TheDapperGenestealer's Tyranid project (with a sprinkle of other random crap)

[TheDapperGenestealer]

Ladies. Gentlemen.
*tips hat*
Greetings!

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I've been meaning to get a project thread or blog up and running for quite some time and now finally got around to doing it. I had a thread for my VC army (over at Carpe Noctem) running a couple years back and felt like it could be a good idea to do the same for my current projects. Some time ago (two years, give or take...) I started building a tyranid army that I never finished. I've had a long absence from the hobby due to lack of interest/lazyness/lack of time but thought it was time to continue building my swarm and get it playable.

The idea behind this project thread is that it hopefully will be a source of motivation and feedback. The main goal is to finish up the tyranids, bringing them to 1500 points (and eventually 2000 pts).

But, I've also got an Eldar and Dark Elf army in the making. (1000 and 750 points respectively, to begin with) I'll likely work on these dudes at a slower pace. Both armies, the Eldar especially, will be rather conversion heavy and more time will be spent painting them so there will be less updates with them here in the thread. Also, at some point I will most likely bring some scenery into the mix. The stuff I have is starting to look rather dated and I've wanted to replace many of the pieces for a long long time. I've been thinking about making a thick pine forest with rocky hills and/or a Adeptus Mechanicus factorum sector. I guess we'll see what I decide to make.

Anyways, to get things started, here's the fun stuff. The pictures.

These are the hormagaunts I've painted so far, the unit will be fleshed out and brought up to 18 models. The glossy varnish is a bit problematic when photographing since I can't use the flash, I'm looking into making myself a lightbox so that I can get rid of all the shadows.




Like the hormagaunts the termagants will recieve some reinforcements to increase the unit size. Also, yes, those are spinefists. I started building the army during the 4th edition tyranid era when spinegants were the shizzle thanks to their low cost. Their current state baffles me... costs more and are less effective in almost all cases? Ah well... They will be used as normal fleshborer armed termagants as long as my opponent allows it.




Ahhh yes... warriors. Really like these models, probably my favourite ones in the tyranid range. I plan to include one more unit of three armed with deathspitters in the army. And a Prime or two! I do have a flyrant (that just needs his base finished up) but I'm not quite happy with how he turned out and might just replace him with a Prime. Or give him some TL devourers and a tyrant guard for company.

I will try to update the thread rather regularly, every other day or so. Also, please excuse any typos and/or grammatical errors - it's difficult typing with the feeder tendrils constantly getting in the way.

[spooner]

Must say these nids are looking beautiful. As an Eldar and Nid player myself, really looking forward to some more updates!

[Tzeentch Lord]

Hi there! Welcome.
Necron player here, but those Tyranids are looking very shiny and stabby! Good work.

[TheDapperGenestealer]

Hi there! Welcome.

Must say these nids are looking beautiful. As an Eldar and Nid player myself, really looking forward to some more updates!

Thanks!


Minor update, built and based some zoanthropes. These are my first Finecast miniatures... aaaaand I'm not really sure if I think they live up to their name. Both had tons of airbubbles that needed filling and areas that had to be resculpted. I guess it could be worse though, I've heard some horror stories regarding the Finecast stuff.

I decided to leave the lower pair of spore chimneys off of the zoeys since I liked the look a bit more. I might end up using the bits for my Warrior Prime conversion, could look pretty cool - something along the lines of a mini-Tyrant. Also, as you can see in the picture, the tentacle-thingy that the zoanthropes usually are attached to have been cut off. I was a bit worried that the joint could snap easily so the tentacle was replaced with some piano wire that was glued to holes drilled in the zoanthropes and bases.

They will enter play through a mycetic spore. I've not yet decided how I will construct the spore but it will most likely be greenstuff over a storyfoam base.

[Sir Spamalot]

I hate you... You've convinced me to stop work on my Necrons and go back to 'nids But these are absolutely awesome dude Really gonna be a beautiful army. though I would be interested to see how the scheme carries over to the larger models.

Looking forward to more. Awesome work

[Tzeentch Lord]

Minor update, built and based some zoanthropes. These are my first Finecast miniatures... aaaaand I'm not really sure if I think they live up to their name. Both had tons of airbubbles that needed filling and areas that had to be resculpted. I guess it could be worse though, I've heard some horror stories regarding the Finecast stuff.

I've only bought one failcast (as many call them!) so far, which is my Necron Overlord. But I doubt I'll ever buy another finecast model ever again. The Overlord's staff was so bent that I had to replace the entire thing with the shaft from a plastic Lychguard model. And I've had so many bits break off him that I think he's probably got more pins in him than any other model I've ever put together! Not something I want to repeat. The hassle that one model has been really doesn't justify the cost, regardless of how well detailed he is (which is not that much more detailed than the plastic Overlord you get with the Command Barge kit!).

