FIXING Warhammer's WORST Miniature!?

[@LylaMev]

Would you paint this new Lauka Vai? What would you fix or change?

[@thomasjones3221]

maybe

[@radicalpaddyo]

I'd like you to paint it for sure!

[@LylaMev]

I'm thinking she will be in an upcoming video!

[@xanthiades63]

Honestly, I would probably just get rid of the bat-taur bit altogether, if I were building her. I actually think the original model is pretty cool, in an impersonal sense, but it's not for me

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

Definitely an improvement but for me it still doesn't quite work, enough to get me excited. I think its that the more human torso is still so pristine and fancy where the very tatty wings and more ruined lower body don't fit - perhaps beat up the upper-body a bit more? But it could also just be the layout of the creature as it is - that entire human torso sticking out the top like that just doesn't seem at all functional bio-mechanically would take really immense back strength to actually hold the head up and see where you are flying, looks to have all wrong center of mass for the aerodynamics too, and its such a massive stoop for those dexterous human hands to actually reach anything (yes its a superhuman creature so none of this is entirely implausible, just immensely inconvenient as a body to live in). So perhaps a more extreme form of this fix would be to making the torso more nestled down inside the bat wings section - not all the way hidden necessarily just up near the ribcage rather than way down at the hips hanging out so freely above the the more monstrous lower body - can still have the entire more human torso melding into the larger creature along her back...

[@3ratsinatrenchcoat605]

I think you've done a good job, I tend to find that a prime coat really is the final judge of if a conversion works. It ties everything together and helps the brain ignore the "I see green stuff" sort of vibe.

[@Hushai1979]

Excellent, I love how you see something that can be improved & make it better... 👍

[@bravodelta3083]

Easier answer for straps (from someone who recently had to make a ton for a model); cardboard. Blank business cards (Amazon). Cut into suitable strips and paint to the correct colour (black ink on the edges looks good). Apply to the model using a suitable glue (Super Glue, white glue, etc.). Allow to dry then carefully saturate the cardboard with super glue. This sets into something like resin. Job done! (Edited to add: Love the videos btw... lots of good tips and tricks! Thank you :)

[@XPoeticRenegadeX]

This vid is proof we all love different things. I dont even play gravelords, but have bought 2 of this model, as its my favorite in AOS. Lol i thought the title was a joke. Worst model??! The only thing i did different was omit the hip pauldrons. Im sure there all plenty of models i hate that someome else loves. Good thing we have tons to choose from.

[@LylaMev]

She is cool, I just wanted her coolER. The day she came out I knew I would one day paint her.

[@JimCArt]

Not really feeling it. As an ex GW art director, I really like some of the things you did, but I think it was lost in concept as you progressed. The victim wasn’t something I’d have added, I was relieved to see it scrapped as an object from the claws. The tassels were great, didn’t care for the chains, they didn’t feel cohesive imo. There wasn’t a flow to them that felt like they were a part of the original design. When converting, I always ask myself “does this feel like part of the kit”. Overall cool ideas, I applaud the effort. But this is simply my opinion. Not everyone will agree. I like seeing you branch out in new video directions though Lyla. Also no cat cameo or sabotage was missed ( jk ) I always think it’s cute when that’s edited in. Great video. I enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Cheers!

[@annbeez]

Love this, looks much better now. A small tip -- when casting details using green stuff, I find it helps to use a 50/50 mixture of green stuff and milliput. That mixture tends to do a better job of picking up the fine details of the mold and keeping them.

[@rathenn6959]

Curious to see how it'll look painted. Also I love that you pointed out things you tried and felt were bad, with solid reasoning why (the guy in the grip for example).

[@khanoclast]

I love the fact that you are showing the whole process, warts and all, even when the footage of one of the warts is missing!

[@LylaMev]

I was SO MAD when i couldn't find that footage! I hoped my creative bandaid would make up for it.

[@joshuawhalen6483]

Wow as always amazing job! May i ask which uv resin did you use? Its not under the supplies link! Cant wait for your next video!

[@ionminiatures]

Hope you post the final painted version to your IG and/or maybe do a video of you painting her. Being so new to the hobby, I haven’t done any kit bashing yet. I need more understanding. But might get there.

