Symrivven's Dark Elves and Vampire Counts

[silverstu]

@ Silverstue: I got the first few layers of paint on my first knight by now. Though I must admit I don't have a decent excuse like you.

Whoops - just noticed I got auto spellchecked - that was supposed to say Nids not Kids so you are still kicking my ass painting wise!

Those sculpts look amazing- the start of the Vargulf looks brilliant- love the shape and the ribs/spine look disturbing already. The Liche is very impressive - really liking your Fantasia take on things!The start of the female sculpt and the child ghost is really impressive- looking forward to seeing these progress- your sculpting is really impressive!
I'll have a crack at getting my first mournful knight painted up- I have him assembled, based, uncoated and the first layer on- hopefully make up for my tardiness [and slipping up with auto text thing...].

[D6damage]

Absolutely amazing armies. These are brillaint, and your VC army is just hilarious/awesome. Great work.

[Symrivven]

Back for an update:

@ silverstue: Nids do indeed take a lot of time to get them done properly, hold on in there, it'll be worth it.

As you can see in the next few images I haven't really been in a painting mood so more conversion work and no new knights.

@ d6damage: Thanks, there'll definitely be more.


I don't have one fixed list for my armies and generally like to have some variation from time to time. Therefore its no surprise I converted the Vargheist/Crypt horror kit so I can use them as both options instead of just one.

For the the Crypt Horrors Nylian manor has Satires, sculpted by the more artistic members of Nylian member these granite statues are brought to life to protect the Manor against any threats:



From the manors battlements hail the granite gargoyls that stand in silent vigil and hunt down the manors enemies:


(the wings are attached by magnets in the models back and wing base)

What better punishment for a band of witchhunters than having their souls stripped from their bodies and bound in service of the academy:
A spirit host



A big part of the sorcerers apprentices story is how the apprentice tries to destroy the brooms by hacking them to smithereens, unfortunately new brooms grow from each and every splinter. These bases show some of the carnage inflicted by our young apprentice. Don't feel bad for the brooms they'll be back stronger than before:



That's it for now, next up will be something painted probably a blood knight (but don't hold your breath )

[Eriekiels]

Brilliant army, hands down best Zombie unite I have seen. The ghoules are perfect in a mad scientist kind of way. Looking forward t seeing more of this. The style of both armies are hitting my spot exactly.

[juicytomatoes]

The concept on the brooms is a BIIIIIG win!

[EnternalVoid]

Again, really like the brooms, love them. But I am curious about these guys, what parts did you make them out of? I am guessing Bloodletters mostly but am curious about what else.

[silverstu]

Loving the new conversions - the witch hunter spirit host is genius and looks amazing- really nice effect with the floating robes there. The brooms are great, really great- brilliant bringing in the idea of smashed brooms re-animating - really pushes your theme on. The crypt horror wing-y things - impressive conversions- I love how you have styled them as animated stone statues- what did you use for the heads?
With such great building work I'll let you off the painting![My knights are feeling a tad unloved too but everything in it's own time!].

inspiring stuff as always.

[Braad]

Nicely themed army, this is. I really like what you did with the brooms. Keep it up!

[Symrivven]

@ Eriekiel: Mad scientist is indeed what I'm going for.

@ juicytomatoes, and Braad : Thanks, it does seem to work for this army, I think a High elf Hoeth themed army could field some magical broom as well.

@ EnternalVoid: Well as in the initial post they are made from the crypt horror/vargheist kit. I cut away all the hair, warts and bones, the bones in turn where use for horns. The tails are the agonizers from the DE wyches (warrior?), scourge kits, and the instrument from the skeleton kit.

@ silverstue: Thanks, the faces are the crypt horror faces without wards. I sculpted new teeth and facial features to give the faces a masked/daemonic look. The original crypt horror faces had to much a a dumb brute look while I wanted them to look a bit more intimidating.
Now of to do some painting

[EnternalVoid]

@ EnternalVoid: Well as in the initial post they are made from the crypt horror/vargheist kit. I cut away all the hair, warts and bones, the bones in turn where use for horns. The tails are the agonizers from the DE wyches (warrior?), scourge kits, and the instrument from the skeleton kit.

Ah, now that I take a long look I see it now. Man they seem so much more sleeker with all that extra cut away. Good work.

[Lord Azoth]

I hadn´t seen your brooms/zombis..they are amazing!!!! love that unit...

And what to say about these last conversions... awesome, would you mind posting some bigger photos of the crypt horrors?

[Symrivven]

EnternalVoid: Yes the are really dynamic models, cutting away the hair really makes that visible. Stone statues shouldn't be hairy.

Lord Azoth: Yea the brooms really work in addition they are really cheap (if I don't factor in an hourly wage).
I'll be uploading better photo's after I painted them, can you hold your breath that long?

[Symrivven]

I painted something.

It's not a blood knight, though I finally settled on a colour scheme for them, they should be done soon (maybe as soon as next week ).

It's dark Elf Master for the Manticore:

He has black armour like the black guard, that also makes him stand out more among the light coloured manticore. I really had to restrain my self not to repainted it.







See you around.

[Il Maestro]

I can't believe I just found this log, your work is absolutely amazing!! Ten thumbs up =)

Being a fellow Druchii general myself, I am particularly drawn to those models, especially the Black Guard and your recently finished Manti-Master - care to share how you did that black armour? It's just so 'dark elfy' I feel obliged to replicate it!!

And not that I need to tell you, but keep up the great work =P

[Animerik]

One of the most original minis I have seen in a long time. The brooms looks wicked cool, the miniatures looks perfect and the way oyu painted the water makes it look very real (which is so hard to accomplish) The umbrella standard is also a very nice detail.

Subbed on this one keep it up

[Symrivven]

ll Maestro: thanks, the black armour starts with black (obviously). Then I highlight towards the edges and raised area's with a mix of black and ice blue (VL). The closer I get to the edges the more Ice blue is used, the transitions have to be blended or feathered to make it look good. The blue parts on the armour are shadow grey (gw) highlighted whit sunny skin tone (VL). The chainmail is done the same as the armour just using a bit more of the grey instead of leaving large places of pure black. The blue cloth is black to shadow grey.

Animerik: Thanks you, there is a lot more coming so do stick around.

[The Lost Hobbit]

I like the blues on the Dark Elves. Very nice.

[Finn]

Hrm. I'm not sold on the bright blue wings on the manticore. I feel like they steal focus from the rider, by "popping" too much.

Which is not to say that I don't like it overall .

[Lord Azoth]

Lord Azoth: Yea the brooms really work in addition they are really cheap (if I don't factor in an hourly wage).
I'll be uploading better photo's after I painted them, can you hold your breath that long?

I´ll try mate..I´m getting a bit blueish in my face...

[Scythe]

Nice work on the master. I take it the Manticore didn't change from the pics you posted on the first page then? It looks a bit different, though that's probably the lighting.