Hi Lady and gents,
Among other modelling opportunities, I have sometimes been pondering the idea of completing a full Outlanders Special Characters set (already owning a Redemption Archzealot to be painted, a half painted Karloth Valois and painted Brakar and Mad Donna miniatures - that were already shown on this board).
The set would of course include a King Redwart and a Bull Gorg, both needed to be converted from other miniatures since the first one was a limited edition that would be uneasy to find (to say the least) and totally unaffordable to buy, and the second one has never been released.
The scavvy king could be made from a wide range of miniatures, while the choice would be more reduced for Bull Gorg. Both having probably to be converted from Fantasy miniatures...
I looked for a bit of web references on Bull Gorg. Few conversions have been published online throughout the years.
For obvious reasons, ogres and a Nurgle Champion seem like the way to go. Having quite a lot of Nurgle minis, I realized that I owned a copy of this plastic model in my collection, but I was not happy with it : there are already several conversions based on it, it has a heavy Fantasy theme sculpted in its lower features, and its posture is quite static. That is not the Bull Gorg I was seeing in my mind.
I found more free renderings of the character and a green stuff sculpt that is quite faithful to the John Blanche illustration :
The fantasy ogres are nice, but far from the initial drawing and character design, while I had to be realistic : a full green stuff sculpt would be just way above my patience limits and modelling skills.
Since I own a unit of (quite cool) vintage metal ogres (initially intended for my Chaos WFB warband), I looked at them and singled a model that could do the trick. In the case I would ever be motivated for such a heavy conversion...
Then came Yakcomp #43... « Futur shock » conversion challenge... I was called to do it !
The Ogre left his storing box, on his way to its sinister fate.
I liked the stance, that could make for a rebellious Bull Gorg, challenging his opponents in the middle of the fighting pit, or defying the Guilders from his Dead End Pass barricades... I also liked the big belly and muscular arms, but the head was to be removed, along with both hands including shield and mace, and several fantasy accessories, like the scroll belt buckle, the pouch and the tin pint on his left side. I also decided to remove one of the two shoulder pads to resculpt a naked shoulder.
A ball cutter was fitted to my Dremel and here I was started.
The set would of course include a King Redwart and a Bull Gorg, both needed to be converted from other miniatures since the first one was a limited edition that would be uneasy to find (to say the least) and totally unaffordable to buy, and the second one has never been released.
The scavvy king could be made from a wide range of miniatures, while the choice would be more reduced for Bull Gorg. Both having probably to be converted from Fantasy miniatures...
I looked for a bit of web references on Bull Gorg. Few conversions have been published online throughout the years.
For obvious reasons, ogres and a Nurgle Champion seem like the way to go. Having quite a lot of Nurgle minis, I realized that I owned a copy of this plastic model in my collection, but I was not happy with it : there are already several conversions based on it, it has a heavy Fantasy theme sculpted in its lower features, and its posture is quite static. That is not the Bull Gorg I was seeing in my mind.
I found more free renderings of the character and a green stuff sculpt that is quite faithful to the John Blanche illustration :
The fantasy ogres are nice, but far from the initial drawing and character design, while I had to be realistic : a full green stuff sculpt would be just way above my patience limits and modelling skills.
Since I own a unit of (quite cool) vintage metal ogres (initially intended for my Chaos WFB warband), I looked at them and singled a model that could do the trick. In the case I would ever be motivated for such a heavy conversion...
Then came Yakcomp #43... « Futur shock » conversion challenge... I was called to do it !
The Ogre left his storing box, on his way to its sinister fate.
I liked the stance, that could make for a rebellious Bull Gorg, challenging his opponents in the middle of the fighting pit, or defying the Guilders from his Dead End Pass barricades... I also liked the big belly and muscular arms, but the head was to be removed, along with both hands including shield and mace, and several fantasy accessories, like the scroll belt buckle, the pouch and the tin pint on his left side. I also decided to remove one of the two shoulder pads to resculpt a naked shoulder.
A ball cutter was fitted to my Dremel and here I was started.
My first sculpting task was to reshape the body. I used Andrea putty for this purpose. It's less elastic and more tacky than GS, but you can work it with a wet brush. The wetter it gets, the softer and finer it is. I find it way easier to use for wide surfaces to be smoothed out.
I was quite happy with the result, with a fatter « big bastard » belly, but more muscular pectorals than the original miniature. I also reused the ball cutter to slim out the arms, both being really huge. The shin guards and knee cap have also been filled and smoothed out to get a more modern look.
Before taking care of the head and both turbo chainswords, I focused on the body and added some details :
Before taking care of the head and both turbo chainswords, I focused on the body and added some details :
A pit fighting champion's belt, a football inspired shoulder pad and a small 1/35 military ammo pouch on the left side, to hide the blanked out spot from the initial accessories.
For the head, the bits box spurted out a plastic ogre part, whose teeth has been cut off and whose beard has been trimmed, while a heavily cutted SM backpack glued to some unidentified fantasy bit will make a back « power unit » for Bull Gorg head cables and turbo chainswords :
For the head, the bits box spurted out a plastic ogre part, whose teeth has been cut off and whose beard has been trimmed, while a heavily cutted SM backpack glued to some unidentified fantasy bit will make a back « power unit » for Bull Gorg head cables and turbo chainswords :
Time to do some more detailing on the body piece :
Straps added to the shoulder pads. Metal inserts on the belly and chest. A rope on the left biceps to hold the small fur cape on the back :
You can see that the head has been modified as well. Hair has been totally removed from the cheeks and the goatee made a bit more flourishing. The cheeks and top have been enlarged with GS for a more chunky look (and will be additonnaly plumped with Andrea putty before being transplanted with cable connectors and metal pins...).
[To be continued...]
Straps added to the shoulder pads. Metal inserts on the belly and chest. A rope on the left biceps to hold the small fur cape on the back :
You can see that the head has been modified as well. Hair has been totally removed from the cheeks and the goatee made a bit more flourishing. The cheeks and top have been enlarged with GS for a more chunky look (and will be additonnaly plumped with Andrea putty before being transplanted with cable connectors and metal pins...).
[To be continued...]
