Radium picks up a paintbrush again...

[Radium]

Hi there Warseer!

I'm back with another log! What will you find in this log? Most likely another Eldar army that I'll work on when I feel like it, and some random models whenever I feel the need to paint those. If you have any special request, let me know and I might just pick that one up and paint it!

DISCLAIMER: This log will be somewhat slow. Updated if and when I feel like it. There's more to do in life than just paint stuff .

But first: my new VC army!
My very first model ever was a black knight. That single model sparked the hobby for me and started my first ever army (vampire counts). After a while I gave up on them, then gave up on fantasy and moved on to 40k. Now that I don't feel like playing 40k that much anymore, I decided to pick up fantasy again. And what army would be better suited than the very one that made me start warhammer?

I'm going for a Necrarch force (because what's not to like about some old withered vampire wizard?), based around Zacharias the Everliving. That means a horde of skeletons backed up by some big dead things.

Skeleton test:


I'm going for a reasonably well painted army, I don't feel like spending hours and hours of blending on every skeleton so every single bone is perfectly highlighted. I think the bone looks nice the way it does now, and when I finish the metal and cloth on the model, it should be a pretty decent looking skeleton. Of course this is only a test model, so the actual gaming pieces will get a bit more attention...

[Doi]

Yay, another Radium log!

If this is as good as your old Eldar log that I found the other week, and went through in one sitting, I'm going to enjoy myself here .

Looking good so far, I really like your bone colour. It should look great on a unit/army scale. How are you doing it?

What are your plans for the metal and the cloth? Can't tell whether I'd prefer a rust or verdigris colour on the metal. Probably depends on the robe colour.


Doi

[Radium]

Yay, another Radium log!

If this is as good as your old Eldar log that I found the other week, and went through in one sitting, I'm going to enjoy myself here .

Looking good so far, I really like your bone colour. It should look great on a unit/army scale. How are you doing it?

What are your plans for the metal and the cloth? Can't tell whether I'd prefer a rust or verdigris colour on the metal. Probably depends on the robe colour.


Doi

Glad you like it Doi! I'm going for a warm purple for the cloth, and just ye olde beaten up/rusted metal. I might add some copper parts (and verdigris) but I'm not sure yet, mostly metal and gold I think.

I'll do a short tutorial on the bone when I paint some more skeletons.

Anyway, here's a pic of what I did this afternoon in between more important things:

I'm quite happy with the way they look so far, but they really need the metal parts to look complete. Since I haven't painted with metallic paints in about 3 years I'm not even sure I own any of those any more.
Eventually these skeletons will get demoted to summon-fodder as I used them primarily to figure out some of the colours I am going to use.

Hope you like it!

[ReaperOfSouls]

The bone on those skeletons is looking very nice. This is a really good start. I will be following this for sure

[Ganymene]

It's good to see you painting again Radium!

I really like the way you've done the bone on the skeletons. I know you had some practice with your Ulthwe' Eldar.

I think the red/purple will look nice throughout the army. It adds some much needed color to the skeletons.

[BoyMilla]

Looking forward to following this log very much!

The skellies are great! Lovely bone colour(would also love to now recipe ) Can't wait to see more!

BM

[Radium]

Thanks guys!

And now for something completely different! Two of the wave serpent hulls I've been working on a a while ago (many thanks to Laz over at 40kOnline for the colour scheme!)



I still don't have a clue how to make good pictures, or what to do to with balancing and all that stuff, but you get the idea . After some DoW 2 I'll do some more work on the skeleton test models.

[Doi]

Wow, those hulls are stunning. Lost for words on that freehand work. These are only WIP, but I can see them rivaling the Eldar vehicles painted to look like galaxies and nebulas as my favourite Eldar vehicles.

Is there much freehand work left to go on them? I figure the second one has at least one bit to go in the front/middle section. But the first one looks like it could work either as is or with a design on the rear sections.

Oh yeah, skellies are good too. But you've got my attention stuck on those Eldar vehicles at the moment .


Doi

[Ganymene]

The Wave Serpents are looking awesome! Your Ulthwe scheme definitely suits them well.

I really like how you are continuing with the freehand designs from the Revenant onto other parts of the army. It will tie them all together very nicely.


Also, is this the first tank you've gotten? I know you like your footsloggers.