[@oakes3902]

I think you did an awesome job of tying the two pieces together and were resourceful with how you did it. The problem I have is the whole bat-taur concept just doesn't really work for me (maybe if I was into WH lore I'd be more compelled). That said, I'm pretty interested to see how to paint her, and I do think you made the best out of a weird model.

[@ceyceycey21]

Result is awesome! By the way have you tried greenput? It is 50-50 greenstuff and milliput mix. Another KZbin channel I currently cannot remember couldn't recommend it enough, saying it is basically best of both worlds (no milliput crumbling and no greenstuff softness so sculpt stays in shape).

[@chromedog68]

The technique you used with the uv resin in the mould is what casters often refer to as "slush casting" (it's often used to make hollow or thinner castings.)

[@chazlong61]

To answer your question, the model is not to my tastes. I am here for your tips. I am sure I am hopelessly pedestrian to your aesthetic sensibilities. :) I am here because unlike most youtubers, you show your frustration with mistakes and apply a science to your art. :) This project was well outside my comfort level as the biggest swap or kit bash I have done is fixing a broken sword on a WHFB Damsel. I love the content, and I do like watching one of the professionally trained artists bust out some of her skills while still showing the effort that went into it all. Another great video. :)

[@malkcontent]

I think this is interesting and your comments about needing better integration are spot on. I am very surprised we didn’t get at least a paint it black and grisaille some with an airbrush step. That would have make it a lot more cohesive to see how well it worked.

[@stefanb9223]

Do you plan on painting her in a future video, I would love to see the end result! It's always so relaxing watching you and the cats!

[@looselycollected7505]

Have you ever tried mixing miliput and green stuff or apoxie sculpt and green stuff? I kept hearing people say to try it. And I tried the apoxis sculpt/green stuff 50/50. The apoxie sculpt itself reminds me a bit of milliput. And mixed with green stuff, I have to say I really liked how it worked.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Awesome video. With this kitbashing it looks so much better now. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.

[@Mornin.Coffee]

Am literally in the process of making her centerpiece of the army, and while am too afraid to "mod" whole Lauka, I'll for sure add a few broken up skeletons or enemies to the ground, it suits her stance

[@LylaMev]

Have fun!

[@Izzyspaintingworkshop]

This conversion looks great! I would love to see her painted! Great job and great video as always!

[@octogonnapus]

paint that? oh hell no, too many fiddley bits to get to, i will instead admire the finished product with respect for the creator and envy for the skill and patience i most certainly lack

[@DarthReluctant]

Love the conversion, it really feels like the wing pose is letting the whole thing down. It's in way too close to the body.

[@benweinberg3819]

I was skeptical at first since for me, the upper and lower halves don't look like they belong more from posing than inconsistent aesthetics, but you pulled it off really nicely! Will we get to see her painted?

[@LylaMev]

definitely!

[@JakeDogg-RIP]

Uv resin is the same as resin used in 3D printers, they use uv light screens to harden resin on the print bed ❤️🥰❤️🐶

[@INF1NIT3D00M]

I love what you've done with this conversion! This is a really tough one to "fix", because I love the concept and a lot of the design elements, but it feels like it's "missing something". After looking at the box art a bit more, I think it's an issue with the bat wings also being the front legs of her "centaur body". She's arranged vertically on the secondary body, which makes it look like two torsos awkwardly stacked on top of each other, instead of the more traditional L-shaped arrangement that we normally see Centaurs and Quadruped/biped hybrids in. I wanted to see her with the wing-arms spread wide, but then she'd just be this weirdly-tall mish-mash. You were right to identify that her armored half and her beast-half don't really mesh well. On the other hand, having her upper body leaning back and leaning the lower torso forward helps achieve the "centaur" look but really grounds the figure in a very static pose. It'd be 1000x more work, but I think if I were re-doing this figure I'd try to move the bat wing elements around to the back of the lower torso, and replace/resculpt the front arms. She'd have 8 total limbs, but she'd kind of be a skeletal/bat/vampire countess/griffon/centaur. I feel like it would help further drive home her weird "melted-together vampires" aesthetic, while also combining them into a more workable shape. Still, your work in this video came out SO MUCH BETTER than the out-of-box build.

