Cockroach Coloured Tyranids, a Blackadder Work in Progress

    Home Stretch:


    I'm about three quarters way through the second Buypainted video on all my Tyranids:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJha39IUztU


    Where I just applied the satin varnish to the models, Jaro can talk your way through this much better than I can.


    http://i.imgur.com/ycrd3c6.jpg


    Now I need only finish the claws, teeth and mouths, apply the wash and seal the models.


    http://i.imgur.com/Zx9tvZS.jpg


    This is but a small sampling of the models; missing from the photos are the Harridan, Tyrannofex, Gargoyle Brood, Ternagant brood, and Hergamont brood.


    http://i.imgur.com/11N6pfX.jpg


    Following Jaro's Trygon instructions and transposing them to the rest of the menagerie I managed a reasonable facsimile of his work; not perfect but better than I hoped for.


    http://i.imgur.com/jqD09Y4.jpg


    Interesting that the Trygon head is about the same size as the much larger Hierophant's head.


    http://i.imgur.com/ztH32OK.jpg


    The rest of the models after the varnish finishes drying.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Awesome, really awesome...I'm really impressed and fell in love with your tyranids! :love::thumbsup:

    Si vis pacem para bellum!
    Bastelherausforderung II, IV, V und XI bestanden

    Thanks, for the reply and endorsement........


    Some brain droppings as I wait for the paint to dry................


    Tyranid Dentition:


    It strikes me as I work on these monsters that they are not all carnivores.


    True the Carnifex and Tryannofex have the teeth of meat eaters Theropods e.g. Tyrannosaur, Tarbosaur.


    http://museumvictoria.com.au/i…ges/11035/Tarbosaurus.jpg


    likewise the H. & T. 'Gants and the Gargoyles being analogous to Raptors and Pterosaurs although there is speculation that some Pterosaurs were fish eaters.


    The Tyrgon and Harridan have the dentition of fish eaters


    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi…9/Mounted_Spinosaurus.jpg


    The Hierophant is decidedly a vegan having small peglike teeth similar to herbevorous Sauropods e.g. Apatosaur, Camarosaur etc:


    http://www.nature.com/polopoly…andscape_630/Dinosaur.jpg


    This goes along with the small head and huge abdomen which would be a fermenting vat to break down fiber the resulting methane could be modified into toxic weapon chemicals and of course flatus........ they never mention this in the codex.


    --
    E. Blackadder

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Maybe thats exactly what the swarm inetelligence wants?
    How could you eat a whole planet with only carnivores? And the longer I lock at it that way, the tyranids have way to little combat-cows, rampage-rabbits and exterminator-earthworms...
    ^^

    Hey a Rabbit skeleton might be just the thing for a basis for my Nuln Queen Bio-Titan but I think I'll stick with the giant centipede on the first page. That would make a fantastic Nuln Queen.



    Picture that rearing up 2/3 meter tall against the Warlord................


    Meanwhile:


    Trust Me, It's Not That Yellow:


    Well at the suggestion of one of my readers I messed around with the white balance and ended up with a blue Hierophant:


    http://i.imgur.com/cbHDFwO.jpg


    You would think the yellow would change but no just the rest of the model has this weird blue glow instead, Ha!


    So I put the setting back and changed the venue and we're back to the orange highlights looking yellow.


    http://i.imgur.com/MDgduYn.jpg


    Meanwhile the Varnishing continues after a deluge of biblical proportions yesterday where I daren't apply varnish in that type of humidity.

    http://i.imgur.com/zfj5fb6.jpg


    Putting the time to good use priming the Chaos Titan.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von Blackadderz ()

    Hierophant Attaching the Legs:


    I used Locktite 5 minute epoxy to attach the legs.


    http://i.imgur.com/R6Cl3Rq.jpg


    The rear legs have a huge attach point cup and knuckle to apply glue so modification was not necessary


    http://i.imgur.com/Iz1PxTz.jpg


    but the front legs attach point is rather flimsy so I did the following. When I first received the model there were vent plugs moulded into the front attach knuckle; I left those and instead drilled receiving holes in the cup socket.


    http://i.imgur.com/zHvkLFA.jpg


    Being rather paranoid about the durability of such a heavy yet delicate model I went further and drilled reinforcement rod holes in the vent plugs and inserted coat hanger wire rods through the body and into each shoulder to strengthen the joint.


