The Undead Legion of Countess Ludmila von Karnstein

[Mad 'At]

Dirt you say....o.o must say I would never have thought of that my self. But perhaps you are right, don't know what else it could be...

Any thoughts on the varnish issue? It's driving me woodnuts.
Every single matt varnish I've tried give a very strong gloss, and I've tried two varnishes :|

 

[Mannerheim27]

The box vampire is superb! Excellent work on him. It could be dirt, but it could also be fluffy bedding in the bottom of the casket, either poofy cotton or sometimes velvet. I'm sure you'll think of a creative way to present it

All the best,

Jake

 

[Mad 'At]

Thank you for your confidence Red

I've now figured out what was up with my matt varnish. Went back to the shop and asked them about it. The only reason they could think of was that it needed considerable stirring before application. So I went home and tried to stir it with a toothpick... This is what happened:

All the stuff that makes it matt had hardened in the bottom of the pot, probably because of age. I will go back to the shop again and see if I can get a new one.

 

[Santawraith]

I would love to get a vampire in a box for valentines day anyways nice little vampire in a box. Just remember do not leave him in the sun or he will melt.

Looks like it is either old or something isnt right with it. the enamel it is.

 

[Mad 'At]

Not much of an update really, instead I have two questions for you.

The first one is about the Grave Guards banner. I have an idea about a motive but not too sure about what to write on the scrolls. Dose the phrase Stirring Glory seems odd to you? I thinking both in terms of grammar/meaning/spelling and of suitability to represent Banner of the Barrows.

The second one is also about writing, this time on the unit filler. I want to write the name of the vampire who rests in the coffin on the golden scroll in the picture bellow. Don't mind the spot/blur thingy on the scroll, that is the cameras fault.

My question is in what colour to do the writing. I'm thinking either black or mithril silver combined with tin bitz to make it look like carvings. What do you think?

I can also mention that the varnish problem is solved, it just needed some very heavy shaking ^^

 

[Blackbard]

I really like the idea of 3d metalic writing so it looks engraved. Looks great though, and I cant wait to see the filler in the unit all finished!
B

 

[warspawned]

Dose the phrase Stirring Glory seems odd to you? I thinking both in terms of grammar/meaning/spelling and of suitability to represent Banner of the Barrows.

The second one is also about writing, this time on the unit filler. I want to write the name of the vampire who rests in the coffin on the golden scroll in the picture bellow. Don't mind the spot/blur thingy on the scroll, that is the cameras fault.

My question is in what colour to do the writing. I'm thinking either black or mithril silver combined with tin bitz to make it look like carvings. What do you think?

I can also mention that the varnish problem is solved, it just needed some very heavy shaking ^^

Well, I'm glad to hear about the varnish - I hate it myself as a paint job never looks quite right once it's on, but that's the price you pay for protection

As for the "Stirring Glory" - I personally wouldn't go there, it sounds like something that sometimes happens involuntarily to men in the morning, if you ask me

Have you considered something more esoteric or maybe a different language? That saves the hastle and then you can make up what it means when people ask

I'm not great on Freehand work myself, but I'd say give the writing a dark 'basecoat' and then build it up from there. Perhaps you could do it like verdigris?

I've yet to go through your thread completely, but will do so. I really ought to be painting right now :slapface:

However your coach/cart looks good so far. I look forward to seeing how it turns out

 

[Cuzzy]

I always thought the name Ludmila sounded familliar.
Just played Clash of heroes again, and I´m facing Countess Ludmila :tongue:
Don´t know if that´s your source for the name, but I just thought it was funny.

As Warspawned says, you could do your banner´s text in a different language, I always liked those Latin phrases.
Or you could do it in runes :zombie:

Cheers

 

[Mad 'At]

@Blackbard: I thought so too, might be hard to do but I will have to try.

@warspawned: Thanks for the input, I would never have thought of that I you haven't mentioned it. But now I can't read it without thinking of it :slapface:. Will have to think of something else.
I'm not too sure about verdigris as it is gold...

@Cuzzy: I did not know that (never even heard of the game), some pretty strange coincides.

About writing in other language the only one I can think of is Czech, but I'm not very good in that language, and I don't want to relay on google...

 

[Mad 'At]

Sorry for the double post, I just though I should mention some more about the writing.

On the coffin I have now written Budak, which is the name of the guy in the coffin, Budak von Carstein. Writing that on the banner is an alternative. Budak meansStirring Glory and that is why I thought of writing it instead. I am in fact not entirely sure on make it means (because I suck at English) so I'd really appreciate it if someone could explain it to me in other words. I'm hoping it has something to do with sleep, but google translate say it has something to do with dry Martinis (shaken, not stirred) so I'm not very sure.

I should also mention that I'm running short of time, the GG unit an a Cairn Wraith must be complete 'till Saturday. They must be painted to rock the tournament battlefield!

