Scratchbuilt Slaaneshi Soulgrinder, Custom sculpting and scratchbuilding

Here is a design for a Custom Soulgrinder that I am sculpting to join a Slaanesh "Counts as" Daemon Army. The goal is a 5,000 point army using custom sculptures and conversion to create a Slaanesh theme replacement model for virtually every unit in Codex Chaos Daemons. The projects pretty far along, so i didn't want to replicate the entire thing here so provide a link for those who might be interested: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/235930.page


Design sketches for Soulgrinder #1:

So...I've been thinking about the Soul Grinder counts as model, and have decided to go with Gameandwatch's and The_Chaplain's excellent ideas, and came up with um....this wonderfully daemonic homage to motherhood.



This is the basic idea the engine was formed from the body of an eldar Farseer. Here's the idea engine is a womb where slaaneshi daemons form. An idea stolen from the Ultramarine Omnibus, where the Iron Warriors used grotesquely deformed women to birth new fully grown space marines! Ewe!



And no the tooth maw is not what your thinking... :nono: It didn't even occur to me until my wife pointed it out. Still I think it fits for Slaanesh. Disturbing, no?


While looking through online pictures of pregnant women for research I came across, this:



Apparently, its done with a temporary dye called Henna. The important thing is that is got me thinking a painting and intricate Eldar/Slaaneshi design on the belly.

So, anyway that's one of my Soulgrinder ideas. Things to do:

1. The drawing was done to scale so all I have to do is photo-copy it to use as a guide for my armature.
2. The design is not chaotic enough so I'll need to work on some detailing sketches.
3. Since the sculpture is rather large I'll be using gray super sculpey firm and casting the final model.

I need feedback of the design:

- I've drawn her with 8 arms, but as pointed out six would be better for Slaanesh. Which pair of arms should I remove? The ones on the ground supporting her weight have to remain. While the ones cradling her belly are fundamental to the idea.

- It needs some method of movement legs like a defiler, or perhaps a winged dais, or something?

- I've considered have one set of ares either clutching Slaanesh iconography or having sculpted flames coming from the palms of the hands.

- While the mouth is currently open should she be either blind folded or gagged, S&M style? To much?

- How should I represent the Soulgrinder's weapons?

Please be brutal in your critiques, I can take it.

I like (why I don't know but I do) I would loose the arms stretching out at the side's my self. Reason is you need the ones supporting the body, the ones cradling the belly gives the mothering feel (in a strange way) and finally the hands praying to the demonic god is essential as for the ones at the side just gives it the feel of saying hey I am here. I would have to agree I thought the mouth on the stomach was a err emm yes but still works really well. My self that's the only changes I would make and if it is any where near the drawing it should be a fine piece.................

I like this idea, a really cool and twisted take on the Soul Grinder!

I'd say the womb-maw would represent, well, the Maw Cannon, but the Harvester would be more difficult, but I would make sure at least one pair of arms have elongated fingers, to be claw like, otherwise, its brilliant.

Also I agree with lone dirty dog, lost the outstreched arms, they don't seem to fit as well, and if you'll be dropping a set of arms, I'd say make it those.

puh, I saw your other work on dakka dakka, great! Can't wait to see the finshed grinder!

I like the idea, kind of a twisted version of Kali. Keep the arms as they are, really adds to the otherworldliness of the Soul Grinder.

Yup! that is just plain creepy! Can't wait to see it in model form.

Revisions yeah!

Okay I got lots of great feedback on this from various boards.





I need to thanks the following people for the input on this model:

Gameandwatch: for the idea of using a pregnant machine/daemon...inspiring!
The_chaplain: for the references he provided for the pose, which I have stolen shamelessly.
HK-47: for suggesting keeping the up raised hands to represent the Harvester.
Deraj: for the idea of shackling the supporting arms.
Khanaris: for the hard critique on the belly mouth looking far to pornographic.
Qui-Gon Jinn: for the hard critique on the soul grinder needing to be machine-like, and far less organic.
Nesbitt_bub1: for the idea of rotating the model 45 degrees, and Gigeresque tubing, and a few others not incorporated here yet.
Sidstyler: for being honest enoguh to say dude that just is wrong.
And everyone who's provided me feedback past, seriously thanks guys.



