Ravenstein Castle - Chaplain Dreadnought WIP 2

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt added 08/04/13

Looks amazing Ravenstein, the transitions to your own sculpt is really tidy, great work! Love to see em painted up.

Thanks. The fur is a laborious task to do but simple once you get the technique down to repeat. A lot of werewolf movies while working also helps.

Wow that re-sculpt is SO good.. Look really good together! Only thing a bit out of place is the feet that sadly doesn't feel all that wolf-like... But seriously this would have been a better new sculpt / model in the "new" crypt horror kit... REALLY great job.! I actually want to dismantle my own and try this out

A good call and well observed sir. Indeed the feet will have additional toes either side once the first putty stages have cured fully, along with added musculature and warrior armbands, amulets etc.I had made a start on the paws on a couple of feet you can see in the next shots of the others, But as they are very delicate little claws I will add them towards the end of all the sculpting work. This is very early stages with the basic 'meat' of the bulking done.

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt added 08/04/13

Next one for the pack is Talbot. He's done very bad things.

Again this is the basic fur done to hide the seams, some repositioning here and there. Very fun models to work with. Finer details like the musculature definition, toe claws will be done when the fur has cured completely, some ornamental bits, jewellery/totemic items etc.

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt added 08/04/13

Last one of the Crypt Horror Werewolf conversions. This is the champion crypt haunter, Skorzeny .

All the werewolves are being left to cure for a few days, then the final work of sculpting the accessories and accouterments will commence. I am deciding on placement of basing options/environmental details and checking out some different 'warrior' type armbands and torcs, amulets etc online for inspiration. I will most likely incorporate the wolf skulls from the space wolf range (ditching any nordic runes.. these are old Sylvanian lycanthropes, not the were-beasts of the northern realms.)
I really wanted a 'crinos' form similar to Forgeworld Skinwolves. The Skinwolves are meh..okay models but they look too Doberman. It would have been cheaper and easier to just go for the FW stuff (wow never thought I would say that), these conversions are not cheap to do, working out at a basic £44 for the components before adding cost of putty and other materials. On the flip side, these are pretty solid, rugged models.
I hope they are as solid and rugged on the battlefields..
I'm looking forward to painting these.

More creepy things soon!

 

[BloodbathMcGrath]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt added 08/04/13

Wow! These resculpts look fantastic! The manes of fur on the backs of the vargheists actually seem to make a lot more sense as a werewolf. Very cool re-imaginig, although I'd like to see how you will tie-in poison with werewolves erv:

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt added 08/04/13

Wow! These resculpts look fantastic! The manes of fur on the backs of the vargheists actually seem to make a lot more sense as a werewolf. Very cool re-imaginig, although I'd like to see how you will tie-in poison with werewolves erv:

Not really a toughie - poisonous attacks = auto wound on a 6 = werewolf ferocity in combat

 

[Melle]

RE: Ravensteins converts added 08/04/13

wow...that. ...wow

no secret that im using FW skin wolves as horrors, and i utterly love them(yes i removed chaos icons). one of best available
werewolf sculpts imo. or at least they were.
then again, yours arent exactly available either, but man they look good.
keep it up, make a mould and start massproduction asap

 

[Constant Drachenfels]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop

Absolutely brilliant werewolves. Just the idea what parts to take from which kits.. pure genius.

 

[Adam_Barrow]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop

Those werewolves are so cool! Inspired idea, totally.

 

[benvoliothefirst]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop

I agree. With your fantastic sculpting work, this looks like the models were made specifically for these conversions. Great work. I anticipate a lot of copycats with this idea.

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - 3 Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts added 08/04/13

wow...that. ...wow

no secret that im using FW skin wolves as horrors, and i utterly love them(yes i removed chaos icons). one of best available
werewolf sculpts imo. or at least they were.
then again, yours arent exactly available either, but man they look good.
keep it up, make a mould and start massproduction asap

Thanks! I don't think I'd survive the GW Arbites Legal team assault!
All the bits are GW, so the models are suitable for my local shop campaign.

