Faction-Themed Eiryss and Hordes Units

Throughout the year I've been working on a series of articles for No Quarter Magazine, focusing on faction-themed conversions for Mercenary and Minions models. Here are a few from the previous issues:

 

Skorne Gatormen

 

Enslaved by a paingiver taskmaster, these gators have been outfitted with ornate armor and weaponry. This unit was based on the new plastic gatorman kit with Skorne Praetorian Praetor shoulder pads for their knee pads and Cataphract Arcuarii shoulder pads. The halberd heads are from Tyrant Rhadeim's weapon. You can see a full tutorial for how I converted these in No Quarter Magazine #54.

 

 

Circle Orboros Slaughterhousers

These Farrow Slaughterhousers appeared in No Quarter #55. These conversions were mainly weapon swaps using halberds from the Warpborne Skinwalkers and Druids of Orboros. Some bones from the Gallows Grove trees made appropriate trophies, and the lightning pattern on some of the shoulder pads was sculpted with modeling putty.

 

 

No Quarter #57 hit the shelves recently, and this one focuses on the mage hunter Eiryss working undercover with various factions: 

 

Protectorate Eiryss

 

Disguised, Eiryss can walk unnoticed among Menite priests or Daughters of the Flame. I envisioned this conversion as Eiryss wearing robes over her standard equipment. (The old assassin in a nun's habit trick works every time!) An arm swap and head swap with parts from Daughters of the Flame units gives her some Protectorate flair.

 

 

Parts List:

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Daughter of the Flame # 2 and 3 left arm

Daughter of the Flame Leader's right arm

Flame Bringer hood and poncho

 

 

Cygnaran Eiryss

The Angel of Retribution being perched atop the wreckage of Cygnar symbolizes the duplicity of her actions. She may be working for the humans now, but their world will burn soon enough. Lieutenant Allison Jakes' arms are used to add some Cygnaran iconography and armor to her pose, and after cutting away her base, Eiryss was mounted on Supreme Kommandant Irusk's epic base.

 

 

Parts List:
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution
Epic Irusk's base
Lieutenant Allison Jakes (just for the arms; save her body for something else)

 

 

Khadoran Eiryss

The final version of Eiryss uses the No Quarter exclusive model. It's the simplest conversion, with modeling putty used to add fur trim to her cloak. The base is also sculpted with snow to reflect the frigid environment of Khador. I did a short tutorial on the snow base technique a couple years ago. You can check it out here: Modeling and Painting Khador.

 

 

Parts List:
Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios, NQ Variant

 

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

 

'Til next time!

Faction-Themed Ogrun Bokurs

No Quarter Magazine #54 hit the shelves recently, and it features the next article in a series about converting and painting faction-themed Mercenaries.

This time it's Ogrun bokur. Check out No Quarter for the step-by-step tutorials. Here's a look at how the finished models turned out:

Cygnaran Bokur

Adding some voltaic coils was an obvious choice. This was also a great opportunity to use left over parts from the plastic warjack kits. This bokur's clients have been warcaster and stormsmiths, who over the years have upgraded his halberd with some voltaic tech. The Centurion shield was salvaged from the battlefield and while its magnetic coils don't function anymore it's still sturdy and intimidating. It will also make a nice trophy to go with all the stories he'll tell when returning home.

 

Parts List:

Plastic Centurion Shield

Stormguard Sgt Voltaic Weapon

MKII Commander Adept Nemo Staff

 

Khadoran Bokur

The Man-O-War parts are perfectly scaled for bokurs. This ogrun is close to securing a korune, the master he'll permanently swear loyalty to, and so he is wearing Khadoran markings on his armor and shield. Again, the spare plastic Spriggan lance adds a little more character to the model.

 

Parts List:

Ogrun Bokur

Man-O-War Kovnik Shield

Man-O-War Demolition Corps Right Arm #2

Man-O-War Demolition Corps Left Arm #2

Plastic Spriggan Lance

 

Cryxian Bokur

I wanted to go a little darker with the Cryxian bokur. The fluff in the Forces book mentions ogrun bringing shame upon themselves by serving dishonorable masters. It doesn't get any more dishonorable than serving the undead. The bokur's hands have been replaced with Brute Thrall gauntlets, likely against his will after suffering a grievous injury. He's now enthralled to the service of the Lich Lords, never to return home.

 

Parts List:

MKII Pirate Queen Skarre Sword

Lord Exhumator Scaverous Shoulder Armor

Brute Thrall Right Arm

Brute Thrall Left Arm

Seether Carapace

 

 

'Til next time!

Faction-Themed Mercenaries

No Quarter Magazine #52 had the first in a series of articles I'm working on, about faction-themed Mercenary units. The modeling tutorials focus on ways of converting and painting Warmachine & Hordes Mercenary and Minion units to represent extended deployments with a particular faction. Essentially, it's a way of creating a visual cohesion between your Mercenary units to match your overall army.