I'll comment on these more but I gotta get to work. Later!

With the new 45 angle, is it going to be mounted on the regular Soulgrinder's walking platform, or tendrils maybe?

Adding some teeth/spikes to the gun barrel would look cool I think & I really like the idea of adding Gigeresque tubing thout would really set off the bio-mech look

Maybe also add a shackle arounf the neck

Not sure about the helmet though, the eyes are a bit big & needs some more detail

Also how are the raised arms gonna work as a havester?

Wow, excellent stuff. Even if just a pre-production sketch. I'd be all over buying a copy of the final result

Cheers to your project!

Very Gigerian indeed. Also, reminds me a little of the spider queen from Doom 3.

I'm always to happy see people do other things with Chaos than the traditional spiky bits and tentacles. If my Chaos force was more into daemons, they'd use something like this.

Will it be firing little daemon babies?

So I've been thinking, Yes dangerous I know.

I still need to come up with a way to represent: plaguebearers and nurglings.
Slaves to Darkness mention the "Tormented", which got me thinking of converted grave ghouls in gimp-suits. I figure the Sisters and Inquisition already have church sanctioned Gimps...I mean arco-flagellants.

Or how about daemonic version of the munchkins from the Wizard of Oz / Umpalumpas from Willie Wonka for nurglings? Creepy:p

Like the Dwergi from Van Helsing?

Oooo, evil Umpalumpas .

My guard would sh%t themselfs lol good idea im liking it

Okay, here are two more Soul grinder concept designs I came up with:





I hate to warp your minds and run; but I'm taking the wife to the Chicago Comic-con today.


More Later!

The first one is much better than the second, which looks to much like the boss from Diablo 2 (i.e. it looks like high fantasy). Have fun at the Con, and stake some glitterpyres for me.

So...I'm still working on designs for my Soul grinders. But in the mean time here are some updates to the monstrous creatures being created for the project.Okay Updates:


Keeper of Secrets:

Just some minor tweaks to this model. The nipples were to small so I made them more puffy? I also replace the nipple ring. Anyway she just needs some studs down the back of the right leg and another nipple ring on the 2nd tier of breasts left side. Other than that she's getting washed, sanded and primed today.

Before:



After:




Daemon Princesses:

These are also essentially done but for minor detailing. These shot shoe the final head that I will be molding today, unless their are any objections. Note this isn't the final head. Once cast they will each get unique heads with different hair, tentacle, and horn arrangements. I also decided to keep the features fairly subtle to allow for easier modification. This head can be easily modified to a nose-less Diaz-style daemonette head or a more more human set of facial features.

Daemon Princess # 1



To Do:

1. add some additional rivets to the armor.
2. add laces at the sides of the armor.
3. add buckles to all the armor straps.
4. finish smoothing and sharpening the armor plates.
5. add a Slaanesh symbol and trim to the harness clasp (disc).

Daemon Princess # 2



To Do:

1. add some additional studs to the arm and leg.
2. add some additional wrinkles to the loin cloth.
3. add a Slaanesh symbol as a brand to the left thigh.

Daemon Princess # 3



To Do:

1. finish her sword and add a dagger to a sash at her waist.
2. add choker and spirit stone belt.
3. add a additional piercings.



More Later!

Updates:


Daemon Princesses:

I don't know about putting hair on this one, so I'll need feed back.





This one has flowing hair, and will have hair ornaments when done. She's also getting a new less pouty face, or maybe having no nose or mouth is creeper?





Yeah for Tentacles!





Soul Grinder # 1

Okay here's sculpted leg in the mold box. I should have cast tomorrow.



