Eldar - Part 3

Well here's my next colour scheme attempt for the enigmatic Eldar - an Aspect Warrior of the Howling Banshee variety. It's still not finished completely (gems and other detail not complete) but I wanted to experiment and try a lighter scheme to see how such a model would come out. It's probably more realistic than the previous schemes as well, though I can't really pin down why I fee that way.

The weapons are black to represent the dark emotion that comes from their use - as is the face plate, representing the same in the Eldar soul. All Aspect Warriors will show the same colouring, barring a single cloth strip that most of these models have in one form or another (in this case on the models left leg, in the Howling Banshee bone colour).

For my craftworld, the Aspect Warriors would wear their colours more as robes when not at war.

I think I'll try a Dire Avenger next in the same.

Gone Nova?

Or perhaps 'Nova Gone' is a better title for this post.

Nova Corporation is (was?) the biggest 'Eikaiwa' or English conversation school in Japan and was where I worked for almost two years during the late 90s.

During the last few months, the company has been rocked by a series of events that could possibly herald its doom. A revenue structure based on massive upfront fees for lessons (anywhere from $5,000.00 upwards) with very strict allowances for refunds was challenged by students which in turn resulted in Government sanctions that banned Nova advertising long term contracts - the staple of their business.

This lead to an almost bank-run like calls for refunds from existing students as well as massive drops in new student numbers which has now resulted to the point where Japanese and foreign staff have gone unpaid/had salaries delivered late and schools kicked out of their buildings for not meeting rent payments. The president of the company has gone into hiding after being dumped by the rest of the management group (though he refuses to accept the decision in messages passed onto the media by his lawyer). The media were given a tour of his massive office that had remained off-limits to the lower echelons of the company during his reign - including a well furbished main office, a tatami mat tea room and a secret room hidden behind a wall containing a giant spa and double bed amongst other things.

Sponsors are being sought to bail the company out, and as of writing 12 companies have come forward - though tellingly none of them are any of the other eikaiwa companies in Japan.

Nova's methods of teaching are often ridiculed by the foreign staff that work for it - but this is not necessarily a symptom unique to Nova, but of the eikaiwa industry itself. My experience with Nova had its ups and downs, but overall was an enjoyable experience. At the very least, the company created a very easy way for me to get my foot in the door in Japan, through being able to apply for and get employment in my home country as well as organising housing (albeit crowded and small) for me when I got there. Nova going under would mean the end of a great way for people to get to know Japan in a more intimate way than just by holidaying there.

The future remains uncertain for Nova - and whatever one might think about the company, its absence would be a very noticeable one in the fluorescent skyline that is modern Japan.

Not so yoku dekimashita......