MaliGn tried to stick with Necromunda for a bit

[MaliGn]

Hi Tribers,

So all my willpower to stick with something other than the red of my Word Bearers got sapped when I was given a Lord Discordant for Christmas, two extensive conversions and five months later and I am back ready to take a break from painting red power armour.

Naturally I have fallen back on one of my first painting loves: House Escher. I had an extensive Escher gang back in N95 and was proud as punch of them as a teen. (More on this later)

I also had some GW vouchers and had a second box of Escher from when I first got the original N17 box back when it came out therefore I picked up the new plastic weapons pack and a set of Wyld Runner and Death Maidens plus House of Blades and got ready to embark on a new journey into the Underhive.

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

So with my new loot safely in store I took time to do a quick stocktake:

Bases:

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

Escher gang sprues (2 full 1 partial):

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

Spare parts:

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

Wyld runners & Death Maidens:

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

Upgrade sprues:

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

So that's all the untouched stuff, while I was digging it all out I also found aforementioned metal Eschers which I will showcase in another post shortly.

I have a couple of ideas including some hanger on conversions for a Dome Runner and a Clan Chymist. I'll keep you updated as I get on with.

 

[cainex1]

A box of Dark Eldar Wyches will go a long way for you, too.
Thats a very strong start to a good Escher gang.
Remember to try and find a sprue of Astra Militarum or GSC for some extra mundane weapons (you can find a lot of the red hybrid sprue from the boxed set on ebay for cheap)

 

[MaliGn]

A box of Dark Eldar Wyches will go a long way for you, too.
Thats a very strong start to a good Escher gang.
Remember to try and find a sprue of Astra Militarum or GSC for some extra mundane weapons (you can find a lot of the red hybrid sprue from the boxed set on ebay for cheap)

I'm already mid-way through a Daughters of Khaine Witch Elf conversion so may continue on that route if I decide to add any more to the gang.

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

I will be finishing her off as part of this project.

As I mentioned I also found my old metal Eschers which when unpainted them as a teen were my pride and joy, in all their un-thinned paint glory, I hope the above model attests to the development of my painting skill these days. I am toying with getting these girls in some paint stripper and seeing if they can be salvaged.

Juves and Heavies

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

I'm thinking that the backpacks could be useful in creating some hangers on, especially the one for the heavy stubber as it screams Ammo Jill to me.

Leaders and Mad Donna

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

I'm not sure the original pointing leader will survive after the rather clumsily attached plasma pistol is removed.

Unique Gangers

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

Unique in that I only ever had one of each of these, the middle one was my fave Escher if all, and I used to thoroughly enjoy the old unparryable flail as a weapon. She was called Bitch Shifter and I'm planning a bit of a glow-up of her as my new Gang Queen.


Other Gangers

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

These I had duplicates of as you can see, I'm tempted to try and recreate some of these poses/arrangements with the new plastics.


Converted Gangers

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• MaliGn
• May 23, 2021

With the plastic weapons added these three won't survive paint stripping as they are, I guess they could get new plastic arms.

 

[cainex1]

Depends on the plastic and the method, simple green or purple clone are pretty easy on plastic but take time. Alcohol is kinda tough but if you have an ultrasonic cleaner you can use any of those to really good effect.

 

[Ben_S]

The old paint jobs still look ok to me. I'd suggest keeping something to show how much you've improved. The unconverted metal figures shouldn't be too difficult to strip though.

 

[MaliGn]

Depends on the plastic and the method, simple green or purple clone are pretty easy on plastic but take time. Alcohol is kinda tough but if you have an ultrasonic cleaner you can use any of those to really good effect.

True enough, just not sure how much effort I want to go to in stripping stuff.

The old paint jobs still look ok to me. I'd suggest keeping something to show how much you've improved. The unconverted metal figures shouldn't be too difficult to strip though.

I'm fairly sure there's about six layer of undiluted paint over most bits of these girls. I know what you mean about having a touch point back to the past but some of these straight up deserve better.

Anyway today I started assembling some new stuff! I've made a start on my new Gang Queen where I am aiming for a modern Glow-Up of my fave old ganger which is the one with the flail. I can't give her a flail at present so a shock whip seems like a suitable upgrade.

combined a death-maiden headdress to an original ganger face which I think creates a dramatic impact for the leader although I'd like to add a ponytail rather than the braids at the back but there's not really one big enough for my tastes among the parts I have.

