Carnifex (Warhammer 40000)

Apparently I must be really fed up with winter, COVID and life in general, because my painting got pretty weird and colorful recently. 

And if pink Autoblinda was weird even for my standards, that Carnifex is just acid! 🤪

Acid or not - I like the final result: good acid... 

So is the model: it's true eyecatcher in my mostly monotone display case. 

In fact I wanted to paint this model for quite a long time. In my opinion it's one of the coolest piece from old Tyranids line:

massive, menacing, fu#king badass! Not even mentioning that cutie-cutie mouth! 🤗

I had some ideas for painting the thing but after spotting some rainbow crabs photos decision was made to follow the path of Slaanesh. Which actually brought the model pretty close to the official paintwork from the 90's.

The model is big and colorful so I gave it bright, beach base for stronger contrast. 

To present the scale I added tank turret from M4 Sherman tank (parts from proper 40k vehicles run out long time ago - most of them were used for Dagon,  Mjolner and Beast 666). Fluffwise I imagine if leaving the nest / den / whatever is where these bastards live, to examine what emerged from the ocean of sand: 

there still might be some meaty snack inside after all! Told you it's cute! 🥰

The base is pretty large, but the model definitely deserves it. Not mentioning the fact it prevents if from falling, during the heat of battle (I really hate fixing chipped paint). I got the base with M2A1 howitzer - it was too large for medium  artillery piece (didn't fit ruins and buildings) but it's perfect for self-respecting alien creature.

So here it is, hope you like it:

After uploading the pics I see the bone parts are way too clean and flat - they are getting additional layer of wash and pigments for stronger contrast. I also realised I run out of gloss varnish / water effect - it should be used on underbelly and mouth - crabs (and cosmic crabs in particular!) should these areas  seem to be wet. 
Added to the list...

Converted Hellhound - "Dagon" (done!)

Hello again,

Last time you saw my latest toy still in w.i.p. stage - I am very happy to say now it's done are ready for battle! Yup, I am taking o"Dagon" for the coming Necromunda game to scorch each and everyone stupid enough to oppose Lords of the Hive!

Painting this vehicle was definitely fun and nice change. Boys like tanks.

I think I like the final result - both conversion and the paintjob. As mentioned earlier wasn't sure about colours chosen for camo pattern but these will fit our battlefield. Although the next one will be painted with brighter tones. And olive.

I was hoping crewmen would distract attention from overwhelming browns bit more, but the're ok anyway - can't remember I used desery yellow + olive combo for uniforms.
Looking at pics I think I could slightly repaint the visors and separate armour plates with bit more dark wash or chalk but still it's more  than fine for gaming purposes.
Hope you like it.

And one more thing:

yesterday postman delivered some goodies to my office: 90's hobby porn - modelling guides. I was hunting these for a while and last week I spotted seller offering whole trio.
Inside there's exactly what I wanted - lots of materials from my best time in hobby - when it was kinda "elite" and hard to reach, when people used to appreciate their models.
Most stuff was metal back then after all.

Those guides should be nice therpy after struggling with that f*cking brick below:

1050 pages of raw, law bullcrap!!! Aaaargh!!!

Cheers!

Converted Hellhound - "Dagon" (under construction)

Hello,

The previous post was quite a success (apparently there's still large demand for vehicles in the hobby) so here's another one coming: Hellhound.
I've always liked this model - the concept of 20 ton fire spitter wreaking havoc on the battlefield is just delicious! Original model EE was nothing special though - bag of bits to be added onto Chimera hull. Not mentioning these were rather silly bits - I mean, for fuck's sake - napalm tanks outside the tank? Just under rotating flamer turret???

Easy now... Easy... Inhale... Exhale...

So recently I've spotted really cool Chimera conversion - basicaly the turret section was moved back + some other minor changes. After spending some time browsing google pics it turned out such modification is quite popular - it makes the tank just sweet.
I decided to give a try to something similar. Not mentioning I had some oldschool tank crewman almost totally forgotten buried in the pile of shame.

I got the model and started cutting. I was shit scared - I've never performed such a severe operation on brand new model before. Hands were shaky but it was a success.
Below is overall shape - decision was made not to add too much extras (tools, weapon cases, spikes, whatever) on the model. I imagine it as Ash Wastes war machine - it has only what's absolutely necessary and nothing more.

