Gabus's Undead Legion, Yes, another army log

[Gabus]

Greetings. This year I decided to take a break from my Orcs and Goblins and get back to my Tomb Kings. To start it off, I figured I would start big, so I give you my Warsphinx.









While my work isn't to the level of some of the inspired artists around here, I am quite pleased with how it turned out. The body is many layers of red, from Vajello's scab red through blood red, then washed with the old GW Red ink, to give it the shine and depth of color I was looking for. I wanted a ruby red, or a gem looking red, and I think I got pretty close. You can see it best in the first picture, where there was still some natural light from the sun that hit it. It needs a coat of varnish for protectant, but it was too humid today.



And, like many, I have magnetized the beast. I haven't yet completed the Necrosphinx side of the model, but this version is done, nevertheless.

No fluffy background for it yet, but the color scheme is very dark red, and black, which contrasts nicely with the bone. There will be "pops" of turquoise throughout the army to link it back to Egypt.

Next update hopefully in the week. Either 40 Archers which I use for my core, or a SSC perhaps. Whatever strikes me.

Thanks for looking.

[Jimmy]

Great work, I'm also the proud owner of a red sphinx and they look very good I think. Love the red you've achieved.

[Ben_S]

I don't think red's my favourite sphinx colour personally, but that is a fantastic deep red shade that you've built up. I look forward to seeing more of the army.

[Davados1]

That is just fantastic. The red has a very 'Elite' colour to it.
What is your colour scheme for your Archers/Warriors?

[amplebob]

That is a quality alternative colour scheme and you've carried it out magnificently. Really nice, good skills.

[RugbySkin]

Makes me wish I hadn't gone with an Obsideon look for all my statues. Beautiful.

[Unleashed TK]

Really lovely stuff!

[Gabus]

Thanks everyone. It isnt much of an army log if I don't post pictures is it?

Things have been busy since May, but I have managed to put paint to a few more miniatures.

21 Skeletal Archers - Included are some of the dice I ordered!


21 more Skeletal Archers - More TK dice included!


Screaming Skull Catapult - Need to get a second one now that they are in finecast. It is such a pig to put together.


And some characters to run the army. A Liche Priest and a Prince.


Finally, the obligatory full army shot. (sorry about the shadow)

This makes about 1,000 points or so, I am hoping to have 2,000 points done before I go back to school in the fall.

Next up is the Casket of Souls. It is mostly painted, except for the crew. I don't much like the way I painted the box though, so it might go through a re-paint before I am done.

[Jimmy]

Any updates are worthwhile!

Awesome work - just need to paint those movement trays!

Are your Tomb Kings invading the Old World or Southlands or something? I notice their bases aren't particularly desert looking is all...?

Dice are great.

Well done.

[Bryony]

Those look so totally rad. You're a great painter, don't sell yourself short!

Also, I love that your dice match your army. You could totally tell people you planned it that way, haha.

[Gabus]

Thanks guys. The comments keep me focused.

I have to admit, I am struggling with the basing though. Jimmy hit the nail on the head, they just dont look "deserty." I generally like simple basing, I find basing a chore. There is sand on the bases like the archers, but I guss it is too brown to pass as sand. Going to try drybrushing with bleached bone to lighten it a bit, but I am worried that it will "wash out" with the model. No harm in trying I guess.



Finished the Casket of Souls today. Originally was going to magnetize the LP on the back so I could use him elsewhere, but the magnets ended up being too small for his little feet, and he just kinda flopped around. I ended up gluing him in place, which I am OK with.

I got him used. Unpainted, but already mounted on the square base. I think it is an inverted GF9 movement tray. The model had been greenstuffed down, and then the base covered in what I think is Vajelo pumice? I sorta like the look of it. There is enough going on with this model that I didn't need to do much extra with the base I don't think. Originally the box was all bronze, but it looked wierd sitting on the stone base, and blended in with the prince and guards too much, so it went through a repaint almost immediately after I finished it.

On to the Ushabti. I have already started working through the way I want the "skin." I am going for the red "jem-ish" look I got with the Warsphinx. I was reading through the book about the Tomb King on the red Warsphinx who took on the Ogres and lost. His son, Rakaph III avenged him. I think I found the inspiration for my legions. Hope to have the Ushabti done soon, and maybe the basing issue sorted.

[Jimmy]

Nice job on the casket. What about some subtle highlights on the bronze with some silver and bronze mixed together? Stone looks great and the base looks much more in theme I feel so a great result all up.

Ushabti sound good.

