Water-themed army 2.5K finished - updated 11.11.07

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Galengalad
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Water-themed army 2.5K finished - updated 11.11.07

Post by Galengalad »

Hi all!

I’ve been reading this forum for about a year, but as I’m becoming an active WE player I thought it will be a good idea to join the community.

After very long period of considerations, I’m on the way of painting Asrai army. I got army deal long time ago, wanted to make winter-themed army. However I saw that only in our club there’s going to be two of them, I decided to make smth.different. I’m still not 100% sure how this army should look, but I’ve started it anyway.
The army will have water theme – I’ve not decided whether it will be river, lake or seaside, but the colors will be a mixture of greens and blues. I’ve got GW and Woodland Scenic water effects to use on bases (therefore I’ve done nothing with bases right now).
Let’s assume that they’ll be guarding secret lake where Lady of the Lake dwells…:)
I always wanted to have Reaper (especially W.Klocke) models in my army, so now I’m taking them. If I go to GW tourney I can always replace them with smth. more dull from GW :).

So…To test the colors, I’ve done these two. The colors on male elf looked stronger, so that is more or less what I’ve picked.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... e_test.jpg

Dryads

I have 2.5 boxes from army deal, but I was very impressed by demonettes conversions. Therefore I’ve bought 3 blisters and converted them, I’ve also used three Confrontation sprirts. Will post them here soon, for now have a look at these Confrontation spirits…they fit right into water/wood theme. I converted them slightly, and I’m sure they’ll look great when painted.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/dr1.jpg
I wanted my driads to be still attractive so they’re in the process of becoming scary :) I’ve added normal hair on top of their tendrils, removed extra breasts and replaced most of their hands:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/dr2.jpg

Other driads:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/dr3.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/dr4.jpg

I’ve also made a test driad out of GW plastic set, trying to make her similar to these conversions. Will try to post here soon.

Eternal guards
One unit will be mostly from GW models…
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/eg2.jpg
but I’ve also included some models from Reaper…
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/eg3.jpg.
….and Rackham.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/eg1.jpg
I’ve done nothing yet with their cloaks (need to decide whether to shade or highlight them) and hair/vines on the models, but that’s more or less how I want them to be.

Wardancers

I have models for 3 units – one will be from GW models, second will consist out of Confrontation’s fiannas and the third will be from converted Reaper/Foundry/Fenryll elves I’ve done about a year ago.

GW unit will look like this:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... /wdgw1.jpg

I have to decide what tattoos to give them; I may also add some colored braids in their hair…


Glade riders

I like the result of my conversion work….

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gr1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gr2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gr3.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gr4.jpg

Wild riders

I think I”ll be making at least 2 units of them. One will be from converted GW wild riders models, another will be converted from Glade riders unit.
It is difficult to make pics of plain metal models, but at least now you can see what I’ve done with them.
These guys look a bit sciboresque )) (note to those who don’t visit CMON site – Scibor is a talented sculptor/master of conversion, who uses lots of nice stamps to make his conversions unique and nice.) I don’t have the machinery , time (and talent ) he has, but I’ve tried to do smth. similar by using cheap jewelry as a stamp. You may see that result is not too bad, I wish I had more suitable “stamps”….
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/wr2.jpg
And more pics….
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/wr1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/wr3.jpg

Now some pics of wild riders, converted from glade riders….

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... 6_conv.jpg
And more pics:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... 4_conv.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... 5_conv.jpg


Glade guards

I got 32 in army deal, another box as a present, and converted several Reaper models. Yes, I have a lot of shooting available.:)

I tried to make all models different. I also don’t like terminator-style faces (I mean when half of the face is covered by mask/leather) so I’ve removed most of these masks with modeling knife
I’ve primed all bowmen already….and there’re Reaper models on one of the pics again.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gg1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gg2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gg3.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/gg4.jpg

Treekins

I’ve assembled first 3 treekins. You have to take my word – they’re also converted. I wanted them to look very much alive and menacing. One of them is trying to stamp on a tail of a spite.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/tk1.jpg
I think I’ll either take ents for the rest, or will scratch-build them.



Several heroes for the army:

Waywatchers – converted GW and Reaper model
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... heroes.jpg
and several others…
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... oes_we.jpg

I’ve primed all models I’ve finished and doing scouts for now. I guess I’ll be able to finish them this week.

I’d like to hear what do you think of the army/ideas so far. I’m also very interested if any of folks here used Water Effects + paint for making water. I wonder if it is possible to do waves/splashes, or concentric circles from the stuff, or it is better to sculpt them….
Last edited by Galengalad on 11 Nov 2007, 13:34, edited 8 times in total.
Da Mighty Camel
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Post by Da Mighty Camel »

Looks very nice. And works well. Keep it up!
I would recommend some other method than GWs water effect though, not that reliable.
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Post by Kyte »

Looks good! I like most of your models very much! Keep em' comming!

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Post by Thanathos »

I like your stuff a lot. Great conversions on you dryads, WR and GR.

Keep us posted !!


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Post by Paauk777 »

Great work!

I really like the mounted models.

I’m doing some water effects work for my mounted units as well.
I’ve built up some small banks at the fronts and backs of each base (using green stuff) and added a sand/pva mix as normal to smooth the transitions. I’m still painting the models, but once complete, the idea will be to use long grasses from Escenics for reeds in the water and then to use water effects to fill in the banks.