Absolutely brilliant werewolves. Just the idea what parts to take from which kits.. pure genius.

Thank you, I wanted something different. I have seen people use the goblin wolf rider heads on these size bodies, FW skinwolves, non GW werewolves etc and other bits but not the space wolf bits. I also wanted my werewolves to look similar to my direwolf pack.

Those werewolves are so cool! Inspired idea, totally.

Cheers! still lots of work to get done on them though!

I agree. With your fantastic sculpting work, this looks like the models were made specifically for these conversions. Great work. I anticipate a lot of copycats with this idea.

I hope so, sharing this stuff together is a big part of the gaming hobby to me. Feedback, encouragement, interest and participation: all these things contribute to getting stuff and ideas flowing and projects firing on all cylinders!

 

[Tawg]

Ravensteins Workshop - Three Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts added 08/04/13

Definitely inspired.

Really makes me want to play with putty, too bad that is a skill that is beyond me for the most part. Although I do think that musculature/hair would be the easiest place to jump into sculpting; Hard edges/straight lines seem really hard to accomplish, but I guess you'll be dealing with that when you do extra claws/torques.

So of course, I am obligated to barrage you with questions:

What putty do you use, it's clearly grey, is it just a similar to Greenstuff equivalent? Or is it a type of putty that is different in some noticeable way (I know I bought some putty for larger bulk-sculpting, that I believe is set by heat/baking)?

Also do you do anything besides use the putty straight? I believe I've heard you can mix very small amounts of vaseline/petro. jelly with the two halves to extend it's dry time a bit? Maybe I made that part up; But I do know you can change the ratio of yellow-to-blue to make it dry quicker or not.

What all do you use while you're working it? Sculpting tolls I assume, but anything else? Water to help keep things smooth? And is there anything you do that helps smooth the transition between your putty and the piece you're working off (Assuming there is a base model)?

I personally have not exactly sculpted anything very.. fine yet, nothing like details of any sort, and I haven't tried adding fur or the likes to any models quite yet. As of right now my experience amounts to basically just using GS to fill mold lines that I feel are too noticeable, granted I think most of them are too noticeable, so I might be crazy. It's often hard for me, or at least I feel it is, to get the GS really flush with the rest of the surface. I guess I wouldn't say it's been an issue yet but I always feel like the GS I add on will be noticeable, even though that's probably not true.

Looks great, goddamned fantastic; I don't really ever get the "Werewolves" theme up in my army, but you're certainly making good arguments in favor.

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - 3 Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts added 08/04/13

Definitely inspired.

What putty do you use, it's clearly grey, is it just a similar to Greenstuff equivalent? Or is it a type of putty that is different in some noticeable way (I know I bought some putty for larger bulk-sculpting, that I believe is set by heat/baking)?

I used regular greenstuff and liquid greenstuff. The photos are just black and white so it's easier to see the overall effect of the reworking. I can post colour pictures if you'd like to look at them too...but I always think they look a mess at WIP stage - the different colours clashing against the eye tend to obfuscate the overall look.

Also do you do anything besides use the putty straight? I believe I've heard you can mix very small amounts of vaseline/petro. jelly with the two halves to extend it's dry time a bit? Maybe I made that part up; But I do know you can change the ratio of yellow-to-blue to make it dry quicker or not.

Yes, Vaseline helps also to reduce the stickiness. TINY amounts tho.
More yellow = stays softer longer
More blue = goes off like a rocket (you can also place it under a spotlamp.)

What all do you use while you're working it? Sculpting tolls I assume, but anything else? Water to help keep things smooth? And is there anything you do that helps smooth the transition between your putty and the piece you're working off (Assuming there is a base model)?

Go to an art store and look in the sculpting section! Loads of tools to play with and try out. Use clean stainless steel/metal sculpting tools cleaned regularly. Also, buy rubber tipped shapers. Invaluable tools. After sculpting, to get a cleaner look, polish with super fine emery paper/needle files, refill areas again that look dodgy, just work at it. Also, watered down liquid greenstuff is good for final blending surface seams together. use it like thin wash in a few coats.