I already have idea for another one - also converted model, which will be either mobile communication center (with some extra armour and 'uuuge antenna), engineering vehicle (dozer blades) or tank / bunker destroyer (lascannons). This one will be painted with greens and shall be named Hydra ooor... Dagon 2*.

Anyway - here's the model shortly after surgery:

And here - after some airbrush fun.

I must say after taking masking film off I had very mixed feelings about the result - in fact I wanted to repaint it right away. But after some time I though there's a chance it won't be horrible in the end:

there'll be lots of parts painted with metalics, there'll be chipped paint, crew should also distract viewers' attention from the browns.

Yeah... There might be potential to be excavated in the end!

Not mentioning out battlefield is painted with browns mostly so tank should fit it just fine. Hope you like it so far.

Btw - there's 5th member of EM4 scavengers gang in the back, 4 more to be repainted and there'll be another full painted Necromunda gang in mu possession! Mwah,hah,hah,ha,haaaa...

*Lovecraft be praised!

Tutotial: converting Chimera APC

Hey again - for the very last time in 2015.
This time I decided to move the tut made a while ago to the main section of the blog - it turned out original formating got somehow screwed so this way all pics shoud be visible and saved for the coming gamers generations.

Besides yesterday I've spotted EXTREMLY inspiring converted Chimera and I want to see something similar on the gaming board.

The article is about re-creating already done Chimera model painted long time ago : memory of this piece is kept thank to Chest of Colors. There are 2 reasons for it:

I didn't like the blue color scheme. It was painted when I was considering starting IG force based on riot police but whole concept died after painting this apc, Sentinel walker and about 3 guardsmen. Warhammer sucks - Necromunda is waaaay better, no doubt about it.

I also didn't like the model just rotting in the glass case and getting buried by (time and) dust - I want to see it in the field therefore I decided to adjust it to Necromunda gaming.

At first I just wanted to add another vehicle to make gaming table more interesting (another piece of terrain) but recently I got some old Valhallan minis from Ebay. I examined them carefully and it turned out they will be great candidates for new gang!

Wasn't sure about the rules but looking at the weapon carried they will be Delaques (they even wear coats!)

The tank and new gang will get common display base, slightly larger than Goliaths' . Gang should be delivered in a few days so I decided to check some colors and techniques to be used on gangers. At planning stage all I knew was I want to see big contrast and lots of dirt so dozen troopers wearing bright uniforms advancing through mud (sump in case of Necromunda fluff) along battleworn armoured vehicle.

It should be fun.

So here's the victim:

First thing done was removing the turret - vehicle will be dedicated for transport. I also tore off all bags, Imperium marks lasguns and extra tracks. Didn't want the model look like a X-mas tree this time. Also hatches and back door were removed.Besides I had a plan to add some extra armour plates so smooth sides were a must.

Taking model off base wasn't easy because several very long pins but nothing is impossible for desperate hobbyist armed with pliers. 

I also ripped off tracks - didn't like the previous base at all and it's much easier to paint tracks in sprues or wherever away from model: solid drybrush or airbrush are the best tools to get painitng done fast and easy. And while tracks are off you don't have to worry about making mess on the model.

As you can also see side panels have also been removed: it makes manipulating them much easier (sandpapering, preparing extra pcv armour and such). 

I got sheet of mesh for another project some time ago and decided to use it here to give model more "scratchbuilt" look: gangers were adjusting vehicle for operating in deadly sump conditions. Besides fluff-wise the tank is very old machine and it's been repaired and modified numerous times in field conditions.

For starters I made front hatch opened and secured with mesh (protecting against thrown grenades, giant rats, millisaurs and other Necromunda goodies).

Procedure was pretty easy: all you need are pliers and superglue.

Adding front panel with vent was just a bit more tricky: first I cut piece of pcv to fit the model, then carefully cut "window" in it. Be careful because it's really easy to damage pcv. After that some mesh was glued from inner side of panel and whole piece was attached to the tank.

Pins were added first to make model look better but also to be sure panel won't fall off. You can never be sure enough after all... 

Redoing side panels was bit harder.

I had to rip them off so then can be sandpapered and so I could prepare pcv extra armour. I simply placed the part on pcv and outlined it's shape with pencil. Basic plan was to make the armour really thick but all in all I decided single layer was enough. 

Oil drums: Chimera is supposed to be transoport vehicle so I decided to add holders onto armour.

