on the shoulder is really cool, it gives him a kind of "come and try me if you think you're hard enough" look, and the new chainsword is much more suited to the model.
I can't wait to see him painted!
I've renamed this thread as I have a few ongoing projects and I don't want to clog up the forum with lots of different threads for different characters; I have Agent Adonais, Preacher Murphey, Heretek Armadeus, Sister Doraldine and Sister Mercy (all of whom have names which are musical references ;)) all on the go and so although it's too late for Adonais, I'll post all of the rest in here.
I present Heretek Armadeus. He's actually a character driven model rather than the rest who are all model driven characters. My idea was to have a techpriest who found a piece of archeotech which had either over time been exposed to chaos or was made using Chaos based technology (whichever is more plausible). Basically the big fist - 'The Fist Of The Omnissiah - is a projection weapon; i've constructed a table and whenever you use it, you roll on the table to see what the fist does. Unlike regular archeotech, you don't make an SG test to see if it breaks, you make a WP test to see if you are possessed. Armadeus has found the fist and now beleives that the Omnissiah is not the emperor at all, but in fact a Chaos God. Thus he doesn't beleive himself to be a heretek at all, he beleives himself to be very, very loyal to the omnissiah, which is why he was 'gifted' with his arm. Obviously, he is for Zophar's band, not The Operative's.
Anyway, that's a brief intro to my general idea. Full rules and backstory will be upped into the Rules Discussion once exams are a thing of the past;
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus2.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus3.jpg)
The mechadendrites aren't offensive weapons, they are interfaces for machinery - i'm working on rules for him to be able to 'upload' data daemons onto computer networks - it's an idea too cool to pass up!
The only weapon he has is his fist - it counts as a powerfist in combat and its ranged capabilities are as outlined above. Since it never breaks, he has no reason to carry other weapons around (it was a fluff decision - he has placed his faith in the omnissiah's will - the fist will 'guide him').
Comments/criticisms welcomed and appreciated
Very very very nice. Can I ask what the base model is? Also the fluff behind him sounds very interesting and could lead to many different plot threads if tapped into. I really should get some guitar wire as it works extremely well on him.
I look forward to seeing the other WIP's too!
Rob
That's a better pose for Murphy, alot more natural, and the chainsword vibes better. Looking good.
The heretec certainly has a unique look, which is always a good thing. I never see tech priests as necessarily carrying weaponry anyway, so I like him just having his powerfist / device. I think 'chaos based' tech is mostly corrupted imperial tech, but there's plenty of fluff precedent for that producing unique effects not achievable by 'mundane' means (and at the bargain price of one soul).
The model I used for Armadeus was Sacred Blade's 'Rogue Cyborg' model - the conversion was fairly minimalist; I just added guitar wire and a few little bitz on the end of the mechadendrites. While it was a CDM with the concept of Chaos archeotech, I had no idea what to make the archeotech look like (originally planning to make it some sort of gun), but when I saw that model I thought 'Hey, it can just be a giant, scary looking fist'.
Thanks for the comments.
Apologies for a double post. No progress on the painting front, due to my holiday and my having spent my modelling time today on working on a new miniature. A Sister Of Battle armed with a Bolt Pistol and Anointed Sword, I present Sister Doraldine - the greenstuff needs a bit of smoothing out (especially on the shoulderpad and connection between the backpack and her back, i shall do that next, along with any changes if people think changes are needed;
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20Doraldine/doraldine2.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20Doraldine/doraldine4.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20Doraldine/doraldine5.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20Doraldine/doraldine6.jpg)
All comments and criticism appreciated.
I like the concept but I think because she has quite a steep lean on her back and the backpack is pretty large, it makes it look like she is really struggling to hold herself up. Maybe ben her forward a bit or reduce the backpack size? Though considering the nice flame work you've done that would be a shame.
Rob
I think I'd probably have to reduce size of backpack. To correct her lean I would have to completely remodel her foot and leg on the side where it is lifted and her abdomen/mid torso area and the reason I used this as my base model is because i liked all the little details on it - details which i'd have little chance of recreating!. I'll just cut off the burner on top and attach it to a standard 40k sized space marine backpack - sisters of battle seem to have smaller backpacks than space marines anyway. Hopefully, as long as the burner isn't too large, the backpack could look a bit like this (http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod350007a).
Thanks for the comment.
