The Restless Dead - A Vampire Counts painting blog.

[Telliphas]

Hello all

Long time lurker, first time poster on these forums. A lot of great work and inspiration from fellow forum members here.

I haven't painted in a few years, only getting back into the painting side of the hobby recently. The following Skeletons (and Zombies to come) are from a friend, I'll be painting them up to dust of my brushes and get back into the painting swing of things again.

Vampire Counts and all of the dark nasties that follow them are one of my favourite armies. The idea of hordes of Skeletons and shambling Zombies gives me itchy fingers to go out and mass purchase a dead horde. However, due to my collection of assorted un-painted models, the boss (my wife) has placed an embargo on any new purchases until I either sell what I don't need or paint up what I have.

I'm a slow painter, grabbing the odd hour here or there to slap some paint on a miniature. None of the follow models are built for gaming, I'm a painter first and foremost. I'll model things that appeal to me, even if they are terrible in game.

Pre-paint / part built 10x Skeletons, including command.

Skeleton Warriors

The bases haven't been finished just yet, I need to get a hold of some dead grass and snow effect flock. I'll probably wait till I've completed the full squad before finalising the bases for them.

C&C welcome.

Cheers
Telliphas.

 

[Abbysal]

Beautiful clean crisp colours, stunning work!

 

[Telliphas]

Thank you Abbysal for the complement, helps me keep motivated in painting more models.

Another fresh recruit.

And a not so fresh recruit, testing out the rotted skin. Tell me what you think.

Apologise for the slightly wonky photos, my phones camera isn't liking the light in the room.

Not quite sure how I should do his trousers, I'm toying with either a peasant look or a fallen Empire soldier. I'm open for suggestions guys.

Cheers
Telliphas

 

[Adam_Barrow]

In a themed army, the Empire pants look great, but I think for a non-themed army, the already motley Zombie unit looks like a circus with Empire pants. I'd suggest peasantry garb unless you want some bright colors in your geek unit. And keep the updates coming. Those Skellies look are painted so clean it's crazy. Killer job so far.

 

[Kingside_Bishop]

Good, clean work. I am to paint to advance to painting to this standard, well done. Sometimes there's nothing cooler than a simple skeleton, painted well. It reminds you of how cool the basics are.

 

[Telliphas]

Thank you for the positive words guys, much appreciated.

I decided to add a splash of colour to this Zombie, out of the 10 I have I think another two will have more colour on them but the rest will be more peasant orientated.

In a themed army, the Empire pants look great, but I think for a non-themed army, the already motley Zombie unit looks like a circus with Empire pants.

Hmmmm a themed VC army, that has tendencies for a Circus related theme. Now you've got me thinking, Zombie Clowns.....Zombie Land anyone? Now I've got visions of mass ranks of Pennywise looking Zombies wandering around. Think I'll keep that idea on the back burner, while I flesh out (excuse the pun) the fluff and model requirements.

Anyhow, I give you the first Zombie. Sporting fashionable trousers -

I toned down the yellow and blue of his trousers, its not as bright as it appears in the photo.

Cheers
Telliphas

 

[Santawraith]

Sadly his new pants have a hole in the knee just dont make them like they used too eh

Beautiful zombie

 

[Theerteen]

May I ask how many time you spend per model? Everytime I get one of my skellies or braindeads ready and think "yey, this one's pretty cool", I realize I spent 1 hour or more on this model, and they're way, WAY beyond your skills. Then, after I realized this, I starting to get annoyed and unpatient for further painting...I admire your skills and patience, this skellies could take their place in the golden demon easily. Looking forward to something epic and gory you did, like a wight king or a BK unit.

 

[Telliphas]

Thanks for the positive feedback guys, working on the Zombie standard bearer at the moment. Nearly finished him, he will be next to make an appearance.

@Theerten - Each model is between 3 - 5 hours of work. This does factor in the drying time of the washes and textured paint for the base and applying the undercoat by hand (as I don't have any spray undercoat), you could probably shave off a good 1 hr from the total time. I'd love to enter Golden Deamon, but like anyone I've very self critical of my work. I see faults all over the place, even more so when you look at the standard of the models that people enter into Golden Deamon. Maybe in a couple of years I'll pluck up enough courage and enter.

I have Krell, the Wight King and a Necromancer sat on my desk. Once I complete the Skeletons and Zombies, I'll reward myself with one of them if I can hold out that long

 

[Monkey's_Uncle]

Looking good so far.
Your style is very clean, it looks just right on the skellies, but I can't help but feel that the zombie looks a little too clean.

Could just be the photos though...
Looking forward to seeing more.

 

[Theerteen]

Ouh...4 hours? THIS! IS! MADNESS!
Ok seriously.. if I would take this time for painting my cannon fodder, I'd never be ready to play and would start to hate this hobby The prize for that is, of course, that I'll never reach that level of painting. And when you say you get your satisfaction in modelling and painting..so why not? With a little basing and a bigger model, the golden demon can come

I demand more pics soon!

 

[Telliphas]

Thanks for the positive comments guys.

@Monkey - The Zombie doesn't look that clean in the flesh. The photo seems to make it brighter and cleaner than he actually is. More Skeletons will be along shortly, I have two more with the bone base coated and washed.

@Theerten - I'm sat here looking at Krell / The Wight King / Necromancer and the plastic Nugle Lord and contemplating painting one of them up and putting in for Golden Daemon now. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Popped into my local modelling shop on the hunt for snow and dead grass, got myself a decent sized pot of snow for next to nothing. No dead grass though . The tuft stuff I've seen about looks really good, may see if I can source some of that instead.

Whilst in the shop, I spotted a tub on the floor filled with very old GW inks. If I had the cash on me I would of purchased that whole tub, there must of been at least 25 inks in there.

Nabbed myself

Very good for blood effects, I find Baal Red to be a bit thin. Use the ink and Baal Red and I get very good blood effects.

Here's the Zombie banner bearer. Tell me what you think.

Cheers
Telliphas

 

[Theerteen]

I demand wight kings! Oh god even thinking about spending this time for a zombie makes my brain hurt. Very very cool work