While working on other larger projects, I sometimes need 'something different', some fresh air. You know, I guess it's the same for everyone, a palette cleanser, anything that gives you the sense of completing things. Whatever.
Fortunately (fortunately?) I have tons and tons of standalone projects that can serve that purpose. My choice for today is this Ork Mekboy:
 |
| Do I look classic enough for you? |
It belongs to
Knightmare Miniatures ranges, which keep on producing real beauties. This is the reference:
You can see the original has a huge mechanic claw. However I haven't been able to find it within the lead mountain. It will probably appear some day when less expected.
Anyway, I'm not such a huge fan of such a huge claw, so I think I would have replaced it even if I had found it! Delving in the bits box I found this:
 |
| I can't remember who gave it to me or what was the original mini |
I thought I could make it work.
 |
| Well, not this way! |
 |
| Maybe like this! |
It's but a plastic stick, a flamethrower nozzle and an axe blade. An Ork flamestick. Yup, I just made it up.
Painting wise I tried orange. It's been quite a long time since I last painted an Ork, specially these flak vests, and I thought it would be a touch of colour.
 |
| I liked it. Something different from the classic Clans |
Then I messed it up a little. I tried a yellow and red chequered pattern on the borders of the vest:
 |
| And it clearly didn't work |
So I had to go back to the most classic b/w checkers. Well, long story short, this is it:
 |
| Huh, I miss da claw |
 |
| I should have painted the whole vest in checkers :D |
 |
| Do you know the one of the Mekboy and the Commissar...? |
BONUS!!
I also had this other mini rolling over the bench for some time, a commission for
Shadespire Underworlds, as part of the
Stonecast:
 |
| Huh, there's more foliage than stone here |
It's the special anniversary mini, Knight-Questor Larissa Shadowstalker (of course I had to look it up!), with a head swap to keep the masked statues theme of the band.
 |
| Man, I'm complaining the maintenance crew |
 |
| Oh, I totally forgot how to play this game. Shame on me |
This is it for now. I'm currently working on the minig town, so I expect to have some presentable progress anytime soon(-ish) and more stuff. Let's keep on working!
Wooow! Awesome work! Looking great now!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Easy to do, quick to finish. It's a win/win :D
DeleteNice painting on these figures. The orange hues on that Ork are very refreshing, must be all the vitamin C :P One thing I will say is remember to take care of your basing - there's some sand showing on the Ork's rim that might have benefited from some clean up. Just a minor critique to make your stuff even nicer :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my, you are right! I hadn't noticed until you said! Thank you for noticing!!
DeleteNice work. Great brushwork on both figures. I like the flame stick conversion. The black and white chequered pattern along the edge of the flak vest makes a nice contrast.
ReplyDeleteThank you! You know, in real life clothes tend to use similar colours, and that's what I tried, but it clearly was the wrong step. Minis need contrast and that kind of differences. I hope it looks better now!
DeleteI think I like your version of the ork better: it's more balanced. And that's another great Stonecast figure.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The claw looks huge to me. A strange case in which something is 'too much' in WH40K :D
DeleteI thought this other tool could be nice, yet classic-looking.
The Stonecast bears no mystery, just a head swap and the same recipe than the previous ones. I think it's a funny approach :)
Your modifications are always such a joy to look at. I feel like you made the right choice for the mek's weapon. The claw was a bit too large, even for an ork, and the axe you made got a very orky look to it while not being proportionally overblown.
ReplyDeleteThe orange flak armour is an interesting choice but it works and it's wonderfully flashy.
Thank you! That was my feeling too. Any kind of huge tool would have looked ridiculous, but this strange weapon kept the oldschool vibe this mini was asking for!
DeleteWho would have thought something could be "too much" for even an ork? XD
DeleteNice work, the Larissa character with the ivy on her is probably my favourite. Very dynamic and distinctive!
