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Friday, April 26, 2019

Conversion Corner: Dreg



Wyrdstone is well know to corrupt, but might it also draw out and strengthen elements that are already present? Perhaps those wretched dregs of humanity, invisible in life, traveled to the City of the Damned to become something greater, only to find themselves more soulless than they were before? - Naewen, savant of Thrax

The last model we created for the undead warband for Mordheim 2019 explored the idea of emotion given intangible, yet lethal form. This closely paralleled some of the anomalies present in the novel Roadside Picnic. Diverging from this, we also wanted to show how wyrdstone might affect the wretched human inhabitants that have persisted in the city all of these years. Perhaps after persistent exposure to the corrupting influence of wyrdstone, some gradually lose their hold on reality and begin to disappear? Having learned how to make silicone molds for resin casting, we decided it would be fun to try to convert a downtrodden inhabitant of Mordheim and cast them in clear resin to represent them becoming invisible.



In greyscale, before casting it in clear resin, it is easier to see how creepy this degenerate human is.


The model is primarily based on an Ur-ghul from Blackstone Fortress, complete with a different head and smaller hands.


The actual conversion was pretty straight forward, basing the model off one of the Ur-ghuls from Blackstone Fortress. While the Ur-ghul is humanoid in form, their proportions and anatomy are not quite human looking. Although I think this helps give the model a disturbing element, I did a few things to make the model look more human, including replacing the model’s hands with smaller ones, and doing some green stuff work to modify his spine and upper chest. I replaced the head with one from the Age of Sigmar corpse cart, removing its hair and sculpting new teeth.



I experimented with adding various washes/shades to the resin before injecting it into the mold.


The blood on the model was painted using the Vallejo Game Effects Fresh and Dried Blood paints.

I used some brown enamel products from Ammo of Mig to make the invisible creature’s feet look dirty.


To make the resin version of the model, I created a two-piece silicone mold like I have in the past. Instead of using Smooth-Cast 300 liquid plastic, which cures white, I used Smooth-Cast 325 (also from Smooth-On). Although it cures more slowly, 325 solidifies clear rather than white. Fortunately, the first mold I created worked really well, with every part of the model filling correctly. While most of the initial casts I created where undyed, I experimented with adding a small amount of wash to the resin right before injecting it. This largely dispersed throughout the resin, giving the final model a relatively uniform coloration.


In addition to painting blood on the model’s hands, I experimented with painting his eyes.


What the resin models look like with red or blue eyes.


The painting process for the model was incredibly simple. The clear resin did much of the work creating a convincing invisible creature. To add visual interest, however, I decided to paint his hands as if they are covered in blood. To do this, I used to Vallejo Game Effect paints (72.132 - Fresh Blood and 72.133 – Dried Blood). I added additional specks of blood to the model’s body by flicking an old brush containing some of the same red paint that I used for the hands. To make his feet look slightly dirty, I used a small amount of enamel brown paints from Ammo of Mig thinned down with an enamel thinner. I experimented with painting the model’s eyes in various ways, as well. And while I liked the look of some of these, I decided against using it for the final model because I felt it went against the narrative idea of an invisible survivor. It is something I would like to try on future models, however.


The blood splatter was accomplished by flicking paint from a large stiff brush randomly on the model.

The base was created by sculpting stones with Milliput. Low grass tufts were used to add visual interest to the base.


Months back, when I had the idea of creating an invisible creature for the undead warband using clear resin, I was unsure how it would turn out. Having made a few molds in the past, I didn’t feel I had much to lose and decided to go ahead with it. I was able to convert this dreg rather quickly. Creating the mold took a little while, but when it was done, the model came together really quickly. With it all said and done, I am really pleased with the result, and feel it captured my original idea. Adding to that excitement, it is the first completed model for any of our Mordheim 2019 warbands (and probably the quickest model I ever painted, he he)! Let me know what you think of the model; I would love to hear any comments or suggestions.

- Adam Wier

14 comments:

  1. This is one heck of a concept to get right, but I would argue you have nailed it -- the fact that the conversion itself is rather brilliant does, of course, help! I had no idea the Ur-Ghul bodies worked so well with a more human head, and the choice of head is very cool as well -- looks like I may have to get thet corpse cart kit, after all.

