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Drug-Crazed Psychic Vampire Space Elves & Other Strangeness

Calyptra

By Calyptra
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The Traitor Venerable Brother

The Traitor

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Really awesome freehand on this, the patterns you've made are truly impressive. Do you make a sketch of them on paper beforehands and then apply that to the model or do you paint them directly as they occur to you?
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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Might just be straight forward method, but what did you use/do to get that white on the death jester trousers please?

 

I painted that model 2 years ago, and while I made a note of how I painted the white on the gun, I don't have a record of the white on the clothing. I suspect I figured it was close enough to my default methodology that I didn't need to bother. So this is *probably* how I did it.

 

I use P3 paints, and it was mostly done with Frostbite and Morrow White. I probably painted in the Frostbite and then shaded it with a very thin mix of Frostbite with a dash of Coal Black, though I may have started with with a Frostbite Coal Black mix. Then I expect I layered the Frostbite back in, and built up the highlights in 3 or 4 stages of Frostbite mixed with Morrow White. If I took it all the way up to pure Morrow White, it would have been applied extremely sparingly. I'm sorry I don't recall the specifics.

 

Do you make a sketch of them on paper beforehands and then apply that to the model or do you paint them directly as they occur to you?

 

I sketch. In this case, I spent a couple weeks poring through a book on Art Nouveau ("Borders, Frames & Decorations of the Art Nouveau Period") and filled a few pages with bits of patterns and linework that I wanted to pull elements from. I used two pages working out the designs for the Death Jester. I still have them, so I can refer back to them next time without having to start from scratch.

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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Craftworlders!

 

I chose Alaitoc because I've always loved the Ranger models, and because it gave me an excuse to paint Eldar like the ones in Rogue Trader.

 

I have a couple rules with this army. First, no grav vehicles. This is the Army That Walks, partly because there are so many air mobile Eldar armies so I wanted to do something different, partly because painting and storing grav tanks and jetbikes is a pain in the butt, and partly because I like the long, spindly legs of warwalkers and wraithlords, and wanted to focus more on them. Second, all the models should be from Rogue Trader. That's because it's what I have already, but I figure it's a theme I might as well stick with.

 

Here are entirely too many pictures of Rangers.

 

http://i.imgur.com/6tDaowc.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/dFvokx8.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/WA0KdI0.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/meoSoU8.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/w9TDQDy.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/QOdqe6K.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/bOZOlTG.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZKB4QDm.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/YAB9wqc.jpg

 

Sorry. I try to make every model unique, so it's hard to resist the temptation to post photos of every single one of them.

 

Here's my Farseer.

 

http://i.imgur.com/6GRFkP4.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/1m8TbjR.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/aT8PK5q.jpg

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Draakur Veteran

Draakur

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So gorgeous, seriously. My fave parts would be the camo style (and the crazy execution), and the oldschool Farseer's ridiculously good eye lenses. I imagine pretty much everything you paint turns out great, but it seems to me your style lends itself very well to the Eldar :)
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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Dark Reapers!

 

Around the same time I converted a Haemonculus with liquifier, flesh gauntlet, and melee weapon into a Haemonculus with liquifier, flesh gauntlet, and melee weapon, I also converted the unusable Dark Reaper Exarch into a usable Dark Reaper Exarch. (If you're unfamiliar, the Rogue Trader era Reaper Exarch was equipped with a pistol in one hand, and the Web of Skulls in the other, which was a bola-like weapon consisting of three skulls joined by chain.)

 

http://i.imgur.com/Slcw4u5.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Pd1rkxR.jpg

 

It's pretty silly, I know. I actually cut the missile launcher down in size, but it's still huge, which is why I added the support arm in back. The hand I sculpted also looks oversized, but I swear it's the same size as the metal one. I probably could have gotten better results if I'd used beads for the joints, curves, etc, but I didn't for the same reason I didn't scratch build a more reasonably-sized missile launcher or cobble it together from other Reaper launchers - I wanted to just work on the model, rather than getting caught up in planning and ordering materials. In the end, I think it looks fine, and I had fun making it.

 

http://i.imgur.com/gw0CXfC.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/1f98Fz0.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Z7t0HTf.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/xX9x8QO.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/fGJqey7.jpg

 

Midway through working on them, a wonderful human gifted me a copy of the Eldar Sketchbook. It is easily one of the incredible GW books I own, and while at this point I will almost certainly never have children, if I do he gets dibs on the first one. Seriously, this book is fantastic, and I have a lengthy rant about why can't I just go into a store and buy it, and why isn't there a companion volume for the Dark Eldar, and a similar book or books for every other race in the 41st millennium.

