Griffon Mortar Or: So, you want to do an E-bay Repaint? (For the finished version, Click Here)

Ok, so Warhammmer 40k is starting to get a bit pricier, and we are alll looking for ways to save. Some of us have turned to E-bay looking for deals and they sure are out there. But this, this is a deal gone bad! I grabbed this one for $10 and I am convinced that the other guy got the better side of the deal.

9 May, 2006

Last update before the final results. Crew are almost done, paint is almost done. Just needs a seal coat of clear flat and it's done for now. As with the previous Basilisk, I'm waiting until I get further along before I weather it. I want them all to blend well with each other, so I'd rather do it at one time to keep the technique consistant.

1 May, 2006

Just a quickie update to show how the paint is coming along. This is going to be done in a matching scheme to the previous Basilisk build, and is the scheme that my entire Cadian Armored Company will be in. As you can see, still a lot of detail work to do. But big change from the hideous mess I started with, huh?

24 April, 2006

Ok, here is the rebuilt and redetailed mortar deck. I added some styrene strips to add definition to the new front panel. Some leftover periscope pieces from a German tank kit along the sides give that good definition as well. The Aquilla and Cadian equipment packs round it out nicely. And here is the finished Griffon assembled together again. I want to work a bit more at cleaning seams off of the actual mortar tube, but won't be doing any further changes. Now, on to the crew! Unlike the single crew member on the Basilisk, I felt this vehicle needed two in order to look right. Some cutting, repositioning and a bit of green stuff changed the poses around a bit to something a little bit different but not too dramatic. All parts for the figures came from a Cadian heavy weapon sprue. In the pose, one crew member is getting ready to fire the mortar. The other is thirsty and since it's so loud from the sounds of battle, he has to yell and point to get his buddies attention.... and the canteen. I guess the first guy is just oblivious.

17 April, 2006

Well, it scrubbed up a lot better than expected, normally paint bonds a lot tougher into plastic. So the Kleen Strip was able to get most of the paint off, except in the tight little nooks and crannies. I also really didn't like the lines of the vehicle after I assembled it back together again. Not to mention, the original builder really gobbed on the ca glue. So I ended up sheeting over the sides of the gun platform, and added another piece in front of the mortar that I think blends much nicer with the overall lines of the vehicle. The mortar is just sitting there right now, I have some plans for that as well, and it needs the work.

15 April, 2006

Even from first look it doesn't look good, does it? The paint colors are a bit, garish. Paint quality is quite poor. Originally I had planned on just a repaint with a few additions, but things didn't quite go to plans. This guy has seen better days too, hasn't he? I love the chopped to pieces base underneath him too. Usually, if the paint is bad, then so is the glue quality and assembly. The tracks were barely attached. So I pulled them off to re-set them, and found this little gem of a missing wheel. Oh, and notice the big gap on the mortar deck. I figured I'd just pull the deck and back plate off too, and they came off easy enough. But I take the back off, and find a stack of papers inside. Wierd. The stack of papers? All ripped in half blank deposit slips for the bank. Your guess is as good as mine. At this point, it was almost taken apart anyways, so I just took the sides off as well. All the center section seams need to be redone. The paint needs to be stripped off. A lot of work to do here, a LOT of work. All to save a few bucks.

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