Basic idea was to make separate holder for each oil drum but it turned out there's not enough space for that (side panel was ~3mm too short) so to save the space holders were made to carry 2 drums.

I used brass wire but paper clips will do the job equally fine. 

Adding canisters was piece of cake:

they were simply glued to model and then secured with piece of wire. For the final I added 3 more drums on the top and the apc was ready for painting. 

I am lazy so as always I try to make the job as fast and effective as possible. Before I get bored and abandon the project.

Besides it's not a commission nor contest piece so it doesn't have to be piece of art.

First thing was applying black basecoat. As you can see I didn't paint drums and canisters - they will be painted when the armour is done.

Next I sprayed dark olive tone (mix of dark green and some brown) which was highlighted using simple green. 

I wanted my toy to look really dirty and battleworn so I applied a lot of mask on green.

After that whole model was sprayed bright grey. 

30 minutes later paint was dry so mask could be removed. I wanted to achieve effect of heavily chipped camo paint so you basic green color beneath is visible. 

Dirt-painting begun with applying several layers of brown, sepia and chalk combo. As always the mixture was heavily diluted but in case of vehicles you can thick paint to paint strains or mud. Didn't want to overdo dirt at this stage so just a few layers were enough. 

Tracks we painted separately: sprayed, drybrushed, washed and varnished - nothing requiring photos. After that I attached them to model using superglue and polymer glue (thick jelly). To make them bit more shiny some chainmail drybrush was applied. Masking tape was used to protect model from silver dust.

Also canisters and oil drums were painted brown (charred brown + some red for slightly rusty touch). 

Oil drums were painted with mix of turquoise and some olive (just tiny bit to break the color). Before painting I applied some mask to create chipped paint effect again - you can see thick "blobs" under paint, that's Maskol 

 

Mask off! Lovely, isn't it?

There are details to be finished (flamer, reflector, mesh in lasgun sockets and such) but apat from that model could be considered done... 

...if only I wasn't so fond for dirt and mud!!! :D

Finally something I can sink in fresh mud muahahahahahaaaaa...!!!

To do that more layers of brown, sepia and yellow were added. This combined with powdered chalk is my fav way for painting mud. Also at this stage I painted some greasy oil leaking from drums and canisters (black + gloss varnish applied with toothpick). 

And final pics.

At least final so far: model will be based together with it's squad so I sadly have to wait with adding proper mud until all minis are done to keep everything coherent.

Really can't wait to put the beauty in my glass case and dominate Underhive game table!

Cheers! 

Underhive is shaking again!

So Eschers managed to shew off Van Saar patrol trying to rescue their leader and his juve boyfriend last Saturday night and despite I had to roll on serious injury table none or my gangers left battlefield dead. Sadly my opponent still has much better terrains so I suppose tonight I will see his full gang again but you cannot have everything, right?

Speaking of Necromunda last night I finally managed to prepare for painitng based on Valhallan models team: several layers of sprayed paint and I already like these fuckers. I really hope to see these guys done yet this year - true, there are still 2,5 months left but because of the real estate appraisal practice I might not have enough time to job the done.
We'll see.

As for now the gang has dedicated base done + armoured carrier (progress for now below). I am tempted to use some fast and cheaty way to get models done (they are for gaming after all) but I think I like the base too much to put tabletop quality stuff on it.

Anyway the plan for tonight is to kick Van Saars hopefully once again (girl power ftw!) and attach 4 sets of old ruins we use to one of modules. So far 2 are read for sand and paint.
Again - I deeply hope to play games on new table starting next year, so we can finally make battle report.

That's it for now.

5 hours later edit:
I've just came back from another engagement in the Underhive (or more probably - ash wastes) and the mean bitches managed to force Van Saars to run for the hills.
Moveover I got 4 loot counters out of 5 yet I managed to sell them for lousy money...
Also Deco's gangers got BIG experience bonus because of difference in gang ratings. I'll get him another time.

The only thing that worries me is one of my bitches beated leader's Ld stat so there will be the duel in a few days - I rolled shoot out. I deeply hope boss is gonna give goddamn usurper sludge sea swimming lesson and that's it - I hope...

After the game we made serious improvement on building the table: floors of buildings I made long time ago were ripped off and we attached these ruins to the module.
It's still early wip but the next battle will be played on modular battlefield and there's no other way. The last piece will be improvised but we hope to get the idea for it during coming week.
Time for me to prepare my Crackwhores for the next game - cheers!