    http://i.imgur.com/T5PZ75H.jpg


    Note the hole through the body at the second shoulder recess in this off colour image.


    http://i.imgur.com/V3TgazN.jpg


    Now that this process is documented I can proceed with the actual gluing.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Attaching the Front Legs:


    Here we see the right front leg attached; I really like this pose compared to most I've seen of the Hierophant. It has an aggressive quality whereas the usual pose has a more submissive/defensive aspect.


    http://i.imgur.com/zRIq09o.jpg


    The left side view shows of the more belligerent stance to good advantage.


    http://i.imgur.com/elTAeBg.jpg


    And a close up shows the coat hanger rod protruding from the shoulder ready for the arm attachment.


    http://i.imgur.com/JMuJ4GD.jpg


    I probably will be putting the guns on pivots so the can be trained up and down. The model is very limited in how it can be posed so the gun elevation is about all you can make variable.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von Blackadderz ()

    Building a Base:


    seeing how this model is so delicate I have to make a proper base; it's as good a time as any to try to make a display scene so the beauty of this model can be appreciated. I first selected a proper base plate which in fact is the largest I have in my inventory.


    The plaque I chose is one foot in diameter and 3/4 inch thick made by Heirloom Craft Products in York PA 17402; No google listing so they must be out of business.....


    http://i.imgur.com/kk4LqvI.jpg


    This base is about three inches in diameter bigger than the work base and should be adequate.


    http://i.imgur.com/h0NYgFy.jpg

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Thanks for the reply,


    Some Trial Bases:


    So after years of modeling I've finally decided to learn how to make bases for my work.


    Even though my Titans have screaming need for display stands I figured the Tyranids would be best to experiment on so here's a couple I played with last night and early this morning I thought, "Why not 'Skulls'?"


    http://i.imgur.com/GqMdgdC.jpg


    Rummaging though the bitz box I found dozens of skulls on various Chaos sprues, clipped them, primed with bone white and placed them on the newly primed bases. Hmmm? thinks I, "Something's missing.....Why not Skeletons?"


    http://i.imgur.com/PIAG7gb.jpg



    So I whipped up a rib cage out of wire; it's a tad over-sized but not too bad for a first attempt.


    http://i.imgur.com/2DpKwZg.jpg


    Once I get the procedure down I'll present a demo on how to make 'em.


    http://i.imgur.com/VXnUrZW.jpg


    I need to find coarser cork but the sand gravel came right out of my driveway apron.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Mistakes were made:


    Well my first attempt at wash was a wash out. Either I did not dilute it enough or I used the wrong wash but the Hive Tyrant has a bad case of Yellow Jaundice. Fortunately it is my experiment model so worst case scenario I strip and repaint it but since it's metal I'm not going to bother.


    The Tyrgon will have to wait until I get the wash right.


    Meanwhile the bases seem to have turned out okay:


    http://i.imgur.com/TXpY8x3.jpg


    In order of application:


    A Black overall Prime


    Grey Prime dry brushed


    VA Game Color Cold Grey dry brush


    " " " Bone White Highlight dry brush


    VA Model Air Earth Brown Airbrushed fissures


    VA Game Color Bone White dry brush rock high lights.


    http://i.imgur.com/lyNfwyp.jpg


    Still have the Trygon mandibles to install but painting wise it's done except for the wash.


    http://i.imgur.com/ry6fS2k.jpg


    http://i.imgur.com/9QQ46jM.jpg

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    You're Taking Recycling Too Far Blackadder:


    No, it's not what it looks like!


