The Monkey's Brain for Hire

[Power Hungry Monkey]

Hello, Power Hungry Monkey here offering his services for Hobby Advise and Conversion Help.

Fiisrt off, this is not a business and I'm not charging anyhting, I just want to share my knoweldge of the hobby and miniature range to help people with army themes, conversion ideas and generally getting the most out of their War-dollies.

I've been in the hobby for about 14 years or so and have spent most of that time converting and kit-bashing my way through the entire GW range. I love to theme armies around the GW fluff and have a very good knowledge of the Citadel minitures range.

To show that I can walk the walk as much as I can talk, here's a few shots of one of my favourite projects from days-gone-by:

Inquistor scale Iron Hands Ironfather







So if you're looking for an idea, need help with a theme or conversion or just can't find that certain peice that you're looking for, let me know and I'll see if I can help.

Cheers.

PHM

[Goat of Yuggoth]

You know, I'm really struggling to find a nice and unique coloration for Tyranids. Currently I'm playing with turquoise and purple over a white undercoat, but I just don't want them to look "hippy". Do you have any suggestions for a third colos as a spotter, or any general notes about a fast way of achieving an 'alien' theme without ruining the models with five washes or the like?

And also: How would you approach making The Doom of Malantai, a giant brainmonstrosity? (without referring to the artwork, I think it looks ridiculously babyish)

BONUS: Do you use wet palette, and do you find it irritating to maintain?

Anyway, thanks for the tips beforehand. 10 years in the hobby and still get these brainlocks from time to time.

Cheers,
Goatee

[checkerthinker]

For me, I've been having trouble with ork skin.....its just that I've been trying to create a brownish-green skin tone for orks and can't seem to get it right without it getting A) too dark or B) too shiny (I've tried the John Blanche method and its a bit too shiny for me.....).

oh, and I am also interested in painting new types of worn metal......especially the metal in the eighth imperial armour book (the one, of course, featuring orks). If you can offer some pointers that be great.

[Power Hungry Monkey]

You know, I'm really struggling to find a nice and unique coloration for Tyranids. Currently I'm playing with turquoise and purple over a white undercoat, but I just don't want them to look "hippy". Do you have any suggestions for a third colos as a spotter, or any general notes about a fast way of achieving an 'alien' theme without ruining the models with five washes or the like?

And also: How would you approach making The Doom of Malantai, a giant brainmonstrosity? (without referring to the artwork, I think it looks ridiculously babyish)

BONUS: Do you use wet palette, and do you find it irritating to maintain?

Anyway, thanks for the tips beforehand. 10 years in the hobby and still get these brainlocks from time to time.

Cheers,
Goatee

Argh! First two questions I get and they are about painting. Now dispite me trying to sell myself in the introduction I negelected to mention that I actually do very little painting. So for techniques and stuff I'm afraid I won't be much help but basic schemes I'm confident with.

So for your Nids I'm thinking white or off-white. Maybe speckels on the carapace or the even on the more fleshy exo-skeleton parts. I'm getting the image of a kinda diseased look (like pus) to the Nids but maybe thats just from your name, kinda got a freaky Lovecraft thing in mind.

As for the Doom, I've seen a a heap of them done by staring with the Zoanthrope and then just bulking up the head. Getting extra bits of carapace from kits like the Trygon, Carnifex and even the Warriors would be a good way to go. Maybe splay the plates out a bit and use greenstuff to make like goopy brain matter plusing out between them or taught lengths of muscle and sinue. I've also noticed a lot of people sharten the tail part of the Zoan as well as make the head bigger so the end resault is a lot like a giant armoured brain with a bit of spinal collumn hanging out the back.

Just remember that whatever you do to stick to the basic Nid morphology: 6 plates on the head and 6 limbs. I've you have a look through the range EVERY Nid has these two things the same. This applies for Flyrants and flying warriors; the wings take up one of the sets of limbs so you'd have wings, 1 set of arms and legs. Sticking to stuff like this helps to keep whatever you do fitting in with the rest of the range and is a good little nod to the fluff.

