Crafting an NPC Character

[greenstuff_gav]

so, i've got a Squad Of Guard NPCs made for a demo at Helix (before they shut ) and was rummaging around in a Box Of Crap© when i found this guy:



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, starting with his boots and neck to try and bring him into scale a bit more...

while fitting the Guard, i'm sure he was a little on the large side so dug out my favourite Inquisitor miniature to check...


he's still on the large side (you can't have NPCs loom over PCs!) so this time i cut above his knees... this made him scale a bit more appropriately!


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!

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!

[greenstuff_gav]

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"...

[Van Helser]

Nice work shortening him - the proportions still look fine.  Bionics seem like a no-brainer!

Ruaridh

[greenstuff_gav]

thanks
well, here we go:



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)...

[greenstuff_gav]

so, i've missed a few steps .. again!



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!"

[Radu Lykan]

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

[Keravin]

The arm work is excellent and very interesting to see the wip as well.

[greenstuff_gav]

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:



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!)



and the start of the medic; loads of medical equipment, adding some + on his details



may add some form of goggles for medical work (like a microscope / light gear) and some hanging tools but these guys are NPCs :lol:

[Heroka Vendile]

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.

[greenstuff_gav]

i missed the reply.. sorry! will grab a.couplea.pics later :-)

in the meantime:

medic has tools.etc :-)


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!

[Van Helser]

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

[SpruferMLB]

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 

[Heroka Vendile]

that comms officer looks like he's stepped straight out of GW artwork, having been attending to a General in the midst of battle.

[greenstuff_gav]

so, couplea closeups:



and the auto-quill:



it's a syringe arm from the Dark Eldar Talos, with an extension made from Barberetta's bolas and the 28mm titan Adept Servoarm...

[Radu Lykan]

That is some nice butchery equipment 
The comms bloke is great, really funky