I've long been fond of the Lewis Carroll poem Jabberwocky, and the Warhammer Jabberslythe which is obviously based on it. I loved the description of it as an ungainly, flapping monster that slowly closes in on its prey as they go insane. There was only one problem: when the model came out, it was barely even intimidating. What appeared to be a large toad with horns was released (alongside the masterfully intimidating Ghorgon). Bizarrely, despite misgivings I actually purchased one. I don't really know why. It was a decision which I regretted very quickly. Considering it was designed for Finecast, the production gaffes were miserable. There was a gap between the halves big enough to count as a topographical feature. I asked GW for a replacement which was nearly as bad. Ultimately, I gave it up as a bad deal.
Many years later, I decided to have a go at it again, this time ignoring the model and focusing on the description. The two bits that struck me were the reference to the beast being 'part toad, part sludge drake [one assumes a degenerate dragon] and an insect and also the idea of it closing in inexorably at hopelessly insane victims. With this in mind I set to work.
There were two aspects that I really wanted for the model: the first was to show that it comes from the deepest, wildest, most monstrously fecund part of the forest. I started with a chariot sized base and one of the gnarly trees from the base of the Arachnarok which I had leftover from my Spiderfiler conversion. This would help show the hellish verdancy of the Jabberslythe's lair, whilst also lending some height and a creeping motion. The reason I needed the height was that I was determined to show the maddening effects of the Jabberslythe's aura. For this, the Helblaster crewman with his hands over his ears was a perfect victim. His wide eyes and open mouth can easily be arranged to show a wildly screaming man trying to block the sound of the monster out. When I painted him, I gave him stark, staring eyes with trickles of blood.
Now, the monster itself. Using the idea of 'toad', I started with the bloated body of a Rot Fly, filling in most of the rotted bits. I thought it might give a nice echo of Dali-esque disproportion if I used long, extended legs. I made these from several of the long legs from the Plague Drones kits, tipped with zombie hands to make them look more unsettling.
The wings are parts I got in a job-lot - I think they're from Kromlech. The arching head and neck come from a Steed of Slaanesh because there's nothing more freaky than those horrible daemon birdfish. The weird feelers around its face are from one of the big Tyranid gribblers, as are the wibbly tentacular forearms. The tail is the only part of the original Jabberslythe kit to make it into this version.
Posing was key for me: I wanted to emphasize the helpless horror which the Jabberslythe induces. I posed it to be creeping across the rotten tree, head leering down at the doomed Empire soldier, one of the hands reaching out towards him.
A conversion with this many bits together will lead to a few messy joins. To conceal these, I covered the painted monster's shoulders and abdomen with black static grass to serve as insectile fur.
Now, it still doesn't drive me mad to look at, but I think it fits the bill a bit more!
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