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!

Post-apo mydelnitshka (or necro-Trabant)

Hey again,

This time something unusual: I wrote most of the post in May 2015, but somehow didn't manage to paint it until now. But since I am about to convert another post-apo tank I needed something smaller to test some paints.

First - It was supposed to look bit different but all in all I like the final effect.

The whole idea was born shortly after my kiddo got another vehicle for his fleet: 

most of them are modern cars (that is: something what you can actually meet on the street) but this one was something special: Trabant, East Germany roller of doom.

I remember those cars were riding our streets when I was kid (mostly before Poland got back independence, 1989) but started vanishing after the iron curtain went up.

Anyway I don't have any nice memories about this car but I really like it's weirdo shape: kinda reminds me Ghostbusters' car and my first thought about it was: 

"I want to see Genestealer cultist behind the wheel!".

Some time ago I spotted the car in the youngling's toy box, on the very bottom of it. Wheels were missing and there were also othe minor damage.

Such a defect was enough to discourage kid from playing with the car... 

But definitely wasn't enough to discourage daddy...

All I all I didn't do anything bad, in fact I saved the toy!

Instead of leaving it forgotten in the toy box I decided to give it new live and look!

So what I had to sneak to baby's room when he was sleeping to stea... eee... retrie... eee... eee... eee... SAVE it! Yeah, that's proper word: I saved the toy.

My toy now...My... Preciousss...

Anyway I wanted to see it on the battlefield so I had to adjust the thing to post-apo world: first I removed the floor and removed the guts - didn't think these will be useful anymore. Then the hatch was added with the only driver I found available, I regret I had no head suitable for genestealer cultist (yeah, yeah - scale is bit screwed).

Windshield and rest of glass were cut off and replaced with mesh and then it turned out there was still enough space inside to put the guts back - seats, steering wheel and front panel. Barely visible through the mesh.

The car was supposed to cut endless and treachous wastes so mesh only wasn't enough for comfortable (and safe) ride: because original lights were removed I added searchlight from Chimera set. About 40l of oil is surely not enough for conquering the desert so a solid drum was chained on the back and the last thing: wheels.

I was looking for sth from GW set but didn't find any spares, then checked Ramshackle's offer but those were slightly too big and then, like a bolt of lightning came another idea: Lego!

Thank Cthulhu getting single pieces is no problem now - set of wheels was delivered to my office in no time. I had to elevate the suspension a bit to make them fit the body but because wheels are pretty wide and massive the whole thing got cool buggy - look.
Mad Max style!

So here's the thing.
I am still thinking about placing it ont the base but it's not cool enough for display case and besides - I want it to see lots of combat, and large base would only disturb gaming.
Hope you like it!

Summary 2015

...and definitely the very last thing this year: summary (I didn't want to throw this trash into the Chimera tutotial - those creatures are natural loners).

The passing year was slightly better (we're talking only about hobby that is) than 2014:
in 2014 I managed to paint 43 minis and play 17 games while in 2015 there was 53 models and 20 matches.Looks that's max I can get now.

I am pretty happy I painted some oldie Warzone models and came back to painting brill EM4 stuff. I am also glad for selling some unused minis - I would probably never paint them anyway. There are no big goals for the next year, there are some models I'd like to see finished but hobby should be fun, no reason for deadlines, goals, strict planning and whole the shit from the real life.

Have happy life in the coming 2016 and the following years, hope every choice you make will be the right one, don't ask questions if you don't want to hear the answers.

And remember - money is not the most important thing is life.
The more I think the more I am sure it's just source of most problems in this shithole world.

We're only swirling ashes after all.

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! 

Back to (old)school: praise Mark Copplestone!

Hey again, 

It's just quick update today but this time I just cannot wait for more stuff painted.

I needed a change from painting oldhammer fantasy stuff so recently I managed to finish one of my oldie EM4 scavengers (thanks Doug!). And as the title says:

PRAISE MARK COPPLESTONE! 

Seriosly, I have no idea how could I forget those sculpts are so f*ckin' cool!
Ton of character and packed with juicy details!  Satan, please forgive me I am such a lousy painter and cannot give Copplestone's models paintjob the deserve.

<self-flagellation>

Right...
That's what I needed... Thank you, pain...
Ekhem...

The guy below will be the leader of new Necromunda gang - probably Scavvies (duh!), but it's also proper material for Orlocks. It would be nice change to finally run "normal" gang. When I started painting it was just another model but every hour spent on work was revealing new details which made painting process pure fun. And that is actually what I love about this hobby - painting with no rush, working on characterful sculpts, on models telling some story, having fun.

There are 8 more vile scums from EM4's Scavengers line which will join the gang shortly. But now - meet mr Bishop:

Below is group pic of gang members - whole EM4's scavengers set.

3 guys on the right were painted ling time ago and will be washed and redone. If you'd like to exchange them for unpainted stuff - drop me a PM or a comment.
Really cannot wait to see them finished.

And now something completly different:

Last week there was a small ceremony in the local city hall. There was local press and tv (no CNN, BBC or even Aljazeera sadly) and the reason was ~70th anniversary of rise of polish blood donors association. Because of this some donors got awards, among them me: Honored for Nations's Health (I think the translation is screwed) - anyway that is for donating over 20l blood.

Just look at me, second from the left, wearing absolutely the very best smile available in my armoury. You are lucky you haven't seen my sad or pissed face. 

If anyone cares - here's the link to full article, it's only in Polish to you've just been warned. But seriously - donating blood is fun, costs not much effort and you can save somebody's life.

So try to master you fear of thick needles and sexy nurses and join the blood bags club: in a time you will get internet fame, the badge and happy face.
The blood donor badge is absolute chick magnet...

Sorry for my poor English.