I know, I know… I should be working on Necrons for the Tale of Mega Painters project, but I’ve been wanting to build this conversion since Christmas. Now the Hobbit tutorials are complete, I couldn’t resist making a more imposing Abaddon. After the jump I detail some of the conversions and share a couple of tricks.
The model is mainly a stock plastic Chaos Lord, with a few choice parts from an old metal Abaddon. To make the chest more suitable for Mr Despoiler I used very thin modellers wire and coiled it around a straightened paper clip. This is a great trick for making cables of varying diameters.
The shoulder pads are both left sides, so I had to clip off the spikes in the corners and then cut away the corner to make an indented corner. Now the model features the Eye of Horus on right side matching the original Jes Goodwin sculpt.
I also had to hacksaw off the old ammo belt on the Talon of Horus and replace it with a plastic one from a combi bolter on the Chaos vehicle sprue. I wanted his Talon of Horus to be turned upside down offering a fresh skull to the Chaos Gods. The opened mouth skull is from the Skeleton Warriors box set. The flames (or beard according to my Wife) is a blob of green stuff, then using a pointy modelling tool stab into the greenstuff near the base, then poke diagonally left above, then up and diagonally right, then up and diagonally left. When you get the to the top, stop and repeat. Keep doing this until you’ve gone all the way round the flames. Then just tease the lines the indents have made into flame shapes. Always use a wet tool.
The base features cork bought from ikea. I think they’re normally used to put hot pans on so you don’t damage your kitchen surfaces. They’re cheap and around 10mm in thickness, I broke off parts and then using a long blade cut the piece in half to reduce the thickness. Cut at an angle if you want to create slopes.
The fallen Imperial Marine has really been through the wars with bolter explosions marking his armour, losing a leg at the knee, decapitation and then having his skull flayed by warp flame. I sculpted on a new hand in a natural position because clenched fist wasn’t really working out. I’m not sure what colour to paint the sacrificed marine. I’m thinking Blood Angel, it would tie in with my colour scheme. Alternatively, I’m thinking a yellow marine like Imperial Fist to blend into the desert bases, I don’t want the dead marine to be more eye catching then Abaddon. Any suggestions?
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Nice job on the conversion. =) It looks so much better than the plain vanilla Abbadon that I plan to paint for my Black Legion/word Bearers army.
Loving the kickers the space marine is wearing! Mark IV Alpha Nikes! Haha jk looking pretty solid 🙂
This is amazing, definately one of the best Abbadon conversions I've seen. Can't wait to see it painted.
I raid Ikea everytime I go there, they have cheap cork, and also lots of stones, sand, etc. that are supposed to be for plants…and they are CHEAP!!
I also like the conversion a lot, especially the skull and the flames. I would paint the dead marine as a Imperial Fist, yellow is not as catchier as red; it gives the mini light, but it's more subtle.
I also would paint the flames greenish, to show they are sobrenatural.
http://thespanishpainter.blogspot.nl
Awesome conversion on one of my favourite models, the "flames" might not look like flames but it definately gives and impression of the skull being consumed by the dark powers of chaos. It will be cool to see the finished effect.
I dont like the "dogbone" sticking out from the fallen marines leg, it gets cartoony IMO, but the rest of the corpse has a really great effect of fallen warrior. Deadspace1 mentioned a bright color or adding a large contrast, but just as you mentioned. Dont let the color scheme take over….
I really want to see the continuation and finished product!
Forgot to mention: Thanks a million for mentioning the cork bases. I have been wondering what "wierd" material is used to create those rocky surfaces.
A trip to raid IKEA is in the calendar 🙂
Well now I can't see flames, I can only see a beard. I'm sure that will change once it's painted though. I think this is a huge improvement on the original model.
nice conversion. had the same idea of making him stomp over a dead marine but I probably won't get to mine in 50 years so…lol
awaiting the paint job. I assume you'll make him black so yellow would go nicely. I'm not a colour expert, but picturing it I think anything would go with black. If you don't want a stark colour, maybe an imperial fist? They are dark blue but an Ultramarine should be fine as well.
I'm, of course, talking about the colour of the dead space marine.
Nice job, great conversion
A very nice version of Abaddon! I have been kicking around the idea of making a similar conversion (using the Chaos lord as a base too), but was undecided on how to proceed. Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work!
Awesome. Necrons are low detail minis. You just needed more high detail in your hobby diet. Again, awesome.
Glad to learn I'm not the only one using IKEA's cork for basing 🙂
Excellent conversion man, I never really liked the original Abaddon model but this adds a lot more character to him. Personally I always like adding bright marines as casualties for CSM as the contrast between light and dark is very thematic. The gore you'll inevitably add will tone down the colour of the power armour too.
Great work as always mate,
Phil