So I've finally taken pictures of what I've been working on for the last 4-6 months. I hope you enjoy them.
Here's the little bit of fluff I wrote to go with them:
I'll ramble a little about the miniatures:+++Eagle Guard+++ kirjoitti: ++Chapter's origin++
Chapter was created from Ultramarine geneseed in 434M35, 12th Founding. Geneseed pure and stable, no genetic deviation or deterriation of geneseed organs. Chapter was created during tumultuous and unstable times when need of increased military presence in Segmentum Obscurus and Eastern Fringe necessitated creation of new Chapters, one of them the Eagle Guard.
+Homeworld+
Chapter Monastery is located on Proximus II, largest moon of gas giant Proximus Major. Other three moons hold space docks, system defences and Chapter training grounds. Chapter draws initiates from two feral worlds in the Proxima-system, the largely ice covered Hyemal I and the arid desert-world Tartoros IX.
+Modus Operandi+
The Chapter operates far from strongly held Imperial space, where the enemies of the Imperium are numerous and its defenders few. The Chapter cannot risk letting its battle strength fall too low and tends to be more taciturn and calculating in temperament than other Astartes in general, favouring precise surgical strikes and sabotage tactics over large-scale frontal assaults. Over the millennia, the Chapter has become expert at discovering weak points in enemy defences, infiltrating enemy positions and dealing crippling blows that send enemy forces reeling in confusion. This may seem cowardly to other Astartes Commanders, but is vital to preserving the Chapter's fighting strength on the edges of Imperial space.
Imperial Commanders hold the Chapter in high regard, as the Eagle Guard tend to be less contemptuous of Imperial organizations than other Astartes Chapters, willingly accepting aid from the Imperial Navy and Guard and viewing them as important allies.
This whole project started more than 1 ½ years ago, at the time when Stefan Darlan posted pictures of his GD-winning Space Wolves Valkyrie Squad. At the time, I was working on my Promethors and was greatly inspired by his work. I decided I wanted to make an imposing character for the Promethors, since Rhadamanth Goldmane didn't quite have the necessary posture to look stunning. I first tried Darlan's trick of flipping the torso, but found out that to make it look good, I needed to make the shape more round and generally better looking. I had been introduced to Magisculpt around that time [7/2003] (by a great Finnish modeler who, sadly, does not like to share his work on the internet) and them both out on my to-be character.
Then WD came out with the Index Astartes article on Crimson Fists, with the fabulous CF Captain by Kopinski. The illustration was so inspirational that I abandoned my Promethors and decided I wanted to make a more military looking Chapter and the first model would be a Captain carrying a powerfist. I had been generally unhappy with the plastic Space Marine models ever since Dainton and Kopinski had started to produce realistic Marine illustration, and I had been toying around with the idea of making my own Marines that looked like the ones in the pictures. The IA article gave me enough confidence and I made this:
This was around January 2004.
I first thought he looked great, but then begun to see its flaws and decided I need to make a new one. I decided I wanted to make more than one and that required the casting of modular parts. I had no experience with this and I consulted my modeler friend on casting. I then began the work on the master-casts that would take me around 4 months to complete. At Ropecon [8/2004] I had the rough outlines of the to-be Tactical marine assembled and the master-casts (after numerous revisings) were almost complete. Then I read in WD that GW would hold a competition where you would design your own Chapter. This suited me perfectly and I decided I would enter my home-made Marines.
I originally intended the helmets to be a lot smaller than they are now, but feedback convinced me to revert to the original helmet pattern, which is most distinct on the Devastator Marine. All of the armour plates also went under a slight revamp as I realized that it was too bulky.
I moved to a student appartment on the weekend of 29-30.10, and with a month to the dead-line, my entries were only half done. All of the real proggress was done during the last 2 weeks and the Devastator Marine was painted in just two days, finished on the day of the deadline at four o'clock in the afternoon.
You still with me? Good. I'll talk a little about the colour scheme:
The armour consists of three colours: Black (VMC), Dark Sea Blue (VMC) and Woodgrain (VMC), which is sort of an ink. I don't really know how I ended up with those colours, but I just mixed them around and decided a nice dark reddish brown looked nice. I then highlighted the armour using just Woodgrain first and then adding Red Leather (VMC) and Brown Rose (VMC) to the brighter highlights. I also used a new technique I had discovered recently: black washing (that's what I like to call it anyways). In short, you take black, thin it down with water and then create all your shadows with it. I really liked the effect I achieved with it.
For the gold and metals, I used my old technique. This involves Gloss Varnish and the mixing of inks, metallics and the varnish together. It creates a very realistic look to metals and I think it could be compared to the effect of Tamya Clear Inks. I had about 8 pots of inks open on my painting desk and tried out different combinations of them. The Power Sword was painted with sky blue and black inks and the golds were painted with a little orange ink mixed with brown and black inks. It's also easy to create shadows with the varnish/ink combination: just mix black ink with the gloss varnish and apply. Simple.
Phew, well I guess that's enough rambling, on to the pictures.
I present you, the fruit of my hard labours, the Eagle Guard!
Brother-Captain Romulo, Commander of the 3rd Battle Company.
Captain large shot.
Captain side right.
Captain side left.
Devastator Marine, Brother-Marine Petrus:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator01.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator03.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator04.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator05.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator06.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Devastator07.jpg
Tactical Marine, Brother-Marine Helias:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Tactical01.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Tactical02.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Tactical04.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Tactical05.jpg
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Tactical07.jpg
The size difference of a normal human to a Space Marine:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/jyri.jernstrom/Quadrology02.jpg
A few pictures so you can see the Chapter insignia better:
The Chapter insignia is pretty straight-forward: Right pad shows Squad markings, with the numeral indicating the squad (5th Tactical squad, 2nd Devastator Squad). This is again displayed on the left knee pad. The company number and heraldry is displayed on the right knee pad, the corner of the left shoulder pad and as the background of the right shoulder pad.
. Hienoimpia mitä olen nähnyt aikoihin!
