Project: Clear the Desk

[Alyster Wick]

So I had one last splurg of buying and I'm officially done until I clear absolutely everything off (there is a heck of a lot to clear...)

Really excited that I have 4 players to play a campaign with as well. To make it easy on them I'm providing the models so I do have actual deadlines and real goals. More on that in the rules section.

Anyway first up is a Vargheist size comparison. As you can see they are a little weedy but there are plenty of useful bitz (as you will see further down).



Here is a front shot of a mutant I'm putting together using one of the zombieish heads from the Crypt fiends or whatever.



Side shot:



Here's an early shot of another new mutant mostly so you can see some more Vargheist parts in use:



Here is a new Inquisitor for a campaign I'm running:



Also, here is a mock up of a campaign device I'm looking to introduce. Lots and lots of GSing needed but here is a sense of what you can do with a Vargheist (I'm also in the process of making something between a Wrack and a Grotesque with Talos bits and Vargheist bits).

[Dolnikan]

The models look good so far. Somehow the second mutant gives me a canibal feel.

[Alyster Wick]

Update:

So this may be a bit boring plog at first (as my main goal is to get models at least started so that my desk can be gradually cleared before going into extreme detail and finishing pieces off) but at least there will be lots of variety!

Here is my first-ever Rogue Trader model, Ulysses K. Darwin. I'm not in love with the Bosun's left leg and I'm up in the air on what arms to use but he's a work in progress. I'm stuck between using the standard Von Castellan arms (as I have a couple laying about) or going with something more subtle. I'd ideally like to have him armed with fancier ornamental kit while he hides his real power in digi-weapons and/or archeotech hidden on his person.

He is also my attempt to make Von Castellan's head look halfway decent...We'll see how the hair turns out once he's painted, it's hard to get a good sense right now.




Next we have a member of my chaotically theme warband. He is an ex-Imperial Navy commander who was captured by the DE during a raid. After years of torture he bargained his way out of Commorragh with Imperial access codes which lead to the slaughter of entire naval fleets. Physically warped and permanently disgraced he now commands a mercenary fleet that seeks to fly under the radar while sating the peculiar thirsts he picked up in the Dark City.



I'm up in the air on what to do with his hands. While I like the idea of having them both be mechanical (the implication being that they were removed by Dark Eldar) I also like the idea of have warped and/or scarred flesh.

Anyway, on to two experiments (both assassins). They are more the result of throwing together the remains of kits that had been used for specific projects/seeing what I could do with parts that I just had too many of. They are just mock-ups, still lots of work left to do.




Next is Fuldros de Sade, new leader of the 9th Point cult. He still wields the club used to take his first life during the hive riots when he was just a lowly worker.




I've got a few more to update but I'll do that later as something just came up in real life!

[Alyster Wick]

Double post to finish up what I was posting earlier.

Okay, finishing up from before. Fuldros is getting a scratch-built feral looking power fist/claw. He is going to be a brawler but not a skilled fighter. He's competent and when he hits you it hurts but he wouldn't want to scrap with a skilled swordsman.

Anyway, here is a my badass 40K version of Chewbacca, designed to be a mercenary from no particular race (a buddy of mine bought me a Yeti model for Christmas out of the blue so I decided to have fun with it). Any suggestions on something it may fit into would be appreciated (disclaimer, I already have a hyper-violent Barghesi model that looks nothing like this so it can't be that).





And here's a shot for scale with one of my shorter and one of my taller models:



Here's a mock-up of my Monodominant. I realized that I didn't have a single monodominant and I really wanted someone whose sole concern was fiery retribution on everyone for any reason. He has two pistols (not sure what I want them to be) holstered with a fiery motif and I'm planning to put a long-sword in the scabbard where the shotgun used to be in the backpack.






Last but certainly not least, probably my favorite thing to be produced this weekend is my cherub. I didn't think the standard 40K ones were nearly dark enough so in the tradition of L'Enfant (<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/?action=view&amp;current=005-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx83/alysterwick/005-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>) I give you the Cherub for my to-be-constructed Confessor model:





Anyway, that's mostly it. There were a few other pieces I started up that I didn't get a chance to photo.

[Dolnikan]

The chareb is just very creepy. Fulcros looks very menacing, it's something in how the parts fit together. The alien looks alien, and the rest of the models look like they will be very interesting when finished, I really look forwards to that.

[RobSkib]

Man, I really need to get hold of the DE Talos kit, don't I?

Looks like a great start to me. I'm always a fan of massive desk clearups, you find all sorts of fun things that way! I really like the first assassin, that's a great combination of parts that I may have to borrow myself one day...

For your 40k Chewbacca, have you thought about GS'ing some belts or bandoliers on him? He looks a mite naked, considering he has a whopping great power fist/gun combo on one arm.