    As for the painting, I think you have done as much as possible to sell the concept, and the bloodied hands and dirtied feet go a long way towards moving the model beyond merely being gimmicky. If I have one suggestion, it would be to go a bit further with the mud on the feet, because accumulated dirt would basically make those feet look solid, whereas the blood on the hands might have a more translucent quality to begin with -- speaking of which, a second model spattered with blood from a fight would be awesome, because it would create an effect similar to the more disturibing ones appearing in the (otherwise pretty terrible) movie "Hollow Man".

    Anyway, great idea, great execution -- also very Mordheim and very original at the same time. What's not to love? ;)

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    1. Thank you for the kind words! The Ur-Ghoul models are surprisingly nice as humans so long you replace their neck and head (I used a bloodletter neck for this one).

      I think you are right about the model's feet; I should probably add a little more dirt and grime. I did a test model where I had a little more, but I was worried I would overdo it. I sort of envision that this creature periodically goes and cleans itself off such that it can more easily sneak up on his prey! Otherwise you would imagine he would be pretty filthy from head to toe. Who knows, maybe this creature values good hygiene!?! :)

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  2. Brilliant concept and execution. I always like the hum-ghoul sort of look. Would be nice to see the original concept design painted up too.

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    1. I should try and paint the original model in more standard flesh tones. I sort of want to paint one entirely void black, sort of like a weird mirror to this one. We will see how much time I have before the event.

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  3. Excellent conversion. I think it looks cool in all its forms.

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    1. Thanks! I think I will continue experimenting with casting different versions of the model with different colors and effects. It is often pretty hard to predict what will happen in each cast.

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  4. Great idea and concept! These invisibles would work very well an Inq28, too. :D

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    1. I had been kicking around the idea to make clear models like this for a long time. Now that I know it works pretty well I will have to try and incorporate the technique in other models. Inq28 would be perfect. :)

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  5. Fantastic conversion and excellent castings!
    I really like your concept and the execution is brilliant indeed. The blood effects are great! I agree on Krautscientist's consideration about the solid colours. Due to that, I wouldn't paint the eyes. It reduces the invisible-factor, in my opinion. I guess it would be a hard task to get a translucent glowing effect. Maybe a small dot of a bright colour and the use of glazes could work.

    And I think some pigments (or so) for creating dirt on his feet will look awesome and won't look too solid.

    Very original addition for your Warband and I'm looking forward to the final version! Best Regards and keep up the amazing work!

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    1. Let me just jump onto Lars' comment to point out something about the eyes that keeps bothering me: I do agree with Lars that they shouldn't be painted because it lessens the invisible effect, and there's also something about seeing them painted that makes the viewer think about the actual logistics of being invisible: Are the actual tissues of the body themselves invisible (i.e.) transparent? In that case, the eyes would obviously be transparent as well, resulting in the subject's blindness, along with the invisibility. Or does the invisibility act as some kind of "light-bending" property that just applies to the skin? In that case, the eyes would indeed be visible... -- anyway, not painting them at all doesn't raise any uncomfortable questions, is all I'm saying ;)

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    2. Thanks for all the ideas and interesting thoughts about the model. I spent a while trying to figure out what made the most 'sense' for the model. The notion of the actual tissue being transparent is neat. It would be neat to sculpt and cast all the internal organs for the model. Then put them in the mold for the model and cast them inside the model... So many interesting possibilities and things to try!

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  6. Love the greyscale image, it really shows the wonderful anatomy of this conversion.
    I already said how much I love the invisible creature with the blood spatter on your stream.
    The painted eyes are interesting (maybe for a future project), but not for this creature, I think they take away from the effect somewhat.
    Maybe the dirt on the feet could be strengthened with a couple of quick dustings of different weathering pigments, just for a bit of build-up and to keep it looking dry and different to the other finishes on the figure.

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  7. Tremendous work. You keep on coming up with new ways to surprise and delight, and ultimately stretch the hobby to new heights.

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