I personally have not exactly sculpted anything very.. fine yet, nothing like details of any sort, and I haven't tried adding fur or the likes to any models quite yet. As of right now my experience amounts to basically just using GS to fill mold lines that I feel are too noticeable, granted I think most of them are too noticeable, so I might be crazy. It's often hard for me, or at least I feel it is, to get the GS really flush with the rest of the surface. I guess I wouldn't say it's been an issue yet but I always feel like the GS I add on will be noticeable, even though that's probably not true.

It takes a lot of practice and experimenting. It is just another artistic discipline that comes with time and effort, but it is fun and rewarding when you make something cool and unique. Patience, and care are the two key contributors to progressing with sculpy stuff. I have worked in a professional workshop/sculpting environment before but not on micro scale like miniatures, I was working with clay, epoxy resins and other things BUT the principles are the same!

Looks great, goddamned fantastic; I don't really ever get the "Werewolves" theme up in my army, but you're certainly making good arguments in favor.

Many thanks. I am considering using just GW wings on my next sculpt - the rest of the model will be my own interpretation of a Varghulf. Long time off and just plotting in my mind how to progress when that project begins!

 

[Tawg]

Ravensteins Workshop - Three Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts added 08/04/13

Ah, I didn't realize you had altered the picture's colour. I guess it makes sense kinda, when you're just trying to show off the overall sculpt, rather than distracting people with the colour.

I do have a single metal tool, which I keep fairly clean, though it looks to be a bit old (I think it has a bit of metal flaked off one of the surfaces); But it's the only one I have.

I need to look at Emery paper maybe? Is that just a special kind of sand paper? (EDIT: Yeah, it's what it's made of, and concerning primarily plastic models it looks like sand paper is just as good; Emery is needed for harder surfaces such as metals) I actually had bought some fine (Or maybe it's not even that fine compared to what I should have?) sand paper, because I had carved off all the Knight's Panther icons from their shields so I could use the nice shapes for my Knight's of the Black Rose, but I had a better time just smoothing the surface with the edge of a blade rather than trying to use the sand paper. The surface was really small and hard to get the paper flush against it, or hold it all properly, just a bit finicky all together. I probably should bother to work on my files, typically I just ignore files all together, but I could definitely see them having their uses; You don't file until after you've let the GS set though, right?

I actually had a brilliant idea I'm currently gathering parts for kinda. Involves this lady, and a few Murder of Crows. The idea being that a "Nightmare/Abyssal Horror" need not be a single.. creature or form. I kinda wanna make it so that it looks like she (As a vamp/necro) is being born aloft by a.. large murder of crows basically, just representing a larger entity. I was thinking of either trying to get her in the center, with the birds around here in the general shape of a larger bird as a whole, or I was debating trying to find a random Daemon/Monster bird that was larger and more ferocious to somehow fill up space, or be the main "Component" of the Abyssal Horror. Hopefully I won't have to do terribly much sculpting though, I bet it'd suck to do a ton of feathers! And trying to pin those together might also end up being a pain. It'll certainly be a labor of love :ghost:

BTW: I don't know if you know, but your title for your tread is at the max space for topic, so replies which normally put "RE: " in front of the title of the thread are needing to be replaced.. essentially you've managed to disable "Quick Reply" since you can't change the title unless you're in full reply mode :zombie:

 

[Melle]

Ravensteins Workshop - Three Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts added 0

tawg, wait for the phoenix s coming with the new highelves next month

loving your idea on the crows and that chick in the middle, sounds awesome.

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Workshop - Three Werewolf Crypt Horror resculpt/converts 08/04/13

Werewolf Project WIP: Kessler, stage 2
Well, the basics cured rock solid, and with more muscle work he's starting to reach completion at the final sculpt stages, just a few little tweaks to make here and there. He now has 4 toed feet/claws and the first armband/torc. I'm still waiting on extra bits I need to arrive. I think he's a got a lot character, stood atop the lair rocks sniffing the breeze for prey..

More work in progress shots of his pack brothers soon!

 

[Melle]

RE: Ravensteins Horrors - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

i would really apreciate a color pic just to get an idea of the extent of the GS work. if ok?

