Threeshades' Eldar Exodites

[Threeshades]

Hey everyone. As you may or may not know, I have an Exodite codex project running. And well I'm finally able to start with the modelling phase.

I will use this as a collective thread for them.

The opening post will be the "index" in which I post the overview of all contents.

Pictures will be in the following posts.


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Index:


HQ

Carnosaur-Lord
the riding beast
finished conversion
Rebased for better pose
New Riding-Carnosaur, taken from Carnosaur 3 of the Heavy Support Carnosaurs

Dragon Lord
finished Conversion


ELITES


TROOPS

Dragon Militia
Two Shuriken Cannon Riders almost finished and two Shamans finished

Dragon Militia 1
Finished conversion of 4 Squadron members

Dragon Militia 2
Finished conversion of 4 Squadron members


FAST ATTACK

Dragon Knights 1
Finished conversion of whole squadron


HEAVY SUPPORT

Carnosaur 1
Finished conversion

Carnosaur 2
Almost finished conversion (Glaive needs detailing)
Scrapped to be converted into a Carnosaur for another counts-as army.

Carnosaur 3
Almost finished conversion (Glaive needs detailing)
Scrapped, Carnosaur used to convert Carnosaur Lord

Megadon 1
Almost finished conversion (Howdah and rider incomplete)
New Howdah finished conversion


SPECIAL

Exo-Suit
WIP conversion


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Log: (Most recent updates are always boldened)
1. Carnosaur-Lord riding beast
2. Carnosaur-Lord, finished conversion
3. Carnosaur-Lord Rebased for better pose
4. Carnosaur 1, Finished conversion
5. Carnosaur 2, Almost finished conversion (Glaive needs detailing)
6. Carnosaur 3, Almost finished conversion (Glaive needs detailing)
7. Dragon Militia, Two Shuriken Cannon Riders almost finished and two Shamans finished
8. Dragon Militia 1, 4 squadron members finished.
9. Dragon Militia 2, 4 squadron members finished.
10. Megadon 1, Almost finished conversion (Howdah and rider incomplete)
11. Carnosaur 3 scrapped an reused to convert Carnosaur Lord
12. Dragon Lord finished Conversion
13. Finished Dragon Knights squadron conversion
14. New Howdah and finished conversion for Megadon
15. Exo-Suit WIP conversion

[Threeshades]

Well the first miniature I want to show you is the basis of my megadon lord. Instead of carnosaurs, which I am going to use for heavy support Megadons I used a hydra. This idea was A) to get some more variety into the army and B) to have an excuse why the Lord has the profile of an avatar and not that of a wraithlord as all other megadons would, when I'm using them as an Eldar counts-as army.

Well I only wanted the hydra to be the basis model, but the result should not be an actual hydra. So I reduced it to one head (anyone wanna buy hydra heads?) and thickened the neck, because honestly the usual hydra necks are anatomically impossible, there is no connection between maw and neck, so it can't swallow, and even if it could the neck wouldnt be spacious enough for a supporting bone structure AND a working esophagus.

Now my concern is that the whole model might have become a bit too front-heavy looking.

Well here come the pictures:






The "saddle" over the neck is just the cover up of the contact point and helps holding it together, it's by no means finished.

So what do you think?
Reduce the neck?
Increase the tail?
Both reduce neck and increase tail?
Shorten the tail below the lower curve to set the whole thing closer to the shoulders?
Or do you think it can just be left as is?

Opinions appreciated (keep in mind there also has to be an eldar rider between the neck and the spines)

[ChromeZephyr]

I think the tail needs some bulk, because it will get even more front-heavy with the finished saddle and rider...maybe shorten the neck a tad? I know it's a metal model, so it wouldn't be easy, but just a thought.

[alphachicken]

I think it looks rather nice this way. Its a bit front heavy, but hey, these are aliens which in no means should appeal to our sense of aesthetics.

If you're too troubled with this, here's a weird idea; add 2 little front legs, it might make it look like it normally goes on 6 feet, but reared up for close combat!

Still, its a nice start =)

[biggreengribbly]

Yeah, I think upping the Tail length and girth would be the best solution, since I think the neck is just right as it is, if not still a little skinny...

[Threeshades]

I think the tail needs some bulk, because it will get even more front-heavy with the finished saddle and rider...maybe shorten the neck a tad? I know it's a metal model, so it wouldn't be easy, but just a thought.

this is where I'm tending at the moment.

I think it looks rather nice this way. Its a bit front heavy, but hey, these are aliens which in no means should appeal to our sense of aesthetics.

If you're too troubled with this, here's a weird idea; add 2 little front legs, it might make it look like it normally goes on 6 feet, but reared up for close combat!

Still, its a nice start =)

Well its not only about aesthetics, also pure physics. As is right now the creature won't be a too amazing predator.

Yeah, I think upping the Tail length and girth would be the best solution, since I think the neck is just right as it is, if not still a little skinny...

Well if I'd make the neck even bigger the front weight will just go up more. I think if its shorter the thickness of the neck will balance out relative to the head size.

[theunwantedbeing]

You could take it off the base and re-position it further back so that stops it looking so top heavy as less of the front is hanging over the base.

Obviously you'll need to clean up the back leg and raise it slightly.
But that'll stop it looking so top/front heavy.

[Emilio101]

Maybe a long pennant or banner flowing out behind the model would balance things nicely.

[Earthbeard]

While I think it looks front heavy, I don't think that is really a bad thing, it is an alien afterall.

I'm liking it so far, inspired use of the hydra. Tamiya do some decent dinosaur kits, that could be useful for conversions, especially the baby tyrannosaur in one of the packs.

