Artillifex - WIP

[Cfoolhu]

I came perilously close to posting this WIP on the gallery; decided I’d save that for completed work – That said, it’ll probably be awhile before this project ends up with a pic there … My speed to completion is glacial.

I got hooked on GW minis back in ’92 when I had the fortune to pick up a squad of the old plastic MKVI “beaky” marines. They offered a whole lot simple conversion options for modelers who wanted to create models that were somewhat unique. Compared to modern sculpts, the old beakies are pretty crude – still love ‘em, though. But, I digress … I’ve always wanted models that were unique – My modest collection contains hundreds of well-intentioned conversions, executed with varying degrees of success. Though I rarely play any more, I build / paint at a table-top quality level – I have innumerable hours to invest before I would choose to qualify my work as “expert.”

The project below is part of a Tyranid force I’ve been altering for the last few years (did I mention I’m slow?) I’ve completed the putty work (THANK YOU ALL WHO POSTED THE EXCELLENT SCULPTING TUTORIALS!!) and thrown a base coat on it to see if I’d missed a seam here or there. I’m awfully happy with the result – much more work to complete.

Please comment if you’d like – just wanted share something with the artists whose works have inspired me considerably in the last few years.

 

[supervike]

That really looks fantastic!

 

[A Luna]

It looks like a creature actually mutulated into a different creature Very cool looking. Can\'t wait for the end product nor for the first casts *hint hint*:bouncy:

 

[Prophecy07]

I\'m relatively new to 40k and have not had the good fortune to encounter \'Nids yet.

Do all Fex\'s shoot from an additional creature clutching its back, or is that just a very creative sculpt by the OP? Either way, it\'s pretty awesome.

 

[BPI]

Oh, that\'s interesting that you saw the shoulder mounted entity as a form of gun Prophecy07. I\'d read it as a little bugger that waits until close combat then launches forward & engulfs the enemy\'s head in it\'s luscious lips, suffocating them to death (or perhaps dissolving). Always interesting to encounter differing interpretations of the same piece. Nice work Cfoolhu :beer: B.

 

[Cfoolhu]

I\'m glad you like it - Thanks for the enthusiasm.

It\'\'s the body and legs of the Ol\' One Eye character model. The \"artillery piece\" is the thorax of a Red Terror model, with bits from the older heavy weapons \'Nid sprue, a couple of old genestealer forearms and a healthy ration of green stuff.

The Biovore model has always looked a little dodgy, but I think the different symbiote weapon mounting between the shoulders is interesting (the Epic Dominatrix has the same weapon mounting.) So, my model is sort of a carnifex with a turret, rather than the usual handheld weapon symbiote. I had toyed with the idea of giving the carnifex really spindly T-rex like arms, and the gun symbiote arm-manipulators growing into the \'Fex\'s head: The idea then was that the \'fex hadn\'t grown quite right or been badly damaged. Perhaps a frugal hive fleet (ha!) might not render it down to it\'s components if it wasn\'t entirely broken; maybe a symbiote \"patch\" repair could be added.

Still like the idea, but I\'ve decided to keep the control with the \'Fex - the upper right arm I haven\'t attached yet will connect into the gun\'s nervous system. The upper right arm will hold an organic sighter (like the one the old cyclone terminators used to have.)

BPI - I really like the idea of an assault beast mounting; you\'ve given me more food for thought - thanks so much!

I\'ll keep you all posted on progress - thanks again for the attention so far.

 

[Prophecy07]

Sadly, since it is part GW model, you can\'t cast and sell it. Shame, really. Ah well, I can\'t wait to see the paint job.