[Spiritbw]

Thought I'd consolidate a few of the posts I ahve done on this into one. This way when I have something new to add it's in one place rather than a dozen posts across the conversion and painting boards.

Originally Posted by Spiritbw

Well, I'm at it again. My guard are just about done to take to the field so I've taken my trusty marines to the brake fluid in order to strip down thier old paint scheme for a repaint and to prep them for doing some serious moding.

I have always been trying to constantly get them to look more like they are based on an Aztec society and been doing bits and pieces to get this done. I'm looking to redo those and for some other ideas on how to emphise the aztec feel. Basicly looking for brainstorming ideas. Big things that would help are any ways to do large numbers of feathers which was my biggest problem the first time.

Originally Posted by Spiritbw

Finally got my Guard army done so I can still play while my marines are on the hobby table for some well deserved customization. I have for some years now wanted to give them a distinct feel and finally chose a few years back to give them an Aztec theme. I've tried a number of things but nothing really worked so this time i stripped them all down and decided to start form scratch.

First thing I decided to do was to try and sketch out a couple of concepts i had in mind to see how they would work. These are the two I ahve so far. Going to still doa couple for the assault marines and for the Terminators.

Originally Posted by Spiritbw

Not for the numbers I'd need and the durability would be a pain anyhow.

Anyhow, continuing in this search to do my marines up as Aztec warriors I decided to see if I could find some pics of Aztecs for a guide. Me thinks my headdress was a little under done in the one pic. I'd have just posted the pics but they can be HUGE when put into this forum.

http://www.earthdancer.org/Indians/AZTEC.jpg
http://www.earthdancer.org/Indians/Felipe.jpg
http://www.raphaelk.co.uk/web%20pics...20blessing.JPG
http://history.smsu.edu/jchuchiak/Az...rriors%203.jpg
http://www.soldiers-russia.com/new_s...rica/az3_f.jpg
http://members.aol.com/hubhobbie/kaz5.JPG
http://www.soldiershop.com/factory/factory%20(2).JPG

So headress tends to be more radial around the face and long thin feathers tend to be poular if used. They are very popular is some of the folk dancer costumes as well which might help. Jaguar and Eagle are common with the face looking out of the mouth. Heavy pectoral colars and decorations around the wrist and leg below the knee are common if the one piece costume 'suit' isn't worn.

Back tot eh drawing board on some of this stuff. going to look up temples and monuments a bit for ideas for the amrour like dreadnaughts, tanks and such.

Originally Posted by Spiritbw

I dunno how many of you rember this concept pic I did[Of a Dreadnaught, pic removed, see above]

But I finally can give you the model built on the idea:



Anyhow, still going to need a bit of touch up and a paint job but what do you think so far?

Originally Posted by Spiritbw

Right now still working on a commander with a feathered cape and doing up a bunch of helmets with headdresses of sorts after salvaging as many feathers as I can. Also disarming a bunch of lizardmen for parts for conversions.

The colour scheme I'm thinking of will be a light green/jade green with shining gold face masks, trim and emblems. This is for the basic troops as I want to try and capture some of the multi-coloured costumes of the diffrent warriors castes. Jaguar warriors will be turquoise blue(terminators, models with terminator honours) I think. Eagle warriors(assault marines) will be white/cream and vehicles while have a terra-cotta/red colouring.

It's still a work in progress so things may change. I am working on sculpting chapter insignia on the pauldrons as well right now and am hoping to make a 'stamp' to speed things up.

That's the old stuff. New stuff to come.

[Spiritbw]

Okay, a few new things. Since I started working on this I realized the original banner tops(Kahmri tomb kings) I had chosen to use for the back banners on my characters and Sergeants wasn't going to work. Using an existing armies premold banner get's people identifying to much with the army and by extention the culture they represent(in this case, egypt). As a result I sat down and did a quick sketch of an idea for a new one. since I am doing so much sculpting already, doing some green stuff work for this isn't going to make much difference.

Anyhow, here is what I came up with:

[cl.ryan sg-3]

Lookin' fantabulous.

[Spiritbw]

Originally Posted by bongo the orangutan

Lookin' fantabulous.

Thank ya muchly.

Originally Posted by [Lee

40K UK link=topic=23198.msg1058008628#msg1058008628 date=1145561439]
Lizard men stuff incoperated into the army?

Well, the bitz from them anyhow. They have the look I want even and the dea is for people to pick up the feel i am going for by looking at them.

[Aftercresent]

Hey spirit, how far along have you really got? Is the army near completion?

I love your drawings, far better then mine, not to mention how nice the dreadnought looks!

[Spiritbw]

Originally Posted by AfterCresent

Hey spirit, how far along have you really got? Is the army near completion?

I have goten a squads worth of shoulder pads done. Most of the heads I wanted to convert are done. Scouts all have thier shoulders done and the dread is in the process of painting now(I have reworked the sarcophucus). Commander is half done but he was going to be a long time form the start, a feather cloak takes a long time as i have to let each dry before I add the next either above or beside it.

What is still tob e done is another thirty shoulder pads, the terminators and the three landspeeders. I'm still not 100% sure what I'm going to do with them. I've got some ideas but haven't started on them. I also have some of the eagle and Jaguar headdresses to do and those are going to take a bit. the Jaguar ones especially as I want them for the Sergeants who will be Vets.

I love your drawings, far better then mine, not to mention how nice the dreadnought looks!

Thanks. They are really just quick drawings to block out ideas of what I want to do.

[Aftercresent]

In all seriousness. Everything looks great, I'm really looking forward to a picture of something painted!

[FOXX]

Wow, that's definitely different alright. Keep it up, I can't wait to see it finished.


Can't say it's my thing, but I'm glad you're doing it. Being different in this hobby can be difficult.

[Kickback79]

Do you have any jaguar warriors? Possibly with the obsidian weapons. When I think Aztec, I think of them and human sacrifice. ;D

[Krimxon]

Yes, I am waiting the arrival of new pictures impatiently!

All the stuff is well done.