Orange everywhere... EVERYWHERE!!!

I love the whole 3D-printing my own army thing, but, believe it or not, there is a downside to it all... Well, no, there isn't, but at the moment I am printing a lot faster than I can paint, but I am trying to catch up. Really... 

That involves painting a lot of orange, and I mean A LOT of orange... 

A Chimera, Hellhound, some 40 infantry models, a squad of cavalry and the last pieces of my first Leman Russ... 

3D-printing Feudal Guard... pt. VI

As part of the TMC-Patreon for August another upgrade kit for the Feudal Guard was released. 

The FG upgrade kit...

Included in the upgrade kit are two whole sets of armoured bodies. The first half are just what I was waiting for to use for my standard Guardsmen. I love the original designs, but their style doesn't match the rest of the range as it is quite rounded while most of the other models are anything but, with sharp angles and edges... 

A comparison of the two versions... 

Both models are still very similar and could even be used together without a problem, at a glance you might not even notice the difference...

Thus far I have printed, and painted, mostly the elite troops (quite logical as I originally wanted to build a Kill team) and I have come to like their particular style. I really wanted my regular troopers to match that flavour... 

As soon as the kit became available for download, I went to work... With the arms and helmets from last months upgrade kit it's very easy to build a full squad of Guardsmen. 

Three full prints yielded a squad of 12 fully equipped troopers, including the same named bases I use for the rest of my models (these add just a little bit extra detail to the growing formation). I left the Sergeant quite basic, with just his standard chainsword and laspistol. It's easy enough to print another Sergeant and equip him with different weapons should the need arise. I cannot emphasize enough how big of an advantage this is as opposed to buying models like this in a box, where special components are always scarce... The same goes for the special weapons. For now, a meltagun and plasmagun are more than enough, but more of the same or different weapon options are readily available. I can remember, many years ago, before the convenience of online shopping, that I had great difficulty getting my hands on enough special weapons to equip my Guardsmen. Those particular blisters were never available and I ended up buying several command squad boxes for just those parts...

These troopers will first be used in Kill Team, but ultimately I want this squad to be one of the first complete units for my new Astra Militarum force for 40K... I might just use the current sale at CG-trader as an excuse to pick up a transport for these guys...

Another model I printed and put together is a new Sergeant for my Storm Troopers. I always liked the classic Kasrkin Sergeant model.

Equipped with a hotshot laspistol which is attached to his backpack with a power cable, just like the hotshot lasguns of the other Stormtroopers. This was a simple digital conversion, I cut the power cable from one of the special weapons and pasted it onto the arm with the pistol. Not as smooth as I would have liked, but it does the job.

The Stormtrooper Sergeant...

A little wink...

Designing and 3D-printing soda can terrain...

Because I haven't played any sort of 40K for well over a decade I have no scenery or terrain for this game... 

Some time ago (before I had my Mars) I printed this soda can terrain piece on my school's Ultimaker 2+. While not very detailed (this kit was designed with FDM-printing in mind), the print upgraded a humble soda can to a piece of attractive and functional terrain. Because I had no 40K at the time, I donated this piece to a gaming buddy, who painted it and now uses it on his battlefield. 

While browsing Thingiverse for terrain pieces to print I came across this very same upgrade kit again and thought of how it could be improved to make use of the capabilities of my Elegoo Mars.

I took more inspiration from another design made by the same user (be sure to check him out as he has several cool upgrade kits). I ended up not using any of his components, but he inspired me all the same!

While I know my way around Tinkercad I lack the ability to draw intricate/organic designs, that's why I used two pieces from this set. Using the gothic grate and the round fan I gradually worked towards creating a set of upgrade pieces. 

I have three kinds of cans available, the standard soda/beer can (be it 0,33 or 0,5L) and two kinds of cans commonly used for energy drinks. Funny thing is, we don't drink soda, beer or energy drinks, so I ended up buying a couple of the cheapest cans I could find and poured the contents down the drain... 

All these cans have different diameters and heights, but I wanted to create kits for them all. All kits are different, but share the same components to create an overall theme (I am a sucker for uniformity). To prevent ending up with a dozen identical terrain pieces, I made the upgrade kit modular, featuring several different versions of key components and several optional components. 

An example of the parts used to upgrade a can... 

At the moment I have sets for the two largest diameters, and I am thinking about ways to do something different with the smallest cans.

I have completed three different cans so far... 

Two of the different front caps...

Two of the different end caps...

Two examples of how to add variety by using different parts to detail the can... 

I have uploaded this modular upgrade kit to Thingiverse, check it out if you are interested!

3D-printing Feudal Guard... pt. V

While I still have a couple days vacation left, I figured I'd print some more Feudal Guard models...

First of all (per request), the recipe of my orange...