For me, I've been having trouble with ork skin.....its just that I've been trying to create a brownish-green skin tone for orks and can't seem to get it right without it getting A) too dark or B) too shiny (I've tried the John Blanche method and its a bit too shiny for me.....).

oh, and I am also interested in painting new types of worn metal......especially the metal in the eighth imperial armour book (the one, of course, featuring orks). If you can offer some pointers that be great.

Sorry Checker but as mentioned above I do very little painting. I tend to just convert up a full army, get bored/distracted and move onto the next project. Most of the time I'll sell off the unpainted army or comission a mate to paint them.

If there's anyone else reading this who can help these two guys with painting feel free to post.

So, sorry about the painting to both of you. Goat, hope the ideas have given you something to think of. Checker, I hope another person is able to lend their help with the painting side of things.

Cheers,

PHM

[Dezmord]

I don't want to appear rude, but why should someone ask you for help? I think your "advertisement" needs some pics to back up your words.

[Power Hungry Monkey]

Fair call. Have a look in the Dreadnought Thread for some of my stuff and I'm also in the process of putting up Dark Eldar Haemonculus project (still waiting for the mods to put it through).

Like I said, just offering my help to any that want it.

PHM

[Goat of Yuggoth]

No sweat mate, I think you managed to "boost" my unconcious mind - the white pus-sy Lovecraftian theme really hits a spot. And as for the Doom, I think I got what you mean, I'll check on to you for more tips when I start building it.

I do have another modelling-wise problem for you though: I had this crazy idea of doing my Fell Bats as flying skeletons, the only problem is to get suitable wings for them. Do you have any idea how to get cheap and suitable ones? Sorry if this isn't 40k related, but wings seem to be a general problem for people in this hobby, I think it'd be a huge help for a lot of folks if you shared your venerable knowledge

As for the Ork skin, I think I can be of help. I'd try this for a starter.

Cheers,
Goat

[Power Hungry Monkey]

I do have another modelling-wise problem for you though: I had this crazy idea of doing my Fell Bats as flying skeletons, the only problem is to get suitable wings for them. Do you have any idea how to get cheap and suitable ones? Sorry if this isn't 40k related, but wings seem to be a general problem for people in this hobby, I think it'd be a huge help for a lot of folks if you shared your venerable knowledge

Goat

Well for wings I'd be looking at either Nid Gargoyle wings or the new DE Scourge bat wings. Both of these are scaled right for standard troop sized models and what says Vampire Counts more than bat wings? for cost I'd be looking at gargoyles becuase you get a lot more of them in a box than you do with the scourges; though personally I like the scourge wings better.

Maybe to tie them more to the skelly look you could shred up the membrains a bit to their nice and tatterd. Also paint the 'arm' bits bone to tie in to the rest of the model. If you want to go overboard (and are able to) maybe even use some green stuff to sculpt some knobbly joins in the 'arms' to make them look like bones as well. Like the joints at the knees and elbows of the rest of the model.

[Dezmord]

Kudos to you, I think your claim is solid now.

[Rogzor87]

Any Advice on how I can pull off an Amazing looking BA Librarian and/or Chaplain in Scout Armor?

[Power Hungry Monkey]

Any Advice on how I can pull off an Amazing looking BA Librarian and/or Chaplain in Scout Armor?

Scout armour? So your just doing this for looks and not for a legal army list? Well, I'd go about it in exactly the same way as I would making a Chappy/Libby from a plastic marine.

Chaplian first. Skulls. Biggest thing that makes Chaplians stand out is lots of skulls and black armour. A skull helmet is a good place to start. There's heaps of skull helms you can get your hands on. I'd be looking at the champion helmet from the Warriors of Chaos kit as its a goos size and doesn't have the ear-boxes or mohawk on a normal marine helmet. You could always just use a skull from one of the undead frames and greenstuff a bit of a neck in the gap. An idea that I like is getting the Marauder Horsemen heads with the face mask and paint a stylised skull onto the mask.