[@MiniQuest64]

It definitely looks more dynamic! Great video, I learned a couple tricks that will improve my own kitbashing for sure :)

[@LylaMev]

Wonderful!

[@Mara999]

I think you've improved on the mini a lot, by making it more uniform with the new armour-bits. With your painting style it's going to look great. :) Still, my personal issue with both Lauka Vai and the Vengorian Lord is the actual concept, because the wyvern-centaur vampire doesn't appeal to me so much. That's why I would rather use the wyvern-half either as a mount, or turn it into a feral mutated vampire like a Varghulf. The humanoid half I'd give regular legs to, because both options look more like civilized vampire-knights than Strigoi-ish monstrous ones. That way I would have a pair of ogre-sized vampire-knights dominating the battlefield.

[@AlynneTheFlorifant]

I made mine into a wolfbat and used the body parts and made my own lady sigvald/vampire lord. And am very much a fan of both of my conversions. Your conversion looks way better than the original model, however, for a video it's usually easier to tell if it's primed and maybe quickly drybrushed with some highlights, so we can more easily "comprehend" the model. For any inspiration i recommend Kitbosh on youtube

[@JakeDogg-RIP]

Good work miss Lyla! 🥰🐶👌

[@chrisstabile3243]

I absolutely love this model as is - I am using her as either a Gangrel or Tzimisce warlord in a project I'm working on

[@LaserPingu]

I would suggest mixing milliput and greenstuff together in equal parts. You'll get a lovely mix of putty to work with. Just a suggestion though

[@TheStoicArmyPainter]

Wait I know that sound track, that's the paint bravely theme!!!! 😮

[@SnoddiesHobbies]

Good ear! It's also a royalties free song on epidemic sound 😊

[@mutchokohler9552]

Letting your milliput sit for 20 or even more minutes before working with it sounds like a tipp that could save me a lot of tears.Will definitely try it.Thanks.

[@reddragon4482]

Would you say that milliput is better than green stuff? or do they have pros and cons?

[@SnoddiesHobbies]

I've used both personally it depends on the situation. However, as I work with miliput more and more I find myself using it more than greenstuff. I'd suggest picking some up.

[@reddragon4482]

@@SnoddiesHobbies Alright thx man, I'll buy a pack of it next time I get paid. Haven't even got round to building the minis yet lmao.

[@lordofhyphens]

Something that might help with the primer adhesion is to give the cured part a bath in 91%+ isopropyl alcohol. Then let it cure for another couple minutes under UV.

[@Theodine9581]

Thank you for pointing me in the direction of windsor newton 7 paint brushes I ordered a 000 , 0 , and 1 I simply love these brushes I still have synthetic for mixing for and broad strokes but for details and serious painting these are the bomb thank you love your videos keep up the war on the grey !!

[@finnon7460]

Totally agree with you, was never really a fan of the original sculpt. Just too different, top to bottom. You did a great job though! Really impressed with how it turned out. Looks a lot more cohesive now. Also that bluestuff + UV resin trick is sweet, another technique for the tool box. Thanks for sharing! :D

[@hinge777]

looks really nice, i'd like to see the final paint job. keep the videos coming

[@xcomboy666]

Lots of resins give off strange alien oils when they cure. I would wash the parts thoroughly in a grease-cutting detergent first. Lots of primers have wear and adhesion issues (even Vallejo.) Adding medium and giving it longer to cure works wonders. BTW: I'm a big fan of your fearless tinkering and thoughtful approach to modeling.

[@Octopugilist]

I liked your ideas, and you executed them well. I just think the original model's armor is the biggest problem, making it look stitched together In a perfect scenario, I'd give her a new torso and arms that shows off were the human body meats the animal anatomy. Something with an athletic pose Maybe she's draped in finery and jewels, or maybe her top half is nude to show how much of the beast has bled over, something inhuman and featureless like Harryhausen's Medusa or the Brides from Van Helsing

[@nekrataali]

I didn't know you could use blue stuff with resin. I'll have to try that since I've been struggling to get good results with greenstuff. It's especially hard when you're using a larger part. I've found heating up blue stuff to the point where it turns into taffy helps, since you can really press it into the part you're copying to try and eliminate air bubbles. Also wrapping the piece completely up in blue stuff, then cutting the mold in half gets better results. Definitely worse than using traditional casting methods, but good for doing really flat pieces and for those without pressure chambers.

