Hot Rod Battlewagon 2 - Part 1

Yes, the posting has been pretty light.  As the kids get older and are involved in more stuff hobby time takes a back seat.  I've got some vacation time at home coming up so I'm really hoping to finish my next Battlewagon by the 1st of the year. 
I found this while poking around on the web.  I really like front end and it's weird turbine/boiler looking mess.  I figure I'll take this concept and mash it with the last wagon I built so they are similar in form but with different looks. 

On to gathering parts and a hopefully more detailed build.

Reader Submission-Ork Tank

Some time ago I sold one of my "Medium Scrap Tanks" to reader Pi_Rm, and he kindly sent my pics of his fantastic paint job. Holy crap!  He made my stuff look good!

Gobsmasha #5 Comission - Complete

Packed off to the customer:

Gobsmasha Commission #5 Part 3

Some detail work finished.  Still more to go:

Gobsmasha Commission 5 part 2

Update!  I just have to figure out what kind of hatch to build...

Slaughterbrute Quick Hit

Yeah yeah, a Slaughterbrute is a fantasy unit, but I did use a Chaos Maulerfiend to build this guy.  All I did was get creative with leg placement and add some horns from the Chaos Chariot.  I do still need to add a rider:

Birthing pangs, another Gobsmasha Commission Part 1

Another one on the factory line.  Still using a Leman Russ Hull as the core to match the customers other 2.

Is there any interest is this style of vehicle being a kit?

Juggernaughts? Why yes, we have those.

How does this fit in with 40k?  Well, those are Chaos Marine pauldrons...

I  like mixing in the basic Warriors of Chaos bit to make them less, khorney.

Gobsmasha Commission

Just completed this bundle of joy for a customer:

20mm Square hollow bases! New in the Fanboy Forge store

Hey! Now available in the store!

20mm hollow resin cast square bases.  10 for $5.  Check'em out in the store.

Fanboy Forge Store

Converting Grukk! Warboss Conversion Complete.

So this Grukk conversion is complete.  My intent is to use him as a cheap HQ or as part of a greater formation.  I like the idea of running 3 Warbosses, 3 Big Meks and a Weirdboy in with a bunch of other orky mayhem.

 Kept him pretty simple:

Converting Grukk! Warboss Conversion Part 2

More or less a quick update.  Did more work on the arm and shoota, added some gubbinz and a rotary magazine:

Converting Grukk! Warboss Conversion Part 1

GW makes crappy Warbosses.  There, I said it.  They are very derivative of each other.  The AoBR Boss is solid, especially for a "Starter" figure, but not much variety.  Grukk, from Stormclaw, was a great  opportunity to do something different, and they blew it.  The best thing about the figure is the back (it's not covered in equipment), but no pose ability at all.  But it is different then the AoBR boss, and not the classic, weedy boss we've had forever so choppy chop!
Here's where I'm at so far:

Quick Hit Friday - Ork Warbike Nob

With the new codex Biker Nobs as a unit are a bit overcosted, but normal Warbikes are great!.  I figured I'd keep enough Nobz for 1 unit and build the Warbikers with the bits I had left over.  In order to keep the units visibly different I'm going for a less is more approach.  With the Bikernobz I loaded them with gear and converted the crap out of them, but for these boys I'm keeping everything more toned down.  The unit Nob here is a bit of an exception, he is a Nob after all.  I'm using Kromlech heads and torsos for the entire unit (biker gang!).  The power claw is from the AoBR Warboss, trimmed up a bit to fit.  I'm not fan of the weedy ones that come with the normal kits.  I'm short a dakkagun, so I'll scratchbuild one for this guy.  The front fairing is just on of the wheel rams put together in a different way.  Here's the WiP for this guy:

Objective Markers 5 & 6 in the Store

Since 7th Edition cam out I've been getting great feedback from folks requesting markers 5 & 6 to round out their Marker set. Well, here you go!

 You can order them from the store: Fanboy Forge Store

Buy buying them you are helping to fund the next project.  What is the next project?   Beats me.

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Complete!

Holy crap, that was a long time comin. Here's the pics:

  Got it armed too, since rokkits cost the same big shootas, why not go big. 

Ramshackle Games - Stuff I like

If you haven't checked out Ramshackle Games, do.  I've seen some of their kits firsthand and they are great.  Good alternatives for some of the existing kits out there.  Their newest is my favorite so far:

Ramshackle Games Battledog, pic used without permission:

Please check them out: http://www.ramshacklegames.co.uk/

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 part 6

Progress! Who knew!  I finally made a decision on the front end and decided to go with the simple radiator/grill gob. 

Are you going to OFCC 2014?