 

[Blackbard]

Stirring is beginning to move/waking up. Stirring glory says (to me) glory that is beginning to wake up, starting to move (pre coffee)
I think this is what you are asking?
B

 

[Mad 'At]

@Blackbard: That is exactly what I was asking for. I thank you. And then the phrase is just perfect for the banner. Stirring Glory describes the box vampire perfectly, even better since it is his name . I will have to write that, no matter what you think of it warspawned :tongue:

I have some pictures for you now. Here are my Grave Guards. All finished except for sword varnish, banner and shields.

That is all for now. Tell me what you think.

 

[Brahm Tazoul]

I think I want 'em...:konrad:~droool~

Brahm

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Looking good mate, the swords look much better in a larger unit.
Also like the use of the old metal trumpet on your musician.

 

[Monkey's_Uncle]

Lovely, they look very nice as a unit!
Can't wait to see the banner and shields.

 

[Mad 'At]

Well, I'm back from the tournament. Game wise it didn't went that well, but I had great fun, in most of the games.

Anyways, I did finishing the army in time, but not with enough margin to post the new units here. But better late than never I guess, so here is the complete Grave Guard unit:

Some close ups on the filler, along with a picture on the attempted free-hand writing on the gold scroll.

And finally some pictures of the standard bearer, who won me the award for best painted miniature (the trophy is seen in the last image, I'm so proud ^^).

Please leave a comment.

 

[Dogmar]

Congrats on the best painted trophy. It's certainly well deserved. The whole unit looks mighty impressive. May I ask for your recipe for weatherig the metal? Especially the verdigris is very nicely done. Mine usually doesn't shine that much. Sure it doesn't shine in reality as well, but it makes the model so much more appealing to look at!

Cheers Mad 'At, always a pleasure to watch your work.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Kind of feel a bit ripped off at our GW events now, the trophy is not nearly as good.

Looks really good mate, congrats.
Got a coffin a while back to have carried in one of my units but just wanted to ask.

Stirring Glory?

Any reason or?

 

[Cuzzy]

Congrats on the best painted trophy. It's certainly well deserved. The whole unit looks mighty impressive.
...
Cheers Mad 'At, always a pleasure to watch your work.

Just read this comment again, because it´s so true.


Cheers

 

[Nikos]

Splendid looking graveguard and congratulations on the trophy, its very well deserved

 

[Mad 'At]

Thanks for the replies

@Dogmar: The verdigris is just watered down Hawk Turquoise washed over a bronze surface, followed by a wash of Hawk Turquoise mixed with Bleached Bone. I'm not sure on what you mean with it being shiny unless you are talking of the metallic paints which can be seen through the turquoise here and there. The amount of bronze shining though can easily be adjusted by varying the amount of water in the mix.

@Duke: I'm glad you could read it ^^
As previously mentioned I am not entirely sure on what it means. I got the idea for the writing when searching for names for the vampire in the box. I settled for Budek, which means Stirring Glory (or awakened glory). I liked the sound of it but since I wasn’t sure on what it meant I asked about it on this thread and Blackbard provided some explanation.

I'm hoping it means something in the line of Glory that is about to awake, and combined with the motive on the banner it would refer to what glorious armies awaits in the graves. It would also refer to the vampire in the box, suggesting that he is glorious and about to awake (and bring destruction upon the mortals :devil2: ), also extra fitting since it is what his name means.

If this is not what it means then please do tell.

 

[Dogmar]

You're using turquoise, that's it! I've always done it with scaly green - a great colour they didn't include in their new range for some unknown reason, which I find outrageous as I like the colour so much. I guess my wording was a bit off there. I wasn't referring to the metal when talking about shininess, but about the verdigris effect. A better way to put it would probably be it pops out more due to being a very bright turquoise. Didn't think it would be as easy as a simple wash by the way! Anyway, the thing I was talking about is that when you do the same thing with scaly green it is much less eye-catching and doesn't pop out as much as your bright turquoise.

Since my army's theme is blue I'll give your technique a shot once I get around to it. I can also post a comparison pic of the two different weatherings. I hope you don't mind borrowing your method

Cheers

 

[old man doom]

I really dig the banner, very well done.

Also, nice job on the Necronomicon. H.P. Lovecraft is awesome

 

[Tawg]

Probably my favorite Plog to follow. I just went through the whole thing again, and saw the Glade Guard Spirit Host for the first time; Wow, those are amazing!

Great job with the GG, did using them Sword and Board hurt your games you feel like? Why'd you choose to go with that anyways, just like the way they look better? A little curious, since most people agree you'd really only want them with GW

Definitely deserve the award, was there a different one for best painted army? What beat you out? (Assuming there was one).

 

[Tim]

Wauw the total unit and banner is even more amazing then I imagined seeing your first grave guards. Prize is well deserved!

If you don't mind I'm going to use yours as an example to work from on mine.