Heavy Metal Rök Conversion

[hmk17]

So I figure I would make my contributions to converting Rök (or Rok Conversion for the easy search) from the classic Dire Troll Mauler.

The initial assumptions were that the hand was going to be way to big to fit the Mauler's arms, but it matches up nicely.



Once I sawed of the peg, I made a little discovery. The fist is on a diagonal line which was designed to blend into those massive forearms of the plastic kit. However, it can also be eyeballed onto the Mauler's hand as well.




I had initially assumed that I was going to have to rebuild the entire wrist to get the hand on there.



With the position marked out, All I will have to do is cut, pin the two pieces with the palms synced, then do some green stuff work to properly blend the fist.

Overall a much simpler conversion to get the piece ready.


So far the hardest part of the conversion has been the rebuild to the Mauler's torso, positioning it into artwork pose for Rök. I'll have more photos in the coming days.

[Autumn Stone]

Great work so far!

How does the head size line up?

Cheers
A.S

[hmk17]

How does the head size line up?

Glad you asked. Quite well, in fact.




I've clipped the peg off the back of the head, but I am debating about how to proceed on attaching the head to the torso when the time comes.

Rök's head is now roughly flat on the back. I can either bust out the dremel kit and make the back of the head concave to better match the torso. OR I can flatten/file the tip of the neck to better match the head. Given the pose of the art, I am leaning toward flattening the neck.




As an addendum to my first post, I made the cut on the hand and found my line to be too conservative. I made another cut and am still not totally satisfied, but I think I will file it down from here instead of trying to cut fractions of the end.



Also, with the cuts in place I had to rethink the hand attachment after a dry fit. Meshing the backs of the hands at a slight angle creates a better look and its easier to fill in the palm with green stuff.

[Javaman]

Nice to see I'm not the only one with this idea! I wish I'd noticed the palm line-up, though. It was easy to saw through at the wrist, but now I'm looking at rebuilding the wrist joint (which is a bit puny compared to the hand) in addition to resculpting his shoulder and arm.

As for the head, I clipped the back and opted to flatten the neck, as I haven't got a dremel. Worked out well, just a bit of greenstuff to fill in the gaps and you're golden.

[hmk17]

Yeah, I wasn't too keen on rebuilding the wrist as I would then HAVE to rebuild the right wrist as well in my OCDness. With the hair you are adding to yours, it will be well hidden.


Thanks for the word on the neck. I'll do that as well then.

[Javaman]

With the hair you are adding to yours, it will be well hidden.


Thanks for the word on the neck. I'll do that as well then.

Yeah, I'm debating whether or not to do the hair on the forearms as well. Initially I thought not, as Rok does have rocky forearms, but I am tarting him up as a Dire Winter Troll, and as you've pointed out, it would cover a multitude of sins. It's funny; I'm going to do everything I can to sculpt a well-formed and accurate shoulder, and then immediately cover it in a mess of fur. I'd blow it off and just throw a hunk of Greenstuff on there, but it'd probably make the hair lie all wierd.

[Sworn Enemy]

Looks great dude - I'm liking all of the Rok conversions I'm seeing on here.

[hmk17]

TY. Yeah, I can't wait to see more.

Update, though. Got the hand pinned.






Once I get the hand sculpted and the leg and back assembly gaps filled, I'll be in a holding pattern for my base order to arrive at my FLGS. Then its the home stretch.




"Why that for a base?"

1. That thing is going to be heavy. Anchored at the front of the base, it will counter balance the weight of the model in its final pose.
2. Red will be an interesting contrast for the Trollblood blue when painted
3. Rök lives in Scarsfel, inside Khador.
4. My Borka wants those pesky Khadorans off his lawn.

[Invaderzahn]

I noticed the same thing when I was eyeballing my metal Rok conversion. Its good do see just how close the two are before I get to the cutting.

[Wulfenstein]

I like it. Still waiting on my Rok kit to get in so I can begin the madness!

[Khador_Extremist]

Same with me Wulf, I got my metal Bomber and a bit of conversions later ill have Rok with a beer and wicked axe ready to kill

[hmk17]

Update

Got some of the axe hand's greenstuff work done. I'm going to go back after 24 hours to do some touch-ups as needed.

From most every angle, it looks good. There is one angle that makes it look like the most wonky thing ever.




While I have the GS stuff out later, I'm going to work on the head/neck as well.

