Akhakk:
Originally wrote on 04.28.10
I�?Tve had a passing desire to collect a Chaos Dwarf army since the fifth-edition rules. The �?obig hat�?� miniatures had a unique design compared to other armies of the time. However, back then the majority of armies were comprised of metal miniatures and I didn�?Tt have the funds to collect multiple armies. So, I never did get around to collecting any Chaos Dwarfs, but I still enjoyed playing against a couple of Chaos Dwarf players at the local gaming store.
Many players have utilized the miniatures from the Battle of Skull Pass starter-box since the Night Goblins can be used as Hobgoblins and the Dwarfs can be converted into Chaos Dwarfs with some sculpting. I have a set of Dwarfs and two sets of Night Goblins from the starter-box. This�?Tll give me 12 Dwarf warriors that can be converted into Chaos Dwarf warriors and 10 Thunderers that�?Tll become Annihilators when I bulk up their firearms to make them into blunderbusses. There are eight miners that I could use as the basis for warriors armed with great weapons, but as there are only eight miniatures and the minimum unit size is 10, I�?Tll have to see if I can scrounge up some more of them first. The starter-box also comes with a Dwarf cannon that I�?Tm going to try and re-sculpt as a Death Rocket. I also have a couple more of the cannons lying around that I had traded a friend for previously having planned on using them for a pirate-themed Dogs of War army that never took off.
I�?Tll be using the Night Goblin spearmen for their Hobgoblin equivalents. I�?Tm not even sure if I�?Tll do much converting on them. If I do any, it�?Tll be simply re-sculpting their hoods into the floppy hats the old Hobgoblin miniatures wore. However, I think the hoods make them look sinister and that seems fitting for a notoriously treacherous race of goblinoids. I saw another player convert some of the Night Goblin archers into Sneaky Gits, and his conversion was simple and effective. I think I�?Tll try that myself, giving me a unit of 15 Sneaky Gits and still have enough archers to field two small units of Hobgoblin archers. Apart from the Battle of Skull Pass box, I also have a unit of 10 Goblin Wolf Riders that I traded my son some Forest Goblin Spider Riders for. These will be used as their Hobgoblin counterparts with some simple hat re-sculpting.
I have a good selection of miniatures to begin with and some ideas for a couple of other units, but I�?Tm going to see how these go first. There are some good conversion tutorials on the Chaos Dwarf Online site that I�?Tm going to utilize to help inspire me. I�?Tll start posting progress on this army along with some pictures of the process as I go. My gaming group is planning on running a Warhammer Fantasy campaign in September so I have all summer to get these done. Even with my hectic schedule I should be able to get them converted and painted by then.
Update
I had originally wanted to complete a unit of 20 Chaos Dwarf warriors on my brief break between semesters. Obviously, that is not going to happen. After two attempts, I have finished my test model though, minus adding a Marauder’s shield to him. I’ve also managed to get all of the scale armor sculpted onto five other models.
My first setback was the skull mask I had wanted to use for all my Chaos Dwarfs. My first attempt to cast a mold of the skull shoulder pad from the Marauder sprue didn’t turn out at all. i had purchased some Milliput since the nearest game store stocking green stuff is 45 miles away and I had no other need to go down there ar the time. The Miliput turned out to be too coarse for making a mold. I’ll probably still use it for sculpting at some point though.
After getting some green stuff, I again tried making a mold of the skull mask and it still hasn’t worked quite right. At this point I decided I’d try something different on my test miniature. i sculpted a bullet-shaped helmet with visor slits instead. I have no real skill sculpting with green stuff and this helmet is proof. Hopefully my technique will improve.
I sculpted the scale armor onto the Skull Pass Dwarf and it turned out all right. Again, I’m sure my technique will improve. My first attempt at sculpting the beard didn’t work out too well. For my second try, I sculpted a scale mail collar first and then added the beard. The result looks better than the prototype which appeared as if the helmet was bearded.
I plan on using Chaos Warrior weapons and Marauder shields for my Chaos Dwarfs. On my test model, I cut his arm off at the elbow then attached the Chaos weapon with a bit of green stuff. I did cut the whole arm off of the other models with the same pose and plan on using green stuff to attach their weapons, but this time their arm will be held at their sides as opposed to over their heads. The other pose I’m working on will probably just have the old weapon cut off and the replacement Chaos weapon pinned on.
Hopefully, I’ll at least get the first 12 warriors finished within the next week. My primary set back looks to be making a suitable cast of the skull mask. I’d much rather have that than the amateurish globular helm I sculpted. However, I’d rather have those helmets on finished models as opposed to a project table full of half-fibnished Chaos Dwarfs.
[align=center]2017 Image Salvage
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