 

You probably don't need to read that rant. Let's just pretend I typed it out here and move on.

 

The sketchbook contains a number of unused details and designs. There's several alternate helmet designs for Reaper Exarchs, and they almost made me start converting mine again. I compromised with myself by adding the dot to the aspect rune, which is present in all of Goodwin's original sketches, but seems to have been lost somewhere over the years.

 

This is all of the Craftworlders I've done so far. When I come back to them, I'll probably paint the Dire Avengers next.

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Shard of Magnus Veteran

Shard of Magnus

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Loving the craftworld paint jobs. The ranger helmet patterns bring back fond memories of Rogue Trader and 2nd edition days. And the runes on the farseer...words and emoticons are not enough!

 

Out of curiosity, how long does it take you to paint a figure on average?

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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Stunning, you have to stop. You are making me feel, so, so very old.

 

 

 

I prefer "ancient and terrible."

 

 

Out of curiosity, how long does it take you to paint a figure on average?

I've actually taken to tracking how much time I spend on the hobby. I'm self-employed, so it helps me ensure that I'm not spending all my time working on models instead of working on my livelihood. I also find knowing roughly how many hours it will take me to finish a model to be helpful when I get frustrated or discouraged.

 

I'm writing this on my phone on my way to a gig (that whole livelihood thing) so I can't check my time log right now, but a model like a Wrack or Ranger takes me about 10 hours to paint. The Haemonculus took 31 hours. I don't know about the Harlequins or Farseer, but it was probably comparable to that - I think I spent something like a month on each of them, and I generally spend about an hour a day on my toy soldiers.

 

These are my as good as I can make them models. Other projects are somewhat quicker. I think my Marines take me about 5 hours per model, and my Guardsmen were something like 2 or 3 (I haven't done one in a while).

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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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This project log has just about caught up with the present, which means it's going to get a lot more WIPier, with lots of photos of unfinished lumps of green stuff and metal, and plaintive posts of, "I have no idea what I'm doing, please send help."

 

"Surely you jest," you may think, but I do not.

 

Unfortunately, I had an accident at my last gig. What happened is a rather convoluted story that began with a mouse and ended with never breathe fire when you're crying, but the result is that I've been laid out in bed for the past few days. ("Surely you jest," you may think, but I do not.) I'm on the mend and will be fine, but I'm not quite up to shooting new pictures of models yet. Fortunately, I've got a few ready to share, and I'm well enough to type.

 

I'd been meaning to get back to my Wych cult for a while now, but had wanted to get my Pain Engines painted first. Then Shadow War happened, and so the Pain Engines have to wait.

Here's a brief summary of what I'm going for with these guys:

I'm using classic models only. I like the new ones just fine, but I don't want to mix and match. If I ever buy the current Wyches, they will be a different Cult. This also means that despite all the conversions I'm doing, I'm actively trying to retain the aesthetic of the classic range.

The models are all converted (to varying degrees), inspired by my times at Burning Man. Functionally, this means goggles, respirators/gasmasks, fur vests/hoods/coats, and source lighting effects.

I initially converted and painted 9 models - a full unit that could escort a character on a Raider. Past that, I have a whole lot of ideas and unfinished conversions. The Succubus is probably ready for paint. The pilot for the Raider is pretty much finished except for the arms, but I haven't started in on the gunner or the Raider itself yet. I've also done a lot of work on the Beastmaster and Khymerae, but they're nowhere near done. I've thought about Reavers and Hellions, and set aside some parts for them. Finally, I'm converting a classic Haemonculus to be associated with this Cult. A lot of green stuff has gone into that model but it's nowhere near completion.

All of this is from years ago - those models preceed everything else in this project log, and are the reason for the stylized cracked desert bases. I lost momentum on the project because of how much work it was, especially the Raider. It's not that I mind doing the work, it's just that I also would like to be able to play a game now and then, with painted models that I feel good about, and the very slow progress on the Wych Cult just wasn't getting me there.

Shadow War is, of course, another matter entirely.

This was a more or less simple conversion, though it was my first time wrapping strips of styrene around anything. I built and tore off the stuff on the impaler three times before I got something I was satisfied with. The ram horns are from the old Fantasy Skeletons kit.

 

http://i.imgur.com/ySXb33M.jpg

 

This one was a bit more involved. Because one of my other Wyches is built from this sculpt, I wanted to make sure the two models were as different as possible. I cut and rotated the head, removed the hair, and replaced it with the hair from a different model. The model in game carries plasma grenades, so I gave him a quiver from the old plastic Dark Elves kit with the crossbow bolts filed off.

