Image from Games Workshop
It doesn't matter what you play, Loyalist or Chaos, this guy strikes a nerve with both. He's a Dark Apostle conversion for a friend of mine. It's interesting to look at the amount of work that goes into a "simple" conversion.
If you're a Loyalist, nothing stings more than knowing one of the purest leaders you trusted to keep your men safe has turned to the other side.
If you're Chaos, nothing makes you happier than knowing you've been able to sink your claws into one of the pillars of the Space Marine organization.
Me personally, I've always loved the background behind this model. When I got the chance to build one for misterjustin, I jumped on the opportunity. He sent me a pic of one of his Renegade troops along with some pics of what he had before.
He sent me a bag full of bits, a couple of requests for things he wanted on the model in specific and he told me to make him cool looking. This is what he was going for...
I'm not normally one for fluff, but what I really want to see in a Chaos army, entirely for fluffy reasons and not because it's a solid list, is a group of renegade Marines led by a Dark Apostle. I created an Imperial crozius specifically so it could be defaced. I will likely wrap it in my brass etch razor wire as a final step. I wanted a Chaplain more than a Chaos Marine and needed some help getting the details right. He will compliment a ragtag group of renegade Marines painted in their Chapter colours.
These are the two pics he sent me. One of the previous version of the model and the other being a sketch of what he wanted done with his chest armour.
And here's what I did...
You an click on the images below for larger versions.
Let's look at what I did to the model, starting at the top and working down...
1. Cleaned paint off of the bits that needed it.
2. Cleaned all the mold lines off the model.
3. Trimmed the back of his helmet so it would fit in his collar better.
4. Sculpted a vent on the top of his helmet and added a stud to it.
5. Built a collar and studded it.
5A. Attached helmet and greenstuffed under it for correct height.
6. Sculpted new chest vents and studded them.
7. Trimmed the back of his left shoulderpad to allow the backpack to fit better.
8. Sculpted the front corner of his left shoulderpad to mimic his right one.
9. Added the horn to his left shoulderpad like the right side.
10. Trimmed both shoulderpad flanges to allow the horns from his helmet to sit correctly in his new collar.
11. Cleaned up his right wrist connection and glued his hand in place.
12. Drilled out the gun barrel (to include muzzle brakes on sides) of his pistol.
13. Changed the pistol from having a clip to being belt fed.
13A. Trimmed right wrist (pistol hand) to correct angle before gluing in place.
14. Sculpted power cables under each shoulderpad.
15. Shortened and repinned his crozius.
16. Added power cable from crozius to torso.
17. Sculpted connection point for crozius power cable on torso.
18. Added icon (pinned) to backpack.
19. Added backpack to model (pinned) with greenstuff joint to fill gap.
20. Removed (filed off) cord hanging on back of cape (not shown).
21. Added damage to inside and outside of cape.
22. Sculpted design on bottom of left greave.
23. Sculpted half tabard (with matching damage) on front of model.
24. Sculpted connection points on waistline for chain link belt.
25. Cut and added chain link belt and studded connections to waist.
26. Trimmed up Chaos icon to fit on 25mm base.
27. Added sand to base along with Chaos icon.
And that's about it for this "simple" conversion.