[@andreacook7431]

There's a clear version of blue stuff that works really well with uv resin.

[@lukasisepp7839]

I would not recommend to let milliput dry because milliput gets hard in a very short amount of time. U need to work with way more water or Nivea creme. Than it won't stick anymore. But letting it dry for 40 min is not a good idea. I made a lot with milliput and it gets hard in more or less an hour so waiting 40 min is not a good idea. Just a tip. But ur model looks really cool btw :)

[@opesam]

I like the changes! Also feel that GW somehow missed the mark with the Vengorian models; the bat-centaur-monster thing, just doesn't quite work for me. I do have one though (ofc I do...), and may well pinch the laminar armour down the spine idea!

[@JakeDogg-RIP]

I buyd 2 demon princes for chaos, one old metal one and a plastic one, I gonna use resin and moulds to recast all parts and then use a green stuffs and miliputs to make a bestest demon prince ever 😉🥰🐶

[@khereva]

I like the solutions you tried, and I really like the way you paint... and I don't think this miniature can be salvaged. The sculptor(s?) tried to do way too many things at once, and the design just doesn't work for me.

[@JoeFlamenco]

I’d never seen this model before and I gotta say you made it much better than what it was before. I’m looking forward to seeing how you paint it!

[@skevoid]

100% agree on the problem with the model and your ideas to fix it. It really does need a coat of primer though, the different materials are always so distracting that it's hard to tell how well a mod or kitbash has worked.

[@rae_of_enfeeblement]

Now actively seeking a buddy to cosplay this with me.

[@LylaMev]

Not me 😅

[@TheSpazztech]

Great work. For me, the double shoulders is just too weird to ignore. The proportions are all out of wack. Moving the wings on to the torso and shorting the whole model would be my solution. You could move the wings on to her back, but she would end up looking like Morathi so i don't know...

[@EnordAreven]

I think seeing this painted is going to let me know if I love it or not. How this piece gets highlighted is going to show me what works and what doesn't.

[@caseyfrechette]

I think you did great, definitely an improvement, and I suppose that's as good as that sculpt is ever going to look. So much YES re: dynamic poses vs. the "just standing there," although I think we have to pick between "highly modular/customizable" kits and dynamic poses sometimes. To those who say they would rather have more customizable kits than the dynamic yet often monopose, I try and look at it as a fun creative limitation challenge to find something that kitbashes well into dynamic pose. On a semirelated note, I think GW makes generally the best sculpts in the world but some of them, like this one, give me serious pause to wonder who was in charge of this and what they were thinking. A good designer, I think, of any kind, knows that making things complicated for the sake of making them complicated does not always make them better. There is often an argument of "complexity vs complication" in game design too, but I guess if anything is more needlessly complicated than, for instance, the new incubi sculpts, it's GW's rules.

[@RamyamHobbies]

it deffinetly helped a LOT, but I still have some problem with the anatomy, I know it's pretty much the same as a centaur, head replaced with human esqe upper body, but it just doesn't feel the same. It could have been a great model if perhaps the monster wings were actully her upper body arms, skip a sword and just make her a more of a beastly / monster character. While still doing like you did add armour. Not sure, perhaps just have her upper body like now with the lower part just beeing monster legs/tails and so on, with the wings sprouting from her back?

[@salberzunza2691]

put first a layer of talcum powder on your matt then place the milliput on top and press, cut you pieces and place the side with talcum powder facing outwards , then clean the talcum powder with a brush and water.

[@TheGreatDazod]

Thank you for doing this! Every time I saw this model all I could think was “this should look cool, why do I feel like it doesn’t” your kitbash is amazing and makes it look so much grounded!

[@LylaMev]

My exact feelings!

[@kampfer1945mk]

I know that one of your biggest problems is with the pristine upper armored body and the tattered bat like wings on the lower half. Had you considered using wings from a Tyranid and trying to blend them in?

[@LylaMev]

I had not!!! Darn it. What a great idea!

