Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Building a Better Heldrake: Chaos Marine Heldrake Conversion Part 1!



I'm the type of guy who seldom complains about something when it comes to models. I prefer to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Old School here and that's exactly what I did to make my own Heldrake. First, I traded the Heldrake I won in the Spikey Bits Chaos Space Marine Contest to a friend for the Terrorgheist and kept the flight stand from the drake, then I took several parts from the Forgefiend/ Maulerfiend kit (which I also won) and got to work. Let's take a look at what I have done so far:



As the name of the post suggests, I have the basic frame for the model complete and minus some green stuff work (including hoses and cables), I am done. The scary thing about this whole thing is that the Terrorgheist and the Fiend kits got together like they were meant to be combined. The head for the model comes from the Forgefiend Ectoplasm Cannon Head option.


The chest piece also comes from the Forgefiend and fits perfectly over the chest of the Terrorgheist. To fit it, you just have to remove the spike on the chest of the Terrorghiest and then fit it on. If you place it as I have placed mine, the edges of the plate will actually line up perfectly with the exposed muscle on the wing joints. Once again, it is awesome how well these kits fit together. This could easily be the new template for Heldrake conversions.



I also replaced the rear legs of the Terrorghiest with the Small Pair of Forgefiend Legs. I used the "shoulder plates" that would also cover those legs on the actual model as well to cap the legs of this conversion. The feet from the fiend model were simply glued further back along the ball joint to mimic the motion they would have in flight.

The legs and the head both have the torn flesh covering metal parts, which will tie the whole conversion together once I finish the Green Stuff work tomorrow.


Finally, I replaced the tail from about half way down with one of the Maulerfiend Lasher Tendrils. Once again, I just found the place in the tail that matched the thickness of the tendril and attached them. It will take a minimum amount of Green Stuff to blend the two together seamlessly.



Overall, I am extremely excited about this conversion and look forward to getting the Green Stuff work done so I can begin painting. I think that some Green Stuff cables and hoses running under the throat from the head, through the torso and down into the tail will really make the model perfect. I think a bio-mechanical daemon dragon will tie in quite nicely with my Word Bearer Hell Knights and should look great flying next to the Hellworm, which will be finished very soon. Thank you again to the readers who helped me win the contest so I could make crazy models like this.

As always, feedback, comments and criticisms are always welcome!

28 comments:

  1. now that's what i'm talking about! A real Helldrake! Can't wait to see how you will put him on a flying stand :)

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    1. I can't wait to see that either ... because I haven't exactly figured that out yet. My plan is to finish it and then see where I can fit it. It that wont work, I plan to use a metal rod and a big magnet!

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  2. Holy crap that is awesome!

    Great idea and it has me thinking about attempting something similar now. Great work Old School.

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    1. Thanks. The reason behind this model ever being constructed was that I wanted a simple alternative. I think anybody could build this model and feel good about it. Hell, you could do it and still have a ForgeFiend or Maulerfiend left over if you are creative with your bits.

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  3. That would look excellent for a Nurgle or Night Lords themed Heldrake.

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  4. Damnit!!! I have 2 done and now... arghs!!! First the worm of doom (almost bit into figuring something out - demonic falcor?)... the biggest thing is that I can see how easily it just - went together. ARGH!!! And I will be getting a tentacle maker before long!!!

    Thank you for an awesome model. Are you going to Adepticon again? And if so will this chaos mess show up? Heh.

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    1. Oh we will be there.... yes we will...

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    2. Thomas, you can bet your backward facing goat-pants we will be there. I am playing in the GT and the team event. Since I am bringing the Necrons to the Team game, I would like to whip my Chaos back and forth for the GT, but I will have to see how the painting goes. Either way, th Chaos army will be there, since Hellworm will be entering Crystal Brush along with several other models of mine.

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    3. Awesome! I will have Chaos/Crons or Chaos/orks - depending on my mood and what I build up. Trying to break it down into more one off builds in hopes to frustrate people when I do well with a Battleforce army. hahahaha.

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    4. Nice. I am thinking of doing Chraons for the tourney, strictly for the haters.

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  5. Very, very cool OST! That is really looking sweet - the proportions look far better, the addition of a tail and rearward-swept wings makes all the difference in the world.

    Looking forward to seeing more!

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  6. Again, you guys put out some of the coolest sh*t.

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  7. That looks absolutely awesome. Can't wait to see the green stuff work. It does look like he needs a bit of bulking up in some parts including the upper arm and shoulder portions of the wings. keep up the good work!

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  8. You had to go and build this, didn't you?

    1, you make me feel like I've been slackin' in the hobby
    2, you actually make me want to build one, and I don't polay chaos!!!

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    1. Tim, if I could get you to play Chaos by beating you about the head and shoulders with conversions, then consider the fight on, buddy! I have much more where this came from.

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  9. Mmmmm its dead sexy. I feel as though I have been challanged as well. I must now counter with my iron warriors.

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  10. Well, you can thank me later for the inspiration for this model I accidentally gave you! BTW it looks really good, I never thought of adding forgefiend parts to it!

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  11. Very sexy. Is some of the tubing going to bulk up the waist(more a personal preference than a criticism)? I would also go with a rod instead of the flying stand. I say you mount it right in the center of the chaos symbol but sculpt something themed instead of just drilling into it.

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  12. I love it!
    1,000 times better then the original.
    I knew that Forge Fiend head would be prefect for the Heldrake.
    Now throw some paint on that beauty.

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  13. Very Nice. Sorry I bought the real model now. Would rather build this.

    BDS

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  14. As a new CSM player (Night Lords) this thing is Epic.... and stolen ;)
    Seriously, that kitbash is pure win and looks easy enough for a sloppy-handed hobbyist like me to try!
    Hope to see some more soon and thanks again for sharing!
    JP

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    1. JP, if you build one, send me a link. I would love to what you come up with!

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    2. Will do! But not in 2012 unfortunately...

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  15. this is fantastically inspiring... the heldrake (as many others seem to agree) just doesnt feel or look right... it looks more like it fits aesthetically in a dark eldar force. really looking forward to seeing this finished =)

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