High Elves of Caledor

[Id'git Thwompa]

if i might part on a touch of wisdom that i was taught when i was working at GW .... paint the whole eye black, then paint the sides white ... it will keep the black dot in the middle of the eye and it won't cause the dreaded "lazy eye model" problem ....

on a side not I love your work so far it is really coming out nicely

[Sir_Glonojad]

Yeah, but it's painting the eye black is what I had the problem with. Still, I did try to paint a little yesterday (not eyes, thought - horseflesh for the mount of a DP musician 'cause my wife asked for "another horsey" ) and my hand-eye precision worked properly, so I hope it was a temporary problem.

I'm gonna get a new bottle of black today to ensure proper fluidity of solvent - maybe I'll go for a Citadel for a change.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Just a quick, pictureless update: I managed to overcome the eye problem with the right thickness of paint and patience (so, in short, paintience ). Id'git Thwompa's tip did help with fine tuning of the eyes - thanks!

The dragon prince musician's horse has all horseflesh and gold finished, with basecoat for red and browns (leather) done; the rider is not started (another miniature wouldn't simply fit under my dust-begone plastic bag ). The Caledor Peak Guard (IoB LSG) have faces, hair and gold armour done, with red in the deep shade stage. I've got yet another exam on Friday some am not sure how much advanced they're gonna be by the next weekend, but I do intend to get some pictures on Sunday nevertheless.

I, however, cannot locate one of the musician's arms... EDIT: Found it. I wonder if the shell painted bone will work well as a dragon horn...

[Sir_Glonojad]

So, as promised, some progress pictures. As the week was heavy with an exam to top it, I actually only managed to finish red on LSG and the horse; still I am quite pleased with the effect as it seems more natural than on the previous - Armoured Archer - batch. The pictures also document previous week's efforts with skin and armour.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Hello again! I hope someone still reads this thread...

Well, today there's a picture of a work-in-progress Loth.. Caledor Mountain* Guard. Wood is moderately advanced and to do it I halted violet which I decided should be painted after wood, as it is generally more "external" being mostly details and decoration.

But the key is the fire on the shield, which I am quite satisfied with. I would, however, hear Your opinions if it is done well; the thing that I find most dubious is the outer trim, which I did with a layer of Crimson Gore (or, to be more precise, Gory Red). I am worried that it may be a little to close to the red coat of the shield itself. On one hand it makes the layering of plastic less obvious and the shield, at least from some distance, might pass for painted instead of pre-formed; on the other hand, the contrast between fire and the field is broken.

Opinions?

Also, as we talk about fire - what is Your opinion about the "wave" pattern on the lowest part of the scale mail (as seen on the bottom-left of the previous photo of the same elf)? Would this work better in a fire pattern too? Or maybe it should be painted with in a less spectacular pattern, eg violet as other decorations on the miniature?

[Grain Weevil]

I like fire pattern very much but outer trim is too dark in my opinion. As about wave pattern I think that fire will look really good.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Thanks for opinion! As the Champion is still waiting for his turn to get the shield done, I think I'll try a brighter border on him. I guess I'll start with Hot Orange (the darker of oranges) then, with each layer a little wider.

Thanks again!

[Sir_Glonojad]

The first Lothern Sea Guard is finished - the Champion is leading, as he should be

Standard bearer and musician are close behind him - they have yet to have their "accessories" completed - I hope to get them ready (and photographed!) by the next weekend.

[Grain Weevil]

Wow, great model, it turns really well. Good job

[Sir_Glonojad]

Thanks a lot - I hope You'll like the other CG guys when they're finished, too. I am anxious to hear about the banner especially, as the original motif is quite far from the mountains of Caledor... but that's a thing still being prepared.

The thing that troubles me, however, is painting time - with LSG command I'll most likely hit the 9hr/model mark which is quite opposite to what I hoped to achieve after prototype archers took just 6h 09min on average...

[Sir_Glonojad]

So, the Caledor Peak Guard command group is finished! Here are the photos (the sun is not at its prime today, but I believe the pictures are quite nice):

Front

Back

Banner detail (or how I turned waves into volcanoes )

[Darkritual]

Nice choice of colours! they come together realy good! and finaly something defferent then 90% of the HE army's i see!

Keep up the good work!

[Saulot]

Your reds are so deep, it's sexy! LOL

Great plog man! You're very talented in the painting AND spotting a wargaming wife department!

Lovely Brets as well.

[Belegar]

Looking great!
Really like your colour setting.

Keep it up.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Your reds are so deep, it's sexy! LOL

LOL indeed! Still I wanted them deep to contrast more with bright gold.

Great plog man! You're very talented in the painting AND spotting a wargaming wife department!

Thank You! Though the wargaming is a bonus, I discovered that when we were already a couple.

Lovely Brets as well.

Thanks. I am painting a BSB and a damsel currently as stopgaps between elven waves, when they're finished I'll post them too.

Looking great!
Really like your colour setting.

Thanks! I just wanted something suitable draconian.

Pity, that my Dark Elf idea (violet+gold) gets redundant that way... I'll think of something else perhaps.

Keep it up.

Will do! I'm doing a spearelf command group now.

[Shadow_Steed]

Ah, a fellow Altmer!

Both the Seaguards and the Dragon Princes are looking good. Love the LSG banner!

Cheers!

[Sir_Glonojad]

Thanks a lot! I am happy that You do like the banner - I am proud of the demarinisation

All the best for the Easter!

[Grain Weevil]

Excellent work on this command squad, great job with demarinisation
What with their bases? Green as You intended? Because they look really grim, maybe some volcanic rocks?
Great job anyway !

[Duke Donald]

Your Seaguards command group is really pretty. Your thread reminds me I have to paint my own IoB elves one day.

[Sir_Glonojad]

Thanks! The funny thing is that I seem to have my recipe notes wrong - the last layer of wood should be 100% Pale Yellow by my scribbles, yet it turned out far too bright on the spearelf group that rests on my desk right now.

As for the bases - as You can see I have not decided yet. But I am not that keen on that "grass on lime" idea as I used to.