First, a little back story on this mini and this project.
I'm a Clan Jade Falcon Player true and true. I say about 90% of my minis are of the Clan type design. I had an NIB Devastator that I got with a bunch of other minis through a trade and it was sitting in my pile of other to be completed mechs. Along came a friend and fellow board member who was selling off all of his battletech stuff. I decided to help him out and do a 1 for 1 trade that way he can have a NIB Devastator and I can have one already assembled, primed and came with a base (win win for all.)
So, since I'm a Clan player i didnt quite know what to do with this mini. Then I came up with the bright idea to make a Solaris Stable Mech. After all I'm not particular to anyone great IS house, and honestly I do like this mech. At least I can see myself using this mini without feeling I'm betraying my clan roots.
I started searching for the right stable to paint up, and I found Cenotaph to be the easiest to do, and overall would fit my style of play. Problem was, I could not find another mini outside of the bunch of Yen-Lo-Wang paint jobs. Which to me turned out to be a plus, both for the community (by giving another Cenotaph Stables example, and by having something that not everyone else has done.)
So it was to be done. However I first had to make a 4 new additions to this mini. Since this stock mini does not have the barrels for the PPCs and all the pictures that I was able to
find I had to make the PPC barrels. Then I went and added barrels for the two torso Medium Lasers. (Yes I know the pic doesnt have them, but the Mini itself does a poor job of indicating where they are minus the one located in the head) I also didnt do one in the center torso (rear facing) as it would have taken away from the mini itself.
I started to go to work. I didnt realize Games Workshop Badab Black Wash was going to be so dark for the first application. I should have diluted it a great deal, but I think in the end it works by giving that white paint job a "dirty feel to it." I decided that due to the accidental "over" wash that I would do the base set in the dirty confines of the factory, complete with the Devastator stomping on and crushing another mechs limb. Complete with the titanium bones, wires and green heat sink coolant gushing out. After all the pose of this mini was perfect for that "stomping on something" bit. This should complete the mech and tie in how dirty it looks. After all, what white paint job is going to look white after competing in the factory?
Also interesting points:
The Japanese Kanji on both shins is the word for "Devastate"
There is a Yen/Yang symbol on both hip joints
Couple of personal criticisms. First, I should have tried out the wash before using it on the final piece. I had to dry brush too much of the mini after the application of the wash first. I think i can live with it. Second, I sprayed way too much clear coat on the front of the shin and it made the ink on the writing run a little too much. The other shin that is up, also has this writing but didnt get hit with as much clear coat. That shin is perfect and no ink ran. Oh well..
