Hive Fleet Draezymous Swarmlord conversion
Feb 22, 2019 1:58:21 GMT
lordsia, Remalis, and 1 more like this
Post by Draezymous on Feb 22, 2019 1:58:21 GMT
Hello to all!
First of all, my main language isn'english, so I apologise in advance if I made any grammar errors!
I've very recently made a return to the hobby, and what better way to start than by starting a project that's been in the making since 2013?! So here I embark on the journey that will spawn my hive fleet it's apex commander! First off a small introduction to my way of designing my Swarmlord, secondly the materials I used to build him, and lastly a few pictures I made before undercoating him chaos black (I would show you pictures of him now, but being all black doesn't really show anything but a silhouette). When making him I ignored the gaming aspect entirely, and the rule of cool applies here enormously. He won't be easy to ''hide'' on the battlefield, but that's okay for me. He's magnetized as well, so I can give him other load outs as well.
The Hive Mind stirs in stress
Hive Fleet Draezymous is a modest Hive Fleet drifting on the Eastern Fringes near the T'au Empire. While the T'au have speculations the Hive Fleet may be a splinter from Hive Fleet Gorgon, no proof for this has been found though. After a few early losses, the T'au quickly learned to adapt to this new fleet, and at the brink of its defeat, the Hive Mind spawned the Swarmlord. Singlehandedly did it turn the tide of battle on multipe occasions and thus far the fleet still runs rampart. While earlier sightings from the empire record Hive Tyrants of similair composore from other encounters, thus far this one was by far the bulkiest specimen. Indeed, when this Hive Fleet spawned its apex commander bioform, it altered the genetic blueprint slightly to better deal with the opponent at hand. Therefore extra bulk and armour was needed, for the rail and ion weaponry were capable of inflicting lethal damage. Thanks to their fast movements the prey's battlesuits quickly darted just out of reach before laying unforgiving salvoes over and over again, so it's bone sabres needed to be longer and bigger, and it's tail was enhanced so that he could launch himself forward towards his foes like a darting snake. The upper bone sabres evolved even further, become capable of deflecting or even withstanding anti tank weapons. It's many layered carapace protected it from nearly any impact, and the rows of armour were perfect to maim and rend in close combat. Wherever it goes, carnage follows in its wake. The empire is very wary and alert at all times waiting for a report that alarms of this dreaded creature, hoping for a chance to finally slay it.
Gathering the required biomass
Well then, before showing the pictures, here's a list of parts I used to make it:
01 x complete Hive Tyrant kit (as the basis to work from)
12 x swarmlord bonesabres (16 x if you include the ones in the kit)
01 x hive tyrant bonesword (02 x if you include the one in the kit)
03 x head spike from non swarmlord head (04 x if you include the ones in the kit)
06 x spikes from carnifex armour
XX x Genestealer armour plates
XX x monster frame spikey armour plate (shoulder pad thingy)
XX x spikes that go on a Tyrannofex's belly (I had them leftover due to building Tervigon)
02 x Acid Spray
01 x Trygon chestplate
02 x Trygon bone tail
02 x Trygon head armour plate
04 x Trygon mandible
XX x Green Stuff
How I built him
The head
Standard Swarmlord head, just cut up 2 bone sabres and stuck them on the sides of his head spike (sword?) with green stuff. Smoothened the green stuff with a toothpick to make the blades blend better into the armour. All my hive tyrants (will) have the swarmlord head as default, so my ''real'' swarmlord needed to look different in my opinion. I then added some mandibles since the codex picture also has them, and I think they look cool. they are the lower outward sticking spikes from older venom cannons, but I don't see why you cant use any other variants and end up with the same effect. Once again, just apply a small bit of green stuff to the mandible and softly press it into place. It's easy to go overboard with the green stuff here, but don't; less is more.
