Absolutionis's Eldar/Tyranid (Picture heavy)

[Absolutionis]

I started collecting miscellaneous models from Chaos Space Marines back in 1999. I diverged into Eldar rather early, but due to the lack of boxed sets of Aspect Warriors, I never got around to it too much. However, I did pick up Eldrad, some Wraithguard, and Warlocks before they tripled in price. That gave me reason enough to go on.

When the 3rd edition codex came out, my beloved Thousand Sons marines were stripped of what made them amazing, their ability to ignore bolters. Chaos was turned into just another Marine army, and there were enough marines out there. I decided to go play Tyranids.

With the dullness that is the second 4th edition Chaos codex, I abandoned Chaos completely and decided to work on Eldar and Tyranids, both armies which are rather difficult in the conversion department.

Unlike armies that are easy to convert such as Chaos and Orks, Tyranids have a very organic feel that forces the figures to seem deliberate in their form and repetitive in their common soldiers. Eldar have a similar issue in their sleek and clean look that is very unforgiving to error. Eldar are the "painter's army" as people say.

Examples of my conversions and painting:

TYRANIDS - HIVE FLEET LILITH
I wanted to give this army a birds-of-paradise concept which eventually evolved into turning the army into each Tyranid having feathery wings of some sort,vestigial or otherwise. Carnifexes and Lictors and others do not have wings. The one in red was a test model and not representative of the rest of the army.


Spinegaunts: All gaunts will have vestigial 'wings' on their head.


Warrior: Warriors have vestigial 'wings' on their back. Winged Warriors will have larger wings.


Gargoyle: Like everything else in the army, it has feathery wings.



Lictor: A rather mediocre attempt at making it look like it is uncamouflaging.


Winged Hive Tyrant: The reason why I started the 'feathery' theme was because I had an unbuilt Lord of Change from my Chaos days, and decided to rip the wings off for the Tyrant.

[Absolutionis]

ELDAR - CRAFTWORLD REVANCHIST
Eldar are fun to paint, I decided that each model will have some sort of 'tribal' effect on their helmets.
I am also a huge fan of all the jewels on their armor. It gives the eldar a form of character when each and every jewel is painted. The following are test models that I spent too much time on.


Fire Dragon: Dragons will all have a wavy white 'tribal marking' on their helmets.


Striking Scorpion: Scorpions will all have short, straight slash marks on their helmets.


Storm Guardian: Not wanting to pay for the GW direct-only Storm Guardian box, I decided to convert my own. The shield makes it different than Defender Guardians. I also shortened the Catapult's 'barrel' to a more of a "Shuriken Carbine" to fill the role of a pistol-ish weapon that is not a catapult. The Bayonet fills the part of the CCW.



Jetbike: A customized model built using the guide from the "Jetbike Chop Shop", a blog I found. I used molded pieces because I wanted to practice on disposable parts first before going for the real thing.I have always hated the 3rd edition jetbike model with its 'Harley Davidson' look. Eldar are supposed to be sleek and agile.
I would appreciate and love feedback.

[eltanko]

These guys are excellent, im very impressed with the 'Nids,very nice colour scheme, and the Lictor camo is superb, very nice idea.

ElTanko

[Eskimo]

VERY IMPRESSED MATE!

Expecially the bike conversion caught my eye

[Absolutionis]

VERY IMPRESSED MATE!

Expecially the bike conversion caught my eye

Thank you. I actually somewhat followed the "Jetbike Chop Shop" I found on another individual's blog:
http://raidersbloodserpent.blogspot....op-part-1.html

I modified it somewhat and took a log of what I did. Note that I don't claim to be an expert at this, and this is a rather shoddy first attempt. I am honestly surprised at the results.


Miscellaneous parts I used. Realized I have no use for the multitudes of Starcannons and Eldar Missile Launchers I have, I used those two, the Falcon/Serpent shields, a Jetbike Canopy, and a TL catapult part from vehicles. Until my Shining Spears come in with the extra handlebars and driving hands, I used moulded parts. I cut the EML and starcannon as shown.



Attach the weapon shields and EML body as shown.


Attach the starcannon body to the TL catapults.


Rather shoddily, attach the canopy.

[Absolutionis]

Cut the two parts as shown and glue them together.


Attach pipes to hide parts and use epoxy putty (I used Billy Mays's Mighty Putty) to smooth parts. Also glued on an EML back piece where it seemed relevant.


Attach standard Guardian with feet repositioned onto bike. I used the standard Guardian left arm as a bike arm by turning around the hand. Feet were repositioned by slicing at the Achilles tendon.


