The Eternal Court of the Carmine Rose

[Shadespyre]

@Raven Torrid - glad you like the colour, it was really an accidental discovery. My Orchide Shade has sat unused for years because I haven't painted orcs, but I will be looking for more opportunities to use it now.

@Wolfrahm - would love to see that dragon, both how you have found it and how you repaint it please!

 

[Wolfrahm]

Okie dokie, here it is. I have an old box full of dragons from different companies years ago. My brother and I love to play warhammer quest so we used to get lots of different models to help the game along. This box was in storage but I went and found it after seeing yours and here is what he looks like now.

If I remember right, we used testors model paints back then, we hadn't discovered what we use now. Not sure when I will redo him, have so many other things to do now and now is when I have my sights on my VC.

 

[Shadespyre]

Hey, that doesn't look much different from mine, except for the base, and the awesome droopy tongue! Would love to know what else is in that box of old dragons, I have a collection of over 50 metal dragon miniatures...

Meanwhile, I did a quick points count. I have painted or in planning around 2000 points of RARE models, so I would need 2000 points of CORE to use all that in a legal 8000 point army. I have about 800 points of core painted, so I need to double that AND more! Looks like that second horde of Rose Maidens is going to happen then, and another 50 skeletons...!o_o

 

[Shadespyre]

So as painting another 100 core models doesn't sound like fun... here's a fun project I've had in mind since the very beginning, inspired by Werner Klocke's miniature, the Mantic Skeletons and an ancient children's TV show.

Introducing Madam Liebespitze and her companions, Mitzi, Daphne, Lulu and Benji...

In case you are wondering, the colour scheme is based on the army colours - black, red, green - but with a LOT of white added to create the pastel shades. The miniature is from Freebooter Miniatures (UNT001 Undead Lady ) with a slight conversion. The dogs are from the Mantic skeleton sprues - three of them were cut up and reposed with the help of some very thin wire and a lot of patience!

Hope you like her!

 

[Pigeoneater]

She is sooooo cute!!!

I wanna take her home to a tea party and hug her and squeeze her and love her forever!!

Great work!

 

[Shadespyre]

Umm, thanks? I mean, that's a disturbing image you paint, but glad you like her.

And on the plus side I could use her as a unit filler and claim another 20 points of core troops completed! Every little helps...

 

[robtion]

Very nice, lots of character. I have used some of the giant skeleton rats on my minis too. I like the pastel colours on her dress, reminds me of cake icing, makes me kind of hungry

 

[Shadespyre]

Thanks!

Despite how well that model came out I've very much stalled on painting this army for now. I can't make any progress on the female characters, I've totally lost confidence in painting to that standard. I tried assembling my Blood Knights but I'm not happy with the heads... and I don't want to paint those shabbily either. So I started assembling some more rose-dryads and it just seemed like too big a job!

I've now packed away all my VC models to take a rest from it. I'm going to try and focus on some other projects and see if I can rediscover the joy of painting that way.

 

[John Rainbow]

So as painting another 100 core models doesn't sound like fun... here's a fun project I've had in mind since the very beginning, inspired by Werner Klocke's miniature, the Mantic Skeletons and an ancient children's TV show.

Introducing Madam Liebespitze and her companions, Mitzi, Daphne, Lulu and Benji...

In case you are wondering, the colour scheme is based on the army colours - black, red, green - but with a LOT of white added to create the pastel shades. The miniature is from Freebooter Miniatures (UNT001 Undead Lady ) with a slight conversion. The dogs are from the Mantic skeleton sprues - three of them were cut up and reposed with the help of some very thin wire and a lot of patience!

Hope you like her!

I love this model! I've also been looking for one for ages. Where did you find it?

 

[Alastor]

@Shadespyre Sorry to hear that mate, I really liked the unique nature of your army and was looking forward to more. Great stuff, can't wait until the hobby winds blow you in this direction again,

 

[lord marcus]

I am really liking the rose theme, especially on the shields!

 

[Shadespyre]

Thanks guys, I'm sure I won't be too far away...

@John Rainbow The model she is based on is The Undead Lady by Freebooter Miniatures. The dogs are from the Mantic Skeleton kit.

 

[John Rainbow]

@John Rainbow The model she is based on is The Undead Lady by Freebooter Miniatures. The dogs are from the Mantic Skeleton kit.

Yeah I was wondering where you found it though as it is OOP and I want one!

 

[John Rainbow]

I found it online at e-minis, a Spanish store. They seem pretty legit and use PayPal which is good.

 

[Shadespyre]

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. I bought mine in the great Maelstrom closing-down debacle, I think, some years ago now. Such a shame the mini is now out of production though.

 

[Victor Von Drak]

Wow, I just spent the better part of 3 hours going through your blog.

Fantastic stuff, I love your theme and obsession with Reaper models. Have you taken a picture of your whole army as it stands now? I'd love to see it for inspiration as I'm currently working on my own heavily converted undead army with lots of ladies. I also really wanted to use my spare Dryads (as they have a reddish tone/wash thing going on- I bought them off eBay already painted<Not the best>) in my army but couldn't justify what they could be..
Thank you for the ghoul idea, I had been stuck on the idea that they needed to be elite/uncommon (special/rare) like Wights or Wraiths/Spirit Hosts.
I have been proxy-ing Dwarves as Ghouls for their T value, but I felt off about their weapons and armour.

And wow hi John Rainbow..! Didn't realise you were on here.
This is the only site where I have a different user name.

 

[Wolfrahm]

Sorry Shadespyre that I didn't get back to ya sooner. I will take some pics this weekend and send them your way.

100 core! I will only paint about 15-20 at a time and that is as long as they hold my attention. Good luck!

 

[Sanai]

Very interesting army concept! I love the skeleton taking a bunch of undead puppies for a walk.

 

[robtion]

@Shadespyre I am right there with you on the motivation front. My wife recently had our second(and final) child so I am in survival mode currently. I have packed up my minis and will get back into painting them when time and energy allow.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

I came for the models, I stayed out of confusion.

Got to admit i like it, its a creepy and new concept and I always love creepy, thats the one thing me and the ex could always agree over.

 

[Shadespyre]

Thanks everyone for all the comments since I last posted.

I have an update for the army, though not one that I painted.

Today I received something in the mail from the US...

This mighty WIght King with BSB is the work of Anvalous (check out his work at The Herdstone, Warhammer-Empire, Ogre Kingdoms....) who has been one of my hobbying heroes since I first saw his Lion based Beastman army http://z8.invisionfree.com/herdstone/index.php?showtopic=23506

So when he suggested we participate in a mini exchange, I of course accepted!

He's used the Scythe which appears many times in my army, sculpted a rose shield after the fashion which my soldiers carry, and check out the fantastic freehand banner design

Here's the big guy towering over my Grave Guard:

(I've done a tiny bit of work to the base to blend it into my army)

I'm really happy with how he looks in there, the blue skull really draws the eye to him amongst the riot of red and green.

You'll have to wait to see what I sent in return for a few more days as it hasn't arrived yet...

 

[Adam_Barrow]

Wow, that model is sick!

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Great work on the freehand banner mate, really pulls the whole unit together and makes them pop.
Looking forwards t seeing what you will come out with next.

 

[Shadespyre]

Not Vampire related, but I thought I'd show you guys this, it's the model I sent to Anvalous as my half of our mini-Exchange. It's for his work-in-progress Griffon themed Empire army:

I've been gluing a few more Undead models together for when I get my painting enthusiasm back.

 

[Undying Scourge]

Now that's a grand looking army! Well done so far, I love the concept and the use of roses as icons. The painting is very good as well!