The rest of the model then is just adding a bit more 'gothic' to the scout look. Another skull for one of the shoulder pads and maybe some small ones for knee pads. The crozius could be from a warhammer mace with yet another skull on top or even just keep the mace head. A bunch can be found on the Chaos Warriors, Knights and Marauders. Then its just down to the paint job, Black armour all the way.

As for the Libby. Again a mojor part of the image is the blue armour, so go with that. You can make a psychic hood from a space marine shoulder pad. Scallop out sections to form the hood shape (take a look at the hoods on the new Grey Knights) or you can just get one off the new Grey Knights themselves if you have any. A tabbard or loin-cloth of some sort is also a distinctive image for the Libbys. Bits off the Black Templar frames ot the Terminator Chaos Lord make great tabbards.

For the tubes that come out of the psychic hood I normally use guitar wire. Find a small gauge wire and then find a drill bit that is the same size or slightly larger. Drill holes at the base of the hood and somewhere in the back and basically do the same you would for pinning. House one end in the hood holes then bend the wires round under the arms and house them into the holes in the back. The force weapon could be done in a number of ways. You can either use normal power weapons and just paint them so they look 'forcie' or get some off actual Libbys and just attach them to the scout.

For both the Chaplian and Librarian there are plenty of scrolls, purity seals and books across the space marine range to attach to the scout bodies.

Like I said, I'd do the exact same thing for a normal power armour marine.

Hope this has helped

[DapperAnarchist]

I'm building four Chaos cultists at 54mm scale, one for each power... and I'm stuck for ideas on the Slaanesh one. The things I know I want - A mask, of any kind, but that covers the entire face, the legs are a set of insect legs made from Spawn arms, and some kind of drug dispensers. Is there anything you can offer as an idea? Here is a shot of what it looks like now - the version I'm not happy with. Everything from the waist up is fair game.

[Power Hungry Monkey]

I'm building four Chaos cultists at 54mm scale, one for each power... and I'm stuck for ideas on the Slaanesh one. The things I know I want - A mask, of any kind, but that covers the entire face, the legs are a set of insect legs made from Spawn arms, and some kind of drug dispensers. Is there anything you can offer as an idea? Here is a shot of what it looks like now - the version I'm not happy with. Everything from the waist up is fair game.

Cool idea man, is this for an Inquistor game or just for fun? Well I certainly have a heap of ideas for you but they will not be the cheapest options for the most part. They will also involve a heap of hacking and slashing.

For the base model I'd be looking at something like the Death Cult Assassins from the Inquisitor range. This will give you a very Slaaneshy looking start to the model. Cut the legs off below the corset so you can get a good join that will mask the transition between 'human' looking body and gribbly bug legs. Cut the arms off too as close to the shoulder as you can get. This gives you basically 'Torso Girl'. I would personally keep the head coz its looks so good and creepy. This also saves you haveing to sculp a mask/face of some sort. Then its simply finidng the right arms that you want (maybe some off the Spawn kit again) and mask the join with some armour plating or tattered robes.

As for drug dispensers there are heaps on the new Dark Eldar Talos and Grotesque kits that would work well for that scale. A cheaper method is to use plasticard rod to make tubes/vials to poke out of the models back or if you have a busted TV/VCR/DVD player (or radio) lying around, brake it open and have a look at all the LED lighs and diodes. These work really well as drug dispensers. You can also by then seperatly at many computer and hobby stores.

If the cultist body that I suggested is too expensive (and also the fact its full metal) you could look at base models like the Daemon Prince, Rat Ogres, Gorgers or again the Dark Eldar Grotesques.

If you go for another option besides the cultists then you'll have to make a mask too. I'm partial to making a green stuff mask. Gte a fair sized blob of green stuff and put it over the face of the chosen model. Flatten it out so you have roughly the shape you want and no large lumps or bumps. Get a modeling tool and dip the flat end in water (this will prevent the GS sticking to the tool) and gently start to smooth out the face of the mask. This could take a little while but be patient. Keep the tool mosit to avoid dragging the face of the mask with the tool. Once you have it as flat as you like you can add in slots/holes/dots or whatever for the eyes/mouth. Use the bladed end of the tool (again keep the tool wet) and push into the face of the mask to get the detail you want. If you plant to do lots of holes this is best left until after the GS is cured and you can use a drill instead. When your happy, leave it. Let it sit for about 10min or so. This gives the GS time to harden a little. You can then take a hobby knife (wet) and cut orund the edge of the mask to get the shape you want. You should be able to peel off the excess GS around the edges leaving you with the mask shape that you want.

