1. Firstly, I carefully cut the spore funnels from the back and spikes on the sternum of the Carnifex. All these parts go into a bits box for later use on this and other projects.

2. The two sections where then connected with plastic rods, leaving a gap of about 2cm.

Drill holes into the two halves	Glue the rod in place	Aluminium foil fills the gap

3. Using Aluminium foil to fill gaps is a good idea as it’s inexpensive and weighs next to nothing.

Add some Knead-It over the foil to help smooth it in place and keep you work tidy.

Rapid setting putty was used to reinforce the rods and roughly fill the gap.

4. Polymer clay was used to create gluing slots for the chitin carapace pieces.

1. The basic shape was made with armature wire using two lengths twisted together for greater stability. This is also good as it gives the putty something more to grip to. Use a soft armature wire. If it’s too stiff you’ll find it more difficult to get a clean shape.

2. I covered the wire with a thin layer of Polymer clay then baked it.

3. A second, thicker layer of Polymer clay was added and carefully smoothed out to get the shape of the tail right. This was then baked and sanded to remove and odd lumps.

4. Lastly, detail was added. Because it is a large area with large details, I continued using the Polymer clay.

There are three chitin carapace pieces in the Carnifex box. I used all three.

1. I began by sanding the spore-cyst and spine-bank detail from two pieces.

Carnifex Chitin	Detail filed off the Chitin	Finally detail is sanded off

2. The plates were then glued into position of the thorax.

3. Green Stuff was used to support the pieces and smooth the gaps.

4. Each piece was extended with Green Stuff about a centimetre on each side to keep them in proportion.

5. To finish it, I attached the Barbed Strangler barrels as replacement spore funnels and smoothed the gaps with more Green Stuff.

1. Using the modelling saw, the jaw was cut from the Tusked Carnifex head.

2. The basic head shape was sculpted in Polymer Clay, this was pinned to a piece of cork to make it easier to handle while I sculpted the spiracles, the mount for the jaws and the basic shape of the eye sockets. This was then baked.

3. I glued the jaw parts in place and detailed the eyes, eye sockets, tendons of the jaw and the inside of the mouth with Green Stuff.

Before attaching the Scything Talons, I finished off the whole model by adding a mass of detail.

1. All the Thornback spikes from the Carnifex went on the Carapace.

2. I replaced the spikes on the re-built chest.

3. Glued a mace tail from the Carnifex into position.

4. Sculpted the essential chitin plates for the head.

Total time spent building the Reaper-fex: 21 hours