Converted Plague Marines based on Mk V Heresy Armour

 

Last post I spoke about my old GW figure case making it back to me. It was full of the models I painted during the Silver Age of GW. Paul Sawyer was editor of WD and the magazine had a real community feel with plenty of fluff, new releases and fresh ideas. I was hooked again. As we all know, it wouldn't last and I gave up on it all with the infamous 'Giant Issue' that totally lacked any substance at all. 

Modern GW is a British Success StoryTM but even I can see whoever runs the company is moving 40k further and further away from its source material. Imagine not realising that the Imperium aren't the good guys!!? Still, if you ever have an issue with GW in any era it is very simple to just focus on the period that best works for you. 

It is what I did.

These figures were my only serious attempt to convert models and kitbash properly. I worked on these around 2005 just after completing my first year as a teacher. I was working on a maternity leave in Peterborough and one of the staff members working there had all of the old catalogues. He told me that practically anything ever made could still be cast up. Like a fool, I opted for these old metal early '90s bodies to create a plague guard force. The keen eyed will know them as the original Mk V Heresy figure without arms.  Only these two were ever completed as I ended up chasing a different project altogether but it is fantastic to have these back. I sold the unused bodies off around that time. 

The arms and the weapons come from the old Chaos Marines plastic sprue that was available back then. The shoulder pads use the metal legion specific examples that were available back then. Typing these words, I realise I should have taken a side shot like I did with the Rogue Trader Chaplain. I sculpted distended bellies on both models and even curled a few entrails for good measure. The tubes and wires were made from bass guitar strings and fishing wire. Two marvellous materials that I really should gather again for future projects. 

A pin vice was used to drill out the holes on the body of the figure. I still have the very same tool in my workshop but with a single, miserable drill-bit remaining. Somehow it survived everything. You will be able to spot my attempts to recreate the three circular 'fly' symbol of Nurgle here and there as well as suggesting burst pustules and bullet holes.

During this time I was obsessed with painting with colour harmony and not using black at all. Looking back, I feel that these choices really help tie the figures together and give them a natural, battleworn look. I've flirted with this type of palette with a few of my more recent models but I'm not sure it would fit in with my '80s style 'Citadelesque' I've worked on all these years.

Only one way to find out I suppose.