'Crazily Religious' and 'Technologically Advanced'; An army of the Empire (Stirland)

[Brother Alexos]

Nice, I like the use of unit fillers, it gives a sense that the Empire army was attacked while at camp.

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Here's a quick update, and it's got something to do with paint...

I've undercoated and painted one of the Greatswords as a test for the colourscheme for the army. Simple colours, with only one or two highlights and finished with a wash of Devlan Mud... The colours of Stirland are Green, with yellow or white. I'm going to use white mostly for trousers and smooth sleeves (sadly, this particular model doen's have any white). The red plumes are just for contrast as it works well with green and white.

The lighting isn't that good, but all things considered you should get the general idea. Take a look...


From the front...


From the rear...


Close up of the face...

It's been a while since I painted my last model, but I'm quite satisfied with the result. I want the army to have a sombre, down to earth look... With the aid of Devlan Mud, I think I just might succeed.

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread...

[Prince Sairion]

The pegasus is a work of genius, very fitting with the new theme of the empire. This army will look great amongst your Mordheim world when it's done.

[The Yak]

Good Stuff! Keep it up. Looking forward to seeing the famous Stirland Halberdiers.

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Another small update... I wanted to include my Mordheim Warband into my Empire army. Most of these guys are made with the new Empire plastics, but there are some old metal ones there too. This warband got my love for The Empire going again, as I really enjoyed the versatility of the new plastics.

Named Liebert's Looters (after Captain Liebert), they ran a very succesful Mordheim campaign, not losing a single game and getting filthy rich in the process... The band consisted of drunkards, a violent Halfling and more folks of an unsavoury nature... I simply had to use them! So I rebased them and added a banner to my Freelancer (switched his Knight's sword), I already had a musician (two, in fact) so the unit has a complete command. In battle they will be used as Free Company, either as a stand-alone unit or as a detachement for one of the larger blocks of infantry.

First a group shot...


The unit is 20 strong, including the Ogre unit filler... The unit has a distinct ragtag appearance, just the way Free Company should. Armed in many different ways, I think of them as a seasoned band of mercs, willing to fight for gold (and a bit of glory, too). Most of the painted models will have their paint job updated to match the army...

And a few shots of the individual models...


Special models of interest: the unit's guard dog (old Necomunda dog with a new collar, an old model from FBI) and the Halfling Cook (Gui le Gros). He's rather big for a Halfling, but that's another story...


Special models of interest: the Ogre unit filler and converted Bounty Hunter (holding the lantern)... The archer armed with a bottle is also a very nice model.


Special models of interest: the converted Tilean Marksman (Helblaster crew model) and my 'talented lad', the bad-ass bald guy...

I also started work on my mob of Flagellants, Huntsmen and Outriders, so expect more updates soon!

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread...

[Malcador]

Love it! Especially since you texted the pictures to me in the frickin´middle of the night grumble grumble....

[juicytomatoes]

The army is very characterful! Has a very 'ye ole chums' feel to it

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Here's another quick update...

I decided to size down my unit of Handgunners, to 10 in stead of 14 (less points, more flexibility and easy to fit on a standard movement tray )... The 4 models that were left out I used in my second unit of 10 gunners. Both units were made with bodies from the plastic Empire archer kit, both Marksmen are made from the Steam Tank Engineer... This gives both units a somewhat uniform appearance.

Both units have full command and can (and will) be used as stand-alone units or as detachments for the larger infantry units.


First unit, minus 4 gunners... Full command and a Marksman armed with a repeater handgun...


Second unit... Full command and a Marksman armed with a Hochland longrifle...


Both units together... These guys should give me enough defensive fire in most games. For some more firepower I'll be adding a unit of Huntsmen and some Outriders (though the latter only in larger games).


A small detail from the second unit... One of the Archer models is kneeling, thus enabling me to do this obvious but rather nice set of gunners. Ready, aim... Fire (say this as fast and as loud as possible for the true feeling)!

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread...

[Brother Alexos]

Nice, I like the idea of a Mordheim warband defending their home province in times of need.

[Scythe]

Very nice Empire army, I'll definitely keep this in my to watch list. As I am doing an Empire army myself currently, this is a great source of inspiration.

[Monsterzonk]

Very cool! I really like all those characterful unit fillers, as well as the steampunk elements. The Pegasus is awesome! Looking forward to more!

Cheers,
Monsterzonk

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Nice, I like the idea of a Mordheim warband defending their home province in times of need.

Yes, and coupled with the fact this idea saves the trouble of buying and/or converting a unit of Free Company, it's also quite effective! I have no idea if Free Company are any good on the battlefield, but points wise they are quite cheap (a unit of 20 including full command for only 120 points) so I can't go far wrong...

