Converting the Krulghast Cruciator, Hobby Bingo, and Twitter

Here's a look at one of the models I've been working on, an update on my Wargame Hobby Bingo progress, and a list of all the places you can find me on social media:

 

The Krulghast Cruciator factors into the next portion of my Resurrection story line, and I wanted to customize him to fit the narrative. This model is so specifically posed, and so spindly that converting him has been quite a challenge. About the only thing I was able to do was trim the extended, jawline and weird beard from his helmet, and replace it with a normal jaw from the GW skulls kit.

 

I want this character to be a sort of torturer-blacksmith, harvesting the life force of his victims to infuse into magical artifacts. Since I couldn't do much with the model's pose, I needed to build the story around him.

For his torture subject, I used leftover parts from my other conversions– Legs from the bodies on a Corpse Cart, an old Zombie torso, and the cloak from the mounted Knight of Shrouds.

 

 

I filled in the missing detail with modeling putty...

 

 

...and used spare hands and arms from the Grimghast Reapers and Chainrasp Horde.

 

 

I made some shackles and a collar from styrene tubes. (The shackles help reinforce the join at the wrists, too!)

 

 

The artifact came together rather organically; I wasn't sure if I wanted to make an anvil with a weapon on it, but settled on a sort of forge or crucible. I trimmed the ends off of a crypt from the Sigmarite Mausoleum, and glued them together to form the bottom of the stand.

 

 

On top of that, I glued one of the prison grates from the Spirit Torment set, and then I inserted the flaming sword from the Empire (Cities of Sigmar) Wizard kit. I added a few spirit tendrils (puttied to blend into the flames), and replaced the hand holding the hilt with the bare section of hilt from the Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon. 

 

 

So, now the –very much still a work in progress– scene is set: The skull in the Cruciator's hand lines up with the neck of the victim, and the spirit energy being drawn out of him will be flowing over into the sword. There's still a lot of work to do yet, not the least of which ias figuring out how to base everything. I might go with a separate scenic base like I did for the Scriptor Mortis, or maybe I'll just say screw it and put him on a 50mm base.

 

 

I initially thought that I'd have the relevant models built, and the story wrapped up in time for Halloween, but quickly disabused myself of that notion. (At this point I think I'll be lucky to finish it this year!)

Speaking of yearly projects, I haven't been keeping up with my Bingo card. I took stock of everything I've been working on, and here's how it's shaping up. Here's where I was in April:

 

I've filled in a bunch of new squares since then:

 

 

Convert a model into a different unit or character– Ohmentet the Hierophant (converted from Octren Glimscry from Cursed City) fills that spot.

 

 

Convert a model– I had another model intended for this square, but she won't be ready for a while. The Scriptor Mortis fits the bill nicely, though.

 

 

Finish a model that's been in your to-do pile for more than a year– Luthor Vogstihl was the perfect ending to a project that had been lingering on my Shelf of Shame™ since I started this blog back in 2012!

 

Scratch-build a piece of scenery and Paint a vehicle are still in the "in-progress" category. The Skaven Tower probably won't be finished this year. And the Black Coach is my vehicle. It's getting close, but it might be a New-Year's Eve photo finish.

The remaining dark red-striped squares, Make a 2' x 2' battlefield section, Build a scenery kit, and Build three themed pieces of scenery are all finished, but I can't show them yet because they were for a commission that's still under wraps. I just checked off the boxes for my own sanity. (Come to think of it, I could probably count the Scratch Build box as well if I don't finish the Skaven Tower.)

I do have some other terrain that I should be able to show off in the near future. Stay tuned...

Other than that, I've just been counting the days until the inevitable Twitter implosion. It's a shame because I seem to get more engagement and see more hobby content from other people on Twitter than I do on Facebook. Facebook has also made it so cumbersome to toggle between my personal Facebook profile and my Hobby Page and Skull Forge Scenics pages (and then they restrict the number of followers who even get to see the posts) that it's almost not even worth it to post there.

I try to post content here about once a week, and I read and respond to all the comments. You can also follow my work on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@robhawkinshobby

My resin scenery kits are available in my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/skullforgescenics

My Facebook pages for the Blog and Skull Forge Scenics, although I really only use these to announce new blog posts and new products or updates for the shop:

https://www.facebook.com/RobHawkinsHobby

https://www.facebook.com/SkullForgeScenics

And of course, Twitter, for as long as it lasts: https://twitter.com/RobHawkinsHobby

'Til next time!