Druchii - Part 6

In a masterful show of understatement - let me simply say "It's been some time."

Having said that, my thoughts have often returned to hobby when not dealing with work or child rearing. In addition to the variants of Warhammer, I've been knee deep in exploring Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition which, despite some intital scorn, has grown on me. More of this latter.

The Dark Elves have circled my thoughts often, with ideas (both consistent and contrary) popping in and out at whim.

Here, then, is proof of concept of something that I've been toying with in my mind for some time - a converted harpy:

The original harpy models are quite old and not very dynamic - not to mention ugly. This conversion uses the body of the new Slaaneshii daemonettes with the wings of the recent tyranid gargoyle models.





The conversion was one of the simplest I have ever attempted, and in my own opinion one of the most effective. The only work required is a small trim to the bottom portion of the wings, as the original sculpt has the membrane running down the length of the gargoyle body at the bottom of which is another tyranid claw. This doesn't work with the daemonettes who have a different shape completely.


I'd originally balked at the price of taking on this coversion - just under $90 for a box of daemonettes and gargoyles is pretty heft for 10 models (or five for a minimum unit), but ease of the conversion and how good it looks has sold me (and I'll certainly find a use for the left over parts).


I can't wait to paint this model - it has really revived my excitement in the hobby.

Druchii - Part 5

TA - DAAAA!


My last post might have been a little bit premature. There was one last colour scheme that I needed to get out of my system before going full steam ahead. For those that know their Warcraft lore, I was basing it on the look of Arthas after he starts wielding 'Frostmourne'. I'd thought at the time that this might make a good scheme for the Druchii as the themes of ice and evil fit nicely. I ended up thinking it looks not quite sinister enough in this context, but it's still I scheme I might use for something else - perhaps for Necron lords? For a change, I've painted a Blackguard, but this is only a test model - my actual unit will all be of the helmeted variety.






So after that, I went back and re-did the model in my original 'Slytherin' scheme and I think this just works better for being a little more sinister. Most green schemes tend to incorporate yellow/gold into the designs, and while I understand the colour thoery behind it, it's something that I have been trying to steer clear of. It took me a while to figure out why - but I do believe it's the idea of looking like an Australian sports team that was doing it.

So instead, I've toyed with the idea of using an additional cream colour for trim, thinking that perhaps these Druchii have a thing for scrimshawing their armour with the bones of their enemies/victims. I've tried that on a couple of models, but in the amount that I was doing it per model, it started to make them a little 'feral'. It's still a concept I'm going to use (particularly on my shades - as they are feral), but just with the approach of 'less is more'. So rather, I've done the trim in a brighter silver colour which I think works as it keeps the model looking cruelly elegant.



So with nothing further ado, it's time to start painting. I do believe I'll set up a project log over at Warseer and see what that sort of feedback generates.

Druchii - Part 4

I find this hobby frustrating sometimes. Or I'm just going mad.

Had I been born 20 years later, perhaps I would have been diagnosed with a peculiar form of hobby related attention deficit disorder. For the last few weeks I've suffered through a long period of self doubt and indecision over the colour schemes I'm trying out with my Dark Elves.

I just couldn't seem to settle on something that I liked, felt comfortable painting, and fit my image of what the Dark Elves are. Eventually (or perhaps inevitably), I've come full circle to the green based scheme I started with.

Gobsmasha reckons it's a natural part of the hobbying process, and I suspect he's right (although he never seems to go through this like me). In any event, I'm much more comfortable with where I'm at with the Druichii at the moment.

I'm currently working on a group of crossbow wielding warriors which I should hopefully post soon. In the meantime, here's a Druichii corsair I prepared earlier. Oooh, an elfy pirate -YAARRRR!!!

Druichii - Part 3

Well it's been a while, but yet I endeavour on. Since my last modelling post, a plethora of new codecies, army books and models to absorb - the Dark Elves amongst them


I'm quite impressed with the new book - it goes very deep into the history of the Sundering and other periods of lore. More importantly, it gives the Dark Elves' cruelty a bit more believability - yes, they are mostly that way because of their Lord's influence and the loss of their home...but what I found a refreshing change was the emphasis on their new home. They are the way they are because anything else meant a quick death to some beastie or a frozen sleep in the wilds...


It's about as close to empathy as you can get.


Oh, did I mention the new models are fantastic? In particular the corsairs and the cold one knights; one of which I present to you in progress.

Hmm..I'm sure there's other vital items of portent to impart on you, the reader in the time between posts. Oh, yes - I'm going to be a Father!

EDIT: Now with a brighter picture:

Druchii - Part 2

The below is not a GW model, but a Dark Elf done through the 'Dark Heaven - Legends' series (I think!). The GW range suffers greatly from a lack of character models - especially the sorceress models, which I think often look ludicrous. The below model I thought fit in quite well with the evil power that these women are supposed to radiate. Note that this is an old colour scheme compared to what I am doing at the moment:

Druchii - Part 1

Here's some pictures of my WHFB Dark Elf army. These models are still works in progress (as are pretty much all my models *sigh*). I took these photos with my digital camera just using white paper as a background. Damn the flash is a harsh mistress, yet without it not much can be seen. It took me a long time to find a colour scheme that I was happy with for these guys - I didn't want to use the standard purple colouring that you often see, nor did I want it to look too cartoon like - I think I've found a happy medium here.

Some Druchii warriors:







Crew members for my bolt thrower:




Note to self: must get better light when I try this again.