Oldschool Vampire lord + more zombies

Hello again,

Since the last post I've been working hard on finishing the zombie regiment. To be specific: working on all zombie models I've managed to dig out of my models lead pile.

There's not much of them at this point but still more than I was hoping to find when the Undead Company project was started.

What's on the rotten menu this time?

For starters the leader of the group: oldie Marauder vampire, Grenadier zombies from 1984 and 4/5th Warhammer Fantasy edition corpse. Btw - I've just learnt that ugly reddish zombie I've finished a while back got the name: Deadringer. Happy birthday I guess.

The vampire was a pleasure to paint. 

Sculpt is simple but it has that "something" which makes work nothing but pleasure. It's a pretty tall looking model because of the arms up but I also put a little cork on the base to make it even taller. I want it to be clear who's da boss of this rotting mob (and not only by wearing a dress). Robe is not super matt which means I might need fresh pot of varnish.

90's red hair dude also carries the short story.

I got him long time ago but he's been unemployed since I gave up WFB. Later it was converted into Necromunda plaque zombie but since the result wasn't satisfying (I cut it's left arm off pretty bad) model was condemned to the pile.

Last month I found that poor piece, washed the paint off and decided to bring it back to un-life. Initially the plan was to give it a placcy arm and then large shield to cover the damage but I found unused metal parts from the first of the "new" skeleton regiment (there were drum + stick, banner and champion's head + mace). Quick cut, bit of greenstuff and solid pin and voila! - unit's own drummer is ready for march. All I need now is kickass standard bearer.

And last but not least - Grenadier minis.

These were casted in 1984. Funny feeling: I was painting those knowing there were people playing tabletop wargames when I was only 3 years old pest. That's almost nostalgic.

Anyway the models are painted - these are definitely Oldhammer, but I must admit I prefer minis from bit later period (Perrys' or Morley's bits). I tried to paint them the same way as rest of zombies but they turn out just messy and plain. Sure - painter is the only one to blame for paintjob but I believe some minis cooperate and other not.

This rotten trio was not much help for me, still I am happy I got opportunity to give them a try.

So here you have all the metal zombies excavated so far. I still should be able to find enough placcy parts to build 2, maybe 3 more models but I don't think I want to "ruin" decent metal unit with plastic. Maybe later, when I become more desperated. Search for more zombies continues. Next deaders coming: skellies, screaming skull catapult or ghooouuuuuls...

And this is something I converted in the meantime:

vampire's mortal servant, halfling dreg. To protect the Master during ghastly, sunny days...

Damned company of the Old Skull

Hey again,

After dealing with the Lich Lord I've been still thirsty for dead flesh so last weeks were used for painting first deaders from the coming undead company. Yeah, the shambling army of the dead is coming! Well, more "company" than "army".

The general idea of it was spawned long time ago (probably it was always in the back of my head) but until now I neither had time or will to plan everything, get necessary models and of course - start painting them. So here's  the overall shape of the army I'd like to see collected and painted. Yet in this life that is:

Lich on chariot (painted!)

Necromancer on manticore (yeah, the friggin ugly one - Dieter H.)

5x cavalry led by a vampire

30x zombie led by a vampire (8 deaders painted)

30x skeleton led by a vampire

20x skeleton archers (maybe less, these are just pathetic in combat)

15x ghoul

10x mummy

8x wraith

4x carrion

2x skull catapult

5x ogres (that's right, they are scum of the Old World and never care why gold that nice old wizard gives is soil dirty, and smells kinda funny).

I'd also like to see zombie dragon (the previous one is only display piece) but I am not sure I have enough power to paint the same piece. Zacharias' mount is pretty cool but I'll see if there's any other option with oldschool vibe.

Pictures time.
Below is the result of last month's night work. At first I thought I had only 2 or 3 zombie models but after closer examination of the lead pile some more were found. As you can see these come from different manufacturers but it's ok - I like all of these sculpts (especially love the swordsman - no idea what's the brand but I hope to find more where it came from). 

Painting was fun. Painting deaders is always fun but this time I also tried to test some unused colors for zombie flesh. 

Next one coming should be oldie vampire and then - early 80's zombies I got from old buddy. Hope you like it.

As for the bad news for me - there're still 22 models still to be collected and painted to complete the first core unit of the company. Quite a lot of work ahead...

Lich Lord (not Lichemaster though) - review and walkthrough, part 5

It is finished! The paintjob is done!
Finally! That was traumatic experience and it's SO good to have it behind me.

