Friday 29 July 2011

Blast from the Past Vol.7

Evening all.

This is a model I built around the time I made the Atlas (scroll down). This was a scratchbuilt tank hunter based on a russ chassis.

The only GW part used is the hull sides and the tow chain ends. Quite enjoyable to make.

The initial aim was to make a sleek, low slung destroyer. I made the barrel quite long (made it firing solid ammunition, not laser quaser) and attached it and the mantle quite low down.

Favourite features - GS'd teddy bear (ode to dustbin men everywhere) and the tow style hunter killer proxy. Essentially designed as a remote device with a disposable munition.


I sold this to someone in Australia - so I never painted it. Here's a shot of the bits which are removeable (HK, cupola and aerial).

Friday 22 July 2011

Blast from the Past Vol.6

Well, I've spent the evening sorting out things for my semi-backpacking trip to the Alps - leave on Saturday.
I decided I'd post some WIP pictures of some models I made. I have a terrible condition, a disease no less, that I'm never happy. Consider the Queen from Blackadder II. That's me, but about things I make.

Here is a Command Chimera. There was a time when nobody thought of adding a Predator turret to a chimera. Then I came along and copied the idea.
Right so, basic rundown. Take a chimera chassis. And a predator turret (remarkably hard to come by nowadays) I think eBay may be the way to go.
The lasguns on the back of the Chimera model always made me think of rowing. I attend a university where many people think that going rowing means that they are more suited to being there. Consider false social mobility. Personally I like the local, where I can get a pint for £1.40 and telling the lecturers stories (can be remarkably fun...). No point pretending to be a Posh lad.
So, in essence, I don't add the lasguns on the back.Shave away the the lasgun ports (don't worry too much about making a mess) Then I used some thin sheet styrene (0.25mm) to cover the area, (for some real inspiration using sheet styrene check out this blog (http://recalcitrantdaze.blogspot.com/) the OP is used to me bugging him 24/7 about how to use sheet styrene and in all honesty has taught me what I know.
This makes the vehicle look better in my opinion, in terms of those lasguns, they can't fire downwards, so unless they shoot fireworks there's not a lot of point, it also makes the vehicle more sleek at the rear.
You'll notice the turret has some little squares on it. This was to reduce the shape of the Predator turret by making ERA (explosive reactive armour). I think it looks fantastic, quite a few modern armies use it. I ripped the ones from the mantle off in the end as you will see next:

I replaced the mantle area (I think there's a skull there?) with a plate of 0.5mm styrene, with a rivet in each corner (rivets can be easily made by using a sharp knife, and cutting a thin section from a 0.75mm round rod). I then added a brass etch eagle to it. I think that one was from the old Games Workshop basing set.
I replaced the cupola with one from the Imperial Guard Accessories Sprue.
I added sandbags. Sandbags can be a very nice addition to tanks, they can easily be made by rolling a sausage of greenstuff (use a new plastic freezer bag with a pool of water on) roll the green stuff sausage by moving your hand back and forth over it, but apply some lateral pressure to prevent getting marks in it.


The idea was basically to hide the plain shape of the Predator turret. Though I left the Autocannon on because I felt it looked very good. There are a few Space Marine weapons I'd give to the Guard, and vice versa.

The side skirts were made quite simply.
1) choose the size of skirt you want. Cut an equilateral shape to match this.
2) remove the sharp edges on the top.
3) cut the skirt into three, at the point the slope ends.
4) gently sand the internal join of the skirt, then match them together again (so you have a gentle recess where they meet).
5) if you want them removeable, more work will be required but I attached them with a hook system. Made by creating a recess the size of the matching piece on the skirt. So it fitted together. It may help to paint these parts seperately.

Stowage!
People have started adding stowage to Imperial Guard tanks in the past couple of years. It really does add some extra texture to the model as well as interesting detail.
I use a Tamiya 1/35 scale kit called "Allied Vehicle Accessories" as well as some scratch built stuff. As I mentioned previously, the missile tubes and launcher were scratchbuilt from Elysian design. I made one to look like an AT-4.
The strap was made with a strip of thin plasticard. Glue one side, let it dry (hour or two) then add to the other side, you can pull it taught then without it breaking.
The bangalore tubes were made copying a tutorial posted by Rictus. I shall ask him to repeat the tutorial on his blog.

