Now for the details:
I started off with a $1 store Styrofoam cooler. Kinda small as coolers would go, but just the shape and size for an Imperial defense post or Bastion, as the game calls them. Of course, I could have just as easily used foam board for the whole construction, but the cooler was an easy find and 60% of the structural build up already done. Maybe the next Bastion will be all foam board...who knows.
First some idea bashing...how to get this to look like a defense post and not just an upside down styro cooler.
...I start by trimming off the bits that don't make sense or I'll be converting to something else...
This baby's gonna need to loose some weight to get that nice, tower like balance....
After a test fit of the parts...I decide more chops are needed, plus I consider fire slits ...
but change my mind and go with traditional fire points...the large ones on the third level are for heavy automated weapons like Heavy Bolters (I'll have to either scratch build or buy the bits). I also ditched the ornate gothic blast door (save it for a later project perhaps) and go with the quick and easy octagonal one...
A bit more detail and off to sealing and priming... I used Liquitex clear gesso...it has a fine grain tooth and seals the foam nicely in case I use arisol paints. Prime is Chaos Black...
While this dries...I made some servitors...well, that's the best I can equate them to. I think they're like a combo flood light, siren, camera and comms node. I only need four, but since I plan to build a couple of bunkers/bastions, it was a good idea to make more.
The components were styrene stock from a train hobby store, some bits off a refinery model (also hobby train related) some wire and polymer clay for the skulls. Rather than "cookie cut" (use a mold) I decided to hand sculpt these as it would give each one just that much more individualism...the idea is that there were actual skulls; metal coated (why they're slightly larger than an in scale one would be) as a means of honoring a fallen warrior. The final touch was a drop of hot glue to form the lenses of the optics.more on this as progress proceeds....
UPDATE 11 AUG 2009
Added more details and tightened up the paint job a bit. Still more to go, but it's table worthy as it is now...
Something Else:
Also found at the Dollar Store/99cents are these tortilla keepers. Again, flip, chop the lid, add a blast door...
On to textures and paint...Tau Bastion!!!
UPDATES ON IMPERIAL BASTION
Dug out three Heavy Bolters then realized that I was one short!! So, since I'd pretty much have to scratch build one (or buy a kit-too spendy right now; order the bits online-too impatient right now) I figure I might as well build all four! No need to build the whole weapon as only the muzzle sticks out of the fire point, which made my job really easy!
Here's the scrath built muzzles with the three actuals I used for reference:
Once I get the coin together, I'll be picking up a couple Razor Backs to add to my Orks' Looted Wagons and then I'll have my Heavy Bolters along with some other Planet Strike fodder!
The next step was to build a comms array. This was designed using photos out of the Planet Strike book. Took less than an hour and a half to put all this together...
It's about 50/50 GW bits and hobby stock... the comms relay isn't really part of the project, but since I had the materials out already, I figured it'd be a good addition...
The mini is from an older version of the Mutant Chronicles game, Doomtrooper. He's been my size reference on terrain for nearly five years now, though I'm pretty sure he's older than that.
Once the glue dries on all this, I'll get to painting and installing the Heavy Bolters. I may actually be done with the project after that...unless another idea hits me...
UPDATE: 14 AUG 2009: PROJECT COMPLETE!!
Defense Post LM-17 is now complete and ready to serve!! Overall, I'm happy with the results! There will be other details added as this model sees action...one of the things I do is add battle damage, kill markings and various other elements as games progress...there's a building I have that had gotten so consistantly "bombed" throughout games that I've finally converted it into a ruin...but for now...this piece is done.
I decided to hold off on the Comms Array for now...other ideas taking over and all...
Shas Zam out.
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