From left to right, from base and wash to highlight and edge...

I opted to print the models from the Elite special weapon set... For both the Heavy Stubber and the Heavy Flamer Team I used a couple of helmets from the upgrade set.

I also replaced the rock with an ammo crate I found on Thingiverse. I really like the pose of this model. Don't know if I will be able to use him, but he will be fun to paint!

For the Heavy Flamer Team I decided to use the bodies from the Engineer set as I really like the heavy overcoats they wear. As with the Heavy Stubber, I don't know if I will be able to use them, but these, too, will be fun to paint.

For this team I needed a new base. It was a bit of a puzzle, but worth it as I will be printing some Cavalry soon. 

Getting two names to fit meant I had to use short names...

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. II

After painting the two test models I am pretty happy with the colours I have selected for my Valour Korps. 

For these models I took inspiration from a historic colour scheme, namely that of 1939/1940 German Infantry. Using Feldgrau for the uniform and grey for the trousers. I further used various browns for pouches, gasmasks and belts and dark grey for the helmets, armour and boots... 

These models, just like the Feudal Guard, are designed by The Makers Cult and are available through their Patreon and their CGtrader website.

Same as with the Feudal Guard, these models are intended for use with Kill Team, but as time goes on I might expand them into a full Astra Militarum army... 

I'm designing and printing custom bases for these models too. It's the same basic shape as the bases my Feudal Guard use, but without the stone paving and with differently styled names. I chose to leave the top empty so I can add some mud (I think that suits the style of the models better than stones)...

For now, the Valour Korps range is quite limited as it has only been started last month. It currently features two character models and a regimental Command Squad. Over the coming months the range is set to expand and include many more units... If the Feudal Guard is anything to go by, the range will be very extensive indeed... 

For now I have based and primed the Marshal, the Sergeant, two Veterans and the Comms Specialist. I have also printed the Banner Bearer, but have no direct use for the model (yet)...

3D-printing Feudal Guard... pt. IV

It's time for yet more Feudal Guard...

Most models in my Kill Team have something that sets them apart, yet the overall style of the Feudal Guard line easily ties the force together (though the orange might help too)...

With the release of the first upgrade pack for the Feudal Guard (as part of the Patreon release for july), the selection of different parts available is increased considerably. Especially the new helmets add a lot of character and are an easy way to individualise an otherwise faceless miniature. The additional arms with weapons make it very fun (and easy) to make your own leaders. 

All these helmets add a lot of options...

After the latest sale on CGtrader I have all the Feudal Guard sets (with the exception of the character models) and the possibilities are almost endless... Currently I am looking at ways to build a Necromunda gang with the Feudal Guard bits...

And to make it even better, another Feudal Guard upgrade pack is set to be released in august...

Technically not a part of my Kill Team, but I couldn't resist printing and painting a Sentinel... Most likely, he won't be the last either...

'Der Schleicher' or 'The Stalker'...

This model is huge, it towers over the regular infantry and it makes even the Ogryn look small. This model is nicely detailed and shares the overall style of the rest of the Feudal Guard range. I tried to give him a dynamic pose.

With the addition of the Sentinel, I can no longer call this a 'Kill Team-only' project, but that's fine by me... Typical, really, the Kill Team isn't even completed yet and I am already looking to take the next step...

And what would be better than to print a whole Tank? The obvious answer would be 'more Tanks', but that's something for another time... Printing this model was done in four full prints, taking me the better part of two days and a fair bit of resin... Totally worth it!

This kit comes with A LOT of options...

All the options are easily magnetized...

I had very little problems printing this big model, only the track guards warped a bit, but not so much that I could not use them... I am halfway through painting this Tank, here's a quick preview...

Yes, it's orange, too... 

This kit comes with all the options currently in the Astra Militarum CODEX for the Leman Russ Battle Tank and thanks to the clever design (which adds the option for magnetizing EVERYTHING) you can adapt the model to every possible configuration...

More Feudal Guard coming soon!

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. III

As part of the august release on Patreon TMC provided me with another set of Valour Korps models...

One of the models released this month is this Lieutenant. 

He is armed in the same way as the Sergeant that spearheaded this range...

An idea that has been on my mind for several weeks was to replace the power sword from their first Valour Korps model (back when it was still called Blitz Korps) and replace it with a shovel... 

In 40K, the Death Korps of Krieg is somewhat known for their love of digging trenches, hence the shovel. And while the Sergeant is similarly armed with a sword, he lacks the scabbard... Besides, swords are a gentlemans weapon, hardly suited for a lowly Sergeant...

After a quick search on Thingiverse I found what I needed, a suitable hand to replace the one holding the sword and an awesome power shovel. Both were made by the same designer, Mafei.

