 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
 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
 Just about finished with this one. Of course now that I actually have a 750 point Black Templar list it turns out I'm not actually going to use him. Ah well. He has been fun to paint and I'm quite happy with the conversion. Labels: Army Blog, Black Templar, conversion, GW, Space Marines, WIP
Still some clean-up and highlighting to do, otherwise I'm pretty pleased with this guy. Like the Marshal and Emperor's Champion he's being done to a high gaming standard so that I can get him on the table. Unlike the previous command models this one was actually quite a conversion, of course, and I hope to go back and give him some proper painting attention later. I'll finish out the crozius with a red handle and add some more white to the skulls. I will probably also go in and add some shading to the white on his robes... but we'll see whether I do that or start in on the squads next. All-in-all quite pleased with how the army is coming along; even if I only have three models on which to base my opinion. Labels: Army Blog, Black Templar, conversion, GW, Space Marines, WIP
 I got a lot of feedback on this guy when I posted him to a couple of servers and this prompted a number of changes:
- Replaced the sculpted chain with actual chain
- Added the skull and shield to the chain
- Replaced the off sized arm on the crozius
- Resculpted the decoration on the left leg
- Sculpted TEMPLAR on to the right pauldron
- Resculpted left hand to be closed instead of pointing
- Modeled with magnetic backpacks in place
I'm quite pleased with the changes for the most part - but now I can't decide whether or not he needs any additional purity/crusade seals. I am particularly ambivalent about the ones I had on his neck. I like the idea of adding long flowing seals, like vestments for this chaplain, but do have to agree that the last round was overkill. Labels: Black Templar, conversion, GW, Space Marines, WIP
 Playing with conversions today and got this guy to a point I'm happy with. There's still some greenstuff work to come -- going to give him vestments and do something on his legs. No backpack on him at the moment as I will make it magnetic so I can swap those with the Marshal. He'll wind up being able to use one of the jump packs or the BT backpack. This fella also took with him a big chunk of my thumb and left a long gash in one of my fingers. Everying people tell you about appropriate use of sharp craft blades is true. Go figure. Labels: Black Templar, conversion, GW, 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 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
 Another piece for Bill's armoured company. This is his conversion and I think that it really came together. If you're going to put a Commissar in a tank then that tank needs to be able to blow the bejesus out of other tanks -- and this can do just that. Quite the intimidating piece of equipment. This one was painted to the Tier 1 standard -- but with all of the detail on the model I think that it really pops even at that level. Just a superb model. Labels: Commission, conversion, GW, Imperial Guard, vehicle
 Unless I get change requests back from the client this one should be ready to go. The conversion work was done by GreyDeath of the "Work In Progress" forums -- and the commission was for a Tier 1 (aka gaming standard) paint job. I put some extra work in to the body of the jeep because it was 1) a real pleasure to paint and 2) good practice for my weathered black. The mud glaze was done a bit thick intentionally as I thought a gun jeep would have a bit more than a touch of dirt in the corners. On a Tier 2 model I might have gone so far as to glue "mud" along the lower portion of the jeep if the client wanted it. In the end quite pleased with the result. I hope the client is as well. Labels: Commission, conversion, GW, Imperial Guard, vehicle
 This incredible conversion arrived today with a collection of miniatures for my next commission. This client is fantastic and always sends me the most interesting things to paint. There are several other pieces in this shipment that I can't wait to paint -- but more on those later. I'm really looking forward to painting this one and hope that I can capture the character of it appropriately. The little details are just a wonder -- and while the body came from a Land Speeder you really wouldn't know it given how seamlessly the whole thing comes together. Labels: Commission, conversion, GW, Imperial Guard, WIP
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