The banks are all along the same lines for each model in the base to look like a consistent river edge (I hope I’m explaining this well enough) so that when the water is added it should look like they are all crashing through the same small stream.
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Post by Asterion »

Nice job, especially on the mounted models. The green stuff has worked well, but the milliput stuff - although nicely patterned - looks a little limp for the speed and motion of the models. I find green stuff holds those sort of fluid shapes better than the more clay-like putties.

Will look fantastic when it's all done. Keep coming with the pics.
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Post by Amarel »

Very nice indeed. Great effort.

One thing I would like to mention is that, although I love the colour scheme, the shades you've used on the loincloth look more like sea colours than lake colours. If you really want to stick with the lake theme, can I suggest that it connects to an estuary that runs into the sea?
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Post by mousekiller »

Great theme, it really seems that you have a good idea where you are going. Keep us posted on your progress.
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Post by Highborn Sycath »

some of the glade guard models are a little messed up, but otherwise a nice job.
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Post by toshiro »

very nice indeed.. the GR are perfect!
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Post by Galengalad »

Thanks for the comments. The painting goes rather slowly, I'm having lots unfinished stuff (wardancers,scouts, some heroes), but nothing completed so far. However after I've done 3000 p of brets last year I don't think that Asrai will be especially hard to paint ;) Another idea I got from looking at CMON (those guys from Microart studio) is to try eldar guardians as a base for some models. I guess I could use them too - especially if I could cut some of the stuff from their legs and torso to make them more elven.
2Asterion - this jewelry piece I have is made of very thin wires - I've tried gs but it kept sticking to the "matrix", making successive stamps less definite. Therefore I went for milliput, but yes, I had to sacrifice smth. from overall appearance.
2Amarel - yes, you're right. My HE are mainly regal/enchanted blue, so I wanted this army to be different. It is not too late to change the fluff - much easier than to repaint the army ;)
2Mighty Camel - do you mean that it is aging quickly, or cracks, or just difficult to apply? I'm a bit unsure to use this Noch stuff as it can possibly melt the base or the model itself (will try it on a piece of sprue to be sure...)
Galengalad
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Post by Galengalad »

Some progress- I've basecoated and made primary higjlights for 20 GG, & close to finish 2 wardancers units. I also have half a dozen of unfinished heroes :evil:
The only thing I've completed for my asrai is Great Eagle (LOTR one).
I like the model, and quite satisfied with my painting -_-

Have a look....

Image
Image
Image
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Post by Ithildir Hawk-eye »

I'm liking the eagle, is it the Gwaihir (sp?) model from Lord of the Rings Escape from Orthanc?
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Post by Highborn Sycath »

very nice... but why are the glade guards necks so long?
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Post by Kolk »

Shouldn't the eagle have legs/talons? Looks kind of like a swimming penguine... superbly painted.

Fantastic pallete. Really shows on the EG. Im curious to see how the Ral P. models fit in. Anyone interested in mixing alternative (non GW models :blink: !) this is how its done!
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Post by Galengalad »

Thanks for the comments ;)

Ithildir Hawk-eye is correct - I got this eagle in LOTR Orthanc box with two small bearded fellas :P

2Highborn Sycath - yes, I think champion's neck is too long. I was pinning his head as it was falling off all the time...he looks a bit weird now. Well...I'll rework him, not a problem.

2Kolk - the eagle has talons actually ;) , but the sculptor made his legs pressed to the body, as with real eagle flying. The thing is, that the talons are smaller than those of WE eagle, or even some of old HE/WE birds....
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Post by channeller »

Looks awesome Galengalad. I especially love the cavalry.
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Post by davidvc04 »

Terrific conversions and painting. I hope you'll keep posting units as you complete them.
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Post by Galengalad »

We've started a campaign in the club, so I've put basic colours and some higjhlights on 2 x WD, 2 x GG, 2 x GR. I've also painted several heroes and trying to sculpt a treeman.
I'll post more as soon as I have smth. more or less ready... :wink:
Galengalad
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Post by Galengalad »

Several months ago Old Fogey on warhammer.org posted a pic of alternative treeman, and I saved it for the reference....When my woodies began to take shape I started to think about adding an ancient to their ranks, but I wasn't happy with GW model.
So....I've armed myself with cork, polystyrene, wire, milliput and magic sculpt.
That's what I got so far: :wink:

Image

Image

Image

The rest of my army are getting base colours, I save most of the highlights for the future. Anyway, there're some pics if you're interested:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/ww1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/S ... es/ww2.jpg
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Post by Treeman »

That treeman is mad dope; what was your technique?
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Post by Highborn Sycath »

Its a very good sculpt. but i don't like it. Sorry.
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Post by davidvc04 »

Dude, that's awesome! I love it!
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Post by Yak »

The scult is very good, but I have agree that it looks a bit off. Reminds me quite a lot of a squig...
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Galengalad
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Post by Galengalad »

Thanks for all opinions....I've found on other forums that people either like him or don't like him at all. :wink:
It is different from branchlike GW treemen or ents...so I guess that's the reason....

A few words on how I've done him. His body is from champaigne cork (you may still see it between his teeth). Then I've taken thick (ca.2 mm dia) wire and used it as armature for his hands& legs. To save epoxy putty, his legs are mainly from hard polystyrene.
His "hair" was also made from the pieces of the same wire.
Then I used some tin wire and winded it around my armature on hands and hair. After
Then I've taken standard grade Milliput ans used is for bulk sculpting - to cover the wires, fill the gaps, etc. Then I used Magic Sculpt - it is the stuff, similar to Milliput, but finer. It has the setting time of about 2 hours, so I've been adding pieces of Magic sculpt for ca. 8-10 evenings. I used a needle&wax carver ( a sculpting tool) to shape the stuff.
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