Modern(ish) Technology

 Modern(ish) Technology

This week I have had to give up my trusty iPhone 6 as it will no longer meet the company's security requirements. So I have been given  a new iPhone 11. Whilst the new phone doesn't seem much different from the old one except being a bit bigger. It does however a much better camera. 

I was surprised how much clearer the pictures from the new phone were in contrast to the old phone. I know many people have fancy cameras and lighting arrangements but for a quick pic, the camera on the phone is probably many people's choice.

iPhone 6

iPhone 11

Both pictures were taken under the same lighting conditions and with the same backdrop.

Building a Chaos Dwarf Mortar

 

Building a Chaos Dwarf Mortar

After building the swivel gun battery, I decided that I also needed some longer-range firepower from my chaos dwarves. The Citadel chaos dwarf mortar always looked a bit too weedy to me. Especially when you compare it to medieval equivalents. So, I wanted something a bit bigger to use with my chaos dwarves.

After looking at a number of alternatives, I settled on barrel using a plastic pencil. This would also give me something to hold onto whilst sculpting the barrel.  A snarling face for the barrel is a must giving it the right fantasy vibe.

Fun with Green Stuff

As usual the details were sculpted with Green Stuff with the teeth made out of small cardboard triangles. The eyes were made previously from Milliput from my Oldhammer shield pile.

The base was done in the similar style to the previous swivel guns with foam card base and card edges. The mortar stand was made from coffee stick stirrers and bolts made from small plastic discs cut from a left over spear. 

Don't step on the mushrooms!

The mushroom patches are beginning to grow from a few simple mushrooms to a little patch. Mushrooms made from Green Stuff or Milliput around a paper clip stalk.  Painted with Khorne red and purple with a Nuln Oil wash.  I prefer to do a black spot first before I do the white spot with a bit of the black left showing.

The mortar was painted with Warplock bronze followed by a wash of Nihilakh Oxide and then a dry brush with the bronze again. The stand was painted mid-grey with brown and green washes.  With Riza rust around the bolts. The mortar was glued to the stand and restraining strips added with card and more of the plastic bolts. 

The cannon balls are simply made from Milliput.

Ready rain death on everyone

Now I need to get a few proper crew.

 

Building Chaos Dwarf Swivel Guns

The Artificer Swivel Gun battery

Having picked up a couple of chaos dwarf gunners, I decided that I would have a go and make the swivel gun. Having decided to make one swivel gun as a side project.   it seemed a good idea make up a small battery (in this case three).  I could then add some more gunners at a later stage.

After a bit of searching in the loft I found WD108 and rules for the swivel guns. Rules presented below.

I prefer to integrate the gun and the crew into a larger base but being able to remove the dwarves when casualties occur. This gives a bit space to give the base a bit of character.

Mock Up

So, step one make the base and start the gun. I had ago at making one gun first to get the design right. If I were doing these again, I would have made them a bit smaller.

After deciding to make three guns I decides I would need a few more crews and a unit leader. Prices for old chaos dwarves are generally a bit crazy but Ral Partha do some very nice chaos dwarves which fit in very well with the size and style of the old Citadel Chaos dwarves. I’m not a big fan of plain bases and I am going for a chaos wasteland vibe with strange stalagmites, toadstool patches and toxic pools. I edged the bases with card to give a neater finish and allow the bases to be sprayed. 

Halfling Conversion to Chaos Dwarf

I was still one short one crew member for swivel gun teams and decided to repurpose one of the halflings I got for Christmas. The spikes on the helmet/shoulder pads are cut down nail points and a little bit of Green Stuff to create a beard /shoes. I was able to create the beard using the end of a cocktail stick. More tools maybe required if I want to do more this sort of conversion. He is bit less stocky than the other chaos dwarves but overall, I am pleased with the effect.

After the Citadel Technical paint is applied

I have just started using some of Citadel’s technical paints and got Nihilakh Oxide (also a Christmas present) gives a very effective Verdigris (bronze corrosion) effect over the top of Warplock Bronze. I have decided to go for corroded / rusted look for the dwarves which represents them working in very toxic environments to make these machineries of destruction.

Two of the finished swivel guns and crews.

The Dark Artificer –Mir Helmdarkson and the beginning of his artillery brigade.

A mixture of old citadel (chaos dwarf and AD&D Duergar - middle front), plus Ral Partha and my converted figure.