I'm Back

I can't believe it's been nearly six months since I last updated this blog.

The urge to finish my Mechanicus warband still exists; it's just been something that I've wanted to do but never got around to it. Real life, work (commission painting) etc have got in the way of my own modelling. I've also spent a lot of time exploring other model making avenues such as model railways. That sent me on a research mission, consuming vast amounts of information and learning many new things. In the end, railways are a bit too restrictive for my wandering creative urges. I've now come back to science fiction modelling; it’s something about the mystery and endless creativity it allows.

Some great artists and models I have found on my journeys, hopefully you'll find them interesting:

kallamity.com/galleries

www.fichtenfoo.com

www.maschinenkrueger.com

www.migproductionsforums.com


Here is a little thing I made a couple of months ago from some bits that were lying around. Just started painting it a few days ago. It's not the cleanest paint job but I don't know if I really care because it was so fun to put together and paint. I've done all the conversion work for my warband as seen before, now I am going to undercoat and finally get some paint on them!




I've got this desire to make some sort of large mecha/tank/aircraft with all sort of 1:35 tank parts, 40k bits etc, just like some of the wondrous examples in the links above. It's hard to know what to do though as I have so many ideas. I even had the idea of making a 40k scale gun cutter. In proper scale it would be around 1:48.

Anyone got any advice for me? Should I take the plunge and make a gun-cutter? I am reminded of a quote by Cecil Beaton: "Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slave of the ordinary. It certainly would be daring to make, and would make a great centrepiece for my Weta Workshop portfolio.

Lots more Mechanicus warband stuff

Well I finally got my Traitor Guard army sold and got some work out of the way, which means progress on my warband.

here’s what I’ve got done:

Swapped out the base from the other smaller techpriest for a new guard one. I really like the sculpting and detail and feel there’s not really and point modifying it any further.




More sculpting and detail on my Techmarine. I’ve tried to go for something much like the art. It’s not perfectly proportional (quite tall) and I don’t think it would actually work in terms of human movement but they are genetically engineered after all, plus it looks neat.




Made a comms servitor using a cool witch hunter’s henchman figure. Few details to go. I’m getting really good at doing hoods now. It helps to look at other GW figures’ hoods and use them as a guide.




The henchmen figures are so cool I had to use this one. I’ve seen a few really cool gas-cutters done for other warbands so had to have one. My one also doubles as a lamp for my tech-assistant. I had the idea that he is a researcher and needs the lamp/cutter for his work rifling around in old libraries/data repositories.




More sculpting done on the protector.




A gun servitor based on a micro art studio track unit. My custom tracks haven’t been cast yet and I’ve got other plans for them. The gun arm is magnetised for weapon hot-swapability. I’m really not sure what to put on the other arm. Any ideas guys? A chainsaw/pincer perhaps or another gun?




My favourite bit of work done so far is my heavy gun-servitor. The idea is stolen from one done, I believe, by Dave Taylor. If it is, thanks again Dave. The new sentinel is a neat kit. Lots of cool spare bits to use. I’ve got an idea for a murky puddle on the base, hence the green-stuffed recess.






Lastly, a quick mockup of an engineering control servitor.



This dude was inspired by a creation of Proteius. He’ll be used in the factory complex of my big new project;



I am planning to build a model railway at 1:48 scale and have decided to give it a 40k feel and work it into the abandoned facility board I was thinking about. I find 1:48 works very well with 40k.

I will be scratch building the locos, factory equipment etc. It will hopefully include a rocky mine area, hilly scrubland and the factory complex built into a rocky promontory. I want it to have a mad max/rusty/grimy/damp/Mechanicus feel. It’s combining elements of the Mechanicus with the coal industry of 1920/30’s west coast of New Zealand (which I have an interest in.)

That’s all for now folks. Any ideas, comments you have, please let me know. I probably won’t get much more work done on the warband for a week or so but will be busy designing the railway layout. I’ll be sure to update.

