Marco does something

[MarcoSkoll]

So, pop quiz:



Bearing in mind the head will be a little more bulky after it's got a full neck and hairdo, is it the right or wrong size?
It's possibly slightly on the smaller side of ideal to my eye, but I don't tend to work in heroic scale.

Next question is if it is the right size, whether it's what I go with regarding whether I use this head or try making some alternatives. In which case, what should I try different?

[mirryhalo]

Scale wise I think that head works really well and whether or not you want to keep it is up to you I think it works well with the model but if you want something more dynamic?

[greenstuff_gav]

while the head looks great, i'd be concerned with the length of her fore-arm; that elbow looks to be an awful way out?

totally missed all of this 

[MarcoSkoll]

The arms are yet to be fixed in place - they are only roughly positioned through the miracle of blu-tack. (But it is possible that I may cut the wrists for a bit more repositioning).

[MarcoSkoll]

One photo from a better angle, plus a possible concept to an Arch-Exorcist (to be based, to some extent, on the artwork from "Blood of Martyrs"):



As may have been earlier mentioned, this is a body from the old Asmodai model (1996, I think) - except now relieved of its head and left arm and with an Empire head blu-tacked in place.
Adjusting the chest icon is likely on the to-do list. The feet and grenade definitely so.

[MarcoSkoll]

I've been looking over my concepts for Virasson's interrogator, and I'm wondering whether it might be better to advance her concept by a few decades and make her a full blown Inquisitor of her own (to receive her own retinue at some point).

This would mostly be so I could replace her and put more of a check on the power of Virasson's warband, opening them up for a wider range of scenarios. But also because I feel the conversion I have in mind might be too ostentatious to be just an Interrogator.

The issue, at present, is that Virasson himself is quite possibly going to be packing both power armour (or at least some serious carapace) and plasma weapons - while a notably conspicuous interrogator would be in character for him, too much of an armoury will introduce issues regarding interesting/fair balance.
Hence, I'm thinking of instead producing a new and less heavily armed/armoured apprentice for him and moving the previous concept back in time, such she was a previous apprentice of his - perhaps now going down a somewhat different path than Virasson (so they're not "samey" to play) but also not quite so far that they are at loggerheads.

