Plagueclaw Catapult update...

*Squeek*

Just time for a quick update and some pics today...

After finishing my Gutter Runners/ Night Runners, I was torn between starting to paint up x20 Stormvermin and doing another warmachine. In the end I decided to do a warmachine. Although I like the SV models, I don't have enough of them to be really effective at the moment and I wanted a break from doing units of rats and do something that might be (relatively) quick.

So, the other day I started out with the new Warplightning Cannon/ Plague Claw Catapult box. Inside are the parts to make one or the other, but it occurred to me that it must be pretty easy to make it "dual use", as I had done with my Screaming Bell/ Plague Furnace conversion.I got some comments that I could have used a much simpler approach for that conversion, so this time I tried to make things simpler, and I think I have found a way to do it.

I'll post a full entry once everything is painted-up, but I can give you the idea here.

Firstly, you'll need to clip away the wires on the front of the Warplightning cannon. Then, attach the Plague Claw Catapult basket to the back of the WLC arm.

DO NOT GLUE THE FLOORBOARDS INTO PLACE ON THE FRAME YET.
Put the whole assembly in the frame first (there is a "tall" frame configuration and a "low" frame configuration - use the "low" one.)
Make sure you don't glue the axle in place.

File away a small curve in the floorboards of the frame, so that the whole unit can rotate freely.

Finally, attach the floorboards at the "front" of the model. If you do this and you DON'T GLUE THE CREW IN PLACE (I put them separately on bases) you should be able to rotate the whole arm so it is either pointing "Forward" (towards the spikey front of the unit) as a Warplightning cannon (with the PGC basket facing downwards) OR "Backwards", (with the PGC basket facing upwards.) as in the photos below.

Warplightning cannon mode...

Plagueclaw Catapult mode...

Although at first I didn't think it looked right, I have actually come to like it more and more. After all, I'm sure that our Warlock Engineers could find a way to strengthen the WLC so it wouldn't shake itself to bits every time the PGC fired right?!

...Clan Skryre is CUNNING yes-YES?


*Squeek*

Conversion for Dual Use Plague Furnace/ Screaming Bell Kit

*Squeek*
Hello my fellow Warlords. This entry in the Chattering Horde is for your beady eyes only - NOT for the man things, as in this entry we will look at a relatively easy way to keep your Screaming Bell kit as "Dual Use".

As you will know, the kit contains parts for both models, but usually, people use it as one or the other. Of course, using parts located on the scavenge pile of the inter-tunnels, you could always scrounge spare parts, but why do that? Especially when even without Warlock Engineer skills or Clan Skryre ingenuity you can achieve the same end? Yes, yes, you see it now!

So how do we achieve this? Arm yourself with a craft-knive, some plastic glue and a bit of patience, and read on!

WARNING: Before anything else, just remember that you are NOT going to glue the Bell or the Plague censer axle between the two stone columns on the platform.

BELL RINGER CONVERSION:

1. Locate the Rat-ogre bell puller.
2. Carefully cut away part of the circle at the end of his chain, in a direction towards the bell puller. This cut should allow you to clip the part onto the end (axle) of the bell.

3. OPTIONAL: As you aren't going to glue the bell-ringer's chain to the axle of the Screaming Bell (you will just gently clip it on and unclip it) you may find that you may need to add a bit of weight to the bottom of the bell-ringer's platform. This is because otherwise the weight of the bell can pull the platform up in the air. I used a couple of spare bits from some Tau XV Broadside models, but I'm guessing that a couple of coins in the right place would do the trick. Image below:

4. Clip the chain onto the axle of the bell to use!

To convert the Plague Censer, there are two steps. The first is to convert the axle on the plague censer, the second is to convert the chain pulled by the Plague monk team that mans the equipment. See below some photos and more information.

 PLAGUE CENSER AXLE CONVERSION:
1. You are going to make an extension of the Plague censer axle. Take 4 parts of sprue.

2. You are going to cut two equal lengths and glue these to the Plague censer axle. They will need to be a few centimeters long and at one end be joined so that the Plague Censer swinging team can clip their chain to it (see below). You will see in the picture below that I have scored the sprue parts and added some chips. Once painted this will help these parts look more like lengths of wood.

PLAGUE MONK TEAM CONVERSION:
There are two parts to this. The first is to work on the chain. The second is to make a new platform for the Plague Monks (because the platform supplied with the kit is being used by the Rat Ogre bell ringer!)

1. As with the Rat Ogre conversion (above) we need to make sure we can easily clip the chain of the plague monk team on and off the new axle that we added above.
2. Carefully cut open the circle at the end of the chain that the Plague Monk crew are holding. The picture below will give you an idea of the size and angle of the cuts to make.

3. Using the platform that is supplied with the kit as a model in terms of size, cut a new platform for the Plague Monk crew from plasticard or any other fairly thin board/ card. You will then need to glue the monks to their new platform. Using a craftknife, score the surface of the platform so that when painted it will feel more like wood than smooth plastic. (The image below isn't ideal, but should give you an idea of this!)

You're done! Now you can exchange the Screaming Bell and Plague censer depending on your battle needs! The images below should help you see how the final pieces all go together. A few words of caution - treat these conversions with care and be careful when substituting the different parts. (The chains in particular are fragile).

Hope this is useful - go forth and be victorious!
*Squeeeeeek*

Squeek's Plague Furnace - finished!

*Squeek*
3 words:
Plague...Furnace...FINISHED!

All C&C welcome...

The Furnace.

Pestilich Seep the Plague Priest rides the furnace into battle

Plague Monk crew - hard at work!

Plague furnace brazier. (Not entirely happy with the fumes yet...)

Detail of bronze fittings. (Blue patina done with Ice Blue wash)

Detail of rusty bolts. (Done using Solar Macharius Orange wash)

The pushing unit.

Detail of front blades with rust.

This little fella points the way to the enemy!

Brazier/ wrecking ball.

Detail of the custom fixture I added so the Plague Furnace and Bell can both be used.

Thanks for looking!
*Squeek*

New Project - Screeeeeaming Bell!

*Squeek*
Something (my little voices tell me) no self respecting warlord should be without. Having stolen a load of fungus from a nearby Goblin Clan and then re-sold it back to them at a higher price, I used my profits to order this moving monument to the Great Horned One many moons ago...

...and since then it has sat on the shelf, undercoated and waiting to see the light of day.

One thing I should say is that at the time I put it together, I decided to spare some thinking power to the challenge of how to ensure that I could use it as both a Screaming Bell and a Plague Furnace. I came up with a (relatively) simple bodge that means it is easy to swap between the two configurations. 

When I write up the step-by-step guide I'll post instructions.  


In the meantime, here are some pics of the model, basecoated and ready to receive washes.

Main carriage.

Bitz.

Bell. (Dwarf Bronze and Mithril Silver)

Plague Furnace

Top of Plague Furnace

Modification to allow dual-use.

Wheels. Calthan Brown and Vermin Brown

Bell supports

Main carriage detail.

 I don't actually think I will have this finished in time for Sunday's game, but I should be almost there. Of course I will still have to do the crew even when I finish the main piece. (Rat Ogre, Grey Seer and Plague Monks.)

*Squeek*