Mierce Miniatures

Sorry, couldn't resist.

So, a second Troll unit needs to be different. So hammers and some armour I think. Still in keeping with the Darklands look and trying to mimic Allan Carrasco's fantastic style as much as an amateur can!


I sculpted a few hammer heads last year. Here is the first one now attached to a hand and sculpted haft. The head was magic sculp and the haft pro create. I found pro create hard, which made it difficult to work with, so I mixed it with magic sculp for the rest of the work.


I tried to make the leather the same as Allan's work on Vortun. Not bad for my first attempt. Ever! The chain mail was sculpted as a flat sheet with a blunted pin then added to the model. I hope it looks better when painted!


As you can see, I need to figure out how to sculpt the buckles next!

Andy, you should be proud - it's a very effective conversion, and I think it maintains Allan Carrasco's style exceptionally well, particularly on the weathering on the straps. I love it, and am eager to see what you do to the others!

Cheers mate. This one is still far from finished! lol. I'm in danger of adding too much I think. Need to kep some ideas back for the others!

Really nice work Andy, fits in perfectly with the model. Can't wait to see it finished.

Some great sculting there, didn't even notice everything that you sculpted at first. I'm eager to see how this develops.

Cracking work there Andy, looks spot on, can't wait to see the rest

So I have done some more on the Troll. It's quite addictive! Sadly its slow progress as I'm learning as I go. I add and remove things and re-sculpt things.


Here's the first arm with some armour plates added.


Here's the back showing the buckles. At this size it looks like they need sharpening up. The mail 'skirt' has now been removed as I was unhappy with it. I will probably re-sculpt one later.


The front shows a pouch, skulls and bones added from Vortun's necklace. The first stage of the shoulder plates is there too.


Similar pic from the side.


And one for Ryan! Darkside, my favorite brew at the moment!

I fully approve. That Dark Side looks amazing! Unfortunately I can't get Bath Ale on this side of the pond. Glad to see I'm being a good influence!

Looking good, keep it up.

I like the hammers on the troll even better than the original weapons.

Cheers mate!



I had these delivered today. Now I can get on with the rivits on the armour!

Andy, where'd you order them from? Those look perfect!

A UK company. Adhesive Dispensing Limited. The nozzles were cheap enough. £6 for the sample pack. But with postage and VAT it came to £15! with some which are just too small to use.

Here are the arms, with finished hammers and armour.

I like it. Keep the sculpting up. It's gonna look ace.

Simply awesome stuff!

And Gem is my favourite beer of all time, by the way - the brewery is only 5 mins up the road from me

Forgot you're a Brizzle boy Pete!

Yarp

Still yet to put a brush to any Darklands models, but they are next on my list

Cheers Andy, keep on sculpt in! I c u got lot of potential both in paintin and sculpt in seems.

Cheers Mal. Nice to see you joined us at last! Looking forward to seeing your work!

Ahah I'll try mate, but currently can't find a "children works" section on this forums.

Let us know what help you need mate. We'll be happy to!

Malachi, the advantage to a forum like this is that its primarily loaded with hobbyists who know the processes required. I can't sculpt nearly as well as anyone Moerce even considers hiring, but I know what the steps in the process are; I just don't have the control to do them right. I know the progression of paint layers to shade the models, but don't have the skill to get them to the right place.
That said, everyone on the Mierce forum is here to represent Darklands the best way we can, rather than compete with each other. I was thrilled by how much of the WAMP contest was guys telling each other how they made cool effects and promoting someone else's models instead of their own. Usually that isn't the case when there's a competition. More than that, anyone who wants to get to the next level would do well starting here - people are honest with their opinions and offer great constructive criticism, even when something Is amazing but could be just a bit more perfect (heck, look at the Mierce supporters who asked for improvements to an amazing professionally done sculpt!
I know I get more here from one, "It's good mate but the gold is just a bit too yellow," than I do from the 200 people who've watched my painting & modeling thread on Dakka.
If you want to get better, post here and ask for feedback! It'll hurt the ego at first, but that's how we improve!

Nicely put Ryan.

Oh, I will be glad to post pics and receive the right amount of criticism bout my works here folks. That's what I would expect to improve me This begin said, is already a miracle I can write something in this forum for now, cause believe me, computer is totally a hard subject for me. U can imagine what will be to learn making and post in photos . Anyway sorry for bein out of subject, this is Andy's whip thread.

So I've put the bad boy together. Rejected the idea of putting armour on the legs. It just didn't look right. The shoulder plates are not finished, but I thought attaching the head and arms would help get it right.

I need some advice from you guys, on the length of the hammer handles. Are they OK or should they be shortened? Or maybe they need to be broken up with some strapping?



Here's the original for comparison.


And a side by side.


Please comment!!