Very nice Empire army, I'll definitely keep this in my to watch list. As I am doing an Empire army myself currently, this is a great source of inspiration.

Cool! Return the favor and make a thread of your own Empire army... I'd like to see yours! If you want to use the bases I made, just shoot me a PM. I made them myself and can cast them in large numbers... Maybe we can work out a trade.

Very cool! I really like all those characterful unit fillers, as well as the steampunk elements. The Pegasus is awesome! Looking forward to more!

Cheers,
Monsterzonk

Thanks!

Time for an update (sort of)...

This part of the project has been around for a couple of months now. Those who visited my Mordheim thread may have caught a glimpse of it there, though it really belongs here, in my Empire thread...

These pictures were taken a couple of months ago, so there has been some progress since then. Just remember this is still a work in progres and it was all scratch-built with plasticard, except for the odd plastic or metal GW component... Furthermore, it's big! From wingtip to wingtip it measures about 30 cm and stom bow to stern about 20 cm.


A steam powered Airship, complete with wings...


A view from the side...


Close-up from the underside of one of the wings... Nobody can beat piston driven flight...


Detail of the cockpit, insert random Engineer here...


Close up of the boiler... The exhaust was taken from the old metal Steamtank, I really like the detail on that particular bit...

As I said, it's very much a work in progres, but it's getting there, slowly... At the moment I'm adding a balloon and putting the finishing touches to the armament... Also, I'm still not sure about the crew I want to add.

In smaller games the Airship can be used as a 'regular' Steamtank (it will get the same size base) and in larger games it could even use a variation of the rules for the Dwarven Airship from the Rulebook...

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread...

[Hadriel Caine]

Its great to see you working on miniatures and to see that they are every bit as creative and as entertaining as your Mordheim terrain plog, which I have been following for ages

The bulldog is cool as well. Definitely an army with a strong Stirland feel, well done!

[FBI]

Steamtank? who needs a steamtank? Call in the Imperial Airforce the Stirland Squadron.

[Elfboy]

The airship looks awesome, I was double excited when I saw you were adding a balloon to it too... I had been thinking only moments beforehand "it could really do with a balloon to help it take off"

I love all the detail you've put in, and piston system looks as though it would work in real life. As a suggestion, I would like to see some decorations on it (shields etc) just to break up the woodwork.

Your looters look great too.

[mdiscala]

Very cool, cant wait to see more work on the airship.

[comfortedzwing]

Loving your style! (been a long time sleeper on your mordheim thread) I especially like the clockwork stuff and your plasticard prowess! Can't wait to see some paint on the battlewagon thingy

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for all the cool feedback! Great to see some of the Mordheim folks, too!

No major update, but I have a few wip's for you to enjoy...

Steamtank? who needs a steamtank?

Wrong question!!! It should be: Who doesn't need a Steamtank!

First up is my Steamtank... This one is almost straight from the box, which is no problem whatsoever, the kit is great (even more so when compared to it's metal predecessor)! The only thing I added myself is the banner on top of the tank. The banner is from a Sisters of Battle sprue and the top is from the banner of Karl Franz. The Engineer is from the old metal Steamtank (obviously).


All the details (shields, skulls and the rest) still need to be added, but that will probably happen after painting. The base is another cast and works great!

I also did a bit of work on my artillery pieces... In my vision, The Empire is an army which just can't have enough banners. In 'Uniforms and Heraldry of The Empire' it's mentioned that even artillery have their own banners. Add a few pieces of plastic rod and here's the result...


The banners were generously supplied by my plastic Greatswords (they won't be needing them). The bases (another cast) are big enough to fit a lot of crap (barrels, crates, ammo) on them, so a banner is easy to fit on...

After digging around in my Empire bits box I 'rediscovered' this mini... An old (and not even that bad) paint job, but that can be fixed (some minor fixes and some Devlan Mud). He was quickly enlisted to lead my Greatswords.


An old Reiklander Captain for Mordheim (very nice model!). Although he already had his weapons swapped some time ago, I decided to give him a new sword to match those of his new unit. He'll be leading a unit of 40 Greatswords (I managed to find another 10 online to complete the unit).

More models and a pile of sprues and bits crowd my workspace, waiting to be assembled, based (casting bases takes some time) and, maybe one day, primed and painted... Check back for more updates!

As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread...

[Jormi_Boced]

Very nice job!

[Kaos]

This log reeks of brilliance! I love it! Airship? I want one to paint... mmmm...


Cheers-Kaos