 

http://i.imgur.com/qbcOWjr.jpg

 

And here are two models with chain hooks. For whatever reason, no models in the classic range hold a splinter pistol in their left hand, so there was some extremely fiddly conversion work required.

 

http://i.imgur.com/FaAheIE.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/iR1Qkcr.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/XUKsOw4.jpg

 

These models are all painted now, and I'll shoot and post pictures as soon as my lungs will let me.

 

Finally, this is my Succubus, converted from the old Lelith model. She might be finished, but I can't help but feel like she needs something more.

 

http://i.imgur.com/RTDumwJ.jpg

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Draakur Veteran

Draakur

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Extremely nice. I'm completely with you on wanting to maintain an aesthetic, just hoping you eventually go with the other Wych Cult as I'd love to see you do the newer models :)

 

Here's to a speedy recovery there. You mentioned you're a circus performer - do you, in fact, jest?

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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Extremely nice. I'm completely with you on wanting to maintain an aesthetic, just hoping you eventually go with the other Wych Cult as I'd love to see you do the newer models :smile.:

 

I don't have plans to, but I'll probably end up doing some anyway. I'm a bit nuts about Dark Eldar.

 

Here's to a speedy recovery there. You mentioned you're a circus performer - do you, in fact, jest?

 

I don't, though I'm starting to suspect that no one believes me. :) I'm not a big deal, and I've never worked for Cirque du Soleil or 7 Fingers on the Hand or Ringling or anything like that; but I get by (ish), and I like to think I've had my moments. I'd be happy to elaborate and share a few photos if someone could explain to me how to hide things behind a spoiler button, so everyone who's only here for the toy soldiers won't have to scroll past a lot of me talking about my job. (Sorry, I've been trying, and I can't seem to figure it out. I blame the chemical pneumonia.)

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Draakur Veteran

Draakur

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Too busy with all those Harlequins we want to see then, right? Good to hear! On that though, what else is on the WIP table at the moment? Have we seen everything now or are there other parts of other projects on the go?

 

Also would be interested in pics and/or details of what you do, sure. I've got a weird fascination with all things circus (just went to one again a few weeks ago for the first time in ages, which was fantastic!). This probably explains/is related to my Harlequin fetish.

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FlamingDeth

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For spoilers you would type in (spoiler)whatever you want to put under the spoiler tags(/spoiler), but with the square brackets instead. If you hit quote on here you can sorta see what it looks like.

 

The last chain hook model is my favorite because he's apparently a unicorn.
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Calyptra Veteran

Calyptra

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Never thought I would run out of 'likes' in a thread with only Xenos. The mix of awesome painting with old school miniatures are impossible to dislike. Let's hope for a speedy recovery so you can show us more of the good stuff!

 

Wait, we have limited likes? How does that work?

 

I didn't know you guys rationed your positivity. It's very Craftworld Eldar of you. :tongue.:

 

Too busy with all those Harlequins we want to see then, right? Good to hear! On that though, what else is on the WIP table at the moment? Have we seen everything now or are there other parts of other projects on the go?

 

Oh dear. Well, uh...

 

I have finished conversions in a unit of Kabalites and a budget Archon (he just gets a blaster), but I haven't felt that conversions themselves are interesting enough to post without an accompanying paintjob and, er, I have no idea how to paint them. Or possibly too many ideas for how to paint them, depending on how you want to look at it. So I've been working on all the other stuff in this thread while waiting for my brain to sort it out.

 

I have a few converted classic Kabalites which are mostly proof of concept, although I have a clear idea for how to paint them. I just haven't wanted to launch into my classic Kabal project when there's still so much to do for my classic Cult. It would not be pragmatic of me to work on them next, though it might be fun...

 

For my classic Wych Cult, I've done a lot of work converting a Raider for the Wyches, and a Beastmaster and Khymerae, though none of them are remotely near finished, and...

 

...fine. I'll take pictures.

 

I've done a good chunk of design work for my Harlequins, and planned out a few conversions, but so far all the work has been on paper rather than on models.

 

And then there's the model at the bottom of this post. But first:

 

This is the Cult of the Shrieking Vein, whose background I should really write out in a coherent manner, with nouns and stuff. I won't be doing that today. I will tell you that the Shrieking Vein, being a bunch of thrill-seeking lunatics on a truly staggering amount of drugs, hunt daemons for sport, particularly those of Tzeentch. A Haemonculus (technology indistinguishable from magic) friendly with the Vein (she makes a lot of their drugs) has provided them with the means to prevent daemonic remains from returning to the immaterium; thus, the Vein are able to claim skins, horns, and other trophies from their prey.

