Iron Priest on a Thunderwolf (WIP)

It's been a while since I've made a Work In Progress post, and now is as good a time as any. Though it does make sense from a lore standpoint, I wish Rune Priests and Wolf Priests weren't excluded from riding Thunderwolves. That only leaves three different non-named characters capable of doing so, and since Wolf Guard Battle Leader and Wolf Lord are very similar in most respects, Iron Priest is where I get to use my creativity.

The headless and armless horse... wolf-man look is obviously going to change. I've been thinking about Mk.III arms, for the extra protected look, and custom-sculpting a head with some bionic augmentations to it, just enough to mark the Iron Priest for who he is.
I thought it would make sense that an Iron Priest would combine the proven effectiveness of the ancient Mk.IV Maximus armour and the newer innovations, such as the raised gorget in Mk.VIII Errant armour. After all, Iron Priests wear 2+ armour, and this has to be represented on the model.
I have studied historical horse armour for tips on how to armour the Thunderwolf, but horses have typically been protected by quilted cloth and/or chainmail, which would not really work in the 40k setting. Admittedly, GW's own Thunderwolf models haven't been armoured at all, despite having 3+ armour save, so I'm not taking too much pressure from this.

I have no idea when this will be finished. Hopefully relatively soon, but that may still mean months ahead.

Cathedral Wall Backdrop, main structure

Foamboard may be one of the easiest terrain building materials, but it still certainly takes some time to learn to make anything out of it. I have been building this terrain piece occasionally, but the progress has been fairly slow. Fortunately, I have enough material and it's cheap enough to waste some of it on some occasional mistakes.

After the previous post, I tried to make the previous flying buttresses a little thicker, but just couldn't get them to look right. Eventually, I decided they just needed to be remade. The new ones are somewhat more elaborate, constructed in two pieces each.
I also added a windowsill and some pieces of wood to frame the window.

 The windowsill came from GW's Cities of Death Floor Pack, which I intend to use some more on this project, too. The flying buttresses are still uneven, as can be seen on the right.

After fixing a few minor issues, the next step will be to work on the decoration. I have some plans regarding that, but I'll leave that information to myself for now.

Cathedral Wall Backdrop, basic frame

So my Imperial Chapel build is currently on hiatus, probably until I figure out a good way to either make the corner pillars a lot sturdier or something suitable to replace them with. I still have a big pile of foamcore around, so I decided to start on another, more limited project.
What I'm building is pretty much just one wall with a window and possibly some small doors, and intended to be used as a backdrop for my miniature photos. I'm planning to add a faint lightsource behind the window, so in addition to adding to the background, it should also improve the lighting a bit, too.

Here's the basic frame of the wall, approximately where it'll be once it's finished. I had to take the picture from further away to get the whole wall in frame, and a little from the side to show the flying buttresses.
I'm keeping it simple for now, with just a couple of small buttresses and one large window frame. I intend to add a small section of wall under the window, to make it look less like a glass door.
Once the basic architecture is done, I'm going to start adding decorative elements. I won't spoil what sort of decoration I'll add, in part because I'm not completely sure myself yet, but it will take a lot of pomp to make the building fit with the general theme of 40k Imperial architecture.

Servitor (Work in Progress)

Servitors are some of the more disturbing pieces of 40k lore. The idea of punishing someone by repurposing their body to perform some menial tasks, while their brain is basically cut out of the loop, sounds like a horror movie's premise.Unfortunately, I think that the GW standard Servitor models look too lively for what they're supposed to be. For that reason, I made my own.

 At first, I thought of using pieces from the Kataphron Battle-Servitor kit for the servo-arm, but though I had built my Kataphrons as Destroyers and had all the close-combat claw weapons unused, they didn't really look like they'd fit the part, so I would have to build by own.
Servitors are supposed to have carapace armour. I decided mine was a Blood Claw who managed to cross an Iron Priest badly enough to be made an example of. His Black Carapace implant would serve the role of the standard carapace armour.
I don't really know why an Iron Priest would have a Servitor wear trousers any more than I have my screwdrivers wear necklaces, but the other options would have been to actually have a nude Servitor, probably with some strategically placed wire bundles, or to cut him in half at the waist. The latter is still an option for the other Servitors I intend make, but for now,  I decided the Servitor would have trousers on, just as the GW standard models do.
The face is something I paid a lot of attention to. I tried to make the model look as slackjawed as possible, to show that he only moves the muscles he's been programmed to.

