The Undead Host of Lady Elspeth d'Winter

[Kutslo]

Awesome knights, now I wish my own army paint scheme doesn't force me to paint mine red!

For white horses, they will look more natural if you start from an off-white colour ( I like the old Dheneb Stone, but grey works too) and let it show through. Assuming you want your undead knights riding natural looking horses of course!

Hmm, I did start with a grey bases and try to build up from there but I'm not very good at it! I'm too used to just using washes and highlights for my shading I think... nevermind! I'm pretty happy with the end result, but I've got one more of these to finish so got another chance to practice.

 

[Kutslo]

Here's my (sort of) completed Blood Knight unit - I have a champion to paint as well, but I think I may field them as unit of four, and I want to make a start on my Grave Guard so he may wait for a while before being finished.

On the subject of Grave Guard, I had an idea for the unit with them marching through some gates... so I'm trying to use the ones from the Garden of Morr set. However, I'm not sure if they are just too imposing to use within a unit - here's a rough idea of what it might look like with a few GG for scale comparison.

What do people think - too much?

 

[darkpegasusmini]

I like the idea but i prefer not to build so much unit fillers...
But its still nice idea! Where you get this cementary gate? Its Part of Garden of Morr set?

 

[Kutslo]

I like the idea but i prefer not to build so much unit fillers...
But its still nice idea! Where you get this cementary gate? Its Part of Garden of Morr set?

I quite like unit fillers if they add to the character of the unit... which is what I was hoping for here, but my concern is that it is just too big!

Yeah the gates are from the Garden of Morr set - I bought one to use throughout my army. I've used it in my dire wolves and ghouls so far.

 

[Adam_Barrow]

That's a cool idea. It'll look great on a display board.

 

[Borgnine]

The blood knights really came out great! They don't even look much like the dragon princes! It's kinda funny that you managed to make them more terryfying, vampiric and brooding while painting them traditional blue than some examples with them being bloody red A really awesome unit, would field

As for the gate and the GGs - it could really look nice for a display, but maybe it's really to big for a battle? Nevertheless, it's cool and you can definitely make it look awesome when completed ;]

 

[Devour the Cabbage]

I've always found the bigger cemeteries to have big imposing gates that shadow alot of whats around them, so I don't really see whats the problem there to be honest with you, I like the big looming walls myself.

 

[darkpegasusmini]

I mean the gate is great ideal but i personaly will not use so big unit fillers in battle.

Anyway cant wait to see it completed.

 

[Kutslo]

@borgnine - thanks, I'm really happy with how they turned out!


Thanks for all the comments about the gates. I like the look of them, and agree that it'd be cool on a display board but at the end of the day I want to use them in battle as well and as people have said it may be just a bit too big for that. I want it to look cool but be practical!

I may have a look what else I can do with the Garden kit that I can use in the GG... maybe the statue as that's pretty cool looking. Or maybe I could take away the arch from the gates to make it a bit smaller... or maybe just give the gates a go and see how it turns out!

I'm rubbish at making decisions sometimes!

 

[Adam_Barrow]

If it helps, filling the whole back rank with the gate will save you from buying an extra box of GG. Always a plus.

 

[Kutslo]

If it helps, filling the whole back rank with the gate will save you from buying an extra box of GG. Always a plus.

That is a good point... may just swing it

 

[NoisyAssassin]

I use the same gates in my ghoul horde and it works out great. Occasionally a problem in game where I don't take the right number of casualties to remove a full filler from the unit, but I've never had an opponent have an issue with a counter/die to represent the number of models of the filler that have died. And usually they get Invocation'd back up anyway. Go for it!

 

[Kutslo]

I use the same gates in my ghoul horde and it works out great. Occasionally a problem in game where I don't take the right number of casualties to remove a full filler from the unit, but I've never had an opponent have an issue with a counter/die to represent the number of models of the filler that have died. And usually they get Invocation'd back up anyway. Go for it!

Cool helps to know it can work! Out of interest what bases did you use for it?

 

[Yorga]

If it helps, filling the whole back rank with the gate will save you from buying an extra box of GG. Always a plus.

I'm a big fan of unit fillers. GW makes enough profit off a box set of troops. Especially Dark Elf Witches. :tongue: If you can stretch a single box set into a respectable unit then all the power to you.