After speaking to another blogger yesterday, Maelstrom (his blog is a fantastic foray into what's cool about GW models). Find it here: http://maelstrom-therisingsign.blogspot.com/ (Scroll down a bit for some scratchbuilt Valhallans) I decided I would post up some camouflage tutorials.

German Camouflage Autumn Oakleaf.
Colours required:
Vallejo Model colours:
German Camouflage Black Brown
Chaos Black
German Camouflage Light Brown
German Camouflage Pale Brown

Basecoat the area with Black Brown.

Wash with chaos black (water down heavily, ~1/5) with a glazing medium (dish soap, glaze medium, varnish) whatever. I use Vallejo glaze medium for the matte finish.
Highlight by adding Pale Brown. Giving a desaturated look to the area. Repeat this step once or twice to get a nice finish.

Add patches of Black Brown (consult a German Autumn Oakleaf picture for shapes).

Gently dot in Light Brown to fill the patches with a nice border around.

Add some smaller dots of Black Brown then add the light brown again.


That's all folks!

Steve

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Blast from the Past Vol.5

Good evening all.

Two days until I leave the UK for 8 weeks. Not returning until the day before GDUK.

First was an attempt at painting whitewashed tanks using "The marmite method" (Prior to me owning an airbrush).
Problem is, it's too stark and unlike whitewash looks more like solid chips. Still. Fun for a bit.
In a time before everyone was doing turretless chimeras.... lol.

Solid state stowage block. (matching sized plate on bottom fits into Chimera top door recess).

Some of my ogre kingdoms models.
Hand painted the shoulderguards... Always fun....

Some shots Rictus did for me a couple of years back.
Missile launchers and tubes scratchbuilt. Copied from Elysian weapons, slightly scaled up to fit Heroic scale.
Damn shame GW don't do sprues anymore. Predator turrets on Chimeras look the biz.
The camo scheme meant to go with the initial winter vehicles. Then FW started making Krieg models....
Until Next time boys and girls.

Steve

Monday 18 July 2011

Blast from the Past Vol.4

Ok guys, it's that time again.

I've been working on something but a couple more hours work is required on it. When I post it'll contain a complete how to (for my reference as much as anything). So here are some other models I done.

Grots - technically these belong to another blogger, Rictus. He sent me them to paint last year I think. He seems to have the correct and proper view of how Grots ought to be everywhere!


This model came free with White Dwarf with the Night Goblins release. Loved him!

How to:

Was saying the other day, if my green stuff ability ever got good enough, I'd have to do a grot army! Fully converted. They're just class. Might have to pick up the FW Grot set at GD...

Steve

Friday 15 July 2011

Blast from the Past Vol.3


Well, here are a few more things I did.

These were done about 4yrs ago, when I was still in college. The Ultramarines were fun to do, but not much scope for conversion etc. Sadly.
Sicarius, lovely model, really. Shame I didn't quite understand highlighting when I did him.

Camouflaged sentinel. Loved this little bugger, even converted a dead soldier on the base. Shame, all the things in the post have been sold to finance other things. Not least university. Ballache.

Steve

Thursday 14 July 2011

Unfortunate turn of events.

Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to complete these in time for GD. I've got an issue at home needs resolution so I don't think I'll be able to fix these up in time.

Here's a few pictures I dug out this morning of earlier stuff. Consider this Blast from the Past Vol.2.


Monday 11 July 2011

WIP picture 3.

Well, got a bit more to go. Done some more but losing patience with it today so am going to leave it for a while.
As per Rictus' requests, larger photo.

Steve

Sunday 10 July 2011

Blast from the past Vol.1

Been painting today. But not update worthy. So thought I'd post some pictures of some of my older stuff.

Scratchbuilt Atlas Recovery Tank.
Painted
Fun to build. I have a real soft spot for the support vehicle idea.
Shadowsword (I think?)
Mortar



Steve