[Subtle Discord]

+++ Compiling Data +++ Kastelan STC Alteration ∙ Ongoing… +++ Displaying Iteration ∙ 3.3 +++ Reviewing Hard Data… +++
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Revised Assessment ∙ Displaying…
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Optical Input Array ∙ Improved ∙ Visum Pattern Wide-Angle Broad-Spectrum Optical Unit ∙ Integrated
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Onboard Ammunition Supply ∙ Enlarged ∙ Increased Ammunition Capacity ∙ 800%
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Rate of Fire ∙ Enhanced ∙ Tria’Telum Pattern Rotary Blaster Installed ∙ Fire Rate Increase ∙ 200%
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Close Combat Weapons ∙ Iteration Subroutines ∙ Ongoing…
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Correlating Data Points ∙ Ongoing…
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Generating Authority Request ∙ Active Combat Testing
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∙ As hoped, casting the ammo feeds in polyurethane and creating three with different radii/radiuses solved the fit issues.

They are a bit fiddly to bend into the exact final position (I still want to tweak one of them a bit more) but polyurethane is a very forgiving thermodynamic plastic; not only can it twist and bend significantly if you warm it in boiling hot water, it also returns to its original shape very easily if you want to reset an effort.

My son was fascinated by the long piece of polyurethane sprew I was using as a test strip, repeatedly bending and twisting it into the most extreme shapes he could manage and then dunking it to watch it relax back to the original shape. He did it so much more than I would have it really illustrated to me just how much you can torture poly resin and it really holds up well. I’ve learned to take my hard data where I can get it.

∙ I was forced to partially complete the build to make the model stable enough to facilitate the fitting of the ammo feeds.

I had planned on doing a set of the close combat arms to see how they’d turn out but my current AdMech list doesn’t have them and this assembly was just being too frustrating without locking some parts in place. I guess I have no choice now but to get some more Kastelan ‘bots to make this squad a bit bigger and to add another for a bit of punch. Pun intended.

For anyone who might be wondering if/when these kits will be making their way to the shop, yes I do plan on putting the Mechanicus components I’ve created in the shop at some point in the future. However, I want to put some other projects to bed first and I also want to complete one-or-two more Mechanicus builds, with the Onager being the obvious target, but there might be more some inspiration to add to that. The upcoming AdMech transport/tank kit has me itching to get my grubby hands on it to see what potential might lay in the kit.

Oh, and don’t you worry Chaos, I could never forget about you. First the Marines, then the Mechanicus. Yes, you will have your fill, I promise.

But those are Darker ideas, forming other stories, for future updates…

 

[Subtle Discord]

∙ Juggle model man! Juggle! You got that done? Well here’s three more things you gotta’ do! Hahahah! Juggle model man! Juggle!

Required to constantly keep swapping hats, I’m working on a new banner that I can use on the shop that can give a really focused condensed idea of the studio philosophy with a layout that can accommodate a range of photos. I’m hoping that if I can standardize some of the stuff like this I can make it a bit easier to add updated images to give more feedback on what the studio is working on. Being a simple setup I don’t get a lot of control over the shop site so for now I’m trying to do my best with the template as-is.

Ah well, more updates coming soon. I have a distinct urge to start painting the Kastelan ‘bots despite all the things I need to do. I’ve been sacrificing my weekends that I was forcing myself to take in an effort to keep my head screwed on straight and the lack of progress on personal projects has me getting quite itchy. The Mechanicus are so close to being done, I can’t help but get back finishing them, before getting lured and lost in Darker places…

 

[Subtle Discord]

∙ Something(s) wicked this way comes… soon‘ish… I hope… *Sigh* Never enough time. Update brain-dump incoming.

 

[Subtle Discord]

∙ Forgive me Omnissiah, for I have succumb to distraction and it has lead me to… innovate. I suspect that I will be unable to stop. *Harsh binaric screeching!*

Wall-o-text with some more images coming soon, I promise. Trying to lay the ground work for some bigger projects (work-in-progress pictured above being the first of some much more ambitious ideas) and I’ve got a brain full of thoughts that I’m still working to sort out into some kind of coherent ramble.

 

[Subtle Discord]

Studio Correspondence Message: I apologize to anyone reading this who may have contacted the studio over the last few months but have not received a reply. I try to keep up but sometimes I get swamped and/or distracted with things inside and outside of the studio and it becomes very easy to procrastinate on replying. I will be sending out a form letter to reply to the bulk of the emails and work to reply directly where it makes sense.

