Saturday 28 April 2012

WIP 15mm Space Marines Part 4

Hi guys, an update, (and better photos) I didn't like my first attempt at the back pack, so I bulked them out at the top part, I've added some bling to the back of the pack, 3 types, a skull, a blood drop and round vent, added vents to the stabilizers on the back pack, and I tested out a purity seal (pic half way down, left shoulder pad) I think they are coming along nicely, I'm now eyeing off the pistol sized weapons from the 28mm range as heavy weapons for my devastators, more on that later, next up I will test adding knee pads, and do some work on the bolters.











Tuesday 24 April 2012

WIP 15mm Space Marines Part 3

Hi guys, next steps

Step 1
Add trim to shoulder pads.
Step 2
Add round stabilizers? and side vents? to back pack.
sorry for the poor photos.






Monday 23 April 2012

WIP 15mm SM part 2

Hi Guys, I have decided to go with the Blood Angels.
Step 3
Added  ear housing on helmet.
Step 4 
Added main body of the back pack tapered to a v shape, rolled a ball of GS over the top cylinder of the back pack and pocked the vent holes with a piece of wire.
Step 5 
Added the first part of the shoulder armour, the trim is yet to come.
Step 6 
filled in some space on the bolter.






Sunday 22 April 2012

WIP 15mm Space Marines

Hi guys, I plan on doing an ongoing tutorial on how to convert Khurasans Post Apoc power armour into Space marine armour, first a couple of pics of the unchanged figure, the first one is with a Khurasans Post Apoc warrior and Felid, then a rear view of the unchanged figure.
Step 1
remove the vertical pipe off the right hand side of the back pack, the fuel cell off the weapon and the end of the weapons barrel.
Step 2 
add a band of green stuff from one ear around the back to the other ear, for Mk IIV helmet, add a band from the back of the head to the top of the brow, for beaky helmets add a ball of putty to the mouth and shape to a beak, adding some vent slots on the side of the beak. 
I plan on making a force consisting of 3 x 10 man tactical squads the commanders will be sculpted from scratch, 1 x 5 man devastator squad with sculpted commander, 1 x 10 man Assault squad in jump packs, 1 x 10 man scout squad with shot guns, 1 x 5 man Terminator squad with lightening claws, 1 x 5 man terminator squad with bolters, the termies will probably need to be sculpted from scratch unless I find something suitable to convert and a command squad consisting of 1 commander, 1 Chaplain, 1 apothecary, a standard bearer, and a Veteran Sgt, I may also have a librarian. They will be supported by 2 dreadnoughts from GW and some converted armoured vehicles. 
The overall conversion will consist of converting the helmet (some will be bear headed), adding larger shoulder armour, converting the weapon to a bolter or heavy weapon, re working the back pack, and adding the usual bling (the GW bling is something I don't really like on the 28mm figures e.g. skulls, gems, eagles etc, but in recreating these in 15mm adding them is a must) I don't want these figure to end up slightly resembling space marine, I want there to be no doubt about what they are.
The next thing I need to decide is what chapter I will be doing, I started my own DYI chapter years ago in 28mm the "lamenting Angels" a Blood Angels seeded chapter,  you can see them here http://gunnerswargamming.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/lamenting-angels-chaplain.html
I would like to use the Lamenting Angels but being a 15mm recreation I think I should use a well known Chapter, the most well known being either Blood Angels, Ultra Marines, or Dark Angels, I'm ruling out Dark Angels because the green could get mistaken for just a modern cammo green, I'm leaning towards Blood Angels, but think Ultra Marines would be more recognizable, what do you think. 
Next up I will add ear mounds? to the helmet, and add the shoulder armour.







Tuesday 10 April 2012

Paul Hicks designed Poles

Hi guys, I have just received an order of Poles from Roger Murrow of the Blog RTB AT LARGE
you can order them by contacting Roger at roger.murrow@mmc2100.co.uk or visiting his blog at http://rtbatlarge.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/paul-hicks-designed-poles.html Roger is located in the UK and accepts PayPal.

I have no connection to Roger, and paid full price for my figures.

The packs in the range are 3.25 for 3 and 6.50 for 6 (U.K pounds)
Command x 6 all different
Grenadiers x 3 all different
Skirmishers x 3 all different
Voltiguers x 3 all different
Fusiliers x 6 all different
sapeur and bareheaded fusilier
Mounted officers x 2 different

Poses - all figures, except the 3 skirmishers are in marching poses, the 3 skirmishers are, standing firing, kneeling and advancing with musket at 45 degrees, all the poses look natural.

Size and proportions - the last 2 photos are comparison shots with a Front rank Spanish Grenadier, Wurttemberg Grenadier, and a Perry plastic dragoon, they are slightly smaller then the Front rank and Perry figures, their proportions look realistic and correct, the proportions are closer to Perry's then Front rank.

Accuracy - I am no expert on Napoleonic Polish uniforms, however they seem to be accurate.

Service - I did not receive my full order of 26 figures, my order was missing 6 Fusiliers, having said that, Roger is very easy to deal with, he has always answered my emails in a timely fashion and in fact I received a reply regarding the missing figs within 30 min, and he has promised to send the figures along, the order arrived in quite a fast time, around 8 days from the UK, the figs came lose wrapped in bubble wrap, and only one figure had a broken bayonet, I am happy with the service so far.

My verdict - I like these figures, they are only slightly smaller then Perry and Front rank, and I would have no hesitation in mixing them in the same army, the poses and proportions look natural, and I would say they are exactly to my liking, (I like Front rank figs, but find them slightly to chunky) the detail is nice, and they seem accurate to me, their faces are characterful and full of expression, they look like they are marching into battle under fire, my only issue is the eyes, they are a little to hollow, I like to paint eyes on my 28mm figs and I think I will struggle with these, it will not be an issue for those who don't paint eyes.

My score - 9/10

To add to this post, Roger has replaced figure with the broken bayonet and also sent replacements for the missing figures, he is a stand up bloke.

Grenadiers





Skirmishers


Command











Sapeur and bare head