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Madmag's Epic Blog
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18998
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Author:  madmagician [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:06 am ]
Post subject:  Madmag's Epic Blog

After a good bit of help in the thread here:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18942

I have purchased and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Tyranid proxy/kitbash army. Today my first parcel arrived with my 40k (FS) Tyranid Battleforce and 40k (FS) Gargoyle Box. I have taken the to use the 'gants and 'gaunts as the chassis/base model for all of the Epic scale armor pieces. Someone on the other thread had voiced a concern of size, so I took a few minutes to take some comparison photos of the FS 'nids vs Epic vehicles.

'gant vs Baneblade
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'gant vs Knight and Baneblade

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Here we have a 'gaunt body next to a Leman russ and Towering over some Marines.

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And Side Views
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From Epic Tyranids

As you can see, the 'gant does stand a bit taller then most superheavies and about the same size as a knight, so I feel this is a good scale for Dactalys and Biovores carrying around heavy artillery. The 'gaunt body, despite being smaller and matching the Land Raider and Leman Russ in body size is way taller than other epic scale equipment.

I believe I can fix this by removing the 3rd leg section and attaching the foot directly to the knee of the second (circled below in Red)

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That's it for tonight just some biomass for thought.

Author:  Major_Gilbear [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Well, I think you can saw down the middle of the Gaunts, and through each leg section before sticking the parts back together to make the whole model shorter, sturdier and smaller overall. The tail probably needs shortening too. Warmaster Nice did some similar conversions:

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Attachments:
post-7-21589-nids.jpg
post-7-21589-nids.jpg [ 122.33 KiB | Viewed 5420 times ]
post-7-21191-hierodules.jpg
post-7-21191-hierodules.jpg [ 122.78 KiB | Viewed 5420 times ]

Author:  madmagician [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Very nice conversions, my compliments to Warmaster_Nice! I definitely will be following his lead to "compact" the 'gants and 'gaunts, a very simple change that makes a huge visual difference!

Author:  madmagician [ Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Spent most of last evening and this morning snipping my FS 'nids and separating the parts into bins. I find it easier to be a bit creative when I am not bound by sprues!

Got a Start on my first Harridan as well it is a pretty simple conversion so far. It is a FS gargoyle with a FS Warrior head and FS 'gaunt scythign claws. main work for this part is trimming down the ball joint of the scything claw and making a pin extension for his neck. All that remains is some putty work for a neck and sponsons.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bi ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H1 ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xe ... directlink

Author:  Major_Gilbear [ Sun Aug 29, 2010 1:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Good looking model! ;)

Author:  madmagician [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Had some more time to work on the Harridans, the Prototype has guns mounted and initial putty work done, although my milliput was being difficult this evening and slowed down progress. I know the "sponsons" are fugly ATM but I will fix that next session, I simply couldn't get the putty to work with me and it was too soft to sand by quitting time.

Anyway here are more pics for your viewing pleasure, front and back of the first one.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DY ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/al ... directlink


and some of the 3 that are underway

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rh ... directlink

Author:  Major_Gilbear [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

I like those a lot. :)

Have you tried using 'Green Stuff' (aka Sylmasta's Kneadatite)? It is a similar two-part epoxy putty (and can be mixed with MP for different properties), but is less clay-like and smoother. It is good for doing organic shapes with and for fine-detail work. You need to use a wetted or silicone-covered tool to stop it sticking, but because it is very smooth you can work the finish so that it doesn't need sanding or filing.

I also find that 'Size 0' clay shapers are invaluable for pushing putty around too as I have big fingers! I found that the black-tipped (firmest) shapers were the best. I only ever use the angled chisel, flat chisel and bullet-round tools. The others look more specialist and may be better suited to actual sculpting than the glorified gap-filling that I usually do!

Author:  Lextar [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Looking very nice. Pardon my ignorance... what is "FS gargoyle"??

Author:  madmagician [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 4:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Lextar wrote:
Looking very nice. Pardon my ignorance... what is "FS gargoyle"??



Sorry, that was my Abbreviation for the 40k Full Scale (25mm) Just lazy typing on my part, and thank you for the compliment!

Author:  frogbear [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Very nice looking work.

It will be good to see this as a fully painted force when it is done.

Author:  madmagician [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Major_Gilbear wrote:
I like those a lot. :)

Have you tried using 'Green Stuff' (aka Sylmasta's Kneadatite)? It is a similar two-part epoxy putty (and can be mixed with MP for different properties), but is less clay-like and smoother. It is good for doing organic shapes with and for fine-detail work. You need to use a wetted or silicone-covered tool to stop it sticking, but because it is very smooth you can work the finish so that it doesn't need sanding or filing.

I also find that 'Size 0' clay shapers are invaluable for pushing putty around too as I have big fingers! I found that the black-tipped (firmest) shapers were the best. I only ever use the angled chisel, flat chisel and bullet-round tools. The others look more specialist and may be better suited to actual sculpting than the glorified gap-filling that I usually do!



I was intimidated by some of the reviews of Green Stuff. I think the main problem is that my Milliput Bar is not very fresh :(

Author:  Major_Gilbear [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Ah, in that case add a few drops of water to your Milliput once you've kneaded together what you're going to use. Take your time and work in that little bit of water - it really loosens the putty up. If you mix it too much, it just goes very sticky and soft and will be like chewing gum.

Also, if you decide that GS might be too fussy for you, perhaps try ProCreate by Kraftmark instead? I love the stuff (my main putty for modelling now).

Either way, I'd try the GS. It is easily available and a bit of sense, planning and deftness with it will get you far indeed. ;)

Author:  madmagician [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

I will order a bar of GS after I return from Ontario, then it sounds worth a shot!

Aslo anyone have some suggestions for making spike and fins in 6mm?

Author:  Major_Gilbear [ Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

Spikes - use round plastic rod, file the end down on emery paper to get a point, and then trim it off. For natural spikes, pin in thin brass rod and use a little GS around it to make it look more like natural horns/claws.

Fins - not sure what you mean exactly?

Author:  madmagician [ Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Madmag's Epic Blog

after a week in Ontario and some other RL stuff, I returned to working on my bugs tonight!

First we have my prototype Haruspex

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Basically a Shortened 'gant with genestealer claws and head I am planning to add "fins" and make the arms more robust with spikes.

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Next my prototype Zoanthrope

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This is a Karusan Space Demon Assault Warrior minus Arms and Hands, plus plastic claws and "fins" (what the hell are those called) I am not sure wether I am going to add a brain ball in back of the head, but I will likely do some head armor too.
http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/ttc901.jpg

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