I hope this has been helpful. Let me know if I'm on the wrong track or if you need further ideas/advice and I'm happy to help.

Good luck, PHM

[Mace1982]

ok well i have a quick question for you sir, im working on a diaoramma and well i need help with one of the main compents its a dreadnought ripping itself out of its own sarcophagus to stop being converted by chaos how would you suggest i model this to show the sarc ripped open and the insides spewing forth?

[DapperAnarchist]

I think you've convinced me that I really should buy the Talos...

[Power Hungry Monkey]

ok well i have a quick question for you sir, im working on a diaoramma and well i need help with one of the main compents its a dreadnought ripping itself out of its own sarcophagus to stop being converted by chaos how would you suggest i model this to show the sarc ripped open and the insides spewing forth?

Showing the actual sarcophagus ripped open is fairly easy. If you're using any kit but the Ven Dread all you have to do is get the face plate of the sarc and hack into it a bit with clippers. Once you have a gouge though it make some more cuts out to the edges of the sarc and then fold the face roughly back to make it look like its been ripped open. For the body inside the best choice is a zombie. The bare torso looks perfect as its imaciated and looks like its sick/old. One of the zombie heads will also be good as its the same scale (using a marine head will be too big). You can then place the body half out of the rent in the sarc to look like he's crawling out of the dying dread body.

As for the Dread actaully tearing the sarc open itself, this is pretty much impossible. Dread arms will simply not move that way. There is not enough movemnt in the shoulder or elbow joints to move in that direction and even if there was the Dread chest is too barrel shaped to allow the arms to get around it. I'm afraid fot that you may have to find another way to get the marine out of the sarc. Maybe having a Techmarine cutting open the sarc to help free the marine inside would work, or a Termi with a chainfist.

Let me know what you think.

[colonel kane trine]

Do you have any good ideas for a deathguard space wolf army?

[Power Hungry Monkey]

Do you have any good ideas for a deathguard space wolf army?

Never thought of doing ine before, everyone's always doing Khorne Wolves and thats the first place I'd go too.

For plague wolves I guess I'd be kit-bashing a greyhunters box with a deathgaurd box. Use bits from both kits to show the Deatjguard side and the Space Wolf side. Green Stuff will help you a lot here. You can adde extra details to the space wolf parts to make them more nurgly or add pelts and furs to the deathguard parts to make them more wolfy. By combining these two kits to different degrees you can show how far along the path of decay these wolves have gone.

You may want to make the pets and furs all patchy to show that the hair is diseased and falling out. Paintiing the furs an unhealthy colour will help this too.

Using Dire Wolves for Fenrisian Wolves and for trophies/pelts will add a great touch to the army and really emphasise the plague feel of the army.

[colonel kane trine]

Thanks I think I will combine normal sw with chaos marines plastics easier to convert.
What about nurgle themed thunderwolf cavalry? What do you suggest for them?

[Power Hungry Monkey]

Thanks I think I will combine normal sw with chaos marines plastics easier to convert.
What about nurgle themed thunderwolf cavalry? What do you suggest for them?

Hmm, again this depends on how nurgly you want to go. Could get the thunderwolf model and do a few blank patches of fur and add some boils and sores on exposed skin, maybe even swap out the head for one off a Dire Wolf. This would give a slightly corrupt look to it but not too much. If you wanted a totally diseased and decaying wolf maybe look something from FW like the the Plague Ogryns or the Bile Toads and then 'wolf' then up a bit, again the Dire Wolf heads would look great. This will make it a very mutated and decayed wolf but would really make a great centre-piece for an army. Personally I'd be going with a Plague Ogryn as a base model to make it look almost like the Lord is riding a hulking Nurgle wulfen