Single Seat Land Speeder

[RedCuffs]

So I'm starting my first Space Marine army.
They're going to be all scouts and all landspeeders.

That left me with a problem of how to model the HQ.

The FOC choice I went for is a Captain on a bike.
And to keep the Scouts 'n' Skimmers theme this is the model I've made to represent him.






It didn't really come out exactly how I intended.
It's a bit too fat and wide and I did try to make the rider into a more "sportsbike" pose.
The shark teeth looked really good in my head but haven't come out as good as I hoped.
It isn't helped by the shakey hand painting. Sharkey looks like he needs a trip to the dentist !!!

It's a concept model really. I've another HQ to make and a command squad too. All on skimmer bikes.
So I'm looking for comments, advice, opinions, ideas ...
What would you have done differently?
I know the paint has come out a bit thick. I didn't notice as I was putting it on. Eyes aren't what they used to be.
And can anyone give me a tip on how to paint the teeth straighter?
I do want the nose art to be very straight and angular to suit the lines of the landspeeder.

Please be as critical as you like, I'm a big boy and have come to terms with not being great at anything.

[yvain]

I don't think your free hand is bad. The problem is the shark has no lower jaw or set of top gums. And the way the front is designed,its all blocky and it make the gums and black spots look bigger than they should.

As stated, the front is too blocky. It looks like he stole a go cart and is riding it into battle. If you could slender it and making it more aerodynamic it would probably get the effect you are looking for. Maybe cut off the nubs on the front?

You could use masking tape to make lines if you cover the non painted spots.

[Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four]

Interesting conversion, but to my eye it immediately looked more like something an Ork Mek had cobbled together (profile looks very much like the Ork cruisers from the Battlefleet Gothic line) than a Space Marine vehicle, especially with the dags on the front "bumper." Still, this is an interesting concept--have you considered trying using one of the Forge World heresy-era jetbikes as a mount for the Scout Captain? It could be a Chapter relic that the 10th Company Captain uses, perhaps?

[3ff3ct]

I think it's awesome, although I think you should stay away from the 'shark' paint job approach as it does make it look Orky, and draws attention to the width of it.

Maybe add some decals from a transfer sheet onto the armour, or pick a few panels out in a camo pattern? Or both?

I'm sure it'd look a bit better with some edge highlights too, as it's a bit 'flat' at the moment.

A great idea though, and I'm very interested to see how you convert the other options in the army!

[jenburdoo]

Hey, I love the paint-job on the front!

[RedCuffs]

Cheers fellas !!!
All good comments and all duly noted.

Cheers yvain. I searched Google images for shark nose art and I see what you mean about the lower jaw and top gums. It’ll be hard to paint those in because the top and bottom edges of the bumper aren’t straight, they’re stepped. Not sure how to tackle that.
I’ve stared at it for a couple of weeks now and I can’t figure out a scheme that’ll work better.
So I either leave it as it is or I paint it out.

But you know the more I glared at it the more it grew on me and I think I’ve started to like it.
It reminded me of a really angry piranha fish. Somehow (not the Tau type).

I can’t quite see the go kart but normal land speeders do remind me of fairground dodgems.
I somehow find the thought of a load of Space Marines on dodgems bloody hilarious.
Cutting those nubs off (are they meant to be a bumper or something?) would slim it down but I didn’t want to lose the Land Speeder aesthetic.

I’ve never seen the gothic Ork battle cruiser before but yes 1974, they do have the same profile.
I’ve seen the forgeworld Jet Bikes, they’re OK but again I’m trying to keep a Land Speeder aesthetic.
And I like building my own stuff anyway.
I didn’t think of the teeth to be Orky until you mentioned it but they do don’t they.

Jenburdoo … glad you like it.

Effect, edging is a good shout. Probably try out a mid to dark grey for that. What do you think?
And a question to all the painting gurus here … is the right thing to do here,
1 decals,
2 a wash,
3 weathering streaks (like oily streaks horizontally down the sides) then
4 edging?

Anyone got any tips on how to make a streaky, oily, impression of speed type weathering?

Anyway, with all those points taken into account I started building the Mk II.
I’ve used another bike chassis and scout rider and leftover Land Speeder parts from the first project.









It is slimmer and the rider is in the “sportsbike” type position I was after but it’s lost all the “hint of land speeder STC” and looks more like a jet bike.
Does the nose need a bit of detail?
It’s just compared to the MkI with its shark face it strikes me as a bit bland?
Or is it a case of “less is more”.

I've mentioned the "Land Speeder Aesthetic once or twice". All the troops will be mounted in Land Speeders so with the HQ conversions I'm trying to keep that Land Speeder type theme.

Here are some comparison pics







All comments gratefully received.