It’s amazing to reflect on just how long projects can sit and languish. Back in August of last year, I worked up some tentacles for my Tyrannocytes (ie. drop pods for Tyranids). It’s one of those projects that sits around until I finally get around to painting them (you know, like my Tyranid Bastion).
I don’t spend all that much time working on hobby progress, and I do have multiple armies and figures pulling me in a lot of different directions. It really doesn’t seem like I’m stretched that thin, but when I think that these models have been sitting around untouched for four months, maybe I’m wrong?
Whatever happens, eventually I make my way back to these old projects. In this instance, I came back around because I picked up another drop pod in a trade. This one was “complete” in the box, and I wound up giving away a bunch of Dark Angels terminators for it. The problem is, the kit wasn’t as complete as I was lead to believe.
In fairness, the guy picked it up at a local thrift store for like $4, and doesn’t play Tyranids at all, so he likely didn’t go through it in detail. We facilitated a deal online and met at a local big box store while I was out running errands, and I didn’t check it in detail. It was partially assembled and looked mostly complete, plus I wasn’t giving him anything I felt was of quality in return, so I made the deal on a handshake.
When I got home and started to piece things together, I found out that it was missing one of the chitin pieces and some of the tentacles.
Tentacles aren’t a big deal because I’ve greenstuffed them for the rest of the pods–there’s no reason I couldn’t do that for this one as well. The chitin could prove costly.
The problem on the chitin is that they’re available online through bits sellers, but they tend to run about $8.39, plus shipping. Do I really want to spend $10-15 on this one bit? No, not really.
Slightly frustrated, I turned to my blue stuff molds and, with a blob of green stuff, I pushed out a reasonable facsimile of a piece chitinous armor. Of course, it’s not perfect, but as I’m just slapping on paint and dipping these guys, I think it will look servicable in the end.
While I had the green-stuff out, I pulled out my handy-dandy tentacle maker and worked on those as well, while also filling in the obvious gaps.
This now gives me four drop pods that need painting. When you add it to the bastion, and other misc. pieces, maybe that will be enough of an inspiration to get me off my duff and starting to make a little progress in that direction.
Time will tell…
Warhammer 39,9999 
I think the plate you made is pretty damn impressive. Combined with the tentacles, I’d say you have a great model for the price.
Thanks. I’ve heard a lot of people over the years complain about the quality of press-molds, but I’m fine with them. Granted, this is nowhere near the quality of the original, but it’s good enough for table top. I had luck with my genestealer cult guys as well and intend to keep it up–when necessary, that is. I still prefer to have the original parts, but when a specific bit is cost prohibitive: bring on the green stuff!
On Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 6:17 AM, Warhammer 39,9999 wrote:
>
Buddy of mine does a lot of press molds, and you made out just fine! When it works, it works! I feel you on having models sitting lonely on a desk for months, I’m coming out of a lull currently, and seeing your work is helping me get back in the groove, even if it IS filthy xenos!
Honestly, at this point in time, I think that’s about the greatest compliment I could receive. I’m not real fluid about hobby progress throughout the year, and I’ve been in a lull as of late (I think the last things I painted were my Knights back in June of last year). So I need to get off my arse and do something. I’ve been struggling to get motivated, and am finally making progress. I’m sending pictures to my friends in the hopes that it helps them as well, but that’s been underwhelming to date. So the idea that I’ve actually helped someone find motivation is moving to me.
Thanks!
Great! I applaud our drive!! I have a group of hobbyists that all reside on a Discord chat server if you wanna stay motivated there, too, we all critique and motivate (and harass) each other! We even have Ceri from the Warhammer Community team in there!
I really appreciate the invitation, but I’m leery that my nerdshame and inability to commit time on even a semi-regular basis would cause me not to show up. >.<
On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 12:02 PM, Warhammer 39,9999 wrote:
>
All good!
P.S. Are you on twitter as well? I don’t read all that many hobby blogs, but I flashed over to yours and it seems cool. The only way I get updates to blogs is via twitter anymore, and I generally leave my commenting to that platform as well.
I NEVER use twitter, though I do have one linked to this account that automatically updates tweets (I think it’s @hobby_vices) should I use it more? I’m mainly on Instagram, there’s a huuuuge and active community there, I’d definitely check it out! (I’m @hobbyvices there!)
I’m not a huge advocate for Twitter, as I’m largely a dinosaur that’s probably using it wrong. I started off using it the same way you do, and it’s slowly evolving a bit more. I find that I don’t have all that much time to browse the internet at work, so twitter allows a more condensed view of the hobby stuff I’m interested in.
I’m pretty sure I got dragged into it when people commented my blog automatically tweeting for me, so maybe I’ll pass the favor along to you…
On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 3:13 PM, Warhammer 39,9999 wrote:
>