The Lord Captain has forbidden me to write down the events of our journey, but what use is a remembrancer who does not remember? I can only hope that, if we survive, this journal will be a record of victory over these traitors and not an account of the end of our Imperium.

The Emperor protects. ~J

Monday, 5 January 2015

IX. Wall of Iron

The Astartes terrify me. Each is a colossus of ceramite and iron. Each is a glowering, melancholic presence on the ship ... and I fear, that since that terrible time I am forbidden to mention, each is slowly loosing his mind.
~J

The build of my first art-scale marine is pretty much complete and he's ready for some paint.


Since I'm aiming for the Iron Hands after the death of their primarch, I want them to look slightly unhinged and as much a danger to their allies as to their foes. This first Astartes has a chain, ending in a cruel hook hanging from his belt, next to the skull of an executed traitor. Oaths of moment are nailed to the armour of his left leg.



I was wary of taking these element too far and perhaps making him look like a traitor, rather than a loyalist who's loosing his marbles. Maybe with the next one I'll push it a but further.


Posted by at
Labels: , ,

12 comments:

  1. The Responsible One5 January 2015 at 16:07

    I really like how you've done it - there's enough hints, but it doesn't look like he's gone off the deep end into heresy and rebellion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MonkeyBallistic5 January 2015 at 21:34

      Thanks mate. It's a difficult balance to get right; to still look like a loyalist, but look like a loyalist who's gone slightly insane. In my background for these marines, the death of their primarch has sent them over the edge.

      Delete
  2. The Mad Mek5 January 2015 at 17:41

    Very nicely done. The subtle details do a lot to capture the "Grimdark" feel. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MonkeyBallistic5 January 2015 at 21:39

      Thanks. The Heresy is the origins of the grimdark in many ways. It's what could have been a golden age turning to crap.

      Delete
  3. Eric Wier6 January 2015 at 07:24

    This Iron Warrior turned out really nicely! As I mentioned in the last post, I think he is one of the best looking true-scale marines that i have come across. The bulked out breastplate and use of cataphractii legs paramount in achieving this. Extending the length of the shins was a huge help too. Many who use those legs leave them how they are stock, and they end up looking short, or too much like the original terminators. I do not think he looks too much like a heretic.

    The only thing I would say is that the way he is holding his bolter looks a little odd. I think it may be angled to him too much, rather then in-line/straight with his wrist. It also sort looks like he is just making a fist rather then holding anything, but I think that is not as much of an issue as the angle of the gun. Just a thought, regardless he is a fantastic model!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MonkeyBallistic6 January 2015 at 07:36

      Thanks, that's very useful feedback. I'll take a second look at the angle of the gun. I think I was trying to angle the gun with the direction of the grip modelled to the hand. Then again, it may be the angle of the photo.

      Delete
  4. Adam Wier6 January 2015 at 08:10

    Fantastic looking model. I love how you reworked his breastplate. Very fitting for an Iron Hands marine. Greenstuff work is top notch.

    I also really like how you have him fully equipped and ready for battle (pistol, extra ammunition, etc).

    As Eric mentioned I too think his bolter hand looks a little odd. I think is it mainly that it does not look like he has a proper trigger finger. It looks more like he just has a fist. I would try modelling in a trigger guard for the bolter and extending his trigger finger. This could be a little tricky but I think it would help make the model look even more convincing.

    Keep up the incredible work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MonkeyBallistic6 January 2015 at 08:56

      It's important to me that my minis look believable, so I just had to make sure he looked fully equipped.

      The fist thing never actually occurred to me but after your comment and the one above, it has made me realise that there is a bit if a flaw in the sculpt of the hand. I'm now considering taking off the gun and seeing what I can do about it.

      Thanks for the feedback. :)

      Delete
    2. MonkeyBallistic6 January 2015 at 11:22

      Quick update. On closer inspection the band does actually have a trigger finger/guard modelled onto it. It's my own fault for not looking closely enough and not utilising the sculpt to its full potential.

      I've been able to remove the gun and replace it with one trimmed correctly. This is why I love getting feedback. Thanks everyone who's commented, you help me make my miniatures better.

      Delete
  5. Oz Dazza7 April 2015 at 04:54

    What arms did you use for this build mate? I think the whole thing is just AMAZING!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oz Dazza7 April 2015 at 04:54

    What arms did you use for this build mate? I think the whole thing is just AMAZING!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MonkeyBallistic7 April 2015 at 05:12

      Thanks! The arms and shield are from the Forge World Medusan Immortals kit.

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)