Theodore Bruckner and Reaper as a Space Marine Bike Captain?

I need some advice, but first boring non-hobby stuff.

So I am still recovering from pneumonia, on the antibiotics and until the cycle is done I can't really paint or convert (due to tremors). So sorting through old ideas, trades and bits boxes is what I am left with.

 

Great model 'eh?

I picked up Theodore Bruckner and Reaperin a trade a while back, to go with the Cyber-Cavalry and my Kor’sarro Khan & Librarian conversions. He's been laying around for a while and maybe now is the time to start planning out his introduction to my army.

 

So here is the problem, he is HUGE. I am using the Dragonforge bike bases, and even Jeff's large bases seem small compared to him! 

 

So the question is..

1. Use the Dragonforge 40mm x75mm base and accept the overhang, kind of like Jetbikes
2. Use the Dragonforge 60mm x 100m attack bike base (Huge, but might work)
3. Use the provided Chariot base which is 50mm x 100m
4. Or ....?

When I posted this on my Club forums someone suggest cutting down Reaper's body a bit to make it fit, and I really don't like that option, yes it will correct the size, and be closed to the Empire Demigryph Knights I was hoping to convert into a Command Squad but it stills feels like a bad idea.

So looking for some advice before I start adding Bionics and converting Theodore to be Space Marine in Heresy era armor.

 

A Second new addition to my army: Librarian on Bike

I know "Bike" is a stretch but I love the Games Workshop Horses.

 

 

"Thoth"is my take on a Librarian on bike, a conversion that sat half finished for nearly a year before I got back to him. Thankfully the often vaunted Dark Angels provide a superior Librarian for a significant reduction in points costs.

 Keeping with the Egyptian theme of the army I wanted a weapon flexible enough to count as either a force axe or sword depending on the needs of the list.

WIP Kor’sarro Khan Part 5, Finished Model

Amun Khan, leader of "Khepri's Relentless Legion"

Sorry for the delay in posts. I have been using every spare minute (almost literally) to finish this army for the St Valentine’s Massacre this weekend in Media PA. I have not had a chance to set up my photo box to take good pictures of the finished Cavalry. That being said I just (02/24/2011, 16:29 EST) finished assembling the Kor’sarro Khan model I will be using.

A few notes:

1. I wanted to add gold hieroglyphics to the inside of the cloak, but I was running out of time, and that was going to be a seriously involved process.
2. I like the head I crafted for my Khan, as a follower of Anubis. It's Sculpted with a Space Wolves head as a base into a jackal like shape. I also like the colors (Thanks Beltway Gamers) I picked for it, but it seems off. It could be I am biased as every model I build I add a Thousand Sons head to it…
3. I still stink at doing power weapons, but getting closer
4. I think in the future every multi-wound model is getting "wound counters" like the jackals here.
   

   
   I am thinking of leaving him as is after the tourney, and just building a second one (additional HQ choice) and using what I have learned to make the next incarnation that much better.
   
   Feedback welcome!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



WIP Kor’sarro Khan Part 4

Another Quick update,

Made the FTW Tuesday Top 10 list, if thats not enough of a reason to post more I don't know what is... 

Khan is closer to completion, I bounce around a lot, had to work on bases for my Techmarines, so I did Khan's base at the same time.

I am using "Jackals" as wound counters, with magnets built into the excellent Dragonforge base.





Feedback as always welcome..

Bikes & Attack Bikes next!

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 14

Just a quick update, working to finish the Bikes, Attack Bikes (photos posted soon), Thunderfire cannons w/ Techmarines, etc... I don't think I will have time to rebuild 3 fresh Dreads before the end of the month, but we shall see!

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 13

Banners!

Finishing off the backpacks, sitting listening to a conference call for work and figured it would be a great time to post a follow up.

Worked with some wet blending and shading on "cloth" overall I think it looks better in person then the photos, but either way I like it.

Hieroglyphics are surprisingly hard to draw at this scale in metallic paints, I am finding black thinned down is fairly consistent in flow when thinned with either “Flow Aid” and or water, however metallic paints don’t seem to flow with a good amount of stability. The result is the GW Shinning Gold ends up a little more blobby then I would have preferred but it’s still better then I was a year ago.

