The model I posted a preview of days ago is now mostly complete, mostly…
It is an updated version of a Knight Warden, the first Knightly model for my own Mechanicum-aligned Knight Household (yet-to-be-named). This is one of those moments where I am happy to be standing on the shoulders of giants.
I'd like to thank Clarence Harrison, who runs the excellent Quindia Studios blog. While I was working on the two Knights for Hank, I was wondering how I could build a Warden reminiscent of the classic Epic model above. In stepped Clarence with this post HERE.
He followed it up with this excellent post HERE, where he detailed how he built his great Warden.
And now he's painting it! All very cool.
The Knight Warden below is my version. Almost identical, but with a few twists of my own.
I'm planning on sorting out a few "sculpted" icons for the greaves, and for the shoulder plates on my Paladin and Errant. More on that later.
I admire your skill at replicating the original epic style warden. I can't help but feel you could make it more significant though.
ReplyDeleteI do realize you are trying to faithfully reproduce the original model, but feel the original models sculpting was more a factor of limitations in sculpting at the time, then a true representation of the warden.
As such, I feel the side arm guns are a bit out of proportion. Have you thought about upsizing them? Or are you sticking to actual GW parts for your scale?
I think you could easily add some umf to those side guns by replacing the barrels with something similar in size/scope to modified bic pen cylinders. That would be an increase in diameter, and length, but still fit with the look you are going for.
I definitely like the stance, and what you are doing here, just thought some upscaling on those side arms would do wonders for your model.
Agreed. Bigger guns. Much bigger guns.
DeleteHi Greg, while I can't say I agree with everything you've said, I do appreciate you commenting in such detail. The smaller guns are part of the charm of the aesthetic for me.
DeleteThat is what is most important. I just liked that you were making your own warden model. Cheers and look forward to the progress!
DeleteNice, although it looks tremendously pitched-forward and front-heavy. Maybe bend the legs at the knees? It may also help to build out the torso and add a rear sloping carapace to even out the design.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the "feel" might be exacerbated by the angle of the photographs.
DeleteSadly the kit does not easily allow for reposing of the legs. I do plan to try some more extensive reposing with my Paladin, but I didn't want to load all of my conversion eggs in the one basket ; )
Meh, sorry to be a nay-sayer here Dave, but I just don't reckon it works.
ReplyDeleteThe legs are far too big, it doesn't really look like the mechanical tick that the old Warden does, and she needs more segments.
An interesting conversion it surely is, a Warden, not so much.
Sorry you don't like it Jake, each to their own. I hear you on the segments, and I think that idea also fits well wit the new Mechanicum aesthetic.
DeleteHa, love it. Such a wonderful piece of lead history brought to life in plastic.
ReplyDeleteThe Warden is supposed to be "undergunned" in that it was an earlier design and built for infantry support or dense terrain.
If you were to do anything, I'd say add bunches of power cables to the multi-lasers that plug into the back. I know how much you love cabling!
Haha, cables indeed, you know my weakness ; )
DeleteI wanted to attach cables between the arms and torso too, but I couldn't figure out how to do it without restricting the movement. I am also still holding out hope that when Forge World gets around to supplying upgrade kits for the knight that they will offer parts that attach at the shoulder (rather than require the use of the shoulder from the kit).
DeleteI suppose some kind of flexible cable with a magnetized connector on the body might work (so you can still remove the arms).
Currently, it does look a little like it is off balance and tipping forward. If you added volume to the back, say in the form of cabling back there, you could balance it out and make for a more pleasing side view.
DeleteI think if you also made the exhaust pipes sit straight up instead of slanted forwards, that would also help balance.
I'd say this is a good start and I'd love to see some more of it. Just suggesting that you take an editing eye to it and make some changes.
I also think that increasing the bulk of the guns on the arms could help its form as well.
Thanks for the links, Dave. Obviously I think it looks great. Certainly it is awkward and kind of goofy, but that mimics the original. It isn't the same, but I think it bears as much resemblance to the old model as the Forge World Lancer does to its progenitor.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, it was a fun conversion and I look forward to seeing your Warden painted!
Thanks for the inspiration and the how-to Clarence! I like your point about the correlation between this conversion/FW Lancer and their earlier counterparts.
DeleteAwesome work as always Dave, looking forward to this beast getting some paint on him
ReplyDeleteThanks Chaco, I was starting to wonder if anyone else saw the same things Clarence and I were seeing.