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• MaliGn
• Jun 3, 2021

Let me know what you think and if anyone's got any ideas about how to get the pistol arm better then I'm open to 'em.

 

[cainex1]

Grab a box of Wyches, you'll find an adequate ponytail there. There are 2 really long ones, a braided one and a classic ponytail.

 

[MaliGn]

Grab a box of Wyches, you'll find an adequate ponytail there. There are 2 really long ones, a braided one and a classic ponytail.

Thanks, I'll check it out, meantime I found a topknot from a blood warrior head that I think will work. I'll get s photo from behind to show it shortly.

 

[MaliGn]

Been thinking about how to represent sidearms and backup pistols for my Gangers and was pointed in the direction of the holsters from Empire Pistoliers, I ordered a bunch on eBay and set about creating a prototype.

I identified that the grip was a bit long, as was the whole thing, it was also a bit thick. So I filed it thinner, trimmer the grip down and shortened it. I also added a laspistol barrel sticking out of the bottom to up the sci-fi feel.

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• MaliGn
• Jun 26, 2021

I've yet to test it on a ganger but I'm reasonably happy that it fits the Escher feel. Thoughts?

 

[MedMos]

Nice! Can be hard to go from fantasy to 40k, but this works!

 

[Ben_S]

I also thought fantasy bits weren't that promising, but I agree that you've pulled it off. I would have thought it no more difficult to make your own though.

 

[MaliGn]

Nice! Can be hard to go from fantasy to 40k, but this works!

It's mainly about making sure you add enough sci-fi vibe and don't let the original do all the lifting.

I also thought fantasy bits weren't that promising, but I agree that you've pulled it off. I would have thought it no more difficult to make your own though.

I'm not sure my sculpting skills are quite there for that!

 

[MaliGn]

So I test fitted the holster to my WIP Gang queen, just to get a bit of a sense of it more than anything.

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• MaliGn
• Jun 27, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jun 27, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jun 27, 2021

My initial thoughts are that I need one with the grip the other way around for this particular model and that I need to file it thinner around the top of the holster itself, but that otherwise this is a decent enough fit in terms of length and style. I would welcome any other comments.

Also in rear image note current plan for ponytail, which I think works quite well.

 

[cainex1]

Feel free to ignore because I am completely anal with my minis ( I cut in the heels of my Goliaths). Another holster for the needle pistol might be nice. And that whip is perfect for magnetizing into any other melee weapon/

 

[MaliGn]

Feel free to ignore because I am completely anal with my minis ( I cut in the heels of my Goliaths). Another holster for the needle pistol might be nice. And that whip is perfect for magnetizing into any other melee weapon/

I don't think there's really room for a pair of holsters sadly, not with the chem synth already at her waist.

I've made a start on painting her, kicking off with the head, I think that the close up photo is doing here a bit of a disservice here, but let me know if you can spot room for improvement (still very much work in progress mind)

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• MaliGn
• Jul 4, 2021

Edit -forgot the photo!

 

[MaliGn]

Also worked on a new basing scheme to go with the new Gang, quite pleased with how this has come out, nothing too fancy, but I like it.

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• MaliGn
• Jul 5, 2021

And added a little more to the Queen's head as well, step by gentle step I guess.

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• MaliGn
• Jul 5, 2021

 

[MaliGn]

Been making some more progress on the Queen started doing some work on her body and hair, can't help but feel that a) the skin needs more work, b) the feathers on the headdress need redoing c) I don't know what colours to paint most of it. D,) I like the general plan. E) I plan to to zebra stripes on the trousers.

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• MaliGn
• Jul 6, 2021

 

[MaliGn]

Bit more done, been working on worn leather gear.

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• MaliGn
• Jul 7, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jul 5, 2021

More to do, but overall pleased with the start. Let me know what you think

 

[MaliGn]

I think I was really tired when I made the last post. Much as I was when I didn't bother posting an update last night.

Put a few highlights around the leather and the blue armour. Also tweaked the feathers on the headdress and added some very selective touches of wash here and there to try and boost it a bit. These photos are coming out super washed out which is a shame, but I am being super lazy in taking them.

I've also basecoated the metal areas ahead of the NMM work.

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• MaliGn
• Jul 9, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jul 9, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jul 9, 2021

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• MaliGn
• Jul 9, 2021

Let me know what you think!

 

[Sethmerlin666]

She looks great!
My only suggestion would be to run a high or lowlight on the feather quills so they don't look like blobs of colour at a distance. They look good on her belt but the headress ones need something