Geralt of Rivia joins the Kislev! More Kislev units and an army picture

[Nagash Worshiper]

So I finally got something done. A couple of weeks ago I re-read Warhammer End Times: Nagash and the inspiration for this three headed creature came from The Doomlords fate as an underworld guardian. At first it was just going to be a regular Necromancer on an abyssal terror. I then changed my mind to make it into my own interpretation of Dieter Helsnitch ( I'll call him Mortarch of Death) riding his "bat winged creature" as described in the book.

@Farmer7574
Thank you! I'm pretty satisfied with it so far and it's going to be a joy to paint, provided I actually get my hands on some

@Borgnine
Glad you like it! It's a very good idea using undead horses bits. Sadly I missed your brilliant advice until after I started my own conversion
I cut a chunk out from the midsection and filled it with green stuff. I then took the piece of plastic I removed and cut it into ribs to be reattached again:

Oh, I like the idea of a hollow eye socket! Do you think it's enough to just drill it out?

@Eyeless
Thx! It was very fun to build!

So I filed the leg to show some bone sticking out. I hope it will work when I get some paint on it.

This is a bad picture, srry, but if you look closely you'll notice that the lizard has a stiff tung. Dieter has actually stuck a sword in its mouth to make its bite more lethal. I took the blade from the Warriors of Chaos box as a small reference to a certain artifact the old coot used to carry around back in the old days

Old Dieter is slowly loosing his mind. He's obsessed with gaining deeper knowledge of necromancy and wouldn't leave his most precious tomes and scrolls out of sight. This beast, once a living manticore, has been experimented and altered over the years resembling nothing like its living origin anymore. It's bulk can carry as much dark arcane scripture as Helsnitch needs and it's dangerous enough to keep away jealous necromancers and their thieving fingers.

I wanted to make the model seem to soar over the battlefield as Dieter needs a good oversight to know were to re-raise corpses.

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

I finally got something done and “Dieter Helsnicht, The Doomlord of Middenheim, Mortarch of Death” is now assembled. Sorry for the bad pictures but I was in a hurry. I promise to upload better ones, with him painted, as soon as possible:

Here is a picture from the side:

I really wanted to make it look like he is flying over his army and rising the dead to unlife. Therefor the skeletons are gradually positioned higher above ground the farther they are to the back of the base. I intend to try to enhance this effect by making the staffs and skeletons eyes glow with magic, giving the image of Dieter in the act of casting RD or IoN.


Most of the inspiration for my own take on Dieter comes from this picture in Warhammer End Times: Nagash:

 

[Farmer7574]

@Nagash Worshiper Really well converted. I had a Deiter model ages back and he's a classic. Your conversion tops it!

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

@Farmer7574 Nothing can top the original Dieter model sir Have you got it painted? I would love to have a look at it for inspiration.

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

The ides of march is past and it's time to start a new project. Even better, a new Mortarch. Since I got no paint yet and an ever growing pile of models stuck in a box marked "stuff to do" there's plenty of things to build!

The hour of Dieter Helsnitch is over and the time of Wallach Harkon, Grandmaster of the Blood Dragons, Mortarch of War, is upon us.

I wanted to make Harkon what Dieter wasn't. Where Dieters base is covered with magically resurrected skeletons, Harkons is covered with weapons and shields on a battlefield. Where Dieter packs his mount with arcane tomes, the grandmaster instead attaches trophies from defeated champions upon the dragons husk. Thereby his dragon is not only his mount but also an altar of war with which to proclaim his identity on the battlefield.
His saddle is carrying daggers and shortswords and I can imagine that they come in handy if his primary weapon get lodged to deep in an enemy and he has to react quickly. Also attached to his saddle is a lance marked with the Fleur de Lys of Brettonia. This weapon is less of a weapon for Harkon (just compare it's tiny size with Blood Knights lances) and more of a symbol. Harkon, after hundreds of years as an evil vampire, is still a knight to the core. I've read somewhere that when jousting one points the lance as a challenge towards another knight.

I can picture Harkon pointing the lance at a worthy paladin or grandmaster in mockery of this noble challenge. The Fleur de Lys emblem is probably antagonizing Brettonians right up to the moment when Harkons sword sever their heads.

 

[Borgnine]

I love your Dieter - so intricate with all the details, well designed! Putting a black knight's head on a staff was an especially cool idea to get what's on the picture Is one of the skeletons holding the rod on which the monster is set? That makes it more difficult to pretend it's not there As if it's piercing it's chest with a spear - but well, it could be a 'breaking the 4th wall' kind of thing

Walach also looks very promising. Old zombie dragon looks sweet. I wonder what model would you use for the rider himself I think it's a cool idea to give him many, many weapons - like you have some swords on the saddle. The whole base could be a 'blade field' of some sort - provided you have enough bits Still, I'm looking forward to some progress here

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

@Borgnine
Thanks! Means a lot coming from you, after looking through your thread a few times. Glad you like it!

Haha! Truth be told I made that skeleton in an attempt to make the stick blend in more, like if it was holding a spear amongst its fellow bros. Maybe if I attach a small banner or icon it will blend in more? If memory serves the original Dieter has a back banner right?
I'll post a picture of the change and would look forward to your sincere comment if it's an improvement or not. If it doesn't work I'll just replace that arm with something else and he'll just become a RaF model

Right now I'm looking at The Empire Grandmaster models for inspiration on Wallach. I feel that a good idea would be to try to liken his armor to that of regular Blood Knights but adding/changing some parts for a unique look.

 

[Borgnine]

I think that could work - and if not an icon/banner, then maybe sculpt just a tip of a spear? I think that putting an icon/banner underneath the beast would defeat the point of a banner Maybe it'll look cool either way - I will be waiting for some updates from you.