Body
LOTS of work here; use green stuff to build some beefier ribs, then place the trygon chestpiece over the original plating. I removed a little from the original plating before starting on the ribs, but I used the original ribs as guidelines. I still put the 6 ''outward going'' spikes in the same spot as well, no extra green stuff added. On the sides of his chest I added the spikes to go on a tyrannofex's belly, and I simply added enough to my liking.
The 4 spikes that come off of the normal hive tyrant's heads were placed in the center of its back forming a row. I then used 6 bone sabre blades to add another row on each side of his back, kind of aligning with his chimneys. I then took a spikey armour bit from the monster frame (they are ideal ''shoulderpads'' for hive tyrants) and used a bit of green stuff to stick a few on each side of the armour. These parts together formed the guidelines on how to apply his new armour; the XX amount of genestealer armour plates. Using small bits of green stuff on the bottom of each plate I added them ony by one to form seperate rows and plates of armour (note that the pictures were taken before these were added unfortunately, but when I have painted pictures, he will have them and you will know what I mean).
Tail
I used the flaying tyrant's tail to make a leaping kind of look, and I added the walkrant tail since in the codex's picture the swarmlord has 2 tails. I elongated the tail with loads of green stuff (and spare bits of plastic) to support the second tail and much bulkier body. I added 6 spikes that were leftovers from bone sabre arms at the sides of the armour plating (the outward pointing fingers, I dont want to waste anything...!) to fit in with the spikes on my chest. I then used some green stuff the acid spray parts to add ''hip guards'' to the tail, and with some green stuff I added the trygon bone tails at the centre of both. I added the ''bloom bud'' thingy from the main acid spray frame to the bone tail to make it more of a whole.
Legs
Oh boy. For these guys I had to cut up both the flyrant and walkrant legs (as I wanted to use the lower legs and feet of the flyrant as a whole for a later project) as the bottom legs and feet are from the walkrant, and the lower legs of the flyrant. The upper legs were beefed up with green stuff, and then I added spikes that go on the bottom of a tyrannofex to both sides, to fit in with the spikes on my chest. I then added a spikey armour bit from the monster frame as an extra ''kneecap'' on both und added some extra spikes underneath them with some green stuff. The lower legs were beefed up with green stuff, and at the heels I added 4 spikes from the trygon mandibles (2 on each). I then added both the spikes for the walkrant and flyrant on its feet using some green stuff. It's feet have a warrior scything talon and 2 ravener scything talons on its side, and the extra space filled up with green stuff.
Swords
The upper swords (glaives?) are a basis of the bonesword arm with 2 bone sabres stuck on the back with some green stuff. since the spikes of these would be lost ''inside'' the blade, I cut them off and added them to the front and top. At the top of the front I added the 6 carnifex spikes, 2 small on the bottom, the bigger one on top. I then simply filled up everything with multiple layers of green stuff to make it a whole.
The bottom swords are simply 2 bone sabres stuck together (in fact, the basis of these were the bone sabres I cut up to use for the head, as I hadn't cut them off so deep). You cut a bone sabre's tip off sligthly above where the front spikes end, and you cut a bone sabre at the bottom of these spikes, you get a bit of green stuff and fuse these two together. I then added a small line of green stuff in the middle of each blade to beef it up a but and to help it dry in the right shape (without bending over under it's own weight for example). I then added the spikey bit that's at the end of each bone sabre (in front of the parasitic sac thingy) and added 8 of them (4 on each) as guards for these mighty swords.
For all arms I snapped off the parasitic sac thingy (I think it's ugly af) and added a trygon mandible instead of it. The lower arms use the original armour plates on the hands, but for the upper arms I used some green stuff to mold the trygon head plates into position as new arm guards.
Spawning of the Swarmlord
And, without further ado, the pictures! He looks as a mess in this stage, especially with all the differently coloured parts and whatnot (I got the bits from various sources), but I still hope you guys can get a bit of a feeling what he will look like. I'm positive that once I have a bit of free time this weekend to apply the first steps of paint it will be a LOT clearer for you guys, but unfortunately my time is very limited. Lighter, flyrant, and half painted hormagaunts for scale!
