Crow's Conversion (Blood Angels POWER SCYTHE! - Pics)

[Tbcrow]

UPDATED: Updated to more accurately reflect where I'm going with this blog.

I have this habit at looking at a model and being really displeased with one component. So, I'm going to make a thread of some basic adaptions I've done that I feel really make a huge difference on the models presented. I'll update this each time I get a new one painted, because without paint you don't really get the full effect.

I'm not a painter in any shape, form, or fashion, so be gentle!

Astorath the not-so Grim! He is in a much better mood with a set of full sized wings, in the appropriate position according to his body language, and my preparing him to be a character in my Dark Angels army. The original wings are a tiny pair that are folded up, just doesn't look right at all.

[Michael]

Looks great, really something different!

[Tbcrow]

This adaption went hand in hand with Astorath, and there is one final wing adaption after this one. Wing replacement/addition was first on my list of adaptions, so I'm knocking these out first.

This is my Celestine the Living Saint. I was honestly very disappointed with this model on so many levels. You have an entire army of hardcore worshipers, dreadnoughts that run on torture, ect, and then you have one of the two most powerful figures with a cherub backdrop. It was for lack of a better term, weak, very weak. Two immensely large and heavy wings, a decent amount of greenstuff, and some creative base work later, you have this. I think my largest challenge will be a bit more sanding between the wings and then fading them together so it looks natural.

Not painted yet, will get back to this one once it's painted and update this post.

[Lucian]

That_is_pure_awsome.

Looks so much more like a saint would.

[Diagnosis Ninja]

Astaroth's wings suit Celestine better, but the pose on Astaroth doesn't suit the wings entirely. Maybe's if he was leaning forward slightly? Widespread wings just make me imagine him diving into an attack for some reason.

As for the conversions, though, they look good.

[Tbcrow]

Astaroth's wings suit Celestine better, but the pose on Astaroth doesn't suit the wings entirely. Maybe's if he was leaning forward slightly? Widespread wings just make me imagine him diving into an attack for some reason.

As for the conversions, though, they look good.

I had this same disagreement with the guy who I mentally walked through the conversions with. My placement and selection come from a background of photographing wildlife, mostly birds. I had to explain to him why I had the picked which set to go with which.

Birds keep their wings spread very, very wide throughout combat. Even Falcons who attack other birds stay unfurled once they make contact to avoid damage to their wings. The exception for them is if they attack from above, which is normally preceded by a tucked dive. If you watch a video of a hawk attack an animal even after it's landed it will keep it's wings wide while it kills the creature for balance and protection. No bird wants any damage to it's wings, because that's how they live.

The only bird I know that would have it's wings wide spread when it's calm (as demonstrated by Celestine's demeanor) would be a Vulture. They eat so much bacteria from rotting animals that they have to spread their wings and sun them to kill the bacteria growing between their feathers. I placed the wide spread wings on Celestine and immediately dismissed them because they reflected this action, and it looked totally weird to me.

Now, beyond practicality, the aesthetic choices were important as well. If I'm attacking something I want to appear as big and evil as possible, morale is 99% of the battle, and if something thinks it's going to die before I even get to it, then I've already won. Therefore, I gave Astorath the more menacing set.

[Xhukari]

Very nice work!
Love the conversions ya done there, and the painting's not bad

[t0k0l0v3r]

Gorgeous. Nuff said.

(Keep it up.)

[Tbcrow]

Sorry for the lack of updates with this, real life is slowing me down. The next 3 posted won't be conversions, but truly fantastic models I feel don't get nearly enough face time.

[Tbcrow]

I ran out of umph, haven't painted the Celestine and only done the foundation on one of the models I'm working on. Here is one of the models I feel doesn't get nearly enough face time. Ardcoated the shell, haven't done any flock work yet.

[Tbcrow]

#2 of the models that aren't conversions (sorta) but don't get nearly enough face time. This is the Emperor's Champion with a nice Dark Angels color scheme and back pack. It wanted it to be very crude and abused. Champion's to me shouldn't be prima-donnas in fancy armor with tons of flashy colors, they should be the man at the front of the charge, grimy and worn, but deadly all the same.

EDIT: I went back and fixed the red on the side of his head, was totally bugging me.

[Michael]

He really looks worn damaged. The metals, especially the sword look a bit flat though. They could really benefit from a badab black wash imo.

[Tbcrow]

He really looks worn damaged. The metals, especially the sword look a bit flat though. They could really benefit from a badab black wash imo.

Good Idea, he has been sitting on my desk screaming something isn't done yet but I couldn't figure it out. I'm not very happy with how it turned out, difficult model for me.

[Thatfatguy]

looking very good, loving the wings

[Tbcrow]

Painted a Carnifex using the same paint scheme and Brother Captain Sharp's Article on making cracked earth bases. I'm pseudo impressed with the overall affect of the color scheme. I love the cracked earth base idea, I need to refine the execution exponentially, because I'm way off the quality I would like. I also rushed painting the Carnifex and I'm somewhat mad at myself for doing that.

[Tbcrow]

Here is my current project. I've got a lot to do.

[edmundblack]

:eek: :087:

Yes, that's a lot to do! Good luck with that lot! :icon_biggrin:

[Lucian]

O_O

*stunned*

Well that ought to keep you busy for a while

[Michael]

Madness!
Good luck with getting all that stuff cleaned and painted.

[Vent]

I have trouble looking at that many boxes of things to paint. Both in knowing I don't get to paint them (HA!), but also because it can be very de-motivational. Good luck!