Mechanicus Praetorian Herakli Finished

Last details added to the Praetorian over the weekend. Really glad I decided to give it an overhaul and not just put up with the first set of colors I had chosen. I like how he turned out in the end, and I had instant approval from the missus "he looks really gross", thanks Honey, couldn't be happier!
I was even so pleased with this that I wanted to paint on, so I dug out some old build-but-never-painted minis from the cabinet and got started on those - pics to follow.

Mechanicus Praetorien Herakli

Never was really satisfied with the paint job on the praetorian servitor, hence I never really got around to finishing him. For once I actually have repainted something, which I normally hate and avoid at all costs, but I did realise if I ever should get it finished I had to. And I'm happy I decided to do it too - already like the result much better, still some way to go, but it's getting there. I only have one problem, which is red, I can't really find any good spots to paint red, and do some cog pattern, so I have tried working it into the metal instead, not really sure if it works or not. If I decide against it, I think I might repaint the connection bit, between the torso and tracks in red. I also worked a bit more on the OSL than usual and I'm quie happy with the result. It's a bit subtle compared to a lot of other OSL out there, but I'm not really a fan of too much shine, honestly I think a lot of people overdo OSL - so this is the way I like it.

The tiniest of distractions........

The progress of the Herakli has been rather slow - that would be me kind of lacking the excitement to paint atm. I therefore decided I needed something new to work on, something new to play in fact. I always wanted to try playing something 6 or 15mm, always wanted to field hordes of models, full armies with loads of tanks, walkers and infantry to spend like rubble and planes zooming over the battlefield to cause havoc in the ranks of the enemy. Hence I spend some time searching the web, reading through several interesting set of rules and looking at miniatures from a wealth of manufactures. And now hopefully a couple of guys from work and myself will be starting some Epic Armageddon soon. Seems those are pretty popular rules, we have a well known universe, and 6 mm minis are just that cheaper than 15 mm ones.
Then what army to choose - well AdMech obviously! But also nids and necrons would be really cool - oh and IG.........damn, same as always. I think I've settled for nids for a starter, at least I ordered a few of them just to try to paint them up, see if it works. But I also happened to have some old SM laying around, quite a few actually, so what else to do - gotta paint them up should be rather fast and give a good starting point, so one can get a few games under the belt. They will of cause, be painted up in my Iron Ghosts colors. Tried out some weathering on the rhino - not sure it's worth it though.

But first of all the progress on the herakli, not to much left to do actually.

And my few Epic models.

See the beast

Had a few extra hours today, and got to work on the skin. I wanted it really bright, kind of seethrough, with some pale blues and purple. Turned out to be rather difficult to photograph though.

Small painting update

Got a bit  more grime/nuances worked into the metal. A bit concerned I might have made it a bit too bright now, I think I'll wait for some more colors before I decide, but any way it should be pretty easy to fix with a bit of washing. Also toyed with the idea of working a bit of purple into the metal, but I'm not sure any more.

Quite a few times in the past I've considered getting some of HiTech miniatures models, haven't gotten around to it yet though. But I think I might add this fellow to my Herakli at some point, really cool stuff. And as I think I said earlier, I don't mind my Herakli looking different.

It aint much......

...but it's a start. Feeling the mojo returning and started painting up the Herakli. I also, per suggestion, added two small cogs to the gun arm - to make the big one move, you see.

All the bodywork done

The praetorian has now rolled off the assemblyline and is ready for the paintshop.

On the road again

After quite a pause due to holidays and loads of great family time, I'm back in the hobby room working on the herakli. Pretty much done now, most bits and tubing added, quite darkcore and evil looking IMO - like it to be honest. Scary in the way a weaponized monster should be.

Stabilized

We cannot, of cause, have our bioconstruct driving the uneven dirt of strange planets without stabilizing him some, might put of his aim it could - yes? So I've added some pneumatics to the rather rich abdomen to keep him straight. Also tightened the six-pack some by adding a thin mix of milliput and water.

