'Murderous Tides' Duriath Helbane's Raiders : Dark Elf Log

[mallymoocow]

Here is my first warhammer army.

I've always loved Dark Elfs. Cold Ones and Corsairs have always sparked my imagination. So when my group of friends started to turn to fantasy the choice for me was straightforward.

After much head scratching I decided to base my force around the few character stories found in the current army book.

The Helbanes

of The Black Ark
Tower of Spite

Duriath Helbane
Commander of the Black Ark 'Tower of Spite'



Duriath is currently questing against the Vampire Counts and Skaven in the hope of gaining greater power through the understanding of necromancy and proliferation of warpstone.

This is the conversion I'm working on for this character, a lot of the inspiration for the model comes from the army book cover, I know he is essentially a corsair but I like to think as his status and wealth grew he took on a cold one mount. I've yet to tidy the model with green stuff and try adding a sea dragon cloak to top him off.

His typical magical items will be:-
Crimson Death
Pendant of Khaeleth

Ryuk Helbane
Master Corsair



A young aspiring leader, eager to claim glory and fame. The son of the late 'traitor' Hirsunor, he has much to prove in Anethra Helbane's eyes.

His typical magical items will be:-
Sword of Might or
Biting Blade

Morag the Black
Sorceress

Morag craves knowledge of the Black Arts, her obsession with magical supremacy has brought her to the Tower of Spite, keen to experiment with necromancy and warpstone to further enhance her powers.

Her typical magical equipment and lores will be:-
Tome of Furion
Dark, Shadow or Death

Kin-Stalker
Assassin



Hidden amongst the crew aboard the Tower of Spite, Kin-Stalker watches the rise of the Helbanes, seeking out and eliminating those who believe themselves worthy of the Witch King's throne.

His typical khainite items will be:-
Manbane
Dance of Doom
Rending Stars

Next post I show you all some of the units I have been working on...

[JamieIsOOP]

I like these alot, especially the second guy and the sorceress. I am looking forward to seeing the mounted highborn painted too. Will be following with interest!

[eldargal]

Look forward to seeing how this progresses, I really liked the little character profiles in the DE book. I do hope you will make a model of Anethra 'Mummy' Helbane.

[mallymoocow]

Cheers,

JamieIsOOP
eldargal

Yeah the stories are great, also looking forward to having some executioners with hellbane champion

Yes mummy hellbane will join in at a much later point aswell as daddy helbane but need to get this lot sorted first

Here's a list of what I'm working on atm...

Corsairs
Cold ones
Chariot
Crossbowmen

Only had one full game so far of 800 pts against skaven, which was a win

Have to say warhammer is really fun compared to 40k

[mallymoocow]

Here are the cold one knights i've been working on, these are older pictures
i've been currently working on the cold one mounts and there colours are more complete then these pics
will put current photos up soon

[Sinzaren]

Ah nice to see someone else making themed units for his Dark Elves. I always like to play games with a story behind them, and having characters named and modeled accordingly is great. Will be watching, keep up the good work.

[mallymoocow]

Here are todays photos of the units i have been painting today

Quite happy with how the cold ones are turning out just need to paint the other knights now

Also been working on the chariot, would love to get the recent cold ones, or even the new SoM direct unsadled ones but just dont have the funds atm

The crossbowmen are coming on well, getting a bit sick or the painting the same thing over again

Finally my test corsair model, thinking I will paint these last to tie the whole force in

All I need todo now is find a cheap hydra and my 1.5k is complete

cheers all

[Elfboy]

I love your lord conversion. Keep it up

[BeatTheBeat]

Nice to see another DE blog! The Lord conversion is looking great, and your painting is nice and neat (not to mention that you're fast!). Keep it up!

Cheers,
BTB

[LocaLicious]

This is a really nice project log Very well planned and ambitious
Seems like a nice color scheme on the cold ones as well .. I'll follow this since it makes me feel good

[mallymoocow]

Cheers,

Sinzaren
Elfboy
Beatthebeat
LocaLicious

I hope I can continue to make you excited...

when the weather gets better I plan to undercoat my cold one knights

still playing with ideas for my banners, i think corsairs deserve the skull and cross bones, not to sure on the cold ones as the home of the helbanes, can't remember the city name, doesn't not have an example banner in the army book, i'd like to give Duriath a black banner with a simplified image of a citadel atop a serpent to represent the tower of spite but still need to play around with it, i'm ok at free hand but only if its plain white lol

i'm also keen to look at winter themed bases but there seems to be alot of methods, anyone recommend any?