Anyway, you've made those Zoanthropes look nice, they should paint up really well.

[Warlord Vrrmik]

Mate, you inspire us all. I have 36 Termagants, 12 Hormagaunts and a Tervigon still waiting to be built. The majority of my army then needs to be painted! Arrgh!

I love your scheme though. It will look very nice. Maybe add some Tyranid slime to the mouths of your monstrous creatures (check the thread out located in the Tyranid Index 2011 sticky in the 'nid forum) that I believe you came up with the idea for that, Spamalot. I still can't get over that colour scheme! Maybe because red's my favourite colour I actually like the way you've glossed your dudes. Very nice. Did you use a clear gloss varnish over them or just buy six bottles of 'ardcoat?

As for this 'failcast', I've bought three and had no such experiences. The Tyrant Guard I got was just as good (or bad) flash wise as the metal version, and the details were crisper. The Lictor was no different, his details were immaculate. And the Hive Tyrant I bought (which I converted into a Swarmlord a while back) only had one slight join problem with the carapace but apart from that it was just as good. The fact that you don't have to pin it now makes it so much better. Thank you GW for releasing the Tyrant in plastic!

Keep it up mate! Subscribed and looking forward to future updates

[animated_shadow]

Beautiful nids, and the best username ever! Rep to you, dear sir.

[Allonairre]

That looks fantastic. With regard to the gloss varnish, I have read numerous times that Testors Dullcote is excellent at taking the shine off. I have never actually managed to find it though so cant actually recommend it.

Other option would be to photograph before you varnish which may help.

Looking forward to seeing more.

[TheDapperGenestealer]

I hate you... You've convinced me to stop work on my Necrons and go back to 'nids But these are absolutely awesome dude Really gonna be a beautiful army. though I would be interested to see how the scheme carries over to the larger models.

I took some pictures of my flyrant to show you what the color scheme looks like on the larger beasts. The black is highlighted, but it doesn't really show very well in the pics.

Since I've posted pics of the dude I might aswell talk a bit about him. As I mentioned in my first post I'm not really satisfied with how he turned out (the wings in particular, for some reason I thought they looked just fine when I made them... sigh...).

I will most likely strip the paint and replace the wings and talons with two pairs of devourers - or one pair and a stranglethorn cannon. Sorting this model out is very much a secondary concern though, since I kinda want to field a Prime/Primes rather than a Tyrant.

I still can't get over that colour scheme! Maybe because red's my favourite colour I actually like the way you've glossed your dudes. Very nice. Did you use a clear gloss varnish over them or just buy six bottles of 'ardcoat?

As for this 'failcast', I've bought three and had no such experiences. The Tyrant Guard I got was just as good (or bad) flash wise as the metal version, and the details were crisper. The Lictor was no different, his details were immaculate. And the Hive Tyrant I bought (which I converted into a Swarmlord a while back) only had one slight join problem with the carapace but apart from that it was just as good. The fact that you don't have to pin it now makes it so much better. Thank you GW for releasing the Tyrant in plastic!

I'm very much a sucker for red color schemes aswell. This is my fourth army, out of eight, with red being a primary color. The clear gloss varnish is from Vallejo, two layers or so.

Regarding the finecast, I guess it very well could be a matter of hit or miss. The quality (or lack thereof) has definitely not put me off. As you mentioned the details are very crisp which I highly appreciate, not to mention the low weight which certainly should make the models less of a hassle to handle.

I will probably get myself some Lictors at some point since I absolutely love the bloody models, even though they're considered kinda... meh in terms of effectivity. Damn shame they compete with Hive Guard and Zoeys for the precious elite slots...

That looks fantastic. With regard to the gloss varnish, I have read numerous times that Testors Dullcote is excellent at taking the shine off. I have never actually managed to find it though so cant actually recommend it.

Other option would be to photograph before you varnish which may help.

Looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks!

I actually want the shine, since I like that extra alien look it gives the models. Photographing the models before they're varnished is definitely something I can do though.

and the best username ever!

I had to take a break from cleaning mould lines off of the genestealers and gaunts that I'm currently building, that crap gets boring so damn fast. Sooo, I decided to do some GS work on these Dark Elf models.

This is my hero model. It's pretty much finished but I think I might add some straps or something to the horse.









Assassin. The pose is static due to fluff reasons, she's intended to be a bodyguard for the hero unit rather than a traditional assassin.




Only the GS work on the back is finished. The front of the skirt still needs folds added and I think the waist could use a belt or some small bags.