Imperial Guard Jagdsword

[Machinator]

Have you ever wondered what a German WWII Shadowsword would look like? Well, that is the genesis for my next commission.

The client has a German themed WWII Imperial Guard army and wanted his super-heavy to have some of the same look as the rest of his heavily converted troops. The thought was this is going to be something similar to a Jagdpanther top set back like the Elefant tank with panzer-like turrets on the four sponsons. The main gun will have more of an artillery piece look to it similar to my Kingslayer cannon but bigger. So here's where we start:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2393_zpsd5bf8649.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2394_zps4b648450.jpg

To make things easier I'm actually using the Shadowsword top but turned backwards and pitched up like the Jagdpanther. The front armor has also been sloped to match. The sides will be widened a bit to line it up the edge of the armor plates above the tracks. A ball turret mounted TL heavy bolter will also go next to the main cannon on the right side.

Another interesting feature will be a metal scaled skirt to protect the road wheels. This feature also ties in with his infantry models. I did this by sculpting up a master that will be cast six times and glued in place of the original skirt:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2395_zpsca426e51.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2396_zps2c44bb47.jpg

As always there's still much to do but so far it's coming along nicely.

[Iceman]

Nice. I wish I had that kind of imagination and patience.

[Machinator]

More updates today. I got the skirt on and the side panels of the top hull.



http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2409.jpg



http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2410.jpg



As you can see the armored top of the rear section will extend down to the track armor. This will probably mean I'll have to move the fuel tanks but that should be no big deal.



http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2412.jpg



I'm pretty pleased how the skirt came out. Much easier then scupltiung it all by hand!



http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2413.jpg



So far so good....

[Chris*ta]

I really like this conversion, even if it does feel a little bit like a lot of work to go to to change a miniature that was perfectly fine to start with :p

So long as you're getting paid to do it, you can't really complain, eh?

My only complaint would be that the sloped top armour on the superstructure feels wrong for the IG (though technically correct for real life AFVs). But this is an entirely personal complaint.

I can't wait to see it finished. I think the Baneblade/Shadowsword kits are both fantastic in terms of opportunities for conversion, and also as kits in their own right. Suddenly remembering a dream I had last night of reading a WD article showing conversions of the Baneblade kit for SW forces. The conversions were awesome, and I hate the Space Wolves :D

Is there any hope of us seeing what the infantry that go with this actually look like? I'm curious, and I figure it can't hurt to ask, right?

[Sauragnmon]

Ask and ye shall receive... here's a shot of the Panzergrenadier squad I wanted to theme the tank to.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e58/Sauragnmon/Warhammer%2040K/IroncoatPanzerGrenadiers.jpg

[Chris*ta]

Cool. I think there's a whole bunch of WFB Elf kits which don't see nearly enough use as IG. I'm personally tempted to use the whole bodies myself.

[Sauragnmon]

I only used the legs... I wanted to take a different spin on the greatcoat guard thought, and thus my Panzergrenadier squad was born. My guard army is actually designed to have diverse appearances in it, representing the diversity of the planet and its peoples.

[Chris*ta]

I only used the legs... I wanted to take a different spin on the greatcoat guard thought, and thus my Panzergrenadier squad was born. My guard army is actually designed to have diverse appearances in it, representing the diversity of the planet and its peoples.

Diversity within the one planet? You're doing it wrong :rolleyes:

[Machinator]

So what's a German tank without some zimmerit?

I recently got the zimmerit application tool from Trumpeter and it worked rather well. The customer will be able to use all six armor panels for the AV14...

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/Untitled-1.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2415.jpg

...or he can slap on one or two sets of sponsons. Everything will be magnetized.

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2417.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2419.jpg

[Sauragnmon]

I'm doing it My way which is differently. I have some typical Cadians, some Tallarn looking folks, some Marauder/Catachan Combo Penal Troops, my Ironcoats as pictured above... And a couple of tanks with Death Korps commanders - my heavy artillery units will be commanded by Death Korps troops.

[Chris*ta]

What I've never seen anyone do -- but should be very common -- is having an IG army made up of multiple regiments from multiple different planets.

People seem to forget that tanks and infantry and cavalry and etc. ... are almost never in the same regiment according to the fluff.

Oh, and my earlier comment was a joke about how you never see diversity within a planet in sci-fi. In fact, I'm pretty sure Tuvok is the reason that Star Trek Voyager failed ;)

[Sauragnmon]

If you really think about it... mine's an end run around the same direction..

