EmperorNorton's All Things Fantasy Project Log

[EmperorNorton]

You're in the Tale as well, EmperorNorton? Excellent! Looking forward to seeing your wood elves. I'm in with Vampire Counts, although I have a LOT of models to assemble before August, otherwise I won't have time for the painting!
See you in the Tale!

I have been sorting, assembling and primering Wood Elves as well, although I'm tempted to switch over to Vampire Counts myself. Not only have I wanted to buy an army for some time, but I also think that something dead and rotting might suit my painting style better.

For the moment, though, I have my Sisters of Sigmar. Aside from the bases they are finished and since I need them for a game tomorrow the bases will have to wait. They turned out darker than I had originally planned and not as neat as I had wanted, but see for yourselves:

[Count Sinister]

Nice, EmperorNorton. Those robes are excellent. Did you use the new washes on them? If so (and even if not) can you give me a recipe for how you painted them?
By the way, that is also one BIG warband. Wow! I play Witch-Hunters normally, and every time I've come up against Sisters of Sigmar the Sisters have won hands down. Let me know how they get on in the game.
As for Vampire Counts - I know what you mean. One of the reasons I decided to do them in the Tale was because I'm hoping I'll be able to paint them relatively quickly, even if there are a lot of models. Bretonnians, my last army, took me forever to paint.
Good luck in the game, and tose models are looking good - the flesh, now that I look again, is very nicely done as well.

[EmperorNorton]

Nice, EmperorNorton. Those robes are excellent. Did you use the new washes on them? If so (and even if not) can you give me a recipe for how you painted them?

The base colour is Vallejo's Khaki. Originally I wanted to paint them with layers of Khaki mixed with white, but that didn't work out as after two layers I realized that I had mixed in too little white.
So basically they were painted in Khaki, got a wash of Gryphon Sepia and highlights in Khaki.
I just wish I had known that the new washed need to be watered down as well. Especially the purple one turned out too dark and patchy in places.

They already have about ten games under their belt and although I probably lose more than I win (we usually play threeway games and I often find myself fighting on two fronts) I was lucky enough to not suffer any losses worth mentioning in the early games. So while my opponents now have their second or third warband my Sisters continued to grow and get wealthy.

[Count Sinister]

Thanks, EmperorNorton. Khaki and Gryphon Sepia - I'll remember that!
Also, thank you for the heads up on the washes. I hadn't realised that they needed to be watered down.
As for the Sisters - it sounds like they're doing well! Better than my poor, always defeated Witch-Hunters. I blame my captain. Too zealous.
Looking forward to seeing you in the Tale of Fantasy Painters!

[shrubs]

Your painting is looking good as always Emperor Norton, the purple looks really nice- it really makes the models stand out. The sister with a whip takes the cake though, it makes me smile every time I see her. There's just something about that model

Keep it up!

[EmperorNorton]

Since my painting table is in the attic and we're currently getting a new roof I don't get much painting done and the Tale of Fantasy Painters, which I foolishly signed up for with a second army, will have me sweating before the month is through.
Plus I'll have to get a Blood Bowl team ready for a tournament in early September.

I like my first month's contribution for the Wood Elf side of the Tale, though, an Ultraforge Treelord:

Still needs some work, of course. Maybe I can force myself to work on it this evening.

[EmperorNorton]

Might as well repost my contributions for the Tale of Fantasy Painters here.
The Treeman hasn't changed much, so I'll reserve that until the base is done.

Here's some Wraiths, though:


[/QUOTE]

This month I'll try myself on three Warhawk Riders or maybe some Glade Guards for my Wood Elves. On the Vampire side I'll finish the Batswarms I have started and lay the finishing touches on my Necromancer, which I like a lot:


Or, most likely, I'll start something different entirely.
I have plans for some Spirit Hosts I'd like to execute and maybe I'll start with my Forest Dragon.

First I'll have to finish my Blood Bowl team for this weekend's tournament. I'll be playing Amazons, using Phil's Phigs Valkyries (currently sold through Impact! Miniatures). At least I will if I get them finished in time, which will be a bit difficult.

[EmperorNorton]

A Vampire for my army:





I don't understand why there is a stake driven through his body, though.

I was quite happy with him, before I saw the pictures. Now there's half a dozen things I'll have to fix.
Even in the digital age photography is still the bane of vampires...

[EmperorNorton]

This months' entries for the ToFP:

[EmperorNorton]

The side shot was meant to show the skull's green glowy eyes. You can see how well that worked...

[EmperorNorton]

Some work in progress shots for my VC army:




This is going to be part of my Spirit Host.