[Herald]

I had a big post this morning which the forum then wouldn't let me post but the gist of it was overall very nice model.

Could the yeti be a clawed fiend from the 4th (?) edition 40k rulebook, although that would mean the gun arm wouldn't really fit but then again i'm not sure how much it does fit the model as it seems so short compared to the other arm.

With the assassins could jenna's torso fit the enforcer legs? I feel that would give a nice dynamic sprinting with billowing cloak look. That would have the downside of leaving you with a stock assassin but i'm sure you could do something interesting with it.

The cherub definitely has the creepy factor but I'm not sure it's cherub-y enough. Perhaps feathery wings? Or the remnants thereof? And also maybe some sort of bionic eye so it can see?
Otherwise they all look like promising starts to models.

[MarcoSkoll]

clawed fiend from the 4th (?) edition 40k rulebook

3rd ed.

Could jenna's torso fit the enforcer legs?

Not in my opinion, and I think it would look odd. More of "Wheee, I'm a bird" with the way the arms are held than a believable sprinting pose.

Actually, to be honest, while Jena and the Assassin legs works well, I think Barbaretta's legs are probably too bulky to work with the assassin torso.

[Herald]

clawed fiend from the 4th (?) edition 40k rulebook

3rd ed.

I've clearly been around longer than I thought I had.

Could jenna's torso fit the enforcer legs?

Not in my opinion, and I think it would look odd. More of "Wheee, I'm a bird" with the way the arms are held than a believable sprinting pose.

Thats probably a fair point although i now want to use exactly those parts to create a character who thinks that they're a bird.

[Van Helser]

I like the muties - underdone as an archetype in my opinion.  I was eyeing up the Vargheists and I think seeing them here's put them high up my list of wants.

Not sold on the assassin torso and leg compositions with Jena's torso and Barbaretta's legs - they don't scale with them closely enough. As armatures though you may be on to a good start.

Ruaridh

[Alyster Wick]

Thanks for the feedback!

Not sold on the assassin torso and leg compositions with Jena's torso and Barbaretta's legs - they don't scale with them closely enough. As armatures though you may be on to a good start.

Following up with both your and Marco's comments I was initially thinking/hoping they'd fit better (though always suspecting they wouldn't). I was gunning for the pose of that 28mm assassin that was released for 40K shortly after the twins.

That said, I'm trying to be more adventurous so the bits will stay together and be used as an armature of sorts (when I get around to it...)

Could the yeti be a clawed fiend from the 4th (?) edition 40k rulebook, although that would mean the gun arm wouldn't really fit but then again i'm not sure how much it does fit the model as it seems so short compared to the other arm.

The cherub definitely has the creepy factor but I'm not sure it's cherub-y enough. Perhaps feathery wings? Or the remnants thereof? And also maybe some sort of bionic eye so it can see?
Otherwise they all look like promising starts to models.

On the first point I'm going for a generic alien merc. I may flesh out some background for the species but I'm trying to have a location that echoes the cantina scene from Star Wars and he's going to be one of the inhabitants. Plus with the new clawed fiend that came out with the DE codex he no longer really fits the look (though it was a partial inspiration). The arm is a little clunky, I'm considering a change but I really like the idea of his gun arm and would feel a little disappointed with a large, strong alien with nothing but melee weapons (as I fear that's the direction I'd go in if this arm doesn't grow on me).

As for the cherub, the wings are definitely staying (I wanted a darker cherub to assist my sadistic interrogator) but he will get a significant GS treatment including a bionic eye.

Man, I really need to get hold of the DE Talos kit, don't I?

For your 40k Chewbacca, have you thought about GS'ing some belts or bandoliers on him? He looks a mite naked, considering he has a whopping great power fist/gun combo on one arm.

On the first point, yes you do! It's a fantastic kit with endless uses. So many bits....

As for your 2nd point, he was definitely missing something and bandoliers/belts will fit the bill. Good call, now I just have to break out the GS...

And because I finally got a chance to take some pics, here are updates (or, rather, more models to put in the queue. I'm working on getting everything partially together so the bodies can be temporarily set up on bases and removed from the table, leaving more room for detail work.

A huge upside, I finally got some newer equipment and while nothing individually was huge the combination of better saws, pin vices and a proper desk lamp combined with some newer plasticard and hollow brass tubing has really helped me up my game. I know only a bad artist blames the tools, but a mediocre artist can certainly give his new tools props!