[@nekrataali]

Or fill the gaps in with greenstuff (I thought that's what she was going to do in the first place).

[@isaacbenrubi9613]

I love that you made a few simple modifications and some style tweaks to get the result you did. She looks WAY cooler than she did before you started! Oh... and please paint that stabby lady

[@LylaMev]

stabby lady will be painted.

[@plokoon2301]

Very interesting. Here is a suggestion : I think the Silent King has an underwhelming design for such a centerpiece. Would you be interested in showing us how it could be enhanced ?

[@nikot.9920]

This version is definitely worth painting more in my eyes. The model looks more cohesive and you couldn't have asked for anything more. I would have changed out some of armor pieces but the placemts are perfect. Well done

[@LylaMev]

Which ones would you have changed?

[@kalosprismatic]

I love it! Can't wait to see it painted ☺️

[@garfusa2]

Love the conversion! How come you use super glue for plastic models? Is there some industry magic unknown to us?

[@bellefleur4089]

the boink when the model got cut off, got me XD

[@LylaMev]

Good! I'm not very funny but I tried in this video 😂

[@bellefleur4089]

@@LylaMev You did well, my young apprentice 🤣🤣, also I understand you :p

[@MLE_blue]

she looks like she was meant to be a manananggal hybrid, your improvements are incredible!

[@misterapplepie6493]

I love how she turned out and i would paint her (not well but ill be happy with her) Granted I already love the Lauka Vai model and it probably is one of the models im most proud of Until I ruined her bat monster half by shading it since wanted to get that blueish green and just ruined it

[@brentchelak7839]

Have you ever taken a Lemax Christmas/Halloween piece and completely repainted it?

[@bobhopfner3812]

I think I might have gone the other way with her. Less armor bits. Find a less armored Slanesh body keep the head, maybe even drop the sword for a some more monstrous arms and hands...Make her feral looking. Fascinating process with the UV molds and such.

[@WW1Russ8335]

Amazing custom job, that looks great, only one negative point... You didn't get disturbed by the cats, where are the cats lol

[@LylaMev]

You can see cardamoms tail in the reveal!! But yes. No mischief.

[@draegur]

Upon seeing the thumbnail I was thinking, "That's not Lady Olynder." These thin pieces drive me mad.

[@MaskedRiderChris]

I'm not near as bold as you in terms of kit bashing at this time--mine is limited to bodging whatever bits look good and might could fit on my minis. I like what you did with her, and do you plan on filming a video of you painting her? P.S.: Your hair is amazing and I wish I had a mane like yours! (It's a geriatric headbanger thing)

[@athollmcnicoll1028]

You know the drill but I am waiting for replacement drill bits that I put under too much stress and consequently they broke. Ah the life of a modeller is never as easy as it states on the box and maybe because we are perfectionists.

[@dalewhite2253]

Next level attention to detail and dedication

[@kevinhayes517]

Really nice work and the final figure looks very nice indeed!

[@Warfinal11]

Can't wait to see her all painted up keep up the good work and I'm also happy to see you got sponsor^^

[@euansmith3699]

Random Slaanesh Dude, "Agh! Me back!" That looks really painful. I like the use of the mask-type-thing on the arms and back to make the armour look more cohesive.

[@marine3250l]

I think it works much better than the original, I couldn't get into that model when I first saw it, but your work makes it much more palatable :D

[@LylaMev]

palatable is a win for me!

[@marine3250l]

@@LylaMev your work is great, it's just the mini isn't to my taste 🤣

[@krzysztofmathews738]

Great to see this process. This makes me curious about playing with UV resin.

[@xcxvx1011]

I think you vastly improved the the model. For a table top piece it was oddly in a display pose. I like that you showed the attempt with the guy in her clutches but realized it wasn't going to work. Shows that creativity sometimes leads to backtracking !

[@LylaMev]

I always try to be honest!

[@Reppukken]

This style of video reminds me of EonsofBattle, Love Both your channels. Hope you get the recognition you deserve

[@Gumlass1]

Milliput is alot easier to work with if you tape some non-stick baking paper to your desk and work on that.

[@MadassSoerensen]

I love the conversion! However now i want to see the opposite so i can use it for FEC (less armor) 🤣🤣🤣

[@stephen1098]

You could try a primer like mr. surfacer instead of stynlrez. mr. surfacer if lacquer based and much much stronger.