Break down of the Hieroglyphics, which are a hybrid of correct cartouches and a 21st century modification for space, left to right on the panels:

1. Khepri’s Eternal Legion
2. Amun’s Horde
3. Anubis’ Squadron
4. 2/3/2011 completion date.

The decal is a pre-heresy Thousand Sons icon I found off some older 1996 era Space Marine decal sheets, perfectly sized for the banner top.

As always feedback welcome.

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 12

Closing on the finish line!

Finishing up the torsos and the backpacks…

Torsos:

Primarily Space Marine Assault torso’s but also mixed in Red Scorpion Vanguard Veteran and Veteran Sergeant Cullan torsos I won last year at the  St. Valentines Day Massacre 40k GT at Showcase Comics. I was overall disappointed with the quality of the Forge World casts, with a lot of bubbles, “fuzz” and miscasts.

Backpacks:

I went through about 6 different styles of power packs for the bikers, wanting to do something unique but It was pointed out by a couple good friends that overall is pulled away from the conversion work, was too big.

Once assembly is done it’s on to the Attack Bikes!

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 11

LEGS!

A little behind in my posts, picking up pace on finishing these as I am trying to get them ready for the ST. Valentines Day Massacre Warhammer 40k Grand Tournament in February.

Feedback is always welcome!

 

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 10 (basing completed!)

Long delay in posts, work, life, and the holidays....

Bases completed, all 24 bikers on them (with the exception of the attack bikes to come shortly).. Starting the build out of the legs and bodies of the riders...



WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 9 (basing continued)

Continuing the thread of trying for advanced basing…

Once the layout is done, the green stuff cured and the ”ruins” removed I begin the next stage… for which you need glue and Sand.

The Glue is basic White Glue, or “glue all” (see link), cheap, basic and effective.

The sand is a mixture of playground grade, hobby grade and some mixed leftover crud from the bottom of the terrain box giving a nice variety of sizes and shapes giving a more interesting and realistic look to the base. The Photo is overkill but it gives a good example of the different grits I am working with.

I start by applying a layer of white glue mixed 10 to 1 with water. A lot of people seem to vary on how much water to use but this is what works for me. Quickly, one base at a time I let sand sift through my fingers onto the base, twice letting a nice uneven layer build up, the second time around focusing on the light or bare spots. Once that stage is done I let the bases dry overnight, which believe it or not is key.

Once dry gently dust them off, using a large Dry Brush over the tub of sand, to save as much as possible. Check again for bare spots. If needed repeat the steps above

Then immediately prime with two solid layers (but don’t over do it) of a black primer.

Dupli-color Premium Sandable Primers are what I suggest for the following reasons;

1)It’s cheaper then Games Workshop primers, $5.20 vs $15.00, for about the same volume
2) It’s actually a primer instead of a spray paint.
3) Even though it’s a “gap filling” product as long as you do several light coats you will not loose any detail
4) For it’s price it’s a quality product! 15 minute dry time in perfect conditions.
5) Once dry, if you totally screwed up the project Simple Green will strip it right off
6) Last but not least, in Washington, DC’s variable climate, from humid to dry, frigid to broiling, I have just to have it bubble, crack, spit or cause any of the other headaches a lot of other products cause. I have sprayed in 20 degree weather, left it outside for an hour, finished the drying in another room and it's perfect

A special thanks goes to my good friend, The Brotha, who turned me onto the product, oh and BTW the Hot-Rod black is actually a Matt color, just sound like a gloss product.

I then Drybrush the following colors in order:

Calthan Brown (Citadel Foundation Paint)

Beast Hide (P3 Paint)

Kommando Khaki (GW)

Jack Bone (P3)

Bleached Bone (GW)

And Finally Skull White (GW)

After that I go back and pick out any details I built into the bases (skeletons, broken weapons or armor)

 

 
 
 

 

Then Finally I add back on the ruins and other terrain bitz to finish the bases.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished product I am proud of, and now I can focus on building the riders.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WIP Space Marine Bikes Part 8 (basing continued)

Because I play in enough GT style tournaments and high quality basing can add those extra couple points to the total score to tip you over the edge I am trying to push the envelope.

I am making the squad’s bases interlocking puzzle pieces that I am hoping will really pop on a display board and should make everything look more dynamic.

I first lay out the pattern I want.

Then Build up the bases with Green Stuff, making anchors for the rocks and ruins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ruins have magnets drilled into the matching pieces, strong enough to attract but not enough to cause a problem when picking them up.

It does take alot longer per base set, but I think it's worth it, if your really trying to make your figures pop great basing helps!