An Evil Chainfist

Got the chainfist grafted onto the newly grown pink flesh and fresh nerve ends, and I do think it looks kind of evil. Sure should deal out some pain if some enemy scum should come too close. Or perhaps I should let it count as a chainaxe on his S5 T6 W3 badass - have a nice day.

Fingerprinting.........

Have been venturing even further into sculpting land - yes it's still quite simple, but for me it's still kind of rather new and difficult. Really funny this sculpting work, but yawser, do I  have a lot to learn.
I added some abdominal muscles and a bit of wetware for the big guy - thanks to Dave Taylor for the great tutorial, check it out here: http://davetaylorminiatures.blogspot.dk/2013/05/is-it-time-to-fight.html

Much better

So here is a blutaced mock up - not too bad I think. Must say I have a much better feeling about this one, more in proportion and more evil looking.

Here we go again

For followers or others, who scroll through the previous post, it will come as no surprise that the design of the Herakli and me have not been the best of friends. So inspired by the AT-43 models I've decided to try and go a different way. Not put together yet but several of the parts are coming along.

Honestly.....

Well, to be completely honest, I don't know what to think about this hood. Not really happy, certainly it does not look like any other hoods out there. Not really sure why though - perhaps the "sides" needed to be more straight? Or it should have been placed more forward - "hanging" more in front of the eyes? Also not completely unhappy - does look like a hood - a bit. And once I add a few folds and the planned cables it might once again change look completely - meaning I might get lucky.....

 

1001.

A couple of shots showing the head on the body, the size appears to be really good I think. Not completely happy with the gills, but I guess I'll learn along the way if I sculpt more. Must say I have no idea how people are able to sculpt all those small details we see on minis - so impressive. So now I just hope I can do a good looking hood, my previous attempts on hypaspist were at best decent. The plan was to cut down the spiky bits and make the hood roughly the same size as the head is now. Cables also to be added both under the head and coming out of the hood.

Take 1000

It did seem that a head consisting of lenses and a hood was a popular choice with many a commentee, so I figured, why not - it can only go wrong.
So cutting down a defiler head i tried sculpting some rebreather thing. Still "wet" so I'll leave it off for now, but I'll try ti get a snapshot to morrow morning with it bluetacked to the body. You'll have to imagine the hood for now though.

More headache

Made a bit of progress on the head, got the DA details off and added a few bits. I also think I found the right position for a good menacing look. I even started sculpting the head - honestly my sculpting has never been advanced so it will be interesting to see what it will end up looking like. The hose is not positioned as it will be in the end, just wanted to give an idea of what it will look like, with hoses and cables attached in various places.
I was not planning on adding a hood, but it seems to be a popular idea, so perhaps I'll give it a go after all. I've have also warmed up to Dave's suggestion of a cowled lot of lenses, so perhaps the Herakli will not have the same type of heads after all.

While waiting for ideas.....

While waiting for inspiration for the head work, I was playing around with the servoarm. The best position turned out to be just behind the chainarm. Looks rather brutal IMO.

Take 3

The third try to get an acceptable head is sadly not my own idea - though it will change from the original, it's an idea I have nicked from Dave Taylor, luckily with permission. It looked so good I instantly knew I might end up using it for these guys. Check out his extremely cool AdMech HERE - scroll down for the biomostrosities.
Anyway the head will consist of a head/helmet from the DA talos painengine, over an WHFB orc head. Various bits of metal, cables and such will of cause be added. I've made a mockup shown below, and I think  that it fits sizewise. The Ogryn head is still looks way too large even though I tried to use as little bluetac as possible so it wouldn't cloud the picture. I think the DA mask will be lowered a bit on the body, to give a slightly more lumbering look.

Anything in that big head of yours?

I got the Jotun heads from Hasslefree today. Very well cast and good/evil looking - brilliant. Unfortunately they completely off size from what I had imagined, roughly the size of a spacemarine head. And though cool I wasn't looking for the comical relief for the army.....