This is only my second Mark VIII power armour conversion. The first work in progress pic below shows the three basic components (legs, torso and head) assembled and based to give an early impression of how the final model will look. Normally I make the legs and torso separately and assemble later but I think doing it this way is probably a lot better. The components basically form a skeleton onto which you can sculpt the surface details. Because the surface needs to be highly polished it is best to treat the “skin” of the model as a separate part of the process to the structure underneath. If you try to establish structure and surface detail at the same time you make it twice as hard for yourself.

This guy is an Imperial Fist of the Deathwatch, carrying a Storm Shield and Thunder Hammer. The Thunder Hammer is a modified version of Lysander’s weapon and the shield is a FW Black Templar Storm Shield with all the detail removed. To do this I first removed as much detail as I could with clippers and a knife being careful not to damage the shield itself. Because of the harmful nature of resin dust I took some fine grade wet&dry paper and sanded it off under a running tap (not hot water) until I had a smooth finish. This way the dust is just washed away harmlessly, leaving your lungs intact.

The Imperial Laurel on his helm was done very easily with a bit from one of the Space Marine box sets. Find a Tutorial here.

I really wasn’t sure how well this model was going to turn out, but now I’ve finished it I have to admit that it pains me to part with him. Rather than repose the legs I simply based him on a slight slope, and stuck with the out the box pose of the legs. This approach is a simple way a huge difference without having to chop up legs. Making Mark VIII armour requires a little more attention to detail but isn’t so different from Mark VII to be a big issue. Most of the rest of the model is standard procedure, building a base model on which to sculpt a “skin”.

I didn’t have a second Deathwatch terminator pad (found in the box sets) spare so I cast another one using a Blu-Stuff one piece mold which I then cut up a little to add an Imperial Fist icon. The helm is also magnetized with an alternative bare head allowing them to be swapped over whenever, also allows easier painting.

As I can’t keep this mini for my own collection, I’ll be using it as a guideline for my own Lamenters Company Champion when I finally get time for my own army.

To date this is the only Terminator squad I have done in Artscale. Note: the above photo shows the models not quite finished but I wanted to include a picture of the Bane-Raider in here

This squad was a continuation of the first prototype Artscale Terminator. All the models had magentized arms and shoulder pads allowing them to swap the arms but only one pair of pads per model. Each model had the options for Power Fist and ranged weapon, Lightning Claws or Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield. Additionally one of the Terminators had a magnetized Cyclone Missile Launcher option. In all I used 96 magnets in the squad. The positioning of the magnets proved very tricky, but the results are well worth it.

Because the clients chapter has a lion theme to it, I added a lion head and mane as a trophy on the sergeant and sculpted a lion emblem on the chest of one of the squad members.

Ranged Weapons and Power Fists

Pairs of Lightning Claws

Thunder Hammers & Storm Shields

This was my first proper attempt at an Artscale Terminator. Not an easy process by any means and I’d suggest you have a good grasp of sculpting with Green Stuff before attempting something like this. The basic conversion goes something is basically a Terminator frame with lengthened legs (plasticard spacers), widened torso and a “skin” of Green Stuff to bulk it out. The whole model is done is a large number of stages, allowing each area of Green Stuff to completely cure before moving onto another stage.

This particular model also had magnetized arms and shoulder pads so the arms could be swapped out for different weapon combos but the same shoulder pads would fit on all.

The same model with Lightning Claws.

Full on size comparisons.

This squad was done as part of a commission for a full army of Artscale Space Marines all in Mark V armour. You can find all posts pertaining to that army here.

The client who commissioned this squad requested that they be striding forward. On the majority of the figures I’ve tried to position the legs into striding poses, or at least a little more dynamic than the usual generic Space Marine pose. The positioning of the arms and heads also play a large part on the dynamics of each figure. Note: half the shoulder pads are missing on the main pic because the client is providing his own.

The backpacks were made using a different technique than those on the previous squad. All the helmets were converted from a specific Mark VII helm with two breather pipes either side of the respirator. The helms had a bit of Green Stuff work done on them before studs were added. You can find a Mini-Tutorial on how to make these here.

Because I had a shortage of terminator legs with knee pads (that would need trimming down anyway) I opted to use the other kneepad-less terminator legs and carve a groove into them to form an appropriately sized knee pad. As per the clients orders the sergeant model has been given magnetized swappable arms, so he can be equipped with bolter/bolt pistol and power sword/fist.

Unlike the first squad these conversions are all kitted out with terminator arms rather than power armour arms. These are a better fit for scale but the alternative is to re-model the power armour arms (Mini-Tutorial here). Of all the models in the squad I’m particularly pleased with the Marine carrying a Multi-Melta (click here for all-round view).

Sergeant with swappable arms on both sides.

Work in Progress (the halfway mark)

Various size comparisons