This ties into what I want to talk about in more depth, but I’ve got several things bouncing around in my brain so I figured it would be best to split them up. Right now, let’s have a look at what I’ve been working on for upcoming kits and soon I’ll discuss how one thing led to another and a fit of distraction made future studio projects started to take form, somewhat unexpectedly.

∙ With initial work for the Rhino done the venerable Land Raider chassis is next in line.

Now, the Land Raider is an old GW kit to say the least and it comes with a few issues with fit and dimensions; some parts simply don’t fit together quite right and there are numerous places where details should be symmetrical, and they aren’t, or should align, and they don’t. The best I can do is try to average out any differences and remember to provide a bit of tolerance to the fit of components I create. As with the Rhino chassis, once I’ve made some things that can give some feedback on the fit I can dial in the 3D model for future projects.

∙ It’s been sitting on my workbench begging me to give it some attention so I felt compelled to 3D model the Sicaran.

Someone had mentioned a while back that it might be challenging to make add-on kits for the Sicaran and I can understand why since RTV mould cast resin models can have some tolerances that might not be completely uniform for one cast to the next. After dealing with all sorts of strange issues with the Land Raider I figured ‘how bad could it be?’ and got to work. I quickly discovered that it’s true and it surprising just how much so. Many of the details are completely different from one spot and/or side to the other where they should be symmetrical or evenly spaced. Even the tracks start at the exact same spot at the back of the model but by the time they reach the front they’re slightly different lengths; this may have been done on purpose to make them look slightly different, but it’s just one of many odd details and off measurements. As with the Land Raider, but even more-so, I’ve simply tried to average out any of the worst examples of this.

It’s still a gorgeous model and most issues are small enough that you can’t really tell by looking at it, but it makes it very tricky to create anything with a tight fit over any of the complex geometry. I really just want to give the model some spaced armour plates, a siege ram style ‘dozer blade, and some tread plates that can be attached to the tracks, so I know I can do those without too much hassle. Anything more complex and it’ll be too much of a headache I suspect. Initially I wasn’t going to model the turret but once I got the rest of the model done I got lured in to the challenge of trying to do it; I’m not sure it I’ll make custom weapons for the Sicaran but at least now it won’t be hard to get started if I do.

∙ Next up, a ‘Raven that’s been sitting in the back of a dark a drawer for far too long.

If it’s not already apparent, I really enjoy the 3D modelling process so it’s not going to take much arm-twisting for me to get to work on the Storm Raven. Over the years it’s been requested more than a few times, so now that I’ve got the opportunity it seems like as good a time as any to get the preliminary 3D modelling done. I’ve finally got the means to really do it right and get the complex fits I’ll need to make add-ons for the ‘Raven.

∙ What’s that? You were expecting more than these little images of the tank model I previewed before? Looks like you’ll need to keep your comm-link active.

Working on modelling so many GW kits I couldn’t help but develop a nasty itch to create something that’s been lurking in the back of my brain for years. It also ties in well with some of the other things I’m trying to sort out and talk about, so I figured it would be a good hook for my next update. Everyone likes images after all, especially if it’s (likely) going to be accompanied with a wall-o-text.

This is definitely a project for the future, but I really want to show some of the more ambitious ideas I’ve got for future larger kits. Add-ons are just where I want to start but I really do want to create much larger and more ambitious complete kits and I want to start showing off what I have in mind so people can see the images I have in my mind, even if I can’t make them quite yet….

But, before I get to rambling too soon, I’ll stop here, and keep it for next time.

 

[Subtle Discord]

Well then, just as I was about to get my crap together and start talking about my new plans for the studio, life the universe and everything conspired to toss a wrench into the whole works. As if I wasn’t trying to juggle and sort out enough stuff an unexpected new twist has come along and really thrown me for a loop, so, I’m still trying to stop my psyche from spinning and find my equilibrium. While the studio is by no means dead the last few months has completely tripped me up just as I was going to get stared and forced me to step back and rethink many things. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, you just gotta’ figure it out as you go. *Sigh* Adulting is hard sometimes.