[Sinzaren]

Actually looking in the book, I think they come from Clar Karond, and there is a banner in the book from there. It's the Iron Talon symbol.

For the winter bases I can tell you how I've done mine.

I start with the usual sanding method, then work from Bestial Brown up to Bleached Bone. Next I add static grass and when dry paint it Goblin Green, and highlight with a little Goblin Green/Skull White mix. Next I mix a bit of PVA with some GW Snow Flock and slap that on. Once everything is dry, give it a dry brush with Space Wolves Grey and then Skull White.

Another method I have used in the past (for some Space Wolves) was to just use Polly Filler from a DIY store. Worked a tread for a full snow base.

[LocaLicious]

@ Sinzaren. Just checked out your DEs .. Those bases look rly awesome- great recipe.

Mally, you can have mine as well, if you want. It's a more frozen mountain ish look. It makes me think of D2 act 5
Also its very simple to make. (one can argue if it's too simple)
Sand on base. Skull white. Add some watered down badab black. Dots of Devlan mud here and there. Springle some dead grass and snow flock when its dry. The sides of the bases I paint graveyard earth
Take a look in my O&G log of you want: http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312317

[mallymoocow]

Cheers,

Sinzaren
Localicious

I will have a play with these winter base recipes in the future
and yes Clar Karond has the cresent fist emblem don't know how I missed that!

Here is my rough 1.5k list I'm building, where Ryuk can also double as the BSB...
I'm still playing with the idea of hydra or executioners, both are theasible with the Helbane/Tower of Spite/Clar Karond theme...

DreadLord +HA +SH +PoK +CD +CO = 239
Master +HA +SDC +SoM/+BSB = 105/115
Sorceress +Lv2 +ToF = 150
19 BACorsairs +FC +SSS = 240
10 XBows +M +Sh = 115
10 XBows +M +Sh = 115
5 COK +FC +BoCB = 190
CoC = 100
Hydra = 175

1429/1439
Giving between 71-61 for extras I'm thinking Harpies maybe but would love to convert some mini dragons as proxies..

Hopes this helps paint more of a picture of what I'm moving towards

[eldargal]

Isn't daddy Helbane loong dead? Look forward to seeing Anethra, whenever she comes. Your cold ones look great by the way and so does everything else.

Yes mummy hellbane will join in at a much later point aswell as daddy helbane but need to get this lot sorted first

[mallymoocow]

Your right eldargal, he died before the sundering I think but could still be a cool model to attempt (again this might be distant future or not at all, all depends )

here is an update...

done some more work on the chariot, mostly on the cold one and riders

and some more work on Ryuk, Morag and the sea dragon cloak of tester corsair

cheers all!

[mallymoocow]

Right,

1st Snow base attempt!!!!

What do you think????
Quite pleased, not totally amazing but then I have done it very simply...

flocked with Gale Force 9 sand
painted adeptus battlegrey
drybrushed atronomicon grey
washed very watery gryphonne sepia
pva then sprinked Gale Force 9 snow
just letting it dry then i will touch up the base edges

i'm starting to think i should have used babab black to wash instead of sepia to give a stronger contrast?

(bases are so awkward to do, the snow gets everywhere!)

i've also started preparing my other models with the sand
and purchase some vallejo matt varnsih for the minis as i have good things about them

will try keep posting all my progress...

Cheers all

[LocaLicious]

Wauw , that base looks rly good Grats mate

[mallymoocow]

Right been a long time but here is some updates, sorry for delay just trying to get a lot of it all done...







Cheers!

[efcjester]

Hi matey, only just found this thread, i hope next time you start one of your magical machinations you will let me know hehe. Have to say your painting is coming on leaps and bounds, I am especially impressed with the character models and cold one mounts, really really nice.

You will be glad to know I have started putting together an army of your arch enemies the High Elves so hopefully my finecast prince Tyrion will be kicking Dark Elf but soon lol.

Keep up the good work matey, wish I could paint as quick as you can, maybe then I would get more than 3 miniatures every ten years painted.

oh btw I finally found an answer to all my varnishing woes, if your interested I can give you a link or send you an email.

take it easy matey