[@reddragon4482]

Looks pretty epic mate, good job 😀

[@jakoblundeborg9881]

Super cool conversion Lyla!

[@sangheilijedi]

I like this model 😆 but yeah it is a bit strange Edit - really cool upgrade! Makes me want to do something similar

[@LylaMev]

If you do, tag me on Instagram!

[@KelRiever]

I think it is a worthwhile conversion. Maybe the artist herself has the most critical eye, but from an outsider's point of view, this is a much improved model. I think you'll be happier with it once you paint it, that's my prediction. It's quite great.

[@Cloo41]

Converting this model is def a massive undertaking. I love your changes and additions, you def made it a ton better and more dynamic. As you said, she's caught between two different styles and it's hard to say what direction is the best to take this model.

[@nastybadger]

Awesome video, I love the build and the journey you went through. You have great ideas but your video missed out at the end whare you gave the reveal with you talking. Take pride in your work more and show it more, its why we follow you. A few more sweet shots before you make your concluding statement would have done you proud. Keep up the good work and remember we are here to see you're great work so show it off as much as you can.

[@francisserpa4465]

For Warhammer's worst mini I was expecting the original tyranid warriors or Nagash or something. But, yeah, this one has such a big gap from the potential to the actual execution. Your version is a big improvement!

[@ageofsigmar89]

We need a picture (at least) of the painted Lauka :)

[@Seoz]

Being honest If I would choose which one to paint I would choose your converted one. Altough I don't like the base model at all so wouldn't expect having much fun with it ;x

[@LylaMev]

Having fun is so important!

[@justadarnminute474]

Well done! I would love to see it painted!

[@GreyHouseGames]

Great additions to it; the extra details make her look way better than the base!

[@LylaMev]

I think so too!

[@elias1579]

The model looks awesome as is. What did you want the mother of nightmares to look like?

[@RootVegetabIe]

That's thoroughly explained in the video, Elias.

[@michaelhaig1317]

I think it is great Lyla - congrats! Much more dynamic.

[@Outerwebs]

GW did an amazing job of taking the 'Thin bits that will DEFINITELY break off' aesthetic to the next level on her wings 😅 A little bit more turntable footage would have been nice, but you definitely visually tied the two halves together better 👌

[@LordSquee]

Random Slaanesh Dude is totally the name of a post-punk high school garage band ;)

[@LylaMev]

I'll wait for their next hit on spotify

[@Ayra_arts]

i had this in the background and suddently i hear paint bravely intro music xD Guess that's the danger of royalty free music and association

[@khereva]

Surely you mean Kobold Talk?

[@nigelhill74]

Looking good. Would love to see it painted

[@Byhamzilla]

Wonderful! Can't wait to see her painted!

[@captainsewerrat]

I sometimes think the posing issue is partly because of base size. Where they feel like a model can't stretch out over the base too much for gaming reasons. Imagine he with the wings out, rearing up more, maybe more of a war cry on her face, howling like a banshee. That would give her a lot more presence, but it'd make her a worse "game piece".

[@ChibsterofNurgy]

I think the original model is great. I think the problem is the colour scheme that GW gave it. I'm not a fan of your conversion because it no longer feels like the Lauka Vai from the novel, Dynasty of Monsters. The Vengorian Lords are meant to look beautiful on top and terryfying underneath. Completely alien from one point to the other. They're meant to be "noble", so adding chains and all thos extra bits removes the lore aesthetic. That said, it's your model so you can give it whatever aesthetic you want. If I had Lauka Vai, I'd paint it with my own scheme, but wouldn't add anything to the model. Definitely to the base though. The ruin is cool, but there's so much empty space there.

[@LylaMev]

I really appreciate your feedback! The only lore I found her was the few paragraphs on the website that went with her model, I didn't know she was in a book!

[@ChibsterofNurgy]

@@LylaMev It wasn't so much feedback as my shitty opinion on why I personally like the original model. Unfortunately, while she's on the cover of the novel and is the leader of the vampire faction in it, her role isn't super important. It's a fun and quick read, not amazing, but I still liked it.