Anyways, please let me know what your first impressions are as fellow Hive Minds...!
First of all, my main language isn'english, so I apologise in advance if I made any grammar errors!
I've very recently made a return to the hobby, and what better way to start than by starting a project that's been in the making since 2013?! So here I embark on the journey that will spawn my hive fleet it's apex commander! First off a small introduction to my way of designing my Swarmlord, secondly the materials I used to build him, and lastly a few pictures I made before undercoating him chaos black (I would show you pictures of him now, but being all black doesn't really show anything but a silhouette). When making him I ignored the gaming aspect entirely, and the rule of cool applies here enormously. He won't be easy to ''hide'' on the battlefield, but that's okay for me. He's magnetized as well, so I can give him other load outs as well.
The Hive Mind stirs in stress
Hive Fleet Draezymous is a modest Hive Fleet drifting on the Eastern Fringes near the T'au Empire. While the T'au have speculations the Hive Fleet may be a splinter from Hive Fleet Gorgon, no proof for this has been found though. After a few early losses, the T'au quickly learned to adapt to this new fleet, and at the brink of its defeat, the Hive Mind spawned the Swarmlord. Singlehandedly did it turn the tide of battle on multipe occasions and thus far the fleet still runs rampart. While earlier sightings from the empire record Hive Tyrants of similair composore from other encounters, thus far this one was by far the bulkiest specimen. Indeed, when this Hive Fleet spawned its apex commander bioform, it altered the genetic blueprint slightly to better deal with the opponent at hand. Therefore extra bulk and armour was needed, for the rail and ion weaponry were capable of inflicting lethal damage. Thanks to their fast movements the prey's battlesuits quickly darted just out of reach before laying unforgiving salvoes over and over again, so it's bone sabres needed to be longer and bigger, and it's tail was enhanced so that he could launch himself forward towards his foes like a darting snake. The upper bone sabres evolved even further, become capable of deflecting or even withstanding anti tank weapons. It's many layered carapace protected it from nearly any impact, and the rows of armour were perfect to maim and rend in close combat. Wherever it goes, carnage follows in its wake. The empire is very wary and alert at all times waiting for a report that alarms of this dreaded creature, hoping for a chance to finally slay it.
Gathering the required biomass
Well then, before showing the pictures, here's a list of parts I used to make it:
01 x complete Hive Tyrant kit (as the basis to work from)
12 x swarmlord bonesabres (16 x if you include the ones in the kit)
01 x hive tyrant bonesword (02 x if you include the one in the kit)
03 x head spike from non swarmlord head (04 x if you include the ones in the kit)
06 x spikes from carnifex armour
XX x Genestealer armour plates
XX x monster frame spikey armour plate (shoulder pad thingy)
XX x spikes that go on a Tyrannofex's belly (I had them leftover due to building Tervigon)
02 x Acid Spray
01 x Trygon chestplate
02 x Trygon bone tail
02 x Trygon head armour plate
04 x Trygon mandible
XX x Green Stuff
How I built him
The head
Standard Swarmlord head, just cut up 2 bone sabres and stuck them on the sides of his head spike (sword?) with green stuff. Smoothened the green stuff with a toothpick to make the blades blend better into the armour. All my hive tyrants (will) have the swarmlord head as default, so my ''real'' swarmlord needed to look different in my opinion. I then added some mandibles since the codex picture also has them, and I think they look cool. they are the lower outward sticking spikes from older venom cannons, but I don't see why you cant use any other variants and end up with the same effect. Once again, just apply a small bit of green stuff to the mandible and softly press it into place. It's easy to go overboard with the green stuff here, but don't; less is more.
Body
LOTS of work here; use green stuff to build some beefier ribs, then place the trygon chestpiece over the original plating. I removed a little from the original plating before starting on the ribs, but I used the original ribs as guidelines. I still put the 6 ''outward going'' spikes in the same spot as well, no extra green stuff added. On the sides of his chest I added the spikes to go on a tyrannofex's belly, and I simply added enough to my liking.