Cause I am!  Find me and say Hi!

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Part 5

Progress, at the speed of smell.

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Part 4

Still recovering from a little outpatient procedure, but managed to get this done:

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Part 3

With that much done it's time to turn to the engine.  Mechanical Force=Gubbinz + Waaagh!  Or so the math tells me.  I got my hands on a Megadred engine and cast some for myself.  At first I was going to use just one of them for the battlewagon, but it just seemed too weedy.  I finally settled on bonding two together to give me a W16!

Quick Hit Friday-Tankbustas

Sometimes these conversions are a super simple.  These tankbustas are really no more the product of a bits order and scabbing together what I already had.

Selling another model- Battlewagon

I really like this Wagon, but it doesn't fit with the theme I want.  Focus, focus, focus...

$30 plus shipping, unless you can meet me in Vancouver/PDX

If you are interested just send me an email at fanboyforge@gmail.com .

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Part 2

Man, summer time is kickin' my a$$.  Some progress was made despite my real life commitments.
 Many moons ago I bits ordered a ton of these old school artillery wheels, just knowing that at some point in the future I'd use them.  Since this BW is a halftrack at it's core I figured they'd look good for the front wheels. I stacked them together in a set of 3 to get the width I wanted.  

Hot Rod Battlewagon 1 Part 1

I decided that the battlewagons I have don't fit my current army asthetic, so I need to revamp what I have.  I'll start by build two "Boyz Mob" wagons, just for carrying the biggest mobs I can while staying as points cheap as possible, so no big gunz on these.

The first wagon will be a half-track, but still big and lowered to match the look of the buggies and the trukks.  I started by building the first track assembly.  I'm going for a different method this time to try and get the links to line up tight.

Fanboy Shares- Jugger's Garage

I'm always on the lookout for neato conversions, even better when it's a blog full of'em.  So checkout Jugger's Garage.  Stuff all over the place , so it's not army specific.

http://juggersgarage.blogspot.com/

Battlewagon 3 Commission Complete

Holy crap!  It's done!
The client wanted a short barreled siege looking gun.  Boom!

Battlewagon Commission 3 Part 4

Progress!  I needed to increase the clearance between the axles and the hull.  All I did was add square tube as standoffs the covered them with 1/2" round tube to hide the whole mess:

Battlewagon Commission 3 Part 3

Just a quick update.  Not much hobby work get's when when the weather's nice!  I tried a new technique to build the undercarriage.  Not sure I like it but it's together anyway:

Battlewagon Commission 3 Part 2

The work continues, although it's at a crawl.  Summertime really impacts the indoor activities!

Finished blocking in the hull:

Objective Markers 5 & 6?

Any interest in these?

Hot Rod Trukk 2 Painting complete

Plink, plink, plink away.  I'm loving the airbrush!  I now own 3!  Once I get the trukks done I'll start basecoating the boys that ride in'em.  I'm so excited for the new Ork Codex I'm about to wet myself.

Medium Scrap Tank Kit Sold Out Mini-Starter

We have 2 1  0 Medium Scrap Tank available for prerelease sale.  Great for a WW2 themed Orc army. Interested? Buy today!

Hot Rod Trukk 1 Painting complete

I know this is a conversion blog, but I figured I should show the first finished piece for my Evil Sunz.  Vroom!

The Fanboy paints! Painting thoughts and musings.

Yup, it can happen.  I haven't really painted in years.  Back in the day I was a solid painter, held my own so to speak. When I was able to start hobbying again I was rather intimidated by the level of painting we see today.  After procrastinating about it I decided to start slapping some color on stuff.  This time around, based on discussions with friends I decided it was time to up my game with an airbrush.  I dove into videos and other resources and started to practice and experiment.  I figure I'd share some of the things I've found out so far.

I use Photoshop and it occurred to me that I may be able to do all the tonality prior to applying the red.  Red and yellow tend to be somewhat translucent, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Update: If you poke around on Youtube you'll find this technique in more detail.  I guess I'm behind the curve.

I started with the overall shading and highlighting.  I worked up from black, light grey for the midtones, pure white for the highlights.

Not blog fading...

Just busy with other things.  Family vacations, nice weather, work, these things take priority.  I'm wrapping up a resin commission then back to the battlewagon job.  Thanks for your patience.

If you're not ok with it, then suck it up buttercup.  I do this for free.

In other news, how bout that 7th Edition huh?

How about a post, any post

Family responsibilities have kept me busy, but I did manage to get this much done:

Battlewagon Commission 3

I started the 3rd in a set of of Russian battlewagons for a build commission.  This last one is based on a Russian SU-152.  I can be way more free on this type of build since I'm not worried about trying cast these up.  So far I've got the hull underway:

I'm not dead yet...

