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Author Topic: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL  (Read 12843 times)

Offline Chris

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How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« on: April 03, 2009, 03:51:52 PM »
Hello!

Most of the gamers probably complain about the lack of mercenary models for DoW armies. Thanks to new plastic, imperial state troops, making greedy swashbucklers has become pretty easy and cheap.

For converting I had used:

1. Imperial state troop.
2. Knife.
3. Green Stuff.
4. Paper clip.
5. Pin vice.
6. Penknife.
7. Sculpting Tool ( not in the picture ).
8. Nail file  ( not in the picture ).

Start from the paper clip.


You can bend it using hands or the tongs, pliers from the penknife. After doing so it should look more less like this.

Next use the pliers to split the paper clip. From one you can get two 6 cm pike shafts and a cane. 


Now it's time to get rid of mould lines, necessary parts and to drill a hole for the pike.



Now you can glue the pike.


Just like step before remove useless elements. The arrow shows mould lines on the spearhead.


Attach all the elements and you've got a pikeman.




Wait, what about the green stuff? Well this was the basic version, not requiring  any sculpting abilities.

In the Old World Estalians are one of the best pikemen. Using some modelling putty you can give an ordinary trooper a very characterful look.

Lets start from the hardest part, the helmet also known as morion.

Pick a suitable head and remove what's necessary.


Mix the putty and put a small, thin strip on one side of the helmet. Slightly bend it upwards.


When it's dry repeat the step on the second side. Now put some on the back and elongate it.


Do the same on the front.

Stick a thin blob in the middle.

Model the crest using wet fingers and sculpting tool.


Place an egg shaped blob on his back.


Make 3-4 cuts.


Copy the step and receive these fancy pants.

Exactly with the arms. Place the green stuff somewhere to the elbow.



Now the boot. Stick a stripe just under the knee.

Sculpt the boot. The arrow shows the mould lines.


The previous pike didn't look very decent that's why I suggest using green stuff. Place it just above the hand. Now with wet fingers pull it in the direction shown by the arrow. Remember to rotate the pike. It will be less crooked or uneven.


Remove the inequalities and fingerprints with the nail file.


The effects of my work.





Advantages:
- low cost ( they are definitely cheaper than the rare, metal GW models )
- 100% tournament legal ( I didn't use any parts from miniatures of other companies. Also if you convert and paint the pikemen decently you might get some extra points for the effort )
- revenge on the paper clip

Disadvantages:
- not the best look of the basic version ( unless you correct the pike with green stuff  )
- the Estalian version is much more time-consuming ( the helmet is very hard to do, special if you don't have any experience with sculpting )

Notes:
- be careful when you drill the spear shaft, it's easy to break it
- making pictures was very irritating ( there were moments I wish I had four arms like Goro from Mortal Kombat )
- well, this is my first conversion tutorial

I hope this tutorial is useful. If  you have any questions I will try to answer them.

Cheers
Chris
United Army of the Empire - my WFB Empire army log

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Offline Perambulator

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2009, 03:57:38 PM »
 :Ohmy: Nicely done!  :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:  :::cheers:::
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Offline Malvino

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2009, 03:59:03 PM »
wow wery useful tutorial!
i only dislike the shinguard...too big...

Offline Chris

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2009, 04:06:00 PM »
@Malvino

It's not a shinguard it's a boot just like here:
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Offline MrDWhitey

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2009, 04:09:34 PM »
I like it alot. However, I am lazy.

Make 60 of them for me and I shall pay you in blueberries.
I thought he should act responsibly and just kill himself.

Offline Parka

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2009, 04:34:54 PM »
Nice tutorial, but I think using something other than paper clips for pikes would be easier.

Offline Nicholas Bies

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2009, 04:58:02 PM »
I guess any piece of wire would do but paper clips are easy to come by.

Great tutorial and makes me want to customize some of my models.
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Offline Parka

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2009, 05:02:39 PM »
I've seen it done using Brass pins I think.  They cost a bit more but are less work.

Offline Malvino

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2009, 05:04:56 PM »
yes by the way i think  that part of the mini maybe looks better without that part of greenstuff :happy:

Offline ZeroTwentythree

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2009, 05:11:31 PM »


Excellent tutorial. I especially like all the extras like the helmet and puffy bits.

The first two pics are gold. :D

Rather than a paper clip, though, I've used florist wire. It comes in various thicknesses, both coated and uncoated (you want to use the uncoated). It's already straight, so you don't have to worry about the bendy-ness of it. It should be really inexpensive and easy to get at craft and floral stores.


Offline Gustavus Magnus

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2009, 06:32:57 PM »
Nice post!
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Offline Captain Tineal

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2009, 06:41:23 PM »
Sweet jeebus that paperclip gag made me laugh.  Great job dude.
I don't know what a pisolires is but it sounds like a musical instrument you play with urine...

Offline der Hurenwiebel

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2009, 08:03:49 PM »
Great job but I think I'll be doing mine in burgonets and Black and white 3/4 harness instead.  I'll of course give the champ a halberd though
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Offline patsy02

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2009, 09:52:45 PM »
Wouldn't it be easier and quicker to just use wire with the same diameter as the plastic shaft, drilling into the base of the hand and the puffy end of the spear instead of the frail thin bits?
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Offline Obi

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2009, 11:28:56 PM »
Awesome! Great job.

I approve of this post!
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Offline Blas de Lezo

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #15 on: April 03, 2009, 11:43:28 PM »
Estalia! Estalia! Santiago y cierra España
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Offline Zak

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #16 on: April 04, 2009, 06:02:33 AM »
I wish the Empire would have the pike as part of the army....very cool way of making a pikeman :::cheers:::
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Offline warhammerlord_soth

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #17 on: April 04, 2009, 07:22:22 AM »
Great tutorial.

I used 1/32 alu tube instead of paperclip, the rest of the method is the same.

I'll nominate you for the workshop...  :engel:
Have one  on Midaski's tab.  :::cheers:::
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Offline Captain Tineal

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #18 on: April 04, 2009, 12:32:46 PM »
Great tutorial.

I used 1/32 alu tube instead of paperclip, the rest of the method is the same.

I'll nominate you for the workshop...  :engel:

Already done my good death knight!  :-D
I don't know what a pisolires is but it sounds like a musical instrument you play with urine...

Offline Pierro911

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #19 on: April 06, 2009, 05:24:16 AM »
awesome tutorial

I rreccemend that you get brass rod from a model railway hobby store. Its great material to work with and comes in many different thicknesses. Also its not very expensive. As far as I am concerned my time is worth so much more then anything else so i learned to pay the few extra dollars inorder to make my conversitions that much better.

P

Offline Hagen_von_Loewenstein

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #20 on: April 17, 2009, 11:42:27 AM »
Nice tutorial, simple (except for the pikes) but effective, and probably the best thing one can do with these butt-ugly 7th Ed.-minis.  :eusa_clap: :biggriin:

Offline Wolfenbaum

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #21 on: April 17, 2009, 12:14:19 PM »
Great tutorial and really cool result! I kind of like the idea of using paper clips and that sort of material one have lying around here and there; cheap and innovative. I would love to see that mini painted.

Btw, in game, do you use them as spearmen or maybe dogs of war (don´t know if DOW are allowed any more)?

Offline commandant

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Re: How to make a pikeman? - TUTORIAL
« Reply #22 on: April 17, 2009, 12:48:53 PM »
I have found if you get a long match and drill out the hands you get a nice pike, just remember that a match is square