Another way to solve the leaning problem might be to put something under her foot, giving the impression she is stepping down. The object wouldn't have to be that tall, just enough to correct the lean without having to bend legs, perhaps rubble made from GS.
That's what I was originally planning to do, but i took Shannow as saying that even in such a situation, she shouldn't be able to support suck a large pack. If you think that such a correction would seem reasonable i may try it, as i quite like the model as is.
Thanks for the comment
Though it looks large I think if repositioned well than it will give her that extra 'beef' look like she is a hard ass sister of battle and no backpack is too large, certainly worth trying rather than pulling apart the lovely backpack!
Rob
I'd be tempted to try a standard marine or chaos marine backpack with the flame on top - it does look a bit too bulky at the moment IMHO.
I do really like the flaming backpack, and it vibes well with the rest of the model. It probably will look better scaled down slightly though. It might also help to repose the head slightly - it's looking up in the air a bit and this contributes to the 'falling backwards' look. Nice head though, and a good model overall - the plastic 40K arms mix well with Finari's shoulder plates.
The following pictures are for my other Battle Sister WIP - Sister Mercy. She's very early in development (no arms!), but I thought i would post what I have so far to see what you think of my other power pack design. It's made from parts of a blood angel's jump pack, with a sisters of battle icon stuck on. It's meant to be a very ornate backpack, reflecting Mercy's high ranking in her particular sect.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20mercy/sistermercy.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20mercy/sistermercy2.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20mercy/sistermercy3.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/Sister%20mercy/sistermercy4.jpg)
As usual, comments and criticism appreciated.
I love her! Perfect pose for those wings, I think it gives here movement despite a fairly static pose, interested to see what you do with the arms. What weapons are you going to give her?
Sterling stuff.
Rob
I plan to give her a repeater crossbow (http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=819.msg10784#msg10784) (design taken from one of Greenstuff_Gav's, the link to his guide is in that thread, two above the post with the pictures) and a brazier of holy fire (from Swords Of The Faithful), the design of which I'm still working on (i have several ideas, i'm just trying to work out which is most practical and will look best).
Thanks for the comment.
Ahhh I wondered when you were going to use that, I think it has exactly the right look to it as well, archaic but deadly (bit like my mates dog). I think anything conical/spherical and spiky would make a good brazier but I look forward to seeing what you produce, I envy your conversion cobbling skills!
Rob
The winged backpack looks excellent (the one with the flames coming out of it sticks out far too much from the model though, IMHO.)
What are those models that you have used?
The flame pack sister (sister doraldine) is Finari, Female Crusader and the wing pack sister (sister mercy) is Monique De Noir, both from Reaper Miniature's range.
Thanks for the comment.
Apologies for the double post, but new content is here. I got around to painting Armadeus, and this is the more or less finished thing, The only thing left really is to touch up the base, as the brass is showing a bit on these pictures. As a bit of explanation, i co-ordinated his cloak and clothes and mechadendrites as blue (and bluey-grey), and purposefully chose a conflicting primary colour (red) for the Arm, as it is meant to look like it sticks out from the model and the clash of the red and blue is meant to sort of display the clash of Armadeus and the Arm. Generally i tend to shy away from conflicting primary colours, but here it was mean to be purposeful, rather than just bad taste!
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus6.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus5.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus7.jpg)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/Brother_Brimstone/armadeus/armadeus4.jpg)
The lighting for these pictures isn't ideal; there was no natural light, and i don't really have any strong focused artificial lights, so the light came from the camera flash, meaning some areas reflected the flash more etc... Anyway, comments/criticism appreciated.
I like him! It's just a shame he has such a backwards lean :(
Yeah, I only really noticed the lean after i was partway into painting. I tried bending his feet, but anothing short of remodelling the fit would have fixed it.
Thanls for the comment.
EDIT: Does anyone think his paintjob is a bit visually 'noisy'? It may be because he has a lot going on, with the metal pipes, bandages and skintone, but parts of it seem a bit 'busy' to me. I can't think of any way to remedy it, so i'm leaving it as it is for now (i'm quite happy with the paintjob as a whole), but if anyone has any suggestions or constructive criticism, that would be great.
Couldn't you correct the lean by putting a bit of paper under his feet? Not a big flaw mind. The mechadendrites work well, and the dark back of the cloak. It does look a little noisy, but I don't understand objections to this. It's all more content, after all. None of it is really excess in any case - maybe a darker tunic would alleviate the effect by blending with the cloak a bit more, but I wouldn't be too concerned.