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The Iron Sleet Servo-painters... part 2 Kari

The second for today... and not least

Hi Kari and welcome to Legatho's warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself

Hello everybody! My name is Kari Hernesniemi, I'm 32-years-old and live in Finland. My first encounter with the hobby was back in the early 90's when I stumbled in to the Old World of 3rd edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle. I grew up collecting and painting a small army of Dwarves – and some Squats too. I've been painting miniatures for 10 to 15 years, depending the way of calculation.

Around 2004-05 I came back to the hobby, with new skills and visions based on nostalgia and memories. I started collecting old miniatures, building armies I used to paint and play with when I was a keen young teenager. This "Old Hammer" period lasted for nearly half a decade. I never finished an army, but started many – One of them being another old school Dwarf army.

In 2011 I traveled to Nottingham to take part in Golden Demon. I got my entry (The Goblyn Slayer) to finals (even though it was in three parts) but left without a demon. That didn't really matter at all, as I had a chance to meet and greet the artist whose art has had a great influence in me – John Blanche. That was a beginning of a new era in my hobby.

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k/ Inq28?

The dystopian future of the mankind is grim as hell, graphic and murderous place to try and survive. It's a realm of fear, Lovencraftian some could say. Even beautiful is bias, just "less ugly" or grotesque. This is the theme that I try to wrap my miniatures in. My vision is very much build around the images drawn and painted by John Blanche and Ian Miller.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

I get inspiration form many things, but the primary sources are – of course – John Blanche's art and the books like old Realm of Chaos and such. Horus Heresy novels are great too, though some of them maybe a bit too "heroic" for my liking. I could also pinpoint timeless modern design as an inspiration as well, as I like to make things look like if they have a reason and a function in the universe they serve. I like to balance this with chaos, so I get myself familiar with the abstract art, sometimes doing it myself too. I thing some Finnish artists like Akseli Gallen-Kallela have also given me some inspiration when it comes to adding that extra "Nordic Grim" touch in to what I do.

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Keep it simple. One main colour and maybe one accent, very pale skin tones, rust and other weathering effects. That's pretty much my current style that I'm comfort to live with.

What are your favorites bitz?

Empire Flagellant heads are a must! I could have a fist-full of them and still run short.

Do you have any project on your workbench?

Indeed I do. Iron Sleet's INVITATIONAL (http://ironsleet.com/category/invitational/) is keeping me busy. I'm currently building my third art-scale Renegade Astartes that will be the part of All Your Bases Are Belong To Us challenge.

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

Hmm... I would have to go with the first Arco Evisorator, the Stryderre. The semi-original design that is strongly based on Arco Flagellants makes the thing also stand out. The Stryderre spawned the lot of Arco Evisorators that I made for John Blanche, the ones that were introduced in Warhammer Visions #12.

... It 's the same for me.... as I have already said in "Portrait of an usual slaughter"... 

Thank you for  reading

It's coming

Just some work missing...

And he'll be ready

Let me know...

Thank you for reading

Some questions without gravity... Four go to war!

In the grim nightmare of the far future there is not only war... there is Henry South too!

Hi Henry an welcome to Legatho's warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself?

Hi, my names Henry South, I'm 31, from the UK, and I've been doing this hobby since I was about 13 with a big 8 year break while I was sorting things out and getting tattoos and doing my book learning, carried on reading the books though as the 40k Universe is just incredible. 

By trade I am a Visual Effects artist for film and TV. Some of my titles include, lead texture artist on Gravity, Harry potter 6-7, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. So the hobby is just the physical version of what I do all day anyway. 

I got back into it as a sort of zen stress relief while I was trying to arrange a mortgage in London. It helped a lot. And I ended up getting straight back into the hobby in a big way. I am yet to hold one of the Golden Deamons but last year I did get to hold an Oscar for Gravity VFX. Not as good obviously. 

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k/ Inq28? What are your main sources of inspiration?

From my first look at John Blanches artwork back in the early 90s I have had a very clear view of what the Warhammer universe would be to me. His paintings and drawings have inspired me in my career as a digital artist, my hobby as a miniature painter, and portrait artist. It had a truely profound effect on me. This galaxy spanning, crumbling empire that has no real leader but a corpse on a throne in its death throws still gives me shivers. 

