I think our US cousins call it polishing a T%$D

 Here is the afore mentioned Turd on the left but the one on the right by todays standards is pretty dire i must admit.

 I'm really scraping the bottom of the bits box now but i do love a challange.

 Most proud of removing his head without distroying it, it's a nice sculpt just poorly positioned.

 Guard to the rescue and the main GS done on his lower legs and chest ( pretty poor job on the power cables sorry)

 Side by side

 My second most fave bit of this mini is the hair doo, is it Mel Gibson or Michel Dougles. 

 Back pack banner was already knackerd so i desided to cut it at an upward angle as if it had been hacked off by an upward cut from an enemy.

 Still need to bulk out his left hand a bit more and some small bumpson the back of his legs need doing.

 No helmet with the original so no helm with him, i'm planning his back story that he never wears one unless absolutley nessesery that's why he has the comms and the funky eye thingy over his right eye to keep updated on his squad.

Next up power axe guy and then melta gun guy but will have to splase out on some more donor bodys for them as i'm about at the end of the rubbish in the bits box and have plans for the rest of my stash so ebay it is then.

 

Comments are the life blood of blogging so even if its (nice doo ) or (stop my eyes are bleeding at the horror of 13 year old you's paint jobs)  it's always nice.

Blitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onwards to number 3

 The starting point, legs repotioned from to different doner models and the torso positioned.

 Straitning up the hand to get the look right.

 Left arm less his hand and the head (from the scout set) added. Also managed to sand the lower legs from what was there instead of GSing them.

 Mk7 helm sanded down and below the finished Mk 6 mag locked to his right thigh.

 Left side studded shoulder guard done.

 Given the limitations of the new multi part plastic over the one off sculpts from back in the day i think this is the closest i've got so far. Picked the next two miniatures and will try to do them at the same time as i need tomove onto the pile of figuers and kits hanging around and this is proving a massive but fun distraction i'm afraid lol.

Hope you like and feedback always welcome.

 

Blitz

side project miniature No2

 And so it begins anew, here's the legs modified for the new stance and a back section to build up from.

 Head and arm attached with the beginings of the front torso.

 Sorry camera went missing for a while but this is how it stands on the base. Again the chain sword is homemade and was an attempt to replicate the original. The front torso and power cables built up and his lower leg armour shaping up. The cybernetic arm isn't quite right but hopefully some added gubbins will help the look.

 Buzz saw on the back of his uagmetic hand for supprising his enemys in close combat, there's a bar to make it look like it exstends when in use.

 The original arm did not have any shoulder guard so ive taken some artistic licence and added some with a skull.

 Here he is next the the original RT era marine and again i,ve failed to get that lean into his upper torso which is annoying as hell but the larger parts from the newer miniatures dont lend them selves to it well. It is dooable but the legs at the start were wrong so next attempt i'll consentrate a lot more on getting the stance correct before cannonballing onwards with the rest of the build.

C and C welcome as always.
Blitz
This post will hopefully automatically post itself on Tuesday at 13.27 pacific standard time, now i dont have the foggiest idea when that'll be but if your reading this it worked :)

progress is slow but worth it.

Here's number one of my side project to re-interprit some old school RT era marines.

 Legs started off as some 4th ed boxed set marines and the torso from the bits box Chain sword is home made double set teeth and is a bit longer than standard.

 Shoulder guard is a sanded down modern one and the bolter is a green stuff press mold copy, sits more snugly on his upper leg. The skull on the back pack is another push mold.

 The beacky helm is a mk 7 reworked as i've none in the bits box (I here ebay a calling) and the lower legs were scored and the tag added to simulate the original miniature.

 Side by side with the old school original. Now we see the reason for reworking him using new plastic marine parts and lashings of green stuff he's a short chap and wouldn't look right next to the modern models. Couldn't quite get the stance right or the arm crossing the body as the new torso's are much more substantial.

Maybe i could have canted him leaning into the swing more but as this was the first test model i didn't wont to attemptto much frankensurgery(tm) on myy first go. Next re-imagining is far more involved and you shall be seeing him very soon as he's done already and will be uploaded mid week for your delictaion and comments.

Cand C always welcome.