[Javaman]

Looking good. I'd maybe add another thin layer to smooth out some of the marks, fill in the gap in the upper wrist. aside from that, it looks great from every angle I can see!

So, are you sculpting a barrel into his other hand? I run Mercs too, and I've found that the barrels included in the Nomad kit are in scale for Humans, which means they're a bit small in the Metal mauler's hand. A little judicious cutting and bending would close the fingers arround them though.

[hmk17]

That's the plan for step 2.

I'm going for the open right hand, like in the Domination art. I'm looking at placing a small keg at the small of his back, though. Rök needs to have a keg somewhere.

[Javaman]

Good call. Thanks for the idea! I took your suggestion (I think it was yours,) of tilting his torso up off his legs and greenstuffing a big potbelly on him, which I think worked out alright. Still need to raise his loinloth though, right now he looks less fat than pregnant.

[The Junkie]

Not trying to ninja the thread hmk17, but your sig is awesome. Are you voting eMad to go eeMad?

[hmk17]

Good call. Thanks for the idea! I took your suggestion (I think it was yours,) of tilting his torso up off his legs and greenstuffing a big potbelly on him, which I think worked out alright. Still need to raise his loinloth though, right now he looks less fat than pregnant.

No problem. That's the only thing that kinda bothers me about the original Mauler sculpt, he's all hunched over. Though it does look like he is stalking prey, I like my dire trolls big and impressive. As I commented on your thread, I think it looks fine. The main focus of the model won't be on the belly, but if you are concerned enough to change it... hope you can withstand the horrors of a google search on beer bellies.

Not trying to ninja the thread hmk17, but your sig is awesome. Are you voting eMad to go eeMad?

Its just something someone in the Trollblood Community forums created to have some fun in an election year. You'll probably starting seeing Doomshaper, Borka, and Grissel 2012 banners soon just to continue the laugh.

Honestly, I think we'll see e2Doomshaper first; similar to how Cygnar is getting e2Nemo released with their Colossal. Makes sense Trolls would get their Gargantuan and a new Doomshaper.

[hmk17]

Update.

Of note, the back of Rök's head was deceptively thin... whoops. Well, won't be wasting any green stuff on this one.

You can see how much of the neck I removed to bring Rök's head back and dip the chin towards his chest.





And blue tac'd in place.

[Dawnlord]

Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

[hmk17]

Update.

Still waiting on the Khador Wreck Marker, but my FLGS got Sylys Wyshnallyr in finally, so I can't complain. But I'm a little stalled until then.

Got the Axe hand complete last night, but I'm going to have to go back and re-touch the new neck again. It's not sufficiently bulky enough yet.

[hmk17]

Also a pic of some stuff I have had a lot of fun playing with.

[kneemus]

Great work! I'll be following along...

[hmk17]

Update. I will be getting more done later in the week as I am getting a donated wreck marker from my local pressganger.

Until then, the neck is finally done.






It's going to feel good to get those legs mounted as its one last major hurdle from there (sculpting the new torso). All downhill from there and then on to more ambitious projects...

[Sworn Enemy]

Hah. Awesome, dude. I can't wait to see it finished. I'm starting on my own extreme mulg next week - have any ideas how you're gonna do up yours?

[hmk17]

Hah. Awesome, dude. I can't wait to see it finished. I'm starting on my own extreme mulg next week - have any ideas how you're gonna do up yours?

Already planned and I've done some preliminary cutting and photography on the new legs. He's not going to be Extreme Mauler based as I was shooting for the over 50% conversion value. I noticed something while cleaning the models (I wash most of my models in warm soapy water) and a few quick measurements later I had an idea.

This is easily my most ambitious conversion, but will bring something I've not seen to the table. You'll have to see where things go when Mulg's own thread pops up. He will be the biggest Dire Troll when I am done with him.

[hmk17]

Update 1 of 2

Got the wreck marker on Thursday. A big thank you to my local Press Ganger for the assist, David couldn't have done this without you! Especially true, because he also traded me the Mauler I am using in the conversion!


As soon as I popped open the package, I knew I had a problem. The wreck marker wasn't solid as I had hoped, but instead was concave and hollow on the bottom to save on the metal. So there was going to be a sure lack of weight... what to do? Break out the fishing weights!

Once weighed out, the weights were put aside as I needed to trim the wreck. It easily fits on the 50mm base, but left no room for the one foot of the model. So once trimmed, cut, and hacked it was ready. Marked for pinning, I took the fishing weights, some Zap-A-Gap (my super glue of choice), and some greenstuff; filling the concave wreck. I let it cure then glued the wreck to the base, before going around and green stuffing the gaps.

