4 Aug 2014

SAW gunners WIP

Hello guys,

While I am waiting to get my various assault rifles back from Carl, I am spending time converting SAW gunners. I started working on two at a time and I have almost finished the first pair (finished as with swapping weapons, not actually converting a miniature).

Ever since Slovenian army was modernised, our fire teams' SAW gunners use FN Minimi (much like the rest of the world). Our version is a "para" one with a folding stock and a short barrel.
I made mine out of Ebob's version for his Australians, which only needed a cloth instead of box ammo pouch, a different stock and an optical aiming device (ELCAN if anyone cares, the same that Canadians put on their assault rifles).
The thing is, Americans use licenced produced Minimis. The one Empress figures have got a new stock and that usual American barrel guard (perforated cover above the barrel) - so basically what I am doing is cutting up a miniature to swap it's weapon for the same one.
In my defence, Ebob's minimi is a tad slimmer and I think looks more realistic, so that is a plus.

On the photo below you can see (from left to right):
Pilot getting an armoured vehicle helmed (I regret my decision, yes).
A SAW gunner that has new weapon installed already - this one was converted from an actual SAW US infantryman.
An ex-sniper figure that got SAW. This for some reason (must be the pose!) is by FAR my favorite miniature from Empress so far. He just looks plenty cool.
A SAW gunner yet to get his weapon, but mostly prepared (to show you how it looks like before he gets a new one installed!)
A SAW gunner that will need a lot more work and has turned into a nightmare.To answer your question about how I will cut away the weapons that are sticking to the body, Pete - with an iron will :D.
Once I am done with those, this will give me SAW gunners for four fire teams, so I will be able to build two squads. Looking at my tiny 2x3 feet table, that's twice as much as I'll ever need, but then again I also have around 30 insurgents.
 
 There is one thing I have noticed about that sniper crouching miniature, however. While, again, he looks really awesome, his firing position is not correct (according to what we've been taught, at least). If you look at his left arm and left leg (photo below), you will see that his elbow is on his knee. Now, this is wrong, because it's a "bone to bone". What this poor fellow should do is put his elbow either a bit further up front (to rest his upper arm on the knee) or a bit down, to rest his elbow on a tight. Not that he deserves a -1 to hit, but I found it interesting!


Well, that is it for today. I am trying some modern rules out so there is a high possibility of an AAR in the future!

Thanks for looking,
Mathyoo

18 comments:

  1. All good stuff Mattyoo, your efforts at 'perfection' astounds me at times, I know that I just wouldn't bother.

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    1. Thanks Joe! It's not that much about perfection, though. I didn't go into complaining how hands I sculpted are so wrong I'll probably chop them off really soon :D

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  2. I echo Joe's comments. Having seen the Empress miniatures in the flesh I just could not bring myself to cut them up as you have. You're a brave man, Mathyoo!

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    1. Thanks :D. The idea was to have the Slovenes, so leaving them as they were would defeat the purpose of buying them in the first place!

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  3. Really nice job, dude. Looks like those shooters are working out nicely for you.

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    1. Thanks. And thanks yet again for the guns, they surely made it all possible. I can't wait to have at least a fire team painted up.

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  4. Great job dude! All that cutting to replace it with the same weapon, are you nuts!

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    1. Ha, thank you! And it's not the SAME weapon, the changes are mostly in the appearance so they had to go. And I have to say I REALLY prefer the slimmer ones. Not to mention I would feel bad for not using them after all the trouble I've been through converting them. I had huge problems with a stock and now I keep cutting it away anyways!

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  5. I like the "Bone to Bone" comment it's these little detail that make your blog so interesting. That and the local history of course.

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    1. Thanks Clint - I was so proud that I noticed it I just had to share, ha!

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  6. Wow, that's a lot of effort. I hope the results meet your expectations!

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    1. I have to admit, I am letting things bother me less and less with every one that I cut. It is getting tedious and I have only just begun!

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  7. Don't think I'd 'correct' them myself but I do understand, once you stop somehtig that bugs you, you just gotta make it right! Good work!

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    1. Thanks, much appreciated. I just keep telling myself the conversion work is what I got them, so I better cut them and be over with! :D

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  8. Your green stuff skill is great mate :)

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    1. Cheers, but there's not much involved here just yet :P

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  9. Great looking conversions mate.

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