Bobby Wong won the 2001 Golden Demon awards Slayer Sword at the US games day with his magnificent Bloodquest squad. We invited him to tell us how he went about producing these amazing models and heres what he said ...
Sergeant Tranio is the right-hand-man of Captain Leonatos. He's usually pictured directing the other Exiles into an attack, and that is how I chose to depict him. I decided to add a little interest to the miniature by having him point with the left hand instead of the right. I also gave him an auspex and communication antennas, as well as metal shoulder pads with sculpted insignia.
Using the Assault Sergeant Marine head, I shaved away all the little wires and cables on the back of the head. I then rolled a thin sausage of greenstuff onto the back of his head flattening it thin. With a sculpting tool I cut away the greenstuff until it has the shape of a receding hairline. Using a pin, I poked a bunch of tiny holes into the greenstuff to simulate close-cropped hair.
The torso was glued onto the legs with a slight twist to the left. I then glued on the backpack, and test fitted the right arm. Satisfied with the height of the arm, I cut the right arm below the shoulder, and rotated the right forearm with bolt gun out, and away from the torso. This was then pinned and glued into place.
The left hand was created from an extended Assault Marine arm with bolt pistol. I removed the bolt pistol with a knife, carefully carving away the left index finger. I then inserted a thin brass wire where the left index finger protrudes from the knuckle, and then added a little greenstuff to simulate a segmented armored finger. I pinned the arm to the torso at an outward angle, and filled the gaps at the shoulder with greenstuff. Tranio then received a pair of metal shoulder pads with sculpted markings. Such decorations are appropriate for someone of his rank.
To complete the miniature I added a small skull shaved from a bolt pistol, and glued it onto Tranio's belt. An auspex was glued to his right thigh, and a pair Frag grenades was glued to his left hip. 2 brass wires were glued to the top of his backpack to act as extra communication gear.
Materials used for Tranio
Left Assault Marine arm (extended with bolt pistol)
Right Tactical Marine arm with vent
Tactical Marine torso with Winged skull
Backpack with central vent
Plastic Assault Sergeant head
Frag grenades
Brass wire
Bolt gun with winged skull
Auspex
Metal shoulder pads #010115908, and #010115911
