Well then try to get the look closer to Alien

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I'd like to get them to a point where they'd look good next to other epic 'nid models.  Or preferably, to a point where an entire army of my designs would stand in easily for GW nid figures without much fuss from opponents.

This project was born out of my perception of a demand for nid figures, and the excessive price one must pay to aquire them.

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If you get these casted, I would certainly be interested. I love the one body, different arm weapons approach and I think it is very workable. My one concern is the row of "spikes" along the spine. I think they are a bit too round, which makes them look a little cute. I would prefer sharper or more tubular. I also think you have to work on some carapace irregularities to make the surface more interesting, but on this I think we are in agreement.

Have you given the different arms any thoughts? I, for one, would happily be rid of the lobbing-globes-of-goo-arms of the Dactylis in favour of a mortar-looking weapon arm attached to sacks of toxins or something.

Keep up the good work.

/Fredmans

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Fredmans - It seems the general consenses is to do something with those spines - so I'll re-work them a bit and see if making them "sharper" makes it look more appealing.

The first set of arms I'll be working on will be for the Malefactor stand-in.  With this set of arms, it will be known as the "Line-Breaker".



These arms will be angled in slightly to cover the creatures face somewhat, so from the front you're basically shooting at a massive wall of bone.

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Nice work Sir! I'll be keeping an eye on this.

Alrighty folks - I've been messin' around with those spines, and here's what I have so far:





Obviously, only the second and third plate have been modified.  How do you think it looks now?  Does it read well - is the shape more interesting than the "cute" bone spines?

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They fit more in with the Tyranid paradigm. However, either version seems palatable to me.

(Hint - this is a 'set up' line).

I like the sharper ones better. Looks meaner IMHO. Keep up  

Sharper ones look neat. Also I was wondering a bit about casting issues with the bulbier version.

I was thinking a bit (yes, it does happen occationally): How would the model look if you squashed it a bit so the body looked slightly slimmer? It is supposed to be a "tank" so I understand why you want it to look sort of compact - like a buggified Leman Russ. On the other hand a Hierophant takes an altogether different approach and looks all spidery. Even the Hierodule seems relatively slim compared to the bulky Carnifex which IS in effect also a tank (arguably the same could be said about the Tyrant Guards, which share a similar look). Dunno. I guess adding legs will make all the difference to the overall appearance of the model so it might be too early to judge, but it is true that there's something slightly cute over the current body. Just a thought anyway

Keep up the good work

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Weren't the orgional bio-tanks sort of sluggy?

I like the way it's shapping up now - links straight into woodlice and fleas rather then spiders.

Roughening the plates up may cause casting issues, as it is, there's going to be horrendous undercut on those back spines, even in their new shape.

Unless the mold line runs along the spine...

which would make sense for a symmetrical creature

I'll be quiet now.

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Yes, the mold plane will definitely have to be vertical.

madd0ct0r - yeah the old ones were slugs - which I've never liked, especially considering how fast they were!  You're spot on with the lice reference for this guy, Actually took inspiration from a tick, little bit of rhino bettle in there as well

And yes, the mold line would be right down the spine.

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OK fellahs, here's the update:







I need to modify the "horn" and detail the carapace with irregularities, but how do you like the new "spines" - look about right?

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Yes, very nice.

I appreciate the decutiefying  

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