My First Custom (WIP) - Warhammer 40k Space Marine

[justifide]

Ello everyone. I figured it would be more fun to not lurk and to let you all see my first custom as it comes along.

I have absolutely no experience working with customizing, acrylics and sculpty clay... so i did the smart thing and started one with all 3 :D The Warhammer 40k Space Marine (Blood raven to be exact).

I started doing the sketches for it and i realized it just wasn't going to look right (to me) if the head was flat....so i decided that i will add mask features with apoxie clay. I think i may have made the front vent too small though... we'll see how it goes from here.

it isn't much to look at now but what does everyone think? hopefully i am not starting out sucky lol

http://www.latercomesquickly.com/photos/art/sm_mugg.jpg

Edit: right after i posted i realized i had some extra sculpting apoxie so i figured i would take a stab at expanding on the vent and taking care of some other details... better!


http://www.latercomesquickly.com/photos/art/sm_mugg2.jpg

[lilikara]

Nice sculpting job :) Welcome to the site

[Mr. Woo]

The sculpting really does look great

[justifide]

well after spending quite some time sanding, i am not sure i can completely kill the edges of the apoxie. i am just assuming its the nature of the beast. i did however finish the coat on the head and started the details.... i am very scared of messing it up lol.

http://www.latercomesquickly.com/photos/art/sm_mugg3.jpg

and now with eyes :) not sure if i like that green or not...

http://www.latercomesquickly.com/photos/art/sm_mugg3b.jpg

[B.A.L.D]

Look great so far, really nice sculpting. Can't believe it's your first, good job man.

[Ralph]

Agreed, looks awesome for a first attempt. Actually, awesome in general.

[justifide]

Just a quick thanks for all the kind words. I was a bit nervous starting a custom with all the great work that is out there. Glad to know I am not completely goofing it up :)

Next up is the body which i have plotted out, just need to think of the best way to do it. I also have to sculpt the shoulder pads, because you can't have a Space Marine w/o his ridiculously sized shoulders.

Here is a quick look at where he stands. I after finishing the head i realized what was "off." He was too clean and shiny. (even worse after a clear coated it), so i scuffed him up with some reddish brown and he is better off for it.

Needless to say, it feels like he is accusing me of slacking :) but hey, I have worked about 70 hours doing design work this week... :)

http://www.latercomesquickly.com/photos/art/sm_mugg4.jpg

[mcmacdaddy77]

what brand epoxy did you use?.....looks good so far!!

[justifide]

If you mean for the sculpting - Aves Apoxie
If you mean the clear coat - Testers Dullcoat Lacquer

[mcmacdaddy77]

did you take him apart for painting?...i am wondering if it makes it easier when taken apart?....i still haven't taken any of mine apart?

[justifide]

I took apart an obi wan... what a pain in the arse. I will probably not do that again. I boiled away, but still had to crack the body at the seams to get it apart. With careful prep, i am convinced you don't need to take them apart to customize.

One nifty recommendation i have seen here is use a latex glove to wrap around the part you want to protect (head or body) and paint away.

[justifide]

Huh, forgot about this thread... might as well post the finished results haha. http://www.2goprojects.com/dm.jpg

[edstuff]

I really like the legs. As far as the edges on epoxy goes wet your fingers while sculpting. Then blend it as much as possible to the mugg itself. I usually use my thumb. This will minimize your sanding work.

Great first man!

[SidtheKid]

I love me some war hammer 40k, I use to play that all the time I use to have a couple deferential armies, ultra marines, chaos space marines(world eaters), dark angels, and tau. This custom is great- You did a great job, the likeness is spot on. I tried to make one once but I had to scrap it cause I wasn't having any luck- but you nailed it! Awesome job! So since you started this post almost two years ago- have you done anything since than?

[Minion]

A great 1st Mugg! Really nice sculpting work for a 'first timer'.
I can't wait to see some more stuff from you in future.

[weirder321]

awesome awesome but arnt you going to work on its body?

[weirder321]

never mind its wicked

[InstantCollector]

great thread. nice job on your first. that series has an untapped well of cool potential customs.