The first article showcased a unit of Cygnar-themed Horgenhold Forge Guard with voltaic shock hammers and blue accents on their armor.

 

 

This got me thinking about the other faction-themed Mercenaries I'd done for my own armies, some of them dating back quite a few years:

Doc Killingsworth

This was from Warmachine MK I, when Killingsworth could heal any friendly model, not just Pirates. I converted him using the Temple Flameguard Standard Bearer model as the base, with the Doc's arms, head, and shoes. His stove pipe hat was replaced with the helm of Sir Ekkrion, Paladin of Menoth, from the Iron Kingdoms RPG range. A few random knife bits and a tattered, blood-splattered apron finish off the model.

 

Reinholdt

More recent is the diminutive Gobber speculator I converted for my Khadoran army. His bowler hat was clipped away and a fur hat was sculpted in its place. The back of his trench coat was sculpted with riveted armor plates to resemble a Khadoran great coat. I also modeled his base with snow to further solidify him as part of my army. 

 

Keep your eye out for the next article (should be in No Quarter #54).

Til next time!

Iron Kingdoms RPG Conversions (Mechaniks)

No Quarter Magazine #45 came out this week, and has the second in a series of articles about converting Warmachine and Hordes models into Iron Kingdoms RPG characters. 

This time, it's variations on the mechanik character class. Check out No Quarter for the step by step tutorials. Here's how the finished models turned out:

Trollkin Field Mechanik/ Soldier

Bull, from the Mercenary pair Dannon Blythe & Bull is a great model for conversion because both of his arm joins are right at the sleeve, making arm swaps a breeze. The Khadoran Battle Mechanik Officer has some great bits, which I've used in almost all of these conversions.

Parts List:

Bull Body 

Trollkin Scout w/ Hood Axe Arm 

Trollkin Scout Leader Left Arm

Battle Mechanik Officer Left Arm 

2010 Butcher Gun

Vassal Mechanik Pack 

Battle Mechanik Officer Tools & Head

Human Arcane Mechanik/ Priest

This guy was really challenging. I think I tried every Flameguard Cleanser model before settling on the unit attachment officer. I also wasn't sure if I could pull off the "arcane" theme without him looking like just another Cygnar model or a Protectorate priest, but I think the parts and color scheme go a long way to distinguishing him as part of a unique sect. Of all the conversions I've ever done, this is one of my favorites.

Parts List:

Flameguard Cleanser Officer Body 

Battle Mechanik Officer Tools & Head

Flameguard Cleanser Officer Head

General Adept Nemo Right Arm 

General Adept Nemo Staff 

Captain Arlan Strangewayes Wrench 

General Adept Nemo Boiler 

Exemplar Errants Scabbard 

Thunderhead Tube #2

Mechanik's Steamjack

And since mechaniks can be accompanied by steamjacks, here's a conversion of a patchwork 'jack. I think the the Cygnar Grenadier head matches the Buccaneer torso perfectly, and maybe even looks better than its original head.

Parts List:

Buccaneer Torso 

Grenadier Head 

Reckoner Right Leg 

Reckoner Left Leg 

Lancer Right Arm/ War Spear 

Vanguard Left Arm 

Reckoner Condemner Shield

Vassal Mechanik Pack

'Til next time!

Iron Kingdoms RPG Conversions

One of the projects I've been working on these past months is a series of articles for No Quarter Magazine featuring Iron Kingdoms RPG character archetype conversions. The first article is out this week in No Quarter #44, and features combinations of the Gun Mage character class. 

Now that the magazine is on the shelves, I can finally show off the miniatures. For the step-by-step assembly tutorials, check out No Quarter Magazine, issue 44.

Human Gun Mage/ Rifleman

This guy is armed with a magelock rifle, and wearing an armored great coat. The armor plates were sculpted around the base of the coat, and the figure was created with pretty basic head and weapon swaps.

Parts List:

Widowmaker Trooper #2

Kara Sloan Gun 

Gun Mage Captain Adept Left Hand

Hammerfall Highshield Gun Corps Head #2

Iosian Gun Mage/ Duelist

She's probably the most complex of the conversions. The holsters and shoulder cape are sculpted with modeling putty. The magelock pistols she's equipped with came from Epic Caine, cut at the elbow, and the upper arms are sculpted over a wire armature.

Parts List:

Mage Hunter Assassin Alternate Body

Mage Hunter Assassin Alternate Leg

Epic Caine's Left Arm

Epic Caine's Right Arm

Venators Sword

Rhulic Gunslinger/ Bounty Hunter

Very minimal sculpting on this one. The original head had a welder's mask that needed to be removed, and the goggles and hair were added instead.

Parts List:

Hammerfall Highshield Gun Corps Body #2

Hammerfall High Shield Gun Corps Right Arm #3

Thor Steinhammer Head 

Drake MacBain Gun Arm

Drake MacBain Sword Arm

Greylord Ternion Koldun Axe

Horgenhold Forge Guard Backpack

I'll have another batch of these when the next issue comes out.

'Til next time!