The Undeadish

[Shadespyre]

Mounted models are few and far between. Reaper do this guy who could be the basis of a certain style of necromancer:

Almost all the mounted models in my Vampire army are kitbashed and converted. I made one character using the upper half of a Reaper Bones model and a high elf Knight, which has possibilities for you. Otherwise, maybe something using one of the old 5th Ed Warhammer mounted wizards? The Amethyst wizard with scythe being the obvious choice.

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Trying to see how many I can come up with. Mirliton's old Grenadier liche...

 

[Borgnine]

I have this chaos sorcerer that I plan to turn into a mounted necromancer at some point, maybe that's also an idea? Well, after de-chaos-ifying him of course...

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

I like that idea. Might be one of the better choices available.

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

https://www.alternative-armies.com/collections/undead-legions/products/fl20-sorcerer-lord

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Celtos/Fir Bolg/CLT-525.html

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?produ...antasy-& steampunk~fantasy-undead/necromancy

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

This one could probably be used with or without wings...

http://www.ralparthaeurope.co.uk/sh...192-necromancer-on-undead-pegasus-p-3001.html

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

I'm clearing out some of the unpainted odds & ends in my undead collection. Individuals & small groups that were left out from previous painting binges.

Pics below, if you want to read the wordy bits, you'll have to go to my blog: http://www.zerotwentythree.com/2017/10/more-skeletal-odds-ends.html

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Two big skeletons from the last Reaper Bones KS. I didn't do as well as I would have liked on the minotaur, but I had already decided that I wanted to get the metal version as I was cleaning up the mold lines. So he will be getting replaced at some point. Just a really nice figure. Both are.

For the moment, they will be joining the ogres, so I can run a "counts as" KoW horde of undead trolls.

Indecisive about what to paint next...

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

I painted some more skeletons...

...so that I could field an army...

...and play some games! (Kings of War)...

http://www.zerotwentythree.com/2017/11/slaughter-fest-2017-kow-part-2.html

(The previous few blog entries lead up to the event and some other stuff if anyone's interested.)

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

My eyes are still recovering (I hope) so I am prepping more skeletons for Deadcember...

 

[Borgnine]

That army looks great! They look quite different without that grey background, that wonderful rust isn't coming out as strong... And the ones you are preparing look very promising, especially that guy with the cauldron (is it really a cauldron?)

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Thanks! Yes, the rust gets lost against the brown table.

Not a cauldron, a brazier. Left over bit from the big skaven-wagon.

A cauldron probably would have been cooler...

Also started on some more skeletons, but only about 80% complete over the holiday weekend...

 

[Shadespyre]

The OSL on that wight and brazier is spot on, well done! I've got nowhere near competent with that so far. And the armoured skeletons look great, too.

 

[Nagash Worshiper]

I second @Shadespyre on the OSL. I tried it on a character recently and found it incredibly hard. Not quite satisfied either. Nice work!

 

[Borgnine]

A brazier is cool too, a very nice piece! And that OSL is indeed very good, it isn't overdone as it sometimes tends to happen

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Thanks. I've had mixed luck with OSL and definitely still learning & experimenting.


Finished the skeletons. I started them early, in November, but completed in Deadcember. Close enough for me. Mostly old Citadel, a few Black Tree Design mixed in.

 

[Shadespyre]

You're still making "cheating" on shields and banners look so good, you rascal!

 

[Borgnine]

I second @Shadespyre there, that black/grey is so good. What colors are you using?

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Thanks. I use cheap craft paints for most of my blacks & greys. The shields are based on 2 colors, black and slate grey. I put down a base of black, let that dry, then do a thinned coat of black and wet-blend right on the shield. I'm still "speed painting" so they're inconsistent, but I've been trying to give some subtle variety to the colors on these minis to break up the limited palette anyway.

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Done with the latest batch of the second gen. Citadel skeletons. I ended up putting two on individual bases, since I had some trouble fitting 4 on every 40mm base. So I end up with more "footprint" than planned, the regiments will still look full, and I have a start on my "singles." So it's a win/win/win.

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Mounted necromancers are hard to come by. Even then, I want something less human, more undead. Like a "lesser liche" or some other alternate. Basically just an undead thing, mounted on an undead riding thing, who summons & controls the other undead things. So here's the first that I've been able to come up with...

Mounted wraith from Celtos.

My last planned Deadcember project is some more non-human skeletons to bump a smaller unit up to a larger horde, but for whatever reason I'm just not feeling it right now. In fact, I'm not really in the mood to paint up much of the undead I already have. I think the major factor in play is that I don't really feel like cleaning & assembling a bunch of minis. Everything requires a bunch of pre-painting work, and I'm just not in the mood. I'm sort of wishing I had a big model to work on, or something(s) already prepped and ready to paint. Or a pile or rank & file already prepped. I'm completely in painting mode!

(Getting into the holiday spirit...)

Only half way through Deadcember, though. Even though I'm prep-impaired, I'm still motivated to get a big heaping pile of undead done by the end of the month, so maybe I just need a day or two to relax & think about what to tackle next.

 

[Borgnine]

Holy frack, that model is great and your painting is even better! Those orange, rusted stains on the barding are simply terrific - all the better with the silvery highlights of the armor edge itself Great job!

 

[ZeroTwentythree]

Thanks. I like to try making it look like the rust gets worn off edges, moving parts, etc.


Combining my fondness for the undead, and skeletal undead in particular, with the desire to create a larger pool of "regiments of renown" style mercenaries, I started working a few initial figures as a sort-of proof of concept...

More about concept, background, bad jokes at... http://www.zerotwentythree.com/2017/12/mercenary-undead.html