And last year I got to meet the man himself to have my models photographed for Issue 8 of Warhammer Visions! They say never meet your heroes but John is a true gent and still keeps in touch for the annual Blanchjitsu piss up/INQ28 game, with some of the other contributors to the article. All amazing artists in their own right. 

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Being from a real world texturing background I usually think about how the thing I'm painting would be used. The knights I'm working on are a good example of this. Huge monster machines stomping across battlefields. Not much time to repair, not much thought to repaint. So scratches and wear on the armour and joints are given a lot of attention. This is always the first thing I think about. After that I'll usually sketch out colours on computer or in a pad and try and come up with something that works. The best tip I can give is to add a little blue to your black to make it look deeper. 

What are your favorites bitz?

Has to be the Militarum Tempestus Scions! I could tear that box apart 100 times and still come up with different characters. You'll probably find a bit from that box in nearly every mini I make. 

Do you have any project on your workbench?

My 30k Knight Household. I can't stop making those beasts and their lord will be quite unique. 

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

It has to be my female inquisitor. I spent no time planning it. I saw exactly what I wanted to do, tore up 20 models and made it. Straight from my head to the mini it felt like it was just waiting for the right time to happen. Haven't had as much fun making a mini as her. 

Ok, so my turn with....

The Mechanicum Mother Superior

Concept, kitbashing and painting are SO perfect!

So thank you Henry!

Thank you for reading

Something new is coming...

But what the hell is it?

It's the today's madness... Kitbashing for kitbashing... and a new mini is born...

Let me know what you think...

Thank you for reading

The Iron Sleet Servo-painters... part 1 Mikko

So... Mikko... an ex-Spiky Rat Pack... and now an Iron Sleet...

Hi Mikko and welcome to Legatho's warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself

Mikko Luoma,30, Helsinki, Finland, Been painting and converting GW miniatures since I was 10 year-old and I think I'll be continuing this until I die;) 

My work has been published couple of times in Blanchitsus but never slained a Daemon tho;)

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k

My vision of 40k is VERY Blanchian if you know what I mean;)

I literally grew up studying John Blanches artworks and that left me with a mark of Blanchitsu forever. Basically everything weird and grim fascinates me.

Fortunately there is still some unexplored territories in the 40k universe where I am free to roam and create my art.

My mission is to study the 40k mythos and create my own interpretations, this means that if I choose to re-design Squat warrior for example I don't try to replicate what was made, no, I want to go my own way! its re-designing not a retro-trip;)

This often confuses my fellow hobbyists who expect me to re-create rather than re-design.

I used to love when 40k was full of mysteries, half of the troop types in the army lists didn't even have miniatures, so you had to convert your own. Horus Heresy was only briefly noted in Codexes. See my point? Everything tends to get over-explained when they write not just one book, but whole god damned series of books about every aspect of the 40k universe and that my friend kills the mystery out of 40k unfortunately. 

What are your main sources of inspiration

John Blanche's artwork. John is a master creator extraordinaire. His Art is all you ever need to know about 40 mythos, you know, every thing is there in a way. Its 40k in a purest form.

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Nowadays less is more for me, I try to work as little elements as I can. I have recently discovered that its not about what you paint but its what you want to tell. Its a story in a way and to me, its more about what you dont paint rather than what you paint. Things you can't see is what feel most interesting;)

What are your favorites bitz?

I really love every single bit GW has produced. Im a GW fanboy hard core.

Do you have any project on your workbench?

At the moment I'm working on a very interesting project that takes me back into the birth of Astartes. Please follow Iron Sleet to know more about it;)

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

The answer to your last question is very simple - whatever project I'm working at the moment.

Thats my favorite. I try to look forwards, never backwards;)

So those are the latest....

My turn now... And I've choosed your entire Squat army "The Brotherhodd of Steel"... Both ideas, kitbashing and paintings deserve all the attention...

Just a little sample of the army.

Thank you for answering!

Thank you for reading

They come at night... mostly...

By staying on the MAMMIM's wave...

Original "thing" :

INQ28 version :

A Dark Mechanicus Facehugger

Let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us”... The trailer

I finaly got all the elements....

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us”... part 2

A small teaser...

The 60' base project for the invitational...
Stay tuned for more...

Thank you for reading

1000 views....

In less than a month.....

