In Dust We Trust: Burning Man Dark Eldar

[Von Calyptra]

Back in 3rd Ed 40k I got into Dark Eldar, and loved them like I have loved no other army before or since. And then I decided the game was a mess and quit 40k again.
Recently my roommate picked up the new rulebook, and so I've decided to readdress my old Dark Eldar. The new models are some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen, but I can't afford to buy new toys right now. So instead, I'm starting with old models that I never got around to painting, and I'll work from there, gradually converting my remaining original models into my current idea and color scheme. My original Dark Eldar army was stolen at DragonCon forever ago, and though I replaced it later, I never seemed to have the time to assemble and paint everything again. There's been a cardboard box of original wyches and hellions still in their blisters sitting in my closet for years. I'm going to try to focus on unpainted models before I start hacking apart the old painted ones for my mad plan.

I'm converting this entire army to have a Burning Man theme, thus combining two disparate passions of mine. The timing is particularly appropriate, because this year I intend to return to the Playa. It also means that very few people will appreciate this project like I do, but I don't care. Hopefully they'll like the models even if they don't get all the references.

So far, I've converted a unit of wyches.

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This guy is evidence of how evil the Dark Eldar are, on account of wearing feathers on the Playa.

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[NoisyAssassin]

I am in awe of how amazing this theme is. Really want to see these painted!

 

[Von Calyptra]

I am in awe of how amazing this theme is. Really want to see these painted!

I'm really gratified to hear that. Mostly when I tell people about this project (my game group, my girlfriend, other circus folk, etc) I'm met with blank stares.

I hope to have pictures of painted models up soon!

 

[Von Calyptra]

I'd like to write a few words about the bases.

I started out with this tutorial, which basically says to cover the base in PVA glue, cover the PVA glue in crackle paint, done. I had a lot of trouble finding the crackle paint (according to the tutorial, crackle medium won't work), and eventually ordered it online from a link in the tutorial. Before that, I found some Marthe Stewart crackle paint. This stuff is extremely thick and retains any texture (brush strokes etc) left while applying it, which makes it fairly unsuitable for us. And it has the problem apparently universal to crackle paint: getting it to stay on whatever surface it is crackling on.
So I got the right crackle paint, applied it onto PVA glue, and after it dried it peeled off, taking the PVA glue with it. Part of the problem is that PVA is a pretty broad category of glues, and I don't knwow what one was used in the tutorial. So I resorted to science, and discovered that it doesn't work on regular bases (the control), PVA glue (white), PVA glue (wood), krazy glue, plastic glue (from Model Master), or acrylic gesso. It does like green stuff. Admittedly at that point you could just carve the cracks into the green stuff, but this is still easier.

While working on this, I thought, "Hey, I know what else would look cool on cracked desert bases: Necrons!" So I fished a random Necron out of my bits boxes and painted him up as an experiment in lighting effects and color schemes for the base.

I tried about eight different color schemes for the base until I settled on this one.

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(I have two more Necron warriors, a Necron lord, some scarabs, and three wraiths, so I might paint them up too at some point so he has some company.)

Here's some pictures I took at Burning Man 2011 for comparison:

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Of course, if everything was to scale, the bases would just be smooth and off-white.
I thought I had a pretty good color match, but then when I was sizing these pictures to post them here I also color corrected them. Now they match my memory a lot better, but the bases are a bit dark by comparison, so I'm not sure if I should change them or not.

 

[Tarkas]

Thought I'd drop you a note as well.

I don't get the whole burning man thing, but I like what I see. Odd bases, but that is a good thing, and the sculpting is great. Cool work so far

I'll be stealing the horned DE idea for an upcoming project, it's super!

 

[Von Calyptra]

And they're all painted!

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I'm really pleased with how much they look like complete lunatics.
The next step will be to pimp their ride. I was at a loss for how to make raiders Burning Man-y until I realized it was just an art car. As such, in addition to an appropriately modelled base and playa wych crew, it will need to have big speakers for blasting dubstep (despite the fact that every other raider in the formation is blasting its own, different dubstep) and be a fish.

 

[Tawg]

Wow, that greenstuff work turned out rather fantastic.

I was unable to tell you had "Feathers" on the one guy before paint though :skull: But it looks good, pink suits them

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Those look great! I never used to like those older models, but you've brought something to them that really brings out the sculpts' qualities. Great job!


The title also made me think of the Minmatar... don't know if that was intentional though!

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Really like what you have done, and the painting is superb. Look forward to seeing the raider

 

[Thindol]

Nice paint jobs. What's this burning man thing you are going for?

 

[NoisyAssassin]

What's this burning man thing you are going for?

For the dry version: Wikipedia

For the more colorful version: just do a Google image search for "Burning Man". Be aware that some of the results will be NSFW.

 

[Von Calyptra]

Short version: Burning Man is a massive display of art and an experiment in alternative culture that takes place every year in the Black Rock desert in Nevada, which is one of the more inhospitable places on Earth. (Nothing lives there. Nothing.) For the week of Burning Man, an entire city of tents and domes and huge art installations is created, with a planned layout and distinct neighborhoods, housing upwards of 60,000 people. In the center of BRC is the Man, a giant wooden statue which is burned on the second to the last night. (The Temple is burned on the last night.)

The long version is difficult. For years before I went for the first time, I'd heard my friends going on and on about it; I'd looked at pictures, read articles, watched videos, asked questions. When my time came to go, everything I thought was going to be there was, and I was still utterly, wonderfully unprepared. Burning Man defies description. I can tell you about my experiences there, talk about the ten Principles, share photos and video, (all of which I'd be happy to do, if you're interested, because this is something that I'm very passionate about) but I don't believe it's possible to completely explain what Burning Man is; it needs to be experienced to be understood. (Kind of like the Matrix.)

 

[Sanai]

Make a thread or give me a link Calyptra- I have always seen pictures and footage of crazy things from Burning Man but never got much info on it.