 I tried to really make the model look bulky enough to have been a Sky Warrior, until he did something seriously dumb and had an Iron Priest decide he'd serve the Chapter better as a walking monkey wrench than as a warrior. I think the most effective way to get this across is to focus on the shoulders and the neck muscles.

There's still plenty of work to do with the model's servo arm. This is true of anything mechanical-looking made out of green stuff. I plan to still add a whole bunch of cables and possibly modify a Space Marine backpack and give it to the model as a power source for his bionic components, the hydraulic claw in particular. Not sure about that, though, as I'd like the model to be completely scratch-built, excluding the base.
I also intend to give the model suitably Blood Claw-esque hair.

Imperial Chapel, early stage build

With the basic building elements cut out, the next stage was to start putting them together. It became immediately apparent that the pillars at each corner made things significantly more complicated that just a cubical construction would have done. The octagonal shape calls for a whole bunch of various calculations, and making the pillars solid is a challenge by itself.

 Even though I thought I was making a modestly-sized building with 15 cm wall length, it turned out to be relatively large when I tried to fit it in the box I use for photographing my models.
The pillars were made by cutting 175 mm x 80 mm pieces of foamcore and then dividing it into eight 10 mm wide and 175 mm long strips. I then cut the paper on the outside of each strip so that I could fold them inwards, making a pillar with an octagonal profile.  For the time being, I use tape to keep the pillars in shape, but will have to think of a more permanent solution.
As you can see, I used sewing needles to pin the pieces in place while waiting for the PVA glue to dry.

 The two collapsed pillars were made similarly, only cut irregularly at certain height. I plan to use the pieces I cut out of the wall elements for rubble later on.

I also started working on the interior. The walkway is placed so that models on it can fire out of the large, circular window. I'm thinking of adding stairs that lead to it, though the placement of the windows may make that challenging.

Imperial Chapel, first pieces

As I mentioned last week, I got a hold of some foamboard, or foamcore, to be more precise, and am now starting a project to build something out of it.
I haven't previously worked with the stuff, so this playlist on TerrainTutor's channel on YouTube helped immensely with getting started.
As I mentioned it might be, my first project is going to be an Imperial chapel for 40k. As with many projects, the first thing to do was research. I ended up loosely basing my chapel-to-be on the Gothic chapel in Peterhof.

 The white foamcore board in front of the white background isn't very clearly visible, but there's not much yet to see, anyway. This is the front wall of the chapel, with a quinto acuto arch on the doorway (the center of both arcs is one fifth of the width short of the opposite edge).

 The windows on the intact side (one of the walls will be mostly collapsed, to gve access to the building) are similar to the recto style (the centers of the archs one fourth forward from the opposite edge), but I used five as the number instead of four.

 The collapsed side, with a partially collapsed tower. Two of the towers will be damaged, while the other two will be intact. The two damaged ones will be on either side of the collapsed wall. The roof will be about half collapsed, possibly more, depending on how much room is needed so that about a normal-sized hand can fit in the building to move the models.

The back wall will have a large, round window, with a catwalk or a ledge behind it so that it can be used as a firing position. Round, decorative windows are very typical to gothic style architecture.

There's a lot more to do, but those are the four walls, around which the chapel will be built. I have no idea how long this project will be, but I plan to sculpt at least one major statue, possibly three or more, to decorate it, in addition to the building itself. I haven't decided on a schedule yet, but considering how fragile the foamboard and how dangerous place my desk is, I think it will have to be completed in a fairly short order.

Thoughts on Basing and Posing

Basing miniatures is often considered separate from posing them. It's often done as something like an afterthought, where you try to come up with something to avoid just having the base left blank. While I, too, often just base my models to tie them further in with the rest of my army, sometimes I take the base into account already at the posing stage.

 One of the more basic techniques is to simply put the model on uneven ground. This is a simple method of making the model seem more dynamic and realistic, since 41st millennium wars generally don't take place on golf courses. It also serves to make some of GW's standard leg poses seem more natural and give a reason to why the model's legs are in such an extreme position.