Here are two photo composites of what she looks like with the sculpted legs.






Soul Grinder #2

Here the final mechanical leg base for the pregnant grinder



Here's the start of the build up.



Grinder #3

For grinder #3 I decided to re-purpose this guy. He's going to be a huge KOS style daemon counts as.





More Later!

What wonderful fun!
Thissiz some hot stuff, man. Thanks!

Looking good, I just love the soul grinder idea!!!

Thanks for the comments guys!


Soul Grinder #3

Here's more progress on the KOS - grinder stand in. He's being based off this image:




I'm using super sculpey to quickly build up the anatomy of the model. Once baked I'll be skinning it with Aves apoxy putty and detailing it.










Soul Grinder #1

Worked on the pregnant SG as well. I'm baking the shoulders and ribcage at the moment so that I can drill the holes for the arms, and start work on them. I also started work on the mechanical legs for her mobile. The black lines on the model are there to indicate the locations of the various muscle groups.





Soul Grinder #2

I finished casting up the her legs this morning for the 6-legged SG. I'll be working on the body and head to day. So, she's coming along fast, and will definitely be done this weekend. I have to say she looks much better in life than in my sketches. The sexy, spider, ballerina nature of the legs is pretty creepy; and fan service triple crotch shot will doubtlessly disturb many, as well...yeah!

Daemon Princess:

I didn't get much feedback regarding the heads or hair on them. But I'd like some suggestions on adding some nice final details to them. I want them to look sexy rather than gribbly. But, looking at the GW greater daemons, they seem a little under detailed at the moment.



Anyway I have to get ready for work. Happy Friday!

Dang. I bet she knows how many licks it takes to get to the center of tootsie pop.

Okay, progress!

First here is the second KOS:

I've completely bulked him out in sculpey as much as needed to. I'll be switching gray-tinted Aves Fixit Sculpt next. The claws you see on the model were originally intended for the Daemon Princess models, and are just place holders. They far to small compared to my reference image, and will be replaced later. The feet are from the WF Giant model and are also to small, so I'll be re-sculpting on those too.







Here's the model scaled against an IG model.



Here's the model scaled against the FW KOS model.

Here is where I am on the first Soul Grinder:



Here it is scaled against the FW KOS.

And here is my Progress with the pregnant Soul Grinder:

She's been fun to sculpt, working out the anatomy so that the chest and arms could actually work resulted in two sets of pectoral muscles, which ofcourse justifies a second set of breasts, no?







Here the model is scaled against a IG model:




Here the model is scaled against a the 6.5 inch tall FW KOS model:



Sorry, its a bit blurry.

Finally, because a few people asked here's some scaling shots of the Daemon Princesses and a group shot of the larger models in the army.


Daemon Princesses first. Note that the FW KOS is 6.5 inches tall, while the IG model is 1 inch tall.







Group Shots

This is really quite astonishing. You are a craftmaster, and I stand in awe and yes, shining green with envy.
Cannot wait to see more!

Inq. F.P. Hatchett:

Thanks for the kind words.


So, I worked on the big boy some more last night. With his hunched over pose he's approximately 14.5 cm tall, if he were standing erect he'd be around 20 cm. At this point I've skinned him with Aves Fixit Sculpt, so he's rock solid. I've enlarged the feet and replaced the claws with a far larger set; to better match the reference. He's also had his horns blocked in and his head started.






Here's another comparison with the FW KOS. It should be easier to see now that he's more of a neutral gray.







Hopefully I can find some time to sculpt today at work.

Okay the new stuffs!




















Here's another Daemon Princess Head, with a re-sculpted face and smaller chin.





I also started casting 60mm bases for the Gluttons, it only costs me pennies to do vs the $10 for 1 from GW. Shocking!





Here's a Picture of all the molds I've made for this army. That's about $200 worth of silicon rubber.





Lastly, here's a pic of my current display case.






More later!