The other alternative that's in mind, rather than splitting her off, would be to produce an extra, less heavily armed, model for her that could be swapped between dependent on scenario needs. However, I suspect this might sideline the original model concept or other models in the warband too heavily, given that trying to keep the warband's power in check would strongly limit a good few more of the possible combinations of models from seeing the table together.

~~~~~

If I were working on this new Interrogator, it'd probably be a scratch sculpt job, seeing as I have a rather specific appearance in mind, inspired by something I saw on deviantART a while ago...

[MarcoSkoll]

Well, evidently that was too vague a question for anyone to be particularly moved by it, but here's something rough:



Supposed to be somewhat ceremonially styled armour, taking hints between Cadian and Vostroyan in design, couple of deliberate design references to the Succubus' armour (even if that's being saved for elsewhere), some nice impractical high heels, etc.

I know this is still quite a well equipped character, but trust me, less so than I had planned before. Possibly I'll take a dislike to it tomorrow, but right now I'm in the state of tiredness where my mental breakdowns amuse me.

[Gilleon]

Personally I would advance her to an inquisitor, but that's just me. Maybe do a lighter armed version to represent her as an interrogator. I do like your concept by the way, especially the detail on the thigh boots.

[MarcoSkoll]

Ah yes, I should point out, as I did on Ammobunker, that this concept is for the replacement Interrogator. The concept for the original interrogator was basically "DE Succubus, except with armour all over, and head/weapon swaps".

This idea gives me the option to do something more original and less formidable than the concept I had for the Mk1 Interrogator. Thing is, as I said with my last 28mm warband, it's not really one of my warbands if I haven't sculpted at least one of the models from scratch.

[MarcoSkoll]

I've tidied up the earlier sketch.

Doesn't quite look like my normal drawing style, I know. I feel it's less characterful than the rougher lines I normally use, but it's at least quicker.

I'm reasonably happy with this as a concept, although possibly the final result will have more gubbins strewn around the model.

Anyway, I'm probably actually going to get on with the other models at some point too (second attempt at the Arbitratrix's head, more Arch Exorcist, actually getting on with Virasson himself and then working on one of these cultists...), but I suspect a lot of this weekend will be given over to the fact I've found myself writing a Dark Heresy adventure at short notice.

[MarcoSkoll]

Finally got back to modelling, so new attempt at the Arbitratrix's head:

A tiny fraction smaller, and also with smaller features. It's going to need a touch more work, but I will probably use it rather than the original attempt.

And I finally got around to cutting up one of the Death Cultists:

Not the one I originally had in mind, but I wasn't keen on trying to fix the bubble in every gorram stud in the other model just yet.

Anyway, to quit the bitching... This probably isn't going to be a phenomenally ambitious conversion, but it likely will still need a new head sculpted (and which will have to be a quarter smaller than the one for the Arbitratrix).

[MarcoSkoll]

This is not quite finished, but it's getting close to it:



I admit she's not the finest female miniature in the world - but there were natural limitations to that without throwing out too much of the base model. I feel she's turned out pretty well, given that caveat and the relative complexity of the conversion. It's certainly resulted in something different, whichever way.

[MarcoSkoll]

Some stuff done with Virasson:



- I've started to deal with all the platemaille and turn it into various robes. I'll admit I cheated on the cloak - I used the Dremel rather than the hand tools.

- I've also taken the Sigmarian/Dwarven iconography off the left shoulder and realised it would fit one of the FW brass Aquilas I have - so he got one of those instead. Similarly, the slightly Dark Angels specific icon on the legs has been turned into another Aquila.

I'm not however sure about what to do with the shape of the right pauldron and what appears to be a griffon beneath it on the torso. The former is fairly eagle like, so can probably stay. The latter might be possible to turn into an eagle shape with a little work.

- The flow of the robes has been changed. I'm perhaps not completely convinced by it and may make further changes, but it's less stationary than it was.

- While still blu-tacked, the waist of the torso has been filed back so it sits better on the legs.

- And I'm still messing around with weapons. I'm considering the bolt pistol as a possibility that's slightly less of a total wildcard in the game over the plasma pistol. (Bearing in mind, I tend to use my variant on the rules).
And sword wise, I'm mostly decided that he's going to have some kind of anointed weapon (rather than a chain weapon), but haven't yet decided on a part I like. This Chaos Warrior one is just the new placeholder.

~~~~~

In other news, I've blagged two Sisters of Sigmar on eBay before the prices go nuts (over this big shut down of the SG and collectors ranges).

They may result in a bit of a change for what I'm doing for this warband, but that's not certain yet.

[MarcoSkoll]

Okay, I've done some last tweaks and I'm putting it to you guys before I put her on the undercoating list.


Front Left, Rear Left, Rear Right & Front Right

Notes:
- That cut in the shotgun isn't perceptible when running the tip of a sculpting tool over it, so probably won't be noticeable after undercoating.
- The Tau backpack didn't seem too notably Xenos, so it worked for me.
- She does have big hands, but I don't think it's too bad. In any case, unless it's awful, I am trying to retain a good fraction of the base model (rather than resculpting everything, which would be pointless)
- I also replaced the grenades on her belt I had to sacrifice in the original cutting. And no, they're not the frags they once were. (Nor are they the krak grenades that design actually is, but they'll do for what I need).

For my part, I'm very happy. She's one of my favourite conversions, particularly as compared to the somewhat routine idea I originally had for this model - and while that first "what if" meant I had to evaluate a whole load of new character concepts, the freedom to work more freely than my originally imagined limits of who the model could be were very welcome.

The name I have stuck in my head for her is "Lynx Vanden", but I may have to re-think that if I hear too many deodorant jokes.

~~~~~

Anyway, more Death Cultist:



In a bit of a tribute to the now OOP 54mm assassins, I decided to give her more bondage gear copy some elements of their appearance. It fits within my character concept, and should help make her a little more distinct from the stock model.

~~~~~

Also, the Sisters of Sigmar are here. This one and this one.

I would describe what I might have in mind for these , but I've just realised it's past three o'clock.

[Gilleon]

I like how the death cultist is coming along, especially the detail on the back of the corset, very nice work.
One point i noticed with Lynx Vanden (Body spray with a "kick" ) is that the shoulders look a little low relative to the neck and head. That may be down to camera angle and lighting. Otherwise i do like her, a nice twist on the old scout model. The face in particular is a nice sculpt, the chin is nice and feminine.

P.S. I do apologize for the Lynx joke.