I then used Tinkercad to (quite crudely) cut off both the hand and the sword and replace them with the new hand and the shovel. A quick and easy digital conversion, but one that I am very pleased with. 

The new arm printed without any difficulty, resulting in a very characterful model... 

Even though TMC just started the range, it's growing rather quickly. So far only the Regimental and Company Command Squads have been released, but next month will see the completion of the first squad builder... With those models I can make most models I need for a full Kill Team. 

My Kill Team so far... 

Thus far I have printed several models from both Command Squads and all three character models. I had printed both standard bearers too, but unfortunately those models warped during curing and will have to be printed again... Not a big deal, as I won't be using them for my Kill Team anyway.

All models are put on a named base, a neat little design I made just for my Kill Teams... 

3D-printing Feudal Guard... pt. III

After finishing my first proper model, Kornfeder the Ogryn, I quickly put the finishing touches on my Sniper, Aberbach, and started working on a few Scions/Stormtroopers... 

The first of these is Schreiner...

Armed with a hotshot lasgun, this model packs a bit more punch than a regular Guardsman...

I have now completed three models, not a bad start for a Kill Team... Depending on the selection of models and gear even an Astra Militarum Kill Team can be quite small (I have yet to play my first game, but I have been tinkering with lists for some time).

Aberbach, Kornfeder and Schreiner... 

The Sniper was painted only in greys (apart from the eyes, which are green). Grey is my contrast colour for the regular Feudal Guard, as the grey of their uniforms goes well with their orange armour. As the Sniper isn't wearing any armour I thought it very fitting to keep him as dark as possible. As I am very happy with how he turned out, I think I will print the kneeling variant, too...

Another thing I am very happy with are the way my custom made bases are turning out... It takes a bit of time and effort, but it greatly enhances the individuality of the models (even though they are faceless) and it looks good, too (I think)... 

The next two Scions/Stormtroopers, another one with a hotshot lasgun and one with a plasmagun... These aren't finished yet, but shouldn't take too long to get done... 

3D-printing Feudal Guard... pt. II

Oh boy, the last couple of months were insanely busy, but with the start of my vacation I have finally found the time and energy to post something again...

I have continued work on my Feudal Guard Kill Team.

First of all, I redesigned my bases. The previous version wasn't as detailed as I wanted them to be so I tried something new... 

Many years ago, for my Empire army, I made several tiled bases with plasticard, which I then made a mold of to be able to cast them in high grade plaster... All of my fantasy models have the same style base and I have cast hundreds in the last couple of years, even selling them halfway across the globe... 

Because I really wanted to continue using that particular style but found it hard to combine resin 3D-printing and casting plaster in the same workspace (working with plaster is a dusty affair, which does nót go well with resin 3D-printing) I decided to try to digitally recreate my old plaster bases. After a few tries I managed to come up with a suitable version...

I then used the pattern I created on my new custom bases, creating a small insert I could neatly combine with the basic, empty base.

To further enhance the bases I then reworked them to include embossed nametags, choosing a Gothic-style font fitting with the theme of the models...

The result is a simple, clean base with sharp detail and a personalised nametag.

On to the models themselves...

Not long after uploading the previous Kill Team post I joined The Makers Cult on Patreon. Getting a whole bunch of files every month for a modest fee works a lot better than buying all the files seperately. I also made good use of a sale on CGtrader to fill in any gaps on the Feudal Guard line. I now have access to all of their infantry and cavalry, giving me a whole lot of options when it comes to building my Kill Team...

Just a few of the new models I printed...

The first model I have finished is a new Ogryn...

Kornfeder, my Kill Team's Ogryn...

I opted for a very limited palette, using only orange, grey/metal and white (and a little green and red for things like lenses and gauges). The orange gets some depth thanks to all the different layers and really stands out.

On my previous two test models I tried to add some form of battle damage and chipping, but in the end I like this clean version better... Due to the sharpness of the desing and the quality of the printed model painting was quite enjoyable.

More models are on their way, I have nearly finished my Sniper and my first Sergeant...

3D-printing Valour Korps... pt. I

As part of their Patreon, The Makers Cult have begon releasing a new line of miniatures: The Valour Korps... Obviously inspired by the Death Korps of Krieg, these designes are too good not to print... As a bonus, these come fully pre-supported, making it very easy to get them printed fast and easy...

Below are the first two test models, a Marshall and a Sergeant... As usual, the sharpness of the design and the quality of the printed models made painting them a real joy...

For these models I took inspiration from a historic colour scheme, namely that of 1939/1940 German Infantry. Using Feldgrau for the uniform and grey for the trousers. I further used various browns for pouches, gasmasks and belts and dark grey for the helmets, armour and boots...

The bases will be very different for the final models... More to come!