I love how it looks! I think the handle length is OK; the overall weapon length is comparable to the cleavers they're using, and a Troll probably has the strength to swing from near the bottom of the handle. I would encourage doing wraps on the handles though, just for the sake of consistency. All the other troll weapons look like they have a strap on at least one of them, so it would make sense that the hammers would as well.

I think the hammer length is fine.
I don't want to be that guy, but personally I think the size of the hammer heads is more in line with GW scale/style than with Mierce's "true" scale. It's just that to me they come across as being a bit too large compared to the proportions of rest of the miniature.
I hadn't noticed it in the earlier pictures and I hate saying something like that when a miniature is finished. But in the end it is a personal opinion, so I hope you don't feel bad about it.

I did base the length on the cleavers, but the handles were looking long. Maybe the straps will help! Pauldron and straps tonight then!

Probably too late now. However, i think straps will improve things greatly but you may still need to shorten the handles, they do seem a bit on the long side to me. Great looking work though, can't wait to see a full unit

This is A FANTASTIC WORK!!! Congratulations for your sculpts...

As wrinklestiltskin said I think the left hand hammer length is fine. The right one looks like perfect for me. The chainmail looks beautiful too.

You havve create a diferent troll and that is so cool.

Many thanks.

Mariano.

Thanks for your input guys. I'm trying the straps first and I'll see how that goes.

Wrinklestiltskin, Mierce 'true scale'? The Duguth maybe (edit - the spear heads are the size of sword blades still!), but I beg to differ on anything Ysian. Troll cleavers are huge, Erik's axe, Carrowek's axe....need I go on? True, my hammers are larger than Gamla Bror's, but I wanted something to match the cleavers for size. I think ,at least I'm trying to, match Mierce style!

Haha you are right, I had forgotten about the Ysians. I was thinking more along the lines of Tarvax and Sronax (fomoraic in general) compared to GW Minotaurs. Those miniatures hit a nerve with me, Ysians not so much (except Uggurd) so I guess I blacked those out. Ever since I picked up a few Mierce miniatures, I've started to dislike GW miniatures more and more with its unrealistic proportions. I know Mierce miniatures is not exactly true scale, especially not across the whole line, but the miniatures are closer to realism in a way that I like.

I find it difficult to express myself in writing, but I should have put a bit more effort in to confey what I meant (in English). Sorry about that.
Anyways I love what you did with the miniature. The hammer scale critisism overshadows how much I like it and in the end it's a matter of taste.

Can't wait to see the painted result.

Thanks mate. As I said, all criticism is welcome!

I appologise for the 'true scale' rant!

I think I'll keep the heads the same size. They will be in stone, not metal, another justification for making them so large maybe! I will probably purchase a razor saw on the way home. Cut the handles down a little. hopefully they won't look so much like lollypops on sticks then!

Yea, I recommend anyone intending to cut parts off make the investment in a jeweler's saw or a razor saw. I've snapped enough pieces with sprue cutters and knives (not to mention making myself bleed) because of the brittle quality of resin. Learn from my blood! Pay the £5.00 or $7.75 for a few good saws!

£8.50! But it works!

OK, so I purchased the razor saw and removed about 4mm from each handle. I think I'm happier with the length now. Thanks for all the comments guys!
I added strapping to one of the handles and have made progress with the shoulder pauldron. Let me know what you guys think. If there anything else you'd like to see? On this or one of the other Trolls?



Once the pauldron is finished I think he's done!

If you've got access to really fine hobbyist's chain, I think it would look awesome to run some from his shoulder pauldron to those rings piercing his neck folds. I'd always wondered about the functionality of those...

Great improvement on the hammers, strapping looks good too. Awesome work. You've inspired me to buy some magic sculpt and have a go at some customisation.

I'm using a magic Sculp and pro create mix for most parts. Soft and sticky!

Looking v good. It won't be long before Mierce call you up to sculpt models - Will you be ready for KS3?

The changes really work. Look likes much better now!!

I can dream Pete, I can dream!

Those hammer conversions look amazing!

So much so that you've now got me wishing that Mierce would 'officially' make and release weapon options for the trolls so that mine could have hammers too!

Just a couple of pics of the second Troll. Still early days!




Getting there!

More work on the actual hammers yesterday. I decided the easiest way was to make a rough block of putty, let it cure, then sand and carve it into shape.





I have cut off one of the original straps on the arms and added new ones closer to the wrist. For the armour to attach to.

Looking v good again

Totally forgot to do this lunchtime, so just some pics!

Here's what I did with the second Troll this weekend. Chainmail and armour plates.





Still a way to go on the armour but so much better than the first one I think. So I ripped the plates and mail off of that one and started again!





Sorry, a bit blurry but you get the idea. Already feel better about it!

Great stuff.