Blitz

Been of grid for a while

Sorry i've been of the gridfora while but got deep into my part of the star wars hanger build at SFM forum and then finally perchased Salvations Reach (OMFG) so the side project and other hobby related work has been limited. Plus the very dark mornings and my insomnia means i'm cream crackered by the time i drag my arse home of an evening at the moment and seriously dont exspect it to improve till after xmas isout of the way.
I'll endevoure to post some actual pics of actual models i've been working on but be prepered as it will probably be the kitbashed star wars heavy gunship that has suddenly become my all consuming passion in the last couple of weeks but the call of 40k is growing strong again and i'm suddenly inspiered to paint up a Lamenters detachment which is a big thing for me as i dont usually do yellow unless its put through my airbrush on something of consideralbel size :)

Sunday is looking like it'sgoing to be my best day for uploading shots and may have some more ideas for the side project. 
PS also picked up Void Stalker and thats just mainlining traitor marines into my head so plans could take a massive u turn :)

Blitz

Scraping the bottom of the bits box

 

Retro rebuild part one.

that's the official title from now on btw.

 

 

Here's what i could dredge up from the bottom of the bits box to get started on this project. Some very old legs and a backpack from the dawn of time and a mordhiem head that floated to the top at just the right time. 

 The legs got a chop and some scalpel work to reposition them to make his centre of gravity lower, may have not done enough but will have to go with that.

 Mordhiemer with a now doo and goatee, may have a second attempt at his goatee when he gets attached to the torso.

 His helm sanded and green stuffed into a beacky helm to go at his waist.

 Legs re sculpted to make them two part retro style, his boots may get altered too in the final pose.

 The pauldron sanded down and studs added for that heresy look, undecided about sanding the other shoulder to match the original leave it with the edging.

Some better pic of the original mini I'm basing this on. That's a bolt pistol at his right hip, need to dig up an older version of that from the stash but it's my only one so may have a go at copying it.

Here you can see the helm and studded shoulder plus his imo quite groovy boots. In the final pose they will be a bit more bent as he swings that awesome chainsword. I have added the line down his lower leg armour that was a pain to do but worth it, just noticed the small oblong on there and will have to add that next session.

Hopefully i'll get the legs torso and head put together and have stated on his arms position and scratching the chainsword up.

That's it for now, feedback always welcome.

Oh i'll be at the Brampton model show on Sunday at the SFM:UK table so if any ones about pop by best just ad it's not in Brampton it's in St Ives Cambs. Use your Gooogle fu for full details.

Blitz

A retro future nostalgia side project

Hideho interblog peeps, back again with a bit of nostalgia that's inspired me to do some more converting and this time it's not IG it's Marines.

 

The idea is to try to replicate these 4 classic RT era space marines using plastic marines and bits from FW plus lashings and lashings of Green stuff of course :) I blame Ron at From the Warp with all those lovely conversions and tips that have infected my mind with too many ideas. 

 

First off is this guy (now i must just point out i was about 13 when theres were painted so don't be harsh) the chain sword will need to be scratched but i think I've the skills from the Guardsman's in the last post. He also has a nifty buzz saw on the back of his bionic hand that i hope to replicate also.

Thanks to the tips Ron at FTW (link in the side bar) the legs sans knee pads shouldn't be a problem or the exo power cables on his chest.



 

 

This chap will be mostly getting his arms in the right place but i may make his stance a bit more aggressive and canted foreword more as if he's leaning into his bolter but that's artistic licence.

 This ones my absolute fave an early Space Wolf, Ive seen him painted as a Space Wolf on the interwebs.His beeky helm is mag locked behind his left hip and a bolt pistol at his right. Again a scratch built Chain sword for him and a bit more swing in his stance as if he's really going to hack into his enemy.

  Finally this guy, he's got the look of an NCO to me assessing the situation and ready to react and issue orders to his men. Less movement in him but a lot of intensity to capture in my take on him. Will need to find a grizzled vets head for this marine. Also his bolter may get a custom top loading mag for his two handed bolter stance so may add an under slung grenade launcher.

May have a dig around in the box of lost soldiers for a 5th member to add to the mix and round out the squad. I don't think any heavy weapons were about in the early days of space marines but i'll have to check out some old white dwarfs. There may have been an early rocket launcher before RTB01 but the old grey matter is not what it used to be.

So what do you think of my cunning plan, worthy of Baldrick or complete insanity.

If you guys have any suggestions for what bits to use or the 5th member toting something with more punch from the RT era give us a shout. 
I will get started on this project once i've restocked on some plastic marines,  bits an bobs from other sources and gathered my wits about me. I've no idea which one i'll start with they all have something about them the grizzled vet Sergeant, the wild swordsman or the eager young marine freshly promoted to the battle company or the bionically enhanced assault specialist in that fetching yellow and blue paint job.

Until next time
Blitz