I'm glad to tell you

Nothing more but

 THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS AND FOLLOWERS

Iron Sleet Invitational – ‘All your bases are belong to us” ... part 1

Uninvited but here...And yes, after all why not me?

So I decided to put my contribution on this fantastic challenge from Iron Sleet.... in case you were hibernating in recent days, here's the thing :

"What an amazing first month of Iron Sleet! We are most grateful and excited about the support and activity and have something special in store for you. The Invitational’s aim to be the most amazing celebration of Games Workshop miniatures and storytelling. The first one looks at the exciting new bases released and lets the participants to pick any three of those available.

Iron Sleet Invitational 1 – All your Bases Are Belong To Us

• pick a strong theme that studies the Warhammer 40000 universe, or it’s history!
• build and convert 3 models that are
• each based on a differently sized citadel base that have been creatively enhanced to really tell the narrative and make it a group. (25, 32, 40, 50, 60mm… or biker base, or flyer or…)
• we encourage to make the three individuals as different in physique, stature, movement, category as possible, while maintaining the group identity.
• start and announce of invitational February 1st
• WIP pictures in Black and White from all contestants March 1st. (but many bloggers intend to share their progress as they go, including us!)
• Final results of finished miniatures April 1st

We’ve collected an incredible cast of friends and creative hobbyists and given them this brief. We also have pretty exciting plans ourselves to tackle this in style. However – Everyone should feel free to do this. We will make sure we feature and provide a forum for all the work born from this. And invite more people next time. Reason we have gone the invitational route is to make sure we have dedication and focus instead of big excitement and talk and very little results and walk as happens in almost all online challenges. These three models can be part of your on going project too, but equally creating something new that you’d like to explore for 3 models only.

Stay tuned,

Kari, Mikko and Migs"

So here I am.... the first entry will be the chrono-gladiator... 

The second will be the mule.... 

and I'm thinking on the last one.... Stay tuned for more!

Thank you for reading

We had to make some alterations when he was a child. The Cursed Earth's a tough place on young folks. Part 3 .

Here's the final(?) version of Mean Machine Angel / Damien 1427 inspired mini

Thanks Krauty for the head's advice.... I have to say that I found him perfect...
Let me know what you think guys.

Thank you for reading

We had to make some alterations when he was a child. The Cursed Earth's a tough place on young folks. Part 2

Just a small update in here....

KrautScientist said : "I love everything about this guy except for the head -- it's just way too big and makes the model veer dangerously into comic territory, of you ask me. Replace the head, and you have a true winner on your hands. Just my two cents, of course ;)"... So mate, I've listen ! 

Now, here's a killer face. An other clockwork psychopath is born.

Thank you for reading

We had to make some alterations when he was a child. The Cursed Earth's a tough place on young folks.

What is Badass with big cutters?

Mean Machine Angel as a Chrono Gladiator' WIP

Thank you for reading

March is 'Make a Mini from a Movie' month The Legatho's way =][= Part 3

So... we have a wip now....

 After much thought and made ​​an inventory of my parts , I told myself that I've probably been a little too greedy when the concept of the model ... I've tried to keep the "Manga style" proportions on the mini.

 So this is Mister Bluesummers, imperial psyker.... A few bit of things are missing (shoulder pad, pouches/holster...)

Let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading

He's coming from the darkest corners of the hobby

Today, I'd like to introduce an other very talented artist, nothing more than PDH

Hi Peter and welcome to Legatho's Warehouse!

Could you introduce yourself

I live in the North West of England, UK. I’ve been painting and modelling a bit over 20 years now. I’ve only ever had one painted army and that was an Emperor’s Children army during 2^nd edition. The army included my first conversion; Chaos Lord Tyrell made from Abbadon and simply swapping his lightening claw for a combi melta and snipping off his topknot. Then 3^rd Edition came out and I pretty much gave up as it made my army illegal (plus girls were getting much more interesting than little lead men). During this hiatus I would occasionally paint a model and read Black Library books.

I got back into it in 2006 and had a couple of unpainted armies (Eldar and Death Guard) and got back into Necromunda, my favourite game. I stripped and painted up my old Cawdor gang and some odd Inquisitor models. Then in 2010 I came across Migsula, Northen and Col Hammer’s Jade Vessel blog and joined Dakka to show off my burgeoning Skavvy Gang. From that I met Commissar Molotov, his championing of Inq28 really spurred me on. From his endeavours I now have a like minded gaming group and a little bit of the 40k universe to set my characters in (cheers Mol). My proudest hobby moments have been getting Inquisitor Benadice and her Retinue into Blanchitsu/White Dwarf and taking part in the Yggdrassillium game.

