Da Tartan Army Boyz

[Student]

Hello Warseer,

So after a short break for christmas, when I was forced to visit family and then revise for exams, I'm back to my work bench (dining table) and starting on a new project. The target is to get 1000pts ready to take part in a doubles competition which I will enter with Poisoned Edge, whose ogres teamed up with my Tileans for the last doubles tournament, and who has assured me that he's going to start a log here for his part of the army. We have decided to both use the same army book as this gives us various advantages and since we both already collect them we are going to both be using Orcs and Goblins. However since I painted my greenskins a long time ago I'm going to create a new force that doesn't look like I painted it holding the brush with my teeth. As the title of this log suggests this army is going to have a celtic theme, living in Edinburgh for four years must have affected me psychologically, so I need to create myself some tartan clad loonies.

Here's my test miniature:



The plan is to have a large block of savage orcs like this one, some trolls, a shaman and some other stuff.

I'm keen to get this looking as good as possible so any comments and criticisms are very welcome.

[Bunkka-Pop]

I've always been thinking that it's only a question of time until someone does celtic orcs..

But yeah, the painting and conversion work both are spot on! The painting on the stone weapons looks really cool and realistic, and the freehand on the tartan and the tattoos are solid. The teeth are also fine, nice to see that someone likes use more time with the smaller details.

Only thing that maay just use something is the skin, maybe one more layer of highlight would be cool? On the other hand, I'm 90% sure that it is really highlighted better than what it looks now in the picture, green has a habit of losing it's highlights when photographed. Stupid green...

Have you yet decided that how are you going to base them?

Keep up the good work!

[Student]

Thanks Bunkka-Pop. I agree that the skin could look better and I'll try and get another layer of highlighting onto it. I haven't decided how to base them yet. As this army is for a doubles tournament I'll want my bases to match my teammates so I'll have to discuss it with Poisoned Edge. Any suggestions are welcome though. Thanks again for the feedback it is much appreciated.

[Caiphas Cain]

Scorpion green makes for awesome highlights!

[Poisoned Edge]

I was thinking a brown or grey for an upland/ mountainous look?

[gogs78]

Brilliant idea! Nice converting and paintjob!

[Student]

@Caiphas Cain: Thanks for the tip.

@gogs78: Glad you like it.

@Poisoned Edge: I think its a bit dark but is this the kind of thing your thinking of:



I've been thinking about trying to model heather on to the bases but I don't know how to do this. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Disposable Hero]

Well, my gf and her family are from Scotland, so I am thinking you need to add some beermugs, a big bowl of Christmas trifle, the famous fried Mars bar and, ofcourse you could use tourists as goblins.

[Jo-Jo]

And bagpipe musicians!

[Disposable Hero]

And Japanese and American tourists in coaches looking for their Scottish roots.

[Grain Weevil]

Great idea! Have You read the Giantslayer, if not I recommend it to You(the action is based upon the land of Albion). As about the Heather i suggest to go outside on the meadow, this time of year You can find some very good basing materials, as plants are dry and rigid.

Keep the good work

[juicytomatoes]

Great-looking mini! more please!

[arkanus]

Cool idea and nice looking mini. I am looking for more!

[Duke Donald]

Interesting idea and the test mini looks promising. However, I feel it looks a bit empty on the front. I would add something on their belly. Anything could do: a belt with a knife but what would fit your Scottish theme best would be a "sporran" (the pouch that Scotts wear on their kilt). I don't think it would be overly difficult to make it out of greenstuff. For the bases, I would add llittle rocks in between your heather grass to give it a more Scottish landscape feel.

[Lorcryst]

Wow, that test model is gorgeous !

Very neat idea, I could never do that myself (my greenstuff skills are almost non-existent), but I second the idea of a "sporran" on the front ... looks a bit empty, if you know what I mean ...

Definitively subscribed !

[Nosy]

I like the model, it looks really cool. Not so sure I agree with the sporran idea, though. Sporrans were not worn with that type of kilt, instead the folds of the cloth in the top part (plaid) acted as pockets. I don't know what else you could put there though. Maybe a long medallion or something? Will your musician have bagpipes?

[Student]

Well that's a lot of responses.

@Disposable Hero: Yeah I lived in Scotland for a while and I too have a scottish girlfriend. I fondly remember having to battle through masses of tourists on the Royal Mile to get to GW.

@Jo-Jo: Great minds think alike and I hope you like what I've got to show.

@Grain Weevil: I haven't read Giantslayer but I'll try to give it a look. Does each of the stories stand alone or would I need to read the series from the start?

@juicytomatoes: I'm glad you like it and I bring some more as asked.

@arkanus: Thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes too.

@Duke Donald: I did think about a sporran but decided that it took some of the savage look away. I see what you mean about the emptyness so I might try putting a knife on there like you suggest.

@Lorcryst: Thanks. Yeah I agree it looks a bit empty. I'm going to see if I can solve it. Also I'm fairly sure you could match my sculpting. Bear in mind that I only put the good stuff up here.

@Nosy: I didn't know that about the plaid having pockets in it. Yes my musician will have bagpipes as you are about to see.

As you all seem to mostly approve of the test model today I cracked on and made this:



I think the problem of the empty space on the first orc isn't as apparent on this one as he isn't leaning backwards stretching his front. What do you think?

Also today I won some trolls on ebay so hopefully they will be making an appearance here in the near future.

Any and all comments and criticisms are welcome.

[Grain Weevil]

The series is integral, but You can read each book separately.
BTW cool bagpipe orc
PS: one little idea... You can give a bagpipe shape of a tanned squig.

[juicytomatoes]

Absolutely loooove the bagpipe dude! Sc-Orcs Wha Hae!

[Lorcryst]

Wow, really good bagpiper you got there !