As I wrote it the previous posts working on this thing was huge pain in the ass. I think the worst thing was assembly - that is model had to be painted assembled so manipulating was just very uncomfortable. Best example - banners. Painting them separated would be much easier and would bring better results than what you can see. I also didn't like sculpted sandglass and death - I'd prefer these banners plain or sculpted a'la Henrich Kemmler's apron - assembled bits of face skin. Really grim and totally badass!

As for the good things: all in all I like it, it's pretty striking sculpt which will surely pop out of infantry regiments. It's messy but I wouldn't expect anything cleaner from long dead evildoer.

What next?
Well in the meantime I managed to get some oldie Undead (heh, history made a full circle - I got rid of of core of my Undead army like 10 years ago?) and I'd like to build small, oldschool army, based on ~4-5 WFB edition models, or at least 90s' stuff.
Don't think that will be gaming but should look just cool in the display case.

Ok, that's it for now. Time to plan the overall shape of Undead army. And play Dark Omen!

And just to keep things more less tidy - here are links  to prior Lich lord posts if anyone's interested: part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4. See you soon!

Lich Lord (not Lichemaster though) - review and walkthrough, part 4

Slowly  we're reaching the end of the journey.

Thank gods for that...

Anyway this time I managed to:

- paint main (dead) body of the cart,

- attatch it to the base,

- attatch it to the apocalypse pony,

- paint the base.

Working on the cart main structure was hard - not mentioning problems with manipulating based model it was simply boring: there's lots of skulls and bones to paint. I decided to paint the cargo with dirty tones - browns and chalks were addsed to glazes and washes to make the thing look natural (as much as natural pile of remains can be that is).
Same chalks were added for shading wooden and metal elements - such thing makes the piece look coherent.

At this stage lich is not much more than some rags and handful of bones so it was painted black - the dark cherry on Nagash's birthday necro-cake. I thought that should make it pretty eyecatching - dark character sitting on a top of much brighter bones. The banners will also be bright - no idea what tone at this moment though.

As mentioned above model was attached to the base - lots of greenstuff was put under wheels and to connect cart with the horse, but it was absolutely necessary. It is supposed to be gaming model and because of nature of the sculpt - solid pinning was not an option.

The base itself is just sand washed with browns and olives and then drybrushed with bright olive and bleached bone. there will be artifical water in the hole but it's the very last step. I will also sprinkle some dirt / mud  but again - whole thing must be painted first.

What's left?
Apart from basing there is a zombie which lich is raising from the deaders pile (no idea what's he doing actually, I know he's grabbing zombie's neck), there's a skeleton holding ye magick booke (I will paint it nice and clean, dry bones - better contrast with rest of corpses) and of course: banners.
Frankly I wouldn't mind if those were just stripes of leather (maybe something like Lichemaster's cloak) but banners with sculpted patterns should also look decent. I think I will paint them like rotting flesh - that should look striking and make the rider even more visible.

Piccies time. The next post should be the last about this case:

Deeply hope the next post will be the very last about this case.

Lich Lord (not Lichemaster though) - review and walkthrough, part 3

Hey again, the painful adventure continues.

Since the last time I managed to slap some paint on the lil' skellie and the pony.

That doesn't seem to be much but this model doesn't want to cooperate at all. There are minis you enjoy painting and there are the others.

Chariot of the Harvester is one of the others.

Since there was not much painting there cannot be much babbling (this time).
I painted the dead kid first - it's nice accent, pretty wicked. This character is just some bones wrapped in dirty rag so paintjob is neither spectacular, but the sculpt is cool:
it's very delicate - there's lots of fine details. There's also creepy bit - the skellie is carrying skeleton-ragdoll on it's right arm.

There was more fun painting the pony.
It was painted with olives and some broken reds for the contrast. It turned out rather bright but that should contrast nicely with dark base and dark chartiot frame.
This sculpt is very delicate - it's legs are so raw-boned I didn't dare to pin them. Instead I glued bars (or whatever the proper name of those bits of metal under minis feet is) straight into base. Model has already been varnished but I am planning to sprinkle some mud on it when the chariot is ready. Maybe not as much as on my Gone muddin' painting challenge entry but there still should me lots of mess.

Ok, pics time. And speaking of rotting ponies - clicky!

And that's how big the thing will grow.
It will be more impressive because of large banners on each side.
Really cannot wait to see it done... No more Gamezone. Speaking of which - I should have spare GZ knight (a'la EE Empire / Bretonnia) if anyone needs.

Laters!