When I am not 40king it I like nothing better than getting out into the countryside. Bivvying in the winter is a miserably joyous experience. I really should start a mixed blog about 40k and Bivvying lol.

Could you tell us your vision of Warhammer 40k/ Inq28?

My vision of 40k is John Blanche’s artwork – so pipes and bionics are massively important. Plus the drawings from Codex Witch Hunters

What are your main sources of inspiration?

My gaming group inspire me, John and Neil especially. John’s passion for 40k is just fantastic, never ending ideas, he is so enthusiastic and generous. Games Workshop, Art galleries, Dark Heresy books, cool mini, Dakka and the Ammo Bunker, films etc. One of the biggest inspirations for me are the new blogs that appear on the Ammobunker’s INQ28 Painting & Modelling section....it’s a shame some of them don’t run to completion (it is called painting and modelling not just modelling).

How do you choose your paint schemes? Do you stay on a coherency or did the mini told you how it want to be painted?

Most of my miniatures tend to be wearing dull/dark colours because I see that as grounding them in reality. Of course a splash of colour is needed to bring them to life. If I am painting a group of characters their outfits can all be different but their bases will all match to tie them together. I usually have a general idea of the colour scheme before I start painting but sometimes that goes out the window. Or I paint something one colour and it just doesn’t work so I just paint over it...the joy of keeping your paint layers thin. Eg Salia Veeta's robe was originally pastel blue/green but it looks awful so I repainted it cream.

 Hello you....

What are your favorites bitz?

Anything that I can use for a conversion....but I guess my favourite models at the moment are Dark Vengeance Cultists because the fuss has died down I am giving them a whirl. Ungor arms because they are so nicely proportioned. Plus the most important bits pouches and shoulder pads in all shapes and sizes.

Do you have any project on your workbench?

Ha ha do I! Waiting for paint/half painted: Two Word Bearer Space Marines, 4 Eccliesiarchy types, a Nurgle Rogue Trader, A Skitarii and a Squat (Mary Bones who has been on the table since 2010ish...she needs converting and her boob hiding).

Modelling: Bits for two Ogryn, five more Mercenaries, a Chimera (it’s on the floor next to the table so I think it counts) and a Cairn Wraith to be turned into a Techpriest. I’ll also have 10 tech thralls with Mitralocks on my desk in the next couple of weeks. It turns out I am trying to make myself a small 1000pts Astra Militarum Veteran army/NPC’s for Inquisitor. With this army each squad can have a completely different feel to it and fingers crossed I won’t get too bored painting the same colour over and over.

Last step, choose one of your minis (your favorite one) and tell us why. I'll do the same with what you made I prefer.

At the moment I have two favourite minis:

Eccliesiarchy Priest Sonerhud – because it was my most ambitious green stuffing. He is based on the Priest Windows from the Emperor’s Will book and I have the original painting hanging above my painting desk. Each time I look at the painting it inspires me.

The other is my Ordo Malleus - Storm Trooper Warden Rence Thenes. I was really lucky to have been given the head as a gift from John. It has such a superior air to it and a pompousness. The rest of the model came together around the head. It is also such a pleasure to turn chaotic models into loyal imperial subjects.

My turn now . And I must say it is very difficult to choose. But I do have a special mention for the fantastic Scavvy Boss you made for Necromunda....

So thank you Peter and we continue to feast our eyes.

Thank you for reading

Street court

Today I've been very productive....

This morning , I started a few conversions ... A squat with a  look of plague doctor and a humanoid with a bird's head ....

Then, in the afternoon, I attacked the painting of the bird's head, it's now more or less half done :

And then

I thought : "Damn , it is on I'll make a diorama ! "I just quickly created a  kind of box like the Ghostbusters ghost trap with a frozen sword in this inquisitorial sarcophagus... And that's when I got the identity this mysterious individual to the bird's head ...

Prosecutor " Birdface "

So I arranged the various protagonists in order to get a visual putting all these people face. It is as if they improvised a street court and Birdface seems to say, " You are guilty of heresy by use of this chaotic artifact ".

Let me know what you think.

Thank you for reading