More studio updates incoming at some point, once I’ve got new considerations fit into the plans. I was already committed to exploring and talking about how I want to take things to the next level and that isn’t changing, but I need a bit more time to get things sorted out. Personal projects on the other hand, might just find their way into the gap, so that’s not a bad thing…

+++ … still waters run deep … +++

 

[Subtle Discord]

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Comm-Link ∙ Active
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Motivation Subroutines ∙ Recalibrating… *HARSH BINARIC SCREECHING!!*
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Praxis Protocols Initialized ∙ Motivation Subroutines… Altered
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+++ Output Quota ∙ Inadequate +++ Incentive Reprimand ∙ Administered +++ +++ Information Exchange ∙ Update +++ +++ +++ Output Quota ∙ Adjusting Parameters… +++
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Comm-Link ∙ Active
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Update Incoming ∙ Standby…
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[Subtle Discord]

 

[Subtle Discord]

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Comm-Link ∙ Active
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Data-Link ∙ Active
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Decrypting …
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Data File Lo.4313-7 ∙ Displaying…
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So, life, the universe, and everything keep pulling me in several directions the last while and that’s got my brain just a bit preoccupied. I want to sit down and write more, but wording is harder than usual right now. While I have been distracted and somewhat sporadic with updates I’m striving to not be idle in the studio or the hobby bench so I figured a nice dump of large images with minimal text was the order of the day.

∙ With decals finally ready to go I can get down to actually properly finishing some models, like the Kastelan ‘Bots and Datasmith.

I still think the contrast of white decals would have been interesting but I’m completely happy with the black and ultimately I think it’s a better match to the blue-and-black scheme. Maybe I’ll get some white ones done in the future and use them to make alternate units using them or something.

∙ To say I’m pleased with how the ammo hoppers and feeds turned out would be an understatement. They take some tweaking to get right…

… but the result is totally worth the effort; now that’s a Kastelan that looks like it could spray out some phosphor rounds. You’re usually staring at the backs of your models when they’re on the table so they may as well look good from behind.

∙ Is the Dragoon just a really large model or do I need to consider a larger photography backdrop? I think it’s both, yeah?

Being all legs and Tazer Lances the Dragoons are quite challenging to completely frame in the shot as a complete unit without cropping anything. Since the projects are going to get much larger over time *glances at the Knight and Kytan sitting off in the corner* I guess it’s time to consider a larger backdrop solution.

∙ I also overlooked priming the backpacks for the Skitarii riders, so they’re not quite finished yet… but so close!

I’ll get around to the backpacks the next time I prime some other stuff, so these will catch up soon enough.

Speaking of things that will need to be primed in the near future…

∙ Patiently waiting their turn for several years it’s so nice to finally get a unit of Onagers on the workbench.

The extra time was worth the wait.

∙ Yeah, that’s it, make a build for a model that’s already chocked full of all sorts of bits and gubbins, even more involved. Good call.

Well, it’s not like I can stop now, can I?

*Ponders a moment to consider the chorus of whispers endlessly taunting me with ideas and inspiration*

Yeah… that’s not going to happen.

∙ All dressed up and waiting on the final bits and pieces… so many, hoses, cables, ladders, rails, and antenna… seriously.

I’m learning to love to hate to love the Mechanicus line. So many little bits to add to the models that make them look excellent… and make them more complex to paint… and did I mention it’s only a matter of when, not if, you’ll snap an antenna off? Wonderful, delicate, detailed, frustrating, unique, and tedious all in one. Perfect for my mildly masochistic tendencies really, I suppose.

∙ And of course, I had to add one last bit to the mix. You’ve come this far, so know you saw it coming.

I was going to convert the Heavy Stubber included in the kit but I figured it would just be more straightforward to simply 3D model the entire bit in one go. Nothing too complex so it wasn’t hard to whip up. Still waiting on the first prints of this bit even as I write this.

Ok, so you can expect to see much more blue over the coming weeks as I apply many decals to many models and get them properly finished and table ready. I’m already eager to get on to some bigger projects but the foundation and first floor is almost done and I can’t get distracted quite yet.

Omnissiah guide my hands of inferior flesh so that I might make your divine inspirations real.

 

[Old Man78]

Great stuff have a rep cookie

 

[Subtle Discord]

Oooo, a cookie!

*Subtle munches away on the tasty cookie*

Not often, but every once-and-awhile something fits just right the first time…

∙ I think the barrels are just a little too low but the bit fits the spot perfectly. If I was someone else it would be good enough but it needs one round of adjustments.

I want to try another iteration with the barrel adjusted up a bit to center it in the round of the cut in the sloped armour. It just seems off that the round element of the model doesn’t line up with the round barrel of the bit; it lacks a certain logic that my poor hobby-OCD can’t ignore. But, with that minor quibble aside, oh my…

∙ … what have I done? Now I’m rather tempted to put twin Heavy Stubbers on the Onagers, because, look at it. Mmmmm… Stubbers.

If I had of known I was going to do this I could have left the Stubber off of the Neutron Laser and just put an antenna detail there, or something. Damn it, why do I do this to myself?! I can’t keep changing things all the time, but… *sigh* Opinions and/or input?

 

[Minigiant]

Just popping in to try and generate some more conversation is this forum.