The 4 spikes that come off of the normal hive tyrant's heads were placed in the center of its back forming a row. I then used 6 bone sabre blades to add another row on each side of his back, kind of aligning with his chimneys. I then took a spikey armour bit from the monster frame (they are ideal ''shoulderpads'' for hive tyrants) and used a bit of green stuff to stick a few on each side of the armour. These parts together formed the guidelines on how to apply his new armour; the XX amount of genestealer armour plates. Using small bits of green stuff on the bottom of each plate I added them ony by one to form seperate rows and plates of armour (note that the pictures were taken before these were added unfortunately, but when I have painted pictures, he will have them and you will know what I mean).
Tail
I used the flaying tyrant's tail to make a leaping kind of look, and I added the walkrant tail since in the codex's picture the swarmlord has 2 tails. I elongated the tail with loads of green stuff (and spare bits of plastic) to support the second tail and much bulkier body. I added 6 spikes that were leftovers from bone sabre arms at the sides of the armour plating (the outward pointing fingers, I dont want to waste anything...!) to fit in with the spikes on my chest. I then used some green stuff the acid spray parts to add ''hip guards'' to the tail, and with some green stuff I added the trygon bone tails at the centre of both. I added the ''bloom bud'' thingy from the main acid spray frame to the bone tail to make it more of a whole.
Legs
Oh boy. For these guys I had to cut up both the flyrant and walkrant legs (as I wanted to use the lower legs and feet of the flyrant as a whole for a later project) as the bottom legs and feet are from the walkrant, and the lower legs of the flyrant. The upper legs were beefed up with green stuff, and then I added spikes that go on the bottom of a tyrannofex to both sides, to fit in with the spikes on my chest. I then added a spikey armour bit from the monster frame as an extra ''kneecap'' on both und added some extra spikes underneath them with some green stuff. The lower legs were beefed up with green stuff, and at the heels I added 4 spikes from the trygon mandibles (2 on each). I then added both the spikes for the walkrant and flyrant on its feet using some green stuff. It's feet have a warrior scything talon and 2 ravener scything talons on its side, and the extra space filled up with green stuff.
Swords
The upper swords (glaives?) are a basis of the bonesword arm with 2 bone sabres stuck on the back with some green stuff. since the spikes of these would be lost ''inside'' the blade, I cut them off and added them to the front and top. At the top of the front I added the 6 carnifex spikes, 2 small on the bottom, the bigger one on top. I then simply filled up everything with multiple layers of green stuff to make it a whole.
The bottom swords are simply 2 bone sabres stuck together (in fact, the basis of these were the bone sabres I cut up to use for the head, as I hadn't cut them off so deep). You cut a bone sabre's tip off sligthly above where the front spikes end, and you cut a bone sabre at the bottom of these spikes, you get a bit of green stuff and fuse these two together. I then added a small line of green stuff in the middle of each blade to beef it up a but and to help it dry in the right shape (without bending over under it's own weight for example). I then added the spikey bit that's at the end of each bone sabre (in front of the parasitic sac thingy) and added 8 of them (4 on each) as guards for these mighty swords.
For all arms I snapped off the parasitic sac thingy (I think it's ugly af) and added a trygon mandible instead of it. The lower arms use the original armour plates on the hands, but for the upper arms I used some green stuff to mold the trygon head plates into position as new arm guards.
Spawning of the Swarmlord
And, without further ado, the pictures! He looks as a mess in this stage, especially with all the differently coloured parts and whatnot (I got the bits from various sources), but I still hope you guys can get a bit of a feeling what he will look like. I'm positive that once I have a bit of free time this weekend to apply the first steps of paint it will be a LOT clearer for you guys, but unfortunately my time is very limited. Lighter, flyrant, and half painted hormagaunts for scale!
Anyways, please let me know what your first impressions are as fellow Hive Minds...!