[Radium]

Wow, those hulls are stunning. Lost for words on that freehand work. These are only WIP, but I can see them rivaling the Eldar vehicles painted to look like galaxies and nebulas as my favourite Eldar vehicles.

Is there much freehand work left to go on them? I figure the second one has at least one bit to go in the front/middle section. But the first one looks like it could work either as is or with a design on the rear sections.

Oh yeah, skellies are good too. But you've got my attention stuck on those Eldar vehicles at the moment .


Doi

Thanks man! I honestly don't know what to do with them any more. On one hand I'd like to continue the freehands all over the place, on the other: less is more. I just need some time to think about it I guess.

The Wave Serpents are looking awesome! Your Ulthwe scheme definitely suits them well.

I really like how you are continuing with the freehand designs from the Revenant onto other parts of the army. It will tie them all together very nicely.


Also, is this the first tank you've gotten? I know you like your footsloggers.

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with the way these turned out. And they are sort of the first eldar vehicles I've ever done, except of course the titan and 3 war walkers.
And I still prefer infantry by FAR.

And a minor update again, I did some work on a couple of zombies. Just to see how the rotten skin thing works out. I know the picture is really bad, but it's the best I can do at the moment. The flash also really exaggerates the highlights and makes the mini look pretty harsh, whereas IRL the highlights are a lot smoother.


I've spent most of my weekend assembling things, and I know have 20 skeletons, 20 zombies and a vampire assembled, based and primed. Pretty good for a weekend of glueing and cutting up my fingers.

[Monsterzonk]

Looking great so far! I really like the bone colour you've chosen. And those Eldar tanks are just superb!´

5 stars!

Cheers,
Monsterzonk

[Doi]

Thanks man! I honestly don't know what to do with them any more. On one hand I'd like to continue the freehands all over the place, on the other: less is more. I just need some time to think about it I guess.

I think the first one looks fine as is (though you'd probably need something on the turret that sits on top) with it just being the plain black at the back, but the second one does need a central design on the front as it is looking a bit plain at the moment. If you do put something in the back sections I'd suggest keeping it only minimal, maybe just some of that purple lightning on the rear fin thing (keep to the purple, the bone would be too stark for the back i think).

Zombies are looking good so far. Are you going to paint a pupil onto the one on the left?


Doi

[spekkiebig]

Radium painting anything else than Eldar?

Boink.. fals of chair!

Just joking, those skellies and zombies look great so far. Can't wait to see you do some work on some of the nice Vampire/Necromancer models for this army in the future.

[Ganymene]

I think maybe some small freehand designs (maybe an Eye of Isha) on the turret weapon covers would be subtle enough and not draw too much attention away from the overall look of the tank.

Also, the Zombies are looking sweet!

[Radium]

Looking great so far! I really like the bone colour you've chosen. And those Eldar tanks are just superb!´

5 stars!

Cheers,
Monsterzonk

Thanks! Glad you like it!

I think the first one looks fine as is (though you'd probably need something on the turret that sits on top) with it just being the plain black at the back, but the second one does need a central design on the front as it is looking a bit plain at the moment. If you do put something in the back sections I'd suggest keeping it only minimal, maybe just some of that purple lightning on the rear fin thing (keep to the purple, the bone would be too stark for the back i think).

Zombies are looking good so far. Are you going to paint a pupil onto the one on the left?

I was thinking of adding just a small rune to the turret covers, just enough to break up all the black.
For the zombie I was going to leave the eye as is, it seems more 'dead' that way.

Radium painting anything else than Eldar?

Boink.. fals of chair!

Just joking, those skellies and zombies look great so far. Can't wait to see you do some work on some of the nice Vampire/Necromancer models for this army in the future.

Thanks, although the characters will have to wait a while. I want to finish at least 20 zombies and 20 skeletons before I start painting them (but I've already started converting my characters... more on those in the near future).

I think maybe some small freehand designs (maybe an Eye of Isha) on the turret weapon covers would be subtle enough and not draw too much attention away from the overall look of the tank.

Also, the Zombies are looking sweet!

That was exactly what I intended to do (some day). I really don't feel like painting all that black and lots of crazy freehands these days, so those tanks will have to wait for a bit.
Thanks! The zombies turned out pretty good if I may say so myself. Nice and suitably dead-looking I think.


