EmperorNorton's All Things Fantasy Project Log

[EmperorNorton]

So far my project logs have been rather short lived affairs, since I tend to lose interest in one thing and then start another. My Black Templars log is proof of that, although I plan to revisit that eventually.
Now I have decided to start a log encompassing All Things Fantasy. The absence of a narrower subject will hopefully enable me to stick to this one.
Additionally I've agreed on a challenge with my regular opponent to get at least one unit done per month.

Here's my unit for this month, some BfSP Dwarf Warriors:



Obviously there are still some details and cleaning up to do.
While they don't look very good - which I'm fully prepared to blame at least in part on the models - I'm still a little proud, because a painted unit just looks so much better than an unpainted one.
My aim is a normal tabletop standard and I hope to improve my meagre skills in the process of getting my armies done.

I haven't decided on what unit to do in January, but I'll also try to finally get my Slayers done, which have been only partly painted for a very long time.



Words of encouragement and advice are always welcome!

[Steam_Giant]

Your Dwarf warriors look neat, solid paint job, well done. HOWEVER, how can you call the unit finished ? The bases have received none of the love you have showered on the minatures !

Get them sorted !! Before those dwarfs die of embarassment LOL

Great start on the slayers ! love that orange.

Is that your next unit lurking in the background ? DE ??

[EmperorNorton]

Yes, the bases are among the aforementioned details that still need work. I'm afraid they'll only get a second layer of sand and some gravel sprinkled in, though. These are in fact the first minis I bothered basing at all, so I have yet a lot to learn in that department (even more than in painting).

The Witch Elves in the background of the Slayer picture aren't on my agenda currently. Instead I'll probably try myself on a unit of DE Warriors.

[EmperorNorton]

Here are the finished Dwarfs:



The pupils still have to be painted in (will do that tomorrow) and they need a layer of varnish, which I could only brush on currently because of the weather, so I'll wait until the weather changes so I can spray it on.

[EmperorNorton]

The unit I want to get done this month consists of 20 Dark Elf Spearmen. These are the old Marauder minis, which I like a lot better than the current Warriors.

So far I've only primered them black and painted the metal parts in Boltgun Metal. The next step will be to give them a wash of black ink, drybrush the chainmail again, add the skin, purple clothes, gold details and then they're almost done. These seem to be rather easy.

[EmperorNorton]

With a bit of colour on them the Dark Elves begin to look like Dark Elves.

[EmperorNorton]

I edited out some pictures as the thread started to become too picture heavy. I had hoped a couple of comments would stretch it out a little, but no such luck.
To reflect my progress I changed the picture in the post above. The base colours are done and now they are in need of highlights and some details like jewels need to be done.
There also remains the question about what to do with the bases.

[Arhalien]

Looking very good so far; the colours are nice and smooth and the overall look is very clean.

Nice work

[Steam_Giant]

I have to say i really like the dark elves in the first picture, with just the metalics. I may have a go at some myself based around your base idea. Thanks for the inspiration. Good luck, keep painting !!

[Gekiganger]

*Words of encouragement*

I really like the slayers and agree with the old delf models over the new ones, much nicer sculpts.

[happy_doctor]

Subscribed, you're leaving me no alternative,really!
These marauder miniatures are sweet! (i have a soft spot for these characterful minis from the 80's)

Some constructive criticism, then: I don't like the BFSP dwarves. It's probably the models' fault, but I think that the regal blue- gold combination doesn't suit them as much as earthly tones, something more pale.
The slayers, on the other hand, look nice.
Are you planning on continuing the blue scheme across the whole army?

[EmperorNorton]

Thanks for the comments, everybody!

Some constructive criticism, then: I don't like the BFSP dwarves. It's probably the models' fault, but I think that the regal blue- gold combination doesn't suit them as much as earthly tones, something more pale.
The slayers, on the other hand, look nice.
Are you planning on continuing the blue scheme across the whole army?

