Periodic Skaven Thread (NAFC report - see how badly I play!)

[yggdrasil]

I'm entirely with el superbeasto. I also prefer static, natural-looking models rather than ones that are a snapshot of the middle of some acrobatic move - I just feel like I can relate to a team that looks like the models are standing on the line of scrimmage, prepared and ready for action, rather than bouncing or falling over all over the place. But of course the dynamic can occasionally have its place too.

And I also like the catchers' oven mittens. I don't entirely understand them, but I guess I never thought about it much. Are they meant to be some kind of high friction sandpaper I wonder?

[axiom]

Are they meant to be some kind of high friction sandpaper I wonder?

Is that why Gutter Runners can't block? They try and take the opposition down by lightly sanding their armour? I always saw it as an exageration of football goalkeeper's gloves.

I did a spot more work in my lunch hour and came up with these:


In my full squad, this guy will be another Gutter Runner, but he's also been built so he can be used as Hakflem Skuttlespike. He's made from yet another Catcher and some spare bits and pieces from some other conversions - the WHFB Skaven Champion has proven very useful - his head and left arm appear here, his legs are on my 2nd Blitzer and his hook hand went on a Lineman! This fig is still at 'chopped' status (i.e. cut apart, repositioned and pinned) and needs plenty of sculpting to sort out all the nasty cut lines

I also had a crack at making a score marker for the team. This is the ball from the 'balls and spikes' blister, with the addition of a Black Cat Bases rat (a set of 8 costs just £2.00). I wanted more ratty goodness so attempted to sculpt a rat on top of the ball. This is the second attempt, but seems to have come out OK!

[Aino]

Hakflem Skuttlespike looks nice... but is it me or is that top left arm (mini point of view) a bit too long?

Aino

[axiom]

Hakflem Skuttlespike looks nice... but is it me or is that top left arm (mini point of view) a bit too long?

Aino

Possibly! I need to have a look at it. Bear in mind that I still need to sculpt out a new shoulder and integrate the two arms, so it will reduce in apparent length

[Steam Ball]

And I also like the catchers' oven mittens. I don't entirely understand them, but I guess I never thought about it much. Are they meant to be some kind of high friction sandpaper I wonder?

I always took them as padded armour like in some Middle Ages jackets etc, and thus, to avoid getting hurt with the spikes in the balls.

The Black Cat Bases sites has 2 rat packs, both for 2 pounds, but one has 4 rats the other has 2 sprues of 4 rats each...

[axiom]

Re: Black Cat rats; I assumed there might be a size difference an ordered one of each, turns out its a duplicate store listing. You get 8 in each!

[Borthcollective]

Does extra length on the arm of an already mutated 2 headed rat man, really matter?

[el Superbeasto]

Hakflem Skuttlespike looks nice... but is it me or is that top left arm (mini point of view) a bit too long?

Aino

Possibly! I need to have a look at it. Bear in mind that I still need to sculpt out a new shoulder and integrate the two arms, so it will reduce in apparent length

Just call him Mr. Fantastic!

[bound for glory]

i gotta tip my hat to my man axiom.
this is one of the most dynamic teams i;ve seen in ages. oi! to you, mate. oi! to you.

[richy376]

I don't have a huge amount of constructive feedback, just wanted to say your team is fantastic. I love the painted blitzer and thrower particularly. The thrower is such a seamless conversion it fits in perfectly with team and setting. More painted stuff please!

[TalonBay]

Technical question for you as you're obviously familiar with chopping up figs. How? How do you do the actual cutting part? Applying enough pressure with a craft knife flattens other details on the model on the underside, a hacksaw seems a bit OTT.

I'm converting some Neomics Orcs as there's not quite enough variety, it's not to the extent you're doing here but I've hit the point where a simple upper body swap would be great but I want to minimize the collateral damage.

[axiom]

@richy376 - thanks very much, glad you like em! More painted models will be along soon, I'm trying to increase my current pace of one model per fortnight

Technical question for you as you're obviously familiar with chopping up figs. How? How do you do the actual cutting part? Applying enough pressure with a craft knife flattens other details on the model on the underside, a hacksaw seems a bit OTT.

When I started converting models I used to use a craft knife too, but generally the amount of pressure you need to apply results in either the blade snapping, flattening of parts of the model or the blade slipping (and potential for damage to any adjacent fingers!). A hacksaw suffers from cutting out a large amount of material, meaning that you can't always re-use components.

When GW released their razor saw and desk vice 3 or 4 years ago, I bought both and now use them on every model I cut, metal or plastic. The saw cuts with minimal loss of material from the model meaning both components can be re-used, and the clamp is very good for holding the model still and preventing slippage and inadvertant damage to models (and/or fingers). Not only that, but cutting using them is much quicker.

I'm sure there are other similar products (e.g. jewellers saws) which would do the same job, and probably cheaper, but if you're doing any major amount of dissection of models, you will find them a great help.

[Steam Ball]

@talonbay: That style of razor saw (as well as the plastic vice) is pretty common in miniature shops, from brands like X-Acto, Excel or Proedge. If you want something even smaller, you can also buy serrated blades, just a bit bigger than typical replaceable ones and with teeth. Add mineral oil, and clean cuts are just a bit of pacience away, minimum pressure needed.

@axiom: keep going, the team is even nicer with every new model.

[TalonBay]

Thanks guys

[betterZthenDeaD]

Still loving the team Axiom... Trying to resist the temptation to take a razor saw to the rats I just bought from TalonBay!