Tuesday 10 January 2023

Giant servo-skull

Hey all ! I was looking at the Stargrave rulebook the other day, thinking of what specific encounters would suit each scenario until I figured out I needed a giant skull robot in my life to guard data vaults, terrorise adventurers or just pose and look cool. As you do.

Now pop culture has given us plenty of cool robot skulls in sci-fi and I wanted mine to channel some of the od plastic toys vibe with its big head and goofy look. For those who haven't recognised the piece, it's a crane attachement that comes in the mechanicus gantries set (which I got back in the shadow wars box set, that takes us back).


But you know, it somehow made more sense (as much as a giant robotic skull can) to be its own semi sentient thing walking in empty corridors and giving that vintage sci-fi scent to the place :



I did consider painting the body red (and still believe I should have) but I reckon black was a safer choice. I would totally paint a red one if I had one though.



All in all, this one barely took an evening's work to complete and was primarily a test model to work with dirty down rust a bit more and how it behaves with spray varnish, well the result is clear, get your weathering after varnishing :


I had overdone it voluntarily to test how it would affect places with a lot or little diry down, it takes off about 80% of it. I also rubbed pretty aggresively the weathered area before varnishing and it only takes off a marginal part so that's all I needed to know. good thing though, I can always come back and add it back now.

Anyway, my giant robot skull can now go play fetch with an inquisitor band :


Or guard a data vault from pillagers !


 Happy painting you all ! 





31 comments:

  1. That's pretty awesome, and the weathering looks great! Red would have looked cool too, but I dig this one. I think it'll fit into many more games. Love that you made it a giant servo skull instead of a crane. I never understood the need for a giant skull crane... but that's modern 40k I suppose?

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    1. the crane in the servo-hauler set also have a massive skull but then again, we're talking about a setting with blood fuelled reactors right ?
      the black one is indeed easier to fit in games, red would be a little more saturday morning cartoon I reckon.
      Thanks !

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    2. It's a bit nuts, but I have to say that making even a crane look like a skull is completely on brand for the Imperium 😄

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    3. There is *definitely* a point beyond which getting rid of skulls on Warhammer stuff becomes self defeating, and it is best to roll with the disprortionate cranial focus in the setting. Under almost all circumstances, I try to accept/embrace it as often as possible instead.

      Even so, I do think that turning this particular crane element into a monster is best for all parties :D

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  2. Thats a great use for that kinda goofy piece.

    Good stuff!

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    Replies
    1. There's a place for goofy to an extent I reckon, thanks !

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  3. I like the way you've gone with this. It looks much more "logical" as the construct of some mad engineer than part of a crane. I could see it creeping around some kind of metal labyrinth. Nice work!

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    1. It's not a huge shift but giving a giant skull head to a robot guard to scare intruders than to decorate a construction engine !

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  4. well damn, i don't play 40k or sci-fi as much as i used to but i do get a feel of a demonic steampunk automaton created by an evil artificer in D&D.
    and i have this terrain piece somewhere. looks like i got a new project for today!

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    1. I haven't played modern 40k in about 12 years but my games can definitely benefit from a steam powered aracnoskull !

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  5. Toy Story meets WH40K, and it's done in the best way possible :D

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    Replies
    1. That's a horrifying mix when you think of it ! But fun ! ^^

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    2. This sort of thing also makes me think of the Island of misfit toys from "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer " 😮

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  6. Nice repurpose of an otherwise silly terrain design piece.

    I think the black was the better choice as mentioned above cos it’ll be easier to fit in with more settings/games.
    But red version does pique my interest :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I guess I'll just have to harass a friend into painting a red version !

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  7. Impressive. Are you pleased with your results?

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    Replies
    1. Funnily yes, it was merely to test dirty down effects on it and fill a slot in my Stargrave encounters list but in the end it's one model done quick and easy so very rewarding, perfect to lift the mojo for what's next !

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  8. That is beautiful. I've just bought Station Zero and the 1st Scenario has "ancient Robot Guards". This is exactly what I pictured.
    Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Ancient robot guard seems like a good fit for it indeed !
      Thanks !

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  9. Original creation and impressive result!
    How did you achieve the red light effect in the eye and nose?
    What paint did you use for the rust effect?

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    Replies
    1. The red OSL is easy, I started with really diluted red then once dry very diluted cadmium red, then very diluted bright orange, the paint has to be thin so that it pools in recesses like a wash but still taints the surface, you just apply in an increasingly smaller area.
      The rust effects were made to test the Dirty Down Rust effect which pretty much create real rust on models. It reactivates with water though so you want to use those after varnishing or be prepared to losing 80% of the effect

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  10. love this as a miniature and was fortunate to have this piece of terrain, i went a made my own.
    did a post on my blog about it and gave a little shameless plug for ur blog because this is where i first seen this. awesome job.
    https://thesafehole.blogspot.com/2023/01/mk-iii-servo-automaton.html

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  11. Oh wow! This is such a fantastic looking piece. Love it :)

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    Replies
    1. Funny how such a simple model cut from a scenery kit gathers such a consensus !

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