Saturday 11 July 2020

Jabberwocky




Oh frabjous day!  I said back in December that it would take me another 6 months to build the next Armiger and I was more or less right.  Except it's not painted and I have 6 days to finish it along with an Onager Dunecrawler and a Stratoraptor.  Oh yes, they will be phoned in.  It's either that or face the unthinkable prospect of taking bare, grey plastic to a tournament.  That would be like going to school in your pyjamas.  The stuff of nightmares!  I don't want to do that so my plan is to half finish this one and get the basecoats on the others.  It's a good plan and it will probably fail so I don't expect I'll get much chance to post in the next week.  Or much sleep for that matter.


But I just couldn't stop working on this one.  I probably got a bit obsessive about it.  I spent ages running brass rods through the left leg to make it hold the entire weight of the model on one toe.  Once I realised that it was going to work and I hadn't made a complete hash of it, I tinkered with it compulsively, like an ulcer in your mouth that you can't stop touching with your tongue. Feverishly sifting through  the bitz box and watching it rotate endlessly on the turntable.  To hell with tournament deadlines, I was having fun!  (Dear God, what have I been reduced to?)


The head was a problem originally and frustrated me at every turn.  I tried everything from the Brundle-Fly Lord Discordant head to a giant drill bit from the Tectonic Fragdrill set and yet nothing seemed right.  Having spent so much time on the legs I really didn't want to cock it up.  I had a spare Helldrake head and it's a lovely bit of kit but it just didn't work.  For some reason, my subconscious mind kept telling me to glue it on upside down. 
 

But that was just stupid.  Right up there with the vomiting Sigmarine and the Eversor Assassin on the toilet.  People would laugh and point and all the good work would be wasted.  I put the model down and turned to other projects but the thought would not go away.  Fast forward 6 months and now the Maelstrom XIII (unlucky for some!)  deadline loomed.  I had a week to finish three large models or just not bother and unleash them naked at a local primary school.  I would get arrested.  Time to stop procrastinating.


'Ok, okay!' I informed my idiot hindbrain. 'I'll glue it on upside down!  I just need to fill in the eyes with some green stuff to hide that fact.' 
'No...' said the aberrant corner of my mind. 'Leave the eyes.  In fact, paint them with a glow effect to accentuate them.  This model serves the ruinous powers.  It's meant to be fucked up'. 

16 comments:

  1. Pretty sure Fun is meant to be part of the process, to hell with deadlines, grey plastic isn't as bad as you make it out. I took half built ork mek guns with their grey plastic bared and got compliments for them. And as far as I can tell the Fun is paying off, loving the sleek and agile look.

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    1. Cheers, I might just have to. I can't paint 3 minis in 6 weeks never mind 6 days

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  2. I hadn't even noticed that the head was upside down until you mentioned it!
    Stunning work chap...the Omnissiah approves! ;-)

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    1. I was hoping it would turn your head, thanks!

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  3. A fabulous conversion. I also would have missed the upside down head. I does work, though, doesn't it! That definitely captures the 40K vibe. well done.

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    1. Cheers DAM. Someone on facebook said that they found the head distressing. Strangely, this pleased me!

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  4. Wow, just...WOW!!

    I always enjoy the running commentary as well.

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    1. I think you might be one of the few who actually reads my rambling bullshit.

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    2. lol, I'm pretty sure that I can say the same for you!

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  5. Love the running pose! I hope you don't have to rush the paintjob - even if such an event makes for good motivation.

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    1. Cheers Xar, I won't rush it. I just aim to get the 3 colour standard for a tournament. I'll finish them properly later.

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you! Why has your blog dropped off my list? I'm going to sort that out right now.

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  7. I really like the barbed wire and back end 'ass'embly really sleek.

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    1. Yeah that's the bit I really want to go crazy with when painting

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