 This is probably my most elaborate commission to date. While I have done larger models, with more detail, this was the first full conversion and paint job on commission. I know that I've detailed the model in other posts - but I'll recap here: The wings and all of the weapon arms magnetically attach. You can lift the model by the wings or the lance - although it should, of course, be moved by the base. He has STRIPY PANTS, with which I am very happy. There is freehand on his legs and checks on much of the cloth. This one shipped out this week and, much like my original magnetic general, I'm sad to see it go. The fella I painted this for went to great lengths to find me in order to get this model though and I'm glad I could meet his expectations. Labels: Commission, conversion, Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB
 This long time project is finally finished, packed and out in the mail to Niroe. Although I started his Valkyrie first I still have that one on the table - it should also be finished this week. Although the snow wound up a bit thicker than I had intended I'm still pleased with the base on this one. The model uses more rare earth magnets to attach to the base. This was also the first time I'd put my trust in to decals and tried the gloss coat/decal/gloss coat/paint method that I have recommended to so many others. Turns out it works just fine... which I suppose I knew. I simply hate applying decals. There are a lot of detail shots for this guy floating around and I'll see what I can do about putting together some better composite images. Labels: Bases, Commission, Forgeworld, GW, Imperial Guard, Magnets, vehicle
 Commissioned Black Templar Tech Marine that I'm pretty darn happy with. I'm going to go in and clean up the BT icons on his shoulder and knee but otherwise think that he turned out quite well. I am especially pleased with the armour chipping and the limited rust on the exposed metal of the servo backpack. The rust was accomplished using the "Rust All" product which I'm becoming happier with the more I use it. I'll get some better photos online the next time I break out the light box. The blending and highlighting on the red don't come through particularly well in these shots - although you can see some of it in the third photo down. Green and blue were chosen as the split contrast colours for the red on this one. I did not, however, make any specific attempts to apply them as spot colours. Labels: Black Templar, Commission, GW, Magnets
 Materials: Wooden Base - craft store 3/4" x 10" square acrylic rod - plastics shop Glue, gravel and base materials 1/2" rare earth magnets - K & J Magnetics Two part plastic to anything epoxy I measured the base to find the center and simply epoxied the bejebbus out of the rod. I added two of the 1/2" magnets to the top using the same epoxy and one of them to the bottom of the Thunderbolt. After the epoxy was dried (I waited 10 minutes) I went back in with my gravel and debris. I was hoping that the magnets would be just strong enough to allow me to lift the entire display, base and all, by the flyer. It's not. It's strong enough to survive the customary bumps that come with life on a shelf. Labels: Bases, Commission, Forgeworld, Magnets, Technique, vehicle, WIP
 High temperatures recently have made it impractical to paint, and impossible to prime anything, so I decided to jump in on putting together a new model. Right away I knew it would be my new Land Raider but I couldn't decide whether to put it together as a plain ol' Land Raider or as the fancy Land Raider Crusader... which got me wondering why it had to be one or the other. Thank you rare earth magnets. I put together the body in the normal fashion and embedded four rare earth magnets (1/8" x 1/32" each) in to the top sponson mount on each side. I cut the top pivot from each of the sponson weapons and added magnets there instead -- two each to the Crusader sponsons, because they're metal, and one each to the standard plastic weapons. The red dots on the front helped me mark where to embed the tiny 1/16" x 1/32" magnets to hold the Crusader frag launchers in place. There are six of the tiny magnets in the body and three in the launcher... for each hole. The more magnets the better the hold - and I can hold this thing upside down without anything falling off. The pintle gunners will be swappable as magnets won't really work there. I will also make the front mounted guns swappable once I order a second housing. When I'm finished it won't take more than a few seconds to switch between a Land Raider and a Land Raider Crusader. Of course I don't have one in my 750 point army list but it will still be a pleasure to paint... as soon as I'm done with at least one other project. Labels: conversion, Magnets, Technique, vehicle, WIP
 The first eight of my Black Templar Initiates are finished. Each is standing on one of the resin cast bases I made for this army. BT symbols on the helmets are very much in evidence - although I have otherwise kept detailing to a minimum to help me get this army on the table. Included at the bottom is the Marshal complete with his magnetic lightning claws and my Assault Marine test model. I have a pair of the Assault legs magnetized and ready to paint - that will let me swap the Marshal either way to match current and future lists. Of course now I plan to completely recast my bases... but that a topic for another post. Labels: Army Blog, Black Templar, GW, Magnets, Space Marines, WIP