DeleteNot a particularly successful conversion.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the eyes are the little rectangle on the tall rectangle of the shield. Rather than the peanut head where it's testicles would be.
And the big legs tiny arms suggest you should put a huge tail on it, like a T-Rex.
But overal the impression is of a little kid hiding behind daddy's riot shield.
Was there anything you liked about it, Grau?
DeleteHonestly? No.
DeleteNot a single thing. Now,I did go back through the pictures. I feel that you've basically ruined a $140 model kit.
Sorry.
Maybe your next project will be better.
Oh well. As I said in an earlier comment, each to their own. I hope you can find something you do like on the internets this weekend.
DeleteOh, there are lots of things, of that you may have no worries.
DeleteI just find your specific conversion here to be truly terrible. It's a huge letdown from what I've seen you produce in the past.
Man that was a burn!
DeleteI don't think the model is ruined by any means. Just needs more work. You can do it, Dave.
Perhaps what would have been better is keeping the model upright, and adding armor plates from plastic card to the front, extending the "neck" downward and then placing the head at the end of that.
You know it's possible to express your dislike for something without being a dick about it, right?
DeleteTough crowd. I for one like it. I like the small side guns and general awkwardness of the model. I do however suggest that you paint its head in a contrasting, light colour to draw some focus to it so that it isnt lost against that massive shield.
ReplyDeleteYou're not wrong about the tough crowd, but I did "put it out there", as they say.
DeleteI was planning on painting the head much like I've done for my Thallax in my Mechanicum army, and following the idea that Wardens used a lot of white, that dark, glossy head would be surrounded by white and brass. Hopefully that would frame it well
Really nice update of a classic.
ReplyDeleteThanks Spiderpope, all credit to Clarence, of course.
DeleteVery cool! Definitely a polarizing model, as was the old epic warden - I think you (and Clarence) have done a cracking job making an homage to the old mini. Looking forward to seeing it painted up!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not a huge fan of the Knight Warden in general, but I can't give anything but praise to the Wardens you and Clarence have created. They reflect the original, almost to a tee, and yet look new at the same time...great job guys.
ReplyDeleteCould the body be joined right beneath the head to give it better balance? I haven't played with a knight but as others have said it's very unbalanced right now. Moving the waist to be right under the bulk of the torso would be huge. Looking at the last picture, moving the torso 2 inches to the right would do it I think (if that better describes what I'm thinking). Right now it looks weird.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a rather strange look to it, but it really works - great stuff.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is really pretty cool :) I think my only observation is make the 'face' obvious. the other one suffers a bit in that the face is hidden and it isn't immediately obvious where it's head is. Keep on at it - regardless of the naysayers
ReplyDeleteWow, you did a fantastic job capturing the spirit of the Warden! I am a bit surprised how many people have been so negative, and personally think it is the best Knight conversion I have seen to date. I think the angled carapace and small arm cannons make the model. It is true that the arm cannons are pretty small, but I think that emphasizes the awkward, unknowable design techniques employed by the Adeptus Mechanicus. And honestly it is refreshing to see guns not comically oversized, a design tenet GW usually sticks for the worst. I can't wait to see the model painted!
ReplyDeleteOh what! that's sickness. I love how you were able to manipulate the form and make it look so far from the regal standing upright knights.
ReplyDeleteI actually like it, but I feel that its really the leg armour that is holding this back from looking right - the warden was supposed to be a support-artillery class? - the 'plodding elder' to the sprightly younger knights - yet you still have the original leg armour plates.
ReplyDeleteThe legs of the warden have one huge armour plate, a giant pavaise (adding to the long range imagery) shaped single-piece grieve, not the seperate kneepad-and-shinpads of a paladin. Make your own leg armour plate that goes from the knee to the toes, and make the feet much bigger - re-using the original toes but with a bigger footprint.
I appreciate this is asking a lot of reworking, but I feel right now its the top half of a Warden on the bottom half of a paladin - a warden should have elephantine feet for bracing its oversized back-missile launcher. (If you're happy with the launcher keep it, but a larger one would fit the logic)
Be good to know what you think?
will be a great day when your knights are painted and on display until they are ready to march to war.
ReplyDeletei like this conversion/kitbash.
also i agree with robin about the ML. otherwise it is fantastic.