Base consists of a heavy 1.25in washer with a metal stick attached via greenstuff. Stick attached to jetbike via the standard stick-up-the-butt technique.


Easily attach greenstuff soulstones because I love painting soulstones all over the place, attach styrene flagpoles, and done.

I can probably put up a rudimentary Gargoyle 'tutorial' soon.

[wolfen]

the nids look very nice.

[Absolutionis]

Current work:

I have bought a box of shining spears. With that box and the trashy Jetbike parts I used above, I have enough pieces for a three Warlock Jetbikers and a Jetbike Farseer.
My rationale is that Farseers and Warlocks on bikes may look nice and ornate, bu that doesn't suit the 'feel' of jetbikes considering they're supposed to be the one of the fastest open-air units around. Shining Spears have the look of fanciness of authority and still have the sealed-armor design that looks like they could ride a jetbike. The capes really just take all my rationale and throw it out the window for the legendary Rule of Cool.

JETBIKE WARLOCK PARTS x3:
Jetbike (Shining Spears Box)
Shining Spear Body, Legs, controls, and aerial (Shining Spears Box)
Dire Avenger Sword (Bitz)
Cape (Greenstuff)

JETBIKE FARSEER PARTS
Jetbike (Shining Spears Box)
Shining Spear Exarch Body, Legs, and aerial (Shining Spears Box)
Vyper Interior Handlebars (Vyper)
Dire Avenger Spear (Bitz)
Dire Avenger Shimmershield arm (Bitz)
Dire Avenger pointing hand (Bitz)
Cape (Greenstuff)
??? Head and Canopy Ornaments ??? (Greenstuff)

At the end of this, I'll have the arms and handlebars for three more Guardian Jetbikes!

I also have an old Vyper which I really want to convert into something that doesn't have the ugly rider on the back. Of course this leads to the problem of where to store the heavy weapon. The best idea I have seen has been a MicroArtStudios concept that I may be inclined to steal.

So far, I won't start this project until I find a way to fancify my Farseer more and make the Vyper look better.
Also, what size base do Jetbike Farseers and Warlocks use? The Guardian Jetbikes come with small flying bases and the Shining Spears come with large bases. I may just end up using small bases because I have so many left over from when I custom-made several Gargoyles.

Finally, I want to use plasticard tubes to make the large flying bases for Serpents/Falcons/Prisms actually be able to hold the vehicle. The little peg at the end of the stand constantly breaks.

Order of operations:
1 - Research Vyper and Farseer
2 - Make Vyper
3 - Make a Warlock
4 - Make vehicle flying stands
5 - Make 2 Warlocks
6 - Make Farseer
7 - ???
8 - PROFIT!

[Pekel]

These are some of the best Eldar I've ever seen. The contrast, vivid colors and tribal markings are all perfect. The Tyranids are original and very well-done too.

Really looking forward to seeing the jetbikes!

[Absolutionis]

I found Hortwerth's converted Vyper-turned-Venom on CMON recently and I loved it as a variant that did not have the ugly gunner seat. So, with some guilt, I decided to copy it knowing that imitation is flattery and that I doubt I could even match the original's greatness. If anything, linking here means the originator gains some credit.
Link: http://www.coolminiornot.com/174326

Here is my iteration:



Note that I had to switch cameras now. I am back in college and thus I cannot borrow my family's super-expensive camera for photos and I have to rely on my own acceptable camera.

Nevertheless, while making this, I realized that the Vyper's heavy weapon no longer had a spot. Not only that, but I would have difficulty making it swivel. Nevertheless, the Vyper is AV10 all around, so its facing never matters. Instead of a turrent, I'll just face the vehicle at its target and gameplaywise it will all be the same.
In the third image, I used plasticard and a magnet to create really ramshackle weapon attachments to the already magnetized sets of heavy weapons I have from my Serpents and Falcons.

[Nocturn]

Hey there,

looking sweet :-) well done :-)
One question though: why do you have 2 weapon slots? The vyper can only carry one weapon, but I think you did this because it look better to have 2 weapons, one under each wing :-)

Or isn't this the reason? :-)

Thanks, and keep it coming,

Noc

[Absolutionis]

Hey there,

looking sweet :-) well done :-)
One question though: why do you have 2 weapon slots? The vyper can only carry one weapon, but I think you did this because it look better to have 2 weapons, one under each wing :-)

Or isn't this the reason? :-)

Thanks, and keep it coming,

Noc

Thank you.
I have two weapon slots because there may be a time I want to run two shuriken cannons. The TL Shuriken Catapult in the front seems to be an integral part of the chassis itself, so I decided to attach two weapon mounts and say one of the shuriken cannons "replaces" the front catapults. I hope and doubt anyone will care too much.