I've got to agree with some of the other comments, I think your understated flame-stick is much more balanced, and I prefer it to the over-exaggerated claw. I really like that the flame-stick sort of makes sense (a multi-function cutting / welding tool) - it's just the sort of kustom piece of wargear that a mek should carry!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was all about the looking, but still had to serve a purpose. Being a combat Mek it had to be some kind of weapon, and the idea of a flamethrower made me chuckle. I should make up some rules for this one. Something 2nd Edition enough. Like it's a heavy flamethrower but one use only (that explains the lack of a fuel tank). Hmmm, we'll see...
DeleteGuess no more, se are on the same boat. Been doing busts for over a month and quit to start a diametrically opposed project (wink wink nudge nudge).
ReplyDeleteLove the old school padding vest and it's nice to follow the back and forth, trial and error of your creative process.
In the end, the results are really nice and that's what IMHO matter.
Al principio estaba nooo la espada noooo, con lo que mola la pinza, busca! Buscá pibeee!! Luego no lo tenÃa claro con el 'acha (con h se pronunciarÃa jacha, no?). Pero al final, nikelada!
Y el stormcast pétreo más de lo mismo, parece que salga a tu encuentro de entre los arbustos de un laberinto 🤓
No veas que odisea disfrutar del orco y comentarlo mientras hago el Mad Max por el Mercadona (MerkaOrka?).
Saben aquel que dice que entra un mekboy en un bar, y el comisario le dice:
Diametrically opposed to a bust... Are you painting butts now??
DeleteThe trial and error approach is something I'm pretty familiar with (particularly the 'error' part), so it was no big deal at all. When you fail you just have to try again and fail better until you get something acceptable (it's all on your own standards though, of course)
The only challenge on the Stormcast was to remember the recipe I used on the others. Dammit, I have a blog to keep projects organised, I should note down these things!!
The flamestick looks good, and it's not as overwhelming as the claw. I think it's an improvement. I particularly like the diamond pattern you've sculpted into the handle.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm not specially happy with the handle; I wasn't patient enough and tried to sculpt the pattern when the putty was not cured enough. Lesson learned! I will have to repeat it on another mini!
DeleteThe mek looks fantastic! Agreed about the claw. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It all was kind of an organic process, all the pieces came together at first sight, I really didn't have to give it any deep thought. Now I need something Ork-Tech for this guy!
DeleteSuper looking conversion and painting, he looks just like an old school GW ork!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thank you! I kind of despise these new Orks, I'm on the way (the loong way) to build a Rogue Trader like Ork army, so I will favour the oldschool looking as much as I can!
DeleteHi Suber,if that's the case do you want some old lead orks, freebotter, mechs that kind of thing from 80s/90s? Drop me a line if you do with your address and I'll post them on ,they're not doing anything in the loft where they've been for 25years! My email is caveadsum1471@yahoo.com.
DeleteBest Iain
That's so kind of you! I'm not even sure of how many Orks do I exactly have for the project, but those are the kind of troops I would be using! Thank you!
Deleteloving that Ork!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The sculpt is sweet, totally oldschool, I couldn't resist :)
DeletePues te han quedado muy bien, y el orko con la rebanadora de fuego es un punto. No quiero ni pensar en mis orkos, que todavÃa tengo un montón de esos viejunos.
ReplyDelete¡Gracias! Yo me deshice de los nuevos y me quedé solamente con los viejos. Los tengo que reorganizar y montar un ejército decente...
DeleteMuy chulo el resultado.
ReplyDelete¡Gracias! Es de esas cosas que necesitas de vez en cuando para airearte un poco :)
DeleteYou're always making things happen all the time Suber ... in a very good way in this hobby :) Another excellent piece even though it's just a palate cleanser. And those commission work is even more impressive.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I just need these things to keep the spirits up. Glad you like them! :)
DeleteTHIS is a power-claw!!!
ReplyDelete:D I should have done it more chunky and orky, but it still works this way!
Delete