Guilliman's 2nd GD Diorama - Imps vs. nids

[synapse]

so no chance of finishing this by september?

keep up the good work

PS: nothing to do with you really, but its only seeing the hormagaunt lying on the guardsman that i realise how ridiculously big those beasties are. its head along is about the size of a small horses! crazy. same with termagants. a human could easily ride one of those things.

[andyg2006]

Astounding stuff here; truly great skills and vision!
@Synapse: Genestealer Cult/infested Guardsmen ''count-as-Rough-Riders''?

[Nostro]

Maybe it's just me but I've always thought that the polygon on the back of cadian jackets was only there for glueing backpacks all at the same place, not something that should be there IRL. To me the armour looks a lot better if you shave those off. On the other hand you think it is not only for modelling but is supposed to be there ingame, I'd add some plugs/hooks/holes/whatever to make it look like it's modular and you can actually attach equipment there.

And I'd sculpt shoe soles instead of leaving them bare.

Other than that it's just awesome, this is why I go down to this level of nitpicking . Sorry to possibly add more on your to-do list but I know you aim for perfection

[blameless]

This is just so inspiring! I love the intimate struggle that you are capturing. man vs incomprehensible beast, and they have the desperate grit to fight!

[Ash]

I'm with Nostro with regard to removing the backpack mounting thing on the back of the body armour.

[Guilliman]

I should go to bed but I really wanted to give you guys the last update.

At the moment it feels like I'm only putting these models together and taking them appart over and over again. But it's really needed as it's one tricky composition of models. I've spent much of the day on these guys and I think I'm starting to get there.

Note that the nid will be lying on a slope of sand from the collapsed trench.

What's left is the tough guy's left hand, and a talon in the chest and two arms for the lying guy.

I second Nordic's suggestion of the nid stabbing guy to be holding its head with his other hand.

I considered it and even though I agree that might the most logical pose I decided this is the most visual as both hands on the head would hide a lot of details. Besides, I'm not sure I'd want to hold my hand on the other side where the knife comes out if I was in his shoes.

so no chance of finishing this by september?

keep up the good work

PS: nothing to do with you really, but its only seeing the hormagaunt lying on the guardsman that i realise how ridiculously big those beasties are. its head along is about the size of a small horses! crazy. same with termagants. a human could easily ride one of those things.

No that plan was doomed pretty much from the start. Hopefully I'll have more time on my hands the following year.

I noticed their size too! In my 3D model I had to double check the size on the gaunts as I modelled just these two models...

Maybe it's just me but I've always thought that the polygon on the back of cadian jackets was only there for glueing backpacks all at the same place, not something that should be there IRL. To me the armour looks a lot better if you shave those off. On the other hand you think it is not only for modelling but is supposed to be there ingame, I'd add some plugs/hooks/holes/whatever to make it look like it's modular and you can actually attach equipment there.

And I'd sculpt shoe soles instead of leaving them bare.

Other than that it's just awesome, this is why I go down to this level of nitpicking . Sorry to possibly add more on your to-do list but I know you aim for perfection

In my experience GW wouldn't detail a pin for a backpack like that if it should come off when not used, in that case it'd just be a round pin. Also I think the back gets a bit featureless when it's filed down. I do agree it could be more detaled though, and I would definately do something about it (like you suggested) if it wasn't such a big diorama. I've already made some compromises that I wouldn't have overlooked on a smaller piece like the Valhallan one.

Funny you should mention the soles though, as I've actuallt filed down the heels for each boot lifted from the ground. Perhaps you've just missed it in the photos. =)


Overall, thanks for all the comments guys! It's really your inputs in this log that keeps me going. I know I'm not a very fast working hobbyist and I know how we all like project logs that come with a lot of updates, but know this: As long as you keep posting I'll keep working til this thing is completed (so I can get going on my really good ideas..).

[Serpent]

Looks to be yet another great looking diorama.

If I may leave a suggestion for the traumatized Guardsman: people have suggested covering ears or eyes, clutching his legs, etc. I would suggest having his hands covering his nose and mouth, showing his eyes. Like he's breathing into his palms, because covering his eyes would only make the nightmare in his head even more real than the actual nightmare taking place... If you spread his fingers, he would look quite desperate.

Thus speaks the drama teacher. Good luck!

[Razerz]

Beautiful work with the stabbed Homragaunt. One minor "complaint" though; at the moment it looks a bit like the guardsman casually puts the knife through the head. You have some force shown with the angle of the torso (as you mentioned earlier), but from the angles I can see it doesn't look enough. I think that by either lifting the elbow or reversing the grip on the handle (while keeping the elbow like it is) you could show a lot more force in the thrust.
Make no mistake, it looks very nice like it is now, and I know squat about human anatomy (the above comment is based on me reclining on the floor and stabbing air ), but it might give some food for thought.

[Guilliman]

The guard impaled by the talon is pretty much finished, only thing left to do is the edged around the hole in his torso; things like bent in armour plates and cloth.



I also threw together some bits for the scared guy. Sorry Serpent, but although your suggestion is very good I really want to show his face, plus I'm a bit intimidated working with those damned hero scale hands.



Although this works pretty well I suppose I should change his legs into a different position. Once again it'll come down to whether I have the energy for it or not. I'll start by finishing his upper body.

