Newbie Molik Karn head swap

[djinniman]

Hi folks. I am a super n00b to Warmachine/Hordes, and even more amateur with my painting and especially my modelling and sculpting skills. I managed to pick up a used Molik Karn for a good price, which I was fairly excited about. One thing I didn't like, however, is the head on the model. The toothy half mask just looks goofy, and the hair and ponytail thing are more aging hippie than vicious killing machine. I love the masks on the Cyclopes, particularly the Brute, so I decided to take the plunge and see what I could do.

I ordered a Cyclops Brute head, and spent an hour or so with a dremel removing the original head. I can't tell you how nerve wracking this was! I was so afraid I'd accidentally screw up the armor or something like that. After some trimming on the Brute head, I mixed up some green stuff and did my first real attempt at sculpting. I was looking for a wrinkled cloth type texture, similar to the details on the neck area of the other Cyclopes. Here is what I ended up with after the first day.



I'm fairly pleased so far, but there are a few things I know I need to work on. First of all, the actual helmet is too small. I will be building up the natural shape of the head in green stuff until it reaches a better proportion. Secondly, I want to add some distinguishing features to the mask. I'm thinking something like horns protruding from the sides of the head, angled down slightly. I suppose I will sculpt these as well, unless I can find something else suitable.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, criticism, or whatever! I'm not exactly sure it was a good idea, but I'm committed at this point, right?

[jdeckert]

Looks like a very good start to me!

[Not So Feral]

You have the cloth effect sorted.

Horns, possibly reshape and resculpt around the crest peices already on that head?

[MadJack]

Looks good, I've been considering doing something similar. I hate Karn's head, but other than that I like the model. The thing that has stopped me so far is that I've thought it would be a real PITA to remove his head...

[djinniman]

Finally got this fellow almost totally finished. I used some leftover white metal sprue, and trimmed the pieces down to a spiky point, then used green stuff to mount them to the Brute head. I didn't get it as smooth as I'd like, but now I will know better for next time.

I really like the way this turned out, I feel the mask is different enough from the Brute and also aesthetically pleasing. Almost has a Shogun Warriors (the 70s giant robots I mean) vibe to it.

I also attempted my first fancy base, mainly to keep Molik Karn from leaning forward so much. I ended up using wood smoking chips, oddly enough. They were a great size, and a bag of several dozen pieces only cost a couple bucks at the lawn and garden department at Walmart. They were a bit too square, so I used my dremel to add in some crooks and crevices.

All told, I'm fairly pleased with the results.

[Hatdecoy]

Nice work! That head is LOADS better than the goofy head that the model comes with.

[Washburn]

Well done dude, this is exceptional work for a begginer wargamer. I think the head looks much, much better. If you did this again you could try and make the helmet more ornate but that just comes down to practicing with what you can do with green stuff. The simple methods you have used work very well and good thinking with the outward blades at the back. You should be proud of this man, I like it.