For Sale - Golden Demon Finalist Dreadnought etc.

Due to the client being unable to settle the balance on this commission the models above are for sale. I'm looking for sensible offers coming in at above £750, plus shipping. These represent around 200 hours' work, so you're getting a real bargain at that price. The two dreadnoughts are to competition standard, and the Sicarius is to my tabletop character standard.

Contact me via email with offers. I reserve the right to close the sale when offers have stopped coming in, or at any other time I see fit. I'll inform buyers of whether they've been outbid or not.

Ultramarines Captain Sicarius

A pretty quick job, this Sicarius as it's to 'premium tabletop' level, rather than the competition grade work done for the dreadnoughts forming the rest of this commission. As usual, click the image for a larger version. A zenital coat was applied with the airbrush for both the blue and the banner, topped with hand painted details. The lining of the cloak is based on a very ancient pot of Citadel 'Ghoul Grey' I found lurking in the bottom of my 'greens' box... lovely colour, I must find a modern equivalent...

Ultramarine Chaplain Dreadnought 'Pullo'

The counterpart to the Golden Demon finalist 'Vorenus' is this Chaplain Dreadnought. I ran with blended highlights on the blue and black on this rather than using the airbrush for zenithal work. The gold recipe is identical, as is the design of the urban base. The latin freehand does roughly translate, although I took a few liberties with wording to get a nice fit on the model. All in all, pretty pleased with this, and I feel it's up to the standard of the other.

Ultramarines Venerable Dreadnought 'Vorenus'

My Golden Demon entry for this year. Also, my first ever entry into a major painting competition.

The total time taken to paint this model is around 3 1/2 weeks, equating to around 100 hours of working time, including cleanup and assembly. Click the above image for a larger version.

Edit: This model made the cut at the UK Golden Demon and secured me a finalists' pin.

There are a number of details that I wanted to include from the outset. First I wanted the Tyranid trophy to be in Hive Fleet Behemoth colours (ie blue carapace, red skin), and to look aged. The red skin was eventually dropped as I felt it would detract from the red on the banner and other spot details (hips, head, ammo drums). It was important to have an ancient feel to the dreadnought, rather than the more utilitarian schemes I use for line troops, so copious freehand was employed all over the model, together with very careful hand painted chipping (as opposed to my normal sponge technique). I also wanted a feel of character to the dreadnought, so I chose a homeworld for him (Iax, an agricultural world) and included the wheatear motifs on the back and the latin phase on the back of the banner.

The brass plaque was done for me (several times to get it right) by an excellent little engraving place in Nottingham called Joblot Trophies. I can't recommend them enough for their dilligence and professionalism.

Click on the images below for larger versions.

Ultramarines Landspeeder Storm (occupied)

Another shot of the Landspeeder Storm, this time with the passengers on board. The scouts are secured to the vehicle mostly by pins, with the hanging passenger's pin being held in place by a magnet (which also holds the replacement handle for when the scout is not on board). The base is by Secret Weapon Miniatures, with some additional accessories added. Click the image above for a large multi-angle image.

Ultramarines Landspeeder Storm (empty)

A Landspeeder Storm, with the scouts disembarked. Note the ammo crate and binoculars. These occupy pin-holes which hold the passengers when they are attached. The base is by Secret Weapon Miniatures, with additional accessories. Click the image above for a larger, multi-angle image.

Ultramarines CQB Scouts

A squad of scouts equipped for close-quarters battle - shotguns and a converted 2nd edition power fist on the sergeant. The sergeant also has a greenstuff cloak. Everything else is pretty much stock, with the exception of some 1/48 Tamiya accessories used as stowed cloaks / sleeping bags on two of the scouts. Bases are from Secret Weapon Miniatures' Trenchworks range.

Ultramarines Assault Squad - 2nd Co, Squad VII

A ten-man Assault Squad is a really good way of giving an opponent a headache. Click the image above for a large image showing front and back shots of all 10 marines. Several nice conversions in this squad, notably the two marines with complete Eldar on their bases. Various Eldar and Imperial Guard parts have been used on the bases of some of the other marines. Secret Weapon Miniatures' Trenchworks bases have been used for basing - when a running assault marine is pinned to one of the trench edgings, it really helps give a sense of motion.

Ultramarines Assault Squad (preview)

I have a personal rule that only completely finished miniatures will be put up on this blog. The assault squad I'm working on as part of a commission of Ultramarines has a few interesting conversions that I'm quite proud of, so this is a sneak peak prior to a post with the full 10-man squad, which should be completed this week. I really wanted to show the marines in a state of carnage - I imagine chainswords to be fairly messy tools to work with. I'm pleased with the implied savagery, something that is usually associated with gore-soaked Khorne berzerkers and the like, as opposed to the paragons of humanity that the Ultramarines are often portrayed as.

The sergeant has the most 'technical' greenstuff work done to it, with winged skulls added to the jump pack, and bas-relief insignia on the pack and pauldrons. The soft join of the shoulder of the sword arm is also greenstuff. The Eldar on the base is made from a 2nd edition 2-part plastic guardian's legs, chopped up and gap-filled with greenstuff. The loincloth and gems are also greenstuff.

The flying marine has a resculpted right foot to replace the bent-toe foot of the Assault squad running legs. The legs are also pinned to the torso at a more extreme angle than could be achieved without pinning. The marine is supported by the chainsword, which was glued into a disc-cut slot in the Eldar's torso. Gore is a mix of debris from the cutting, greenstuff and Vallejo plastic putty.

The third marine is a very simple conversion, with more complex work on the Eldar. The Eldar's legs were modified to allow for a very strong backward lean, and the face was disc cut in a manner similar to the Eldar for the flying marine. Around the cut greenstuff was built up to where the chainsword would be, and smeared with a little vaseline. Another layer of greenstuff was applied to the chainsword and the whole was assembled prior to painting to smooth the join. Before the greenstuff set, the parts were separated in order to be able to paint.

Ultramarines Rhino (2)

Another Ultramarines Rhino. Forgeworld doors and front plate used, along with some 1/48 Tamiya stowage and a few old-school Rhino boxes.

Ultramarine Predator 'Agrippa' (magnetised)

A predator tank. Magnetised to allow swaps between Annihilator and Destructor variants. Forgeworld Rhino reinforced armour used, along with some Tamiya 1/48 stowage and an old-school Rhino box.

Ultramarines Rhino

Fairly simple work done on the Rhino. Sculpted icon and scroll on the portside (left) door. Heat-stretched styrene for the whip antenna. Use of various tank bits and pieces for detailing. The camo net is made from fine netting with leaf scatter from http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/ hairsprayed on.

I hate the smell of hairspray, but it's the best stuff I've found for the job. Liberal amounts of superglue used in training the netting to sag properly.

Ultramarines Sniper Scouts

Pretty much straight off the sprue sniper Scouts. Greenstuff hoods added at client request, as was the use of the heavy bolter. Bases are resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines 2nd Co, Squad V (b)

Some hefty conversions here. The simplest are the two guys with the copy of the 40k rulebook; pretty much just kitbashing with parts from the Dark Angels Veterans, Terminator and Command Squad sprues.
The smoker has a bolter from the Dark Angels Veteran sprue, and is scratch built from the waist down for a lazy, leaning pose. The head is Catachan in origin, and screamed out for a purple tie-dye scheme. The hand holding the cigarette (yeah, right) is from the Sniper Scout sprue, and has had the appropriate fingers spread and a new wrist sculpted.
The marine with damaged armour uses a Catachan arm with a sculpted shoulder. The original marine arm was drilled out and bits of guitar wire were used for cabling. The gun arm is a simple cut and glue repose.
The missile launcher marine is almost completely rebuilt. Rather than sculpt the legs entirely from scratch, they were cut at the hips and knee. The kneepads and feet were removed. The head is Catachan, with the headband and hair removed and replaced with a greenstuff scalp and guitar wire cable. The canteen, strap, knife sheath, feet and kneepads are also greenstuff. A little water effects was stretched between the mouth and canteen, and down the chest to represent water. Or booze. Probably booze. Bases are resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines Terminators

Pretty much straight off the sprue Black Reach Terminators. The sergeant's back icon has been replaced with a banner, and a spare assault cannon has been donated as a heavy weapon. Bases are resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines 2nd Co, Squad I (a)

Only the sergeant and plasma gunner are converted here. The plasma gunner is my version of the classic 'NOT THE FACE!' gunner seen many times before, and was done by resculpting the upper arm and elbow joint on the gun arm, and using a reposed missile launcher support arm for the off hand. The sergeant has a completely sculpted sword arm, excluding hand and uses a head from the Dark Angels Veterans set. The chapter icon on shoulder and breastplate, and the skull on the kneepad are also greenstuff. The icon on the backpack was provided by the client. The cable to the power sword is guitar string. Bases are resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines 2nd Co, Squad VI (b)

Another squad containing a few interesting conversions. A number of sets of kneeling legs were provided by the client (from the Command Squad box set I believe), one used here. The metal lascannon was provided by the client without a targetter. The shellcase-on-chain honours are made from 9ct gold chain, with a turned styrene boltshell. A Dark Angels Veteran's bolter has been used for some variety (2nd from right). The stock on the squad leader's boltgun was scratchbuilt, and required a partial resculpt of his arm. Bases are resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines 2nd Co, Squad II (a)

Deceptively simple conversions here; the running legs are courtesy of the Assault Marine sprue. The knife-wielders have 2nd edition plastic arms for the closed fists. These have been offset from the shoulder, with gaps filled with greenstuff. The grenadier has a sculpted thumb and wrist, and uses a bolter arm from the Dark Angels Veterans set. The Sergeant is the limited edition Aurelius figure, and is unconverted.

Ultramarines Dreadnought

Some conversion and sculpting work on this dreadnought; the hips have been repositioned, with greenstuff ribbing to help lift the right foot. Both feet have had toes repositioned to help with the pose. The Eldar under the right foot is painted in the colours of the client's usual opponent, and has been chopped and filed to get him as flat as possible. Weapons are magnetised. The multi-melta and power fist here are from the Black Reach dreadnought. All weapons have had the inside face filled. The base is resin, by Secret Weapon Miniatures.

Ultramarines Sternguard Veterans

Sternguard painted out of the box. Bases are resin by Secret Weapon Miniatures. The pointing marine has been painted as the sergeant as I prefer the pose and stat-wise Sternguard are all the same. The actual sergeant should be the marine to the left of centre (with power fist).