 This also works with less humanoid models, as can be seen with this WIP shot of Kataphron Destroyer. These models have very posable waists and left shoulders, and this pose takes advantage of this.

Another way to make the base and the model interact can be seen on this older shot of Thunderwolf Cavalry, where I added rough terrain and a corpse over it to the space the mount seems to be going around. Again, this makes the model seem a little more interesting.

Conveying movement is important in a combat pose, but that can sometimes be a little tricky, even with posable multipart miniatures. Here, I chose a wolf cloak from the older Space Wolf Accessories sprue that GW sold until fairly recently, because it's flaring to the appropriate direction relatively to the movement I'm trying to convey on this Wolf Guard. I imagined him dropping down to his left knee from the left, while simultaneously slashing with both of his Wolf Claws. His cloak would trail behind him while he twists to his right.

Arjac's Shieldbrothers' Pack Leader (WIP)

I believe that the key to having a really great-looking army is to take no shortcuts. While it's very natural to want to put more effort in the character models at the expense of the rest of the miniatures in the units, giving each one real attention will result in an army you can be proud of.
All that said, I still find myself giving the character models more attention than the rest, especially when it comes to characters in centrepiece units like Thunderwolf Cavalry, Void Claws or, in this case, Arjac's Shieldbrothers.

Now, some of the missing details in this model may be slightly more obvious than others. Glossing over the lack of face, which in this case has nothing to do with the model being shamed for something, I still plan to add some sort of fur apron or something similar to the legs. Also, the bare left leg may or may not get some extra decoration.

 I like to think that the Shieldbrothers each have their Thunder Hammers customized to fit best their individual fighting style. In this case, I imagine the axe blade being used more for hooking action than offending, catching the attacker's weapon right after blocking the attack with the shield, leaving them open for a counterattack (as represented by the formation's rules).

The most labour-intensive part of the model has (so far) been the bionic left leg. I decided that I wanted it to have a lupine shape to it, instead of the more standard ones. It confers no additional abilities, but the high quality is included in the bonuses the model gets from being a part of the Great Wolf's Wolf Guard.
The model's base will be further detailed before painting. If nothing else, I have to use cork to get the bottom of the model's left foot in contact with ground.

Arjac Rockfist, work in progress

Arjac was one of the first special characters I started working on when I returned to 40k hobby a couple of years ago. In the fluff, he is described as a huge man, even by Astartes standards, which gave me the interesting challenge of trying to make a model in Terminator armour look bigger than a Terminator. While I managed to clear that hurdle, the relatively crude sculpting I did at the time discouraged me from continuing to work on the model, until now. Rather than just redoing what I don't like, I decided to take a moment to show what I did back then, before going on to redo the parts I'm unsatisfied with.

 The head of the model isn't actually too bad, though the sculpt could definitely be a lot cleaner. It remains to be seen if the head needs to be replaced, or if it will be enough to just fix the eyes and the brow. The blacksmith's apron will need to be redone, but the pelt on his left shoulder looks actually pretty good and may stay as it is. Foehammer's head definitely needs to be redone.
One of the methods I used to give the model more height was adding extra material to the soles of his boots. Arjac used to be an Iron Priest, so I gave the boots Mechanicum's cogtooth pattern decoration.
Another method I used was adding material to the top of the legs piece, lengthening his torso. I also added plenty of ProCreate to the sides of the model's torso, in addition to the guitar strings to emulate extra cabling.

 Anvil Shield needs to be redone, as well. In addition to looking crude, the shield's decoration just isn't great conceptually. I added the shield boss as something of an afterthought. Contrary to GW's official model, I think the shield should be more or less flat, as it's described as routinely being used offensively, which just doesn't work as well with a domed shield. While the final shield may well end up having a picture of an anvil on it, it'll have to be a lot more stylized.
Speaking of anvils, the anvil decoration on top of the torso needs some touching up, as well. Probably just some decoration, though.

The base was one of the first where I thought of putting something under the foot of the bent leg. It probably won't need much improvement.

Remains to be seen how long it takes to get the model to my liking.

Terminator-armoured Rune Priest, work in progress

I originally intended to just make one rune priest in regular Mk.VI power armour. Then, I misplaced that and started to work on one in Mk.V armour while the first one was lost. Then, having already sculpted two psychic hoods, I decided I should have one in Terminator armour as well.

