Tuesday 8 January 2019

Necromundan Shadow Hound

The folk tales of Necromunda are full of references to terrifying shadowy dog-like creatures. There's the Black Chuck of the Ostpost Angles of Trazior Hive, and the Bargust which purportedly ravages the settlers of Spoil Heap Island in Palatine itself, to mention just two. Of course the dark spaces of Necromunda are infested by innumerable dangerous creatures, but a sighting of a Shadow Hound is almost universally considered by Necromundans to be an omen of impending death. Often within seconds! 

Earlier this year I was planning to take part in the "Here Kitty, Kitty" competition on Yaktribe (make and create a creature for Necromunda). I instantly thought back to Tony Ackland's creepy alien-esque hound that he drew for Confrontation:

Confrontation illustration by Tony Ackland



I started with an old Citadel Blink Dog and a lizard from the old lizardmen swarm:


After some chopping and sculpting, I was getting close to the look from the original illustration:


And this is where things stalled. I missed the deadline for entry to the competition, and the figure sat on my desk for a long time. Since then, I have managed to not only complete the conversion (including the tricky protrusions and bone spurs), but also paint up my dangerous-looking beastie!



I kept the paint scheme very simple - a couple of drybrushes over a black base coat, then washes with black and thinned purple. I gave the whole creature a couple of coats of gloss varnish because Tony's illustration suggested that this it would have a hard and shiny carapace.



I freely acknowledge that it's not my best sculpting (I was using scraps of leftover greenstuff from other projects), or indeed my best painting, and the figure really doesn't photograph well. But I do quite like it even so! I think he'll make the ideal encounter figure, or perhaps a suitable tracking hound for a Necromundan bounty hunter.


37 comments:

  1. It was scary in the illustration and it's even scarier in the lead ! I like that the size is reasonable enough for humans to deal with it while still looking threatening.

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    1. Cheers JB! I think that there's a tendency to create beasties that are probably too big - lion-sized or larger, when actually a very large dog or leopard is frightening enough!

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  2. That's absolutely fantastic! For what it's worth, that sculpting is bang on as far as I can see, I know we're all our own worst critics but that right there is spot on

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    1. Thanks Rochie! You're right - I can instantly spot the areas where I fluffed it, but perhaps the look of the whole is the important thing :)

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    2. Exactly, done not perfect is the motto! 😉

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  3. It's totally `dope', I think that means good?

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    1. I'll sign up for dope being good :) Thanks very much!

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  4. Fabulous stuff. I reckon he could have that new Ambull chap quaking in his boots.

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    1. He'd bite the ambull on his ankles and not let go I reckon!

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  5. Really nice work Jon, dont be to hard on yourself. I think it's fantastic! NOw you need a pack of them. ;)

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    1. A pack? No, no, these are lone hunters. I can't be bothered making a pack. Or can I?

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    2. I think you can I believe!! Lol, tho solitary hunter does some good fluff.

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  6. I think that turned out rather nicely. Now where did I put that flamer...

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    1. Just make sure you cleanse the slime on the walls thoroughly!

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  7. Eeeeek! Scary! The sculpt catches perfectly the soul of the illustration, I think it's great. I also like the painting, I'm quite interested in the technique, as I will need to copy that for my Aliens ;)
    Cool work!

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    1. Thanks Suber! I'm really pleased you think the figure evokes the illustration - that's the ultimate aim really. Good luck with those Aliens!

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  8. I agree with Suber, the conversion is very recognisable as that illustration. Great work!

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    1. That's great to hear! That's the key outcome really. Thanks!

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  9. I really like him Jon. You nailed the alien head on him. I had never seen this illustration before so it was extra fun to see what you created him from.

    Great job mate :)

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    1. Excellent, thanks Shane. If you haven't already, check out Anthony Ackland's gallery of GW illustrations on Facebook. There's dozens of illustrations to look at from Slaves to Darkness, Confrontation and more.

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    2. Oh cool, haven't seen them. I'll go check it out. I knew there must be something of worth on FB somewhere :)

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  10. We are always our own worst critics, but I think it's great. You really nailed the feeling of the illustration.

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    1. Glad you think so Stephen! It's great to have this reaffirming feedback :)

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  11. Looks really creepy and as a creepy thing surely it would be a lone ambush hunter like a leopard? I'm with Stephen it does nail the feeling of the drawing.

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    1. Thanks John. I agree, the illustration suggests it's a lone hunter rather than a pack animal. And a particularly scary one too!

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    1. Creepy rather than magnificent perhaps? ;)

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  13. The curse of competition! Either you ride the deadline to finish a piece you wouldn't normally, or you crash out with a half-finished figure and zero enthusiasm to finish it. I did exactly that at Christmas with a reddit contest and I've got a 80% done Space Santa lurking in the Trays of Limbo now.

    Lovely work on the dog! I think this beastie must have been been drawn before ALIEN³ (1992) was released with its Dog Alien. Great use of the very plain AD&D Blink Dog!

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    1. I'm certain that the illustration pre-dates the Alien 3 film, whether it pre-dates Alien is another matter!

      I usually get on well with competitions - I find the deadline a useful motivating factor. Not to be in this instance though!

      Those poor old Blink Dogs are pretty uninteresting really. They're not even that much fun as just boring old standard dogs.

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  14. It looks great, I think you really captured the illustration. In a way it reminds me of the Demodogs from Stranger Things Season 2, but maybe that's just because I'm rewatching that with the kids right now.

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    1. Thanks Sean. I keep meaning to check out Stranger Things - I'm hearing good stuff about it.

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  15. The very Alien-like paint job on this mini is spot on. Great work axiom.

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