The Spawn

by | Sep 17, 2014

The Dreadknight project is coming to a close at last which means I can get rid of one more box of kits from my collection. Having worked on larger models for a few months I want to ease back to smaller figures. Thus I thought I need something in the middle to get me on the right track. The Chaos Spawn models along with the relatively smaller Maulerfiend should do the job. Find out my review of the Chaos Spawn kit and a few early WIP shots after the jump.

I visit other blogs often both to collect as much information as possible about techniques and conversion ideas, as well as some painting inspiration. What I observed so far in these blogs is that there is very little information on how people approached the Chaos Spawn models. No one seems to have reviewed it either. So I would like to present my little review and thoughts on the kit and perhaps go for a step by step tutorial on how I assembled and painted my Spawn.

The kit contains two sprues of bits two put together two different spawn, an “instruction booklet” and 40mm bases both for WH40k and WHF units. I quote “instruction booklet” since it is not a set of instructions per se but a guideline for the numerous possibilities of mutations for the models.

The two sprues of bits. So many goodies that will please a Chaos enthusiast, ranging from spikes to mutated pieces! The booklet. The only instruction is about setting up the torso, the rest is up to the modeler's imagination. Some examples of 'eavy Metal models. The back of the box also contains 'eavy Metal painted units as well as some color suggestions. Neat. One of the Spawn models has a bit of scenery on the hoof. Unless you're basing without cork, I think this is unnecessary. While you can modify every bit to fit the crevices of the models, GW has categorized the bits for ease of access. When the kit is complete you're guaranteed to have 2 extra bases. Easily my favorite among the options presented on the box and I will convert based on this. The fleshy one in the back is probably the reason I got this kit. Another great contender for good conversions.

The sprues contain a whopping 80 pieces for just two models. Talk about design options! Better yet, only 4 of these are used to build the main body. There are a variety of eyes and tentacles to choose from, which makes the kit even more appealing to me.

The body is a solid piece, with only the chest set separate to be attached to it. Eyes! Eyes everywhere! No Chaos model is complete without a set of spikes and tentacles. The kit comes with a variety of heads as well... ... some arm bits... ... and smaller appendages for more mutation fun. Some bits are categorized as an arm and a tentacle at the same time. So many possibilities! One of my favorite heads in the set. I removed one from the sprue to testthe dry fits.

OK, I think I have established how much I liked the kit so far. Lots of options and good amount of details make me happy. Let’s move on to cleanup and some dry fits shall we?

Uh oh...

Uh oh…

I guess this explains the lack of love for the model: the first thing that shows up with the body pieces is that the cast has very large join lines that beg for attention. And I’m not talking about a quick LGS application, this needs the real deal to fill the joins and sculpting tools to blend the epoxy into the original cast. No big deal, not every cast can be perfect, but this kind of defect could really be avoided. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the casts are older compared to the newer Chaos models. Good news is this creates an opportunity for me to hone my (currently 0) skills in sculpting!

The model, like many other GW casts, has visible mold lines. They're very easily removed with a sharp knife and do not run along spikes. Be careful with the mold lines on the sides, as you may risk damaging detail. The cast, aside from the join line issue, is superb. I haven't seen this level of detail anywhere in the older models. The join line runs along the sides. Should be easy to camouflage once the arms are assembled. The head inset comes with a default "maw". There are two other insets to the sides for smaller eyes. The clawed feet model barely fits the 40k base. It's much easier to fit on the fantasy base. Then again, for those with custom bases with cork this is of little concern. If you plan to fit the model on the base directly, be aware that the feet are not aligned correctly. Bend the leg by putting the model in warm water, reposition, then shock with cold water to set in place. The claw on the foot seems a little rushed. Reminds me of the not so nice casts in the Possessed Marines. The join line runs along the entire chest piece, covering the loin area as well. Not sure if I should assemble the spikes or fix the join first. The hoofed model. GW shop images show a nice blend to the flocked base. I will probably remove this for my own design. This model stands correctly and fits the WHF base... ... as well as the WH40K base. My choice of head for the first spawn with the clawed foot. Should be fun to put in all the fleshy colors.

So far I have cleaned up the body bits of the first spawn that has the clawed foot and assembled it. Also removed all mold lines from a few selected arms and tentacles. Will see which ones to use where with some Patafix later.

2 holes for arms on left... ... 7 holes for spikes and tentacles in the neck and back... ... 2 arm slots on the right... ... and finally one head and two eye sockets for one model. A total of 14 holes to use for bits.

Some last remarks about the kit:

  • The kit is a treasure trove for those who like conversions. 76 pieces of Chaos bits in one shot? Yes please.
  • The body casts need some work. Those who worked with resin and Forgeworld should be set just fine as they’re used to modifications, but other modelers may be put off by this. Just be ready to put some effort and you’ll get a nice model.
  • At 12.5 GBP per model the kit is very expensive, considering the quality of the joins. However I think the spares left after assembly and the quality of the actual pieces makes up for it.
  • Some arm choices, when assembled together on the model, may interfere with the brush movement. To avoid this, work in sub assemblies.
  • If you’re using the default bases, rework the model to accommodate the uneven legs. Or be cool and create a new base altogether and you’re golden. Pinning is key.

It’s good to be able to write more often like this, I’m hoping for more relaxed weeks at work until the end of the year. Planning to make good headway this week with the current projects!


Filed under: Black Legion, Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines, Review, WIP Tagged: assembly, basing, black legion, chaos, chaos space marines, chaos spawn, daemons, miniature hobby, new project, painting, review, tips, warhammer, warhammer40k, WIP