Monday, 30 September 2019

'nids part 272 - Tyranid VSG part 3

Dreadtober starts tomorrow, but I mentioned the other day I had been sculpting the Tyranid Void Shield Generator and so thought I'd just slip this in before I can start sharing my Dread progress. I had been putting the VSG off, for over 3 years now, purely because I wanted to video how to do some of the tendon bits. I finally did the clip and I desperately want this complete, but among so many other projects Dreadtober included there's quite a competition for my limited hobby time.

Here's how I sculpt a tendon:



And static shots from the completed spine in the video.


The inner spine is [almost] complete though.


It's not perfect by any stretch but after the gloss and Tamiya Clear Red X-27 it doesn't have to be.


My next stumbling block is how it interfaces with the ground. I was going to use some of the wood chips I used on my 'ground-bursting' Trygon but I still need to add some lava stones to look like alien growths. It's a fair bit of work and not without challenges, hence why it has almost caused my renewed efforts to stall...


The emitter node also needs adding to the pen tube so I can then add veins and whatnot before I then try and sculpt the inside of the battlements. 


The black mark is for one extra tendon that needs to be sculpted in place. I've got some concept elements for the battlements - which is an odd situation as in 8th edition the building rules are far more streamlined now with less room for interpretation. It's still possible to position models in the standard Imperial VSG but nowadays this would probably be considered modelling for advantage. 


I mean I did specifically build it to fit a brood of Devgaunts in but that was perfectly legitimate with the prescribed rules in 7th. Anyway, I doubt it's ever going to a tournament so it's not really an issue.


Anyway, not sure when/if I'll do some more on this, Dreadtober is my focus but I will have some extra hobby time between writing this and it's scheduled publish date, so I might have one update soonish or none for six months to two years...😂

Tyranid Void Shield Generator Chapter 1. part 1. | part 2. | part 3. | part 4. | part 5. | part 6. | part 7. | part 8. | part 9. |

Tyranid Void Shield Generator Chapter 2. part 1. | part 2. | part 3. | part 4. | part 5. | part 6. | part 7. | part 8. part 9. | part 10. | part 11. | part 12. | part 13. | part 14. | part 15. | 

Friday, 27 September 2019

Dreadtober 2019 - A 'cheaters' guide...


Dreadtober begins next week and I have this Redemptor Dreadnought to do. Now it's supposed to be you build and paint your Dreadnought [or equivalent] in the month but I know my hobby pace and knew building it in advance was a minimum.


I also got it based, primed, base-coated and then painted the base [along with a lot of other models]. Now this took a significant amount of time to get to this stage, so I wouldn't have achieved this and potentially finish the model in month otherwise. At least now I have a fighting chance.


All the brassy bronze is the next priority [ I will start that on the 1st] and my prior brassy bronze exploits will reveal this can break me, so I need to hold strong and get all those bits metalled up so I can enjoy painting the greens! And we all know how much I love doing that - just a bit above Ravenwing... is there anything I actually like to paint? Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through all this if it's all so difficult, but we rise to the challenge and maybe that is the reason - the constant striving to overcome hobby inertia...

Monday, 23 September 2019

GW Manchester Battle of the Brush - August - Big Models

Following on from July's Battle of the Brush [or 'Tale of our Warlords', as it's also known], August's category was Squads. I entered my [still wet] Ravenwing Dark Shroud - a model in the category completed in that month! My goal is just to achieve the 12 entries over the course of the year and as you can see the standard is exceptional each month so the competitive aspect will be tough, hence why I'm just along for the ride.

I've had a number of technical issues, hence why it has taken so long to get these pics sorted. Hopefully that's all fixed now and the winner for August was this fantastic Renegade Knight


2nd was this Repulsor tank.


3rd was yours truly with my Land Speeder Dark Shroud. I must admit to being honoured but a little 'unmoved' by the accolade. As much as I anticipate the reveal of the awards each month it would be disingenuous after my assertion I'm only in it to take part and then jump for joy when I win something. It's difficult to reconcile, I hope I'm explaining it enough, emotionally there's a lot of baggage. Anyway, the Slaaneshi Greater Daemon got the most inspiring award.


I'd taken these pics on another occasion because I was so impressed.


The creative use of sprue on the base was also a nice touch, and if you check out the new terrain elements for Warhammer Underworld's - Beastgrave you will see a definite similarity!


Other entries included this Invictus suit.


A couple of Deff Dreads.


Kastellan Robots and their 'handler'.



Venerable Dread and Abbaddon.


Another Venerable Dread and Mortarion.


Greater Daemon of Khorne.


Shadowsword.


With LOTS of weathering.


Magnus [who did a number of things wrong].


Giant [Mangler?] Squig?


Greater Daemon of Nurgle and the Night Haunt gibbet guy.


Arch-Lord Discordant.


And another pic of my own entry.


Once again I was compelled to take pictures of the store armies. I may well have taken the same pics previously but never mind enjoy once more Ork Speed Freeeks








And the crazy insane, Chaos Necron Tau conversions, which I have more pics next time.