...just distracted.  I've got a couple of commission projects on the table that I need to keep a lid on, but I have been learning to use my airbrush.  I'm testing some weathering techniques that I'm picking up and playing around with.  Here are my current test efforts:

Grot Tank quick hit

Bam!

Sneak Peek - Grot Mini Scrap Tank Project

I'm working on another series of Grot Mini Scrap Tanks for my Ork Tankers.  These are bit smaller than My series 1 tanks, and I'm applying some lessons learned to make casting easier.  I'll shoot for a full set of 18 and since I'm basically lazy I'll build 6 masters then cast the rest.  No WIP from these as my methods are the same as before, I'll just post details for solving problems or new methods.

Here's the first 3 hulls.  I'm going more irregular and ramshackle than the first set, which were inspired by Russian Tankettes.  These little guys will be more concept based and whatever tickles my fancy.  I figure another month  or two and they'll be done.

Objective Markers? Why yes!

I've partnered with Purple Monster Gaming and they are now producing the Hidden Objective Markers. Check'em out over here: https://squareup.com/market/purple-monster-gaming/hidden-marker-objectives-for-warhammer-k

Evil Sunz Weirdboy Complete

Done!  The power cables were a pain, but I'm pleased with how they look.  ZZAP!

Evil Sunz Weirdboy Part 2

A quick hit today.  I got the Grounding Staff mostly put together.  I started with a boyz choppa arm, lopped off the axe, put a a pin through what was left of the handle, and superglued a section of tubing in place:

Evil Sunz Weirdboy Part 1

Blah Blah Blah, back to real content.  Just a quick hit, I've been working on a Speed Freek themed Weirdboy.  This guy is simply a Stormboy body, a Deffkopta head, the pointy arm from the Battlewagon kit, part of a Killa Kan engine and scratchbuilt batteries. 

 

Products: you make the call

Taking feedback from folks and knowing what my time will allow here's how I'll approach the whole mess.  Moving forward I'm only building what I want for myself.  No more speculation.  When I finish the project I'll put up a poll to find out how many folks are interested that as a product.  If enough people want it I'll produce it.  Fore now all these will be on a "commission" basis, so I'll post the price, but you'd need to email me with your request.  I'll invoice you when it's ready, so no store as such.  This will let me take more time to produce better models. 

In the pipeline are an Evil Sunz Weirdboy, Grot Tanks (poll consideration), and a Battlewagon (poll consideration). 

See you soon!

Could the Store be returning?

That depends on you.  After discussion with the family and weighing the pros and cons it will be making a return in the future, all be it in a a limited fashion.  I have a partnership in place for the return of the Hidden Objective markers.  He'll be handling the online sales and manufacturing of the kits and once he's ready I'll post the info you need to get those.  I'm going to refocus my initial idea of providing conversion components and original resin kits, building on what I have already started.

This is where you come in.  As my time is limited I can't just guess at what I think folks want.  I need feedback.  What are you looking for?  I've gotten quite a bit of interest on Grot Mini Scrap tanks, so those are a distinct possibility.  Or what about Orc Truck Conversion kits?  Or maybe some kind of kit for the New Imperial Knight, to give some variety or a "looted" option?

Could it be a comeback?

My point is that I really enjoy building and casting this stuff, it's super fun and I learn a lot.  I'm not going to get rich doing it and I need to maintain a balance.  I want to keep my prices reasonable and not take advantage of the community.  

So make your voice heard!  Comment here or send an email! 

Hot Rod Buggies Part 4

I had it in mind to make the body shell on this one a bit more rounded. I built the shell as normal but I added extra bracing in the corners so I wouldn't grind through the panels with the Dremel.  I also angled the front of the cab in rather than squaring it off.

Hot Rod Buggies Part 3

I skipped ahead a bit and finished the body shell.  No real difficulty there.  I also started on the patch and scrap plates.  I'm adding handles and hinges to the doors, made from cut rod and little plates:

 

Hot Rod Buggies Part 2

I figured I'd an an indepth WIP series on the second buggy.  I'm keeping this design straightforward so hopefully this will be of some use to anyone who wants to follow along.  The lootin's good this time of year!
I started with a trukk chassis.  I clipped the last section off to shorten the overall length.  I want my buggies low to ground, right down in the weeds so I clipped the front leaf springs off an moved the front axle to the front of the frame.  I flipped over the rear axle to drop the back end down.  I also installed the engine at this point.  I should really scratch build the block, but my time is now so limited it opted for the easy way out.  All I did this time was chop the scoop off the top. I don't want the buggies to look exactly the same...