Hive Fleet Arachne (Pax's Spider-Nids)

[paxmiles]

For starters, Hi, I'm Pax. Apparently had an account for a while, but this is like my third post and second day actively on the forum. I play C:SM and am getting a start of a tyranid army. I'm most active on the Ordo Fanaticus forum.

As for the models, I've been looking for a tyranid conversion of that O&G big spider since it first came out, but still haven't seen any. So just recently, I bought the bug book and one of those big spiders and started converting.

Theme is spiders. I'm probably using very few actual tyranid models, so apologies for that if they don't look the part. Project is a harpy, but I've gradually started building a Tervigon and ripper swarm base from extra bits of the set.

First is the Harpy. Idea is a flying spider, sort of like a flying squirel. Big outstreched legs with webbing in between. Legs are finally finished pinning and webbing is started. For those that don't get the black, I am using black epoxy putty. I like it because it drys really hard, but it doesn't seem to show up nearly as well in photos. It's fine once painted.


And perhaps this is a better size comparison (a SM LR of mine). This thing is frinking huge!


Got a basic start on a tervigon. Plan is to add spider legs and a head, but keep him looking like a really fat/bulbous creature.



At the moment, my paint scheme is white spiders and white background. These "rippers" illustrate me failing at this.


-Pax

[tanagra]

Your theme could help me out with my concept theme. thetyranidhive.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=converting&action=display&thread=35783

If you don't mind, if I see any of your future work that inspires me, may I use them? I'm short on spider ideas >.<

[paxmiles]

Oct 8, 2011 18:14:01 GMT tanagra said:

Your theme could help me out with my concept theme. thetyranidhive.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=converting&action=display&thread=35783

If you don't mind, if I see any of your future work that inspires me, may I use them? I'm short on spider ideas >.<

No problem at all. I'd love to see how you paint them up.

Will warn you that these guys are quite demanding to construct from the GW O&G kit. The harpy has a pin attaching each joint were you see black on the underside photo. There is another pin in the long joint on each leg that connects two pieces of leg that are suppose to face opposite directions.

The rippers were easy, but the tervigon is going to be a challenge too.
-Pax

[legendarykiller]

I hate spider based tyranids but this looks pretty good nice work

[Deathnid]

sweet. welcome to the hive.
it looks like your pretty handy with greenstuf/epoxy, thats usualy what we use around here for modling clay.
i looooove that landraider to its freakin awesome.
keep on doin what your doin and post again soon.

[paxmiles]

Oct 9, 2011 7:46:21 GMT Deathnid said:

sweet. welcome to the hive.
it looks like your pretty handy with greenstuf/epoxy, thats usualy what we use around here for modling clay.
i looooove that landraider to its freakin awesome.
keep on doin what your doin and post again soon.

I can't/haven't really done much actual sculpture. I can do patterns like above, but nothing enough to start from scratch. I do like how this project is turning out, thanks.

And thanks for the compliments on the LR. Are we welcome to post our non-bug armies here too?
-Pax

[Hive Carnithrope]

That is epically scary. I think I wet myself... wait... wait... all okay... it's just beer...

... you gonna finish that?

[Major Chrispy]

sweetness

[commandersasha]

Oct 9, 2011 19:33:47 GMT paxmiles said:

Are we welcome to post our non-bug armies here too?
-Pax

If you mean is posting a Spiders Counts-As-Tyranids army, I believe so, as my army is Skaven Counts-As-Tyranids! I have 2,500 points worth of ratty models, although I've used an Araknarok spider as my Trygon Prime( with the goblins on the purdah replaced by rats and a Grey Seer(Rat priest).

If you mean posting your Space Marines here, no-one's going to kick you out for it, but this is primarily a 'Nid forum.

[Dro]

It reminds me of that spider in australia that eats other spiders.
..
..
Needless to say I'm terrified.

[paxmiles]

Oct 10, 2011 3:08:20 GMT commandersasha said:

If you mean posting your Space Marines here, no-one's going to kick you out for it, but this is primarily a 'Nid forum.

It was that one. Makes sense, thought I should ask.

Just keep the marines in a size comparison role for this site.. ;D
-Pax

[paxmiles]

More updates the tervigon and the harpy:

Harpy


Tervigon

Trying to show off the eyes in second photo, but they're really not showing up in the camera's view....

-Pax

PS: Two things. First, really running out of black putty. Need to grab some more. Second, need to acquire some MC tyranid scything talons for this guy (tervigon or harpy). I think they'd look good on him.

[mchgnfan]

www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1080048
since you are doing a spider based army this may be helpful. they also have giant spiders and shelob
www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat500002a&prodId=prod1080059

[captainbirdbum]

good to see spider nids that actually are spiders instead of nid models with scytals as legs

[paxmiles]

Oct 12, 2011 21:20:57 GMT captainbirdbum said:

good to see spider nids that actually are spiders instead of nid models with scytals as legs

Thanks .

Oct 12, 2011 19:35:32 GMT mchgnfan said:

www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1080048
since you are doing a spider based army this may be helpful. they also have giant spiders and shelob
www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat500002a&prodId=prod1080059

Thanks for the suggestion.

Looked into those before. Very limited sculpts and rather expensive given their size (metal too). Reaper has some pretty good ones, if I decide to dabble outside of GW.

My plan for the tervigon is to attempt a custom sculpt of the legs and maybe the arms too. If I can pull that off, I intend to get some actual tyranid kits and convert/epoxy them for my mid-sized bugs (like tyranid warriors).

If I can't pull it off, I'll start drifting into spiders beyond the WHFB ones (goblin spider riders and the one used above). We'll see. Plan to use spider riders' spiders for either stealers or gaunts, perhaps both with proper conversions.

The one I am still debating in my mind, is a spider conversion of a mawloc. I mean, there is a trap door spider that would work well for concept, but it wouldn't actually be that tall, which may create issues in actual gameplay.

Also thinking about how to do spore mines best. I want some, even if they just see use with the harpy. Perhaps unspent ammunition suck with web to partially blinded IG bodies?
-Pax