    Looking for all the world like a dried meadow muffin but in point of fact a wall plaque with cork sheeting and detritus from the end of my driveway.

    http://i.imgur.com/qetsBCC.jpg


    Close up shows the fine sand, coarse sand and pea gravel used to add texture to the fissures


    http://i.imgur.com/ODmGEUa.jpg


    The Hierophant posed on all fours in this instance shows that even a base 12 inches in diameter is inadequate to display this sprawling Arthropod.


    http://i.imgur.com/o3qLhrv.jpg


    So the Hierophant is capable of assuming it's intended pose as well as the more dynamic one I prefer.


    http://i.imgur.com/BbXSRGX.jpg


    And the 'cow pie' in black prime.


    http://i.imgur.com/Vh7nADb.jpg

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Lost in the Shuffle:


    I took these images a week ago but forgot to post them:


    http://i.imgur.com/XJMSB7y.jpg


    A closeup of the base with assorted remains and a few Gargoyles:


    http://i.imgur.com/VfrTOFQ.jpg


    A few tufts of vegetation would not be amiss:


    http://i.imgur.com/OUar94H.jpg



    I greatly prefer this pose to the standard submissive one advocated by FW:


    http://i.imgur.com/EVaYgAJ.jpg


    Of course this type of lunging pose could not be maintained statically any more than a runner can sustain a full trot stance at any split second of his step cycle. It is an instant frozen in time:


    http://i.imgur.com/y8nr30j.jpg

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    I've neglected this thread for over half a year;


    Helpful Harridan Hints:


    So you bought yourself a Harridan, probably one of the easiest FW models to build but also one of the most easily broken.


    Why, because of its size and the delicate nature of it's parts. The thinly constructed head and sinuous tail stuck out front and back. The talons hanging down ready to snag on a shirt sleeve and that ridiculous stand is an accident waiting to happen coupled with the thick humongous wings; it's totally top heavy.


    Well today we are going to address these issues to save you a lot of grief later on when you use it in a game.


    First the head:


    http://i.imgur.com/03eV8Ws.jpg


    I'm going to magnetize the head fastenings with two rare earth magnets one 2 MM thick for the head and one 3 MM thick for the neck. I used my Dremel and a drum cutter to cut a shallow well on the head about 2 MM deep. The head material is very thin so I dare not cut deeper than 2 MM. i cut a well 3 MM deep in the neck because the neck material is very thick. This will give a strong attachment but also allow the head to be removed for easy transport of this fragile Tyranid titan.


    I put a spot of cyanoacrylate glue to temporarily affix the magnet to the head and neck because I want to see how the head is positioned and that the magnets meet flush before I permanently attach the magnets with epoxy.


    http://i.imgur.com/9fr3ljk.jpg


    http://i.imgur.com/MmHAORR.jpg


    http://i.imgur.com/FQVP1xi.jpg


    Well that's just about perfect;


    next the tail.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Lemme See Ya Shake Your Tail Feather:


    The tail is much too long to attach with a magnet but fortunately there's a nice deep socket that it plugs into. It's supposed to be glued into that socket but I have a better way to mount it.


    I drilled holes into the tail and the base and with a piece of ordinary coat hanger wire fashioned an internal clamp. Glue the wire into the base and plug in the tail. so it lines up but it's still loose in the socket.


    http://i.imgur.com/QgQrmgz.jpg


    Bend the wire slightly up so the tail plug is pressing on the top of the socket and there it is, a tight connection.


    http://i.imgur.com/XyOVtIO.jpg


    That can be easily removed for transport.


    Next the wings.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."

    Wow, all the effort you put into that... Your endurance is inspiring. Although I have to admit that the color scheme a little bit too monotonous for me, I really like all the details!


    The bases are really cool, too. Especially since I'm planning on doing something that... destructed also with my Tyranids.

    Thanks for the reply and I agree the colours on the Harridan are very plain and flat at the moment but that is just the base coat. I t will be enhanced with an orange wash, then a satin varnish plus the head needs detailing and talons need blue tips.


    That should perk it up a tad.


    The Harridan Née Thunderhawk:


    I call it that because as with the Thunderhawk the aerodynamics are suspect. In short it would be impossible for the Harridan to fly as it has neither shoulders nor sternum keel to anchor the flight muscles and the wings are kind of just stuck on through holes in the chitin.


    But it's still a cool model.


    So here's the completed model sans the brood gargoyles (I've yet to paint them) in natural light..........


    http://i.imgur.com/Va4zAxp.jpg


    and flash........


    http://i.imgur.com/Gjhjq3t.jpg


    I still have a lot of painting to do but I assembled it mainly with rods and plug ins to show the construction is stable without gluing together the pieces.


    Now I can disassemble the components for the final painting.

    "It is easier to deceive people than it is to convince them that they have been deceived."