I have been a big fan of your work for a long time. Unfortunately I don't have any of the factions you support so instead I live vicariously through images on the internet.

As for your latest update, I think underslung heavy stubbers look awesome

 

[Subtle Discord]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm glad what I'm showing is interesting to those who might be outside of the factions I'm focusing on right now. Here's hoping I can expand to something you collect sometime in the future.

∙ Hobby-OCD appeased… It's not a massive change but I'm glad I raised the barrels to align them with the round cut in the sloped front armour. The fit just feels more deliberate now.

I also adjusted the details on the barrel a bit to get the match really close to the Stubber under the Neutron Laser and then a quick mirror to make parts for the left and right, because yeah, I’m keeping all three Stubbers. Still lots of little bits to attach, but the custom stuff is done and they're in the home stretch before they get hit with some primer.

Ok, bed ways is right ways now. I have no idea what my next update will be, or when. We'll see what I get up to…

 

[Minigiant]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm glad what I'm showing is interesting to those who might be outside of the factions I'm focusing on right now. Here's hoping I can expand to something you collect sometime in the future.

Imperial Guard :wink2:

I have lots of ideas if you would like to pick my brain

 

[Subtle Discord]

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Warning! Unidentified Relation ∙ Detected…
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Increase 0. 037 – 0.874
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Comm-Link ∙ Connection Lost
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Comm-Link ∙ Attempting Reconnect…
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Modulating Field Harmonics…
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Increase 0.874 – 1.620
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Adjusting Frequency…
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Increase 1.620 – 2.381
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Initializing Wide Field Antenna…
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Comm-Link ∙ Attempting Reconnect…
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Scanning…
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Scanning…
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[Subtle Discord]

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Scanning…
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Scanning…
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Decrease 2.381–1.417
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Modulating Field Harmonics…
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Decrease 1.417–0.621
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Comm-Link ∙ Attempting Reconnect…
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Adjusting Frequency…
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Comm-Link ∙ Active
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Priority Communication ∙ Target H-74 Identified
Priority Communication ∙ Target Telemetry Uplinked…
Priority Communication ∙ 1st Triarii Skitarii Vanguard 75 Requesting Directed Support
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Cogitating ∙ Support Request Requirements…
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+++ Diverting ∙ 3rd Triarii Onager Maniple 25 +++ +++ 25.22 - 25.33 - 25.34 ∙ Telemetry Downlinked +++ E.T.A. ∙ 7.25 Minutes +++
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Interference Variable Shift ∙ Increase 0.621–1.136
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Comm-Link ∙ Connection Lost
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Comm-Link ∙ Attempting Reconnect…
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Scanning…
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[Subtle Discord]

∙ Long overdue reply/s, update, and general long-winded ramblings arriving at some point in the somewhat near future, hopefully.

 

[Subtle Discord]

∙ Even longer overdue update, reply/s, and much rambling coming at some point in the near future, and this time I meanit, I think. But in the mean time…

Having officially entered genuinely ‘interesting times’ that it can safely be said will be a significant period in history that we’re all actually experiencing, I’ve tried unsuccessfully to gather several scattered lines of thought together on a few occasions and post something. Now that I’ve taken a bit of sabbatical time to let my brain settle back into my skull I’m hoping that I can get a long backlog of contemplation and consideration out. Warning, large brain dump, with some pictures, coming soon’ish.

 

[Subtle Discord]

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Comm-Link ∙ Attempting Reconnect…
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Adjusting Frequency…
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+++ Comm-Link ‧ Active +++ Neural Congress ‧ Initialized +++ Data Uplink ‧ Initializing +++ Decrypting Uplink ‧ Ongoing +++ Standby... +++
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[Subtle Discord]

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Comm-Link ∙ Active
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Damn it. I feel like Prince Herbert in Monty Python and the Holy Grail; “… but I don’t want to get married, I just want to, sing!” … “No no no, there’ll be none of that!”

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+++ Decrypting Uplink ‧ Halt! +++ Neural Congress ‧ Initialized +++ Data Uplink ‧ Corrupt +++ Decrypting Uplink ‧ Repairing +++
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I don’t want to write, I just want to, build! I just want to, paint! … No no no you don’t, there’ll be none of that procrastination; get writing!

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Motivation Subroutines ∙ Recalibrating… *HARSH BINARIC SCREECHING!!*
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+++ Exchange Output ∙ Inadequate +++ Incentive Reprimand ∙ Administered +++ Information Exchange ∙ Adjusting Parameters… +++
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Praxis Protocols Initialized ∙ Motivation Subroutines… Altered
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