WIP (counts as) Dreadknight

[Mourner]

First of all, I am first and foremost a painter, if I don't play a game at all yet end up with a great collection of mini's, I can still die a happy man.

That said, I've always loved the Inquisition.
The background, the level of freedom in modeling and painting.

With the new GK codex, I've decided to start building an army (slowly, one cool mini at a time).
Some months ago, I started work on a dreadnought.
But with the new GK, I've decided it's more of a dreadknight

Since this is meant to be a playable army as well as a display piece, I'll need to be sure it's gaming legal.
For this reason, I'd like to know what size base the new dreadknight is on (is it equal to a CD?).

Any answer would be greatly appreciated, and as a gesture of appreciation, I've included one photo of the mini.

The IG in the lower right corner is just for scale, same picture, same distance just cut and moved.

This project is still VERY much a WIP.

since this picture was taken, I've decided to change the gun, reposition the CC-weapon, add a Banner(pole) and lengthen the torso.
As yet, the torso is hollow, and empty... But will be filled with machinery.
The lower body of the pilot will consist of wires connecting him to the lower part of the machine.
Even though this will be an Inq army, this dread will have a really strong AdMech feel to it, with lots of tech and lots of AdMech symbols.

A picture of one of my Inquisitors, showing the colourscheme I intend to use (bleached bone for armour, red for anything soft. blue or green spots)
For the base of the dread (and the display for the army), I was thinking about a ruined Monastery.
With the dread standing on a second level somewhere, looking out over the lower part.

So, what do you guys think? any tips, suggestions or cautions so far

 

[Marlow]

The dreadknight base is the 60mm oval i think. I could be mistaken on the exact dimensions, I know its the oval one. You can probably google it . . . yep I just googled it it's the 120mm oval one that comes with stormravens and trygons, I apologize.

I too am a modeler/collector before a gamer, so I understand you're line of thought. I would just say if you want it to have that AdMech look, keep as mechanical as possible. The eldar weapons on the gun arm could possibly be "Imperial-ed up a little." I've found that excessive wiring and a few pieces of plasticard can do that trick pretty easily hah. It looks like you got some plasticard on there, so you know what you're doing. Maybe you've changed it a little since this pic, but I'd suggest possibly sheathing the long barrels in something like a rectangular "barrel of sorts" around both, and then a bunch of piano wire or florist wire (which is what i use, way cheap but takes some time, just wrap 26 gauge florist wire around a 22 or 20 gauge core). This would distract from the smooth lines, which AdMech isn't known for.

My only suggestion with such a large base for a model is in terms of gaming. I too game rarely, and this has caused me to end up modelling quite a few precarious things. As your bases get more and more ostentatious, which are awesome in display cabinets, they sometimes can get harder to play with. Guess it depends on who you play with and on what kind of boards. If you're doing a lot of cityfight, I've actually just used a seperate, second, 120mm oval template as a proxy, as my giant model will simply not fit in the building, under the overhang, next to the tree, etc. I once saw a guy come into the store, set up his entire army on the sideboard, beautiful, and then never touched it and glared at anyone who came close. Then he pulled out a giant bag of bases, and proceeded to play an entire game with bases, pointing to his beautiful troops as he made moves. God bless that man.

 

[mud duck]

Very Kane (from Robocop 2). Not sure I'd add too much more visual bulk or it will start to look to top heavy or more suited to a gorilla posture. Maybe trim the waist piece down for a skinner waist and bulk that area up with cables. Also not sure on the use of the lances as the weapons, seems to elegant for a Imperial/ Admech creation.

Just my two coppers

 

[Mourner]

Thanks for the input guys.

The machine was actually meant as a joined experiment between the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Oros Xenos of the Inquisition.
The machine itself is Imperial, only imperial parts used.
Both weapons are eldar in origin.
Protected on each arm by Tau Shield Technology.

The eldar weapons will be painted different from the rest, in a contrasting colour, to make them stand out.
So these are meant to look Non-Imperial.

I'm planning on connecting the two eldar cannons and the Tau shield with nothing but really thin copper wire.
Bend and painted to look like lightning (or energy)

I've actually raised the shoulders another inch or so.
The front will be filled with a SM backpack.
The back consists of a Russ Plasma Cannon (executioner?).
Granting a jet-pack like appearance.
I'm still not sure what to do with the floorplate though...

These changes have slimmed the body, and gave it more human proportions, making it less top-heavy.
Also, the arms look better

I actually haven't worked with with plasticard that much.
I've tried, just not succeeded...
I somehow lack the spacial insight... my angles never add up
Any tips?

One of the advantages of the 2-level monastery base I'm planning, the levels don't need too much difference.
Just enough so I can add something interesting, and raise the dread a bit.
(my test setup has about a 2-3 inch difference)

I'll definitely be looking at that proxy base seriously.
Great idea.

Good (K)night
Mourner