Company Command - Cadians mostly with two "Ironcoat" Bodyguards.
Lord Commisar - Cadian-ish
1st Platoon - Cadians
2nd Platoon - Tallarns
1st Panzergrenadiers - Ironcoats w/ Bastonne +Chimera
1st Veterans - Catachans w/ Harker
Leman Russes - Non-descript save Exterminator w/ Krieg Commander and Punisher/Pask in Cadian/hi-tech style
Macharius Vanquisher - Krieg Commander
Jagdsword - Ironcoats

So it could be pretty much the same idea you have, just a slightly different fluff background.

[Machinator]

So I've continued to work on this project in the background and it's getting close to being done. First up is an error I had to fix on my part. Gone is the zimmerit of old and it's been replaced by scalemail similar to what is along the armored skirt. The model will be able to use all six armor panels or one or two sets of sponsons depending on battlefield conditions:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2459_zpsd609efbb.jpg

Another neat feature of this tank will be the panzer-esque sponson turrets (and yes, these will find their way into my store):

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2468_zpscdd6f207.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2469_zps49c992f2.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2471_zpsbc5de1ba.jpg

[Machinator]

Another customer request was a huge cannon with a pig snout mantel and a big muzzle brake. Well he got what he wanted:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2478_zps1e293472.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2479_zpsa84e5183.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2480_zpsb865be51.jpg

Lastly are the armor plates along the top complete with a little door. These will be further detailed with rivets and such:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2481_zps00bd46d9.jpg

So there we are! Hopefully the next set of pics will be of a finished product. Then we just have to wait until the customer paints it!

[SotonShades]

Stop making awesome things I want! Not a huge fan of the scalemail, though I appreciate why it has been done for the overall look/feel of the model. Everything else though...

Well, I suppose my superheavy company is only 3 vehilces strong at the moment, and one of those is the smallest superheavy in the game...

[oink]

There are some really nice touches in there! The sillhouette looks great!

That gun screams of an oversized artillery gun rather than an anti-tank weapon... well, as long as it make a big bang that's what matters most!

[Machinator]

So I've been busy today getting the little turret done so that I can get it cast up. I have to say it turned out pretty good and will make a nice addition to my store. On top of that I've come up with three different weapons to go along with it.

The laser cannon:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2483_zps0de91c73.jpg

The heavy machine gun:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2484_zps5f333f5c.jpg

And the gatling gun:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2485_zps4d4b3d33.jpg

And here the turret from the top:

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2486_zpscc2d733a.jpg

I have plans to add a flamethrow and dual flak guns to the turret. What other weapons you you guys like to see?

[Fizzybubela]

Nice! I would like to see a mortar on that tank.

[Denzark]

Machinator

This is amazing as ever. However as a panzer fan and pedant I should point out the zimmerit would be plastered absoloutely everywhere, from every picture i can drag up on it.

A good tip I was given a while back, instead of a bespoke zimmerit tool, is to drag a tight-toothed comb, like a pet's flea comb, through your putty instead.

PS sorry to say most zimmerit I can find pictures of stripes horizontally not vertically!

[Machinator]

Nice! I would like to see a mortar on that tank.

Thanks! A mortar would be a good idea and simple to do.


Machinator

This is amazing as ever. However as a panzer fan and pedant I should point out the zimmerit would be plastered absoloutely everywhere, from every picture i can drag up on it.

A good tip I was given a while back, instead of a bespoke zimmerit tool, is to drag a tight-toothed comb, like a pet's flea comb, through your putty instead.

PS sorry to say most zimmerit I can find pictures of stripes horizontally not vertically!

Thank! You are of course right, but my intent was just to make a panzer-esque turret. Not all of my customers' tanks will have zimmerit so it could look out of place.

[Machinator]

Finally, IT'S DONE! Well, except for paint but the client is taking care of that.

Here it is in the standard configuration but it can also be fielded with all armored plate or with four sponsons. The top is even removable so that the extra pieces can be stored inside. The plates and sponsons along with the main gun are magnetized so that is can come apart easily for transport.

Overall a neat little conversion project. Now onto the next....

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2498_zps68a915ea.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2497_zps0d96bd80.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2496_zps7a34419c.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2495_zps6b5b06e2.jpg

[Machinator]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2494_zpscb821421.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2493_zpsf9df2626.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2492_zps1a19a42d.jpg

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab340/machinator248/IMG_2491_zps0fbe0d99.jpg

[Fizzybubela]

That looks awesome!

[Emerald Rose Widow]

Jeesus, that cannon is just...I mean frell. Awesome sculpting work, really amazing.

[imperialpower]

Nice work, that would look great in any guard army.

[SotonShades]

Absolutely cracking as always. Really looking forward to seeing it all painted up! So much brilliant detail.