 I've started in on a WFB conversion project - creating a pegasus captain, a Capasus (hey, I don't make this stuff up), based on the Empire General model. This one will have magnetic arms in the same fashion as the Empire General I did awhile back. At this point the model includes pins in both legs 1/4" in to the leg and 1" in to the base. After I finish the conversion I will glue the model in place and add a weight for additional stability. I will also add rock, sand and vegetation to the base for additional depth. This has been a fantastic break from my other current projects as I don't do much Warhammer Fantasy. It has also been nice to have a conversion to work on when I'm too tired to paint. More on this one as other projects start to wrap up. Labels: Commission, conversion, Empire, Magnets, WFB
 This is the final image I'm using for the Relic painting competition. Once voting is up I'll get a link to the page -- although I think that it's going to be a very, very tight competition. I am quite pleased with the result and am glad to be able to set this guy aside for awhile. If it weren't for the competition I'm sure I would have cut more corners and settled for less -- as it is this will be a piece I'm glad to see on my shelf for awhile. Labels: Black Templar, Competition, conversion, GW, Magnets, Space Marines
 I'm so close to finished that I can taste it. It is delicious! I'll be very glad to set this model aside for awhile and get back to Kharn and my display tank. I'm pleased with the overall result but still a bit disappointed that he's not on the same level as the Kharn model. I expect this guy and a couple sets of arms to find his way to eBay once I get a new commander put together for my 750 point list. I still need to finish highlighting the armour and detail the sword -- otherwise I think that this guy is ready to go. I've seen a couple of the other entries for the competition now -- and while I know I don't have much of a chance I'm still glad to be entering and competing. I've learned a lot between this and the Kharn model; both of which were intended for this competition and both of which got more attention that my usual efforts. One week from tomorrow.... Labels: Black Templar, Competition, GW, Magnets, Space Marines, WIP
 I finally (finally!) have an update image on my magnetic Black Templar commander. This is the model that I will be entering in to the Relic competition (with only 2 weeks to go, eep!) -- and what will become the centerpiece of my 750 point army. Yup, I'm finally (finally!) going to give playing a try again. The last time I played we were all being amused by the new 2nd edition rule set. Ah, those were the days. So now I have a couple of 750 point lists drawn up and hope to hit the tables this summer. The last shot in this image shows the commander with twin lightning claws next to two test models. The next image is just a sample from the Black Templar dreadnought I've been working on. I haven't done anything but the two weapons -- and I'm not sure I'll use them if I actually build a list. Regardless of whether or not I wind up fielding this army I think it'll be a good exercise -- and if nothing else it will be good practice.  Labels: Black Templar, Competition, conversion, GW, Magnets, Space Marines, WIP
 I'm going to post this guy on a couple of forums for some final feedback -- but I think he's finally ready to make his appearance on eBay. I have to say that I'm glad to have the project completed. I am really pleased with the results of the magnets though. I already have four right arm options for the BT commander that this model inspired. I suspect that it will be very easy to get carried away creating combination options. Labels: eBay, Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB
 Another set of arms finished today; the only up side to being home sick, I suppose. I also finished the cloak and included the symbols of Sigmar in freehand... but I'm not entirely pleased with the result and hope for some feedback. At this stage only two sets of arms, two heads and one body to go. Oi. For now it's time to take a break. Labels: eBay, Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB, WIP
 I have finally had a chance to make some more progress on my Empire General project. In this case I made some changes to the armour, to add to the red/white theme, and finished a pair of arms and one head. There's still a lot of clean-up to do, and a tail and base to be painted and finished, but overall I'm quite pleased with the results. I also have a lot of fun repositioning the pieces and swapping bits in and out. I am not a huge fan of magnetic commanders... and I've already started drilling and gluing a Space Marine. It's going to be hard to let this one go when it's finished -- but I really don't have a use for him and a magnetic display piece doesn't make much sense. Hopefully he goes to someone that will use him on a regular basis. Labels: eBay, Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB
 I got some painting done on this guy today. Unfortunately the metallics are so reflective that the whole thing looks totally washed out. This is actually quite likely the best painting I've ever done. The last image is me lifting the entire model by the tip of the lance. I managed to pick up and move the model across the room -- all holding on to the lance that was simply attached via the magnet. Fun stuff. Now I'm off to find a tutorial on photographing metallic paints. I'm hoping to have the finished product on eBay within two weeks. Labels: Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB, WIP
 The new Warhammer Empire General comes with so many modeling options that I was immediately drawn to the model. The sculpting is excellent, especially for plastic, and so I had to pick one up. This seemed like the perfect model to experiment with rare earth magets on -- and now each of those arms, heads and even the cape can be attached to either body. Like most first projects I learned a lot about how to (and not to) work with tiny, tiny magnets -- but I'm very happy with the result and plan on making a habit of this. A few weeks to paint him up and he's eBay bound. Labels: eBay, Empire, GW, Magnets, WFB
|