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Horrors - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

i would really apreciate a color pic just to get an idea of the extent of the GS work. if ok?

He's coated in grey primer but here is an earlier shot before definition/armband, feet claws etc

This is the torso from the Vargeist with the two big hairy 'prongs' removed, lots of upper body reworking, the arms from the crypt horror sprue again reworked, wolf head blended and mane resculpted(where I chopped the stupid hairy prong things off).

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravensteins Horrors - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

And here is an early sneak preview of something else foul and sinister being created at Ravenstein Castle..

So much sculpy work to do but the basic idea : it's a giant zombie bat thing - hence the lil legs and broad upper torso section. So far I have recycled parts from the werewolf build leftover so this guy will be cheap as chips to make.

 

[Melle]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

hard guess when pictures says: varghulf WIP in left corner

thanks for the color pic. there was ALOT more GS work than i thought.
not sure i dare try it...

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

hard guess when pictures says: varghulf WIP in left corner

thanks for the color pic. there was ALOT more GS work than i thought.
not sure i dare try it...

Unless you try it, you never know if you can do it.. lol

Seriously though as long as time and care is taken, steadily building up the forms and shapes, ANYONE can do this. The fur is actually really simple to do, just takes a long time. The biggest obstacle with using sculpy stuff is impatience - the mentality many of us gamers adopt when doing this kind of thing is: Get it Done, Get it on the Battlefield.

Instead of making a big ball of greenstuff to start sculpting with, and try doing it all at once before that 5 dollar ball of putty goes solid... make it in very small amounts at a time, do small sections at a time, allow a couple hours curing time between layers and envision how it is evolving as you work on it.


PET HATE:

Most people will make fur out of sculpy on a mini by squidging a layer all over the area in 5 minutes, then stabbing it, raking it, stippling it with a sharp object for another 5 minutes etc. It will always look like greenstuff that has been stabbed and raked and rushed out in 10 minutes, not actual hair or fur.. This is not the way to do it! BUT! It is how 90% of gamers tackle the problem!!!! And people who really don't know what they are doing post tutorials on how to stab and rake greenstuff for other people... :| so we accept 'this is how to do it'... and we all end up stabbing and raking greenstuff together

Sure, it will hide the joins and be tabletop ready in no time but it just won't look COOL... That is the honest truth. You wouldn't buy a model that looked like it had been made in 10 minutes.

So instead we need to start forgetting what we as hobbyists settle for as 'technique' and start looking at how those pros do it.

Hair and long fur is made simply by rolling out long, very thin lines of sculpy and letting it cure for a little while - not long, just long enough to retain a little strength. Then each strand is cut into smaller strips, one cut end again rolled to repoint the strand, then placed on the model. Rinse, repeat, rinse repeat etc. You build up a flow, you get creative as you do it, it starts to resemble a mane as you add more and more sections and layers, maybe a shorter strand here and there to break the uniformity, perhaps some strands will flow a different way... it becomes an organic process in itself and you end up with something that looks cool on the model.

Try it, you may surprise yourself.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

looks great but hoping for a winged vampire lord myself.

 

[con-fusion]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

Thanks for the advice on sculpting hair. I'll have to try it that way next time.

 

[BeHe]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

Looking back over your blog, I really really dig your winged countess especially her eyes, will have borrow that technique, she has real menace! I'd love to use that mini as a base for a conversion, but coming back to the hobby only recently and having a very sparse bits box is a real handicap. Thanks for sharing with us dude!

 

[Tawg]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

That's terribly interesting, seeing the stages of sculpt with colour; And even more so, how you can definitely see the technique you describe for doing hair with the greenstuff showing more so than the black and white (At least I think it's a bit more obvious).

I feel like that's one of the biggest hurdles to tackle (Because why jump?) when doing things like that, just your perception of it. It's so different to see a stage-by-stage break down by someone "Instructing" you with end results you think look great, vs when you do it yourself, and the intensity and focus you put into it the whole time, and how much your vision of it can feel off, even if you are heading in the right direction. It's crazy how much your perception can make things seem off, especially if you think you're doing poorly.