[Capraviridae]

I really like your colour scheme. The red makes the models pop out, but not annoyingly, and you really apply it to places where it gives the most striking impression. Seeing your Casket bummed me out a bit, though, because you really managed to achieve the look I was going for with mine but didn't quite get there. Still, really nice to see your army, I hope you keep it up!

[Gabus]

@ Jimmy: You are probably right, the armor on the guards is particularly brown in that picture, could do with an highlight. Good suggestion.

Thanks for the support Capraviridae!

2 weeks later, and another update. Ushabti



They are the metal models. I have had them around for ages, just never really got around to them. I found it difficult to replicate the jem red I got on the warsphinx (all my constructs are going to be made from the jem like material) so I approximated it, and threw a gloss varnish on it to make it shine. Pictures are taken at twilight, (terrible light to photograph minis in) but with little ones at home, I took pics when I could. You should always photograph your minis when done, I see a little cleanup work that needs to be done, easily missed when trying to grind the unit to completion. (edges of bases, and nails on the ushabti most notably)

The obelisk in the middle is magnetized on, and removable. It is the standard bearer in the unit. I didnt want to hack apart the ushabti to make a standard, so I found this a reasonable alternative.



There they are with no obelisk. The obelisk is made from a piece of balsa 3/4" x 3/4 " and then slashed at to make a few crack marks and then cut at an angle to make a pyramid top.





Unlike the other models, I am relatively happy with how the basing turned out on these. 1/8" cork sold at michaels, torn into convenient slabs, painted bleach bone and then washed with Delvan Mud, and re-highlighted. Very similar to the Warsphinx.

This makes 1600 points painted, and a month to go before I go back to school. Now, of course, my army is illegal, as I have only 17% core now, with only the 2 units of 21 skeletons. Next up will be chariots, to beef up the core, and take the army to 2,000 points. Will probably need a prince/king to lead the unit, and another liche priest to cast spells, taking the army to 2400 or so. Definately doable before the end of August.

Thanks for the comments, updates soon!

[Antelano]

Yeah! That's some badass Ushabti!

But I do not like the obelisk. I just think it looks wrong, somehow misplaced. But I do think it's a brilliant idea! Might actually steal the concept and do something similar.

[Jimmy]

A wash over the Ushabti might really help the look of them a little and take away the flat look on some elements.

Great work however! Keep it up.

[Gabus]

In a way, I am totally with you Antelano. I almost feel like the obelisk is to bulky, or chunky, with the thin Ushabti. On the other hand, if I made it smaller, it wouldn't look right either... I suppose best of all, it is magnetized, so if I ultimately dont like it, it is easily changed. I do like that it is on the back corner of the model, rather than as a unit filler.

Jimmy, what kind of wash would you suggest?

[Jimmy]

I'd first try a watered down devlan mud and see how that works. Depending on how dark you want them will depend on how much water you add to the mix.

I think it really only needs to be applied on the 'collars'.

[Gabus]

Thanks for the suggestion Jimmy. Unfortunately, there is already a wash and a re-highlight of the collars. The detail is so fine on mine, that when you wash it, there really isnt that much relief.

So, tried to post this yesterday, as the last day before I went back to work, (I am a teacher) but the universe and the children intervened.

Finally finished my chariots. I have to say, I hated every minute of it, and I think thats why they took 5 weeks. I would start, then put it down and go do something else. (terrain, whatever) They ended up significantly "whiter" than the rest of my skeletons, and a wash just doesn't fix them. In the end I had to just get them done and off my painting table so I could do something else.







Far from my best work, and the light was VERY intense, but they are done, which is something. The bows are strung in the quivers, and the reins are copper phone wire, stripped of the insulation and twisted to give the braided rope appearance.



Full army shot, and back to a legal army again with the addition of the new core unit. Despite my reservations about how the chariots came out, I DO like how well they fit the color scheme of the army, and the force looks really cohesive, which is what I was going for. Won't win any painting awards, but it all looks like it belongs together. (except for the basing on the archers and catapult, but thats an easy fix) There are about 1850 points on the table, and I would really like to make it a legal 2k before I run out of steam (and time) Probably a liche priest up next to round out the force.

With my gaming group pretty much abandoning WFB and moving back to 40K, school starting back up, and a box of 200 Kings of War Elves due to land in the mail any time now, (from thier kickstarter) It is going to be hard to maintain the push for the TK.

Here is to pushing on to at least 2K! And thanks for looking.

[Jimmy]

Chariots look great, you're too critical of yourself. Just need to give those movement trays some love!