Cheers
Earl

Traitor guard army SOLD

Sold my army. Thanks for all the interest guys.

More progress on the Ad-mech

More progress, finally.

One thing I must say; it’s really annoying how being an artist means that you want to start new projects all the time.

I've got ideas of building a 1:48 gunship that's like Eisenhorn’s' gun-cutter/serenity for use in an Eisenhorn’s/Ravenor inspired film I'm writing the script for. I'll be doing filming later in the year too. (It won't obviously be 40k, but inspired by the aesthetic and dialogue in the Ravenor novels)

I've taken up landscape oil painting, as my grandfather before me did. It's a really good stress release having a flat canvas rather than fiddly little figures. If model making becomes my work then I can see painting being my hobby. Anyone else like this?

Back to the progress:

First up, I’ve started work on a protector for the Arch Magos. I got the idea from the Mechanicum novel. I’ve used the iron hands bionics bits as they look very cool. He will have a robe and hood.




I’ve had to have a go at making a true scale marine after seeing all the awesome ones on the net. I’ve decided to make him a Techmarine as a chapter called the Legio Ferrus has it’s fortress Monastery on the same Forgeworld as my warbands and story is based around; Acieris. Lots of cleanup and sculpting to do, but it’s a good start I reckon. True scale marines are just so much more appropriate to the aesthetic of 40k, it almost epitomises what got me into the hobby in the first place.



Lastly, I’ve been doing some tests trying to achieve a rusty steel look on my baneblade. Not sure if I will keep this as the final layer or do some salt/hairspray masking. It’s been interesting trawling the Military modelling forums and checking out the amazing techniques guys like Mig Jimenez and Adam Wilder use. If you haven’t seen the mig productions forums yet, go there. Some of the best modelmakers in the world regularly post there.






Since my airbrush is in storage atm because of flooding problems in my workshop, I’ve tried to see what I can achieve with acrylics and brushes. It’s all just washes, scratches, sponging etc. Hard to photograph but I think it’s turned out well. I’ll end up using some oils and powders for the final rust stains and weathering though. I have discovered though that matte medium is awesome. Great for making washes and juices.

Well, that’s all for now. Hopefully will get some sculpting done soon and can start undercoating stuff. (when it stops hailing.. )

Cheers
Earl

The start of two Mechanicus Warbands, towards 40k and Terrain

As an artist, I find myself increasingly unable to stick to one project and follow it to conclusion. There almost is never a conclusion in art, and there lies my dilemma. As new and exciting ideas spring forward, my older and larger projects fall by the wayside. When I get near to finishing an army I have found myself advancing in skill and creativeness so much that I feel the need to redo the things already done, or to start anew.

I feel that I need to abandon my set ways of thinking about colour, painting and modelling itself. I am too rigid and organised in my thinking. I need to adopt a freer flow of inspiration and ideas. One of the main aims of this project is to achieve a portrayal of the feeling, mood and story behind my miniatures, rather than perfection of the painting.

The endless visual landscape of 40k holds a position of immense inspiration for me; in particular, the art and literature. Illustration as found in the Witch Hunters codex and Inquisitor rulebook I regard the highest. Artists such as John Blanche and Karl Kopinski are among my favourites. In terms of literature, Dan Abnett is the most influential and inspiring. The rich descriptive language he uses, as well as the depth of his characters are important factors. I particularly find inspiration in the way in which he focuses on the everyday individuals and functioning of the Imperium (as well as its enemies.) There are also many modellers that inspire me greatly. Dave Taylor, Mikael Silvanto (Migsula) and Mark Bedford are chief among them.

Right, to the point. I have started a few project logs that I have failed to keep updated recently. As a professional painter, I am currently very busy. This leaves little time for me to explore my own ideas or even finish work on old ones. I am working to better manage my time so that I can work fewer days and have time for myself and my own projects.