Though I like the frost axe included in the Wolf Guard Terminators kit, I'm having difficulties dealing with the thought of using a piece without modifying it. The storm bolter, on the other hand, is about ready here, with a double drum magazine and customized iron (bronze? Green stuff really, though) sights.

His right pauldron still needs some work. I'm thinking of including some knotwork decorations. Also, the top of his wrist still needs some fixing.

As it says in the title, this one is still very much work in progress. He's still lacking all the rune medallions, wolf teeth, wolftail talismans etc. a rune priest needs. I also think he should have a pelt somewhere on his armour.
This model's finished version here

Modified Space Marine bike

Space Wolves clearly have a biker-kind of look to them, even if it is because they share influences, rather than one directly influencing the other. Long hairs, big beards and general over-the-top masculinity is very typical to both looks. That's why I decided to go for the custom bike look when I started modifying the first of my army's bikers.

 I lengthened the fork with pieces of 1.5 mm wire, while cutting out most of the front and bottom plates. I also sculpted extra pieces to the exhausts so they wouldn't look like they end so abruptly. Future plans include sculpting drum magazines for the bolters for the same reason.

 Another thing to modify was the handlebar. Instead of the standard straight model, I used pieces of wire to set the bar higher and slightly wider. I also cut off part of the seat to accomodate the rider sitting further back. Of course, this requires some modifications to the rider as well, but that's getting ahead of things.

This one will just be the pack leader's bike -- I doubt I'll go through all this with the whole pack. Then again, it's not like they need to be ready by some specific date, so you never know.

Lukas the Trickster & a return to the drawing board with Bran Redmaw

Imperial Armour 11 may need some updating as far as the rules go, but I have always liked the backstory of Bran Redmaw, and since the book had at least some sort of rules for him, I started working on my model of The Curs'd Lord to lead one of the three Great Companies in my army. However, what I found myself working on would have been fine for some other Wolf Lord, but not for someone about to give in to his inner beast and turn into a monster at any moment.

 I mean, come on, most Ultramarine captains would call that posturing a little excessive.
I expect the torso will make a return in the form of a Wolf Guard pack leader or possibly a Deathwatch Captain, if I feel like thinking outside the box. The arms will probably be used for the final Bran Redmaw model, and someone else was glad to receive the legs...

 Lukas the Trickster, aka the Jackalwolf, is an interesting character, but once again, I didn't really like the way GW's model is posed. Pointing a wolf claw at the sky behind one's head doesn't make a lot of sense. I also thought the doppelgangrel pelt doesn't cover enough of him to be of any use, especially in a challenge. I chose to model and give him an older model of lightning/wolf claw, which I then posed in a way that suggests issuing a challenge. I imagine him saying "May I have this dance?" and then laughing mockingly.

The dramatic pose of the legs works well when the character is canonically arrogant.
I'm still planning to add a battle helm somewhere on his armour, where he can put it on if necessary, and may make his pelt a little longer and more dramatic.

Thunderwolf Cavalry with Mk. IV Armour, WIP

I still haven't completely made up my mind about Thunderwolf Cavalry. On one hand, it does sort of go against the whole "fighting on foot, the way Russ intended" thing, and is silly enough to register even in 40k context, where person-sized chainswords (chainswords!) is the norm. On the other hand, the models are IMO among the best GW has produced, as long as you take care posing the riders.

This is another old model, as can be seen in the ProCreate/Green Stuff mix used to make his chainsword and the wolf's chest armour. As the title says, this is still work in progress, more so than with most of my submissions so far; the wolf's chest armour needs some sort of decoration, and the little canine helmet could use some more details.

 The rider is wearing Mk. IV 'Maximus' power armour from Forgeworld. I imagine it to be something of a minor relic of the chapter, signifying his rank as a senior member of the Wolf Guard. I may also end up adding an extra decoration on his backpack, marking him out as the pack leader.

I thought the reins one of the more important aspects of the conversion. The thought of a veteran warrior trying to steer a charging wolf by telling it where to go was just ridiculous to me. The reins are made of fine chain I bought from a local craft shop (one of my better purchases).

The battle helm is hanging from his waist / mag-locked to his armour. I may yet add some identifying markers on it.

Final model here