[Count Sinister]

Those undead are cool - I'm looking forward to seeing the spirit host. The Bretonnian necromancer, in particular, is fantastic - the flesh tones are perfect. Oh, and the shading on the Sartosan Vampire model is excellent too!

[EmperorNorton]

Maybe I shouldn't be posting this, as it will be a long time before I can work on it. And it has the smell of "unfinished project" about it. But I'm somewhat excited about it, so I'll post anyway.

Several weeks ago I realized that I won't be able to resist the new Warriors of Chaos and even began to think about getting a War Mammoth from Forgeworld, because it's cool.
But then, in a severe attack of stupidity, I bought a huge pile of High Elves (seriously, enough for 2-3 armies, and I don't even want to play them...I guess it's time for rehab).
So I looked for mammoth alternatives, and here's what I found:

The model is from Revell and cost less than 5% of what Forgeworld wants for their War Mammoth.
So far I think it looks easily 7-8% as good, so I can only win.
The head, trunk and legs are moveable and it can rear!
I'll need to build a howda and add all sorts of spiky bits and paint it properly of course.

[Count Sinister]

War Mammoth! Like you, EmperorNorton, Chaos Warriors have tempted me for that reason alone. I also like your logic on this one - less than 5% of the price, but at least 7 or 8% as good = win! That said, I think you could green stuff the gaps/joins with fur, and bulk up the fur elsewhere, and it would look at least 50% as good as the forge world model, if not more. Go for it!

As for the high elves - I also know how you feel on this one. I buy first, think later, and regret much later. Still, the high elf minis are nice, and you'll make them look even better, so why not.

Oh, I forgot to say - I love the eyes on the Bretonnian Necromancer, in particular the way she's looking out to her left, where her arm is raised. Nice!

[N810]

Looks like the beginning of a great conversion.

[Nephilim of Sin]

That spirit host is really, really awesome. I never thought about using the Flaming Sword like that, but now it just makes so much sense that it could be an 'ethereal trail' or something similar. Great idea!

It is nice to see things coming along, but until the Mammoth and the Spirit Host are done, that Necromancer conversion is still my favorite. It is simple, yet to the point, and has just enough bitz to make it feel right. Awesome!

[EmperorNorton]

It is nice to see things coming along, but until the Mammoth and the Spirit Host are done, that Necromancer conversion is still my favorite. It is simple, yet to the point, and has just enough bitz to make it feel right. Awesome!

Thanks. I'm afraid the Necromancer will be your favourite for quite some time (or stop being your favourite when you look at the picture below...) as the Spirit Host probably won't be finished before December and I can't even think about starting work on the Mammoth before next year.

While I'm almost done building the Spirit Host, painting it will be difficult. I plan on using the same style as on the Wraiths, but that could be problematic because of the stone colours I have used on the headstones so far and wanted to use on the sarcophagus as well.
As for the sword I thought some bluish flames would be nice and I want to use that element on the other bases of the Host, too, but again I'm not sure it'll look alright.

Oh, I forgot to say - I love the eyes on the Bretonnian Necromancer, in particular the way she's looking out to her left, where her arm is raised. Nice!

That's an illusion, I'm afraid, as the poor thing doesn't even have pupils. I tried, but I was too clumsy for that.
In a risky move that will probably cost her more fans than it'll gain her I tried to take a better picture. The lighting is not optimal, but at least it's not blurry.

The picture reveals that once again I have been too discreet with the shading on the skin, but still I like her a lot (almost bordering on the Pygmalion-esque).

And since it was requested in the ToFP thread, a close up of one of the Glade Guard:

[EmperorNorton]

More Spirit Host pictures:






A couple of points:
- That sarcophagus is heavy!
- Not sure I like how the spirit rising from the sarcophagus looks.
- The Ghoul bits were a bit of a failed experiment.
- Getting the pointing finger on the one with the hourglass was difficult, but I think it was worth the effort.

[Kraal_Lord_Of_Blood]

Ghoul bitz failed experiment?
I fail to see why
Seriously, i may have to nab that idea, it looks *******' schweet imo

[richy376]

I'd say the pointing finger was certainly worth the effort, as was getting the little vulture on top of the pile of skulls.

Does the scarcophagus lid lift at all? If so it might be worth lifting it a fraction to have the spirit 'leaking' out of it. Although I've seen you've done a bit of that with your greenstuff already, and it's cool as is, so if not I wouldn't worry.

I really like those bats too - a bit of scenery on the base really adds to the creepy feel. Great stuff.

I've just had a look through your bloodbowl thread too - I really like the Brettonian team you've created. The way you've integrated the older figures with the current range is really smooth, and the paintjob fits the team perfectly - the knights/blitzers are the centres of attention, and the rest are grubby commoners! Awesome stuff.