Waargh, need help with Orcs

evilsteve · Post by **evilsteve** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:32 pm

I'm in the process of converting some "Dwarf Wars" Orcs (West Wind productions) and would like some advice. They have separate right arms, with sword. How have people, in the past, removed weapons from converted WH or WH40K minis without making it look obvious that the mini's had a weapon removed from the arm?

Cheers
Steve

MickeX · Post by **MickeX** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 7:34 pm

Easy way: make the rests of a sword for example become a knuckleduster, with some greenstuff if necessary.

Tough way: with plastics or larger metal hands, you can carve out a sculpt of a clinched fist where the weapon was. Look at your own clinched fist as a guide.

The most difficult ones in my experience are those that hold something so large that the hand doesn't really look clinched. For those, and other tough ones, you can replace the whole hand if you have a better one in your bitz box.

evilsteve · Post by **evilsteve** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 7:40 pm

Haha! There lies the wee problem unfortunately... no bits! (Just came back to BB after a 10 yr hiatus) I've started doing a bit of greenstuffing - never used it before - got some knuckledusters going on and made the thrower have a pointing finger on his non throwing hand. I'll keep plugging away, fortunately the boxed set I have came with 24 Orcs for £24 so there's room for experimentation.

Any extra tips from experienced modders is appreciated.

Steve

Chairface · Post by **Chairface** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 7:47 pm

It shouldn't be too difficult. I'm not familiar with the Westwind Orcs but from the look of them in the catalogue it shouldn't be too hard:

http://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/ca ... cts_id=565

The important thing is removing all trace of the weapons. Snip first and then carefully file down the area. You may want to reposition some of the hands onto the arms in new positions to give it a more fluid and natural look. A bit of greenstuff might help too, in filling in any gaps. Hope that helps.

boondog · Post by **boondog** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:08 pm

After removing the weapon, the top of a clenched fist sometimes looks rather "flat" and unnatural. A quick and easy remedy is to drill a small hole into the top and then carefully gouge alongside the rim of the hole with a sharp & pointy knife to create a sort of flat funnel leading into the fist. This helps to increase the impression of a natural clenched fist and is also the first step to sculpt on a prominent first knuckle of the thumb resting astride the fist - a dab of putty beside the funnel should do.

Xtreme · Post by **Xtreme** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:37 pm

Take what boondog said and go one step further by getting some small chain and have it come out of the hole in the hand and wrap around.
A nice alternative to knuckle dusters.

traveller · Post by **traveller** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:01 am

After removing the weapon, the top of a clenched fist sometimes looks rather "flat" and unnatural. A quick and easy remedy is to drill a small hole into the top and then carefully gouge alongside the rim of the hole with a sharp & pointy knife to create a sort of flat funnel leading into the fist.

Yep, exactly what i did for my orc team conversion. Not much work with plastics, but take a bit more time with metal minis.
evilsteve, if you like you can visit my website, where i show some picts of hands / fists, too ... check the BB projects... BB orc team.

And, please, show some picts when you are done with these orcs. i´m always courious about orc conversions

Traveller

evilsteve · Post by **evilsteve** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 7:40 pm

Will do traveller. I have almost completed my thrower and just need to fix his non throwing hand. The rest need slight cosmetic changes (the aforementioned fists). I'll post piccies when I get them undercoated as my painting isn't exactly great

Steve