[Leonathion]

I like your style, I've though of a similar conversion for my lizardmen. If I were you I'd make the neck have more of a long crop or sack instead of that thickness. I also think you could pay a lot more attention to detail and shape making it look better.

If I were you I'd skip the codex ideas of your own and just go with eldar proxy, why change something thats already perfect?

Good luck!

[Threeshades]

You could take it off the base and re-position it further back so that stops it looking so top heavy as less of the front is hanging over the base.

Obviously you'll need to clean up the back leg and raise it slightly.
But that'll stop it looking so top/front heavy.

I dont think its the base that makes the difference but thanks for the hint

Maybe a long pennant or banner flowing out behind the model would balance things nicely.

Nice Idea but i never liked banners on 40k miniatures. having a banner mounted on your back you might as well fill your backpack to the brim with rocks or something like that. Also Im mostly concerned wether the creature in itself makes sense.

While I think it looks front heavy, I don't think that is really a bad thing, it is an alien afterall.

I'm liking it so far, inspired use of the hydra. Tamiya do some decent dinosaur kits, that could be useful for conversions, especially the baby tyrannosaur in one of the packs.

Alien or not most creatures are bound by the laws of physics

I'll check them out, thanks for the hint.

I like your style, I've though of a similar conversion for my lizardmen. If I were you I'd make the neck have more of a long crop or sack instead of that thickness. I also think you could pay a lot more attention to detail and shape making it look better.

If I were you I'd skip the codex ideas of your own and just go with eldar proxy, why change something thats already perfect?

Good luck!

Why go with counts-as if you can have it both ways? Also I already have a decent Codex Eldar force. The case of going with a Codex Eldar counts as is what made me use a hydra for the lord in the first place.

[Emilio101]

Nice Idea but i never liked banners on 40k miniatures. having a banner mounted on your back you might as well fill your backpack to the brim with rocks or something like that. Also Im mostly concerned wether the creature in itself makes sense.

Haha true. I was thinking more of a pennant flowing from the spear tip of the rider. There was an old Black Library novel, Into the Maelstrom which had one story that described dragon riding eldar equipped with power lances.

[Threeshades]

Haha true. I was thinking more of a pennant flowing from the spear tip of the rider. There was an old Black Library novel, Into the Maelstrom which had one story that described dragon riding eldar equipped with power lances.

Good to know. Then I finally know some official fiction involving Exodites.

[Threeshades]

So the Megadon-Lord is done, wielding a Megadon Glaive. I decided to massively shorten the neck.

For the bits I used:
Saddle: Jetbike wings, jetbike-jet intake-end pieces, jetbike-jet end in the middle over the GS spine, flags from the wood elf glade rider sprue, warzone giant eagle rider saddle and lower body.

The rider herself is made of these parts: warzone giant eagle rider saddle and lower body (see above), front half of the female Eldar guardian torso, glade rider champion cloak, glade guard head with dark elf black corsair hair and helm decoration, left arm of the jetbike autarch, right arm of a glade rider standard bearer with blades made of plasticard and additional parts from the eldar guardian sprue.

Without much more explanation, here come the pictures:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0152.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0153.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0154.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0155.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0156.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0157.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0158.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0159.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0160.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0161.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Tobi...es/IMG_0163.jpg

[it's coming this way!]

Best. Exodites. Ever. I may have to steal this sometime...

Keep up the good work!

-It's

[Threeshades]

Best. Exodites. Ever. I may have to steal this sometime...

Keep up the good work!

-It's

Big complement for the first uploaded conversion. Thanks.

[Arsenal]

Absolutely wonderful conversion - end result with the finished shortened neck looks great (I didn't really have a problem with the long one), well done for going with your instincts. Most impressive is the use of the Hydra model - never seen it converted in this fashion, looks brilliant.

If I may offer one suggestion, it would be to change your basing slightly, put the ground plane on an upward incline so that:

A) the angle of the head of the creature and body of the exodite looks more natural - at the moment both are leaning too far forward for my liking

B) you get a great general in classic 'rearing' pose, Napoleon crosses the alps style.

This classic John Blanche illustration shows what i mean about the 'jutting ground' to give a more dynamic impression:



Brilliant work though - can't wait to see more of these and painting progress!

[ChromeZephyr]

Well done. Looks much better with a shorter neck. One quibble, though: how is the saddle staying on the hydra? There's no straps that I can see, or is this an exodite thing that I'm unaware of?

[Lamenter]

Very promising, very promising indeed. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

[Threeshades]

Absolutely wonderful conversion - end result with the finished shortened neck looks great (I didn't really have a problem with the long one), well done for going with your instincts. Most impressive is the use of the Hydra model - never seen it converted in this fashion, looks brilliant.

If I may offer one suggestion, it would be to change your basing slightly, put the ground plane on an upward incline so that:

A) the angle of the head of the creature and body of the exodite looks more natural - at the moment both are leaning too far forward for my liking

B) you get a great general in classic 'rearing' pose, Napoleon crosses the alps style.

This classic John Blanche illustration shows what i mean about the 'jutting ground' to give a more dynamic impression:

[picture]

Brilliant work though - can't wait to see more of these and painting progress!

Very nice idea. I used it immediately. (see next post)

Well done. Looks much better with a shorter neck. One quibble, though: how is the saddle staying on the hydra? There's no straps that I can see, or is this an exodite thing that I'm unaware of?

It's glue, duh!

Seriously you bring up a good point, but considering she's riding a huge reptile, i could just say its hooked into the scales, like bolted directly onto the creature's hide.

Very promising, very promising indeed. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Thanks. I hope I wont disappoint in the future.