 

[Kutslo]

I decided to go back and finish the champion for my Blood Knights, as wanted the unit done. Here he is along with the standard bearer for the unit

I've also finished (except for the bases) the first six Grave Guard, including musician. Trying to get a frosty feel to the weapons, and some glowly eyes going on as well! Thoughts?

Got another 12 of these on the go at the moment, and just ordered another box to make up rest of the unit (with a filler). I tried to cut the gates up to fit them over multiple bases and did a pretty shoddy job on one side so going to have to try and repair with GS or may need to look for an alternative bit to use from the Garden set

 

[Adam_Barrow]

Awesome weapon effect on the Guard! Eys and weapons both. I also envy your Vampire skin.

 

[Borgnine]

I agree, the effect on the blades is very, very cool. The contrast works very well ;]

 

[Carpe Jugulum]

I love your blood knights - full disclosure - I totally stole the heads you used on your knights for mine as well, except that I added in a marauder head I thought looked especially good.

I'm also terribly jealous of your vampires' skin tones. I've been messing around with pallid wych flesh, but I think it's wrong for what I'm shooting for. You're using mostly greys right?

 

[Kutslo]

I love your blood knights - full disclosure - I totally stole the heads you used on your knights for mine as well, except that I added in a marauder head I thought looked especially good.

I'm also terribly jealous of your vampires' skin tones. I've been messing around with pallid wych flesh, but I think it's wrong for what I'm shooting for. You're using mostly greys right?

Haha, steal away! Part of the fun in looking through forums like this is finding ideas!

As far the vampire skin, all I use is Rakarth Flesh with a small highlight of Pallid Wych Flesh on some bits and then a Badab Black wash - nothing complicated.

 

[Kutslo]

Not a huge amount of progress (as evidenced by my lack of an update for May) but my Grave Guard are coming along. There are some which just need the bases and the banner done now:

And these guys are in progress:

That will take me up to a total of 35 Grave Guard once finished.

I've also made a start on another 5 Ghouls (or 4 with a filler) to take me up to 35 Ghouls. The skin is finished on these, but need the details now:

Finally, I've been playing around with my ethereal effect so I can get it right when I do the Mortis Engine!

They both start with a light grey basecoat, drybrushed white to bring out the highlights. The one on the left had a green shade and a blue glaze. The one on the right had a dark blue shade, then a green shade and then a blue wash. Think I prefer the one on the right but not sure...

As always comments and feedback etc much appreciated

 

[Borgnine]

Long time no see

GGs are good as always and the staue is nicely painted, I like the verdigris effect

Ghosts also retain the frosty feel - and hell, the whole army - GGs and their armor - it's simply silver but it also feels/looks cold - great job of getting that effect

 

[Kutslo]

Long time no see

GGs are good as always and the staue is nicely painted, I like the verdigris effect

Ghosts also retain the frosty feel - and hell, the whole army - GGs and their armor - it's simply silver but it also feels/looks cold - great job of getting that effect

Thanks Borgnine! I have been away for a while, combination of a Mordheim campaign, work and family have slowed my painting somewhat recently. But I'm determined to get my GG finished in the next week or so!

 

[Pigeoneater]

I absolutely love the icy effect on the edge of the GG blades, looks really cool.

Also really like the blue ghouls, totally gonna steal them for my list, was thinking green just wouldn't fit rest of the army.

Have you considered going for a ghostly very pale blue for your ethereals? Not sure if the green might jar a bit with the rest of your units.

 

[Kutslo]

I absolutely love the icy effect on the edge of the GG blades, looks really cool.

Also really like the blue ghouls, totally gonna steal them for my list, was thinking green just wouldn't fit rest of the army.

Have you considered going for a ghostly very pale blue for your ethereals? Not sure if the green might jar a bit with the rest of your units.

Thanks glad you like the blue ghouls!

I think a blue effect for the ethereals probably would be better... But not sure how to do it! I guess if I watered down the blue I've used on the GG weapons and used it like a wash?

Any tips from anyone would be much appreciated!

 

[Pigeoneater]

This is how I did it on my old Moretis Engine (gonna strip and repaint it though as not happy with the engine itself)

Easiest thing in the world to do, spray white, wash with Drakenhof Nightshade then drybrush white - done!

I am sure others can give advice for better looking effects though, that one is just nice and easy.