Now, I warned you guys this would be a slow log and it's turning out to be even slower than I had intended for it to be. I didn't have any time to paint this past weekend due to the 40k GT. I don't know anything about my final score, but then again: I really don't care. I took Muwolf's Orkz to the GT, and having never have played with Orks before, I had to discover what the army did during the GT. I had a rough idea of what they do, but without the proper experience winning a battle is not the easiest thing.
But I had fun, and that's what it's all about!

Alright, sorry for that, on to more painted stuff!
I cleaned my painting desk, and since no log is complete without a workspace pic...


I started another wraithlord just for fun (I had 3 of the buggers in my bitbox...)



Sorry for the dark pics, but I think they show the work I've put in. I started this guy as a bit of a throwback to some dire avengers I started but never finished. Now I'm seriously considering to use this scheme for an entire army, and as an attempt to win best army for next years GT. And yes, before you ask, every single piece of armour has been wetblended from dark to light although the pics don't really show it.
I'm planning on painting the tabbard in the same colours as the gems (somewhat red/orange/somethingy). I just need to think of a craftworld symbol for the big guy...
I also though it'd be nice to paint the gems on the black parts in a nice warm purple colour, but that might just be too much.

So... any suggestions/feedback/criticism? And should I add battledamage to the armour?

[razormasticator]

That scheme is amazing. I love it, dark and brooding yet still has the grace of the eldar. I think and army done in this scheme would be stunning. Although that sounds like a whole lot of work to wet blend an entire army.

[Ganymene]

Nice start on the Wraithlord, I think that an entire army painted like that would look excellent. Although, I think that you could integrate the Avengers into the Ulthwe army without too much trouble.

The blending is top notch as always. In my opinion, you should stay away from any major battle damage on the Eldar models. I think armies such as Marines and Orks really benefit from some wear-and-tear, but I think that the Eldar models really lend themselves to a very 'clean' look.

Of course, with your painting skills, I'm sure they would still look great.

[spekkiebig]

I thought we discussed that ridiculess "red tabard" thing already? Don't do it you idiot! I truly believe it will mess up the overall look of the model.

@Razormasticator: we all now he's insane enough to wetblend an entire army!

[Durek]

Wow!!!
Amazing free hand detail and graphics on the wave serpents. Simple colour shceme and out fo this world desings on the eldar. (and the skellies are nice too)
Definatly will be following this thread. Subscribed.
I`m assuming you have natural artistic talent?

[Radium]

That scheme is amazing. I love it, dark and brooding yet still has the grace of the eldar. I think and army done in this scheme would be stunning. Although that sounds like a whole lot of work to wet blend an entire army.

Thanks! I'm pretty proud of it myself .
And, like Spekkibig said, I'm crazy enough to blend my way through an entire army. Besides, I have about a year left to finish it, just in time for the next GT.

Nice start on the Wraithlord, I think that an entire army painted like that would look excellent. Although, I think that you could integrate the Avengers into the Ulthwe army without too much trouble.

The blending is top notch as always. In my opinion, you should stay away from any major battle damage on the Eldar models. I think armies such as Marines and Orks really benefit from some wear-and-tear, but I think that the Eldar models really lend themselves to a very 'clean' look.

Of course, with your painting skills, I'm sure they would still look great.

You're probably right, but I really don't feel like finishing the Ulthwe army anymore. It was a nice idea, but I don't think it really is 'me' so to speak. I like my armies to be different and unique if you know what I mean.
And I still haven't decided what to do with the battledamage, I think I won't do it for now. Might add it later on though...

I thought we discussed that ridiculess "red tabard" thing already? Don't do it you idiot! I truly believe it will mess up the overall look of the model.

@Razormasticator: we all now he's insane enough to wetblend an entire army!

If you corssreference the timestamps on the posts, you'll notice I posted this before I posted the wraithlord on the club forum .

Wow!!!
Amazing free hand detail and graphics on the wave serpents. Simple colour shceme and out fo this world desings on the eldar. (and the skellies are nice too)
Definatly will be following this thread. Subscribed.
I`m assuming you have natural artistic talent?

Thanks! Glad you like them! Remind me to post the war walkers and fire prism some time...
Sadly, I don't have any particular artistic talent that I know of. I don't have any artist in the family or anything. But maybe I got lucky with my ability to paint stuff.


And with my master paint skillz, I made this comparison chart:


Shows all the different schemes I might do, although I'm seriously leaning towards the red one...

Any input would be very welcome, I don't want to ruin this guy (and possiby army) by going nuts with too many colours!