 

I came up with this partly to justify Dark Eldar running around in pink fur coats (although the True Kin would tell you, at length and with violence, that they do not need to justify anything that they do), and partly because I'm entertained by the idea of a bunch of classic models models literally fighting against the embodiment of change.

 

http://i.imgur.com/NRmqQNe.jpg

 

This is Tevim Bao. His signature twin blade technique has accumulated rather less acclaim in the arenas compared to his signature surprise plasma grenade technique. He feigns irritation about this, but is secretly pleased that everyone appreciates the jest. "Everyone" does not include his opponents.

 

http://i.imgur.com/WBPoga9.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/ecmQWqn.jpg

 

Shiunn possesses an unbending force of will, and his unbending force of will is sick of your nonsense. Shiunn's disciplined mind has been unmoved by hallucinogen grenades, Harlequin psychic attacks, the reality-bending insanity of the warp, and the bad batch of hypex that was sold to the cult by a mercenary whose gruesome fate is better left uncontemplated. Shiunn simply does not believe, for which reason his kin have named him "the Nonbeliever."

 

http://i.imgur.com/cus8DdP.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/Bvosd1W.jpg

 

Provok is trueborn, ruthless, ambitious, and has a sibling. His younger brother Antevok, who spent his life hurling anatomically unlikely insults at any figure of authority within earshot, now either commands or liasons with all Hellion gangs within or connected to the Vein. Provok's bitterness and jealousy seethe beneath his every thought. How could that howling, unthinking brat have risen so high, and not him? He dearly wishes to take his brother's life, but he will not; having a close familial contact so highly positioned is far too valuable.

 

http://i.imgur.com/SBGB0K6.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/x7SZ4q3.jpg

 

This is Diabrex, and I'm sorry to admit that no piece or fragment of background or personality has popped into my mind for her. I imagine she enjoys long walks along the Khaides in the outer Corespur districts, watching prey species get disemboweled in the arenas, watching other Eldar get disemboweled in the arenas, and playing the harpsichord.

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZAISBNQ.jpg

 

Those models are done, at least until I can get my hands on some weathering powders and start experimenting. This model... isn't.

 

http://i.imgur.com/ULXLr9Q.jpg

 

This is one of the classic metal Haemonculi. She's going to be the Haemonculus who hangs out with the Wyches above. I apologize for not taking a picture before I started hacking away. If I hadn't started cutting, it might have ended up looking like this:

 

http://miniset.net/files/set/gw-99060112003_2.jpg

 

So I've got a few things going on here. First, I've lengthened the skirt and built the signature Haemonculus prehensile spinal column. I meant for it to be a bit oversized, because it's going to support the model, but It might be a bit too oversized. That's still probably ok, because I want to add more spines. I want her to be like Urien Rakarth (or possibly Ursula the sea-witch), but with spinal columns instead of Khaidesi Haemovores. Right now, my plan is to sculpt thin (non-load bearing) spines on thin floral wire, let them cure, and then bend and glue them into place.

 

There isn't a better/easier way to do this that I'm overlooking, is there? Some source of delicately curled vertebrae bits that I'm overlooking? Possibly a definitive tutorial on sculpting tiny spinal columns?

 

I gave her a bustle, which I think will look pretty good painted. I've been wondering if there's a good way to do a couple of long, hanging ribbons from it. Thin strips of styrene maybe?

 

http://i.imgur.com/tX3pvJI.jpg

 

I cut the arm and head to reposition them. I want the pistol raised, with the arm bent at a 90 degree angle, and I want the head facing forward. I intend to sculpt a somewhat bigger organ hump, which will accommodate two additional arms, and cap it with a fancy high lace collar thing, possibly involving feathers.

 

The arms are worrying. Rather than try to sculpt her extra appendages from scratch, my thinking now is that I'll save a lot of time and get a better result if I order another model from ebay and hack/grind parts of its arms off to use as the basis for the new limbs.

 

I want to get this model finished as soon as possible so I can use it in Shadow War, which is why I've been painting a Howling Griffons sergeant instead of working on her. :facepalm:

 

Thanks for looking! Advice, questions, comments, and xenocidal threats are all appreciated.

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The Traitor Venerable Brother

The Traitor

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Well, I must admit that I wasn't that sure about those vintage wyches but, now that they have some paint, they're truly awesome! Also, that short pieces of fluff are really something, after reading them I see your character in a wholy different way.

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Draakur Veteran

Draakur

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Smashing stuff. Some of these models take me WAY back. Extra points for the outdated fighting against Change irony.

 

Do you favour any particular Chapters or types of Chapter? Based off the Griffons it seems you might have a penchant for the more obscure? Or were they more just to challenge your painting skills maybe...

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