However, yes; most of the time I'll be putting a single heavy weapon only on a single mount.

Of course, symmetry is nice too. The idea came from my inability to decide which wing to mount the weapon under.

[Absolutionis]

Painted some Dire Avengers.

I realize that painting the Avengers in their standard Blue scheme wouldn't allow for the gemstone to show. I love gemstones. I used the colors used on my Tyranid's carapace on the Avengers. I kept the weapons and accents and gemstones constant throughout all Aspects.

It also may be difficult to see, but I but some Glossy 'Ardcoat on the gems. They look shinier than in the images.

A completed model sans basing:


WIP of other Avengers. I have four in total in the works:


EDIT: In retrospect, I realize that I completely neglected to paint the backpack-shoulder-node-thingy.

[Arakanis]

I love your aspect warriors!! The tribal markings are absolutely incredible. I may have to do this for my corsair army!

[Melchiah]

Sweet vypers! i have a pair of "multi" handed ones that ive been racking my brain on how to fix. The "template" that you've borrowed is perfect for my problem.
Do you have any WiPs of them or is it pretty stright forward from the pics?

[Absolutionis]

This project log has gotten quite dusty. In any case, the Vyper is painted and finished. This is really the first Eldar vehicle I have finally finished. I borrowed a concept from the legendary CMON painter TheYellowOne in terms of color scheme. Of course, I cannot hope to match his creativity nor his skill, but at least I can 'borrow' the influence. I feel no guilt in doing this because it is no different than using GW-specified color schemes of Biel-Tan or Alaitoc or Yme-Loc or whatnot.

I also tried to get a blue 'engine glow' effect but horribly failed. Thankfully it is on the bottom and nobody will see it. I'll get better by the time I get to painting my Wave Serpents.

tl;dr: I painted the Vyper:

I love your aspect warriors!! The tribal markings are absolutely incredible. I may have to do this for my corsair army!

Thank you.
Unfortunately, I really ran out of ideas for the other aspects; namely Spiders, Banshees, Reapers, Hawks, and Spears. I do not have any of those models at the moment, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem right now.

Sweet vypers! i have a pair of "multi" handed ones that ive been racking my brain on how to fix. The "template" that you've borrowed is perfect for my problem.
Do you have any WiPs of them or is it pretty stright forward from the pics?

Unfortunately, no. I wish I took WiP pictures of the Vyper, but I was so excited when I got my first Vyper that I forgot to take pictures.
I could try to describe the basic idea:
-The front half is essentially untouched
-The back half was cut into three pieces. The middle piece was discarded and the two right and left parts were glued together.
-The scorpion-like extension is the 'seat' of the gunner.
-The 'tail' is a left over short aerial from the Wave Serpent kit.
-I hated the concept of a sleek and fast vehicle such as the vyper having a completely open back. I stuffed the back with junk and the three main pieces are the gunner control panel in the middle and two halves of the gunner "up-down movement" piece on the right and the left.

[eltanko]

Great stuff, especially the little freehand parts, lots of character.

ElTanko

[Animerik]

Great work on everything but the Eldar really caught my eye. The paintjob and the freehand especially. I really like how the have warpaint as it somehow fits the eldar pretty good. The convertion/scratch building on the jetbikes is just insane!

Keep working it looks great

[Absolutionis]

So, I went looking around hobby stores in the area and I came across a store that had dusty (literally) Battlefleet Gothic models. I bought an Eldar Void Stalker and a pack of three Eldar Hemlocks and some paints and it cost me a total of around 20.00USD.

Using miscellaneous parts and greenstuff, I began working on my first Jetbike Warlock. I confess that it ended up being significantly more ornate than it should be, but that simply means I'll have to make the Farseer much more ornate in comparison.

Note that I finally used the really tiny magnets I had and magnetized the "Warlock's" Withcblade arm so I can give it a Singing Spear if needed.
Note that the little aerial-thing on the helmet is not properly attached yet. I am waiting for the attachment to dry before Greestuff-blending.
I also need a better camera. This one is too grainy.




Also, in Home Depot, I found several wire-connectors in the clearance section and being the conversion-lover that I am, I immediately imagined them as Engines Extensions for my vehicles:

Perhaps they can work as a Star Engines upgrade or simply part of the Wave Serpent itself.

[Thud]

That Vyper is awesome! Screenshots secured for inspiration for future projects!