Once firmly cured and on the base, the marker was ready for a positioning. I found where the leg pins should go and began the disguise work on the actual base itself. Using some Citadel Texture Paint (Stirland Mud), I glopped the stuff on thick to emphasize the wreck being pounded deep into the ground.

[hmk17]

Update 2 of 2

After letting the paint dry, I broke out the glue and got the legs set.

Once I get the pins in place and get the torso on and locked in, then it will be the sculpting...

[Dacian]

This is looking awesome

[hmk17]

One of the first things I learned when I was taught basic conversion stuff by my friend Ben, was that you will "F*** Up". As you get better, the less you will mess up; but more often than not you will be also save or fix the problem.


Such it is with Rök.


I had made some pre-drilled holes while waiting for the wreck marker, in order to better speed up the next couple of steps. I measured, I dry fit, but I f***ed up. The holes were in the wrong places and at the wrong angles. So when I started actually getting everything on.... it looked way off and the stomach gap was massive.


I sat for about an hour looking at it, before tearing out the pins and starting over. After another dry fit at the correct angle, I concluded that Rök's "spine" pin was the correct call and replaced it. I also realized that the model needed more internal support.


So I drilled another pin near the "spine" and positioned both to support the upper torso. One holding the front, the other the rear. Glued in, it worked perfectly. I'll be green stuffing the torso contact points today to lock the pins in, then I'll give it the better part of the day before I begin the base work for filling the gap. Also I have to re-charge my camera battery.


Still Rök has his wounds that will soon be filled with epoxy. Greenstuff, Primer, and Paint: all hide the sins of conversion. It's always about the final product.

[hmk17]

Update

Been sitting on the pictures for a few days, remembered to upload them as I started working on the next phase.

Filling in the torso: Step 1







Right now, step 2 is curing. its looking to probably be 4 steps minimum to get the stomach where I want it.

[hmk17]

Update... Loves me some handles!










So yeah... he's got love handles. Needed a stage to blend from for the beer belly (which is curing at the moment). Also that sideways belly button had to go, plus Rök shows the result of all his keg curls.

There will be fixes to the chest and a slight increase to the left side love handle will be done soon. Followed by a some beard blending, then its on to arms.

I just want to give a big thank you to anyone actually still following this thing. I know a lot of the other guys are done with their conversions and even are painted up. Things have been a touch crazy lately and I tend to work slowly and methodically, so things have been delayed and slow. I have seen a lot of the conversion threads and posts, and when I see them I want to try to make something as cool/good as what others have done. I'm hoping Rök will inspire others likewise.

[Drzombieface]

Dat muffin- top.

[Aníron]

Looks good! Nice pose hulking over the Khadoran wreck.

Also, what are you talking about "easy search"? The ö button is right there on my keyboard!

[Not So Feral]

I just want to give a big thank you to anyone actually still following this thing. I know a lot of the other guys are done with their conversions and even are painted up. Things have been a touch crazy lately and I tend to work slowly and methodically, so things have been delayed and slow. I have seen a lot of the conversion threads and posts, and when I see them I want to try to make something as cool/good as what others have done. I'm hoping Rök will inspire others likewise.

Dude, don't stress on the time, everyone here works at thier own pace and real life gets in the way. Also more time will most likely mean more awesome as no doubt you are spending a lot of time thinking this through when you aren't working on it.

Can't wait to see how it goes next

[Washburn]

Great work dude, everything so far has been excellent. Thanks for the updates and can't wait to see it finished.

[hmk17]

Update...

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words.

Some pics of the 3rd pass with green stuff. The art is a little awkward when it came to trying to replicate the larger belly. To much regret, I had to Google beer belly. I got the results, but I am going to need to see some cows slaughtered to wash out those images. /shudder

[GrandMcMuf]

I'm looking forward to seeing this through to the end. Great work so far.

[hmk17]

Update.

Torso is done. I did a 4th and 5th pass before being contented. The pectorals got extended for a more natural appearance, bulked up the left side, and added a couple of fat rolls to blend the stomach into the chest better.









Going back to fill in gaps around the beard and to begin bulking up the right wrist to match the left one. Entering the home stretch.

[Drzombieface]

I wanna see paint on it. Nyeeaaaa.

[jdeckert]

This looks like it's going to be amazing. Great work so far!