GD Valhallan diorama

[Gonfrask]

The diorama is very promising, Are you thinking of something or someone watching the guards?
A Lictor or similar

[DigitsDavid]

Very sweet work. Some of the best gs work I've seen.

[Guilliman]

Are you thinking of something or someone watching the guards?
A Lictor or similar

No, that's not the intention of the diorama. Some "easter eggs" would be fun though. Best ideas som far is a rat that's eating from a hole in one of the boxes and/or writing "Footballs" on one box in russian.

I'm open to suggestions but nothing involvning "enemies".

[SSG Snuffy]

How about labeling the box as something totally inappropriate for a winter battlefield? It would be fun to put the Munitorium's inefficiency on display... something like beach balls, life preservers, suntan lotion, parasols, etc. Labelled in Cyrillic, of course.

[StormCrow]

How about labeling the box as something totally inappropriate for a winter battlefield? It would be fun to put the Munitorium's inefficiency on display... something like beach balls, life preservers, suntan lotion, parasols, etc. Labelled in Cyrillic, of course.

I humbly suggest you go with this idea, suntan lotion would be awesome

[Cygnusmaximus]

I humbly suggest you go with this idea, suntan lotion would be awesome

Except sunblock and/or lotion could be completely appropriate for snowy environs. Snow can be very reflective.

I recommend refrigeration units.

[SSG Snuffy]

The box looks about the right size for an air conditioner window unit... good thinking!

[drmarco]

Hey Guilliman...

Excellent work; first rate sculpting, and the diorama is really tapping into the 'behind the scenes' feeling that often works so well.

I have just one concern.

The imagery is brilliant, and two soldiers gathering for warmth, grabbing a quick cig, is an iconic look that reverberates the world war imagery that the imperial guard grew from.

But in this uber-pc age, with a multi-national 'plc.' mentality...might the cigarette dissuade a judge?

Sure, black library has lho-sticks and the setting is one of brutality and violence, but bearing in mind GWs demographic might the presence of a ciggie make a judge think twice?

I'm not trying to scupper things for you, but just recall a friend in the mid nineties who had a vehicle entry - a beautifully converted harlequin jetbike...excellently converted, dynamic and stunning freehand patterning and imagery.
He was relegated to a finalist spot by 3 slightly bland contenders.

Afterwards, a friend in the studio related that it was because the colours chosen (predominantly purple, green and white) in conjunction with the 'harlequin' concept made it a little too close to another company's ip - although not a direct reference, the similarities to 'the Joker' seem to have dissuaded the judges.

All a bit apocryphal, I know, and maybe it's just that experience that makes me skittish. But when they get to finalist standard I'm sure judges have to start thinking of 'deciding factors' to discount folks, and I would hate to see anything prevent this entry walking with a trophy.

Perhaps there are gd winners out there with smoking figures or perhaps it would add the grittiness that a smoking judge would love! But just worth a thought...

Thanks for sharing the amazing work so far, and can't wait to see the next installment...

Good luck,

Marco

[Karak Norn Clansman]

Good progress. That sitting Valhallan currently looks like he's about to fly. Will you keep the pose?

[Guilliman]

You make a good point Marco. But I think it's more worth considering in the use of the Cyrillic alphabet rather than the cigarette. Don't forget the cigarr in Ursarkar E. Creed's hand. There's even a head with a cigarette in the Cadian Command box, so I don't think you have to worry. I will however think twice about the boxes.

And Clansman, no he won't be waving his arms like a colibri when he's finished.

[Munchy]

I don't believe the cigarettes will be a problem, my diorama had 2 in it last year and I believe it would have comfortably gained a bronze statue instead of finalist if my painting standard was up to what it is this year (fingers crossed).



After speaking to a couple of the judges about where I could improve, cigarettes were not mentioned.

Sculpting is looking great Guilliman! Looking forward to seeing the second chap finished.

[StormCrow]

Except sunblock and/or lotion could be completely appropriate for snowy environs. Snow can be very reflective.

I recommend refrigeration units.

Whilst true I'd rather fight the enemies of the Imperium with tanks and grenades instead of sunblock...

[Guilliman]

Been rather busy today. I decided to threw the arm together tonight. I might do some tweaks to it tomorrow. The GS hardened extremely quickly. I almost thought I wouldn't have time to sculpt the creases.

Only thing I'm unsure about is the size of his torso. Getting the proportions right has been extremely hard since I have no good minis for reference. I've had to work with the photos I've taken of my brother and it's then the hero scale has really taken its toll. The slightly to big legs and bigger head (bigger than the first sculpt's that is) hasn't made it easier either. I hope the torso will look bigger once the bedroll is on first thing tomorrow morning.

Apart from that I'm really satisfied with the pace I've kept up with this one. Even though it was my goal in the beginning of the week I could barely hope to finish one entire mini in one week.

[The Laughing God]

That looks fantastic. Really smooth work, I wish I could do that.

[icecream boy]

I can see what you're talking about with the torso. I think it might just be his shoulders more than anything, not too hard to fix. See how it looks with the bedroll on anyway =)

[Mega Nutz]

Another superb looking sculpt!

I can't help wondering if something as simple as these two figures, the oil drum and a box maybe sufficient for the diorama. The overall simplicity might help promote your sculpting/painting skills.

just a thought!

[Munchy]

Looking great Guilliman!

I have yet to try sculpting an entire model from scratch, but I may have to do a reasonable amount of scultping for this year on catachans. Muscle is probably hard to sculpt!

When do you plan to start applying paint to these beauties?

[Guilliman]

Looking great Guilliman!

I have yet to try sculpting an entire model from scratch, but I may have to do a reasonable amount of scultping for this year on catachans. Muscle is probably hard to sculpt!

When do you plan to start applying paint to these beauties?

Good luck with the sculpting. I'd be happy to give you some tips if you run into any difficulties.

I'll sculpt the thrird one next week and then finish building the scene. So I hope to get the painting started in two weeks. I've begun building the scene but I think Mega Nutz has got a good point. The scene looks a bit big atm and I can't really start fixing anything in place in it until I know there's place for all the minis. I want to make it as small as possible to really get the models in focus but at the same time display their enviroment with the could and ruined trenches.

[Munchy]

How are you planning to make the base itself? Will it be mounted on a plinth? If you need a hand sourcing anything, let me know as I can highly recommend two companies for bases and brass plaques.

I may take you up on the sculpting advice!

[Guilliman]

My plan is to make some nice wooden base myself. My dad' a carpenter and his garage is his wood workshop so I'll have no problem throwing something nice together. And as I'm not planning to name it there's no need for a brass plaque. But thanks anyway.