Can't blame you for not liking the BfSP Dwarfs. I believe the colour scheme is the one presented in White Dwarf when they had a Dwarf and a Night Goblin as addendum.
The main colours for my Dwarf army will be blue, red and green, probably alternating between units, hoping that the models being vertically challenged and bearded will give them enough of a unified look.


Today I spent two hours doing the highlights on the Dark Elves' skin. The base colour was Tallarn Flesh, the first highlight an even mix of Tallarn Flesh and Elf Flesh and the second highlight pure Elf Flesh. It looks a bit awkward occasionally, but I think it's okay for some ordinary spearmen.

[EmperorNorton]

Last update on the Dark Elves.
They aren't completely done, but they are as close as they are going to get for the time being.



I did the highlights on the purple parts, but due to the flashlight you don't see any of that except on the champion's cloak. Earlier today I did the shields, which was more difficult than I thought it would be.
Aside from some minor details it's the bases that still need to be done, but since I don't know what to do with them I'll leave them for now, as I have to admit I'm a little sick of them and would rather start something different.

[Steam_Giant]

Nice job ! They turned out well and the Shields look great. Was there something special you wanted to do with the bases ?

Heres looking forward to "Something different" !

[EmperorNorton]

Was there something special you wanted to do with the bases ?

What I'm thinking of currently is a craggy surface with the occasional pool of blood, but since I'm not sure I can pull that off I'm postponing that.

I just finished my treeman and I think he looks decent.

[Murdoch]

Like the tree.

Very nice. What did you use on the base to get the fallen leaf look?

[Chicken Pig]

Loving the dwarfs and Dark Elves, but I feel that they need a wash of some sort to "being the miniatures together" as such. Have you got any minitures that you can do a test piece on?

Just paint in your usual manner, but leave off the last one or two stages of highlights. Then give the miniature a wash of thinned down chaos black (say 3 parts water to one part paint, or perhaps even thinner). Allow this to dry then paint on your final highlights.


I feel this would add real depth to your miniatures and take them to the next level (and it looks like you have used such a process on the treeman and it looks great). It certainly helped my painting skills no end.

[EmperorNorton]

Like the tree.

Very nice. What did you use on the base to get the fallen leaf look?

Thank you.
For the base I used some flock called Ground Cover: Hardwood Forest, which is made by http://www.busch-model.com. So the base was done without any effort within seconds. I was surprised it turned out that well.

Loving the dwarfs and Dark Elves, but I feel that they need a wash of some sort to "being the miniatures together" as such. Have you got any minitures that you can do a test piece on?

Just paint in your usual manner, but leave off the last one or two stages of highlights. Then give the miniature a wash of thinned down chaos black (say 3 parts water to one part paint, or perhaps even thinner). Allow this to dry then paint on your final highlights.

I feel this would add real depth to your miniatures and take them to the next level (and it looks like you have used such a process on the treeman and it looks great). It certainly helped my painting skills no end.

Well, I certainly have enough stuff lying around to run a test, but I'm not sure I understand how this is supposed to work. Won't the black just give the mini a dirty look?
The Treeman got a wash of chestnut ink on an undercoat of Charadon Granite/Graveyard Earth before I put on the highlights, but then he is supposed to have a brownish colour.

P.S.: I have exchanged the picture in post #13 for a better one.

[Chicken Pig]

It does not tend to leave the mini looking dirty, and to be honest after painting today it is more 6 parts water to 1 part paint. Any of the dirty look is lost when you add the final highlights to the model. See looking at the treeman it is just so much more realistic looking than your dwarfs, this is as a result of the washes you gave it as it adds much needed shading and depth to a model.

I guess it is just a case of personal preference, but I think it would make the joins between armour/cloth, armour and flesh seamless on your miniatures (such as on the Dark Elves). I just think that without a wash miniatures tend to look like a painted miniature rather than a real person or thing.

Anyway, I await your next batch of miniatures greatly.

[EmperorNorton]

My mandatory unit for this month is finished already. Considering it's the shortest month of the year I decided to paint a small unit of Treekin.
Since it was impossible to discern anything in a group shot I made individual pictures (which are still too dark).

Treekin number one and two: