Build and Paint Thread - VSF Cytherean Cavalry (updated March 13, 2012)

[Froggy the Great]

So, because I can't keep anything to myself, or so it seems, here's a progress thread on the unit of Cytherean cavalry I'm making for my VSF armies.  

I started out with these two Reaper figures:


After much hemming and hawing, I determined that the two figures scaled decently well with each other, and ordered enough for a 10-figure unit.  If I'm going to screw this up, I'll screw it up grand.

The figures arrived and they seem to scale pretty well.  The hardest part was getting that Andromedan Huntress's legs apart...so she could sit on the Shade Beast.

...just stop, ok?  Heh.

Aaaanyway, here are two, suitably reposed, a greenstuff saddle added, and reins attached:


Following a week-long languishing on my paint desk, I finally put brush to model, and got the mounts mostly done except for touchups later.  This is the current state of the project - mounts done(ish), riders basecoated and therefore looking distressingly naked.  This will change later.



And here's the figure I'm using for color reference to match the rest of the army:

[D@rth J@ymZ]

Looks like a fantastic start and an interesting build.  Using a standing model converted to mounted version has always given me fits, so I usually don't attempt it but you appear to have it well in hand.  Your conversions are always original, Froggy.  Keep up the good work.

[mpennock]

The hardest part was getting that Andromedan Huntress's legs apart...

Straight lines this good do not come by every day, you know....

Love the conversion. I'm tempted to try it myself, but I have a sneaking suspicion about how mine would turn out.  

[Braxandur]

Looking spiffy!

Seeing the first picture I would not have guessed that these would go together so well. I really like that you also put one sideways on a sadle. gives nice variation int he unit. I was wondering though, did you do anything to the heads of the models, or those all identical?

[Laughing Ferret]

Those came out very nice!

Looking at them, it looks like you could -if interested- cut the rifle out of the hands of some, replace with some spears and use the back 2/3 of the rifle into a back rifle holster, so make some of them lancers or just for variety.

Looking forward to seeing how they turn out.  I'm also liking that skin color.

[Blackwolf]

That's great Is it just me,I find those ladies rather sexy?

[ironmammoth]

Excellent idea and very well executed!

I have an expanding Pulp Sci-Fi collection and this may well be a way of adding another unit to the mix....

[Froggy the Great]

Excellent idea and very well executed!
I have an expanding Pulp Sci-Fi collection and this may well be a way of adding another unit to the mix....

Yeah, I really didn't intend to add this unit, but it just sorta happened.

That's great Is it just me,I find those ladies rather sexy?

It's not just you.  There's a reason that most of the army is conversions of this figure.

Those came out very nice!
Looking at them, it looks like you could -if interested- cut the rifle out of the hands of some, replace with some spears and use the back 2/3 of the rifle into a back rifle holster, so make some of them lancers or just for variety.
Looking forward to seeing how they turn out.  I'm also liking that skin color.

I wish I'd thought of that before I started painting.

Looking spiffy!
Seeing the first picture I would not have guessed that these would go together so well. I really like that you also put one sideways on a sadle. gives nice variation int he unit. I was wondering though, did you do anything to the heads of the models, or those all identical?

All the heads are identical.  Even the sidesaddle one got a headswap.

Looks like a fantastic start and an interesting build.  Using a standing model converted to mounted version has always given me fits, so I usually don't attempt it but you appear to have it well in hand.  Your conversions are always original, Froggy.  Keep up the good work.

Thank you!

Straight lines this good do not come by every day, you know....
Love the conversion. I'm tempted to try it myself, but I have a sneaking suspicion about how mine would turn out.  

Try it, I dare you.  If I've inspired anyone to do something cool, then this is a successful project even if I don't finish.

[Mancha]

Very impressive, but I can't believe you did that over and over and over (and over and over) again.  I'd have gone nuts.

[Ray Rivers]

 

Your Cytherean force concepts are a bit  but very cool.

Keep up the great work!

[Froggy the Great]

Very impressive, but I can't believe you did that over and over and over (and over and over) again.  I'd have gone nuts.

In hindsight, I should have chosen a much less fiddly figure for the rider, yes.

The reposing wasn't hard, just some trying to pry the thighs open and then the knees bent really easily.

[Ray Rivers]

just some trying to pry the thighs open

What sort of ... tool... did you use?

I often have this problem. 

[Froggy the Great]

Pliers, and a letter-opener.

Let's just stop now.

[Ray Rivers]

Let's just stop now.

Actually, I really did have a similar problem just this last week with some Foundry riders and I'll be damned if I could get them to spread their legs enough. In the end I took a file to them to give me the maximum width possible.

[Mancha]

The reposing wasn't hard, just some trying to pry the thighs open and then the knees bent really easily.

This is totally my mantra for tomorrow night's date.