And I can definitely see where you come from, with your Peeve about fur, but honestly look at most Pelts/accessories, that sort of "Fur" work.

Or take this guy: I could see your idea for his "main"/longer flowing hair, but for his hooves/legs I would assume they did it more like the layer & cut/sculpt out, wouldn't you think?

But I certainly see what you were going for, and the use your technique could have, especially on deeper/taller areas of fur.

I'm terrified to see what you have in store for that Varghulf, I'm sure it'll end up being far beyond something I'd ever hope to accomplish :skull: You should make sure to keep up on it's sculpting in the plog though, it's not something we get to see step-by-step terribly often EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot to ask, what is the main shape made of? Just a cheaper model clay?

 

[Ravenstein]

RE: Ravenstein Castle - 'Kessler' Werewolf final resculp stage 10/04/13

looks great but hoping for a winged vampire lord myself.

I plan on a new 'Ravenstein' soon, everyone (including me!) is using the Strigoi off the Terrorgeist kit. So I will make my own in time and sculpt it. He's the bossman, he deserves some love.

Thanks for the advice on sculpting hair. I'll have to try it that way next time.

Have fun, you're welcome

Looking back over your blog, I really really dig your winged countess especially her eyes, will have borrow that technique, she has real menace! I'd love to use that mini as a base for a conversion, but coming back to the hobby only recently and having a very sparse bits box is a real handicap. Thanks for sharing with us dude!

Hehe..Don't thank me for the eyes, thank artist Ben Templesmith...

That's terribly interesting, seeing the stages of sculpt with colour; And even more so, how you can definitely see the technique you describe for doing hair with the greenstuff showing more so than the black and white (At least I think it's a bit more obvious).

I feel like that's one of the biggest hurdles to tackle (Because why jump?) when doing things like that, just your perception of it. It's so different to see a stage-by-stage break down by someone "Instructing" you with end results you think look great, vs when you do it yourself, and the intensity and focus you put into it the whole time, and how much your vision of it can feel off, even if you are heading in the right direction. It's crazy how much your perception can make things seem off, especially if you think you're doing poorly.

And I can definitely see where you come from, with your Peeve about fur, but honestly look at most Pelts/accessories, that sort of "Fur" work.

Or take this guy: I could see your idea for his "main"/longer flowing hair, but for his hooves/legs I would assume they did it more like the layer & cut/sculpt out, wouldn't you think?

But I certainly see what you were going for, and the use your technique could have, especially on deeper/taller areas of fur.

I'm terrified to see what you have in store for that Varghulf, I'm sure it'll end up being far beyond something I'd ever hope to accomplish :skull: You should make sure to keep up on it's sculpting in the plog though, it's not something we get to see step-by-step terribly often EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot to ask, what is the main shape made of? Just a cheaper model clay?

The chaos warriors fur is actually made from triangles in your example:

The Vostroyans hats .. well. It's Vostroyan sculpts. Nuff said.

The main peeve I have is that people use the stabby pokey fur technique on everything 'fibrous' without thinking. It has become accepted technique because it WAS how they did it, old school. But these days it's now become: 'Hair? Fur? Mane? Goatee beard on a giant??? ok, just stab it till looks like a spikey mess!' etc.

Without trying to offend anyones abilities or good intentions whatsoever:

Do those HONESTLY look good? Again, a matter of personal tastes I suppose. Some people dig it, I do not. And I would not buy a miniature that looked like it had that mess on it from a store/company, so why do we as hobbyists accept it's how we should do it ourselves at home?
Because it's how everyone seems to do it... or did do it, so every single tutorial you see online posted by hobbyists adopts this method.
Now, I just tried for about 10 minutes to find the technique tutorials where I learned short/long fur that is layered up slowly using the method I described but guess what: I cannot find the info. Either my google-fu is weak today..or google is rammed full of pokey stabby fur tutorials. :slapface: And that's my pet peeve lol

The armature on the new WIP is constructed from a chunk of FW sprue resin and paperclips.