Necrons, 'Nids 'n' Eldar (mostly...)

[bluenova]

Okay, I usually have multiple projects on the go, see:




So I decided to start a log for all my Xenos armies to share.

First I'll introduce my Necrons: The Death Cult of Nadaghast!





Then there're my Tyranids: The Alpanga Swarm.





And finally, my Eldar: Craftworld Sre Ynolc





I'm going to make a post for each, introducing the army and showing a few pictures, and keep updating the thread as I progress with each project, but right now I've promised to cook for the missus so I'll have to go. In the meantime, here's a couple more pics:

[Student]

Your C'tan conversion is cool. I look forward to seeing more

[Nehemiah]

Nice painting on the Dire Avengers, and ditto the above comment.

[bluenova]

Thanks for the positive comments - as you've mentioned the C'Tan I'll make this first post about my Necrons, the Death Cult of Nadaghast!

First, here's Destroyer Lord Nadaghast. He hates you because you're alive!



I like to paint fast, so for the base colour I spray them green then give them a light spray with a gold metallic paint. This was originally a technique I was playing with for a quick verdigris effect on another project, but decided it suited a decaying, undead robot themed army better (it's like diseased rust!).

I then pick out the details and shade/highlight as normal.



Here's another shot of the C'Tan. People often ask what C'Tan he's a shard of, well as far as Nadaghast is concerned he's the last shard of the Flayer. Of course, we know that's not possible, but the shard isn't telling (maybe he's really a Deceiver shard?).



That's a classic Necron/Chaos Android on his base - more guard the Monolith.



If you look closely you can see the levels of gold/green varies throughout the army. This was intentional as I wanted it to look like a disease that was infecting the living metal, and would naturally be more developed/prominent on some of the tainted and less so on others.



I also had to include some of the old Flayed Ones models in the army as they are my all time favourite GW model.

I painted them the same as the rest of the army, then gave each one different coloured skins to wear, to show that the galaxy isn't just populated by caucasians! There are not only different skin tones in humans, but countless abhuman races and other xenos out there just waiting to be flayed!




So, Nids or Eldar next?

[Vampiric16]

Show us your 'Nids! Get your toxin sacs out!

Like the Necrons, good use of those old androids

[bluenova]

Nids? Okay :-)

I call them the Alpanga Swarm. I did try making a log for them a long time ago (some long time members might recognise them) but this new thread replaces the old one.

So, Alpanga means 'mighty blade' and comes from the name of a character from an old role playing game campaign I was playing (anyone remember Shatterzone? Top RPG). I wanted them to have a dangerous look, like poisonous insects and frogs have bright red or yellow patches, so I decided on black with red carapaces and nicknamed them 'Redbacks' after the famous venomous spider.

Anyway, the original theme for them was of a Genestealer infestation that had broken out (on the planet Alpanga), and their biomass/psychic resonance had drawn a splinter Hive Fleet. So it'd be Genestealer heavy with a few monstrous creatures to back them up. I'm not much of a power gamer, so I don't know (or care) what's considered the optimum build, but I've always loved Genestealers since the original Space Hulk came out, and for me they should be the basis of a Tyranid army.

So the bulk of the army is:



Lead by these guys:



But I also wanted some classic first generations, so I painted these guys too:



In 5th edition they would use Outflank to run on from the sides and charge the enemy, a tactic that's no longer possible, as you can't assault when outflanking in 6th, but back in 5th I decided to have the Swarmlord to make their arrival a bit more predictable. This was before the new kit came out, and with my fondness for the old models, I made this guy:



Those 'eggs' on the base are pistachio shells, and the stones are actually wood chips from the local park (you know - the stuff they put down around the swings).

In 6th he seems a little redundant/expensive, especially as some of the psychic powers and what not in the rulebook give the same benefits (if I did try the same tactic), and with flyers being so popular...

Luckily I had this knocking about in my collection!



I call her the Queen, and was given her for free!! She was badly damaged and needed some TLC, but she came from a friend that had acquired her from another guy that owed some money out. Anyway, my mate held onto her for a while then realised he was never gonna get around to repairing the damage (and didn't play Tyranids, so wouldn't have a use for her even if he did), so he passed her on to me!



And finally, a little bit of work in progress (more Genestealers!) - just the claws to do on these modern era Space Hulk models and they're ready to join the Swarm!

I wanted them to be between the first generation brood and the mutated scytal guys, so I tried to get the effect that the colour was changing to red. I'm also painting the tongues the same colour as the classic 'stealers, whereas I normally give my Nids green tongues - another hint that these guys are between the different stages.

[bluenova]

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted on here. I have been busy, I'm sure I have some pictures to prove it ...


How about a glimpse at my latest Broodlord? Yeah, I chopped the head off a Space Hulk Genestealer.




Also, my Queen has had an upgrade. I never really liked guns on my 'Nids, preferring to keep them more animalistic, but inspired by the Tyrannofex model's weapon-hands, I came up with this (still much green-stuffing to do, but you can see where it's heading):




I've done something similar on another Hive Tyrant (another freebie model! A friend decided to make a Tyrant out of a Carnifex, then gave up on 'Nids, so I got the model! Nice.):





Well, that's it for now, will update with some more pictures as and when I get 'em

[bluenova]

So, I finished that Broodlord. First I gave him a little biomorph, in the form of an old Space Crusade Warrior chest carapace/rib-cage ... thing.





Then a lick of paint.




A bit of basing and he's ready to join the Swarm.

[bluenova]

Oh, you may have noticed a sneaky Eldar girl in the background there. She's a work in progress Warlock - my Eldar are based around a loose Star Wars theme, with Guardians as Storm/Clone Troopers and Farseers/Warlocks as Jedi.




She's been WIP for a couple of years now, I just never seem to get around to painting her! Maybe when the new codex hits I'll feel inspired...

Want more Eldar? Okay:

[bluenova]

Imagine my surprise when I went to the local gaming club and I saw a pile of boxes containing Necrons, brought in by fellow club member and Warseer forumite Zoanite.

"Here," he said, "they're for you."

Apparently he'd acquired them in part of a deal with his cousin (who traded all his old models with Zoanite for a guitar), and not being a Necron player he kindly donated them to me.

"Wow!" says I, "I shall enjoy assimilating them into my death cult, but don't think this means I'm gonna let you win!"

So that's an extra Monolith, 30 Warriors, 4 Destoyers, some Lords and a couple of Flayed Ones (plus various other old metals!). Let the assimilation begin!

Monolith spraying - I place my models on an up-turned plasterer's hawk, as the handle and flat surface makes it easy to move the freshly painted models about and put them down on the table etc after spraying. BTW, I think i've already mentioned, but I spray my Necrons green then give them a 'dusting' with gold spray (from the DIY shop) - then add highlights and shading etc:





Unfortunately, there was only half of the crystal that sits in the top of the Monolith, but there was also this little fella in the bundle, and I had an idea:






Then there's the Warriors - still WIP, but the base layer is complete (the guys at the back are finished):





Still in the assembly line - I'm going to use the Pariah as an Overlord and the old Wraith as a Cryptek:




Will be back with more another day

[Zaonite]

Those old Crons are looking sweet. You have done them far more justice than I ever could.