I hope this blog/plog becomes a way for me to interact with others in this hobby and get their ideas and thoughts. Good art is never a one-person thing. It’s all about the interaction and combining of ideas and in this I hope everyone feels like they can voice their opinions and interact. It would especially great to get assistance from those that inspire me. Dave Taylor has already given me some great feedback, thanks Dave. The others that have commented, thanks also. You are not forgotten. If you think what I’m doing is cool, let me know. There is a certain degree of satisfaction gained when you know that others like your work.


The Details

My latest interests in armies are the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Dark Mechanicus. I have previously done some small forays into these forces but haven’t really achieved anything I am proud of or that really captures the feel of the Mechanicus

Instead of starting off by aiming to make a whole 40k army for each force, my plan is to work on a small warband for each.
Not only will this allow me to really focus on my modelling and painting, it will stop me from getting bored or overwhelmed.

I plan to make the war bands around 10 figures each. As I work on them I will develop their background, names etc and how they relate to my overall story. They all revolve around a Forgeworld of my own creation called Acieris.

Hopefully I will get a chance to design and build a themed gaming table for my war bands of some part of Acieris. At this point I have an idea of it being an abandoned rail yard, possibly leading to a secret underground experimental facility.

The long term plan is to slowly expand the war bands to make larger forces for normal 40k games. This expansion would also link the ongoing story behind them; the attack of Acieris by the forces of chaos, the intervention of the inquisition etc.

One aspect of the modelling that’s worth mentioning; since figures for the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Dark Mechanicus are nearly non-existent, it is obvious that I will need to do a fair amount of scratch-building, converting and sculpting. I am also planning to design, sculpt and mould/cast my own figures for things like praetorians/servitors etc but with my own flavour/take on the generally accepted aesthetic. The fun part will be in thinking, testing making etc. I’m sure there will be some failures and hard work involved, but that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully there will be some happy mistakes and surprises.

Without further ado, here is some long awaited progress:


A WIP of my first assistant Tech Priest. It's really just a practice piece, although it's turned out to be a cool little model.



A WIP Tech-Servitor for my loyal AM warband. I got inspiration from the forge-world ones and all their cool little details and weirdness. Lots of work still to do; arms, details etc. I think the real 40k universe comes out in these cool little gothic dudes.



A Forgeworld Tech-Priest who I painted a few years ago and have ressurected for this project. He might get replaced but for now is serving as a piece to inspire my future sculpting efforts.

That's all for now, sorry for the long rant. I had to get it all out there so I can really get going on this mighty project.

Thanks for reading,
Earl

What I've been up to...

To anyone who may be listening/reading, I haven't disappeared. Over the last few months I've been a very busy painter.
By deciding to try my hand at painting full time, I've come to discover that it takes a lot of effort, willpower and patience to be able to keep deadlines and work when you don't really feel like it. In the end though, it is worth it. I would rather be doing this than some menial job, as at least I am learning things and getting better at my craft.

Here is a few examples of what I've been up to:

A zombie pirate army:



A 4000 Point Lizardmen army:




A Battle for Skull Pass set:




Some Chaos Knights (Which were very fun to paint)



The beginnings of a Witchunters army:



And some Bloodletters:



I am still working on more commissions; more Sisters of Battle, a Dark Angels army and some Valhallans. I have had time to work on my own things and i spent some holiday time coming up with cunning plans for my Mechanicus forces and terrain. More on this very soon.

I have update my website with details about commission work. If you are interested, please drop by:

Ferrus Workshops

Cheers
Earl

Priman Warrior Bust

I have been busy with commision work over the last two weeks so haven't done any work on my Dark Mechanicus Forces. In the meantime, I thought I would get some good photos of something I made last year:





It's a concept bust of a Priman Warrior. This is the fictional race I have developed for my own personal film project entitled 'Ferrusia'. I have made miniature sets and costumes for this project, as well as lots of concept art, all of which you can see at my website. I made a short test film last year as part of my degree. I am currently developing the feature length script.

The bust is made from plasticard, super sculpey and epoxy putty. I have plans to make a range of miniatures based around this race in 1:48 scale for use in wargaming.