Anyway, minor judge conversion as an acolyte/agent of some kind. I got bored so I decided to have him observing his downed kill while reloading his lasgun.



side view

Next is a hive ganger that accidentally ended up looking like he comes from Goliath house. Probably naming him Goliath...



right left

Next up is my navigator. Take a wild guess at his inspiration. The "pins" will represent a rule I can't recall from some of the recent psycher articles having to do with his brain being repaired. I plan to GS over his eyes so it looks like metal has been bolted over them (a la the film Martyrs). Also debating telekentic powers and a backpack with hooked chains using Talos bits that he uses in conjunction with the powers. Not sure if that's kosher for a Navigator though, but I like the idea.



top view

Here's more hive scum. I'm going to GS him a small vest with lots of ornamental fur up around the shoulders based on the same pic from DH that Van Helser used on his Rogue Trader for the IGT. Also experimented with a prosthetic leg for him a la some of the Blanche pics where people basically have a pointy metal stick for a limb. The pins in his head will be the basis of spiky hair (not a second pinhead...)



Here's an update of my barely-converted scarn. He now has a fun toy (switching from Hellraiser to Phantasm mode)

view 1

view 2

Lastly are my two Dark Eldar models.

First up the Haemonculus who hasn't had a good soul to consume in a while and is looking rather feral. I'm considering shaving down the ears, thoughts? He's getting two "counts as mechandrites" prosthetics coming from under the plating on his back (one a tentacle with some blades/needles attached and the other a mechanical bit with blades and needles, sensing a theme here?)



right back left

Lastly and most subtly converted is my Shadow Kin. He's an aspiring mandrake who will have mandrake-blood tattoos and dabble in sourcery (thanks new DM sorcery article! when I'm not about to go to sleep I'll repost and thank the author because both pieces have been an inspiration). He will be able to cross into the warp to sneak around before chopping people up and also be able to throw bale-fire for good measure. It is hinted at that Mandrakes as DE that fell too deeply into the secrets of sorcery so I'm taking that angle with this aspirant.



another view

[Van Helser]

The "pins" will represent a rule I can't recall from some of the recent psycher articles having to do with his brain being repaired.

Lastly and most subtly converted is my Shadow Kin. He's an aspiring mandrake who will have mandrake-blood tattoos and dabble in sourcery (thanks new DM sorcery article! when I'm not about to go to sleep I'll repost and thank the author because both pieces have been an inspiration).

You're welcome.  Glad that the article is serving as inspiration for people.

These new models look like they have lots of potential too.  I like the look of the haemonculus as he is - I can see them making themselves more bestial simply for the lulz.

Ruaridh

[Dolnikan]

The models look very promising. Navigators can carry everything they want, they have immense wealth and don't have to follow many regulations, psychic powers however are very rare for a navigator, I've never found any source where one of them has such abilities. Except of course those that come from the warp eye.

[Alyster Wick]

Glad that the article is serving as inspiration for people.

These new models look like they have lots of potential too.  I like the look of the haemonculus as he is - I can see them making themselves more bestial simply for the lulz.

I thought it was you Van, I was just finishing up before bed quickly and didn't have the energy to look it up. Seriously great article, it has served for inspiration on a number of models as I'm looking at the scattered bits across my desk. Definitely now considering more psychic characters as there's an opportunity for more variation.

The models look very promising. Navigators can carry everything they want, they have immense wealth and don't have to follow many regulations, psychic powers however are very rare for a navigator, I've never found any source where one of them has such abilities. Except of course those that come from the warp eye.

Yeah, I'm committed to keeping him as a navigator since I've been meaning to make one for a while and the pieces just came together well. Although I just realized, do Navigators go through the soul binding?

Anyway, I got a couple different new models I'm working on:

Keeper of the Emperor's Light, or perhaps the Pyre Keeper, not sure. Anyway, I wanted a non-combat oriented Ecclisiastical character to accompany a preacher I'm putting together (I have altogether too many combat-oriented characters).



back
the "Pyre"
"pyre" close-up


Also, I had the bitz so I decided, what the hell, why not put a genestealer cult together? The only one I have right now is a larger, more feral member who is close in generation to a purestrain but not quite. I have the parts for a purestrain as well but am a little low on pieces for more "pedestrian" cultists so I may well regret getting into this if I can only build "heavies" that are rather inflexible. I'd like an Aliens-esque scenario if I can get a couple more bigger guys put together with the purestrain as the surprise, but it seems like such a waste of time to build pieces with no personality.



better side view

[DapperAnarchist]

These are all looking great - I really like the mutants. They look like proper sump-dweller cannibal beasts. The Haemie is looking very sinister, and I look forward to seeing more of your Null City project. Really need to pick up some speed on my own DE ideas. The Naviraiser (or Pingator) is really quite amazing. While I'd never heard of telekinetic Navigators, that doesn't mean that there couldn't be - perhaps some attempt to crossbreed "conventional" human psykers with the Navigator sub-species. Which gives pretty much EVERY character a reason to be involved - trying capture, kill, control, exile, observe, assist...

The Pyremaster is looking good too... Is he carrying around a lamppost?