Tuesday, May 14, 2013

More bestial, not less...


Last week's post on the Chrono Gladiators received quite a bit of feedback (which I always enjoy) and not all of it positive (which can be helpful if phrased correctly). I took a bunch of this feedback into account, modified the models a little (despite their already primed status) and got stuck into painting them.


The biggest fear some folks had was that they were looking too Dark Eldar and not enough Mechanicum. I'm not sure if I've been able to redeem them in the eyes of these folks, but I'm happy with the results, so I guess that's the main thing ; )

One comment was that the legs looked a little too bestial, and I agree that it was the legs/feet that were causing some of the issue. I stepped back and thought a little about the influence behind much of this army - the crazy work of John Blanche. Then it hit me.

These legs weren't too bestial, they weren't bestial enough! The model was heavily "wolf" influenced, so I decided to take a suggestion from commenter Mkvenner and add hooves into the mix. And not just horse hooves, but crazy, metallic hoof collars for the bottom end of the leg. There's an interesting kind of "fetish" look to them, something that makes the model feel awkward and unnatural - voila! John Blanche inspires again.


Here's a size comparison shot of the tallest and shortest of the bunch along with the Plasma Cannon servitor and the Thallax.


I trimmed off some of the pointy bits on the faceplate too, filled in the holes with putty, filed it down once dry, and added a couple of plasticard squares on the sides, to mimic the Thallax faceplate. The painting of the faceplate was achieved in the same manner.

And here are the three of them ready to join the Mechanicum horde!




I hope they worked out and that you like them as much as I do.

As always with this army, the bases are from Dragon Forge Design.

UPDATED: My apologies to Luke Jordan, but I forgot to include these links to pictures of his beast.
Of course, there is plenty of "derivative" work going around in our toy soldier world, but sometimes people stumble onto the same cool idea completely separately - a "great minds think alike" kind of moment. Here are links to the first of Luke's beasts, built sometime last year I think. Note that we both used the mechanical Talos hand to replace the gravestone in the Crypt Horror's hand : )

HERE and HERE

Cheers
Dave

47 comments:

  1. They are very cool. For me they (indeed the whole army to date) feel more "dark mechanicum" than the imperial sorts. Nifty.

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    1. Thanks for that. I've always felt there was a very fine line between the two.

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  2. Oh my goodness these are disgusting in the most wonderful way - fabulous job Mr Taylor.

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    1. Thank you Mr Awdry. I'll take "disgusting" any day ; )

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  3. Lookin' great as always Dave!

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  4. Another masterpiece! I have liked very much the presence that detaches the whole set. A great work Dave.

    Regards, Eliezer

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  5. Looking great. The feet looks strange, but in a good way. And they look alot less D.E. now.

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  6. A regular master piece mate ! - very spectacular:)

    The paint job is absolutely stunning!

    I salute you sir :)

    Cheers

    Janushedemann

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  7. Absolutely fantastic models, really evocative. Live them

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  8. They are absolutely beautiful.
    They do look more or less exactly how I'd model grotesques, but they fit in in a mechanicum army as well...

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    1. Thanks Jeff. I think they are also how I'd do grotesques for a Dark Eldar army as well. In my mind there's a thin line between Haemonculi and the gene-splicers of the Mechanicus.

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  9. It seems at odds to describe something so revolting as beautiful. But they are!

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  10. Awesome work, Dave! Perhaps some 'cog tooth pattern' tattoos may help drive home the Ad-Mech vibe a bit more. I love, love, love how the GS sockets turned out, thanks for sharing the tutorial, I'll definitely be giving that a go.

    Keep up the great work - Ave Omnissiah!

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    1. Thanks mate. There are some tatts on their left thighs, nothing too overt. All the best with your AdMech : )

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  11. Oh my. Going to make me blush here. Kind of starstruck here Mr. Taylor.

    They look phenomenonal! The flesh is top notch and that wet effect on the muscle is unbelievable.

    Glad to be of service.

    ++Vox goes to static++

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    1. When it's a good idea, it's a good idea, and I'm only giving credit where it's due : )

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    2. I'll dish them out when I can!

      ++Vox goes to static++

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  12. "I'm not sure if I've been able to redeem them in the eyes of these folks, but I'm happy with the results, so I guess that's the main thing ; )"

    It certainly is the most important thing, but if it helps I think they fit the part perfectly now. I think the Thallax face really sells it, great job!

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  13. I love how you've painted the fur on the back of the legs! Consider the idea stolen, even if I don't know what for... CN

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    1. Thanks for that, I'm sure it's something I've stolen from somewhere else (probably a GW paint job somewhere, so have at it!

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  14. More or less imperial, they certainly are very impressive and extremely evil looking - now I know what to dream of next time I want my heart rate up. I really like how the helmets tie them in with the thallax.
    For quite some time I've been wondering what heads to use for some of my large preatorian herakli - I think this could be an option if you don't mind?
    How did you do the "hoofs"?

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    1. Feel free to use whatever ideas you spot.

      As for the "hoofs" they are actually the little piston parts from the landing gear from the Tau Devilfish. A few years back I bought some sprues that only had the landing gear and Tau pilots on them thinking that one day I could use the landing gear on something, never imagining it could be AdMech combat servitors. They are attached with some plastic tubing that acts like a little sleeve.

      cheers
      Dave

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  15. These are awesome, and they also solve my problem with colours to paint my 15mm Death Korps rough riders.

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    1. Thanks Dan. Are you going to use the super pale flesh for the steeds? I approve. Let me know if you want the recipe.

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  16. Man all these guys are sick awesome! I really dig the stomping piston feet and the high gloss helmets!

    I need to bookmark this for future conversion ideas.

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  17. Dave, these are simply brilliant. I can't think of anything I've seen in a long time which I've liked more. You've gone and set the bar again - just absolutely fantastic! And absolutely 40K Dark Mechanicum.

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  18. Great paintjob!

    And the conversions of the legs are just awesome!

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  19. "...One comment was that the legs looked a little too bestial..."

    Hey, that sounds familiar. ;) In any case, I agree that the new legs are a great improvement. Now they look much more like human limbs in 'extremely uncomfortable footwear' and less like long-footed beast legs. The revised face plates are also a nice addition, making it absolutely clear they are related to the Thallax.

    Out of curiosity, why did you choose for copper canisters on their back, rather than shining blue like the Servitor in the comparison shot?

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  20. Great work as always- love the mechanical hooves concept

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  21. Dave, your work is awesome.
    In fact I'm starting a new army for 40K: Mechanicum, of course.
    I can see some items from the Talos miniatures for your Chrono Gladiators conversion, but what is the main miniature which you based from?. I thought it was a Dark Eldar Grotesque, but not certanly...

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  22. Love the smokey black face plate.
    Makes you wonder what's underneath... and gives you pause as to whether or not you want to find out.

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  23. Really late to the party but how did you achieve the piston feet...

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