WIP Converted Pathfinder Squad and Marauder Project

[Doghouse]

Seeing as I'm the impatient sort I've decided to have a bash at making my own custom Pathfinder squad for the next incarnation of SST.

Getting started
I've used the basic plastic models as the armature and have basically begun to bulk them out a little.
Here is the original model I started on way back using a similar process.

Vladimir Rhochenkov
The newer versions are taking shape as seen here below. I was going to sculpt the heads but opted for hasslefree heads instead to save time.
The main thing I'm doing here is firstly bulking the model out. One of the main problems for me concerning the old minis were that they were a little thin and had far too much unnecessary detailing like the folds on the legs which made them a pain to paint.
At this stage I've smoothed them out and will add more subtle folds. It's still pretty rough at the moment but it's getting there.

This is a yet as unnamed female trooper and she will be recieving the reverse treatment to the males of the squad. I've shortened the legs and torso to give her a smaller size and will shave the torso sides.
She looks a bit disproportionate at the moment but this will be altered once I start the grey stuff work as I hope to make her as feminine as possible.

Squad progress so far

 

[Col_stone]

looking good

 

[Mage]

On the third phot, did our resculpt the torses, get new ones or what? They look cool.

 

[Rabidchild]

Great stuff, love it! Great detail sculpting. Will you be adding any details to the bare heads, like tech gadgets, or leaving them as is?

 

[Doghouse]

Thanks guys!

Mage: The male trooper has a sculpted torso whilst the female is just a regular plastic that will be heavily reworked.

Rabidchild: The heads will probably just get berets or hair, seeing as they are Pathfinders some nightvision goggles might look cool.

I've made a little more progress on the Rhochenkov but am focusing on getting the figure together at the moment rather than the detailing.
I've used the arms from some IG models for simplicity which I'll be sculpting to resemble power armour.
I'm only using the standard plastic parts from the CAP troopers at the moment, so they will be a more conventional looking squad when finished.
I had thought about buying a box of pathfinders but I'm a bit skint at the moment.
I've purposely left the thigh guards off the LT/Captain to make him a little more unorthodox. The idea is that he's ditched them for ease of movement. Other non-standard issue parts are creeping in as well with the addition of flashlight attached to the torso for when creeping around in bug tunnels. Always wise to keep a back up to all the high tech.
I've begun adding squares where I'll be adding the pouches.
I'm not sure what to do with the head though, I'm thinking maybe a beret might look good and make him stand apart from the regular apes, maybe a drop down eye scanner over one eye might work as well.

 

[Doghouse]

Here's an example of some really old MI troopers I did way back when the game first came out.
Both heads are completely sculpted and I thought something like the beret might look good on these guys. What do you think?

 

[Mage]

Excellent dude, an army like that would rock. Go for it if you like it, the heads are good, and the flesh and armour are neat and well blended.

 

[Paladin]

DESTRO!

Here's an example of some really old MI troopers I did way back when the game first came out.
Both heads are completely sculpted and I thought something like the beret might look good on these guys. What do you think?

These are awesome! Depending on price, I'd buy a head pack of these for mods.

 

[Jedi Gerbil]

Doghouse,
As always your models are the bomb!

BDJV from Warseer.

 

[Doghouse]

Thanks guys!

Jedi Gerbil: Hello mate! Great to see a familiar face here.

Update

Not really a lot more done but it's getting there. I've opted for the beret and started the detail on the flashlight.
I've still got to finish the legs and the details but it's coming along nicely at the moment.
I'm thinking about adding some personal details like dog tags or maybe a small piece of Archanid claw.

I seem to have misplaced my Pathfinders book so I'm going to just do an eight man squad with a Shredder to back him up.

 

[Doghouse]

Oh I forgot to ask, does anyone know if Pathfinders take things like Marauders, CHAS and Exo-suits in their platoons?

 

[Lieutenant Rasczak]

Oh I forgot to ask, does anyone know if Pathfinders take things like Marauders, CHAS and Exo-suits in their platoons?

Nice work, please say thats not a purity seal . . . . .

Pathfinders get Pathfinder Squads and Pathfinder K9 Squads and thats it, they are allowed certain Fleet Assets from PL 2 (F-76 Thunderbolts), and Slingshots at PL 3.

 

[Doghouse]

Nice work, please say thats not a purity seal . . . . .

That's just the flashlight taking shape, the round bit at the top is just the lense.
I seriously don't like mixing bits from different companies but the arms and knife were an easy option.

Hmm, so just Pathfinders then. Maybe I should just go career and do a regular ape army as I'm planning on making a bigger to scale version of a chickenhawk.

 

[Lieutenant Rasczak]

Nice work, please say thats not a purity seal . . . . .

That's just the flashlight taking shape, the round bit at the top is just the lense.
I seriously don't like mixing bits from different companies but the arms and knife were an easy option.

Hmm, so just Pathfinders then. Maybe I should just go career and do a regular ape army as I'm planning on making a bigger to scale version of a chickenhawk.

Nothing wrong with the MI, I've had more success with my Grunts than any other Force I've played with Lol!

There is nothing stopping you giving your officer a second platoon to play with!

I have three versions of Major Mason (my CO), (not converted to your degree Lol), one in normal Power Armour, one in a Grizzly suit, and one in light armour.

 

[MaxSteiner]

Thats some smooth putty work!
Is that procreate you're using?

 

[Doghouse]

Lieutenant Rasczak: Sounds like a little more research is needed on my part, I'll have to hunt around a get a copy of the army books in the new year.

MaxSteiner: Thanks mate, yeah it procreate. It's not bad but I kind of prefer GS to be honest.

The Female trooper

Ive begun work on the female trooper for a change of pace. I'm going to do the armour used in the jungles during the Tesca campaign.
I see her being more of a scout and so the light armour fits the role well, it's also a lot easier to make her more feminine looking.
The pose is fairly static on both these models but I am working on some more dynamic special forces action poses for the others.
The main reason behind this is that more open poses allow you to see the sculpting work more clearly. With a Morita held across the chest it obscures the details.
I'll probably give her a forage cap with a small pony tail coming out the back.
the legs still have a lot of shaping and smoothing to go yet though so she's still very basic looking at the moment.

 

[Rob_A]

Nice stuff,
good to see you here again.

 

[Doghouse]

Thanks mate, good to be back.

Female trooper update
Well I'm now begining to regret not making this model a little more dynamic now.
I'll be rotating the head around forty five degrees to the left to give her a more side on view and adding a pack of some description under her hand on her leg.
In addition to shortening the torso and legs I've also shortened the arms to fit the new proportions.
Still have to add the left shoulder pad and a heck of a lot of equipment though. I may yet use her as an NCO but I'm not sure.
I'm thinking some Pathfinder style nightvison goggles hanging around her neck might look good.

I'm toying around with making these a Fleet equivilant of the Pathfinders a bit like the SBS. Not sure if the Fleet would ahve such a service but I seem to recal mention in the army book of Fleet personnel that specialised in boarding actions.
This will play a fairly important part in their final look and the equipment they carry. I may even theme the bases to look as though they're on a transport bug if I go with this option.

 

[Mage]

Why does the dude on the right have a purity seal on him?

 

[Doghouse]

I think it's just the angle of the picture, it's a flashlight that's not finished yet. The round bit at the top is the bulb lense.

You can see it taking shape in this picture here:

I just need to straighten out the bottom of the flashlight and add the detailing.