And of course some shots of the models on the base:

Beautiful work with the stabbed Homragaunt. One minor "complaint" though; at the moment it looks a bit like the guardsman casually puts the knife through the head. You have some force shown with the angle of the torso (as you mentioned earlier), but from the angles I can see it doesn't look enough. I think that by either lifting the elbow or reversing the grip on the handle (while keeping the elbow like it is) you could show a lot more force in the thrust.
Make no mistake, it looks very nice like it is now, and I know squat about human anatomy (the above comment is based on me reclining on the floor and stabbing air ), but it might give some food for thought.

I want you to know that I did consider that alternative, although in the end it came down to how the bits best fit together. Perhaps this pic better shows how the pose ended up although it of course could have been better:



Cheers!

[Razerz]

Seeing the knife and head from above I withdraw any criticism. I thought the knife was more parallel to his chest.
But seeing it like this makes me wish that Tyranids had an Alien-style "mouth-in-mouth" that you could have almost reaching his face

As usual; beautiful work. I like how the scene is coming together.

[Gonfrask]

and what about the scared guy looking to the stabbed guy, like he saying "oh emperor, oh emperor..."

[AlexCrute]

The guard impaled by the talon is pretty much finished,

Yep, a talon through all your organs will do that.

[The_Dark_Raven]

Stunning updates as usual Guilliman.

Seeing the grounded guard and the 'Nids attached to them coming into the piece it's really coming together. I'll be shocked if this doesn't get you some serious exposure and awards by the end.

[Petay1985]

simply awe inspiring, a wonderful log and a wonderful final piece i'm sure.

[Commandojimbob]

Stunning !!! Your last diorama was great, full of character but it was rather static. However this...... based on the quality of the last one...... this will far surpass your previous efforts.

[luks13]

Wonderful project, you really do not cease to amaze Guilliman. Regarding the scared guy and his leg position I would recommend to make him drop to both his knees, as this is how people, who arer cowering in fear are displayed most of the time. I do not know if that would be too much for you as you mentioned that the energy for a repositioning might not be available, but given your skill I think you can definitely do it. I think that this would really enhance the impression you want him to have on people, who look at your diorama. I hope you keep continuing with this beautiful work, so that it becomes a nice, finished diorama sometime.

[Grimgork]

I like this diorama very much and I am looking forward to every update of it. The sense of motion and action in it is really stunning.

I second the idea that the frightened guy should look at the stabbed one. This would enhance the feeling of fear that one has looking at him because one knows the cause of his fear.

[blameless]

One minor "complaint" though; at the moment it looks a bit like the guardsman casually puts the knife through the head. You have some force shown with the angle of the torso (as you mentioned earlier), but from the angles I can see it doesn't look enough. I think that by either lifting the elbow or reversing the grip on the handle (while keeping the elbow like it is) you could show a lot more force in the thrust.

I saw it more as the gaudsman had just stabbed the gaunt and it has slumped/fallen forward during the swirling scuffle.

This is absolutely amazing work.

[Nostro]

In my experience GW wouldn't detail a pin for a backpack like that if it should come off when not used, in that case it'd just be a round pin. Also I think the back gets a bit featureless when it's filed down. I do agree it could be more detaled though, and I would definately do something about it (like you suggested) if it wasn't such a big diorama. I've already made some compromises that I wouldn't have overlooked on a smaller piece like the Valhallan one.

Funny you should mention the soles though, as I've actuallt filed down the heels for each boot lifted from the ground. Perhaps you've just missed it in the photos. =)

Backpacks: dunno, the comparisons that come to mind are Marines and Firewarriors. Both are never meant to be backpackless (I guess) but marine torsos have vents/plugs that would look fine if left visible. (FTR this is the kind of look I recommended but you had understood the idea)
I'm still with Ash seeing how he's with me (duh ) but as I said in my original post I can see the other side of the argument. I'd still push for more detailing, but I understand you deem that to be too much work. Thing is, as is it still bugs me as would a moldline or a not removed sprue element, so I'd argue again for the filing

Still, I get your point of view on the matter so no more ramblings past this post

Soles: yeah I knew it was weird that I din't see any sole when arguing for the sculpting, but didn't bother to check on a mini and let my laziness tell me they must have been soleless sets of legs that I missed on a cadian sprue or the other. On this, I support avoiding the hassle, consistency is enough while sculpting soles is a lot of work for minor improvements of the general scene.

Keep up the great work, I just can't wait to see this finished !

Also: seeing how I'm trying to up your work burden, I thought I might try to alleviate it a little: I stumbled upon chunk's log yesterday and he has Lamenters in them, and uses CG-then-cast shoulder pads, for clean-looking and hassle-free checkered patterns (posts #69, #72 and #76) The casting dude is Fleafa.

[23rd elysian]

This thread is amazing I cannot wait to see it all painted having seen what you did with the Valhallen diorama.


The only thing I would say is the guy to the left of the heavy weapons team (stood up, falling back with his rifle in two hands) looks a bit unnatural. You wouldnt fall and keep your rifle in both hands. I think his left should be thrown out for balance, the rifle held in the right.

I think he should be looking further right as I feel he would be slightly concerened with the tyranid that has just fallen into his trench! Perhaps looking right with his left hand thown out and rifle held in the right pointing towards the tyranid that will be immediately to his front.

I think that would work well. Everything else is spot on. I love how convesrion of a guardman facial expression can make a model so much better!