Also, big thanks for your appreciation - but we are all learning from each other here

 

[Adam_Barrow]

I love the old Zacharias dragon. Team Necrarch for life, witches! Building the base up like that really helps you mask the smaller scale of that sculpt. Cool work!

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

@Borgnine I tried the banner thing and it didn't work at all under the beast, way to crowded and covered but I manage to fix a spear tip and I looks like this:

What do you think? Is it better now?

@Adam_Barrow haha! Glad you enjoy it . The base is actually made for 9th age as Zombie Dragons have a 50x100 base (100x150 base is called Colossal Zombie Dragon). You're absolutely right! It does help the old models size!

 

[Borgnine]

Well, that was quick! On this picture one can barely see that the spear is connected with the monster I think that's a good improvement and work well done

Also, a Colossal Zombie Dragon? You got my attention, I need to read some 9th age rules!

 

[Farmer7574]

@Nagash Worshiper Unfortunately I sold it on eBay before heading to China seven years back thinking it was very unlikely I'd get back into Warhammer.

Wallach Harkon's mount looks great, looking forward to seeing more of this one later

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

WIP-update on Walach Harkon.
@Borgnine I added more swords to the base
@Farmer7574 Thank you!

I got some inspiration from the Empire Grandmaster models in that they are all similar to their respective order but more individualistic. I tried to keep this in mind together with the image of an average Blood Knight when I chose the parts to make Walach. If I add a similar paint scheme like my Blood Knights I think it will work.

I think he carries 6 blades or something like that. It's supposed to show that over hundreds of years he's acquired a tremendous skill at arms with a variety of weapons ever striving to become a more deadly warrior.
In my interpretation of Walach Harkon, he's a creature who relishes in combat and his pose is sort of supposed to represent that. Is he laughing or shouting challenges? Is he mocking the enemy? "Come on! Do it! Shoot your cannons! Do it"! Who knows?

Next up, attaching the wings!

 

[Mnemloch]

Walach, what a traitorous bastard. I am glad Vlad had his own mount rip him in half lol.

Your conversion looks awesome btw!

 

[Borgnine]

I love it with all the weapons, both with Walach and on the base That surely looks like a properly martial character The dragon seems a little small compared to the rider, but maybe it'll look different with the wings attached

 

[Leithel]

I can't believe that I've missed this PLOG before, it's very good. You've got some really interesting conversions going on here, I can't wait to see more.

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

@Mnemloch
Haha! Indeed! And what a betrayal it was! The sucker sure deserved it .
Thank you! Conversion projects are probably the thing I enjoy the most in this hobby.

@Borgnine
Excellent! Glad the effect of the weapons work!
Haha! It does look a bit out of scale doesn't it! Neferata, Arkhan and Manfred are all very tall models and I wanted to make sure that Walach be of equal height. The dragon's size is partly to me already having the model and partly to be a bit in sync with the size of the Abyssal Terror mounts. This way, when they all stand with Nagash himself no Mortarch will steal the show from their master. Should have thought ahead that it might look weird . I hope (when it's painted) it will draw the eyes more to Walach himself but we'll see .

@Leithel
Glad you like it! It's a bit short on painted minis at the moment but hopefully I'll remedy this later on. Your own plog is very good and a real joy to browse, love your short stories!

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

A converted Walach Harkon, Grand Master of the knightly order of Blood Dragons, Mortarch of War is assembled. The wings were a pain to attach and I'm not to happy with how the area between wings and body turned out but this is the best I could accomplish with my abilities so I guess it counts for something. I also made a few adjustments to the model overall and added some details:

Anyone want to guess who's the next Mortarch on the list?

 

[Borgnine]

Wings really improve the proportions on the mini, they look very much cool The wings are also very good, much more imposing than these standard ones.

As for the next one, I'd say it would be Luthor Harkon

 

[Adam_Barrow]

Awesome! You've pulled off the look you were going for quite well.

 

[robtion]

Oh wow! There is some GREAT stuff in this plog. I love your style.

Your ghoul captain and general have so much character. Those mortarch's are amazing. Love how you themed them with all the weapons for war etc. I am feeling inspired

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

@Borgnine you are completely correct sir!

@Adam_Barrow Thank you!

@robtion Thanks! Glad you like it so far! The ghoul characters have become very inspiring for future projects

New day and another Mortarch to convert. Arch Grand Commodore (yeah that's his title in the fluff) Luthor Harkon, scourge of the Vampire Coast, Mortarch of the Abyss is actually already represented by a mini I painted years ago. Many will recognize it from GWs old Sartosan line. Srry for the bad pics!

Being satisfied with the mini as it is just won't do, therefor Luthor Harkon needs some additions. Will post WIP pictures soon!

 

[Mnemloch]

He needs a ship!

 

[Borgnine]

The sartosan vampire! Congrats for getting your hands on it Still, a wonderful model as it is, I think a big tricorn hat would fit Luthor very good Also, seconding @Mnemloch 's post

I am eagerly wainting for what are you cooking for him

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

Wow, suddenly spring arrived with more work, more school and more BBQs so there haven't been much time for the hobby. But lately I finally got something done!

@Borgnine Ofc an Arch Grand Commodore needs a proper pirate hat! I made it so that it is decorated with bat-wings instead of feathers which I will paint to resemble the rest of his decorative armor plates. Is the size good or should it be even Arch Grander?

@Mnemloch in the background you can see the start of the good commodore's ship, The Rising Reaper. Is it a good name? I'm constantly changing it

This ship is not to be confused with Harkons flagship The Black Coffin were he keep his most priced possession, Queen Bess. More updates later this day!